WhatsApp will boost locked chats privacy and status updates with new features

Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority

• WhatsApp is working on extending its locked chats feature to linked devices.
• WhatsApp is also testing the ability to privately mention specific contacts in your status updates.

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WhatsApp, the widely-used messaging platform, is preparing to roll out some significant updates designed to optimize user privacy and engagement. WaBetaInfo discovered these features in recent beta builds of the app.

First off, WhatsApp is working on enhancing chat privacy by bringing its locked chats feature to linked devices. This feature was spotted in the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.24.8.4 update, which is available on the Google Play Store.

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Google Messages hints at satellite texting for more than just emergencies

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• Lines of code in the Google Messages app explain how satellite messaging will work.
• One line mentions “You can message with anyone, including emergency services.”
• The line suggests users will be able to use satellite messaging for more than just emergencies.

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Last month, we reported on seeing lines of code in the Google Messages app directly referencing satellite messaging. Those strings were followed by simpler strings that included the words “emergency” and “emergency demo,” which suggested that satellite messaging could be used for emergencies. Now new lines of code suggest satellite connectivity could be used for messaging anyone.

In an APK teardown, conducted by 9to5Google, lines of code that explain how satellite messaging will work in the Google Messages app were discovered in beta version 20240329_01_RC00. According to the outlet, these strings say:

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Android 15 prepares revamped status bar with new icons and haptics

• Google might be changing up the designs of status bar icons in Android 15.
• The design of these status bar icons hasn’t changed for a long time.
• The new OS may also add haptic feedback to the Quick Settings and volume panels.

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Thanks to the first two developer previews, we already have a good idea about what new features the upcoming Android 15 update may bring to the table. While it’s likely that Android 15 will bring a lot of new, useful features, it’s unlikely that it’ll also bring major UI changes. That’s not to say there won’t be any UI changes, though, as we previously reported that Android 15 may revamp the volume panel. In addition, we can now report that Google is working on revamping the status bar icons as well as adding haptic feedback to more parts of the system.

The status bar is one of the most recognizable parts of the Android OS, and its design hasn’t significantly changed over the years. It’s the UI element at the top of the screen that displays icons for various information. While the position of some status bar elements has shifted over the years to accommodate changes in phone design, the basic design of most status bar icons hasn’t changed in years. The icons for Wi-Fi signal strength, mobile data signal strength, and battery in Android 14 look very, very similar to the icons from Android 5.0 Lollipop released in 2014, if you can believe it.

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Apple may be forced to make a massive change to how iPhones handle photos

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• A comment made by European Commission head Margrethe Vestager could require Apple to do a massive rewriting of iOS.
• Vestager’s remark suggests that iPhone owners should be able to uninstall any app and change the default, including the Photos app.
• The Photos app is system-level software that’s integrated throughout the entire OS.

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The Digital Markets Act (DMA) has had major implications on how Apple’s products operate in the EU. For example, Apple was forced to give iPhone owners in the EU the ability to install and use third-party marketplaces on the platform. A recent remark from European Commission head Margrethe Vestager could now fundamentally change how iOS handles photos.

The European Commission recently published remarks from two of its leaders Margrethe Vestager and Thierry Breton in regards to noncompliance with the DMA. Spotted by Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, Vestager brings up how Apple has failed to fully comply with the regulation.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 series no longer eligible for monthly updates

Credit: Adamya Sharma / Android Authority

• Samsung has moved the Galaxy S20 series to its quarterly update schedule.
• The S20, S20 Plus, S20 Ultra, and S20 FE will no longer receive monthly security patches.
• The Galaxy Note 20 lineup will also now receive updates quarterly.

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Samsung has finally demoted the Galaxy S20 series to quarterly updates instead of monthly ones. This means that if you have a Galaxy S20, S20 Plus, S20 Ultra, or Galaxy S20 FE, you’ll no longer receive monthly security patches from Samsung. Instead, you’ll now get them once every three months.

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Google releases Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1 with extensive bug fixes

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• Google releases Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, delivering fixes for a wide range of bugs and glitches.
• The update addresses issues like launcher crashes, charging problems, app freezes, and more.

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Google continues its efforts to squash bugs in the latest Android 14 QPR3 (Quarterly Platform Release 3) with today’s rollout of Beta 2.1. This update focuses heavily on fixing a range of issues that have been plaguing the beta version of the operating system.

