Gemini Nano is about to roll out to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, as promised!
One Pixel 8 user informed me today that they now have an "enable on-device GenAI Features" toggle under Settings > System > Developer options > AICore Settings. This toggle "enable[s] GenAI features that will run through AICore, using Gemini." This toggle was NOT enabled by default.
The user has version 0.release.pixel8.636144055 of AICore installed, which seems to be specific to the Pixel 8 (and possibly 8a as well).
Google previously said that Gemini Nano support is coming to the Pixel 8 and 8a with the June update, which will likely roll out next week.
One Pixel 8 user informed me today that they now have an "enable on-device GenAI Features" toggle under Settings > System > Developer options > AICore Settings. This toggle "enable[s] GenAI features that will run through AICore, using Gemini." This toggle was NOT enabled by default.
The user has version 0.release.pixel8.636144055 of AICore installed, which seems to be specific to the Pixel 8 (and possibly 8a as well).
Google previously said that Gemini Nano support is coming to the Pixel 8 and 8a with the June update, which will likely roll out next week.
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If you use Android and rely on hearing aids, I have some good news: Android 15 will significantly improve hearing aid support. Not only will LE Audio-enabled hearing aids be supported but the OS will also bring better management features.
More details can be found in this article.
More details can be found in this article.
Android Authority
Android 15 improves accessibility with better hearing aid support
Android 15 will improve the platform’s support for hearing aids by adding Bluetooth LE Audio support and better management controls.
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Google's latest Android feature drop is here, and it's one of the most exciting in recent memory!
Not only does this drop finally bring message editing in Google Messages, it also brings the new Google Home widget we just saw the other day. Also, the long-awaited cross-device features like instant hotspot and the ability to transfer calls between devices (starting with Meet).
More details on everything new can be found in this article.
Not only does this drop finally bring message editing in Google Messages, it also brings the new Google Home widget we just saw the other day. Also, the long-awaited cross-device features like instant hotspot and the ability to transfer calls between devices (starting with Meet).
More details on everything new can be found in this article.
Android Faithful
Android's latest feature drop makes your devices work better together
Google is rolling out 8 new exciting Android features to "elevate your everyday." Here's what they are.
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Heads up: Google says that Android's new Instant Hotspot feature won't be available on Samsung devices.
Here's what this means for you.
Here's what this means for you.
Android Authority
Android's new Instant Hotspot feature won't be available on Samsung devices
Instant Hotspot, which lets you easily connect your Android tablet or Chromebook to your phone’s hotspot, won’t work on Samsung devices.
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Gmail's new Quick Reply UI is official! Google announced today that they're rolling out a new UI in Gmail for Android that makes it easier to quickly reply to emails.
More details plus screenshots can be found in this article.
More details plus screenshots can be found in this article.
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This was too cool not to share: You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (as well as Ocarina of Time) natively on your Android phone, thanks to an unofficial port.
This might be the best way to experience these games. To learn how, read this article.
This might be the best way to experience these games. To learn how, read this article.
Android Authority
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask can now natively run on Android thanks to an unofficial port
You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask natively on Android thanks to unofficial ports.
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Google finally talked about Android's new note-taking features at last month's I/O. You'll be able to set a default note-taking app from a lock screen shortcut or stylus button press.
More details on these new features can be found in this article on Android Authority.
More details on these new features can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google makes Android's new note-taking feature official in Android 15
Android 15 will let you set a default note-taking app that can be launched from the lock screen. Here's what else it can do.
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Google is enabling support for dynamic spatial audio over Bluetooth LE Audio in Android 15. LE Audio provides lower head-tracking latency and better bandwidth utilization, providing a more immersive audio experience.
More details on what this means can be found in this article on Android Authority.
More details on what this means can be found in this article on Android Authority.
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Apple no longer offers the best security support timeline in the smartphone world. Both Google and Samsung beat them, as Apple has FINALLY committed to a minimum support window for the iPhone (hint: it's less than 7 years).
More details can be found in my latest article for Android Authority.
More details can be found in my latest article for Android Authority.
Android Authority
How many software updates do iPhones get?
How many software updates do iPhones get? Apple has finally committed to a minimum. Come learn all about this.
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Fun fact: Millions of iPhone users have already been texting over RCS, they just haven't been aware of it.
In Japan, the +Message app, available on iOS and Android, uses RCS.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
In Japan, the +Message app, available on iOS and Android, uses RCS.
More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Millions of iPhone users have already been using RCS, they just don't know it
Millions of Japanese iPhone users have been sending text messages over RCS for years now. Here's how they've been doing it.
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Starting this winter, you'll be able to text 911 over RCS using the Google Messages app on Android!
Here's why that's a big deal.
Here's why that's a big deal.
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Ahead of WWDC today, I found out what version of the RCS Universal Profile Apple will implement in the iOS Messages app.
It's also heavily implied that Apple will support RBM, but not confirmed. Hopefully they share more details at WWDC!
You can find more details in this article.
It's also heavily implied that Apple will support RBM, but not confirmed. Hopefully they share more details at WWDC!
You can find more details in this article.
Android Authority
Google confirms what version of RCS Apple will support on iPhones
A Business Development Manager at Google says that Apple will support Universal Profile 2.4, which supports business messaging.
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Android 14 QPR3, the third and final quarterly build of Android 14, is here! It's been in beta testing since early February, giving Google lots of time to fix bugs.
There aren't many new user-facing features, but here's a rundown of the few there are, over on Android Faithful.
