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Android Q To Feature An OS-wide Dark Mode

Android fans have always asked for the introduction of a dark mode across the entire operating system. Now, it seems that the wait is over as the next Google’s OS for mobile devices, Android Q, might feature an OS-wide dark mode, pleasing the users who have asked that for some time now.

According to a Google engineer, “dark mode is an approved Q feature. The Q team wants to ensure that all preloaded apps support dark mode natively. In order to ship dark mode successfully, we need all UI elements to be ideally themed dark by May 2019.” The information was revealed via the Chromium bug tracker.

From the description of the bug tracker post, we can also learn that the dark mode will be available under Settings -> Display -> Dark Mode section. Also, the post, which is now unavailable for unknown reasons, contained several links to internal documents, revealing additional details about this OS-wide dark mode feature.

Android Q To Feature An OS-wide Dark Mode

In addition to all that, another information revealed via the AOSP also indicated that a dark mode is about to come out with the upcoming Android Q operating system. According to it, the dark theme would require a specific wallpaper file.

“Dark Mode expects a specific wallpaper file to be present in the filesystem. This file is generated for most ways that the wallpaper can be set except for when the default_wallpaper resource is used,” the text reads.

All that information suggests that, indeed, Android Q will feature an OS-wide dark mode. And, in reality, the possibility that Android Q to receive a dark theme is high since Google has focused on bringing this feature in a multitude of its applications, both Android- and web-based, such as YouTube, Google Phone app, Messages, Contacts, and Google News, among others. Also, Google Chrome would get a dark theme with the Chrome 73 version.

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Chrome 73 To Bring a Dark Mode for Windows Users, Following The One on macOS

According to some recent reports, Chrome 73 will bring a dark mode for Windows users, following the similar feature that would also become available on macOS with the 73rd version of Google Chrome. However, the Windows-based version of Google Chrome 73 would only allow users to test the dark theme by adding a command line, while the Chrome 73 on macOS 10.14 would support the macOS’s own dark mode.

Dark modes and themes are increasingly common among apps, software, and so on, and are one of the most sought-after features by the users. While we already have a dark mode in YouTube and other Google apps, Chrome is late in implementing such a feature, so it’s about time to get one.

According to a bug report identified by Techdows, the preliminary work on the dark mode in Google Chrome 73 for Windows has already started, but, as reported, it would follow a different path than the one on the macOS 10.14’s Chrome variant.

Chrome 73 To Bring a Dark Mode for Windows Users

Different from the dark mode of Chrome on macOS, which would follow the macOS’s own dark theme, the Windows version of Chrome would only boast a dark mode if users would force its implementation via a command line.

On the other hand, the dark mode in Chrome 73 for Windows would is only P2 (priority-2), while that on macOS is P1. That’s surprising since Google Chrome has way more users on Windows than it has on macOS.

For the time being, Google Chrome already shows a dark theme for its incognito tabs for the users to make a difference between them and regular tabs. However, that incognito dark mode is not affecting the menus but only the main user interface. Accordingly, Google plans to implement a complete dark mode in Chrome 73 which would completely change the entire interface into a darkish one, that including the menus.

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Android Messages Fights Spam With A New Feature

It’s challenging to stay away from spam. We have spammy emails, WhatsApp messages, Facebook spam, and so on. Also, lately, SMS spam is another common issue that annoys everyone. While the majority of the modern Android smartphones come with the option to block spam messages, Google thinks differently and fights spam with a new feature in its Android Messages app.

As reported by Android Police, the new spam-protection feature in Android Messages is server-sided, meaning that users don’t need to update the app to a newer version. However, the so-called Spam Protection function is not yet available to all users of the Android Messages app, and it seems that it rolls out slowly to the devices running the application around the world.

At the moment, some users got the new feature, while others are still waiting to get it. From those who already have the new Spam Protection, we’ve learned that it comes as a popup notification.

Android Messages Fights Spam With A New Feature Called “Spam Protection”

The popup notification users receive when the so-called Spam Protection function hits the devices asks the users to either enable it or keep it off. However, it will always be available for anyone to reach in the Settings section of the Android Messages app, so you can turn it on/off whenever you want.

However, it seems that the feature sends some information back to Google, such as the numbers behind incoming messages, but not the content of the SMS or other data that could identify senders personally.

Since Google did not offer any explanation how Spam Protection feature works, we guess that the giant Internet company is going to use the famous machine-learning algorithms to spot messages that could be suspect. Also, with the addition of this new function, Google proves its commitment to improving Android Messages, the company’s SMS app, and RCS messaging protocol.

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Android Q Would Center On Artificial Intelligence And 5G and Foldable Phone Support

This year is coming to an end, so we’re already looking forward to what the new year is going to bring. As for what Google has in the bag for us in 2019, we can say that Android Q, chatbots, and 5G and foldable phone support are going to become available next year.

Google To Add 5G and Foldable Phone Support In Android

The renowned Internet and tech company, Google, is going to focus more on AI (artificial intelligence) systems for its next year’s devices and software releases. We should expect AI to come to Android more and more in 2019 to ease up users’ tasks. In this regard, Android Q, which is rumored to roll out in 2019, would get chatbots based on artificial intelligence for businesses’ customer services.

Also, in 2019, Google plans to update its future Android OS version with 5G support, as the new technology is going to deploy during next year in the majority of the countries around the world. Also, as foldable phones are already announced for 2019, Google plans to support the new concept in Android Q.

Android Q To Come Out In Q2 or Q3 2019

Android Q has been rumored as the next Android version that Google is planning to release in 2019. Google did not reveal much about its next project regarding its mobile operating system, so what we know about Android Q is very limited.

According to some reports, Android Q won’t come out with so many new features as it has been the case with Android 9 Pie, but we should expect some improvements to be implemented, primarily to support foldable phones and 5G since, as we’ve already mentioned, Google also plans to come up with new Android features in that regard. While Android Q won’t boast significant design changes, we’re pretty sure that the next year’s Google mobile OS version would center on artificial intelligence and security features.

Be it as it may, 2019 would be an excellent year for Google and its Android operating system.

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Google Shuts Down Support For Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

Seven years after it launched Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Google has decided to end the support for this operating system. It became official today when Google announced that would shut down Android 4.0, although they chose to do that several months ago.

The “death” of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich will affect less than 1% of all the Android smartphones in the market, so this decision would not affect a high number of Android users. Maybe that’s why Google has decided that it was time to shut down support for such an old and unpopular version of its operating system for mobile devices. At its time, however, Android 4.0 was a significant change from the Android 3.0 series.

If you are one of the users that still have smartphones running Ice Cream Sandwich, you may wonder how this decision will affect you. Google’s move doesn’t mean that Android 4.0 phones will suddenly stop working, although they will most likely stop receiving updates to their apps.

Google Shuts Down Support For Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

From now on, Google Play Services will only be updated for devices with Android version 4.1 or higher. That means you won’t be able to update apps like Google Play, Maps or Music on devices running Android 4.0. Additionally, Google’s decision to shut down support for Android 4.0 also means that developers don’t have too many incentives to upgrade their apps on smartphones with Android 4.0.

One after another, the applications will stop receiving new versions, although technically it will be possible to update them for the developers, who, however, would not see as profitable the additional effort to develop updates for their apps for a version of Android that Google shut down.

In short, even if the device continues to work, it is cut off from any new developments, trapped in old versions of apps that have kept updating for those other, newer versions of Android.

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