Android
Android 15 may allow third-party apps to access battery health data
Google is reportedly working on a new feature for Android 15 that would allow third-party apps to access the battery state of health, which is the percentage of the remaining full charge capacity.
This value is currently only accessible to system apps and requires special permission that can only be granted manually through ADB, a tool for developers.
According to tipster @MishaalRahman, Android 14 brought the API for reading the measured battery state of health, but it was restricted to system apps only. Google explained that this was not due to privacy concerns, but rather to engineering reasons, as there were no use cases where an application would require this permission.
Notably, the feature may not work on every device even if Android 15 opens it up as a public API. It may depend on whether the device’s battery charging IC is configured to report this data to Android’s health HAL, which is then read by the OS and apps.
It remains to be seen how Google will implement this new feature in Android 15, and how it will affect the battery performance and user experience of Android devices. We will keep you updated on any further developments on this topic.
Google pushed Android 15 to AOSP ahead of rollout to Pixel phones. Android vendors will now be able to use Android 15 as the base and tailor the experience. It’s a significant development for Samsung users waiting for the One UI 7 Beta update.
Samsung is continuously improving the One UI 7 experience through internal testing. The new OS’s AOSP availability will accelerate the testing for Galaxy devices. One UI 7 will have Android 15 as the base featuring modifications as per needs.
One UI is known as the most feature-rich Android skin in the market. One UI 7 is expected to debut unique features and customizations. AOSP release also ensures new Android 15 features would be incorporated into One UI.
Samsung developers would have been exploring new possibilities and experimenting with features. The latest additions would benefit the entire Galaxy community as well as other Android vendors as inspiration for a better user experience.
Pay attention, AOSP releases often include security patches to address vulnerabilities. Samsung has its own mechanism of security updates but it too relies on Android’s. Therefore, faster security updates likely follow the AOSP debut.
AOSP:
Simply put, AOSP is a general availability of Android 15 for modifications. Google has completed the Beta testing of the new OS and the QPR program has also started for Pixels. It’s now Android vendors’ turn to deploy the new update on their devices.
Google notes Android 15 will be available on Pixel devices in the coming weeks, as well as on select devices from Samsung, Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi in the coming months.
Google just detailed Android’s September 2024 System update. It will arrive on countless Android devices, bringing new features and improvements. Samsung Galaxy devices should start getting it immediately after the rollout begins.
The September 2024 System update is applicable on Play Services and Play Store. Developer Services reported having a bug, which is getting fixed. Wallet users in Japan will be able to use JCB Contactless payment methods.
The release adds a new feature that guides you on using Quick Share. The sharing platform is also enhancing with the addition of a new flow for file receiving page. The Quick Share will also add UI tweaks that you will observe when you receive files.
Google Play services v24.34
Developer Services
- [Phone] Bug fixes for Developer Services related services.
Device Connectivity
- [Phone] With this new feature, you’ll get instructions on how to use Quick Share.
- [Phone] With updates to Quick Share, you’ll get a new flow when you receive files.
- [Phone] With this new feature, you’ll get UI updates when you receive files through Quick Share.
Wallet
- [Phone] With this new feature, you’ll be able to use JCB Contactless payment methods in Japan.
Apart from Play Services, Google also detailed changes coming to the Play Store. Unlike the Play Services, these improvements and new features are applicable across devices including PC (ChromeOS), Android phones, and TVs (Android).
Google Play Store v42.6
- [PC, Phone, TV] With improvements to Google Play Protect, you’ll get protection from more harmful apps.
- [Phone] With this new feature, you’ll be able to see your Play Points status at the top of the App Details page.
- [Auto] When you open the Play Store sign-in page for Android Auto, you’ll see a banner image with app icons that explains the benefits of Play Store.
Not all Samsung devices will be eligible for the upcoming Android 15-based One UI 7 update. It’s expected to come with many new features and improvements. Some older and lower-end models of the Galaxy A, M, and F series have reached the end of life.
Samsung is famous for its excellent after-sales service and software support. The company announced that it will provide up to 7 years of major OS upgrades and security updates for its flagship devices, starting with the Galaxy S24 series.
This will allow Samsung users to enjoy the latest features and security enhancements for a long time. However, these devices will still receive security patches for another year, but they will miss out on the new features and benefits of One UI 7.
Samsung Android 15 One UI 7 Ineligible Device List
The following is the list of Samsung devices that will not get the Android 15 One UI 7 update:
Galaxy A series
- Galaxy A04s
- Galaxy A13
- Galaxy A23
- Galaxy A72
- Galaxy A52
- Galaxy A52 5G
- Galaxy A52s
Galaxy M series
- Galaxy M53 5G
- Galaxy M33 5G
- Galaxy M23
Galaxy F series
- Galaxy F23
If you own any of these devices, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer model that will support One UI 7 and beyond.
Note: The list is compiled on software update policy and previous rollouts.
Samsung is internally working on the Android 15 One UI 7.0 update. Dozens of Galaxy devices are eligible for this major upgrade, forming a pretty big rollout later this year. However, SDC24 is set to be held on October 3, when One UI 7 could go official.