Wear OS 5 Developer Preview has two new features Google didn’t tell us about

• Wear OS 5 will bring the long-awaited grid-based app launcher to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2.
• Many Wear OS smartwatches already offer a grid view for their app launcher, but this feature isn’t part of the stock Wear OS experience.
• Wear OS 5 will also add the privacy dashboard feature from Android 12.

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During Google I/O 2024, Google unveiled a ton of updates to the Android operating system, including a new version of its wearable platform. Wear OS 5 will be coming later this year, so in preparation for its release, Google shared a preliminary Developer Preview build that offers early access to the platform’s new features and APIs. While we were exploring the first Wear OS 5 Developer Preview build, we discovered that it has several new features not mentioned in Google’s blog post announcing the update.

The first of these features is a new grid-based app launcher, a feature we previously spotted and enabled in Wear OS 4. The Wear OS 5 Developer Preview adds a grid view for the app launcher that you can toggle by going to Settings > General > App view or by scrolling down to the bottom of the app list. The previous list-based app launcher is still provided as an option, of course.

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iPhone 16 takes shape, display production reportedly starts next month

Credit: Gary Sims / Android Authority

• Apple reportedly plans to start display production for the iPhone 16 series in June.
• The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are projected to have the highest volume of production.

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We’re nearly halfway through the year now, which means we’re that much closer to the launch of the iPhone 16. Everything seems to be on schedule as display production will reportedly start soon.

In a tweet limited to subscribers, display analyst Ross Young claimed that Apple will start screen production for the iPhone 16 series in June. Young added that the base model and the iPhone 16 Pro are projected to have the highest volume of production among the four incoming models.

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AT&T reaches for the stars with satellite-based cell service

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have signed a commercial agreement to provide space-based cellular broadband service.
• This service aims to eliminate mobile dead zones and provide seamless connectivity even in remote locations.
• Both companies have already tested the technology, enabling calls and texts between standard smartphones via satellite.

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AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have announced a formal commercial agreement to develop a space-based cellular broadband network. This ambitious venture aims to provide direct-to-cell phone service, bypassing traditional cell towers and potentially ensuring seamless communication across the continental United States, even in remote or challenging locations.

The companies have been working together since 2018 and have now formally entered an agreement till 2030. AST SpaceMobile is preparing to send its first five commercial satellites to Cape Canaveral for launch into low Earth orbit. Notably, in 2023, the companies achieved industry firsts by facilitating a voice call, text message, and even a video call between regular smartphones using their space-based connectivity technology.

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Google Messages Nudges could be coming back

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• Google temporarily removed nudges/reminders from Google Messages.
• The removal allowed developers to redesign the conversation screen.
• A flag spotted in Google Messages suggests the feature is coming back with support for the redesigned screen.

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A while back, it was reported that Google was removing the “Nudge” feature from Messages. Now it appears the tech giant is preparing to bring the feature to the app.

Nudges were first introduced in 2018 as a function for Gmail before expanding out to Google Messages in 2021. In Messages, the feature would prompt you to reply to messages and encourage you to follow up on outgoing messages by pushing unfinished conversations to the top of your conversations list. The feature was also used to remind users about birthdays if a date was stored in the contacts app.

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Android’s Photo Picker will finally let you search your gallery

• Android’s Photo Picker will support local and cloud search later this year.
• Currently, Android’s Photo Picker only sorts your gallery via albums, which you can’t even search through.
• This update was announced at Google I/O 2024, Google’s annual developer conference.

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Your phone’s gallery has a lot of personal and sensitive content that you probably don’t want random people to have access to. Unfortunately, a lot of apps request access to your entire media gallery even though they might only need access to one or two items to do their job. Google created the Photo Picker API in Android 13 to solve this problem. The Photo Picker lets users choose exactly which media items to share with an app, making it more private by design. However, many developers have chosen to not use Android’s Photo Picker for various reasons.

