The Pixel Launcher Editor is a combination of a Magisk module and Substratum theme that lets Pixel users build their own custom theme for the stock launcher on their devices. The mod was created by XDA Senior Member eg1122, and it’s already available for the Pixel 3/3 XL, Pixel 3a/3a XL, Pixel 4/4 XL, and the Pixel 4a. And even though it’s just been slightly over a month since Google officially unveiled the Pixel 5, the developer has now released the mod for the company’s latest flagship.
For those of you who haven’t used the Pixel Launcher Editor on an older Pixel device, the mod essentially lets you build your own unique theme for the Pixel Launcher and apply it to your device with Substratum. It offers a bunch of customization options, including:
Change the app grid layout in the home screen and app drawer (4×5 to 7×8)
Remove 3 button navigation bar
Customize or remove the Google search bar from the home screen & app drawer
Change the app drawer text color (20+ colors)
Change the app drawer background (20+ colors)
Add up to 11 app icons in the dock
Change the folder text color (20+ colors)
Change the folder background color (20+ colors)
Change app icon size (from 36 to 72 in increments of 2)
Change home text color (20+ colors)
Change folder trim color (20+ colors)
Change text size (from 11 to 18) or remove it entirely
Hide the at a glance widget
Using the aforementioned features in the Pixel Launcher Editor, you can create various custom themes for the Google Pixel 5. As you can see in the screenshots, the mod offers a variety of settings and color options to help you customize the launcher exactly to your preference.
Do note that since the Pixel Launcher Editor makes use of Magisk and Substratum, you will need to root your device for it to work successfully. Once you have rooted your Pixel 5, check the forum thread below for the installation instructions. In case you find the written instructions hard to follow, you can check out this video to see how to set it all up.
Spotify is apparently entertaining the idea of launching a subscription podcast service as it looks to build out an empire beyond streaming music. The alleged service was hinted at in a survey from Spotify seemingly designed for market research.
The survey, spotted by Andrew Wallenstein of Variety’s Intelligence Platform, indicates Spotify is considering four subscription podcast plans, ranging in price from $3 to $8 per month. The most expensive plan would feature exclusive content, early access to some episodes, and no ads. The cheapest option, meanwhile, would offer access to exclusive interviews and episodes, but there would still be ads.
The price of Spotify’s subscription podcast plan would come in addition to a premium music subscription, which starts at $9.99 per month. It’s unclear if Spotify is considering any music and podcast bundles. Currently, Spotify offers access to thousands of podcasts for free.
In a statement to The Verge, Spotify said that the survey doesn’t necessarily mean a product will be released.
“At Spotify, we routinely conduct a number of surveys in an effort to improve our user experience,” the statement said. “Some of those end up paving the path for our broader user experience and other serve only as important learnings.”
Spotify has made podcasts a major part of its platform over the past few years, notably signing exclusive deals with Michelle Obama and Joe Rogan. The company is seemingly so confident in its podcasts that it believes people would consider paying for the content.
Spotify is already the largest music streaming service on the market and is steadily building up a massive podcast audience. With a user base already in place, there’s certainly be a big opportunity for Spotify, because as The Verge points out, it could make money without having to pay any licensing fees or royalties to stream the podcasts. It may not be a matter of if, but when.
Flagship smartphones have gotten substantially more expensive in the last few years, so many OEMs and carriers offer payment programs to give consumers the option of paying a fraction of the price each month over a period of 24 or more months. But what do you do if something unexpected happens and you can’t make a payment for a month or two?
Well, what happens when you default on your device payment plan depends on the company that issued you the loan. Verizon in the U.S., for instance, gives you a chance to set up a payment arrangement before going to collections and shutting off your network access, while Samsung India restricts device functionality based on how long the debt has been outstanding. It seems like Google wants to make it easier for banks or other credit providers to implement the latter method of debt collection.
Earlier today, we spotted an app on the Google Play Store called “Device Lock Controller” (h/t @JasonBayton). Here’s the app’s description on Google Play:
Device Lock Controller enables device management for credit providers. Your provider can remotely restrict access to your device if you don’t make payments. If your device is restricted, basic functionality, such as emergency calling and access to settings, will still be available.
