Latest news with #RobertTriggs
Android Authority
8 hours ago
- Business
- Android Authority
Nintendo preps for Switch 2 with a better way to share screenshots to your phone
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR An update has rolled out for the Nintendo Switch Online App. The update changes the name of the app and some elements of the UI. The app offers a handful of new features, like automatic screenshot and video uploads to your phone, getting notifications when a friend is online, and more. It's hard to believe, but we're only seven days out before the Nintendo Switch 2 hits store shelves. In preparation for the new console's arrival, the Nintendo Switch Online App has received an update. This update brings a few helpful changes that make the app much more useful than before. Today, version 3.0.1 of the Nintendo Switch Online App rolled out to Android and iOS. This update contains a few notable revisions to the app. The first bullet point in the changelog mentions that the app's name has been shortened to the Nintendo Switch App. Nintendo has also redesigned some of the app's elements. One of the more important improvements in this update involves screenshots and videos. Previously, you had to scan a QR code and connect to a temporary Wi-Fi network to transfer files wirelessly from the Switch to your phone. Now you'll be able to upload screenshots and videos from your Switch 2 to your phone automatically. Unfortunately, this functionality is only for the Switch 2. The app states that you'll be able to upload up to 100 files, which can be stored for up to 30 days. A few other nice changes are that you can now receive invites for GameChat, get notifications when friends are online, and add new friends all in the app. Nintendo also mentions that the update contains fixes for known bugs. Ryan McNeal / Android Authority Considering that similar features have long existed in PlayStation's and Xbox's apps, it's nice to see Nintendo finally catch up to its peers in this respect. But this wasn't the only update the company released today, as the Nintendo Today app also received some attention. Users can now link the app's calendar with their own calendar app, favorite content, and filter news. 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
- Business
- Android Authority
How do you feel now about seamless updates on your Galaxy S25?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority Google first introduced seamless updates to Android back in 2016. While the update method is almost a decade old at this point, it's a new experience for many loyal Samsung fans. Unlike other Android OEMs, Samsung has long avoided using seamless updates on its phones. However, the Korean tech giant finally caved in 2024 with the launch of the Galaxy A55. Since then, the company has also brought the update method to its flagship Galaxy S25 series. When we first asked our readers whether they preferred seamless updates or Samsung's old-school approach, the votes were split, with slightly more in favor of seamless updates. Now that some time has passed since then, we're wondering if your stance on the topic has changed. Vote in our poll below, and feel free to explain in the comments section, how you currently feel about seamless updates. Do you prefer seamless updates or Samsung's old updates? 0 votes Seamless updates NaN % Samsung's old updates NaN % I don't know the difference NaN % I don't care NaN % If you're unfamiliar with how seamless updates differ from Samsung's old conventional approach, here's a quick rundown. The seamless method allows updates to download in the background, meaning you can continue using your phone until you're asked to restart your device. From there, you'll only have to wait a few seconds while the update finishes before you can get back to your apps. Conversely, the conventional approach forces you to stop using your phone completely until the software is fully installed. We can understand some of the complaints about seamless updates, such as Google's A/B structure eating up some of your precious storage. So we don't blame you if seamless updates still have not won you over. Our own Zac Kew-Denniss dives into this matter further, explaining why he doesn't like the approach. At the same time, there's a lot to love about this method. For example, seamless updates are more stable because of the A/B structure, allowing the phone to go back to the old build if something goes wrong with the installation. Additionally, Google has since solved some of the main issues, like compressing the size of both software versions so they can coexist on your phone without taking up too much space. 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
- Business
- Android Authority
One UI 7 is for more than just flagships, and Samsung's update is rolling out to more phones now
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung began releasing One UI 7 to phones on April 7 starting with the Galaxy S24, Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 series. The One UI 7 update has just rolled out to the Korean Galaxy A53 5G, European Galaxy A54 5G, and Indian Galaxy M34. Other markets and devices should also be getting the update in the coming days. Back in April, Samsung started to release its Android 15 One UI 7 update to devices, beginning with the Galaxy S24 series, as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6. The staggered schedule for One UI 7 means that it hasn't been the fastest update, but Samsung continues to make progress with its updated release schedule, as three more devices can get the latest One UI version. SamMobile shares news of One UI 7 updates for the Galaxy A53 5G, A54 5G, and M34. With One UI 7 hitting these devices now, that actually puts all three of them ahead of schedule, because they were originally slated for a June release. For the A54 5G in particular, Samsung initially released the One UI 7 update earlier in Asian markets, so it is finally reaching the other locales now. And the A53 5G, one of Samsung's most popular Galaxy A-series phones, is dropping in Korea first before other regions. For the Korean A53, the update can be identified by build number A536NKSU9FYE1, and it's about 3.4GB. The European A54 update has build number A546BXXUCDYDB and is roughly 3.5GB in size. And for the Indian M34 update, it's identifiable with build number M346BXXU7DYE1 and is 3.6GB. Other markets with