Apps & Services
Samsung Galaxy Affordable Phones to Get Better Video Playback with AV1 Support
We are exactly in the middle, where time is actual money. To preserve time, people prefer to go through video instead of searching or reading. Undoubtedly the biggest source of videos is YouTube, which shared an astonishing statistic.
Digital media platforms are hubs of entertainment, and the rise of this landscape came from TikTok and the never-ending online streaming war between Netflix and other media companies. Now, for smoothly delivering the video content by these online services constantly, it’s pretty essential that brands use the best compression technology available to save bandwidth.
This is the main reason why the Alliance for Open Media’s AV1 codec has been gaining grip among online streaming services.
Basically, AV1 is a video codec that provides excellent compression efficiency as compared to previous codecs, such as H.264, H.265, or VP9, so it directly points out that video encoded in AV1 can deliver similar video quality at quite lower bitrates. This decreases the bandwidth needed by both the streaming service and the end user without compromising on quality.
Somehow, it appears that streaming services have been a bit late to adopt AV1 for their content. But while platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Instagram, and Vimeo already encrypt much of their content in AV1, they still serve this content in other codecs to the huge majority of consumer devices.
This is the main reason why several consumer devices still lack hardware support for playing back AV1 videos, so that means they would have to use a software decoder running on the CPU to play back an AV1 video. The fact is, video decoders can be hardware-based or even software-based by using the CPU, but hardware is the better option for smooth playback and low power consumption, specifically for demanding video formats such as AV1.
Hard to relate, the majority of smartphone devices lack hardware-accelerated AV1 decoding; that’s why battery drains occur most while watching videos. Finally, the latest chipsets from Qualcomm and Apple include it, but its obvious adoption will take quite some time as not everyone upgrades frequently or buys flagship devices.
Whereas, as a strong competitor, Google is also gearing up to upgrade Android so that existing devices can sufficiently play back AV1 content even if they lack a hardware-accelerated decoder. Although the release of Android 10 has included the libgav1 decoder, an open-source AV1 decoder developed by Google, Noticeably, libgav1 is not the only AV1 decoder out there, as there’s also the Alliance for Open Media’s libaom and VideoLAN’s libdav1d. (via- Android Authority)
Libdav1d also runs on the CPU, similar to libgav1, but it’s efficiently better at decoding AV1 content as compared to libgav1. This is possibly responsible for the fact that large parts of libdav1d were written in assembly for ARMv8 chips, which decreases performance overhead. As per the reports, when the device Google Pixel 3 XL was tested, which is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845, it lacked a hardware-accelerated AV1 decoder. While testing, the reporter played back two videos encoded in AV1: a 6:30 clip of the Artemis, then launched at 4K60, and a 9:11 clip from Netflix named “Sparks” at 1080p25. The testing shows that libdav1d performed better as compared to libdav1. Whereas the Pixel 3XL averaged more than 50 fps when playing the Artemis 1 clip using libdav1d as the decoder.
By using VLC Media Player, you can test libdav1d on your Pixel 3 XL device, which bundles libdav1d. Since November, the AOSP source code has included the libdav1d decoder. This is because Google needed to experiment with using libdav1d instead of libgav1 as the system-provider AV1 decoder for Android.
It is also known that Google informed its partners a few months ago that they have plans to replace libgav1 with libdav1d on existing devices by March 2024 through an upcoming Google Play System Update. Now let’s see what twerks will appear in the upcoming March 2024 Google Play System Update.
Circle to Search with Google has been the talk of the town since it came into existence. Flagship Galaxy owners get ready to experience new functionality in the Circle to Search feature, as Google is working on adding barcode support to Circle to Search for easy barcode scanning.
Initially, Samsung introduced the Circle to Search with Google feature on its current flagship Galaxy S24 series. Later, Google will make it available on its Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 series. As per the requirement, Google has also upgraded the gesture of the feature by adding instant translation support, allowing you to translate on-screen content easily. Google is now setting up to enhance the feature further by adding barcode support.
Presently, Circle to Search just lets you search for text, images, or videos on your screen by just circling without even needing to switch between apps. Similarly, at the moment, if you use Circle to search on a barcode, then it will take you to the result that will show other similar barcodes; instead, it should be redirected to its content.
Now the reports are saying that a tipster spotted strings related to this feature in the Google app v5.19.45.29.arm64 beta. Currently, the feature is in the developing stage, but it is expected that the brand will roll out soon. Once available, it will let you use Circle to Search to read barcodes on web pages and from products in pictures you have taken.
However, there is no exact information known when this feature barcode reader feature will come into existence or when Circle to Search with Google will be available on other non-Samsung and non-Pixel devices, but it is expected that Google could announce more Circle to Search improvements alongside its wider availability at I/O 2024 later today.
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Meta is quite active in upgrading its messaging platform, ‘WhatsApp’, as per the convenience of the users to enhance their experience. The new beta updates bring two new features: new sticker creation shortcuts and channels for linked devices.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new update for Android, available on the Google Play Beta Program with the beta version 2.24.10.23. This brings a shortcut for creating stickers, which is already seen on iOS. With this update, WhatsApp is separating the usual sticker creation tool from the AI-based sticker creation feature.
However, the sticker creation is getting an update on some applications, but currently, there’s one option to make both regular and AI-generated stickers. The other update reveals that the developers are building up another feature for connected devices, namely the ability to create, view, and follow channels. With this update, users get the power to access this feature even from their linked mobile devices, ensuring a cohesive experience. It does not even matter which mobile device they are using.
It is not yet confirmed exactly when these changes will be implemented for everyone. Since the features are still in the developing stage and yet to roll out stably, at the moment they are available only for beta users, but it is expected that soon the giant will make them available widely.
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Your secure and private digital wallet, ‘Google Wallet’, is dropping support for old Android and Wear OS versions, starting next month.
Google Wallet is a digital wallet facility on Android that allows you to quickly access payment cards, passes, tickets, keys, or IDs that you choose to store on it. Google Pay plays an essential role in helping you manage your money and your finances. The new support document reveals that from June 10, Google Wallet will only support Android smartphones that at least run Android 9 or higher. It means you can use Google Wallet on Samsung devices released in or around 2014, including the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy Tab E 9.6.
“Google Wallet will require Android 9 or higher on your phone and OS 2.x or higher on your smartwatch.”
While using Google Wallet on your smartwatch, your watch should be running on Wear OS 2.x or higher. The good news is that Samsung Galaxy Watches with Wear OS are all compatible with the latest Wear OS 4, so none will be impacted by this change.
Google Wallet says the reason behind this new change is that “security updates aren’t available for Android versions below 9.”
Another support page, which is yet to be updated, shows Android 7.0 as the basic requirement. When Google Walled debuted in 2022, Android 5.0 was listed. With this new change, users who are using Android Nougat (7.0, 7.1) and Oreo (8.0, 8.1) are impacted. As reported by Android Studio, Android 9 Pie has a cumulative distribution of 86.4%.
Whereas, at launch, Wear OS 2 was based on Android 8.0 Oreo but was later updated to Android 9.0 Pie. Previously, Google ended Play Services support back in August 2023 for Android KitKat.
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