One reason that many developers eschewed the Photo Picker is that it’s missing a lot of features compared to the older system file picker it’s replacing. One of those features — cloud media support — was finally added not too long ago, meaning users can finally select media from their Google Photos libraries. But there’s still one more issue with the Photo Picker that cloud media integration only exacerbated: the lack of search.

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Google says Chrome OS on Android was, sadly, just a fun proof of concept

• Google has confirmed that its project to run Chrome OS alongside Android was just a fun proof of concept.
• The company needed something to demonstrate the enhanced virtualization capabilities of Android 15, so they used Chrome OS.
• This is unfortunate, because many people were excited about the possibility of turning their phone into a portable Chromebook.

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Earlier this week, we broke the news on an exciting new Google project that we uncovered: Ferrochrome. Ferrochrome is a special build of Chromium OS, the open source version of Chrome OS, that’s designed to run in a virtual machine alongside Android. In essence, this project would let you run Chrome OS on Android devices. We even managed to get it running on an actual Pixel phone! Sadly, Google confirmed to me that this project was basically just a fun proof of concept.

For a bit of context, I reported earlier this week that Google demonstrated Chromium OS running in a virtual machine on a Pixel 8 at a “privately held event.” This “privately held event”, from what I was told, was a conference where Google showed off the latest capabilities of the Android platform to its closest Android partner companies. At the event, Google talked about the latest virtualization features in Android 15, and they capped things off by showing a demo of a Pixel 8 projecting Chromium OS onto an external monitor.

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Pixel 9 series will debut a more powerful version of Gemini Nano

 

• The Pixel 9 series will be the first to get an upgraded version of Gemin Nano.
• The new AI model will feature multimodal capabilities, with the ability to process images, sounds, and spoken language.
• Google says the improved Gemini Nano needs more powerful hardware to run.

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Google I/O has officially kicked off with a ton of new announcements about its current and future AI plans. A key reveal from the keynote focused on Google’s imminent flagship range, the Pixel 9 series, and its new AI capabilities. The company has confirmed that the upcoming Pixels will be the first to sport an upgraded version of Gemini Nano with multimodal capabilities.

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Cash savings available on the 2024 iPads ahead of release

If you’re not too hung up on the color, you can already catch some straight cash discounts on the 2024 Apple iPad lineup. The savings available are modest, but it’s very rare to see any type of price drop on top-tier tech before it even hits the shelves.

The 11-inch iPad Air is 5% off at $569.99, but only in the Space Gray and purple colorways. If you’re more keen on the 13-inch model, the same $29 markdown is available on the Space Gray and blue hues. Both deals relate to the base 128GB variants of the tablet.

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Motorola banned from selling smartphones in major EU market

Credit: Adam Birney / Android Authority

• Motorola and Lenovo devices have been banned in Germany following a patent dispute.
• The companies must cease selling all smartphones and laptops WWAN modules enabling wireless internet connectvity.
• Only third-party retailers are selling affected Motorola and Lenovo devices right now, possibly till stocks last.

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A German district court has ordered a sweeping sales ban on Lenovo and Motorola devices in the country. Motorola, a subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Lenovo, is now prohibited from selling all of its phones that have a WWAN or Wireless Wide Area Network module that powers mobile internet access via cellular networks. That means all Moto phones, including the latest Edge 50 lineup, will not be available to purchase in Germany.

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OpenAI expected to announce major ChatGPT updates today: How to watch livestream

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• OpenAI will announce updates to ChatGPT and GPT 4 at its “Spring Updates” event today.
• The livestream for the announcements is set to start at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET).
• The company is reportedly working on a ChatGPT-powered search engine and a new multimodal assistant.

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As expected, OpenAI is all set to make some important ChatGPT and GPT 4 announcements later today. The company has scheduled a “Spring Updates” livestream on its own website for 10 AM PT (1 PM ET).

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Using Google Wallet on a super-old Android phone? It’s time to upgrade.

