Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended site now shows how long devices are supported for

Device listings on Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended website now show how long the manufacturer intends to support them. The updated information will seemingly provide users and companies with a better understanding of when to deploy and replace devices among its workforce.

Before, the Android Enterprise Recommended website only included general information about devices, including specifications. Now, the website includes a note about security update frequency and how long the device will be supported. In the case of the OnePlus 8, for example, OnePlus is promising to provide security updates until April 2023, although no information is provided for security update frequency. (OnePlus earlier committed to delivering security patch updates on a bi-monthly basis.) It’s important to note that all security information is provided by manufacturers and isn’t verified by Google.

The changes corroborate our recent report that Google is planning to relax its security update requirements for Android Enterprise Recommended devices. One of the alleged requirements is that Google will no longer enforce a guarantee that devices in the program will receive security patch updates within 90 days of an ASB.

With Google loosening its AER requirements, the company is instead pushing for vendors to be more transparent about how they handle security updates. The new information displayed on the website is seemingly a result of Google’s new policies.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Android Enterprise Recommended program, it’s a program that certifies devices for business use. Devices included in the program are required to meet a set of standards, including minimum hardware specifications, support for bulk deployment, availability of unlocked devices, consistency of app behavior running in managed profiles, and more.

As of today, there are roughly 210 different Android devices in the Android Enterprise Recommended program, including handsets from Google, OnePlus, Motorola, OPPO, Sony, and HMD Global. Some smaller brands have smartphones in the program, too, such as Sonim, Zebra, and Honeywell.

Thanks XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the tip!

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Android TV Data Saver app lands on the Google Play Store

Android TV doesn’t get nearly as much attention from Google as Android for smartphones, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still getting updates and new apps. Last year, Google added a Data Saver mode for Android TV users in India. This feature is intended for users who don’t have WiFi at home and instead connect their smart TV through a mobile hotspot. Now, Google has uploaded the Android TV Data Saver app to the Google Play Store.

With many more brands looking to Android TV for their streaming products, the demand is increasing for new functionality, and for those who love watching streamed content but aren’t on limitless internet, this app could be a gamechanger. It works similar to Google Chrome in Lite Mode — media players are instructed to stream at lower bitrates and/or resolution in order to save as much data as possible. This, in turn, also makes it easier to cut out the buffering on slower connections, bringing glorious HD-content to even more homes around the world. As well as compressing, the app can also be configured with on-screen notifications to warn you of your data use so you don’t get stung with excess fees. There’s even a handy feature to streamline the process of linking to a mobile hotspot.

Sadly, it doesn’t look like the Android TV Data Saver app has been opened up for all regions, as we were unable to install it on an NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro in the U.S. The app, for now, is likely still region-locked, with the Play Store listing only serving as a way for Google to deliver updates separately from OS updates.

Still, with new devices from the likes of Xiaomi, TCL, OnePlus, and not forgetting Google itself, either newly minted or imminent, it seems that Android TV’s days of being an afterthought may be behind it. Although a version of Android 11 for TVs was released in September, a large number of devices, such as older smart TVs, will be stuck on Android 8 or 9 for the rest of their days, so it’s good to see Google release features like this as a standalone app. We just hope they open it up for more users, soon.

Android TV Data Saver (Free, Google Play) →

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The ZTE Blade A3Y is an ultra-affordable budget smartphone for Verizon’s Yahoo Mobile

ZTE today announced a new entry-level Android smartphone in the U.S.: the Blade A3Y.  The smartphone will be exclusive to Verizon’s Yahoo Mobile prepaid carrier service, which was introduced earlier this year in March as a rebranded version of Visible.

The ZTE Blade A3Y is a basic smartphone with equally unexciting hardware. It’s a perfect choice for a burner phone, elderly people, or just for basic calling or texting purposes. The phone features a 5.45-inch HD+ TFT display with a resolution of 1440 x 720. On the back, you’ll find a single 8MP camera with dual-LED flash while there’s a 5MP cam on the front for your selfie and video-calling needs. Powering the device is a MediaTek Helio A22 (MT6761) quad-core CPU clocked at 2.0GHz, backed by 2GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage which is expandable via a microSD card. The ZTE Blade A3Y packs a 2,660 mAh battery which charges via a USB Type C port. Android 10 comes preinstalled on the phone, and you also get a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Wi-FI calling support.

