Android N Developer Preview : Installation Guide

Google has released Android N Developer Preview and it has given us a glimpse of all the
new featureslike multi-window support, notification enhancements, revamped Doze, and
many more. If you are wondering how to install Android N Developer Preview, follow these
steps.

How to install Android N Developer PreviewThe Android N Developer Preview is now available in the form of factory images to download
 for theNexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, General Mobile 4G, Nexus Player, Nexus 9, and Pixel
 C devices. Before going ahead with our how to install the Android N Developer Preview, we
 warn readers that theversion of the operating system is not yet ready to be a daily d
river for consumers, and is primarily meant for developers.

We would also warn users before downloading the Android N Developer Preview that there
is a good chance that there are bugs to iron out at this stage. Before you do that, it's vital to
take a full backup of your Android smartphone.

Install Android N Developer Preview via factory imageBefore proceeding to download the developer preview, make sure to install the latest Android
 Studio Preview on your system. The program runs on the system helping connect to the
Android device via Micro-USB cable and flash the new Android build to the device.

With Android Studio Preview, the ADB and Fastboot programmes are also installed which
can be accessed through the command terminal on your PC. Make sure to have slight
knowledge of how the ADB and Fastboot function while flashing a new OS.

Here's how to manually download Android N Developer Preview and install it on your device.

1) Download the correct factory image for your device from here.

2) Go to Settings > Developer options and tick USB debugging.

3) Extract the images and save on your computer.

4) Connect your device to your computer over USB.

5) Start the device in fastboot mode.

You may be required to boot into fastboot mode using the ADB tool: With the device powered
 on, go to the command terminal and execute the following: adb reboot bootloader. This will
give access to device's bootloader.

6) Navigate to the unzipped system image directory.

7) Execute "flash-all.bat", which should unzipped image files and install the necessary
bootloader, baseband firmware(s), and operating system. This will take time and will see
several reboots. The step will install Android N Developer preview on device.

Install Android N Developer Preview via OTA updateThe simplest way to install the Android N Developer Preview is via the Android Beta Program.
 Not only do you get the update over-the-air, but you do not need to flash your device. Users
also get future pre-release Android N beta updates as and when they become available, as
 well as maintenance releases (MRs).

At the end of the program, you will begin to receive regular public updates. Users can opt-out
of the program at any time to return to the stable, public version of Android. However, they
should note that if they opt-out when their device is running a beta version of Android, all user
 data on the device will be wiped. Users are recommended to backup their data before
beginning the process.

1) Visit g.co/androidbeta on your desktop or mobile browser

2) Sign into your Google account associated with an eligible device (devices eligible are the
Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C, and General Mobile 4G.)

3) Under Your Eligible Devices, select Enroll Device for the device you'd like to enroll.

4) Agree to the terms and conditions, and then click Join Beta

5) A system update will then be offered to your device. Users can check to see if an update
 is pending by navigating to Settings > About > System updates.

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More than a Billion Snapdragon-based Android Phones Vulnerable to Hacking

 

More than a Billion of Android devices are at risk of a severe vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon chip that could be exploited by any malicious application to gain root access on the device.

Security experts at Trend Micro are warning Android users of some severe programming blunders in Qualcomm's kernel-level Snapdragon code that if exploited, can be used by attackers for gaining root access and taking full control of your device.

Gaining root access on a device is a matter of concern, as it grants attackers access to admin level capabilities, allowing them to turn your device against you to snap your pictures, and snoop on your personal data including accounts’ passwords, emails, messages and photos.

The company’s own website notes that Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs (systems on a chip) power more than a Billion smart devices, including many Internet of Things (IoTs) as of today. Thus, the issue puts many people at risk of being attacked.

Although Google has pushed out updates after Trend Micro privately reported the issues that now prevents attackers from gaining root access with a specially crafted app, users will not be getting updates anytime soon.

The security update rolls out to your device through a long chain:

Qualcomm → Google → Your device's manufacturer → Your network carrier → Your handheld over the air

"Given that many of these devices are either no longer being patched or never received any patches in the first place," said Trend engineer Wish Wu, "they would essentially be left in an insecure state without any patch forthcoming."

