Yesterday, Daylight launched the DC1, a tablet with a REALLY interesting display that allegedly solves issues with both E Ink and RLCDs.
We have photos & videos from the launch event, and we found some interesting things.
The demo units at the event were using Niagara Launcher as the default home screen launcher!
Not only that, but the DC1 had Google Apps and a 120Hz refresh rate!
(Thanks to X user LordServerReset for sharing their photos, videos, and experience from the launch event.)
For more details, read this article.
We have photos & videos from the launch event, and we found some interesting things.
The demo units at the event were using Niagara Launcher as the default home screen launcher!
Not only that, but the DC1 had Google Apps and a 120Hz refresh rate!
(Thanks to X user LordServerReset for sharing their photos, videos, and experience from the launch event.)
For more details, read this article.
Android Authority
A first look at the Daylight DC1, the tablet with a potentially game-changing display
The Daylight DC1 is a new tablet that debuts with Live Paper display technology, which aims to solve one of the biggest issues with E-Ink.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Oh wow, Microsoft is ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA)! The Amazon Appstore on Windows and all apps and games dependent on WSA won't be supported starting March 5, 2025. Any apps or games you installed prior to today will still beโฆ
WSA might be sticking around after all, at least in China.
In March, Microsoft announced they were ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android after March 5, 2025. WSA lets you run Android apps & games on Windows PCs.
Today, Microsoft announced a partnership with Tencent to bring Tencent App Store mobile apps to the Microsoft Store. Microsoft's announcement doesn't explicitly mention WSA, but it sure sounds like WSA is sticking around, at least for users in China.
For example, the blog post mentions that the "computer version of Tencent App Store" will also rely on Intel Bridge (IBT) and Celadon to enable running ARM apps on x86 PCs. The underlying Android OS is based on Android 13, which was the last version WSA utilized. Android apps are treated like native Windows apps in terms of windowing/search/launching.
It makes sense for WSA to stick around in China, where people are more likely to actually want to run mobile games on PCs. Microsoft ending its Amazon Appstore partnership was likely due to a lack of use, making it hard to justify continued development.
H/T @MlgmXyysd
Edit: Another possibility is that the Microsoft Store will instead download/utilize Tencent's Android emulator instead of WSA. Tencent's emulator seemingly uses Project Celadon's CaaS images with VirtualBox. Their current images might be updated to Android 13, with improved multi-window functionality and Windows integration.
We won't know for sure what technology is used until this actually goes live, though. Thanks to @hmtheboy154 for pointing this other possibility out.
In March, Microsoft announced they were ending support for the Windows Subsystem for Android after March 5, 2025. WSA lets you run Android apps & games on Windows PCs.
Today, Microsoft announced a partnership with Tencent to bring Tencent App Store mobile apps to the Microsoft Store. Microsoft's announcement doesn't explicitly mention WSA, but it sure sounds like WSA is sticking around, at least for users in China.
For example, the blog post mentions that the "computer version of Tencent App Store" will also rely on Intel Bridge (IBT) and Celadon to enable running ARM apps on x86 PCs. The underlying Android OS is based on Android 13, which was the last version WSA utilized. Android apps are treated like native Windows apps in terms of windowing/search/launching.
It makes sense for WSA to stick around in China, where people are more likely to actually want to run mobile games on PCs. Microsoft ending its Amazon Appstore partnership was likely due to a lack of use, making it hard to justify continued development.
H/T @MlgmXyysd
Edit: Another possibility is that the Microsoft Store will instead download/utilize Tencent's Android emulator instead of WSA. Tencent's emulator seemingly uses Project Celadon's CaaS images with VirtualBox. Their current images might be updated to Android 13, with improved multi-window functionality and Windows integration.
We won't know for sure what technology is used until this actually goes live, though. Thanks to @hmtheboy154 for pointing this other possibility out.
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Chrome OS is getting deeper integration with Google's Gemini AI as well as other new features!
Quick Start makes it easier to set up your new Chromebook using your Android phone. Scan the QR code at setup and your phone will share Wi-Fi and Google account credentials.
Chrome OS is also adding a Game Dashboard similar to the one found on some Android phones. Game Dashboard lets you easily remap game controls, record gameplay with voiceover, take screenshots, and more.
I wanted to highlight Quick Start and Game Dashboard since they're Android-related, but if you want to hear about all the new Gemini-powered features and new Chromebook Plus laptops, check out our coverage on Android Faithful.
(Also, don't miss tonight's episode of the Android Faithful podcast, because we have a great interview with John Maletis, VP of ChromeOS at Google, where we talk a lot about these announcements!)
