Amazon has released a software update for its first smartphone, adding several new features and improvements. But the biggest change may be that Fire OS 4.6.1 is based on Android 4.4 KitKat. That means the Amazon Fire Phone should support third-party apps that require KitKat and it also includes some key features from Android 4.4 including […]
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BLU promises Android KitKat update for 8 phones
BLU offers a range of low-end and mid-range Android smartphones with decent specs and even better prices. Most of the company’s recent phones have shipped with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean software, an aging version of Google’s mobile operating system. Soon at least 8 of those phones will receive a software update that brings Android 4.4 […]
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Paranoid Android 4.1 beta brings Pie controls to KitKat
The developers of Paranoid Android have released a first beta of PA 4.1. It’s a custom version of Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat operating system with a few major tweaks, including a customizable Quick Settings panel and the return of one of Paranoid Android’s most popular features: Pie Controls. When you enable Pie controls, the status […]
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Lilbits (1-14-2014): So much for net neutrality
There’s no law to prevent US internet service providers from offering higher data speeds to companies that pay for the privilege. So some online video sites could stream more quickly than others, for instance. Some websites might load more quickly. In the absence of such a law, the Federal Communications Commission established its own rules… […]
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Now with Android 4.4: AOKP, Paranoid Android ROMS and RK3188, Allwinner A31 chips
It’s been a busy week for developers working with Google’s Android 4.4 KitKat software. Two of the most popular custom ROM builders have released their first public builds based on KitKat, and two Chinese chip makers have also released builds of Android 4.4 which support devices with their processors. Here’s a quick roundup of things […]
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App Ops saga: The Android privacy feature you weren’t meant to have
When Google Android 4.3 hit the streets in July it brought some changes to location services, some user interface changes, support for OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics and more. But it also had a nifty feature hidden away in the code: the ability to revoke an app’s access to certain permissions. Don’t want that puzzle game […]
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How to use Adobe Flash Player with Android 4.4
A few years ago one of the key things that helped set Android apart from iOS was support for Adobe Flash Player. But Adobe officially stopped supporting Flash for Android in mid-2012, a growing number of online video and game sites have released mobile web pages that don’t rely on Flash, and by the time […]
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Lilbits (12-02-2013): Android 4.4 for the HTC HD2 (phone that won’t die)
The year was 2009. Microsoft was getting ready to launch a dramatically new version of its smartphone operating system which would require phones with some pretty powerful hardware. The HTC HD2 fit the bill, but it actually shipped with Windows Mobile 6.5. Many folks figured it would just be a matter of time before it […]
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OmniROM brings Android 4.4 (and tweaks) to phones and tablets
Samsung’s probably never going to release an official Android 4.4 software update for the Galaxy S2 or original Galaxy Note — but that’s what custom ROMs are for. The developers of OmniROM have just launched nightly builds of their Android 4.4 KitKat-based software, and it’s alreadyavailable for phones and tablets including Samsung’s older phones, most […]
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Lilbits (11-26-2013): Cheaters never win (unless they’re not caught)
Want to know which phone, tablet, or PC has the fastest processor? You might turn to benchmarking tests like Antutu or 3DMark. These tests don’t always paint a solid picture of real-world performance, but they can at least help you figure out which device performs certain CPU or GPU-intensive tasks the quickest. Or at least […]