There are a bunch of Yahoo apps pre-installed on the phone, including ad-free Yahoo Mail, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports with “Watch Together”, Yahoo Finance, and Yahoo Weather.

The ZTE Blade A3Y goes on sale today at an introductory price of $50 from Yahoo Mobile. Those wanting to switch to Yahoo Mobile but don’t have a compatible phone will be able to pick up the Blade A3Y for free, according to the company.

Yahoo Mobile offers only one plan: You pay $40 per month for unlimited data, text, and calling — a much better price than Verizon’s $65 unlimited plan.

Yahoo Mobile ZTE Blade A3Y

At $49, Yahoo Mobile's ZTE Blade A3Y is an ultra-affordable, entry-level smartphone from the Verizon-owned prepaid carrier.

Buy at Yahoo Mobile

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Google Workspace now opens Microsoft Office files directly into edit mode

Google has announced changes to the way it deals with Microsoft Office-formatted documents within the newly-rebranded Google Workspace. Until now, opening a .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx file would have brought up a preview of the contents within Chrome, with a dropdown to select what web app you want to open it with. That’s all changed, as Google announced yesterday that from now on, the behavior will be to open the relevant Google Workplace app (Docs, for example) immediately, doing away with the decision tree altogether.

Users will be able to manually override this behavior by pressing the ‘P’ button as they click on the file, or selecting ‘Preview’ from the right-click context menu. Whilst that’s an extra keystroke when you need to use something like DocuSign, it’s a keystroke removed for the 85% of the time you just want to get on with editing — so overall, you should have a reduced aggregate click-rate.

If users have the “Office Editing for Docs, Sheets & Slides” extension (erstwhile, Quickoffice), then that will be the default app. Otherwise, either Docs, Sheets, or Presentations will open. Password-protected files will still open in Preview. The release blog post notes that there is no option for sysadmins to disable this behavior and that end-users should be taught the alternatives. The change doesn’t just affect managed domains, however — free/Gmail users will also see the new flow. It continues: “This change makes it quicker to open and start editing documents. Users can directly edit, comment, and collaborate on Office files using the familiar interface of Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, with changes automatically saved to the file in its existing Office format.”

Rapid Release Domains may already have seen the change, which began rolling out yesterday. For the rest of us, roll out begins on November 30th, with all users receiving it within 15 days.

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Apple accelerates efforts towards building its own search engine to replace Google

Apple is said to be accelerating efforts towards its own search engine, to be rolled out on its products instead of Google. Reports suggest that Apple is moving quickly to avoid being mired in the upcoming anti-trust action being taken against Google by the US Government.

There’s already early evidence of the move in iOS14, launched last month, where Apple’s own search results appear when using the device’s home screen search box. The bottom line is, if Apple can do that, it can produce an entire search engine, and if it has gotten this far, it suggests that’s what the end-game will be.

There’s nothing on the subject from Apple – but then there rarely is until something is launched. The FT report suggests that the hiring of John Giannandrea, Google’s former Head of Search in 2018 could have fired the starting gun on the project, which could also see Siri functionality improved by parsing from a dedicated search tool. It also points to repeated job advertisements for search-related developers as a dead-giveaway. Additionally, those monitoring Applebot, Apple’s web-crawler have said it has been more active in recent months, suggesting that it has advanced from simply serving Siri and Spotlight results.

Apple is currently paid between $8 billion and $12 billion each year, by Google, to be the default search engine for Apple products. That hasn’t gone unnoticed by the litigators involved in Google’s forthcoming anti-trust battle with the US Department of Justice, who listed the agreement as an example of anti-competitive and exclusionary practice by the tech giant. Although Apple is the beneficiary, not the accused, it has been criticized for acting as Google’s “enabler” by accepting the terms.

Although Google’s DoJ fight is likely to go on for years, Apple will be acutely aware that, if it doesn’t go Google’s way, Google could find itself broken up or otherwise restricted. And that could leave Apple’s annual multi-billion dollar windfall in jeopardy. So it makes sense that $2 trillion company has opted to be safe rather than sorry.

