Android Lollipop Material design

Android 5.0 brings Material design to Android and gives you an expanded UI toolkit for integrating the new design patterns easily in your apps.

New 3D views let you set a z-level to raise elements off of the view hierarchy and cast realtime shadows, even as they move.

Built-in activity transitions take the user seamlessly from one state to another with beautiful, animated motion. The material theme adds transitions for your activities, including the ability to use shared visual elements across activities.

Ripple animations are available for buttons, checkboxes, and other touch controls in your app.

You can also define vector drawables in XML and animate them in a variety of ways. Vector drawables scale without losing definition, so they are perfect for single-color in-app icons.

A new system-managed processing thread called RenderThread keeps animations smooth even when there are delays in the main UI thread.

Performance focus
Android 5.0 provides a faster, smoother and more powerful computing experience.

Android now runs exclusively on the new ART runtime, built from the ground up to support a mix of ahead-of-time (AOT), just-in-time (JIT), and interpreted code. It’s supported on ARM, x86, and MIPS architectures and is fully 64-bit compatible.

ART improves app performance and responsiveness. Efficient garbage collection reduces the number and duration of pauses for GC events, which fit comfortably within the v-sync window so your app doesn’t skip frames. ART also dynamically moves memory to optimize performance for foreground uses.

Android 5.0 introduces platform support for 64-bit architectures—used by the Nexus 9's NVIDIA Tegra K1. Optimizations provide larger address space and improved performance for certain compute workloads. Apps written in the Java language run as 64-bit apps automatically—no modifications are needed. If your app uses native code, we’ve extended the NDK to support new ABIs for ARM v8, and x86-64, and MIPS-64.

Continuing the focus on smoother performance, Android 5.0 offers improved A/V sync. The audio and graphics pipelines have been instrumented for more accurate timestamps, enabling video apps and games to display smooth synchronized content.

Android Blackberry Applications with Powerful Operating System

BlackBerry has rolled out an update to the BlackBerry 10 OS, releasing version 10.2.1 globally through operators. While it may seem like a smaller incremental update as compared to the move from 10.1 to 10.2, in reality 10.2.1 brings several new enhancements to BlackBerry 10 and is mostly focused on the platform’s core USP i.e productivity. Interestingly quite a few of the new features like speed dial for physical QWERTY keyboards or the ability to delete messages locally or on the server (or both) were available the older legacy BlackBerry 7 OS and have been belatedly brought to BlackBerry 10. Here’s what has changed.

This is big news because most users were not comfortable with the earlier sideloading process. The Android runtime supported is 4.2.2, so a small proportion of Android apps may not work on BlackBerry 10.2.1. For instance, India Against Spam, a very useful Android app that automates the complicated process of sending complaints on spam SMS and calls in India doesn’t work on BlackBerry 10 since the app can’t access the call/SMS history on BlackBerry 10. But most apps we’ve used, from Google Maps to Instagram to games like Temple Run, Candy Crush Saga and even niche apps like Adda for managing co-operative housing societies work perfectly well. With this, BlackBerry has gone a long way towards solving the app problem on the platform. BlackBerry has refused to comment on speculation that BlackBerry World will feature a new section for Android APKs alone. But media reports have said that BlackBerry is making a renewed pitch to Android developers to offer Android apps on BlackBerry World.

Customisable pinch gesture to filter BlackBerry Hub

While BlackBerry Hub is a great single-point communication hub that includes e-mail, instant messaging, social networks, breaking news and more, a new feature lets users instantly filter the message list. Users can now customise the Hub to show only Unread Messages, Flagged Messages, Drafts, Meeting Invites, Sent Messages or Level 1 Alerts, and can activate it with a pinch gesture on the Hub’s message list. The idea is to quickly see what’s most important and deal with it first.

Quick language switch

While BlackBerry 10 has always allowed users to type in three languages simultaneously with auto-correct working for all three, the update allows users to switch languages quickly by using the comma key. Significant for Indian users, the update automatically changes the keyboard itself to Hindi when you type in a Hindi word such as ‘pranam‘. There is full keyboard support for Hindi on 10.2.1 and it is a delight to type in something like “Kya yaar where are you?” without a break since BlackBerry 10 auto-corrects in Hinglish and English simultaneously.

Cost management

A new option allows users to stay in control of data charges when roaming. Users can choose to download only message headers when roaming and opt to resize image attachments (original size, medium or small) to minimise data usage when roaming.


Direct access to APKs

While BlackBerry won’t talk much about this and interestingly completely ignored it in the official media release, the biggest new feature is that users no longer need to convert an APK to a BAR before sideloading an Android app. Now, users can download APKs to the local storage and it will be converted on the fly to a BlackBerry BAR file, ready to be installed. While Google Play cannot be accessed directly, third party Android stores like the 1Mobile app store or the Amazon Appstore that offer several apps can be installed and users can directly access apps from these curated stores rather than look for them separately.

