Wear OS 4 might finally fix the screenshot problem

andreasc
-
0
Wear OS 4 might finally fix the screenshot problem
[ad_1]

Look, there’s no beating around the bush, taking screenshots on almost all Wear OS watches is an abysmal experience, but Wear OS 4 might just fix that.

According to a new report from XDA, Google seems to be adding a change to make this whole process easier. That being said, Wear OS 4 arrives later this year. So don’t expect this to be available anytime soon. Also worth noting is that it’s still unclear which watches will get Wear OS 4. If there are any current devices that will be compatible in the first place.

For current devices, to take a screenshot you have to open the Wear app and initiate the screenshot from there. It’s cumbersome and unintuitive. And just forces users to take unnecessary steps. The only exceptions to this really are the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 5, and some TicWatch models from Mobvoi. All of which also run Wear OS, but can take screenshots just by pressing a couple buttons simultaneously.

Wear OS 4 should allow screenshots with a button combination

It’s not confirmed but it looks like Wear OS 4 may allow you to take screenshots using a button combination. Just like watches from Samsung and Mobvoi.

A screenshot shared by XDA shows a new setting in ‘gestures’ that lets you take a screenshot by pressing the crown button and the side button at the same time. This is also a toggle that you can turn on or off. So it looks like Google will let you disable it if you don’t want this function to be active.

You probably aren’t going to be taking too many screenshots on your Wear OS smartwatch. But that doesn’t mean the act of doing so shouldn’t be easier. If this is a minor complaint you’ve had about the OS, things finally look to be changing.

Wear OS 4 Screenshots


[ad_2]
Source link

Google is rolling out the redesigned Google Home app

andreasc
-
0
Google is rolling out the redesigned Google Home app
[ad_1]

Google announced a lot of exciting news recently with a lot of it coming during Google I/O. During the announcement, the company hit us with some news surrounding the Google Home app. After months of testing, the revamped Google Home map is finally rolling out to the public, according to Engadget.

This has been a long time coming, as Google first teased this back in October 2022. It was going to heavily revamp the UI for the app and give it a much more material you inspired aesthetic. Now, Google is rolling out this new design, so people should start seeing the update hit their devices.

The revamped Google Home app looks very different

The difference between the Google Home app before and after the revamp is night and day. For starters, the UI is much more fun with the material you design aesthetic. The previous look had all of your different devices displayed in small circular buttons. Under that, you’ll see your different rooms.

With the revamped design, your devices are displayed as large rounded rectangles. Just like with the Bluetooth audio device picker in the Pixel launcher, the buttons also double as sliders. If you swipe your finger along the button, you’ll see it adjust the brightness of the device.

As for the camera feeds, you’ll see more than one camera feed on the screen at a Time. Each camera feed is housed in a large rounded rectangular window. They let you see what’s going on in the feeds in more detail. Under the video feeds, you’ll see options to control different devices in that specific room.

So, if you’re looking at the cameras in the living room, you’ll also see options to control different devices in the living room. This lets you adjust these settings all from one screen.

New Google Home UI

As always, the interface as a whole will comply with your Dynamic theme. So, all of the buttons on the interface will match the color that you have applied to your theme.

A neat addition to this revamp is the Favorites tab at the bottom. You’re able to pin different devices and actions to this screen so that you’ll be able to access them all from one screen.

This is a much-welcome addition to the app, and it will definitely improve the overall experience. If you’re waiting for it, make sure your Google home app is fully updated. If you don’t see it just yet, then you may want to just wait a day or two.


[ad_2]
Source link

Otterbox is prepared to protect your Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold

andreasc
-
0
Otterbox is prepared to protect your Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold
[ad_1]

Yesterday Google officially revealed the Pixel 7a and the Pixel Fold to the world as part of Google I/O, and Otterbox is geared up and ready to protect them both. The accessory company has announced protective cases for both phones, starting at $39.95 for the Pixel 7a and $59.95 for the Pixel Fold.

