Android Archives

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Android Switch: Google’s new name for the Data Restore Tool

Google has launched an AI-powered video creation tool called Google Vids, initially exclusive to Gemini customers but now available to a broader audience within Google Workspace, including Business, Enterprise, and Education plans. The tool features "Help me create," which allows users to generate a storyboard by providing a prompt and a Google Drive document. It offers suggestions for scenes, stock media, text, scripts, and background music to create a preliminary video draft. Users can personalize their videos with animations, transitions, and access to royalty-free stock content. Google Vids also includes AI-powered voiceovers, with preset voices and a teleprompter feature for recording custom voiceovers. Currently, the AI features are available only in English, with plans for future language support. The AI features will be available until December 31, 2025, after which usage limits may apply, and Google will notify users of any changes. The full rollout of Google Vids is expected in the coming weeks.

Winsage

November 8, 2024

“Don’t kill Android (WSA) in Windows 11” is now a top feedback, but will Microsoft listen?

Microsoft will discontinue the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) in 2025, along with the removal of the Amazon Appstore from the Microsoft Store. Many users rely on WSA for accessing Android applications not available on Windows, leading to significant disappointment among them. A post on the Feedback Hub advocating for WSA has received nearly 700 upvotes, indicating user frustration. WSA is seen as essential for both daily tasks and for developers testing Android applications. The decision to discontinue WSA is linked to the financial performance of the Microsoft Store and a lack of support from Google. Initially, WSA was only available in the United States, which limited its user base.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Google apps gets new ‘Activity’ tab for easy access to search history and saved items

Google is introducing a new “Activity” tab within the Google app, which will replace the existing “Saved” tab and provide easy access to search history from both the Google app and Chrome. This feature is currently being tested and aims to create a centralized hub for managing saved items, allowing users to view, manage, and take actions on their search history. The development of this feature has been in progress for nearly two months and is currently accessible to a select group of users as part of a limited rollout. A user demonstrated the functionality on a Pixel 7 Pro, indicating a user-friendly rollout process, while the Pixel 8 Pro has not yet received the update.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Godfather Is A Risk To Android Users Worldwide As 500 Apps Targeted

A new variant of the Godfather banking trojan is targeting over 500 Android banking and cryptocurrency applications globally. Initially focused in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, its reach has expanded to countries including Azerbaijan, Greece, Japan, and Singapore. The malware has transitioned from Java to native code, enhancing its ability to exploit Android’s accessibility services and mimic user actions through gesture automation commands. It employs social engineering tactics, such as a fraudulent website posing as the official MyGov site of the Australian Government, to distribute malicious files. Once installed, the malware communicates with a control server, collects device information, and replaces legitimate banking applications with phishing pages to steal credentials. The Godfather malware has become more difficult to analyze and poses a significant threat to users worldwide.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Timed Silence: An Open Source Android App to Automatically Silence Your Phone

Timed Silence is a Kotlin-based application for Android, created by Felix Nüsse, that manages smartphone volume settings, allowing users to mute, vibrate, or ring with sound. The app requires initial setup permissions and features an intuitive interface with a pause/play button. Users can create custom schedules, including pre-defined ones for "Night" and "Day." The app effectively activates Do Not Disturb (DND) at scheduled times, muting notifications while allowing calls and messages from specified contacts. Additional features include Calendar integration, Keywords for managing volume levels, Bluetooth compatibility, and a Sanity Check for priority contacts. The app is available on F-Droid, with source code and APKs on GitHub.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Samsung Health Monitor app ends support for Android 11 and older phones this December

Samsung Electronics is preparing to introduce seamless software updates with its upcoming Galaxy S25 series. This feature will allow updates to be downloaded in the background and installed on an inactive partition, minimizing downtime during the update process. Users will only experience a brief interruption during reboot, contrasting with the longer downtimes of traditional updates. The Galaxy S25 series is expected to feature a larger display, potentially a more rounded back on the S25 Ultra for comfort, and will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It is rumored to launch in January 2025 with Android 15-based One UI 7 software. There is no official confirmation from Samsung regarding these features or specifications, as the information is based on leaks and rumors.

BetaBeacon

November 8, 2024

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – November 2024 round-up

Bloons Card Storm is a turn-based card collecting game with multiplayer at its core, where players need to think about both attack and defense. The game has some balancing issues and a problem where if your opponent quits, you get a smaller reward.

AppWizard

November 8, 2024

Best Android app price drops today

This afternoon, there are discounted and complimentary apps available on the Google Play Store, including Evoland 2, World Cruise Story, Convenience Stories, Hot Springs Story 2, and Human Fall Flat. Other notable mentions are SPHAZE, OctaRing, Octa Dark, Verticons, Survival Dungeon: Loot RPG Pro, Sudoku Premium, Fairy Knights, and Planet Craft: Mine Block Craft. The current deals include 3D EARTH PRO, Rectangles PRO, Crossword Quest Premium, High Sea Saga DX, Dungeon Village 2, Pocket Stables, Mega Mall Story, Candy Disaster TD: Premium, Hero of the Kingdom: Tales 2, Pencil Sketch HD, Random Adventure Roguelike II, Redsun RTS Premium, Endurance: Dead Space Premium, Water Reflection Pro, and Turn It On!. Evoland 2 offers an epic RPG adventure that spans over 20 hours, transitioning through various gaming genres.

BetaBeacon

November 7, 2024

Rust, the hit PC survival game, is coming to mobile

Rust, a popular open-world survival game, is coming to mobile. It is known for its realistic gameplay and intense clan warfare. The mobile version is expected to be released no earlier than late 2025.

AppWizard

November 7, 2024

Google is readying ‘AI Replies’ for Call Screen in Pixel Phone app

Google is enhancing the Call Screen feature in the Pixel Phone app with 'AI Replies.' This feature will allow users to respond to calls without answering, using AI-generated smart replies based on the caller's responses. Code strings related to AI Replies were discovered in the latest beta version of the Phone app, indicating that Google may utilize its Gemini Nano technology for this functionality. Users will have the option to enable or disable AI Replies. Details on how these AI responses will differ from current options and the timeline for public release are not yet available.