Mamun_Sheikh/Shutterstock Google Messages is arguably the most popular messaging app on Android. While there are alternatives to text messaging apps, RCS’s built-in support and its availability by default on the vast majority of devices gives Google Messages a huge advantage. However, its near-monopoly isn’t the only reason people use it. The app has several positive aspects and the company is continually improving it with new features, such as real-time location sharing and fixing some of its more frustrating issues. Along the same lines, Google Messages has now received a nifty…
Author: Alexander Price
Ruslan Lytvyn/Shutterstock When you buy a new phone, it’s always fun to poke around and test out the different settings, features, and apps to see what cool things you can do. This is especially true for Samsung’s Galaxy series and the brand’s collection of devices, which tend to receive new updates and software upgrades with each iteration – they are usually also offered to older generations, such as older Samsung phones receiving the new One UI 8.5 update. But even if you’ve had your phone for years, you may not…
Various photographs/Shutterstock If you were around for previous versions of Android software, you remember how much smoother they once were. After the pre-release alpha and beta releases, each major Android release was named after a dessert, in alphabetical order. Android 1.5 was called Cupcake, then 1.6 was Donut and 2.0 was Eclair. These versions were followed by Froyo (2.2), Gingerbread (2.3), Honeycomb (3.0), Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0), Jelly Bean (4.1), KitKat (4.4), Lollipop (5.0), Marshmallow (6.0), Nougat (7.0) and Oreo (8.0). But after the launch of Android 9.0 in 2018,…
Karlis Dambrans/Shutterstock Google really wants Android users to know about its artificial intelligence (AI). Alongside the rollout of Android 17 to Pixel and other Android phones, Google also released its June Pixel Drop, both of which contain a barrage of goodies for users to take advantage of. While Google adds a lot to the Android experience, the focus on new elements like video editing with Gemini Omni, as well as other AI features, means many may have overlooked something quite interesting for older Pixel devices. Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a…
fadfebrian/Shutterstock With the arrival of Android 17 on Pixel devices, many users now have access to even more features on their smartphones. Bubbles bring more multitasking to the device you carry in your pocket, and foldable smartphones have also adopted a new gaming feature. However, it’s not all celebration and cheers, as it seems some Pixel users have encountered a few annoying issues along the way, including a new bug that prevents some apps from recognizing Wi-Fi connections (via Android Authority), forcing users to rely on their mobile data to…
FAMILY STOCK/Shutterstock It’s not uncommon to install an app on your Android phone and then go through the setup process without thinking much about the details. You simply tap Allow, Enable, or Yes on each pop-up that appears so you can quickly access the app itself. But this habit actually puts your privacy at risk. During setup, most mobile apps request access to certain features such as your location, microphone, camera, or contacts. While some apps require these permissions to function properly, others may request access to features they don’t…
Framesira/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. In the early days of Android, we saw original designs, from trackballs to sliding keyboards. These days, foldable phones are the latest trend that pushes the boundaries of the boring old rectangle we’re used to, and they’ve boosted the popularity of a long-forgotten smartphone accessory: the stylus. With the prevalence of capacitive touchscreens, styluses weren’t really necessary anymore, at least not on devices smaller than 7 inches. But with foldable phones, a stylus can come in handy for handling…
Samuel Boivin/Shutterstock For better or worse, widgets have become a ubiquitous part of the Android ecosystem, often arriving on your phone’s home screen whether you like them or not. What started as relatively unobtrusive weather or date widgets has expanded to include everything from breaking news to live updates of your stock portfolio. Some apps have gone so far as to offer rewards for adding their widget to your home screen: Duolingo, for example, will grant bonus XP or extra energy for more daily lessons if you give up a…
The base technology fee will be 5% outside of the App Store. em_concepts/Shutterstock Apple begins allowing alternative app stores for iOS customers in Brazil. We learned in December that the company had reached an agreement with the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), the Brazilian government’s competition regulator, on how third-party marketplaces would operate domestically. The real appeal of third-party mobile marketplaces for developers is the reduced pricing structure surrounding in-app purchases. The base technology fee for apps distributed outside of the App Store will be 5%. Any alternatives to the App Store will need to…
Framesira/Shutterstock Foldable smartphones like the Galaxy Z Flip 7 or the new Android foldable, perhaps too cheap, seem like an obvious victory for gamers. With large screens that can be folded out to become a more user-friendly device, these high-end devices seem particularly suited to handling today’s mobile titles. For those playing with foldable Android, Google is launching a new feature in Android 17 that will definitely take advantage of all your screen real estate. Along with a new Bubbles feature that allows foldable screens to have floating windows, a…