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Android 12 beta 2 debuted the new operating system's much-anticipated automated theming system, which adjusts the colors of your phone's entire interface to match and complement the background wallpaper of your choice. We've been playing with it for the last day, but for a perfect example of why you'll want to check it out, we turn to Ars Technica Reviews Editor and Android Police alumnus Ron Amadeo.
Evernote's new Tasks feature is free ... for now
But it might go paid once early access testing is over
Notes apps often include some kind of to-do list function, so it's kind of remarkable that Evernote doesn't. Or at least didn't as of yesterday, when the app added a new Tasks section for some users. It's available via the left-side hamburger menu, though Evernote is quick to point out that this part of the app is in early access.
We'd heard that Google was working on a double-tap gesture for its Pixel phones as far back as January, and at least some of the infrastructure was present in March. But apparently it took this long to get the thing actually working. With Android 12 beta 2, the option to double-tap the fingerprint sensor and perform various shortcut actions is alive and kicking, and it's been renamed "Quick Tap."
Android 12's revamped Internet tile lets you switch between Wi-Fi or mobile networks anywhere
Quick tap the Quick Settings tile to switch networks, long tap to dive into the full Settings menu
With the latest beta of Android 12, Google is diving deep into some of its more substantive interface changes. One is the new "Internet" Quick Settings tile, which replaces both Wi-Fi and mobile (5G/LTE/3G) connection tiles. This one opens up a pop-up menu of local connections, allowing the user to quickly swap between them.
Lineage OS the premiere custom Android ROM, and one of the best things about it is that it's constantly expanding. Over the last few weeks the distributed team has added no less than sixteen new phones and tablets from a handful of vendors.
Google Pay now supports Washington DC Metro travel passes
Metro SmarTrip cards can now be loaded and reloaded in the app
Google has been working hard to expand the utility of Google Pay, not just across thousands of banks, but for more types of transactions. One of these is public transit payments and passes, previously available in select cities in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Singapore, Russia, and Ukraine. Today Google is adding support for the transit system of the United States capital, Washington DC.
Save $130 on a 15-inch touchscreen Asus Chromebook with the latest Intel processor
Best Buy has it for just $439
Asus Chromebooks tend to have a pretty good fit and finish. And they know it, too, which is why they tend to be a little pricey compared to similarly-equipped models from HP or Acer. Today Best Buy is selling the 15.6-inch Asus C536, with a latest-gen Intel processor and a touchscreen, for just $439. It's an impressive deal if you're in the market. This model is also called the CX5 in some listings.
AT&T is offering six months of Stadia Pro to both 5G unlimited wireless and landline fiber customers.
An activation phrase, like "OK Google," "Hey Siri," or "shut the hell up Bixby," has been a core element of the digital assistant ever since Google started this stuff up years ago. But soon it might not be necessary, at least for specific interactions where it makes sense. A recent app teardown indicates that Google is working on dynamically listening for commands based on recent events, doing away with the need for the precursor command.
iOS gets the same system-wide translation powers as Android
iOS 15 adds some familiar tools with a great UI, but Apple's language selection is lacking
Google's long been the king of machine translation, but Apple appears to have designs upon its throne. The company revealed that its next release of iOS would feature "Live Text," a feature that's more or less a straight copy of the image processing Google has been doing in Lens for years. But as part of that, it's going to add rapid language translation pretty much everywhere in the operating system, including selectable text.
Siri voice commands come to third-party smart home gadgets later this year
The WWDC showed off an Ecobee thermostat responding to Siri commands
Apple's WWDC 2021 keynote is nearly two hours long, because Apple has a lot in common with Zack Snyder. Nestled in the presentation on HomeKit was an interesting nugget of information: Siri will be available on third-party devices later this year. That's a little less exciting than it sounds. It's not as if you'll be able to install a Siri app on Windows or Android: Apple's only extending this functionality to devices that are compatible with its HomeKit smart home technology. During the keynote, Apple demonstrated a Siri voice command working with an Ecobee thermostat (which indeed, includes its own microphone for voice commands).Third-party smart home appliance manufacturers will be able to integrate Siri commands into their HomeKit functionality later this year, assuming they have the hardware to support it. But you may need a HomePod or HomePod Mini in order to use it: the presenter said that commands go to your HomePod over your home's network without going to a third-party server. Based on the demo, it looks like it should be possible to add Siri voice command functionality via a software update, so those who want it won't necessarily have to buy all-new smart home gadgets.
