Information Weekly
Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize a few of the week’s prime tales so you’ll be able to make amends for the most recent tech information.
That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most important tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the most recent developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week took us via OnePlus’ determination to stall the launch of its subsequent foldable, Android Beta 2 arrived, Samsung units obtained a brand new One UI 7 function, TikTok resurrects in app shops, and Spotify premium customers confronted a singular glitch. Let’s dive in.
OnePlus Open 2 will not launch this 12 months
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OnePlus is leaving the foldables scene, no less than for this 12 months. In a group weblog publish on their foldable technique, Vale G, a OnePlus product supervisor, mentioned the corporate is ‘recalibrating their foldable technique’ and confirmed that will probably be holding off on launching a OnePlus Open 2.
“At OnePlus, our core energy and keenness lie in setting new benchmarks and difficult the established order throughout all product classes. With that in thoughts, we’ve rigorously thought of the timing and our subsequent steps in foldable units, and we now have made the choice to not launch a foldable this 12 months,” the group publish defined.
Since OnePlus and OPPO are sister corporations, the 2 share mixed {hardware} and analysis groups, in addition to a typical software program codebase. It seems like the main target is now absolutely on launching the world’s thinnest foldable, the OPPO Discover N5, within the subsequent couple of weeks. That mentioned, OpenPlus would not absolutely rule out the opportunity of launching Open 2 sooner or later.
“Whereas this will likely come as a shock, we consider that is the appropriate method for us presently. That mentioned, our determination to pause on foldable for this era doesn’t signify a departure from the class,” the group publish added.
Whereas the OnePlus Open 2 will not make an look this 12 months, the corporate’s subsequent wearable will nonetheless launch as scheduled. The corporate revealed the primary full look of its OnePlus Watch 3, which can launch on February 18 within the US, Canada, and European markets.
In an in depth press launch, the OnePlus claims that this new watch is about to mix in with the person’s every day wants with a “basic, premium, and sturdy design.” That mentioned, the corporate goes full throttle on its “By no means Settle” mantra by providing the Watch 3 with a whopping 16-day battery life on energy saver mode and a protracted 120 hours of battery on Good mode. This can be a bump from the 100-hour restrict on its predecessor.
Android 16 Beta 2 arrives with some enjoyable updates
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Earlier this week, Google launched the second beta of Android 16 to Pixel telephones enrolled for it. The replace got here with some much-needed media, digicam, and graphics options. The Beta 2 comes with one thing known as the ‘hybrid auto-exposure mode,’ which permits customers handbook and auto-exposure choices whereas capturing photographs.
Proper now, customers can select both one of many above and never a mix of the 2 settings. With Android 16 Beta 2, they will management ISO or publicity time and use auto-exposure algorithms concurrently. Beta 2 additionally brings actions for movement images, a mix of nonetheless photographs and quick movies with audio in order that builders can resolve the place the movement photograph shall be saved.
Google stays on observe to meet its new Android launch schedule, that means Android 16 shall be launched to the general public within the second quarter of 2025.
One UI 7 brings enjoyable House Up Refresh function
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Samsung’s One UI 7 House Up Module was noticed on a Reddit thread not too long ago, clearly a beta model of the function. The unique poster displayed the “limitless” prospects of the refreshed module in One UI 7, which showcased apps and folder placement. Pinching inward on their show introduced up the standard residence display screen modifying choices however with a newly added “DIY House” button.
What’s extra, is that tapping on the icon provides customers full freedom over the scale and orientation of an app widget or folder. With this, you can mainly place any app icon anyplace you want on the house display screen with out following the principles of the standard grid. The person can also be capable of overlap widgets and apps for a very chaotic residence display screen. The demo solely reveals these adjustments making use of to the apps above the underside toolbar like messaging, cellphone calls, contacts, or the rest. Moreover, tapping a folder that is been rotated or the wrong way up will open apps in it as regular.
Folks enrolled within the beta program can provide these customizations a go. Nevertheless, the corporate is reportedly pushing again the secure rollout of this OS on the Galaxy S24 on account of a show coloring difficulty. Samsung said that One UI 7 was making ready to hit older Galaxy S units “imminently” in Q1 2025.
TikTok is again in US app shops
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After an excellent 20-day break, Tiktok made a comeback on app shops. within the U.S. following the federal government’s reported “reassurances.” In accordance with Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, TikTok was first noticed on the Apple App Retailer. A number of different customers took to X, stating that the app had on Feb. 12. It seems just like the app was being made obtainable in phases and rolled out to most customers as we speak Feb.14.
Moreover, the publication experiences that the app has reappeared on the Google Play Retailer. Android Central has additionally noticed TikTok’s availability through the Play Retailer, so customers who could have deleted the app or by no means had it could possibly now obtain it.
Whereas this can be excellent news for a number of avid TikTok-ers, Bloomberg states it has 75 days (from Jan 20) to search out widespread floor with the U.S. authorities over privateness/safety issues. This seems like an interim answer whereas the corporate buys time to settle issues with the current authorities.
Spotify bug messed with Premium subscribers
Spotify premium subscribers had a irritating expertise this week. Regardless of paying $12 per thirty days for an ad-free service, they ended up listening to industrial advertisements that disrupted their podcast or music. There have been a number of experiences of this difficulty on Spotify’s group boards, relationship again to final Friday, Feb. 7. Folks have been reporting points and reaching out to assist in a number of methods, with one person saying that it has been “unattainable to speak to anybody at Spotify.”
Solely per week later, Spotify appeared to look into the difficulty. Spotify mentioned, “Our tech groups are at the moment investigating experiences of Premium customers listening to advertisements. We’ll maintain you posted right here if we now have any information to share, so be sure to Subscribe to the thread to remain tuned.”
Initially, the corporate requested customers affected so as to add to the thread their system info, app model or internet participant, the kind of ad they heard, and any troubleshooting steps they’ve already taken.
Nevertheless, a number of hours later, Spotify posted an replace on its group discussion board confirming that the difficulty was the results of a bug and has since been fastened. “We have now excellent news from our groups a repair for the cases the place Premium customers observed advertisements when listening to music has been deployed and you need to discover a distinction straight away,” the corporate mentioned. “It is value retaining in thoughts, nonetheless, that it’s anticipated that each free & Premium customers should still see advertisements when listening to podcasts.”
