Is anyone familiar with the specifics of how Circle to Search (linked) works? I was looking for a FOSS alternative to the google circle to search tool and came across it. It seems to describe its implementation in a clear way on the GitHub page, but I have not validated that it does actually operate using that architecture, or that it keeps to its promises about not caching info that is pulled from its third party OCR tools. On android it asks for "advanced permissions" which I presume are needed to take screenshots and share these with the third party OCR service. Since I havent validated how it works though, I wanted to check if anyone else has before I provide it those permissions.

I have been steady researching this and I have stumbbled upon what lloks like an unfinshed doc for the [Developer Verification Progra](https://developer.android.com/developer-verification/guides/limited-distribution)m Key notes - still no rollout schedule - Fee can be found in FAQ. Says it will be $25 - That you will have to provide a state-issued ID even for the now free "Limited Distribution" that has a 20 device maximum - In the FAQ it shows that this is covering all devices Android 7.0 and up and admits that the Advanced Flow in Google Play Services. - still does not address how they are justifying this at all They have stolen a free product and are now activity locking out the people who built it. [ASOP does not belong to them it belongs to us](https://disintermedia.net.nz/android-time-to-stop-hunting-the-replicants-decker/). Time to get it back I think.

Starting in August, installing APKs from unverified developers will require a new procedure called Advanced Flow. It involves enabling developer mode, rebooting the device, and waiting 24 hours with biometric verification. After that, you choose: allow the APK installation for 7 days or indefinitely. The procedure is a one-time process and applies to all versions of Android. Will the 24-hour wait stop you from installing APKs outside the store?

Over the years I've tested out pretty much all the Android keyboards, but swipe typing always kept me on GBoard, even though GBoard did not support voice typing for anything except Google, so I had to switch keyboards for that. Recently I learned that HeliBoard has support for gesture typing with the Google library. But I couldn't find any instructions on where to get the necessary files or how to do it. Well, someone posted a link to the file elsewhere so I'll [share it here](https://github.com/erkserkserks/openboard/blob/46fdf2b550035ca69299ce312fa158e7ade36967/app/src/main/jniLibs/arm64-v8a/libjni_latinimegoogle.so). And it works! Extremely well. I can also pin a button for voice typing and then select Transcribro for that (which uses OpenAI Whisper locally and works super well. Another gripe I had with GBoard was the cursor moves way too fast when swiping on the space bar. Not so with Heliboard. You can also swipe backwards from the backspace key and it will highlight text and then delete it when you let go.

I just updated my 2025 Moto G Stylus 5G to Android 16 only to discover the only feature I updated for doesn't work on my device thanks to Qualcomm.

If you haven't seen this yet, Google is planning to require mandatory developer identity verification for all Android apps, including apps distributed outside the Play Store, taking effect September 2026. This affects every independent and open source Android developer directly. This is not just about the Play Store. After September 2026, on any certified Android device, applications from unverified developers will be blocked by default. The only proposed bypass, the "advanced flow", exists only as a blog post and has not appeared in any beta, dev preview, or canary release. No one outside Google has seen it. The community has been fighting back at keepandroidopen.org: - Read the full breakdown of what this means - Sign the open letter (organisations only) - Contact your national regulators — contacts listed by country on the site - Add the countdown banner to your project September 2026 is closer than it looks. The time to push back is now.

Quote from Proton VPN: > Google has known about a bug that breaks VPN apps for 7 months, leaving users exposed with no warning or error, just a VPN app that stopped working in the background. > > If you're using ANY VPN on Android, you can help us by getting Google's attention to fix it. > > We first reported this bug to Google in September 2025. > > Others like Mullvad and Wireguard reported it even earlier, in August. > > Google's response? "I don't see anything unusual." > > The bug corrupts Android's network stack at the system level after a VPN update, causing users to blame their VPN provider. > > Restarting the app doesn't help, with the only fix being a full device reboot or VPN app reinstall, something which most users never figure out. > > This affects several VPN providers on Android 16, and only Google has the access to diagnose it properly. > > After 7 months of waiting, we're now asking publicly: Google, when are you fixing this? > > Issue Tracker Links: > > https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/441315112 > > https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/4474331

Trust me, I push Signal _hard_ and even donate to it monthly. As I'm sure many of you know, there are always a few contacts who unfortunately refuse to use it. In this case: do you prefer to use insecure SMS in something like QUIK SMS or Fossify Messages, or do you prefer to bite the Google bullet to get end-to-end encrypted messages (even if the metadata isn't encrypted)? I can see good arguments for both sides, so I am curious what Lemmy's take is.

