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    Home Unlabelled Android Daily Superthread (Mar 09 2022) - Your daily thread for questions, device recommendations and general discussions!

    Android Daily Superthread (Mar 09 2022) - Your daily thread for questions, device recommendations and general discussions!

    March 09, 2022

    Android Daily Superthread (Mar 09 2022) - Your daily thread for questions, device recommendations and general discussions!

    Daily Superthread (Mar 09 2022) - Your daily thread for questions, device recommendations and general discussions!

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 04:00 AM PST

    Note 1. Check MoronicMondayAndroid, which serves as a repository for our retired weekly threads. Just pick any thread and Ctrl-F your way to wisdom!

    Note 2. Join our IRC and Telegram chat-rooms! Please see our wiki for instructions.

    Please post your questions here. Feel free to use this thread for general questions/discussion as well.

    The /r/Android wiki now has a list of recommended phones and covers most areas, the links have been added below. Any suggestions or changes are welcome. Please contact us if you would like to help maintain this section.

    Entry level (most affordable devices costing under $250 (US)/ $325 (Canada)/ €200 (Europe)/ £200/ ₹12,500 (India)

    Midrange section, covering the $250-500(US)/$300-700(Canada)/€200-500/£200-450/₹12,500-30,000 segment

    Flagship section, containing the most expensive devices with the highest end specifications

    submitted by /u/curated_android
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    Update to Windows Subsystem for Android™ on Windows 11 for Windows Insiders

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 12:16 PM PST

    Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 now available!

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 11:43 AM PST

    Confused by Android 12 QPR3? Here's an explanation that'll hopefully clear things up!

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 02:17 PM PST

    Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of confusion about Android update terminology when it comes to QPRs, 12L versus 12, etc. Let me try to clear some things up with this post.

    First of all, there's the initial release of an Android OS version in the second half of the year. Android 12 was released in October 2021, but the OS reached "Platform Stability" with Beta 4 in August 2021. Platform Stability means that the APIs and app-facing systems behaviors are finalized. Any changes to APIs or app-facing system behaviors must be included in the next Android version coinciding with a bump to the framework API level. Android 12's API level was 31.

    Then there's the Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) each quarter (ie. every 3 months). Although Android 12 already reached Platform Stability, the "Stability" there doesn't mean there aren't bugs left to fix. There are always bugs left to be discovered, triaged, and then fixed in subsequent updates. Google supports an Android release with monthly security updates for about 3.5 years after its initial release, while any remaining non-security bug fixes in the platform generally get lumped together and released as part of the next QPR. Google generally releases 3 public QPRs until the next OS update. These QPRs can even include new features so long they don't require a new API — but if those new features did require an API update, then the API level has to be bumped up (which then means Google has to decide whether to make targeting that API mandatory for devs on Google Play, OEMs have to decide whether to upgrade their devices to that, and a whole lot of other considerations come into play).

    Android 12's first QPR happened in December 2021. It was a pretty typical QPR with lots of bug fixes and some new features which you can read about here.

    Android 12's second QPR is a bit unusual because it came in the form of Android 12L. Android 12L is just a marketing name, though. But because it included API and behavior changes, it came with an API bump to 32.

    Which brings us to today. Today, Google announced a public beta program for Android 12's third QPR. This is expected to launch in June 2022 (the last QPR was this Monday, March 7, and it's a quarterly release cycle, after all). Google usually doesn't do public beta tests of QPRs, instead developing and testing everything internally and then quietly releasing to AOSP.

    I think the major software issues that we saw with the Pixel 6 post-launch may have led Google to do this, but I can't say for sure. Whatever the case, I'm happy that they're finally doing public beta tests of QPRs. Google already tests the changes they introduce in QPRs internally, but opening up a beta means more people will be able to test and find bugs before the next platform release.

    Which brings me to "Feature Drops" and how they factor in. Pixel Feature Drops are quarterly updates like QPRs, but they encompass more than that. They generally bring an update to the platform + updates to various Google apps. Once a year, the major OS update (like Android 12) is even counted as a Pixel Feature Drop.

    So, in summary:

    • Android 12 (October 2021) = API level 31
    • Android 12 QPR1 (December 2021) = API level 31
    • Android 12 QPR2 (March 2022 - marketed as Android 12L) = API level 32
    • Android 12 QPR3 (~June 2022) = API level 32
    • Android 13 (~August-September 2022) = API level 33

    Android 12 QPR3 won't be anything special like QPR2/12L was, but for Pixel users, there may be other exciting additions/features that Google plans to add to their proprietary apps that they'll roll out as part of the next Pixel Feature Drop in June 2022.

