Chrome is constantly testing new features and evolving. A new feature in the works now indicates that Android users will be getting fewer APK download warnings in Chrome.
There’s a lot of risk when you’re downloading APK files from places other than Google Play Store. In fact, if it ends up being malicious, it could create loads of problems on your Android phone and cause you headache after headache. Of course, Google wants to warn you about these risks, and Chrome on Android displays a warning prompt when you try to download APK files from another website.
This feature is undoubtedly useful, but the warnings can be overwhelming and unnecessary sometimes. You see warnings “File might be harmful” even if you’ve enabled Google Play Protect (GPP). GPP basically scans your apps and files to determine if they are malicious.
Google is reportedly working on eliminating unnecessary APK download warnings, specifically when you have Play Protect enabled on your device.
This won’t get rid of all download warnings though. The “File might be harmful” warning will still be visible to users when downloading a file if you have disabled Google Play Protect.
This feature is currently being tested, so it’s unclear when it will make it an official release.
In my opinion, warnings are always important but too many warnings can create the opposite effect and people might start ignoring them. If we have fewer warnings, then those will be more attention-worthy. However, I don’t consider getting rid of all warnings if you have GPP activated to be the best solution. It’s always good to have some sort of indication to users that they may be doing something bad for their phone.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master’s degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She’s also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it’s walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
Designer, Microsoft’s image editor that allows users to create custom images, stickers and more, is getting a mobile version. Initially available on the web, Microsoft Designer is making the jump to mobile after about a year in beta.
Starting today, Android and iOS users can take advantage of all the AI-powered tools Designer offers. The only requirement is having a personal Microsoft account, which can be created for free in just a few steps.
It’s important to add that Designer is more than just a simple image editing app. Microsoft has already confirmed that Designer integrates seamlessly with many of its products, including Word and PowerPoint through Microsoft Copilot.
Another significant upgrade over the initial beta version of the app is that Designer now supports more than 80 languages. Besides being able to create images and designs with words, and the ability to edit images on the go, Designer also lends many of its generative AI editing and creation capabilities to other Microsoft apps such as Photos.
This means that users can edit their photos to erase objects, remove backgrounds, auto crop, make adjustments, apply filters, markup, and add text without leaving Photos.
Now that it’s out of preview, Microsoft’s Designer app gains several new features such as new prompt templates, the ability to create custom stickers, greeting cards, and invitations, as well as Restyle, a new feature that allows users to transform any photo into a work of art.
More importantly, Microsoft announced that Designer launches out of preview with 15 free daily boosts that can be used to create or edit AI-powered images. Those who need more than 15 daily boosts can upgrade to a Copilot Pro subscription and get 100 boosts per day.
Keep in mind that boosts are automatically used whenever you create or edit images or design both in the Designer app and where Designer is integrated across Microsoft apps.
Amazon Prime Day ends today, and you don’t want to miss it. The company is discounting all sorts of great Android phones right now, which we are rounding up here in this article. This includes a whooping $300 off of the best foldable on the market – the OnePlus Open. There are also big discounts on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5, the Pixel 8 Pro, and many more. In fact, there are some great smartphone deals that aren’t at Amazon that you will want to take advantage of.
However, by far the best deal that you can get right now is, a $300 Amazon Gift Card when you purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Galaxy Z Flip 6. That gift card can really come in handy and be used to purchase a new Galaxy Watch 7 or Ultra, maybe some new cases or even the new Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
So, without further ado, here are the best smartphone deals still available during Amazon Prime Day.
Last week, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra at its Unpacked event. Although there are visible differences in the size and the design of both smartwatches, most features remain the same. However, when it comes to watch faces, both have a few differences.
While there are many watch faces in the latest smartwatches, two are exclusive to the Ultra model. Those two watch faces are “Ultra Analog” and “Simple Ultra.” But, a question always remains. Will Samsung bring these exclusive watch faces to the older Galaxy Watch models with future updates? Fortunately, the short answer to this is yes, at least for the time being.
