Android is about to get a major design makeover

It’s not clear when KitKat’s successor will be released, but Google is reportedly preparing a major design makeover for its “L” version of Android. According to information received by Android Police, Google is looking to unify design across its products and across platforms, and the initiative is apparently referred to as Quantum Paper.

With Quantum Paper, Google wants to offer the same user interface and experience to end-users, no matter what devices they use, and no matter what platform – apparently, Google’s iOS apps will follow the same Quantum Paper design elements as its Androidapps.

But Google isn’t just looking to give Android a complete makeover, as the Quantum Paper design “language” will be available to developers too, who will be encouraged to integrate the various new elements into their own apps.

Apparently Quantum Paper is based on Google’s Polymer design initiative unveiled at Google I/O 2013, which is “a toolkit for designing responsive websites using predefined yet customizable building blocks.”

Quantum Paper design will include new visual elements, new buttons, new interaction elements, which should all be consistent across devices. Geek.com has recently obtained images that show a radical Gmail redesign is coming, both for the Android and web versions of Gmail, and seem to corroborate Android Police’s report. The leaked Gmail images show a consistent interface across devices, which includes many of the visual elements Android Police mentioned for the upcoming design overhaul.

Quantum Paper design elements will be found in all existing Google apps, starting with Google+ which has already been updated, with more Google apps to gradually get Quantum Paper designs by the time the Android “L” release is available. Google’s websites are also expected to get the same update by the time Android L launches.

Images showing the rumored Gmail redesign as revealed by Geek.com in previous months follow below, which appear to abide to the same design rules, while more concept images for Quantum Paper are available at the source link below.

Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.4.3 KitKat Update: How To Root GT-19505G Variant And Install Custom ROMs [TUTORIAL]

The Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-19505G variant running Android 4.4.3 KitKat based firmware KTU84L can be rooted with Chainfire’s Auto-Root package. Once the Galaxy S4 Google Play edition is rooted, there are many custom ROMs that can be installed. (Photo: Twitter)

The Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-19505G, a.k.a. the Google Play edition of the Galaxy S4, was released a year ago, and the high-end smartphone recently received the latest Android 4.4.3 KitKat firmware update. Galaxy S4 GooglePlay users who have updated to the new KTU84L build can root their devices thanks to famed hacker Chainfire's Auto-Root package. Rooting the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play edition with the model number GT-19505G gives users the ability to customize their handsets by installing custom ROMs.

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As many Android users know, rooting gives users "root access" or administrative access to the software commands of their smartphone or tablet. Once rooted, users have the ability to install custom ROMs or download third party apps that require root menu access. Choosing a custom ROM that best suits your needs can free up memory space, optimize speed and save battery on your Android device.

While there are advantages to rooting an Android, doing so may void the warrant on your Samsung Galaxy S4, if it's still under warranty. Rooting has been successful for many Android users but it might take several attempts before you get it right. Improper rooting may leave your device "bricked", or unable to be turned on again. Please proceed with rooting your device at your own risk.

If you're still interested in rooting your Galaxy S4, we've put together an easy tutorial based on information found on the XDA Developers. Here's how to root the Google Play edition of the Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-19505G) and install a custom ROM on the device:

Step One: Verify that you're using the Galaxy S4 Google Play edition with model number GT-19505G. Rooting will delete your phone's data, so back up everything that you need. Make sure your device has at least 60 percent battery life. Download and install the Samsung USB Driver on your computer, if you haven't already.

Step Two: Enable USB debugging on your Galaxy S4 by going to Settings > More > About Device. Scroll down and repeatedly tap on Build Number until you see a message that says "Developer mode has been enabled". Select Developer options than check the USB debugging box.

Step Three: Download and extract Chainfire's CF-Auto Root Package, which includes Odin3 v3.07 and the CF-Auto-Root file. The CF-Auto-Root file for the Galaxy S4 GT-19505G should have a ".tar.md5" extension.

Step Four: Turn off your Galaxy S4 and boot it in Download Mode by holding the Volume down, Home and Power buttons at the same time. After a few seconds you should see a warning message. Release the buttons you were holding and press the Volume up button to enter Download mode.

Step Five: With your Galaxy S4 not connected to your computer, run Odin3 as an Administrator. When the program has loaded, connect your Galaxy S4 to your PC via USB. An "Added!!" message should appear in Odin. If not, try another USB port.

Step Six: Once Odin has recognized your device, click the AP button in Odin and select the CF-Auto-Root...tar.md5 file you extracted in Step three. In the Odin window, make sure Repartition is not check then click the Start button to begin the flashing process.

