Apps
Goodbye to Android 8: Android Auto no longer works on older phones
Android Auto has recently stopped working on phones running Android 8 or older. The app helps connect your phone to your car’s display for easier access to apps and navigation. Now, if you have a phone running Android 8, you can no longer use Android Auto.
Previously, you could use Android Auto with phones that had Android 6 or newer. However, in July 2022, Google raised the minimum requirement to Android 8.
Now, as of July this year, the requirement has changed again to Android 9 or higher. Many users with Android 8 phones are now seeing a message that says, “This phone no longer supports Android Auto.”
Initially, it seemed like Google was allowing Android 8 users to access the service. But now the company is enforcing the new rule, which might feel sudden for those affected.
While the features of Android Auto work well on older software, the newer versions like Android 9 include better new features and better experience. Google upgraded the support to improve the service and keep users safe with the latest features.
If you’re still using a phone running Android 8 or below, this is a good time to think about upgrading to a newer model. Staying updated is important so you can enjoy all the benefits of Android Auto.
Android Auto introduces real-time battery info and trip sharing features
Google is making it easier for users to personalize their Search bar widget on Android with a custom theme. The latest beta version 15.43 of the Google App has reintroduced the Custom color feature that many users have been looking forward to.
After introducing Dynamic Color in August, the options for customizing the widget were limited to Light, Dark, System, and Device themes. With this new update, you can now customize the Google Search Widget bar with a new custom option.
Now, you can adjust the colors of your widget using sliders for Hue and Saturation. There’s also a Transparency slider that lets you control how see-through the widget looks.
These features follow the modern Material 3 design to make them visually appealing and easy to use. In addition, a handy “Reset” button is also located at the top-right corner, which allows you to quickly return to the original settings if you want.
To access these new customization options, you need to manually place the Google Search widget on your home screen. Now open the Google app >> tap your profile picture in the top-right corner >> go to Settings >> Customize Search widget.
The custom color theme for the Google Search widget is currently in the beta version and it will be available to everyone in the stable version soon.
November 2024 has started and Samsung is rolling out a new update for the Galaxy Store, which makes it easier and better for users. The update arrives with version 4.5.86.6 and a package size of about 78.28MB.
This new version of the Galaxy Store fixes some issues that users faced in the last update. Samsung has listened to user feedback and worked to resolve these issues. With this update, users can expect smoother performance and improved features to make navigating and using the store easier.
In addition, the November 2024 update enhances some functions of the Galaxy Store to provide a better and more reliable experience. Updating to the latest version is recommended for all users to take full advantage of the improvements and fixes.
The update is easy to install, and users can quickly download it directly from the Galaxy Store. Also, you can download the update directly from the third-party app link mentioned here. It is compatible with Galaxy devices running Android 15 or below.
Notably, Samsung already announced that the Galaxy Store won’t let you download apps without a Samsung Account logged in. Now, you must be logged in to your Samsung Account to use the Galaxy Store app and service. Also, it is important to keep apps up to date.
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WhatsApp has pushed a new beta update with the version to 2.24.23.6, available through the Google Play Beta Program. This update aims to improve how users interact with channels to make it easier to find and engage with content.
The fresh beta update reveals that a new feature is under development which will let users search for updates within channels. Currently, users often have to scroll through many messages to find specific information, which can be time-consuming and frustrating.
With the upcoming search option, users will be able to type in keywords or phrases to quickly find the updates they need. This will make it much easier to locate important messages without having to scroll.
The new search feature for channels is currently in development and will be available in a future update. Users will find this search option in the overflow menu and channel info screen for easy access.
Aside from this, WhatsApp recently introduced a channel analytics feature. This tool helps channel admins see important data, like how many unique accounts have viewed their posts, how their follower count is growing, and where their audience is located. These insights are valuable for admins to help them understand their audience better.