For years now after a while I just stop getting texts. Reboot the phone and they work again for a while. The crazy thing is that it's happening on several phones. A pixel 3, a galaxy s20, and now a OnePlus 8. Signal works fine obviously but only a few people I know are on signal. Carrier is T-Mobile and they always just want to sell me. A new phone. Anyone have ideas?

[@mikestevens](https://aus.social/@mikestevens) nice profile pic change for c/android! for anyone else curious, checkout the android community over on Lemmy (accessible via KBin too!) [https://lemmy.world/c/android](https://lemmy.world/c/android) [@android](https://lemmy.world/c/android) for anyone that wants to try and view it on Mastodon (although it's not formatted great) [\#android](https://aus.social/tags/android) [#lemmy](https://aus.social/tags/lemmy) [#RedditAlternative](https://aus.social/tags/RedditAlternative) [#KBin](https://aus.social/tags/KBin)

Hi everyone! I'm happy to share my app, Octopi Launcher, which I've worked on for quite a while now. Octopi Launcher is a launcher for Android, built with the latest trends in mind, which includes visual and haptic effects, and support for foldables. **Features:** - App drawer, dock and homescreen - Different homescreen for different screen layout/ orientation/ size/ foldable position - Widgets and (autoscrolling) widget stacks - Home screen folders - Fine/ free positioning of home screen apps and widgets - Big home screen icons - Swipe actions for icons - Display drawer items as icons or tiles (or single list); sort by installed date or updated date - App search + instant launch - Icon pack support - Wallpaper blur when opening app drawer (on supported devices) - Work profile support - Fun animations, reflections and haptic effects **Screenshot album:** https://photos.app.goo.gl/8xiXqSABV7Rhad139 Firstly, join the Google Group to gain access: https://groups.google.com/g/octopi-launcher-alpha-testers Then, use this link to download the closed beta: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.otp.octopilauncher I'd love to hear your feedback below, and have a nice day!

I'm looking for an upgrade on my CDMA carrier in the US and it really seems like my only options are Samsung, Pixle, Motorola, or IOS. Am I missing something or do companies just not support this technology? I got excited about the zenphone 10, but it looks like it is GSM only.

I've been wanting to Curb my Doom Scrolling Habits as of Recent as I've been wasting waaaay to much time opening the Same Apps 5 Times in 10 Minutes. One Method thats been Said to Work wonders in that Regard is to have Apps only be accessible after typing in a Password. After doing a bit of Light research it seems I'll need an App for this as I don't wanna deal with Samsungs "Safe Folder" needing a Samsung Account stuff. Do any of you have Suggestions for Trust Worthy Apps for this?

Replacing Nokia 8.3 5G cuz it's broken

>In addition to Private Space, Android at I/O 2024 is really working to boost the mobile operating system’s theft, security, and privacy protections.

They really didn't have to redesign a text box. Please stop reinventing the wheel. I don't need another pop up in my life.

Alot of my friends use Snapchat for messaging but it's really annoying needing to laggily enable the camera every time the app opens. Anyone know a way to make it think it has the camera on but not actually or something? (if you just revoke the camera permission it stops you from using the app entirely)

TLDR: a select all button

Does anyone happen to know the reset network connections script or command that runs when I hit the network reset button? Or how I can achieve a similar result?

In November I'm visiting Dominican Republic for the first time. I want to take underwater photos & video. TIA.

I just connected to my home Wi-Fi and got the notification, "Google play has switched off your Wi-Fi." It hasn't done this before, but after a while it connected again with no complaints. First question: Why? Second question: How to prevent it from doing that again? I don't like it that "Snoople" can choose that my home Wi-Fi should not be used. They have no right to making that decision. **Network details.** I have pi-hole running as a DNS with a lot of block-lists active (haven't added a new one since 2021) All are up to date. Wi-Fi uses WPA3, and up to date.

What IRC client do you all recommend for Android? I'm looking for a non-paid option that will allow me to connect to a passworded host. Any suggestions?

> After previewing last October, Google Wallet will soon let supervised kids access NFC tap-to-pay on Android phones...

cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/22683886 > [Play Store 3D Pinball Space Cadet Download](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.itch.ksylvestre.spacecadet) > > From the article: > > If you grew up in the Windows XP era, than you probably spent hours playing its iconic free game, “3D Pinball Space Cadet.” Now, “Space Cadet” pinball has been ported to Android, and it’s completely free. > > One of the many things that Windows XP will be remembered for is the pinball game that essentially everyone who ever used the operating system played at some point or another. The game has been immortalized many times, and now it’s available on Android. > > Developer Kyle Sylvertre [used ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1kql66u/space_cadet_pinball/)a decompiled version of Space Cadet Pinball from [k4zmu2a on GitHub](https://github.com/k4zmu2a/SpaceCadetPinball) to bring the game to the Google Play Store for Android users. The game is optimized for touchscreens with the left and right sides of the display acting as the triggers, and you can also tap the far right side to use the ball launcher. The game runs in portrait mode, supports 18 languages, integrates with Google Play Games for a leaderboard, and is less than 5MB in size. > > And it’s all completely free too. > > There are no ads or in-app purchases here, as the developer “[just wanted](https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1kql66u/comment/mt7tkx0/?context=3%5C) to see it on Android with a Google Play leaderboard.” On that note, cheats are disabled to keep the integrity of that leaderboard, but the developer [hints ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/1kql66u/comment/mt6y8ar/?context=3%5C)that cheats might come back with an option to turn off the leaderboard. > > In any case, it’s a nice hit of nostalgia. Drop your high score in the comments below.

The image is from *GSM Arena*. The phone *Infinix* has only 45W charge capability yet it does slightly faster than two other phones with much faster charging rates(and same battery capacity). I know some phones throttle charging speeds but that is usually post 80% threshold. Why the discrepancy then?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21184378 >The longevity of Android updates has always been a problem, but one that’s been getting better with time. Google has, behind the scenes, introduced some big changes for Android manufacturers that will make it easier for more Android phones to offer support for up to 7 years, just like Pixel.

if I buy a pixel 7a within the next 5 days they'll add on top of the 20% off they already offered, a free pair of pixel a-series buds (retail price $100), so I'd get a 33% discount on both items. online reviews say it's compatible with every android device, but Im going to buy this model to delete the software and install either graphene or lineage, so, will these buds work with either OS?

I have a Razr flip phone that I often use folded halfway (laptop style) and watch videos on the top half while I do other things. Certain video apps center the content across both halves of the screen and I have to activate split screen and put a random app on the bottom half of the screen. Long story short, is there a way to split screen only 1 app to only the top half of the screen? I've tried to search for something but I'm coming up empty.

Hi all. I recently got a Pixel 8, and it's my first ever Android phone. I'm loving it so far and glad I switched over. One thing that's honestly driving me crazy though is the photo picker. On iPhone it was easy to pick a photo directly within the Messages or any other app, either a recent one, a favorites one, or one from an album, with just a few taps. When I use the photo picker from within the Messages (or other app) on my Pixel, though, it feels incredibly convoluted. First it pulls up a grid of 5-ish recent pictures, followed by rows and rows of seemingly random pictures from the past 20 years. To get to my favorites, for instance, I have to tap on the folder icon, then tap the three dots, tap browse, tap Photos, tap Photos again, then tap favorites. Is this really how it's supposed to work, or is there a setting I can change somewhere? I've double checked that Messages has permission to access all photos and videos. Thanks in advance for any help!

> Right now, some camera apps on Android aren't able to capture RAW photos, but that's set to change with a new version of the CameraX library.

cross-posted from: https://programming.dev/post/236194 > Title. Looks like a really interesting plugin, has anybody had any experience using it in production?

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/40722488 > Hey all, > I've been looking for an app to replace [Flatastic](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.flatastic.app) as it's a convenient way to track shared expenses, shopping lists, chores and notes. However, it has ads and basic features locked behind a SaaS model. Ideally such a replacement would be free and open source, but as long as it works and doesn't sell my data, I'd buy something for a few euros. Suggestions are appreciated!

I am greatly displeased at the smartphone industry. I think it's time for a heavy handed crackdown about all the spying they're doing. The smartphone industry and in particular the company qualcomm I find an intolerable company in their practice, I believe they should be smashed, their equiment liquidated and their intellectual property destroyed. The smartphone industry is a festering cancer on general computing, a persistent and pernicious assault on human rights. An invasion of our private spaces. A colonization of our lives. I think it is past the point of reform, not that there are any regulator with to intelligence figure out what is wrong let alone the wherewithal to do anything about. For those reasons, I think global thermonuclear war is our only realistic option for setting back the clock on this travesty. I am willing to hear your alternative, I don't believe anything short of that has a snowball's chance in hell to change anything about this.

Sandboxed Google services on grapheneOS. The mark of the beast. (Also, when do we do a google antitrust again?)

I am observing this on xperia 10 IV