There aren't many new user-facing features, but here's a rundown of the few there are, over on Android Faithful.
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The Pixel Feature Drop for June 2024 is here, bringing Gemini Nano to the Pixel 8/8a, car crash detection for the Pixel Watch 2, DISPLAY OUTPUT SUPPORT (on the Pixel 8 series) FINALLY, and a lot more!
You can read more about this update over on Android Faithful.
You can read more about this update over on Android Faithful.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
The Pixel Feature Drop for June 2024 is here, bringing Gemini Nano to the Pixel 8/8a, car crash detection for the Pixel Watch 2, DISPLAY OUTPUT SUPPORT (on the Pixel 8 series) FINALLY, and a lot more! You can read more about this update over on Android Faithful.
If you're wondering, the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a are the ONLY devices in the Pixel lineup that are capable of receiving display output support via an OTA update.
Don't expect this to happen for any other Pixel, ever, because it's disabled at the hardware level on them.
Don't expect this to happen for any other Pixel, ever, because it's disabled at the hardware level on them.
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Many have already pointed out that Android 15's Easter egg is unchanged from 14, but there's actually one subtle change: You can now plant flags on planets you land on!
However, the ability to plant flags is itself gated behind a feature flag. Yes, there's a flag for flags.
For more details + a screenshot of this new Easter egg change in Android 15, check out this article.
However, the ability to plant flags is itself gated behind a feature flag. Yes, there's a flag for flags.
For more details + a screenshot of this new Easter egg change in Android 15, check out this article.
Android Authority
Here's the Android 15 Easter egg and how you can see it yourself
Google updated Android’s Easter egg game for Android 15. It has you fly a spaceship around to plant flags when you land on a planet.
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Google is enhancing lockdown mode in Android 15 by disabling USB data signaling while it's active. This protects against the (large theoretical) "juice jacking" issue.
For more details on this security change in Android 15, read this article I wrote on Android Authority.
For more details on this security change in Android 15, read this article I wrote on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Lockdown mode in Android 15 protects your phone from 'juice jacking'
When lockdown mode is enabled in Android 15, USB data access will be disabled, preventing potential "juice jacking" attacks.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Many have already pointed out that Android 15's Easter egg is unchanged from 14, but there's actually one subtle change: You can now plant flags on planets you land on! However, the ability to plant flags is itself gated behind a feature flag. Yes, there's…
It JUST occurred to me why Android 15's Easter egg involves simply adding a flag to the existing spaceship game.
The flag for the flag IS the Easter egg, as it's a reference to perhaps the biggest change in Android 15: Android's new aconfig flagging system developed with the trunk stable project.
(Android 14 QPR2 was technically the first trunk stable release, which is why the source code for the Easter egg change is already live in AOSP as it was uploaded with the recent Android 14 QPR3 drop.)
This Easter egg isn't something that'll be appreciated by many since it references a really under-the-hood change, but it's a fun little homage and a nod to platform developers!
If you're curious what "trunk stable" and "aconfig" are all about, I did a presentation that touches on these topics a few months back.
The flag for the flag IS the Easter egg, as it's a reference to perhaps the biggest change in Android 15: Android's new aconfig flagging system developed with the trunk stable project.
(Android 14 QPR2 was technically the first trunk stable release, which is why the source code for the Easter egg change is already live in AOSP as it was uploaded with the recent Android 14 QPR3 drop.)
This Easter egg isn't something that'll be appreciated by many since it references a really under-the-hood change, but it's a fun little homage and a nod to platform developers!
If you're curious what "trunk stable" and "aconfig" are all about, I did a presentation that touches on these topics a few months back.
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Big announcement from Google today about how they'll be using more and more parts of the Android stack, like Android's Linux kernel fork and various frameworks, as part of the foundation for ChromeOS!
Google says bringing the Android-based tech stack into ChromeOS will allow them to "accelerate the pace of AI innovation at the core of ChromeOS, simplify engineering efforts, and help different devices like phones and accessories work better together with Chromebooks."
These improvements are starting now but "won't be ready for consumers and organizations for quite some time." Google will "provide a seamless transition to the updated experience" when they're ready.
The first of these changes is actually already live as of ChromeOS 122, with the platform shifting from the standard Linux BlueZ stack to Android's Fluoride stack for Linux (Floss).
Google has been testing this since 2021, and as I mentioned last year, switching to Floss expands codec availability to include AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC (previously only SBC was supported.) Switching to Floss also brings better interoperability testing, a simplified technical architecture, improved security (as Google rewrites the Bluetooth stack in Rust), and also will bring LE Audio support.
Sources: [1] [2]. Via.
Google says bringing the Android-based tech stack into ChromeOS will allow them to "accelerate the pace of AI innovation at the core of ChromeOS, simplify engineering efforts, and help different devices like phones and accessories work better together with Chromebooks."
These improvements are starting now but "won't be ready for consumers and organizations for quite some time." Google will "provide a seamless transition to the updated experience" when they're ready.
The first of these changes is actually already live as of ChromeOS 122, with the platform shifting from the standard Linux BlueZ stack to Android's Fluoride stack for Linux (Floss).
Google has been testing this since 2021, and as I mentioned last year, switching to Floss expands codec availability to include AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC (previously only SBC was supported.) Switching to Floss also brings better interoperability testing, a simplified technical architecture, improved security (as Google rewrites the Bluetooth stack in Rust), and also will bring LE Audio support.
Sources: [1] [2]. Via.
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