Categories
Business Industry

Galaxy phones start getting April 2024 Google Play System update

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 23rd, 2024 at 12:47 UTC+02:00

Google’s April 2024 Play System update is now rolling out for Samsung Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S24 flagship lineup. The latter, as you might remember, was a bit late to receive the January 2024 Google Play System update a couple of months ago, but now it appears to be back on track with the schedule.

Google started rolling out the April 2024 Play System update a few days ago, on April 17. Now, you can download it on your Samsung Galaxy phone by opening the Settings app, accessing “About Phone,” tapping “Software information,” followed by “Google Play System update.”

You will then need to wait for the phone to finish checking whether a new Play System update is available for download. Assuming the new update reached your phone, it will install it and reboot.

Once done, you should access the Play System update menu again and double-check if everything is up to date, seeing how Galaxy phone users have sometimes received “fake” Play System updates in a loop due to a bug.

We tested the new update’s availability using a Galaxy S24+, and it all worked as expected. The phone now runs the April 2024 Play System update, as seen in the screenshot above.

As to what new features this update brings, Google’s changelog is a bit sparse. It only mentions a change for the Google Phone app, claiming that “With this new feature, you’ll be able to connect with your contacts immediately after you set up your new phone.”

An April 2024 Play service update also appears to have landed on Wear OS devices. The changelog states that supervised users will now be able to use a new dashboard to view parental control settings. We tried downloading the April 2024 Play System update on a Galaxy Watch 5 but had no success. It could start rolling out at a later date.

All in all, your mileage as far as the availability of the April 2024 Play System update will differ based on your location, Galaxy phone, and other factors. Nevertheless, you can always check for these types of updates manually using the steps we described above.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

Circle to Search could soon get new features on Google and Samsung phones

[ad_1]

We’ve been enjoying being able to play around with the AI-powered Circle to Search feature since it arrived – first on the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Google Pixel 8 phones – and it seems it could be getting some new capabilities in the near future.

According to well-known tipster @AssembleDebug (via PiunikaWeb), hidden snippets lurking in the Circle to Search code seem set to boost the feature with options for capturing parts of the screen and sharing them with other people.



[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

South Koreans spend most on phones, which is good news for Samsung

[ad_1]

Last year was terrible for smartphone brands, as sales declined year-over-year. However, not everything was bad. People have actually started spending more on smartphones, and a new report reveals how much people spend on average. Consumers in Samsung’s home country spent the most on average on smartphones, bringing a good outlook for Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series devices.

South Koreans are lapping up Samsung foldable phones, resulting in rise of average smartphone selling price

According to a new report from market research firm TechInsights, South Korea, Japan, and the US were the top three markets with respect to smartphone Average Selling Price (ASP). The sales of Samsung’s Galaxy Z series foldable phones are among the reasons TechInsights has quoted for the rise in smartphone ASP in South Korea. This figure is estimated to keep rising until at least 2029, which is great news for Samsung’s foldable phones, especially since Samsung has multiple generations of foldable phones. Price growth has also been reported for iPhones in recent years.

Global Smartphone Wholesale ASP Top 5 Countries South Korea 2024

In Japan, though, regulatory restrictions on smartphone subsidies have slowed the growth of ASP. Japan was the top-ranked country in terms of smartphone ASP until 2020, but South Korea topped it in 2021. The UK ranked fourth in 2023 but is expected to outgrow the US this year to rank third. This is due to the higher penetration of iPhones in the past couple of years and a faster upgrade cycle. However, the US is estimated to regain its third position in the next few years. The global smartphone market is estimated to grow by 3% in 2024 compared to last year.

While 2023 was bad, the future looks bright for the smartphone market. China, India, and the US are projected to lead smartphone growth. These three countries are expected to contribute almost half the global smartphone revenue by 2024. While India ranks 71st in average smartphone selling price, its massive population will drive revenue for OEMs. This makes India one of the best markets for smartphone brands to invest in, and Samsung is already in a great position. The company was the biggest smartphone brand in India in Q1 2024.

