Motorola starts rolling out Android 4.4.4 to some devices and regions

 

Despite there being very few differences between Android 4.4.2 and 4.4.4, Motorola is determined to keep its devices on the latest version of Android. Not only was there a limited rollout of Android 4.4.3 for a few devices, now some devices are getting Android 4.4.4. That’s the absolute latest version of Android available. 

According to Motorola, the Moto G should be seeing the update in Brazil and India, the Moto E should see it in Brazil, France, Canada, an Asia Pacific, and the DROID Ultra will be getting it in the US. There is no word on the Moto X yet, but we’re sure Motorola will get to it soon as updates have been really fast from Moto lately. 

With this update, you’ll get the new dialer that Nexus devices saw, along with enhanced camera quality and pausing video recording. Then there are security fixes and bug fixes, as expected from such a small update. You won’t notice many differences, but it’s amazing of Motorola to be rolling out updates at this speed. 

And if you’re interested in asking Motorola some questions, product manager Mark Rose is doing an AMA on Google+. You’ll be able to ask him questions and he’ll answer for half an hour, starting at 2PM central a week from today. Have you gotten your update if you have the device and live in the aforementioned region?

Android Circuit: Samsung Slows Down, Xiaomi Speeds Up, ART Is Faster, And Apps Arrive For Your Smartwatch

Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories, including Samsung showing signs of losing momentum, Xiaomi is onto a winner with a new tablet, ART is under the microscope, what treasures lie in ‘L’ for the users, why are app permissions back in the news, what is Amazon up to with the Fire, and what apps should be on your wrist.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the very many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days.

Samsung Start To Lose Momentum

Samsung’s second quarter results have caused a stir in the Android market, as the number one Android manufacturer starts to show signs of a slowdown. The Q2 results showed a drop in operating income by 24 percent and in operating profit by 10% (a two-year low). There are a number of historical precedents in the smartphone world as to what happens next, and very few of them are pretty. I’ve taken a look at Tomi Ahonen’s Cliff Theory in light of Samsung’s latest numbers.

…As Xiaomi Builds Up A Solid Reputation With Another Tablet

If you’re looking for the company that is going to step up to the plate as Samsung stumbles, Xiaomi is on deck. Last week’s release of the Mipad saw the entire limited batch of 50,000 units sold in less than four minutes (reports Android Central). Small batches coming to market to create a rush (and headlines) is a technique that Xiaomi has used before to great effect. The Chinese manufacturer has the marketing smarts, the technology, and arguably the software, to be the lead Android manufacturer at home.

At some point Xiaomi will decide to look beyond China and decide to shake up the Android market in the rest of the world. That will be a very interesting day…

As Dalvik Rides Into The Sunset, Anandtech Puts ART Under The Microscope

One of the big changes for Android developers after the reveal of Android ‘L’ at Google’s I/O Developer Conference is the switch-out of the Dalvik runtime for the Android Run Time, ART. Switching from a Just in Time compiler to an Ahead of Time compiler provides more performance gains (after the first run of the app) but does rely on the extra horsepower and storage that Android has gained through Moore’s Law over the years.

Anandtech’s Andrei Frumusanu has taken a closer look at the runtime to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the runtime:

ART patches up many of the Achilles’ heels that comes with running non-native applications and having an automatic memory management system. As a developer, I couldn’t have asked for more, and most performance issues that I needed to work around with clever programming no longer pose such a drastic problem anymore.

This also means that Android is finally able to compete with iOS in terms of application fluidity and performance, a big win for the consumer.

Android on display at Google I/O (image: Google I/O Keynote video)

What Else Is ‘L’ Hiding In Its Pockets?

ART is one of the hidden treasures in Android’s ‘L’ release, according to Wired’s Andrew Cunningham. Hidden might be stretching it just a bit because all of the features will have a direct impact on the user; but they may not be quite sure why their audio is clearer, they have some very large image files, or why the battery life has suddenly increased. Certainly the core operations are hidden, but the effects are very public. Still, this is a nice primer on the difference that the ‘L’ release will have when it reaches consumers later this year.

Android Is Asking For More Permissions At Once

CITEworld’s Chris Nerny looks at the issues around an Android applications use of permission groups, and how the new organisation of permissions into catch-all groups such as ‘identity’ or ‘device & app history’ actually reduces the security of a handset. Once you approve the request for a group, subsequent updates to the app will have access to every permission in that group with checking in with you.

Under “contacts/calendar,” a user who approves “read your contacts” also unknowingly approves “modify your contacts,” “read calendar events plus confidential information,” and “add or modify calendar events and send email to guests” without owners’ knowledge. I bet it doesn’t even feel like your phone anymore!

