Tag: android

The Easiest Ways to Swap Contact Info Using Your Phone

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Tap Who can share with you, then enable Everyone and check the Only for 10 minutes box. It means Quick Share actions can be initiated with unknown contacts, but the sharing will be turned off after 10 minutes. This should be ample time for you to share a contact card.

Unlike NameDrop, there’s no magic touch-your-phones-together action. You need to head into your Contacts app: On Pixels, tap your account picture (top right), then Contacts settings, Your info, the three dots, and then Share. On Galaxy phones, just tap your contact at the top of the list, then Share. You’ll then see Quick Share appear as one of the options, and the other person’s Android device should be detected.

Cross-Platform Sharing

You can share details over email or text message too.

Photograph: David Nield

(David Nield)

If you’re trying to get an iPhone working with an Android phone, you’ll notice that AirDrop doesn’t work with Android devices, and Quick Share doesn’t work with iOS. That means you’re going to have to use one of the other sharing options available from your phone, but there are lots of them.

On an iPhone, open the Contacts app on iOS, then tap your name at the top of the contacts list. Choose Share Contact, select the fields in your contact card you want to share (including your number and address), and you’ll be given a choice of options for sharing—from email to WhatsApp message to social media.

It’s similar on Android: Get to the sharing page for your own contact card as we’ve described above for Pixel and Galaxy phones, and next to the Quick Share option you’ll find alternative methods of sharing that are compatible with iPhones. You can choose text or email, for example, or Bluetooth (which should work with an iPhone, as long as the iPhone owner has the Bluetooth page from the iPhone Settings open).

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September 7, 2024
Honor Magic V3 Review: World’s Thinnest Folding Phone

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With a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 12 GB of RAM, performance is silky smooth. You also get a generous 512 GB of storage. I played hours of Kingdom Rush: Alliance on the Magic V3 without a stutter, and it never got warm. The big screen is ideal for gaming and video, but I enjoyed reading on the Kindle app too. I prefer a laptop for work, but the Honor Magic V3 also proved handy as a surrogate second screen when I was missing my dual monitor setup.

Battery life is excellent. Honor’s third-generation silicon carbon battery has a 5,150-mAh capacity, and I was surprised to find it regularly lasted two days between charges. When you need to top up, you can charge wirelessly at up to 50 watts or plug in for up to 66 watts, enough to fully charge the Magic V3 in under an hour. It warns you to unfold the phone to juice up the dual batteries at maximum speed.

Final Hurdle

Photograph: Simon Hill

The Honor Magic V3 is a delightful device. Honor’s hardware is deeply impressive, but there’s always a but. As I found with the Honor Magic 6 Pro (7/10, WIRED Review), its software doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Pleasingly, the Magic V3 feels far more polished, but I still encountered a few wee irritations.

The transition between the front and inside screens occasionally went wrong and displayed something stretched or squashed. Once, the inside screen was completely unresponsive, but closing and opening fixed the issue. I got sick of the battery warning about the Oura app but could not find any way to stop it. Certain apps, like the Play Store, kept displaying the wee red icon to show something new long after there was nothing new to see.

Photograph: Simon Hill

The Honor Magic V3 runs Android 14 with MagicOS 8 on top, but it is easy to customize and comes with just a sprinkling of bloatware. You can also decide how to take advantage of the dual screen with multiple windows and different layouts in the settings. You can expect four years of OS updates and five years of security patches (short of the seven years Google and Samsung promise, but not bad).

The obvious competitors for the Magic V3 are the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and it’s a familiar trade-off: Do you opt for slick software or superior hardware? The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is the closest device in terms of design, but won’t be released outside of China, so the Honor Magic V3 is a better choice for most folks. Despite the minor foibles, this is a truly excellent folding phone, maybe even the best folding phone you can buy right now. That said, you still don’t need a folding phone.

