TL;DR Google is introducing new restrictions on sideloaded apps with Android 13. Users won’t be able to give accessibility permissions to these apps. The idea is to stop apps from less legitimate sources to misuse the API and scam users. Android 13 will bring new restrictions on sideloaded apps. No, sideloading is not going away from Android phones. Google just wants to make it safer to sideload apps so bad actors can’t misuse them and inject malware into your devices.

Safer SaferVPNSaferVPN delivers on its promise of being the fastest and simplest VPN service around. However, simplicity does have its negatives as well. This is also not the VPN for you if you're looking to use it in China. Table of contents SaferVPN is a relatively new player in the VPN space and it has rapidly improved and expanded its services. It claims to be the fastest and simplest VPN service around, without compromising on security and privacy.

TL;DR Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus visit the FCC. FCC ID shows the flagship duo will support all major LTE bands. They will be manufactured in Vietnam, indicating that the recent leak from Vietnam may indeed be the real deal.Galaxy S9 renders show off relocated fingerprint sensor (Update: Galaxy S9 Plus too) News Samsung has already confirmed that the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus would be unveiled in February at the MWC 2018 instead of holding its own event in New York after the MWC.

Google’s head of Android and Chrome, Sundar Pichai, just revealed that the developer conference Google I/O will take place this year on June 25-26. Taking to Google Plus, Pichai explained that this year the company wants to avoid the mad dash for tickets from the past by implementing a new registration system. People interested in attending will “submit their interest”, and Google will randomly select the “winners” that’ll get to attend to Google’s biggest event of the year.

Google Maps is undoubtedly one of the more practical applications you can have on your Android mobile device. Did you know that there are a couple of extra features you can enable to make it that more useful? The search giant’s software developers are always cooking up something in Labs, and that’s where you can get these nifty add-ons. Here’s a quick guide on how to do it. First make sure you have the latest version of Google Maps.

Fast charging technology is a staple of today’s smartphones, although there’s a wide spectrum of what counts as “fast.” Up until recently, supported technology has ranged from 18W to 65W of power, but that’s quickly becoming old news. The industry is sprinting ahead with ultra-fast charging speeds of 100W and above. See the recent announcements from Oppo, Realme, and Qualcomm. The benefits of charging your phone to full in 20 minutes or less are an easy sell.

2020 is almost over. Hooray! We know many of you will be thankful to wave goodbye to what has been a resoundingly dreadful year, but before we do, let’s take a moment to celebrate the best smartphones released over the past 12 months. We’ve already crowned Android Authority’s smartphone of the year with the winner of the Editor’s Choice 2020 award — check out the link below for the winner.

Supplied by Xiaomi TL;DR Xiaomi has launched the Redmi K50 Gaming phone. It’s equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset and a pair of shoulder buttons. The phone is also available in a Mercedes F1 edition. Xiaomi launched the Redmi K40 Gaming in China last year, making its way to India as the affordable yet powerful Poco F3 GT. The company is now offering a sequel called the Redmi K50 Gaming.

TL;DR iFixit has conducted a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 teardown with both the Ultra and vanilla models. Both phones are difficult to fix — you won’t be replacing the battery yourself. Oddly, Samsung is using different cooling for versions of the same model. It’s “far too difficult” to replace the glued-down battery, iFixit said. If your power pack wears down, you’ll likely be asking Samsung for help. The DIY repair shop also warned that display fixes are “poorly prioritized” and costly.

Like with the Galaxy S6, Samsung introduced a new level of build quality on its latest Galaxy Note smartphone, with the Galaxy Note 5 now also featuring a metal and glass unibody design. The premium look, top of the line specifications, faster and less bloated software experience, and improved S-Pen stylus all make for a very compelling device, but unfortunately, like most other smartphones out there, the Galaxy Note 5 is not without its issues.