Over the weekend, I wrote about a feature I was really excited about: Native USB webcam support in Android 14.
After using it, though, I noticed the video quality is way worse than when using third-party webcam apps. My $1,000 Pixel 8 Pro has a much better camera than this.
For comparison, here's a still image of me using the Camo app by Reincubate to turn my Pixel 8 Pro into a webcam. And another still image from me using scrcpy's new camera mirroring feature to turn my Pixel 8 Pro into a webcam.
Android 14's USB webcam feature is very convenient, but it sadly doesn't seem to take full advantage of the amazing camera on your smartphone.
You can read more about my experience using Android 14's webcam feature in my latest article for Android Central. The article links to a YouTube playlist I made that shows how dramatic the difference in quality really is.
(And yes, I did test across multiple devices and PCs, with different USB cables, and on different video conferencing platforms/apps. Yes, I did also stress test it to see if thermals would be a concern. All the details are in the article 😄)
After using it, though, I noticed the video quality is way worse than when using third-party webcam apps. My $1,000 Pixel 8 Pro has a much better camera than this.
For comparison, here's a still image of me using the Camo app by Reincubate to turn my Pixel 8 Pro into a webcam. And another still image from me using scrcpy's new camera mirroring feature to turn my Pixel 8 Pro into a webcam.
Android 14's USB webcam feature is very convenient, but it sadly doesn't seem to take full advantage of the amazing camera on your smartphone.
You can read more about my experience using Android 14's webcam feature in my latest article for Android Central. The article links to a YouTube playlist I made that shows how dramatic the difference in quality really is.
(And yes, I did test across multiple devices and PCs, with different USB cables, and on different video conferencing platforms/apps. Yes, I did also stress test it to see if thermals would be a concern. All the details are in the article 😄)
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This article made me curious about the status of the unwanted tracker detection specification, and it appears that work is indeed ongoing.
The latest message in the mailing list comes from an Apple employee dated Nov. 30, and ends with "I think we're close to getting the charter done done [sic]."
Google's unwanted tracker detection is based on a custom implementation rather than the draft specification, but Apple is seemingly waiting for the specification to be finalized before rolling out unwanted tracker detection on iOS.
Google in July said that they were "working in partnership with Apple to help finalize the joint unwanted tracker alert specification by the end of this year", so hopefully the specification is finalized this month.
However, I'm worried there's going to be a large gap between when the spec is finalized and when Apple actually rolls out unwanted tracker detection, further delaying the launch of Google's Find My Device Network.
(Hi y'all, yes, I am still alive. I was just on vacation for the past two weeks 😃)
The latest message in the mailing list comes from an Apple employee dated Nov. 30, and ends with "I think we're close to getting the charter done done [sic]."
Google's unwanted tracker detection is based on a custom implementation rather than the draft specification, but Apple is seemingly waiting for the specification to be finalized before rolling out unwanted tracker detection on iOS.
Google in July said that they were "working in partnership with Apple to help finalize the joint unwanted tracker alert specification by the end of this year", so hopefully the specification is finalized this month.
However, I'm worried there's going to be a large gap between when the spec is finalized and when Apple actually rolls out unwanted tracker detection, further delaying the launch of Google's Find My Device Network.
(Hi y'all, yes, I am still alive. I was just on vacation for the past two weeks 😃)
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Google has published the Android Security Bulletin (ASB) for December 2023, detailing the vulnerabilities addressed in the 2023-12-0X security patch level (SPL).
Patches are available for Android versions 11-14. There are 3 vulnerabilities in AOSP components with a "critical" severity rating.
As usual, there are also patches for vendor components listed in the ASB. Interestingly, there's one vulnerability (CVE-2023-45779) that affects "misc OEM" components. From what I know, details of this vulnerability will be made public later this month. (It's a pretty embarrassing one...)
Pixels should be receiving this update sometime this week along with the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop, which will be based on Android 14 QPR1.
Patches are available for Android versions 11-14. There are 3 vulnerabilities in AOSP components with a "critical" severity rating.