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September 5, 2024
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold Review: Twice as Nice, High Price

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Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

There are some strange omissions on this device compared to the Pixel 9 Pro. The exterior screen (the one you’ll use the most), does not feature LTPO technology, which allows the display to dynamically ratchet from 1 to 120 Hz. This is a more battery-efficient process, but instead, the Fold will only go from 60 to 120 Hz. This is nitpicky, but again, you’re spending $1,800 only to find this flagship feature is not available. (It is available on the inner screen.)

On other Pixel phones, you can top up other devices—like your earbuds’ charging case—wirelessly with a feature called Battery Share. I have never felt the need to use this feature, but it’s not available on the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Also, some camera features don’t exist, like Cinematic Blur, which adds a portrait mode effect to your videos. Oh, and don’t forget this device is rated IPX8, so it’s fine to submerge it in a pool, but be careful with dust (avoid the beach!).

The most annoying flub is wireless charging. It’s supported on this device, but it doesn’t work with Google’s very own Pixel Stand Gen 2 wireless charger because the coils do not align. (Google says the Pixel Stand is discontinued but … it’s still selling the charger on its storefront.) Curiously enough, I tried to see if wireless charging worked on a few other charging stands I had lying around and the answer was no. Well, sort of. It works on some if you put the phone in landscape orientation, but not if you place it in portrait on a stand. You’ll be better off using a charging pad that sits flat.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Pixel 9 Pro Fold, 5X optical zoom with Night Sight.

Overall, the camera system is similar but not identical to the Pixel 9 Pro, and while the results are generally great, I have noticed images from the ultrawide and telephoto cameras are noticeably not as sharp in low-light conditions compared to the cheaper sibling. I also don’t like the fact that the selfie camera on this phone doesn’t feature autofocus. It’s nice that you can take selfies with the superior rear cameras, but sometimes you don’t want to unfold the whole thing, and then your photo isn’t as sharp as what you get with the Pixel 9 Pro.

It’s these types of little things that add up to make the Pixel 9 Pro Fold feel a bit … weird. It does its job well if a mini tablet is what you want—I prefer using it over the Galaxy Z Fold 6—but Google needs to work on its feature parity so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out on the latest and greatest when you have the company’s most expensive piece of hardware in your hands.

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September 3, 2024
How to Switch From iPhone to Android (2024)
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Ignore the arguments about which is better, because iPhones and Android phones have far more in common than some folks will admit. Switching from an iPhone to an Android phone is pretty painless these days, and you can take all your stuff with you, including photos, messages, and other bits and pieces.

With the upcoming iOS 18 update, iPhone owners will finally get RCS messaging, the upgrade from SMS that will hopefully fix many of the problems people currently face when texting between iPhone and Android. One extra reason to potentially explore a new phone operating system. This guide covers all you need to know about how to switch from an iPhone to an Android phone.

What You Need to Get Started:
1. Your old iPhone.
2. Your SIM card (not required for eSIM activation).
3. Your Wi-Fi details (home network and Wi-Fi password).
4. Your Google account details (you can set up an Android phone without a Google account, but you need one to use Google services and get the best from it).
5. A switching app (Google’s Switch to Android, Samsung Smart Switch Mobile, or another).
6. A USB-C to USB-C or Lightning to USB-C cable (not essential, but allows a faster transfer).
Photograph: Simon Hill

Begin by Backing Up

The iPhone-to-Android switching process is usually plain sailing, but it’s always smart to back up before you begin anything like this. Back up first and you won’t lose anything you care about. For some of the methods below, you also need a backup to restore on your new phone. We have guides on how to back up your iPhone and how to back up your Android phone. You should back up your iPhone to iCloud, but you might also want to consider backing up to Google One (more on that later).

Remember that you can back up data within certain apps, such as WhatsApp, to avoid losing your conversations (Settings > Chats > Chat backup). You should also consider any authenticator apps you have and check what the transfer process is to avoid losing secure access to services and websites.

Preparing to Switch

If you can keep your old iPhone for the switching process, it will be much easier and faster to complete. Either way, there are a couple of tasks to take care of on your iPhone. Go to Settings > Messages to toggle iMessage off, and do the same with FaceTime. If you forgot to do this and no longer have your iPhone, you can still deregister on this page on Apple’s support page.

