Android News

With June coming to an end, it's time for another update in our Stadia Savepoint series. Here are the updates we've made this month to the Stadia platform: Touch controls on mobile Access touch controls within any game on your mobile device when a controller is not already connected. Expanded OnePlus compatibility Stadia is now compatible with OnePlus 5, OnePlus 6, and OnePlus 7 series mobile devices. More info here .  Per-device resolution settings Added the ability to set your preferred resolution on each device that you play Stadia on.  Experiments tab supports additional mobile devices Any Android phone that can install the Stadia app can play games using the Experiments tab in the settings menu.  Wireless Stadia Controller functionality on mobile We're rolling out support for wireless play using the Stadia Controller on your mobile device. Just link your Stadia Controller to your phone by following the linking code shown on your screen. This...

With June coming to an end, it's time for another update in our Stadia Savepoint series. Here are the updates we've made this month to the Stadia platform: Touch controls on mobile Access touch controls within any game on your mobile device when a controller is not already connected. Expanded OnePlus compatibility Stadia is now compatible with OnePlus 5, OnePlus 6, and OnePlus 7 series mobile devices. More info here .  Per-device resolution settings Added the ability to set your preferred resolution on each device that you play Stadia on.  Experiments tab supports additional mobile devices Any Android phone that can install the Stadia app can play games using the Experiments tab in the settings menu.  Wireless Stadia Controller functionality on mobile We're rolling out support for wireless play using the Stadia Controller on your mobile device. Just link your Stadia Controller to your phone by following the linking code shown on your screen. This...

My weekday routine is a balancing act. When I walk to the subway station at six in the morning, it's typically still dark outside. If I'm lucky, I'll snag a seat on the 5 train for the hour-long ride from the Bronx to Manhattan, but most days I'm standing—balancing with one hand on a pole and the other gripping my phone (usually working on something on Google Docs for class at the last minute). I'm headed to Yale in the fall! I'm one of the 54 students that make up  Google Code Next's  first graduating class. Code Next, which started in 2015, is a free computer science education program that supports the next generation of Black and Latinx Tech leaders.  For four years after school and on the weekends, my classmates and I participated in a rigorous curriculum focused on computer science, problem solving and leadership—balancing that on top of our schoolwork. Our coaches from Google, who have lots of different backgrounds...

Posted by Android Platform Hardening Team In Android 11 we continue to increase the security of the Android platform. We have moved to safer default settings, migrated to a hardened memory allocator, and expanded the use of compiler mitigations that defend against classes of vulnerabilities and frustrate exploitation techniques. Initializing memory We've enabled forms of automatic memory initialization in both Android 11's userspace and the Linux kernel. Uninitialized memory bugs occur in C/C++ when memory is used without having first been initialized to a known safe value. These types of bugs can be confusing, and even the term "uninitialized" is misleading. Uninitialized may seem to imply that a variable has a random value. In reality it isn't random. It has whatever value was previously placed there. This value may be predictable or even attacker controlled. Unfortunately this behavior can result in a serious vulnerability such as information disclosure...

Samsung France is releasing a few new colors for the Galaxy S20 series. If you've been keeping a close eye on the evolution of the Galaxy S20's color palette, you're likely to guess that the new colors are Cloud White, Aura Blue, and Aura Red. The Cloud White flavor is now available across the entire Galaxy S20 range in France, including the standard model, the Galaxy S20+ , as well as the Galaxy S20 Ultra . In addition, Samsung France is releasing two new Aura flavors for the Galaxy S20+. The latest three color options are obtainable when buying the flagship from Samsung's e-shop as well as through select partner retailers. One of the most colorful flagships on the market The Galaxy S20 series was relatively bland when it first got released, but in time, the flagship's range of colors continued to grow to encompass almost a dozen options. Granted, not every flavor is available for every Galaxy S20 variant, with BTS Purple and the two Aura shades having bee...

After accidentally listing it on Amazon , Samsung has finally and officially lifted the veil off its new  870 QVO SSD series today. The new drive will be available in four different configurations. Customers will be able to pick the 870 QVO SSD with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, or a whopping 8TB of storage. The 870 QVO SSD has a starting price of $129.99 for the 1TB model but Samsung hasn't yet revealed the exact launch prices for the larger variants. The 870 QVO SSD is a second-gen quad-level cell (QLC) flash drive that can achieve sequential read and write speeds of up to 560 MB/s and 530 MB/s, respectively. It benefits from a large variable SLC buffer and Intelligent TurboWrite technology to maintain peak performance levels. Combining SSD speeds with HDD capacities The QVO series was designed to combine SSD -grade performance with HDD-grade storage capacities, and the new 8TB model certainly achieves an impressive combination of both. Even compared to the previous 860 QVO SSD series, t...

