Live data from Hacker News

Android P

blog.google

91–100 of 316 posts

Re: Android P

#91

This looks awful. I've come to realize that any feature with "smart" anywhere in the name, is something I want disabled. Smart quotes? Only exist to fuck up copypasta code and SQL statements. Smart spell check? There's a field of internet hilarity about how bad this is. Smart restore? Best way to lose my data and fuck up my install. Smart assistant? I've yet to meet even one person who uses GAssistant/Siri/Cortana fo…

> Smart assistant? I've yet to meet even one person who uses GAssistant/Siri/Cortana for anything more complex than "schedule a meeting" or "set an alarm."

Children. No really watch them use an iPhone.

Re: Android P

#92
post #58
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how many of these features could be implemented (far sooner) if a universal UI scripting language was available for users...

You know, I'm pretty sure anyone could have built these apps on Android You can overwrite the screen in Android. You can replace the home screen in Android. You can scrape running apps in Android. There's a high degree of flexibility Unfortunately this is probably one of those problems where the cost of building the app is relatively high (because the domain is complicated to get right!) and it would be hard to make…

CF.lumen can do this on rooted devices. I have it set up to apply a gradually-increasing f.lux-like effect as the day turns to night, and then switch to a red-channel-only color mode past midnight.

Re: Android P

#93
post #75

Lots of slick UI stuff, but no meaningful updates to things that are well overdue: - Encryption of specific secrets for each app. - Fine grained control of what information is shared with apps. - Ability to selectively deny particular data (and have the app keep working, e.g by giving it an empty contacts list, fake phone ID, etc). - Ad and js blocking capable browser. Why should installing e.g. the facebook app, all…

>Encryption of specific secrets for each app. you mean something like ios keychain? what does this do that can't be achieved using disk encryption + sandbox? >Ad and js blocking capable browser. firefox for android

To clarify, Firefox for Android has full extension support, so you can install NoScript, uBlock, and what have you just as you would on a desktop browser.

Re: Android P

#94
post #3

... Say you connect your headphones to your device, Android will surface an action to resume your favorite Spotify playlist ... ... but what if we could surface part of the app itself ... What is it with the repeated usage of 'surface' here, instead of the more obvious and common word 'show'? Is it something to do with Android API naming, or something else?

I doubt there's an exact definition, but to me "show" can mean that it will bring up an entirely new view (some existing UI element), whereas "surface" means it will be inserted into the context already being discussed.

That is, "surface" means the data is brought to you in your current context, whereas "view" means you are taking to a new context that includes the data.

In this discussion, they are saying that when you search for "lyft" in on-device google search, it will incorporate Lyft info into the search results, as opposed to giving you an option to launch the Lyft app.

So when they say "we will surface this data" they mean we will show it, not that we will allow the normal software to show it like normal.

Re: Android P

#95
post #64
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this request? Apps are sandboxed, and there's relatively granular permission control now. What is this referencing specifically?

this applies only to installed apps from the store, not system apps like googles or oem apps. you cant disable background activity of any apps. dont want an always listening ai helper from google? too bad for you.

Just don't use them. Unlike in iOS, you can replace all those apps with other apps that you prefer. No rooting or jailbreaking required. If you don't like Google Assistant, you can use Alexa or Cortana or something entirely different. If you don't like Siri on iOS, tough luck.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/7/17328758/amazon-alexa-defa...

Re: Android P

#96

Lots of slick UI stuff, but no meaningful updates to things that are well overdue: - Encryption of specific secrets for each app. - Fine grained control of what information is shared with apps. - Ability to selectively deny particular data (and have the app keep working, e.g by giving it an empty contacts list, fake phone ID, etc). - Ad and js blocking capable browser. Why should installing e.g. the facebook app, all…

Location tracking requires specific permission from the user, not as part of installation. I think you're a bit out of date.

https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/deve...

Re: Android P

#97
post #33
post #15

I'm almost tempted to try out the beta on my daily driver Pixel. Seems like a stupid decision though. Is there an easy way to manage this from a worktation? Completely backup my current state and restore it afterwords?

Posting on the phone! I have just upgraded and the update is absolutely flawless and can be considered as a dail

And the only flaw is it cuts off in the middle of messages if you try to type "daily driver"?

Re: Android P

#98
post #88
post #79

Ten years ago, when we launched the first Android phone—the T-Mobile G1—it was with a simple but bold idea: to build a mobile platform that’s free and open to everyone. To what quantitative fraction is Android still free and open (as in speech), and how much of it has been moved into closed-source containers?

Almost all of it is closed. Since the G1, the following parts are just some of the many that were removed from the open project and replaced with proprietary ones: Launcher, Dialer (the actual phone app), Contacts, Calendar, Email, on-device Search (last open in 2.3.7), and many more. Everything that the user touches or sees is closed source.

All of those apps exist in AOSP and have many open source equivalents not developed by Google. The platform that those apps run on is just as open now as it was in the G1 days.

Re: Android P

#100

"Android P Beta is available today on Google Pixel." Oh, except the Pixel C which we're pretending never happened.

It looks like lineageOS might also be dropping it for v16. Which is pretty lame for a $600 tablet.
Post reply on HN