It’s a good idea to check how much data you have on your iPhone. Take a look in Settings > General > iPhone Storage and make sure that your new Android phone has enough space for you to copy everything over. If it lacks the necessary room, see what you can delete. Now, you are ready to switch.

How to Switch From iPhone to Android

You can usually copy data from your old phone at some point during the setup process. If your iPhone keeps locking during this process, it can get annoying, so before you start copying data, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to Never.

How to Transfer Data Using a Cable

The fastest and easiest way to transfer data is to use a cable. This process varies slightly with different Android manufacturers. If you are switching to a Google Pixel, for example, it is as easy as this:
1. Turn on your new Pixel, choose your language and region, and tap Get Started.
2. On the Set up using another device page, tap iPhone or iPad.
3. Choose your Wi-Fi network and connect to it. It may take a few minutes while “Checking info.”
4. Sign in to your Google account.
5. Insert your SIM card or set up your eSIM.
6. Set up a PIN and fingerprint unlock.
7. It’s time to Copy data from your iPhone, tap Next.
8. Connect your iPhone and Pixel with a Lightning to USB-C cable (or USB-C to USB-C cable if you have an iPhone 15 or later).
9. You need to enter your iPhone PIN to trust the connected Pixel.
10. Now, you can select what you want to copy across and tap Copy to start the process.
11. If you choose to copy Apps, it will give you a list of the matching apps it managed to find (some in-app purchases and settings will not copy across, and you will have to buy premium apps again).
12. Once it is done copying, you can disconnect your iPhone and complete the last few tasks to get your new Pixel up and running.
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August 24, 2024
12 Best Tablets (2024): iPads, Androids, and More Tested and Compared

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Tablets often don’t come with kickstands or enough ports, so it’s a good idea to snag a few accessories to enhance your experience. These are some of our favorite tablet accessories, many of which you can also find in our Best iPad Accessories guide.

Satechi Aluminum Desktop Stand for $45: This is my favorite tablet stand, so much so that I’ve taken it with me on trips. It packs down relatively well, and it is very stable—there’s no wobbling around here. You can also adjust the angle quite a bit. It can handle huge sizes too—it worked perfectly with my 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Twelve South Compass Pro Stand for $50: This is made for iPads, but I’ve had no trouble using it for plenty of other tablets. It’s more travel-friendly than the Satechi above and fairly stable, but when I lift the tablet off, the back leg tends to change positions. You can angle it pretty low for sketching or keep it upright for watching movies. Unlike the Satechi, it’s not a great option for keeping the tablet upright on a mattress.

Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: This works with iPads and other tablets just fine. You can either plug it in and keep it flush with the edge of a slate or use the included cord to keep it extended. You get a USB-C port you can use for pass-through charging, a USB-A, an HDMI, and a headphone jack.

Lamicall Gooseneck Tablet Holder for $28: I’ve used this on my bed frame to hold up various tablets for more than a year. The gooseneck requires a bit of finagling to get to the right position, and if you’re constantly tapping the tablet, it will jiggle around. But it’s a great hands-free way to watch movies. You can affix the clamp to any surface, like a desk or kitchen counter.

Twelve South HoverBar Duo Mount/Stand for $80: You can use this as a stand or as an arm mount, and Twelve South makes it really easy to switch between the two. That means you can easily affix your tablet to your bedside arm mount, and then put it on the stand in your home office in the morning. Both are sturdy, and the arm mount is decently adjustable. Best of all, it doesn’t wiggle around as much as the Lamicall above when you tap the screen.

Keychron K3 Pro Mechanical Bluetooth Keyboard for $100: If you want to use a third-party Bluetooth keyboard with your tablet, a cheap one (like this Logitech) will do the job perfectly. But if you’re a mechanical keyboard snob like me, this Keychron is an upgrade that’s pretty easy to tote around. You can connect it to multiple devices and switch between them quickly; the keys light up in different, configurable colors; and best of all, it delivers the clickety-clackety experience you want with a mechanical keyboard. It needs to be recharged every three to four days, but you can also use it plugged in.

