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Google has released the first Android 15 Beta and while it doesn't bring many new features, it brings a few improvements over Android 15 Developer Preview 2. Some of the highlights of this update are the WEP toggle, new Predictive back gesture animations, and TalkBack support for Braille displays that use HIDs via USB or Bluetooth. Besides, Google has replaced the NFC stack with a project mainline one.
OxygenOS 14 brought a lot of features but after recently switching to OnePlus, I've realized that the OS could do great if OnePlus adds a few new features and improves some of the existing ones. Some of them are an improved media player, a Desktop Mode, and a Quick Settings revamp.
I recently purchased OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition and switched from a Pixel 6 which served me for almost three years. Although I despised OnePlus' decision to merge the ColorOS and OxygenOS codebases, buying the OnePlus 12R meant I had to shift from Pixel's clean UI to OxygenOS (ColorOS). After trying it I can say that I don't hate it, rather it feels like a breath of fresh air.
Android Wear or WearOS has been out for a decade now and still no sign of a smartwatch in the budget segment. Keeping it out of reach from most enthusiasts and users who would actually want to buy one. In this read, I discuss why it is high time Google should consider making a budget Android smartwatch.
Secret codes on Android devices let you access hidden settings and information. These codes are entered through the phone's dial pad, can be divided into two categories: MMI (Man Machine Interface) codes, which are specific to the device's manufacturer, and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) codes, which are used to connect with the mobile service provider.
Amidst the iOS 17.5 Beta rollout which hints at the release of Apple's unwanted tracker alerts feature, Google's new Find My Device experience, which was delayed due to Apple, is coming soon. Google has started to roll out a part of the feature which lets you put your Android phone on the Find My Device network.
Given how big Qualcomm's processor catalog is, it is understandable if the different generations and classes of Snapdragon chipsets confuse you. Well, they have a strategy in place for naming the Snapdragon chipsets the way that they do. The Snapdragon X Gen x series are the regular versions of the processors. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon Xs Gen x chipsets are underclocked to be cheaper, while Snapdragon X+ Gen x chipsets are overclocked to deliver more performance.
Play Edition devices were Google's attempt at bringing Stock Android to some of the most popular devices that ship with custom UI on top of Android. Google should bring it back to offer Pixel-like Android experience with other devices in partnership with manufacturers in theirupper mid-range an flagship devices.
Demystifying A/B Partitions: A Look at Android’s Seamless Updates
Abubakar Mohammed
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Seamless updates make OTA updates install quicker on Android. Traditionally, upon receiving an update, your Android device would require a restart to start the installation process. However, with seamless updates and what Google calls A/B partitioning, the updates are installed parallelly without interruptions and would only need a restart once installed.
The direction in which the recent Pixel 8a leaks and the upcoming Pixel 9 series leaks point toward Google eventually discontinuing the A series of devices. This is because both the price and specification gap between the regular and A series Pixels is diminishing, and Google wouldn't want one's sales devour others' sales. Besides, the firm is also upping the number of models, which might bring the price of the vanilla model down, thereby leading to the discontinuation of A series.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 vs Nothing Phone 2a: Which Is More Value for Money?
Sagnik Das Gupta
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The Nord CE 4 costs Rs. 1,000 more than the Nothing Phone 2a and brings a couple of advantages at that price point. For starters, you get to see a more powerful chipset, faster charging, expandable storage as well as a charger and case in the box. However, on the other hand, the Phone 2a brings a cleaner software experience, solid cameras and more screen on time. The choice between the two depends upon your preferences. For performance enthusiasts, CE 4 should be the right pick, whereas, those who long for aesthetics and great cameras in this budget should get the Nothing Phone 2a.
OnePlus Nord CE 4 vs POCO X6 Pro: Which Is the Better Performer?
