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Created by Google, Android is a smartphone OS and platform that is open-source and open for any manufacturer to use to make a smartphone. Most Android phones use a version that is mostly provided by Google and requires Google services. Android phones can run Android apps, available from the Google Play Store, or, optionally, from other sources.

by:  Google


Google Schedules I/O 2024 for May 14th

Thursday, 3:42 PM   by Rich Brome

Google's big annual developer event "will be broadcast in front of a small live audience and is open to everyone online" on May 14th this year. Google often announces new products and features at this annual event. At last year's event, the company announced the Pixel Fold and Pixel 7a. It also announced new features coming to Android and Wear OS.


Microsoft Kills Android-on-Windows

Mar 6, 2024, 12:34 PM   by Rich Brome

Microsoft is removing Android app compatibility from Windows. The Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) was a feature of Windows 11 that enabled Android apps to run on PCs. A limited selection of Android apps were available primarily via the Amazon Appstore. Users who have already downloaded the Appstore and Android apps can continue using (and updating) apps for one year. However the Amazon Appstore is no longer available to download for users who don't already have it installed, and Amazon is no longer accepting new apps for it.


Google Brings Wallet Passes, Transit Directions to Wear OS

Feb 26, 2024, 10:41 AM   by Rich Brome

Google has finally updated Wallet on Wear OS to more closely match the functionality of Wallet on Android, supporting all types of cards, passes, and tickets. Wallet for Wear OS previously only supported credit and debit cards. Now it will support "boarding passes, event tickets, gym memberships, loyalty cards and more". For people who have many such cards, some can be hidden, so that the ones you use most often can be accessed without excessive swiping. Wear OS also now supports transit directions, including trip by bus, train, or ferry. "Look up departure times right from your smartwatch, then get compass-guided navigation directions to your destination."


Google Brings AI to Messaging in Android

Feb 26, 2024, 10:12 AM   by Rich Brome

Google today announced two major new AI features for messaging in Android. The first is in Android Auto, where AI will now automatically summarize long texts or busy group chats while driving. It will also "suggest relevant replies and actions you can take with a single tap – helping you navigate to an address, make a call, or share your ETA when someone asks for it." This feature is rolling out starting today. Separately, the Messages app for Android now lets you Chat with Gemini, where you can have a conversation with Google's new AI chatbot as if it were a person in your contacts. You can even send it photos as part of your conversation. The feature includes thumbs-up and thumbs-down feedback buttons to help Google improve Gemini, and a "Report legal issue" button. This feature is only available to users enrolled in the messages beta channel and only to adults 18 and older. For now it only supports English, and French in Canada.


Google Starts Android 15 Testing Campaign

Feb 16, 2024, 3:11 PM   by Rich Brome

The very first release of Android 15 is now available for developers to test. This is a developer preview, not a public beta version, so it may lack some user-facing features and shouldn't be installed on anyone's primary device. Google says some of the improvements in Android 15 include partial screen sharing and recording, better camera controls in third-party apps, and better APIs for managing processor efficiency. Google plans to release the first beta version in April, with platform stability in June and a final release some time after July.


AT&T and Google Invest in Space-Based Cell Service

Jan 23, 2024, 12:44 PM   by Rich Brome   updated Jan 23, 2024, 2:09 PM

AST SpaceMobile — the company currently testing space-based cellular service for AT&T — has secured a vote of confidence in the form of $206.5 million in new financing from AT&T, Google, and Vodafone. AT&T and Google are new investors. As part of the deal, AT&T has agreed to purchase network equipment from AST to support planned commercial service, and made a $20 million revenue commitment. Google has "agreed to collaborate on product development, testing and implementation plans for SpaceMobile network connectivity on Android and related devices". AST's technology works with existing, off-the-shelf 4G and 5G phones. In that sense, it's similar to the service that SpaceX and T-Mobile are currently testing. Both systems rely on new satellites being launched into earth orbit with massive antennas that can mimic land-based cellular base stations. These services are intended only to provide coverage in "dead zones" not covered by land-based networks.