---

Source: FT (paywalled)
Story Via: MacRumors

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These are the best OnePlus 8T cases

If you just pre-ordered a sweet new OnePlus 8T (and if not, check out our OnePlus 8T review) you’ll want to make sure you can prevent fingerprints, scratches, and dust. There are literally hundreds of phone cases on the market, but how do you know if you’re buying a delight or a duffer? Allow us to help with our guide to the best OnePlus 8T cases.

As usual, there’s a basic plastic skin in the box – clear vinyl, flexible, snug-fitting, and this year, emblazoned with a ‘frosted“ ‘Never Settle’ slogan running vertically up the right-hand side. It’s a nice touch that makes it more appealing than a simple clear case, but this kind of case offers limited protection considering its covering your sleek new phone’s contours. But what if you want more?

Official OnePlus 8T Sandstone Case

Good old faithful

The old classic is back. The sandstone is a rigid clip-on case which previous OnePlussers will probably be familiar with. The big attraction of this one is that it has a slightly rough-hewn surface which makes it easier to grip because let's face it, these smooth phones can be slippery little suckers. The Sandstone case is available in Black or Cyan priced at $25.

$25 at OnePlus

OnePlus 8T Quantum Bumper Case

Polarizing yet unmissable

Easily the most divisive of this year’s official cases - the office was split on whether the multi-layered circuit board design, chosen to perfectly match the Aquamarine Green 8T, is ‘the most beautiful case OnePlus has ever done’, or ‘fugly as sin’. Either way, it's an unmissable design with an ‘easy-grip’ texturing and enhanced impact resistance.

$35 at OnePlus

OnePlus 8T Karbon Bumper Case

The best official case

Old faithful of the OnePlus case world, the Karbon is at the top end of the official designs. The familiar hard case with subtle diagonal pin-stripes is designed to add the maximum in knock and drop protection, with the lowest profile, most sympathetic to your sexy new handset. That level of design comes at a premium of course, and the Karbon is available in black only, for $40.

$35 at OnePlus

Otterbox Symmetry 8T Case

Affordable premium protection

Otterbox doesn’t always make the most exciting cases, but they’re tough as old boots, and we mean that in the nicest possible way. Largely, the Symmetry is similarly low-profile like the official Karbon case, but with the added bonus of slightly raised edges around the camera and touchscreen, which provides much better protection if, say, your phone lands on its front. Symmetry cases comply with DROP+, which is measured as 3x the protection of a military-grade case, so your phone should be able to survive a few drops. The Otterbox Symmetry is available from Amazon at $38.

Buy from Amazon

dBrand OnePlus 8T Grip Case

Perfect for customization

Once case. Many customizations. That’s the promise with dBrand, offering a 2mm thick case, including a design that encases the side buttons, protecting them whilst leaving more of the screen-free - an important consideration for a near bezel-less device. There are gripping edges down the sides which can be customized to your preferred color from a huge gamut and the whole thing reaches military protection ratings. dBrand also offers skins to be applied directly to the outer casing of your phone, but for full protection, the Grip Case is available for $29.95 for plain black - add $10 extra for colored grips.

Starting at $30 at dBrand

UAG 8T Plasma Series Case

Best for butterfingers

Under Armor’s phone cases are among the toughest we’ve seen, combining a stiff translucent body with a rigid toughened frame. As a result, they do tend to add a bit of bulk to your phone, but even so, hardly any extra weight. As ever, it complies with Military Grade drop-protection standards and yet, thankfully, doesn't impact wireless charging or contactless payments. The translucent section is currently available in 'Ice' Blue which complements the handset perfectly. If you want big protection and don't mind making a bigger phone, this OnePlus 8T case should definitely be on your shortlist.

