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Tag: Android

  • These Are the Android Phones Worth Buying

    These Are the Android Phones Worth Buying

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    We test a ton of Android phones. We like the ones below, but you’ll be better off with one of the options above. If you haven’t yet done so, check out our Best Cheap Phones guide for more.

    Motorola Moto G Play 2024 for $150: On a tight budget? This Motorola phone doesn’t have NFC for contactless payments, nor does it support 5G. It’ll also only get one Android OS upgrade. That said, performance was pretty good in my time testing it, and the 6.5-inch LCD screen was readable in sunny conditions.

    Samsung Galaxy A35 5G for $400: There are better phones for $400, but if you can catch this on a steep sale, it’s a solid handset. The Galaxy A35 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) mostly suffers from mediocre performance. It’s OK, but you’ll notice the slowness and stuttery interface quite often. That just makes it annoying to use. There’s also no wireless charging, though this phone will get four Android OS upgrades and five years of security updates.

    Google Pixel 7A for $421: The Pixel 7A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) has a successor, but it’s still a great phone. Try to avoid paying more than $375 for this handset. Anything more and you may as well buy the newer Pixel 8A. Performance is great, the cameras are excellent, and the display is smooth and bright. There’s even wireless charging, and long software support (though not as long as the new Pixel 8A). Just know that battery life is so-so.

    Samsung Galaxy S23 FE for $600: I used this phone for several weeks and found it was more than enough to meet my needs. The cameras are surprisingly decent—you even get a usable 3X optical zoom, though its results are not as excellent as the ones from the Galaxy S23. The performance gave me zero issues, and the battery often lasted me a little more than a day with average use. The 6.4-inch screen is a pretty nice size that’s not too big and not too small, and you still get perks like wireless charging and a 120-Hz screen refresh rate. It has dipped as low as $400 during Black Friday, so I highly recommend you wait for a sale.

    Samsung Galaxy S23 Series ($700+): It seems like last year’s Galaxy S23 range (9/10, WIRED Recommends) may be disappearing faster than usual, as stock is low across a variety of retailers. If you can find them, the 6.1-inch Galaxy S23, the 6.6-inch S23+, and the massive 6.8-inch S23 Ultra are full of high-end features, from the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that keeps even the most demanding games running beautifully to the fluid and bright 120-Hz AMOLED displays. Battery life has improved across the board, with the S23 comfortably lasting more than a day and the S23 Ultra hitting nearly two full days with average use. The triple camera systems are the highlight, delivering remarkable results whether it’s day or night. The S23 Ultra has the special 10X optical zoom camera, which is no longer available on the latest S24 Ultra, and I miss it. It was nice being able to capture sharp photos of objects far away. It’s the only phone in the trio with the embedded S Pen stylus if you like to doodle. Try to avoid the MSRP since they’re a year old; sometimes, these prices match the latest models, which is a bad deal.

    OnePlus Open for $1,400: The OnePlus Open (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the first folding smartphone from OnePlus, and it’s surprisingly good. OnePlus has some clever software trickery to make multitasking on this booklike foldable simple and effective. The camera system delivers good results, the screens get plenty bright, and the battery life is excellent. I just wish the water resistance was better and that it had wireless charging.

    Google Pixel 6A for $349: Google’s continuing to sell the 2022 Pixel 6A (8/10, WIRED Recommends) at a marked-down price. It’s still excellent value and a worthy purchase. It’s powered by Google’s first-gen Tensor chip, which means you’re getting some of the best performance for the money, and it supports all the same great (and helpful) software smarts as the flagship Pixel 6 series. It’s got an OLED screen, a decent camera system, and lengthy software support. There’s no wireless charging and it has a 60-Hz screen.

    Xiaomi Poco X6 for £319 and X6 Pro for £369: Not in the US? You should take a look at the Poxo X6 or Poco X6 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends). These are speedy phones considering the low prices, with great displays, and decent battery life, plus the X6 even has a headphone jack! It’s a shame there’s a lot of bloatware, limited water resistance, and the cameras are lackluster.

    Google Pixel 7 Pro for $449: The 2022 Pixel 7 Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a good buy if you can find it at this price (or lower). You get a 6.7-inch screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate. There’s Face Unlock, but this isn’t secure like the version on the Pixel 8, so you’ll have to rely on the fingerprint sensor to access sensitive apps. Cameras are a big part of Pixels, and the Pixel 7 Pro remains one of the best with an upgraded ultrawide with autofocus, enabling a Macro Focus mode for close-ups. Its telephoto camera has an excellent 5X optical zoom too.

    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 for $1,800: The Fold5 (7/10, WIRED Recommends) remains an excellent big-screen folding smartphone. The cameras can take some great photos, the displays can get shockingly bright, and Samsung promises lengthy software support. But the introduction of the Pixel Fold has shown me how much more I prefer the wider front screen. The Fold5’s external screen feels too narrow, and some apps feel squished (though it’s a little easier to grasp when closed). It’s frequently available for $1,499 so try not to pay more.

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • You can now hum to find a song on YouTube Music for Android

    You can now hum to find a song on YouTube Music for Android

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    YouTube Music for Android is finally releasing a long-awaited tool that lets people hum a song to search for it, in addition to singing the tune or playing the melody on an instrument, according to reporting by 9to5Google. The software has been in the testing phase since March.

    All you have to do is tap the magnifying glass in the top-right corner and look for the waveform icon next to the microphone icon. Tap the waveform icon and start humming or singing. A fullscreen results page should quickly bring up the cover art, song name, artist, album, release year and other important data about the song. The software builds upon the Pixel’s Now Playing feature, which uses AI to “match the sound to the original recording.”

    The tool comes in a server-side update with version 7.02 of YouTube Music for Android. There doesn’t look to be any availability information for the iOS release, though it’s most likely headed our way in the near future.

    This type of feature isn’t exactly new, even if it’s new to YouTube Music. Google Search rolled out a similar tool back in 2020 and the regular YouTube app began offering something like this last year. Online music streaming platform Deezer also has a “hum to search” tool, released back in 2022.

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    Lawrence Bonk

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  • Judge Hints at Plans to Rein In Google’s Illegal Play Store Monopoly

    Judge Hints at Plans to Rein In Google’s Illegal Play Store Monopoly

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    A jury in December found that Google broke US antitrust laws through deals and billing rules that gave an unfair boost to its Google Play app store. On Thursday, a judge began laying out how Google could be forced to change its business as a penalty. The remedies under consideration could drive the most consequential shakeup ever to Google’s dominance over the Android universe.

    Fortnite video game developer Epic Games, which beat Google in the trial that saw a jury declare the Play store an illegal monopoly, is demanding that federal judge James Donato ban Google from contracts that deter competition. Epic also wants Google to be forced to help competing stores list more apps, giving them a competitive boost. The changes could enable Epic to realize its long-held plan to increase revenue by processing in-game purchases in Fortnite and other titles without using Google’s payment system, and marketing games via its own app store.

    Google contends that Epic’s demands would threaten its users’ security and impair the businesses of partners, including Android device makers and app developers. The search company is appealing the jury’s verdict, which could delay the rollout of any penalties for many years—or void them altogether. But Google over the past few years already has had to make some costly changes in Europe and Asia due to court losses and new laws affecting the Play store, and a trial with Epic is currently underway in Australia.

    “I want to be clear: Google as an illegal monopolist will have to pay some penalties,” Donato told Epic and Google at a hearing in San Francisco on Thursday. He explained that Google’s loss requires him to pry open the company’s grip on the Android ecosystem in a way that ends Google’s illegal monopoly and also removes its ill-gotten gains from years of unfair dominance.

    That would mean major changes for the industry that has built up around Google’s Android operating system—and potentially more choices for consumers. It could require Google investing cash into new projects to make things right, Donato said.

    Donato expressed frustration with Google’s claims that any changes would be bad for consumers and other businesses. “To jump up and down and say the new way is going to be a world no one wants to live in, it’s unfounded,” he said. But he also spent hours in the hearing quizzing two economists, one appearing on behalf of each company, about how to craft penalties for Google without being unreasonable.

