Android ecosystem Archives

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

Google is giving us a look at what’s next for Android ahead of I/O

The Android Show will air a special I/O edition on May 13 at 1 p.m. ET, hosted by Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, and featuring members of the Android team. This episode will provide an early look at innovations leading up to the Google I/O event, including details about Android 16. The show will be pre-recorded and streamed live on YouTube. Google has also released a schedule for the Google I/O event, which will cover topics such as Android's new UX design, Material 3 Expressive, and Gemini in Chrome and Android XR.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

Android 16 Beta 4 Arrives with AOD Theming, App Drawer Shortcut, and More

Google's Android 16 Beta 4 is being rolled out to Pixel 6 and newer devices, introducing enhancements aimed at improving user experience and security. Key updates include an enhanced Always on Display (AOD) feature with dynamic theming, the Themed icons toggle moving out of beta, a new Apps list shortcut in the Pixel launcher, and new options in the recent menu for Screenshot and Select. The Gesture Navigation page has been updated with a tutorial demo, and the Quick Settings Media Player artwork has been darkened. Some users have reported the removal of the Battery Health feature from the Battery Settings page, although it is still available on certain devices.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Google rolls out an auto-reboot feature for Android phones to safeguard data

Google has released an update to its April Play Services and Store changelog, introducing an automatic reboot function for Android phones that have been locked for three consecutive days to enhance data encryption. The initial batch of April updates included battery life improvements and a security patch for Pixel devices. The update also features optimizations for device connectivity and a minor enhancement to the "Ask a question" feature in the Play Store. Additionally, the April update includes the 2025 security update for Pixel devices, addressing camera issues and screen dimming problems reported by users of the Pixel 6 and 7 series. The Pixel 9 Pro XL has been introduced, featuring a 6.8-inch display and a commitment to seven years of updates.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Android addressing ‘excessive’ battery drain with new app wake locks metric

Google is launching an initiative to help developers optimize wake lock behavior in Android applications to reduce battery drain. A new metric in the Android Vitals section of the Play Console will track "excessive wake locks," defined as instances where the cumulative duration of all partial wake locks exceeds three hours within a 24-hour period. This metric currently monitors wake locks only when the app is running in the background without a foreground service. Google is collaborating with manufacturers like Samsung to enhance this initiative and has released updated developer documentation to guide effective implementation. Developers are encouraged to provide feedback on this beta metric, which aims to improve performance and battery life insights. Future plans may include additional metrics to address other performance issues.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Today’s Android app deals and freebies: Titan Quest Ultimate, Suzy Cube, Endurance, more

A variety of deals on Android games and applications are available, including pre-order offers for the Google Pixel 9a, which can be secured for as little as a certain amount with a trade-in, along with a 0 credit for the Google Store. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE/+ has launched, and there is an 0 price reduction on the 85-inch 2024 The Frame TV. Current Android app and game deals include Titan Quest: Ultimate, Suzy Cube, Endurance, and KORG Kaossilator. Titan Quest: Ultimate allows players to create a hero and explore ancient worlds while battling legendary creatures using various weapons and magic.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

Google releases new Android System updates with battery life improvements

Google Play services v25.13 introduces updates to improve battery life and connectivity across various Android devices, including Android Auto, PCs, phones, TVs, and Wear OS devices. Google Wallet now allows users to add nicknames to their passes. The Android System Intelligence v.23 update includes logging for Adaptive Sound and code optimization for Smart Dictation. The Google Play Store will implement verified badges for select VPN applications to enhance user trust and safety.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Google launches Gemini in Android Studio for Businesses, making it easier for devs to design work apps

Apple is the leading smartphone manufacturer in the U.S., while 60% of corporate-owned devices are powered by Android, according to a survey by Stratix. Google announced Gemini in Android Studio for businesses at the Google Cloud Next 2025 conference, a subscription-based service aimed at enhancing the Android ecosystem for enterprise app developers. Gemini focuses on secure, privacy-oriented AI solutions, with a strict data governance policy ensuring confidentiality and ownership of company code. It includes enterprise-grade management features and extends Google's generative AI indemnification policy to protect against copyright infringement claims related to AI-generated code. The enterprise edition allows customization using internal repositories, improving code acceptance rates by 70%. Gemini is compliant with various industry certifications, including SOC 1, 2, and 3, and ISO/IEC 27001, among others. A free version of Gemini remains available for independent developers, while organizations can acquire a Code Assist Enterprise license through the Google Cloud Console.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

A wild new way to think about Android apps

Hermit is a mobile application that allows users to create web apps that integrate seamlessly into the Android ecosystem, resembling traditional apps on the home screen. Users can launch a new web app in about two minutes, and Hermit offers a variety of customization options for personalizing these apps to meet individual preferences and needs.

AppWizard

April 5, 2025

Android 16 has a new trick to speed up app installation

Android 16 introduces a feature called cloud compilation, which enhances app installation speed by shifting the compilation process from the device to the cloud. This feature allows application artifacts to be loaded directly from files downloaded via the Google Play Store, rather than being generated on the device. It is particularly beneficial for low-end devices that struggle with processing power or storage speed. The Android Runtime (ART) uses a tool called dex2oat to convert APK’s .dex files into application artifacts, which include .vdex, .odex, and .art files. Cloud compilation retrieves these artifacts from a new format called Secure Dex Metadata (SDM), ensuring application integrity while expediting installation. However, the feature is not yet operational as Google needs to configure the Play Store to generate these artifacts for use during installations.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google bolsters Android security for app developers and users

Google has announced a suite of improvements to enhance security within the Android ecosystem and the Google Play Store. Key advancements include: - Enhanced tools to protect businesses from scams and fraud. - Pre-review checks to identify policy and compatibility issues early in app development. - Transparent information on Google Play to build consumer trust. - Strengthened threat-detection capabilities using AI to combat malicious activities. Developers will receive earlier notifications about relevant policies within Android Studio, and the policy experience has been revamped for clearer updates and more time for changes. The Google Play Developer Help Community is expanding to facilitate knowledge sharing among developers. The Play Integrity API is being utilized for over 500 million daily checks to prevent fraud and abuse, with apps using these features seeing an 80% reduction in usage from unverified sources. Improvements for devices running Android 13 include enhanced security signals and automatic updates for developers. New badges for app categories, including a "Verified" badge for VPN apps, are being introduced to validate secure applications. Google is also focusing on creating a safe online experience for children and developing tools like the Credential Manager API for Digital IDs. Last year, investments in security measures prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published. Google Play Protect is evolving to counter new threats, and the company is collaborating with industry leaders to establish security standards through the App Defense Alliance.