Ordering the Amazon Fire phone (image: Amazon.com)

And Then There Is Amazon’s Fire Smartphone

Ahead of its commercial availability at the end of the month, the question of ‘why?’ still lingers around Amazon’s Fire smartphone, with Michael Mace’s examination being one of many potential answers. I’ve taken a closer look at the issues here on Forbes to see what Jeff Bezos’ A to Z store could be up to:

The Fire phone is clearly an exploratory device, to gain understanding and contribute to the next model. Presumably that second model is where Amazon will leverage the Amazon Prime membership, will use the retail opportunities control of the Amazon.com front page offers, and the distribution network that has been built up [around Amazon].

…And Finally, Some Wrist-App Action

Dan Seifert has brought together twelve Android Wear apps that are available right now for those of you with an LG G or Samsung Gear Live, including Evernote, Runkeeper, Trello, and Lyft. I’ll have a review of the LG G  smartwatch, and the Android Wear OS, over the weekend here on Forbes.

‘Android Circuit’ will round-up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!

Grab these apps for your commute

FindMyWay.

Getting from point A to B has become much easier thanks to modern smartphones, and South Africa is no different.

In fact, there are quite a few nifty apps that will make your commute easier, so we picked some of the best ones.

GoMetro

There are a number of apps for the Metrorail experience too, with GoMetro being one of the top applications around.

Developed for Symbian, Windows Phone and Android as free downloads, the app offers timetables and updates - but knowing Metrorail...

Can't get the app? Then visit the GoMetro mobile site for information.

MyCiti

We featured this unofficial app in our apps of the week roundup this week, and it's pretty innovative, we must say.

Aside from the usual timetables and route-planning functions, the MyCiti app also lets you scan your card with a phone to check its balance (provided that the handset has NFC).

The MyCiti app is available as a free download for Android.

FindMyWay

One of the cooler services we've come across, FindMyWay brings multiple public transport options into one app.

The app supports everything from Robben Island boat tours and Golden Arrow to Rea Vaya and MyCiti services. So if you plan to go from point A to B and then to C, this might be ideal for you.

FindMyWay is available as a free download for Windows Phone 8, Android, BlackBerry,Symbian and iPhone.

Gautrain

Unofficial apps are always welcome, but a well-designed official app is fantastic too, as the Gautrain app proves.

Available on a number of platforms, the app delivers route maps, train schedules and simple fair calculations.

Gautrain is available as a free download for BlackBerry, Android, iPhone, Symbian andWindows Phone.

AwayTo.Be

It might not be a newfangled app, but this mobile website is a nifty tool for using public transport.

AwayTo.Be has a very pleasant design, with no clutter to speak of - and it's capable too, taking multiple forms of transport into account.

For instance, want to get from Woodstock to the Waterfront? The service will break things down, telling you to walk X amount of metres to the nearest MyCiti bus, where to get off and how far to walk to reach the destination. Cool.

Our only two qualms are that there's no offline functionality (obviously) and that the automatic location listed me as being in the Northern Cape. Still, at least you can change the latter manually.

Rea Vaya

Gauteng's bus service has received an app too, and it promises to make your experience a bit more pleasant.

The app displays bus routes, times, ticket sale information and fares, covering the basics well enough. Although live notifications would be nice too.

Rea Vaya is free to download for Windows Phone.

Play these games during your commute

A few weeks ago, we looked at a few useful mobile applications for your daily commute.

But now that you've settled in on the bus, taxi or train, what should you do to pass the time?

Well, you could download give these mobile games a try (don't hold us responsible for your phone being stolen though!). 

SpellTower

One of the more enjoyable word games around, along with Words With Friends, SpellTower sees you having to form words by drawing lines.

It's a simple premise but quite addictive, and with two starkly different modes (one with and one without a timer), you're bound to derive some enjoyment out of it.

SpellTower is available for R21.57 on Android and R24.99 on iOS.

Jetpack Joyride

Alongside Canabalt, Jetpack Joyride is one of the most iconic endless-running titles around, and it's still a fun little time-waster.

The game's premise sees you controlling a dude armed with a jetpack and guns, collecting coins and dodging all sorts of obstacles. It's perfect for a five minute taxi ride, owing to the quickfire nature of it all.

Jetpack Joyride is available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone as free downloads. It was available for BB10 as well but has since inexplicably disappeared.

Orbit Run

Featured in our Apps rundown a few weeks ago, Orbit Run is the best kind of frantic twitch-based title.