New smartphone form factors, like foldable and rollable phones, and deeper 5G penetration will improve smartphone average selling prices in the coming years. You can read the complete TechInsights report here to see data on 88 markets.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Google Drive gets new filters on Android phones for better usability

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 20th, 2024 at 23:11 UTC+02:00

Google Drive is among the best cloud storage solutions for a reason. It is extremely reliable, and Google keeps adding new features to the app on all the popular platforms. In a recent move, Google added new filters to the Google Drive app on Android. However, this feature was released a month after it was released to the iOS version of the app.

Google Drive gets new filters to find files quicker

Google has released a new update to the Google Drive app for Android, offering users a more straightforward and intuitive way to search for files. Filter categories are located just below the search bar at the top of the screen. You can filter files by File Type, Owners, and Last Modified. This will make finding files more accessible than ever. You can choose even more filters on the search results page to narrow down the file you want to see.

Google Drive Filters Android April 2024

This updated version of Google Drive should be available to all Google Workspace users in the coming days. Some people might have received this new version already. You can search for the update on the Google Play Store by navigating to the My Apps section of the app and then hitting the Update button.

Google has added many new features to Google Drive over the past few years. Last year, it significantly improved Google Drive on foldable phones and tablets through a multi-column UI and a navigation rail on the left side of the screen. It also introduced Dark Mode to the app and a document scanner.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

I love my Amazon Kindle but foldable phones have convinced me its time is up – here’s why

[ad_1]

Smartphones have replaced a truly astounding number of things in everyday life, from cameras to calculators, and alarm clocks to wallets; and, based on the current state of foldables, ereaders – such as Amazon‘s ever-popular Kindle line – could be next.

The ereader is a great product in its own right, able to store an entire library’s worth of literature. What’s more, advancements in the category have lead to higher-resolution displays, tonal backlights for easier-on-the-eye late-night reading, longer battery life, faster charging, and even water resistance – ensuring that your poolside progress through that steamy new romance novel remains unimpeded when the noisy kids two sun-loungers down try to outdo one another in a game of ‘cannonball’.

But as innovative as such ereader advancements might seem in a vacuum, smartphones – even though they lack the same specializations – are otherwise already several steps ahead on a technical level, and closing the gap on the traits that define Kindles and the like as the superior reading gadgets.

OnePlus Open vs Kindle Oasis alternate angle

When it comes to legibility in bright conditions, smartphone screen tech is catching up with ereaders (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)

I first came to this realization when the original iPad launched. Being able to see comics in full color on a large-but-portable high-fidelity backlit LCD was a truly revelatory experience at the time, and one that made me question my Kindle loyalty, even then. More recently, however, it’s the OnePlus Open which has been the device to show me a viable ereading future beyond my trusty Kindle Oasis.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Featured

Android 15 could tell you how long your phone’s storage will survive for

[ad_1]

Android 15 could come with a smart new feature that can check the health of your phone’s onboard storage, thereby alerting you to the risk of losing files or running out of usable space when you most need it. 

The feature is dubbed Device Diagnostics, as spotted by Android Authority in the latest Android 15 beta, and provides users with a percentage readout of how much of your internal storage is still usable. 

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Software updates causing green line display issues on some Galaxy phones

[ad_1]

Many Galaxy smartphone users have started complaining of display issues after installing a software update. This issue has been present on Samsung phones for a couple of years, and the company hasn’t done anything concrete to solve it. The issue appears so common that Galaxy users fear installing a new update on their phones.

Galaxy users complain of display problems after installing a software update

Several Galaxy users have started complaining of display-related issues on their phones with OLED screens. After installing a software update, a green or pink line appeared on their phones. This issue isn’t limited to a few phones or models. It seems widespread, and we’ve seen this issue appear on the Galaxy A73, Galaxy M21, Galaxy M52 5G, Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy S22 series, and Galaxy Z Flip 3. Some users claim the issue appeared after installing One UI 6.0 or the April 2024 security update.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus Display Green Line Issue

There could be more phones suffering from this issue, but it isn’t just Galaxy devices that are facing this issue. Even phones from Motorola, OnePlus, Vivo, and Xiaomi seem to have the same issue, but the issue appears widespread among Samsung phones.

