Latest news with #Android Authority
Phone Arena
15 hours ago
- Phone Arena
Pixel phones could get Galaxy-style navigation according to hidden code
The update to Android 9 Pie brought gesture navigation to Android. Swiping up from the bottom takes the user home. Swipe up from the bottom and hold to access recent apps. Swipe in from either the left or right edge of the screen to go back. Swipe left or right from the navigation bar (the small handle at the bottom of the display) to switch between apps. Pixel users can switch from the gesture navigation to the three-button navigation by going to Settings > Display & touch > Navigation mode > 3-button navigation . The latest release of Android Canary, the program that allows Pixel users to see new Android features in advance, contained code spotted by Android expert Mishaal Rahman. The code gives Pixel users the option to flip the order of the three navigation buttons on the phone. While the Pixel's three-button navigation goes, from left-to-right, Back, Home, Recents, the three-button navigation on Samsung phones has Recents first on the left, followed by Home, and Back. What the Pixel 3-button navigation UI will look like when flipped to match Samsung's version. | Image credit-Android Authority So if you're switching from a Samsung Galaxy handset to a Pixel, and you use the three-button navigation interface, your muscle memory might mix things up, and you'll go to Recents when you meant to go Back. If Google follows through with this code, Pixel users will have the option of having their three-button navigation interface appear just as it does on a Galaxy phone. We'd love to tell you when you can expect this feature to appear, but alas, we can't. Since it's only code in Android Canary for now, there is no way to determine when-or even if, Google plans to launch this feature. We're sure that those who have switched from a Galaxy device to a Pixel and had problems using the three-button navigation know exactly how this change could be very useful.
Android Authority
21 hours ago
- Android Authority
This carrier now has a lock system that prevents you from using Developer Options
Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Cricket's new device lock makes 2025 or newer Motorola and Cricket-branded phones unusable without an active Cricket SIM or eSIM. The only way around this is to wait six months, after which the phone will be fully unlocked. Developer Options are also blocked until the device is unlocked, so Android enthusiasts who care about this should steer clear. If you thought typical carrier unlock policies were annoying, Cricket's new Device Unlock system takes things to a whole new level. Instead of just preventing you from unlocking your phone or using a rival SIM for a few months, the new app makes it impossible to use the phone at all without a Cricket SIM or eSIM. No Wi-Fi, no home page, no apps — nothing works unless Cricket is active. This change rolled out quietly a few months ago and only targets Motorola and Cricket-branded devices released in 2025 or later, though it's certainly possible that other brands could eventually be impacted. The only official way around it is to stay active with Cricket for six months, after which the lock can be removed. I honestly see why they'd want to introduce something like this. Cricket often offers its phones at an extreme discount, making them a tempting option for a parent who is looking for a cheap 'mini-tablet' to gift their kids. For those wondering, there doesn't seem to be any easy workarounds that let you use the phone without an active SIM/eSIM. While you can remove the eSIM and reset the phone, it will automatically require you to redownload the device unlock app the second you connect to Wi-Fi. That's because this isn't just an app, but it seems that the ROM itself also has restrictions to prevent its removal without Cricket's authorization. Cricket is subsidizing the phones to deliver the lowest pricing possible, and so they have the right to introduce software locks like this. The bigger issue is that the app grays out Developer Options for those six months as well. The likely reason for disabling Developer Options is that it would make it much easier to enable things like ADB access and other settings, which could potentially allow someone to bypass the lock app. Still, I feel like this is a bigger deal than Cricket realizes for many Android enthusiasts who aren't necessarily looking to bypass anything but do want the ability to enable USB debugging for manual file transfers, force activities to be resizable for split mode, and other customizations. If you are a Cricket customer or interested in being one, for now, I'd recommend avoiding Motorola or Cricket-branded devices if Developer Options matters to you (or if you are looking for a WiFi-only device, for that matter). The good news is that Samsung, Apple, and the rest of the brands don't have this issue. Follow
Android Authority
2 days ago
- Android Authority
Fitbit promised better sleep tracking with new update, but users say it got worse
