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Best mobile accessories for running in 2023
Watches, earbuds, and more to bring with you on your next run
Whether you're a novice runner or a title-winning triathlete, chances are you rely on more than just a good pair of shoes to keep you safe, in control, and on pace during your runs. In the current market, there are an overwhelming number of running accessories to parse through; from GPS trackers to earbuds, armbands to running belts, the list goes on and on. We've rounded up some of our favorite products to help you make it through your next mile.
5 tech items you must bring on your next road trip
If you're planning a road trip, these five items could end up being life savers.
As we head into the peak of summer, travelers are heading out in droves to discover new parts of the world or just explore their own backyards. If you're heading on a road trip, you no doubt have your go-to list of things to bring, like smartphones, tablets, power banks, and more. But sometimes, it's a good idea to refresh that list with some new tech items to make your journey safer. We've compiled a list, so let's go ahead and check out these five tech items you must bring on your next road trip.
Urban GPS tracking will get way more accurate on many Android phones next year
Google said that it has figured out how to make urban GPS tracking more accurate on Android phones. Here's what you need to know.
Sharing your general location with someone is easy. Unfortunately, thanks to location tracking errors, getting someone’s precise location isn’t always accurate, especially in dense urban areas. Google is aware of these limitations and today unveiled steps they've taken to improve urban GPS tracking on Android phones.
OPPO Find X2, Realme X50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20, and iQOO 3 support dual-frequency GNSS for better location tracking
OPPO Find X2, Realme X50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20, and iQOO 3 are among the latest phones which support dual-frequency GNSS for better location tracking.
Location services are among of the most useful applications on your phone, not only helping navigate your way but also allowing several apps to tailor features and services based on your location. A lot of these applications and other features like the AR-based Live View in Google Maps require high accuracy in your position. While the traditional Global Satellite Navigation Systems (GNSS) use radio waves of a single frequency to communicate with artificial positioning satellites and may not be very accurate, dual-frequency GNSS are gaining attention for their higher accuracy. A slew of recently launched Android phones which support dual-frequency GNSS includes the Realme X50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S20 series, iQOO 3, OPPO Find X.
All Play Store apps will eventually need approval from Google to access location in the background
Google is making it so that all app developers will need to get approval to access the device's location in the background in Android 11.
Android 11's first Developer Preview is upon us, and there are going to be a ton of changes under the hood to discover and analyze. Given that it only just came out, we're only just beginning to discover new features. On Google's Android Developer blog, however, they've outlined one change that may go a long way towards ensuring the privacy of users, and it won't be reserved for just Android 11. Developers will eventually need to get approval straight from Google in order for their Play Store app to get location services in the background.
Photo Map for Google Photos shows you a map of where you have been, based on your photography
Photo Map for Google Photos by XDA Member Dennyw is an app that sorts your photos location-wise out on a map according to its EXIF data. Read on!
Google's Timeline feature is available for all Android devices with Google apps, allowing Google to (slightly creepily) collect location data at all times. This, combined with the prowess of Google Photos, allows users to easily create albums of their trips. But there is no easy way to map your photos to locations you have visited. Google Timeline also captures a lot of noise, so your run to the supermarket is recorded even if there are no associated photos. In short, there is no clean solution available from Google to sort your photos out on a map, but Photo Map is a great solution.
Dual-Frequency GNSS - An important location feature your phone is probably missing
Accurate location isn't guaranteed on most Android phone because they lack dual-frequency GNSS. Here's what that means and if your device has it.
It's not something you often think about, but location services are probably one of the most-used features on your smartphone. A multitude of apps—from Pokémon GO to Snapchat—rely on your location to personalize your experience and provide you with more features. Of course, this goes beyond just casual app usage. Accurate location is everything when you're driving around a big city looking for a parking space. Unfortunately, when it comes to the vast majority of modern devices, accurate location is not something you can be 100% sure of.
Google Maps Go for Android Go gets proper turn-by-turn navigation
While it has limitations, Android Go is being improved upon every day. Google Maps Go is an example of this, as you can now use turn by turn navigation.
Android Go is Google's lightweight version of their smartphone operating system. It has a number of under the hood optimizations which makes it the perfect software to run on lower-end hardware. Aimed at developing regions, it can be an effective way of getting basic processing capabilities to everyone across the world. While some of its applications have limitations, it's being improved upon every day. Google Maps Go is an example of this, as you couldn't use turn by turn navigation. Google has fixed this... sorta.
How to Save your Parking Spot with Tasker
Google Now card has a location of your car. If you don't use Google Now, or Google services are blocked in your area, use Tasker to save your parking spot.
If you are enrolled in and regularly make use of Google Now, you might have seen the ‘where I parked my car’ card. This additional card is displayed whenever Google thinks you have stopped driving and left your vehicle.