Google's landing page for "Cars with Google built-in" (marketing name for cars running Android Automotive with Google Automotive Services) has this neat interactive demo that shows off various features of the OS.
I'm surprised Google hasn't talked about this page much. I didn't even know it existed until I randomly stumbled upon it while clicking on links on android.com!
Cars with Google built-in landing page |Digital demo | My video
I'm surprised Google hasn't talked about this page much. I didn't even know it existed until I randomly stumbled upon it while clicking on links on android.com!
Cars with Google built-in landing page |Digital demo | My video
Built in Cars
Cars with Google built-in | A more connected, personal, and helpful drive.
All your favorite apps, navigation, and entertainment in your car, truck or SUV's infotainment center or dashboard. Adjust settings, stay productive, and control devices in your home with your voice. Do all that and more with Google built-in.
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It's official: October 4, 2023 is when the Pixel 8 series (and likely the Pixel Watch 2) will be announced.
Looking forward to hearing more about these new devices!
(Display output on a Pixel, finally!)
Looking forward to hearing more about these new devices!
(Display output on a Pixel, finally!)
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Congrats to Fairphone for the launch of the Fairphone 5! Promising 8 years of software support (5 major Android OS updates) for a consumer smartphone is a first in the industry!
The Fairphone 5 ships with Android 13 out of the box and should receive OS updates all the way to Android 18!
This is largely made possible by the company's decision to use the QCM6490 SoC, one of Qualcomm's IoT platforms. Qualcomm offers extended software support for its industrial IoT platforms compared to its consumer mobile platforms.
The QCM6490 isroughly equivalent in specs physically the same chip as the Snapdragon 778G, according to Kamila Wojciechowska, so the Fairphone 5 will have fairly mid-range performance.
I didn't even know that there were Qualcomm IoT platforms with BSPs that support Android, but apparently, the QCM6490 is "purpose-built for industrial and commercial IoT applications such as ruggedized handhelds and tablets..." Indeed, the Fairphone 5 isn't the only Android smartphone to have this chip, as there are other devices like the AGM G2 Guardian with it.
It remains to be seen if Fairphone will actually be able to deliver on their promise of 5 major Android OS updates, though I have no doubt that they have the technical capability and drive to do so. We don't really know what Android's hardware requirements will be like in 2028, after all.
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The Fairphone 5 ships with Android 13 out of the box and should receive OS updates all the way to Android 18!
This is largely made possible by the company's decision to use the QCM6490 SoC, one of Qualcomm's IoT platforms. Qualcomm offers extended software support for its industrial IoT platforms compared to its consumer mobile platforms.
The QCM6490 is
I didn't even know that there were Qualcomm IoT platforms with BSPs that support Android, but apparently, the QCM6490 is "purpose-built for industrial and commercial IoT applications such as ruggedized handhelds and tablets..." Indeed, the Fairphone 5 isn't the only Android smartphone to have this chip, as there are other devices like the AGM G2 Guardian with it.
It remains to be seen if Fairphone will actually be able to deliver on their promise of 5 major Android OS updates, though I have no doubt that they have the technical capability and drive to do so. We don't really know what Android's hardware requirements will be like in 2028, after all.
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Qualcomm used to publish its software support roadmaps for its IoT platforms. This roadmap for the QCM6490 is dated July 2021, so it's possible it has already been extended.
Edit: The Fairphone 5 indeed ships with an Android 11 vendor, suggesting the roadmap I posted for the QCM6490 is accurate and it's a GRF'd platform.
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QCM6490/QCS6490 Android support plan
Android version | ACK | Launch config | CS | Std. SW maintenance EOL | Ext. Life SW maintenance EOL
11 (R), 5.4 NPI, Jul’21 4Q22 4Q28
12 (S), 5.4 NPI, OTA 4Q21 4Q23 4Q28
13 (T), 5.4 NPI, OTA 4Q22 4Q24 4Q28
14 (U), 5.4 NPI, OTA 4Q23 4Q25 4Q28
15 (V), 5.X NPI, OTA 4Q24 4Q25 4Q28
If this roadmap is still correct, and the QCM6490 is indeed a GRF'd platform, then it's possible the Fairphone 5 is launching with Android 13 on top of a vendor implementation built for Android 11 with a Linux 5.4 kernel. And by 2028, it'll be running Android 18 with a vendor built for Android 15 and a compatible version of the Linux kernel (the oldest supported Linux kernel version is bumped each release eg. Android 15 will drop Linux 4.14 support).Edit: The Fairphone 5 indeed ships with an Android 11 vendor, suggesting the roadmap I posted for the QCM6490 is accurate and it's a GRF'd platform.
