This week’s biggest news wasn’t about a phone or tablet, it was about the TV. Specifically, Amazon’s brand new Fire TV set-top box. Will it be compelling enough to sway fans from the Chromecast, Roku or Apple TV? We are also hearing that Google is readying their next generation set-top box, dubbed Android TV. Can both Android TV and the Chromecast coexist? The Samsung Galaxy S 5 will finally launch globally this week. Will it live up to the hype or will the HTC One (M8) keep it in check? It’s time to get caught up and get ready for what is sure to be another exciting week in the world of Android.
Guides
Everything you need to know about Sense 6 on the HTC One (M8)
How to setup and use BlinkFeed on the HTC One (M8)
Sense 6 Camera and Gallery walkthrough on the HTC One (M8)
How to apply Duo Camera effects on the HTC One (M8)
April Fools’ Day Jokes
Google April Fools’ Day jokes for 2014
Breaking: Google buys Samsung Electronics for $200 billion in cash and stock
Samsung Fingers gets announced, the first entrant into the smartglove game
HTC unveils the revolutionary new wearable HTC Gluuv
Moto X and Moto G get new April Fools’ Day boot animation
SwiftKey brings their Flow gesture-input to the desktop with ‘Flow Hard’
Accessories
Google giving away cases for Nexus 5, Nexus 7 and HP Chromebook 11 at 25% off
Android TV
Google may be returning to your living room with Android TV
Apps – New
HTC Sense 6 apps now unofficially available for non-HTC devices
Outlook Web App (OWA) for Android to arrive soon
FireChat is a bold new take on messaging as it does not require any internet connection
KISSIFY your photos with the new KISS Photobomb app featuring the legendary rock band KISS
Apps – Updates
Crackle app now supports Google’s Chromecast
Rdio app updated with support for Chromecast
Themer will now let you switch icon packs
Google’s Improved camera app will focus on portrait shots and effects
Google Keep updated with interface tweaks, image search functionality, and a trash menu
Google Play Movies & TV gets updated with Info Cards and a minor facelift
Google Play Newsstand updated to version 3.2.0 with updated layout and new My Library tab
Spotify launching a brand new look and new features with update
Facebook Messenger gets free calling over WiFi and more in latest update
Share Vines and chat away with the new Vine messaging feature
Samsung’s ChatOn gets updated with larger file transfers, message deletion, and location sharing
Amazon tablet app updated with Fresh grocery delivery service and several other features
Rhapsody and Napster both get updated to bring Chromecast support
Latest Flixster update adds Chromecast support
Developer takes just two hours to make AllCast work with Amazon Fire TV
Carriers
Moto Maker finally available for Republic Wireless customers
LG G2 Mini (LS885) gets tabbed for Sprint
Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2
Sprint sweetens the Framily Plan with offer to cover ETFs
Verizon cuts $25 off the price of line service for More Everything plans with 10 GB or more data
Verizon variant of the Galaxy Tab 4 arrives at the FCC
Verizon’s HTC One M8 and last year’s HTC One rooted with WeakSauce
Verizon now offering 1GB of extra data for tablet customers on More Everything
Pre-order the Galaxy S 5 at Verizon Wireless now and get another phone for free
Chromebooks
New study says 2.1 million Chromebooks were shipped last year, 89% in the U.S.
Chromecast
Crackle app now supports Google’s Chromecast
Rdio app updated with support for Chromecast
AutoCast Android app allows you to multitask with your Chromecast
Rhapsody and Napster both get updated to bring Chromecast support
Latest Flixster update adds Chromecast support
Contests
Sony holding contest with a trip to New York City and a bunch of its products at stake
Deals
HTC One (M8) and One (M7) get discounted at Best Buy
Gaming
Microsoft releases Xbox One Smartglass app into Google Play Store
Amazon Game Studios shows what is coming and the first Fire TV exclusive “Sev Zero”
Gameloft optimizing games for Amazon’s Fire TV
The TalkAndroid app, plus 23 other Android apps, can now be accessed worldwide through Google Search
Google may be returning to your living room with Android TV
Google’s Improved camera app will focus on portrait shots and effects
Play Store shares ‘My Play activity’ as an activity feed for everyone
Android distribution numbers for April proudly display KitKat breaking 5%
Privacy concerns regarding Google’s Street View headed to Supreme Court
Here are the new features Google is working on for Gmail
Gmail introduces custom theme sharing option
Chrome Remote Desktop hits invite-only beta
Google takes us behind the scenes to peek at Project Ara development
[Rumor] Google toying with the idea of an Android Silver program
Is Google ready to become a mobile phone carrier?
