| Android 4.4 unofficial build arrives on the LG Optimus G Nov 4th 2013, 06:59, by Juan Carlos Torres Although Android 4.4 is now out, only the newly launched Nexus 5 officially has this latest Android version. That, of course, hasn’t stopped the Android community from immediately getting Android 4.4 onto other devices that may never receive an official update. This growing roster of older devices now includes LG‘s previous flagship, the LG Optimus G. 
The Optimus G was launched last year and is considered to be the predecessor of the LG G2, despite still using the “Optimus” name that LG has recently reserved for its less powerful devices. The hardware of the Optimus G are quite decent, even by today’s standards. It runs on a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, a spacious 4.7-inch 720p IPS display with a resolution of 1280×768 pixels, and 4G LTE connectivity. It can definitely hold it’s own and seems to be a good testing ground for Android 4.4 improved support for less powerful devices. This unofficial Android 4.4 firmware comes via XDA contributor houstonn, who has taken the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) source code to build the image. It is compatible with the different models of the LG Optimus G including the E970, E973, and E971. Support for models E975, E976, and E977 can be achieved by flashing a different kernel after the Android 4.4 custom ROM has been flashed. Official builds coming from the Paranoid Android team are expected to arrive once the ROM team have switched over its sources to Android 4.4 as well. While we would usually recommend taking care in installing pre-release builds or waiting for an official update, it seems almost unlikely that this smartphone will receive an official Android 4.4 update. Owners of the LG Optimus G who want to breathe some new life into their smartphones might then want to keep an eye on this build as well as on Paranoid Android’s future moves. VIA: XDA |  | Google Glass orientations to take place via Google+ Hangouts Nov 4th 2013, 06:30, by Juan Carlos Torres There has been quite some activity on the Google Glass front recently, with Google announcing a 2.0 version of its hardware, official accessories, as well as opening up its program to even more people. Now the company is putting into motion yet another big change in its program that will no longer require Google Explorers, the collective term for its pre-release testers, to personally pick up their shiny new eyewear. 
In the past, those who have been lucky enough to be accepted into the Explorer program had to pick up the device in person at designated Google offices in Los Angeles or New York. This gave Google the opportunity to introduce and educate users to Google Glass before they even started using it. As the device was still in its infancy and not yet ready for public consumption, such a step was necessary. It seems, however, that Google has started taking steps in preparing Google Glass for the masses, including doing away with the rather inconvenient requirement of going to one of two states to receive the hardware. Google will now start shipping Glass directly to their users. But new Explorers still need to be properly introduced to Google Glass, and so Google is turning to its own video chat service to make it happen. New Explorers will now have to go through a 45-minute chat with a human “Glass Guide” on Hangouts. The user must make an appointment for such an orientation beforehand via a phone call. While this new remote orientation is indeed easier than the previous process, it is hardly convenient, let alone feasible, to rely on it when Google Glass hits the market next year. Either the retail version of the device will be so simple to use that it will no longer warrant such an education process or Google will have to think of some creative way to train potentially hundreds if not thousands of new users all over the country, or even the world. VIA: SlashGear | | Wozniak dreams of a Google-Apple partnership for a better tech future Nov 4th 2013, 06:20, by Juan Carlos Torres Steve Wozniak may have co-founded Apple together with the iconic Steve Jobs, but he has never been one to mince words when it comes to critiquing the company. Now he is sharing that he wishes there was a partnership between the company he helped create and one of its biggest rivals, Google. 
It may sound wishy-washy and utopian, but Wozniak’s dream is somewhat based on reality. His aspirations come from his experience of using both Apple’s iPhones and Android smartphones. In some cases, Siri, iOS’ speech recognition software and virtual assistant, is unable to understand or figure out what he was trying to say, whereas Android could. He believes that this advantage is due to Google’s success in search and machine learning, which is one of the most important foundations of such artificial intelligence systems. But it is not only in search or speech or virtual assistance that Wozniak believes would benefit from a culture of cooperation in the whole tech industry. In fact, he holds that openness and information sharing would benefit everyone and help developer better technology, including wearable devices. He thinks that cross-licensing, at a fair price, of course, would improve products. He sees some things on Samsung devices that he would love to have on an iPhone, and yet the current culture and business setup would make it expensive, if not prohibitive. Of course, Wozniak’s words have little effect today, especially at Apple, which he has left a long time ago. He himself admits that, although he could have probably made such a partnership if he were holding the reins, he is not is not well versed in the business side of things. Still, Wozniak has his fair share of fans, both within and without the Apple world, who find listening to his ideas illuminating, or at least quite interesting. SOURCE: BBC | |
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