Calendar enhancements

Users can now go to a specific date on the calendar by tapping an icon on the top right of the screen and selecting a date. There’s a visual notification option to let meeting participants know you are running late. In any meeting entry the user can select the ‘I will be late’ option, and set the amount of time they are running late by and communicate it to all meeting participants. The new update also provides an option for instantly creating a follow-up meeting, and if users have the Cisco WebEx Meetings app installed, they can also schedule WebEx meetings through the Calendar app now.


Battery life indicator

When the peek gesture (a swipe upwards from the bottom bezel) is used, the battery icon transforms into a battery percentage indicator. When the smartphone is locked only the battery percentage indicator is shown now rather than the visual battery icon where it is tougher to gauge exact amount of power left.

In What way the Android Phone Is Good News for the Mobile World

With technology progressing in leaps and bounds, newer operating systems are the order of the day. Today, there are several systems on which a mobile phone works. There's Java, Symbian, Flash and even proprietary operating systems like the ones on iPhone and Windows.

The latest entrant in the cell phone OS market is the Android operating system. The Android operating system is an open source operating system that has been developed by Google and other technology companies. Here are three reasons why the Android operating system is great for the world of mobiles.

While mobile systems have become better and faster, there is still scope for advancement and a brand new operating system will definitely get better service and features to the end user. So, the users should be ready for a great adventure - just like the times when the end users discovered the joys of SMS, MMS, etc. back in the '80s and '90s.

Basically, the hardware that goes in making a mobile does not cost much, unless they are using some special devices and materials like a professional camera lens, or gold or silver body, etc. The most expensive part of the mobile phone is the OS. With the free OS the cost of mobile should come down considerably because a big chunk of the price is no longer applicable.

The Demand of the Next Generation

The Android operating system that powers most Smartphone of today was released as early as 2007 by Google and has been providing a host of features for both the end users and application developers. Android mobile applications have come to the rescue of mobile service operators looking to woo the next generation mobile users, who are constantly seeking new, challenging and useful applications that allow them to customize / personalize the otherwise standard device.
Developed using the structured yet friendly Java language, Android mobile applications span a range of functions from utility to enterprise apps, catering to almost all requirements of the next generation mobile users including music, videos, shopping, bill payments, banking, web-based apps, social networking and instant messaging.

Android mobile applications developed on the Android SDK are quite cost-effective as the SDK is open source software, that constantly tested and improved by a tenacious group of programmers. Any trained java developer will be able churn out a range of rich and challenging mobile apps with relative ease and also get familiar with SDK using the documentation and samples provided with the package. Java being a structured language allows re-use of code, further reducing the time/effort and cost of developing Android mobile applications.

5 Best Android Music Player Apps

1. Poweramp Music Player
Poweramp is a full-featured, customizable audio player. In terms of audio tweaking, Poweramp has a 10-band graphic equalizer with bass and treble adjustments, stereo expansion, mono mixing and left/right balance controls. Poweramp also supports gapless playback, ReplayGain and has built-in last.fm scrobbling.

Poweramp comes with four different themes and features a large number of UI customization options. Plus, it will also download any missing album art for you. [$3.99; free 15-day trial available]

2. Neutron Music Player
Neutron’s standout feature is its 32/64-bit audio rendering engine, which provides high-quality, HD audio playback. In addition to its high-quality rendering engine, Neutron comes with advanced audio control features such as a high-quality 4-band parametric equalizer, normalization, resampling as well as surround sound, crossfeed and rumble filter DSPs.

Neutron also allows you to tweak left/right balance and pitch. It also supports a variety of file formats, including lossless files, and is highly customizable. [$4.99; free 5-day trial available]

3. Rocket Music Player
Rocket Music Player aims to be a complete music player for both advanced and basic use. It has a 5-band equalizer, the ability to fade in and out when playing and stopping, dynamic Live List playlists as well as a feature similar to "Up Next" in iTunes. Rocket also works with iSyncr, which will allow you to sync podcast bookmarks, playlists and play counts to iTunes.

Rocket Music Player’s Premium upgrade adds a 10-band equalizer, support for lossless audio formats (such as FLAC, APE, WavPack), gapless playback and ReplayGain, etc. [Free; $3.99 for Premium upgrade]

4. MixZing Music Player
MixZing’s biggest attractions are its user interface and playlist features. MixZing’s Mood Player creates playlists from your library music based on the moods you select. MixZing can also automatically build playlists according to your feedback about songs. In addition, MixZing will download album art and automatically identify untagged music for you.

MixZing supports SHOUTcast Radio, so you have a large selection of radio stations to choose from. [Free; $4.99 for the upgrader, which removes ads]

5. PlayerPro Music Player
PlayerPro is much like Poweramp, in that it provides a large number of features and customization options. PlayerPro features audio effects such as equalizer and reverb as well as support for Dolby, SRS and Beats audio enhancement. PlayerPro also allows you to share text notifications and album artwork on Twitter and Facebook.

