COVID-19 Posts on XDA

Google Pay can securely store your COVID-19 vaccine info

Google Pay can securely store your COVID-19 vaccine info

June 30, 2021
Google has updated the Passes API to enable a secure way of storing your COVID-19 vaccination card and/or testing status on your Android smartphone, marking yet another way that Google has tried to help authorities combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The Passes API lets third-party developers create boarding passes, loyalty cards, digital tickets, etc. that the user...
Google silently installed Massachusetts’ contact tracing app onto users’ phones

Google silently installed Massachusetts’ contact tracing app onto users’ phones

June 21, 2021
Google appears to have silently installed the Massachusetts COVID-19 contact tracing app onto users' smartphones. The "MassNotify" app was found to have been automatically installed onto users' devices and has no application icon on the home screen or searchable Play Store listing. While some theorized that it was installed automatically on devices that had turned...
Here are the countries using Google and Apple’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing API

Here are the countries using Google and Apple’s COVID-19 Contact Tracing API

February 25, 2021
SARS-CoV-2, also known colloquially as just the coronavirus, has wreaked havoc across the world. Many countries shut down large parts of the economy in order to contain the spread of the virus. As countries reopen their economies, many health experts fear a "second wave", ie. resurgence, of COVID-19. To prevent a second wave, public health...
Google fixes issues with COVID-19 contact tracing apps on Android

Google fixes issues with COVID-19 contact tracing apps on Android

January 13, 2021
Google confirmed on Wednesday it's investigating issues with Android apps that use the Android Exposure Notifications System to track the spread of COVID-19. Apparently, there’s one issue in particular that’s causing apps to take longer to load or conduct exposure checks. “We are aware of an issue affecting Android apps developed using the Android Exposure Notifications...
Google Play Services 20.50.14 prepares to add support for Wearable Exposure Notifications

Google Play Services 20.50.14 prepares to add support for Wearable Exposure Notifications

January 6, 2021
Back in August of last year, we learned that the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) was working on a new BLE specification that would make contact tracing possible on wearables like smartwatches. To develop this new specification, over 130 Bluetooth member companies came together to form the Bluetooth SIG Exposure Notification Working Group (ENWG). At...
How to view a map of COVID-19 cases in Google News on Android

How to view a map of COVID-19 cases in Google News on Android

October 23, 2020
Google has added a new section in Google News that shows you a map of COVID-19 cases worldwide. In this section, you can easily check the total number of cases, recoveries, and deaths, along with helpful graphs illustrating the spread of coronavirus in a location, cases over time, and tests conducted. Additionally, the section lists...
Google, Apple introduce Exposure Notifications Express to boost participation in COVID-19 contact tracing

Google, Apple introduce Exposure Notifications Express to boost participation in COVID-19 contact tracing

September 1, 2020
Exposure Notifications System is a framework developed jointly by Google and Apple that consists of an iOS and Android API and a Bluetooth Low Energy spec with the goal being to empower public health agencies to develop power-efficient and secure COVID-19 contact tracing apps. Introduced a few months back, ENS is designed to allow you...
Bluetooth SIG is working on COVID-19 contact tracing support on wearables

Bluetooth SIG is working on COVID-19 contact tracing support on wearables

August 19, 2020
COVID-19 contact tracing will soon make its way to wearable devices, according to a recent announcement from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The standards body, which is responsible for defining new Bluetooth standards, has announced that they are working on a new BLE specification that will make contact tracing possible on wearables. Currently, Google and...
[Update: Launches Globally] Samsung launches a UV sterilizer for phones and other gadgets

[Update: Launches Globally] Samsung launches a UV sterilizer for phones and other gadgets

July 7, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has made many people more aware of their own hygiene habits. We're washing our hands after bringing in packages, wiping down our groceries, and using hand sanitizer after touching doorknobs. Gadgets like smartphones and earbuds can be covered in nasty stuff too, which is why Samsung is launching a UV sterilizer to...
Huawei releases its “Contact Shield” API for COVID-19 contact tracing

Huawei releases its “Contact Shield” API for COVID-19 contact tracing

June 8, 2020
As many countries around the world are lifting their stay-at-home orders, public health agencies are scrambling to implement contact tracing to limit a resurgence of COVID-19. Several app-based contact tracing solutions have arisen in the past few weeks, some of which are based on Google and Apple's Exposure Notification API, and now developers of public...
Google Maps gets new safety features for navigating during the coronavirus pandemic

Google Maps gets new safety features for navigating during the coronavirus pandemic

June 8, 2020
You've probably heard enough about how we're living in "unprecedented" and "challenging" times, but it's true. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly every aspect of our daily lives, especially when it comes to leaving our homes. Navigating the outside world can be extra complicated these days and Google Maps is adding some new features to...
Screenshots reveal Facebook for Android’s dark mode, COVID-19 tracker, and more

Screenshots reveal Facebook for Android’s dark mode, COVID-19 tracker, and more

June 5, 2020
While many popular apps already have dark modes, Facebook has been taking its sweet time. The company rolled out dark mode for Instagram, Messenger, Facebook Lite, and WhatsApp, but the main Facebook app is still waiting. It's not that Facebook hasn't been working on it, we've seen hints of it going all the way back...