Players simply control an orbiting dot revolving around a circle, tapping the screen to switch the dot inside and outside the circle to avoid obstacles. It's less complex than it sounds, but it's definitely difficult, with ten second runs not uncommon.

Orbit Run is free to download on Android.

Metal Slug Defense

Plants vs Zombies is the classic tower-defence title, but those looking for something new should give Metal Slug Defense a chance.

Yes, Metal Slug Defense is actually pretty fun, as you seek to destroy the enemy's base and prevent your own base from being blown up. And it features the classic sprite-based style too.

Metal Slug Defense is a free download for Android and iOS. 

2048

This little title has been ported (sometimes unofficially) to quite a few platforms, and it's no wonder, as it has a rather simple premise.

A grid-based puzzle title, you'll have to add like-numbered tiles together, while ensuring that the grid doesn't get full. It's so simple but clearly addictive, judging by download numbers.

2048 is available for Android, iOS, Windows Phone and BB10, the latter two being unofficial.

Fruit Quest

BlackBerry owners aren't left out of the lurch either, with Fruit Quest being one of the cooler titles on the platform.

A match-three puzzle title similar to Candy Crush Saga, Fruit Quest offers over 80 levels - so you should be busy for a while.

Fruit Quest is available for BlackBerry 7 and 10. 

Brain Cube Reloaded 

Another legacy BlackBerry title pops up here in the form of Brain Cube Reloaded, an innovative puzzle title.

The game tasks you with having to manipulate a cube across various levels, without causing it to fall off the stage, of course. It actually brings to mind indie title Edge, now that I think about it.

Brain Cube Reloaded is available for free on BB7.

Dots

A starkly simple concept, Dots makes a good case for being one of the most addictive mobile game ever made.

All players will have to do is match the same-coloured dots with each other, ideally forming a giant box for the most points. 

Dots is available for free on Android and iOS. 

Temple Run 2

Another endless-running title, Temple Run 2 sees you having to escape a swarm of monsters, but the gameplay is pretty slick too.

The game sees you having to slide under, leap over and dodge various obstacles, so how long can you last?

Temple Run 2 is available for free on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

Where's My Water? 2

Physics-based puzzlers are always a big hit, with Sprinkle and Angry Birds being two favourites, but Where's My Water 2 is a nifty title as well.

You'll need to dig through dirt, guiding water and other liquids in the process - and with over 100 levels, it's got some legs.

Where's My Water? 2 is available for free on Android, iOS and Windows Phone.

Backflip Madness

One of our favourite games of 2013, Backflip Madness is exactly what you think it's about - backflips.

You'll be flipping off platforms, cliffs and more in a variety of cool challenges, and it's addictive as hell too. 

Backflip Madness is available for R10.45 on Android and R12 on iOS. 

Vector

Bringing to mind cult favourite Mirror's Edge, Vector sees you using free-running to evade authorities in a futuristic setting.

The game is addictive and tough, with quite a few stages and moves to unlock - and the animations are pretty polished too.

Vector is free to play on Android and available for R12 on iOS. 

Angry Birds franchise

We really can't write this feature without listing the Angry Birds games, offering hundreds of levels and easy-to-understand mechanics.

In case you're new to smartphone gaming, Angry Birds sees you having to catapult birds into various structures, taking out the pigs inside said structures.

There are over half a dozen titles in the Angry Birds series, covering all the major platforms.

Super Hexagon

One of our favourite smartphone games around, Super Hexagon's premise might be simple, but it's fiendishly tough.

Players have to quickly move a little triangle around, with the stage itself being your enemy as the walls close in on you. Good luck lasting more than five seconds.

Super Hexagon is available for R36 on Android and for R37 on iOS.

Tinder Now Compatible With Android Wear, Life is Complete

I can’t knock the Tinder service. I love Tinder. If you don’t know what Tinder is, then think of it asHot or Not. If two people mark each other as Hot, then a connection is made. From there, you can chat, flirt, and set up a date if you so choose.

All of this action took place on your phone, but thanks to an update, you can now Tinder on yourAndroid Wear smartwatch. Dating on your smartwatch. Welcome to the future, folks. 

Microsoft Opens OneNote Beta for Android

Microsoft is the latest high-profile company to embrace the Play Store’s beta feature withOneNote. OneNote is a lot like Evernote – you can record audio, video, picture, and text notes, format them to your liking, and sync them across multiple platforms, like Windows PCs and iOS devices.

It’s been historically well-supported on Android devices, and while it doesn’t support Android Wearquite yet, perhaps beta testers could be the first to see that feature.