Sagnik Das Gupta
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The Nord CE 4 is here, and costs just Rs. 1,000 less than the POCO X6 Pro at Rs. 24,999. I compared the two phones, and the POCO X6 Pro is undoubtedly a much better performer. If gaming is what you are looking for mostly, the POCO X6 Pro should be the better option. The POCO X6 Pro is also equipped with better cameras, but the Nord CE 4 offers a much cleaner software experience. You also get more SoT and faster charging with the Nord CE 4. However, for the most part, the POCO X6 Pro is just the better phone.
From McLaren to Avengers, Cyberpunk, Pacman, Star Wars, and Genshin Impact, the result of OnePlus collaborations are eye-catching designs catering to their respective fanbases. Their recent collaboration for a Keqing-themed OnePlus 12R piqued my interest and as someone who loves Genshin Impact, I knew from the get-go that I had to buy it. My interest didn't just stem from the collaboration but also from how good the OnePlus 12R is if we consider the specs.
Android, no matter which skin it features, comes with an in-built screen recorder to make use of. All you have to do is swipe down from your home screen to enter the Quick Settings panel and tap on the screen recorder icon to start recording. Some devices allow you to tweak the recording settings but devices like the Pixel series do not. In such cases, you can use the XRecorder app to record your device's screen.
Kanika Gogia
The answer is no. AirTags do not work with Android. There's simply no way to set up an AirTag using an Android device. An AirTag uses Apple's Find My network for precision finding and location tracking. However, an Android phone can be used to scan for unwanted AirTags. This way, you can ensure that you aren't being tracked without consent.
Like Android, Wear OS also comes with a Google Play Store to download apps. If you're new to the platform, this post will show you some of the best apps you can try on your wearable device. These apps include Google Maps, Keep Notes, Todoist, Spotify, and SimpleWear among many others.
Setting Custom Contact Ringtones on Android is Now Easier Than Ever
Abubakar Mohammed
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Google is rolling out a new feature in the Contacts app that allows users to set custom contact ringtones for different contacts on Android. The previous flow to add custom contact ringtones wasn't as intuitive as the latest one. You can now add a custom contact ringtone by going to the Contacts app > Fix and manage tab > Contact ringtones.
If your Android device struggling to hold a charge, there it's important that you identify the apps that are draining your battery and take control. To prevent excessive battery drain, you can enable Adaptive battery, restrict apps from running in the background, force-close apps you're not using, uninstall apps you no longer use, and update them to their latest available versions from the Play Store.
AirPods don't play well with Android devices but if you want to enjoy certain features that are exclusive to iOS, apps like MaterialPods, AndroPods, Assistant Trigger should help. These apps offer features like pop-up animations, Google Assistant integration, battery status, in-ear detection, and more to enhance your AirPods experience on Android.
This ‘Essential’ Feature Makes the Nothing Phone’s Glyph Lights Worth It for Me
Sagnik Das Gupta
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Nothing launched its mid-range Nothing Phone 2a earlier this month, and I finally decided to try out the signature Glyph interface. While the Glyph lights on the back were good and all with its music composer, timers, and more, the feature that took the cake for me was the Essential alert feature for notification alerts.
The Pixel lineup sure has come a long way since its first resurrection in 2021 with the Pixel 6, steadily improving the lineup with every iteration with the Pixel 8 series being the best so far. However, Pixels are far from perfect and the five things I would improve are the Google Tensor G4, Charging Speeds, faster storage, better modem and connectivity, and bringing Telephoto to the standard Pixel.
While the Nothing Phone 2a has its obvious benefits of a clean software experience, practical design, and camera quality, the POCO X6 Pro does not lag behind. In fact, it takes a big leap forward in the performance department where it delivers flagship level results on a mid-range budget. In addition, the POCO X6 Pro also comes with a charger and a quality case right in the box, while the Nothing Phone 2a doesn't. So, by the end, you will figure out which phones takes the lead in this comparison.
If the Nothing Phone (2a) is not your cup of tea, there are a few alternatives you can buy. Phones like the POCO X6, Motorola Edge 40 Neo, iQOO Z7 Pro, Redmi Note 13 Pro, and OnePlus Nord CE 3 are all great mid-range devices under Rs 25,000 and come with features that easily rival the Phone (2a).