As usual, there are also patches for vendor components listed in the ASB. Interestingly, there's one vulnerability (CVE-2023-45779) that affects "misc OEM" components. From what I know, details of this vulnerability will be made public later this month. (It's a pretty embarrassing one...)
Pixels should be receiving this update sometime this week along with the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop, which will be based on Android 14 QPR1.
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The Pixel's December 2023 Feature Drop is rolling out today, and it brings a new feature I previously detailed called Repair Mode.
What is it and how does it work? Here's a first look at Repair Mode and an explanation of how it works under-the-hood.
What is it and how does it work? Here's a first look at Repair Mode and an explanation of how it works under-the-hood.
YouTube
First look at the Pixel's Repair Mode feature
Repair Mode is a new feature available on Pixel phones with the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop. This feature simulates a factory reset (but doesn't actually wipe your phone) so you can send your phone in for repair and the technicians won't have access…
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This is a big moment for Google and Android. Google just announced Gemini 1.0, its latest LLM that takes on OpenAI's GPT4.
There are three different model sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. Gemini Nano is optimized to run generative AI tasks on-device and is rolling out first to the Pixel 8 Pro. Gemini Nano powers the new Summarize in Recorder and Smart Reply in Gboard (which automatically suggests replies in WhatsApp) features, and will also power Assistant with Bard and other features in the future.
The Gemini Nano model is made available to the Pixel 8 Pro via an update to the AICore app I talked about before. AICore is a new system app in Android 14 that handles model updates, runtimes, safety features, and more.
AICore and Gemini Nano will be coming to more devices in the coming months. It takes advantage of ML hardware in silicon from Qualcomm, SLSI, and MediaTek.
If you want to build apps using Gemini Nano and AICore, Google is asking developers to sign up for their Early Access Program.
There are three different model sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. Gemini Nano is optimized to run generative AI tasks on-device and is rolling out first to the Pixel 8 Pro. Gemini Nano powers the new Summarize in Recorder and Smart Reply in Gboard (which automatically suggests replies in WhatsApp) features, and will also power Assistant with Bard and other features in the future.
The Gemini Nano model is made available to the Pixel 8 Pro via an update to the AICore app I talked about before. AICore is a new system app in Android 14 that handles model updates, runtimes, safety features, and more.
AICore and Gemini Nano will be coming to more devices in the coming months. It takes advantage of ML hardware in silicon from Qualcomm, SLSI, and MediaTek.
If you want to build apps using Gemini Nano and AICore, Google is asking developers to sign up for their Early Access Program.
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The December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop update rolls out with Android 14 QPR1, bringing the USB webcam feature, Repair Mode, major GPU driver updates for Tensor Pixels that improve performance, plenty of bug fixes, and lots of other new features in Google apps as shown above.
The build ID is UQ1A.231205.01X and is available for the Pixel 5a and later.
The build ID is UQ1A.231205.01X and is available for the Pixel 5a and later.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
This is a big moment for Google and Android. Google just announced Gemini 1.0, its latest LLM that takes on OpenAI's GPT4. There are three different model sizes: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. Gemini Nano is optimized to run generative AI tasks on-device and is rolling…
This Google Form says that Google is offering early access to "experimental Android APIs for running open source models on-device via new runtimes developed by Google."
That's in addition to the new Android APIs for running Google's Gemini Nano model on-device.
That's in addition to the new Android APIs for running Google's Gemini Nano model on-device.
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Among the many new features and improvements for Pixel phones, the December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop also brings several new features to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2!
- Call Screen is now available on Pixel Watch (both gens).
- Watch Unlock is now available as well for both gens.
- First-gen Pixel Watch now supports syncing DND and bedtime mode with your Pixel phone.
- First-gen Pixel Watch is getting new watch faces (Adventure and Analog Arcs) and updated complication styles (arcs and redesigned bulbs).
- Call Screen is now available on Pixel Watch (both gens).
- Watch Unlock is now available as well for both gens.
