Latest news with #RitaElKhoury
Android Authority
13 hours ago
- Android Authority
Will Android 'App Cast' let you stream apps from device to device? (APK teardown)
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Play Services shows evidence of an in-development 'App Cast' tool. While its full functionality is unclear, it appears able to gather info about remote Android devices and access their installed apps. One possibility could be the ability to remotely stream apps from one Android device to another. Google's always working on something new for Android, and we spend a fair amount of time digging through app and system updates in the hope of getting an early look at some of those developments. When we're lucky, evidence is abundant and we're able to easily infer what Google's up to. Other times, however, it's a bit harder to get the full picture of what Google might be working on — even when it seems clear that developers are definitely up to something. And today, we're finding ourselves much more in the latter camp. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. We're looking at a recent update to Google Play Services, and as you may know, this software is how Google implements a lot of system-level functionality in Android — like we looked at just last month when we spotted new device backup settings. This time we've been crawling through the 25.24.31 beta release, and have spotted evidence of a new 'App Cast' feature. We see references to App Cast popping up in code related to multi-device sync. We've also identified a number of text strings that appear to have been added in preparation of App Cast support: Code Copy Text Starting app cast for package %s Fetching app list from remote device. Unable to get icon: %s not found Starting cast session for ' ' from ' Launching '%s' on remote device '%s' We haven't been able to surface a UI for App Cast, and so we can't see any of this in action, but one possibility could involve Google giving Android devices the ability to stream apps installed on other hardware linked to your account. We can tell that there are elements in place for choosing devices from a list, and showing a progress bar. And as mentioned in the strings above, we see code for pulling up a list of installed apps. Admittedly, the need for an app streaming mode feels a little narrow — in a lot of cases, it seems easier to just install the app on multiple devices — but we can appreciate times that require access to data that lives on a specific phone or tablet. We also wonder if this casting might extend to bigger screens, letting you view Android apps from your phone on Google TV. But as we said, right now we just don't have enough of the puzzle to really say with any kind of certainty what Google is building here; this is all vibes at the moment. We've also spotted work in Play Services on some manner of new notification sync support that appears in proximity to some of this App Cast stuff, but we're not sure if that's just a coincidence, or if they're really meant to be related. That's a little frustrating, but we'll keep digging into future Play Services builds in the hopes that we can soon nail down Google's intentions for App Cast. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Spotted: Google Maps on Wear OS is testing an Expressive new UI
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google Maps is testing a Material 3 Expressive-style redesign on Wear OS 5. The new UI features larger icons and an improved layout. The changes have only been rolled out to select users so far. Google Maps is getting a fresh look on smartwatches, and it's not waiting for Wear OS 6 to do it. The app is now testing a redesigned interface with some users on Wear OS 5, introducing a bolder, more modern layout in line with Google's Material 3 Expressive design. Screenshots and video shared with us by Telegram user Hardik show several UI changes. Captured on a Galaxy Watch 4 running Maps version 25.23.01.766241648.W, the new look features larger icons and layout choices that better suit small circular screens. Frequently used actions like 'Home,' 'Work,' and 'Recents' now appear as colorful modules, while navigation modes are presented as compact pills with clearer icons. Here's a video of the wearable in use with the new design elements: It's a noticeable departure from the old UI, which leaned heavily on minimalist icons and black menus. Where previous versions often buried options in stacked lists, the updated layout brings everything to the surface with bigger touch targets, echoing similar changes seen recently in redesigned Wear OS versions of Gmail and Keep. Check out these screenshots of the new UI: While the Maps redesign doesn't include the full theming found in the Wear OS 6 developer preview, it still reflects Google's broader push toward consistency and accessibility across its smartwatch apps. Compare the images above to how the interface currently looks for most Wear OS Google Maps users, as shown below: Google hasn't officially acknowledged the rollout, and not all users are seeing the new layout yet during this testing phase. However, with more core apps starting to follow suit, it's another sign that Google is laying the groundwork for a more unified visual experience. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
Google improves camera playback in Home app, but some are still frustrated
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR The Google Home 3.33 app update claims to improve camera timeline scrubbing on Android with better framerate and loading. A limited-access member tier is now generally available, allowing more control over shared home permissions. Early user feedback is mixed, with some praising the upgrade and others saying scrubbing performance is still lacking. Google has rolled out a new update to its Google Home app that targets one of the most persistent complaints among Nest camera users. While improvements to key apps are usually a step in the right direction, not everyone is convinced the update goes far enough. According to the latest entry on the Google changelog — dated May 28 but only published on Google's support site yesterday — the Google Home 3.33 update brings substantially improved framerate and loading performance when scrolling through video history on Android. The goal is to make scrubbing through footage on the camera timeline