The Ultra-exclusive watch faces have a unique feature
One may wonder what is so special about these exclusive watch faces. Samsung supercharges both watch faces with a unique feature giving hour markers, watch hands, and other UI elements a photoluminescent glow effect in the dark. Since both watch faces are exclusive to the Ultra model, it is evident that Samsung doesn’t offer them on the Galaxy Watch 7. Neither did it bundle these watch faces with the One UI 6 Watch Beta update for older Galaxy Watch models.
Although there were speculations that Ultra-exclusive watch faces won’t make it to the older Galaxy Watch models, today’s report from Android Authority hints at something good for those who haven’t upgraded or thought of upgrading to the latest Galaxy Watch models.
Older Galaxy Watch series could get Ultra-exclusive watch faces with future update
A Samsung Community forum post spotted by Android Authority suggests that the company could make the exclusive watch faces available to the older Galaxy Watch models. The user who stated the same happens to be a Beta Moderator. The user adds that the Ultra-exclusive watch faces “have the same One UI as Watch 4, Watch 5, and Watch 6 due to both hardware and software capabilities.” And, that Samsung could integrate the new watch faces into the older Galaxy Watch models with future updates.
That does make some sense, though. Generally, most brands initially keep new watch faces exclusive to the latest or high-end models. But, eventually end up making them available to the older models as well. All that said, there’s no word on the exact release timeline as we write. However, given the track record of Samsung, old Galaxy Watch users may soon get to flaunt the Ultra-exclusive watch faces.
Satellite communication could soon be coming to a few Samsung Galaxy Android smartphones. Samsung has been tweaking its first-party apps, which hints some devices could communicate via Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
Which Samsung smartphones are getting satellite communication?
Apple has been gradually offering satellite communication. On the Android side, only a few companies have embedded the technology in some of their smartphones.
To reliably support satellite communication, Android smartphones would need native support for the technology. Google has been adding relevant code to Android 15, which strongly suggests the mobile operating system could unlock the feature on supporting hardware.
— AssembleDebug (Shiv) (@AssembleDebug) July 17, 2024
Some of the Samsung apps such as Emergency SOS, Samsung Messages, and even the native Phone app have relevant lines of code. Simply put, Samsung is actively amending its app to support satellite communication.
Samsung hasn’t officially confirmed which Galaxy smartphones would get satellite communication. However, Samsung smartphones would need the latest chipsets that support this technology.
It is interesting to note that Samsung apps have code attempting to raise awareness about the new technology. In other words, these apps primarily try to alert users about the existence of satellite communication but redirect users to Google’s solutions. Likely, Samsung may gradually develop solutions in-house for Galaxy One UI OS.
Can smartphones make calls and send lengthy texts via satellites?
Satellite communication isn’t a new technology. It relies on LEO satellites to bounce messages. Currently, the technology is very rudimentary, and only a select few brands have managed to embed it into a few of their flagship devices.
Some Apple iPhones have satellite communication. However, Apple’s implementation of satellite communication restricts the feature to sending emergency messages only. In other words, no iPhone can send lengthy text messages or make calls using LEO satellites.
Needless to say, Samsung would initially restrict satellite communication to a select few flagship smartphones. Moreover, the company might not unlock or support all features primarily because satellite communication is more strenuous on a smartphone’s battery than cellular connectivity.
Wear OS devices would offer full support for the Find My Device network, probably starting with the Pixel Watch 3 series. Currently, the network is compatible with Android phones, tablets, and trackers. In the future, even earbuds or headphones will be compatible.
New Find My Device network support would arrive soon to Pixel Watch devices
The feature was spotted by 9to5Google in the latest Pixel Watch app update (v2.5.0.652251118). The APK code hides strings that make direct reference to the support of the updated device tracking system. The new “Find My Watch” option description says that it allows you “to remotely locate, lock, and erase your watch, even when your watch is offline.” Currently, the option is just a shortcut to the FMD app.
Wear OS devices do not support the new capabilities of the revamped Find My Device network. For weeks now, compatible devices added to the network can be tracked even when offline. On Pixel phones, you can even track the device for several hours after turning it off. However, Wear OS smartwatches require being connected to an FMD-supported phone or to the internet via a mobile network.