Revamped iOS 15 Weather app shows off a whole lot of Dark Sky
Just in case you needed another reason to be pissed off
It's been a little over a year since Apple bought up user-favorite weather app Dark Sky, shuttering its entries for Android and Wear OS. Today we're seeing the fruits of that acquisition in a revamped Weather app for the iPhone, which will debut with iOS 15. It's pretty blatantly incorporating a lot of the visual flair from Dark Sky into Apple's official app.
Your AirPods are about to get a lot smarter
Siri notification alerts, conversation boost, and new spatial audio support on TVOS and M1 Macs
Apple's signature headphone series isn't getting any new hardware announced today, but that doesn't mean that there's nothing to talk about. With the advent of iOS 15 and iPad OS 15, AirPods are getting handy new features that more fully integrate them with Apple's ecosystem, and new onboard features that make them work better all on their own.
iPadOS 15 adds Android-style homescreen widgets and powerful multitasking tools
The new collection of tools should make working with more complex apps even easier on iPads
iPad users get some of the best exclusive features for Apple's touchscreen interfaces in iPadOS. That's remaining true with version 15, announced today at Apple's WWDC event. iPads are belatedly getting support for homescreen widgets, which were previously limited to a sidebar, and now work more or less the same as they do on iPhones and Android devices. But it's the large screen multitasking tools that really steal the show.
You might finally be able to afford Samsung's next folding phones
Rumors indicate that the Galaxy Z series is going to get considerably cheaper
Foldable phones are kind of like exotic sports cars: everyone can agree that they're cool, but very few of us can justify the expense for something only marginally more capable than a standard design. According to a recent leak, Samsung's next foldable phones will be considerable improvements in terms of price, bringing them within attainable reach for more consumers.
Samsung's May 2021 update arrives for the Galaxy Tab S6, Note8, and more — here's the full list
Bringing improved Quick Share to more flagships
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Samsung has been trying to improve its image in software lately, especially when it comes to security updates for Android devices. What better way than to release an update several days early? That's the case with the May security update, which is already rolling out to several devices, with new features coming to select flagships.
Grab a new Pixel 4 in black or Oh So Orange for just $399, today only
Woot is selling new phones in 64GB or 128GB, with free shipping for Prime members
The Pixel 4 had a few issues at launch, but one of the most common complaints was its high price. A year and a half later, there are now consistent deals on the phone, making it worthy of consideration if you're looking for a high-end Google handset. Woot has one such deal for US buyers today: a new, unlocked model starting at just $399, a full $400 off the original retail price.
Here's how to fix constant app crashes in Android 12 beta
It's an issue and a solution that might seem familiar
Getting to play with Android betas is one of the best things about owning a Pixel phone. But they are, you know, betas, so weird and frustrating stuff is more or less guaranteed to happen at some point. Case in point: many users have been experiencing constant crashes for major apps over the last week or so.
YouTube timed comments beta now appearing on more videos
You can test it out right now on a toy review
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The other day I watched a YouTube video of a man throwing a grenade into an ATM, "for science." It's the kind of mindless fluff that's perfect for YouTube, but it did have quite a lot of buildup when all I wanted to see was a grey box go boom. A new feature might help you find the good part of any video, if you can stomach reading the comments section.
'Hey Google, piss off the neighbors'
A mad genius built a 'TallyWhacker' that noisily activates via Google Assistant command
Do you recall when you were a kid, and there was nothing quite so fascinating as an old-fashioned spring doorstop? You know, the kind that goes "sproi-oi-oi-oing" with any errant tap? A Reddit apartment dweller, having presumably endured one late-night Riverdance rehearsal too many, decided to weaponize this experience.