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Security issues and system vulnerabilities are the bane of modern software, allowing malicious actors to wreak havoc. However, Google has a Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP) encouraging security researchers to sniff out issues and keep products like Android safe for everyone. However, the company recently announced changes to the VRP, like a new CVE assignment system, and revised payouts for entities discovering serious bugs.
Android 13 QPR1 Beta 3 testers report cell reception problems exiting dead zones
Taking too long to search for a signal
When it comes to massive user platforms, development pipelines are crucial to making sure you've got features going out the way you want them to without the cruft and pain of mistakes and bugs that just appear out of nowhere. To this point, Android 13 QPR1 has been in beta for more than two months and through three iterations and it looks like testers have surfaced a problem that will need addressing before the update goes out to all Pixel users next month.
Borked Fitbit app's Nutrients page makes it look like you're eating up to 10 times as much
If you're feeling bloated, wait until you see these numbers
The Fitbit app actually does a lot more than what a newbie to the thing might imagine. Aside from offering the usuals like sleep, heart rate, and activity tracking, it stands out by also doubling up as your nutritionist of sorts — not only do you benefit from these various programs, but you can use the app to food-log your way into eating healthier, too. This can be done quite simply through a dedicated page for "Food", but as numerous reports now suggest, a part of that page isn't working the way it used to.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint saves have gone missing on Stadia
Here's hoping Google or Ubisoft have backed up the save files somewhere
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It's no secret Stadia has been struggling this year, with hardly any AAA game releases to be seen. But the one thing users could take solace in is that the existing library is available, with games like Ubisoft's Ghost Recon Breakpoint offering the AAA gameplay many are looking for. As it would turn out, the Stadia save files for this shooter have disappeared in the last few days. While it's unclear whether Stadia or Ubisoft is the culprit, the fact remains many Stadia users have lost hundreds of hours of playtime. The good news is that Google is looking into the disappearance; the bad is that it's already been several days without a fix, let alone an answer to what went wrong.
Google Maps bug won't let you navigate in anything but English
You're not alone if you've had difficulties with voice navigation
Voice navigation is one of the most helpful Google Map features, allowing for truly hands-free use — so you don't, say, compound getting lost by also getting pulled over for looking at your phone. Recently, though, users have been complaining about glitches with the voice nav feature — especially for drivers who might want to use any language other than English.
Stable Android 12L exhibits a status bar glitch that wasn't caught in months of beta testing
Seems to happen on phones with a notch or punch hole camera
No matter how mature software is or whether we call it stable, there are bound to be bugs in anything more advanced than a ‘hello world’ app. If you’re running Android 12L on a phone with a notch or punch hole, there’s a decent chance some of your apps don’t look quite right. A change in the latest version of Android is causing a layout bug in some apps that results in an offset of background colors, action bars, and possibly other elements at the top of the screen.
This month's security patch seems to have caused a glitch on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro where a number of owners can't get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to stay on at the same time. After plenty of bellyaching, Google has a response.
Google's got a workaround for problems with extended Maps location sharing
The search giant says it's still investigating the bug
Location sharing in Google Maps is helpful for keeping track of family and friends — and if it creeps you out, it's also easy to customize for privacy's sake. Users can set specific time limits or simply keep it active until they choose to turn it off. An update in late 2021, however, apparently affected timing controls for many users. Google recently addressed the bug, confirming that it's under investigation and offering a workaround.
QR code scanning on Android turns out to be even more broken than we thought
OnePlus devices found to be affected, too
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Over the weekend, Google fixed up issues with its QR code-reading capabilities in the Google Camera and Google Lens apps where URLs were misread for Android 12 users. But some of those errors exist and persist in Android 11 devices, too, and not just from Google.
Android 11 for the Nvidia Shield is breaking apps and Plex servers
Scoped storage is probably to blame, but there's a partial fix
Nvidia released the first Shield Android TV boxes back in 2015, and it's still updating them in 2022. The various generations of Shield just recently saw an update to Android 11, but owners have reported numerous apps, including the device's built-in Plex server, have stopped functioning. Nvidia is still working on a patch for the software, but you can (probably) get it fixed now if you're impatient.
Setting Google Assistant timers on smart displays is pretty broken right now
But a fix is on the way
Google Assistant usually knows how to handle things when you ask it to set a timer. In the past couple of days, though, it hasn't been able to do so from your smart display.