The app makes use of Android’s DeviceAdminService API to remotely control device functionality. This is the same API that enterprises use to control what employees can do with their work phones. Companies that distribute phones to their employees typically preload apps that use this API, so there’s no way to disable them. Presumably, a credit provider, such as a bank or other financial institution, can preload Google’s Device Lock Controller app before loaning a device to their customers, and if that customer is unable to make a payment, they can remotely lock them out of their phone.
The Device Lock Controller app does not appear when you search Google Play or when you look through the Play Store landing page for all apps made by Google. However, the developer of this app is clearly Google, so we reached out to the company for comment but have not heard back prior to the publication of this article.
My feelings on this app are mixed, but mostly negative. I understand that creditors are taking a risk when providing loans, but I think it’s rather counterproductive to disable access to most functionality. A smartphone is the primary computing device for millions of people, especially for those who can’t afford a PC and in-home Internet. Sure, the Device Lock Controller app still lets you place and receive phone calls, but so much business is conducted over the Internet these days that it’s really important to stay connected.
What kind of tablet you want to buy will depend a lot on what you want to use it for. Some tablets are practically mini-laptops in their right, being able to effortlessly launch productivity apps and even do some light gaming. But these sorts of tablets are expensive, and they don’t feel quite right without an expensive keyboard cover as well. If you’re just looking for something to watch or read with during a commute, you don’t need to pay several hundred dollars for a tablet. For that, something like the Fire HD 8 tablet will work better for you.
Normally, the Fire HD 8 is $90, which is a bit steep, but the tablet regularly goes on sale, especially during this time of the year. Right now, you can grab yourself this Amazon tablet for just $55, as part of Alexa’s Birthday Deals. Available in Black, Plum, Twilight Blue, and White, the Fire HD 8 is a simple tablet designed to get all of your portable entertainment all in one place. Whether it’s reading books with the Kindle app, watching shows or streaming music, this tablet is able to do that all, without all the bells and whistles of more expensive tablets.
Some people have issues with the Fire tablet’s UI, but don’t worry, as there is an easy solution for that. With a price like this and a simple workaround available, what are you waiting for?
Need a simple tablet that lets you easily take your entertainment on the go? The Fire 8HD is the tablet for you. Now only $55, with a quick workaround this is a great tablet for reading books, streaming movies and shows, and plenty more!
The Fire 8 HD isn’t the only tablet on sale for Alexa’s birthday, either. The Fire 10 HD is also on sale, down to $80. It’s up to you whether the new model is worth an extra $25, though. If you’re looking for something for the kiddo in your life, the Fire 7 Kids Edition is only $60, and would make a fantastic holiday gift. These are plenty more Amazon devices are part of this limited-time sale, so if you’re looking to get some holiday shopping done early, don’t delay!
Throughout the year, we’ve seen evidence Google might introduce premium editing features to Google Photos that would be locked behind a paywall. At first, we thought that Google would introduce new editing features that required a Google One membership, but now it looks like the company is already testing locking existing features behind a paywall.
Shortly after we published our teardown of Google Photos 5.18 confirming that a Google One paywall for photo editing features is in the works, a reader in the comments section informed us that the Color Pop feature is locked behind a Google One membership for him. We’ve attached the two screenshots shared by the user, and we’ve also added two screenshots showing off the Color Pop feature in action (this was from a Google account that doesn’t have a Google One subscription).
Google first introduced the Color Pop feature to the Google Photos app in May of 2018, shortly after the company’s I/O developer conference. The feature essentially keeps the subject in color while turning the background black and white (or vice versa), allowing the subject to “pop.” It’s a fun feature, and seemingly one Google thinks is advanced enough to convince people to pay for.
It’s unclear what other premium editing features will be put behind a paywall. However, we recently uncovered strings of code in version 5.18 that suggest Google will introduce preprocessing suggestions and a Skypalette feature, which will include new filters to help users edit the sky.
