An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.
Gboard v9.7.03 beta
We’ve spotted the following new features in Gboard v9.7.03 beta that has just begun rolling out:
While this string might look like the keyboard is just seemingly adding in a dedicated button for summoning Assistant, it is actually referring to the New Google Assistant (hence the “nga” in the string name), which is what the on-device, revamped Google Assistant is referred to, as found on the Google Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, and Pixel 4a.
This string is likely referring to the settings for the Smart Completions feature that was previously detailed.
Undo Auto-Correct on Backspace
<string name="setting_enable_ac_revert_summary">Return to original text when backspacing after an autocorrection</string>
<string name="setting_enable_ac_revert_title">Undo auto-correct on backspace</string>
This feature would help in reverting back to an unnecessary auto-correction, by simply undoing the auto-correct with a single backspace, instead of needing to go back and retype the word. Since the string appears within the setting sub-class, it will likely be a feature that you can toggle.
After several delays, Google finally launched its budget-friendly Pixel 4a earlier this month. The company also teased the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G and the flagship Pixel 5, which are scheduled to launch later this year. But while Google is yet to announce a launch date for its 2020 flagships, a recent report from 9to5Google reveals that the company has already started work on the Pixel 5a, a foldable Pixel device, and more.
The publication has managed to procure an internal Android document that lists builds of Android for all publicly-launched Pixel devices since the Pixel 2. The document lists builds for the recently launched Pixel 4a, the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G, the Pixel 5, the unannounced Pixel 5a (codenamed barbette), and three other devices currently in development under the codenames “raven,” “oriole,” and “passport.”
While the document doesn’t specify anything about “raven” and “oriole”, the device codenamed “passport” has been referred to as a foldable. These three devices are labeled as “Q4 2021,” which leads us to believe that a foldable Pixel smartphone may be launched next year.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time we’re hearing about a foldable Pixel smartphone. Back in May 2019, we learned that Google was working on a foldable Pixel, but the Pixel head at the time, Mario Queiroz, only confirmed that the company was “prototyping the technology.” Queiroz went on to say that Google had been doing that “for a long time” and that he didn’t think a foldable device had “a clear use case yet.”
While the document reveals no further information about these three devices, it reveals that the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 are scheduled to launch in October, which falls in line with Google’s recent teaser. Additionally, the document notes that the Google Pixel 5a is scheduled for a “Q2 2021” launch and it’s described as a “lower end mid year device.”
Even though the internal document does give us some hints about what Google has in store for us, we’d advise that you take all this information with a grain of salt. This is due to the fact that the document primarily focuses on Android development, so it may not mirror the plans of Google’s hardware team.
Update 1 (08/06/2020@01:27 AMET): OnePlus has shared some Always-On Display designs on Weibo, confirming that the feature is indeed on its way. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 29, 2020, is preserved below.
While Lau doesn’t explicitly say AOD is coming to OxygenOS 11, it’s hard not to make that conclusion considering OnePlus already committed to bringing the feature to its devices. In fact, it has been one of the community’s most-requested features for months now. Back in March, OnePlus officially added the feature to its software roadmap after overcoming initial power consumption tests. “We are working on fine-tuning AOD to make sure it is perfectly optimized,” said Gary C., an OxygenOS operations staff member.
OnePlus said it has entertained the idea of an AOD feature for a while, but it was apprehensive to release anything official due to power consumption issues. The company explained that AOD “could roughly consume about 350-500 mAh of the batter, which means you might get one or two hours deducted from your daily usage.”
Even still, OnePlus said that people deserve the option if they want it, and considering many popular Android devices already offer an always-on display feature, the company no doubt wanted to bring further feature parity to its devices.
Lau doesn’t provide an exact release date for the always-on display option, but with Android 11 set to drop on September 8, we could see the feature be available shortly after. Last year, OnePlus released an OxygenOS 10 stable update in September, so if history is anything to go by, OxygenOS 11 will begin rolling out in a matter of weeks.
Update: OnePlus confirms its Android 11 update will finally bring the highly-requested Always on Display feature
Pete Lau has shared a post on Weibo that confirms that the Android 11 update will finally bring back the Always-On Display feature to OnePlus smartphones. The attached video shows off a few design iterations before settling on a design. We reckon there might be a few options for users when the feature gets implemented, though there could be some slight design differences between OxygenOS 11 and HydrogenOS 11.
If you own a modern Samsung Galaxy smartphone, it just got a lot sweeter to also be a Windows 10 user. Microsoft on Wednesday announced a new feature that will allow users to access their Galaxy phone’s Android apps right beside their Windows applications.
The new functionality is part of an update to Microsoft’s Your Phone app and works with a variety of Samsung devices, including the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy S20, and at launch, the new Galaxy Note 20. You can see the full list of supported Samsung devices below.
Microsoft says users won’t need to sign in or set up apps on their PC, and you can even pin your favorite mobile apps to your Taskbar or Start menu. The update makes using Android apps on your Windows 10 PC much more convenient — and the fact that apps and your mirrored phone screen launch in separate windows on your PC makes multitasking even easier.
