R
Robert Nazarian
Guest
The Nexus 6 pre-order came and went quicker than a heartbeat. The DROID Turbo was finally unveiled by Verizon making me wonder why the Moto X (2014) wasn’t this good. A slew of Google apps get the Material Design treatment, and Google Fit finally launches. Amazon surprised us with a pretty compelling new Chromecast competitor, and you never know what you will find in Google Street View. It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the Android world.
Guides
How to stop notification cards from covering your Android Wear watch face
How to bring back the ‘steps today’ card on your Android Wear smartwatch after installing Google Fit
Accessories
OnePlus giving away bamboo StyleSwap covers after discontinuing them
HTC unveils its new Rapid Charger 2.0
Android TV
Pre-orders for Google’s first Gamepad are now live
Nexus Player rumored to arrive in Europe next year
Android Wear
Wear apps on the Moto 360 not displayed correctly when language is set to German after 4.4W.2 update
Google Camera update adds ability to take photo from Android Wear
Apps – New
Nextbit aims to sync Android app data across all devices with Baton
Google Fit launches in the Play Store with seamless device syncing
Taco Bell accepting orders sent from its new app
djay 2 app spins up for Android
Latest Play Services APK findings show new “Copresence” app is on the way
Apps – Updated
Microsoft giving unlimited OneDrive cloud storage to Office365 subscribers
Facebook Improves Mobile Photo Upload
YouTube may launch music service with ad-supported and paid versions
Pushbullet releases Material Design treatment for app
MovieTickets.com making theaters paperless with mobile tickets
MapMyFitness gets Google Fit integration and an Activity Feed in update
Microsoft Office coming to Android in early November
Google Play Movies & TV update brings Info Cards & Material Design makeover
[APK Download] Material Design heads to Google Wallet in overhaul
Developers only need a few lines of code to add their apps to Google Voice Search
Google Drive for Android gets improved search, share, and view tools
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides all Receive Updates
Any.do app gets major update focused on collaboration
Google Play Books gets an update to help users skip around
Runtastic gets updated with Google Fit integration and new “advanced statistics” service
Flipboard version 3.0 gets over 30,000 topics to follow
Gmail 5.0 with Material Design and Exchange support now available to download
Cameras
RE Camera in orange gets delayed, HTC offers 10% discount
Carriers
AT&T will carry the LG G Watch R
FTC suing AT&T over deceptive throttling, AT&T responds
AT&T adjusts Mobile Share Value plans with increased data
Sprint expands its super-fast network to 17 new locations
Sprint-branded HTC One now receiving Eye Experience update
T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network reaches 250 million people in the United States
Samsung Gear S coming to the U.S. next week, Sprint November 7 and T-Mobile November 9
Verizon paying $64.3 million in Family SharePlan settlement
Verizon and Motorola officially launch the DROID Turbo
LG G Pad 10.1 shows up at FCC with LTE connection for Verizon
James Franco Uses Droid Turbo in Confusing YouTube Ad
Samsung launches Verizon-exclusive Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition for $699
Verizon Releases two new ads for the Droid Turbo
Verizon gives more data to the More Everything plan
Chrome
Google launches Bookmark Manager in Chrome Web Store, formerly ‘Google Stars’
Chromecast
ES File Explorer gets Chromecast support through plugin
Cast Screen support added to Sony Xperia Z3v, Z3 Tablet Compact, and more
Gaming
PS4 Remote Play app now live on Google Play with support for Xperia Z3 devices
[APK Download] Google Play Games gets Visual Update
Star Wars: Galactic Defense officially released on Android
Rovio’s Angry Birds Transformers is in the Play Store
Google details more new security features in Android Lollipop
Google files trademark application for “ARA”
Google X team’s latest project aims to detect cancer and other diseases early
Google now lets you use your Play balance to pay for subscriptions
YouTube WatchMe for Android project brings YouTube live streaming to Android apps
Android co-founder Andy Rubin leaves Google to start a technology incubator
Gmail Updates Web Calendar
Google fined $2,250 for exposing Canadian woman’s cleavage on Street View
Google+
Google+ Photos will Halloweenify uploads with spooky or fun looks
Google Fit
Google Fit launches in the Play Store with seamless device syncing
Google releases Google Fit SDK for developers
MapMyFitness gets Google Fit integration and an Activity Feed in update
Runtastic gets updated with Google Fit integration and new “advanced statistics” service
Google Glass
Google Glass is now banned from movie theaters