Step Seven: The flashing process should take less than a minute, after which your Galaxy S4 should restart automatically. When you see a green "PASS" message in Odin, you can unplug your device from your computer. 

Step Eight: The Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-19505G should now be rooted. You can check that you have root access on your smartphone by installing Root Checker from the Google Play Store.

Step Nine: Once the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-19505G has been rooted, you can install custom ROMs on the device that will optimize certain features of the smartphone. There are many different ROMs that you can test out, but we recommend starting with the Pure Nexus Edition ROM or the Arrow ROM.

Step Ten: Enjoy!

What custom ROMs do you suggest for the Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-19505G? Let us know in the comments!

SwiftKey for Android is now free with paid keyboard themes

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SwiftKey is doing something unusual. It's long been one of the most popular paid Android add-ons to date, but apparently that's not good enough. The company is dropping the price of its keyboard completely, offering it for free worldwide. Those who get the keyboard for free beginning today get the same thing as someone who paid a few dollars a week (or years) ago.

YOU MIGHT END UP SPENDING MORE INSTEAD

So what's the catch? SwiftKey plans to make its money by selling keyboard themes, which can completely change your keyboard. For about a buck each (or a few dollars for sets of themes), SwiftKey hopes you'll be willing to shell out for access to designs that will change the look of something you use on your phone numerous times each day. That's in place of the $4 people would typically pay to get the app in the first place.

Why is SwiftKey doing this? According to the company, additional styles were the most requested feature, and more than half of its paying users change the theme to something besides the one that comes out of the box. SwiftKey also thinks it's nailed the primary technologies that run behind the scenes of its software keyboards, and now wants to put a greater effort into how it looks.

"We're investing in design. This is a critical shift for us," SwiftKey's chief marketing officer, Joe Braidwood, says. "Themes change this concept of the keyboard as a functional place, and change it to a destination."

EARLY ADOPTERS GET FREEBIES

Those themes have been created in-house by designer Scott Weiss, who joined the company last December, following stints at Symbian, Microsoft, and Apple. His group has created more than 50 themes, a number the company expects to build on over time. Those who bought into the service early on get a free "premiere pack" that includes 10 themes, which will cost everyone else $4.99 as an in-app-purchase. The rest will cost about a dollar each, or in curated collections a la VSCO Cam's filters.

Beyond the themes, Braidwood says the price drop and built-in store is part of a larger effort to get into developing markets, places where people are typically (and historically) less willing to spend money on an augmented version of something that already comes on their phone or tablet.

A BAD SIGN FOR PAID APPS

The big question, of course, is what kind of message this sends to other would-be Android app startups. If a successful company like SwiftKey needs to change course by becoming a freemium app, will others give up on the idea of trying to make people pay for customization software out of the gate? In SwiftKey's case, the data backs that case up. The company's keyboard has been installed on more than 200 million devices, but just 6 million users have actually bought it. Braidwood says that by building a theme store and making a better way to get there, more people could end up spending money.

SwiftKey's new plan comes as the company readies a keyboard for Apple devices. Last week, Apple announced plans to let third-party software keyboard makers onto its devices as part of iOS 8, which is coming out this fall. SwiftKey and others are already at work on bringing their Android creations over for what could be a land grab of new users, but themes and the free price tag may not be there from the start.

Windows Phone is getting an incredibly cool feature that iOS and Android can’t match

For a while now, we’ve wondered whether Microsoft had a plan to really differentiate Windows Phone from iOS and Android and make it more than just another mobile platform. The Verge’s Tom Warren reports that Microsoft is working on integrating its Kinect motion detection software into Windows Phone in a big way that could really give Microsoft a way to draw a lot more people to use its platform.

While Kinect has not yet proven to be an essential must-have for gamers who own Microsoft’s Xbox consoles, it could be extremely useful if ported to the smartphone realm. Among other things, Warren says that Kinect in Windows Phone will let you answer your phone just by holding up to your ear and to turn on speaker phone just by placing your phone down on the table when you’re on a call with someone. You’ll also be able to end your call by putting your phone into your pocket, as Kinect will be able to automatically tell what you’d like to do based on lighting and positioning.

According to Warren, Microsoft has an ambitious longterm goal with this new 3D Touch technology: The elimination of as many smartphone buttons as possible. This means that, for instance, Microsoft wants to be able to “remove buttons like power, so phone owners can simply grip their device to power it on.”

Warren says Microsoft will first unveil these new Kinect-enabled Windows Phone features on a device that’s now codenamed the Nokia McLaren that will essentially be Microsoft’s successor to the Lumia 1020, which made its name last year for having the best smartphone camera the world has ever seen. While the devil is always in the details with this sort of thing and Microsoft needs to make sure 3D Touch works well right out of the box, we’re certainly excited to see this new feature in action.

