A desktop mode has been discovered in the first Android Q developer preview, launched yesterday. The feature was spotted by Twitter user @Shad0wKn1ght93 in the Android AOSP (via XDA Developers), who provided some images to show it off.
Desktop modes allow smartphone users to connect their phones to an external display (and peripherals) to provide an experience similar to a desktop computer. On Android Q, the interface is basically like a landscape Android home screen, with the status bar across the top.
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Spotify has launched 2020 Wrapped to summarize the year on Android and iOS. This year includes quizzes, Stories, badges and new playlists. It explores podcasts, too. Spotify has made a habit of winding down the year in music with its Wrapped experiences, and it’s stepping things up with the 2020 edition. Its latest end-of-year experience includes the usual personalized playlists, but adds more than a few extras to help you explore the musical zeitgeist.
When Fitbit bought Pebble, the future of users who were still big fans of the smartwatch that could was uncertain. I was one of those users, stuck in my ways of tactile navigation, e-paper displays, and days of battery life. Though Pebbles would mostly work well for a little while, the day of reckoning is fast approaching and most users are looking for an alternative, which Fitbit hoped to provide in its newest smart fitness tracker.
Google confirmed that it won’t be selling the Nexus 5 anymore, though the device will continue to be available from some retailers and carriers.
The Nexus 5 briefly went out of sale last year, but Google replenished the stock on December 6. Back then, the company said the device would continue to be available in Q1 2015. Now the inevitable has happened – in a statement to The Verge, Google confirmed that the Nexus 5 is gone for good this time: “While some inventory of Nexus 5 still exists (with our retail and carrier partners), our focus is on the Nexus 6 at this time.
Let’s be honest, the Pixel 4 XL might be an Android device, but it doesn’t quite feel like a direct competitor to its Android-powered brethren. With an emphasis on simplicity and camera performance over bells and whistles, the Pixel line feels a lot like an Android iPhone.
I’ve been using the Pixel 4 XL for about two weeks now. I also reviewed the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max earlier this year.
Phorus has a solid speaker in the Play-Fi, but can it compete? Ask people to list off wireless speaker systems they can control with their phone, and you’re probably going to get a single answer: Sonos. A new challenger has approached, by way of the Phorus Play-Fi, and they’re looking to take on the established name in the franchise by putting out quality wireless speakers of their own. Their big selling point?
During its financial report, Snap announced plans to launch a major user interface overhaul of the Snapchat app, in order to make it easier to use and hopefully get more people to download and try its social network. That UI revamp started rolling out last week to a small set of users, and more will be able to get it in the coming weeks.
Another part of Snap’s third quarter financial report didn’t get as much media attention, but is perhaps more important in the long run.
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
The best controller for PC isn’t an easy choice to make, especially given the variety of options out there today. Gaming controllers may not be the best fit for all games, but they sure are a really fun way to play anyway. They’ve evolved a lot over the years, and right now is a really good time to grab a controller for your PC, thanks to the sheer number of options available, covering different price points.
Supplied by Sony
The Sony Xperia 1 III is a fine phone on paper, packing a 120Hz 4K screen, nifty audio technology, and a variable zoom camera in its rear array. However, all this tech is slapped into a phone with a price that’s well above the $1,000 mark.
At $1,299, the Xperia 1 III isn’t as expensive as the $2,500 Xperia Pro, but it’s not what we’d consider cheap. But we really wanted to know what readers think.
Stadia Pro discounts change every month or so, and now that the library is bigger there are typically at least five AAA titles on sale. We have a hub with the full list of all Google Stadia games and prices, but we’ve listed the current Stadia Pro sales below. They might not match the cheapest prices on Steam, but the games can be played instantly without ever having to wait for downloads or updates!