WatchOS 10 killed my favorite Apple Watch features https://ift.tt/gO1qbX2

Opinion post by

Dhruv Bhutani

The latest watchOS 10 release is one of the most significant upgrades to the Apple Watch’s user interface ever. The upgrade principally revolves around a new widget stack that can be accessed by swiping up from the watch face. Users can then scroll through running activities or any other app they’ve pinned to the stack.

In anticipation of the Apple Watch 9, I’ve been testing the beta release of watchOS 10 for the last few weeks and can attest that the widgets speed up access to your favorite apps. However, these new additions come at the cost of two existing features I use almost daily. It goes without saying I’m pretty unhappy about it.

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

Why is there no easy way to see battery health on Android? https://ift.tt/CSnrjAF

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Batteries don’t last forever; that’s just an unfortunate fact of smartphone life. As controversial as the iPhone 14’s seemingly limited long-term battery health may be, at least Apple provides an easy method to track how your power cell is holding up. It’s as simple as checking your regular battery settings. So while your iPhone may eventually only last a few hours on a single charge, at least you’ll be well prepared to book that battery replacement.

Android, by comparison, is a black box. Everything ticks along fine until your phone starts restarting, and hopefully, you piece together that the battery is kaput before sending the phone away for diagnostics. A simple battery replacement isn’t all that expensive, especially compared to a new phone. But many will end up discarding an otherwise perfectly working handset because it’s not clear what the cause of the problem really is or they need an immediate fix.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/KT2zglR

What is TikTok Music? Features, pricing, availability and more https://ift.tt/IJLAsh7

TikTok, the global phenomenon known for its short films and viral challenges, has ventured into the music streaming space with TikTok Music. It’s a logical next step for the social media app, especially given that much of the original TikTok appeal revolves around incorporating new and classic tunes into the short videos. Many users will already be keen on music streaming while also discovering new audio flavors as they scroll.

But what’s the actual deal with TikTok Music? Why can’t you try it just yet, and how will it work when you can? We have the answers to all of those questions and more.

What is TikTok Music?

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/XvT9oMW

Hey Google and Samsung, why can’t I rent a Fold to test it out? https://ift.tt/6QcpgZX

Left: Galaxy Z Fold 5, Right: Pixel Fold

Credit: Ryan Whitwam / Android Authority

Foldables are fascinating to me. Having a small tablet-sized display that I can run two full apps on simultaneously then bend and stash in my pocket sounds like the productivity future I want to live in. But foldables are very expensive too, prohibitively so. No matter how I spin it, I can’t justify dipping into my piggy bank for $1,800 (even a bit worse in Europe as they cost €1,900) to buy a Google Pixel Fold or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 just for the luxury of finding out if they fulfill their promise for me.

Better yet, as a Pixel user for six years who’s aware of Google’s first-gen product troubles, I’m not sure which foldable to go for. I’ve read our Pixel Fold vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 comparison and I still don’t know. Should I privilege the camera performance as I do on my regular phone or will I find that moot once I focus on the productivity-driven aspect? And does Samsung offer enough foldable features to convince me to dump the Pixel experience I love?

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

These are all the new features Samsung has added to One UI over the years! https://ift.tt/rc96PdA

Samsung has made excellent progress with its software over the decade, and we can see that on all the great Samsung phones. What once used to be criticized as the weakest point of the brand’s phones has now become the driving force behind the user experience and connected ecosystem. One UI has evolved to have its own fan base now, and due credit goes to all the features that Samsung has added over the years. Here are all the features that Samsung has added to One UI through updates!

When is One UI 6 coming out?

One UI 6 is a major release for Samsung’s user experience skin, as it will include a rebase to Android 14 and all of those platform features within itself. As such, Samsung will have to wait for Google to publicly release the stable version of Android 14 before it can release One UI 6 builds for its phones.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/f3Dwad4

OPPO Find X7 Pro: Release date, price, specs, rumors, and what we want to see https://ift.tt/7C6mwxB

Credit: Robert Triggs / Android Authority

OPPO’s Find X series are usually among the best Android phones you can get, bringing cutting-edge chipsets, excellent screens, and great cameras. These phones usually cost a pretty penny, but they also stand out from the pack thanks to some exquisite designs. OPPO launched the Find X6 Pro exclusively in China in early 2023, but we’re expecting the brand to launch the Find X7 Pro in 2024. What should we expect from this handset, though? Here’s everything we know about the OPPO Find X7 Pro.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/0sJIvWB

Google squeaks in one more Android 14 beta update, this time to 5.2 https://ift.tt/nt3apTO

Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• Android 14 beta 5.2 for supported Pixel devices is out now.
• This release mostly focuses on fixes for the Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold.
• We can’t imagine there will be another beta release before the stable launch.

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We thought the fifth Android 14 beta release would be the last one, but then Google launched a 5.1 shortly thereafter. Now, here we are talking about yet another beta release. This must be the last one.

Today, Google is launching Android 14 beta 5.2. As expected, it mostly focuses on last-minute bug fixes. Interestingly, most of these fixes pertain specifically to the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. Only two noted fixes don’t directly relate to one of those two products.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/Hu5GZng