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Taking a look at seven days of Android news and headlines around the world, this week’s Android Circuit includes Galaxy S21 leaks, massive malware warning, OnePlus Z Buds review, OnePlus Nord security surprise, release of Nokia 3.4 and Google Photos remove free storage.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of some of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find Apple’s weekly news roundup here).
Galaxy S configured for S-Pen in 2021
Samsung seems ready to dilute the power of the Galaxy Note family compared to its flagship consumer smartphone. Next year’s Galaxy S21 family, likely to launch in January, will support the S-Pen stylus; a peripheral that was seen as the key differentiator. Gordon Kelly from Forbes:
“If that’s correct, Samsung just made one of its biggest changes to the Galaxy S line in years, mainly because the impact on the Galaxy Note range is likely to be profound. In recent generations, Samsung has fused the aesthetics and specs of the design. of the Galaxy S and Note models so close that the only real difference between them is a six-month standby, lower battery life and an S Pen. “
More here on Forbes.
A woman walks past an advertisement for the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra smartphone at the company … [+]
“Dangerous App” Warning for VivaVideo Users
A new security investigation report from Upstream has identified what it believes to be malicious behavior, and the recommendation is that the app be removed from your phone. Forbes Zak Doffman reports:
“The app is VivaVideo, described by its Hangzhou-based developer QuVideo Inc, as” one of the largest free video editing apps for Android, with at least 100 million installs on the Play Store. “In recent months Upstream has followed those previous warnings to identify the extent of the problem with this particular app. “Previous stories about VivaVideo contain allegations but little evidence,” Geoffrey Cleaves of the firm told me, confirming that they had found “conclusive evidence of fraud from premium subscription “with versions of the application”.
More on Forbes.
OnePlus Z Buds review
Following the summer launch of OnePlus Buds, the Shenzhen-based company has followed up with OnePlus Buds Z, a cheaper alternative that fits the Nord line of phones very well. Lily Katz summarizes the Buds before her review:
“The OnePlus Buds Z are true unpretentious wireless earbuds for listeners on a budget. If you don’t need bells and whistles like noise cancellation or multi-point connectivity, the OnePlus might appeal to you. Even with the affordable price, the Buds Z include features. premiums like automatic ear detection, Dolby Atmos compatibility and an IP55 durability rating. This gives other cheap true wireless competitors a run for their money. “
The full review is on Android Authority.
OnePlus limits Nord updates
Meanwhile, OnePlus has moved away from what was becoming the industry standard of two years of Android updates and a third year of security updates. It has confirmed that the new OnePlus Nord N10 5G and N100 phones in the low-end affordable market will only receive a major Android update. Harish Jonnalagadda reports:
“OnePlus is making a big fuss about how the Nord N10 5G and N100 offer the same great OxygenOS software experience as their flagships, but what makes the situation less than ideal is that the phones are running OxygenOS 10.5 based on Android 10. ready to use. .
“To make matters worse, the devices will receive only one guaranteed platform update and two years of security updates. Basically, OnePlus will not deliver any version updates after either device switches to Android 11. A OnePlus spokesperson confirmed to Android Central that the Nord N10 5G and N100 will receive “a major Android update:” “
More on Android Central.
Nokia 3.4 released
Following its announcement in September, HMD Global has launched the Nokia 3.4 in the UK. The first unpacking videos and the first reviews of the SnapDragon 460 powered phones are out now. The NokiaMob team has taken a look at the first wave of videos:
“Both boxes contain the essentials, a charger, a USBa / USBc charging cable, the SIM door key, but not the WH-108 earbuds, which makes me a bit sad :). I must say I like the Nokia 3.4 looks as its design is a bit based on Nokia 8.3. Also, the texture on the back of a device looks super sweet, especially on a cyan device where there is some color shift effect. “
Priced at £ 129, the phone has respectable specs for the price, backed by two years of updates and three years of security updates from HMD Global. Ronald Hutchinson reports:
“The phone also comes with a choice of 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage, it also comes with a microSD card slot, plus an 8-megapixel front camera for selfies and video calls, on the back there is a 13 5-megapixel ultra-wide main camera and a 2-megapixel depth camera. “
More on Geeky Gadgets.
Google Photos becomes Freemium
Google surprised many this week by preparing to remove ‘free storage’ on Google Photos. Image upload will now count as part of your Google storage allowance, only the first 15GB is free. Existing images will be protected and not counted, but the counting will start from June 1 of next year. Forbes’ Paul Monckton:
“According to Google, only 20 percent of users are likely to hit the 15GB limit, but unlimited photo and video storage remains, for many, the most compelling reason to choose Google Photos over Google Photos services. the competition. With this option removed, some users won’t -Doubt look elsewhere for better deals. “
Google’s decision to remove Photos from the free model to a subscription model has caught the attention of many. Given the discussions on monopoly practices, this has drawn strong criticism. Will Oremus sums up the problem many have:
“It’s Google’s sheer size and reach, the way its products in different markets complement and subsidize each other, that gave it unmatched advantages over smaller rivals. In hindsight, the free storage offering looks a lot like predatory pricing, whether Google intended it or not. But the big picture is that Google, like other mainstream platforms, has its hand in so many different, mutually reinforcing lines of business, so you’ll always be incentivized to take advantage of them. in an anti-competitive manner “.
More from Oremus at OneZero.
Google Pixel 4a
And finally…
Can you get a ‘cleaner’ version of Android on a phone than the version on Google’s Pixel phones? Some developers think so and package the resulting code in custom ROM files. With the release of Android 11 underway, the first custom ROMs based on Android 11 are here. Damien Wilde reports:
“As with the first Android 11 ROM, this Pixel 5 ROM was shared on the XDA forums and has been named” ProtonAOSP. “According to XDA, the ROM appears to be quite stable and the full ROM is naturally based on the AOSP builds of Android 11. It builds on many of the privacy-focused alterations that were introduced in bulk Android 11, making it ideal for hobbyists who want even more control over their personal data. “
More on 9to5Google.
Android Circuit summarizes the news from the Android world every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course read the sister column on Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have news and links you’d like to see on Android Circuit, get in touch!