    Among Epic’s requests is that Google be barred from striking deals that prevent or discourage companies from working with alternatives to its app store. In the past the company has required hardware companies that want to offer Google Play on their devices to agree not to work with or promote alternative app stores. That prevented most consumers from ever seeing other app stores, since most device makers want to offer Google’s app store, because it is the largest.

    Rival app stores such as those from Amazon and Samsung also have struggled to persuade developers to list their apps outside of Google Play, because maintaining apps in multiple stores takes extra work. To even the playing field, Epic proposes that Google be required for six years to provide rival stores a way to list apps that are hosted on Google Play. That would allow people to browse alternative stores without feeling they are missing out on popular apps, giving the store a better chance of success in the long term.

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    Paresh Dave

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  • ‘Monster Hunter Now’ Major Version 76.2 Update Adds Driftsmelting for Random Armor Skills – TouchArcade

    ‘Monster Hunter Now’ Major Version 76.2 Update Adds Driftsmelting for Random Armor Skills – TouchArcade

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    Niantic and Capcom have just pushed out a new major feature update for Monster Hunter Now (Free) with version 76.2. This update brings in the Driftsmelting feature. Driftsmelting lets you add skills at random to your armor, upgrading it more than before. A new Driftsmelting menu is now in-game. This feature also encourages walking as the process is only completed after walking for a bit. An Insta-Smelt option will also be available. Driftsmelting adds one skill at random with a total of 10 skills that can be added to a single piece of armor. To Driftsmelt, you need Driftstones which are drops from slaying large monsters after you’ve unlocked Driftsmelting in-game. Driftstones are eligible for double rewards via Special Carving Knives as well. The parameters you can add include Attack, Defense, and Affinity. Check out the image below for all the Monster Hunter Now Driftstone drops and monsters needed:

    If you’ve not played Monster Hunter Now recently or are planning to just start playing, I put together tips and tricks for the game, details on the weapons, special skills, the current monsters list, my wishlist for future update monsters, and more. You can grab Monster Hunter Now on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The in app purchases include different sets of gems and upgrades. Check out the official website here. What do you think of Monster Hunter Now if you’ve been playing it and what do you think of Driftsmelting if you’ve used it?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • Which Google Pixel Phone Should You Buy?

    Which Google Pixel Phone Should You Buy?

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    Unless you can find the Pixel 6 series for $300 or less, you’re better off buying one of the newer phones we recommend above. Any older Pixel is not worth buying anymore. (The Pixel 5’s support window ended.) You can still find some of them at various retailers, but unless they’re practically free, stick with any of the models above.

    The Best Pixel Cases and Accessories

    Pixel 8A case

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    This silicone case lets you match your Pixel phone’s color. It’s durable, nice to touch, and there are raised edges on the front to protect the screen. It’s made with recycled plastics. and while the older cases attract lint and dust easily, the revamped Pixel 8A case does a better job of resisting them. I also like that the charging port is a bit more open, as it makes it easier to swipe up from the screen.

    Totallee is known for its uber-thin cases, and the one I tried for the Pixel 8 almost feels like you have nothing on the phone. It won’t protect the phone from anything other than everyday scratches. I suggest you go for the clear case instead. It offers up clicky buttons and raised lips around the edges of the screen. Plus, the color of the Pixel phone shines through quite well.

    This is hands-down the best case if you frequently attach your Pixel to the handlebar of a bike or an electric scooter. Peak Design’s mounting system lets you magnetically affix the phone to its Universal Bike Mount ($50), and it stays put. After nearly a year of testing, I’ve yet to have a phone fall off my ride using this mounting system. It makes use of Apple’s MagSafe system, so it works with plenty of MagSafe accessories, even wireless chargers. The company also has several other magnetic accessories, like a car vent mount. The case itself is nice; I just wish the edges were raised a bit more for better screen protection. It comes in more colors than ever before.

    This is one of the best clear cases you’ll find for the Pixel, especially at this price. The buttons are clicky, the Pixel’s color comes through clearly, and the rear doesn’t feel too sticky like some other clear cases. Totallee’s clear case offers a bit more protection, but it’s nearly double the price.

    Caseology Snap Fit Screen Protector for Samsung Galaxy

    Caseology Tempered Glass Screen Protector

    Photograph: Caseology

    Pixel phones don’t have a great track record with screen durability—they scratch easily. We first tested this protector for the Pixel 5A, and it held up well. Installation is easy, and it includes a squeegee to get rid of air bubbles. You get two screen protectors for the price (some only include one, check the product page), plus a microfiber cloth, a wipe, and dust-removal stickers. Spigen’s screen protector for the Pixel 8A is very similar in what you get and the application process, and it’s just as affordable.

    This screen protector was really simple to apply and barely gave me any air bubbles. You only get one protector, but there’s an alcohol wipe to clean the screen beforehand, a microfiber cloth, an application tool, and a squeegee. The problem? It’s not tempered glass, but rather a mix of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a cheaper material that’s typically not as impact-resistant.

    You get only one screen protector here, and it’s expensive. Zagg claims that the protector is five times as strong as traditional screen protectors, and I haven’t seen many scuffs on the Pixels I’ve applied it on, but take this with a grain of salt. It’s straightforward to apply with the included application tool, but Zagg doesn’t include a squeegee, so you’ll have to use your fingers to push the air bubbles out. It comes with a dust sticker, a wet wipe, and a microfiber cloth. For the Pixel Fold, the screen protector is only for the external display.

    This is another pricey protector from Zagg that’s easy to apply. It’s noticeably thicker than any other screen protector in this guide, so if you’re frequently dropping your phone, it might be worth shelling out for this kind of screen protection. You get a wet wipe, microfiber, and dust-removal stickers, plus an application tool to easily put the protector in place.

    Google Pixel Wireless Charging Stand Gen 2

    Google Pixel Stand (Gen 2)

    Photograph: Google

    Wireless charging is available on all the Pixel phones mentioned in this guide. Google’s very own Pixel Stand is one of the best wireless chargers around because it’s simple. The base doesn’t slide around, the phone stays put, and it enables some fun features, like the ability to turn the screen into a digital photo frame and quick access to Google Assistant. It’s made of 39 percent recycled materials, with mostly eco-friendly packaging too. Our Best Wireless Chargers guide has more options, including the original and cheaper Pixel Stand.

    This charging adapter is all you need to recharge your Pixel, whichever model you have. The newest high-end Pixel phones don’t come with chargers in the box, so if you don’t have any spare USB-C chargers, it’s worth picking one up. This one’s prongs fold up, so it’s great for travel too.

    These cases are pricey, but they have raised lips and offer decent protection around the edges. The buttons are clicky, and you can choose from a few design options for the rear, including walnut, leather, bamboo, silver pearl, and aramid fiber. (I love the walnut.) What makes this case special is that it supports MagSafe—yes, Apple’s magnetic system for accessories. I’ve used the Mous Limitless 5.0 successfully with a few MagSafe accessories, like a Belkin wireless charger.

    This is a two-shell case—there’s a silicone soft interior and a hard shell exterior. The buttons are a tiny bit hard to press but not terribly so. There’s a slight bump for the camera module, and the edges are slightly raised around the screen. I don’t think it’s quite worth $50, but what might make it worth it is the sheer number of designs you can choose from.

    Spigen Liquid Air case for Google Pixel

    Spigen Liquid Air Case

    Photograph: Spigen

    It’s slim, has a nice texture, retains clicky buttons, and has accurate cutouts for the ports and speakers. What’s not to love? Well, it’s a bit dull, squashing the unique design of the Pixel, but I still think this case is one of the more attractive in Spigen’s lineup. The edges aren’t raised drastically, so don’t expect much screen protection. The Thin Fit case is even more dull, but it does the job.

    Want a kickstand to prop your Pixel up? This Spigen case has a built-in stand that does the trick, though it unfortunately only works in landscape mode—not great for hands-free TikTok. Its thick bumper offers nice protection around the edges, though there’s not much of a lip sticking out, so you’ll still want to pair it with a screen protector.

