It's been just a few days the new Android 5.0 Lollipop rolled out as an early preview for Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 but hey, there's a Nexus 4 port! Let's check it out!
From the original XDA Mako porting thread, where the Android L Preview ports started to roll out a long time ago, we finally have the full Android Lollipop ROM for Nexus 4! Well, it's full but definitely not fully working. It's currently in alpha stage and not meant to be used as a daily driver. But if you're into Lollipop stuff, you should definitely try it out!
Sailfish OS - The new operating system developer by Jolla which can be seen on some Nokia devices is now available in the new alpha release for Nexus 4!
SailfishOS is a definitely slick and usable OS offering some cool features and a bunch of new stuff. Check out the video for some more info and video footage of working features:
As you can see, the SailfishOS has a really nice icons, design animation and it could worth a shot to just try it out on your N4. However, the ROM is currently in beta stage (more like alpha), because there's not much features working including WiFi, NFC, gyroscope sensor and more.
If you're curious, though, you can give it a try!
To install the ROM, you have to be running on the CyanogenMod 10.1.3 ROM. After that, just simply download the package, wipe out the data / do the factory reset, and flash the zip. The entire installation procedure can be found on the XDA thread HERE.
Apart from hardware keys, soft keys offers to modificate the layout, colors and cannot be damaged in any way (unless you damage the display). On the other side, thanks to soft keys, the display is getting smaller and moreover, you can just accidentally press it while playing a game or something. What if you have an option to hide these soft keys and open them using, let's say, a gesture? Meet the Ultimate Dynamic Navbar.
Ultimate Dynamic Navbar hides the current soft keys layout and replace it with own customizable panel that hides automatically. However, if you want to access the bar again, you can open it back by a easy swype gesture.
UDN offers you a bunch of functions and features that the original stock navbar doesn't have:
- Hide just navigation bar and keep notifications bar. - Customizable button layout and longpress actions on every button. Add up to 7 buttons to the panel! - Transparency, color, complete customization of layout - Tiny RAM consumption.( ~< 10MB of RAM)
Check the video for more information:
App comes as a free application on Google Play Store. However, if you want to support the developer and get some extra features, you can also buy a paid version. You also have the option to try out beta versions in the original XDA thread HERE.
The current flagship from LG - G2 has brought a lot of new features and stuff including cool Knock-Knock (touch2wake) feature, which enables the screen with just double-knocking the display. This feature is now available and you can actually get it on your Nexus phone by using an awesome TouchControl app! +Bartosz Ponurkiewicz, known as bponury, the creator of awesome hacking and spoofing apps like Faceniff or Wifikill, has also created the TouchControl app - an awesome, useful, yet very simple app letting you to take control over your phone's screen while it's off.
You can enable the screen by various gestures:
Slide2wake (slide the finger to wake your phone up)
Slide2lock (lock your device by sliding your finger)
Slide2media_next (skips song by sliding)
touch2wake (wakes the screen by touching)
doubletap2wake ("knock knock" G2's feature)
The app is currently available for Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 7 (2013). It also works only with custom kernel supporting this feature (check here).
App is available on Google Play Store for about 3.2$ but if you're not sure about purchase, you can get the free version to try out the functions.
A big disappointment for all Nexus 4 was when Google announced that Google Nexus 4 will not have LTE - the high-speed internet. However, we know how to enable the secret function that allows to use LTE on your Nexus 4!
Simply put, all you need to do is to access the phone testing settings and enable the LTE to get it to work. Follow this guide to enable LTE on your Nexus 4 in a few seconds -
Open dialer and call *#*#4636#*#*which will take you to phone testing settings.
Access "phone info"
Change phone's cellular network type to LTE Only
You're done!
Note enabling the 4G LTE may decrease signal performance and drain more battery. In order to revert back to the 3G, choose WCDMA. Note also, 4G site may not be in your country. Check the signal icon - there should be a 4G icon above it if it works.
