Andronicles

Samsung just announced tha all its Android Galaxy-branded devices from 2019 or later will now get four years of security updates.  Usually, Samsung only promise two years Android upgrades. That is until last year when the company announced that it will support new phones with three years of security fixes. Now that policy has been extended to four years.  The phones eligible for this upgrade will include all high-end and entry-level devices released from 2019 and onward, a total of 130 models. These include every Galaxy line - Galaxy S, Note, Z, A, XCover, and Tab.  Many of Samsung's devices are already either on Android 11 or at least Android 10. Last year, the company released the latest Android security patch for their devices even before Google Pixel devices received theirs.  The new update policy is not perfect as it still relegates some of the lower-end devices to quarterly security upgrades. Still it should be said that Samsung's announcement is quite surprisi...

For some years now, Windows users have been running Android apps on their PC thanks to emulators like Bluestacks. Now a new report coming in says that Microsoft plans to add Android app support to Windows 10 in 2021. What this mean is that you will no longer need make use of an emulator to run Android apps. Rather, you will be able to run the apps directly from your Windows computer.  There is no word on how Microsoft plan to do it but it seems that Android apps would be coming via the Microsoft Store. Still many Android apps require Google Play Services support, and there is no evidence yet if Microsoft plans to offer it.  Nevertheless, having Android apps on the Windows 10 stable will be a welcome development, especially in light of MacOS getting support for iPad and iPhone apps. 

Wow, Pokemon GO sure seem to be enjoying the best year yet! According to app data site, Sensor Tower, the mobile game in which you used your cell phone's camera to hunt for and catch the virtual playful, titular monsters called Pokemon in the real world has made an estimated $1 billion in player spending so far.  The report notes that though the game earned $832 million in 2016 the year it was launched, sales declined the next year but it has steadily continued to rise ever since and this year saw an increase in player spending thanks to the pandemic which forced people in lockdown to show more interest in mobile games.  Another thing that had an impact on Pokemon Go success is temporary update the publisher Niantic made to the game. The game was adapted in way that will make it work better for stay-at-homes. For example, there is a mode in which you could hunt for Pokemon in the confines of your own home.  Since Pokémon Go was launched in 2016, it has now raked in around...

Baby Shark, the popular children's rhyme performed by the South Korean education company Pinkfong, has becomes YouTube's most-watched video of all time. The song drew 7.04 billion views to surpass the previous record holder Despacito, the Latin pop smash by singer Luis Fonsi. Baby Shark is a kiddie rhyme song featuring a family of sharks that hunt school of fish which escape to safety. The song is believed to have originated from a campfire song or chant during summer camps in the 1970s. Some sources have mentioned traditional myths as a basis, while others think it was possibly developed by camp counselors inspired by the Steven Spielberg 1975 smash hit Jaws. It became a campfire song where each member of a family of sharks is introduced with different hand motions.  There are different versions of the song that includes having the sharks hunting fish, eating a sailor, or killing people, who then go to heaven. There are also international versions - including the French Bebe R...

  According to global research firms - Counterpoint Research, IDC, and Canalys - Samsung has reclaimed its position as the biggest smartphone maker from Huawei in Q3 2020. The South Korean firm shipped 80.4 million units and captured 22.7% market share, enough for them to claim the top spot.  While Samsung's position was to be expected given the critical state Huawei is in, Xiaomi overtaking Apple to third position is quite a surprise. According to the report, Xiaomi shipped over 46 million devices in the third quarter with a market share of over 13%, while Apple shipped just over 41 million devices and had a market share of over 11%. It seems the late iPhone 12 series launch didn’t help Apple's ranking.  Global smartphone shipments saw a rise to the level of 2019, as the industry continue to recover from the convid crisis. The Indian market, especially, clocked the highest-ever shipments in a single quarter. According to the report, the Indian smartphone shipments grew t...

Some time ago, Google announced that Google Play Music will no longer be available. Instead users were urged to move to the YouTube Music app and to transfer their music library there.  Already some users are seeing that the Google Play Music is no longer available both on the app itself and the website. If you don't want to lose the music you purchased through Google Play Music or the music you uploaded to the app, you should download it quickly. This will especially be required if you don't want to transfer to YouTube Music. You also have the option to delete your recommendations history or to just delete your music library if you want to start from scratch. Right now, the Google Play Music is still on the process of shutting down and once it's complete, all unsaved data will be automatically deleted. So if you haven't transferred your music and other files or downloaded and backed them up, now is the time to do so before it is too late. 

  Sony confirmed in a blog post that popular apps, Disney Plus, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube and Twitch, will be on the new PlayStation 5 console at the November 12th launch.  You’ll also be able to use the console to access other popular streaming services, such as, Crunchyroll and Apple TV.  Sony also says that more streaming apps, such as Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, MyCanal and Peacock, were coming to PS5 but did not give a timeframe for when they would be available. The company also showed a new look PS5 Media remote which includes dedicated launch buttons for Disney Plus, Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify. The remote will be launch alongside the PS5 on November 12th, but it is not included with the console.  With the inclusion of four dedicated launch buttons to some of the more popular streaming apps, and the recently unveiled system interface, including a separate home screen for entertainment apps,  we can see that the next-gen console is more than just for gamin...

Google Calendar for Android and iOS is rolling out with Tasks integration.  Back in April 2018, Google released the standalone Tasks app for Android and iOS. Since then, Task has been only limited to the web version of the Google Calendar. Now Tasks can be created and viewed on Google Calendar for Android and iOS apps without the need to download the standalone Tasks app.  If you want to give it a try by adding a task, simply tap on the Create button in the bottom-right corner and select Task. Next fill in the details, and save it. You can add a title and description, and even change the gmail account linked, if required. The tasks you create can be found in the side panel for Google Calendar and the Tasks app. Every tasks you add to your calendar will be automatically synced across mobile and desktop. A task can be removed by marking it as complete or by deleting it. You can also hide tasks by turning off Tasks under My Calendars.  This new feature is already rolling out...

  Apple and Google have both pulled out the popular battle royale game fortnite from their store. This move seems to be in response to Epic Games decision to let players purchase V-Bucks, fortnite real-money currency, within the game.    Epic had also announced a new pricing plan for V-Bucks that see it offering a 20% discount on all platforms compared to purchasing the same currency via Apple's App Store or Google Play. Epic said the pricing will not be changed.    To Apple and Google, Epic's decision directly violate their guidelines regarding in-app purchase that requires payment be made through them which gives them 30% cut from all revenue. So shortly after Epic announced a new payment system, Apple removed its fortnite game from its App Store. A few hours later, Google did the same by pulling out the Fortnite Android version from its Play Store.   In response to the takedown, Epic Game is already taking legal action against Apple and Google, accusing ...

Larry Tesler, the computer scientist who invented the cut, copy and paste commands that we are very familiar with has just passed away.  Tesler died in Portola Valley, California on February 16, 2020, at the age of 74. His most famous innovation, the copy, cut and paste function, has made computer simple and easier to use. The idea it was reported may have been based on the old method of editing in which people would physically cut portions of printed text and glue them elsewhere. The command was incorporated in Apple's software on the Lisa computer in 1983, and the original Macintosh that was released the following year.  Mr Tesler was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1945. He studied at Stanford University in California. After graduating, he started working in Silicon Valley in the early 1960s, at a time when computers were inaccessible to the vast majority of people. During his long career, Tesler worked for a number of major tech firms that includes ...

Renowned best-selling author, Stephen King, announced on February 1 that he is quiting Facebook. The reason he gave was that he was uncomfortable with the "flood of false information allowed in its political advertising". The author also took aim at Facebook's inability to protect users privacy. King who is well-known for his scary novels made the announcement on Twitter, where he has 5.6 million followers. His tweet has already generated more than 250,000 likes. However, the novelist decision to leave Facebook does not mean that he is quitting the social network altogether. Users can still follow him and his dog Molly on Twitter. Below is the tweet written by King. I'm quitting Facebook. Not comfortable with the flood of false information that's allowed in its political advertising, nor am I confident in its ability to protect its users' privacy. Follow me (and Molly, aka The Thing of Evil) on Twitter, if you like. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) Step...

The most popular messaging app, WhatsApp, is soon going to get dark mode as the feature is now available on its latest beta version.  Until now, the dark theme can only be gotten on the web version by using third-party apps.  Those already signed up for the WhatsApp beta testing program on Android should automatically get the dark theme update. But if you are not signed in, you can always join the program to get the feature.  To get dark mode on WhatsApp for Android, you need to first download the app and then follow the 3 simple steps below.  ° Tap on the 3 dot menu in the upper right corner of the WhatsApp, and choose Settings from the drop down menu.  ° Navigate down and choose Chats.  ° Under the display submenu, you will see Theme, tap on it and then select  Dark.  Your WhatsApp will now be displaying the dark mode.  Facebook who owns WhatsApp has already released a dark theme for its Facebook Mess...

MTN in partnership with Opera has just introduced a new data plan for users of Opera browsers and News apps to enjoy more browsing experience. This is coming after the 50MB daily free browsing promo they had offered late last year to surf the web using Opera mini and Opera news apps. Like the 50MB free browsing promo, the new data plans can only used for browsing, you can't use it for streaming and downloading otherwise you will be charged from your regular data plan. The data plans offers the same amount of MBs the regular data plans offers but at a cheaper rate. It can only be used on Opera Mini and Opera News. How To Subscribe To Opera Data Plans The bundles comes in three different plans, which are daily, weekly and monthly plans. Below are the full list of plans being offered along with screenshots. Daily 25MB for N20 - Valid for 1 Day Weekly 100MB for N50 - Valid for 7 Days Monthly 300MB for N100 - Valid for 30 days To subscribe, simply dial *13...