    I have used Pixel Fold cases from OtterBox and Speck, but the one I keep coming back to is the official case from Google. The soft silicone is much nicer than the hard plastic on the others, and it doesn’t add too much bulk. It’s two separate pieces, and there’s a dip on the side so you can access the buttons and fingerprint sensor.

    Casetify phone case on a Google Pixel Fold smartphone

    Casetify Impact Case

    Photograph: Casetify

    Casetify is where you’ll want to go if you want your Pixel phone to stand out even more. There are zillions of designs to choose from, and the Impact cases have rigid bumpers, grippy sides, and responsive buttons. The edges around the screen are decently raised too.

    I only tested the Grip case with the Pixel 7 Pro, but it had clicky buttons and incredibly grippy edges (hence the name). I don’t think I’ve ever felt a grippier case. It feels robust yet fairly slim. You can choose a snazzy design, but you’ll have to apply this “skin” yourself on the back of the case. There’s a lot of room for error here so be careful, and watch Dbrand’s installation video for tips. The Pixel 8 series version of this case adds MagSafe support, so you can use your Pixel with MagSafe accessories, but I have not tested it yet.

    The Denali case for the Pixel 8 series has graphene embedded inside, which Zagg claims improves durability. I found graphene to do a better job of spreading heat during demanding tasks, so if you’re frequently pushing your Pixel to the limit, then this might be a good case to try, even if it is a bit boring in the design department. For the older Denali case models, the D30 material (best known for its use in motorcycle gear) hardens on impact for better drop protection. The camera bar has raised edges all around it, and the buttons are clicky, but edge protection is a little lackluster on the front.

    OtterBox Defender Series Case on the Google Pixel 7

    OtterBox Defender Pro

    Photograph: Amazon

    It takes some effort to install this case on the Pixel, but once you do, it’s arguably the most protection you’ll find. There’s an inner two-piece polycarbonate shell that snaps over and under the Pixel, and then a thick synthetic rubber slipcover goes over for extreme durability. The buttons are surprisingly clicky, though the whole phone will be thicker, wider, and heavier. It’s made of more than 50 percent recycled plastic, and there’s a holster you can pop it in to carry your Pixel with pride on your belt. (The holster can double as a kickstand.)

    This is another nice clear case for the Pixel series. I like the textured power button, which makes it easy to find when you’re not looking, and there are spots on the case to attach a lanyard (not included). It’s not as smudge-resistant as Ringke claims, but it’s easy to clean.

    These are adorable cases with a few designs to choose from. I’ve usually only tried Cyrill’s Ultracolor cases (available for a variety of Pixels), and they’re solid. The new styles are fun, with clicky buttons, accurate cutouts, and extra protection around the corners. Every case comes with a wrist lanyard so you can keep your Pixel at arm’s reach all the time.

    Our Favorite Pixel Software Features

    Google Pixel 6

    Wait Times.

    Video: Google

    There are some key features on Pixels that you won’t find on any other Android phone. Some of these are only available on select Pixels—those powered by Google’s Tensor chips are more capable. Here’s a quick breakdown:

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • The 15 Top New Android 15 Features

    The 15 Top New Android 15 Features

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    The next version of Google’s mobile operating system—Android 15—is on the horizon, with a host of new features and improvements. Google promises productivity enhancements, better privacy and security, and smoother performance. There are also upgrades for foldable and larger-screen devices. Android 15 is only available as a beta for select devices right now, with the final release a few months away. But we have been trying it out, and these are our favorite new features so far.

    Google officially dropped the dessert naming back with Android 10, but it still uses codenames internally. Android 14 was Upside Down Cake, and this year’s release is Vanilla Ice Cream.

    Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com, full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

    How to Download and Install Android 15

    Google released the first beta of Android 15 in April, with further releases planned for May, June, and July, ahead of the final public rollout, likely in August or October. These releases enable developers to test the forthcoming version of Google’s mobile operating system, learn about the new features, and prepare their apps or games to work properly. They also give early adopters the chance to get a sneak peek at Android 15.

    While the beta releases are more stable than developer previews, you may still encounter some bugs, and you need to jump through a few hoops to install them, so it’s not recommended for everyone. If you are keen to try it, you will need a Google Pixel phone (Pixel 6 or later) or a supported partner device (including select phones from Honor, Nothing, OnePlus, and Xiaomi). You have to sign up for the Android Beta Program. Most folks who sign up for the program will get the beta updates OTA (over-the-air) without wiping their phones, but you won’t be able to quit the beta program without a factory reset. Make sure to back up your Android phone first.

    Updates usually pop up automatically, but you can always check whether you have the latest version in Settings > System > System update by tapping Check for update. Want to get off the beta and go back to Android 14? Go to Google’s Android Beta page, scroll down to find your device, and hit Opt out. This will wipe all locally saved data, so back up your device first. You’ll get an update prompt to go back to the older version.

    Folks without a Pixel or supported partner device should watch their phone manufacturer’s website, forums, or social media to learn when to expect Android 15.

    Top New Android 15 Features

    These are our favorite features and improvements so far, but we won’t know for sure what will make the final cut until Android 15 is released. You can learn more at Google’s developer site. And be sure to read our story on all the new features coming to Android and the Android ecosystem—including Wear OS, Android Auto, and Android TV—in this story here.

    Private Space

    Courtesy of Google

    Android 15 includes a new Private Space where you can keep sensitive apps separate from the rest of your phone. Whether you want to safeguard health data or your banking apps, Private Space keeps them safely behind a second layer of authentication, protected with the same password you use to unlock your device or an alternative PIN. When your Private Space is locked, apps are hidden from the recents view, notifications, settings, and other apps. You can wipe your private space completely too.

    More Satellite Connectivity

    Courtesy of Google

    There’s a significant expansion for satellite connectivity in Android 15. Some RCS and SMS apps should now be able to send text messages via satellite (it was previously limited to emergency use). Google has also standardized the pop-ups and other user interface elements to make it clearer when you are connected via satellite.

    Partial Screen Recording

    Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone and Text

    Courtesy of Google

    Instead of recording or sharing your entire screen, in Android 15, you can share an individual app without revealing the rest of your screen or incoming notifications. Logins and one-time passwords (OTPs) are automatically hidden from remote viewers. This is already available on Pixels, but now Google has baked it into Android.

    Malicious App Blocking

    Several updates in Android 15 make life tougher for malicious apps. They can no longer hide behind other apps by bringing them to the foreground or overlay themselves invisibly on top. There are also changes designed to prevent the exploitation of intents, which let you start an activity in another app by describing an action you’d like to perform, as they are often misused by malware. This is behind-the-scenes stuff to keep users safer.

    App Archiving

    Image may contain Person Text Face and Head

    Courtesy of Google

    If you haven’t used an app or game for a while, you may be prompted to delete it, but what if you think you might use it again in the future? With app archiving in Android 15, you can offload most of the app by archiving it but keep your user settings or save data in games. The auto-archiving feature was announced last year, but Android 15 makes it a systemwide option, so folks can choose to auto-archive apps when storage is running low.

    Better PDF Handling

    Image may contain Electronics Mobile Phone Phone and Text

    Courtesy of Google

    Trying to do anything with PDF files on your Android phone can be a pain, so the news that Google has built several PDF enhancements into Android 15 is welcome. PDFs should load more smoothly, and there is now support for password-protected files, annotations, form editing, and copy selection. Perhaps best of all, you can now search within PDF files.

    Enhanced Fraud and Scam Protection

    Image may contain Electronics Phone Mobile Phone and Text

    Courtesy of Google

    There are several updates in Android 15 aimed squarely at thwarting fraudsters and scammers. Google will employ AI through Play Protect and on devices to scan for and flag suspicious behavior. Messages containing one-time passwords (OTPs), typically used in two-factor authentication, are now hidden from the notifications system, making it harder to intercept them. Restricted settings are also being expanded for side-loaded apps—ones that aren’t downloaded through the Google Play Store.

    Loudness Control

    It can be jarring when you switch from one app to another and the volume suddenly booms. Thankfully, Android 15 introduces support for the CTA-2075 loudness standard. That means it will compare volume between apps, take into account the characteristics of your speakers, headphones, or earbuds, and intelligently adjust the audio to ensure no sudden jumps or drops.