The Files by Google app on Android is now getting the ability to scan documents. To use it, open the app -> tap on the floating scan button -> point your phone at the document you want to scan -> once it automatically scans, tap one. This feature gives you additional options like crop & rotate, filter and clean. Also, note that the documents are automatically saved in the PDF format.
Nothing Phone (2a) vs Moto Edge 40 Neo: The Better Stock Android Phone?
Sagnik Das Gupta
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The Nothing Phone 2a is finally here with the near-stock Android Nothing OS 2.5. This makes it directly compete with the Moto Edge 40 Neo in the sub-Rs 25,000 segment, which offers a clean Android experience. However, the Moto Edge 40 Neo comes with a widget in the home screen that displays apps. You also get to see preloaded apps like Facebook and LinkedIn on it. While you can remove and uninstall these, it just goes to show that the Nothing OS on the Nothing Phone 2a is much cleaner with a few essential preloaded Google apps. This essentially makes the Nothing Phone 2a the better stock Android phone. However, it misses out on a couple of things like providing a charger or a case in the box. The Moto Edge 40 Neo also comes with a more premium vegan leather back and curved display with DCI-P3 coverage. So, there's that.
Both the Nothing Phone 2a and POCO X6 are priced pretty under Rs. 25,000, with the former costing Rs. 1,000 more. Costing less, the POCO X6 comes with both a charger and good-quality case right in the box. Meanwhile, the Nothing Phone 2a does not come with either. The POCO X6 also comes with a 1.5K display and a 3.5mm headphone jack, whereas the Nothing Phone 2a comes with an FHD+ display and no headphone jack. However, where the Nothing Phone 2a emerges superior is in the software department. From fluid animations to a bloatware-free experience, the software experience is unbeatable in the budget. You also get solid battery backup and better cameras on the Phone 2a. So, it all comes down to whether you are willing to pay that extra money for it.
Nothing Phone 2a comes with a new feature called Wallpaper Studio which uses AI to generate wallpapers. It can be found within the customisation menu and lets you create backgrounds by mixing and matching different effects and styles. You can even download the wallpapers locally to your device.
The Nothing Phone (2a) has finally gone official and will soon be up for grabs. From a better processor to an improved camera setup, it brings a bunch of upgrades over its predecessor, the Nothing Phone 1. We also get to see new wallpapers and ringtones onboard. In this guide, we check out 7 new Nothing Phone (2a) wallpapers that come with the device and make them available for you in high quality.
What Is Health Connect on Android, How to Use and Supported Apps
Abubakar Mohammed
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Health Connect is a framework module in Android that syncs various parameters of fitness data across all fitness apps on your Android devices. For example, you could sync data between two fitness apps like Fitbit and Samsung Health since the data is stored and synced via the Health Connect framework.
The Galaxy Ring recently made its first public appearance at MWC 2024 in Barcelona. Alongside the public debut, some vital details have come to light. From the looks of it, the Galaxy Ring will directly compete against the Oura Ring. From the design to the functions, we have noticed a lot of similarities between the two smart rings. One thing is clear that both are marketed as top-of-the-line sleep trackers backed by a whole lot of wellness features. It will all come down to the pricing strategy and final product that Samsung decides to roll with in the end for the Galaxy Ring. These parameters will ultimately decide which smart ring is worth the buck.
The latest Gboard beta for Android includes a new Scan text feature, which allows users to scan and insert text from the real world without needing to switch to a separate app. It is works similar to the OCR feature available on Google Lens except it has some limitations, such as not being able to translate or search text directly from the keyboard app.
During the MWC 2024 event in Barcelona, Samsung Galaxy Ring made its first public debut. Thanks to the event, some vital details about the Galaxy Ring have started pouring in. Some of these key details are that it will come in 3 distinct colors and 9 different sizes. We will also get health-centric features like My Vitality Score and Booster Card, which will further elevate the user experience. As for the release date, Samsung has teased the Galaxy Ring to land "later this year."
