Google is working to make the Android Find My Device network more reliable at locating lost items!
A spokesperson for the company shared in a statement with me that they're "actively working to roll out enhancements" to the network over the coming weeks that'll improve the "speed and ability of locating lost items." As more and more devices opt into the network, lost item findability should also keep improving. However, by default the network is set to "with network in high traffic areas" when you opt in; Google encourages Bluetooth tracker tag owners to switch to "with network in all areas" to improve the FMDN's ability to locate your tags in lower-traffic areas.
Here's Google's full statement:
I shared my experiences with the Chipolo and Pebblebee trackers during episode 47 of the Android Faithful podcast. I had the same experience as others: the location of my trackers was seldom updated. I'm confident this will improve, though, and hope Google will include an opt-in in the setup wizard for new Android devices!
A spokesperson for the company shared in a statement with me that they're "actively working to roll out enhancements" to the network over the coming weeks that'll improve the "speed and ability of locating lost items." As more and more devices opt into the network, lost item findability should also keep improving. However, by default the network is set to "with network in high traffic areas" when you opt in; Google encourages Bluetooth tracker tag owners to switch to "with network in all areas" to improve the FMDN's ability to locate your tags in lower-traffic areas.
Here's Google's full statement:
We are actively working to roll out enhancements to how the Find My Device network operates that will improve the speed and ability of locating lost items over the coming weeks. Devices are continuing to join the new Find My Device network, and we expect the network to grow, which will also help improve lost device findability. We encourage Bluetooth tag owners to change their Find My Device network setting to 'With network in all areas' to help improve the network’s ability to find their lost items in lower-traffic areas.
I shared my experiences with the Chipolo and Pebblebee trackers during episode 47 of the Android Faithful podcast. I had the same experience as others: the location of my trackers was seldom updated. I'm confident this will improve, though, and hope Google will include an opt-in in the setup wizard for new Android devices!
Android Faithful
"Find My" Finally Found - Android Faithful Episode #47
It's a packed episode as the gang discuss Google's feature drop, Samsung getting more AI and lawsuits to hands-on with the latest hardware in the space.
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Adaptive Touch, Even Dimmer, Adaptive Timeout, and Audio Sharing: Here's even more info on these four upcoming Android 15 features! I managed to grab screenshots, too!
You can read about these new features in my latest article on Android Authority.
You can read about these new features in my latest article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Here's even more info on four of the most exciting new Android 15 features
We have more info on Android 15’s new Adaptive Touch, Even Dimmer, Adaptive Timeout, and Audio Sharing features.
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2076x2152: The likely display resolution of the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. With such a resolution, Android normally wouldn't let users put apps into a left-right split-screen config, but fortunately Google quietly tweaked Android to support that.
More details can be found in my article on Android Authority.
More details can be found in my article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Android quietly enhances split-screen mode in preparation for the Pixel 9 Pro Fold
To better support portrait foldables like the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Android now allows apps to be put into left-right splits.
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PSA for users with a Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6A: Factory resetting your phone seems to trigger a bug that results in your phone (soft) bricking itself.
A member of the Pixel support forums' product expert program says that Google is aware of the issue and is investigating.
Via The Verge.
A member of the Pixel support forums' product expert program says that Google is aware of the issue and is investigating.
Via The Verge.
The Verge
Some Pixel 6 owners say factory resets have bricked their phones
It’s probably best not to reset your phone for a bit.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Gemini for Android is getting upgraded with new contextual capabilities! - A new “ask this video” chip will appear if you invoke Gemini while a YouTube video is open. Gemini will then use the YouTube video as context. - A new “ask this PDF” chip will appear…
Gemini's new Dynamic Contextual Suggestions feature inches closer to release!
Google is preparing to push an update to Private Compute Services, the Android system app that securely handles ML model downloads, that adds support for displaying Dynamic Contextual Suggestions in the PCS network log (Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Android System Intelligence > Network usage log).