The changes come on the heels of a major redesign to the Google Photos editor. The company also recently added a print service that will send subscribers 10 high-quality photo prints each month for $6.99. Google Photos has been one of Google’s best services since its introduction in 2015, offering free, unlimited storage for photos up to 16 MP. These new features might be Google’s way of trying to better monetize the service.
We reached out to Google PR for confirmation about the changes, but we haven’t heard back before the publication of this article.
One year after the Home Assistant Companion for Android was released in the Play Store, the app is getting a major update to version 3.0. The app’s developer published a blog post on Friday celebrating the milestone, and also shared some details about what’s new in the update.
The list of new features is long, so we’re not going to cover every single change. There are, however, a few standout additions, including integration with Android 11’s power menu. Users will be able to add scenes, scripts, and automations made in Home Assistant — almost all entities are available.
The developer said improvements have also been made to notifications. For example, Home Assistant 3.0 can use make use of the alarm stream to bypass a device’s ringer mod setting. The developer said this could be useful in the event of an alarm being triggered. Users will also be able to open another app with an actionable notification.
Home Assistant 3.0 also introduces new sensors and enhancements to the overall sensor experience. Some of the new sensors include keyguard sensors, last notification sensors, and a last update trigger, which will “represent the reason for the last update that was sent to your Home Assistant instance.” As for sensor settings, the developer made some changes so custom settings can help with what updates actually get sent to your Home Assistant instance.
There are many, many more new features available in Home Assistant 3.0, which you can see in the list below. You can also track any issues related to the app’s integration with Android 11’s power menu. The big update is rolling out on Android starting today.
Lokalise: updates (#1147)
Add ability to opt out of crash reporting. (#1143)
Fix for sensor attributes of data type Long (#1145)
Fix toast message during database migration failure (#1141)
Allow TTS notification to speak as loud as possible using alarm stream, then restore volume (#1139)
Sentry Filtering (#1138)
Catch all cursor errors so migration can proceed (#1137)
Add screenshot section to PR template (#1135)
Add PR template (#1134)
Fixes button widget dark icon, really this time (#1133)
Add last update sensor (#1131)
Revert material bump as it introduced a dark theme issue with the widgets (#1130)
Allow sending broadcast intents to other apps via notification (#1129)
Add exception handling and correct null values in fan control for power menu (#1128)
Add sleep as android sensors for users that have the app (#1124)
Add feature to override device language (#1083)
Remove location request if background is disabled by itself (#1123)
Skip widget updates if the network connection is not active (#1122)
Correct battery level icon to better match its state (#1121)
Skip location update if the time of location is not as expected (#1119)
Add preference for background access. (#1118)
Limit the state of last notification to 255 (#1116)
Update widgets with the screen on intent so they appear to be more up to date (#1115)
Allow deleting widgets from the manage widget screen in case the widget was lost (#1114)
Bump dependencies (#1110)
Make media player widget editable (#1104)
Make button widget editable (#1102)
Locks and better lights in power menu (#1100)
Remove device_class from battery state sensor (#1101)
Add translations to power menu (#1099)
Add automations and scripts to power menu controls (#1098)
Make template widgets editable (#1097)
Explicit prompt for location (#1096)
Show a toast failure when widgets fail to get data (#1093)
Only promote sensor worker to foreground service if there is at least 1 sensor enabled (#1092)
Allow editing of the entity state widget in settings (#1084)
Ensure that we default to expected values to meet requirements for android power menu (#1088)
Fix power menu long press activity so it doesnt load black screen (#1090)
Fix weekly build
Change play store publish to weekly (#1087)
Update distribution plugin. (#1079)
Try a better approach for checking for daily changes. (#1073)
Add privacy policy (#1075)
Remove call number sensor due to policy changes at Google. (#1072)
Notification history filter options (#1069)
Request background location after requesting accurate location. (#1067)
Update to Gradle 6.7. (#1066)
Only check redirect uri if it starts with AUTH_CALLBACK (#1068)
