161–170 of 367 posts
> We partnered with DeepMind on a feature called Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning to prioritize system resources for the apps the user cares about most. You know what mind I would like to control what apps get more resources? Me
One of the quieter features of Android 9 is that they are reducing the API surface of Android by explicitly black-listing and white-listing various APIs and fields that previously required reflection to access. None of these APIs were documented, but none of them were explicitly "off limits" before Android P. That suggests that the life of Java as Android's primary language might be really coming to an end, even thou…
1. Break the apps.
Users tend to get annoyed when they upgrade the OS and their apps stop working.
2. Maintain a compatibility shim.
Depending on what the change you're making does, this might not even be possible. Assuming that it is possible, how do you know what needs a shim and what behavior is actually expected?
3. Give up and do something else instead.
Things get worse if you consider that OEMs may want to modify implementations as well, so you'll end up with apps that work, except on some devices. There's no sensible way to prevent app breakage when there are apps depending on your internal (and explicitly private) API; the solution is enforcement.
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Just have to comment that for myself a notch would be a deal beaker for a new device. I've played with a couple devices and really think it adds no actual value while complicating the user interface. I will avoid it as long as I can.
How does it complicate the UI for you?
https://www.techradar.com/news/android-p-only-has-space-for-...
In short there is a 4 notification icon limit now with the clock on the left, whether you have a notch or not. I often have a lot more than 4 notification icons up (esp since a couple are permanent from background apps) and the rest will just disappear under a dot-dot icon.
* It looks like they've taken away the "apps" homerow button and swapped it for "swipe up from anywhere". So that is one less gesture available to apps, unless you install an alternative desktop. * Wi-Fi RTT sounds pretty neat, I had not heard of that before. * Shutting mic, camera and sensor data off for idle/background apps is neat, though I'm shocked that wasn't an option before.
Meraki's control software is sort of able to triangulate a device, but because how spotty WiFi can be sometimes, it's absolutely not perfect.
It always feels like the goal here is to get people to buy new phones. I wonder what % of phones running the previous OS will be upgradable.
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It also looks like the back button is gone... how is that supposed to work?
The back button is now contextual, it appears in apps, but disappears when it can't do anything.
Coming to my Nexus 4 soon? ;) It always feels like the goal here is to get people to buy new phones. I wonder what % of phones running the previous OS will be upgradable.
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I've always regarded the back button as a completely random thing.
I've always regarded the back button as the single most important reason why I prefer Android to iOS. Interesting how different people perceive the world.