    Personally, I think Google is making a mistake by saying that users are beta testing the "June 2022 Feature Drop". When people think of Pixel Feature Drops, I bet most people think of the new features in Google apps, not the underlying platform update (unless said platform update is major). Now, if Google were to start publicly beta testing the new Google app features ahead of their announcement in the June 2022 Pixel Feature Drop, then I'd think differently. But as it is, I think this is the wrong way to frame it.

    It'd also be nice if Google actually posted what changes they're working on for QPR3. The release notes page is pretty barren right now. Kind of hard for users to test the beta without knowing what to look out for. I guess we'll just have to wait for the AOSP code drop in June to find out what's changed?

    submitted by /u/MishaalRahman
    [link] [comments]

    Even more intrusive Gmail ads

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 01:51 PM PST

    Hello all, today for the first time, I've received these gigantic ads in Gmail on my Galaxy S21. Has anyone seen this before? A couple searches didn't find anything.

    Unless I can figure out a way to disable these types of ads, I think I'll finally move away from Gmail.

    submitted by /u/karma_nder
    [link] [comments]

    Android 12 QPR3 Beta 1 (June 2022 Feature Drop)

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 11:48 AM PST

    APK Teardown: Signal is working on a Snapchat-style Stories feature

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 04:45 AM PST

    Fairphone 2 gets Android 10

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 05:43 AM PST

    Smartphone OTA Updates! The Pathetic New Reality - RAW Thoughts

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 03:14 AM PST

    PSA: Don't update your Pixel to today's Feature Drop beta if it's running Android 13 DP1

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 03:35 PM PST

    Tested: The Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 45W charging is barely faster than 25W- Android authority

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 02:58 PM PST

    Ode to the Samsung Galaxy S8 from 2022

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 04:53 AM PST

    Hi there, so I'm currently using a Galaxy S20FE since release. I had to send it to repairs this week and I thought that in the meantime I'm switching back to my beloved Galaxy S8 (non plus). I have feared that my lovely memories of the S8 were just nostalgia, but actually I had to realise that:

    • The pebble-like design of the S8 is ultimately multiple ranks over the current design language of any manufacturer (even with my broken screen and back glass).
    • The phone is perfectly sized for a human male's hand. I have pretty normal European hands and I absolutely love it how the S8 fits in my palm. Firm, but still lightweight, in a word natural feeling. Why can't manufacturers produce similarly sized smartphones today?
    • The curvy screen - although in some situations maybe uncomfortable - gives a beautiful and luxurious feel (even with burn-in marks and the above mentioned cracks).
    • The fingerprint reader is on the back, so you don't have to unnaturally twist your thumb every time you pick up the phone. Even in a crowd you can have a firm grip while unlocking it. (Although, you have to draw your unlock gesture every time you want to give a quick look at your main screen (or use face recognition)).
    • There is like no camera bump at all, but above that, the camera is placed in the center, so no wobble (unlike today's 1-2000€ flagships, lol).
    • The camera is lightning fast. You tap the button and the picture is there! Sure, you miss out 80% of the heavy post-processing that today's smartphones do, but the feeling is worth it.
    • Notification LED! <3
    • Any time I take a look at the S8 I can't stop wondering how they fit all the features into this small and beautiful full glass body: IP68 waterproofing, 3.5mm Jack, OIS camera, wireless charging, at the time relatively large battery, double-curved 1440 x 2960 QHD+ AMOLED screen, face recognition sensor, 3D-touch wakeup "button" under the screen, VR-capable SoC and all of that only 8mm (0.31in) thick at 150 grams. I'm astonished. It's a masterpiece.

    Some drawbacks in comparison:

    • The good old Exynos 8895, although still a very good performer, lacks the snappyness of more modern SoCs.
    • Also the power efficiency of the system (including thermals) is definitely behind today's standards.
    • The battery is nearly 5 years old now, of course you need to charge it during the day. Sometimes even twice.
    • Mono speaker - oh the pain. It's the only hardware limitation I couldn't live with again, sorry.
    • Although old(ish), the replacement parts cost still the same as new. So I don't think I'll ever overhaul the thing. It'd need a new battery, a whole new screen (not just the glass), and a new back glass. I love and adore my Galaxy S8, but after all it would still be a 4G only, midtier-performing, single camera gemstone.

    I feel like I'm in love with this thing - again. But in a few weeks I need to switch back to my S20FE for practical purposes (battery life, camera system). If I were to buy something similarly marvellous and similarly sized smartphone as the Galaxy S8, what would you recommend? Or what was YOUR dream-come-true smartphone that you still miss?

    submitted by /u/szathy_hun
    [link] [comments]

    Realme GT2 Vs GT2 Pro Comparison & Review [TechTablets]

    Posted: 09 Mar 2022 04:01 AM PST

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