- First-gen Pixel Watch now supports syncing DND and bedtime mode with your Pixel phone.
- First-gen Pixel Watch is getting new watch faces (Adventure and Analog Arcs) and updated complication styles (arcs and redesigned bulbs).
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If you want to try the new Gboard Smart Reply feature on the Pixel 8 Pro, you need to go to Settings > Developer Options > AiCore Settings and toggle "Enable Aicore Persistent".
Then, open a WhatsApp conversation to see LLM-powered Smart Reply suggestions in Gboard's suggestion strip.
These suggestions are powered by Google's Gemini Nano model, which is rolling out to Pixel 8 Pro devices via an update to the AICore app, so if you don't see the new Smart Reply behavior yet, you may need to wait for the model to be downloaded in the background.
Google says this feature is currently available as a limited preview for US English in WhatsApp but that support for more apps is coming next year.
Then, open a WhatsApp conversation to see LLM-powered Smart Reply suggestions in Gboard's suggestion strip.
These suggestions are powered by Google's Gemini Nano model, which is rolling out to Pixel 8 Pro devices via an update to the AICore app, so if you don't see the new Smart Reply behavior yet, you may need to wait for the model to be downloaded in the background.
Google says this feature is currently available as a limited preview for US English in WhatsApp but that support for more apps is coming next year.
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The December 2023 Feature Drop update brings a much newer Arm Mali GPU kernel driver to Tensor Pixels, which users report significantly improves performance in games like Genshin Impact and Fortnite!
The GPU kernel driver has been upgraded from r38p1 released on August 18, 2022 to r44p1, which was released on October 11, 2023 (H/T @mile_freak07). (The GPU kernel driver version in the current Android 14 QPR2 beta is still r44p1.)
If you have a Tensor Pixel, try out some games/GPU benchmarks and see if the performance has improved significantly for you.
Alex Mullis noticed a major performance improvement in Genshin Impact a few weeks back after the game's version 4.2 update. The game ran quite poorly on the Pixel 8's Android 14 stable release, but ran much better on the QPR beta.
User TechDroider did a performance comparison between stable Android 14 and Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 in Fortnite.
The GPU kernel driver has been upgraded from r38p1 released on August 18, 2022 to r44p1, which was released on October 11, 2023 (H/T @mile_freak07). (The GPU kernel driver version in the current Android 14 QPR2 beta is still r44p1.)
If you have a Tensor Pixel, try out some games/GPU benchmarks and see if the performance has improved significantly for you.
Alex Mullis noticed a major performance improvement in Genshin Impact a few weeks back after the game's version 4.2 update. The game ran quite poorly on the Pixel 8's Android 14 stable release, but ran much better on the QPR beta.
User TechDroider did a performance comparison between stable Android 14 and Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 in Fortnite.
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Yes, the Android 14 QPR1/December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop update does bring the per-app aspect ratio override feature to the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet.
It wasn't mentioned in Google's blog post, but it is there, as it's a core feature of the OS now. It'll be available on all large screen devices (if the OEM doesn't remove it) in Android 15.
Also, the Pixel Fold gets support for the USB webcam feature in the December update; this is notable only because it didn't support it during the QPR1 beta like other Pixel devices.
(Thanks to Anh on my Discord for the above screenshots!)
Another oddity is that Google's chart says the Pixel 6a won't get Repair Mode, but several users are telling me they have it after receiving the update. I'll chalk this up to an error in the chart since it doesn't make sense for the 6a to be excluded.
It wasn't mentioned in Google's blog post, but it is there, as it's a core feature of the OS now. It'll be available on all large screen devices (if the OEM doesn't remove it) in Android 15.
Also, the Pixel Fold gets support for the USB webcam feature in the December update; this is notable only because it didn't support it during the QPR1 beta like other Pixel devices.
(Thanks to Anh on my Discord for the above screenshots!)
Another oddity is that Google's chart says the Pixel 6a won't get Repair Mode, but several users are telling me they have it after receiving the update. I'll chalk this up to an error in the chart since it doesn't make sense for the 6a to be excluded.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Yes, the Android 14 QPR1/December 2023 Pixel Feature Drop update does bring the per-app aspect ratio override feature to the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. It wasn't mentioned in Google's blog post, but it is there, as it's a core feature of the OS now. It'll…
Google has corrected its chart to reflect which devices Repair Mode is available on.
The new chart shows that Repair Mode is indeed available on the Pixel 6a, but also the Pixel 5a as well. This means Repair Mode is available on all currently supported Pixel phones.
Also, the new chart shows that contextual replies in Call Screen is NOT available on the Pixel 5a or the Pixel Tablet. The Pixel Tablet doesn't even have telephony, so it didn't make sense for it to support that.
The new chart shows that Repair Mode is indeed available on the Pixel 6a, but also the Pixel 5a as well. This means Repair Mode is available on all currently supported Pixel phones.
Also, the new chart shows that contextual replies in Call Screen is NOT available on the Pixel 5a or the Pixel Tablet. The Pixel Tablet doesn't even have telephony, so it didn't make sense for it to support that.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Beeper Mini is the iMessage for Android app we’ve been waiting for
TechCrunch is reporting that it's likely Apple has cut off Beeper Mini's access to iMessage.
"However, Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky responded to TechCrunch’s inquiry about Beeper Mini’s status by pointing us to the X post acknowledging the outage, and providing more detail. Asked if possibly Apple found a way to cut off Beeper Mini’s ability to function, he replied, 'Yes, all data indicates that.'"
TechCrunch
Apple cuts off Beeper Mini’s access after launch of service that brought iMessage to Android
Was it too good to be true? Beeper, the startup that reverse-engineered iMessage to bring blue bubble texts to Android users, is experiencing an outage,
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
TechCrunch is reporting that it's likely Apple has cut off Beeper Mini's access to iMessage. "However, Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky responded to TechCrunch’s inquiry about Beeper Mini’s status by pointing us to the X post acknowledging the outage, and providing…
Beeper Mini is back for now. The app is being made free to use but currently phone number registration does not work.
Beeper Blog
Beeper Mini Is Back
Bug fixes and other improvements We’ve created an updated version of Beeper Mini that fixes an issue that caused messages not to be sent or received. You can get the update directly from beep…
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Forwarded from Google News | En
Android 14 QPR2 (March) Beta 2 is out!
List of fixes:
• Fixed an issue where battery usage information that was reported in system settings was sometimes incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where the fingerprint icon on the lock screen would sometimes display before other information had loaded in always-on display mode.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the biometric prompt to crash, causing it to be dismissed before a user could interact with it.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the Internet Quick Settings tile to indicate that there was no Wi-Fi connection, even when the device was connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Known issues:
• Sometimes when a user unlocks the device using their fingerprint, there is no haptic feedback.
• For Pixel Fold devices, sometimes after a user unlocks the device while it's folded, the inner display doesn't turn on after unfolding the device.
• The Assistant At a Glance widget sometimes displays weather information for the wrong location.
Build number:AP11.231020.016 → AP11.231117.006
Security Patch: December 2023
🔗 Android Beta
• OTA images
• Factory Images
Google News | En
List of fixes:
• Fixed an issue where battery usage information that was reported in system settings was sometimes incorrect.
• Fixed an issue where the fingerprint icon on the lock screen would sometimes display before other information had loaded in always-on display mode.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the biometric prompt to crash, causing it to be dismissed before a user could interact with it.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the Internet Quick Settings tile to indicate that there was no Wi-Fi connection, even when the device was connected to a Wi-Fi network.
Known issues:
• Sometimes when a user unlocks the device using their fingerprint, there is no haptic feedback.
• For Pixel Fold devices, sometimes after a user unlocks the device while it's folded, the inner display doesn't turn on after unfolding the device.
• The Assistant At a Glance widget sometimes displays weather information for the wrong location.
Build number:
Security Patch: December 2023
🔗 Android Beta
• OTA images
• Factory Images
Google News | En
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