It has just been over a couple of weeks since Google released the Android L Developer Preview (DP) for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013). While I was initially hesitant, I ultimately took the jump and flashed the developer preview on my Nexus 5, which is also my daily driver.
Below are my thoughts on the OS and whether you should take the effort of installing it on your Nexus device or not.
CyanogenMod users can now enjoy a taste of Android L thanks to a stunning third-party theme pack that delivers new icons and overhauls the notification drawer, quick settings panel, Settings menu, and other built-in apps. It also brings new notifications sounds and more simplistic status bar icons.
If you want a little taste of Android L without the bugs and instability that come with Google’s preview releases, you can start by checking out its awesome new keyboard, which is now available on almost any Android-powered device running Ice Cream Sandwich or later.
A third-party developer has extracted the keyboard APK from an official Android L preview build and made it available to download from Google Play. It’s free, has no ads, and does not require root. Having used it a lot over the past few days, I can confirm it’s surprisingly stable.
If you have a Nexus 4 or the original Nexus 7, you can now get your hands on Google’s Android L preview, courtesy of an unofficial port from third-party developers. Installation is as simple as flashing the ROM with a custom recovery, but you should proceed with caution.
Possibly the best and most-functional Twitter client, Talon, acquired a rather unexpected update earlier today bringing it in line with the latest design and aesthetic guidelines introduced at Google I/O alongside Android L last week.