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority TL;DR Fitbit has updated its algorithm for more accurate sleep tracking. The new algorithm now accounts for awake times better, supposedly rendering more accurate data about different phases. However, users have complained of increased sensitivity, resulting in their devices capturing shorter sleep durations than the actual time. Fitbit isn't nearly as popular as it once was, and that is partly because Google, which completed its acquisition of the company by 2021, has instead been pouring its energy into its own lineup of Pixel Watches. However, that hasn't stopped Google from sending routine updates to existing Fitbit watches, like it recently did with the Charge 6, or overhauling the companion app experience. Now, Fitbit's Android app is getting another key update, which aims to improve sleep tracking for users. A company representative recently posted on the Fitbit Community, announcing how the sleep tracking algorithm is changing for existing fitness trackers. As per the post, Fitbit devices now use an updated method to calculate different phases of sleep (light, deep, REM, and awake) to give you a 'more accurate' representation. One of the changes highlighted includes capturing brief periods of awakeness during sleep, which the previous method might have skipped. If you're a Fitbit user, the change in tracking could impact your actual durations for various stages of sleep, primarily increasing the time you were awake and slightly reducing the duration for REM or light sleep phases. Although the post clearly doesn't say which devices get the improved sleep tracking, we can expect some changes to sleep tracking on the Pixel Watch, too, since that also uses the Fitbit for monitoring sleep, among other vitals. A few users have noted changes to Fitbit's sleep tracking on Reddit and the Fitbit Community over the last few weeks, and the recent post only confirms those changes. However, one user recently noted that the change makes their Inspire 3 'super-sensitive,' adding nearly an hour of awake time to their sleep data. Additionally, Fitbit's forums are flooded with complaints about their fitness tracker treating mid-sleep bathroom breaks as the end of their sleep. While we hope the latest update brings relief to the impacted users, we have yet to hear a positive narrative. Meanwhile, the post also teases that this is one of the first changes in a 'series of improvements' to sleep tracking on the Fitbit app. There are no details, but we can expect some of these changes to port over to the Pixel Watch as well. Besides algorithmic improvements, the upcoming Pixel Watch 4 might gain new features like sleep apnea detection, which is already supported on the Galaxy Watch and the Apple Watch. Follow
Android Authority
3 days ago
- Android Authority
Samsung could finally catch up to other Android OEMs with this navigation choice
Joe Hindy / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung could soon let you choose swipe navigation as the default while setting up a new phone. Samsung is testing a choice screen that will allow choosing between three-button navigation and swipe navigation gestures during setup. The feature is only being tested and could be introduced with One UI 8.5 on the Galaxy S26. Despite being a leading innovator in the mobile space, Samsung can sometimes resist change, especially when the mandate originates from other stakeholders, even Google. Until recently, Samsung refused to support seamless updates on its Android devices, even though it would have allowed users to save time. The welcome change came last year, and now, Samsung is likely to step away from another feature it has held sacred for a long time: three-button navigation. Even though Google and other Android manufacturers have embraced swipe navigation gestures, the three-button system is chosen by default when you set up a new Samsung phone. If anyone wants to use navigation gestures, they must head to Settings on their Galaxy phones or tablets and switch it manually after completing the setup. However, with future versions of One UI 8, Samsung could finally allow users to choose between the three-button and gesture-based navigation systems while setting up their phones. SammyGuru Folks at SammyGuru recently spotted references to a new choice screen in a yet-to-be-released build of One UI 8. The feature is currently missing from the newly launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Flip 7, which come with One UI 8 pre-installed. The source, therefore, proposes that it could be added with the next major version upgrade, which would be One UI 8.5. While Samsung could add the option to choose between the traditional and the relatively newer method of navigation, it will not eliminate the three-button navigation system from its phones. That would be useful for people who still prefer the classical method to move around in the Android interface. While it's unclear when — or even if — Samsung could actually bring this option, a significant software update like One UI 8.5 could make sense. However, we may have to wait for a few months for the change as Samsung is rumored to release the update alongside the Galaxy S26 series early next year. Follow
