Latest news with #AndroidSystemIntelligence
Phone Arena
11 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Google's Pixel phones may soon borrow a trick from Samsung's Now Bar
Referential image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with the Now Bar. | Image credit — Phonearena Google might be working on its own version of Samsung's Now Bar, according to new details spotted in the latest Android 16 beta. The feature, called "Gemini Space," could be a major step forward for Google's At a Glance widget, offering more real-time information on the lock screen. As reported based on findings through a deep dive of the underlying code, traces of this new experience first appeared in last month's Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 release. A new system configuration file named "Ambient Data" was added, which appears to be the internal codename for Gemini Space. That file was found in firmware for both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 8 Pro, suggesting the feature won't be limited to the upcoming Pixel 10. Other clues point to an "Ambience Hub," though it's not clear how it will work. The name suggests a new interface for showing useful data on the lock screen or always-on display. This would align with other Google features that use 'ambient' in their name, such as ambient display or ambient AOD. More interestingly, the Android System Intelligence app — which powers the current At a Glance widget — now includes hints about sports scores and finance updates. A toggle for finance recaps was even found in the At a Glance settings, further supporting the idea that these updates could appear as part of Gemini Space. OneUI's Now Bar and Now Brief was a welcome addition when it launched with the Galaxy S25 series. | Image credit — PhoneArena All signs point to Google preparing a rebranded and upgraded version of At a Glance. If true, Gemini Space would serve a similar purpose to Samsung's Now Bar and Now Brief — the former being a live info chip on the lock screen, and the latter offering a full-page summary of your day. While some may say that At a Glance already covers this, Pixel phones don't have anything quite like the Now Brief: a dedicated, rich feed of contextual updates accessible right from the lock screen. That could change if Gemini Space and the rumored Ambience Hub roll out as expected. Whether this will be a Pixel 10 exclusive or come to older models remains to be seen, but the feature looks like a natural evolution of At a Glance — and perhaps a strategic way to keep Gemini AI front and center. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Phone Arena
16-05-2025
- Phone Arena
Android 16 might finally fix a privacy problem you didn't know you had
Android 16 Receive the latest Android news By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy Android 16 Android 16 Google has since confirmed this behavior, clarifying that the redaction will only trigger in what it calls 'higher risk scenarios.' These include moments when the phone isn't connected to Wi-Fi or hasn't been unlocked recently — situations that might indicate the device is in unfamiliar Android already lets users manage lock screen notification privacy manually through settings, this new system-level behavior adds an automatic layer that acts independently of those choices. In short, even if you've chosen to show everything on the lock screen,might still hide certain messages when it senses a potential security change builds on a similar approach introduced in Android 15 , where Google began blocking third-party apps from reading notifications that include OTPs, even if those apps had notification access. Both features rely on Android System Intelligence to parse messages and detect the presence of sensitive content before deciding how it should be still early in thedevelopment cycle, and features in developer previews can sometimes be modified or removed before the final release. But now that Google has officially acknowledged this change, there's a strong chance it will stick around for the stable version expected later this it does, Android users may finally get a smart balance between convenience and privacy — especially when it comes to keeping their login codes safe from prying eyes.