Fix light sensor control (#1065)
Allow Play Store beta to be manually kicked off. (#1063)
Update Play Publisher Plugin (#1062)
Power Menu button enhancements (#1061)
Fix fan speed for non int fan speeds. (#1060)
Add Gradle Build Scans (#1050)
Power Menu Enhancements (#1057)
Allow notifications from history to be deleted one at a time or all at once (#1058)
Fix migration for Notifications. (#1056)
Add notification history page to settings (#1054)
Clean up a bunch of warnings. (#1053)
Geofencing Improvements (#1048)
Lokalise: updates (#1049)
Fix alert dialog background (#1043)
Update AGP, Kotlin. (#1047)
Allow customizing keystore path with KEYSTORE_PATH environment variable (#1045)
Fix listing all apps after target SDK change (#1044)
Allow TTS notifications to use the alarm stream (#1037)
Allow control of device ringer mode via notification (#1036)
Rename notification dismissed to notification cleared for event type limit (#1041)
More skippable intents (#1038)
Remove attributes part 2 (#1035)
Created a media player control widget (#1005)
Allow overriding PUSH_URL and RATE_LIMIT_URL in gradle.properties (#1032)
Remove redundant buildscript declaration (#1029)
Fix sentry crash after target SDK change (#1034)
Initial Support for Android 11 Power Menu Actions (#1027)
Allow control of DND via notification (#1024)
Fix sorting of sensors on the manage sensor screen (#1026)
Add notification rate limit info to settings (#1015)
Last Notification Sensor (#1018)
Allow notifications to use the alarm stream (#1019)
Add Stale Bot (#1014)
Send an event when a notification is dismissed (#1012)
Allow notifications to do TTS (#1011)
Update readme push_url link after refactor (#1010)
Attempt to request accurate location quicker. (#1008)
Allow opening of apps via notifications. (#1007)
Allow all sensors to be enabled or disabled at once (#1006)
Add keyguard sensors (#1004)
Add migration fallback, improve crash handling (#996)
Fix sensor worker blank text (#1003)
Start sensor worker when the app is updated (#1002)
Refactor widgets into packages and add previews to interface. (#1000)
Remove old migrations since we use room now. (#999)
Ensure that we don’t write to tags unless explicitly asked to do so. (#998)
Incoming/Outgoing phone number tracking (#978)
Lokalise: Translations update (#995)
Speed up sensor details screen (#997)
Resource cleanup! (#994)
Split permissions per sensor enity (#991)
Make on-boarding a more streamlined experience (#989)
Add file chooser to webview (#986)
Fix changelog link by removing full and minimal reference (#980)
Add a link to the change log in app configuration (#975)
Thanks to @tonypalus on Twitter for the tip and screenshot!
Last week, we did a camera showdown between the Apple iPhone 12 and the Google Pixel 5. Today, it’s time for an overall comparison that takes into account everything else about the two latest phones from the two tech superpowers.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5: Specification Comparison
Specifications
Apple iPhone 12
Google Pixel 5
Build
Aluminum mid-frame
Glass front and back
“Ceramic Shield” for glass protection
Recycled aluminum unibody
Glass front
Gorilla Glass 6
Dimensions & Weight
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.4mm
162 grams (Global) / 164 grams (USA)
144.7 x 70.4 x 8mm
151 grams
Display
6.1″ Super Retina XDR OLED Display
2,532 x 1,170 resolution, 460 PPI
60Hz refresh rate
6″ OLED Display
2,340 x 1,080 resolution, 432 PPI
90Hz refresh rate
SoC
Apple A14 Bionic SoC
Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
Storage Options
64GB
128GB
256GB
128GB
Battery & Charging
2,815 mAh battery as per certification listings
15W wireless charging with MagSafe
7.5W Qi wireless charging
4,080 mAh battery
12W Qi wireless charging
18W wired charging
Security
Face ID (TrueDepth camera for facial recognition)
Rear Fingerprint Sensor
Rear Camera(s)
Primary: 12MP
Secondary: 12MP, Ultra-wide angle
Primary: 12.2MP Sony IMX363
Secondary: 16MP, Ultra-wide angle
Front Camera(s)
12MP, f/2.2
8MP, f/2.0
Port(s)
Proprietary Lightning port
USB-C
Connectivity
5G: Sub 6GHz
mmWave for USA
Ultra-Wide Band (UWB)
Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2×2 MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
5G: Sub 6GHz
mmWave for USA
Wi‑Fi 5 (802.11ac)
Bluetooth 5.0
Software
iOS 14
Android 11
Other Features
IP68
Colors: Black, White, Red, Blue, Green
IP68
Colors: Green, Black
Pricing
Starts at $799
Starts at $699
Design, Look and Feel
The Apple iPhone 12 and Google Pixel 5, with a 6.1-inch and 6-inch screen respectively, can be considered “small” phones. While the iPhone 12 is a glass sandwich with a boxy design with hard and wide flat sides, the Pixel 5 has a curvy, unibody build connected to the screen (or in the case of some units, almost connected to the screen).
