Robocalls that use AI-generated voices get a step closer to being outlawed https://ift.tt/dMVs0BR

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

• AI is being used by scammers to mimic the voices of loved ones, people in power, and more.
• The FCC proposes that robocalls that use AI-generated voices be made fundamentally illegal.
• The move will make it easier to charge the people behind the calls.

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Ever since AI became a hot topic in the industry, people have been coming up with different ways to use the technology. Unfortunately, this has also led to fraudsters using AI to scam victims out of money or information. For example, the number of robocall scams that use AI to mimic the voices of others has exploded in recent years. Fortunately, there are features like Samsung Smart Call that block robocalls. But for the ones that find a way through, it looks like the FCC is making a move to end the threat of robocalls that use AI-generated voices.

According to TechCrunch, the FCC is proposing to make it fundamentally illegal for robocalls to use voice cloning AI. The goal is to make it easier to charge the individuals who are behind the scams.

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Microsoft Edge for Android quietly adds extension support https://ift.tt/sxcKT0N

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• The latest pre-release version of the Microsoft Edge browser for Android has added support for extensions.
• There are currently three available extensions in the “Extensions Beta” page.
• It’s unknown when extensions will be enabled in the stable version of the browser.

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Although Chrome tends to be the go-to browser for most people on Android, Microsoft may add something to the mobile version of Edge that could win people over. Microsoft Edge for Android looks to be gaining support for extensions.

On X (formerly Twitter), user Leopeva64 shared a group of images that show support for extensions in the pre-release build of Edge version 123. The feature appears to be hidden behind a flag and needs to be enabled first in order to use it.

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Make the big game bigger with $200 off the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen https://ift.tt/SQErl1T

Whether you’re preparing the perfect Superbowl viewing experience or want to enhance your game-binging sessions, the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub makes a fantastic addition to your setup. It’s not cheap at a $800 retail price, but there’s a rare 25% discount on the high-end portable smart projector right now.

Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen for $599.99 ($200 off)

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Google Photos set to get a new ‘My Week’ feature (APK teardown) https://ift.tt/XuaOcrS

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

• Strings of code in the latest version of Google Photos suggest a “My Week” feature may be coming.
• My Week appears to let users share highlights of their week with invitees.
• Users will be able to pick what photos are included in the highlights.

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Have you ever wished you could automatically share the best moments of your week with your family and friends? An APK teardown of the Google Photos app suggests the firm may be working on a feature to automatically share those weekly highlights.

If you use the Google Photos app, you may be aware of the Memories feature that organizes your photos and videos into a timeline of moments. These moments can be customized and shared with other people of your choosing. And it appears Google may be adding a new way to share these moments.

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Samsung update brings Google’s Quick Share, but only kind of https://ift.tt/VZouj2T

• Samsung is releasing an update to its Quick Share app on Galaxy devices.
• The update adds support for Google’s Nearby Share.
• Sharing with Nearby Share-enabled devices via Samsung’s Quick Share app doesn’t work yet.

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Every day, we’re getting that much closer to the moment when Samsung’s Quick Share and Google’s Nearby Share merge into a single file-sharing feature called Quick Share. It appears Samsung may have just taken the next step towards that future, or it may be more accurate to call it a half step.

According to Mishaal Rahman on Telegram, Samsung is in the process of rolling out an update to its Quick Share app. The update, which is being sent out to older Galaxy devices, reportedly brings Nearby Share support to Samsung’s solution. This version of the app already comes preloaded on the Galaxy S24 series.

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PSA: Today is your last chance to pre-order the Galaxy S24 series https://ift.tt/U9Xv5uK

Pre-orders for the Galaxy S24 series went live shortly after Galaxy Unpacked on January 17. If you haven’t already pre-ordered Samsung’s latest flagship, time is running out for you to take advantage of the benefits. In fact, pre-orders end tonight and availability opens up on January 31.

Of course, the main reason for pre-ordering is the benefits that come with it. For this launch, Samsung is offering a few nice perks you may be interested in, and we’ll list them right here.

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Android 15 prepares to let you share media audio to nearby devices https://ift.tt/3ypsJYV

• Auracast is a feature of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard that enables broadcasting audio to nearby devices.
• Android added basic support for Bluetooth LE Audio in Android 13, including support for starting and connecting to audio streams.
• Android 15 could get a dedicated page for audio sharing, signaling that Auracast could be a key feature of the new OS.

