🧲 The Pixel 9 Pro Fold may get a new setting that helps it work better with magnetic cases

Google is working on a new "robust open/close detection" feature that makes it easier for Android to tell when the Pixel Fold has been opened or closed👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-fold-open-close-detection-3526651/

⌨️ You can now play Android games on PC with only a keyboard

Google Play Games on PC has been updated to let you map your keyboard presses to touch inputs.

Screenshots of this new feature can be found👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/remap-controls-google-play-games-on-pc-3526996/

Found some more info on the new Live Updates feature in Android 16, which lets progress-centric notifications appear prominently on the lock screen/AOD and also show a tiny chip in the status bar for ongoing alerts.

This is the API (setShortCriticalText) that apps can use to set what text to show in the status bar chip. Google suggests a max length of 7 characters, which is not a lot to work with in English but can go a long-way in some other languages.

🔐Android 16's enhanced Advanced Protection will let apps know when you're serious about security

A new API lets apps detect when you're enrolled in Advanced Protection so they can enable extra security restrictions.

More details on this new feature👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-advanced-protection-api-3527060/

⌨️ Android 16 now lets you customize keyboard shortcuts — Here's how it works

Starting in Beta 2, Android 16 lets you assign custom key combinations to Android system shortcuts.

More details + a video demo can be found 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/custom-keyboard-shortcuts-android-16-3527394/

🔔Here's your first real look at Live Updates in Android 16

I managed to fully enable and record a demo of Android 16’s Live Updates feature, showing off how these new notifications look.

You can find the video demo 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-live-updates-demo-3528456/

📸 Android 16 lets you take proper screenshots of your beautiful HDR photos

Android 16 is implementing support for true HDR screenshots, enabling you to take screenshots of HDR content.

More details 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-hdr-screenshots-3528355/

🚹 Android 16 could add a new way to trigger your screen saver

Instead of docking your device, the new "postured" trigger will let you simply place your device upright to trigger the screen saver.

More details 👇

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-screen-saver-postured-3528345/

Qualcomm just announced that its Snapdragon 8 Elite platform will be supported for "up to eight consecutive years of Android software and security updates."

"What this means is that support for platform software included in this program will be made available to OEMs for eight consecutive years, including both Android OS and kernel upgrades, without requiring significant changes or upgrades to the platform and OEM code on the device (a separation commonly referred as “Project Treble” or the “vendor implementation”). While kernel changes will require updating kernel mode drivers, the vendor code can remain unchanged while the software support is being provided. This software support can lower costs for OEMs interested in supporting their devices longer and can show consumers the advantages of Snapdragon mobile processors and software support."

The company worked with Google on this new program, which also extends to the next five generations of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 and 7-series mobile platforms. It's up to OEMs to take advantage of this program, though meaning 7 years of updates isn't guaranteed for any given device.

FYI: I detailed this new program (called Longevity GRF) in full back in October, in case you want to read more about what Google and Qualcomm have done.

Stable Android Auto 13.8 APK by androidsage.com @AndroidSageCom

Do we really need mass-internet technology that goes beyond 1Gbit/s?

IEEE Spectrum's article dives into the current status and affairs of the mobile data scenario. Upon looking into it deeply, not more than 40Mbit/s is required by an average mobile data user at a time. With 5G already hitting 500Mbit/s+, IEEE expects 6G to not just focus on the bandwidth benefits, but something more.

🔗 IEEE Spectrum
👨‍💻 @agamtechtricks

Apple TV app is now up for Android Mobile devices

After Apple thought they had enough of gatekeeping their streaming service, Apple TV is finally available for Android Mobile devices after being up for Android TVs for ages. Apple TV has had nice shows and stuff for a long while for mostly a low subscription price (at least in India) making this move crucial for a more widespread user base after the Lossless update for Apple Music on Android. Still waiting for Apple Music on Android TV, wonder when that'll happen.

🔗 Apple | Google Play
👨‍💻 @agamtechtricks

YouTube's red is more a magenta now

Google has been trying for about half a year now to transition users into a more brighter, magenta-ish red instead of their normal red in YouTube. The decision was finally made official after transitioning users bit by bit. Why? Who the hell knows.

🔗 Google Design
👨‍💻 @agamtechtricks

Syria just hosted its first international tech conference in 50 years

While everyone was busy on Middle East, Syria just conducted their first-in-50-years tech conference with multiple Silicon Valley leaders.

Even though Syria has a shortage of basic amenities: Electricity is in short supply, the internet is slow, and the telecom infrastructure is outdated, the government seems to change within a few years in regards of this.

This comes after the fall of the escape of Assad from Syria.

🔗 Rest of World
👨‍💻 @agamtechtricks

DeepSeek Boosts Chinese Chipmakers in AI Race Against Nvidia

Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has created models that make AI processing more efficient, reducing the need for expensive, high-performance chips. This development is a boost for Chinese chipmakers like Huawei, helping them compete with U.S. giants like Nvidia, which dominates the AI chip market.

Several Chinese companies, including Huawei, Hygon, EnFlame, Tsingmicro, and Moore Threads, have started using DeepSeek’s technology. By improving AI efficiency, these companies aim to expand AI applications in China despite restrictions on advanced U.S. chips.

While DeepSeek’s innovation helps China make progress in AI development, Nvidia remains the global leader in AI chip technology.

🔗 Reuters
👨🏻‍💻 @agamtechtricks