#GoogleContacts

There are two changes here and both are kinda old hidden behind flags but a few changes I noticed.

1. Individual contact will have "Contact Settings" on the contact screen itself. Previous these options weren't working because they were under work. Currently these options are on the action menu (three dots). If this ever rolls out, the action menu will have a few options separated by a divider (Doesn't appear in current action menu).

2. If you have an email added in contacts. It will fetch the real profile name and it's photo from its servers and show it on contact screen. Google added the logo and made the text a little bit bigger in new version. So expect it to roll out someday silently like the weather widget in contacts. 🥴

Flags ? Turn all options in com.google.android.contacts#com.google.android.contacts package. You will have everything enabled. I am too bored to find the exact one because they are encrypted flags.

@GappsLeaks

Critical WebP bug: many apps, not just browsers, under threat

Keep updating your apps because many apps use libwebp including telegram. Many apps are releasing fix for this.

https://stackdiary.com/critical-vulnerability-in-webp-codec-cve-2023-4863/

How bad is it? Very. If an attacker can exploit a heap buffer overflow, they might be able to take control of a system, steal data, or introduce malware. Protecting against such vulnerabilities is crucial.

@GappsLeaks

#PlayStore

Auto Archive for everyone

Before you say that this feature was already rolled out to users, you should also know that there was a condition to be fulfilled before you can opt-into auto archiving. The condition was - have very low storage so that Google can show you an opt-in dialog while installing an app.

But now Google has started rolling it out to everyone and having low storage is not a requirement anymore. You can directly opt-into Auto-Archiving from the Google Play settings, Settings > Automatically Archive Apps.

I have it on 37.4.* version of Play Store and also in 37.5.24 (available on apkmirror). @SageSushi also confirmed that it's available for him on 37.4.

@GappsLeaks

#PlayStore #Flags

How to disable ads in Play Store [ROOT]

I have shared this method already when I created this channel but there were only a few people that time :p also added a little explanation in the end for - how it works.

https://thespandroid.blogspot.com/2023/09/Disable-ads-in-Google-Play.html

@GappsLeaks

#PlayStore

I have seen many people asking if it's possible to manually archive an app!!

Answer - It is possible but Google has not enabled that functionality for users. It is hidden behind a flag and it's up to Google to enable that feature. But for that Google has to do more work and make a separate section for the archive function. Currently there is just a filter for the archived apps in the "Manage" tab which shows apps only after they are archived.

If we enable the manual archiving at this stage using the flag, there is no easy way to find out if an app is archivable. You have to select each app in "Manage" tab and see if the three dot action menu appears on top right or not. If it appears, it's archivable. If it doesn't appear, then app is not archivable.

@GappsLeaks

#GPSU

Recently Google posted about some new features coming to Android Webview (so does in every browser based on chromium).

There is this thing in the GPSU update page -
[Phone, Tablet] New Stylus Rich Gestures support from Android U+ to improve device usability.

Many people were just left guessing which kind of Stylus Gestures they are. To answer that - they are the same gestures which were added in Gboard recently and perform the same functions but does not depend on Gboard for anything. They work only in text fields.

A bit of code from chromium repo which I found. -

enum StylusWritingGestureAction {
DELETE_TEXT,
ADD_SPACE_OR_TEXT,
REMOVE_SPACES,
SPLIT_OR_MERGE,
SELECT_TEXT,
};

Source - Chromium GitHub ;)

@GappsLeaks

Google recently updated it's feature drop screen and added some new content about new features in Google apps

Features such as Unknown trackers alerts, on-the-go mode in Google meet, Nearby share on windows PC and more. I have attached a video in the blog post. These features aren't new and most people are aware of them. Consider it an official announcement maybe :p

For the rooted users - this screen can be accessed by opening the .growth.featuredrops.activity.FeatureDropsActivity in Google Play Services ;)

Read - https://thespandroid.blogspot.com/2023/09/Google-new-feature-drop-app-updates.html?m=1

@GappsLeaks

#GooglePlayGames

Google is working on making it easier to sign in into your games (Android, Play Games On PC, Chromebook etc) without email/username/passwords by integrating a recall API in Play Games Services (PGS). This is possible with a major update to the play-services-games-v2 library. Developer can integrate it in their game clients using Java SDK and Unity SDK. Google Play Services is also updated by Google to support this feature.

Read - https://thespandroid.blogspot.com/2023/09/blog-post.html?m=1

@GappsLeaks

#WeekendShitPosting

Same source cited in the article after a few hours

🥴

#GoogleMessages

Btw animation appears on the reacted messages after you open the conversation. ;_; Won't appear on old messages if you reacted on any new message. Looks like available on new redesigned conversation interface only (not the homescreen redesign of messages)

🎉🎉🎉

@GappsLeaks

#GoogleMessages

[ROOT] Get samsung specific Google Message updates directly from Play Store

This is very old news itself. Samsung users have this specific UI making it easier for one handed use.

For other Android devices - You have to sideload samsung specific APKs (Version ending with "phone_samsung_openbeta_dynamic" (for beta users).

If you are rooted, you can use this magisk module which I created for my usage back in 2021. One installed, you don't have to sideload the APKs. You will get direct updates from Play Store for this samsung specific message version.

Play Store uses the <feature name="com.samsung.feature.SAMSUNG_EXPERIENCE_AM"/> flag to detect samsung devices and push that samsung specific version. This magisk module places this feature flag in your system, therefore appearing as samsung device for Play Store.

Installation -
1. Flash the module in magisk
2. Clear data of Play Store
3. Reboot and open Play Store, you will see an update for Google Message. Update it and enjoy.

@GappsLeaks

iPager now available in more colors.

Ketchup
Roquefort
Mayo
Green Pepper
Soy Sauce
Gravy
Musturd
Eggplant
1000 Island

Visit your nearest Apple Store to get one.

Buy online - https://x.com/Android/status/1705251619623821561

@GappsLeaks