FMD support could reach more Wear OS devices too
So, the next step seems to be to make Wear OS devices able to access all Find My Device perks autonomously. You are much less likely to lose a smartwatch since it is always on your wrist. However, the feature would be especially useful in theft cases. While Find My Device network support was spotted in the Pixel Watch app, more Wear OS devices could get it too. After all, there are no special hardware requirements for it. Find My Device is one of those features powered by the Google Play Services platform.
It is not yet known when the feature will be available on Pixel Watches. However, the next Made by Google event will take place in August. Considering that the company will even introduce the Pixel Watch 3, it seems like a good day to reveal the new support. Also, the first announcements about the Find My Device network mentioned that earbuds or headphones would be compatible as well. So, Google has yet to offer updates about it.
We just can’t stop hearing about AI technology nowadays. This is because it’s supposed to be the next step in human achievement. Also, because companies just don’t shut up about it! For all of its potential pitfalls and challenges, the tech industry seems to be confident in AI tech. However, that’s just how it seems to the public. Behind the scenes, however, it seems that companies are losing faith in AI.
It’s always behind closed doors where we see the most news. We’ve seen Sundar Pichai, Sam Altman, and Satya Nadella among countless others on stage talking about how they have immense faith in their AI tech. That’s all fine and dandy, but do you think that they’re going to dedicate a keynote to any issues that are going on with their AI tech? Of course not! It’s their job to make us think that everything is A-OK.
But, the thing is that things aren’t always A-OK in the world of AI tech. There’s a ton of doubt and tension throughout the tech industry regarding AI, and we only know about a fraction of it. We only hear what slips through the cracks. A testimony from an employee at a tech firm here, an exclusive leak there.
The fact of the matter is that the companies propping up this technology (the ones injecting billions of dollars into AI companies) are starting to shy away. They’re not as likely to invest so much money in it. Sure, you can’t go online without seeing an ad for some new AI service. You can’t go on social media without seeing some new AI-generated video that makes you fear for the film industry. But, the people making that possible might be stepping back a bit.
Major companies could be losing faith in AI
It’s money that makes the world go around, and it’s what makes your chatbot so smart. In case you don’t know, AI is an extremely expensive technology to nurture. It costs money to train models, run data centers, secure GPUs, and so on. If you’re looking to make an AI start-up, you’ll need some major investors.
Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon among many others have been investing billions in AI start-ups to make the dream of AGI (artificial general intelligence) materialize. So, why are these investments slowing down?
The 2024 report from Standford University’s Institution for Human-Centered AI revealed something a bit surprising. Investments in AI have been dropping year-over-year. According to the report, the peak of investments was actually a year before the big AI boom. The report (via GIZMONDO) 2021 AI saw investments of about $337 billion. That fell more than $100 billion to $234 billion in 2022. This was the year of the AI boom, so you’d expect the numbers to soar in the next year. However, that’s not the case. In 2023, investments dropped around $40 billion.
Even with the potential of generative AI, companies still seem to be wary of the technology. AI has infected just about every tech and creative industry on the planet, there’s a ton of money to be made… right?
The dream of AI is just that… a dream
“The count of billion-dollar investments has slowed and is all but over,” Garter analyst John-David Lovelock told TechCrunch earlier this year. Companies are investing in AI start-ups, but the age of $13 billion investments like we saw with Microsoft and OpenAI might be gone. Why?
Well, why did these companies invest in AI in the first place? They’re pouring money into the technology because it has the potential to be a massive moneymaker. It has POTENTIAL. It shows all of the signs, and companies are hopeful. However, the fact of the matter is that no one really knows what’s going to happen with AI technology. We’re still in the early stages of generative AI development even though it’s been in production for years. AI employees, companies, and investors are all dreaming of a world where AI is spitting out money like a broken slot machine. Well, guess what, that’s a dream.
Money void
AI is a gigantic money void. Companies invest a ton of money into it in the hopes that it will turn a profit in the future. However, it seems that the journey to a profit is taking longer than expected. If you’ve invested $5 billion in a company, and it’s still not turning a profit, then you’re less likely to invest that much again.
Companies are starting to realize that AI isn’t going to start making money soon. Several of the AI companies offer their services for monthly subscriptions. That’s a model that needs millions, if not hundreds of millions of customers to see some sort of return depending on how much money you’ve invested in a company. Disney+, with more than 200 million users still struggled to make a profit. It still might not have turned a profit yet.