Google Maps Gains Tunnel Navigation

Jan 18, 2024, 12:07 PM   by Rich Brome

Google has quietly added optional support for Bluetooth beacons to its Google Maps app for Android. This feature lets the app know its location in tunnels, where GPS signals don't reach. Google's Waze subsidiary has already deployed these beacons in tunnels in cities including New York City, Chicago, and Boston. The feature is still off by default; users must go into the app settings and enable "Bluetooth tunnel beacons" under "Navigation settings" to enable the feature. The iOS version of the app does not yet offer this option.


Android Auto Will Know Your EV's Battery Level

Jan 9, 2024, 4:46 PM   by Rich Brome

Google today announced a major new feature of Android Auto: the ability for electric vehicles to share real-time battery information with Google Maps running on your phone. With this update, Google Maps will be able to "provide your estimated battery level upon arrival at your destination, suggest charging stops along the way and even estimate how long charging will take based on your vehicle." Many EV owners previously had to use the built-in navigation system instead of Android Auto to access such features. EVs must be specifically designed to support the feature. The first vehicles to support it will be the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning "in the coming months, with others to follow."


Beeper Mini's Newest (Cumbersome) Workaround Will be its Last

Dec 21, 2023, 1:29 PM   by Rich Brome

Beeper Mini has a new solution for using iMessage on an Android phone, but it requires a jailbroken iPhone left plugged in and turned on, as well as a Mac or Linux computer. Apple has found ways to shut down previous versions of Beeper Mini that did not require this extra hardware. Beeper says of its new solution: "we believe we’ve created something that Apple can tolerate existing." However, if Apple does shut down the new version of the service, Beeper says it will abandon the project.


Google Will Relax App Billing Rules, Pay $700 Million in Antitrust Settlement

Dec 19, 2023, 1:02 PM   by Rich Brome   updated Dec 19, 2023, 1:07 PM

Google has reached a settlement with 36 states and the District of Columbia in case alleging that Google operated its Play app store as an illegal monopoly. Google has agreed to let developers use alternative billing systems in the US, and "[simplify] the sideloading process". In addition, the company will pay $630 million into "a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers", plus $70 million to the states that filed the suit. The case was led by the Utah Attorney General. The case was filed in 2021 and the settlement agreed to in September, but details were announced just this week. This case is separate from a private antitrust case filed by Epic Games, where a jury recently ruled against Google.


Google Making Maps Location History Private, Even from Police

Dec 15, 2023, 11:38 AM   by Rich Brome

Google is changing how Maps stores your location history, moving it on-device by default and encrypting it when saved to the cloud. This change means even Google can't access that data, which also means Google will no longer be able to respond to "geo-fence" warrants from police wanting to know who was in a given area at a given time. Other companies — notably, mobile network operators — may still have customer location data that can be compelled by police, but Google Maps will no longer be a source of this information. Maps already offers a variety of options giving users control over their location data in its Timeline feature. Users can delete all history and set an auto-delete time period. Timeline is off by default, and when activated, now defaults to keeping only three months of data instead of 18. A new feature will let users delete data for specific locations. Users will be able to manually upload an encrypted copy of their location history to the cloud to preserve that data when switching devices; but otherwise it will stay on-device. The changes will apply to both Android and iOS versions of Maps. Users will see a notice in the app when the change reaches their account.


