Android 15 Archives

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

One UI 8 finally expands support for an Android 15 feature sorely missed on One UI 7

The latest beta version of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25 series introduces support for Android 15’s predictive back gesture in various Samsung applications, including Clock, Calculator, Weather, Settings, Voice Recorder, and Contacts, which was not available in One UI 7. However, it remains unavailable in some apps like Calendar and Reminders. The update also improves access to the predictive back animations toggle in the Developer Options menu. Users must disable the One Hand Operation+ Good Lock module and enable gesture navigation to use the expanded predictive back gesture. Google plans to extend predictive back support to three-button navigation in Android 16.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

PC Games Arrive On Smartphone: RedMagic 10S Pro Series With Built-In PC Emulator Launched

RedMagic has launched the RedMagic 10S Pro and RedMagic 10S Pro+ in China, featuring a built-in PC emulator for running Steam and Epic Games launchers. Both models are powered by a 3nm octa-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. They include RedMagic’s Red Core R3 Pro processors and advanced liquid metal cooling technology. The camera setup consists of a dual rear camera with a 50MP primary and a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, plus a 16MP front camera. They run on RedMagic AI OS 10.5 based on Android 15. Pricing for the RedMagic 10S Pro includes: - Dark Knight/Day Warrior: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 4,999 - 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,499 - Deuterium Front Transparent Silver Wing: 12GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 5,299 - 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,799 - Mingchao Limited Edition: 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,999 Pricing for the RedMagic 10S Pro+ includes: - Dark Quantum: 16GB RAM + 512GB storage - CNY 5,999 - 16GB RAM + 256GB storage - CNY 6,299 - 24GB RAM + 1TB storage - CNY 7,499 Both models feature a 6.85-inch 1.5K OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and a touch sampling rate of up to 960Hz. The RedMagic 10S Pro has a 7050mAh battery with 80W fast charging, while the Pro+ has a 7500mAh battery with 120W fast charging. All models are available for order in China, with the Mingchao Limited Edition launching in June 2025.

AppWizard

May 27, 2025

Fairphone 4 skips Android 14, gets Android 15 instead

Fairphone has announced that the Android 14 update for the Fairphone 4 will not be released as planned, and the company will instead focus on upgrading directly to Android 15 due to delays and challenges in delivering a stable Android 14 version. Fairphone 4 users were expecting the Android 14 update early this year, but the company cited limited resources as a reason for bypassing it. Fairphone has committed to improving communication with users during the upgrade process, though no specific timeline for Android 15 has been provided. The Fairphone 4, launched in 2023, was initially set to receive the Android 14 update. Fairphone has acknowledged user frustration over the delays and is actively working on the Android 15 upgrade while encouraging users to engage with community forums for updates. Additionally, the Fairphone 5, which launched with Android 13, is promised at least five OS updates and eight years of software and security updates.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Android 16 is just right

Android 16 has been unveiled at Google I/O, introducing significant enhancements to the Google Play Store and various Google applications. The update features a visual refresh with Material 3 Expressive while maintaining a seamless user experience for those transitioning from Android 15. The developer community has expressed satisfaction with the update, indicating improved communication and collaboration from Google. The anticipated QPR1 update will bring additional cosmetic improvements. The Android 16 QPR1 beta is available for select devices, including the Pixel 9a, with Samsung rumored to prepare for an early rollout.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Oppo says its apps on the Reno 14 series will see full Gemini integration

OPPO has expanded its collaboration with Google Gemini to enhance user experience for the Reno 14 series by creating seamless "multi-app" journeys. This partnership will allow Gemini to interact with various OPPO applications, including Calendar, Notes, and the Clock app, simplifying task completion. The integration of Gemini into OPPO's app ecosystem coincides with the introduction of ColorOS 15 (Android 15) and follows the AI enhancements seen in the Reno 11 series. OPPO aims to provide monthly AI updates for its devices and emphasizes the importance of AI in understanding complex user inputs. The collaboration also involves efforts with MediaTek and utilizes Gemini 1.5 Pro and Google's Flash model for improved communication between OPPO's native applications.

AppWizard

May 20, 2025

I activated the Linux terminal on my Pixel, and you should too

Google's Pixel devices now include a Linux Terminal app, introduced with the March 2025 Pixel Drop update. This app allows users to access a version of Debian on their smartphones, enabling them to execute commands, install packages, and perform internet-related tasks similar to a desktop Linux terminal. The app is available for Pixel phones running Android 15 or newer and is currently exclusive to these devices. To activate the app, users must enable Developer options, toggle on the Linux development environment, and install the app, which has a download size of approximately 565MB. The feature is experimental and may have bugs, such as persistent notifications and connectivity issues. The app operates within a virtual machine, isolating it from the device's data but allowing access to the Downloads folder.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

How to use Bluetooth audio sharing on a Google Pixel phone

Android 16 will introduce Auracast, allowing Google Pixel users with compatible devices to connect multiple Bluetooth headphones to a single Pixel phone for audio sharing. This feature can be accessed on Google Pixel 8 series or newer devices, and it relies on Auracast technology. Users can enable audio sharing through Developer Options, which is also available on Android 15 devices. Compatible earbuds or headphones must support Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, with examples including Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and 3 Pro. To initiate audio sharing, users must access the Audio sharing page in the Settings app and follow specific steps to create a broadcast. The public debut of this feature is confirmed for Pixel phones with the release of Android 16, but the exact timeline is uncertain.

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).