While a new major Beta 3 update is expected in a few weeks, Google is pushing an interim update to address numerous issues. These include frequent app crashes, charging problems on Pixel Tablets, glitches with screen navigation, and display errors, among others. Here’s a detailed list of all the bug fixes mentioned in the release notes:

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Samsung addresses screen burn-in issue with One UI 6.1 update

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

• One UI 6.1 has restored a burn-in prevention feature that was absent from One UI 6.
• The feature works by subtly shifting pixels to prevent permanent image retention.

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Samsung’s best smartphones are known for their beautiful OLED displays, and the new One UI 6.1 update introduces a key feature that should help extend their lifespan.

OLED displays, renowned for their vibrant visuals, are not without vulnerabilities. One such issue is screen burn-in, a phenomenon in which static images left on the screen for extended periods can cause permanent discoloration.

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Google agrees to ‘destroy’ data it collected to settle Incognito mode lawsuit

• Details are now emerging from Google’s settlement of a class-action lawsuit over Chrome’s tracking of Incognito mode users.
• The company has agreed to destroy “billions of data points” it improperly collected.
• Google will also update its data collection disclosures and maintain a setting in Chrome that blocks third-party cookies by default.

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Filed back in 2020, a class action lawsuit alleged that Chrome’s Incognito mode does not fully protect users from internet tracking. In December 2023, it was reported that the tech giant had agreed to settle the dispute rather than let the lawsuit go to court. Now new details about that settlement are starting to emerge.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Google has agreed to destroy “billions of data points” it inappropriately collected from people using Incognito mode. In addition, it will update data collection disclosures for the browser. The firm also agreed that it will maintain a setting in Chrome that blocks third-party cookies by default for the next five years.

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Motorola’s upcoming flagship flaunts its curves in latest leak

Credit: Evan Blass

• The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has shown up in what appear to be leaked marketing videos.
• The phone features a curved display panel, bucking the flat panel trend of current flagship phones.
• The device could launch on April 3 alongside the Motorola Edge 30 Pro.

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Motorola is possibly readying three new phones for an April 3 launch. The global launch event is being held for the first time in India and will introduce the company’s new Edge 50 lineup to the world. Motorola is heavily marketing the Edge 50 Pro right now, but the star of the show could be the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, a flagship phone sporting the new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform. This device could later launch in the US as the Edge Plus (2024).

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Samsung says ChatGPT-like AI smarts could come to Bixby

• Samsung may equip Bixby with Generative AI features.
• The company is “working hard” to deliver these new capabilities to its core digital assistant.
• Samsung says the update could “redefine the role of Bixby” on its devices.

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Samsung could smarten up Bixby with Generative AI abilities. The information comes from a high-ranking Samsung executive who confirmed the company’s plans to CNBC in an interview conducted last month.

“With the emergence of generative AI and LLM (large language model) technology, I believe that we have to redefine the role of the Bixby so that Bixby could be equipped with Generative AI and become more smarter in the future,” Won-joon Choi, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business told the media outlet.

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AT&T confirms data of 73 million customers leaked on dark web, investigation ongoing

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• AT&T has confirmed that data of 73 million existing and former customers has leaked on the dark web.
• The company has denied any breach of its systems.
• The carrier has also initiated a mass reset of customer account passcodes.

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On Saturday, AT&T confirmed that customer data of 73 million users has been leaked online. The compromised personal information includes social security numbers, AT&T account numbers and passcodes, and contact details of existing and previous customers.

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What is 5G Advanced and when will it release?

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Even though we’ve only just started taking 5G plans for granted, another cellular upgrade is already on its way. Dubbed 5G Advanced, the new technology promises not just faster data speeds, but also better reliability and power savings. And unlike 6G networks, the first smartphones with 5G Advanced support have already hit store shelves. So what exactly does the 5.5G or mid-generation 5G Advanced update mean for you and me? Let’s break it down.

What is 5G Advanced or 5.5G and why do we need it?

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Best deal yet on the Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus at $131 off

A holiday weekend has delivered a delicious new deal on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus, with the mid-range tablet dropping to $469 for the first time ever. We spotted that the $130 markdown is only available on the silver model of the device, which often indicates that you won’t have long to catch this record-low price.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus for $469 ($131 off)

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I wish Google would open up Fitbit to other smartwatches

Google Pixel Watch 2

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

Every time a new Wear OS watch is announced, I am intrigued. I have been using the platform for almost a decade now, and I like to try new watches to see what they offer in terms of features, comfort, battery life, and more. The OnePlus Watch 2, for example, really caught my eye with its excellent dual OS and dual-processor-enabled battery life.