Big changes in store for Google’s native and web apps due to wearables
Google Play Store’s new ‘People’ option gives you recommendations based on your friends
Google removed the SMS feature from Gmail Chat
YouTube’s subscription music service has been delayed…. again
Google+
Google+ adds view counts to user profiles
Google Glass
Google is struggling with the trademark for the word “Glass”
Hardware
Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 developer tablet will be available later this month
Samsung discovers a new method to commercialize graphene
Home Automation
Samsung announces the global launch of its Samsung Smart Home service
Nest launches the Learning Thermostat in the UK for £179
Nest halts sales, disables feature on Nest Protect alarm units
Phones – HTC
The HTC One (M8) has a thick bottom bezel for a reason
Verizon’s HTC One M8 and last year’s HTC One rooted with WeakSauce
HTC One (M8) available in all colors in the UK, shipping tomorrow
HTC One M8 Mini may launch in May
HTC Butterfly Android 4.4 KitKat update gets the “coming soon” label
HTC Butterfly successor pops up in AnTuTu benchmark
HTC One (M8) and One (M7) get discounted at Best Buy
Phones – Huawei
Upcoming Huawei flagship smartphone leaks, metal body and Kirin 920 processor included
Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G may make it to U.S. market
Phones – LG
LG G2 Mini (LS885) gets tabbed for Sprint
Development of the LG G Flex 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Round 2 diverging
Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2
Phones – Motorola
Motorola ‘Moto X + 1′ name surfaces, the world ponders what it could be
Moto Maker finally available for Republic Wireless customers
Moto G Forte quietly launches in Mexico
Phones – OnePlus
OnePlus One screens reveal a little bit of the interface
OnePlus One will cost no more than 350 euros in Europe
Phones – Polaroid
PolaSma by Polaroid is the newest smartphone for teenagers
Phones – Samsung
Samsung smartphone with QHD (2560 x 1440) display is definitely in the pipeline
Galaxy S 5 sports the ‘best performing smartphone display’ ever tested
Here’s why Samsung thinks the Galaxy S 5 is more superior than the HTC One (M8)
Manual for Samsung Galaxy S 5 ready for download
Samsung Galaxy S 5 makes payment using fingerprint a reality
[Video] Galaxy S 5 trumps S 4 in drop test
Pre-order the Galaxy S 5 at Verizon Wireless now and get another phone for free
Samsung Galaxy S 5 Zoom benchmarks leak, a 20.2MP camera is ready for showtime
Leaked image claims to be the Samsung Galaxy S 5 Zoom
Samsung Galaxy S 5 Mini specs leak
Development of the LG G Flex 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Round 2 diverging
Phones – VIVO
VIVO’s newest device will have a Snapdragon 801 processor, 3 GB of RAM, and a powerful camera
ROMs
Cyanogen Inc. reveals new branding
Set-top boxes
Amazon finally announces Fire TV set-top box and gaming controller
Gary Busey is the star of Amazon Fire TV’s first commercial
Amazon Fire TV gets its innards exposed by iFixit
Developer takes just two hours to make AllCast work with Amazon Fire TV
Smartwatches
Music Boss now supports control of Chromecast volume and playback from your Pebble smartwatch
Pebble smartwatch takes aim at Target shoppers
Tablets
Lenovo releasing four new A-series tablets
Nexus 10 listed as “coming soon” on Google Play
Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 developer tablet will be available later this month
Samsung Galaxy Tab4 series is official
Verizon variant of the Galaxy Tab 4 arrives at the FCC
Updates
Sprint pushes out KitKat update for the LG G2
HTC Butterfly Android 4.4 KitKat update gets the “coming soon” label
Miscellaneous
HTC admits to boosting benchmarks on the M8
Motorola’s Moto G, LG’s G2 keep manufacturers in play
Google likely to play key role in latest Apple patent trial with Samsung
Samsung’s opening arguments say Apple has “an attack on Android”
Trial reveals Apple’s marketing chief riled up over Samsung ads
Samsung gets another hit with Ortiz selfie with Obama
Motorola gives behind the scenes look at April Fools’ animation
Samsung big mover, Android maintains lead in latest comScore report
Internal document shows just how worried Apple is about everyone else
Come comment on this article: TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for March 31 – April 6, 2014
TalkAndroid Weekly Recap for March 31 – April 6, 2014
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