Latest news with #MishaalRahman
Android Authority
31 minutes ago
- Android Authority
Microsoft is testing new features to make your Android phone work better with Windows PCs
Andy Walker / Android Authority TL;DR Microsoft will soon let you remotely lock your PC and access its clipboard directly from your Android phone. The new clipboard feature allows your phone to access text and images copied on your PC, which is especially useful for Android phones without Phone Link's native cross-device sync. An updated Link to Windows app on the phone will show a history of items copied to the PC's clipboard and also include a new button to remotely lock your computer. There are many tools to control your Android phone from a Windows PC or vice versa, but the most popular is Microsoft's Phone Link. Phone Link displays your phone's notifications, texts, photos, and more on your Windows PC, but with a bit of extra setup, it can do even more. Soon, Phone Link will also let you remotely lock your PC and access its clipboard directly from your Android phone. When you first connect your Android phone to your Windows PC via Phone Link, not every feature is enabled out of the box. For instance, you can use your Android phone as your PC's webcam or access its files directly from Windows File Explorer, but only if you turn these features on first. To turn them on, you have to open the Windows Settings app, navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Mobile devices > Manage devices, and toggle on 'Use as a connected camera' and 'Show mobile device in File Explorer.' Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority In that same menu, you'll find other toggles, such as 'Get new photo notifications' and 'Show device name in Windows Share.' Remotely locking and accessing your PC's clipboard from your Android phone These options are what's available on my PC running the stable version of Windows 11. Users on recent Insider Preview Builds are seeing additional options in this menu, however. For example, Telegram user Lance Adams on the latest Dev channel has a new 'access PC's clipboard' toggle. As its name suggests, this feature lets your connected Android phone access text and images you copy on your PC. This new feature is currently one-way, syncing your PC's clipboard to your phone but not the other way around. Full two-way sync typically requires using SwiftKey's 'sync across devices' feature or Phone Link's 'cross-device copy and paste' option. That latter option, however, is only available on phones that come with Phone Link preinstalled, which excludes Google's Pixel phones. This makes the new PC-to-phone sync especially handy for Pixel users, who have lacked the native clipboard integration found on many Samsung, OnePlus, HONOR, and Xiaomi devices. What's more, the experience is improving on the phone side. Telegram user Legofan, who is on the latest Canary build, reports that an updated Link to Windows app now shows a history of items copied to the PC's clipboard, not just the most recent one. Legofan Legofan also tells me they see a new 'lock PC' button in the app, which lets you remotely lock your Windows PC from your phone. This option is only available if you enable the corresponding 'Remote PC controls' toggle in Windows' mobile devices menu, as shown below. Legofan As a long-time Windows and Android user, it's great to see Microsoft continue to build tighter integrations between the two platforms. Google has less incentive to make its OS work better with Windows, as the company is focused on its own competing Chrome OS ecosystem. Given the news that Google is working to merge Android and Chrome OS into a single platform, that focus is unlikely to change. What do you think of these new Phone Link features? Let us know in the comments below! 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 hours ago
- Android Authority
The Galaxy Z Flip 7's new cover screen camera tricks will elevate your selfie game
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR The Galaxy Z Flip 7's larger cover screen greatly improves the camera experience, allowing for much better selfies without unfolding the phone. A revamped camera UI offers more on-screen controls optimized for one-handed use, an enhancement that is also coming to older Z Flip models. Other new features like cover screen effects and FlipShot add visual indicators and customization options to the cover screen while taking photos. People often buy clamshell folding phones for their compact size. When folded, they easily fit into smaller pockets, but the trade-off has always been needing to unfold them for the full smartphone experience. However, the cover screens on these devices keep getting bigger with each new model. The Galaxy Z Flip 7, for instance, now boasts the largest display yet in the Z Flip series. This extra space allows for more on-screen camera controls, promising a much better selfie experience without having to open the phone. A more one-handed friendly Flex Cam The Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a 4.1-inch cover display that spans edge-to-edge, wrapping around the two cameras. In contrast, the previous generation model (and the newer budget FE model) has a 3.4-inch cover display that doesn't encompass the cameras, leaving a large black bezel at the top. This larger screen allows for a revamped camera UI with more controls. Samsung has optimized the layout for one-handed usability by moving the zoom, menu, and gallery buttons to the bottom left. This is a big improvement over the old design, which hid most options behind a dropdown menu in the top right. The zoom toggles and slider have also been shifted from the bottom edge to the left side to be more one-handed friendly. You can even use Samsung's camera filters directly from the cover screen, though fine-tuning them still requires opening the phone. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority If you prefer holding the phone with your right hand to take selfies, you can press and drag any of these controls to move the entire layout to the right side. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority Although these improvements are most impactful on the Galaxy Z Flip 7's larger screen, they aren't exclusive to it. In a forum post (H/T Reddit user FragmentedChicken), Samsung confirmed the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE will have the same cover screen experience. Furthermore, Samsung says these enhancements will also come to the older Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 6, presumably with the One UI 8 update. Cover screen effects A camera feature exclusive to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is cover screen effects, which displays a visual indicator around the specific lens being used for a cover screen photo. For example, when you zoom out to 0.6X, a ring of light circles the ultra-wide lens. When you zoom in to 1X and beyond, the ring of light moves to circle the main lens. There are many other effects tied to different camera modes, and while it might take a moment to learn them all, mastering them will elevate your selfie game. Video recording cover screen effect Night Mode countdown cover screen effect Timer countdown cover screen effect FlipShot Lastly, a new feature called FlipShot allows you to display 'stylish photos and messages' on the cover screen, replacing the standard camera preview. This isn't a built-in function but is instead part of MultiStar, one of Good Lock's many customization modules. To use it, you'll first need to set it up: Open the MultiStar module in Good Lock. Tap on 'I ❤️ Galaxy Foldable' and select FlipShot. Create your custom photo or message and toggle the feature on. Once enabled, you'll see a 'FlipShot' button appear above the thumbnail preview in the camera app, which you can tap to activate your custom screen. FlipShot isn't exclusive to the Galaxy Z Flip 7, but Samsung hasn't elaborated on exactly which older models support it. There's still time to pre-order the Galaxy Z Flip 7… If you're looking to score a great deal on the Galaxy Z Flip 7, you should hurry, as the pre-order deals will soon expire. Samsung offers generous discounts during the pre-order period, especially if you have an older Samsung or Apple device to trade in. 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
a day ago
- Android Authority
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 has a photo editing feature other Galaxy phones won't get
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung's One UI 8 software on the Galaxy Z Fold 7 brings enhancements to the camera and photo editor to better utilize the large display. The camera's Capture View mode has been redesigned and now includes an always-on menu to quickly favorite, share, or delete recent shots. A new 'Side-by-Side Editing' mode for Generative Edit lets you compare the original and AI-edited images. Samsung's recently unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 7 is one of the first devices launching with the company's new One UI 8 software. While One UI 8 introduces many new features for all Galaxy phones, the Z Fold lineup gets some unique enhancements to take advantage of its larger display, including improvements to Capture View and a new side-by-side comparison mode for Generative Edit. A better Capture View Capture View is a camera mode that Samsung debuted with the Galaxy Z Fold 2, allowing you to capture and review photos simultaneously. When enabled, the camera viewfinder appears on the right, while a carousel of up to five of your most recent photos is on the left. Since its debut, Capture View hasn't changed much, but Samsung has now tweaked the UI and added a new favorites shortcut. Previously, the most recent photo was placed near the top of the screen. Now, it's displayed in the center to make it easier to see. While other photos are still accessible by swiping up or down, they are no longer on the same layer; the focused image is enlarged and sits above the other images in the carousel. Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority The other significant change is the always-available menu. This menu now appears below each photo, offering buttons to quickly favorite, share, or delete it. Previously, this menu only appeared when you tapped on a photo, and it used to only contain the share and delete buttons. In a forum post spotted by Reddit user FragmentedChicken, Samsung says these improvements to Capture View aren't exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold 7. They'll also be supported on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, 5, and 6, presumably once they receive the One UI 8 update. Side-by-side Generative Edits Generative Edit is a photo editing feature that uses AI to move, resize, or remove objects. Samsung originally debuted it on the Galaxy S24 last year, but it has received some notable improvements with the launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. According to Samsung, under-the-hood algorithmic changes make the feature work better, while the new 'Suggest Erases' capability provides proactive edit suggestions. These general improvements will come to other Samsung phones with the One UI 8 release, but another new feature, Side-by-Side Editing, is exclusive to the Galaxy Z Fold lineup. Side-by-Side Editing allows you to see the original and edited image side-by-side. You can even zoom in on an area in the original image to see how the same area looks on the edited one, or vice versa. To access this feature, simply use Generative Edit while on the inner screen and then tap the 'Show original' button in the bottom-right corner. This is a handy feature that makes it much easier to see if the AI edit did a good job. Generative Edit is already considered one of the best features of Galaxy AI, and seeing its output side-by-side with the original really hammers home how good the feature is. There's still time to pre-order the Galaxy Z Fold 7… Samsung really impressed us with this year's hardware upgrades, making the Galaxy Z Fold 7 an enticing device. It's not only thinner and lighter than previous models but also packs larger displays and a significantly improved camera, boasting a 200MP primary shooter over last year's 50MP sensor. If you're considering an upgrade, now is the time to act, as Samsung's pre-order deals expire in a few days. 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