Google Pixel 5 and iPhone 12
The Google Pixel 5’s screen, with a 90Hz refresh rate, is technically “faster” than the iPhone 12’s 60Hz. However, because iOS animations are so well optimized and because the Pixel has never been the zippiest phone, I don’t notice a huge difference in animation fluidity or an overall sense of speed. This doesn’t mean I’m not a believer in high refresh rates. I think OnePlus’s and Xiaomi’s 90Hz are very well optimized and look superior to the Pixel’s 90Hz. Their 120Hz panels are even better. But as far as the Pixel goes, it’s not all that different from the iPhone.
Google Pixel 5 and iPhone 12
But despite the refresh rate not being a huge difference to my eyes, I still prefer the Pixel 5’s screen because it doesn’t have a giant notch. The Google Pixel 5 is also the rare Android phone with bezels that are entirely uniform on all four sides.
Pixel 5 and iPhone 12
That notch on the Apple iPhone 12, of course, is to house a 3D facial scanning system, which Apple calls Face ID. Google tried this tech last year with the Pixel 4 but switched back to a traditional fingerprint scanner with the Pixel 5. This move was likely done to cut costs, but it worked out well for Google. Needing to rely on face scanning to unlock a phone is annoying in this era of face masks. Plus, I just find the notch an eyesore.
Google Pixel 5 and iPhone 12
In my opinion, I think the iPhone 12 looks more striking — the aggressive edges give it the feeling of a fine-tuned machine — but I prefer the in-hand feel of the Google Pixel 5.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5: Internal Components
This area is a clear win for Apple, as it’s packed with cutting-edge premium components whereas the Pixel 5 is held back in several areas because it never intended to be a high-end flagship.
The biggest difference is in silicon: The iPhone 12 runs on Apple’s brand new 5nm A14 Bionic, while the Google Pixel 5 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G. In normal daily use for the average consumer, the difference in power between the two processors will be hard to notice. But perform more intensive tasks and the differences become clear. The most jarring experience to me is that the iPhone 12 can make wholesale edits to a 4K/60fps video (not just basic edits like trimming video length, but also cropping into the video, rotating it, or applying filters) and render the new clip within seconds, whereas on the Google Pixel 5, a far more basic video editing (just trimming length) would take longer to render.
As for benchmark scores, it’s a lopsided affair, with the iPhone 12 easily beating the Pixel 5 in Geekbench 5 and 3DMark’s Wild Life stress test.
It’s not just processing power, as the Apple iPhone 12 also sports a noticeably superior haptic engine and stereo speaker system. The Google Pixel 5’s haptics are a slight step back from the Pixel 4’s excellent vibrations, and its under-display speaker pumps out a weak sound.