“Your Phone” Apps experience (Key Features):
See a list of your installed Android apps directly within the Your Phone app.
Add your frequently used apps to the favorites section or search among your apps for even quicker access.
Launch any mobile app directly from your PC.
Apps and your mirrored phone screen launch in a separate window on your PC.
Pin your mobile apps to Windows Task bar or Start menu.
Stay in the know by keeping an eye on the app notification badging (unread notifications) in the All apps list or your Favorites.
Microsoft notes that there are some known issues and limitations with the Apps feature at the moment. Some apps may block the ability to cast to other screens, so you might see a black screen. Meanwhile, some games and apps may not respond to a mouse and keyboard, while audio from some apps might continue to play on your mobile device rather than on your PC.
The apps experience in the Your Phone app is currently gradually rolling out to users running a Windows 10 Insiders Build on a PC configured to be in the Dev, Beta, or Release Preview Channels. The feature is arriving as part of a server-side update, so not all users on the latest Windows 10 Insider build will get the feature at the same time. The feature itself only requires a PC running the Windows 10 October 2018 update or later and an Android smartphone running Android 9 Pie or later with Link to Windows integration (which is currently limited to multiple Samsung Galaxy models).
As part of today’s Galaxy Note 20 launch, Microsoft also announced that an upcoming update to Your Phone will let users run multiple Android apps side by side. This feature won’t be available until sometime later this year and will be exclusive to the Galaxy Note 20 at first, but Microsoft and Samsung will likely work to bring it to more Samsung devices.
Update 1 (08/05/2020 @ 09:12 PM ET): Microsoft has announced that they’ll launch their xCloud game streaming service on September 15th. They have also shared a partial list of titles that will be supported at launch. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 16, 2020, is preserved below.
Don’t own a powerful PC or a newer console? No problem: Thanks to cloud game streaming services, you don’t have to dish out hundreds of dollars to enjoy the best that the gaming industry has to offer. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service lets you play Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding with DLSS 2.0 enabled while Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service offers arguably the lowest latency and highest quality for its selection of games. Microsoft’s competing Project xCloud, which offers up a range of popular Xbox titles, has been in preview for a few months but will soon launch for everyone later this year.
Gaming hardware keeps getting more and more expensive: consoles like the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X are not expected to cost any less than $500 at launch, while a decent gaming PC that can play AAA games will set you back even more. That’s why game streaming has become attractive; you can play many games without needing expensive hardware aside from a controller and a decent Internet connection. The three major game streaming services have wildly different models: NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW lets customers play from select titles in their existing Steam/Epic Games library, Stadia requires users to purchase titles from its online store, and Project xCloud lets users play over a hundred Xbox Game Pass titles. NVIDIA has a free tier with limited playtime and fewer quality options, Stadia has a Pro tier that gives users free games from time-to-time, and Project xCloud requires a monthly subscription fee but offers many games upfront.
In September, Project xCloud will be exiting preview, so invites won’t be required anymore. Microsoft is combining Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and xCloud game streaming into a single $15 per month subscription called Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. According to The Verge, Microsoft won’t always limit xCloud to the $15/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier, though Microsoft did not share concrete details on future subscription plans. At launch, you’ll be able to play from over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on supported devices, including Android phones or tablets. However, Microsoft hasn’t shared a list of games that will be available at launch, nor have they shared which specific phone and tablet models will be supported.
Support for DualShock 4 controllers and PC streaming are still planned to happen, though no specific announcements have been made today. Microsoft hasn’t announced which countries they’ll launch the service in, though the current preview includes multiple European nations. Lastly, Microsoft told The Verge that Project xCloud won’t be the final name of the service, though the company hasn’t settled on what they’re going to call it at launch.
Here’s what Microsoft announced on their official Xbox blog earlier today:
Finally, today we’re announcing that this September, in supported countries, we’re bringing Xbox Game Pass and Project xCloud together at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With cloud gaming in Game Pass Ultimate, you will be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet. And because Xbox Live connects across devices, you can play along with the nearly 100 million Xbox Live players around the world. So when Halo Infinite launches, you and your friends can play together and immerse yourselves in the Halo universe as Master Chief—anywhere you go and across devices.
Cloud gaming in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate means your games are no longer locked to the living room. You can connect more than ever with friends and family through gaming. And just like you do with your movie and music streaming services, when cloud gaming launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you can continue your game wherever you left off on any of your devices.
Update 1: September 15th Launch, Partial Game List Revealed
In a blog post published yesterday, Microsoft revealed that it plans to launch its cloud gaming service, xCloud, on September 15th. As the company had previously revealed, access to xCloud will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate monthly subscription, which will cost $1 for the first month followed by $15 per month after that. At launch, users will have access to over 100 titles, 36 of which Microsoft revealed today to publications like The Verge.