The issue appeared after installing a software update in most of these instances. This has horrified users so much that people have started recording videos while installing new software updates on their phones. Users hope to submit their videos to after-sales service stores to prove that the issue (if it appears) wasn’t caused by physical damage.

Green line issue causing consumer distrust in Samsung

This isn’t a minor issue, as an OLED display panel is among a smartphone’s most costly components. Sometimes, the OLED panel costs almost half the phone’s original price. Even after so many complaints, Samsung doesn’t seem to have issued a wider circular to after-sales service centers to replace display panels on affected phones for free. This has caused consumers to distrust Samsung.

Whether the issue is related to the OLED panel itself, the display cable, or a glitch in the software update system, Samsung needs to issue a statement about this problem as soon as possible if it wants consumers to trust the brand again.



[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Business Industry

Galaxy phones could soon get one more wallet app

[ad_1]

Last updated: April 17th, 2024 at 21:35 UTC+02:00

Google Wallet is one of the most useful apps for Android devices as it allows you to store and access identification (ID) cards or documents, payment cards, boarding passes, and event tickets among other things. Unfortunately, it isn’t available in the world’s most populous country, India. Fortunately, that’s going to change soon.

As spotted by TechCrunch, Google had listed the Google Wallet app on the Play Store in India and the listing had screenshots showing Indian brands, currency, and locations. While there was no download option available on the listing and the brand later de-listed the app, it suggested that the company is working on making Google Wallet available in India. In fact, if people sideload the app in the country, it works with local payment cards, boarding passes, and event tickets. Some users also reported that Google Wallet worked on WearOS smartwatches in the region.

Google Wallet listing on Play Store in India

All in all, it won’t be too long before Google releases the Google Wallet app officially in India. Currently, there’s only one digital wallet app available on Android in the country, which is Samsung Wallet. Unfortunately, it works only on Samsung devices. Once Google launches Google Wallet in India, non-Samsung Android users will finally have a digital wallet app that they can use, allowing them to access IDs, payment cards, boarding passes, and event tickets from a single place. It’s worth mentioning that it will co-exist with Google Pay, which offers UPI payments.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Entertainment

The best foldable phones for 2024

[ad_1]

Folding phones have come a long way since the original Samsung Galaxy Fold came out in 2019. They’re smaller, more durable and, even if they aren’t exactly the most budget-friendly phones, they’re more affordable now, too. Whereas you may not have considered a foldable phone as your daily driver five years ago, they’re much more viable options today — and you have many more to choose from. If you’ve been toying with the idea of switching to a folding phone, or you’re ready to upgrade the foldable you already have, we at Engadget can help with your decision-making process. We’ve spent hundreds of hours and many days testing and reviewing the best foldable phones on the market right now — here’s everything you need to know before picking one up.

Note: For this guide, we’re focusing on devices that are widely available in North America and Europe. That’s because while there are even more options for people who live in Asia (especially China), they are often difficult to buy from abroad and may not support your local carriers.

How we test

When evaluating foldables, we consider the same general criteria as we do when we’re judging the best smartphones. Devices need to have good battery life (at least a full day’s use), bright displays (peaks of at least 1,000 nits), sharp cameras and responsive performance. That said, foldable phones come in different shapes (and sizes); there are varying designs that may appeal to different types of people.

For those who prefer more compact and stylish devices, flip-style foldables resemble old-school namesakes but with flexible interior displays (typically six to seven inches diagonally) and smaller exterior screens. Alternatively, for power users and people who want to maximize mobile productivity, there are larger book-style foldables (with seven to eight-inch main displays) that can transform from a candy bar-style phone to essentially a small tablet when opened.