Jury Finds Google Violates Antitrust Laws with Play Store Rules

Dec 12, 2023, 11:21 AM   by Rich Brome

A jury in San Francisco has sided with Epic Games in the drawn-out legal battle the company is fighting against Google's app store restrictions. The jury found that Google had maintained a monopoly in the smartphone app store market and engaged in anticompetitive conduct. Google requires that in-app purchases be made via its Play Store, where it takes a cut of up to 30%. This ongoing legal saga began when Epic tried to direct Fortnite players to an alternate payment platform for in-app purchases. Google also makes it difficult to offer competing app stores on Android. A judge will determine remedies early next year, although Google has already indicated it will appeal, a process that could take up to 18 months. Epic's case going forward is strengthened by the jury's resounding verdict that found against Google on all 11 questions of the case. If Epic eventually prevails, Google could be forced to alter its rules for the Play Store, for Google services required on new Android phones, and for alternate app stores. Epic is pursuing a similar case against Apple. Apple prevailed in the first trial, but that case is also being appealed.


Apple and Beeper Face Off Over iMessage-on-Android App

Dec 11, 2023, 11:03 AM   by Rich Brome   updated Dec 11, 2023, 3:19 PM

Beeper Mini — an app that successfully implemented iMessage on Android phones — stopped working after just a few days, but has now started working again. Apple effectively claimed responsibility for the outage over the weekend, saying: "We took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage. These techniques posed significant risks to user security and privacy, including the potential for metadata exposure and enabling unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks. We will continue to make updates in the future to protect our users." Beeper's CEO Eric Migicovsky responded: "if Apple truly cares about the privacy and security of their own iPhone users, why would they stop a service that enables their own users to now send encrypted messages to Android users, rather than using unsecure SMS?" The Beeper team has now delivered a promised update to restore service, although it requires an Apple ID account and is tied to the user's email address instead of phone number as before. The app will be free for the time being, instead of the $2/fee (after free trial) originally announced. These developments potentially set up a game of cat-and-mouse that could make Beeper Mini service intermittent. Apple would seem to have the upper hand, being in control of the iMessage servers. However Beeper has been very transparent about how Beeper Mini works, and insists that Apple's options are limited, short of restructuring the iMessage protocol and requiring all Apple devices to receive an update to continue using the messaging service.


Governments Demand, Receive Push Notification Data from Apple, Google

Dec 6, 2023, 11:38 AM   by Rich Brome

A US Senator has written a public letter bringing to light the practice of governments demanding smartphones' push notification records from Apple and Google, and receiving that information. The US government has prevented Apple and Google from disclosing this practice, but Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is asking the Department of Justice to allow Apple and Google to disclose information about this to their customers. Already, in response to the letter, Apple has acknowledged the practice and pledged to include information about it in its next transparency report. On both iPhones and Android phones, app push notifications are routed via Apple or Google servers.


Beeper Mini Brings iMessage to Android

Dec 5, 2023, 11:59 AM   by Rich Brome

Universal messaging app company Beeper has a new app — Beeper Mini — that brings iMessage and "blue bubbles" to Android phones. Crucially — and unlike competing attempts to provide such functionality — the app communicates directly with Apple servers (instead of relying on relay servers or another device) and provides "full" end-to-end encryption. The app supports most iMessage features, including typing status, read receipts, full resolution images/video, emoji reactions, voice messages, editing, and un-sending. The app links to your phone number and does not require an Apple ID account. Beeper Mini is available now from the Google Play store with no waitlist. There is a seven-day free trial, after which the app costs $2/month.


Google Improves Accessibility with AI-Generated Image Descriptions

Nov 30, 2023, 3:23 PM   by Rich Brome

Google's TalkBack accessibility tools in Android now use AI to create text descriptions of images for low-vision users. The feature works with camera photos, images from apps, social media, and messaging.


Google Adds Profiles, Animations, and Color Choices to Messages

Nov 30, 2023, 3:20 PM   by Rich Brome

Google is rolling out a set of major new features for its RCS-based Messages app for Android. A new Profiles feature lets you attach your name and photo to your phone number, so that info can optionally, automatically appear in group chats, even on friends' Android phones that don't yet have you saved as a contact. The feature is somewhat similar to the Contact Poster feature that Apple recently introduced in iOS. "Photomoji" lets you create your own totally custom reaction emoji by quickly cutting out a person or animal from one of your own photos. Custom Bubbles lets you customize the bubble and background colors for each chat. Google has also improved the quality of voice messages with better bitrate and sampling rate. Finally, a variety of other features add new animations to emoji, reactions, voice messages, and full-screen effects when certain phrases are used in text. The new features are available in the public beta version of Messages starting today.


