Key Points:

1. Google Messages Update: Testing new RCS status labels for clearer messaging.
2. Android 15 Security: Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is tougher to bypass.
3. Stronger FRP: New restrictions prevent unauthorized access after resets.

Google is making changes to how users see message types in its Messages app and tightening security on Android devices with its latest Android 15 update.

Google Messages Tests RCS Label Change

Google is experimenting with a new way of labeling messages in its Messages app. Right now, when you send a message, it shows either “Text message” or “RCS message.” RCS stands for Rich Communication Services, which allows more advanced features like higher-quality media and encryption.

In this new test, the labels are shorter: “RCS” for RCS chats and “Text” for regular SMS messages. This update makes the labels more concise, but some users have pointed out that the use of parentheses around “(RCS)” or “(Text)” looks unnecessary and could be simplified further. This test is still being rolled out to a limited number of users, with more changes like a colorful send button already appearing for some.

Android 15 Enhances Factory Reset Protection (FRP)

When it comes to security, Android 15 introduces stronger protections against phone thieves. One of the biggest risks after a phone is stolen is that the thief could try to reset the phone to sell it. Android’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) makes this difficult by requiring the original Google account to unlock the device after a reset.

However, clever hackers have found ways to bypass this protection in the past. With Android 15, Google has added new security measures to make it much harder for thieves to get around FRP. Here’s what’s new:

1. No Bypassing Setup: Thieves can’t skip the setup process to avoid signing in with the original Google account.
2. Lock Screen and Apps Disabled: After a reset, the phone won’t allow setting a new lock screen PIN, adding another Google account, or installing apps until the original account is signed in.
3. Secret Key Verification: Android 15 now stores a special key in a secure part of the phone’s memory. If the phone is reset without permission, the phone will ask for this key when it restarts, which can only be unlocked by signing into the original Google account.

These changes make it almost impossible for thieves to sell or reuse stolen Android phones. Google is also allowing phone manufacturers to add their security layers on top of this, making Android phones even more secure in future updates.

In summary, Google is testing more user-friendly updates to messaging and has made major improvements to phone security in Android 15, making it far harder for thieves to bypass critical protections.

Source/Via

Key Points:

1. Android 15 will likely feature a reorganized settings page.
2. The new layout will group related settings.
3. Some settings, like “Google” and “Digital Wellbeing,” will be moved or updated.

If you check the latest beta version of Android 15, you won’t notice any changes to the Settings app yet. But, based on an analysis, upcoming releases might include a redesigned top-level settings page.

An APK teardown—a method of analyzing app code—suggests that future Android 15 updates could bring a more organized settings layout. This change aims to make it easier for users to find and access settings by grouping related options in distinct sections.

Currently, the top-level settings page in Android 14 on Pixel phones lacks clear organization, making it hard for users, especially newcomers, to navigate. The new design for Android 15 will place similar settings next to each other, making the layout more intuitive. While this revamped layout isn’t available in the latest Android 15 Beta 3, we have a preview of how it might look.

Here’s a comparison of the top-level settings in Android 14 versus the planned arrangement for Android 15:

Android 14 Top-Level Settings Layout:

• Network & internet
• Hub mode (Pixel Tablet only)
• Connected devices
• Apps
• Notifications
• Battery
• Storage
• Sound & vibration
• Display
• Wallpaper & style
• Accessibility
• Security & privacy
• Location
• Safety & emergency
• Passwords, passkeys & autofill
• Digital Wellbeing & parental controls
• Google
• System
• About phone
• Tips & support

Android 15 Top-Level Settings Layout (Upcoming):

• Network & internet
• Connected devices
• Apps
• Notifications
• Sound & vibration
• Hub mode (Pixel Tablet only)
• Display
• Wallpaper & style
• Storage
• Battery
• System
• About phone
• Security & privacy
• Location
• Passwords, passkeys & accounts
• Safety & Emergency
• Accessibility
• Tips & support

Notably, the entries for “Google” and “Digital Wellbeing & parental controls” are missing from the upcoming layout. This isn’t because they are being removed but because they are managed differently. These settings use a special API to appear in the Settings app, so their exact placement in the new layout is uncertain. They might be listed under “Passwords, passkeys & accounts.”

The new layout also introduces sections to categorize settings more clearly, though there are no headers between these sections yet. Categories include Account, Connectivity, Personalize, System info, Security & privacy, and Support. The first “Account” section is currently empty, so its contents are still unknown.

Additional Changes in Android 15 Beta 3:

• The “Device & app notifications” setting has been renamed to “Notification read, reply & control.”
• “Screen turn-on control” has replaced “Turn screen on” under special app access.
• The description for “Allow camera software extensions” now mentions support for HDR, Night, and other camera features, but not “Eyes Free videography.”

This update signals that while some new features are being introduced, others might be delayed or adjusted.

Key Points:

1. Android Auto Restrictions: Google’s app design limits may violate EU competition laws.
2. JuicePass Issue: An EV charging app was blocked due to non-compliance with templates, leading to legal action.
3. Play Store Update: Google tests a disappearing navigation bar feature for better user experience.

For many years, Android Auto apps followed strict design templates, limiting their flexibility. Recently, updates have introduced more freedom, but these design restrictions have put Google under regulatory scrutiny, especially in Europe.

According to Reuters, Google’s app design limitations for Android Auto have attracted the attention of the European Union (EU). The concern is that these restrictions might breach EU competition laws. This case originates from Italy, where a legal issue arose over an app called JuicePass, a tool used for electric vehicle (EV) charging. JuicePass was blocked from Android Auto because it didn’t fit Google’s predefined templates.

Initially, Google claimed JuicePass couldn’t be integrated due to its app templates. However, in 2021, Italy fined Google for allegedly prioritizing its own navigation apps like Maps and Waze over third-party applications like JuicePass.

Recently, EU Court Advocate General Laila Medina stated that Google’s practices “may violate competition rules.” However, it’s unclear if this opinion considers Google’s gradual relaxation of its template restrictions. In recent years, Google has allowed new app categories, such as navigation apps, to launch on Android Auto. Despite this, JuicePass remains unavailable on the platform, with Google previously citing security concerns as the reason.

In response to the case, Google commented that they have addressed the issues raised by JuicePass’s developers and many similar apps are now available on Android Auto worldwide. The company is awaiting the final decision from the EU court.

Meanwhile, Google is also testing a small but useful tweak for the Play Store. In a recent update, the navigation bar has become more dynamic. Previously, Google made the navigation bar visible on all screens, including app listings and developer pages. Now, the company is experimenting with a feature where the navigation bar disappears as users scroll down but reappears when they scroll back up.

This feature, already seen in the Gmail app, improves screen space and makes browsing more fluid. Although this change hasn’t rolled out in the current Play Store version, it seems ready for release soon.

Once this feature becomes available, users can expect smoother navigation across the Play Store.

Source/Via