Category Archives: Android

Google Curved Mobile Search Results Interface

AMP Stories Start Appearing in Google Feeds on Android

After Snapchat and Instagram, Google starts rolling out its AMP based Stories feature to its Google feeds on Android platform. To recall, AMP news feeds are already available in Google Search.

AMP Stories in Google Feeds

AMP Stories Start Appearing in Google Feeds

AMP Stories is a rich and faster way of delivering news and information. The AMP arrangement allows delivery of Portrait images, videos, and infographics in a fit-to-screen format. These stories are accessed and navigated by just tapping to the right of the screen.

The feed appears in the Google feed in form of a portrait story card. The story card is a full-screen tall image labeled as a “Featured visual story.  When tapped, it opens the standard Chrome Custom Tab for an AMP story.

Publishers involved in the early development

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note Pro Android 8.1 Oreo Update

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note Pro Starts Getting Android 8.1 Oreo Update

It’s something what Xiaomi users have been waiting for. Xiaomi’s Redmi 5 Note Pro phones have started getting latest MIUI 10 update based on Android 8.1 Oreo.  The Chinese smartphone giant has announced the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note Pro Android 8.1 Oreo Update via its Online forums.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note Pro Gets Android 8.1 Oreo Update

As the Android 8.1 Oreo Update is being rolled out, it might take up some time before showing up on every Redmi 5 Note Pro handset.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Note Pro Android 8.1 Oreo Update

If you have the device, head straight to Phone Settings or boot up the Updater app to check if it’s available for you or not. If you can’t wait to get the update, do so by downloading the ROM from the company’s forum post.  The Android 8.0 Oreo updated isn’t limited to Redmi 5 Note Pro, but is also being rolled out for other premium  Xiaomi handsets including the  Mi 5, Mi 6, Mi Mix, Mi Mix 2 and the Mi Note 2.

Snapchat redesigned app for Android

Snapchat to Redesign its Android App, to be Launched Soon

Photo based messaging app Snapchat is set to unveil its redesigned app for Android users.  People associated with the development said that Snapchat is working on the alpha version of its Android app that’s designed to offer an experience more on par with the iOS version.

Snapchat’s Redesigned Android App

Reports suggest that the upcoming Snapchat Android app will have a faster user interface. The UI will also have Emoji brush as a new feature. The app is under the initial phase of testing with some bug fixes and a slew of camera improvements underway. The upcoming Snapchat Android app is said to have a tidier interface and smooth app running.

In Past as well, Snapchat launched its redesigned app that fell flat on user expectations. The design made the interface relatively complicated and led to a sharp decline in Snapchat’s user base. Sensing the damage done, the company discontinued the new Snapchat redesigned Android app and went on to the older one.

Android 9

What’s new in Android 9?

The new operating system from Google dubbed Android 9 holds a lot of promises and comes with necessary advancements that answers both pressing technical needs and societal burden for a company that’s as large as Google.

Top Android 9 Features

Android 9

New navigation system

Way back in 2011, with Google’s iconic Honeycomb OS they debuted the three button navigation system that’s been the standard ever since. The three button system for the Back, Home and Recents is being abandoned for a much more cleaner and subtle design improvement.

How the buyers receive it is up to question.

It’s a gesture-based system.The new navigation system incorporates a single home button. You may swipe the home button up to see predicted apps and up again to see all apps. Sliding to the side for each app lets you open those up.

Here’s how it works in detail:

  • You can tap on the home to go the obvious place- Home
  • Once you swipe up you can see the recent apps you used
  • Swiping up twice takes you to the app drawer
  • The back button has been reduced to selective appearance and you can see it only when need arises in apps and menus.

Since it’s the beta version and only a select number of users are using the features all this can appear confusing and will need some time getting used to. However, with all the feedback they’re garnering we will have a better version very soon.

If you don’t like gestures Developer Preview 2 and 3 still allow three button usage but it will be gestures going forward for all iterations.

Device manufacturers like HTC and Samsung with their new pressure sensitive home button phones too are making a leap in the same direction.

The all new Android Dashboard

The all-new android dashboard uses machine learning and probably predictive analytics to understand habits and promotes engagement. It uncovers detailed usage statistics for example the number of times you unlocked the phone, number of notifications, number of apsp you used and app engagement time helping you get a bird’s eye view of your engagement with the phone.

The feature wasn’t seen in Developer Preview 2 or 3 (but was announced) and future versions of Android P will have the dashboard and will offer detailed views on how you use the phone.

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