Android By Russell Holly Jun. 30, 2014 10:29 am
Google’s not going to be ready to release Android L to the masses until the Fall, and that means it’s going to take even longer for Android smartphone manufacturers to roll out updates with all of their “enhancements” on board. Fortunately, the Android enthusiasts of the world have decided that waiting isn’t necessary.
While early adopters from around the world flash Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 devices with an early release of an unfinished OS, you may find yourself desiring a more cautious approach. Or maybe you just don’t own either of the latest Nexus devices. Worry not, fellow Android user, you can still get a bit of that Android L fix courtesy of the Google Play Store.
Google’s Android L keyboard has been extracted and is now available as a standalone app, courtesy of Android modder Shen Ye. The app is free to install, and works just like any other third party keyboard on your phone. They keyboard has nearly all of the same functions as the keyboard in the L preview, and maintains all of the same visual stylings.
You can also find the $.99 Heads Up! app in the Google Play Store. This app has most of the functionality seen during Google IO’s notification presentation, in that it allows notifications to float over the rest of your actions instead of just living in the notification drawer. The app requires you to reboot your phone after activating the service and selecting the apps that you want to pop up in this manner, but after that you’ll be able to see whatever kind of notification you want even when in a full screen app. The notifications can also be dismissed by swiping them away just like in the L preview, and it does not interrupt the app you are currently using.
These are small steps toward creating the L experience on your phone, and in the case of Heads Up! it doesn’t offer a true 1:1 copy of the functionality seen in the preview, but it’s a fun step forward for anyone hoping to get their hands on some of this new functionality and design.
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While early adopters from around the world flash Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 devices with an early release of an unfinished OS, you may find yourself desiring a more cautious approach. Or maybe you just don’t own either of the latest Nexus devices. Worry not, fellow Android user, you can still get a bit of that Android L fix courtesy of the Google Play Store.
Google’s Android L keyboard has been extracted and is now available as a standalone app, courtesy of Android modder Shen Ye. The app is free to install, and works just like any other third party keyboard on your phone. They keyboard has nearly all of the same functions as the keyboard in the L preview, and maintains all of the same visual stylings.
You can also find the $.99 Heads Up! app in the Google Play Store. This app has most of the functionality seen during Google IO’s notification presentation, in that it allows notifications to float over the rest of your actions instead of just living in the notification drawer. The app requires you to reboot your phone after activating the service and selecting the apps that you want to pop up in this manner, but after that you’ll be able to see whatever kind of notification you want even when in a full screen app. The notifications can also be dismissed by swiping them away just like in the L preview, and it does not interrupt the app you are currently using.
These are small steps toward creating the L experience on your phone, and in the case of Heads Up! it doesn’t offer a true 1:1 copy of the functionality seen in the preview, but it’s a fun step forward for anyone hoping to get their hands on some of this new functionality and design.
More...
