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How to give any Android phone the Google Pixel Experience
How to make any Android phone smoother, faster, and more customizable
Google offers one of the best Android smartphone experiences, mainly because of its software features. Pixel owners get the best of the best in terms of user experience, thanks to the Google Pixel launcher and regular feature drops. But there's good news for the non-Pixel owners among us: whether you own a gorgeous flagship or just a solid Android budget phone, you can get a similar experience with a few tweaks. This guide will walk you through the steps to make your phone nearly Pixel perfect.
The 9 best weather apps on Android in 2024
Never get caught without your umbrella — or your sunscreen
The best maps and navigation apps are moderately fine for forecasting upcoming weather events. But, sometimes, you need some extra assurance, and that's where dedicated weather apps come in handy. Even though the Google Weather app is available on the latest Android tablets and phones, the service can sometimes be temperamental and limited. Hence, it pays to have a few detailed alternatives, especially since Dark Sky retired in 2023 and was replaced by Apple Weather. If you want to stay dry or avoid the summer heat, look at our roundup of great weather apps designed to keep your eyes on the skies and give you the most accurate weather readings while on the go.
How to change your Android phone's ringtone
You don't need to check your phone when someone else's rings
Tired of hearing your phone's tinny, staccato ringtone? If you're like many people, you probably hear your ringtone multiple times a day. Whether you own a flagship like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or one of our favorite budget phones, you have dozens of ringtone options just waiting to be used in the Settings menu. This guide will teach you how to change your ringtone and assign unique ringtones to people on your contact list.
How to make your favorite song your ringtone on Android
Might as well make answering your phone a little more fun
You can customize nearly every aspect of your Android phone. Whether you own a flagship or budget Android device, you can spruce up the exterior with a sturdy case or straps. Your phone comes with stock ringtones pre-installed, and change it for a unique touch. Separate urgent work calls from personal ones by setting a custom caller tune for your contacts. This tutorial shows how to set your favorite song as your new ringtone with a few taps.
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Every year, Google teases the biggest event in Android with a puzzle — when (or if) the community solves it, the date for that year's Google I/O conference will be revealed, giving us a precise time to expect the developer-summit-turned-media-extravaganza in Mountain View. Like speculation around Android's next desert codename or its hidden Easter egg and mascot, it's a fun tradition with low stakes that we can't help but take way too seriously. And thanks to some skilled individuals, you don't need to solve the puzzle yourself to figure out I/O 2024 is set for May 14th.
Sharing your Wi-Fi password is a vital part of welcoming a guest, but don't direct them to the back of your router. There are easier ways to share your Wi-Fi password, even between iPhone and Android. Wi-Fi sharing between the two device families isn't as straightforward as sharing within their ecosystems, so we’ve created a step-by-step tutorial to make things a little easier.
Chrome for Android could get a (very limited) bottom bar again
A new flag for a bottom-based custom tab interface was spotted, but it will only be available with links opened from the Google app
A long time ago, Google experimented with moving some Chrome interface elements to the bottom on Android devices. The company has long scrapped these tests, and even though Chrome for iOS offers an optional bottom-based interface these days, we don’t see anything remotely like it on Android. This could finally change soon, but it looks like the bottom bar will only be used for some very specific activities.
Google paid out $10 million in vulnerability awards last year
The company held its first ever live-hacking event targeting LLM in 2023
The more complicated software gets, the more likely it is to have bugs or security loopholes. Google and many other companies recognize that, and they want to give hackers and security researchers an incentive to find and report problems. That’s where Google’s Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) comes in. Last year, the company paid out a total of $10 million to researchers reporting problems with Google software all around the world.
People love smart devices right now; everything from sunglasses to fridges has upgraded counterparts that integrate with other technology to improve the user experience. We can't seem to avoid appliances that want to connect with our reliable Android phones. But while many of these devices are cool, their smart feature lists often aren't very substantial, especially when considering their hefty price tags.
Switching from iPhone to Android will get much easier next year
At least in the EU, thanks to the DMA
The EU-based dominos for Apple continue to fall. On the heels of this week's release of iOS 17.4 — which, among other things, preps the iPhone for third-party app marketplaces to arrive in Europe — we're learning more about what the Digital Markets Act (or DMA) means for Apple's mobile future. In addition to those external App Store rivals, the company plans to add even more functionality to the platform, including an option that might make migrating to Android a whole lot easier.
