Month: February 2021

Google has released the first developer preview of its latest mobile operating system, Android 12, on February 18. Check it out to get a glimpse of the upcoming software upgrade, which is scheduled for full release later this year.

Features added in this preview version

This build is not yet in its final form, and more features will be added in the spring and summer. The developer preview includes improved media transcoding, faster notifications, enhanced app testing, and improved security and privacy features.

Google has added media transcoding capabilities to Android 12 to support rich content. Apps that do not support HEVC, the next generation video compression standard, can now easily convert HEVC videos.

In addition, to improve the overall quality of image quality, the AV1 image file format (AVIF) has been introduced, which has a higher compression ratio and dramatically improves image quality compared to JPEG at the same file size. In addition, a new API has been added to allow apps to receive rich content from the clipboard and keyboard, making content easier to share.

Major improvements in notification-related features

One of the highlights of this year’s release is a major improvement in the user interface and functionality of notifications. Google wants to speed up the launch of apps from the notification shade and recommends developers to launch apps directly in Android 12 instead of relying on the “notification trampoline” when launching apps. Android 12 encourages developers to launch apps directly instead of relying on “notification trampolines” when launching apps.

In terms of app compatibility and stability, Google plans to expand support for Project Mainline to provide more tools to help developers optimize their apps for tablets, foldable devices, and Android TV. They are also working on a settings menu that can be switched for all types of debugging.

Finally, to better protect user privacy, Google is adding the ability to control the identifiers used for tracking, improved cookie behavior in WebView, and enhanced security for apps that export activity.

For more information, please visit Google’s Android 12 developer site here. The Android 12 preview is available for anyone with a Pixel smartphone (Pixel 3 or 5) to download and test, and can also be used with the Android Emulator in Android Studio. But please note that it’s not intended for the general public, but for developers and other power users!

As reported by MacRumors, Ming-Chi Kuo, a prominent Apple analyst, has predicted that the 2021 MacBook Pro will have an SD card slot and HDMI port. As reported by MacRumors, Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst who is familiar with Apple, has predicted that the MacBook Pro to be released in 2021 will also have an SD card slot and HDMI port.

　According to the article, Kuo expects the new MacBook Pro to be released in the second half of 2021. It has been rumored that the new MacBook Pro will come in two screen sizes, 14″ and 16″, that the “MagSafe” power cable for charging will make a comeback, and that the “Touch Bar” that has been on some MacBook Pro’s for several years will be removed. It was rumored that the “MagSafe” power cable for charging would return and that the Touch Bar, which has been on some MacBook Pro for several years, would be discontinued.

　There have been reports that some of the obsolete features are expected to return to the MacBook Pro. For example, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to bring back SD card slot and MagSafe charging to the laptop. There were also rumors that the new laptops would be powered by Apple’s own “M” series processors.

　These rumors suggest that Apple is trying to make its computers port-friendly again; the last time a MacBook with an HDMI port, MagSafe charging, and an SD card slot was announced was in 2015.

The last time a MacBook with an HDMI port, MagSafe charging, and an SD card slot was announced was in 2015. This article was originally published by Red Ventures and edited by Asahi Interactive for the Japanese market.

Samsung has launched its latest Galaxy S21 series of smartphones in the US and Europe. Under the slogan of “5G smartphones within reach,” the company has been working on reforming its flagship model, and as a result, it has decided to downgrade some of the specifications, which is a wise choice but also “uncharacteristic. What is the reason behind this?

Focus on sales expansion
Samsung wants to defend its position as the world’s top smartphone maker in terms of shipments, and in order to do so, the company seems to have made an unusually safe choice in terms of specifications. When I asked the person in charge about the January launch in the US and Europe, he replied that it was because the new coronavirus pandemic was expected to “expand the diversity of what consumers want in mobile products.

Impact of the lockdown
First of all, the price in the UK is £769 for the Galaxy S21 with a 6.2-inch display, £949 for the 6.7-inch Galaxy S21+, and £1,149 for the 6.8-inch Galaxy S21 Ultra. Compared to last year’s models and the iPhone 12 series, all of them are about 30-50 pounds cheaper. Note that there is no 4G option this time, all models are 5G smartphones.

The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21+ have a full HD screen resolution instead of WQHD to keep the price down. The Galaxy S21 Ultra uses a “Dynamic AMOLED 2X” display with HDR. maximum brightness of 1500 nits.

An obvious downgrade
Another important aspect of the display is the return to a flat display, a departure from the trademark edge display used in the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S20 series. This is not a downgrade, but rather a result of incorporating feedback from the Internet (Samsung users may already be familiar with curved glass, but some of you may have been surprised when you showed your friends your smartphone).

In contrast, the obvious downgrade is that it no longer supports microSD cards; the Galaxy S20 series was able to expand storage up to 1TB, but the Galaxy S21 series will have a maximum capacity of 512GB. A Samsung spokesperson explained to tech news site The Verge that the price of the model with more storage is not that different and users can also use cloud storage.

However, consumers generally prefer to have more choices. Therefore, it is possible that microSD expandable storage will make a comeback in the future, just like when Google eliminated the earphone jack on the Pixel smartphone.