How to Install the Android M Preview on Your Nexus Device (Using Mac or Linux)

How to Install the Android M Preview on Your Nexus Device (Using Mac or Linux)

Google I/O is like Christmas for Android enthusiasts. Every year, this conference showcases new and upcoming features for the world's leading mobile operating system, and this year's was no different. Shortly after announcing Android M, Google released a preview version of the upcoming firmware for Nexus devices.

We've already covered a method to install this new preview build on Nexus devices, but that one required a Windows PC. For Mac and Linux users, the "Fastboot" method is the way to go, and I've got a step-by-step guide on this process waiting for you just after the jump.

Before You Begin

This new preview build is only available for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player. It doesn't require root to install, but you should be aware that you will lose root and all of your data if you install this build.

The following guide is meant for Mac and Linux users, but it will also work on Windows computers. If you want an easier way for Windows, check out my guide on installing the Android M preview using the Nexus Root Toolkit.

Step 1: Enable OEM Unlock (Nexus 6 Users Only)

Nexus 6 users should first enable the "OEM unlock" option in the Developer options. (If you don't see this menu option in Settings, here is how you unlock it.) Simply tick the box next to "Enable OEM unlock" and you'll be ready to go.

Step 2: Put Your Nexus in Bootloader Mode

You'll need to boot your device into Bootloader mode, so power your Nexus completely off. When the screen goes black, press and hold the volume down and power buttons simultaneously. Once the Bootloader menu comes up, go ahead and connect your phone to your computer with a USB data cable.

Step 3: Install the Android SDK on Your Computer

Over on your computer now, you'll need to grab a copy of the latest Android SDK. Head to the official site at this link to download the file for your particular operating system. The install process will vary, but most users can simply extract the files from the archive into a folder that can be accessed easily. Take note of the location of this folder (android-sdk), because you'll be transferring files to this location later.

Step 4: Install ADB & Fastboot on Your Computer

Next up, for your computer to be able to fully interact with your Nexus, you'll have to make sure you have the ADB and Fastboot drivers installed on your system.

Windows Users:

If you own a Windows PC, you can download the drivers at this link. Just run the file, then follow the prompts, and you'll be good to go.

Linux Users:

If you're a Linux user, download and extract this ZIP file, then run the script with Terminal.

Mac Users:

For Mac users, the process of installing the proper drivers is a bit more involved. Please see our guide on the topic for more information.

Step 5: Download the Android M Preview on Your Computer

With the groundwork now laid, you're ready to download the new Android M factory images. Head to this link, then choose your device from the list to download the factory images.

Step 6: Move the Factory Images to the Platform Tools Folder

This factory image file is a set of nested archives, so extract the contents of the first archive, then you'll find another archive. Extract that one as well, then you'll find a folder.

Head into this folder, then extract the contents of the ZIP file that you'll find inside. At this point, copy all of the remaining files in this folder.

Next, head to the "android-sdk" folder, then the "platform-tools" folder inside of it. After that, paste all of the factory image files into this folder.

Step 7: Install the Android M Preview Build

At this point, you're ready to install the Android M preview build. To begin, open a command prompt window, then change directories until you arrive at the "/android-sdk/platform-tools/" folder where you've pasted the factory images.

Next, type fastboot devices and hit enter to verify that your Nexus is connected properly. If it spits out a series of letters and numbers in response, you're good to go.

If you haven't flashed factory images on your device before today, you'll have to unlock your Bootloader at this time. Type fastboot oem unlock and hit enter to take care of that. On your phone, press the volume up button to verify that you'd like to unlock your bootloader, then wait about a minute until the process has finished.

Now you're finally ready to flash the Android M preview build. Type flash-all and hit enter, then the process should start automatically.

Step 8: Wait for a Reboot & Enjoy Android M

It will take 5 or 10 minutes to complete, but when it's done, your phone will automatically reboot. If it doesn't, you can type fastboot reboot to do so manually.

At this point, it's safe to disconnect the USB cable and try out Android M. Some of the key features with this new release include automatic app backup, a granular permission control interface, as well as a new mobile payments system.

How to Install the Android M Preview on Your Nexus Device (Using Windows)

How to Install the Android M Preview on Your Nexus Device (Using Windows)

On Thursday morning, May 28th, Google announced an upcoming version of Android—and within a few hours, a preview build of this so-called "Android M" release was made available to select Nexus devices.

If you're one who likes to stay on the cutting edge, this build offers lots of awesome new upgrades like simplified volume controls, increased battery life, and much, much more. Installing the preview build is relatively simple with a Windows computer, and I'll outline the process below.

Before You Begin

This new preview build is only available for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9, and Nexus Player. It doesn't require root to install, but you should be aware that you will lose root and all of your data if you install this build.