Investors don’t know when/if AI technology will be a cash cow tomorrow; what they know is that they’re burning a ton of money today. Companies are losing faith and money over AI.
As if anyone’s surprised, it’s also about accuracy
There are reasons why you shouldn’t trust everything that AI produces. There are people who use AI to spread misinformation, but AI can spread it on its own sometimes. The thing is that AI hallucinations are still a pretty big issue in the AI space, and that’s something that companies are looking at. This is another reason why companies are losing faith in AI.
AI hallucinations are when an AI model basically makes up information. You’d get responses with no rhyme or reason. It’s still one of the main problems holding AI technology back. General users are losing faith in the technology because of this. Along with general users, major companies are also slowing down their development because of this.
According to a recent study from Lucidworks (via Reuters), manufacturers are starting to get pretty wary about AI technology because of the accuracy issues. Earlier this year, the company surveyed 2,500 leaders who have a say in AI. About 58% of those leaders planned to increase spending on AI. That’s a massive drop from the 93% from last year. Back in 2023, the world was still getting a feel for what AI had to offer, and companies were still trying to get in as early as possible.
Now, companies are starting to see the true cost of AI. Not only that, but they’re starting to see just how badly AI can mess up. 44% of the manufacturing respondents expressed some sort of concern over AI accuracy.
So, these companies are holding onto their dollar bills just a little bit tighter.
What does this mean?
It’s tough to say what this means for the AI industry as a whole. Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are going to continue dumping gallons of green into their AI machines. OpenAI has probably the most popular AI tool on the market, Google has been an AI company for years before ChatGPT, and Microsoft is still going crazy over AI. However, it seems that the rest of the industry is starting to lose some of the hype for AI.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the almighty dollar. It depends on how much money companies are still willing to spend on AI technology.
Maybe the money that companies were investing is like Meta Threads’ user base. Remember when Threads was new? Its user base shot up to over 100 million within a week. Then, as people started to learn more about the app and what it was missing, its user base dropped. After Meta made improvements and added features, people started to rejoin.
Well, this might be what we could see with AI spending. During the initial period when ChatGPT was wowing the world, everyone jumped on board and wrote giant checks to fund this revolutionary new technology. However, after learning a bit more about the costs associated and the AI inaccuracies, they’re backing off. Well, as AI technology gets better, who knows if we’ll see investments pick up again?
Right now, it’s anyone’s guess. Companies ar losing faith in AI, and that doesn’t bode well for it. For all we know, this could be the start of the slow heat death of AI technology.
Still arguably the best Android TV device on the market, the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, even though it came out way back in 2019. The NVIDIA SHIELD TV is on sale at Amazon during Prime Day for only $124.99. That’s a savings of $25 off of the regular price. The SHIELD TV rarely gets discounted, and this does bring it back down to an all-time low.
If you’re interested in the NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro, good news there as that model is also discounted – now $169. Both are really good options. The main difference between the two is going to be RAM and storage. 2GB of RAM and 8GB of storage on the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, while the Pro model gets 3GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. If you plan on using it as a Plex server, or have a lot of streaming apps installed, its worth it to get the “Pro”.
The NVIDIA SHIELD TV is a great Android TV device for a number of reasons. Firstly, it’s pretty powerful and has 8GB of internal storage. That might not sound like a lot, but it is double what the Chromecast with Google TV actually has. It also supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision, provided that your TV and the content you’re playing support them.
Inside, NVIDIA uses its own processor, which is pretty powerful for Android TV. Which is why they also made it a gaming console. Of course, you can play some Android TV games on this one. But NVIDIA also has its cloud streaming gaming service, GeForce NOW, available here. So you can play thousands of titles and nearly 100 of the biggest free-to-play games on the SHIELD TV Pro. This also includes using the RTX 3080 membership of GeForce Now.
We also can’t forget that this also has Google Assistant built-in. It is giving you access to voice control here. That means that you are able to control your TV by using your voice, which is a really nice addition here. The remove is also a triangular shape this year, so it’s harder to get lost on the couch. But it also has a Find My Remote feature, so that it will ring when you can’t find it. Now, that is pretty slick.
