Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7+ is now on sale for $699 ($150 off)

The Galaxy Tab S7+ is the most premium Android tablet available right now, with a flagship Snapdragon chipset and a large 12.4-inch AMOLED screen. It’s the tablet to get if you want the best Android-powered competitor to the iPad Pro and Surface Pro X, and now the 128GB version is available for $699 at B&H Photo and Video. That’s a savings of $150 from the original price.

The Galaxy Tab S7+ has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ chipset, a 12.4-inch 2800×1752 AMOLED 120Hz screen, 6GB RAM, 128GB of internal storage (with a microSD card slot for adding more room), Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0. Watching movies and TV shows is a treat on the high-resolution AMOLED screen, especially with four speakers surrounding the edge for excellent sound. The Tab S7 is included in Samsung’s promised “three generations” of support, and it has already been updated to Android 11, so it should at least get Android 12 and 13.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ 128GB

This is the 128GB version of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S7+, with a 12.4-inch screen and a Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset.

Buy at B&H Photo

Like most other Galaxy Tabs, the Tab S7+ has an S Pen stylus in the box, which can be used for drawing or as a simple pointer. Even though the S Pen is included, the keyboard attachment seen in the top photo is not — you’ll have to spend an extra $141 for that. Alternatively, if you don’t care about the keyboard matching the tablet too closely, any Bluetooth keyboard (or a USB keyboard with a Type-C cable or adapter) will work well with the Tab S7+.

If you don’t really need a 12-inch AMOLED screen, but you still want a quality Android tablet, the regular Galaxy Tab S7 sale from a few days ago remains available. Microsoft is selling the 128GB Tab S7 for $530, a savings of $120 from the original MSRP and $30-50 below typical prices.

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iOS 15’s notifications could finally be better than Android

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is underway, and the first topic of discussion during the event is iOS 15. The company has already highlighted a couple of new features coming in the next major upgrade of the mobile operating system, including new FaceTime features, SharePlay, updated photo/link sharing in Messages, and more. Notifications in iOS 15 will also receive a major upgrade, complete with an updated UI and new features, and it might finally end up being better than notifications on Android.

In case you missed Apple’s presentation, notifications in iOS 15 will receive a minor redesign, a new Notification Summary feature, an easier way to notify others when you’re busy, and a feature to help you focus on what’s at hand. First, let’s talk about the Notification Summary. iOS 15 will automatically generate a helpful summary of all the notifications you’ve received and provide it in an easy-to-browse layout at any specified time of day. iOS 15 will use on-device intelligence to arrange the summary so that the most important notifications show up at the top.

Along with the new Notification Summary, iOS 15 will introduce a new feature that will help you easily alert others when you’re busy. When you turn on do not disturb (DND) mode on your device, your status will automatically be displayed in the Messages app. If you have DND turned on and someone messages you, they’ll receive a reminder saying that you’re busy at the moment. Apple will provide an alternative way to help senders bypass the DND mode for truly important messages, though.

 

In order to help you further streamline the way you receive notifications, iOS 15 will also bring a new feature called Focus. The feature will let you mat your device’s notification alerts based on what you’re doing at the time. For instance, if you’re working and have the work profile for Focus turned on, you will only receive work-related notifications on your phone. On top of that, you’ll only see work-related widgets on your home screen. Similarly, when you’re at home, you’ll be able to turn on Focus to avoid work-related notifications.

L: Intelligent Focus suggestions; R: Focus alert in the Messages app

 

One of the best things about the Focus feature is that it will provide intelligent suggestions based on various factors like your current location or the time of day to help you focus on the task at hand. Additionally, Focus will synchronize across all supported devices, so you won’t have to worry about turning it on again if you switch from your Mac to your iPhone.

Currently, we don’t have any further details about the changes coming to notifications in iOS 15. We’ll let you know as soon as we learn more.

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Apple is finally bringing widgets on the home screen to iPadOS 15

Today, Apple held its keynote for WWDC, announcing new software updates like iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and macOS 12. For iPadOS 15, Apple is finally delivering some key iOS 14 features like home screen widgets. Indeed, last year, the Cupertino firm delivered home screen widgets for the iPhone, but iPad users had to keep their widgets in a dedicated widget section.

The way that it’s going to work isn’t all that different than it is on an iPhone, but it’s bigger. There’s a new widget selection menu, and there are also some bigger widgets.

