Android 16 Archives

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

Android 15 blocked Phone Link from mirroring sensitive notifications, but Microsoft has a fix

Microsoft's Phone Link app can now mirror sensitive notifications from Android devices to Windows PCs after the Android 15 update had initially restricted this capability. The Android 15 update classified two-factor authentication codes as sensitive, blocking their visibility to most notification listeners, including Phone Link. To access sensitive notifications, Phone Link must be preinstalled on the device and granted the RECEIVESENSITIVENOTIFICATIONS permission. Users with devices that have Link to Windows preinstalled, like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, can grant permission to restore full functionality. For devices without the preinstalled app, workarounds include disabling Android System Intelligence notification processing or manually granting permissions.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

Reported changes to Android development aren’t really a change

A recent report indicates that Android's development is shifting towards a more private model, despite its perception as an open-source initiative. Google retains ultimate control over the code, dictating project direction, feature development, and release timelines. Currently, Android 16 is in development, with a main branch that remains private during development and an experimental branch that serves as a testing ground for features. While some code from the experimental branch is accessible, its visibility is expected to decrease. Companies involved in smartphone manufacturing will continue to receive early access to private code, allowing them to prepare devices ahead of public releases. Developers of custom ROMs will still rely on the stable version of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for compatibility with essential components. The shift towards a more private development model may impact online discussions and speculation within the Android community.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google Maps might predict more than just the traffic for you soon

Google Maps is testing new features that will enhance user experience by providing real-time updates on parking availability, fuel-efficient routes, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) directly from the initial overview screen after entering a destination. Currently, users can only see traffic conditions, distance, and travel time. The new features will allow users to view parking availability marked by a "P" icon, fuel-efficient route options, and precise ETA. These enhancements aim to improve trip planning and are expected to be included in future app updates. Additionally, some users have reported issues with their Timeline history disappearing from the web version, possibly due to a shift in how Google stores location history.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Report claims Google may move to ‘privately’ develop Android’s future

Google plans to transition to a more private development approach for its Android OS, resulting in a slowdown of releases for the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). This shift aims to streamline development and reduce merging conflicts. While Google will continue to release open-source code, the frequency of these releases will be adjusted. Android 16 has achieved Platform Stability and is expected to launch in Q2 2025. The transition is designed to minimize disruptions for end-users and improve the efficiency of the development cycle. An announcement regarding this new direction is anticipated soon.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Linux on Android: Google clarifies the new Terminal app’s purpose

Google's new Linux Terminal app for Android, launched with the March 2025 Pixel Drop, allows users to create and manage a Debian virtual machine on their Pixel devices through a command-line interface. The app is designed to enhance the Android app ecosystem by enabling the use of Linux apps, tools, and games, rather than creating a new desktop environment. Users can control their Linux environment, including storage allocation and port forwarding. While users can install Linux desktop management systems like XFCE or GNOME, these will not be the default experience. Google is also preparing GPU acceleration for future releases. The development indicates a convergence between Android and ChromeOS, but both systems will retain their distinct functionalities, with Android focused on mobile use and ChromeOS optimized for desktop productivity.

AppWizard

March 19, 2025

Google rolls out Android 16 Beta 3.1 patch with crucial bug fixes

Google has released the Android 16 Beta 3.1 update, focusing on bug fixes rather than new features. This update addresses a crash issue in the Settings app, particularly when the device's language is set to anything other than English, and resolves performance-related problems, including excessive battery drain due to high CPU load and memory leaks in the system server. The update retains enhancements from the previous Android 16 Beta 3 release, such as Auracast support for wireless hearing aids and improved accessibility options. The update is available for enrolled devices and can be checked in the Settings under System > Software Update.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Google Reveals the Real Purpose of Android’s New Terminal App

Google introduced a Terminal app on Android as part of the March Pixel drop to facilitate the integration of more Linux applications, tools, and games into the Android environment. The app is not intended to create another desktop environment, as Google aims to avoid confusion from multiple window management options. The focus is on supporting Desktop Linux applications similarly to ChromeOS, while allowing users to install alternative Linux desktop environments if desired. Future enhancements include GPU acceleration and the ability to install applications via Flatpaks or APT repositories, with the recent Android 16 Beta 3 update adding support for multiple tabs within the Linux Terminal.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

Hands-on: Google will soon let you customize icon shapes on your Pixel’s home screen

The Pixel Launcher will soon allow users to customize the shape of their app icons, introducing six distinct shapes, including a traditional circle. This feature aims to enhance personalization options, which have been limited in the stock launcher compared to third-party alternatives. The capability for icon shape customization was previously available in Android 11 but was removed. Initial hints of this feature appeared in November, and it has been activated in the third beta of Android 16. The customization process applies a mask to all app icons on the home screen, app drawer, and folders, but does not affect their appearance in other contexts. The six available icon shapes are: “circle,” “square,” “four-sided cookie,” “seven-sided cookie,” “arch,” and “complex clover.” This feature is part of ongoing development for the Pixel wallpaper app, which has been in progress since August of the previous year.

BetaBeacon

March 16, 2025

Android 16 looks to be even better for gamers than we expected

Google has introduced Vulkan as the new default graphics API for Android, replacing OpenGL. This change brings advanced rendering features like ray tracing and multithreading, promising richer visuals for games. The shift to Vulkan could influence the choice of gaming handhelds for consumers, especially those running on older versions of Android. There is hope for devices with more recent hardware to benefit from performance enhancements with the adoption of Vulkan. The move is expected to have a positive impact on gaming handhelds, smartphones, and tablets in the long run.

AppWizard

March 15, 2025

Android’s Linux Terminal app adds tabs so you can multitask more easily

Google has enhanced its Linux Terminal app for Android, introduced in the latest Pixel Drop, allowing users to run a complete Debian instance within a virtual machine. The app now features a tabbed interface with multitasking capabilities, enabling users to open multiple tabs simultaneously, although rearranging or renaming tabs is not yet available. The update includes a non-functional “Display” button for launching graphical Linux applications, with plans for future improvements such as speaker and microphone support. Users must enable Developer Options to access the app and download a Debian image to run it in a virtual machine using the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF).