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.
Read MoreAndroid P developer preview includes a list of received files in connection settings [Update: It's just in a new place]
Direct Bluetooth file transfers have been available on Android since time immemorial, but Android P adds a long-overdue related feature. You can finally see a list of all transferred files. The menu is nestled in the connection settings—it's actually been there for a while, and no one noticed.
Read MoreAndroid P DP4 introduces new rotation toggle icon, gives it more prominent placement in gesture nav
The original Android P developer preview added a neat rotation toggle that let you lock the screen into portrait or landscape when auto-rotate was disabled. Google has played around with how to present this feature, and the new dev preview makes the biggest change yet. The button has been completely redesigned, and it shows up in a different location (sometimes).
Read MoreAndroid P feature spotlight: Android will offer to hide notifications from apps you frequently dismiss
Google has slowly expanded control over notifications in the last few major updates, culminating with notification channels in Android 8.0. In Android P, Google is testing a system to suggest blocking notifications from certain apps. Which apps? Any app whose notifications you frequently dismiss.
Read MoreAndroid P feature spotlight: New autofill APIs improve compatibility with password managers (Updated)
With the release of Android Oreo, Google included an autofill API to allow for system-wide filling in of details such as account and credit card info. The framework manages communication between Google's autofill service and other apps, and it's great for both saving time and avoiding errors.
The first developer preview of Android P has just arrived and it brings a number of new APIs to the autofill framework, as well as some bugfixes. Specifically, there will be improvements to dataset filtering, input sanitization, and compatibility mode.
Read MoreAndroid P feature spotlight: Mark WiFi as metered from the network details screen
Android is designed to be gentle with your mobile data, but all bets are off when you get on WiFi. Your phone will likely save large downloads until the instant you reconnect to WiFi, but not all networks should be treated the same. Some WiFi hotspots are metered, and Android P makes it quicker and easier to tell the device when that is the case.
Read MoreAndroid P feature spotlight: You can now easily track which apps recently sent notifications
You probably get a lot of notifications on your phone. So many, in fact, it's easy to forget which apps were in that batch you just dismissed. Android P includes a handy menu that tracks recent notifications so you can disallow an app that's been pestering you in just a few taps.
Read MoreAndroid 8.1 feature spotlight: Covering the proximity sensor no longer turns off Ambient Display
The latest Android developer preview is filled with lots of incremental changes, many of which are thoughtful and useful. It wouldn’t be possible for Google to get everything right in a beta release, though, and this alteration seems to be more of a backward step.
Previously in Oreo, if you’d set Ambient Display to wake with a notification or with a double tap, it would shut off if the proximity sensor was covered. This was useful for conserving battery as it would turn the screen off as soon as you put it in a pocket or a bag. It was also good if you’d already seen whatever it was notifying you about, as you could simply wave your hand over the sensor to sleep the screen.
Read MoreThe Best Of AP
Android 8.1 feature spotlight: Mobile data quick setting toggle asks if you really want to turn if off
Over the course of the last few Android versions, Google has seemingly struggled to decide on exactly how some of the quick settings options should work. Some are simple toggles, some bring up extra details in the quick settings pane, and some take you through to the settings app. Several of them also have different behavior depending on whether you short or long-press them.
Read More[Update: O DP2 broke notification channels] Android O feature spotlight: Android tells you if an app is displaying a screen overlay
Being able to run apps that draw on top of other apps is a powerful feature of Android. Apps like Twilight take advantage of that to add a filter to the display, but other apps just show a floating UI element. However, this can also be a security concern. Android O offers a handy alert when an app is showing an overlay with a link to turn it off.
Read MoreLatest Deals
-
4
5 of our favorite tech deals this week: fitness trackers, smart speakers, and more
-
50
Microsoft Surface active noise canceling headphones get a $100 price cut, now $250
-
92
[Update: Pixel 3a, too] Pixel 3a XL comes with a free $100 gift card on Amazon
-
16
B&H drops the Huawei P30 and P30 Lite prices to $570 and $280, respectively
-
8
[Update: Get four for $350] Secure your home with a three-camera Arlo Pro pack for just $300 ($280 off)
-
4
Latest Poll
Loading ...Recent Reviews
-
259
The OnePlus 7 Pro is the best smartphone you can buy right now
-
46
Wyze Sense is an incredible home security value
-
278
Review: The Pixel 3a and 3a XL make almost any phone under $500 look bad
-
11
Choetech's five-coil wireless charging pad can fill up two devices at once
-
19
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a worthy successor to the beloved C302
-
259
Latest Roundups
-
4
12 best new Android games released this week including Durango: Wild Lands, Terraforming Mars, and Alt-Frequencies
-
6
16 best new Android games released this week including Magnibox, Hamsterdam, and Merge Empire
-
1
[Bonus Round] Hamsterdam, PLAYMOBIL Mars Mission, Onslot Car, pliq: Epic Clash Arcade Puzzle, Dungeon of Weirdos, and Fishing Paradiso
-
7
18 new and notable Android games from the last week including Grimvalor, Tesla vs Lovecraft, and Golf Blitz
-
8
15 new and notable (and 1 WTF) Android apps from the last two weeks including PHAROS AR, Playground: POKÉMON Detective Pikachu, and The Great C (4/20/19 - 5/4/19)
-
4
Recent Apps and Games
-
11
Google Calendar gets the dark mode treatment
-
13
Niantic warns that it's banning 'Scanner [REDACTED]' players for using Android Q
-
20
Get Zen Mode from the OnePlus 7 Pro for your existing device [APK Download]
-
45
The OnePlus 7 Pro's screen recorder works on older devices too [APK Download]
-
4
12 best new Android games released this week including Durango: Wild Lands, Terraforming Mars, and Alt-Frequencies
-
11
Blast from the Past
-
105
1 Year Ago Today
Let's name all the Google Assistant voices
-
25
2 Years Ago Today
Google's new photo books are already live in the Photos app for some
-
54
3 Years Ago Today
Android N Preview 3 Finally, Finally, Finally Introduces A Modern Android System Icon
-
92
4 Years Ago Today
Nexus 5, N4, And N9 LTE Android 5.1.1 Update Now Hitting Devices—Here Are The Direct OTA Links
-
10
5 Years Ago Today
NVIDIA Releases Titanfall Live Wallpaper
-
7
6 Years Ago Today
Google's Field Trip App Finally Does Something Useful By Offering Free Admission To 13 Museums Around The US
-
24
7 Years Ago Today
33 Best (And 2 WTF) New Android Apps And Live Wallpapers From The Last 2 Weeks (5/5/12 - 5/20/12)
-
10
8 Years Ago Today
Mozilla Launches Separate Firefox For Android Beta App To Test New Features Early
-
2
9 Years Ago Today
Want To Relive The Moment? Now You Can – The Android Keynote Is Now Online
-
105
