Android is preparing to add a built-in settings screen for satellite messaging 👀
This screen has a link to an unpublished T-Mobile page for satellite messaging. T-Mobile is working with Starlink to enable this feature on existing phones.
Full details are available in my latest article for Android Authority.
This screen has a link to an unpublished T-Mobile page for satellite messaging. T-Mobile is working with Starlink to enable this feature on existing phones.
Full details are available in my latest article for Android Authority.
Android Authority
Android 15 might let you send text messages via satellite
Satellite connectivity lets you send an emergency SOS when your phone can't reach a cell tower, and it seems Android 15 is adding support.
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Under Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, there's a new "allow camera software extensions" toggle that's enabled by default.
This toggle "enables the default software implementation of advanced camera features, such as Eyes Free videography."
This feature basically lets the Android OS provide some fallback Camera2/CameraX vendor extensions in cases where the OEMs don't provide their own.
This toggle "enables the default software implementation of advanced camera features, such as Eyes Free videography."
This feature basically lets the Android OS provide some fallback Camera2/CameraX vendor extensions in cases where the OEMs don't provide their own.
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I first reported back in January that Google was working on bringing back widgets to the lock screen. I believed at the time that this feature was intended for devices like the Pixel Tablet, and Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 lends credence to that theory.
While digging through the latest beta, I discovered that there's going to be a new "glanceable hub" toggle under "Hub Mode" settings. Given what I showed off in January, the name makes sense: You aren't actually placing widgets directly on the lock screen but rather swiping to open a new page where the widgets can be added.
While digging through the latest beta, I discovered that there's going to be a new "glanceable hub" toggle under "Hub Mode" settings. Given what I showed off in January, the name makes sense: You aren't actually placing widgets directly on the lock screen but rather swiping to open a new page where the widgets can be added.
<string name="enable_glanceable_hub_toggle">Enable glanceable hub</string>Android Authority
Android 15 could bring widgets back to the lock screen
Google killed off lock screen widget support on Android nearly a decade ago, but it could be coming back in Android 15.
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When you connect a physical keyboard to your device in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, you can now enable two new accessibility options: "sticky keys" and "bounce keys".
Sticky keys make it easier to enter keyboard shortcuts in quick succession. When you press a modifier key like Ctrl or Alt with sticky keys enabled, it'll stay pressed so you don't have to hold it down while pressing other keys.
Bounce keys lets the system ignore rapid, repeated presses of the same key.
These two accessibility options will soon be joined by a third "slow keys" option in a future release.
Sticky keys make it easier to enter keyboard shortcuts in quick succession. When you press a modifier key like Ctrl or Alt with sticky keys enabled, it'll stay pressed so you don't have to hold it down while pressing other keys.
Bounce keys lets the system ignore rapid, repeated presses of the same key.
These two accessibility options will soon be joined by a third "slow keys" option in a future release.
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Google has announced the Fused Orientation Provider (FOP) API, which provides "quality and consistent device orientation by fusing signals from accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer."
Unlike the existing Android Rotation Vector, FOP is implemented by Google Play Services, which allows it to provide more consistent behavior by eliminating implementation variances among device makers. It can also offer better accuracy by incorporating algorithm updates more quickly and compensating for lower qualiy sensors or quirks in OEM implementations.
The FOP API is designed to be similar to the AOSP Rotation Vector to make transitions easy, and in some cases, it can return values piped through the Rotation Vector but with magnetic declination applied. It's available on Android 5.0+ but the output rate is limited to 200Hz on Android 12+ unless your app is granted the HIGH_SAMPLING_RATE_SENSORS permission.
Google Maps uses FOP to better cope with magnetic disturbances, improving the reliability of the cone for users.
Unlike the existing Android Rotation Vector, FOP is implemented by Google Play Services, which allows it to provide more consistent behavior by eliminating implementation variances among device makers. It can also offer better accuracy by incorporating algorithm updates more quickly and compensating for lower qualiy sensors or quirks in OEM implementations.
The FOP API is designed to be similar to the AOSP Rotation Vector to make transitions easy, and in some cases, it can return values piped through the Rotation Vector but with magnetic declination applied. It's available on Android 5.0+ but the output rate is limited to 200Hz on Android 12+ unless your app is granted the HIGH_SAMPLING_RATE_SENSORS permission.
Google Maps uses FOP to better cope with magnetic disturbances, improving the reliability of the cone for users.
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Thanks to Project Mainline, Google has been able to push out updates to your Android device's time zone database since Android 10. This is useful to quickly address changes in time laws that happen from time to time.
However, before 2023, tzdata updates were "still bundled with other Mainline changes, sometimes leading to testing complexities and slower deployment." Google says that in 2023, they made "further investments in Mainline's infrastructure and decoupled the tzdata module from the other components." This isolation allows Google to release tzdata updates to Android users outside of the established release cadence.