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Best Buy, the exclusive retailer of TCL's new 5- and 6-Series Google TVs since their reveal this summer, has suddenly pulled the panels from sale online. The unexplained decision comes after complaints and reviews criticizing slow performance and frequent app crashes.
Here's the fix if you can't play Rocket League Sideswipe on the Pixel 6
Don't worry, it's an easy solution
Earlier in the month, we learned that Psyonix was planning to release its mobile sidescrolling interpretation of Rocket League on mobile across the globe. This rollout started with a few territories and has finally expanded to the US and EU, completing the worldwide launch for Rocket League Sideswipe. Amazingly, the game is great. I went hands-on with the title back in March when it was still in testing and came away pretty impressed, and I'm a diehard Rocket League player that plays on PC every night, so I'm not easily swayed. Not only does the core gameplay of hitting giant soccer balls into goals with cars hold up in its sidescrolling form, there's no monetization yet, which means the only way to earn in-game cosmetics is by playing the game. No matter how you slice it, Psyonix has hit this one out of the park.
DJI updates flight app to work on Pixel 6, still no update for Mimo app
You can return your friend's old iPhone now
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DJI’s drones and action cameras have become popular among content creators and photographers for their high quality and powerful automation. And naturally, many of the same people chose to pick up a Pixel 6 for its excellent photo and video quality. Unfortunately, this combination isn’t working out very well due to a bug or incompatibility that’s preventing DJI apps from performing as intended, and it’s leaving some devices virtually unusable.
Google celebrates 10 years of bugs, and 10 years of paying people to find them
With leaderboards, badges, swag, and educational resources for the bug bounty program
Google launched its bug bounty program more than ten years ago now, and it's safe to say it's been a big success. Last year alone, the company paid out a whopping $6.7 million to independent researchers who discovered issues with its products. As it heads into its second decade, Google's Vulnerability Rewards Program (or VRP) has shared some details surrounding its accomplishments, along with a major reinvention of the entire platform.
Google is a search company. You'd think that it would be focused on the quality of its search over, well, basically everything. But for the last few weeks (at least), a growing number of users are seeing a frequent lack of results in the main Google app when using its search function. It just returns a blank page under the Google logo.
Google promptly fixes Android app input bug in Chrome OS 87
It's unclear if Google will delay the big update for Chromebooks planned for Tuesday
Android apps have had a rough history on Chromebooks ever since Google brought them to Chrome OS in 2016. From a lackluster app ecosystem to nasty bugs like the app scaling issue that nearly made it into Chrome OS 86 Stable, Google has attempted to create a compelling Android app experience for users to enjoy, but with little luck. With Chrome OS 87 due in a few more days, Google's operating system finds itself in another predicament that makes the typing experience in Android apps incredibly frustrating.
Google resumes rolling out Chrome OS 86 update following multiple reports of issues
The update should reach your device by the end of this week
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It's been a rough week for most Chromebooks following Google's ill-fated attempt to roll Chrome OS 86 out to the stable channel. Shortly after Google announced the major milestone update, I covered a slew of new features and improvement found within, including accessibility improvements, an improved login screen experience, and a refreshed gallery app. Although some people are enjoying OS 86 without problems, others are still anxiously waiting for the new update to land on their Chromebook. In a surprising move by Google, it silently pulled the build off the update server a couple of days before the update finished rolling out.
The latest Chrome OS Beta and Dev channel build fixes the crippling Android app scaling bug
Uniform scaling is no more in the latest Chrome OS Beta and Dev channel build
Android display scaling has been a controversial topic in the Chromebook community since the removal of Android's DPI scaling setting in Chrome OS 67. The fonts and touch targets in Android apps appear tiny and illegible, making them incredibly frustrating to use compared to Chrome and native Chrome apps. There used to be workarounds to increase Android app scaling, but these methods don't work anymore. People have complained about it in the Chromebook community forums and have been filing bugs, and, to be honest, I can't blame them. Google is now testing a new system called "uniform scaling" in the Chrome OS Beta and Dev channel to tackle the problem with tiny Android applications, but it's filled with issues.
Faily Brakes 2 takes endless running to the streets once again, and it's now available on Android
Enjoyable racing brought down by bugs
Spunge Games has carved out a niche for itself with its Faily series of titles, such as Faily Tumbler and Faily Breaks, where the latter has already amassed over 10 million installs on the Play Store over the last four years, which is nothing to sneeze at. Clearly, mobile gamers enjoy this casual arcade series, and so the developer has released Faily Brakes 2 on the Play Store, a bigger and badder followup to the first title.