Android Authority
26-07-2025
- Android Authority
5G promised a revolution, but here's what we actually got
Robert Triggs / Android Authority Depending on where you live, you've likely had 5G in your pocket for at least a couple of years — or possibly close to half a decade. In any case, the wireless tech has certainly been around long enough to have had time to accomplish the numerous lofty promises that CEOs piped up to upsell us, which included everything from rejuvenating retail to traffic lights pushing updates to your car. While some of those promises might have come to pass, quite a lot of them have obviously not. I don't know about you, but my city's traffic lights aren't any more in sync than they were a decade ago. But let's answer the big question: Now that we're several years into 5G's global rollout, has it come close to living up to the hype? Has 5G lived up to the hype? 0 votes Yes NaN % No NaN % I'm not sure NaN % Fast data for some but not for everyone David Imel / Android Authority For you and me, 5G promised three major improvements: gigabit speeds boasting 10x or greater enhancements over 4G, latency as low as 1ms, and more reliable coverage. Let's start with that first point, which was always overly reliant on the promise of expensive, short-range mmWave spectrum. This technology has mostly seen deployment in dense urban hotspots — stadiums, airports, and downtowns — in a few countries like China and the US, but the rest of the world has largely ignored it due to its cost and poor signal range. Even in the US, only Verizon remains highly committed to the technology, with AT&T and T-Mobile preferring localized deployments. Instead, much of the world's 5G network coverage is based on repurposed 4G spectrum and select 6-GHz bands. So how does the data compare to the hype? Ookla's US speed test report between July and December 2024 shows a huge discrepancy in data rates across the country. In many states, the median download speed seen by consumers remains around the 50Mbps data range, and even in the best case, consumers typically experience sub-200Mbps speeds. That's serviceable for light work on the go, but falls well shy of the gigabit potential we were promised (although consumer speeds were never going to sustain that level for any length of time). Equally, latency remains comparatively high for our gadgets, averaging 63ms nationwide, fine for browsing but too high for real-time applications like cloud gaming or AR/VR. The situation is equally varied when we look at the global picture. Western consumers are sitting somewhere between 100Mbps and 300Mbps for typical 5G download speeds, but that's a very broad range. Once again, typical speeds vary quite widely, with the worst markets scoring hardly much faster than a reasonable 4G at under 100Mbps and the fastest well over 300Mbps, which challenges a decent fibre package. South Korea's operators score over 400Mbps for 5G downloads, for example. According to the GSA's June 2025 report, upload speeds are substantially slower, between 20Mbps and 50Mbps. However, that's still a step up from the 5Mbps to 15Mbps range common on 4G LTE networks. Taking a step back, the report reveals that 5G speeds are around 3x faster than 4G LTE on the same networks. That's obviously a solid benefit, but again, it's nowhere near the 10x speed boosts marketing at the start of 5G's deployment, partly because mmWave reaches so few customers. In addition, looking at 5G in isolation is rather generous — you certainly won't be connected to 5G all of the time, so typical speeds will be slower. Given that some 4G LTE-A networks were already capable of hitting 100Mbps or more, a lot of 5G's benefits could also be quite heavily exaggerated by this data. Carrier coverage remains spotty Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Considering the positives, carriers have some seemingly decent coverage numbers to boast about these days, which you'd hope, given that we are years into the rollout. In the US, at least 75% of customers are now covered with 5G, with similar figures of around 80% in many European countries as well. Other regions range from 60-90%, depending on how early they started their deployment. As you've probably experienced, urban areas have the best 5G coverage, while rural areas often remain more limited. However, coverage doesn't always mean connected. You might dip in and out of cell areas on your commute, or might not actually receive a 5G signal when sitting in your home. While geographic coverage appears robust, users are spending less than half their time connected to 5G. Rather than measuring geographical reach, Opensignal's 5G Availability metric records time spent with an active 5G connection, and that number is obviously much lower than area, and varies greatly depending on your country and network. Puerto Rico leads the charts with 57.4% typical 5G connectivity