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Imagine you’re traveling with a group of friends, and you want to listen to some music together. Unless the app you’re using has a built-in social listening feature like Spotify, there’s no easy way to share the audio you’re listening to with everyone else in your group. That’s a problem that Auracast, a feature of the Bluetooth LE Audio standard, tries to solve. Auracast enables broadcasting audio to nearby devices using Bluetooth Low Energy without the hassle of pairing. However, the broadcaster and receiver devices must support Auracast for this feature to work.

Although Auracast was announced over a year and a half ago, there still aren’t many headsets on the market that support it. That could change in 2024, though, as many accessory makers are going to release new products that support Auracast now that most smartphones that are being released also support it. To prepare for these new devices, Google is preparing to add a dedicated “audio sharing” page in Android 15 that lets users share or connect to nearby LE Audio streams.

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YouTube TV finally lets viewers pick what games appear in Multiview https://ift.tt/hlnV3Gi

• Some users are starting to see a “Build a Multiview” function in YouTube TV.
• These viewers were able to pick the games they wanted to see in Multiview.
• It appears Build a Multiview is limited to only preselected games at the moment.

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If you’re a sports fan with YouTube TV, then you’ve likely used, or at least seen, the Multiview feature. This feature is getting an update that should make it far more flexible than before and more likely to be used.

First introduced last year during March Madness, Multiview allowed viewers to watch up to four different games on the same display. However, Multiview was a bit of a limited experience in that it only worked with sports and the games that were shown were preselected. Over time, however, the feature has grown to allow more sports and some non-sports content. And it looks like the feature is in-store for another nifty upgrade.

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Android 15 wishlist: What I want to see and what we know so far https://ift.tt/Kgxh1iB

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Android 14 isn’t even half a year old, and yet there are already early rumors swirling around the next major Android release. Many of these rumors come from code dives into Android 14 QPR2, which means some of these features could significantly change or even be cut from Android 15 ahead of its official launch.

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Samsung prepares for new version of Quick Share by updating Windows app https://ift.tt/njYVuON

Credit: Damien Wilde / Android Authority

• Samsung has updated the Quick Share app for Windows.
• The app now sports the new logo that was created for the new version of Quick Share that merges Samsung’s solution with Google’s Nearby Share.
• It appears only the logo was changed as the app does not yet support Nearby Share.

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In case you didn’t know, Samsung’s Quick Share and Google’s Nearby Share are merging into a single file-sharing solution. As a result, Nearby Share will adopt the Quick Share name and the feature will get a new logo. Although the merge has yet to happen, it looks like Samsung is preparing for the change by updating the Quick Share app for Windows.

First spotted by 9to5Google, Samsung has recently updated the Quick Share app for Windows. In the Microsoft Store, the app now sports the new logo that was created for the new version of the feature.

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Microsoft kills off WordPad, asks users to try Word or Notepad instead https://ift.tt/jXhFUng

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• The recent Canary build of Windows 11 does not include WordPad.
• It appears the app that was introduced in Windows 95 is now being retired.
• Microsoft is expected to also remove a few other aging apps.

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Instead of Windows 12, users are expected to get a rather hefty Windows 11 update later this year. While the update should bring a number of new features and improvements, it will also remove a beloved app that’s been included with the OS since Windows 95.

As spotted by Tom’s Hardware, the latest Canary build of Windows 11 is available to download for Windows Insiders. The most recent OS build is reportedly missing the WordPad app and it won’t be reinstallable, according to the company. Microsoft explains:

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Record $500 discount on Amazon’s mobile security robot https://ift.tt/r2JeAIl

You know the future is here when you can get a robot to patrol your property. It might be the stuff of childhood sci-fi, but the Amazon Astro for Business is now a real enhancement to your security. Even better — it’s $500 off for the first time right now, temporarily dropping the asking price to $1,849.99.

Amazon Astro for Business mobile security robot for $1,849.99 ($500 off)

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Samsung takes note: You can now hide the gesture bar in One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24! https://ift.tt/zAnaBDj

Credit: C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

• The navigation pill is essential in guiding users to the new Circle to Search feature, but One UI 6.1 removed the ability to hide the navigation pill.
• Samsung has listened to user feedback and brought back the ability to hide the navigation pill without affecting Circle to Search.

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The new Galaxy S24 series comes with One UI 6.1. While the update removes the older Samsung navigation gestures, there’s a new reason to cheer: You can hide the navigation pill on the device for a cleaner look, akin to the previous Samsung navigation gestures while retaining the new Circle to Search functionality.

