Android 14
Google’s 7-Year Software Update Promise Gets Mixed Reactions
The revelation of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro also brought up the 7 years of software support announcement from Google at the Made by Google event. This will include security updates, Pixel feature drop releases, and Android OS upgrades, which has created great hype. Just after the announcement, the initial reactions were ‘wow’ but this gradually turned into disappointment within a week, and it was termed that Google should be scrutinized, is dishonest, and their guarantee means nothing. Several videos from the sources, Linus, The Verge, and MKBHD, have made it worse by claiming this software support is nothing more than a pointless one. These things surely make us wonder what the issue is behind these sorts of comments.
The one main cause of this is that believing Google when they say a commitment would last for seven years is silly, as discontinuity of services and products often happens. Also, a lot of people lost trust in the business after shutting down several things, like
- The Pixel Pass, which is a product that was signed up by 25 people.
- The Google Podcasts app that was just a browser disguised as an app
- Jamboard, a platform for specialized business presentations
- Big G’s cloud gaming platform, Stadia
Initially, the firm offered three years of OS and security upgrades for the Pixel phones when they debuted, but it didn’t turn out well, and users never questioned them again. The level of service was later increased to three years of OS and five years of security updates. Till now, Google has fulfilled all software promises made for the 8th generation of Pixel phones. It is a disappointment that even after 7 years of its support, the firm hasn’t gained any trust. The other criticism is that now Google is wrong for offering a Pro model that differs from the non-Pro version in terms of functionality.
Samsung’s ISOCELL HW1 and HW2 could be the First 1-Inch 432MP Camera Sensors for Smartphones
It is claimed that Google is pricing specialized functionality like AI-powered concepts and restricting another phone from supporting those features when it should be able to. Even though the $699 Pixel 8 has the same Google Tensor G3 CPU, camera, and seven-year warranty as the $999 Pixel 8 Pro, Google arbitrarily locks down software capabilities. Only the Pixel 8 Pro runs Google’s foundational generative AI machine learning models on the device itself, which enable the new real-time Google recorder, improved Magic eraser, and smart Google keyboard.
Google is following the same process as Apple did with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, with the higher price bringing the lacking features of the earlier model. You should compare both devices instead of treating the Pixel 8 as a little Pixel 8 Pro, which it isn’t. It is said that Google is offering you a non-Pro and a Pro-level phone because they want them to be perceived differently. The play is that they want you to receive extra if you purchase the Pro phone, much like Apple. We may choose whether to pay extra for the goods or not, but that’s what they are trying to sell us with the Pixel 8 series.
Last month, Samsung officially confirmed the One UI 6.1 update for the 2022 models. Now, keeping its promise, the company has started rolling out the major update for the Galaxy S22 series.
The Android 14-based One UI 6.1 update for the Galaxy S22 series is live in South Korea. Users who own the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra can identify the latest update by the firmware version numbers S901NKSU3EXDC, S906NKSU3EXDC, and S908NKSU3EXDC, respectively.
Samsung has released several Galaxy AI features with the One UI 6.1 update that will help you provide a better communication experience and take advantage of the ability to quickly understand information.
For your information, the Galaxy S22 series device will get the benefit of all the important Galaxy AI features, including Circle to Search, Live Translate, Generative Edit, Note Assist, Transcript Script, Chat Assist, and many more.
Apart from the Galaxy AI feature, the device will also get some important additions on the customization side, where users will get several new changes related to wallpaper, lock screen, alarm, calendar, and many more.
To check the latest update on your device, navigate to the settings, then select the software update option here. Tap on the download and install option. Wait until it finishes searching to see if the update is available, then tap on the install button.
Samsung Galaxy XCover 5 is one of the rugged smartphones that is dedicatedly made for using it in any weather condition. It is worth noticing that the company hasn’t limited it to giving tough hardware but also keeps it up to date with its fresh software. In the last major update, Android 14, it has grabbed some new features, and unfortunately, it has also got an issue with the camera, which is causing inconvenience to the users.
Galaxy XCover5 getting a camera issue after Android 14
The Galaxy XCover 5 has received Android 14 and One UI 6.0, and after installing them, users have started reporting about the camera issue. In the reports, the consumers have pointed out that they are not able to use the camera focus like before. Since the camera is the most frequently used feature of the smartphone, its malfunction is significantly affecting the overall performance of the devices.
Due to the malfunctioning of the autofocus, users are also having difficulty making payments due to the autofocus malfunction. When they open the QR code scanner, they are unable to do so because the camera is not focusing on the code.
However, the Korean giant hasn’t yet released a statement regarding the issue’s resolution, despite the fact that the issue surfaced after the last update, suggesting a software update-related problem. Hopefully, Samsung could release a proper update that will update it to the latest version.
Android 14
Google Get Inspired By Samsung; As It Copies Secure Folder Feature Housed In Galaxy Phones
Is Google following Samsung? With the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, it offers a new option for private space, which Samsung already offers with the title Secure Folder.
Google released Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 in November 2023, which introduced a feature called ‘Private Space’ already housed in Samsung devices as Secure Folder. Since reports have been around for several days that the latest iteration of Android 15 will be dedicated to more security and will bring tons of new features to enhance users’ secure experiences, one of the awaiting features is Private Space.
The upcoming Private Space feature will allow the user to install the application in a separate, locked profile, which they can hide at any time. Although this feature has been in the development phase for a long time, it has not yet gone live. Let’s take a closer look.
The new feature named ‘Lock private space automatically’ will allow users to configure the feature to automatically lock the protected space depending on one of the two sub-options they select in it, which are ‘Every time device lock’ and ‘After 5 minutes of inactivity.’ While choosing the first, the feature will lock Privact Space instantly after they lock the device.
But here’s the catchable fact: Secure Folder, available on Galaxy devices, already offers this feature, so somewhere it seems like Google got inspired by Samsung.
The reports are also saying that when users set up Private Space, the feature now recommends them to create a dedicated Google account for using it to’stop data appearing outside private space; for instance, ‘Synced photos, files, emails, contacts, calendar events, and other data,’ and many more. This suggestion and the option to automatically lock the protected space further enhance the privacy and security of private space.
Upcoming Private Space will offer a redesign setup flow to deliver a better idea of the feature. Since this feature initially appeared in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 and then Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1, it is expected that Android 15 will bring this feature to enhance the secure experience.