(These out of band tzdata updates may be why some of the Google Play System Updates you've received haven't bumped the GPSU version. The GPSU version is only bumped when the Module Metadata APK is updated with a newer version name. This only happens when Google rolls out a new monthly Mainline train.)
However, before 2023, tzdata updates were "still bundled with other Mainline changes, sometimes leading to testing complexities and slower deployment." Google says that in 2023, they made "further investments in Mainline's infrastructure and decoupled the tzdata module from the other components." This isolation allows Google to release tzdata updates to Android users outside of the established release cadence.
(These out of band tzdata updates may be why some of the Google Play System Updates you've received haven't bumped the GPSU version. The GPSU version is only bumped when the Module Metadata APK is updated with a newer version name. This only happens when Google rolls out a new monthly Mainline train.)
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Android is preparing to add a built-in settings screen for satellite messaging 👀 This screen has a link to an unpublished T-Mobile page for satellite messaging. T-Mobile is working with Starlink to enable this feature on existing phones. Full details are…
SpaceX told the FCC the other day that their "Direct to Cell" Starlink technology works with "multiple models of unmodified Samsung, Apple, and Google devices" in both "urban and rural areas, indoors and outdoors, and in clear sky and under tree cover." 👀
Via PCMag.
Via PCMag.
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Google's new MediaPipe LLM Inference API enables select large language models to run fully on-device. Supported models include Gemma 2B, Falcon 1B, Phi 2, and Stable LM 3B, while supported platforms are the web, Android, and iOS.
Google says Android support is "intended for experimental and research use only" as production apps should instead use Gemini Nano through Android's AICore, available on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 series currently, for on-device LLM inferencing. This is because AICore can take advantage of hardware-specific neural accelerators.
Google says Android support is "intended for experimental and research use only" as production apps should instead use Gemini Nano through Android's AICore, available on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 series currently, for on-device LLM inferencing. This is because AICore can take advantage of hardware-specific neural accelerators.
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Google has announced that movie tickets and boarding passes will automatically be added to Google Wallet when you get a confirmation email in Gmail!
This feature is live for some global movie chains and airlines but more partners will be added in the future.
Furthermore, Google also says you can now manually archive passes in Wallet (on both mobile and Wear OS), which will move them down to the "Archived Passes" section.
This feature is live for some global movie chains and airlines but more partners will be added in the future.
Furthermore, Google also says you can now manually archive passes in Wallet (on both mobile and Wear OS), which will move them down to the "Archived Passes" section.
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Finally: Google has enabled display output on a Pixel phone for the first time!
With Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, you can mirror your Pixel 8's screen to an external display, as Google has finally enabled DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
More details are available in my article for Android Authority.
With Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, you can mirror your Pixel 8's screen to an external display, as Google has finally enabled DisplayPort Alternate Mode.
More details are available in my article for Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google finally enables display output on the Pixel 8, here's what it could mean for a DeX-like mode
With the latest Android beta, Google has finally enabled display output over USB-C on the Pixel 8 series. Here's why that's important.
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Google is working on an "Adaptive Touch" feature for the upcoming Pixel 9 that will automatically adjust the phone's touch sensitivity.
Full details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Full details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
The Pixel 9 may debut Google’s Adaptive Touch feature
The Pixel 9 may add an “Adaptive Touch” feature that automatically adjusts touch sensitivity based on environmental factors.
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The OnePlus Open is finally getting its Android 14 update in the US! Apart from all the features mentioned in the official changelog, the update also brings tighter integration with Microsoft's Link to Windows service!
With OxygenOS 14, the Link to Windows app is now preloaded into the device's firmware. This unlocks additional features when you connect the OnePlus Open to a Windows PC via Link to Windows, such as app mirroring and instant tethering support.
Back in November at the 2023 OPPO Developer Conference, the company announced they would integrate Link to Windows into ColorOS 14. Thus, most OnePlus/OPPO/Realme devices running Android 14 should be seeing this tighter integration.
Unfortunately, the changes that Microsoft/Qualcomm made to Android 14 to make using Link to Windows' app mirroring feature less annoying to use on the latest OS release have not been integrated into ColorOS 14/OxygenOS 14.
With OxygenOS 14, the Link to Windows app is now preloaded into the device's firmware. This unlocks additional features when you connect the OnePlus Open to a Windows PC via Link to Windows, such as app mirroring and instant tethering support.
Back in November at the 2023 OPPO Developer Conference, the company announced they would integrate Link to Windows into ColorOS 14. Thus, most OnePlus/OPPO/Realme devices running Android 14 should be seeing this tighter integration.
Unfortunately, the changes that Microsoft/Qualcomm made to Android 14 to make using Link to Windows' app mirroring feature less annoying to use on the latest OS release have not been integrated into ColorOS 14/OxygenOS 14.
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The Pixel Watch is starting to show a progress indicator for app installs for some users. When you're downloading an app update through Google Play, you may see update progress in the launcher's app drawer.
Launchers on Android phones/tablets have been able to show progress indicators for app installs for a while now, but this seems to be new for Pixel Watch users. Some OG Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users tell me they see this, while another tells me they don't see it. The OnePlus Watch 2 I have doesn't have this feature.
Thanks to Dimitrios Vlachos on Telegram for the tip!
Launchers on Android phones/tablets have been able to show progress indicators for app installs for a while now, but this seems to be new for Pixel Watch users. Some OG Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 users tell me they see this, while another tells me they don't see it. The OnePlus Watch 2 I have doesn't have this feature.
Thanks to Dimitrios Vlachos on Telegram for the tip!
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
When will Google launch its Find My Device network? We still don't know, but here's the latest update: Background Google said they won't roll their Find My Device network until Apple implements unwanted tracker alerts in iOS. Apple is waiting for the Detecting…
UPDATE: Google told me that the IETF's ongoing work on the Device Unwanted Location Tracker (DULT) specification does NOT impact their timeline for launching the Find My Device network.
Plus, the version of the spec that Apple will be implementing in iOS is already available, so really the only thing holding back Google's Find My Device network now is Apple.
More details here.
Plus, the version of the spec that Apple will be implementing in iOS is already available, so really the only thing holding back Google's Find My Device network now is Apple.
More details here.
Android Police
The only thing holding back Google's Find My Device network now is Apple
Google's Find My Device network will turn Android devices into a massive location tracking network. But it's being held back by Apple.
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Google's AI article summarization feature on Android, which is available in the Google app, might soon be powered by Gemini Nano on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24.
More details are available in this Android Authority article.
More details are available in this Android Authority article.
Android Authority
Android phones with Gemini Nano could gain another handy on-device feature
Gemini Nano powers several on-device AI features on the Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 and could soon power a new AI article summary feature.
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ASUS has announced the Zenfone 11 Ultra!
It has a large, 6.78" LTPO AMOLED display, ending the trend of compact Zenfone devices. To compensate, it has a much larger 5,500mAh battery (with 65W wired and 15W Qi 1.3 wireless charging). It has an aluminum frame and an IP68 rating. Overall, it has the same design as the recent ROG Phone 8, except it doesn't have the AirTrigger buttons or the side USB-C port.
It retains ASUS's signature 6-axis hybrid gimbal OIS camera (50MP IMX890 sensor) and also has a 32MP 3X optical zoom telephoto lens with OIS and a 13MP 120° FoV ultra wide-angle lens. ASUS has added some new camera features including AI portrait video, Super HyperSteady, AI Object Sense, and more.
The Zenfone 11 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and has up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
It runs Android 14 out of the box and will be getting 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. It includes some new "AI" software features like AI Trannoscript, AI Call Translator, on-device AI Wallpaper, AI Noise Cancellation, and AI Semantic Search. It also includes ASUS GlideX and Microsoft's Phone Link apps for cross-device connectivity.
Pricing:
12/256: EUR 999 / GBP 869.99 / US$899
16/512: EUR 1099 / GBP 949.99
From March 14 to April 14, the 12/256 model is discounted by €100 / £80 and the 16/512 model by €100 / £50 in Europe and the UK. Pre-orders in the U.S. will include a pair of Cetra TWS earbuds in white.
It has a large, 6.78" LTPO AMOLED display, ending the trend of compact Zenfone devices. To compensate, it has a much larger 5,500mAh battery (with 65W wired and 15W Qi 1.3 wireless charging). It has an aluminum frame and an IP68 rating. Overall, it has the same design as the recent ROG Phone 8, except it doesn't have the AirTrigger buttons or the side USB-C port.
It retains ASUS's signature 6-axis hybrid gimbal OIS camera (50MP IMX890 sensor) and also has a 32MP 3X optical zoom telephoto lens with OIS and a 13MP 120° FoV ultra wide-angle lens. ASUS has added some new camera features including AI portrait video, Super HyperSteady, AI Object Sense, and more.
The Zenfone 11 Ultra is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and has up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
It runs Android 14 out of the box and will be getting 2 years of OS updates and 4 years of security updates. It includes some new "AI" software features like AI Trannoscript, AI Call Translator, on-device AI Wallpaper, AI Noise Cancellation, and AI Semantic Search. It also includes ASUS GlideX and Microsoft's Phone Link apps for cross-device connectivity.
Pricing:
12/256: EUR 999 / GBP 869.99 / US$899
16/512: EUR 1099 / GBP 949.99
From March 14 to April 14, the 12/256 model is discounted by €100 / £80 and the 16/512 model by €100 / £50 in Europe and the UK. Pre-orders in the U.S. will include a pair of Cetra TWS earbuds in white.
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