The following guide is meant for Windows users only, so if you don't have a Windows PC, check out my easy tutorial on installing the Android M preview on a Mac or Linux machine.

Step 1: Enable USB Debugging

To begin, head to the main Settings menu on your Nexus, then select the "Developer options" entry. (If you don't see this menu option, here is how you unlock it.) From here, tick the box next to "USB debugging," then press "OK" on the popup.

Step 2: Enable OEM Unlock (Nexus 6 Users Only)

Nexus 6 users will have to enable another option in this same menu. Be sure to tick the box next to "Enable OEM unlock" before you go any further if you own Google's latest phablet.

Step 3: Connect Your Nexus to Your PC

Next up, go ahead and connect your phone to your PC with a USB data cable. At this point, you should see a message on your Android device asking if you'd like to allow your computer to connect. Tick the box next to "Always allow" on this popup, then press "OK." If you don't see this message right away, just keep an eye out for it, and it will pop up at some point during the process.

Step 4: Download the Android M Preview on Your PC

With your Nexus all set up, it's time to download the new Android M preview build on your PC. Head to the official site at this link, then choose your device from the list to download the factory images.

Step 5: Download the Nexus Root Toolkit on Your PC

While the Android M file is downloading, go ahead and grab a copy of Wugfresh's Nexus Root Toolkit (NRT) program, which we'll be using to install the factory images.

Step 6: Set Up Nexus Root Toolkit

Once the Nexus Root Toolkit has finished downloading, go ahead and launch the EXE file. From here, just follow the prompts to get NRT installed on your computer.

When installation has finished, NRT will ask what device you have and which Android version it's currently running. Select your device from the top menu here, then choose your Android build number from the second list. (If you're not sure which Android version you're currently running, refer to the Build number entry found in "About phone" or "About tablet" in your Settings menu.)

After clicking "Apply," you'll get a message telling you to enable USB debugging on your device. You've already taken care of that part, but if you didn't get that "Allow USB debugging" popup earlier, now would be a good time to check your phone to see if it showed up.

Next, NRT will ask you to download several files. You can skip this part if you want, but I'd recommend letting it download everything it needs.

After that, you'll be taken to NRT's main menu. From here, click the "Full Driver Installation Guide" button at the top of the screen.

Next, skip ahead to the "Step 3" tab, then click the button under the "Driver Solution #1" section. From here, just follow the prompts to get all of the ADB and Fastboot drivers installed on your system.

Step 7: Install the Android M Preview Build

At this point, you're ready to install the Android M preview build. Click the "Flash Stock + Unroot" button to begin.

On the next screen, tick the box next to "Other/Browse," then make sure that the "I downloaded a factory image myself that I would like to use instead" option is selected and click "OK."

At this point, a file browser window will pop up. Use this menu to select the factory image file that you downloaded earlier.

Next, NRT will prompt you to provide an MD5 number. This can be found at the factory image download page if you want to be on the safe side, but otherwise, you can just click "Skip" to speed things up a bit.

After that, you'll get a confirmation dialog informing you that NRT is about to flash the Android M preview build on your device. Click "OK" on this message if you're ready to begin.

Step 8: Wait for a Reboot & Enjoy Android M

The process will take a good 5 or 10 minutes, but when it's done, your phone should automatically reboot. It will take longer than normal to boot up this first time, but when it does, you'll be ready to try out Android M.

Some of the key features in this release include a new app permissions interface, a system-wide mobile payment service, and automatic app backup. There are plenty more tweaks here and there, so have fun exploring your new OS.

How to Turn Your OnePlus One into an Android/iOS Hybrid

How to Turn Your OnePlus One into an Android/iOS Hybrid

While its hardware may already be a little outdated compared to newer flagship phones, the OnePlus One is still a great value thanks to the dedicated community that continues to develop ROMs for it. Cyanogen 12 and Oxygen OS are the two most popular ones, but neither offers the type of unique experience you get with Xiaomi's MIUI (pronounced "Me You I").

Unlike traditional AOSP-based ROMs, MIUI is colorful and themed in a way that makes it very iOS-like, which can help old iPhone users that are still in that transition phase. In order to install this ROM, you'll need an unlocked bootloader with TWRP installed, and be sure to back up all the data you want to hold on to before installing MIUI.

Step 2: Wipe Your Old ROM

With the files downloaded, enable Advanced reboot from the Developer options and select "Recovery" from the Reboot menu.

Once TWRP boots up, tap on Wipe, then Advanced Wipe, check the boxes next to Dalvik Cache, System, Data, and Cache, then "Swipe to Wipe." When completed, head back into TWRP's main menu.