Are foldable phones worth it? A note on durability

Aside from their displays, the biggest difference between foldable phones and more traditional handsets is durability. That’s because while some models like the Pixel Fold and Samsung’s Galaxy Z line offer IPX8 water resistance (which is good for submersions of up to five feet for 30 minutes), their flexible screens – which are largely made from plastic – present some unique challenges.

Most foldables come with factory-installed screen protectors. However, unlike regular phones, users are instructed not to remove them without assistance from approved service centers. Thankfully, Samsung does offer one free screen protector replacement for its foldables, while Google charges between $29 and $129 depending on the warranty status of your device. That said, while we can’t do long-term testing for every foldable phone on the market, after personally using the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 each for a year, I’ve found that Samsung’s pre-installed screen protector tends to start bubbling nine to 12 months after purchase. So you’ll probably want to factor in that your foldable may need some sort of servicing after about a year unless you plan on removing the screen protector entirely (which is possible, but goes against most manufacturers’ instructions).

Furthermore, foldable phone owners need to be mindful about keeping sharp objects away from their flexible displays, as rocks, keys or even pressing down very hard with a fingernail can leave permanent marks. In the event that you need to get a flexible screen serviced, you’re potentially facing a much higher repair bill when compared to a typical phone (up to $500 or more depending on the model and the severity of the damage). In short, while the ruggedness of foldable phones has improved a lot, they’re still more delicate than traditional handsets, which is something you need to account for.

Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Despite a growing number of challengers, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line remains the best flagship foldable on sale today and one of the best Android phones, period. On the Z Fold 5, Samsung introduced its new Flex Hinge, which has slimmed down the phone’s dimensions while allowing it to close completely flat. It boasts blazing performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, excellent battery life and the flexible internal display’s brightness is the best you can get with a peak of 1,750 nits. And, thanks to new multitasking gestures and updated taskbar, its capacity for mobile productivity is simply unmatched. If that’s not enough, unlike most of its competitors, the Z Fold 5 offers native stylus support, though you have to shell out extra for one of Samsung’s S-Pens (and a case if you want somewhere to stash it). The biggest downside is that with a starting price of $1,800, the Z Fold 5 is still extremely expensive. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Pros

  • New Flex Hinge
  • No more gap
  • Improved performance
  • Additional multitasking gestures
  • Great battery life
  • Brighter main screen
Cons

  • Very expensive
  • S Pen comes separately
  • Unchanged cameras
  • Still rather bulky

$1,800 at Amazon

Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Read our full review of the Google Pixel Fold

While the Z Fold 5 may be our favorite big foldable overall, the Pixel Fold isn’t far behind. Its wider design means its 5.8-inch exterior display feels a lot more usable than the Z Fold 5’s skinnier 6.2-inch Cover Screen. Additionally, that extra width results in a flexible main screen with a landscape orientation, so it’s super easy to open the Pixel Fold and launch straight into watching a TV show or movie; no need to rotate the device. And, despite being Google’s first foldable device, the Pixel Fold (12.1mm) is thinner than Samsung’s alternative (13.4mm) while boasting better camera quality and a longer 5x optical zoom. The phone also has IPX8 water resistance and Google’s excellent Pixel-only software including features like the Hold for me, Call Screener, the Pixel Recorder app and more. — S.R.

Pros

  • Big exterior display
  • Great cameras
  • Solid battery life
  • Sleek design
  • Straightforward multitasking

$1,799 at Google

Photo by Sam Rutherford / Engadget

Read our full review of the OnePlus Open

For those who want a big foldable that isn’t quite as expensive, the OnePlus Open is a very interesting option. Starting at $1,700, its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip offers similar performance to the Z Fold 5, but the Open features displays that are slightly larger and brighter. It’s also thinner and lighter while packing a larger battery and its Open Canvas software delivers an innovative tile-based UI for multitasking. Sure, its triple rear camera module is bulky, but image quality is as good if not slightly better than the Z Fold 5 (though, still short of the Pixel Fold). But the best part is that, thanks to OnePlus’ trade-in deal, you can exchange any old phone you have lying around for $200 off, which brings the Open’s final price down to $1,500. That still isn’t cheap, but it pushes the Open closer to being somewhat affordable. — S.R.