Carl Pei Turns to “Carl Bhai” to Hype the Nothing Phone (2a) in India
Anshuman Jain
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Nothing CEO Carl Pei started a viral marketing campaign on X by renaming his account to Carl Bhai, pulling together the Indian tech fraternity. This trend gained a lot of attention and engagement, creating hype for the Nothing Phone 2a in a price-sensitive market like India. But was this just a planned cheesy marketing campaign and did it work out in the favor of Nothing.
Google has released the first Developer Preview of Android 15. You can install the same using Android Flash Tool and enabling USB Debugging on their Android device. You will also need a PC with Chromium-based browser with a USB-C cable.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 series brings with it a cool AI feature called AI Generative Wallpapers. Using this feature, you can generate as many AI images as you want and set them as your lock screen and home screen wallpaper. To make AI wallpapers, open the your phone's wallpaper settings by long pressing on the home screen -> select Wallpaper and style -> tap on Change Wallpaper -> select Generative panel -> choose a template -> edit prompt -> hit Generate and Apply.
There are chances that you may have uninstalled applications on Android which you might want to install again later but don't remember their name. Luckily, Google Play Store remembers all your previously installed apps and games. All you need to do to recover them is go to Manage apps in the Google Play Store and reinstall them one by one or in batch.
The Android Safe Browsing feature will alert you of potentially harmful websites, redirect links, or phishing links in supported apps. Safe Browsing uses Google's SafetyNet Safe Browsing API from the Google Play Services to weed out harmful links. It can be enabled by going to Settings -> Security and Privacy -> More Security and Privacy -> Android Safe Browsing.
How to Replace Google Assistant with Gemini AI on Your Android Phone
Sagnik Das Gupta
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Google has officially started to roll out its Gemini Android app. However, it is currently limited to US users, and if you are not from the US, you will need to make a US Google account. Once you make it, you will be able to find the app listed on Play Store. Now, to set the Gemini AI as your primary voice assistant, open the Gemini app -> tap on Get started -> select I agree. That should automatically set it as your voice assistant. However, if you want to switch between Gemini and Google Assistant, open the Gemini app -> tap on profile icon -> Settings -> Digital assistants from Google -> select the desired assistant.
In the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 update that Google released to all Pixels above Pixel 6, the Android 14 easter egg has changed from a circle to what looks like an inverted triangle now, hinting toward Android 15's launch soon in the form of first developer preview. The inverted triangle shows a 'V,' which is an indicative to the internal codename of Android 15 - Vanilla Icecream.
Google has been steadily improving Android since the launch of Android 12 and is now heavily focusing on adding more ecosystem and AI features to its mobile OS. The five features we expect Google to add to Android 15 are Lock Screen Widgets, Cloned Apps, a desktop mode for Pixels, screen-off gestures, and an AI assistant in Gboard.
Early Google Pixel 9 Pro Render Leak Reveals Redesigned Camera Bar
Abubakar Mohammed
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Google Pixel 9 Pro renders have been leaked and they suggest sharper desgn, a revamped camera bump, and a flat display. The phone has the same dimensions as the Pixel 8 Pro with the only difference being it thinner by 0.3mm. The overall aesthetics are reminiscent of the latest iPhone and the Nothing Phone (2).
With the launch of the OnePlus 12, it directly pits the smartphone against the likes of iQOO 12. The iQOO 12 is also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and features a telephoto periscope sensor in its camera setup. When comparing the two, it came to light that OnePlus 12 is superior in terms of software experience, thanks to the more optimized OxygenOS 14. On the other hand, the iQOO 12's more balanced cameras stole the show with top-notch detail capturing. Whereas, the OnePlus 12 offered slightly more accurate colors in photos. The gaming experience was very identical on both the devices. It comes down to your budget and requirements and if you have the budget for it, the OnePlus 12 is the best choice here.