    Better Low-Light Camera

    There are a couple of significant improvements for the camera app in Android 15. Firstly, Low Light Boost makes for better previews in low-light conditions, so you can frame your nighttime shots better and scan QR codes when light is limited. There are also new camera app options to give you finer control over the flash so you can adjust the intensity for both single flashes and continuous flashlight mode.

    Taskbar Options

    For Android tablets and folding phones, Google has changed the way the taskbar dock works. Initially, it was permanent, then it was transient, and now you can choose. This is handy for docked tablets where you might want a taskbar to always display, but it’s also nice to have the option to hide it. You can also pin your favorite split-screen app combinations. Android 15 allows apps to display edge-to-edge, so they can make more of the available screen real estate, even if there’s a taskbar or system bar at the bottom.

    Better Battery Life

    There are always tweaks and improvements to efficiency in Android updates that should have a positive impact on battery life, but with Android 15, Google is placing more checks on foreground services and clamping down on apps that keep running in an active state. Devices with a lot of RAM should also see faster app and camera launch times with lower power draw, thanks to support for larger page sizes.

    Good Vibrations

    Android 15 enables you to turn keyboard vibrations on or off systemwide, instead of having to dig into the keyboard settings. There’s a new toggle in Settings > Sound and vibration > Vibration and haptics, where you can also use sliders to adjust haptic intensity (this is something that’s been available on select Android phones, but is now systemwide). The second beta also introduces rich vibrations, so folks can determine between different types of notifications without looking at the screen.

    More Foldable Cover Screen Options

    Some of the best folding phones automatically switch whatever action you’re performing onto the cover screen when you fold them up, but Google is now integrating that choice into Android 15. If you prefer the cover screen to lock up when you fold, that will be an option too. There’s also more support for apps displaying on smaller cover screens with the more compact flip phone category.

    More Health Connect Data

    Health Connect started as an app to pull together all your health and fitness data from different devices and apps. It came preinstalled with Android 14, but Android 15 is adding two new data types: skin temperature (collected by wearables like the Oura ring and the Pixel Watch 2) as well as training plans—which can include completion goals for calories burned, distance, duration, repetition, and steps, but also performance goals around as many repetitions as possible (AMRAP), cadence, heart rate, power, perceived rate of exertion, and speed.

    Enhanced Theft Protection

    15 Top New Android 15 Features How to Install Features Release Date

    Courtesy of Google

    Many of the new Android safeguards that Google is rolling out to deter thieves—such as automatic locking when someone snatches your phone, as well as remote lock options—will be coming to devices running Android 10 and up. But the update to factory reset protection, which stops thieves who force a reset of a stolen device from setting it up again without knowing your device or Google account credentials, is only in Android 15.

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    Simon Hill

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  • Everything Google Announced at I/O 2024

    Everything Google Announced at I/O 2024

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    Google also showed off its new DJ Mode in MusicFX, an AI music generator that lets musicians generate song loops and samples based on prompts. (DJ mode was shown off during the eccentric and delightful performance by musician Mark Rebillet that led into the I/O keynote.)

    An Evolution in Search

    From its humble beginning as a search-focused company, Google is still the most prominent player in the search industry (despite some very good, slightly more private options). Google’s newest AI updates are a seismic shift for its core product.

    New contextual awareness abilities help Google Search deliver more relevant results.

    Courtesy of Google

    Some new capabilities include AI-organized search, which allows for more tightly presented and readable search results, as well as the ability to get better responses from longer queries and searches with photos.

    We also saw AI overviews, which are short summaries that pool information from multiple sources to answer the question you entered in the search box. These summaries appear at the top of the results so you don’t even need to go to a website to get the answers you’re seeking. These overviews are already controversial, with publishers and websites fearing that a Google search that answers questions without the user needing to click any links may spell doom for sites that already have to go to extreme lengths to show up in Google’s search results in the first place. Nonetheless, these newly enhanced AI overviews are rolling out to everyone in the US starting today.

    A new feature called Multi-Step Reasoning lets you find several layers of information about a topic when you’re searching for things with some contextual depth. Google used planning a trip as an example, showing how searching in Maps can help find hotels and set transit itineraries. It then went on to suggest restaurants and help with meal planning for the trip. You can deepen the search by looking for specific types of cuisine or vegetarian options. All of this info is presented to you in an organized way.

    Advanced visual search in Lens.

    Courtesy of Google

    Lastly, we saw a quick demo of how users can rely on Google Lens to answer questions about whatever they’re pointing their camera at. (Yes, this sounds similar to what Project Astra does, but these capabilities are being built into Lens in a slightly different way.) The demo showed a woman trying to get a “broken” turntable to work, but Google identified that the record player’s tonearm simply needed adjusting, and it presented her with a few options for video- and text-based instructions on how to do just that. It even properly identified the make and model of the turntable through the camera.

    WIRED’s Lauren Goode talked with Google head of search Liz Reid about all the AI updates coming to Google Search, and what it means for the internet as a whole.

    Security and Safety

    Scam Detection in action.

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    One of the last noteworthy things we saw in the keynote was a new scam detection feature for Android, which can listen in on your phone calls and detect any language that sounds like something a scammer would use, like asking you to move money into a different account. If it hears you getting duped, it’ll interrupt the call and give you an onscreen prompt suggesting that you hang up. Google says the feature works on the device, so your phone calls don’t go into the cloud for analysis, making the feature more private. (Also check out WIRED’s guide to protecting yourself and your loved ones from AI scam calls.)

    Google has also expanded its SynthID watermarking tool meant to distinguish media made with AI. This can help you detect misinformation, deepfakes, or phishing spam. The tool leaves an imperceptible watermark that can’t be seen with the naked eye, but can be detected by software that analyzes the pixel-level data in an image. The new updates have expanded the feature to scan content on the Gemini app, on the web, and in Veo-generated videos. Google says it plans to release SynthID as an open source tool later this summer.

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    Boone Ashworth

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  • With Gemini on Android, Google Points to Mobile Computing’s Future—and Past

    With Gemini on Android, Google Points to Mobile Computing’s Future—and Past

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    Nearly a decade ago, Google showed off a feature called Now on Tap in Android Marshmallow—tap and hold the home button and Google will surface helpful contextual information related to what’s on the screen. Talking about a movie with a friend over text? Now on Tap could get you details about the title without having to leave the messaging app. Looking at a restaurant in Yelp? The phone could surface OpenTable recommendations with just a tap.

    I was fresh out of college, and these improvements felt exciting and magical—its ability to understand what was on the screen and predict the actions you might want to take felt future-facing. It was one of my favorite Android features. It slowly morphed into Google Assistant, which was great in its own right, but not quite the same.

    Today, at Google’s I/O developer conference in Mountain View, California, the new features Google is touting in its Android operating system feel like the Now on Tap of old—allowing you to harness contextual information around you to make using your phone a bit easier. Except this time, these features are powered by a decade’s worth of advancements in large language models.

    “I think what’s exciting is we now have the technology to build really exciting assistants,” Dave Burke, vice president of engineering on Android, tells me over a Google Meet video call. “We need to be able to have a computer system that understands what it sees and I don’t think we had the technology back then to do it well. Now we do.”

    I got a chance to speak with Burke and Sameer Samat, president of the Android ecosystem at Google, about what’s new in the world of Android, the company’s new AI assistant Gemini, and what it all holds for the future of the OS. Samat referred to these updates as a “once-in-a-generational opportunity to reimagine what the phone can do, and to rethink all of Android.”

    Circle to Search … Your Homework

    The upgraded Circle to Search in action.

    Courtesy of Google

    It starts with Circle to Search, which is Google’s new way of approaching Search on mobile. Much like the experience of Now on Tap, Circle to Search—which the company debuted a few months ago—is more interactive than just typing into a search box. (You literally circle what you want to search on the screen.) Burke says, “It’s a very visceral, fun, and modern way to search … It skews younger as well because it’s so fun to use.”

    Samat claims Google has received positive feedback from consumers, but Circle to Search’s latest feature hails specifically from student feedback. Circle to Search can now be used on physics and math problems when a user circles them—Google will spit out step-by-step instructions on completing the problems without the user leaving the syllabus app.