There is essentially one case option for each. The Commuter Series case for the Pixel 7a and the Thin Flex series case for the Pixel Fold. Although, the Pixel 7a Commuter case does come in standard and antimicrobial versions. So you could technically consider that two cases.

Both cases are available in two colors as well. For the Pixel Fold case, you can pick it up in either black or blue. The Otterbox website also says there’s a clear option but there’s no landing page for it yet. So that might be coming later. The Pixel 7a meanwhile will come in black and green.

Otterbox begins selling Pixel 7a cases, but Pixel Fold cases come later

Otterbox Pixel Fold Case

Otterbox has announced both cases but it isn’t quite ready to sell them both yet. You can actually purchase the cases for the Pixel 7a right now if you want to. And it looks like they’ll ship out soon after orders are placed too.

But the Pixel Fold cases aren’t quite ready and are listed as coming soon. So for now, you’ll just need to keep an eye on the case for the Fold if that’s what you’re wanting. Also worth mentioning is that both cases are compatible with the Otterbox folding wireless charging stand. And since both phones support wireless charging, this is probably a good accessory to consider if hate dealing with extra cables.

The wireless charging stand is $59.95 just like the Pixel Fold case, but you can actually buy it right now.

Pixel 7a cases

Pixel Fold cases


[ad_2]
Source link

Looking to position itself as a player in search, TikTok offers iOS, Android search widgets

andreasc
-
0
Looking to position itself as a player in search, TikTok offers iOS, Android search widgets
[ad_1]
Hey TikTok fans, if you use an iPhone there is now a TikTok search widget available. It’s part of the platform’s attempt to be seen as a search engine instead of just a social media site. Earlier this year, according to Mashable, an ad ran in the U.K. that proclaimed, “Search it with TikTok.” Last year, Google Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan, who heads Google’s Knowledge & Information unit, said that social media sites like Instagram and TikTok as being used as tools for certain search queries.

TikTok advertises itself as a search tool in the U.K.

Raghavan said, “We keep learning, over and over again, that new internet users don’t have the expectations and the mindset that we have become accustomed to. These users don’t tend to type in keywords but rather look to discover content in new, more immersive ways. He added, “In our studies, something like almost 40% of young people, when they’re looking for a place for lunch, they don’t go to Google Maps or Search. They go to TikTok or Instagram.”

TikTok advertises itself as a search tool in the U.K. - Looking to position itself as a player in search, TikTok offers iOS, Android search widgets

TikTok advertises itself as a search tool in the U.K.

Another source, regulatory agency Ofcom (short for Office of Communications), which oversees the broadcasting, telecommunications, and postal industries in the U.K., said that TikTok is the fastest-growing source of news among U.K. adults. Considering that a recent lawsuit filed by a former ByteDance executive accused the Chinese Communist Party of using TikTok as a propaganda outlet, Ofcom’s survey might be a concern to UK lawmakers. Byte Dance is TikTok’s parent company.
A TikTok search widget is also available for Android users and both platforms feature multiple TikTok widgets. Here’s how you can add the TikTok search widget to your phone. On iOS, long-press on some open home screen real estate until the icons go into “jiggle mode.” Tap the “+” button on the upper left hand of the screen. Type TikTok into the “Search Widgets” field at the top of the display and tap on the result. Swipe through all of the TikTok widgets until you find the one marked “Search,” and tap on the blue “Add Widget” button at the bottom of the screen. Once the widget is in place, tap on the “Done” button on the upper right of the screen.
TikTok's search widget available on iOS - Looking to position itself as a player in search, TikTok offers iOS, Android search widgets

TikTok’s search widget available on iOS

If you have an Android device, long-press on some open home screen real estate until you see a pop-up that gives you three options: Wallpaper & style, Widgets, and Home settings. Tap on Widgets. Type TikTok into the search field at the top of the display. Press on the result and you’ll see all of the TikTok widgets available. Find the Search widget by scrolling down, long-press on the widget and it will be placed where there is room available on your phone.

