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Android Authority
11-07-2025
- Android Authority
Samsung could take inspiration from iOS's Live Voicemail and Pixel Call Screen (APK teardown)
Apple TL;DR Samsung is working on an on-device voicemail feature similar to iOS's Live Voicemail. This feature would allow calls to be screened and corresponding voice messages to be stored directly on the device. Unlike Apple's version, Samsung's will let users customize ring time before redirecting a call, but lacks transcription functionality, at least for now. The feature was spotted within One UI 8 beta code and may initially be rolled out only in select regions. With iOS 17, Apple introduced the Live Voicemail feature, which provides real-time transcription of incoming voicemails as someone is leaving a message. However, to provide on-device transcription, Live Voicemail handles the voicemail functionality on-device too, removing the need for a carrier for voicemail storage and retrieval. The Live Voicemail feature was very well received, especially in regions where carrier-driven voicemail services were not popular or just too expensive. It seems Samsung is inspired by the success of the iOS' Live Voicemail feature, as the company is working on its own version of 'on-device voicemail' functionality. 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. Voicemail functionality on phones Both iOS and Android support carrier-driven voicemail services, wherein the carrier handles voicemail storage and retrieval. When you are unable to answer a call, the carrier network redirects the call to a voicemail inbox, where the caller can leave a message. Carrier-driven voicemail can be either basic (accessed through dialling in) or take the form of Visual Voicemail, wherein you can see a list of voicemails on your phone. Even in Visual Voicemail, the carrier handles the voicemail storage and retrieval — the UI is merely for more convenience than the dial-in system. iPhones have Live Voicemail iOS 17's Live Voicemail feature flipped the script in favor of end users, enabling voicemail by default and for free across iPhones. This also marked the first time several users learned about voicemail as a feature. If you receive a call you don't want to attend, you can let it go to your voicemail without paying a dime to your carrier. I know many people in my circles who appreciate Live Voicemail, as it allows them to avoid spam calls and other sticky situations without rejecting a call or missing out on anything crucial coming their way. Google Pixels have Call Screen — similar to on-device voicemail, but not the same Google Pixel smartphones also have a variation of this functionality in the form of Call Screen through the Google Phone app, which is available in the US and other parts of the world but notably missing from several key markets. This limited availability (and Pixel's lower popularity compared to iPhones) hinders the widespread adoption of Call Screen, despite being introduced before Live Voicemail. It's also not a complete replacement for on-device voicemail functionality, but it does a similar job to a reasonable extent. On-device voicemail coming soon to One UI The latest One UI 8 internal beta build includes new code suggesting that Samsung Galaxy devices could soon also get an 'on-device voicemail' feature. Code Copy Text On-device voicemail When you're unable to answer, allow the caller to leave a voicemail message. You can still answer while the caller is recording their message. You can check and listen to voicemails in the Phone app. The strings are very clear on the upcoming functionality. Much like iOS' Live Voicemail functionality, you can set your phone to redirect incoming calls to an on-device voicemail. You can intercept the call while the caller is recording their message or check voicemails later. Unlike iOS, however, Samsung's version of on-device voicemail is likely to allow users to customize the ring time before the call goes to voicemail automatically, as we learn from these strings: Code Copy Text Enter number between 1 and 20. Ring time before voicemail seconds Unfortunately, One UI's upcoming on-device voicemail feature will likely be limited to only some countries. We could find a list of supported countries within one of the code files, explicitly listing the following: India Sri Lanka Nepal Bangladesh Curiously, just last month, we also spotted Google working to bring Call Screen to Pixel smartphones in India. So Samsung isn't alone in trying to bring on-device voicemail functionality to this region. Unlike iOS's Live Voicemail, transcription-related functionality is currently not attached to Samsung's on-device voicemail feature. However, this could change in the future, as One UI's On-device voicemail is still a work in progress. On-device voicemail is currently not live in One UI 8, even in the internal beta, nor has Samsung announced the feature. It's unclear if and when the feature will be released to the public. Since most of Samsung's major software releases are already done for the year, given that the Fold 7 and Flip 7 just launched with One UI 8, there's a chance that this feature could be destined to come with the following software release, potentially along with the Galaxy S26 release next year. 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.
Android Authority
10-07-2025
- Android Authority
Gemini can now transform your boring stills into lifelike videos
TL;DR Gemini will now let you generate videos from existing images using its Veo3 model. Google says you can also use actual photos to transform them into videos. Veo3 will limit the output to eight-second clips in 720p resolution. If you've recently come across any realistic-looking videos with bizarre tropes, chances are they were generated using Google's Veo3 AI video generation in Gemini. Its outstanding continuity of video frames, the ability to automatically generate audio, and seamless lip syncing are unlike anything we've seen on other models, including Runway AI or OpenAI's Sora, which is one reason for its immense popularity. Last week, Veo3 became more widely available to all Gemini subscribers and is now getting another upgrade that makes it even more tempting. Google has announced that Veo3 will now be able to convert existing images into videos. This feature is available to all paid subscribers in the Gemini Pro and Gemini AI Ultra tiers in select regions. With this development, subscribers will be able to convert pictures, including the ones in their camera rolls, to video clips with sound. Here's an example from Google: Google says the functionality is starting to roll out on Gemini's web interface today and will be available on the Android and iOS mobile apps over the next few days. In addition, the image-to-video functionality is already available on Flow, Google's AI filmmaking tool, which provides greater control over scene composition, camera effects, and even allows users to store AI-generated elements, called 'ingredients,' for reuse in multiple scenes. Notably, videos generated with Gemini have certain limitations. The generated clips can only be eight seconds long, have a resolution of up to 720p, and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, Google also places a cap of 100 generations per month for Gemini Pro users, given its much lower subscription costs ($20/month) and limits audio generation to the Gemini AI Ultra tier, which costs $250/month. All videos generated with Veo3 feature both a visible watermark and a hidden SynthID signature, so it's easy to classify them as AI-generated. Besides its utility in limiting the spread of misinformation, these watermarks might also allow Google to identify — and limit monetization for — AI-generated videos on YouTube, as per its latest plans to curb AI slop. Google's announcement arrives just weeks after MidJourney released its video generation tool. However, unlike Gemini, it only allows actual photos to be used as reference images to generate AI images, which are then converted into short video clips, and that too, without audio. 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.