The Pixel 5 has a larger battery and more RAM. The former does give the Pixel 5 a slight edge over the iPhone 12 in battery endurance, but the latter doesn’t matter much given the difference in memory management by their respective software.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5: Cameras
Google’s Pixel series, starting with the Pixel 2, earned a well-deserved reputation as the best phone for still photos thanks to its at-the-time unique approach of focusing mostly on software image processing instead of caring about hardware prowess like megapixel count or sensor size. But in 2020, Apple has closed the gap significantly in computational photography smarts.
Both smartphone cameras rely heavily on software — using multiple images to produce HDR shots during the day, and defaulting to night mode at night — and the results are quite evenly matched.
The iPhone 12 performs shoots better video, but the Pixel 5 does better in still photography
I wrote a dedicated article comparing the cameras of the iPhone 12 and Pixel 5, so please do check it out. But the TL;DR version is that the iPhone 12 performs better in low light situations, and shoots more dynamic, stable videos, while the Pixel 5 produces better portraits/bokeh effects and has color science that is more visually appealing to my tastes.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5: Software
I prefer Android over iOS on my smartphones, because the extra levels of customization help my productivity significantly
The Apple iPhone 12 runs on iOS 14, while the Google Pixel 5 runs Android 11. For the most part, I prefer Android over iOS on my smartphones, because the extra levels of customization help my productivity significantly. For example, I use my phone one-handed often, and Android letting me place all my apps at the bottom of the screen allows for far easier thumb reach than iOS’s annoying “top down, left to right” grid. Android’s superior notification management system is more intuitive to use. I like being able to run two apps at the same time via split-screen mode, which iPhones do not support even in 2020.
So the Google Pixel 5’s software gets the win over the iPhone 12’s software by default for me because I prefer Android, but there’s a bit more to the story this year. I am not a fan of Google’s decision to disallow the removal of the Google search bar or clock widget at the bottom and top of the Pixel Launcher’s homescreen respectively. This is a draconian move that feels Apple-esque, though we should note that Android at least still lets you change the launcher. But I still think the iPhone 12 blends more seamlessly with other Apple products than the Pixel 5 does with other Google or Android products. For example, if I turn on Apple TV and have an iPhone nearby, I can use the iPhone as a remote control. And if I have enough storage on iCloud, any files on my Macbook desktop are automatically available for access on my iPhone as long as I have an Internet connection.
Apple iPhone 12 vs Google Pixel 5: Overall Performance and Use
Day to day use with either device has been enjoyable. Both the Google Pixel 5 and the Apple iPhone 12 can connect to Hong Kong’s sub-6GHz 5G networks. I have noticed the Pixel 5 suffers from the occasional stutter and app freeze — nothing major, but it’s still worth mentioning considering the phone is in its first month of life. I have not encountered such issues with the iPhone 12, but it heats up very fast when performing intensive tasks like gaming or exporting videos. Basic games like Sonic Dash run exactly the same on both phones, but heavier games like PUBG run at a noticeably higher framerate with better textures on the iPhone 12 than on the Pixel 5. As for battery life, the Pixel 5 lasts longer for me every day I carried both phones.
Conclusion: Different Phones for Different People
The Apple iPhone 12 is definitely the more powerful phone if you are a heavy user who games or does minor creative work like editing photos and video on a phone. The iPhone 12 also shoots better video. But if still photography is your thing, the Google Pixel 5 still produces shots that are visually more appealing in my opinion. There’s also a $100 price difference, which could be chump change or quite a bit of savings, depending on your personal situation.
But ultimately, the decision between the two should come down to brand loyalty or ecosystem preferences. The problem for Google is, the loyalty factor is far more niche. Just because you prefer Android doesn’t mean you want the Pixel, as there are so many excellent or better value devices from Samsung, OnePlus, and more. People who buy Pixels seemingly want to go out of their way to support Google or the Pixel brand, whereas the iPhone is the default generic choice for anyone who isn’t particularly set on Android.
In the U.S., the iPhone 12 starts at $799 for the base 64GB model, while the Pixel 5 costs $699 for its singular 128GB configuration. In the UK and the rest of Europe, the iPhone 12 starts at £799 and €876.30 respectively, while the Pixel 5 comes in at a price of £599 and €613.14 respectively.