The TikTok search widget on Android - Looking to position itself as a player in search, TikTok offers iOS, Android search widgets

The TikTok search widget on Android

Keep in mind that you must have the TikTok app installed on your phone in order to access the widgets. On iOS, you can install the controversial app by clicking on this link. If you use an Android device, the TikTok app is available by tapping on this link.

Montana is a signature away from banning TikTok

There are bills floating around the U.S. to ban the app and Montana is just a signature from the governor away from banning TikTok from any device being used within the state’s borders. Additionally, the legislation would prevent any app storefront accessible within the state from listing and offering the TikTok app. Once signed, the new law would go into effect starting next January.

TikTok delivers vertical short-form videos and has become one of the most popular apps in the world having been installed more than 2 billion times globally.


[ad_2]
Source link

Disney+ and Hulu are fusing into one app

andreasc
-
0
Disney+ and Hulu are fusing into one app
[ad_1]

Disney+ and Hulu are two of the biggest streaming services on the market, and they’ve been rather close. Well, as though anyone didn’t expect this, Disney+ and Hulu are eventually going to merge into one app. This process is going to happen pretty quickly as well.

It’s hard not to expect this, as Disney+ from Hulu move in tandem. There’s the Disney+ Hulu bundle where you can add a Disney+ subscription to your Hulu account. Also, both Hulu and Disney+ raised their prices at the same time. The thing is, Disney owns a portion of Hulu, so they’re very close from a business standpoint.

Disney+ and Hulu are going to merge into one app

Streaming services merging into one app isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Currently, HBO MAX and Discovery+ are in the process of merging into one service called MAX. In the case of Disney+ and Hulu, according to Droid Life, Disney announced this during its Q2 2023 earnings report.

That part of the presentation was rather brief, but in a nutshell, Disney plans on merging Disney+ and Hulu into one service in order to provide a more streamlined streaming service. The report also says that this is to help provide more opportunities for advertising.

The real kicker here is how quickly Disney wants to incorporate this. According to the report, Disney wants this merger to be complete by the end of 2023. That’s only seven full months from now. That’s pretty wild considering that prices for Disney+ just recently rose. So, it’s going to be another substantial change for Disney+ and Hulu customers within the next several months.

We’re pretty sure that Disney+ users don’t want any more changes to their monthly bills. In any case, we are still in the dark about a lot of the details. We have no idea how much this new service will cost, what it’ll be called, or how it will affect the available content. We’re going to have to wait on more information about this merger.


[ad_2]
Source link

Lifesum and OURA team up to make use of Android’s Health Connect

andreasc
-
0
Lifesum and OURA team up to make use of Android’s Health Connect
[ad_1]

The Lifesum and OURA partnership was one of the takeaways from the Google I/O event this week. This partnership aims to help users of products from both companies to lead a more healthy life. So why exactly was it a takeaway from the Google I/O event?

Well, both parties in this partnership will make use of a feature that is available to Android users around the world. This feature is known as Health Connect and it is available on Android devices. Sometime last year, this feature launched in beta testing, but it is now present on most Android devices, especially Google Pixel devices.

Accessing this feature is very simple as it only requires a user to pull down the control center. It is among the quick controls users find in this part of their smartphone, another way to access this feature is via the settings page. But how does this system app play a role in the Lifesum and OURA partnership? Getting to know more about the parties in this partnership and the Health Connect feature will shed more light on their roles.

A smarter way to stay healthy with the Health Connect on Android and the Lifesum and OURA partnership

To start, Lifesum is one of the leading healthy eating platforms around the globe. Their app which is available on the Google Play Store has been a saving grace for those looking to stay fit or break some bad eating habits. But now, they are coming through with a new sleep-tracking feature that shows how your diet and sleep patterns affect each other.