Sunbird Pulls its iMessage App for Android

Nov 21, 2023, 12:40 PM   by Rich Brome

Sunbird has pulled its app from the Google Play Store, and Nothing has pulled its version of the app, following significant privacy issues. Sunbird offered a way for Android users to communicate with iPhone users via Apple's proprietary iMessage platform. However several researchers and journalists discovered that the app wasn't encrypted in ways Sunbird promised, and other people's private messages could be accessed with relative ease. Services like Sunbird will become less necessary in a year, when Apple adds support in iOS for the RCS rich messaging standard already used by most Android phones.


Apple Caves on Messaging, Will Support RCS Industry Standard

Nov 16, 2023, 1:26 PM   by Rich Brome   updated Nov 17, 2023, 10:45 AM

Apple has issued a statement announcing that it will support RCS — the industry standard for enhanced messaging — in late 2024, which likely means in iOS 18. This will enable features like read receipts, typing indicators, and high-quality media with users of other platforms, including Android. Android already supports RCS as its default enhanced messaging platform. Green bubbles on iPhones won't be going away, though. Apple confirmed that blue bubbles will continue to be exclusive to iMessage messages. Google and some governments have been pressuring Apple to provide this kind interoperability in recent months. The full statement from Apple, provided to 9to5Mac, reads: "Later next year, we will be adding support for RCS Universal Profile, the standard as currently published by the GSM Association. We believe RCS Universal Profile will offer a better interoperability experience when compared to SMS or MMS. This will work alongside iMessage, which will continue to be the best and most secure messaging experience for Apple users."


Nothing Brings iMessage to its Phone (2)

Nov 14, 2023, 11:40 AM   by Rich Brome

Starting Friday, owners of the Nothing Phone (2) will be able to download a new app that will let them access Apple's iMessage platform. The Nothing Chats app is based on the Sunbird service, an app that currently has a 150,000-person waitlist. Nothing's deal with Sunbird lets Nothing Phone (2) users cut the line. According to Sunbird CEO Danny Mizrahi, "for the next few months the only way to get Sunbird is to have a Nothing Phone (2)." The app is a beta version, and indeed the Washington Post found several limitations, such as no message editing, limited Tapbacks and group chat support, and occasionally unreliable message sending. Still, the effort marks the first time an Android phone maker has attempted to support Apple's proprietary messaging platform.


Google Optimizes Android so Apps Take Up Less Space

Nov 14, 2023, 11:26 AM   by Rich Brome

Google has released a new version of the Android Runtime (ART), a core component that turns app code into lower-level code that can run directly on that specific device. The update contains new optimizations that reduce the resulting code size by about 9.3%. This means most apps now take up less space in both storage and RAM. On the average Android phone, this means a savings of about 50–100 MB in storage. Thanks to Google's modular design of the Android architecture, the ART update does not require a full OS update.


Motorola Shows Off New Concepts in AI, Foldables

Oct 24, 2023, 2:58 PM   by Rich Brome

Motorola has new phone hardware and software concepts to show off. Its new foldable phone concept is shaped like company's razr foldable, but folds the other way, with the main display on the outside. Rather than a fixed hinge, the whole center of the phone is flexible, allowing it to be worn around the wrist. The phone can also be bent in specific places to make it stand up at an angle on a tabletop. The software adjusts to offer a full-screen Android interface, part-screen full Android interface, or smartwatch mode. The company is also working on new AI software, including Privacy Content Obfuscation, which uses AI to automatically identify and blur profile pictures and names in outbound social media posts, protecting privacy. Motorola's other new AI features include Text Summarization, an AI-assisted document scanner, and a personal assistant that runs a large language models (LLMs) on-device and continuously learns, to provide better, more personalized answers with greater privacy. In a separate announcement, Qualcomm today announced the first mobile chip capable of running an AI voice assistant powered by a LLM on-device. Motorola's announcements were made at at Lenovo's Tech World '23 event in Austin, Texas.


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Can Run Generative AI Voice Assistant On-Device

Oct 24, 2023, 2:00 PM   by Rich Brome

Qualcomm has taken the wraps off its new flagship chip for phones: the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Unsurprisingly, AI is the emphasis among the new features and performance gains. One key new feature is the ability to run a generative AI large language model (LLM) (specifically, Meta's Llama 2) and integrate it with a voice assistant, all on-device. Google has only recently announced such a service — Google Assistant with Bard — albeit as an "early experiment" and presumably cloud-based. The ability to run such cutting-edge AI entirely on-device, enhancing privacy, is a first. The chip also supports multi-modal generative AI, supporting both input and output via voice, text, and photo. The 8 Gen 3 can generate images via stable diffusion in under one second, many times faster than before. Snapchat has already announced plans to use this feature. The Hexagon NPU AI cores are 98% faster than last year's. In the upgraded Sensing Hub, always-on AI performance has been improved up to 3.5x, and there are now dual ISPs, enabling always-on AI using both front and rear cameras. The upgraded AI capabilities enable features such as Photo Expansion ("zooming out" on an existing photo using generative AI) and Video Object Eraser. The Kryo CPU cores feature 30% better performance and 20% better power efficiency compared to last year's chip. Qualcomm has switched to a 1-5-2 arrangement of the CPU cores, with the prime core running at 3.3 GHz and five "performance" cores running at 3.2 GHz. On the GPU side, the company claims 25% better performance and 25% better power efficiency. The chip is also the first in mobile to support ray-tracing with Global Illumination in Unreal Engine 5.2. It also supports gaming at up to 240 Hz, and upscaling to 8K on external displays. The FastConnect 7800 subsystem supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio, and Qualcomm's new XPAN technology that lets earbuds connect over Wi-Fi, for better sound quality and/or extended range. Flagship Android devices powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are expected to be available in the coming weeks.


Qualcomm Aims to Improve Multi-Device Connectivity

Oct 24, 2023, 2:00 PM   by Rich Brome

Qualcomm has a new technology that aims to make it easier to connect different devices. Snapdragon Seamless is designed to enable a variety of scenarios, including peripheral sharing (your PC keyboard working with your tablet and phone), dragging files and even windows between different types of devices, and earbuds that intelligently switch devices based on audio source priority. Seamless is a "connection-less" protocol that relies on Bluetooth LE and other existing wireless technologies. The technology is designed to be cross-platform, working across Android, Windows, and other platforms. Committed partners include Microsoft, Google, Dell, Lenovo, and Honor. New multi-device features enabled by Snapdragon Seamless are set to arrive on global device platforms starting as early as this year. Snapdragon Seamless is built in to the company's newest chips, including the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for phones, S7 for earbuds, and Snapdragon X Elite for laptops.


