Tech

Whats New On the Android 15 Update Coming in October

Published

4 months ago

May 21, 2024

Android 15 is expected to be released to the public in October later this year. Currently, it is available in beta for eligible devices. And if you are wondering if your phone will get the shiny new Android 15 update? It’s simple to find out. Start by checking the official list of eligible devices on the Android Beta website or your phone manufacturer’s website. If you’re rocking a recent Google Pixel model like the Pixel 7 or Pixel 8, you’re in luck—you’re in the VIP line for this update. For other brands like Samsung, OnePlus, or Xiaomi, keep an eye out for announcements about their respective rollouts. And if your phone didn’t make the cut, well, it might just be the universe telling you it’s time for an upgrade. So astrology babes might be onto something, Listen to the Universe. After all, you deserve that new phone, life’s been brutal.

What’s New in Android 15?

Android 15 is shaping up to be a significant update with several new features aimed at improving user experience, security, and performance. Here’s a look at some of the most exciting additions coming with Android 15:

1. Edge-to-Edge Mode

Android 15 introduces an edge-to-edge mode allowing apps to utilize the full width of the display, providing a more immersive experience. This feature will be particularly noticeable on devices with gesture navigation enabled.

2. Partial Screen Recording

Users will now be able to record or share specific app windows instead of the entire screen. This feature enhances privacy and focus, allowing you to share only what’s necessary without exposing other on-screen content.

3. Improved Bluetooth Management

The Bluetooth tile in the Quick Settings menu has been revamped. A short press now brings up a dialogue box showing paired devices and options to switch between them or connect new ones. This update makes managing Bluetooth connections more intuitive and user-friendly.

4. Satellite Connectivity Support

Expanding connectivity options, Android 15 integrates satellite connectivity, enabling devices to maintain communication even in remote areas. This ensures a consistent user experience regardless of location. Right there catching up to iPhones who rolled out satellite connectivity last year.

5. Universal Toggle for Keyboard Vibration

A new system-wide toggle for keyboard vibration settings allows users to control haptic feedback intensity across all keyboard apps, enhancing the typing experience.

6. Enhanced Foldable Support

If you are using a foldable device this one is for you. Android 15 brings better continuity features for foldable devices, such as seamless transitions between the cover screen and the main display. It also allows users to save split-screen app combinations for easier multitasking.

7. Health and Fitness Enhancements

Are you a gym bro integrating technology to aid you in tracking fitness and keeping records? The update includes enhancements to Health Connect, supporting new data types for health and fitness apps. It also extends support for virtual MIDI 2.0 devices, fostering creativity in music production.

8. HDR and Audio Controls

Android 15 introduces controls for HDR headroom and loudness, ensuring a balanced and consistent audio and visual experience across different content types.

9. Performance and Security Upgrades

The update brings significant improvements to the Android Dynamic Performance Framework, including new APIs for better hardware optimization and security features like the Privacy Sandbox on Android. These enhancements aim to provide a smoother, more secure user experience.

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Tech

Infinix’s Hot Launch; The All New Hot 50 Series is Here

Published

1 day ago

September 27, 2024

Tony Gaya

Over the last couple of months, Infinix has been making waves in the smartphone market, and their recent attempt at solidifying this move looks set to serve Kenyan consumers as the smartphone manufacturer launches their latest series of budget-friendly gadgets, and oh are they something.

The newly launched budget phone is the Infinix Hot 50i with functional elements users on a tight budget will find quite appealing. The budget-friendly market is where real competition exists if you ask me. Here’s whats on paper so far.

Infinix Hot 50i

The Infinix Hot 50i, part of the same Hot 50 series, brings its own set of features, which is powered by the MediaTek Helio G81, which is paired with 4GB of RAM.

However, this RAM can be expanded to 8GB, providing users with more flexibility depending on their usage requirements. This model offers similar performance in day-to-day tasks but at a more affordable price point.

Infinix Hot 50i Specs

Display: A large 6.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and 120Hz refresh rate.
Processor: Powered by the MediaTek Helio G81 processor, for smooth performance for everyday tasks and gaming.
RAM and Storage: Available in configurations of 4GB or 6GB RAM, which can be virtually extended up to 8GB. The device also boasts a generous internal storage capacity of 256GB.
Camera System: 48MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera for selfies.
Battery Life: 5000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging.
Audio: Dual DTS speakers designed to enhance sound quality, making it ideal for music lovers and media consumers.
Operating System: Runs on XOS based on Android 14, providing a user-friendly interface with various customization options.
Additional Features: A side-mounted fingerprint sensor for security, a USB Type-C charging port, and TÜV’s 48-month performance certification for long-term reliability.

Infinix Hot 50i Pricing

The Hot 50i is available in the Kenyan market at a price of KES 13,699, making it an attractive option for those looking for an affordable, yet capable smartphone.

The phone comes three attractive color options: Sleek Black, Sage Green, and Titanium Grey.

It will be widely available in retail stores after September 30th. Stay tuned to watch us review these units and give you a hands-on review of whether this should be your next phone or why not.

Tech

New WhatsApp Feature Lets You Mention Contacts In Status Updates

Published

1 week ago

September 19, 2024

Murugi Gichovi

WhatsApp has recently added a new feature to its Status updates, allowing users to tag contacts directly.

Currently available on Android for users with beta version 2.24.20.3 or higher, this update introduces a @ button that lets you mention specific contacts in your Status.

Once tagged, they receive both a notification and a message, ensuring they won’t miss your update. Tagged contacts can also reshare your Status, but only they will see their mention, preserving privacy.

Unlike Instagram, WhatsApp keeps the identity of the original Status creator hidden when tagged contacts reshare it. One key thing to note is that if you’ve blocked someone from viewing your Status, they can still see it if tagged using this feature.

