Information Weekly is our column the place we spotlight and summarize a number of the week’s prime tales so you’ll be able to make amends for the most recent tech information.
That is Android Central’s Information Weekly, your go-to supply for a concise roundup of the week’s most vital tech tales. That is the place we delve into the highest headlines that present the most recent developments and improvements contributing to the digital panorama.
This week noticed the primary take a look at RCS messaging on the iPhone, YouTube is tightening its reigns on Premium subscriptions by way of VPN, Android 15’s Beta 3 launches, Motorola teases its upcoming foldables, and Spotify introduces a brand new primary plan.
Apple lastly teases RCS messaging
RCS involves iPhone.h/t https://t.co/X2mRxhGcr1 pic.twitter.com/LL4ATIWDzaJune 16, 2024
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RCS was barely talked about at Apple’s WWDC; nevertheless, days later, we noticed a glimpse of the messaging characteristic with the iOS 18 beta.
X consumer Dhinak noticed this and posted a prolonged thread breaking down its availability and current options. The primary look exhibits that inexperienced bubbles are nonetheless used to establish texts from Android customers regardless of RCS—as anticipated. Apparently, Android customers can ship RCS messages to iPhone customers in particular person and group chats. Moreover, the X consumer states that higher-quality audio information, images, and different types of media will be shared by way of these chats.
Nevertheless, it seems Apple has plenty of work to do in the case of RCS. Firstly, there’s a lack of E2EE (end-to-end encryption) in group chats, one thing that was applied in Android final 12 months. Emoji reactions proceed to be an iPhone consumer factor, as solely they get to see a “correct” response to messages. If an iMessage consumer reacts to an Android consumer’s message, the inexperienced bubble consumer will obtain a brand new message saying “Favored,” adopted by their textual content in quotes.
Replying to a selected message continues to be a problem for each Android and Apple customers, as they do not have the choice to take action. One other factor to notice is that RCS is restricted to iPhones on T-Cellular and AT&T networks in the meanwhile.
YouTube cracks down on premium subscription loopholes
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YouTubers worldwide obtained shock cancellations of their Premium subscription final week, as the corporate appears to be going after individuals who discover methods to get cheaper premium charges of their area. A current thread on Reddit highlighted that these cancellations had been linked to customers resorting to VPN providers with a view to rating cheaper charges by profiting from regional pricing loopholes.
As an instance the worth distinction, a Premium subscription prices Rs.129 ($1.54) monthly in India, whereas it usually prices $13.99 within the US. Some use YouTube Premium for a fraction of the fee of their dwelling market. Though the subscription labored tremendous after the preliminary VPN trick, Google appears to concentrate on this loophole and goes after these customers.
In response, Google not directly confirmed to Android Central that it is tightening its reigns and that “to supply essentially the most correct plans and provides obtainable, we have now techniques in place to find out the nation of our customers,” the spokesperson mentioned. “In cases the place the signup nation doesn’t match the place the consumer is accessing YouTube, we’re asking members to replace their billing data to their present nation of residence.”
Android 15 Beta 3 is right here
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Google rolled out Android 15 Beta 3 on June 18, and with it comes “Platform Stability” and enhancements to passkeys and the Credential Supervisor. Google is now permitting enrolled testers to have single-step sign-in capabilities by biometrics like facial recognition, fingerprint, or display screen lock. Beforehand, customers got two sub-menus: one asking a few “saved passkey” and one other for his or her biometrics. Customers will now see one unified sub-menu detailing the service they’re signing into, a immediate for his or her fingerprint, or the choice to make use of a PIN.
Android 15 Beta 3 needs app builders to arrange their merchandise, libraries, instruments, and recreation engines for Android 15. Google hopes this can put together their apps for the brand new “FLAG_STOPPED” modifications that guarantee apps do not run till a consumer’s handbook enter is detected. Help for 16KB pages, predictive again animations, and help for Non-public Areas are objects to maintain an eye fixed out for.
Android 15 Beta 3 is rolling out now to all enrolled testers and supported units. These with a Pixel cellphone can examine the units which are eligible for testing and get began.
We’re flipping excited concerning the Motorola Razr 2024 launch
Psst! Some flip-worthy information is coming… pic.twitter.com/NioPU69hLQJune 17, 2024
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Motorola posted a tease for its new foldables launch this week, which is able to hit the U.S. market on June 25.
The video offers us a fast take a look at the Razr units that may characteristic orange and blue colorways. It additionally seems to be like a vegan leather-based backing is predicted on the units. The teaser continues, briefly exhibiting a number of extra colorways for its 2024 Razr telephones, corresponding to pink and possibly a coffee-brown possibility.
It ought to be famous that Motorola put its higher-priced Razr Plus on the cabinets earlier than the cheaper Motorola Razr 2023 hit the market later within the 12 months. It is unclear if the corporate will observe the identical pattern once more this 12 months or if shoppers can seize each units concurrently.
Some leaks recommend that Motorola is upgrading its new foldables with a much bigger cowl display screen. It’s boosting the Razr Plus 2024 to 4 inches and giving its base mannequin a bigger 3.6-inch cowl, the latter of which is similar dimension as the quilt show on the 2023 Razr Plus.
Spotify is bringing a primary plan with a brand new Household tier
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Spotify customers within the U.S. can now subscribe to a brand new Primary plan that provides all the advantages of a Premium plan with out audiobook listening time. The streaming platform just lately hiked its Premium particular person plan from $10.99 to $11.99 month-to-month. Nevertheless, it has launched a brand new primary plan for $10.99, but it surely comes with some limitations.
“Benefit from the music streaming advantages of your Premium plan with out the month-to-month audiobook listening time. Beginning at $10.99/month for eligible customers,” Spotify notes within the announcement submit.
You will need to observe that customers cannot “straight join the brand new plan” by Spotify’s web site however can downgrade to the brand new plan, offered they’re already current particular person plan customers. Spotify nonetheless has the $9.99 monthly plan that offers the consumer entry to Audiobooks wiith15 hours of audiobook listening time.
The Primary Household plan prices $16.99 monthly, which, for some cause, is not talked about within the submit however is seen for Spotify subscribers.
These are a number of the greatest tales from this week. In the meantime, listed below are another tales which are price catching up on: