Google Play edition Motorola Moto G owners are getting a treat today in the form of an over the air update to Android 4.4.4.

As far as updates go, Android 4.4.4 is pretty boring. There are no new features or major changes, but it’s important nonetheless, packing in Android 4.4.4 a handful of security and bug fixes that should make you glad to be a stock Android user.

In true Google Play edition fashion, the Moto G GPe’s 4.4.4 updated is close behind the updates sent out to the Nexus 7 and Nexus 5 recently. We still don’t know if the Moto G will be updated to Android L, slated to be released this fall, but with the way Motorola has been killing it with updates recently we would be surprised if the device wasn’t updated.

If you haven’t already been prompted to download the Android 4.4.4 update on your Google Play edition Moto G, you should be shortly.

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It seems like it was only yesterday we were getting our first real look at the officially unveiled Sony Xperia Z2 at Mobile World Congress 2014. Here we are just four months later and the first leaks for Sony’s follow-up flagship, the Xperia Z3, are already popping up online.

Expected to be released in September at IFA, Xperia Blog has posted two pictures of the Xperia Z3 and Z3 Compact obtained from Digi-wo, who they say has a good track record with Sony leaks. The pictures are of the two devices’ front panels, or displays, and tell us two key things. For one, Sony is not abandoning their OmniBalance design for their next round of devices. Depending on whether or not you like the look and feel of the Z2, this could be seen as good or bad. We happen to like Sony’s OmniBalance. The other thing today’s leak tells us is that Sony is remaining committed to keeping the Compact really compact. There is a clear size difference between the Z3 and Z3 Compact, something not all manufacturers are doing.

If the Z3 and Z3 Compact really are released at IFA, then we’re only a couple months away from getting an official look at the devices. That means that more leaks are probably going to start flooding in any day now — not only for the Z3 and Z3 Compact, but for phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as well.

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One of the most fantastic features available to Android users is the ability to apply custom icons. Here at Android and Me, we want to celebrate this. We’re going to start reviewing and featuring some of the new and great icon packs out there so that you can have the most awesome home screen on the block. Today it’s all about KooGoo.

KooGoo was released a little over a month ago by popular themer Andrea Corvi. KooGoo icons have a unique shape that’s not your typical circle or square with a flat look or long shadow. I’ve never seen anything else like them. One of my favorite parts of the KooGoo icons are how they sport a darker color on the outside and fade to a lighter color on the inside. I didn’t realize it at first, but they pop on any wallpaper. There are many sets out there that require a dark or a light wallpaper in order to take full advantage of the icon pack’s awesomeness. With the solid color on the outside of the KooGoo icons, they show up on a light wallpaper. Since KooGoo fades to a lighter and sweet candy-filled center, they also pop on a dark wallpaper. They’ll look brilliant against any wall.

In addition to offering incredibly unique and fun to use icons, Andrea Corvi provides you with lots of good reasons to spend the $1.89 on KooGoo. KooGoo started out with 1,500 themed icons, and in less than two months, the pack now includes over 1,700. KooGoo receives updates all the time. It also comes with 88 wallpapers, which is far beyond what most icon packs offer. Corvi also includes Muzei and Behang BLink support for the wallpapers for you Android wallpaper aficionados.

In addition to the icon and wallpaper offerings, I really like Corvi’s app dashboard. It’s organized very well, making it easy to find the themed icons for your favorite apps. Corvi has them organized categorically, like Google and system apps. Additionally, Corvi provides a easy-to-use icon request tool that looks at the apps you have an your device and finds the unthemed apps for you. All you have to do is hit send. Out of the more than 100 apps I have on my device, there were only a few icons that weren’t already themed, and most of them were other icon packs. Outside of the hard work of icon-theming, Corvi has also done some unique and useful work with the dashboard app for the icons to give the user a great experience.

So what do you think of KooGoo? Is it something you might like seeing on your home screen? If so, follow the link below to pick up KooGoo in the Google Play Store. If you like Corvi’s work with KooGoo, he just announced a new icon pack, Balx icons, that will be released in July. Be sure to keep an eye out for that.

If you’re not sure how to apply custom icons, there are a couple of ways to get the job done, one of which is to install a custom launcher. If you’re not familiar with custom launchers, check out this post about making your Android device yours. If you don’t want to install a custom launcher, check out this post about Beautiful Icon Styler, which can help you theme your stock launcher.

We’d love to see your home screen rocking KooGoo or any other icon pack. You can use the HTML <img> tag in the comments and show us your own home screen. Let us know what icon pack you want us to review next. Thanks for sharing!

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The LG G3 is a great device with some serious specs, including a brilliant 5.5-inch 2560×1440 display. A lot of people are anxiously waiting for it to come out in the US, and it’s not far out. T-Mobile is now offering a pre-order on the smartphone in preparation for the July 16 launch date.

The device will set you back about $599 on T-Mobile, but that can be split up to $25 a month for 24 months if paying it all at once is a little too daunting. The other specs of the device are a Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera with optical image stabilization and laser focus and a hefty 3,000 mAh battery.

If you’re interested in the device, read our LG G3 review for more info before making the decision. Then hit the source link to get pre-ordering! Is this your next Android device?

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Motorola is a bit later than the others in bringing an Android Wear smartwatch to the world, but seeing the general response towards the Moto 360 leaves me with no doubt in my mind that it’s the most anticipated Android Wear device that’s been announced. It’ll definitely be worth the wait, so long as Android Wear in general lives up to the hype.

However, a new rumor claims that the Moto 360 will be released during the announcement of the Moto X+1, which will be during the “end of the summer.” So we should see it around August. The rumor also states that the watch will be sold through Moto Maker and will feature either a black or steel-colored body and a choice of wrist strap. And in usual Motorola fashion, more wrist straps will be available as time goes on.

If this rumor ends up true, the Moto 360 isn’t too far out. Since the folks from Google I/O are still waiting for their Moto 360 as well, we’re all excited to find out the release date. And of course I’m excited for the Moto X+1 to be unveiled. Will you be picking up a Moto 360, or will you get impatient and get an LG G Watch or Samsung Gear Live?

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Android skins have been a very important and controversial part of Android almost since its inception. Back when Android was young, it was an undeniably bad operating system. Sure, enthusiasts loved it, but it was terrible for general use. Manufacturer skins managed to change that, starting with HTC Sense UI. Sense really showed us how beautiful and powerful Android could be.

Now skins are far less necessary on devices. Stock Android is sexy and functional. Still, custom overlays serve their purpose in that they both differentiate different brands and add functionality Google hasn’t added itself. Skins are still a very important part of the Android market.

However, things will be different for the new variations of Android. Introduced at Google I/O, Android Wear, Android TV and Android Auto all serve their own purposes with purpose-built user interfaces. And with these products, Google won’t be allowing manufacturers to slap custom user interfaces on the software. It’ll have to stay stock, though branding and custom apps and services will still be allowed.

Since these products will be focused on bringing a specific experience with very specific purposes, it’s good to see Google putting its foot down. While I’m sure manufacturers could come up with something amazing, maybe a stock experience on your TV will be perfectly fine. What do you think of Google’s decision? Leave a comment!

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Samsung has a new flagship out, but older devices haven’t been left behind. In fact, Samsung is now adding some Galaxy S5 features to the older Galaxy Note 3. In the UK, the Galaxy Note 3 is beginning to get an update featuring both Download Booster and KNOX 2.0, both first seen on the Galaxy S5.

Download Booster is a very useful feature that utilizes both your WiFi and cellular connection to download files much faster than usual. KNOX 2.0, on the other hand, isn’t such good news. It’s great for business security, but if you plan to modify your phone, it may be a pain in the butt to circumvent (though rooting with TowelRoot should leave it alone).

If you’re a UK resident with a Galaxy Note 3 device, you may see the update soon (though rollouts like these tend to be slow). Head to settings and check for updates! If you’re from the US, you’ll probably have to wait. Plus, many carriers have taken Download Booster out of the Galaxy S5, so we may not see it on the Note 3 at all.

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