time, followed by India (54.3%), Kuwait (45.6%), Singapore (40%), and the US (37.5%) in fifth, based on data collected between January and March 2025. This is likely due to the fact that many suburban and rural areas still lack strong mid-band 5G to boost signal coverage. Even if we give 5G the benefit of the doubt in terms of speed, latency, and geographical area, US consumers typically spend just over 1/3 of their time connected to a 5G network — hardly a convincing case that the technology is a major game changer for our daily lives. EU countries fare even worse. So while everyday mobile performance is a mixed bag, what about the futuristic use cases 5G was supposed to unlock?' Where are all the smart cities? Damien Wilde / Android Authority If consumer coverage and speeds are a little disappointing, the overhyped futuristic applications promised by 5G remain aspirational, to put it politely. Outside of flashy demos, things like remote robotic surgery and fully autonomous smart cities were always more pipe dream than near-term reality. This is partly because many networks are still Non-Standalone 5G (NSA). NSA relies on 4G infrastructure for core functions, while Standalone (SA) is built from the ground up to enable features like network slicing and ultra-low latency. According to Téral Research, just 74 out of 354 global public 5G networks have migrated to SA — a rather disappointing 21%. Additionally, Omdia and Ookla note that European carriers are notably behind the US, scoring just 2% against 24% in 5G SA availability. As of mid-2025, 163 further operators are investing in SA, but until full Standalone 5G is widely deployed, many advanced features — like ultra-low latency and true network slicing — will remain on the sidelines. Many of the initial 5G promises are also being batted around again with 5G Advanced — only time will tell. Softbank Instead, a few private enterprises have deployed their own private 5G networks for specific use cases, such as security systems and warehouse robotics. Other sectors like ports, airports, and manufacturing plants have adopted private 5G networks for logistics, asset tracking, and low-latency automation. While still limited in scope, these deployments hint at future potential — particularly if costs fall and software ecosystems mature. Notably, nearly 90% of tightly controlled private 5G deployments are based on Standalone. A slow transition to Standalone 5G has kept many of the biggest benefits off the table. Skepticism aside, some new 5G-powered capabilities have made their way into the consumer space. Fixed Wireless Access for home use is well established for some consumers in the US and abroad, giving access to reasonably quick data speeds in lieu of often more costly cable setups. However, data speeds and reliability are just as variable as mobile packages. Satellite connectivity in the Pixel, iPhone, and such is only possible because of 5G-NTN, though that will cost consumers extra to use in the long term. However, these 5G benefits have come at a considerable cost to carriers. In addition to the raw equipment costs, carriers have spent a fortune on new spectrum. AT&T spent some $27 billion in the US C-band action, and Verizon a staggering $55 billion. Yet in October 2024, OpenSignal noted that '5G hasn't yet had a substantial impact on operators' profitability.' Partly because plan prices haven't risen in line with the costs, which is good for consumers, but equally because business use cases haven't really manifested. Carriers are now prioritizing network efficiency to keep investment costs under control. Has 5G been worth it? Kris Carlon / Android Authority Overall, the rollout of 5G has had some benefits, but those perks are certainly limited when compared to the initial promises and costs. Mobile broadband is undeniably faster than the 4G era, and even though around 3x the speed is far from what was often marketed, this has helped push data speeds from dubious to far more usable. Latency is better too, ensuring activities like streaming and browsing feel noticeably smoother, but it's nowhere near low enough compared to fibre for consumers to contemplate real-time applications. 5G is faster and more reliable, but perhaps not by the margins promised. All of this has to be carefully weighed against the costs, in terms of carrier investments, data plan costs, and hardware prices. Data plans certainly haven't become much cheaper, and, if anything, premium 5G tariffs remain expensive. Likewise, 5G modem, radio (particularly for mmWave), and chipset prices continue to rise, in part due to the costs of implementing the complex array for 5G networking brands and technologies. It's one of the reasons why modern flagship phones are just so pricey. Of course, the promised future of mass IoT and automation certainly hasn't appeared. We'll have to see if those promises ever materialize before 6G networks roll around. But when it comes to 5G, I imagine I'm not alone in feeling that the next-gen network is fine but has hardly been worth the hype, and the data proves it.