For years I've wondered what it's like behind the protected walls of a Google data center, and I'm not alone. In my job at Google, I spend my days working with developers. Our data centers are crucial to the work that they do, but most have never actually set foot inside a data center. And until recently, neither had I. I went on a mission to find answers to common questions like: Why are visits so tightly restricted? How secure is a Google data center? How do we meet regulatory requirements ? Here's what I found out. To keep our customers' data safe, we need to make sure the physical structure of the data center is absolutely secure. Each data center is protected with six layers of physical security designed to thwart unauthorized access. Watch the video above to follow my journey through these layers to the core of a data center, and read on to learn even more. "Least privilege" is the rule to live by There are t...

Employees increasingly demand privacy from the technology they use every day, but employers often see privacy in opposition to enterprise data security.  Since its debut in Android 5, the work profile has secured company data on personally-owned devices while preserving employee privacy. The separation of work and personal apps means IT gets full control over work apps and data, but has no visibility into personal apps. In Android 11, we're bringing these privacy protections to company-owned devices as well, while providing IT the additional capabilities needed to manage company assets.  Employees demand privacy, even on company-owned devices In a recent survey by ESG research, 71 percent of employees said they expect all personal information to remain private on work devices. This resistance to traditional full device management creates challenges for IT organizations. In fact, employee concern about privacy is the top reason mobile devices remain unmanaged by IT, ...

After months of eluding the market the Galaxy A21 has finally been released, albeit quietly, and it's now available for purchase in the USA from Samsung, Sprint, T-Mobile and Metro. If this launch seems unusual, that's because it is. The Galaxy A21 was first leaked and rumored many months ago but it hasn't seen the light of day since. Outside the USA, it's already been beaten to the global market by the Galaxy A21s – a device that was technically supposed to be its sequel. Galaxy A21 official specifications The Galaxy A21 carries a 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 1600 by 720 pixels. The display follows the Infinity-O design with a corner cutout but its a TFT LCD instead of an AMOLED solution. Under the screen, the Galaxy A21 conceals a MediaTek chipset instead of a Qualcomm or in-house Exynos silicon. Specifically, the phone relies on the MediaTek MT6765 SoC boasting a total of eight CPU cores split into two clusters of four cores operating at 1.7GHz and 2...

Warm evenings, backyard barbeques and sticky watermelon fingers mean two things for my family: Summer is finally here and the air conditioning is running. As the days get longer and temperatures rise, so does my energy bill.  Thankfully, Nest thermostats can help me save energy automatically. As of today, we're announcing our Seasonal Savings feature will be available for free. Seasonal Savings isn't the only Nest thermostat tool that works in the background to save energy, and sometimes money. Here are a few ways you can benefit from using the device without having to lift a finger.  1. Seasonal savings for all  For the first time, this summer we're making Seasonal Savings available to all Nest thermostat owners for free. Previously, this feature was only available to customers of utilities with Seasonal Savings programs. It acts like a personal energy monitor, making small schedule tweaks to help you save energy and lower your bill, without you even noticing...

Today we're announcing that Google has acquired North, a pioneer in human computer interfaces and smart glasses. They've built a strong technology foundation, and we're excited to have North join us in our broader efforts to build helpful devices and services. From 10 blue links on a PC, to Maps on your mobile phone, to Google Nest Hub sharing a recipe in the kitchen, Google has always strived to be helpful to people in their daily lives. We're building towards a future where helpfulness is all around you, where all your devices just work together and technology fades into the background. We call this ambient computing. North's technical expertise will help as we continue to invest in our hardware efforts and ambient computing future. They'll join the Google team based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada—North's hometown and an area with impressive tech talent. We're excited to welcome our new colleagues, and committed to the growing global tech ...

After hinting that it will bring the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition to India , Samsung has now officially confirmed the phone's launch details in the country beginning with a pre-booking period set to commence tomorrow, July 1. The Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition will be available only via Samsung's Exclusive Stores, all of which have been previously certified for safety by Suraksha , as well as its online e-shop. The pre-booking period will last from July 1 to July 9. Once pre-bookings are accepted, prospective buyers will be able to secure the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition in exchange for INR 87,999 ($1,165). The Galaxy Buds+ BTS Edition will cost INR 14,990 ($198). Samsung India has yet to confirm any discounts when buying both devices together, but seeing how the special edition was released in other markets, it's possible that those who pre-order the phone in India will be given a 50% discount on the purple Galaxy Buds+. Samsung India also intros the Galaxy S20 Ultra Cloud White In...