This update, along with WhatsApp’s other hidden features, aims to make interactions more personal and dynamic on the platform.

Events

Apple Event Recap: New Product Lineup

Published

3 weeks ago

September 10, 2024

Tony Gaya

Apple has unveiled a host of new hardware alongside its latest software. Leading the lineup is the iPhone 16 Pro, equipped with the robust A18 Pro chip, designed to handle sophisticated AI tasks on a stunning new display, or at least they said.

Joining the iPhone 16 Pro is the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring advanced health and fitness capabilities, such as Sleep Apnea detection without the need for a cumbersome sleep study. It also sports a sleeker design with a larger screen.

The AirPods 4 have also debuted, boasting a more ergonomic design and an improved charging case that charges faster and is easier to locate if lost. Additionally, Apple has updated the AirPods Pro 2 and Max with fresh software features and new colour options. Let us know which are your favourites in the comments.

Apple Watch

During the presentation on how the Apple Watch enhances lives, Tim Cook unveiled the new Apple Watch Series 10, boasting an ‘all-new design’ that resembles the previous model but is slightly slimmer. The most notable upgrade is the significantly larger display, offering 30% more screen area than the Series 6, paired with a display that’s 30% brighter, making it easier to view content quickly.

The enhanced display is showcased with the new Flux watch face. The Series 10 introduces fresh color options: Jet Black, Rose Gold, and Silver, all featuring increased scratch resistance. The smartwatch’s profile has been slimmed down to 9.7mm, affirming its status as a remarkably thin device. Additionally, Apple has upgraded the charging coil on the watch’s rear, promising reduced charging times.

For those seeking a more luxurious option, Apple is launching the Apple Watch Series 10 with a new Titanium finish. This model is 20% lighter than its Aluminum counterparts and boasts a more sophisticated appearance. However, acquiring this version will require a significant financial investment.

The Apple Watch Series 10 operates on the new S10 SoC, featuring a 4-core neural engine designed to efficiently manage AI tasks. This includes automatic fall detection and emergency services contact, requiring no user intervention. Additionally, the AI chip enables a built-in translation app on the watch, offering a more seamless alternative to using a phone for conversational assistance.

The Apple Watch Series 10 also boasts new workout enhancements. Notably, it features a new depth app that measures diving depth, making it an excellent tool for divers. Additionally, it includes a Tides app to forecast tidal movements, which is useful for beachgoers and surfers.

The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399.

AirPods

Several years after the release of AirPods 3, Apple has unveiled the AirPods 4 with a sleeker design aimed at enhancing comfort. The latest iteration is equipped with an H2 SoC and a revamped audio architecture, enabling features such as Personalized Spatial Audio for superior sound quality across various content.

The redesigned charging case is now more compact and features a USB-C connection, marking the end of the Lightning cable era. Additionally, noise cancellation, previously a feature of the AirPods Pro, is now standard in the base model. Borrowing from the Samsung Galaxy Buds, the AirPods 4 offer adaptive noise cancellation that adjusts based on your activities and whether you are speaking.

A new addition is a speaker in the charging case, integrated with the Find My network, to assist in locating misplaced earbuds more easily.

The AirPods Pro are also receiving an update. The AirPods Pro 2 will feature a range of capabilities aimed at identifying and preventing hearing loss. The new Hearing Protection feature, enabled by default, will utilize machine learning to detect loud noises and adjust the noise cancellation to safeguard your hearing. Additionally, the AirPods Pro 2 will include a mode that enables them to function as clinical-quality hearing aids.

Apple has updated the AirPods Max, introducing new colors and a USB-C charging feature, with prices starting at $549. The AirPods 4 are priced at $129 for the standard model and $179 for the model with noise cancellation.

iPhone 16 Series

The main event has arrived: a first look at the new iPhone 16. Apple introduces a new color-infused glass available in Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink, alongside the classic White and Black options.

The iPhone 16 inherits the Action Button from the iPhone 15 Pro, a programmable feature for executing various functions swiftly. Additionally, Apple has implemented a dedicated camera button that not only launches the camera app but also functions as a physical shutter, akin to a traditional camera.

The camera button operates similarly to a Mac touchpad; it’s more of a haptic sensor than a button. It can serve as a standard button for quick photo captures, but it also detects lighter touches and movements, allowing for on-the-fly photo setting adjustments without screen interaction. If Apple could integrate this technology to revive TouchID, it would be remarkable.

An enhanced camera system accompanies the new camera button. The iPhone 16 boasts a 48MP main sensor and an Ultrawide lens capable of capturing up to 2.6 times more light, enabling macro photography as well.

iPhone 16 Pro advances AI capabilities even further. The base model boasts a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max features a 6.9-inch screen, slightly larger than the iPhone 15 Pro’s. It maintains a Titanium finish and comes in four colors: Black, White, Natural Titanium, and ‘Desert,’ a subdued Rose Gold variant.

Powered by the A18 Pro chip, which shares the Neural Engine with the standard A18 but includes additional cache for professional tasks, Apple promises significant performance improvements over the iPhone 15 Pro. However, the difference in pure performance compared to the standard iPhone 16 may not be substantial.

The iPhone 16 Pro enhances photography with a 5x Telephoto lens, alongside the 48MP main camera and ultrawide lens, significantly boosting zoomed-in shot quality. It also promises superior distant object photography.

Audio quality receives an upgrade with four ‘studio-quality’ microphones, offering improved recording capabilities, particularly for video. The neural engine also supports professional voice filters to eliminate background noise or highlight a specific speaker’s voice.

The iPhone 16 is priced at $799 for the 128GB model, and the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899, also with 128GB. The iPhone 16 Pro is available at $999 for 128GB, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max begins at $1,119 for 256GB of storage.