OnePlus' First Foldable Aims High

Oct 19, 2023, 11:17 AM   by Rich Brome

OnePlus has launched the OnePlus Open, its first foldable phone. The flagship-class phone has top-end specs, going head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Google Pixel Fold in both design and features. The phone has a 7.82-inch flexible display inside, protected by Ultra-Thin Glass, with a carbon fiber support structure underneath to reduce the crease at the hinge. The unique "Flexion" hinge is an 8-axis mechanism that uses just 69 parts, compared to the industry average of more than a hundred components. OnePlus claims this improves durability, and has had it tested and certified for a million fold actions. The outer display measures 6.31 inches and is protected by Ceramic Guard, which OnePlus claims is 20% more impact resistant than Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Both displays are "ProXDR" LTPO AMOLED panels with 2K resolution and 120 Hz refresh. It does sport OnePlus' signature alert slider switch. The Hasselblad rear triple-camera system includes a 48 megapixel main camera with a Sony LYTIA-T808 sensor featuring stacked-pixel technology that boosts light intake. There's also a 64 megapixel telephoto camera with 3x periscope optical zoom and 6x lossless zoom via sensor crop. The wide-angle camera is 48 megapixel and has auto-focus. The Open is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip paired with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The 4,805 mAh battery can be fully charged in just 42 minutes thanks 67-watt fast charging. It has excellent support for T-Mobile's network, good support for Verizon's sub-6 network, and basic support for AT&T. The OxygenOS 13.2 software (based on Android 13) includes Open Canvas, a new interface for large screens with multi-window / split-screen tools and a "desktop-like taskbar". OnePlus will offer the Open in the US in black or green for $1,700. Pre-orders start today with full availability October 26th. Pre-orders include a free pair of OnePlus Buds Pro 2 earbuds, worth $180.


Qualcomm and Google Bringing RISC-V to Smartwatches

Oct 17, 2023, 6:04 PM   by Rich Brome

Qualcomm is working on a new Snapdragon Wear platform based on the open-source RISC-V architecture instead of Arm. The new chips are intended for smartwatches running Google's Wear OS and Google is working to get Wear OS running on the new RISC-V-based chips. The two companies announced that they plan to commercialize Wear OS wearables based on RISC-V globally, including the US. The planned timeline for commercialization was not revealed. The partnership "will help pave the way for more products within the ecosystem to take advantage" of non-Arm CPUs. Google announced in January that it plans to get Android running on RISC-V chips as a "tier 1" supported platform. Qualcomm invested in a new RISC-V joint venture in August.


Cricket Launches Phone with 6,000 mAh Battery

Oct 16, 2023, 10:38 AM   by Rich Brome

Cricket has launched two new white-label (Cricket-branded) phones, including one with a an unusually large 6,000 mAh battery. (The maximum in most current phones is around 5,000 mAh.) The aptly-named Cricket Outlast (pictured) sells for just $110 yet has a huge 6.8-inch HD+ display with 90 Hz refresh, NFC, and a 50 megapixel camera. It comes with an 18-watt fast charger. The other new model is the Cricket Debut S2, an entry-level Android phone that's just $80. Its specs include a 6.1-inch display, 3,000 mAh battery, MediaTek Helio A22 chip, and an 8 megapixel main camera. Both phones are manufactured by Tinno, which also makes the Cricket Magic 5G and Cricket Ovation 3. Many Cricket-branded phones also come to AT&T Prepaid with a different name; the Outlast may come to AT&T as the Jetmore, while the Debut S2 would be the AT&T Calypso 4.


Android 14 Now Available

Oct 4, 2023, 12:16 PM   by Rich Brome

The final version of Android 14 is rolling out to Pixel phones today. It will come to recent phones from other manufacturers over the next few months.


Android 14 Can Turn Your Phone Into a USB Webcam

Sep 22, 2023, 11:09 AM   by Rich Brome

The newest beta version of Android 14 includes a new and previously-unannounced feature: an option to turn your phone into a high-quality wired webcam. The feature is useful because most phone cameras currently offer much better quality than most standalone webcams. Because the feature implements the USB Video Class (UVC) standard, it should be compatible with most laptops and desktops. To use the feature, connect the USB cable; the usual options for File transfer, USB tethering, etc. will now include a new "Webcam" option. Users can choose to use the front or rear camera, and zoom in or out. The feature currently works on most newer Pixel phones. It seems that it will be up to manufacturers whether to enable the feature when bringing Android 14 to other phones. Apple introduced a similar feature called Continuity Camera in iOS 16, which can operate wired or wirelessly, but only works with Macs.