Dinosaurs may have ruled the Earth millions of years ago, but with augmented reality (AR), you can turn your home into "Jurassic World." We're partnering with Universal Brand Development , Amblin Entertainment and Ludia to bring 10 dinosaurs from the franchise film, "Jurassic World", to Google Search. Watch the massive T. Rex stomp in your living room or gaze up at a majestic Brachiosaurus as it towers above a neighborhood tree.  Search for a dinosaur on Google using a mobile device and tap "View in 3D" to rotate or zoom in and see it up close. You can then bring the dinosaur into your space with AR and adjust its size to understand how big it is in relation to the things around you. On Android devices, turn up your volume to hear the thudding footsteps and roars of each dinosaur.  "Jurassic World" dinosaurs that are viewable in AR include: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops, Spinosaurus, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Anky...

The highly sought-after Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition is launching in yet another market, Vietnam , where the special edition Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Buds+ will be available for purchase from July 9. The release will be preceded by a pre-order period from July 1 to July 8, and those who pre-order the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition over the next week will benefit from a 50% discount on the Galaxy Buds+ BTS Edition. Samsung Vietnam has prepared other incentives for prospective buyers, such as a voucher worth VND 5,000,000 ($214) for those who pre-order the phone. Furthermore, customers who will buy the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition from a Samsung brick & mortar store will be getting an Onyx Studio 6 speaker worth VND 4,990,000 ($214) for free. Planned to go live via Samsung and retail partner CellphoneS Pre-orders for the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition will start in Vietnam later today in a few hours from the time of writing, so make sure to consult this dedicated Samsung page for the BTS campaign to...

SamMobile exclusively reported last month that Samsung is now working on the Galaxy M51 . Subsequent reports have suggested that the company has decided to kill the Galaxy M41 and just launch the Galaxy M51 instead. The Galaxy M51 was expected to be its first device to feature an OLED panel not supplied by Samsung Display. It was later reported that the panels were being sourced from Samsung Display. That's because the Chinese supplier Samsung had been considering couldn't meet quality requirements. Word on the street now is that those issues have been resolved and Samsung will use a Chinese OLED panel for this device. Galaxy M51 might be Samsung's first non-Samsung OLED display phone This information comes from Ross Young who is the founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants. He says that the Galaxy M51 will indeed use OLED panels from China Star Optoelectronics Technology. The Chinese company has apparently overcome all technical issues and has been able ...

For the longest time, Galaxy smartphones have offered a feature-packed camera app. A slew of different modes, excellent Pro mode controls, and many small but useful functions and settings means the camera app on Galaxy phones — especially flagships — is highly versatile. Every new flagship also brings along neat new features, some of which trickle down to older devices . The Galaxy S20 series, for example, added the ability to shoot 8K videos and the fantastic and thoughtful Single Take shooting mode . But nothing is perfect, and there's always room for improvement. And there are a few features and functions that I think Samsung needs to add to its camera app to make it even better. Pro mode for ultra-wide and zoom cameras Triple camera setups are more or less the norm nowadays unless you're buying something in the budget segment. Galaxy flagships made the move to triple cameras last year with the Galaxy S10: You get the main camera, and you also get an ultra-wide camera ...

Being an environmentally conscious business remains one of Samsung's key goals in 2020 and beyond, with the company claiming its flagship Android smartphone lineup is an apt illustration of that ambition. Following that same train of thought, the designers responsible for Galaxy S20 series packaging recently went on record to explain how Samsung intends to continue growing its smartphone operations in a more sustainable manner moving forward. A significant portion of those efforts comes down to eliminating plastic waste, which is precisely why the Galaxy S20 accessories are wrapped in paper. The Galaxy S family has been gradually adopting increasingly green practices since its inception – ten years and counting to date. From petroleum-free soy ink to biodegradable vinyl, these smartphones and their packagings are becoming more sustainable with every new product generation. The last Galaxy S generation somewhat reliant on plastic packaging was the Galaxy S9 released in early 2018...