The network log will reflect whenever the on-device model for using screen information to generate contextually relevant suggestions (ie. the new Gemini Nano with multimodality) has been updated.
Google is preparing to push an update to Private Compute Services, the Android system app that securely handles ML model downloads, that adds support for displaying Dynamic Contextual Suggestions in the PCS network log (Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Android System Intelligence > Network usage log).
The network log will reflect whenever the on-device model for using screen information to generate contextually relevant suggestions (ie. the new Gemini Nano with multimodality) has been updated.
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While digging into Android 15's new audio sharing feature, I discovered something pretty unfortunate: The Pixel 8a and Pixel 7 series might not get it.
I sincerely hope this isn't the case, but the evidence I've seen suggests this will happen.
You can read why I think so in this article on Android Authority.
I sincerely hope this isn't the case, but the evidence I've seen suggests this will happen.
You can read why I think so in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Pixel 8a might miss out on Android 15's audio sharing feature
Code suggests that Android 15’s upcoming audio sharing feature won’t be available on the Pixel 8a or older Pixel devices.
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Do you work for an OEM or on an AOSP project and want to enable the USB webcam feature Google introduced in Android 14 (QPR1)?
Good news, because Google has recently published documentation on how to do so!
Use a device as a webcam
Good news, because Google has recently published documentation on how to do so!
Use a device as a webcam
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With "Quick Share V2," Google is working to bring Quick Share for Chrome OS in line with Quick Share for Android.
Google is also still working on enabling Wi-Fi Direct support in Chrome OS, which will speed up Quick Share transfers.
More details can be found in this Android Authority article.
Google is also still working on enabling Wi-Fi Direct support in Chrome OS, which will speed up Quick Share transfers.
More details can be found in this Android Authority article.
Android Authority
Quick Share may soon be enabled by default on every Chromebook
A new Chrome OS flag has appeared that enables the Quick Share feature by default, with visibility setting defaulting to “Your Devices.”
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
PSA for users with a Pixel 6, 6 Pro, or 6A: Factory resetting your phone seems to trigger a bug that results in your phone (soft) bricking itself. A member of the Pixel support forums' product expert program says that Google is aware of the issue and is investigating.…
Google confirmed that the bug bricking some Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a devices is triggered by factory resetting them immediately after rebooting into an updated system.
They now recommend that you do NOT factory reset your phone within 15 minutes of booting into a new update. For those who already have, Google says they've identified the root cause of this bug and will share more information soon.
Interestingly, some users receiving the July 2024 OTA update on their Pixel 6 series device report seeing a message in the OTA dialog warning them about this issue.
Image: Jalay Patel on Telegram
They now recommend that you do NOT factory reset your phone within 15 minutes of booting into a new update. For those who already have, Google says they've identified the root cause of this bug and will share more information soon.
Interestingly, some users receiving the July 2024 OTA update on their Pixel 6 series device report seeing a message in the OTA dialog warning them about this issue.
Image: Jalay Patel on Telegram
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Heads up to any Android developers with apps on Google Play:
Google Play's annual target API level ratcheting is coming up. By August 31, 2024:
Mobile/Android Auto: New apps and app updates must target Android 14 (API level 34). Existing apps have to target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
Wear OS: New apps and app updates must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher. Existing apps have to target Android 11 (API level 30) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
Android TV: New apps and app updates must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher. Existing apps have to target Android 12 (API level 31) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
You can request an extension to November 1 if you need more time to update. These requirements don't apply to permanently private apps or apps built for Android Automotive OS.
(I know this isn't really new information, but Google's support page detailing the target API level requirements hadn't been updated for this year until very recently, so some developers were wondering if the policy was still going to be updated. It will.)
