Themer: The Elegant Launcher

Many Android themes aren't too elegant, particularly those included by default on many handsets. Themer, however, manages to surface the best with a voting system, allowing its members to favourite themes they particularly like. The result is that the most innovative, interesting and intelligent rise to the top.

Themer allows users to switch between different homescreens with one click, browsing through a user-generated database of themes to find the one that best suits their needs. 

Themer deals with the wide range of apps used by Android users. Instead of including icons for Pandora, Spotify, Google Play Music and so on, theme-creators instead just include a music icon. The first time you press that, it'll ask you which of the music apps installed you'd like to use. From then on, whichever theme you install will open that app.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is a phone-camera hybrid. The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom is the sort of device you might imagine resulting if you put a compact camera and a phone next to each other and pushed them together really hard. It has the dimpled back styling of Samsung’s latest phones, and looks just like a normal phone from the front. But on the back is a giant lens housing that sticks out and alters the weighting of the phone substantially. 

The Samsung Galaxy K Zoom's impressive 10x optical zoom gets you up close with your subject without losing image quality. It has plenty of power for most tasks and it has the latest Android software too.

KEY SPECS

• Display: 4.80-inch
• Processor: 1.3GHz
• Front Camera :2-megapixel
• Resolution :720x1280 pixels
• RAM: 2GB
• OS: Android 4.4
• Storage: 8GB
• Rear Camera: 20.7-megapixel
• Battery capacity: 2430mAh

Samsung Galaxy Alpha: A High-End Android Smartphone

Samsung Galaxy Alpha, a high-end android smartphone device produced by Samsung Electronics. 

The Galaxy Alpha is Samsung's first smartphone to incorporate a metallic frame, although the remainder of its physical appearance still resembles previous models such as the Galaxy S5. It also incorporates Samsung's new Exynos 5430 system-on-chip, which is the first mobile system-on-chip to use a 20 nanometer manufacturing process.

Specifications

The Galaxy Alpha's overall design is an evolution upon that of the Galaxy S5, incorporating a chamferred metal frame and a dimpled, plastic rear cover.With a thickness of 6.7 mm (0.26 in), Samsung considers the Galaxy Alpha to be the company's thinnest smartphone.

International models of the Alpha utilize an octa-core, Exynos 5430 system-on-chip; consisting of a bank of four 1.8 GHz Cortex-A15 cores, and four 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 cores. The Exynos 5430 is the first ever mobile system-on-chip to use a 20 nanometer HKMG manufacturing process.

The international model will also be the first device to incorporate Intel's XMM7260 modem for category 6 LTE Advanced support. U.S. models will include a 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor instead; both models will include 2 GB of RAM.

The Galaxy Alpha features a 720p 4.7 in (120 mm) Super AMOLED display, and also incorporates a 12 megapixel rear-facing camera, fingerprint and heart rate sensors, and a removable 1860 mAh battery. The device includes 32 GB of non-expandable storage, and runs Android 4.4.4 "KitKat" with Samsung's TouchWiz software suite.

Android Wear: The New Smart Companion

Launched less than a year ago, Android Wear is now coming into its early golden age with devices such as Sony's Smart Watch 3, LG's G Watch R, Motorola's Moto 360 and more.

What Android Wear does?

Android Wear is intended to provide "information that moves with you" and so far it lives up to that promise. It puts the entire world inches from your suddenly-free fingertips.

It doesn't just tell the time. The wearable operating system makes suggestions based on time and it factors location into its context-sensitive data.

There are now several hundred apps available for the OS, augmenting your Android Wearable's powers beyond the standard notifications 'n' fitness realm. 

Extending Android to Wearables

Android Wear extends the Android platform to a new generation of devices, 

with a user experience that's designed specifically for wearables.

• Get glanceable, actionable information at just the right time with notifications that are synced from your handheld device.
• Say “Ok Google” to send messages, ask questions, and get stuff done.
• Design apps that can access a wide range of sensors and other hardware directly on the wearable.

Developing for Android Wear

The Android Wear APIs are delivered in the Android Support Library and Google Play services. When using these libraries, handheld devices running Android 4.3 or later can communicate with wearables.

Synced Notifications

Notifications on handhelds can automatically sync to wearables, so design them with both devices in mind.

Voice Actions

Register your app to handle voice actions, like "Ok Google, take a note," for a hands-free experience.

Build Wearable Apps

Create custom experiences with activities, services, sensors, and much more with the Android SDK.

Send Data

Send data and actions between handhelds and wearables with data replication APIs and RPCs.

