latest
Possibly First Known Android Q Feature Detailed: Assisted Dialing for All
While Android P nears launch, we have found evidence for what is possibly the first confirmed new feature coming in Android Q: assisted dialing for international travels. Previously a feature of the Google Phone app, it will be available for all.
Now that Mobile World Congress is over, Android enthusiasts are focusing their attention on the upcoming release of Android P. I have long speculated that the first Android P Developer Preview would drop on March 14th, Pi day, and it seems that that's becoming more and more likely thanks to new information from Evan Blass. While we have only been able to learn little tidbits here and there about the new release, we know almost nothing about its successor: Android Q. Considering we're quite far off from the release date of Android Q, it's unlikely we'll learn significant details about it anytime soon. But thanks to a little nugget of information I discovered in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) gerrit, we may have possibly found the first known feature coming to Android Q: assisted dialing.
[Hands On] Google Dialer's Floating Bubble Goes Live in v17 with a Fresh Coat of Paint
The Google Dialer's previously hidden floating bubble menu has gotten a fresh coat of paint, and is now available in version 17 of the app. You can install it now!
The Google Dialer, for folks who aren't familiar, is a customized version of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) phone app with a few extra features. Compatible Nexus and Pixel devices get Google Duo video call integration, real-time spam protection, caller ID, call blocking, visual voicemail (with transcription support on some carriers), and a local directory feature that shows search results for phone numbers that aren't in your contact list. Especially nifty is a floating button that lets you mute your phone's microphone, end calls, and toggle speakerphone while you're in another app, but the feature was hidden from view by default—until now.
Replicate the Google Dialer's Floating Bubble Feature with Tasker and AutoTools
You can create a functional Google Dialer Floating Bubble featured in Pixel 2 devices with Tasker and AutoTools - no root required!
Previously, we've shared how to enable the Google Phone app's new floating dialer bubble by modifying files on your Android device. Since then, our favorite Tasker plugin developer, João Dias, came up with a solution of his own using his AutoTools app to recreate the same floating bubble. His video is cool, but the accompanying post was slightly lacking in its description so I thought I would create a separate tutorial and improve on João's design by adding visual feedback to the toggles in the Dialer Floating Bubble.
Google is Updating AOSP Dialer with Floating In-Call Buttons and More
Since Google's switched to a public development model for the AOSP Dialer, the open source dialer app is receiving a host of major updates.
Google has been working on adding some more features to the Google Dialer application but hasn't yet decided to flip the switch and make the features public just yet. We covered a way to enable the new floating bubble feature in the application late last month but now it looks like more people will have access to this feature if they're willing to install its open source counterpart. We have found commits that Google is updating the AOSP Dialer application with this specific feature as well as committing to keeping the AOSP Dialer up to date.
How to Enable Google Dialer's New Floating Bubble Feature
Google Dialer's app has a hidden floating bubble feature that lets you mute or end the call anytime you're in another app, here's how to enable it!
Google Dialer is a modification of the AOSP dialer with a few small extra features. You can search for local phone numbers within the app and receive information on phone numbers that aren't in your contacts. What's more, you can also enable a secret feature! The Google Dialer floating bubble can be enabled by editing one of Google Dialer's XML files in its shared_prefs folder. The floating bubble allows you to turn on speaker phone, mute your microphone, or hang up while you're in another app. A video demonstration of the floating bubble is below. To follow this guide, you need root access and a root enabled file explorer. I recommend the free MiXplorer, straight from our Apps & Games forum! If you would prefer however, any other popular, root enabled options should work fine.
Magisk Module to Install Google Dialer and Contacts on the OnePlus 5
Thanks to a Magisk module from community dev dustintinsley, we can now install a working version of Google Dialer and Google Contacts on the OnePlus 5.
There are general methods of getting Google Dialer and Google Contacts installed on your average Android device, but these weren't completely working on the OnePlus 5. Specifically, many noticed that you couldn't answer or decline a call from the notification popup with those applications installed. Thankfully though, XDA Senior Member dustintinsley was able to whip up a Magisk module that properly installed both Google Dialer as well as Google Contacts on the new OnePlus flagship. Just remember to go in and manually set the permissions after the module has been installed.
How to Automatically Disable Do Not Disturb Mode during Phone Calls
The Google Phone app that came with Android 7.1 automatically enables Do Not Disturb mode during phone calls. Here's how to automatically disable that.
For an Android enthusiast like the users on our forums, receiving a major software update can be an exciting event due to the enhanced performance and new features that they often bring. While some brave users are running the first Android O Developer Preview as their daily driver, most owners of the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Google Pixel, and Pixel XL are likely still on Android 7.1 due to its stability. Although Android 7.1 introduced many awesome new features such as app shortcuts, keyboard GIF insertion support, and round icon framework support, it also introduced a rather annoying feature in some people's minds. With Android 7.1's roll out came an updated Google Phone application that automatically switches the phone to Do Not Disturb mode while in the middle of a phone call.