Now Run Android Apps on PC

BlueStacks App Player is a versatile program that bridges the gap between mobile and desktop by allowing users to run their favorite Android apps on their Windows or Mac OS X devices. An innovative "Cloud Connect" feature allows you to push apps from your Android device to Bluestacks, and vice versa. First released to the public in 2011, the program has continued to grow, and is currently free for download in its current beta form. Want to get a taste of Android on your desktop? Here's how to set up BlueStacks, as well as a rundown of some of its controls and interesting features. Be sure to check out the BlueStacks review from our friends at LAPTOP, too.

1. Installing BlueStacks

Download BlueStacks App Player for Windows

Download BlueStacks App Player for Mac OSX

Download BlueStacks Cloud Connect for Android

BlueStacks App Player is available for Windows and OSX computers, and is a quick, compact install to your boot drive (there's no option in the installer to go to a different drive or directory). The only choice you make during the install is whether to allow the program to make notifications, as well as the option to opt in to BlueStacks Spotlight, which holds daily app giveaways.

2. The Home Screen

Once installed, BlueStacks will boot up to its Home Screen, where you can access your installed apps, look up apps in the "Top Charts," search for apps, and access settings. You can use the mouse for basic touch controls here, with clicking and holding to simulate basic tap and swipe controls. From here, we'll need to do a bit more setup before you can get around to installing apps. You'll need to set up access to the Google Play store and associate a Google Account with BlueStacks.

MORE: 30 Best Apps for Rooted Android Phones

3. Setting up the App Store

With BlueStacks installed, the first thing you'll want to do is associate a Google Account so that you can get onto the Google Play store and download apps. Go to "My Apps" and click on "1-Click Sync Setup," which will bring up a wizard interface that will guide you through the process. Basically, you'll need to either create a Google account, or sign in with your existing one.

4. Setting up BlueStacks Cloud Connect

An optional step for users with an Android smartphone or tablet is to set up BlueStacks Cloud Connect, an app that allows you to push apps from your Android device to BlueStacks, and vice versa. Download Cloud Connect for your Android device, and then go to the Settings button on BlueStacks and click on "Cloud Connect".

If you have an Android phone, input an email address as well as your phone number. You will then receive instructions via email and SMS on how to connect your phone to Bluestacks, push apps, and sync SMS.

If you're running an Android tablet, you instead just use an email address to synch BlueStacks with your device. After registering BlueStacks Cloud Connect, you should receive an email containing a PIN number, which you input into the Cloud Connect app.

You should now be able to push apps between your device and BlueStacks. You're essentially istalling the same app on your desktop and mobile device, without syncing app data (such as login credentials or game progress). Still, it's an easy way to copy apps from your device to BlueStacks, or vice versa.

MORE: 40 Free and Useful Android Apps

5. Installing & Running Apps

If you're not going to sync apps to and from your Android device, you can just use the built in App Search to search for and install apps from Google Play, Amazon, or 1Mobile.

It may seem confusing at first, but BlueStacks won't let you get to its three built-in app markets directly. You'll need to go through the App Search button. Type in the name of the app you're looking for, and it will search 1Mobile, Amazon, and Google Play for matches, and give you the option to install apps from any of the above three stores.

Once you've accessed one of the three app stores, you can then navigate that store. Within Google Play, for instance, you can take advantage of the store's search and other features.

Once you return to the Home Screen, your newly installed app should be ready to run. BlueStacks can run an impressive variety of apps from social networking tools and multimedia apps to games. However, BlueStacks won't run everything, so expect a little trial and error for compatibility.

6. Controls & Settings

You should now have everything you need to install and run apps from BlueStacks, so we'll finish up with some extra notes on in-app controls, as well as settings. Unless you happen to be running a touchscreen rig or a Windows 8 tablet, you're going to need some way to approximate pinch to zoom, as well as tilt controls.

Pinch to Zoom: Control +, or Control -

Tilt Controls: 'Z' or 'X' can be used to simulate tilting a device left or right.

BlueStacks supports the use of gamepad controls for many apps, which will be a godsend for users looking to play Android games on a PC. Plug in your controller, and Bluestacks should inform you if a particular app supports a controller.

Finally, the Settings menu (gear icon) contains assorted system settings for language, keyboard settings, contacts and account management, and an app manager for uninstalling applications and setting their default sizes.

There's your quick visual tour of the BlueStacks App Player. It may not run every Android app perfectly, but BlueStacks puts you just a mouse click away from thousands of compelling choices.