Lenovo was kind enough to send over their new, bombastic Tab Extreme that we were lucky enough to handle back at CES 2023, and I’ll be honest: I was really, really excited to try out Android as a pseudo-desktop replacement for light workflows. In only a few days, I’ve realized just how far Android still […]
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Android 11 is starting to arrive on ARM-powered Chromebooks that need it badly
Though there aren’t a ton of them out there in the market, ARM-powered Chromebooks represent a growing segment of the ChromeOS family that come in a wide variety of form factors. Notably, we have some great tablets and convertibles that come with processors like the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and the MediaTek Kompanio series. While […]
Continue ReadingAndroid 14 will finally split your ringtone and notification sound into two separate options
If you’re an Android user, you’ll relate to how frustrating it can be when you want to turn down your notification sounds without sacrificing your ringtone volume. Missing important calls just because you’ve turned down the volume to avoid a constant barrage of notifications is a headache that shouldn’t exist. Similarly, if you don’t want […]
Continue ReadingThis new location-based Android timeline setting may one day replace the one in Google Maps
Google Maps’ Timeline tool has always been a bit of a controversial feature, sparking reactions and making users uneasy. Some find it downright creepy to discover a detailed map of their whereabouts, tracking their every move with a GPS-enabled handset. Fortunately, disabling the Timeline is a straightforward process. Today, Twitter user @Nail_Sadykov noticed that Android […]
Continue ReadingAndroid Smart Lock to become ‘Extend Unlock’, will differentiate wearables from other methods
Android’s Smart Lock, a feature that automatically unlocks your device under certain trusted conditions, is undergoing a significant change. For some strange reason, the long-standing feature is not only being renamed but also seems to be splitting into two distinct parts! I have some thoughts on this which I’ll share below. The rebrand: Extend Unlock […]
Continue ReadingHow-to use Android’s Nearby Share with your Mac
If there is one thing I do envy about Apple’s ecosystem, it is the synergy between the company’s various pieces of hardware. Moving between your Mac, iPhone and iPad has become a refined process that is all but unparalleled by any other hardware/software combo. (See? I can say nice things about Apple.) Now, Google has […]
Continue ReadingAndroid to implement automatic app archiving to help you save a bunch of space on your phone
The Google Play Store’s Nextbit Robin-style app archiving tool was rolled out at the end of last year, and today, Google announced on its Android Developer Blog that this feature would begin working automatically instead of relying solely on users’ archival actions. According to Google, this one action can save you up to 60% of […]
Continue ReadingThe Google Play Store will soon let you easily revoke permissions from an app developer
Google is continuing its efforts to increase consumer trust in developers by helping them showcase their commitment to user privacy and data ownership. In an Android Developers Blog post, Google announced that it will soon implement a new data deletion policy designed to “empower users with greater clarity and control over their in-app data.” This […]
Continue ReadingSunbird is steaming forward to bring iMessage to Android
Correction: I mentioned another app that is offering iMessage for Android and stated that it will not be free. I was incorrect as Beeper has announced that the app will be free with a Plus plan that will cost $5-$10/month. Back in early December of 2022, news broke that a new company was attempting to […]
Continue ReadingTransfer files seamlessly with Android Nearby Share for Windows, now in beta
Google’s Nearby Share feature was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show last year, and since then, it has made its way to Android and Chromebooks. Now, Google is expanding this feature to Windows PCs through a beta release of an official app. To download the app, you need to have Windows 10 or 11, as […]
Continue ReadingSet it and forget it: Chrome for Android is about to make desktop view on mobile a breeze
Mobile browsing has improved a lot in recent years, but there are still times when you need to switch to desktop view to get the most out of a website. That’s where Chrome for Android’s desktop mode toggle comes in. The only problem? It used to be a hassle to use, requiring you to set […]
Continue ReadingApps installed on one of your Android devices may soon automatically sync to the others
If you’re someone who uses multiple Android phones or tablets, you know the hassle of downloading and installing all of your favorite apps across each device. However, a recent tweet from a user by the name of @AssembleDebug suggests that Google may soon introduce a feature to the Play Store that makes syncing apps across […]
Continue ReadingGoogle will be much more strict on task killer apps starting with the release of Android 14
Google just hinted that it may start implementing stricter measures against “task killer” apps with the release of Android 14. These apps are designed to force-stop background processes in order to free up memory and save battery life. However, they can often do more harm than good. Android already has built-in measures to manage tasks […]
Continue ReadingGoogle introduces a ‘Credential Manager’ to further kill off passwords
Google has been making strides in improving the sign-in experience for its users. Since last year, the company has been actively seeking ways to reduce the traditional use of passwords (read: It wants to kill passwords entirely). Now, the tech giant has unveiled its latest update to the passkey initiative. In a recent post on […]
Continue ReadingPre-register: Niantic hopes to catch Pokémon Go’s lightning in a bottle again with Peridot
Just back in May of this past year, Niantic, the game developer behind the phenomenon that actually got everyone walking around the real world revealed the upcoming release of their new game, Peridot. This time, instead of catching and training Pokemon, players are set to adopt and raise cute fictional pets. The game now has […]
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