An Android 4.2.2 build that features Sense 5.1 has leaked for the HTC Butterfly. The entire dump is actually available for download if you’d like to start playing around with it. I know I’m curious to see if devs can do anything with it for the HTC One and DROID DNA (brother phone of the Butterfly), though there are no guarantees that that will happen. 

In this new build, the Android version is blocked, but you can tell from the secondary notification shade with quick toggles that it’s at least 4.2. In HTC’s version of the toggle panel, we’re seeing a quick setting for brightness along with the standard shortcut for Settings. After that, you have WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, Power Saver, Auto Rotate, Data, Sound profiles, Hotspot,and Screenshot shortcuts. Other than this panel, it’s tough to tell what other things differ from the current Sense 5.0 and Android 4.1.2. Will we get lock screen widgets? With notifications handle better with one-finger swipes? This is one of those situations where the video below isn’t giving us all of the answers, so we’ll have to see what devs can come up with.

If anything, this should at least mean that a 4.2.2 update with new Sense is on the way to the DNA, though we’d be surprised if that landed before 4.2.2 for the One.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  RootzWiki | XDA

Cheers Andrew!

Video: HTC Sense 5.1 and Android 4.2.2 Leak for the Butterfly is a post from: Droid Life

Today, is Earth Day. Celebrate it Android style, if you so choose. This wallpaper should help.

Variety of sizes available at the link below.

Via:  Android Foundry

Cheers Scott!

Celebrate Earth Day With This Android Inspired Wallpaper is a post from: Droid Life

Last week, the new Google Play version 4.0 became available and then slowly rolled out to users who chose not to manually update. Late last night, another update began pushing as build 4.0.26. It’s incredibly minor, as one would expect with the previous version being 4.0.25. You can grab it below if your device hasn’t updated already.

Download Link [mirror]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via: OMGDroid

Download: Google Play Store Version 4.0.26 is a post from: Droid Life

Here you go. Get yourself the new Google Play version 4.0. 

Download Link [Mirror]

The .apk should install right over top of your current Play store. Welcome to Google Play 4.0.25.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers Brendan!

Download: New Google Play Store 4.0.25 is a post from: Droid Life

We’re not even a week out from Facebook’s announcement of the HTC First and their new home replacement called Facebook Home, and we already have a leaked beta build to play around with. Thanks to Modaco, you can give Home a spin as long as your device has a screen resolution of 1280×768 or less and doesn’t have Facebook baked into your system (meaning you can uninstall Facebook). If you have a Nexus, it would be the perfect phone to test this on. 

Below, you’ll find .apk files for the Facebook app, new Messenger client, and the Home launcher itself. Before you begin, it’s a good idea (maybe even required) to uninstall Facebook completely from your phone and then start fresh with these three .apk files.

Update:  Facebook appears to have killed these from working.

Download:  Facebook App | Messenger App | Home Launcher

Again, uninstall Facebook from your phone. Then install these. I had success by installing Facebook, then the Launcher, and finally Messenger. Once done, login to Facebook and enjoy.

You’ll notice that one of the most important features, Chat Heads, is missing. For whatever reason, that feature is not working at this time, so you’ll have to go without it.

Via:  Modaco

Download: Facebook Home Beta Leaks, No Chat Heads Though (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

The Galaxy S4 from Samsung is currently being torn down, stripped of all of its goodies. Earlier we posted up the newest version of S-Voice and now, we have its wallpapers and ringtones. If you are looking to make that Galaxy S3 or any other phone look more like an S4, this is a good way to start.

Down below you can download the full zip files filled with the S4′s wallpapers and ringtones. We have pulled only four of the wallpapers to show as examples, but there are seven in total inside the zip.

Ringtones:  GalaxyS4-Ringtones.zip | Wallpapers:  GalaxyS4-Wallpapers.zip

Individual Links:  Airplane | Green Leaves | Blue Sky | Tree Branch

Via: SamMobile [2]

Download: Samsung Galaxy S4 Ringtones and Wallpapers is a post from: Droid Life

Ready for a Samsung Galaxy S4  system dump and a chance to play with all of the goodies it contains? The folks over at SamMobile received one and have already begun pulling out apps for you to install. First up is the newest version of S Voice, the Siri-like voice actions application that was first introduced with the Galaxy S3. It’s still powered by Nuance’s Vlingo, so it’s certainly no Google Voice Search. But hey, if you like talking to your phone and found older versions of S Voice to be of use, feel free to give this new one a shot.

You’ll be able to voice dial, create memos, schedule appointments and tasks, set alarms or timers, ask “what the weather is like,” and find local listings to the best restaurants. From what I can tell, nothing has really changed, other than the S Voice icon. Pro S Voice users, feel free to tell me what I’m missing. 