Quick Start makes it easier to set up your new Chromebook using your Android phone. Scan the QR code at setup and your phone will share Wi-Fi and Google account credentials.
Chrome OS is also adding a Game Dashboard similar to the one found on some Android phones. Game Dashboard lets you easily remap game controls, record gameplay with voiceover, take screenshots, and more.
I wanted to highlight Quick Start and Game Dashboard since they're Android-related, but if you want to hear about all the new Gemini-powered features and new Chromebook Plus laptops, check out our coverage on Android Faithful.
(Also, don't miss tonight's episode of the Android Faithful podcast, because we have a great interview with John Maletis, VP of ChromeOS at Google, where we talk a lot about these announcements!)
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Patreon, Grammarly, and Adobe are among the first third-party companies to get access to Google's on-device Gemini Nano model. Adobe will use Gemini Nano to summarize and let users ask questions about documents in Acrobat. More details can be found in thisโฆ
Grammarly says they'll leverage Gemini Nano to power on-device grammar suggestions on select Android devices that support the LLM (eg. Pixel 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 series).
Meanwhile, Patreon will be building a feature that lets creators quickly catch up on unread messages.
Meanwhile, Patreon will be building a feature that lets creators quickly catch up on unread messages.
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This news slipped under my radar due to Google I/O, but I think it's quite significant:
Goodix unveiled its ultrasonic under-display fingerprint technology, and it's already made its debut in the Vivo X100 Ultra. Ultrasonic fingerprint scanners can work even when fingers are wet or dirty and don't need the screen to be lit up.
However, the only one really making ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner modules thus far has been Qualcomm, and they're apparently pretty expensive. That's why we've only seen them in Samsung's flagships and a couple of other, mostly China-exclusive phones.
Goodix is a pretty well-known sensor vendor. Their optical under-display fingerprint scanners are used by pretty much everyone. Although Synaptics was the first to market with optical under-display fingerprint scanners, I believe Goodix is the market leader now, simply due to offering better prices. It'll be interesting to see if Goodix offering ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanners now will increase their adoption in smartphones. I'd be interested in learning how they compare in price to the company's optical sensors and Qualcomm's ultrasonic sensors.
Goodix unveiled its ultrasonic under-display fingerprint technology, and it's already made its debut in the Vivo X100 Ultra. Ultrasonic fingerprint scanners can work even when fingers are wet or dirty and don't need the screen to be lit up.
However, the only one really making ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner modules thus far has been Qualcomm, and they're apparently pretty expensive. That's why we've only seen them in Samsung's flagships and a couple of other, mostly China-exclusive phones.
Goodix is a pretty well-known sensor vendor. Their optical under-display fingerprint scanners are used by pretty much everyone. Although Synaptics was the first to market with optical under-display fingerprint scanners, I believe Goodix is the market leader now, simply due to offering better prices. It'll be interesting to see if Goodix offering ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanners now will increase their adoption in smartphones. I'd be interested in learning how they compare in price to the company's optical sensors and Qualcomm's ultrasonic sensors.
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We're finally getting a Google Home widget that'll let you control your favorite smart home devices right from your home screen!
Version 3.18.1.4 of the Google Home app has added support for this new "Favorites" widget, but the widget isn't actually available yet. The widget will give you "quick control of your actions, automations, and devices."
Here are screenshots courtesy of Nail Sadykov from the (unofficial) Google News Telegram group.
Version 3.18.1.4 of the Google Home app has added support for this new "Favorites" widget, but the widget isn't actually available yet. The widget will give you "quick control of your actions, automations, and devices."
Here are screenshots courtesy of Nail Sadykov from the (unofficial) Google News Telegram group.
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The Galaxy Watch will be getting a One UI 6 Watch beta next month! One UI Watch 6 will be based on Wear OS 5 which itself is based on Android 14.
Samsung will make this beta available to users with a Galaxy Watch 4 or later in the U.S. and Korea via the Samsung Members app.
The One UI Watch 6 beta will also bring several new Galaxy AI features to Samsung Health, such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips, as well as improvements to the sleep AI algorithm, new sleep indicators for Sleep Insights, new Aerobic Threshold/Anaerobic Threshold Heart Rate Zone metrics, Functional Threshold Power metrics, a new Workout Routine, and comparative measurements with Race.
Samsung will make this beta available to users with a Galaxy Watch 4 or later in the U.S. and Korea via the Samsung Members app.
