Android Help Samsung to end software support for Galaxy S9 series

Samsung to end software support for Galaxy S9 series
Expanding Play’s Target Level API Requirements to Strengthen User Security
I've used every Pixel phone. Here are my thoughts on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro after months of use.
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Android Developers Blog: Expanding Play’s Target Level API Requirements to Strengthen User Security
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Samsung to end software support for Galaxy S9 series

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 07:29 AM PDT

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Expanding Play’s Target Level API Requirements to Strengthen User Security

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 10:22 AM PDT

submitted by /u/McSnoo
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I've used every Pixel phone. Here are my thoughts on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro after months of use.

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 09:04 AM PDT

Hey guys,

Pixel phones have been some of my favourite phones over the past years. I've had the privilege to own every Pixel flagship that's come out. While the Pixel 5 was a really good phone overall, I wished for a more premium phone from Google as it missed some key features like the zoom camera, better haptic motor, and speakers.

When Google announced the Pixel 6 lineup, I was cautiously optimistic. On paper, the phones seemed to be the best Pixels ever. So, I went ahead and got both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Here are my thoughts on the phones after using them for about 5 months.

Design and Build Quality

I think Google got a lot right with the design and build quality of the phones. Both phones feel premium in hand. While it was great to have a metal back in the Pixel 5, the plastic coating made it feel like a budget phone last year. I also like that we got to have more colour options this year.

While Google got a lot right this year, they weren't able to hit a home run on everything. Both phones are quite big and somewhat heavy. I wish Google created a smaller model as using the phones with one hand is quite challenging. I'm also not the biggest fan of the glossy back. I think the frosted white from the Pixel 4/XL was the best feeling material Google had and I wish they did something similar this time around.

On the bright side, Google used a much higher quality haptic motor this time. Both phones have some of the best haptics on Android devices.

Also, the speakers are way better this year. The sound quality is pretty nice and I had no issues with calls or playing media during my time with the phones.

Performance and Battery Life

Pixel phones are known for their buttery smooth performance and clean UI. Even the Pixel 5 was able to be incredibly smooth with mid-range specs. So, it was not surprising to see the Pixel 6 perform like a true flagship. Everything is buttery smooth here and I noticed some processor intensive tasks to be a lot faster on the Pixel 6 vs the Pixel 5. For example, apps install much quicker on the Pixel 6 compared to the Pixel 5.

I don't game on my phones, but for everything I used the phones for, the Pixels delivered some of the fastest Android experience I've had.

Battery life has been pretty decent in my experience. Both phones easily got me through an entire day. I found the Pixel 6 battery to be slightly better than the Pro. This could be due to the difference in antennas. Both phones would typically have over 30% by the end of the day. While this isn't as good as the iPhone 13 Pro as I typically have around 40%-50% battery left by the end of the day, I'm pretty comfortable with the Pixel 6's longevity throughout the day.

Screen and Fingerprint Sensor

The Pixel 6 has a 90hz flat screen and the Pixel 6 Pro has a 120hz curved screen. To be honest, both feel just as smooth. It's very hard to tell the difference between 90hz and 120hz. But compared to 60hz, both phones feel incredibly smooth. Also, both screens get bright enough for easy day time viewing, so no concerns there.

I personally prefer the flat screen of the Pixel 6. The curved screen, while it looks more "premium" doesn't offer the same user experience as the corners are desaturated and there are some accidental touches here and there.

The fingerprint sensor on the phone is absolute trash. This is one of the worst fingerprint sensors I've ever used. It has gotten better with updates, but it still misses like 50% of the time when my hands are very dry. It's particularly bad outdoors for some reason. I've tried scanning my fingers multiple times, but that still doesn't fix the issue. This is almost a dealbreaker as this is one of the only biometric unlock methods and Google doesn't offer face unlock. I really miss the rear fingerprint sensor from the Pixel 5.

Software Experience

I have mixed feelings about the software. Performance wise, the phone absolutely flies and offers some of the best Android experience. Even comparing to new flagships like the S22 Ultra, I feel the Pixel is smoother in day-to-day use.

However, I feel Google is taking a step back with Android 12. While it looks prettier than older releases, usability has gotten worse. For example, there's no more wifi toggle. You have to go to internet and then change your wifi. You can't get rid of the at a glance widget on the home screen, which I don't understand. The only way you can have a clean home screen is through a third party launcher, but then the animations aren't as smooth when you're multi-tasking unless you root the phone. Also, not sure if this is a widespread issue, but I found notifications on the Pixel 6 to be slower than the iPhone 13. Emails notifications in particular took a minute or two longer than iPhones to show up.

On the other hand, there's a lot of stuff to love. Google is offering 5 years of security updates, which is way better than most Android phone makers. Call screening is still one of my favourite features and I wish more phones had something like this. I also really like the new widgets you get with Android 12. They really add to the fun vibe Google is trying to create with Android 12.

Also, Pixel 6 has some of the best voice recognition I've experienced with a phone. The phone instantly recognizes everything I say. It really makes you feel like you're living in the future.

I hope Google starts to offer a mode similar to Dex on the Pixels. As phones get more powerful, it'll be great to expand the ways we use our phones.

Camera

I have mixed feelings here as well. Google was the king of smartphone photography for at least 3 years and it was one of the main reasons I used Pixel as my daily driver. This is also the reason I started ShotbyPixel years ago. This year, I was very excited about the cameras as Google finally changed the sensors and offered more than 2 cameras. On paper, Google was set to be the camera champ once again, but reality ended up being quite different.

The ultra wide angle camera isn't wide enough. The quality is quite average and the shots I got weren't as nice as the iPhone 13 Pro or Samsung S21/S22 Ultra. The main camera took stunning pictures most of the time, but it also missed more than previous Pixels. Also, I feel Google went overboard with the processing. Photos have a very digital overprocessed look to them at times, which I'm not a big fan of. On the bright side, the bigger sensor gets some nice shallow depth of field. It's good for closeups, but not great when taking photos of documents as the camera isn't able to focus on entire documents.

The selfie camera is also quite average. I like that it's wide, but I wasn't a big fan of the end result.

The telephoto camera surprised me in a good way. I love the shots that I was able to get from the camera. The 4x telephoto really lets you frame photos in a way most phones don't. Also, the short minimum focusing distance almost makes this a macro camera as well. While I don't think most people should spend the extra money to get the Pro for the telephoto camera, it's worth the investment if you take a lot of photos.

Final Thoughts

I think Google got a lot right this year with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Both phones look and feel great, and offer exceptional performance and software experience. Plus the price of the regular 6 makes it very easy to recommend to most people who want an iPhone like experience on Android. I hope Google continues to invest in the Pixel ecosystem. The phone has a lot of potential, but the lack of accessories such as a Pixel watch really work against it when compared to Samsung or Apple phones. If Google is able to improve some of the software issues and fix the fingerprint sensor, the next Pixel has a serious shot at being the best Android phone. For now, I think the Samsung S series still provide a better overall experience due to the ecosystem and features.

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Android 12 / One UI 4.1 update available for Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 3

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 08:11 AM PDT

submitted by /u/aroedl
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[Exclusive] Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) from Motorola: First Pics and Full Specs

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 07:48 AM PDT