smoother. Initial user reactions to the camera improvements have been mixed in the tech world. Also included in the update is the general release of the limited-access member tier. This lets you share your smart home with family members, roommates, or guests, while restricting what they can see and control. You can choose whether someone can only view activity or also manage device settings and automations. Several bug fixes round out the release, addressing crashes in key areas like the Automations tab, Wi-Fi and Climate categories, and notification permissions. The update also resolves issues with inviting household members and accessing service settings for certain devices. Initial user reactions to the camera improvements have been mixed in the tech world. In a brief exchange on X, Android Police's Artem Russakovskii remained unimpressed with the timeline performance on one of his cameras. In reply, 9to5Google's Ben Schoon acknowledged that it wasn't perfect, but felt it was a clear step up from what users have dealt with over the past few years. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Your WhatsApp Status view is about to get ads
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR WhatsApp is testing ads in the Status section of the Updates tab. New paid subscriptions and promoted Channels are also rolling out. Private messages remain untouched and end-to-end encrypted. Ads have crept into every corner of Meta's ecosystem. Facebook, Instagram, and Reels are filled with them. For years, WhatsApp stood apart as the company's only major platform without advertising. Now, that's changing: ads are coming to WhatsApp, too. Meta revealed in a new announcement that WhatsApp is testing ads in the Status row at the top of the Updates tab. This is the first time we've seen advertising in WhatsApp since Facebook acquired the popular messaging app in 2014. But don't worry, Meta insists your private messages remain end-to-end encrypted and are still off limits for advertising. The new ad placements are limited to Status updates, not your personal chats. Meta confirmed three new features: ads in Status, paid channel subscriptions, and promoted channels. WhatsApp is clearly following a familiar playbook, because it sounds a lot like what we already see in Telegram and Instagram. Ads in Status look the same as Instagram Stories. These are full-screen visuals from brands, with the option to message them directly. You'll still be able to tap through Status posts as usual, but not before they try to sell you something. Channels are getting a monetization boost. Creators can now offer subscriptions, so followers pay for exclusive content. There are still no details on payment methods, but it will most likely use Meta Pay. The new Promoted Channels section will help creators get discovered by showing potential channel subscriptions of interest. Meta insists your private messages remain end-to-end encrypted and are still off limits for advertising. For now, the changes are confined to the Updates tab. But if you're used to a completely ad-free experience with the world's most popular messaging app, it may start feeling a little like the rest of Meta's apps, and soon.
Android Authority
4 days ago
- Android Authority
Circle to Search could be getting an AI Mode upgrade, and here's what it looks like (APK teardown)
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing integrating Search's AI Mode into the Circle to Search feature. When the feature rolls out, users may be able to launch AI mode via text or voice from within the Circle to Search screen. Google Search's AI Mode breaks down your question into subtopics and conducts multiple simultaneous queries. It can be accessed by users in the US through the AI Mode icon in the Google widget on your home screen, or by selecting AI Mode from the Google app's home page. Google is all-in on AI and is adding AI to everything. US users can try out AI Mode in Google Search, and there are a couple of ways to launch the feature on your phone. You can use the AI Mode icon in the Google widget on your home screen or select AI Mode from the Google app's home page. In case you need a third way to launch AI Mode, Google could integrate AI Mode into Circle to Search as its default search mode. Authority Insights story on Android Authority. Discover You're reading anstory on Android Authority. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. An APK teardown helps predict features that may arrive on a service in the future based on work-in-progress code. However, it is possible that such predicted features may not make it to a public release. Google app v16.22.44 beta includes code that indicates that Google could soon integrate AI Mode into Circle to Search. We've managed to activate the feature ahead of its launch to give you an early look at it: Here's a video demo of the upcoming feature: As you can see in the demo, AI Mode could potentially become the default way to search with Circle to Search. The Google Search bar that appears after triggering Circle to Search could feature a prominent 'Ask AI Mode' hint text and the AI Mode icon. The usual icons for Voice Input, Song Search, and Translate give it company in the Search bar. You can start an AI Mode search either by text or by voice. Once you start a search, you directly enter Google Search's AI Mode instead of the All tab within Google Search (which currently houses the AI Overviews amongst other things). The UI informs you that Google is doing a deeper search for your query, as AI Mode breaks down your question into subtopics and conducts multiple simultaneous queries. Thankfully, the result acknowledges that AI responses may include mistakes, which is a handy disclaimer given all the various ways AI can hallucinate and get things wrong. If you don't want to see AI Mode search results, you will likely need to tap on the Web tab in the Google Search response. Further, when using Circle to Search to select text on the screen, the search query will likely default to the Web tab instead of AI Mode (for now). So, for simpler queries where you don't need a whole lot of information and just need to know more about what is visible on your screen, you needn't unnecessarily burden AI for it. AI Mode within Circle to Search is not currently rolling out. We'll keep you updated when we learn more. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