Google Play's annual target API level ratcheting is coming up. By August 31, 2024:
Mobile/Android Auto: New apps and app updates must target Android 14 (API level 34). Existing apps have to target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
Wear OS: New apps and app updates must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher. Existing apps have to target Android 11 (API level 30) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
Android TV: New apps and app updates must target Android 13 (API level 33) or higher. Existing apps have to target Android 12 (API level 31) or higher to be discoverable by new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than your app's target API level.
You can request an extension to November 1 if you need more time to update. These requirements don't apply to permanently private apps or apps built for Android Automotive OS.
(I know this isn't really new information, but Google's support page detailing the target API level requirements hadn't been updated for this year until very recently, so some developers were wondering if the policy was still going to be updated. It will.)
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Google Chrome is rolling out predictive back gesture support on Android 15.
This lets users see whether a back navigation swipe will exit the app and take them to the home screen.
This lets users see whether a back navigation swipe will exit the app and take them to the home screen.
Android Authority
Google Chrome is rolling out predictive back gesture support on Android 15
Google Chrome is starting to roll out predictive back support which lets users see if a back swipe will take them to the home screen.
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Here's some mini...err, micro Fuchsia OS news for you on Friday:
Google is working on microfuchsia, a stripped down version of Fuchsia OS that's designed to run in a VM. And they're working on making it run on Android devices.
Read more on Android Authority.
Google is working on microfuchsia, a stripped down version of Fuchsia OS that's designed to run in a VM. And they're working on making it run on Android devices.
Read more on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google is bringing Fuchsia OS to Android devices, but not in the way you'd think
Google is working on “microfuchsia,” a stripped down version of the company’s Fuchsia operating system that runs on the Google Nest Hub.
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The updated Google Maps color scheme is coming to maps embedded in third-party mobile and web apps.
The default color scheme is being updated on the Google Maps Platform, so you might start seeing the new colors in third-party apps soon.
More details on this upcoming change can be found in this Android Authority article.
The default color scheme is being updated on the Google Maps Platform, so you might start seeing the new colors in third-party apps soon.
More details on this upcoming change can be found in this Android Authority article.
Android Authority
Google Maps' controversial new color scheme is coming to third-party apps
Google has announced that it's updating the default map style in the Google Maps Platform to match the mobile and web apps.
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Last year, the Linux maintainers decided to drop Linux kernel LTS timelines from 6 years to 2. Many were wondering how this would affect Android devices, and I now have an answer:
Google will support its Linux kernel forks for an additional 2 years after upstream LTS ends.
More details on how this will impact Android security can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Google will support its Linux kernel forks for an additional 2 years after upstream LTS ends.
More details on how this will impact Android security can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google extends Linux kernel support to keep Android devices secure for longer
Google has committed to a 4 year support lifetime for its Linux forks, starting with 6.6. This is longer than the 2-years for LTS kernels.
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Android 15 may soon be even more accessible for color blind users by letting them adjust the intensity of its color correction modes.
More details on this Android 15 accessibility change can be found in this article on Android Authority.
More details on this Android 15 accessibility change can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Android 15 may soon be even more accessible for color blind users
Android 15 is preparing to add an intensity slider to color correction settings that adjusts the intensity of each color correction mode.
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Android 15 is adding support for Thread connectivity, which will allow future smartphones with a Thread radio to control Matter devices locally.
More details can be found in this article.
More details can be found in this article.
Android Authority
Android 15 will let you control your Matter smart home devices over Thread, but only on some phones
Android 15 is adding a Thread network stack that, on some phones, will enable communicating with compatible smart home devices via Thread.
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Wear OS 5 is preparing to add a toggle for ultra-wideband (UWB), suggesting that future Android smartwatches will support the technology. This could let your watch pinpoint the location of item trackers or your car door.
More details can be found in this article over on Android Authority.
More details can be found in this article over on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Wear OS 5 prepares to add support for UWB ahead of Pixel Watch 3 launch
Code within the Wear OS 5 Developer Preview suggests that the upcoming update will add support for toggling UWB on supported smartwatches.
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