    Samat made it clear Gemini wasn’t just providing answers but was showing students how to solve the problems. Later this year, Circle to Search will be able to solve more complex problems like diagrams and graphs. This is all powered by Google’s LearnLM models, which are fine-tuned for education.

    Gemini Gets More Contextual on Android

    Gemini is Google’s AI assistant that is in many ways eclipsing Google Assistant. Really—when you fire up Google Assistant on most Android phones these days, there’s an option to replace it with Gemini instead. So naturally, I asked Burke and Samat whether this meant Assistant was heading to the Google Graveyard.

    “The way to look at it is that Gemini is an opt-in experience on the phone,” Samat says. “I think obviously over time Gemini is becoming more advanced and is evolving. We don’t have anything to announce today, but there is a choice for consumers if they want to opt into this new AI-powered assistant. They can try it out and we are seeing that people are doing that and we’re getting a lot of great feedback.”

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    Julian Chokkattu

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  • Comedy RPG ‘Athenian Rhapsody’ From Solo Developer Nico Papalia and Top Hat Studios Is Out Now on iOS, Other Platforms Later Today – TouchArcade

    Comedy RPG ‘Athenian Rhapsody’ From Solo Developer Nico Papalia and Top Hat Studios Is Out Now on iOS, Other Platforms Later Today – TouchArcade

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    Top Hat Studios’ recently announced comedy RPG from developer Nico Papalia Athenian Rhapsody has launched worldwide on iOS ahead of it hitting Android, PC, and consoles later today. If you’ve not kept up with it, Athenian Rhapsody is inspired by games like Earthbound and Undertale, it seems great based on the little I played today on iPhone. Athenian Rhapsody will be priced at $14.99 on PC and consoles, but the iOS version is a free to start game with a $7.99 single in app purchase to unlock the full game. I’m still curious to see what the “souls-like platonic dating simulator with Cooking Mama and WarioWare style battle mechanics” that is also a “choose-your-own-adventure action RPG with the ability to trade ENTIRE PLAYTHROUGHS between friends” aspects of the game end up being. Watch the Athenian Rhapsody gameplay trailer below:

    As revealed before, Athenian Rhapsody will let you share your own “Rhapsody” as an individualized story with other players. It features 16 potential unique companions, mini-games, different endings, and more in its base game. Aside from iOS, Athenian Rhapsody will also hit Android, PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms including Steam later today when it rolls out worldwide. If you’d like to try it on iOS, you can grab Athenian Rhapsody here on the App Store for iOS. You can wishlist and check out Athenian Rhapsody on Steam here, Switch here, PlayStation here, and Xbox here ahead of its launch later today. It isn’t up on Google Play yet. Will you be trying Athenian Rhapsody today on mobile or any other platform?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • The Beats Solo 4 Skip Extra Features in Favor of Great Sound

    The Beats Solo 4 Skip Extra Features in Favor of Great Sound

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    There’s not much to the new Beats Solo 4 headphones at first glance. Starkly missing in this $200 package is any form of noise canceling or transparency mode. There’s no auto pause feature or water-resistance rating—something you might expect from headphones shown as jogging companions in marketing videos.

    Beats seems proud of the Solo 4’s stark minimalism, pointing instead to their slimline design, upgraded sound, and versatile core features. Highlights include up to 50 hours of playback per charge, the ability to plug in with either 3.5-mm or USB-C for lossless audio, and most convenient, in-house features for both Android and Apple phones like one-touch pairing and a headphones tracker.

    I was admittedly dismissive of the Solo 4 for their lack of firepower at first, but over multiple days of testing, the sound kept calling me back. Their warm, clean, and buttery performance stems from a redesigned acoustic architecture that proves Apple’s sonic influence on the Beats brand runs deep. You can get a lot more tech from other options, but there’s enough here to make the Solo 4 worth considering for some—especially once the price inevitably drops.

    Slick and Simple

    The Solo 4’s aesthetic hasn’t strayed far from its roots. You’ll get all the trappings of a modern Beats device here, like matte plastic casing in flamboyant colors and the signature Beats logo on each earcup. The headphones fold down for travel, fitting into a nifty compact case with pockets inside for the included 3.5-mm and USB-C cables.

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    On-ear headphones like the Solo 4 are a rarity these days, and I generally find over-ear headphones more comfortable since they press against your head, not your ears. The Solo 4’s clamping force can cause some discomfort over time, but I was able to wear them for multiple hours without major complaints, and had no trouble throwing on some sunglasses.

    The firm grip keeps the headphones in place and provides some solid passive noise isolation—a good thing considering the Solo 4 eschew any form of ambient audio. It’s undeniably odd in 2024 for such sporty-looking headphones to forgo transparency mode so you can hear the world around you when working out. A good water-resistance rating, something most flagship headphones don’t offer, would have been a nice inclusion in its place.

    I do like the Solo 4’s simplified control system, offering intuitive volume and playback keys centered around the left-side Beats logo. Like the Studio Pro, the plastic key feels a bit clanky, but it’s less of a concern at this price. The Solo 4’s other major omission that vexed me over multiple days is the lack of auto pause sensors or auto power-down. Once again, it’s not a huge deal given the massive 50-hour battery life, but it’s something I’d expect at this level.

    Either/Or

    That’s not to say the Solo 4 are without advanced features. They offer an intriguing double dip of tricks for both Android and Apple devices courtesy of the Beats Proprietary Platform. The system, which also drives the Studio Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) and many of the latest Beats earbuds, allows for convenient one-touch pairing and Find My features for either device type, while catering to each in a few key ways.

    Android-friendly features include auto pairing and audio switching between Google-connected tablets and phones, as well as a Beats app for some basic customization and firmware updates. On the Apple side, you’ll get “Hey Siri” hands-free voice control, basic in-phone customization options, message playback, and audio sharing. They’ll also auto handoff to your Apple Eatch, but don’t allow for automatic switching between iCloud devices like AirPods.

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    Ryan Waniata

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  • What to Expect at Google I/O 2024, and How to Watch It

    What to Expect at Google I/O 2024, and How to Watch It

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    The chirping of birds, the buzzing of bugs, the soft patter of Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s shoes as he bounds across the stage. The sounds of spring are here, so you know what that means: Google I/O is blooming.

    Hot on the heels of Apple’s iPad launch event last week, Google is going all out for its I/O developer conference on Tuesday, May 14. The event is taking place at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, just down the road from Google’s headquarters. The keynote starts at 10 am PDT on Tuesday, and as usual, it will be livestreamed. Expect to hear and see updates about Android 15, Google search, the already announced Pixel 8A budget phone, and just an absolute torrent of news about the tech topic of the decade: artificial intelligence.

    AI All the Way Down

    While Google’s Gemini AI platform has experienced some growing pains, the company is still eager to put its generative AI offerings into any and all of its services: search, its photo and video tools, and its workspace suite of tools like Gmail and Google Docs. Google has also been slowly infusing AI features into its Google Assistant, so it will be interesting to see whether those new capabilities result in a more evolved form of natural-language voice assistant, or more of a true AI assistant that acts as an agent to perform tasks through all your connected services.

    The company will, of course, show off features from its upcoming Android 15 mobile operating system, more in-car integration through Android Auto, and its smartwatch software Wear OS. Expect each of those to be newly endowed with all sorts of exciting (and maybe slightly creepy) AI-powered features.

    Google’s AI announcements could also offer a hint at whatever news Apple might have in store for its WWDC developer conference keynote, which will take place June 10. Just a couple months ago, news trickled out that Apple may be working with Google to wrangle the latter’s Gemini AI platform into iOS. Neither company has officially confirmed the news, and it’s not entirely clear what such an uneasy partnership between the two mobile heavyweights might look like on the iPhone. Google’s presumably AI-heavy keynote announcements could provide a hint at whatever is being cooked up on Apple devices.

    Hard Where?

    I/O is a software-focused event, but that hasn’t stopped Google from using the keynote to announce new hardware devices in the past. If the dearth of recent leaks about the company’s ambitions are any indicator, this year may be slimmer on the hardware front that I/Os past.