The Internationale Funkausstellung or IFA is the biggest consumer electronics trade show in Europe. Samsung has been a regular fixture at the event for many years. It even used to launch new Galaxy Note models there several years ago. While it no longer does that, Samsung does have a big presence there every year. That's not going to be the case in 2020, though. Samsung has reportedly decided that it's going to skip IFA 2020. The ongoing pandemic is the reason why the company has decided not to attend Europe's biggest electronics trade show. Samsung is avoiding large events for now Local media reports from South Korea say that Samsung has confirmed it's not going to attend IFA 2020 which takes place September 4-9 in Berlin, Germany. The pandemic has been cited as the reason for not attending a show where Samsung has been a regular exhibitor since 1991. Samsung was present at IFA 2019. It unveiled the Galaxy A90 5G there, it was Samsung's first non-flagship ...

Samsung is rumored to launch multiple high-end smartphones, including the Galaxy Fold 2 and the Galaxy Note 20  series, in August. Some features of these smartphones have been leaked already. Now, a new report coming out of South Korea states that Samsung is going to focus on offering 5G versions of its high-end smartphones across the world. The new report states that Samsung will only launch 5G variants of the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Fold 2 around the world. However, we've found the existence of LTE variants of the Galaxy Note 20, and the company is already developing firmware for those devices. We haven't been able to spot any information regarding an LTE variant of the Galaxy Fold 2, though, so it is possible that the next-generation Galaxy Fold could only launch in a 5G version. Samsung reportedly wants to remain the number one 5G smartphone brand so that it can retain its top position in the current global smartphone segment. The South Korean tech giant has bee...

Ahead of the official announcement of Galaxy Watch 3 next month , we had exclusively leaked its specifications . Its design was leaked through press renders last week. We've been waiting just for its pricing and new software features that Samsung is expected to bring with the newer version of Tizen OS. Now, a whole host of software information about the upcoming smartwatch has been leaked online. According to Max Weinbach , who got his hands on the Galaxy Watch 3 firmware, Samsung will offer new watch faces with the smartwatch. The company will reportedly offer improved customizability of watch faces through 'Informative Digital Edge.' The new feature lets users add information such as date, day, heart rate, steps, weather, and more towards the edges of a watch face. He has shared images of new watch faces on Twitter. The new version of Tizen will also bring a new weather app that shows matching backgrounds to display weather conditions. For example, if it's cloud...

The Android 10 and One UI 2.0 update is rolling out to the Galaxy J6 — and its online-only variant , the Galaxy On6 — in India. The Galaxy J6's Android 10 update debuted a few months back , but its Indian release was delayed because of the local Samsung arm's decision to halt updates in the country owing to the coronavirus lockdown. However, the wait for Galaxy J6 owners in India is finally over. Galaxy J6 getting its last major update in India The Galaxy J6 launched with Android Oreo, so Android 10 is its last major update. Also, being a budget device, the J6 is only getting the bare minimum of One UI 2.0 features . The update includes an improved Dark mode, smoother animations, clearer apps, icons, and colors, better accessibility features, smarter facial recognition, updated camera app with an improved layout, new navigation gestures, and added functionality in many of Samsung's official apps, such as Calendar, Contacts, and My Files. The Android 10 update for th...

The Galaxy S10 series has started getting an update with the July 2020 security patch. The update has hit the ground running and is rolling out in more than 20 countries in Europe already, and its availability should further expand in the next couple of days. The July update for the Galaxy S10 lineup carries firmware version G97xFXXS7CTF3.  The Galaxy S10 series' July security update comes after the new security patch was released for the Galaxy S20 series ,  the Galaxy A50 , and the Galaxy Z Flip , and we will no doubt see more devices joining the party in the coming days. The update only has security fixes to offer – there are no new features, improvements, or changes included in this release. And, with July yet to begin, Samsung has yet to publish any information on what vulnerabilities are fixed in next month's security patch, though it shouldn't be too long before that changes. If the July update for the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ has been released in your country...

Samsung started the rollout of Android 10 to its current-generation flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 , three months ago. One month later, Verizon released the Android 10 update to the Galaxy Tab S6 on its network. Now, T-Mobile has released the Android 10 software update to the tablet on its network in the US . The new software update with firmware version  T867USQU2BTE1 brings Android 10 to the LTE variant of the Galaxy Tab S6 (SM-T867U). It also features One UI 2.1 and the May 2020 Android security patch . The file size of the update is over 2.1GB, so we would advise you to use a Wi-Fi connection to download the new software. Although T-Mobile's changelog doesn't mention new features, the Android 10 update brings smoother animations and transitions, Google's gesture-based UI navigation, improved Dark Mode, tweaked color scheme and icons, and more. Then there's an improved camera app and a refreshed design inside the Device Care section. Thanks to One UI 2....