The Eletrolar Show, Latin America’s largest electronics trade show, is set to dazzle attendees with the latest in tech innovation from July 15th to 18th, 2024. This year, Ulefone joins the impressive lineup, showcasing their innovative rugged devices.
Held annually in the vibrant heart of Brazil, the Eletrolar Show is a hub for global innovators, tech enthusiasts, and industry professionals. It’s where the future of electronics is unveiled, and this year is no exception. With a focus on “All-scenario Connection,” Ulefone is excited to be a part of this prestigious event, bringing its rugged smartphones, tablets, and regular smartphone, tabs to the forefront of tech advancements.
As a first-time participant in Latin America, Ulefone is eager to demonstrate its commitment to quality and innovation. The bustling exhibition halls are a testament to the growing interest in Ulefone’s rugged solutions, as audiences crowd around to learn more about the brand’s offerings. Ulefone’s booth is a testament to their dedication to durability and performance, with live demonstrations of their devices in extreme conditions. The stomp and drop test zone further demonstrates the robustness and durability of the products, highlighting the brand’s unwavering commitment to quality. And it welcomes the audiences for a firsthand experience of night vision or thermal imaging.
At the booth, Ulefone showcases its latest products, including the 5G Armor 27 Pro Series and Armor 25T Series rugged phones. The Armor 26 Ultra Walkie-talkie Version, with dual-band VHF and UHF capabilities, ensures seamless communication in both urban and wild environments. The Note 18 Ultra marks Ulefone’s entry into the 5G era, offering advanced connectivity. In the tablet sector, Ulefone introduces the Armor Pad 3 Pro and Armor Pad 4 Ultra, elevating its rugged tablet technology to new heights. Additionally, the Ulefone standard tablet series ‘Tab Series’ is also worth your attention.
But the star of the show, Armor 25T, attributed to its most affordable price with thermal imaging camera and high configuration. Equipped with a 50MP main camera, and supported by a mega 1/1.31-inch sensor, every shot is sharp and detailed. And for those nocturnal moments, the 64MP night vision camera, illuminated by two powerful infrared LEDs and driven by OMNIVISION’s OV64B sensor and Ulefone’s NightElf Ultra 3.0 algorithm, turns the night into your canvas, painting with light and clarity.
Adding to its impressive camera suite, the Armor 25T integrates a cutting-edge thermal imaging sensor. And it boasts a robust and energy-efficient 6nm SoC, the MediaTek Helio G99. It supports up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2TB. A 6.78-inch Full HD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while a massive 6500mAh battery with 33W fast charging and 30W wireless charging.
Ulefone invites you to join them at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil, at Hall G, Booth E50. Discover the Armor 25T and other innovative devices, and explore the future of rugged technology.
The Google Maps app on iOS is getting Live Activities support for more users. The first tests of the feature were reported in April. Now, more people are receiving it, but it’s still not a massive rollout.
In 2023, Google announced that its Google Maps app for iOS would receive Live Activities support. Since then, the feature has been a long time coming, with a limited-scope test taking place a few months ago. However, the latest developments suggest that the wide rollout will take place this year. In recent weeks, more Google Maps users on iOS have been seeing Live Activities on their iPhone lockscreen.
Live Activities reaching more Google Maps users on iOS; massive rollout still pending
The latest reports are more abundant compared to those from April. That said, the feature seems to still be in the testing stage since not everyone has received it. Maybe Google refined some things after previous tests and now wants to analyze its reception among a broader user base.
Apple launched the Live Activities feature with the iOS 16 update. It can display real-time updates about a supported app or service on your lockscreen using a kind of widgets. This avoids having to open the app or unlock the phone to use certain functions. For example, you can follow the progress of a match in your favorite sport.
In the case of the Maps app, Live Activities are used for navigation. The “widget” shows both the directions to take as you drive and the estimated time of arrival at your destination. Google Maps offers something similar on Android via a notification. Now, it seems that soon iOS users will be able to enjoy this useful feature as well.
There is still no official information about the final rollout of Live Activities in the Google Maps app for iOS. However, since Google expanded the scope of testing, it seems to be closer than ever.