    Generally speaking, Google is usually pretty unbothered about keeping its new gadgets under wraps before a big public event. Details about its upcoming Pixel 8A phone leaked a couple weeks ago, but Google officially announced the device last week. (The phone goes on sale on May 14, the same day as I/O.) Google will probably talk about its new Pixel on the block, and how it will utilize Android 15 and Gemini AI.

    It’s always possible that another device might appear. Google announced its first Pixel Fold at I/O last year, and that’s probably due for an upgrade at some point, but we aren’t expecting that to come this month. Google has also been keeping quiet about any new augmented reality tech it’s working on, though it has shown concepts like Project Starline and language-translating smart glasses at past I/O events. We really expect that with so much attention being paid to artificial intelligence development, Google will likely make its AI announcements the star of the show.

    Watch This Space

    Google’s keynote address, which should open with remarks from Pichai before the team rolls out all the new stuff, starts Tuesday, May 14, at 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT). You can watch it on Google’s I/O website or on Google’s YouTube channel. The videofeed is also embedded right here on this page.

    Beyond the main keynote, there’s a subsequent developer-focused keynote starting at 1:30 pm PDT (4:30 EDT), viewable using the same links as the first stream.

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    Boone Ashworth

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  • Operation Guns’ DLC Review – Explosive Brilliance – TouchArcade

    Operation Guns’ DLC Review – Explosive Brilliance – TouchArcade

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    After the Among Us collaboration DLC, I had no real idea what to expect from Vampire Survivors (Free) for its next potential DLC. I assumed that was a sign that we’d just see popular indies like maybe Risk of Rain, but never in a million years did I think we’d see Vampire Survivors collaborate with Contra. Can you imagine telling someone Vampire Survivors has a collaboration with a Konami IP, but it isn’t Castlevania? I sure wouldn’t have believed you back then. Today, the Vampire Survivors Operation Guns DLC is launching worldwide for iOS, Android, Switch, Xbox, and PC platforms. I’ve been playing it for review on all non mobile platforms since the mobile DLC isn’t up yet. Alongside my review for the Vampire Survivors Operation Guns DLC, I’ve also covered a bit of how the account and cross save system currently works in beta.

    If you’ve not played Vampire Survivors since it launched, you’ve missed out on a lot through free updates and paid DLC releases. Read my co-op impressions of the Steam version here, 1.0 launch review here, Legacy of the Moonspell DLC review here, Tides of the Foscari DLC review here, and Emergency Meeting DLC review here. It was already a superb experience, but each update and DLC only enhanced things. So how does the Vampire Survivors Operation Guns DLC feel for a Contra fan, newcomer, and someone who just wants more Vampire Survivors? I’m going to try and cover all that in this review.

    On paper, Vampire Survivors Operation Guns brings in 22 new weapons, 11 new characters, a new map, Contra music (including six new tracks), and more. You initially start by just getting access to the new stage (Neo Galuga), which is awesome not only for the Contra theme, but because of its layout in general. What initially starts out as just a nice themed stage ends up quite surprising. I don’t want to spoil things, but I recommend paying attention to the prompts on the map sooner than later when you notice something new. One more thing I love about the stage is how the Contra power-ups have been translated to Vampire Survivors. The team went all out, and this is easily my favorite release involving Contra since probably Contra Hard Corps that I recently got to enjoy on Nintendo Switch Online. I’m not counting the M2 anniversary release of course and I’ve not played Contra 4, but you get the picture.

    So the stage looks and feels awesome, but what about the characters and weapons. As usual, you start out with nothing and need to unlock the first new character from the new stage. After you unlock Bill who is the first Vampire Survivors Operation Guns character, you can slowly work your way to getting the rest which have their own requirements usually relating to evolving weapons. Speaking of weapons, I can’t get over how awesome the animations are for the weapons, the particle effects, and interactions with elements of the stages. Vampire Survivors Operation Guns feels like a labor of love throughout, and if you love Contra Hard Corps and the original games, you will adore this DLC.

    Whenever I review a DLC pack, I also like covering the current state of the game in question. While pushing for absolute chaos, Vampire Survivors Operation Guns on my Steam Deck OLED never dropped below the high 40s for its frame rate before the 30 minute timer ended. It usually hovered around the high 70s mark. I disabled damage numbers as I usually do when I play, but I did enable them just to see how much I could push the game for this review. I’m impressed with the current state of the game on Steam Deck and Xbox Series X. The Switch version is excellent, but the worst platform to play the game on right now.

    If you’re wondering about the mobile version, I had the least progress in that version and the Switch release since I have put so much time into both Xbox and Steam Deck. This brings me to the cross save feature that’s currently in beta. I moved my Steam Deck (LCD) to the beta version of Vampire Survivors and created an account. This process is simple. Once created, I uploaded my progress from Steam Deck to the cloud. I have access to the account (beta) through the beta build on iOS that I used on my iPad. I got my Steam Deck save to my iPad and picked it up right there. I don’t have the Vampire Survivors Operation Guns DLC on iOS yet, but everything else worked fine in the sync. The only complaint I have is auto sync not being possible, but I understand the reasoning for that with how save data is handled in this game. You can read about the poncle account system here.

    Coming back to Vampire Survivors Operation Guns, and it is time to cover the music. The new Vampire Survivors arrangements for Contra songs are incredible. I can’t wait for the soundtrack on Steam to get updated so I can transfer these to my phone. Just like with the visuals and weapons in Vampire Survivors Operation Guns, I think the team has gone above and beyond for the music. Other than arrangements, there are also Contra songs from Contra 4 and Contra Hard Corps.

    At this point, Vampire Survivors DLC is a lot like Dead Cells DLC where it is hard to not recommend buying any of it. Vampire Survivors Operation Guns, like the Emergency Meeting DLC, is a must-have regardless of whether you are familiar with the source material or not. It enhances the game and made me play a lot of Contra Hard Corps on Nintendo Switch Online today. It is an essential purchase if you like Vampire Survivors given the value and quality.

    Vampire Survivors Operation Guns Steam Deck Review Score: 5/5

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • Feral Interactive Teases New iOS and Android Game Coming “Quite Soon” – TouchArcade

    Feral Interactive Teases New iOS and Android Game Coming “Quite Soon” – TouchArcade

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    Back in July last year, Feral Interactive teased its next mobile release. That ended up being the amazing Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal ($14.99) which I covered extensively last year and we even featured as our iPad Game of the Year. Just before the weekend, Feral Interactive posted a look at its radar revealing a new iOS and Android coming “quite soon”. The only tease is “DDIM I RODDI ITI FRAW”. I’ve honestly given up guessing the developer’s ports because they go into the weeds for some of the hints. I imagine Feral Interactive usually reads all our guesses like George’s answering machine.

    I don’t know if it is related to the clue or not, but I’d love to see Empire Total War come to iPad through Feral Interactive. I might reinstall it on Steam Deck to see how it feels there this week. As for what is possible, I’d say likely candidates are games that Feral publishes on macOS that you can check here on Steam. Beyond that, I’d love to see the team tackle something from a developer we don’t expect. Until we learn what this new game or port is, you can buy Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. What do you think Feral Interactive is teasing and what would you like ported to mobiletbet

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • How to Factory-Reset Your Phone Before You Sell It

    How to Factory-Reset Your Phone Before You Sell It

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    If you are using iOS 14 or earlier, go to Settings and tap on your name, then tap Find My and turn off Find My iPhone. Tap Apple ID at the top left, go back and scroll down to the bottom to tap Sign Out. You will have to enter your password and tap Sign Out again.

    Now you’re ready to wipe the iPhone. Go to Settings > General and scroll down to Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Erase All Content and Settings. You’ll be asked to confirm, and it may take a few minutes to complete the process.

    How to Factory-Reset Your Android Phone

    Start by backing up your Android phone, then remove any MicroSD cards and your SIM card. Remember to use the backup function in specific apps (like WhatsApp) and to transfer codes from apps like Google Authenticator.