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• Google has quietly updated its support page to note new Google Wallet requirements.
• The payment app now requires Android 9 Pie or later, and Wear OS 2.x or later.
• This means you might want to upgrade your phone or watch if it’s very old.

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Google Wallet is the company’s first-party payment solution on Android phones and watches, allowing you to quickly make payments via NFC and store passes/tickets. Unfortunately, it looks like Google is phasing out support for super-old phones and watches.

9to5Google spotted an official support page that reveals Google Wallet will require Android 9 Pie or higher on Android. Furthermore, Wallet on smartwatches will require Wear OS 2.x or later. This new requirement goes into effect from June 10, 2024.

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The best Chromecast alternative is a streaming box many of us can’t buy

Credit: Walmart

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

For the first time in a while now, I find my consumerist self jealous of not living in the US. The reason? Walmart, and more specifically, the latest Walmart Google TV streaming box. The new onn 4K Pro box is, by far, one of the most exciting Google TV streamers launched in recent years and one of the best Chromecast alternatives out there. The only problem is that it’s available in the US, and… well, that’s it. We won’t be getting it in Europe or other countries either.

Walmart’s new onn box caught my eye ever since the first leaks started. Contrary to previous onn sticks and streaming devices, this one was clearly not aiming for the very low-end $20 market. Instead, it seemed packed to the brim with features and specs that just made me look sideways at my 4K Chromecast and sigh, “Why not you?”

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OpenAI could announce new multimodal assistant to directly take on Google

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• On Monday, OpenAI is holding an event that could see an announcement about a new multimodal digital assistant.
• Being multimodal would allow the assistant to use images for prompts, such as identifying and translating a sign in the real world.
• This would be a direct threat against Google’s digital assistants, namely Google Assistant and the newer Gemini.

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Over the past few weeks, the rumor mill has been churning, suggesting that OpenAI — the company responsible for ChatGPT — could soon launch an AI-powered search engine, which would be a direct threat to Google’s core business. Given how prominent ChatGPT has become in such a short time, this would represent the first real threat to Google Search in decades.

However, it’s looking less likely that OpenAI has a search engine on the way (via The Information). Instead, new rumors suggest that OpenAI’s scheduled event on Monday could see the company announcing a multimodal digital assistant. While not a traditional search engine, it would still allow people to search for things using the power of AI, so it would still be a significant threat to Google.

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These are the best new streaming shows this week: Bodkin, Blood of Zeus, and more

We have an exciting list of shows for you, from supernatural Korean dramas and reality television revolving around strange houses to spooky true-crime dramas set in coastal Ireland. Get ready to explore brand-new shows and returning titles as we answer the question: What are the new streaming shows this week? And where can we watch them?

This list is updated every week, so you never run out of binge-worthy options for the weekend. 

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Xiaomi Mi Band 9 wishlist: All the features I want to see

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (a.k.a. the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 in Europe) has an incredibly long list of features considering it costs under $50, which we currently recommend for budget shoppers in our best fitness tracker guide. Every year the next Mi Band arrives bringing further refinements to the series, often delivering features previously reserved for much more expensive devices. Although we still have plenty of time before a new model, here’s my wishlist for what I’d like to see next year from the Xiaomi Mi Band 9.

A hardware back button

The Mi Band 8’s entire UI is navigated through touch, which can be a bit tricky with such a small display. I’d wager this is mostly about cutting costs, but it’s also likely at least a little bit about sticking with the Mi Band’s very barebones, minimalist philosophy. Still, a physical back button would make navigating the UI significantly easier, even if it might add a tiny bit of bulk over the current model and would clutter up the design slightly.

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The Pixel Watch’s battery full notification has mysteriously disappeared

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

• The Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 send a notification to your phone once it is done charging.
• Users are reporting that they are no longer seeing this fully charged notification.
• Some are even saying that they never had the feature in the first place.