The Android Wear apps you should download right now

The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch (right)Sarah Tew/CNET

Google's Android Wear smartwatches are finally upon us. So you've got a brand new Samsung Gear Live sitting on your wrist, or maybe you opted for the LG G Watch -- now what?

Time to get some apps, of course. Smartwatch apps work a bit differently than the smartphone apps we're all used to. To start, you won't be downloading anything to your watch at all: you'll be pairing your smartwatch to your Android smartphone, where all the apps you'll be using are housed. Once the devices are paired, compatible apps will populate your smartwatch automatically. And you might not be downloading many new apps at all, as developers are updating their existing smartphone apps with smartwatch-friendly features.

Despite being all but tethered to your smartphone, the current crop of Android Wear apps are still generally designed to act independently of it. You'll be using your fingers and your voice to go places, get things done, or just get more information. But make no mistake, if your phone goes missing or its battery dies, your wrist-borne gadget won't be doing all that much.

There aren't all that many apps to choose from yet -- about 35 as of this publication date -- but you can find the full list on the Google Play Store. I've had some time to fuss with these smartwatches and have stumbled upon quite gems -- read on for apps you should definitely check out. And be sure to have a look at our list of Android Wear How-Tos for tips and tricks on getting the most out of your new gear.

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Getting things done

Google Keep (free)

Create and edit notes on your wrist with Google Keep.Nate Ralph/CNET

Google Keep has slowly become my go-to app for jotting down simple notes to myself, and it works surprisingly well on Android Wear. I just need to say "take a note," and then say whatever it is I'd like to remember. If you've created notes in Google Keep, you can also browse through the nine notes that sit at the top of your list, though you'll need the phone or Web app if you want to organize or change the color of your notes. I also couldn't create new checklists, though I could add new add new items to existing ones, so I suspect the functionality isn't far off. If you've got multiple Android Wear-compatible productivity apps on your device that can take notes -- in my case that's Keep, Evernote, and Trello -- you'll need to choose one.

Evernote for Android Wear (free)

Create Evernote notes on the fly.Evernote

I'm a huge fan of Evernote, but its smartwatch incarnation will take some getting used to. I have a few hundred meticulously organized notes at any given time -- not a massive collection, but more than I'd ever dream of perusing on my wrist. The app instead gives you a few options for finding notes, including voice search, notes you've modified recently, and notes you've created nearby if you've activated Evernote's location-tracking functionality. You can also search To Dos, which lists any notes that have items with checkboxes. The notes are necessarily limited by the interface: if there's lots of text involved, you'll spend a lot of time scrolling, and you won't be able to open any links. You can also create a note with your voice, if you haven't opted to use Google Keep instead.

IFTTT (free)

Create recipes for your smartwatch from your phone, or the Web.Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET

If This Then That is a phenomenal and powerful automation service the utility of which is going to vary wildly from person to person. Most of the action will still happen when your various Internet services interact with one another, but IFTTT adds a new function specifically for smartwatches in the form of a button. Push the button, and stuff happens: maybe it'll adjust appliances like a Nest thermostat or Philips Hue light bulbs, or send a canned email or text message to friends or family. You can create as many IFTTT recipes as you like, with plenty of customization options.

Google Hangouts (free)

Reply by voice or with canned responses.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

Is chatting on your wrist as ludicrous as it seems? Yes. But it's also incredibly convenient: my phone spends most of its time buried in the bowels of a messenger bag, but the world doesn't stop chatting just because I'm not paying attention. A quick buzz of the wrist lets you know that someone's trying to get in touch, and you can swipe over their message to reply with your voice, or send a canned response like "OK, I'm on my way," or even just a frowny face. And if the conversations ever get a little too frantic, you can always mute the app temporarily.

Wear Calc (free)

A calculator -- on a watch!Nate Ralph/CNET

Sometimes you just need to crunch a few numbers -- Wear Calc is here to help. Android Wear can't technically run native apps, but this is near enough: once installed from the Google Play Store, Wear Calc won't appear on your phone, but it can be run on a smartwatch if you say "Open Calculator," or if you open it manually through the "Start..." option. As a calculator, it works well enough in a pinch. But the developer gets eternal kudos for recreating the classic Casio calculator watch for these modern times. If you ever decide to remove the app, just look for "Calculator" in your list of installed apps on your phone.

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Making moves

Runtastic (free; Pro: $4.99), and Runkeeper (free; Elite: $9.99/month)

Runkeeper offers detailed stats, right on your wrist.Runkeeper

I've shunned excess physical exertion since graduating college, but that hasn't stopped Runtastic and Runkeeper's apps from piquing my interest. Choosing one will largely be up to personal preference: Runkeeper offers a bit more information on your wrist at a glance, but both scroll through their info cards, and you'll find that apps will serve up plenty of data on your pace, the distance travelled, and the calories you've burned. Both the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch will count your steps without an app, but that's about it -- if you need a bit more, one of these should serve you well.