    Android has an anti-theft measure called Factory Reset Protection (FRP). It means that even after you wipe an Android phone, you need the last Google account login to set it up again. It should only kick in if you use the recovery menu to wipe your phone, but here’s how to disable FRP anyway. Remove your Google account (we recommend removing all of your accounts at the same time). Different Android manufacturers have slightly different menus, so your options may vary.

    On a Google Pixel, you can do this in Settings by tapping Passwords and accounts. Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account. On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings and select Accounts and backup, then Manage accounts. Select each one in turn and tap Remove Account.

    Now you can wipe the Android phone, but this process is also slightly different depending on who made your phone. On a Google Pixel, for example, go to Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset) > Erase all data (you will need to enter your PIN), and finally Erase all data again.

    On a Samsung Galaxy, go to Settings > General Management > Reset, and choose Factory Data Reset. Scroll to the bottom and tap Reset, then Delete all (you may need to enter your Samsung account details).

    Other Android phones will have similar options to what we have listed here, but if you can’t find them, head to the manufacturer’s website to find a guide.

    That’s it. Your device is ready for the next phase of its life. Here are a few ideas on what to do with your old phone. You can even try setting it up as a security camera!

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    Simon Hill

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  • ‘Civilization VI’ Has Been Fixed on iOS 17.4 and Later, Now Launches and Loads Fine – TouchArcade

    ‘Civilization VI’ Has Been Fixed on iOS 17.4 and Later, Now Launches and Loads Fine – TouchArcade

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    Civilization VI (Free) on iOS from Aspyr wasn’t working for those running iOS 17.4 and later, and the developer had no ETA on a fix. As of an hour ago, Civilization VI has finally been updated on iOS to address this. I have the game installed on iPhone 15 Pro and it now loads correctly and let me resume my cloud saves. I don’t have it installed on iPad right now, but I assume this also fixed launching the game there. Aspyr has updated its support page for this error as well to confirm that it has been fixed with the update now available on the App Store. If you try playing with older versions of the game on iOS 17.4, you will see the error below so make sure to update it and continue playing:

    It is good to see this finally get fixed, but I really hope Aspyr can now work on improving how it looks and runs on modern iOS devices. If you’ve not played it yet, read our initial Civilization VI iPad review here and my updated review with expansions and more here. I also reviewed the New Frontier Pass content on iOS here. You can try out Civilization VI for free on the App Store for iOS here, and I recommend checking it and playing a good amount before you buy the full game unlock purchase or ay DLC. Do you still play Civilization VI on any platform regularly?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • New ‘Goat Simulator 3’ DLC and Switch Port Teased in 10 Year Celebration Video – TouchArcade

    New ‘Goat Simulator 3’ DLC and Switch Port Teased in 10 Year Celebration Video – TouchArcade

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    Coffee Stain is celebrating 10 years of Goat Simulator and Pilgor with a brand-new video out now that goes over the many releases the franchise has seen over the years. The most recent releases are Goat Simulator 3 hitting iOS and Android as a premium release a few months ago, and it coming to Steam after being an Epic Games Store exclusive for a while. I still can’t believe it has been that long since Goat Simulator debuted, but here we are. The video stops with a tease for “2024 and beyond” revealing DLC and what is obviously a Switch port tease. Beyond that, there seems to be more planned, but the highlights for us are the DLC for Goat Simulator 3 ($2.99) and it coming to Switch. I’ll no doubt try and cover the game on Switch (whenever that port happens) as well after playing it on multiple systems already. Watch the Goat Simulator 10 year celebration video of Pilgor’s journey below:

    If you’ve not gotten it yet, you can buy Goat Simulator 3 on the App Store for iOS here on Google Play for Android here. Check out my review of the game on iOS here and Steam Deck here. If you want to try other games in the series, they are all here on the developer page on the App Store. These include Goat Simulator PAYDAY, Goat Simulator Waste of Space, Goat Simulator MMO Simulator, Goat Simulator GoatZ, and Goat Simulator itself. If you’d rather get them on Steam, check out the full bundle here. Have you played Goat Simulator 3 on any platform yet and what do you want to see from DLC?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ Switch vs PS5 vs Steam Deck vs iOS – What Platform Should You Buy It On? – TouchArcade

    ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ Switch vs PS5 vs Steam Deck vs iOS – What Platform Should You Buy It On? – TouchArcade

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    Last week, Square Enix launched SaGa Emerald Beyond worldwide for iOS, Android, Switch, Steam, PS5, and PS4. This is the first worldwide simultaneous multi-platform launch of a game in the series as far as I’m aware, and both Shaun and myself have been playing it across platforms. Stay tuned for his full review. Until then, you can read my early impressions of the game here and my interview with Akitoshi Kawazu, Kenji Ito, and Tomokazu Shibata here. Just like with Dragon Quest Builders, I’ve compared every version of SaGa Emerald Beyond we had access to across game features, content, visuals, performance, and more.

    Note: For this feature, SaGa Emerald Beyond has been played on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 12, iPad Pro (2020 model), Nintendo Switch (OLED Model), Nintendo Switch Lite, Steam Deck (256GB LCD), Steam Deck OLED (1TB), PS5, and the PS4 version played on PS5.

    What is SaGa Emerald Beyond?

    If you’ve not followed the game or tried the demo yet, SaGa Emerald Beyond is the newest mainline entry in Square Enix’s long-running SaGa series. It features a superlative turn-based combat system with 17 worlds that can be explored in any order including many new characters. It feels like a blend of SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions and SaGa Frontier in many ways, but has its own unique charm. SaGa Emerald Beyond also features an incredible soundtrack.

    SaGa Emerald Beyond iOS port – controller support, cloud saves, and a premium price

    Before comparing platforms, I wanted to briefly cover the iOS version of SaGa Emerald Beyond since there’s no demo for mobile in any region. SaGa Emerald Beyond is priced at $49.99 on iOS and Android just like the console and PC versions which might be a big surprise to some. The way I see it, Square Enix is bringing a full game day and date without any cut content to mobile alongside the Switch, PlayStation, and Steam versions. The caveat here is that Square Enix is a bit erratic when it comes to fixing issues that may arise with future iOS releases and any mobile game in question. Aside from that, SaGa Emerald Beyond on iOS has controller support (but it needs a bit of work) and a manual cloud save backup system in place.

    For controller support, my 8BitDo, Xbox Series X, Razer Kishi, and Backbone One worked, but there are no button prompts. The game also lacks manual camera movement on iOS as of now. I didn’t see any setting to enable this for use with touch, and the right stick on every controller did nothing in the game. The d-pad also doesn’t seem to work like it does in the console and PC versions. You need to use the left analog stick for all menu navigation on iOS.

    SaGa Emerald Beyond has one single graphics option to prioritize graphics or performance. This isn’t a 60 or 120fps option though sadly. The iOS version of SaGa Emerald Beyond (outside Japan) also lacks Steam’s dual audio option to use either Japanese or English voiceovers. You are limited to just English voices.

    SaGa Emerald Beyond does have fullscreen support on my iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 12, and iPad Pro with no black bars or artwork to fill space like in SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambition. The downside is there is no improved UI option for a smaller screen so some text sizes and touch targets feel smaller than they should be. These will be less of an issue on Plus or Max phones.

    Which version of SaGa Emerald Beyond has the best visuals?

    When it comes to image quality, the art style scales well and it looks good regardless of the device I played it on. The differences are in aspect ratio and resolution. For resolution, the Switch version is the worst of the lot, but not by much. The PS5 and PC versions offer the best image quality followed by modern iOS devices and PS4. The big differentiator in visuals is the aspect ratio support. The PC and iOS versions support wider aspect ratios. As for handheld or portable play, the PC version on Steam Deck is the best for sure. I don’t have a very recent iPad Pro model to check there, but at least on iPad Pro (2020) I am pleased with how it looks.

    Which version of SaGa Emerald Beyond has the best performance?

    For performance, I consider load times and frame rate across platforms. The PC version is the only version that supports above 60fps and the PS5 version is capped at 60fps as of this writing. The PS4, Switch, and mobile versions target a lower frame rate. SaGa Emerald Beyond can even do 90fps on the Steam Deck OLED screen and higher when tweaked and running on an external display (even for the LCD model). I am disappointed that there is no 60fps or higher option on iPhone 15 Pro and iPad Pro. Even the PS4 version played on PS5 is capped at 30fps. The worst performing version across the board is Nintendo Switch with it not even being able to maintain 30fps and seeing big drops during specific combat encounters. The Switch version needs a patch before I will be able to recommend it.

