Update: The “unlocked” devices Netflix is refusing to support may refer to bootloader-unlocked devices rather than carrier-unlocked devices. Carrier unlocking refers to the practice of allowing a device purchased from one company to run on another company’s network, while bootloader unlocking allows a smartphone to run a completely different version …
Read More »Google’s Project Treble Could Speed Up Sluggish Android Updates
Google releases a new version of Android at least once a year, but the overwhelming majority of users won’t see that update for many months–if they see the updates at all. Google’s own Pixel and Nexus phones get the software quickly, but everyone else has to wait for multiple parties …
Read More »Researchers Find 234 Android Apps That Track You (Poorly) With Ultrasonic Waves
Your phone has a microphone ostensibly so you can talk to people. But apps can also use your microphone to listen to the world around you. Some apps might even be using the microphone to do things you’d prefer they weren’t doing. For example, apps can employ ultrasound cross-device tracking (uXDT) …
Read More »Google Ends Android Nougat Beta, Promises Android O Beta ‘Soon’
Google released the first developer preview of the upcoming Android O update several months ago, but the Android beta program was still busy with Android 7.1 Nougat at the time. Now, Google says a full beta test of Android O will begin soon, and that means the Android Nougat beta …
Read More »Google’s Mysterious Fuchsia OS Gets a Weird UI Called Armadillo
Google launched Android to the public in 2008, and it has since grown to be the most popular operating system on the planet. Android is still growing and bringing Google services to more consumers than ever, but what comes after Android? Google isn’t resting on its laurels — last year …
Read More »While No One Was Looking, BlackBerry Built a Damn Good Phone
Over the past seven years, BlackBerry’s market share has slipped away, lost to Apple and Android. The company made multiple attempts to revive its own fortunes, from its oft-delayed BB 10 operating system to devices like the Z10 and Passport. Nothing stuck, including the company’s first attempt to combine a …
Read More »Samsung Galaxy S8 owners claim phone ships with a red-tinted display
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ have finally launched in select markets after a seemingly endless string of leaks. The device looks very much as expected with that sleek new curved display, complete with rounded corners. Still, it wouldn’t be a phone launch without some potential hardware defects. A number …
Read More »25 best Android tips to make your phone more useful
Android has overtaken Windows as the most popular computing platform in the world. That’s thanks in part to how fast new features have been added. Google is always making tweaks and coming up with new features for Android, and OEMs like Samsung and LG can add their own stuff on …
Read More »Android surpasses Windows as the most-used operating system worldwide
It was just a few weeks ago when web analytics firm StatCounter predicted Android would overtake Windows as the most popular operating system online. Well, it didn’t take long. The latest numbers from StatCounter show Android with a narrow lead over Windows. After less than nine years, Google’s open source …
Read More »Samsung launches the Galaxy S8, S8+: Hardware specs and features inside
Samsung took the lid off its latest Galaxy S8 devices this morning, showcasing the Galaxy S8 and S8+. It’s the first flagship device Samsung has launched since the disastrous Galaxy Note 7 (refurbs coming soon to a country probably not near you), and its first opportunity to showcase its premium …
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