But there’s one thing that holds me back from switching to OnePlus’s latest or Samsung’s excellent Galaxy Watch 6 series, and that’s Fitbit. See, I’ve been using Fitbit trackers for more than a decade now. All my stats are in there, all my patterns, my ups and downs, and my best and worst days. I’m used to the platform, I know how to interpret any day’s data because I know what my historical data is like. So I stick with my Pixel Watch 2, because it offers me the best of Fitbit inside a Wear OS watch. But what if — hear me out — Fitbit wasn’t a Pixel Watch exclusive anymore?

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I tested the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s terrible camera shutter lag and found a simple fix

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQNpVYoj0JA

About a month ago, I was attending MWC 2024 and I’d just gotten out of an FC Barcelona game. I was loitering around the Montjuic area when I decided to snap photos of the museum behind the Font Majica with my Galaxy S24 Ultra while the football crowds were dispersing. And I noticed something odd. For every good photo I would get, there were two or three bad shots with random people in them.

I was sure I was timing my shots perfectly, just like I always do with my Pixel phones. But almost every time I thought I had a clean photo without any crowds passing in front of the cam, well, I did… not. There was a face, a head, a bit of hair in the final image — just something to ruin the snap. This was not supposed to happen with one of the best camera phones out there, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra was clearly slow.

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Garmin Forerunner 255 vs 265: Which one should you buy?

To oversimplify, Garmin’s Forerunner 265 adds a fresh face to the already powerful Forerunner 255 feature set. Beyond their contrasting screens, the devices share many core features. In fact, many of the new generation’s software updates even roll back to the previous one, keeping the Garmin devices neck and neck. On the other hand, the 265 does pack a few important upgrades that differentiate the watch from its older sibling. Find out which fitness tracker is right for your wrist in this Garmin Forerunner 255 vs 265 comparison.

Garmin Forerunner 255 vs 265: At a glance

Garmin Forerunner 255 vs 265: Specs

	Garmin Forerunner 255/255S	Garmin Forerunner 265
Display	41mm: 1.1-inch MIP 218 x 218 resolution 46mm: 1.3-inch MIP 260 x 260 resolution	42mm: 1.1-inch AMOLED, optional always-on 360 x 360 resolution 46mm: 1.3-inch MIP 416 x 416 resolution
Dimensions and weight	41mm: 41 x 41 x 12.4mm 39g w/o strap Fits wrists 110-175mm 46mm: 45.6 x 45.6 x 12.9mm 49g w/o strap Fits wrists 130-205mm	42mm: 41.7 x 41.7 x 12.9mm 40 w/o strap Fits wrists 115-178mm 46mm: 46.1 x 46.1 x 12.9mm 46g w/o strap Fits wrists 135-205mm
Colors and materials	41mm: Color: Powder Gray or Light Pink Material: Gorilla Glass 3 display, Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, silicone strap 46mm: Color: Tidal Blue or Slate Gray Material: Gorilla Glass 3 display, Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, silicone strap	42mm: Color: Black/Amp Yello, Whitestone/Neo Tropic, or Light Pink/Powder Gray Material: Gorilla Glass 3 display, Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, silicone strap 46mm: Color: Whitestone/Tidal Blue, Black/Powder Gray, or Aqua/Black Material: Gorilla Glass 3 display, Fiber-reinforced polymer bezel, silicone strap
Battery	41mm Up to 12 days in smartwatch mode Up to 26 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode Up to 20 hours in All-Systems GNSS mode 46mm: Up to 14 days in smartwatch mode Up to 30 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode Up to 25 hours in All-Systems GNSS Mode	42mm: Up to 15 days in smartwatch mode Up to 24 hours GPS-only GNSS mode Up to 15 hours in All-Systems GNSS mode 46mm: Up to 13 days in smartwatch mode Up to 20 hours in GPS-only GNSS mode Up to 14 hours in All-Systems GNSS Mode
Sensors	GPS GLONASS GALILEO Multi-Frequency Positioning Garmin Elevate Barometric Altimeter Compass Gyroscope Accelerometer Thermometer Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor	GPS GLONASS GALILEO Multi-Frequency Positioning Garmin Elevate Barometric Altimeter Compass Gyroscope Accelerometer Thermometer Pulse Ox Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
Durability	5ATM	5ATM
Connectivity	NFC Bluetooth Wi-Fi	NFC Bluetooth Wi-Fi
Compatibility	Android and iOS	Android and iOS

The most important thing to know when comparing the Forerunner 255 vs 265 is that both are great fitness trackers. During our Forerunner 255 review, we felt the device significantly improved the Forerunner line with NFC support and upgraded sensors. Before it was outdone by the 265, we considered it the best midrange running watch you could buy.

