Android

768 'Android' stories August 2010 - June 2022

iPhone spyware maker NSO struggled to make payroll; wants to sell to red-flagged countries

Ben Lovejoy Jun 1 2022 - 4:58 am PT

iPhone spyware (purely decorative image)

The financial problems of iPhone spyware maker NSO were so bad by the end of last year that it struggled to make payroll – after the company failed to make a single sale over a period of several months.

The company, which sells software to remotely carry out zero-click hacks of both iPhones and Android smartphones, has been in deep trouble ever since it was blacklisted by the US government. However, its plan to overcome its woes could make Pegasus an even nastier threat …

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Android

Galaxy Z Flip 3 Review: An iPhone user’s perspective on the foldable Android phone

Filipe Espósito May 31 2022 - 5:30 pm PT

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I’m a very long-time iPhone user. In fact, I’ve never had an Android phone as my personal phone before. Although I had been curious about Android phones in the past, I was okay with Apple’s ecosystem. More recently, foldable smartphones have become a thing, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want one. Now I have finally had the opportunity to try out the Galaxy Z Flip 3 for the past month. Read on for this iPhone user’s thoughts on the experience.

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Apple should make iOS 16 customization more like Android’s: Here’s what I want to see

Laura Rosenberg Apr 27 2022 - 9:25 am PT

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Apple doesn’t offer truly individualized customization of its products or interfaces to its users, and if anyone wants to customize the look of their Apple products – specifically their home screens – they’re in for A Time. With iOS 16 coming in September, there’s an opportunity for Apple to give consumers needed autonomy.

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Android

Data shows Android losing ground to iOS, but Google’s platform still dominates the market

Filipe Espósito Apr 21 2022 - 8:38 pm PT

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Android is unsurprisingly the most popular mobile operating system in the world, as it’s available on a huge variety of devices. However, data from StockApps shows that iOS has been taking Android’s market share in recent years – although Google’s platform still dominates the market.

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Why doesn’t Apple Music on iOS have crossfade, but the Android app does?

Filipe Espósito Apr 20 2022 - 5:40 pm PT

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Some of Apple’s services are available on other platforms such as Windows and Android, but usually the company keeps some features restricted to its own devices. However, when it comes to Apple Music, it’s quite the opposite. The Android version seems to have more features than on iOS. Why doesn’t Apple Music on iOS have crossfade, but the Android app does?

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Switch to Android app installed on an iPhone

Here’s Google’s new ‘Switch to Android’ app for iPhones [Update: All Android 12 phones]

from 9to5Google Apr 13 2022 - 9:00 am PT

Google is preparing to launch a brand new way to move from Apple’s iPhones to an Android device. Here’s your first look at Google’s “Switch to Android” app running on an iPhone.

Update: Google’s Switch to Android app now supports all Android 12 devices, not just Pixels.

Official ‘Switch to Android’ iOS app may import your iCloud data to Google Photos

from 9to5Google Mar 16 2022 - 10:01 am PT

Google’s upcoming “Switch to Android” app for iOS may be able to import data from your iCloud directly into Google Photos.

Messages will send videos as Google Photos links for the benefit of RCS-less iPhones, rolling out iMessage reactions

from 9to5Google Mar 10 2022 - 8:09 am PT

In recent weeks, Google has been testing and slowly rolling out a number of new features for Messages on Android. The company announced today that iMessage reactions, Google Photos integration, and several other capabilities will soon widely launch.

Ben Lovejoy Feb 16 2022 - 6:25 am PT

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Blocking cross-app tracking may eventually be possible on Android phones

Google has announced plans for blocking cross-app tracking on Android phones, following Apple’s lead on iPhones, claims a new report today.

However, there are a number of problems with the report, suggesting it may be a case of ‘The headline giveth, and the small print taketh away’ …

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iPhone trade-in values dominated 2021; only one Android phone made top 5

Ben Lovejoy Jan 24 2022 - 6:45 am PT

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iPhone trade-in values have always been higher than those for Android phones, and last year was no exception. Only one Android smartphone made the top five, and the worst-performing phones lost more than 80% of their value in a single year.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max held its value best, with owners able to recoup more than two-thirds of the price they paid a year later…

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GeForce Now brings Fortnite back to Android and iPhone with new touch controls

from 9to5Google Jan 13 2022 - 6:41 am PT

Fortnite is still a massive hit, but Epic Games’ war on app stores has left the popular game absent from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for a long time, with no signs of returning. Today, Nvidia and Epic Games have announced that touch controls are coming to Fortnite on GeForce Now.

