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Category: Google

All news related to Google.

  • Google Rolls Out Locked Folder to All Android Phones

    Google Rolls Out Locked Folder to All Android Phones

    Google has expanded its Locked Folder feature to all Android phones, not just its own line of Pixel phones.

    Locked Folder is a feature designed to help users “lock away” sensitive photos, preventing them from being seen by others. The photos are not backed up to Google Cloud and don’t show up in Google Photos.

    According to Gizmodo, Google is rolling the feature out to all Android phones, after it was initially available only on the Pixel. There’s no word yet on an iPhone version, but it should be coming soon.

  • Google Adding Support for iMessage Reactions

    Google Adding Support for iMessage Reactions

    Android users tried of seeing a text explanation when iPhone users send Tapback reactions are in for a surprise with Google’s recent improvement.

    Apple introduced Tapback, a way for iPhone users to react to text messages inline, rather than sending a new text. Unfortunately for Android users, Messages didn’t support any Tapback reactions. As a result, users would see:

    • Liked an image
    • Emphasized “See you then!”

    According to 9to5Google, Google is rolling out an update that replaces those text descriptions, displaying an emoji reaction, essentially duplicating how the Tapback looks in iMessage.

    The update fixes a major pain point in Apple > Google texting.

  • Enhanced Security Behind Pixel 6’s Slow Fingerprint Sensor

    Enhanced Security Behind Pixel 6’s Slow Fingerprint Sensor

    Google says the slow fingerprint scanning on its flagship Pixel 6 is the result of ‘enhanced security algorithms.’

    The Pixel 6 is Google’s latest version of its flagship line of phones and features the company’s Tensor system on a chip (SoC). The new phone offers performance on par with the fastest Android phones, but the speed of the in-screen fingerprint sensor is not one of the phone’s highlights. Users have reported slower than normal speed, compared to other high-end devices.

    According to Google, the slower speed is the result of enhanced security.

  • Pixel 6 Delivers Impressive Android Performance

    Pixel 6 Delivers Impressive Android Performance

    Early benchmarks are in and Google’s Pixel 6 is chalking up some impressive performance results.

    Unlike previous iterations of the Pixel line of smartphones, the Pixel 6 is using Google’s Tensor, its custom-built system on a chip (SoC). While many chips powering Android devices use a single high-performance Cortex-X1 core, the Tensor has two Cortex-X1 cores.

    Despite its design, BGR reports the Pixel 6 doesn’t quite knock off the Snapdragon 888 as the reigning speed champion in the Android market — at least not in straight CPU performance. Where the Tensor chip crushes it, however, is in its GPU performance, easily delivering the best performance of any Android phone on the market.

    As BGR points out, the fact that Google was able to deliver this kind of performance in their very first SoC is an impressive feat, and one that bodes well for the future.

  • Google May Be Getting Serious About Tablets With Android 12L

    Google May Be Getting Serious About Tablets With Android 12L

    Google may be preparing to take another run at the tablet market with Android 12L.

    Google has long played second fiddle to Apple in the tablet market. Despite concerted efforts on the part of multiple manufacturers, Android tablets have never been able to pose a real threat to Apple’s dominance with the iPad.

    That may be changing with the latest Android, however. Google has released a beta it is calling Android 12L. Unlike Apple’s iPadOS, Android 12L isn’t a separate version of the Android OS. Instead, according to Android Authority, it’s a feature set that is specifically designed help Android better scale to larger displays, traditionally one of the weak points for Android.

    Google plans on an official release “early next year.”

  • WhatsApp Ending Support For Android Versions Older Than 4.1

    WhatsApp Ending Support For Android Versions Older Than 4.1

    WhatsApp is ending support for Android 4.0.4 and older beginning November 1, meaning impacted users have less than a week to save their chats.

    WhatsApp is one of the most poplar messaging platforms, used by individuals and organizations around the world. As such, the app supports a wide range of hardware and OS versions.

    Users of Android 4.0.4 and older, however, are about to lose access to WhatsApp, as the company will only support version 4.1 and newer beginning November 1.

    The company recommends saving chat history before the deadline.

    Note: WhatsApp will no longer support Android phones running OS 4.0.4 and older on November 1, 2021. Please switch to a supported device or save your chat history before then. Learn how in this article.

  • Android October Patch Fixes 41 Vulnerabilities

    Android October Patch Fixes 41 Vulnerabilities

    Google has released its Android October patch, and it fixes some 41 vulnerabilities.

    Google releases security patches for Android on the 5th of every month. According to Bleeping Computer, October’s patch fixes a whopping 41 vulnerabilities, including three critical ones.

    The worst vulnerabilities includes remote code execution, privilege elevation, denial of service and information disclosure.

    Fortunately, it doesn’t appear that any of the vulnerabilities were being actively exploited.

  • Google Pixel 6 Will Come With Five Years of Security Updates

    Google Pixel 6 Will Come With Five Years of Security Updates

    A new leak indicates Google’s upcoming Pixel 6 will include a full five years of security updates.

    Samsung made headlines in February when it announced it would provide four years of security updates for its Galaxy line of devices. Updates have traditionally been an area where Android has played second fiddle to Apple, with the Cupertino company well-known for supporting its iPhones for years.

    Not to be outdone, a new leak indicates Google is planning on one-upping Samsung, providing five years of security updates for the upcoming Pixel 6. Leaker Evan Blass tweeted about it, including screenshots of the leaked pages before they were taken down.

  • Google ‘Pixel Pass’ May be the Company’s Answer to Apple One

    Google ‘Pixel Pass’ May be the Company’s Answer to Apple One

    Google may finally be preparing to unveil its Apple One competitor, a service named “Pixel Pass.”

    Apple One is the Cupertino company’s bundle that offers its popular services together at a discounted price. Customers gain access to Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+ and iCloud+.

    Google haș yet to reveal a competitor, but may be on the verge of doing so, according to Engadget. The new service, Pixel Pass, would include a Pixel 6, Google One, YouTube Music/Premium and Play Pass.

    There is no indication how much the service would cost, and it may be US-only at launch, but it could significantly boost Pixel 6 sales, as well as Google’s premium services.

  • Google Officially Ends Support for Android 2.3

    Google Officially Ends Support for Android 2.3

    Google has officially ended support for Android 2.3.7 and lower, leaving potentially millions of devices without access to key apps.

    Google warned in early August that it would block Android 2.3.7 and older from accessing popular apps and services, such as Gmail, YouTube, Maps and more.

    “As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our users safe, Google will no longer allow sign-in on Android devices that run Android 2.3.7 or lower starting September 27, 2021. If you sign into your device after September 27, you may get username or password errors when you try to use Google products and services like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps.”

    The cutoff goes into effect today. Although the percentage of devices running the older OS is extremely low, when factoring in the billions of Android devices, it still accounts for potentially millions of impacted users.