Pros

  • More affordable than the competition
  • Good performance
  • Thinner and lighter design
  • Good battery life

$1,699 at OnePlus

Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Packing a faster Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, better cameras and longer battery life than the previous Flip 4, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is our favorite compact foldable. This year, Samsung even added its new Flex Hinge, which makes the phone thinner while also eliminating the gap between its screen when closed. Also, thanks to its larger 3.4-inch external display, the latest model can do much more without needing to open it up including displaying rich notifications, widgets and buttons. You can even run full Android apps on the cover display, though you’ll have to mess around with Samsung’s Good Lock software first. Its display is also brighter and more colorful than what you get from rivals, and starting at $1,000, it’s not that much more expensive than a more conventional high-end phone. — S.R.

Pros

  • Useful external screen
  • Compact when folded
  • New hinge enables gapless design
Cons

  • A lot of settings to dig through to maximize use
  • Short battery life compared to typical Android phones

$1,000 at Amazon

Photo by Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Read our full review of the Motorola Razr+

While the Razr+ (or the Razr 40 Ultra for those outside North America) may not be quite as sophisticated as the Galaxy Z Flip 5, what it lacks in tech it makes up for with its personality. It’s available in three colors, with the magenta model featuring a soft vegan leather back. In addition, its exterior display features a neat cutout that wraps around its cameras and compared to Samsung’s flip-style foldable, it’s actually a touch easier to use. There’s no need to fool around with extra settings just to view all your favorite Android apps. And for those who are nostalgic for the original Razr from the early 2000s, Moto even included an easter egg that features a retro UI. Unfortunately, its water resistance is much less substantial, as it’s only rated to withstand spills or small splashes. — S.R.

Pros

  • Useful and roomy external display
  • Folds in half to become very compact
  • Can be own tripod for photos or videos
Cons

  • Cameras cannot compare to flagships
  • Long-term durability and security remains a concern

$1,000 at Amazon

Photo by Mat Smith / Engadget

Read our full review of the Motorola Razr

The non-plus Moto Razr (aka the Razr 40 internationally) is the company’s first attempt to make a more affordable flip-style foldable. Starting at £800 (U.S. pricing still TBA), it’s one of the least expensive options on sale today. However, it features a much smaller 1.5-inch exterior display along with a slower Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and somewhat underwhelming cameras. On the bright side, it features the same display you get on its more expensive sibling. The one difference is that it’s limited to 144Hz instead of 165Hz due to its less powerful processor. And, similar to the magenta Razr+, all the colors of the basic Razr (Sage Green, Vanilla Cream, Summer Lilac) come with a soft vegan leather back. — S.R.

Pros

  • A cheaper foldable phone
  • Decent battery life
  • Tactile soft finish
Cons

  • Unremarkable external screen
  • Underwhelming cameras

£800 at Motorola

Best alternative foldable phone options

As mentioned earlier, there’s an abundance of exotic – and often more advanced – foldables well beyond the Samsungs and Motorolas of the world. However, you either need to have access to phone importers or actually live in Asia, and don’t mind sideloading missing Google apps on your own.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

The best overall book-style foldable is none other than the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, which specs include Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, four Leica-enhanced rear cameras (including a 5x zoom periscope) and a 4,800mAh battery within its surprisingly slim body – 10.86mm when folded, and 5.26mm when unfolded. Xiaomi even goes as far as boasting a 500,000-fold durability – more than doubling that of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Despite its absence in the western markets, the Mix Fold 3’s newly-added 50W wireless charging option would be much welcomed over there. The phone comes with a protective case for both halves of the body, with the rear shell offering a kickstand for easier video playback and video calls. One Hong Kong-based specialist can send a Mix Fold 3 to the US from around $1,500 with shipping included, which is still much cheaper than Samsung’s equivalent. — Richard Lai, Senior Reporter

