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Topic: Android

The new earthquake alert system from Google works on Android phones in India notifying them whenever there are tremors. Space 

Reasons Behind Android’s Earthquake Alert System Failure in India

Adarsh V.K,

Tuesday’s big earthquake was the perfect way to test the new Android earthquake alert system in India this week. The incident was reported in Nepal at around 14:51 IST and ideally the alarm should have beeped but no one got the notification on their Android phone. So why didn’t Google warn users about the earthquake today? This is because the alert system is not supported in India as of now, although Google officially shared an update about its availability in the country last week. You can access the earthquake alert…

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The Android Earthquake Alerts System has been made available to all Android users in India with Android version 5 and higher. Space 

A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Google Earthquake Alerts on Your Smartphone

Adriana Marais,

US tech giant Google recently launched Android Earthquake Alerts on Android smartphones in India. This system is already operational in many countries around the world and provides early earthquake warnings to people when the tremors begin. “Our alerts are easy to read and follow, and available in Indian languages supported by Android. With this release, we aim to provide Android users with automatic early warning notifications when an earthquake occurs in their area,” Google wrote in a blog post. Earthquakes are one of the most common natural disasters in the…

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Attorneys general and consumers from 37 states alleged that Google held an unfair monopoly on Android devices. Gaming 

US Antitrust Investigation of Google’s Play Store Dominance Concludes with Tentative Settlement

Adriana Marais, , , ,

Google has reached a preliminary agreement with a group of attorneys general who filed a lawsuit in 2021 accusing the company of abusing its control over Android app distribution through the Google Play store. The officials alleged that Google was using its monopoly power to unlawfully maintain its dominance, citing that 90 percent of app sales occurred through Google Play. Bloomberg has reported that the case has been referred to a judge who, if satisfied, can approve the settlement and dismiss the ongoing legal battle. This is a strategic move…

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Google is changing the Android logo again in 2023 to "better represent" the Android community. Here's what you can expect from Android's branding moving forward. News 

Google Gives Android Logo and Bugdroid a Makeover to ‘Complement’ Brand

Adriana Marais, ,

Google’s Android operating system is famous for its quirky marketing and iconic green bugdroid robot. The operating system’s branding has changed a few times over the years, and will change again in 2023 to “better” represent the Android community. Google says that the Android brand has been updated a few times to modernize the look and feel. In 2019, they simplified the Android wordmark and got rid of desert naming conventions like Android Lollipop and Oreo. “Every time we renew our brand, we evaluate not only changing needs but also…

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Google's quarterly feature drop brings useful accessibility features and more to Android. News 

Android Logo Gets a Makeover with 3D Bugdroid

Adriana Marais,

The release of Android 14 is just around the corner, but before Google unveils the highly anticipated mobile operating system alongside its newest Pixel devices, the company has unveiled an updated Android logo. Jason Fournier, director of consumer brand management at Android, wrote in a blog post that the company wanted the bugdroid to “look as dynamic as Android itself.” By revamping the look of the mascot’s entire body, we hope to make it easier for the bugdroid to look consistent in both digital and real environments. The updated bugdroid…

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September will be a busy month for smartphone launches as we will see a slew of new releases—ranging from the new iPhone 15 models to new value flagships like Honor 90. News 

September Set To Be A Bustling Month For Smartphone Releases Including iPhone 15 and Honor 90

Sanjay Patil, , ,

September, commonly referred to as “Tekku” by the tech community on the internet, is typically a month full of new smartphones, led by the likes of new iPhones every year. This year seems to be no exception, with several new releases per month – from the new iPhone 15 models to new flagships like the Honor 90. After releases seen in August, such as Samsung’s flagship Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, September begins with the release of the iPhone 15 models on September 12. Now let’s take a…

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Android users were complaining about slow app launches so Google decided to bring a new Android Runtime (ART) update to make the app start 30 per cent faster. News 