Lenovo Vibe Z Features

Lenovo Vibe Z, a blazingly-fast smartphone. The Vibe Z originally ran Android 4.2.2, also known as "Jelly Bean." It now comes with Android 4.3 and Lenovo has announced an upgrade to 4.4 Lenovo customized the dialer in order to facilitate one handed dialling. Lenovo has also included numerous proprietary apps. SECUREit includes antivirus, child safety, privacy and anti-theft functionality. SYNCit backs up and restores contacts, messages, and call logs. SHAREit facilitates file sharing, including via direct connections using Bluetooth and ad-hoc wi-fi. Power Manager extends battery life and protects the battery from premature failure.

Features of Lenovo Vibe Z are:

• Qualcomm® 2.2GHz Snapdragon™ 800 Processor. Thrilling speed and smooth navigation characterize the Lenovo VIBE Z smartphone. The power-efficient Qualcomm® Snapdragon 800 2.2GHz processor delivers the muscle to match any combination of apps, videos or 3D games.
• Dual High Resolution Cameras. The VIBE Z makes you centre of attention with its 5 megapixel front camera and 84° wide angle lens for high quality self shots, plus amazing video chat. You can also capture sensational images, even in low-light conditions, with a 13 megapixel rear camera with BSI sensor, and shoot 1080p HD video.
• 4G Speed. The VIBE Z supports high-speed LTE (4G) networks for the fastest data connectivity making websites, apps and games reach their full potential.
• 20/20 Vision. Enjoy vibrant and pin-sharp images, gaming and video with the VIBE Z’s 5.5” 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution display. At more than 400 pixels per inch you can browse full-version websites, or enjoy and share hi-res images and video at their absolute finest. Plus, in-plane switching (IPS) allows for nearly 180-degrees of wide-angle viewing.
• Lenovo DOit Apps. Lenovo's new DOit series of apps let you and your device do more including sharing data with other Android devices without requiring a network, preventing viruses and malware, and backing up your contacts and sms log. Go to the Apps tab for more details.
• Lenovo Smart UI. With Lenovo Smart User Interface, one hand smartphone control has never been easier. To light up, press the volume button, and you can answer a call by just putting the VIBE Z to your ear. In addition Smart UI makes it easier to find your favorite apps with simple drag and drop folder organization.
• Android 4.3. Android 4.3 includes restricted profiles which control access to apps and content helping secure your smartphone. In addition, Bluetooth Smart support enables mobile apps that connect to fitness sensors, while games look great thanks to the 3D realistic, high performance graphics powered by OpenGL ES 3.0.
• Comfortable and Light. Ultrathin at 7.9mm and with a power-to-weight ratio to envy at only 147g, the VIBE Z slips easily into your pocket or bag. Its laser-etched fabric-feel rear cover also offers a comfortable grip and resistance to fingerprints and scratches, while its Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 display is as tough as they come.

Android L: The Latest Android Version

During the launch of the Nexus 6, Android Lollipop was officially confirmed as the name for Android 5.0.

The Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 are Google's first devices to come with Android Lollipop, but these aren't the only Nexus products which will get the latest sweet treat.

Android 5.0 "Lollipop" is the latest version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google. Unveiled on June 25, 2014 during Google I/O, it became available through official over-the-air (OTA) updates on November 12, 2014.

Breaking out of the mold from previous releases, Google took to the stage during its Google I/O developer conference to announce a new version of Android, dubbed simply "Android L." In October the name was finally released as "Lollipop" and given the distinction of Android 5.0. The name comes from the Android naming convention that goes in alphabetical order, where L would follow the previous release, KitKat. The difference this time around being that Google released certain parts of the OS ahead of time under the "Android L" name to get it in developers' hands, and released the naming later.

Android 5.0 Lollipop comes with yet another interface design tweak, this time coming with the name "Material Design." The design language builds heavily on some of the interface experimentation Google has done with Google Now, leveraging the "card" metaphor throughout the Lollipop interface. Cards of various colors and sizes appear throughout the system, with different colors and shadows providing a feeling of depth in the interface. Apps can respond to touch with different shadows and ripple effects to make the interface feel as though it is being manipulated directly by users, and bold new colors palettes give apps distinctive personalities. Animations are supposed to reflect user interaction, not just happen at random.

Under the hood in Lollipop are dozens of new features and over 5000 new APIs that developers can plug into as well. Things like new notification hooks to work with Android Wear, better control over battery with Project Volta and cross-platform compatibility with Chrome OS devices are huge pillars of Android Lollipop.

The first builds of Android L were distributed to developers at Google I/O 2014 with factory images made available for both the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7, and then launched officially with the release of the Nexus 6 phone and Nexus 9 tablet.