Honor Magic V2

Another worthy contender is the Honor Magic V2, which currently holds the title for the slimmest foldable phone available. We’re talking about just 9.9mm thick when folded, and a mere 4.7mm thick when opened, but it’s still a full-blown flagship device. Weighing at just 231g (8.15oz), this is the lightest book-style foldable phone as well. Funnily enough, the Magic V2 also packs the largest battery capacity in this category, offering 5,000mAh of juice thanks to Honor’s silicon-carbon battery – a breakthrough tech in the mobile industry. The obvious trade-off here is the missing wireless charging feature, but you do get a durability rating of 400,000 folds. Sadly, due to limited availability, the Magic V2 costs slightly more – around $1,670, shipping included, from the same Hong Kong shop. — R.L.

Oppo Find N3 Flip

If you’d prefer a smaller flip-style foldable from overseas, the Oppo Find N3 Flip is the only triple-camera option at the time of writing this guide. While others only offer a main camera and an ultra-wide camera, the Find N3 Flip benefits from an additional 32-megapixel 2x portrait shooter next to its 3.26-inch external screen (and you still get a 32-megapixel selfie camera on the inside). As a bonus, this clamshell has a physical mute switch, a whopping 600,000-fold durability and a generous 4,300mAh battery. That said, wireless charging is again a no-show here. You can pick up a Find N3 Flip in either black, gold or pink, and importing from Hong Kong should cost around $1,090 with shipping included. There’s no price advantage in this case, so it’s more about how much you want Oppo’s designs, features and accessories than anything else. — R.L.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link

Categories
Entertainment

Samsung is, once again, shipping the most phones in the world

[ad_1]

Samsung reportedly shipped 60.1 million smartphone units worldwide in Q1, representing 20.8 percent of the global market share — and first place. Meanwhile, Apple shipped 50.1 million units for 17.3 percent of the market share. Both companies, however, saw a decrease from Q1 2023. Apple saw an almost 10 percent drop, while Samsung’s hit was less than one percent.

Apple nudged Samsung out briefly in 2023, but it’s back to business as usual. The IDC’s takeaway is that the world of smartphones is strengthening (what does that mean?), with a boost to higher-priced phones—true for both Samsung and Apple.

Xiaomi rounded out the top five brands with 40.8 million units, Transsion with 28.5 million units and OPPO with 25.2 million units shipped. Never heard of Transsion? It’s a global smartphone powerhouse based in China, responsible for phone brands including Tecno, Itel and Infinix.

— Mat Smith

The biggest stories you might have missed

Rode’s $90 MagSafe mount lets you attach pro lights and mics to your iPhone

Threads is testing real-time search results

Tesla is reportedly laying off more than 10 percent of its workforce

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!

Sonic 3 gets another actor.

TMATMA

Sega

Keanu Reeves will play the broody, tortured Shadow the Hedgehog. The antihero, both an arch-rival and an ally to Sonic, will be created by Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik after the events of Sonic 2. Whoa.

Continue reading.

The social media app goes offline April 29.

Meta is shutting down Threads in Turkey on April 29 after an interim injunction from the Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) against automatic data sharing with Instagram. The TCA ruled that linking Threads and Instagram without user opt-in “will lead to irreparable harm” and that Meta “abused its dominant position” in the industry with the practice. This isn’t the first regulatory battle between Meta and Turkey. Back in 2022, the country fined Meta $18.6 million for sharing data across its apps.

Continue reading.

Dismantling an HDD in as little as eight seconds.

Garner Products’ DiskMantler uses a mix of shock, harmonics and vibration to shake apart a hard drive. The process loosens screws and other fasteners to free up parts like circuit boards, drive assemblies, actuators and rare-earth magnets. The process reportedly takes between eight and 90 seconds for most hard drives and around two minutes for welded helium drives. Only a fifth or so of the planet’s e-waste is recycled at the moment, so anything that can improve that share would be welcome.

Continue reading.

[ad_2]

Source Article Link