You can see that widgets are divided by different categories, and can search, and so on. While the UI is refreshed, this is really about feature parity with the iPhone. It’s clear that last year, Apple didn’t consider this to be an iPad feature; now it is.

As mentioned, there are bigger widgets too. Here are some examples of apps that use the new, larger widget: Files, Photos, and Apple TV. You can probably imagine how each of those can take advantage of extra real estate. And with apps like Photos, it can be more visually appealing by showing you various pictures, or things that happened on this day from years ago.

There’s one other iOS 14 feature that’s coming to iPadOS 15. iPad is getting the App Library feature now. If you’re unfamiliar with it, it’s basically an app drawer, and like home screen widgets, it arrived on iPhone last year, but not on iPad. Now, you can use this to remove certain apps from your home screen without uninstalling them. You can always access them through the App Library. You can also set whether new apps will show up on the home screen or not, landing only in the App Library.

Home screen widgets and the App Library will debut in iPadOS 15 this fall.

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Apple wants to take on Zoom with new FaceTime features

Apple kicked off this year’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) with new features coming to the next big update for iPhones, iOS 15. Facetime is the first native app to get a bunch of new features, which will help Apple compete with the likes of Zoom, Google Duo, and more.

Apple says that it wants to make FaceTime more natural, comfortable, and lifelike. The first important feature coming to Facetime is spatial audio which ensures that the sound feels as if it’s coming in the direction your friend is sitting in. Additionally, it will also add voice isolation where machine language will be used to distinguish and block any ambient noise to prioritize your voice. Facetime will also have the ability to choose wide spectrum audio where the mic can pick up your voice and all the sounds around you.

As for visual changes, the ‘Grid View’ brings a new way to view your FaceTime calls where you can move around the people in your group chat to clearly see who’s speaking. A new portrait mode is also being added that will allow users to blur the background while they are on a FaceTimr call , thereby focusing on your face.

FaceTime Link is another important addition to the app. Users can now generate links for FaceTime calls allowing them to directly add them to a calendar or share it with their friends or colleagues. Best of all, Facetime calls will now be accessible to Android and Windows users via the browser with end-to-end encryption. Apple also announced SharePlay, a new feature that will be leveraged by FaceTime. You can now watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and share your screen directly on a faceTime call. It will also add shared playback controls, music queue, picture-in-picture, and more. Additionally, using the SharePlay API, online streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, and more, can enable support giving users to share content from the apps with their friends via FaceTime.

The new FaceTime updates are expected to arrive with the new iOS 15 update. Apple is yet to confirm what all devices will support the newly announced FaceTime features.

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June 2021 security update goes live for Google Pixel phones

Today’s the first Monday of June 2021, which means it’s time for a new Android Security Bulletin to go live. Right on schedule, Google has published the June 2021 Android Security Bulletin. They’ve also started rolling out new updates to currently supported Pixel phones, though as a bonus, the latest update to Pixel phones also brings the latest Pixel Feature Drop.

June 2021 Security Update Bulletin

The Android Security Bulletin for the month of June 2021, which can be viewed here, details multiple security vulnerabilities ranging in severity from high to critical. As we’ve seen in the past, many of the disclosed vulnerabilities don’t offer additional documentation that explains what is affected and how the patch addresses the issue. You can read up on how monthly Android security updates work here.

Pixel Update Bulletin/Functional Update

In addition to providing information about vulnerabilities in the general Android Security Update Bulletin, Google has also added new features to the update rolling out for Pixel devices. Pixel Feature Drops roll out once every 3 months, so the latest monthly update is a more exciting affair than usual.

You should be getting the June 2021 security update starting today on your Pixel device, so long as you own one of the currently supported models. That includes the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. Here are the build numbers for each Pixel device:

• Pixel 3 (XL): RQ3A.210605.005
• Pixel 3a (XL): RQ3A.210605.005
• Pixel 4 (XL): RQ3A.210605.005
• Pixel 4a: RQ3A.210605.005
• Pixel 4a (5G): RQ3A.210605.005
• Pixel 5: RQ3A.210605.005

Pixel Factory Images ||| Pixel OTA Images

Samsung has already started rolling out the June 2021 security patches to a couple of Galaxy devices, and other smartphone OEMs will likely soon follow.

