Lenovo K3 Note Unboxing & Hands On Overview / Impressions

Everything new in the Android M Preview 2

M Developer Preview Gets Its First Update

What’s New

The Developer Preview 2 update includes the up to date M release platform code, and near-final APIs for you to validate your app. In addition to platform updates, the system images also include Google Play services 7.6.

(The pictures are a mix of Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 screenshots, so don't worry about any size differences.)

The most prominent change is the fixed app drawer, which looks much better than the Preview 1 version. The original implementation removed an entire column of icons to make room for huge index letters. It looked ugly and was a waste of space, so we're glad to see them gone. There's still the nice-to-have search bar at the top of the screen, and it actually looks like a search bar now.

The top row of apps in the app drawer, which isn't alphabetical and changes all the time, is apparently the "predictive apps" bar. We'll have to see how well it actually predicts what we want to use.

The new homescreen finally supports auto rotate, so you have a horizontal home screen now.

The other big additions are the new System UI Tuner options. The UI tuner was introduced in the first version of Android M and only let you rearrange the power control pulldown, but now it has been expanded with status bar options. There's an option to show a percentage readout in the battery status bar icon, which has been a favorite feature of modders. This has been built into AOSP forever but turning it on before required a rooted phone—now it's very easy.

There's a whole set of options to hide stock status bar icons, so if you want to hide your signal bars or alarm clock icon you can now. It might seem a little weird to hide important status bar indicators, but we're guessing this is aimed at OEM skins, which like to fill the status bar with crap. Now you'd be able to turn it off, assuming OEMs don't mess with this feature.

There's also a "demo mode" which pops up a fake status bar for more presentable screenshots. It blanks out all the notifications and shows a 100% battery and sets the time to 5:20. Google's Android press shots almost always set the time to be a representation of the current version, so 5.0 showed 5:00, and 5.1 showed 5:10. A time of 5:20 suggests Android M will be called "Android 5.2."

The one feature that seems removed (or at least hidden) is the "Theme" options that were in the developer settings. They're just gone now.

Other than what's above, the official developer release notes show a few new permission types that have had their protection level tweaked, but it doesn't look like there's anything too major. 

That seems to be it for Android M. Like Google said, it's "incremental." This is still just a developer preview, so it's still missing all of the consumer facing Google apps that will debut with the OS. There's more Android M versions to come. The next one is scheduled for "late July."

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Oculus Rift: The Final Form

Oculus Rift

No more screendoor-effect issues or motion-induced sickness. On-board power, outside power requirements under control. With each prior iteration of its Rift headset, Oculus VR assured gamers that they hadn't yet seen the its final form. Finally, in the run-up to this year's E3 and at the show, came the invitation for everyone to "step into the Rift" and behold what the Kickstarted virtual reality headset has become.

Oculus VR still hasn't committed to a price or a preorder date, but the hardware and hard facts have finally started to materialize, and "coming soon" has been substantiated with a clear path to a Q1 2016 launch.
 "This whole area is getting really hot now, and we should see some amazing things in demonstrations as we approach the launch.

Game On

During E3, Oculus VR promoted some of the VR headset's upcoming games. Most of the games shown are third-person, but first-person space dogfighting simulator Eve Valkyrie continued to impress.

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One video game consoles have thrived despite what many bemoaned as a dearth of games available for them. The Oculus Rift could be faced with a similar problem -- and without a proven history comparable to the leading consoles.

"I think it's wonderful the work Oculus is doing in VR," he told TechNewsWorld, "but the question remains: Will gamers be willing to play through long gaming sessions with something attached to their faces?"

Something Has Changed

Along with the sleek black Rift headset, reminiscent of ski goggles, Oculus VR at E3 showed how players will interact with VR experiences. It unveiled its Home digital distribution and gaming platform, alongside its Touch sensor-fitted controllers.
The Home platform is meant to unify VR apps and games into a cohesive experience. Players can launch their games, buy new ones, interact with other players and even embark on virtual demos of VR software before making a purchase.
The Touch controllers, which mirror one another, are designed to deepen the connection between Rift wearers and their virtual hands. Oculus VR previously announced that each Rift will ship with a wireless Xbox One controller, thanks to a partnership with Microsoft.

Oculus Touch will serve as another tool on Rift wearers' tool belts one that's meant to complement the Xbox One controller's utility in core gaming.
With a mesh of sensors looping around the controllers' triggers, the Touch devices can track finger positions and interpret them into input users can wave or give a thumbs up, and Oculus Touch will recognize the gestures.