Download Link

Once it finishes downloading, install as you would any sideloaded app. If you are installing on a Galaxy S3, it should install over the top of your current S Voice app. Should you decide that it’s not worth the update, you can uninstall and return to the stock version by uninstalling the update in the Application manager.

*The .apk file works on both my Galaxy S3 and Nexus 4.

Via:  SamMobile

Cheers Jul!

Download: New S Voice From the Galaxy S4 is a post from: Droid Life

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, it seemed only fitting to share the newest wallpaper from the Android Foundry. Look at that cute little Bugdroid destroying a beautiful white wall with a can of red paint, all for the sake of today’s holiday. <3

Download a variety of sizes at the link below.

Via:  Android Foundry

Download: Represent Android and Valentine’s Day With This Wallpaper is a post from: Droid Life

Swiftkey released a new version of Swiftkey Flow beta this morning as build 4.0.0.76. Be sure to grab this, as it includes a number of changes and even more bug fixes.

In this latest version, predictions and Flow happen in most places outside of email fields, password boxes, or other semi-secure spots. Corrects are made easier with a tap on incorrect words, there are new languages, and the typing style is no inferred.

Jump below to download the new versions. 

Download Links:  Phone Version | Tablet Version [Build 4.0.0.76]

Changes in this version:

• Predictions (and Flow) now on in most places (exceptions: email fields, passwords, anywhere where the app doesn’t behave itself with SK, fields offering their own corrections on Android versions <= 2.2)
• Easier corrections – just tap on the word and SwiftKey will offer you 3 possibilities
• New languages: Thai, Vietnamese, Bosnian, Albanian, Javan, Sundanese (plus those added in 3.1)
• Features from SwiftKey 3.1: Berry theme, split layout in landscape on phones, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Hindi, Hinglish, Irish, Macedonian, Spanish (Latin America) and Tagalog
• New layouts for Hindi and Russian
• Ukrainian landscape layout fixed
• Backspacing on to the final word of a multi word prediction (Flow through space)  will now give better alternatives
• Typing style now inferred rather than a setting
• Long press delete accelerates after the first word

Bugs fixed:

• Flowing off shift no longer triggers a change in shift state
• Flow no longer gets stuck when you flow off the bottom of a page
• Quick period working after single letter words
• Arrow key repeats
• Learning when sending messages or tabbing between fields with the enter key fixed
• Azeri capital i behaviour corrected
• Estonian will now predict words containing ö
• Fixed force close on Beta predictions
• Flow trace no longer left behind after flowing
• Mounting an SD card will turn predictions off only if SwiftKey language packs are stored on that SD card
• Keyclick sounds no longer doubled
• Haptic duration made consistent with flow on and off

Known issues:

• Places you still cannot Flow: email fields, passwords, anywhere where the app doesn’t behave itself with SK, fields offering their own corrections on Android versions <= 2.2
• Selecting and deleting a chunk of text in Samsung email client on SIII and Note 2 deletes text before the cursor as well as after
• Slight jitteriness when toggling between Hindi and Thai primary and secondary layouts
• Turkish i still does not capitalise correctly
• Long pressing SK mic in Google Now causes the keyboard to disappear
• Occasional surprising capitalisations of flowed words
• Flowing through space often fails after relatively unusual words
• If you experience high memory usage after installing, this may be fixed by rebooting your phone

Via:  Swiftkey

New Swiftkey Flow Beta 4.0.0.76 Released – Closer Than Ever to Official Release is a post from: Droid Life

It’s the same old Tasker, but it sure is a whole lot prettier. The popular app for people who want to completely automate their smartphone is now in beta form, with a completely redone user interface. Taking notes from the Android UI guidelines, Tasker is still able to perform countless tasks with time/place precision such as turning WiFi on when you get home, timed reboots, and plenty more.

The original app is still available in Google Play for $6.49, but the beta is free for a limited time. Go grab it and let us know what you think.

Download Here 

Via:  Tasker

Cheers @D Saif!

Tasker Beta Released, Completely Revamped UI Gives App New Life is a post from: Droid Life

Just the other day we were talking about backup solutions and how you should always choose one that allows for cloud storage. Today, long-time developer Koush, released a beta of his new app that does exactly as we were describing, only it takes it a step further. He is tentatively calling this app “Carbon,” which we got a chuckle out of, after the name quickly brought back memories of the overhyped Twitter app by a similar title which never made an official debut. 

Koush’s Carbon is a backup solution that allows you to backup your apps and app data to the cloud or to your SD card. It currently supports Google Drive, but he is working to build in Dropbox support as well. But beyond just the backing up portion of the app, the biggest highlight here is the fact that it can sync apps between devices. As you’ll see in his overview video at the source link, the app is running on two devices and acts almost in real-time when he looks from device-to-device to pull apps and data from one to the other. It’s pretty neat, to be honest.