In addition, you can swipe or even shake your device to change songs. There are more than 20 free skins available for PlayerPro, and it supports both grid and list views. [$4.95; 10-day free trial available]

6. Winamp
Yes, you can get Winamp on your Android. Apart from being able to sync wirelessly with your PC and Mac, it can also import your iTunes library and playlists. In addition, it integrates with Android voice search and comes with last.fm scrobbling and access to artist news, biographies and information. Pro features include a 10-band equalizer, customizable home screen, FLAC support and gapless playback.

Winamp also displays lyrics for the song being played, while the album washer downloads missing album artwork and updates missing metadata. [Free; $4.99 for Winamp Pro; $2.99 for lyrics; $3.99 for album washer]

7. Fusion Music Player
Fusion Music Player is a free player that is not only devoid of ads, but also doesn’t skimp on the features. Fusion Music Player has a 12-band equalizer and virtual surround sound. It also has a music discovery feature that works based on albums and artists. In addition, Fusion Music Player supports shake and wave gestures, Shout-cast radio and dynamic playlists. You can also share what you’re listening to on Facebook and Twitter.

Some of the more unique features include an MP3 cutter, support for App2SD and the ability to listen to online charts of currently popular music, Bollywood included. [Free]

8. Sensor Music Player
Sensor has the basic features you’d expect from an Android music player, such as a 5-band equalizer, bass boost and virtualizer. By far the most interesting feature of Sensor, though, is its support for gestures to control music playback. It comes with four modes: wave over, pocket, hammer and custom. In wave over mode, for instance, you can skip tracks by simply waving your hand over your device.

The custom sensor mode allows you to select the sensors you want to enable and the actions associated with these sensors. [Free; each sensor mode costs $1.00]

Choice of a new Android Apps

The Android Market is loaded with new apps. In fact, more programs are released every day. The Apple Store requires approval for all applications for the iPhone, but Android users can download them shortly after they have been finished by programmers.This distinction affects both the availability of apps and the user experience for cell phone consumers. With such quick access to new applications, Android users can choose between an avalanche of new titles that come out nearly every day. To help you with choosing Android apps, this article discusses methodologies that you can use to sort through the clutter

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Some Android apps are available for free. To use others, you may be required to pay a download fee. There are also apps that require subscriptions. Before choosing an application, it is important to set a budget and decide how much you are willing to spend.

Free applications often have similar features to paid ones, so don't presume that the most expensive apps are always the best. Luckily, the Android Market interface allows you to browse between user ratings and reviews. This will help you figure out which Android apps are considered the best by other mobile phone users.

Android Phones Today

 Android is a mobile phone operating system developed by the search provider Google. Used on a wide variety of smart phones, Android is currently the best selling mobile operating system in the world. Android is an open source OS, letting anyone develop their own software (such as applications or games) to be run on Android platforms. The Android OS is also used in tablet computers, with the latest version being Android 3.0. While the Android OS has been in use since 2008, regular updates and support for Google keeps Android the leading-edge system it is today.

Mobile phones running the Android operating system all have a similar set of features provided by the OS. The Android OS is made to be run on smart phones, phones which can run a variety of Java based applications that give the phone added functionality. In addition to basic phone and text/media messaging service, Android phones have a variety of web based services and applications. Android phones are connected with the owner's Google account, allowing access to Gmail and Google Calendar as well as a variety of other applications. In addition to wireless internet and Bluetooth connectivity, Android phones allow for wireless tethering - using the phone as a modem to connect a laptop computer to the internet. All android phones allow for streaming video, with the latest models able to connect to the 4G network and video conferencing using Google Talk. The most well known aspect of the Android platform is access to the Android Market. Similar to the Apple App Store, the Android Market allows users to download applications and games for their phone, many of which are free.

The first Android phone to be released was the G1, developed by HTC and released in 2008. Running Android 1.0, this phone had many of the features currently found in Android phones, including synchronization with the user's Google account and the Android Market for downloading phone apps. Since then, there have been many updates to the Android operating system - major updates are given the name of a dessert. The newest version of Android for mobile phones is Android 2.3.4, Gingerbread. Designed for use on 4G phones with increased performance and speed, Gingerbread provides better video playback and support for front facing cameras for video conferencing.

The Android operating system allows phones to be produced by many manufacturers. With the current generation of 4G phones, the leading producers are Motorola and Samsung. Motorola is the creator of the Droid line of phones - a series that were made popular by their availability with Verizon service in the United States. The Droid X2, the latest model in the Droid series, includes a multi-touch interface, 8 GB of memory along with an 8 GB micro SD card for storage, and an 8 megapixel camera with built in video recorder. Samsung is the other major producer of Android phones and have collaborated with Google on the Nexus S. The Nexus was the first phone to use the new Gingerbread operating system and included a powerful processor and 512 MB of RAM. The Nexus S has 16 GB of internal storage and can access the 4G network using a Sprint service plan. Other companies such as HTC produce Android phones as well, giving the consumer a wide variety of choices when trying to choose the best Android phone for their needs.