Posts From Mishaal Rahman

Mishaal Rahman
Mishaal Rahman

I am the Editor-in-chief of XDA. In addition to breaking news on the Android OS and mobile devices, I manage all editorial and reviews content on the Portal. Tips/media inquiries: [email protected]

Android 12 will automatically hibernate unused apps to free up space

Android 12 will automatically hibernate unused apps to free up space

April 19, 2021
Although Google doesn't release the source code for new Android versions before the stable release for Pixel phones is ready, we seldom get a glimpse at some upcoming features through code changes submitted to the AOSP Gerrit. One of the features we've been expecting to land in the upcoming Android 12 release is app hibernation,...
Android 12 deprecates the RenderScript API for GPU compute tasks

Android 12 deprecates the RenderScript API for GPU compute tasks

April 19, 2021
Google introduced the RenderScript API all the way back in Android 3.0 Honeycomb for applications that need to run high-performance workloads on the CPU or GPU without using NDK or GPU-specific APIs. With improvements to NDK tooling, GPU compute using OpenCL, the introduction of the Vulkan API, and the capability to share Bitmap hardware buffers...
Google’s Nearby Share will soon support group transfers: Here’s a first look

Google’s Nearby Share will soon support group transfers: Here’s a first look

April 17, 2021
Last month, we reported that Google is preparing to upgrade Nearby Share, Android's alternative to Apple's AirDrop file transferring service, with the ability to share files to multiple people at once. We also reported that Google is changing the feature's device visibility policy to allow you to share files with anyone nearby rather than only...
Android 12 may automatically translate apps to your native language

Android 12 may automatically translate apps to your native language

April 16, 2021
With over 2.5 billion active users, Android is the most widely used operating system worldwide. While the OS itself has been localized to dozens of different languages, that's not the case for many third-party apps. Larger companies can localize their apps in-house or hire professional translation services, but these options aren't economically feasible for smaller...
Google may let users manage Android’s hidden Recycle Bin in Android 12

Google may let users manage Android’s hidden Recycle Bin in Android 12

April 16, 2021
Google I/O 2021 kicks off on May 18th next month, and at the event, we're expecting to see Google announce all the features coming to Android 12. Before the event starts, we've been collecting as much information as we can on the latest OS release from the two publicly available Developer Previews. The other day,...
Google will finally let file manager apps request “All Files Access” on Android 11 next month

Google will finally let file manager apps request “All Files Access” on Android 11 next month

April 14, 2021
Google has started to send out emails to developers whose apps request broad access to device storage. The email tells developers that, starting May 5th, they must inform Google why their app requests broad storage access or they won't be allowed to publish updates that target Android 11. Prior to Android 11, apps could request broad...
Exclusive: Here’s a first look at some more upcoming features in Android 12

Exclusive: Here’s a first look at some more upcoming features in Android 12

April 13, 2021
It's been nearly 2 months since Google released the first Android 12 developer preview, and we're expecting the third developer preview to drop at any moment. Thanks to leaks, extensive hands-ons, and code digging, we've learned a lot about the upcoming version of Google's Android OS. Still, with each new release, we're learning more and more,...
The Huawei Mate X2 made me realize how much I was missing out on

The Huawei Mate X2 made me realize how much I was missing out on

April 13, 2021
The future of the smartphone is foldable. It's not a matter of if, but when foldables are priced low enough to overtake traditional flagships in popularity. Ask any person who's used a foldable phone, and they'll tell you the same thing: They're the future. Until this week, though, if you asked me about foldables, I...
OnePlus Watch Review: A Promising First Attempt at a Smartwatch

OnePlus Watch Review: A Promising First Attempt at a Smartwatch

April 13, 2021
It's been a few years since OnePlus deviated from its roots as a smartphone-only brand, but apart from a limited venture selling TVs in a handful of markets, the company is still primarily a smartphone and smartphone accessory brand. OnePlus' latest accessory for smartphones is a wearable device called the OnePlus Watch. Launching this week,...
Google Duo uses a new codec for better call quality over poor connections

Google Duo uses a new codec for better call quality over poor connections

April 9, 2021
While U.S. carriers are busy marketing their new 5G networks, the reality is that the vast majority of people won't experience the advertised speeds. There are still many parts of the U.S. — and around the world — where data speeds are slow, so to compensate, services like Google Duo use compression techniques to efficiently...
Hands-on with Google Assistant’s in-development “Memory” feature for saving reminders

Hands-on with Google Assistant’s in-development “Memory” feature for saving reminders

April 5, 2021
The Google Assistant is loaded with features to manage your digital life, and it's soon about to get another feature that'll make it even easier to remember things you need to do. Called "Memory," the new feature is billed as "an easy way to save and find your stuff." We detailed this feature in an...
Supreme Court sides with Google over Oracle in Java API copyright dispute

Supreme Court sides with Google over Oracle in Java API copyright dispute

April 5, 2021
Nearly 11 years after the dispute began, Google v Oracle seems to have finally come to an end. In a 6-2 decision delivered by Justice Breyer, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, granting Google victory in the over decade-long dispute over copyright infringement. Shortly after...