And you can see how the sky can be the limit here. I don’t know if he has plans to, but user settings could potentially be included at some point, more backup services (like Box.net), and potentially even a media syncing feature of some sort. He has only mentioned the Box.net support coming, so the rest is just my mind running in all directions.

The current beta version has been posted at his Google+ page, which we have posted for you below. We should point out that this version requires root, but he’s expecting to remove that requirement once it goes final and official. Get to testing!

[Download Link]

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via:  +Koushik Dutta

Koush Releases Cloud App Syncing and Backup App, Test the Beta Now is a post from: Droid Life

This morning, Nuance announced a new feature for its Swype Beta keyboard on Android called Living Language. If users choose to opt-in, this new technology, Swype’s dictionary will learn in real-time, by enabling crowd-sourced up-to-date words and phrases to appear as options while typing. You’ll begin to see trending words and phrases that other Swypers have been using regularly.

Along with Living Language, Swype also includes a feature called Smart Editor, which analyzes entire sentences, flagging potential errors that you may not have noticed.

To get this latest version of Swype, head over to http://beta.swype.com. 

Nuance Innovates Crowd Sourcing for the Keyboard; Swype Living Language Learns from Users around the Globe

2013 International CES

Swype Beta Now Updates in Real-time With Living Language Crowd-sourcing Tech is a post from: Droid Life

A new Swiftkey Flow beta was just released to the public as version 4.0.0.61. It includes a bunch of performance fixes, allows flowing on tablets in landscape, takes care of memory leaks, improves battery usage, and more. This is the first major update to Flow after its initial launch, so the Swiftkey team was quick to point out that they are still working through a pretty solid bug list.

We’ve included the changelog, a “things to be aware of” section, and the known issues list from Swiftkey.

Hit up the break and download it to your phone or tablet! 

Download version 4.0.0.61:  Smartphones | Tablets

Changelog:

• Flow-through-space autocommit: if you flow-through space but mess up your last word, all the prior words will be inserted (instead of losing all the words)
• Flow in landscape on tablets (only in full layout, not in split layout)
• Battery usage improved (when flowing and when not in use)
• Performance of flowing and tapping improved
• Longpress of bottom-right (smiley/enter) button now works
• Fixed some force close issues
• Fixed some memory leaks
• Predictions not lost when changing keyboard layout (e.g to symbols)
• Fixed DOuble CApitalization issue

Things to be aware of:

• Flowing currently only works in fields where you see the prediction bar: in fields that have their own prediction or completion there is no prediction bar and therefore no Flow (e.g. URL bars, search bars, the “to” field of an email)
• Flow-through-space only works in languages where smart space works – in some languages this is turned off because words are often made by combining other words together,and so smart space would divide up words that you want to keep as one. Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Georgian, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Romanian, Swedish, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukranian, Urdu may not work with Flow-through-space
• SwiftKey Flow Beta does not currently contain any features that were new in SwiftKey 3.1 (Berry theme, new languages, split layout in landscape for normal-sized devices)
• Slide-left-to-delete a whole word does not work when Flowing is enabled – instead try holding down the backspace key to delete word-by-word

Known issues:

• Flow trail is sometimes left on the screen at the end of a word
• Personalization service continues running when it has finished
• Memory usage is still higher than we would like
• Flow trail is very faint on some CyanogenMod ROMs
• Force closes on Motorola Atrix and LG G2X with custom ROMs >= 4.0
• If a language pack is downloaded while typing the keyboard is not refreshed
• Predictions are too large on LDPI devices
• Predictions occasionally lost when alternately backspacing/spacing at the end of a word
• Ukrainian spit layout is broken
• Estonian words containing ö are not predicted
• Arrow keys do not repeat on longpress

Via:  Swiftkey

New Swiftkey Flow Beta Released as Build 4.0.0.61 is a post from: Droid Life

The Android Foundry has posted up yet another new Android-inspired winter wallpaper to help your phone live out any snow-filled fantasies it may have. Thanks to the winter storm that blanketed much of the central U.S. before taking on the east coast, this is also very fitting, in a cold, dark, manner.

Android snowball fight!

Via:  Android Foundry (full resolutions)

Cheers Scott!

Download: Android Winter Wonderland Snowball Fight Wallpaper is a post from: Droid Life

The holidays are upon us, so make sure your Android device or desktop is representing well. Thanks to @deadzebra (Andrew Bell), we have this holiday-themed Bugdroid wallpaper in a variety of resolutions to help you get there. To grab the one that best meets your needs, hit up the source link below.

Via:  Android Foundry

Cheers Scott!

Download: Android in Lights Holiday Wallpaper is a post from: Droid Life