Google is testing a cooler, darker design for Gemini Live's overlay (APK teardown)
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is testing a visual refresh for Gemini Live's compact overlay in the latest app beta. The redesigned UI includes rounded corners, smaller icons, and a dark background. The corner widget has also been updated to be circular with a more vibrant waveform. Google isn't done refining the Gemini Live experience. Following last month's reveal of a more compact overlay interface, we've now uncovered some potential visual updates to that same UI. In our opinion, they make a big difference. 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. Enabling a set of flags in version of the Google app beta allowed us to preview the cooler, more polished take on the compact Gemini Live overlay. Functionally, this is still the same compact bar UI that lets you start or manage Gemini Live conversations without opening the full-screen interface. It includes the same quick-access shortcuts for things like camera and file uploads. The difference you'll notice is the visual redesign, with slightly downsized icons, rounded corners, and a dark-mode-style background in keeping with the Gemini color scheme. The screenshots below show the changes. Old UI New UI The minimized floating widget has also been refreshed with the same palette, although it's not as much of a redesign from the old version. The two main differences you notice are that the widget is now circular rather than a square with rounded edges, and the white waveform on the dark background is a little more vibrant. You can compare the two below. Old UI New UI As with all APK teardowns, these changes may never make it to a public release. That said, the new Gemini Live overlay looks so much better that we'd be surprised not to see it roll out in a future beta. 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
Google could soon make a helpful change to Fast Pair UI for TWS earbuds (APK teardown)
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority TL;DR Google is updating the Fast Pair notification UI for TWS earbuds to make battery status easier to read at a glance. The redesigned notifications include circular battery progress bars, repositioned battery icons, and clear labels for each component. Battery changes trigger color changes for the new progress bars for a better visual impact. A few years ago, Google introduced a useful Fast Pair feature that allows users to check the battery status of their true wireless earbuds quickly. If you're using Fast Pair-enabled earbuds, you may have noticed that every time you open the case, a notification pops up showing the battery levels of each component: the left bud, right bud, and the case. You also receive a notification when the battery on any of these components is running low, prompting you to recharge them in time. Now, Google is refining the user interface of these battery notifications to make battery status easier to understand at a glance. You're reading an Authority Insights story. Discover Authority Insights for more exclusive reports, app teardowns, leaks, and in-depth tech coverage you won't find anywhere else. You're reading an Authority Insights story. 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. Currently, the notification displays an image of both earbuds and their case, with the battery percentages listed at the bottom in a simple, minimal layout. While it works just fine, the design offers limited visual cues. Google is now working on introducing certain handy tweaks and color changes to make these notifications more informative and engaging. During our teardown of the latest beta version of Google Play Services (version 25.28.31), we discovered that Google is testing a revamped UI for Fast Pair battery notifications. The most noticeable change is the addition of a circular progress bar to represent battery percentage, in addition to the numerical value still listed at the bottom of each component. Battery icons have also been repositioned to the top of the components. These new visual elements make it easier to quickly assess how much charge remains in each earbud and the case. Current UI New UI New UI: Low Battery Additionally, the notification now includes clear labels — L (Left), R (Right), and C (Case) — next to each icon, making it much easier to distinguish which battery level belongs to which component. This is an improvement over the current design, which lacks any labeling. Moreover, Google is also updating notifications for low battery levels. The circular battery indicators change color based on the charge level: yellow when the battery falls below 50%, and red when it drops under 20%. While this color-coding isn't entirely new (the current UI also changes the color of the battery icon), the new implementation makes the change more noticeable and tied directly to the visual progress bar. While this isn't a major UI overhaul, it makes battery status much easier to interpret. It's unclear when the new UI will roll out, but it should happen soon. We'll keep an eye out and let you know when the change goes mainstream. 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.