Google exec gives harshest rebuke yet of iMessage lock-in effect in push for RCS on iOS

from 9to5Google Jan 8 2022 - 10:19 am PT

Hiroshi Lockheimer oversees all of Google’s operating systems as Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems. In recent years, he has been very critical of Apple not supporting the RCS standard to make iOS messaging more interoperable with Android, and the latest salvo on iMessage is the harshest yet.

Humane using Android to build what looks to be an AR wearable with laser projected ‘display’ for any surface

from 9to5Google Jan 7 2022 - 10:15 am PT

Google, Apple, Meta, and various other companies believe that AR smart glasses will be the next major form factor after the smartphone. Humane, a secretive startup founded by ex-Apple employees, looks to have a different approach that involves what is essentially an Android-powered wearable camera that uses lasers to project a screen on any surface, including the palm of your hand.

Rocket League ‘Sideswipe’ is now available on Android and iOS worldwide

from 9to5Google Nov 29 2021 - 4:40 pm PT

After launching a beta test in recent weeks, Epic Games and Psyonix are now launching the mobile version of Rocket League, “Sideswipe,” on Android and iOS devices across the globe.

Google dropping Play Store subscription fee from 30% to 15% on day one for all Android devs

from 9to5Google Oct 21 2021 - 9:01 am PT

Back in March, Google Play announced that it was cutting commission fees to 15% on the first $1 million in revenue from paid apps and in-app purchases (IAPs) for all Android developers. Google announced today that next year, the Play Store will only take a 15% cut on all subscriptions from day one.

Ben Lovejoy Aug 31 2021 - 7:11 am PT

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Android owners less likely to switch to an iPhone this year

A survey of Android owners suggests they are less likely to switch to an iPhone this year than they were at the same time last year.

The lack of a fingerprint reader and the CSAM scanning controversy appear to be the two biggest factors in explaining the fall in interest …

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Android’s ‘Data Restore Tool’ readies transferring WhatsApp chats from iOS

from 9to5Google Jul 26 2021 - 5:19 pm PT

Google’s Data Transfer Tool, the standard tool for copying files from one Android to another or from iOS to Android, is preparing to offer a way to copy your WhatsApp chats from your iPhone.

Parker Ortolani Jul 12 2021 - 10:25 am PT

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Lots of folks like to think of the Mac as just another product in Apple’s precious walled garden, but many don’t know that you can actually run virtually any operating system on a Mac with a little bit of work. It’s fairly easy to get the three biggest platforms that aren’t made by Apple up and running on a Mac, even at the same time. Here’s how to do it.

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Google Fast Pair coming to BMW, Ford cars, and Beats headphones

from 9to5Google May 18 2021 - 12:00 pm PT

With Fast Pair, Google made connecting Bluetooth accessories as simple as tapping a single button on your phone. At I/O 2021, Google provided an update on Fast Pair usage and announced support for new devices, including cars.

Google I/O 2021 Keynote Live Blog + News Hub: Assistant, Android 12, and more

from 9to5Google May 18 2021 - 11:29 am PT

Well, we missed out on Google I/O 2020, but now it’s finally time for Google I/O 2021. While not in person, the annual developer festival in Mountain View, California has returned. The Google I/O 2021 Keynote kicks off at 10am PT/1pm ET, so read on for quick links to our roundup coverage over the last few weeks, some hot takes, and all the latest news about Assistant, Android 12, and ‘Material NEXT’, among many other things.

Chance Miller Apr 8 2021 - 1:31 pm PT

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Samsung is increasing its efforts to win over iPhone customers. The smartphone maker has launched a new website called “iTest,” and it allows iPhone users to “get a little taste of Samsung” through a web application that simulates the Android experience.

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Research shows Google collects 20x more data from Android than Apple collects from iOS [U]

Filipe Espósito Mar 30 2021 - 4:35 pm PT

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Tech companies have been talking more about privacy in recent years, and Apple proudly says that it protects user data more than anyone else. This week, new research by Douglas Leith from Trinity College showed that Google collects up to 20 times more data from Android users compared to the data Apple collects from iOS users.

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rocket league sideswipe android ios iphone

Rocket League ‘Sideswipe’ is coming to Android and iPhone later this year [Video]

from 9to5Google Mar 24 2021 - 10:18 am PT

One of the most popular games in the world has been Psyonix’s Rocket League, and under the umbrella of Epic Games, the game is expanding to new platforms. Later this year, “Rocket League Sideswipe” will arrive on Android and iOS devices.

Staff Writer Mar 9 2021 - 11:30 am PT

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When you set up a new iPhone, you’re likely going to use the Apple Music app, especially since you get a three-month free trial. But when you buy an Android phone, is Apple Music the first music-streaming service you think about? Probably not. If you’re wondering how the Apple Music experience is on the Samsung Galaxy S21+, here it is.

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