Exploring MIUI 6

Even though MIUI 6 is Android at its core, there are many features that have been tweaked. For instance, there is no app drawer, so all of your apps are displayed on your home screens à la iOS. The notification pull down is present, and if you swipe to the left, you will find Quick Settings.

To edit the home screen, just pinch in. From the customization menu, you'll find options to change the wallpaper, widgets, and the transition animation when swiping through home screen pages. MIUI also uses the same Color OS camera that I covered in an earlier guide.

Also included with the normal MIUI utilities is its Theme app. Just like its CyanogenMod counterpart, you can search, browse, and download custom themes designed specifically for MIUI. Keep in mind that this app, and many other MIUI-specific apps, are still in Chinese, so for now you will need to base your theme choices based solely on looking at screenshots.

Follow Android Hacks over on Facebook and Twitter, or Gadget Hacks over on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter, for more Android tips.

Autocorrect Only Fixes Mistakes, but This Android Keyboard Helps Prevent Them

Autocorrect Only Fixes Mistakes, but This Android Keyboard Helps Prevent Them

My reliance on autocorrect has made me a horrible speller. I take it for granted that it'll catch all my mistakes, but it only ends up making matters worse (especially when it inadvertently make correct words wrong). So instead of relying on autocorrect to fix typos, why not try to completely prevent mistakes from happening in the first place?

Tipo - Typo Free Spelling, from Landbridge Limited, will notify you with a subtle vibration or flash on your keyboard whenever you make a spelling mistake. Using this conditioning model, you'll train yourself to actually spell things right the first time, lessening your dependence on autocorrect.

Step 2: Using the Keyboard

Once you upgrade, you can go through a short tutorial to learn how to use the keyboard, then begin using the Tipo with any app on your device.

Misspell a word and your device will vibrate, while your keyboard letters will flash red. The vibrations can get a little annoying after a while, but thankfully you can disable it through the settings, keeping just the red keyboard flash.

At the top of the keyboard you'll see suggestions for you to pick from when you type a word incorrectly. I use quite a bit of slang, so it definitely gets annoying when you get an error vibration or flash for typing something like "ahhhh." To alleviate that, you can add words to the keyboard's dictionary simply by tapping on the word twice.

With the premium version, all of the features above are included, with the addition of several others, including Learning mode, which prevents further typing until you correct your mistakes.

Screenshots don't do Learning mode justice, so watch the video embedded above to see me use the feature.

Step 3: Manage Keyboard Settings & Practice Your Typing

Access the settings by tapping on the gear icon at the bottom of the Tipo app itself, where you can manage some of the features the keyboard has to offer.

Since vibration was annoying, I disabled it from the settings and just left flash on. I also disabled the "Offensive Words" setting, which doesn't show offensive suggestions at the top of the keyword.

At the top of the the settings, you'll see a button that says "Practice Makes Perfect" (only in premium version). Use it to improve your writing by correctly spelling misspelled words. This isn't necessary, but if you want to improve your spelling a bit more, I would recommend it.

Yeah, all of this might sound like an inconvenience, but it's actually helped me rely less on autocorrect. And through repetition, it's helped me learn words I'd otherwise forgotten how to spell because of laziness.

Instead of seeing autocorrect as a requirement, use the Tipo keyboard to make it a luxury.

How to Run Your Favorite Android Apps on Your Computer

How to Run Your Favorite Android Apps on Your Computer

Google recently announced the beta release of a developer tool called ARC Welder for Chrome, which allows developers to run and test their Android apps on any computer with the Chrome browser installed.

Outside of developers, ARC Welder can be run by everyday users to bring Android to their computer. All you need is the latest version of Chrome, an APK of your favorite app, and ARC Welder to run practically any Android application on your Mac or Windows computer.

Step 1: Find APKs to Download to Your Desktop

Since ARC Welder requires an APK of the app you want to run, you'll need to download one (or several) to your computer. Using Raccoon for Windows, Mac, and Linux, you can search through the Google Play Store and download APK files easily.

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Of course there are various other methods to getting APKs on your computer; just make sure that they're up-to-date and not corrupted in any way.

Step 3: Load an APK in ARC Welder

Open ARC Welder and select the download destination (where your apps will be saved) to finish the setup process. ARC Welder will then ask you to add your APK, so hit the plus sign icon and find your file.

How to Add Custom Widgets to the Lock Screen on Android Lollipop

How to Add Custom Widgets to the Lock Screen on Android Lollipop

When Lollipop was released, Android's lock screen got a huge makeover. But most of the changes were made for aesthetic purposes rather than functionality.

In fact, one of KitKat's best lock screen features was removed altogether—the ability to add custom widgets. We've since seen a mod that will allow you to add this functionality back, but this method was rather clunky and would overtake the Phone shortcut on your lock screen.