Google Maps (free)

Google Now knows where you need to be, Google Maps gets you thereNate Ralph/CNET

I get lost. A lot. Thanks to Google Maps, I don't have to get lost quite so much anymore. And thanks to Google Maps on a smartwatch, I can stay the course, unobtrusively. If you've got appointments, Google Now will give you an approximate commute time and will work with Maps to give you text directions at the press of a button. If you're like me, you can just say "How do I get home?" and your wrist will point the way.

Wear Compass (free)

An alternative compass for your smartwatch.Wear Compass

The Samsung Gear Live I've been testing actually has a compass built in, and I suspect many other smartwatches will, too. But if you're looking for an alternative, consider Wear Compass, from the same developer that brought us Wear Calc. It's a compass: if you need to figure out the cardinal directions, it'll have you covered.

1Weather (free with ads; remove ads: $1.99)

1Weather offers detailed weather info.1Weather

I can generally be found in a hoodie and jeans no matter what the weather's like outside, but maybe you like to prepare for the elements. Google does offer some rudimentary weather info, but if you want to glance at detailed forecast info for the day or the week, the 1Weather app is currently your best bet.

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Downtime

MusixMatch (free; subscription: $4.99/year)

Conquer Karaoke.MusixMatch

"Tommy used to work on the docks, uhh... Gina works the diner all day... for love? We'll give it a shot!" We've all been there: A classic track comes on the radio and you'd love to sing along with your chums, but you don't remember the words. Struggle no more, as MusixMatch is here to help. MusixMatch will listen in on whatever's playing and display song lyrics right on your phone and smartwatch.You can also play tracks in apps like Spotify and Rdio and get the lyrics sent directly to your wrist, convincing all of your friends you're some kind of lyrical savant who's just really interested in the time. Don't worry, I won't tell.

Pinterest (free)

Visit places you've pinned on Pinterest.Pinterest

Pinterest is a surprising first entry for social networks on Android Wear, but here it is. When you're near a location you've pinned on the Web or through the smartphone app, you'll get a notification on your watch. That's it. It might not seem like the most enterprising use of the technology, but if you've pinned quite a few places -- say, restaurants you'd like to try -- and happen to be make an unscheduled jaunt through the right neighborhood, it could make for a pleasant surprise.

The Guardian (free; premium: $3.99/month)

Headlines from The Guardian, now on your wristNate Ralph/CNET

The Guardian is one of the first news outlets to jump on board with Android, and while it does little more than send alerts for breaking news, it remains one to watch. Once you've signed into the app on your phone, you can save headlines of interest to read later. You can't actually read any stories on your phone, though. There's also a "Share" button, which opens the Share dialog on your phone. That's not entirely useful either, and likely a holdover from the Android notification shade. But as a proof of concept, and a way to save stories you may otherwise have missed while you're on the go, it's an interesting idea.

Eat24 (free)

It's always a good time for pizza.James Martin/CNET

You had pizza on Wednesday, and you had pizza on Thursday. Friday evening's rolling around, what're you gonna do? If you ordered those pizzas through Eat 24, then you could be having pizza again with just a few taps or voice commands. The app lets you easily re-order and pay for meals right from your wrist, so you can feast on the same exact thing one more time. Because you're an adult now, and you've earned it.

DuoLingo (free)

Practice your Portuguese on the go.DuoLingo

DuoLingo is an awesome, free way to learn a new language, and the app is now Android Wear-compatible in a pretty clever way. Open DuoLingo on your smartwatch, and you'll get quick 10-word proficiency quiz. My Spanish quizzes, for example, display an English word to translate. I'm then presented with the answer: swipe up if got it right, swipe down if you got it wrong. Sure, it's working on the honor system, but are you really cheating here anyway? It's incredibly simple, and a great, low-impact way to keep lessons fresh in your mind when you only have a moment's time. I'd like to see the quiz results tie into the full DuoLingo experience a bit better, but it's a great first stab.

Bunting (free)

Tweet with your voice, if you're into that sort of thing.Bunting

If you ever felt the need to send a tweet from your wrist, Bunting has arrived. Sign in with your Twitter account, say "Start writing a tweet," and then share your spoken wisdom with your eager followers. I suspect the novelty of dictating your tweets to your wrist will wear off rather quickly, but "Yo" is a million-dollar thing, so what do I know?