Cricket Launches More Affordable White-Label Phones

Sep 8, 2023, 3:52 PM   by Rich Brome

Cricket has started selling two additional phones under its own brand, adding to what was already the largest lineup of white-label phones among US carriers. The Cricket Magic 5G offers 5G for just $140, while the Cricket Icon 5 is a 4G Android phone for just $90. Both offer basic features such as Android 13, a 13 megapixel main camera, 5 megapixel front camera, 4,000 mAh battery, HD+ display with notch, and a fingerprint sensor. The Magic 5G also has NFC and a slightly larger display at 6.6 inches (vs. 6.5" on the Icon 5). The Magic 5G is manufactured by Tinno, which also makes the Cricket Ovation 3. It may also come to AT&T branded as the AT&T Propel 5G. The Icon 5 is made by Coosea, which also makes the Cricket Debut Smart, Innovate E 5G, and Vision Plus. The Icon 5 may also come to AT&T as the AT&T Motivate 4.


Fairphone 5 Goes Higher-End

Aug 30, 2023, 9:02 AM   by Rich Brome

Fairphone has revealed the Fairphone 5, the next version of its sustainability-focused line of Android phones. The Fairphone 5 has better specs than past models, including dual 50 megapixel cameras (normal and wide) and a 90 Hz OLED display (6.46-inch, FHD+). The phone is modular and easily repairable. Full support lasts for five years and includes a warranty as well as full Android OS version upgrades. Security updates are promised for eight years. The company also uses materials that are better for the planet. Other specs include a 4,200 mAh battery, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB storage (expandable), Wi-Fi 6E, and NFC. Even though it's easily repairable, the phone carries an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance. It's available in black, blue, and transparent. The company is currently only taking pre-orders in Europe, but the the Fairphone 4 did eventually reach the US.


Google Improves Android App Startup Times by up to 30%

Aug 22, 2023, 9:00 AM   by Rich Brome

Google recently released a new version of Android Runtime (ART), a core software layer that all Android apps run on. The update "delivered real-world app start-up improvements of up to 30% on some devices." Starting with Android 12, Google was able to make ART a module separate from the rest of the Android OS. That means the new ART 13 update with faster startup times is available to all Android phones with Android 12 or later. Future ART updates — with performance and security updates, as well as new programming features for developers — will also be available to all Android 12+ phones. Google expects that ART 14 will further "improve performance while reducing code size".


Android 14 "Weeks Away"

Aug 10, 2023, 3:38 PM   by Rich Brome

Google has released the fifth and final beta version of Android 14. Although no specific date has been announced for the release of the final public version, the company says it is "only weeks away".


Group Chats in Google Messages are Now Encrypted

Aug 8, 2023, 3:40 PM   by Rich Brome

Google announced that it has finished rolling out end-to-end (E2E) encryption for group chats that take place over RCS using the Google Messages app, the default messaging app on most Android phones in the US. Google is also enabling RCS by default, unless a user has previously, explicitly turned it off. Google launched E2E encryption for one-on-one conversations in 2012, and started testing it for group chats at the end of last year.


Qualcomm Invests in Non-Arm Chip Designs

Aug 7, 2023, 9:57 AM   by Rich Brome

Qualcomm is one of several major electronics companies teaming up on a new joint venture to advance the RISC-V architecture. RISC-V is an open-source alternative to the Arm architecture, which is the basis for the chips that power most mobile devices today. Arm is a British company that develops reference designs for the cores at the heart the chips that power most phones. Both Qualcomm and Apple currently license Arm designs for their own chips. Earlier this year, Google announced long-term plans to make Android compatible with RISC-V architectures. Qualcomm says "initial application focus will be automotive, but with an eventual expansion to include mobile and IoT." The new company will be based in Germany. Other partners in the joint venture include Bosch, Infineon, Nordic Semiconductors, and NXP.