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Android 15 could revamp the volume panel and make it collapsible

• Android 15 is preparing a big redesign of the volume panel that also makes it collapsible.
• Android’s volume panel lets you change the media, call, ringer, notification, and alarm volume.
• The volume panel’s UI is a few years old and doesn’t follow the latest Material Design guidelines.

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Back in 2021, Google released Material You, a major revamp to the company’s design language. Material You design elements were first incorporated into that year’s Android 12 release. Although Android’s current design hasn’t changed drastically since then, it has received minor tweaks in the few releases since. In the upcoming Android 15 release, Google is finally planning to revamp the system volume panel UI.

The volume panel appears when the user presses a volume key and then taps the three-dot menu at the bottom. The current design features five different sliders for each volume stream. From top to bottom, these include media, call, ring, notification, and alarm volume controls. A thin slider controls the level of each. Apart from the panel’s header, stream icons, and sliders, there are also buttons to open Android’s sound and vibration settings and dismiss the panel. Finally, if there’s any active media playback, a shortcut to open Android’s media output switcher will appear underneath the media volume slider.

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Google divulges that RCS on iPhones is coming towards the back half of this year

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• A new official Google Messages webpage affirms that iPhone RCS support is coming in the fall.
• Originally, Apple only committed to 2024, so this is a more specific timeframe.
• Given the timing, it’s likely we’d see this land in tandem with the iPhone 16 series.

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Late last year, Apple stunned the entire tech world by announcing it would support rich communication services (RCS) within iMessage at some point in 2024. The company has been mum on any further details since that announcement, but we finally have a small but useful update from a different source: Google.

On a new webpage dedicated to Google Messages (first spotted by 9to5Google), the company divulges that RCS messaging support for iPhones is coming “in the fall of 2024.” This is a bit more specific than just “next year,” which is all Apple said at the time of its initial announcement.

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Why do Pixels now get 7 years of updates? Google explains in new podcast episode.

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• In a new episode of the Made by Google podcast, a Google VP explains why the Pixel 8 series now gets seven years of software support.
• Interestingly, the company looked at how long the original Pixel stayed in active use, and seven years was the number it came away with.
• Google also explains how Tensor made the new update commitment possible.

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Earlier today, Google surprised us all by confirming that Gemini Nano support (i.e., on-device generative AI features) will come to the Pixel 8 after previously saying it would only come to the Pixel 8 Pro. That announcement came during a Made by Google podcast episode. But that’s not the only thing Google divulged during the episode (h/t 9to5Google).

Seang Chau, a VP at Google, talked at length about various aspects of the Pixel ecosystem. One tidbit divulged related to one of the biggest bits of news with the launch of the Pixel 8 series, which was that Google would support them for seven whole years. As it turns out, choosing seven years of time wasn’t arbitrary. It actually was a deliberate choice based on, of all things, the very first Google Pixel. Here’s Chau on it:

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Samsung is adding unlimited battery repairs to its Care Plus protection plans

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• Samsung Care Plus subscribers will be eligible for unlimited battery repairs for devices that exhibit a charging capacity below 79%.
• These battery repairs will be bundled into the existing benefits of Samsung Care Plus and Care Plus with Theft and Loss subscription tiers.
• The monthly subscription cost of both tiers is also increasing by $2, starting in May.

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Good news is coming for Galaxy device owners enrolled in the Samsung Care Plus program. Samsung is revamping its device protection program to offer subscribers unlimited battery repairs starting in May 2024.

Samsung Care Plus is a device protection program offering various plans to safeguard your Galaxy phone or tablet. New Galaxy buyers can sign up for the Care Plus program within 60 days of purchasing an eligible device. It goes beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty, providing unlimited repairs for drops, spills, and mechanical breakdowns, including $29 screen repairs and even theft coverage (depending on the plan). Plans for Samsung Care Plus range from around $10/month to up to $18/month for 36 months.

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