Unfortunately, what’s more concerning is the fact that the same vulnerable chips are used in a large number of IoT devices, which are no longer in line for security updates. This makes it possible for hackers to gain root access to these connected devices, which is more worrying.

"Smartphones aren't the only problem here," said Trend's Noah Gamer. "Qualcomm also sells their SoCs to vendors producing devices considered part of the Internet of Things, meaning these gadgets are just as at risk."

"If IoT is going to be as widespread as many experts predict, there needs to be some sort of system in place ensuring these devices are safe for public use. Security updates are an absolute necessity these days, and users of these connected devices need to know what they're dealing with."

Whatever be the reason: if security patches are not available for your device model or take too long to arrive, in both the cases it gives miscreants time to exploit the security holes to gain control of your device.

However, some users are lucky to choose Google’s handsets that get their patches direct from the tech giant automatically, making them safe from the vulnerabilities. The handsets include Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 6, Nexus 5, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, and Nexus 10.

All of the smart devices using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 series, including the 800, 805 and 810 and running a 3.10-version kernel are affected by the vulnerabilities.

The vulnerable code is present in Android version 4 to version 6. In the tests, researchers found Nexus 5, 6 and 6P, and Samsung Galaxy Note Edge using vulnerable versions of Qualy's code.

Though the researchers do not have access to every Android handset and tablet to test, the list of vulnerable devices is non-exhaustive.

Since the researchers have not disclosed full details about the flaws, the short brief about the vulnerabilities is as follows:

1. Qualcomm-related flaw (CVE-2016-0819): The vulnerability has been described by the researchers as a logic bug that allows a small section of kernel memory to be tampered with after it is freed, causing an information leakage and a Use After Free issue in Android.

2. The flaw (CVE-2016-0805) is in Qualcomm chipset kernel function get_krait_evtinfo: The get_krait_evtinfo function returns an index into an array used by other kernel functions. With the help of carefully crafted input data, it is possible to generate a malicious index, leading to a buffer overflow.

3. Gaining root access: Using both the flaws together on vulnerable devices, attackers can gain root access on the device.

The researchers will disclose the full details of exactly how to leverage the bugs at the upcoming Hack In The Box security conference in the Netherlands to be held in late May 2016.

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Google Android N Preview — 6 Cool Features That You Should Know

Android N Developer Preview, an early beta of Google’s new mobile operating system that was expected to launch on Google I/O in mid-May, is unexpectedly launching right now.

Android N Developer Preview for the Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Pixel C Nexus 9, the Nexus Player and the General Mobile 4G, an Android One device has been made available as an over-the-air update by Google on Wednesday.

So, you can test out Android N Developer Preview on your smartphone and tablet right now from developer.android.com/preview.

The good news is that the Google Android team has brought meaningful features to your smartphone and tablet in just five months.

"As we look to the next release of Android, N, you’ll notice a few big changes aimed at you as developers: it’s earlier than ever, it’s easier to try and we’re expanding the ways for you to give us feedback," Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google's SVP for Android writes. "We hope these changes will ensure that you are heard and reflected – that’s what makes Android stronger."

Here's what I like about the new Android Developer Preview so far.

1. Multi-Window API

Multi-window support is the feature users have long asked for – especially on tablets. The feature allows users to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

So now you can type out a message while viewing a map, check the weather while watching videos, and so on. The screen can be split horizontally or vertically as you prefer.

2. Reply to Messages Directly Without Leaving an App

Among the new changes in Android N are improved notifications. Notifications support "direct reply" feature for app developers who can now allow their users to reply to incoming notifications of WhatsApp, Twitter or SMS messages straight from the notification panel without having to launch the app in question.

Developers can also choose to bundle notification alerts from the same app together, enabling users to see them as a bundle and expand individually if necessary.

3. Better Battery Life

This is the biggest relief for all Android users. With Android Marshmallow, Google introduced a new battery-saving feature called Doze that places an Android device into a deep power-savings mode when it is stationary for a while.

In Android N, Google is taking this feature a step further by allowing Doze to work whenever the screen is OFF, not just when the device is stationary. So your smartphone's battery will now last even longer when it's in standby mode.

4. Data Saver

Moreover, Google continues to work on making its Android OS less memory-hungry and making apps running in the background work more efficiently.