Google Utilizing Technique to Make Android Devices Quicker Than iPhones

Adriana Marais,

The American technology giant Google improves the launch speed of applications on Android devices. The Google Play System Update to Android Runtime (ART) brings better performance, security fixes, and consistent core APIs to millions of devices, including Android 12+. The upcoming update will soon be available for the Go version as well. For those unfamiliar with Android Runtime, it is the engine behind the Android operating system (OS). ART makes applications and operating system services more efficient. ART processes the Java and Kotlin code that makes the applications work. When…

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New Android find my device upgrade is offering enhanced tracking and safety features. (Pexels) News 

Find My Device App on Android Set to Receive Major Upgrade for Securely Tracking Anything Anywhere

Febin Mathew

A significant improvement to the Find My Device network could make losing your Android phone less troublesome in the near future. Presently, activating Find My Device allows you to view your phone’s most recent location on a map, but this is only possible when the phone is connected to the internet and has location services enabled. Extended compatibility A future update will remove these restrictions. Not only does it work with devices like Android phones and Wear OS watches, but it also includes Bluetooth trackers from popular brands like Tile,…

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Android smartphones could soon get an eSIM transfer feature through Google Play Services. (Pixabay) News 

Android Smartphones Get Google’s eSIM Transfer Tool

Adriana Marais,

Over the past few years, there has been a surge in the popularity of embedded SIM or eSIM. Initially utilized in smartwatches, this technology is now being integrated into smartphones by manufacturers. In fact, Apple took a step further last year by making the iPhone 14 exclusively compatible with eSIM in the United States, completely eliminating the physical SIM slot. While utilizing an eSIM offers various benefits, such as the capacity to store multiple profiles, it can be perplexing when it comes to transferring your SIM card to another device.…

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eSIM transfer between Android phones is expected to soon become easy as Google works on a QR code-based system. Here's what we know. News 

QR Codes to Enable eSIM Transfer on Android Devices: Report

Adarsh V.K, ,

eSIMs have become increasingly popular with OEMs and more people are starting to adopt them – especially when it comes to their second SIM card. and now that iPhones in the US no longer have physical SIM slots and offer native eSIM migration, the need to have a better eSIM experience on Android phones out of the box as well. And that’s exactly what Google seems to be doing with Android. As reported by 9to5Google, Google itself is working on an eSIM migration feature built into Android. Although it was…

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New Android malware employs stealthy tactics to slip past security measures, raising concerns about phone safety. (Pixabay) News 

Study Uncovers Significant Risk of Android Malware Evading Antivirus Detection

Adarsh V.K,

Zimperium, a mobile security firm, has discovered a troubling pattern in Android malware, as revealed in a recent study. These harmful applications are employing a clever technique to evade detection by antivirus software, posing a significant threat to your phone’s security and potentially enabling data theft. Hackers are always trying to find ways to get their malicious apps onto your phone, and the latest trick they’re using involves Android malware that can hide from even the best antivirus apps. According to a Tom’s Guide report, this malware uses a new…

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Android versions 10 to 13 face the security risk which could allow hackers complete control of the device. News 

CERT-In Issues Security Warning To Millions Of Android Users In India

Adarsh V.K

If you are one of the million Android phone users in India, the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an important security warning that needs to be taken seriously. The very serious warning issued by the security agency does not apply to just one but several versions of Android, including older ones. The post was published earlier this month. The warning states that the vulnerability could allow attackers to access your phone, who could steal data or even take control of the device. “A number of vulnerabilities have been…

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Rahman claimed that the new "Link Your Devices" menu will appear under Settings > Google > Devices & Sharing once the feature officially rolls out. News 

Android Could Get Google’s Version of Apple’s Device-Linking Feature

Adriana Marais,

Google is reportedly planning to introduce a new Android feature that will allow users to connect their different Android devices, similar to Apple’s Continuity feature. According to Android expert Mishaal Rahman, the feature could allow Android devices logged into the same Google account to communicate with each other. “You may soon be able to ‘link your [Android] devices’ that are signed in to the same Google Account. This will enable ‘call switching’, which allows you to switch between devices for calls, as well as ‘internet sharing,’” Rahman wrote on X…

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Android Spyware App: The LetMeSpy app's website notice reveals that the breach involved unauthorized access to their database. News 