To better track your sleep, Lifesum will rely on OURA’s technology. Maybe you can remember that company that went viral some years back after launching a bulky smart ring. Yeah, that’s OURA, and ever since their first launch they have continued innovating and have come up with their second and third-generation smart rings.

Through the course of three smart rings, OURA’s technology has got better and now packs more health features. This Lifesum and OURA partnership will use smart rings to help users keep track of their diet and sleep patterns. But where does the Health Connect feature on Android come into the scene of this partnership?

Health Connect on Android helps users to sync data gathered by various fitness and wellbeing apps across their devices. This makes it easy for Android users to stay up to date regarding their fitness on any Android device they pick up. Lifesum was an early adopter of this feature on their platform once its beta release came sometime last year.

An Android senior representative noted that “Sleep data is a core pillar of users’ overall health” and this partnership will give users insight into their health. This feature will become available to Android users that opt into the open beta via the Lifesum app. These users will then be able to enjoy the benefits of this partnership via their OURA ring and Android devices.


[ad_2]
Source link

Sharp Aquos R8 Pro flagship is official, and it looks great on paper

andreasc
-
0
Sharp Aquos R8 Pro flagship is official, and it looks great on paper
[ad_1]

Sharp has announced two new flagship smartphones, the Aquos R8 and Aquos R8 Pro. The ‘Pro’ model is, of course, a more powerful one, but the R8 is nothing to scoff at. These two phones got announced in Japan, as per usual, but they’re quite interesting, and worth talking about.

The Sharp Aquos R8 and R8 Pro are both powerful, but different

Now, both of these smartphones have rather powerful specs, but the ‘Pro’ model is more interesting in that regard. Before we get down to specs, let’s talk about their designs real quick.

Both smartphones have a circular camera setup on the back, but the one on the ‘Pro’ model is noticeably larger. The ‘Pro’ variant also has a curved backplate, unlike the regular handset. The sides are flattish on both devices.

Having said that, you’ll also find flat displays on the front. The Sharp Aquos R8 has a dewdrop notch at the top, while the ‘Pro’ variant includes a display camera hole, which is centered.

Sharp opted for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, a flagship SoC

When it comes to specs, there are some similarities here, but they’re mostly different. Let’s talk about what they have in common, though. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC fuels both smartphones. That is Qualcomm’s most powerful offering to date.

Both devices also offer UFS 4.0 flash storage, 256GB worth of it, and you can also expand it via a microSD card. Both phones also offer Bluetooth 5.3, 5G support, and IPX5 / IPX8 / IP6X water and dust resistance. Android 13 comes pre-installed, and Sharp promised 3 years of Android OS updates, and 5 years of security updates.

Both devices include an audio jack

Stereo speakers are included inside both smartphones too, and both devices come with Dolby Atmos support. You will also find an audio jack on both of these phones. That is a rarity these days, needless to say.

That is where the similarities between the two phones end. The ‘Pro’ variant comes with a larger display, different camera setup, larger battery, and so on.

You will also find a 240Hz display on both phones, though they’re not the same

The Sharp Aquos R8 Pro features a 6.6-inch WUXGA+ (2730 x 1260) Pro IGZO OLED display. Its refresh rate is adaptive, it goes from 1 to 240Hz, actually. Dolby Vision support is also included.

The phone offers 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner. A 5,000mAh battery is also included, and it supports “fast charging”, though we don’t know how fast. We’re also not sure whether wireless charging is included, but it doesn’t seem to be.

A 47.2-megapixel 1-inch camera sensor is a part of the package. It offers an f/1.9 aperture Leica Summicron lens, and EIS support. A 1.9-megapixel low light ToF AF 14cn spectrum sensor is also included on the back. On the front, a 12.6-megapixel selfie camera (f/2.3 aperture) can be found.

The Sharp Aquos R8, on the other hand, has a 6.39-inch fullHD+ display. That is a Pro IGZO OLED display, and it also has an adaptive refresh rate of 1-240Hz, and Dolby Vision support.