Here’s the partial list of games that will be available at launch:
Partial list of supported Xbox titles on Microsoft xCloud
Ark: Survival Evolved
Bleeding Edge
Costume Quest 2
Crackdown 3 (campaign)
Destiny 2
F1 2019
Forza Horizon 4
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
Gears of War 4
Gears 5 Ultimate Edition
Grounded
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
Halo Wars 2
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Halo: Spartan Assault
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Killer Instinct Definitive Edition
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Minecraft Dungeons
The Outer Worlds
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Quantum Break
ReCore: Definitive Edition
Ryse: Son of Rome
Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
Sunset Overdrive
Super Lucky’s Tale
Tell Me Why
The Bard’s Tale Trilogy
Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut
Wasteland 3
Wasteland Remastered
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Here are the 22 countries that Microsoft says xCloud will be available in at launch:
List of countries where Microsoft xCloud will launch in
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Spain
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States
Microsoft partnered with Razer and PowerA for new mobile gaming controllers designed for Xbox. Pre-ordering the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 will allow you to redeem PowerA’s new controller as well as a free 3-month Xbox Game Pass subscription. The future of xCloud on iOS is up in the air, though, as The Verge notes that Microsoft recently ended its xCloud preview for the platform without specifying plans for a future launch.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is here, and with a starting price of $1299, it’s definitely an investment. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the heaviest Samsung smartphones to-date, and trust me from personal experience, the added weight and large proportions of my similarly-sized Galaxy S20 Ultra resulted in more than one drop. Thankfully, I had a case on it and it survived, and some of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases featured below could also save your shiny new phone. We’ll be updating this post with new options as they pop up so check back frequently!
One of a handful of first-party accessories, this Kvadrat Cover might be one of Samsung's best looking accessories. It's made from sustainable materials and looks and feels great!
Why put a thick case on a thin phone like the Galaxy Note 20? Keep those sleek curves and guard against scratches with this minimalist case from Ringke, which protects without being too bulky.
Add style and texture to an already stylish phone with the Parallax series from Caseology. Not only does it protect, but it also adds a colorful pattern to the rear of your phone!
Samsung's official leather cover remains the best choice, and there's this year, your color choices include black, brown and green. Based on previous Samsung leather covers, this one should also survive many months of use.
If you want something truly custom that also protects your phone, the dbrand Grip Case fits the bill. It's extremely protective, but you can customize the design using one of the many skin types available.
When it comes to cases, you've probably heard of Spigen. The company has a lot of popular products, but the Liquid Air brings added grip and a beautiful symmetry and uniformity that really appeals to us.
If you're looking for a case that really protects your phone, the Incipio DualPro is designed with protection in mind, including a drop test rating of 10 feet, shock-absorbing inner core and raised bezels to protect your screen.
The Ringke Fusion X is one of the company's most popular case line-ups, combining a clear back so you can show off your stunning new smartphone with protective features like a raised lip and rugged exterior.
Instead of a thick case, show off your phone's natural beauty while keeping it protected with this beautiful Caseology Skyfall case, which is available in 3 colors. I've used one before and it's a fantastic case!
Want a case with some grip that matches the color of your phone perfectly? Look no further than Samsung's official silicone cover, which comes in Black, White and 'Brown', which is actually Pink in color.
Being able to prop up your phone while you're out and about is one of the big selling points for this case. Others include raised screen and camera bezels to protect against scratches, and additional grip.
If all you want is a super-slim case, look no further. This won't provide you a lot of protection against drops, but your phone will still remain sleek. It's also available in gorgeous Red and Blue colors.
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is a large phone with a considerable amount of weight to it, so you’ll want to factor this in when deciding which case to buy. The larger size also means you’ll want to look at how much grip a case provides. If you’re set on a slimline case, the Ringke Air-S case provides protection without being too bulky. Our favorite pick is the Samsung Kvadrat Cover which looks stylish while protecting your phone.
If you need something a little more rugged, the Incipio DualPro comes with some serious claims, including being able to withstand a 10-foot drop and helping to protect against scratches with raised bezels. Considering the $1300 starting price tag of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, this might be the most protective case for your investment.
Google is making it easier to discover content on Android TV. The search giant on Wednesday introduced a feature that brings a carousel of recommended content above your favorite apps row.
Google says the types of content that will show up in this carousel includes cinematic teasers for the most popular movies and shows, and the content will be chosen by Google Play’s entertainment experts. Suggestions from other streaming services can also show up in this space if you link them to your Google account.
Sponsored content from media partners will also show up in this carousel, Google said. The good news is all content will be clearly labeled, so you’ll know when something is a paid advertisement.
Google is also making it far easier to subscribe to a third-party service. If a show you want to watch is on Epix Now, for example, and you don’t have an account, Google will make signing up a breeze by using the email address you have on file. Google first teased this feature during I/O 2019 last year and started piloting it earlier this year with a limited number of apps and services.
The new “Subscribe and install” feature will work with the Starz app, DC Universe, and Epix NOW, with support for other services coming soon.
It’s been a while since the last significant Android TV update, so it’s nice to see new features. Recently, we uncovered evidence that Google is gearing up to launch a new Android TV, so perhaps these new features are preparing consumers for something bigger to come.