Hackers Force Shutdown of Android Spyware App After Deleting Server Data

Sanjay Patil

The increase in hacking and cyber attacks worldwide is becoming clear. Recently, a major hacking attack has caused major damage to a well-known Android application. Interestingly, this app is actually a spyware with a controversial business model. Known as LetMeSpy, this app has been shut down due to a breach. Poland-based LetMeSpy announced on its website that it was officially shutting down due to a data breach that wiped out its servers. The announcement, available in both English and Polish, confirms the “permanent shutdown” of the app. A notice on…

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Just make sure no one in your group has opted out before sharing any big secrets. News 

Google Announces End-to-End Encryption for All Group RCS Chats

Adriana Marais, ,

Google has recently declared that end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is now automatically enabled by default for all group chats utilizing RCS in its Android and Wear OS Messages app. This implementation aims to safeguard your conversations from unauthorized access, ensuring that only the group members can view your messages. However, it is important to note that sharing screenshots or displaying your phone to others nearby may compromise the privacy of your chats, which is beyond the control of this encryption feature. Google notes that RCS is now enabled by default for…

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The feature brings another way to communicate on the expanding platform. News 

WhatsApp Introduces Ability to Join and Leave Group Voice Calls

Jim Hendler,

WhatsApp introduced several updates last year to enhance the user experience of sending voice messages. Now, the messaging app has launched a beta version of voice chats, allowing for ongoing group audio conversations. Initially referred to as audio chats, this feature was first discovered earlier this year, although limited information was available at the time. Although it sounds similar, this update isn’t exactly the same as starting a group call, and gives a much more discord feel than when you normally call your friends. Everyone who received the update should…

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Say goodbye to the chunky download bar at the bottom of your desktop window. News 

Google Chrome Enhances Mobile Search and Streamlines Desktop Downloading

Adriana Marais, ,

Google has announced updates for Chrome on mobile and desktop that aim to enhance integration and efficiency. The new mobile features aim to improve the search process, while Chrome for desktop is simplifying the way users download and access web files. In the Chrome mobile version, the new web page should now show a category called “Rising Searches”, and when you type, the previous ten will appear instead of the top six. Likewise, let’s say you’re on a site about the best pizza places in New York. If you click…

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Get ready to relax while you move house. Gaming 

Zen Puzzle Game ‘Unpacking’ Launches on Android and iOS on August 24th

Febin Mathew, ,

Unpacking, the game that revolves around the calming activity of unpacking cardboard boxes, is set to release on iOS and Android on August 24th, as confirmed by Humble Games and Witch Beam. The iOS version is available for pre-order at $10 starting today. Although the game initially debuted on consoles and PCs in 2021, it could still be a worthwhile experience for those unfamiliar with the concept. Unpacking is basically a hybrid puzzle and home decoration game. You have to find a place for things when the invisible person moves…

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An investigation suggests the safety measure didn't work for the first quake. Space 

Turkey’s Android Earthquake Warning System Ineffective, BBC Reports

Adarsh V.K, ,

According to BBC investigators, Google’s earthquake warning system for Android, which is designed to issue timely alerts for people to seek safety, may not have functioned as intended during the recent earthquake in Turkey on February 6th. The investigators found that none of the hundreds of individuals they interviewed in three Turkish cities received any alerts prior to the initial tremor. Additionally, only a small group of people received an alert for a subsequent tremor, as stated by the investigators. We asked Google for comment. Product manager Micah Berman tells…

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Android Stalkerware Spyhide has targetted 60,000 phones worldwide. (Bloomberg) News 

Is Your Android Phone at Risk of Being Compromised by Stalkerware? Learn How to Remove It if Infected

Jim Hendler

According to a report from TechCrunch, a dangerous stalkerware app called Spyhide has successfully infected around 60,000 Android phones since 2016. Unlike typical hacking apps that send stolen data to cybercriminals, Spyhide covertly collects private information and transmits it back to the individuals who are using it to monitor their targets. This has resulted in tens of thousands of Android users falling victim to this malicious software. An alarming discovery The real danger lies in stalkerware’s ability to remain hidden on compromised phones, making detection and removal challenging. After installation,…

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