Anker Nano 3 30-Watt Charging Adapter for $20: Most tablets charge at around 18 watts, so this 30-watt charger from Anker is more than capable. The plugs fold up, and it’s pretty compact. If your tablet does support faster charging, then I recommend Satechi’s 108-watt three-port USB-C charger ($75). This will let you charge your phone, tablet, and laptop all off the same plug.

Einova Ultra Fast Power Bank for $47: This power bank is slim enough to store next to a tablet in your bag, and it has enough capacity (20,000 mAh) to recharge an 11-inch tablet twice. You can fast-charge with the USB-C port and use the two USB-A ports to recharge other devices.

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August 24, 2024
How Google’s Satellite eSOS Works During Emergencies on the Pixel 9

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You should be sure to keep your personal information up to date. That includes your emergency contacts (which you can configure at Settings > Safety & Emergency > Emergency Contacts) and your Google Account. Your “name, email, phone number, location, device information, and emergency contacts are shared with emergency services and satellite service providers.”

When you tap Start on Satellite SOS, you’ll first be prompted to answer a few questions about your emergency, like whether you’re in a vehicle, and if anyone is in immediate danger. Once you answer these questions, you can then connect to a satellite. You’ll see a giant circle on the screen suggesting directions to point your phone. It’ll need to be flat in your palm, and you’ll need to be outdoors, away from buildings, trees, and mountains (as best as you can). For the best signal, make sure your grip doesn’t interact with the upper half of the Pixel.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Once you point your phone in the right direction, it should connect. Now you’ll get a text message view where you can send messages to emergency services detailing the situation, and hopefully, you’ll have first responders en route soon after.

Now just because you can use smartphones like the Pixel 9 or iPhone 15 to reach emergency responders via satellite doesn’t mean your phone is suddenly the best option for backcountry connectivity. Satellite messengers are more rugged and durable, and since you’re probably not using them all the time like you would be using a smartphone, they have better battery life. They also offer more features, like creating waypoints. All in all, Satellite eSOS is a helpful backup feature, but if you’re regularly going to be in remote areas with limited to no cell connectivity, there’s still a place for dedicated satellite messengers.

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August 24, 2024
Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL Review: All Grown Up

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I have reviewed every Pixel smartphone since the brand was first introduced in 2016, and something about the Pixel 9 series makes me think of Google’s latest hardware as all grown up. It’s impossible to point to one new feature as the source of this feeling. Rather, it’s an amalgamation of changes that have taken place over the past three years—ever since the company began stuffing its own Tensor processors into these phones to power its forward-looking software.

The combination of polished hardware, brawny internals, and helpful software has resulted in a handset that matches what you get from the likes of Samsung and Apple. All that elegance comes at a cost though. At $799 for the Pixel 9, $999 for the Pixel 9 Pro, and $1,099 for the Pixel 9 Pro XL, these are among the most expensive Pixels to date. Here’s your regular reminder that you can get excellent smartphones for less than $500 (including Google-made devices like the Pixel 8A).

But for anyone who doesn’t mind splurging on the most important piece of tech in their life, the Pixel 9 series delivers some of the best mobile camera experiences money can buy. The Pixel 9 also serves as an engaging window into the AI-fication of our personal technology—whether that’s something you want or not.

The Phone Stuff

The refined design helps with the Pixel 9’s glow-up. The iconic camera visor that has been a mainstay since the Pixel 6 is still present, but in a more elegant pill-shaped design. Don’t worry, it still screams “Pixel.” It’s hard to mistake this phone for something else, especially if you opt for the lovely pink colors. (I appreciate that the fun color isn’t restricted to the “non-Pro” model, as it is on other makes and models of phones.)