The Sharp Aquos R8 is even a rugged phone, to a degree

This smartphone offers up to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and an optical in-display fingerprint scanner. It is also MIL-STD-810G certified for ruggedness, and includes a 4,570mAh battery. “Fast charging is listed for this one too”.

A 50.3-megapixel 1/1.55” sensor is included here, with an f/1.9 aperture Leica lens, and EIS support. A 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.0 aperture, 118-degree FoV) sits on the back of the phone. On the front, you’ll find an 8-megapixel selfie unit (f/2.0 aperture).

These two devices will be available in Japan only, from July 2023. Price tags are still not known. It would be nice if Sharp tried selling its devices globally, to bring more competition to the market.


[ad_2]
Source link

Leaked Galaxy Z Fold 5 case confirms design rumors

andreasc
-
0
Leaked Galaxy Z Fold 5 case confirms design rumors
[ad_1]

Last week, we saw a transparent protective case for Samsung’s upcoming clamshell foldable Galaxy Z Flip 5 leak in a few real-life photos confirming the rumored cover display redesign. We now have a couple of leaked photos of a clear case for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 as well, courtesy of the same source.

Shared by tipster Ice Universe on Twitter, the leaked photos confirm that Samsung isn’t making any major design changes to its Fold series foldable this year. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will mostly look identical to its predecessor. We are expecting it to be thinner and lighter, but not much more than that. The tipster also shared a photo of a similar case for last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. The only major noticeable change between the two is a repositioned LED flash at the back.

As you can see below, the photo on the left has a tiny hole next to the vertical camera cutout. This is where Samsung will place the flash unit on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The photo on the right, meanwhile, doesn’t have any such hole. That’s because the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has its LED flash below the camera array. The case doesn’t have a separate cutout for it. Since the flash is housed within the camera bump, the cutout is a bit longer on the latter.

Speaking of the camera bump, this is a design change that can’t be observed in these photos. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 doesn’t have a camera bump on the back. It will feature three cameras and all of them will protrude out of the back panel individually. There’s no raised bump housing the three sensors within it. This has been Samsung’s design philosophy for every single Galaxy smartphone launched so far in 2023, including the Galaxy A14 budget handset and the Galaxy S23 flagships. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 gets the same design too.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 may arrive in late July

Samsung has been launching its new foldable smartphones in the first half of August every year since 2020. However, it may prepone the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 launch by a few weeks this year. Rumors are that the latest foldables will go official in late July. The company is reportedly considering this change due to the current global economic situation and its own financial struggles in recent months. If true, brace yourself for more Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 leaks in the coming weeks.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 leaked case 2


[ad_2]
Source link

Ex ByteDance exec says China’s Communist Party has special access to TikTok’s US user data

andreasc
-
0
Ex ByteDance exec says China’s Communist Party has special access to TikTok’s US user data
[ad_1]
An executive who was fired by TikTok parent ByteDance back in 2018, Yintao “Roger” Yu, has filed a lawsuit against his former employer claiming that he was fired as head of engineering in the U.S. Per Bloomberg, Yu was fired after complaining to his bosses at the company about “brazenly unlawful conduct” at ByteDance. One allegation made by Yu claims that the Chinese Communist Party had a “backdoor channel” inside the company that gave it “supreme access” to all data generated by the TikTok app.

Former ByteDance executive admits the Chinese Communist Party has access to U.S. user data

This is exactly what U.S. lawmakers and officials feared when they started blocking TikTok on government devices in 34 states. Last month, Montana passed legislation that bans TikTok from being used on personal devices within state lines and also prevents the app from being offered on any app stores inside the state. The governor still needs to sign off on the bill which, if signed, would take effect in January 2024.
Former ByteDance executive says the Chinese Communist Party have a back door inside the company - Ex ByteDance exec says China's Communist Party has special access to TikTok's US user data

Former ByteDance executive says the Chinese Communist Party have a back door inside the company

.

ByteDance said that it will vigorously fight the lawsuit while calling it “baseless.” The company also pointed out that Yu worked at the company for less than one year. A spokesman for the Chinese tech firm also said, “ByteDance is committed to respecting the intellectual property of other companies, and we acquire data in accordance with industry practices and our global policy.

Yu had approached his superiors at the company to point out that TikTok was stealing content from Instagram and Snapchat that was copyrighted. Additionally, he accused ByteDance of faking the number of users on the app to improve the metrics. And he also alleged that ByteDance was helping to spread propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The lawsuit says that Yu was “struck by the misdirection” of TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s testimony before Congress in March about TikTok’s ties to the CCP especially since Yu says that he knew the truth.
In his suit, Yu said that inside ByteDance it was known that a special committee controlled by the Chinese government had a role in the company even though the committee did not work for ByteDance. “The Committee maintained supreme access to all the company data, even data stored in the United States. After receiving criticism about access from abroad, individual engineers in China were restricted from accessing U.S. user data, but the Committee continued to have access.”

Yu’s claims contradict ByteDance’s recent letter to Congress

This contradicts correspondence written to Congress this month by ByteDance which claimed that not only hasn’t it ever shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, it wouldn’t do it even if the CCP demanded Byte Dance to do so. In China, the government is allowed to demand that Chinese tech firms spy on its behalf. TikTok claims that it is walling off U.S. user data along with its U.S. operations with important U.S. user data protected on Oracle servers located in the states.

The complaint also goes into detail about how TikTok used software to strip videos from competitor’s platforms. “These actions were taken without the permission of the content creators and represented an unlawful effort to gain an edge against entrenched online video hosting websites,” said the filing. Yu is asking a San Francisco Superior Court judge to order TikTok to stop lifting content from other social media sites without the permission of content creators.

A resident of California, Yu was hired by ByteDance, awarded stock options, and guaranteed a payment of $600,000 in exchange for the intellectual property of his own company, Tank Exchange. But the contract required him to work for ByteDance for at least two years. The company let him well before two years was up due to what it said was a reduction in headcount; even though he says that his stock options had vested, he never received them.

Yu’s allegations could get wide play in Washington D.C. where TikTok and ByteDance have been under attack by both major political parties and the last two administrations.

[ad_2]
Source link

Foldable smartphone from Nubia is coming, here are the details

andreasc
-
0
Foldable smartphone from Nubia is coming, here are the details
[ad_1]

Nubia has plans to launch a foldable smartphone as well, it seems. Some details have just surfaced. This information comes from Paras Guglani and Pricebaba.

Nubia is planning to launch its first foldable smartphone in Q4 2023

The device is being referred to as the Nubia Z60 Fold, and that will likely be its name. The device will allegedly feature a 7.3-inch AMOLED display. Considering the size of this display, we’ll go ahead and guess this will be a book-style foldable.

The details regarding the secondary display were not revealed. A Snapdragon 8 series SoC will fuel the phone, either the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Nubia will also include 12GB of RAM here

You’ll be able to choose between 256GB and 512GB storage options. A 5,000mAh battery was also mentioned, and the device will support 100W wired and wireless charging.

The Nubia Z60 Fold is tipped to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. It supposedly coming in three color options, though we still don’t know what colors are they.

This company usually sticks to China, though we’re hoping that will change

Now, Nubia-branded phones usually end up being launched in China only. We do hope that will change down the line, though. It would be great to see more competition in the foldable smartphone market… globally.

HONOR started expanding the availability of its latest foldable smartphone recently, and OPPO did it earlier this year for the Find N2 Flip. Google announced its first foldable handset a couple of days ago, and it will be available in a handful of markets.

It’s nice to see that Samsung is finally getting some competition, that goes for both book-style foldables, and clamshell foldable smartphones. It will push that form factor forward, that’s for sure. It will make sure Samsung is not as comfortable as the company was thus far.


[ad_2]
Source link
1...1,2601,2611,262...1,480Page 1,261 of 1,480