Google gets Patent for Projector on Google Glass
Hardware
LG announces 5.3-inch HD smartphone screen with incredibly small bezel
Phones – Amazon
Amazon exec admits Fire Phone pricing was too high, but it was more than that
Phones – HTC
Alleged HTC Sense 7 screenshots highlight Material Design
HTC may abandon M* naming convention for flagship in 2015
HTC’s unannounced Desire 816h passes through TENAA
Sprint-branded HTC One now receiving Eye Experience updat
Phones – LG
LG to update Japan-exclusive Isai with three new colors and 3GB of RAM
LG G3 Dual-LTE set to launch in Russia within the next couple of weeks
Phones – Motorola
Verizon and Motorola officially launch the DROID Turbo
Hands on with the DROID Turbo
Motorola releases several videos showing off the Droid Turbo’s best features
James Franco Uses Droid Turbo in Confusing YouTube Ad
A global version of the DROID Turbo is on the way
Verizon Releases two new ads for the Droid Turbo
Motorola smartphone users can now track the status of their Android 5.0 upgrade
Residents in the UK can customize a Moto X for £359.99 to celebrate Moto 360 launch
Phones – Nexus
Google talks screen size of Nexus 6, thinks people want giant phones
Nexus 6 pre-order window closes just as fast as it opens, another one could open soon
Nexus 6 will run $199 on contract with major carriers
New Halloween images show low light capabilities of Nexus 6
Nexus 6 from Google Play working with Verizon SIM cards
Phones – OnePlus
Pre-order system for OnePlus experiences issues, company once again apologizes
OnePlus One dressed in Kevlar pictured
Phones – Oppo
Oppo unveils the N3 smartphone with motorized swivel camera
The world’s thinnest smartphone is here, the Oppo R5
Phones – Samsung
Samsung introduces the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A3 for social-focused consumers
Samsung Galaxy A7 makes appearance on benchmark site
Samsung likely to launch A Series in China to compete with mid-range competitors
Samsung launches Verizon-exclusive Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition for $699
New video shows Android 5.0 running on the Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung’s Galaxy Note Edge touches down in South Korea
Phones – Sony
Cast Screen support added to Sony Xperia Z3v, Z3 Tablet Compact, and more
Phones – Vivo
New contender for world’s thinnest smartphone surfaces from Vivo
Phones – ZTE
ZTE partners with Knicks, Rockets, and Warriors as official smartphone sponsor
Project Ara
Google files trademark application for “ARA”
New Project Ara prototype shown off along with dates for upcoming conferences
ROMs
Nextbit aims to sync Android app data across all devices with Baton
Security
Security expert finds vulnerability in Samsung’s Find My Mobile service
Set-top boxes
Google Play Movies & TV arrives in Roku’s Channel Store
Smartwatches
AT&T will carry the LG G Watch R
Wear apps on the Moto 360 not displayed correctly when language is set to German after 4.4W.2 update
Does wearing a Moto 360 give you a better chance at getting laid than other smartwatches?
Amazon offering Moto 360 in several new colors and options
Amazon jumps the gun and offers Moto 360 in new colors and options before they’re officially unveiled
Samsung Gear S coming to the U.S. next week, Sprint November 7 and T-Mobile November 9
Streaming Devices
Amazon goes after Chromecast and Roku with Fire TV Stick
Tablets
Tablets see 11.5% growth in third quarter of 2014, Samsung still top Android tablet manufacturer
ASUS MeMO Pad 10 officially released
LG G Pad 10.1 shows up at FCC with LTE connection for Verizon
Samsung website hints at Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet refresh for 2015
Updates
Alleged HTC Sense 7 screenshots highlight Material Design
Google details more new security features in Android Lollipop
Sprint-branded HTC One now receiving Eye Experience update
New video shows Android 5.0 running on the Samsung Galaxy S5
Wearables
Microsoft Band goes on sale tomorrow for $199, companion Microsoft Health app already released
Miscellaneous
ZTE partners with Knicks, Rockets, and Warriors as official smartphone sponsor
Plastc Card pre-orders surpass $5.2 million worldwide
LG shipped a record-breaking 16.8 million smartphones during the 3rd quarter
Camera quality is improved with Android 5.0 Lollipop on all devices
Despite iOS sales success, Android continues to expand lead in U.S.
Xiaomi takes 3rd place for world’s largest smartphone manufacturer
Lenovo’s acquisition of Motorola is finally complete
Samsung planning smartphone overhaul after profits plunge in 3rd quarter, but is it too late?
HTC ekes out a small 3rd quarter profit
Sony reorganizes mobile division with new leader
HTC Dot View trick shows up just in time for Halloween
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for October 27 – November 2, 2014
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