Posts From Mishaal Rahman

Mishaal Rahman
Mishaal Rahman

I am the former Editor-in-chief of XDA. In addition to breaking news on the Android OS and mobile devices, I used to manage all editorial and reviews content on the Portal.

Here’s a look at Gboard’s Assistant-powered voice typing feature for the Pixel 6

Here’s a look at Gboard’s Assistant-powered voice typing feature for the Pixel 6

October 6, 2021
Way back in 2019 at its I/O developer conference, Google unveiled the "new" Google Assistant, a much faster and smarter version of the voice assistant that's exclusive to Google's own Pixel phones. While Google did roll out the new Assistant as promised, some of the features they showed off have yet to become available. For...
The first games to support Android 12’s Game Mode are rolling out

The first games to support Android 12’s Game Mode are rolling out

October 6, 2021
One of the areas that has seen the most improvement in the Android 12 update is gaming. Gaming has been such a large focus for Google this iteration that the company even dedicated a showcase to new gaming features for Android 12 at the Google for Games Developer Summit. Apart from "play as you download",...
Google Assistant rolling out “Quick Phrases” that let you skip “Hey Google” for dismissing alarms and calls

Google Assistant rolling out “Quick Phrases” that let you skip “Hey Google” for dismissing alarms and calls

October 6, 2021
Your Google Assistant is about to get smarter with a new feature called "Quick Phrases." This feature, once enabled, puts the Assistant on standby whenever you receive an incoming phone call or an alarm/timer has gone off on your phone. If you can't reach your phone at the moment you receive a phone call, the Assistant...
Google starts uploading the Android 12 source code to AOSP

Google starts uploading the Android 12 source code to AOSP

October 4, 2021
Earlier today, Google announced the release of Android 12, the latest major version of the Android OS. While they didn't push stable builds to Pixel phones today, they did confirm that the source code is dropping today. True to their word, Google has started to upload the Android 12 source code to the Android Open...
Android 12’s dessert name is confirmed to be Snow Cone

Android 12’s dessert name is confirmed to be Snow Cone

October 4, 2021
Another year, another Android release. As you might expect, this year’s release will be called Android 12 since Google ditched its dessert naming scheme for Android 2 years ago. Even if Android 12 won’t officially have a tasty dessert tie-in, that doesn’t mean that Google has entirely given up on giving its OS releases a...
Android 12 will include patches for over 160 security vulnerabilities

Android 12 will include patches for over 160 security vulnerabilities

October 4, 2021
Google surprised us today by announcing the release of Android 12 ... but postponing the update for Pixel phones until later. Had today's update included the long-awaited version bump, Pixel users would have been treated to a fresh new OS update, a promised Pixel Feature Drop, and a security update all at once. Alas, Pixel...
Realme says it will roll out an Android 12 update to its GT series “soon”

Realme says it will roll out an Android 12 update to its GT series “soon”

October 4, 2021
Realme, one of the smartphone brands under BBK Electronics alongside OPPO, OnePlus, and Vivo, today announced which of its phones will be first in line to get the Android 12 update. The announcement comes shortly after Google began uploading the source code for Android 12 to AOSP today. Predictably, the phones that will be the first...
October 2021 security update rolls out for Pixel phones, but it doesn’t bring Android 12

October 2021 security update rolls out for Pixel phones, but it doesn’t bring Android 12

October 4, 2021
Today is the day that Google is releasing Android 12 to the public. No, not the update to Pixel phones — instead they're only releasing the source code today. Since today is also the first Monday of the month, though, it's still the day that Google is publishing the Android Security Bulletin. Right on time,...
Android 12 releases today, but the update for Pixel phones comes later

Android 12 releases today, but the update for Pixel phones comes later

October 4, 2021
Today, Google is releasing Android 12, the most significant update to the Android operating system in years. Google is starting to upload the source code for the new OS today, but the rollout of the Android 12 update to select Pixel phones comes later. What's new in Android 12? The last few Android releases weren't that exciting...
ASUS recruits testers for the ZenFone 8’s Android 12 update with ZenUI

ASUS recruits testers for the ZenFone 8’s Android 12 update with ZenUI

October 1, 2021
Next Monday will see the release of the Android 12 update on Google's Pixel phones, and that marks the official start of the waiting period for the update to roll out to other smartphones. Google's major OEM partners already have access to the new OS's source code, though, which is why you can install an...
T-Mobile shares its own list of devices getting the Android 12 update

T-Mobile shares its own list of devices getting the Android 12 update

October 1, 2021
Ahead of the Android 12 stable release next week, T-Mobile has just shared its own list of devices that will be getting the Android 12 update. Although T-Mobile doesn't make any phones of its own, the carrier is heavily involved in the testing and rollout of OS updates, resulting in updates rolling out for some...
Mobvoi’s new TicWatch products will have advanced heart monitoring features

Mobvoi’s new TicWatch products will have advanced heart monitoring features

September 30, 2021
Mobvoi is the brand behind several of the best Wear OS smartwatches, and it looks like the company is gearing up to launch new "TicWatch" branded devices. Version 4.3.0 of the Mobvoi app rolled out recently on Google Play, and it contains hints about three upcoming TicWatch products as well as new features that may...