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Recent versions of Android have made it easier to silence noisy apps by muting their notifications. However, what if you want to bring some notifications back? You need to remember which apps you've silenced. Android Q makes that easier by putting all apps with disabled notifications in one settings menu.
Privacy is a primary focus of Android Q for Google, and that may spell trouble for some of your favorite apps. In Android Q, Google has restricted access to clipboard data as previously rumored, which means most apps that currently aim to manage that data won't work anymore.
Google has made notification filtering one of the centerpieces of recent Android updates, and Android Q has yet another enhancement in this area. Long-pressing notifications in Q provides more useful options for managing how that app pings you in the future. The granular controls are still there if you want to dig into the settings, though.
You want to have a strong WiFi password for security's sake, but man, typing in all those characters can be tedious. Android Q has a solution, though. You can share and join networks on your phone with a QR code. Just scan, and you're in.
Google has tightened Android security over the years, but there are still some loopholes that need closed. In Android Q, Google has addressed several nagging issues. The changes are geared toward giving users more control and transparency, and that will mean developers might have to rethink how they do things.
Some corners of the internet expected Android Q to arrive in beta form on Monday, but that didn't happen. Today is the day, though. Google has confirmed Q is rolling out to all Pixel phones, even the first gen devices. Get ready to dig into the new Android.
The era of 5G is upon us, whether you like it or not. Verizon's millimeter wave 5G NR network is launching in Minneapolis and Chicago on April 11. What about 5G devices? Well, the long-awaited 5G Moto Mod goes up for pre-order tomorrow (March 14).
Philips makes some of the most popular smart lights on the market, but going with Hue can be spendy. It might be a good time to stock up today as several popular Hue bulbs are discounted to as low as $10. There are plain white, multi-color, and even fancy candle-style options on sale.Here are the bulbs you can get on discount today.
Do you want Android apps on your PC? Well, that's what Microsoft is about to deliver regardless of your answer. The company has started testing the previously demoed "phone screen" feature of its Your Phone app. Don't get too excited, though. Only select testers can use it right now, and hardware support is limited.
Android Pie has been spreading slowly through Samsung's smartphone lineup in recent months. The Galaxy S9 family got the OTA first, and then the Note 9 began its Android 9 journey early this year. Most Galaxy Note 9 devices should be taken care of with today's rollout for both Verizon and unlocked phones.
Google is taking its sweet time giving Android a proper dark UI mode, leaving individual developers to pick up the slack. Speaking of Slack, that app is finally getting dark mode support, according to the company's website. No more frying your retinas if you have to pop into a chat room at night. In fact, you can stay up all night working now. Yay.
"There is no internet connection." Are there any more terrifying words in the English language? Okay, yes, lots of them. Still, losing internet access is no laughing matter in this hyper-connected age. What are you supposed to do without the internet? Read a book. Psh, not likely. Chrome's dinosaur error page has been with us for a long time, helping to calm nerves during those periods of disconnection. Starting next week, you can have the Chrome dino on your desk all the time with these Dead Zebra figurines.
If you've got $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you're in luck. Samsung's latest smartphones are launching today. You can mosey down to your local carrier store or electronics retailer and buy a Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+. You can also order them online for shipping in (probably) a couple of days.
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- We had already seen the featuring working on smart displays for ourselves, and Google went ahead and started updating its support docs too, but if there was still the tiniest shred of doubt as to what Google was up to here, the company has gone ahead and formally announced its efforts to bring Continued Conversation to the full family of smart displays:
Saying "OK Google" is already more syllables than are required to wake up competing smart assistants like Alexa. Saying it again just moments later to complete another task gets annoying. Google released "Continued Conversation" last year to make Home speakers listen a little longer to catch additional commands. It didn't work on smart displays like the Home Hub, but that changes today.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 isn't even technically available yet, but carriers have confirmed a day-one update will be waiting for early adopters. Support documents from T-Mobile and Verizon detail the update, but presumably all versions of the Galaxy S10 family will get the same OTA out of the box.
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Samsung is preparing to announce the Galaxy S10, so it's a good time to buy last year's phone at a steep discount if you don't need the latest and greatest. The unlocked dual-SIM Galaxy S9+ is down to a mere $549.99 on eBay today. That's lower than we've seen before, and there are a few fun color choices.
Getting a major system update is a good thing, but it's not always 100% good news. Samsung users were dismayed to find that Good Lock, the system customization tool, didn't work after the Pie update. Well, now it's back with a fresh coat of paint.
Google released the Pixel 3 and 3 XL almost five months ago, and it's been a bit of a pain to get it repaired should your phone end up damaged. Google's online mail-in service didn't accept the new phones, so you'd have to find a walk-in uBreakifix location for official repairs. Now, Google's repair center will finally take your busted Pixel 3.
No one was there to watch the Big Bang happen, but you can catch a replay of all the action with a new app from CERN and Google. The Big Bang AR app turns the world around you into nothing, which then becomes everything. And no, this has nothing to do with that silly TV show.
Nubia is finally selling a phone in North America. Sadly, it's not that wacky dual-screen device but the more modest Red Magic Mars gaming phone. We've talked repeatedly about how most gaming phones aren't any more suited to gaming than the competition, but the Red Magic Mars at least tries to justify the name with dedicated shoulder buttons and a custom gaming mode.