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.

Top 3 Key Points:

1. Gemini Advanced users can give three friends a 4-month trial to Google One AI Premium.
2. Google Play’s new “Collections” widget, offering personalized app recommendations, is now available in the US.
3. The Collections widget organizes content into categories like Games, Books, Music, and Food, with customizable feeds.

Gemini Advanced members can now share three 4-month free trials of the subscription service with friends. Each member receives a referral link that allows their friends to enjoy Google One AI Premium, which offers 2TB of shared storage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Additional benefits include unlimited Magic Editor access in Google Photos, Google Workspace premium tools, and 10% back in the Google Store. This special promotion, valued at $80, ends on November 1, 2024.

Google One AI Premium also gives users access to Gemini Advanced, Google’s cutting-edge AI tools, and Gemini features within Google Workspace. The referral links track how many invitations have been used, and the offer joins other promotions like free subscriptions with the purchase of a Pixel 9 Pro or Chromebook Plus.

In addition, Google Play Store has introduced the “Collections” widget in the US, allowing users to easily browse content recommendations. This new feature, available in version 42.5.15 of the Play Store, lets users organize apps into categories such as Watch, Game, Read, Listen, Food, Shop, and Social. Two styles are available: a compact bar or a full-screen feed.

For example, the “Listen” feed displays personalized music and podcast recommendations from YouTube Music, while “Watch” includes suggestions from YouTube and Google TV. Other categories offer tailored content, like recipes from YouTube in the Food section or posts from Reddit in Social. The widget also includes an “App library” that organizes apps into folders, providing easy access to your most-used and recently added apps.

Users can customize their widgets by tapping their profile picture in the top-right corner to disable or rearrange feeds and turn off specific apps. For now, this feature is only available in the US.

Source/Via