Google is offering a mouth-watering $1.5m prize money to anyone who can spot out security flaws in some of its Android Smartphones. Previously, the prize offering was $200,000, but is being raised to $1.5m in order to encourage people to report any bugs they discover, rather than selling it to others who could exploit it for criminal reasons like hacking people's phones. Other companies such as Apple, Samsung and Facebook also offers rewards for uncovering security flaws. To claim the Google bounty, researchers would have to find a way to compromise the Titan M security chip in the Google Pixel devices, spot out any problems in it and then report it so that it can be immediately fixed.

WhatsApp is the most popular app in the world, yet it can often be slow to add new features that are popular. Few months after iOS received fingerprint unlocking for its WhatsApp, the feature is now officially available on the Android version in the latest stable build 2.19.221. Fingerprint unlock is an extra security measure to protect your account. The feature require users to provide a fingerprint before they can be granted access to an app. So if by chance someone were to access your phone, they would not be able to open the app. Moreover, WhatsApp fingerprint unlock uses the same fingerprint you use to unlock your phone. When you update your WhatsApp with the latest version, open it and navigate to the app’s settings. Click on Account, and then Privacy. Here you will see WhatsApp’s new fingerprint lock option. If you don't see it, you could try deleting and reinstalling the app. But do make sure you first back up your chats! Once you have the option, toggle the setting. ...

Instagram has placed a ban on all augmented reality (AR) filters that mimic effects of cosmetic surgery, in which people look like they have had lip injections, fillers or a facelift. Instagram deem such face-changing filters to be harmful to people's mental health, saying that the site is supposed "to be a positive experience for people." "While we're re-evaluating our policies, we will remove all effects from the [effects] gallery associated with plastic surgery, stop further approval of new effects like this and remove current effects if they're reported to us," says an Instagram spokesman. Researchers have already noted that face-changing filters can make people feel worse about the way they look, which can drive them into depression. In February, Instagram decided to remove all graphic images of self-harm from the platform, following the death of  a 14-year-old girl who killed herself in 2017 after viewing graphic images of self-harm on the si...

In order to satisfy consumers demand for more data and mobile internet, one of the leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, last week announced that it would be upgrading its data plans on its weekly and monthly data tariff plans. According to Airtel, "customers who subscribe to the N3,000 monthly plan will get 8GB data; consumers who buy the N5,000 monthly plan will get 15GB of data." “While customers who subscribe to the N20,000 mega plan will be credited with 110GB of data, valid for 30 days. Airtel also introduced a new plan that gives more value to stream online, chat and download movies." The new plan gives 6GB of data weekly for only N1,500,” Airtel says. There are other updates to data plans. Below are the list of new or upgraded data tariff plans. Daily/Weekly Plan • N500 for 1GB - Valid for 7 Days - Dial *141*502# t to subscribe • N500 for 2GB - Valid for 1 Day - Dial *141*504# to subscribe • N1,500 for 6GB - ...

Barely a week after the launch of the mobile version of the popular first-person shooter Call of Duty, it has become the biggest launch in the history of mobile gaming, with over 100 million downloads. Read also : Call of Duty: Mobile Has Been Downloaded 20 Million Times The download statistics firm Sensor Tower says Call of Duty: Mobile which was released on October 1 by Activision achieved more downloads than any other mobile game in history since its launch, easily beating out the launch-week figures of its biggest rivals such as PUBG Mobile (28 million downloads) and Footnote (22.5 million downloads). All this is particularly impressive since it hasn’t yet been launched in China even though it was developed by Chinese Tencent’s TiMi Studio under Activision. Sensor Tower says that iOS made up 55.7 percent of Call of Duty: Mobile’s downloads and 53 percent of the total $17.7 million in revenue from in-app purchases. The US accounted for 16.9 percent of downloads and 43.1...

 Copyright Image by CNET  Activision recently released Call of Duty: Mobile for Android and iOS, based on the popular first-person shooter franchise, and already the game has been downloaded over 20 million times. According to Sensor Tower, a statistics company that tracks mobile downloads, the game not only achieved 20 million installs but has netted in $2 million in microtransactions. In an overcrowded market that includes the likes of Fortnite, Call of Duty intends to make its mark like it has been doing with consoles and PC. And as already noted, the mobile game is fast gaining audience, with India leading the way. The country accounts for 14 percent of downloads while the United States is second with just 9 percent. Although Call of Duty: Mobile was officially released by Activision, the game was actually developed by a Chinese firm Tencent. Call of Duty: Mobile is a free-to-play experience that brings together maps, modes, weapons, and characters from across...

Image from Shutterstock How would feel about paying a flat monthly fee for more than 350 "completely unlocked" Android apps and games you wanted? Well that's exactly what Google is offering when it unveils a new subscription service for Play Pass. But the package is limited to subscribers based in the US for now. Just like Netflix where you pay a fixed monthly amount for movies and shows you want to be streamed to your devices, you get your pick of products from the Play Store. Google's Play Pass subscription offering arrived days after Apple launched its own subscription service that focuses on games. Google's subscription package will only contain existing products already available on its Play Store, and all the apps and games will be provided without any ads or in-app charges. Like Apple, Google plans to charge $4.99 (About N1, 800) a month for its service, but it promises early subscribers $1.99 (About N720) a month fee for the first year of member...