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

I don’t find the camera bump excessive or ugly; the phones don’t rock when they sit flat on a table, and that’s a massive boon. I like the flat display panel, as well as the flat edges. The squared-off design is easier to hold, and your grip won’t interfere with the touchscreen like on smartphones with “waterfall” displays that curve around to the sides where your fingers grasp the phone’s body. Just know that the Pro phones have glossy edges that attract fingerprints, so you’ll be wiping them down often. (Just me?)

Speaking of fingerprints, Google has outfitted these models with an ultrasonic in-display scanner that is far and away more reliable than the optical fingerprint sensors it has been using on Pixels for years, finally matching the quality found on other Android phones. On the flip side, Pixels are still some of the only Android phones with secure face scanning, so it’s great that you have both biometric options, though I’d have liked to see improvements in making face unlock work better in the dark.

Choice goes a long way in showing maturity in a product line too. For the first time, you get options in the size of the Pixel 9 Pro—6.3 inches or 6.8 inches for the XL—which means you no longer have to feel like you’re losing out on features just because you prefer smaller phones. Even though I have big paws, I prefer the size and feel of the Pixel 9 Pro. Nice and compact.

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August 21, 2024
What Is Gemini Live and How Do You Use It?

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I can imagine following this approach now when I want to learn about anything, and just continuing the conversation even after Gemini answers my initial query. I still have many concerns: Why is there no direct attribution or sourcing for the information it surfaces? Can I trust that everything it says is accurate? Hsaio says when you exit Gemini Live, you can click on the little “G” icon underneath transcribed text to check its work and run your own Google searches.

But more and more, I find myself thinking that this is the future of search. You just ask, get the answers, and keep talking to learn more. The problem is that Gemini tends to talk a lot. Its responses are verbose, so you’re often waiting a while before you can follow up. Yes, you can interrupt it to move on, but it’s awkward interrupting a voice assistant. I don’t want to be rude!

Where in the World Is Google Assistant?

With all this focus on Gemini and Gemini Live, you’re probably wondering: Where’s Google Assistant? If you tap on your profile icon in the Gemini app, you’ll see an option to Switch to Google Assistant if you want to go back to the old experience, but it’s hard to say how long that option will be available. Currently, there are a few things Assistant can do that Gemini can’t, so there’s a hand-off from one to the other. “Increasingly, Gemini will be able to do those actions on its own,” Hsiao says.

But earlier this month, Google announced new Nest products, which also brought word that Google Assistant will soon be getting a more natural voice, and some of its features will be upgraded with Gemini’s large language models. You’d be able to ask it if a FedEx delivery person showed up at your doorstep, for example, and it’d be able to parse this from your video doorbell’s feed. Motion alerts could be far more descriptive rather than just saying “person detected.”

That means we now have two assistants, and it sounds like Google is completely OK with this at the moment. Hsiao says Gemini will be your personal assistant, the one you can ask about calendar appointments and email invites, all grounded in your personal data. In the home, Google Assistant is your “communal” assistant, because it’s more of a family device. “People don’t want their personal emails to be accessible through voice on a home speaker in their living room where a guest can ask, ‘Hey Google, what’s in Julian’s email.’”

It sounds like a recipe for a branding disaster. It’s already so hard to keep track of all the variations of Gemini already out there (and don’t forget, Gemini was “Bard” when it launched in preview last year). It also might mean certain functions will be limited based on the device you’re using, to prevent a guest from snooping on your emails. If you get used to asking your Gemini on your phone to handle a task, but then you leave your phone in the other room and the Assistant on your Nest Speaker refuses to follow through, isn’t that frustrating?

“We’re still exploring the branding of that, and we’re still in the early development phases,” Hsiao says. “Branding aside, we need to make sure that people get what they want from their most helpful assistant, whether it’s on their personal phone or in the home, and it solves their use cases.”

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August 16, 2024
How to Set Up Your New Android Phone (2024)

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If you’re switching from an iPhone, you may want to install the Google Drive app. In the Google Drive app on your iPhone, go to Settings and Backup, and then choose everything you want to save and move across to your new phone. You should also go to your iPhone Settings, head to Messages, toggle off iMessage, and go to Settings, FaceTime to toggle it off so you don’t miss calls and texts on your new phone.