$40 at UAG

Olixar OnePlus 8T Leather-Style Wallet Stand Case

Great value with great features

The first folio-style case to make our list, we've chosen Olixar's thanks to the company's track record for producing great value cases without compromising on quality. There are the usual carbon-fiber offerings on offer, but we've decided to shine a light on the Wallet Stand, thanks to its imitation leather, three card slots, plus one larger slot of notes or receipts, magnetic clasp, and full compatibility with wireless charging and NFC payments. The whole folio can be rejigged to create a stand for the phone - great for games and watching videos. There are likely to be hundreds of phone cases with almost identical designs, but Olixar has a sterling reputation, so it's our pick from amongst them. You can pick it up direct from Olixar's website for around $15

$15 at Olixar

Simicoo OnePlus 8T Detachable Leather Wallet

Swiss Army Knife of Cases

It's very easy to get lost amongst a sea of products that more or less look the same. This cowhide leather Simicoo product breaks that mold spectacularly with what we can only describe as a 'handbag' (or 'manbag'). The phone is kept in a matching slimline case that tucks into a specially designed slot in the wallet section. That wallet section is no slouch - there are 11 slots to cover everything from notes and credit cards to your earbuds. There's also a magnetic clasp, whilst the crucial pockets have zippers and there's still room for the whole thing to become a kickstand. It won't show off your phone, but if you want an all-in-one solution for your stuff, this could be perfect. It's available in a choice of Blue, Black, Brown or Red (which is actually pink).

Buy at Amazon

Tereyi OnePlus 8T Ultra-Slim Patterened Silicone Case

Best for Style over Substance

We chose this one purely to show you that not all cases for the OnePlus 8T are one color! These Tereyi cases are simple, transparent silicone cases, similar to the one you'll find in the box with your phone. But if you don't want to walk around for the next year with 'Never Settle' across the back of your phone, there are six decal designs to choose from - baby elephants, pandas, kittens, and of course the ubiquitous 'Live Laugh Love' slogan. Not the highest spec cases on this list, more one for the Insta-crowd. If that's you, hit up Amazon where they're around $15.

Buy at Amazon

Our favorite pick of all the cases is the OnePlus 8T Karbon Bumper case. The Karbon series has been around since the early days of OnePlus and it’s proven consistently to be reliable. If you have slippery fingers and couldn’t transport an egg in the egg-and-spoon race at school, you’ll want to pick up the Otterbox Symmetry Case. If you want something a bit more unique, check out the Simicoo Detachable Leather Wallet!

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Mobvoi’s latest sale has you saving on TicWatch Sports, TicPods, and more!

Have you been waiting on a good TicWatch or TicPods deal? No need to wait until next month, as Mobvoi’s Halloween sale has some big discounts on great Tic brand gear. Some of these deals are going to be hard to beat on Black Friday, so instead of trying to beat the rush then, why not just pick up what you want now?

The item of this sale on the biggest discount is the TicPods Free, which is 69% off. This deal is more than nice, though–it brings the earbuds down to just $40! The TicPods Free have an 18-hour battery life, have noise cancellation, and quickly charges so you don’t need to go without them too long. When you throw in touch and voice support, what more could you ask for?

TicPods Free, 69% Off

Get Mobvoi's TicPods Free for only $40 until November 2nd! These TicPods have noise cancellation and a quick recharge time, and have both touch and voice commands available for easy use.

$40 at Mobvoi

You may be looking for smartwatches instead, and Mobvoi has a lot of their TicWatch line on sale, too! You can get the biggest savings with the TicWatch Sport, down to just $80. The Ticwatch Sport has a built-in GPS and heart-rate monitor, so it’s really great for tracking the minute details of all of your workouts. The smartwatch also offers out-of-box support with the Google Assistant and Facebook Messenger and runs off Wear OS. It should be easy to add new apps and customize your watch face!

TicWatch Sport, 60% Off

Track all of your workouts with the TicWatch Sport! Right now for only $80, you can get a smartwatch that monitors your heart rate, is water and sweatproof, and has built-in GPS!

$80 at Mobvoi

Not everyone likes the look of sports watches, though. Very understandable–I have small wrists and most sports watches look ridiculous on me. If you want a more stylish look, you can grab the TicWatch C2 for $150. Available in Rose Gold and Platinum, the TicWatch C2 will look great with your professional wear, while still offering what you want from a smartwatch. With the built-in GPS, message notifications, and step tracker, the C2 has all the basics covered while still looking like a normal watch.

TicWatch C2, 25% Off

If you're looking for a stylish smartwatch that looks more like a normal watch, look no further than the TicWatch C2. The C2 still counts steps and has a built-in GPS, but its more professional look makes it easier to wear in the office.

$150 at Mobvoi

These are only a few of the items on sale, though! Make sure to check Mobvoi’s sale page for all of the deals. The deals are only until November 2!

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