these phones should see the update roll out eventually. The One UI 7 update for these three phones can be downloaded by going to Settings > Software update and then selecting the 'Download and install' button. Joe Maring / Android Authority According to Samsung's release schedule, which was recently updated, most models that are eligible to get One UI 7 should get it by June. Two devices won't be getting One UI 7 until July, which would be the Galaxy Tab A9 and Galaxy A05s. And even though we still have to wait for quite a few phones and tablets to get One UI 7, some people are already gearing up for the Android 16 One UI 8 beta with the Galaxy S25 series. While One UI 7 has a new look that is designed for better personalization and more intuitive AI features, the rollout hasn't been without some bumps. A lot of people weren't too happy with the fact that Samsung decided to split up notifications and the quick settings panel into separate pages, and this was enabled by default instead of being opt-in (yes, you can change it). Other changes, like the new notification lock screen icons and Gemini taking the power button hostage, didn't sit well with users either. If you're still waiting for the One UI 7 update on your phone, don't worry. There are still a handful of devices that should be getting the update in June, which is just a few days away. 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
- Entertainment
- Android Authority
Sleep timers on Android TV may no longer feel like an oversight (APK teardown)
Robert Triggs / Android Authority TL;DR Android TV supports a sleep timer for falling asleep to your favorite shows, but it's a bit bare-bones. A recent update shows Google working on few new features tied to sleep timer functionality. These could include notifications warning you of upcoming timers, and maybe even letting you extend them. How we consume media has wildly changed over the past 20 years, but some of the same old habits still persist. You man have ditched cable TV for the streaming life, but even with an Android TV box in the living room, we still end up camped out on the couch, clicking away on the remote for hours on end. Luckily, some tools from our cable past have managed to stick around, and if you regularly find yourself drifting off while in the middle of streaming session, you may already be taking advantage of Android TV's sleep timer. Now we're checking out what could be some 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. If you weren't even aware that Android TV offers a sleep timer, we'd forgive you, as Google has so far not done a heck of a lot to make it particularly accessible. While some OEMs do build Android TV devices with interfaces that make accessing the sleep timer reasonably convenient, by default it's buried deep within settings menus, requiring a prohibitive number of remote taps to even get to. And once you do engage with it, it's quite bare-bones — you can set a new timer, and see how much remains on the active one, but that's about it. Digging into version 1.0.756918669 of the Google TV launcher, we spotted some new strings that sure seem to hint at Google building out the functionality of its sleep timer: Code Copy Text Cancel timer Pause timer Resume timer %1$d seconds until TV turns off %1$d minutes until TV turns off Your sleep timer has ended, but something went wrong when turning off your TV. You can still turn it off manually Unable to turn off TV We don't currently have anything like that ability to pause and resume, nor those kind of messages counting down the time remaining until the device powers off. While these seem straightforward enough, some other text is a little more confusing: AssembleDebug / Android Authority Clearly, we're looking at some sort of notifications here, but we haven't yet been able to view any in operation. It's possible Google might give you a heads-up when there's either 5 minutes or 45 seconds remaining on your sleep timer, letting you add additional time if needed. At least, that feels like a logical enough read, but the 45-second notification in particular is such an unusual timeframe (why not do it at 1 minute?) that we're remaining very open to the possibility that we don't yet have the full picture of what Google's cooking up here. Regardless of the details, something or other seems to be in the works for sleep timers on our Android-powered TVs, and we'll keep digging for further evidence of exactly what Google's building. 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
Poll: Have you changed the battery on your phone?
Robert Triggs / Android Authority The Samsung Galaxy S5 was my favorite phone ever, mainly due to the removable battery. If I were out all day and running low on power, I just grabbed a spare from my bag, and I was back to 100% in 30 seconds. But that's a thing of the past on the Galaxy S line, along with most other flagships. Getting a new battery for most modern smartphones involves sending it to specialists or using your own hotshot engineering skills. While I'm not convinced, manufacturers will tell you non-removable batteries are better. It's partly about water and dust resistance, partly about building a sleeker device, and partly about performance and safety. Sealed batteries allow for larger capacities in tighter spaces and reduce the risk of user error. But it's also made it harder to do basic upkeep when your battery inevitably declines. Have you changed the battery on your sealed phone? 0 votes Yes, I replaced it myself with a home kit NaN % Yes, I sent it to a the manufacturer or a repair shop NaN % No NaN % These days, most people don't bother replacing the battery at all. Even when the charge barely gets them through the day, they either live with it or upgrade. And while we have plenty of tips for maximising your phone's charge, there's no real substitute for a healthy cell. We've also covered what your options are if you do want to swap your battery, including when it's worth it, how much it costs, and what to expect from third-party repair shops. But we're curious about how many of you actually go through the hassle of these steps. Have you ever actually changed the battery in a recent phone? We're not asking about devices like my old Galaxy S5 — we mean sealed phones from the past 10 years or so. Let us know in the poll above, and feel free to share your experience 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.