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Back in November 2023, Google quietly rolled out a feature to the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2. The feature would tell an owner that their smartwatch was done charging via phone notification. It was a highly requested feature, which is why its seemingly sudden disappearance is so unfortunate.

Some Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2 owners have started to notice they are no longer receiving the battery full notification. One of our own writers also reports that they have not seen the notification in the last few weeks. If that wasn’t enough, there’s even an entire thread on Google’s community page full of owners who claim the same or report never seeing the notification in the first place.

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Google just patched a zero-day Chrome exploit, update your browser asap

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• A zero-day exploit was discovered in Chrome and has now been patched.
• The security vulnerability appears to be a “user after free” flaw.
• The fix is currently available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

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If you’re someone who uses Google Chrome as your browser of choice, or a Chromium-based browser, you’ll want to make sure you’re running on the latest update. Google has just released a patch that fixes a serious zero-day vulnerability.

First reported by Bleeping Computer, Google has released a note about a stable channel update for Chrome. The note in question says that the company is “aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-4671 exists in the wild.” This vulnerability is a high-severity issue that has been classified as a “user after free” vulnerability.

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T-Mobile delays free internet loophole fix after running into a problem

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• T-Mobile was planning to roll out address verification for existing Home Internet subscribers on May 8.
• The company has now delayed those plans for “later this year.”
• It has also delayed the launch of its new Away plan.

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After discovering that its customers were taking advantage of a loophole to access its Home Internet service while traveling, T-Mobile announced a fix would be coming. The fix was scheduled to roll out on May 8, but the company has now postponed it.

On May 8, it was expected that T-Mobile would send out notifications to Home Internet subscribers announcing a crackdown on using the service while on the go. Specifically, the crackdown would enforce address verification on gateways, so customers would no longer be able to take their 5G gateway with them on travel to access free internet without penalty. As an alternative, the company was planning to offer a new Away plan for those who are frequently on the road.

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The Pixel 8a will soon support display output over USB-C

• Out of the box, the Pixel 8a won’t support mirroring its display when you connect it to an external monitor.
• However, in the upcoming June update, Google will add support for display output over USB-C.
• This capability will also come to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro soon.

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Since its inception, the Pixel lineup has omitted display output as a feature for reasons on which we can only speculate. However, Google finally changed gears with its Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro phones, which have hardware support for display output via their USB-C ports. Neither phone in the Pixel 8 series launched with display output enabled out of the box, though. Instead, Google quietly enabled display output on the Pixel 8 in an Android beta update. Similarly, Google’s brand new Pixel 8a smartphone doesn’t ship with display output enabled out of the box, but this feature will likely be coming in next month’s software update.

The Google Pixel 8a, like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 chipset. Thus, it’s no surprise that all three phones share a lot of internal components, such as their USB controller. Although Google wired up the USB-C port on all three phones at the factory to support sending a DisplayPort Alternate Mode signal over a connected USB-C cable, the company disabled this capability using a software flag. The system property persist.vendor.usb.displayport.enabled is read by the USB initialization file for all Tensor G3-series devices, and if the property is set to 0, then DisplayPort Alternate Mode is disabled.

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WhatsApp gets major makeover, introduces new colors, icons, and better dark mode

Credit: WhatsApp

• WhatsApp is introducing a new color palette and updated icons, illustrations, and chat background.
• The Android app is getting a bottom navigation bar.
• A new attachment layout is coming to iOS.

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WhatsApp has seen numerous adjustments to its design over the years, with the last major change occurring in 2021. The company has now refreshed the app once again. While some of the changes have already rolled out to the iOS and Android app, there are some new changes as well.

Today, WhatsApp announced it is updating the appearance of its platform to help keep it looking fresh, simple, and approachable. To do this, the firm has applied a variety of changes, one of the most notable being a new color palette. Along with having a more consistent green palette, WhatsApp says they have also increased the usage of neutral colors, which it claims allows it to be more selective about where and how the green is used throughout the app.

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