Mishaal Rahman points out that Samsung is rolling out an update to the NavStar Good Lock module that lets you customize navigation on your Galaxy S24. With this module enabled, you can enable some new gesture settings, including hiding the navigation pill (called the gesture hint). This gives you a clean look on your new Galaxy S24.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/s7jDJ89

Fossil’s smartwatch journey ends: CEO confirms exit from Wear OS market https://ift.tt/02LUMpB

Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority

• Fossil has decided to exit the smartwatch market.
• The company will not launch any new smartwatches, making the Fossil Gen 6 the last Wear OS device from the group.
• Fossil is redirecting its resources to support its core segments, including traditional watches, jewelry, and more.

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In a surprise announcement, Fossil has said it plans to quit the smartwatch business and focus its resources on other devices. Jeff Boyer, Fossil’s Executive Vice President and CEO, confirmed the news to The Verge over the weekend.

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Bridgerton season 3: Expected release date and the latest rumors https://ift.tt/X8ymrv1

Before we get into it — Polin fans — breathe! Bridgerton season 3 has finished filming and the series is still a go. Unfortunately, the film is still stuck in post-production, and from what we assume, this stage is going to be delayed because of the WGA and SAG strikes.

Bridgerton seasons 1 and 2 quickly rose to fame, becoming one of the top 10 shows on Netflix. Naturally, it got renewed for a third season (and a fourth simultaneously), and the series wrapped up filming in March 2023.

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Where is Qi2? Not on the Galaxy S24 or OnePlus 12! https://ift.tt/pf5ytMU

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

January saw the launch of two of 2024’s biggest flagships: the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and the OnePlus 12. The two boast the crème de la crème of Android specs, with some of the best cameras, chipsets, and displays. These will be the two Android phones to beat for many months to come and yet… something is missing in those very long spec sheets, isn’t it?

There’s no Qi2 support on either of these phones. I know I keep harping about this, but hear me out one more time: Qi2 wireless charging was announced a year ago and was supposed to show up in phones last October. October came and went, and so did November, December, and January (well, almost). I know how to count months.

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No Google Pixel Fold 2 news is actually good news https://ift.tt/QXD0BRe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbO1DmFX-Ig

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

We’re still in January and we’ve already seen leaked renders of the upcoming Google Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, which are very likely to launch in October, in nine months. We’ve also gotten several glimpses of the Pixel 8a, which should come around May-June. But nothing about the Pixel Fold 2. What gives?

Did Google suddenly figure out how to keep a phone under wraps for once? Or is Google not making a Pixel Fold 2 at all? I think it’s neither of these and, actually, I think the lack of Pixel Fold 2 news is actually good news. Hear me out.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/qbQfykF

3,000! 4,000! 4,500! All those nits of peak brightness aren’t really impressive https://ift.tt/uqVL3X2

Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Hadlee Simons

Display brightness has become one of the biggest battlegrounds in the modern Android smartphone space, and it’s only ramped up in the last few months.

Companies are talking up ever higher peak brightness numbers to wow us, but there’s just one problem though. This figure is effectively meaningless, and here’s why.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/1Mask4D

I have high expectations for the Samsung Galaxy Ring https://ift.tt/1IwlK2N

Opinion post by

Kaitlyn Cimino

Samsung officially confirmed an upcoming Samsung Galaxy Ring at its Unpacked event on January 17. The announcement arrived after a short promo video for Samsung Health featuring a Neanderthal representing our “ancient instincts.” At the end of the video, the character remarks on Samsung Health’s new AI tools and then asks, ” I wonder what will come next,” casually transitioning to what we now know to be the Ring’s unveiling. If you were looking closely, you would have realized the answer was literally written in the stars; the sun he admires is a ring-shaped eclipse rather than a full sun.

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Android owners can now transfer their eSIMs to any Android phone https://ift.tt/tgOJQzX

Credit: Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

• Google appears to have quietly launched its eSIM transfer tool which was announced at MWC 2023.
• Users are discovering that they can now swap their eSIM from one Android phone to any other Android phone.
• It appears the functionality is limited to T-Mobile eSIM profiles.

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Every day, we move that much closer to the day when eSIMs completely replace physical SIM cards. In preparation for that future, Google appears to have quietly launched its eSIM transfer tool for Android.

According to Android Police, one of its readers who was setting up a Galaxy S24 Ultra noticed they were given the option to transfer their eSIM from their LG V60 ThinQ by scanning a QR code. The outlet was also able to get the pop-up to appear on the Pixel 8 Pro from the Galaxy S24 Ultra and vice versa.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/dWGBDQF