Google to Adopt New Standard for E2E Encrypted Messaging

Jul 24, 2023, 11:51 AM   by Rich Brome

A new industry standard for end-to-end (E2E) encrypted messaging with improved security was finalized this month. The new standard also provides excellent scalability for large group conversations, a challenge for some previous approaches. Google announced that it will adopt this new Message Layer Security (MLS) specification in its Google Messages app, the default messaging app on most Android phones. The company will also "support [MLS'] wide deployment across the industry by open sourcing our implementation in the Android codebase." The standard opens the door to making E2E encryption interoperable across different services and platforms, although it only addresses the encryption aspect, not the basic incompatibility of messaging platforms like RCS and iMessage. MLS was created by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The specification has been in the works since 2018 and was finally released as RFC 9420 earlier this month.


Google Nearby Share for Windows Graduates from Beta

Jul 19, 2023, 1:27 PM   by Rich Brome

Google has launched a final version of Nearby Share for Windows, which makes it easy to share files between Android and Windows devices. A beta version has been available since early April.


Fairphone 4 Comes to the US

Jul 7, 2023, 12:43 PM   by Rich Brome   updated Jul 11, 2023, 8:39 AM

Fairphone has announced that its repairable, sustainable, privacy-focused smartphone will now be available for the first time in the US. The Fairphone 4 is available from Murena, the company behind the /e/OS software that powers the device. /e/OS is basically "deGoogled" Android. The Fairphone 4 is modular, repairable, and built to last with a 5-year warranty. Parts like the display and battery are user-replaceable with no more than a screwdriver. (iFixit gives it a Repairability score of 10/10.) And yet it has a dust/water rating of IP54. The phone is Fairtrade Gold certified, with all materials responsibly sourced and conflict-free. The body has an aluminum frame and recycled plastic back. It's powered by a Snapdragon 750G chip and available with either 6 GB RAM / 128 GB storage or 8 / 256 GB. The storage is expandable with microSD, but it does not have a headphone jack. The 6.3-inch display has FHD+ resolution and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The main and wide-angle cameras are both 12 megapixel (48 megapixel with pixel binning) while the front camera is 25 megapixel. The 3,905 mAh battery supports 20W fast charging. The Fairphone 4 is only recommended for use with the T-Mobile network in the US. It supports important T-Mobile bands like 41 and 71, but does not support all T-Mobile network bands for maximum speed and coverage. Pricing starts at $630. It's available now in either green or grey from murena.com.


Motorola Defy Satellite Link Now on Sale

Jun 29, 2023, 8:00 AM   by Rich Brome   updated Jun 29, 2023, 2:11 PM

The motorola defy satellite link from Bullitt is now available in the US for $150. In North America, the price includes a free trial of the Premium messaging plan (300 non-emergency messages per month) until October 1st, and one year of the Essential plan (30 non-emergency messages per month) for free. The unique device adds satellite connectivity to any Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth. This allows that smartphone to send and receive text messages as well as provide location updates in places there is no cellular coverage. Messaging happens in the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app. Message recipients without that app receive a message as a simple SMS to their existing phone, and are invited to download the associated Android or iOS app to respond. Once the free trial(s) expire, there are various annual messaging plans available, starting at $5/month for 30 messages/month. All plans includes SOS Assist, with 24/7 access to emergency response centers. Retailers include AT&T, REI, Bass Pro.com, B&H Photo, Nomadic Supply, BlackOvis.com, and GoHunt.com.


Venmo Lets Businesses Accept NFC Payments Using Just a Smartphone

Jun 28, 2023, 3:38 PM   by Rich Brome

Venmo is rolling out support for accepting payments with Tap to Pay for business users on both iOS and Android. The feature uses the NFC function built into many smartphones and requires no extra hardware. "Small business owners can onboard in just a few simple steps and start accepting contactless cards and digital wallets through their Venmo business profile. Tap to Pay on Android will be available for all Venmo business profile users in the coming months.... Tap to Pay on Android is also now available for all PayPal Zettle users in the U.S. ... In addition, Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available to select Venmo business profile and PayPal Zettle users, with plans to make it available to all Venmo business profile and PayPal Zettle users in the U.S. soon."


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