Android Authority Archives

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

Android 16’s UI redesign reportedly shows its face in massive leak

A recent leak reveals potential redesign features for Android 16, including a blurred and transparent notification panel, a revamped lock screen with a new font and repositioned date/temperature, and geometric app icon options in the Pixel Launcher. The volume sliders will change from a pill shape to a rectangular design, and there will be updates to the Settings menu with colored icons and a new horizontal battery icon format. Android 16 is expected to debut in Q2 2025, with more details likely to be revealed at Google's I/O 2025 event. The Android 16 Beta 4 update has reached "Platform Stability," indicating that final adjustments are being made before the official rollout.

AppWizard

April 30, 2025

LG will shut down update servers for its Android smartphones on June 30

LG will officially terminate software updates for all its smartphones on June 30, 2025. This includes the cessation of the mobile phone software upgrade service (FOTA), update center, and LG Bridge service. Users are advised to upgrade their software before this deadline, as no further updates will be provided after that date.

AppWizard

April 29, 2025

Google’s Android Decision—Bad News For 50% Of All Users

Google will implement changes to app functionality on Android devices starting next month, affecting over half of all Android users. The changes are driven by the Play Integrity API, which aims to reduce fraud and data theft, resulting in an 80% reduction in unauthorized app usage. Devices running Android 13 and above will experience improved performance, while those on Android 12 or older may face slower performance. Google is also introducing enhanced security signals for developers to assess device trustworthiness. Over half of Android devices have not upgraded to Android 13 or later, and approximately 200 million users remain on Android 12, which no longer receives security patches. Users on Android 12 or 12L are advised to upgrade for better security and performance.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Here’s why Snapseed is still my favorite app for editing photos

Megan Ellis from Android Authority highlights Snapseed as a standout free image editing application on Android, known for its simplicity and powerful tools. Despite infrequent updates, the app offers an intuitive interface, various preset filters, and selective editing options without overwhelming users. Snapseed is completely ad-free and does not require subscription fees, prioritizing user privacy by collecting minimal data. Ellis continues to rely on Snapseed for enhancing images and preparing photos for printing, appreciating its straightforward functionality compared to other apps that often have aggressive monetization strategies.

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Google Messages update finally adds an important safety tool – and teases a feature I’m surprised the app doesn’t have already

Google Messages is introducing two new features: live location sharing and Sensitive Content Warnings. The live location sharing feature allows users to share their real-time whereabouts, improving coordination for meet-ups. Sensitive Content Warnings aim to protect users, especially minors, from harmful content by notifying them when nude images are sent or received. This feature is automatically enabled for users under 18 and can be managed through the Family Link app for supervised accounts. Users can adjust settings in Google Messages to manage these warnings, which utilize on-device AI to ensure privacy.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

Google Photos now lets you spice up your pictures with Ultra HDR glow

Google Photos has introduced the Ultra HDR feature, replacing the previous HDR effect, allowing users to enhance the brightness and vibrancy of their photos. The rollout has begun, with select users already experiencing it, and it is part of version 7.24.0.747539053 found in the “Adjust” tab. When applied, images will have an “Ultra HDR” tag in the metadata, and the Ultra HDR version may take up less storage space than the original image due to a compact gain map. Each Ultra HDR file also includes a standard dynamic range (SDR) version for compatibility with non-HDR displays.

BetaBeacon

April 18, 2025

The AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is everything I wanted the Game Boy Micro to be

The AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is a modern handheld device inspired by the Game Boy Micro, featuring a premium metal body, large shoulder buttons, and a 3.5-inch IPS display perfect for GBA emulation. It runs on Android 13 and is powered by a Helio G99 SoC, allowing it to emulate some PS2 titles. The device is designed for discerning gamers and is priced starting at 9.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

Quick Share redesign looks more like a normal app with prep for ‘Receive’ and ‘Send’ tabs [Gallery]

Google is enhancing its Quick Share feature on Android with a redesigned interface that includes two tabs: “Receive” and “Send.” The “Receive” tab shows how the device appears to others and any incoming share requests, while the “Send” tab displays available targets for sending files and includes a new “Add Files” option for manual file selection. The redesign suggests Quick Share may function as a standalone application, and the settings page for managing sharing permissions is also being updated. Speculation about the launch of these updates exists, but the timeline for rollout is uncertain.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

The Google Home app seemingly has a few small changes for its UI in the works

Google is enhancing its Home app to simplify smart device management with user interface modifications. Upcoming updates will include a dedicated QR scanner in the Devices tab and a search bar in the Favorites section. In December, Google began a Public Preview test for the "Help me create" feature, which uses Gemini AI to help users automate their smart home systems by defining a Starter, Condition, and Action. Additionally, a separate Public Preview test for "Gemini in Assistant" aims to improve responses for Nest devices, allowing users to interrupt or request clarification from the Assistant.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Gemini’s rumored automated tasks might borrow from the competition

Google is developing a feature called "Scheduled Actions" for its Gemini app, which will use a card-based interface to manage tasks with status markers like "Completed" and "Paused." This feature aims to automate task management and may integrate elements from Google Tasks and OpenAI's ChatGPT. The introduction of "Scheduled Actions" could change how users handle reminders and tasks on Android, especially as it appears to draw inspiration from OpenAI's similar feature for managing tasks with AI capabilities. The development of this feature is still in early stages, and its final form may change before release.