I tested Apple’s EU-only iOS 17.4, and it doesn't feel any closer to Android (yet)
The EU forced Apple to open up its platform, but there isn’t much to see right now
Last year, the EU introduced new rules for big tech companies deemed gatekeepers as part of its Digital Markets Act (DMA). Among the targeted companies are Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, but also Apple. While Google only had to change a few details about the way it handles Android with some small Android 14 upgrades, Apple was forced to drastically change its iPhone app store model, opening up its platform for third-party app markets and allowing more types of previously forbidden apps.
This popular Android screen-mirroring tool gets better keyboard support and more
Scrcpy v2.4 adds some much-needed refinements
With tools like Link to Windows or ChromeOS’s Phone Hub long available, scrcpy may not be the star of the show anymore. The ADB-based command-line tool allows you to remotely view and control your Android phone from your computer, but ever since Google nerfed its ability to view and record secure apps, it’s not as vital for many people as it used to be. The open-source program is nevertheless still actively developed and used by many people, and the latest update to version 2.4 adds some much-needed refinements.
Google's March Feature Drop is here, but not for you
The new release will roll out March 11 in the US, while everyone else will get it starting today
It’s the first Monday of March, and you know what this means. Google is back with a new round of updates for its Pixels as part of its Pixel Feature Drop initiative, adding a bunch of capabilities to its devices every three months. Many of the additions were already in testing in Android 14 QPR2, and they’re now finally coming to everyone with a recent Google device. If you’re in the US, you’ll have to wait just a little longer, though. While the Feature Drop rolls out internationally today, Google says you’ll have to wait until March 11.
There are two distinct types of smartphone music listeners. Type one is the Spotify streamer, the MP3 listener who can vibe to their tunes without a care in the world. Headphones that sound like they're made of tin are good enough for them. Type two is the audiophile, someone who avoids lossy music and cheap headphones. Nothing less than the best-wired headphones will do for their discerning ears.
What is the Android Open Source Project?
The foundation that helped shape Android into what we know it as today
Android is the most popular open source operating system (OS) globally and shows no signs of slowing down. Its presence across various products, from Android-based tablets and smartphones to smart home devices, is undeniable. These devices impact our lives and require a universal tool to make them a reality. Creating a universal Android ecosystem of mobile devices is no small feat. This is where the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) shines. This guide discusses the specifics of AOSP and how it benefits the Android developer community.
Will 2024's Android flagships actually last seven years?
As Android heavy-hitters promise longer software support, how gracefully can we expect our hardware to age?
The days of groundbreaking changes to slab smartphones are largely behind us, with modern flagships only seeing iterative upgrades each year. And while we've seen some important efficiency gains recently, systems-on-a-chip and other critical hardware don't jump in performance year-on-year.
5 things the Google Play Store desperately needs to improve
Ads galore, poor quality control, and fake reviews make up a few of Google's issues
One of the most vital apps on our Android devices is the Google Play Store. It's the beating heart of the Android ecosystem that serves as an open marketplace for applications and games, both good and bad. So you would think that such an important service would be kept in good standing with its users and developers, keeping devs and users happy and engaged, which makes the Play Store's decline even more glaring. Google has let the service slip into too many bad habits, from a lack of quality control to aggressive use of ads, making the user experience a nightmare as a result.
How to hide unwanted or private apps on Android
You may want to hide apps for several reasons, and it's fairly simple to do
You've been here before. You have too many apps on your Android phone and feel bogged down by the clutter. Maybe you have apps that contain sensitive information, such as banking apps, that you'd prefer didn't show in your apps list. Perhaps you want to prevent your toddler from tapping an app that could result in disaster, like ordering an item on the Play Store when you've set your phone to one-tap buy.
Microsoft's keyboard app is borrowing a Snapchat feature nobody asked for
Swiftkey first teased AR lenses back in September
Many Microsoft products already incorporate AI capabilities, and the popular keyboard app SwiftKey hasn't been immune to this phenomenon. The keyboard first teased AI-based image-generation capabilities back in September. Microsoft has since rebranded Bing Image Creator into Image Creator from Designer while also unleashing Microsoft Copilot. In the meantime, the company also announced a partnership with Snap to offer AR-based filters and lenses directly within the keyboard app. This feature is now getting another announcement from SwiftKey, along with some changes to how these AR lenses are accessed.
Chrome for Android could soon support copying and saving video frames
The option to save video frames was already available in Chrome for desktop
When you need to quickly screenshot or save a video frame, it can be challenging depending on the media player you are using. Even YouTube lacked some of the features necessary to carry out these tasks, especially if you're trying to get a screenshot of just the video without all the buttons and player controls. But it's now possible to directly copy YouTube frames thanks to a feature being tested in Chrome for desktop. If you’ve been hoping that something similar would come to your Android device, there is some good news.