Folks with any two-factor authentication (2FA) apps, like Google Authenticator, should check the apps’ instructions for transferring accounts (do not wipe your old phone until you have done this!) If you use any messaging apps, like WhatsApp, back up your chats on your old phone by going to Settings, Chats, and Chat backup.

Setting Up Your New Android Phone

Put your SIM card in your new phone (skip this step if you’re using an eSIM) and hold down the power button to turn it on. (You can also insert your SIM card after you’ve set up your device.) You’ll be greeted with a series of setup chores, starting with selecting your language and region preferences.

Depending on your new Android phone, you may be able to copy data from your old device directly. While you can do this via Wi-Fi, connecting the two phones with a cable is the fastest, easiest, and usually the most comprehensive way to copy your old data (especially photos and videos), so we recommend doing that if you’re given the option.

If you are switching from an iPhone to an Android phone, for example, you can transfer contacts, photos, videos, and calendar events via Wi-Fi, but you must use a cable if you want to transfer messages (SMS, iMessage, WhatsApp), apps (assuming they are available in the Play Store), music (non-DRM only), and notes. There is a handy Android website with more details about how to switch.

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August 16, 2024
Nearly All Google Pixel Phones Exposed by Unpatched Flaw in Hidden Android App

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Google’s flagship Pixel smartphone line touts security as a centerpiece feature, offering guaranteed software updates for seven years and running stock Android that’s meant to be free of third-party add-ons and bloatware. On Thursday, though, researchers from the mobile device security firm iVerify are publishing findings on an Android vulnerability that seems to have been present in every Android release for Pixel since September 2017 and could expose the devices to manipulation and takeover.

The issue relates to a software package called “Showcase.apk” that runs at the system level and lurks invisible to users. The application was developed by the enterprise software company Smith Micro for Verizon as a mechanism for putting phones into a retail store demo mode—it is not Google software. Yet for years, it has been in each Android release for Pixel and has deep system privileges, including remote code execution and remote software installation. Even riskier, the application is designed to download a configuration file over an unencrypted HTTP web connection that iVerify researchers say could be hijacked by an attacker to take control of the application and then the entire victim device.

iVerify disclosed its findings to Google at the beginning of May, and the tech giant has not yet released a fix for the issue. Google spokesperson Ed Fernandez tells WIRED in a statement that Showcase “is no longer being used” by Verizon, and Android will remove Showcase from all supported Pixel devices with a software update “in the coming weeks.” He added that Google has not seen evidence of active exploitation and that the app is not present in the new Pixel 9 series devices that Google announced this week. Verizon and Smith Micro did not respond to WIRED’s requests for comment ahead of publication.

“I’ve seen a lot of Android vulnerabilities, and this one is unique in a few ways and quite troubling,” says Rocky Cole, chief operating officer of iVerify and a former US National Security Agency analyst. “When Showcase.apk runs, it has the ability to take over the phone. But the code is, frankly, shoddy. It raises questions about why third-party software that runs with such high privileges so deep in the operating system was not tested more deeply. It seems to me that Google has been pushing bloatware to Pixel devices around the world.”

iVerify researchers discovered the application after the company’s threat-detection scanner flagged an unusual Google Play Store app validation on a user’s device. The customer, big data analytics company Palantir, worked with iVerify to investigate Showcase.apk and disclose the findings to Google. Palantir chief information security officer Dane Stuckey says that the discovery and what he describes as Google’s slow, opaque response has prompted Palantir to phase out not just Pixel phones, but all Android devices across the company.

“Google embedding third-party software in Android’s firmware and not disclosing this to vendors or users creates significant security vulnerability to anyone who relies on this ecosystem,” Stuckey tells WIRED. He added that his interactions with Google throughout the standard 90-day disclosure window “severely eroded our trust in the ecosystem. To protect our customers, we have had to make the difficult decision to move away from Android in our enterprise.”

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August 15, 2024