    If you played SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions, the load times here are slower than that even when running off an SSD on PC and PS5. While these load times are longer than they should be on all platforms, the Switch has the worst load times across the board, and it is just about twice as long to load the game and then load your save compared to PS5 and Steam Deck. The load times in my testing rounded up are below for the devices. I tested the game load time from launching it to when you get control on the title screen and how long it takes to load a save.

    Nintendo Switch OLED:
    Launch to title screen – 26 seconds.
    Loading a save – 26 seconds as well.

    Steam Deck OLED (SSD):
    Launch to title screen – 12 seconds.
    Loading a save – 9 seconds.

    PS5 version:
    Launch to title screen – 12 seconds.
    Loading a save – 7 seconds.
    PS5 Activity Card from dashboard to in-game – 17 seconds total (a bit less than normal launch).

    PS4 version on external hard drive:
    Launch to title screen – 15 seconds.
    Loading a save – 13 seconds.

    iPad Pro (2020):
    Launch to title screen – 16 seconds
    Loading a save – 9 seconds.

    iPhone 15 Pro:
    Launch to title screen – 12 seconds.
    Loading a save – 9 seconds.

    Which version of SaGa Emerald Beyond has the most features and content?

    The actual game content is the same across the board. Only the Steam version of SaGa Emerald Beyond has dual audio support letting you use either English or Japanese voices (as shown in the screenshot above). All other versions (outside Japan) include only English voiceover as far as I can tell.

    When it comes to features and content aside from languages, the Steam version obviously includes additional graphics options. The PC version on Steam also supports keyboard and mouse controls with rebinding options.

    What we want from SaGa Emerald Beyond updates and patches

    Aside from the text size options and some animation speed up or skip options for all platforms, I’d love to see the team give players the option to switch between different UI modes like in SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions so that the game interface scales better depending on the screen size or device. I used to use the modern screen mode on TV or iPad with a controller, but stuck to the classic screen mode when playing on iPhone or Nintendo Switch in handheld. Beyond that, I’m shocked to not see a 60fps option on modern iOS devices. Hopefully some of this makes it in through potential updates.

    Which version of SaGa Emerald Beyond should you buy?

    If you have access to a Steam Deck, my favorite version of the game by far is the PC version played on a Steam Deck or a Steam Deck OLED. Not only does it have rock solid performance and crisp visuals, but it also is the only version (PC) with dual audio support. This is the best portable version of the game with modern iOS devices coming up second.

    As for playing on TV, the PS5 version or the PC version are the way to go. PC offers higher frame rate support as well if you have a high refresh rate monitor or TV. The Switch version is the one I recommend the least right now due to its much longer load times and the performance being the least stable of any device I tested.

    Hopefully this article helped you decide which version of SaGa Emerald Beyond you should get since all versions launched together worldwide at the same asking price. I’m glad to see SaGa back with a new game after so many years, and will be looking forward to the upcoming remaster of SaGa Frontier 2 whenever that happens.

    SaGa Emerald Beyond is priced at $49.99 and out now on iOS, Android, Steam, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch worldwide. You can buy it on the App Store for iOS here, Google Play for Android here, Steam here, Switch here, and PlayStation here. A free demo with a different protagonist per platform is available on Switch, Steam, and PlayStation.

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • Square Enix Has Discounted the Entire ‘SaGa’ Series To Celebrate Today’s Launch of ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ on Mobile – TouchArcade

    Square Enix Has Discounted the Entire ‘SaGa’ Series To Celebrate Today’s Launch of ‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ on Mobile – TouchArcade

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    Square Enix is celebrating the global worldwide launch of SaGa Emerald Beyond () with a discount on the entire series of games available on iOS and Android. The publisher also shared some new artwork on Twitter to celebrate the launch. Check it out here. If you’ve not kept up with SaGa Emerald Beyond, read my preview of it here and my interview with the team including Akitoshi Kawazu, Kenji Ito, and Tomokazu Shibata here. If you’ve never played a game in the series before, the current discounts from now until May 6th on mobile make it a great time to sample one of Square Enix’s best series. The games discounted include Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered, SaGa Frontier Remastered, Romancing SaGa 2, Romancing SaGa 3, and an Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend.

    The full list of SaGa games discounted until May 6th on iOS and Android is below:

    The best entry point into SaGa remains SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions ($8.99) if you’ve wanted to try these games. Read Shaun’s reviews for Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered here, Romancing SaGa 2 here, Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend here, Romancing SaGa 3 here, SaGa Frontier Remastered here, and SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions here. You can also get SaGa Emerald Beyond on iOS, Android, Switch, Steam, and PlayStation beginning today for $49.99. If you’ve played them before, will you be grabbing SaGa Emerald Beyond today?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • ‘Genshin Impact’ Version 4.6 Update Download Now Available on iOS, Android, PC, PS5, and PS4 – TouchArcade

    ‘Genshin Impact’ Version 4.6 Update Download Now Available on iOS, Android, PC, PS5, and PS4 – TouchArcade

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    As of a few hours ago, Genshin Impact (Free) version 4.6 update is live on all platforms bringing in Arlecchino (who I just pulled) as a playable character and a Weekly Boss, a new region in Fontaine, the Inazuma music festival, and more. As for the new areas, the Nostoi Region, Sea of Bygone Eras, and Bayda Harbor have been added with new events, new monsters, and an TCG update bringing in new characters and action cards. Pre-installation went live a few days ago with a larger than usual download if you didn’t do it yet. On my iPhone 15 Pro, the download for Genshin Impact 4.6 within is under 500MB after pre-loading it. If you didn’t pre-load, expect a large update this time. Watch the newest Genshin Impact version 4.6 “Two Worlds Aflame, the Crimson Night Fades” character trailer below:

    If you’d like to play Genshin Impact and don’t own it yet, you can download it for free on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The PC version is available on the official website here and the Epic Games Store. If you play on iOS, with iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 and later, you can use PS5 and Xbox Series X|S controllers to play Genshin Impact. We featured Genshin Impact as our Game of the Week when it released and awarded it our 2020 Game of the Year. I also featured it as one of the best iOS games to play with a controller. What do you think of Genshin Impact 4.6 based on its trailers so far and will you be rolling for Arlecchino?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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  • Huge New ‘Peglin’ Mobile Update Adds a New Boss, Revamped Forest Map, Run Summaries, Seeding, Secrets, and More – TouchArcade

    Huge New ‘Peglin’ Mobile Update Adds a New Boss, Revamped Forest Map, Run Summaries, Seeding, Secrets, and More – TouchArcade

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    Red Nexus Games’ pachinko roguelike Peglin (Free) has gotten its second major update of 2024 on iOS and Android today. This update, version 0.9.55, went live about a week ago on Steam, and it focuses on a new boss, run summaries, support for seeding, secrets, many balance adjustments, a new item indicator, visual improvements, and a lot more. Details for the bug fixes, new content, and all the balance adjustments are on the Steam page here. If you own the game on mobile, the update notes only focus on facing Cruciball 16 with the new boss on the visually revamped forest map, but you should check out the Steam news post linked to see just how much has been added or changed in this update. It is good to see so much support just months after the last update, and I can’t wait to see what the developers have in store for the game leading into version 1.0. Watch the gameplay trailer for Peglin below:

    Peglin is set to hit 1.0 this year, and it likely will be a game of the year contender if it keeps up the current quality of updates. If you’re interested in checking out the game right now, read my review of Peglin on iOS here covering the state of game from a few months ago. I also interviewed Red Nexus Games here covering the game, pricing, and a lot more. Peglin on mobile is a free to try game, and you can grab it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. We featured it as our Game of the Week when it launched. Check it out on Steam here where it is a premium release. Head over to our forum thread for more impressions and discussion around the iOS version. Have you played Peglin before on mobile or PC, and what do you think of today’s big mobile update?

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    Mikhail Madnani

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