Android 15 Archives

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Google brings Gemini and other accessibility tools across Android devices

Google is introducing AI-powered accessibility features for Android, targeting users with low vision or hearing impairments. An upgraded version of TalkBack allows users to ask questions about images and receive descriptive answers. The "Expressive Captions" feature provides real-time captions that include tone and emotions, currently rolling out in English in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia for Android 15 and above. Google is also opening its Project Euphonia repository to developers to create customized speech recognition tools for diverse speech patterns. These initiatives are part of Google's commitment to accessibility and user-friendliness.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Chrome’s Android app will now let you zoom in on text without affecting the webpage

Google has introduced updates to enhance user experience on its platforms, focusing on accessibility and usability for Android users. The TalkBack screenreader now allows follow-up questions about images, enabling users to ask specific queries like identifying colors or materials. An update for Chrome on Android improves text zooming, allowing users to enlarge text without affecting the webpage layout, using a slider accessible through the three-dot menu. Google’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR) tool now automatically recognizes scanned PDFs on desktop, enabling text highlighting, copying, and searching. Expressive Captions provide real-time captions for audio content on Android devices, capturing spoken words along with tone and emotion, and are being rolled out in English across the US, UK, Canada, and Australia for devices on Android 15 and later.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Google talks smarter security against fraud and theft in The Android Show

Google has announced updates to enhance security and privacy for Android users, including: - Enhanced scam protection for calls and text messages. - Updated Factory Reset protections limiting phone functionality if reset without owner consent. - Upgraded Live Threat Detection in Google Play Services to identify malicious applications. - Introduction of the Key Verifier feature for verifying identities in conversations using public encryption keys, launching this summer for Android 10 and higher. - Expansion of the Identity Check feature to more devices with the upcoming Android 16 release. - Concealment of one-time passwords on the lock screen in Android 16. - Extension of the Advanced Protection program to a broader audience. - Rollout of live threat detection capabilities in Google Play Protect for Pixel 6 and newer devices and other smartphones. - Announcement of Google I/O 2025 scheduled for May 20 at 10 am PT (1 pm ET).

AppWizard

May 12, 2025

Samsung could get you a secret vault for your photos in One UI 8

Samsung is enhancing user privacy in its upcoming One UI 8 Gallery app with a new feature called "Private album," designed to discreetly store photos and videos. This feature is currently in beta testing within the hidden “Labs” section of the app, indicating it may not be included in the final release. The Private album aims to provide a simpler alternative to the existing Secure Folder for managing visual content. One UI 8 is built on the forthcoming Android 16 and is expected to launch after the stable release of Android 16 in June. The update will introduce various refinements to enhance user experience, including improved background task management, smarter app suggestions, and better battery management. There are also rumors of new features like video summarization in Samsung Internet and an upgraded Secure Folder.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

This new requirement for Android apps is something we need, even if it’s not sexy

Google has announced that all Android applications will be required to support 16 KB page sizes starting November 1st, 2025. This change aims to enhance system efficiency and performance by allowing better resource allocation and reducing memory management tasks. Memory management units operate on a page size basis, and increasing the page size fourfold will streamline processes and improve user experience. All new apps and updates targeting Android 15+ devices must comply with this requirement.

BetaBeacon

May 9, 2025

Why Android’s hidden custom modes are such a productivity game-changer

- The custom mode feature was added to Android 15 QPR2 - The first step is to open the Settings app - You can set a schedule for your custom mode - Tap the Modes Quick Tile to select the mode you want to use - Remember to disable the mode when you're done with the task

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Google requiring Android apps support 16 KB memory page size to improve performance

Android is transitioning to a 16 KB page size, which will become mandatory for applications in the Google Play Store by November 1, 2025. This change replaces the previous 4 KB page size and aims to enhance performance by improving memory management and reducing overhead. The introduction of Android 15 has been refactored to support this larger page size, with testing currently available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 9 devices. Expected performance improvements include faster app launches (3% to 30% faster), improved battery usage (average gain of 4.5%), quicker camera starts (4.5% to 6.6% faster), and speedier system boot-ups (approximately 8% faster). Apps without native code should remain compatible, while those using libraries or SDKs with native code may need updates. Apps containing native code might require recompilation and review for compatibility. Developers can check memory page size support through the Play Console.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Google just gave the Pixel Watch app a fresh light theme makeover

Google's Pixel Watch companion app has transitioned to a light theme, moving away from its previous dark aesthetics. This change has been rolled out via a server-side update, with users noticing the new vibrant white backdrop on their Android devices. There is no option to toggle between themes in the app settings, indicating that the update was implemented without user intervention. The last official app update was version 3.4, released in April. The app operates independently of the phone's theme settings. Earlier this year, Pixel Studio also adopted a light theme, while the Clock app remains dark. The Pixel Watch is expected to receive a significant operating system update, possibly introducing Wear OS 6 based on Android 16, during the Google I/O 2025 event, but it will continue to run on Android 15 for now.

AppWizard

May 7, 2025

Google’s May 2025 Pixel update is here with bug fixes and a critical security patch

The May 2025 security update for Google Pixel devices began deployment on May 6, addressing a critical zero-day security vulnerability (CVE-2025-27363) and including three bug fixes along with 28 security patches. The rollout may take about one week to reach all devices, depending on models and carriers. The update prevents devices from reverting to older, vulnerable versions of the bootloader. It also resolves specific issues for Google Pixel 6 and newer devices, including improvements in microphone recording quality, resolution of Bluetooth pairing issues with certain smartwatches, and correction of secondary language display issues in quick settings. Users are advised to check for the update in the Settings app under System > Software update.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

5 ways to use the Linux terminal on your Android phone

Android 15 includes a fully functional Linux terminal, allowing users to execute familiar commands, though running GUI applications can be challenging. With Android 16, the terminal receives more space. Users can connect to remote machines via SSH by configuring the SSH config file for easier access. The terminal serves as a platform for learning the Linux command line, executing commands, and accessing manuals. Developers can use it for coding, with Python pre-installed, and can create applications directly on their devices. The terminal also supports the installation of the MariaDB database server for database management. Additionally, users can create hidden files for storing sensitive notes using the Nano editor.