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Google Stadia will finally arrive on Android TV later this month

Google Stadia launched almost two years ago in November 2018, and while many of the platform’s original issues have now been fixed, the lack of proper TV support has remained consistent. Google didn’t even have Stadia available at launch on its new Chromecast with Google TV, which was released eight months ago. Thankfully for anyone using Stadia, Google is finally bringing the service to Android TV devices starting later this month.

Since the launch of Stadia, the only official method to play Stadia on a TV has been with the Chromecast Ultra, which is now discontinued. There hasn’t been much of an excuse for not supporting Android TV, but Google is finally addressing that. Starting on June 23rd, Stadia will be available for download on all Android TV devices (in regions where Stadia is available), including the Chromecast with Google TV.

The one catch so far is that, at least initially, only a handful of devices will be officially supported. Stadia can still be installed on unsupported TVs and streaming boxes running Android TV, but you’ll get a warning that performance might not be acceptable. The first batch of supported devices is listed below.

• Chromecast with Google TV
• Hisense Android Smart TVs (U7G, U8G, U9G)
• NVIDIA SHIELD TV
• NVIDIA SHIELD TV Pro
• Onn FHD Streaming Stick and UHD Streaming Device
• Philips 8215, 8505, and OLED 935/805 Series Android TVs
• Xiaomi MIBOX3 and MIBOX4

Google says you’ll be able to use the Stadia Controller or most other Bluetooth gamepads connected directly to Android TV. Keep an eye out for Stadia to show up in the Play Store on Android TV later this month.

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Pixel Feature Drop adds new features to Google Camera, Google Photos, and more

Once every 3 months, Google releases a “Pixel Feature Drop” update that adds tons of new exclusive features on Pixel phones. The last update rolled out in March, meaning we’re due a big update today. Right on schedule, Google has released a new Pixel Feature Drop update alongside the June 2021 Android Security Bulletin.

In today’s update, Google has added new features to the Google Camera, Google Photos, Google Assistant, Digital Wellbeing, and Google Recorder apps. Here are the new features you’re getting in the update that’s rolling out today:

• Astrophotography videos in Google Camera: You can now create videos of the stars moving across the sky. When you take a photo in the app’s Night Sight mode, both the photo and a video will be saved. If you put the phone on a tripod and wait for longer, you’ll be able to capture an astrophotography, though sadly not as a time-lapse as we were expecting.
• Locked Folder in Google Photos: At Google I/O 2021, Google said that it will add a “locked folder” to the Google Photos app that will let you hide sensitive photos and videos. This feature is now rolling out to Pixel users, and when it’s available, you’ll be able to add photos and videos to the Locked Folder straight from the Google Camera app. Do note that files added to the Locked Folder aren’t saved in the cloud, so be sure you don’t forget your device’s passcode or fingerprint.
• Car crash detection: The Personal Safety app on Google Pixel phones can automatically detect when you’re in a car crash and alert emergency services. However, this feature is only available if you’re in the U.S., the U.K., or Australia. Soon, Pixel users in Spain, Ireland, and Singapore will get car crash detection capabilities in the Personal Safety app.
• Heads-up alerts in Digital Wellbeing: Earlier this year, Google started rolling out a new “Heads Up” feature in the Digital Wellbeing app to a handful of users. This feature is now starting to roll out more widely as part of the June 2021 Pixel Feature Drop. As a reminder, this feature will periodically warn you to look up from your screen when you’re walking.
• Take calls with the Google Assistant: You’ll now be able to answer or reject a phone call with a simple Google Assistant command. Just say, “Hey Google, answer” call or “Hey Google, reject call.”
• Smarter replies in Gboard: The Gboard app will now surface phone numbers, email addresses, or URLs in the clipboard suggestion space.
• Expanded availability for Call Screen and Recorder: Call Screen on Pixel phones lets you avoid spam callers by having the Google Assistant pick up the call and find out why you’re being called. The Recorder app uses Google’s ML prowess to detect and transcribe speech. Call Screen is now coming to Japan, while the Recorder app will soon support more English dialects including Singaporean, Australian, Irish, and British English.
• Bonus: June is Pride month, and to celebrate, Google has released new Pride-themed three new wallpapers, ringtones, and notification sounds.

Here’s a chart that summarizes which of these new features will be available on select Pixel devices:

Here’s a video that summarizes the new features added in the June 2021 Pixel Feature Drop:

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