When turned ON, the Data Saver feature restricts the apps from using data connection as well as prevent pulling in embedded videos and images on web pages. You can also pick selected apps that may be allowed to use the data connection even when the feature is ON.

However, the Data Saver feature in Android N will be particularly helpful for those who are on prepaid or pay-on-the-go connections for data.

5. Picture-in-Picture Mode

Now you can view a YouTube video while reading through a report in Word on your Android device, thanks to Picture-in-picture feature in Android N.

"Picture-in-picture (PIP) mode lets apps run a video activity in the pinned window while another activity continues in the background. The PIP window lets users multitask while using your app, which helps users be more productive." Google describes.

The feature will be more useful for those with tablets or larger phones.

6. No Need to Flash Your Device (Direct Boot)

Yes, the most brilliant part is that you do not need to flash or tether your device to a PC in order to download and install the new Android N Developer Preview, as it can be downloaded straight to your device.

These are the things that are now known to us about the all new Android N Developer Preview, but one thing we definitely don’t know yet that what the ‘N’ will stand for. For me it’s Nutella.

What do you think the "N" will stand for?

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Maru OS — Android ROM that Turns into Debian Linux When Connected to a PC

 

Good News for Linux Techno Freaks! Do you usually mess with your Android smartphone by trying out the continual ins and outs of various apps and custom ROMs?

Then this news would be a perfect pick for you!

What If, you can effectively carry a Linux computer in your pocket?

Hereby introducing a new Android-based Operating system named "Maru OS" that combine the mobility of a smartphone as well as the power of a desktop on a single device.

Maru OS allows you to turn your smartphone into a desktop when plugging it with an HDMI cable.

Maru custom ROM includes two operating systems:

• Android 5.1 Lollipop for mobile phones
• Debian-Linux for desktop monitor

When you connect your phone (with Maru OS installed on it) via HDMI to a monitor, it will load Debian Linux automatically on your desktop screen in less than 5 seconds.

"Your phone runs independently of your desktop so you can take a call and work on your big screen at the same time," Maru OS official website explains.

 

Maru is shipped with Zero Bloatware (no pre-installed apps), which facilitates lots of free space for all your apps and your phone runs fast. 

 

Advantages of Maru OS

• Dual OS in phone
• Multi-Tasking
• Lightweight Distro Packages
• Zero Bloatware, except Google Play
• Run a web server from your pocket
• You can set up a portable development environment

And the Best One:

If by chance… your phone get disconnected from your screen, Maru OS will preserve your desktop state in the background, helping you pick up right where you left off.

"Your hardware's capabilities are shared across your mobile device and desktop, so you don't have to context-switch around so much," reads the website.

This latest OS is still in beta stage and currently available only in Nexus 5 devices. We hope this limitation might disappear later on.

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Hacking Smartphones Running on MediaTek Processors

 

A dangerous backdoor has been discovered in the MediaTek processor that could be exploited to hack Android devices remotely.

MediaTek is a Taiwan-based hardware company that manufacture hardware chips and processor used in the smartphones and tablets.

The backdoor was discovered by security researcher Justin Case, who already informed MediaTek about the security issue via Twitter, as the chipset manufacturer had no proper vulnerability reporting mechanism in place.

The vulnerability is apparently due to a debug tool that was opened up for carriers to test the device on their networks, but unfortunately, it was left open in the shipped devices, thus leaving the serious backdoor open to hackers.

If exploited, the debug feature could allow hackers to compromise personal data of an Android device, including user’s private contacts, messages, photos, videos and other private data.

MediaTek acknowledged the issue, saying "We are aware of this issue, and it has been reviewed by MediaTek’s security team. It was mainly found in devices running Android 4.4 KitKat, due to a debug feature created for telecommunication inter-operability testing in China."

The issue actually resides in MediaTek MT6582 processor, which worryingly is being used in many high profile Android devices.

So, if your smartphone is using this processor, the only thing you can do for now is to…

...Keep your Android device off the Internet in an effort to protect yourself.

The company also said that it has notified all OEMs of the potential loophole, so it's now up to the affected OEMs to issue a security patch to close the backdoor.

"While this issue affected certain manufacturers, it also only affected a portion of devices for those manufacturers. We have taken steps to alert all manufacturers and remind them of this important feature," MediaTek spokesperson released a statement.

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