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YouTube for Android TV is starting to roll out a new UI for the video denoscription/comments box. The box now floats above the right side of the video in a large, rounded rectangle.
(Yes, I know I can take screenshots on Android TV. No, I'm not going back and doing that.)
(Yes, I know I can take screenshots on Android TV. No, I'm not going back and doing that.)
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Android's "Sound & Vibration" settings really needs to add headers or move some items into subsetting pages. There are WAY too many items here, so it just looks cluttered.
Many other Settings pages have received categorization improvements, so this one sticks out like a sore thumb.
(I realize this page has fewer items on other Pixels/AOSP. Spatial audio and Clear Calling aren't available on all Pixels. Live Caption and Adaptive Sound are also not part of AOSP.)
Many other Settings pages have received categorization improvements, so this one sticks out like a sore thumb.
(I realize this page has fewer items on other Pixels/AOSP. Spatial audio and Clear Calling aren't available on all Pixels. Live Caption and Adaptive Sound are also not part of AOSP.)
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Today's the day that Google's new target API level requirements go into effect.
Starting today, Google Play requires that:
* New apps target Android 13 or higher. This applies across mobile, Android Auto, and Android TV. New Wear OS apps must target between Android 11 (API level 30) and Android 13 (API level 33).
* App updates must target Android 13 or higher, except for Wear OS apps, which must target Android 11 or higher (a requirement since November 1, 2022).
* Existing apps across mobile, Android Auto, and Android TV must target Android 12 (API level 31) or higher to remain available to users on devices running Android OS versions higher than the apps' target API level. Apps that target API level 30 or below (API level 29 or below for Wear OS) will only be available on devices running Android OS versions the same or lower than the apps’ target API level.
If you (the developer) apply for an extension, you have until November 1, 2023, to adjust to these target API level changes.
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Meet Google Play's target API level requirement | Target API level requirements for Google Play apps
Starting today, Google Play requires that:
* New apps target Android 13 or higher. This applies across mobile, Android Auto, and Android TV. New Wear OS apps must target between Android 11 (API level 30) and Android 13 (API level 33).
* App updates must target Android 13 or higher, except for Wear OS apps, which must target Android 11 or higher (a requirement since November 1, 2022).
* Existing apps across mobile, Android Auto, and Android TV must target Android 12 (API level 31) or higher to remain available to users on devices running Android OS versions higher than the apps' target API level. Apps that target API level 30 or below (API level 29 or below for Wear OS) will only be available on devices running Android OS versions the same or lower than the apps’ target API level.
If you (the developer) apply for an extension, you have until November 1, 2023, to adjust to these target API level changes.
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Meet Google Play's target API level requirement | Target API level requirements for Google Play apps
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OnePlus has announced that its Android 14-based release, OxygenOS 14, will "launch globally on September 25, 2023."
OnePlus didn't say which of their devices will receive the update on this date, but a closed beta test program is already running for the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R, and OnePlus Nord 3.
Furthermore, an open beta version is "around the corner" so you'll presumably be able to test it ahead of the launch date for the stable build.
OnePlus didn't say which of their devices will receive the update on this date, but a closed beta test program is already running for the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R, and OnePlus Nord 3.
Furthermore, an open beta version is "around the corner" so you'll presumably be able to test it ahead of the launch date for the stable build.
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The Pixel's December 2023 Feature Drop will let you set a different live wallpaper on the lock screen than the home screen!
In response to an Issue Tracker post from a Samsung engineer asking when this feature will be added, a Googler said that "the feature is enabled on udc-qpr-dev."
What's interesting about this Issue Tracker post is that I'm pretty sure they used the wrong ticket ID, because this conversation likely wasn't meant to be public. The ticket directly talks about the Android Bootcamp 2023, an invite-only seminar where Google invited OEMs to talk about upcoming changes in Android.
The existence of this feature isn't news in and of itself. I first revealed this feature was in the works back in March when I wrote about it for XDA-Developers. I got it working a few weeks later following the release of Android 14 Beta 1. The feature is currently disabled in public Android 14 beta builds but can be enabled if you toggle the system property
It's good to see that the independent lock screen live wallpaper feature is planned to go live in Android 14 QPR1, though!