Well, thanks to a new app from Udell Enterprises, we can now add any widget to Android Lollipop's lock screen without compromising existing functionality. The best part is you don't even need root or any special permissions to use this, since it takes advantage of Android's existing notification system to inject widgets into your lock screen.

Step 1: Install Notifidgets

The app that will bring back lock screen widgets on Lollipop is called Notifidgets, and a free trial version is available on the Google Play Store. Search for it by name to get the app installed, or if you'd rather jump straight to the install page, you can use this link.

Step 2: Add Widgets to Your Lock Screen

When you first launch Notifidgets, the app will ask you to choose a widget that you'd like to add to your lock screen. You can select any widget that you have installed, so there are no limitations here.

Once you've done that, an Android system menu will prompt you to allow access for this app. Tick the box next to "Always allow," then press "Create" on this message. Afterwards, Notifidgets will inform you that your 7-day trial period has officially begun, and that you'll need to purchase the full version for $0.99 to continue using the app beyond that period.

Next, if you'd like to add another widget, you can use the center button at the bottom of the screen. If your widget has a settings menu, you can use the button next to that one to access it.

Step 3: Access Your Lock Screen Widget

Immediately after adding a widget, it can be accessed in one of two ways—either from your lock screen or Android's notification tray. To use the widget from your lock screen, simply swipe down on the notification that you'll see, and a full version of your widget will be available.

[1] Widget in the notification area, [2] Expanded lock screen widget

Did you already purchase the full version of Notifidgets? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

See Also

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How to Get Detailed Reports of Your Data Usage on Android

How to Get Detailed Reports of Your Data Usage on Android

Amazingly enough, some of us still have to worry about exceeding our monthly mobile data limits. You'd figure carriers would have given the customers what they want by now by offering truly unlimited plans, but with two conglomerates sitting atop the U.S. cellular market with fat pocketbooks that make for limitless lobbying, they can basically do whatever they want.

So until the inevitable antitrust suit breaks up the monotony, we'll just have to keep a watchful eye on our data usage. To that end, an app I've covered in the past has recently received a huge overhaul, and its new interface should make tracking your data usage easier than ever.

Step 2: Run Through Initial Setup

When you first launch Data Status, the app will give you a quick overview of how it all works. Skip through the first few messages, then you'll be presented with a setup wizard. From here, choose the status bar icon that looks best to you, then enter the start date for your monthly billing cycle.

After that, enter your monthly data allowance, and if you're in the middle of a billing cycle, you can enter the amount of data you've used so far.

Step 3: Keep Track of Your Data Usage

With Data Status all set up now, you can visualize your mobile data usage like never before. The main screen provides a circular graph that lets you know the amount of data you've used relative to your current billing cycle. Swipe over to the left, and there are two more graphs that will help you get a grasp on your peak data usage days as well as compare your data usage from past months, but note that these will need some time before any data will be displayed.

In addition to that, you'll now see an icon in your status bar that shows you monthly data usage at a glance. If you expand your notification tray, you can see this information in more detail.

What has Data Status taught you about your data usage? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.

How to Install Sony's Newest Album & Walkman Apps on Almost Any Android

How to Install Sony's Newest Album & Walkman Apps on Almost Any Android

Sony's Xperia line of smartphones are beautifully crafted and have many great features. But considering the fact that Sony has evolved into a media company over the last two decades, it's their media-related apps that stand out the most.

Just recently, they've updated their software for Android Lollipop, and as quickly as they did that, developer Thomas DE SA got to work on porting the Xperia's Album and Walkman (now called Music) apps to other Android devices. These apps can be installed even if you're not rooted, and they feature Sony's signature design, so if you've been looking for a new music player or photo viewer, you needn't look any further.

Step 2: Install Sony Album

To install the Album app, tap the corresponding "Download complete" notification in your status bar. From here, press "Install," then tap "Open" when that's finished.

Sony Album comes with a free cloud backup service to store all of your photos. If you'd like to use this feature, tap the "Sign Up" button, then create an account from the Sony website that comes up next.

Beyond that, Album has an intuitive interface that features a side navigation menu for accessing categories and a photo stream view that packs many thumbnails onto one screen.

Step 3: Install Sony Walkman

To install the Walkman app, tap the "Download complete" notification again, then press "Install" and "Open."

From here, you'll see your new music player's beautiful interface. It features the same side navigation drawer as Album, and the colors on the now playing screen are automatically matched to the album artwork.

While the Movie app hasn't been ported yet, you can still grab a copy of the older version from our previous guide. It won't be as Lollipop-friendly as the Albums and Music apps above, but it's better than nothing.

What are your favorite features of Sony's new media apps? Let us know in the comment section below, or drop us a line on Android Hacks' Facebook or Twitter, or Gadget Hacks' Facebook, Google+, or Twitter.