The One UI Watch 6 beta will also bring several new Galaxy AI features to Samsung Health, such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips, as well as improvements to the sleep AI algorithm, new sleep indicators for Sleep Insights, new Aerobic Threshold/Anaerobic Threshold Heart Rate Zone metrics, Functional Threshold Power metrics, a new Workout Routine, and comparative measurements with Race.
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Google's Live Captions feature will soon add a grab bar that you can drag to quickly resize the window. This will let you increase the number of caption lines that are shown.
More details can be found in this article.
More details can be found in this article.
Android Authority
Google will soon let you resize Android's Live Captions feature
Androidโs Live Captions feature will soon add a grab bar that users can drag to change the number of lines shown for captions.
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Gemini Nano is about to roll out to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a, as promised!
One Pixel 8 user informed me today that they now have an "enable on-device GenAI Features" toggle under Settings > System > Developer options > AICore Settings. This toggle "enable[s] GenAI features that will run through AICore, using Gemini." This toggle was NOT enabled by default.
The user has version 0.release.pixel8.636144055 of AICore installed, which seems to be specific to the Pixel 8 (and possibly 8a as well).
Google previously said that Gemini Nano support is coming to the Pixel 8 and 8a with the June update, which will likely roll out next week.
One Pixel 8 user informed me today that they now have an "enable on-device GenAI Features" toggle under Settings > System > Developer options > AICore Settings. This toggle "enable[s] GenAI features that will run through AICore, using Gemini." This toggle was NOT enabled by default.
The user has version 0.release.pixel8.636144055 of AICore installed, which seems to be specific to the Pixel 8 (and possibly 8a as well).
Google previously said that Gemini Nano support is coming to the Pixel 8 and 8a with the June update, which will likely roll out next week.
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If you use Android and rely on hearing aids, I have some good news: Android 15 will significantly improve hearing aid support. Not only will LE Audio-enabled hearing aids be supported but the OS will also bring better management features.
More details can be found in this article.
More details can be found in this article.
Android Authority
Android 15 improves accessibility with better hearing aid support
Android 15 will improve the platformโs support for hearing aids by adding Bluetooth LE Audio support and better management controls.
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Google's latest Android feature drop is here, and it's one of the most exciting in recent memory!
Not only does this drop finally bring message editing in Google Messages, it also brings the new Google Home widget we just saw the other day. Also, the long-awaited cross-device features like instant hotspot and the ability to transfer calls between devices (starting with Meet).
More details on everything new can be found in this article.
Not only does this drop finally bring message editing in Google Messages, it also brings the new Google Home widget we just saw the other day. Also, the long-awaited cross-device features like instant hotspot and the ability to transfer calls between devices (starting with Meet).
More details on everything new can be found in this article.
Android Faithful
Android's latest feature drop makes your devices work better together
Google is rolling out 8 new exciting Android features to "elevate your everyday." Here's what they are.
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Heads up: Google says that Android's new Instant Hotspot feature won't be available on Samsung devices.
Here's what this means for you.
Here's what this means for you.
Android Authority
Android's new Instant Hotspot feature won't be available on Samsung devices
Instant Hotspot, which lets you easily connect your Android tablet or Chromebook to your phoneโs hotspot, wonโt work on Samsung devices.
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Gmail's new Quick Reply UI is official! Google announced today that they're rolling out a new UI in Gmail for Android that makes it easier to quickly reply to emails.
More details plus screenshots can be found in this article.
More details plus screenshots can be found in this article.
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This was too cool not to share: You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (as well as Ocarina of Time) natively on your Android phone, thanks to an unofficial port.
This might be the best way to experience these games. To learn how, read this article.
This might be the best way to experience these games. To learn how, read this article.
Android Authority
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask can now natively run on Android thanks to an unofficial port
You can now play The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask natively on Android thanks to unofficial ports.
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Google finally talked about Android's new note-taking features at last month's I/O. You'll be able to set a default note-taking app from a lock screen shortcut or stylus button press.
More details on these new features can be found in this article on Android Authority.
More details on these new features can be found in this article on Android Authority.
Android Authority
Google makes Android's new note-taking feature official in Android 15
Android 15 will let you set a default note-taking app that can be launched from the lock screen. Here's what else it can do.
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Google is enabling support for dynamic spatial audio over Bluetooth LE Audio in Android 15. LE Audio provides lower head-tracking latency and better bandwidth utilization, providing a more immersive audio experience.
More details on what this means can be found in this article on Android Authority.
More details on what this means can be found in this article on Android Authority.
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