In response to an Issue Tracker post from a Samsung engineer asking when this feature will be added, a Googler said that "the feature is enabled on udc-qpr-dev."
udc-qpr-dev is Google's internal development branch for Android 14 QPR1, the underlying platform release for the upcoming December 2023 Pixel Feature Dropudc = Upside Down Cake, the internal dessert name for Android 14qpr = Quarterly Platform Releasedev = development branchWhat's interesting about this Issue Tracker post is that I'm pretty sure they used the wrong ticket ID, because this conversation likely wasn't meant to be public. The ticket directly talks about the Android Bootcamp 2023, an invite-only seminar where Google invited OEMs to talk about upcoming changes in Android.
The existence of this feature isn't news in and of itself. I first revealed this feature was in the works back in March when I wrote about it for XDA-Developers. I got it working a few weeks later following the release of Android 14 Beta 1. The feature is currently disabled in public Android 14 beta builds but can be enabled if you toggle the system property
persist.wm.debug.lockscreen_live_wallpaper (requires root).It's good to see that the independent lock screen live wallpaper feature is planned to go live in Android 14 QPR1, though!
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Heads up to any AOSP platform developers: Google is apparently deprecating AIDEGen. In its place, Google is recommending "ASfP", which apparently stands for "Android Studio for Platform". This is casually mentioned in the README file for the new RemoteAuth…
Can confirm that "ASfP" refers to "Android Studio for Platform". Also, from an Issue Tracker post made on Feb. 22, 2023:
(The 2023 Android Bootcamp already happened, btw.)
"Thanks for the suggestion. We are prototyping a solution for Platform development internally and plan to share what we've learned so far at the upcoming 2023 Android Bootcamp. Likely, it will take some time to get Android Studio for Platform stable and ready for adoption outside of Google, but that is the long-term plan."
(The 2023 Android Bootcamp already happened, btw.)
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One UI Watch 5 based on Android 13 is rolling out for the Galaxy Watch 5, and as I suspected, the build declares the
For context, I recently discovered that the Galaxy Watch 6 series also declares the PackageManager feature for Active Unlock. This suggests that the Watch Unlock feature won't only work with the Pixel Watch.
If you're wondering what Watch Unlock is and how it's different from "trusted devices" under Smart Lock, check out this explainer I made.
(Thanks for Armando R for checking!)
com.google.android.clockwork.active_unlock feature. Active Unlock is the name for the API underpinning the upcoming Watch Unlock feature.For context, I recently discovered that the Galaxy Watch 6 series also declares the PackageManager feature for Active Unlock. This suggests that the Watch Unlock feature won't only work with the Pixel Watch.
If you're wondering what Watch Unlock is and how it's different from "trusted devices" under Smart Lock, check out this explainer I made.
(Thanks for Armando R for checking!)
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The FCC filings for the Google Pixel 8 series went public the other day, and as Reddit user Starks points out, it seems both devices may support Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).
Kamila Wojciechowska previously reported both devices will use Broadcom's BCM4389 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, so this isn't unexpected.
Sadly, UWB is once again missing from the non-Pro model, according to these FCC filings. Very strange omission if Google indeed plans on launching its own tracker tag. Plus, this may also mean some upcoming features like "hold close to cast" may also not be supported.
Kamila Wojciechowska previously reported both devices will use Broadcom's BCM4389 chip, which supports Wi-Fi 7, so this isn't unexpected.
Sadly, UWB is once again missing from the non-Pro model, according to these FCC filings. Very strange omission if Google indeed plans on launching its own tracker tag. Plus, this may also mean some upcoming features like "hold close to cast" may also not be supported.
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Google Home's new "home panel" feature has landed on the first non-Pixel device! Samsung Galaxy S23 devices on the second One UI 6 beta now have this feature which, as I previously reported, would be available to non-Pixel devices running Android 14.
Pixel devices gained support for the "home panel" in the June 2023 Pixel Feature Drop with Android 13 QPR3. For more context, see my previous post.
Pixel devices gained support for the "home panel" in the June 2023 Pixel Feature Drop with Android 13 QPR3. For more context, see my previous post.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
The Pixel's December 2023 Feature Drop will let you set a different live wallpaper on the lock screen than the home screen! In response to an Issue Tracker post from a Samsung engineer asking when this feature will be added, a Googler said that "the feature…
Android Bootcamp 2023 apparently happened in late April, which means that I revealed this feature a month before Google even told OEMs about it.
So yeah, if you want to know what's happening in Android, give me a follow (and subscribe to me on Patreon if you want to show your support!)
So yeah, if you want to know what's happening in Android, give me a follow (and subscribe to me on Patreon if you want to show your support!)
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