Update, April 10, 2020 (04:15 PM ET): It appears either the update described below was a mistake or Google has quickly realized that people hate it because it’s already starting to revert back to the way it used to be.
Users are now reporting that the Google-branded spacebar is no longer there and the Google search function has returned. Here’s hoping it doesn’t revert back.
Original article, April 10, 2020 (08:44 AM ET): Gboard quickly established itself as the leading keyboard app on Android, delivering a fast experience with some sensible Google integration as well.
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
It seems that we were spoilt for choice not too many years ago when shopping for affordable flagship smartphones. The industry was awash with handsets from Honor, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others that offered the bulk of what you’d look for from a premium experience but without the hefty price tag. $700, and often even less, used to net you several decent options to pick from in the late ’10s.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
I’ve never really been a massive Samsung fan for whatever reason. I guess this can be partially attributed to my love of the underdog, be it in sports, gaming, or the smartphone world.
Of course, Samsung has been anything but the underdog for almost a decade, dating back to 2012 when it first beat Nokia to become the number one smartphone maker in the world. Since then, the company has enjoyed an almost uninterrupted run of success at the top.
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Last week, @evleaks leaked that HTC is planning to launch another phone in the Desire series called the HTC Desire 12. Android Authority has obtained an image of the Desire 12’s retail box, all but confirming the specs. The release date, pricing, and images of the phone itself are still missing, but should show up soon. Last week, we talked about how HTC might be releasing a new phone in the Desire series, and it was rumored to go by the moniker HTC Desire 12.
It doesn’t rain, it pours and so seems to be the case with Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S6 Edge Plus and Galaxy Note 5 smartphones and although they are set to launch in just a couple of days, we’re hearing more and more about them with every hour that passes. Earlier today we saw Samsung reveal pre-orders for the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus will launch on August 21 (before pulling the listing) and the latest leaks have now revealed the full specs list for the curved phablet along with the cost of the official accessories.
Months of rumors preceded today’s unveiling of the Nexus 5X. The phone is all that we expected it to be and more, with a price point and specs that will make it one of the sweetest deals around. So was the Nexus 5 during its times of glory, though. How does the current Nexus 5X compare to its direct predecessor? We put them next to each other in a quick comparison while at Google’s event, so let’s jump into the details and see what’s better in the new Nexus 5-incher!
MWC 2014 Coverage brought to you by: Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus for Android. The Sony Xperia Z2 might feature the same 20.7MP camera as found onits predecessor, but that doesn’t mean the overall experience hasn’t improved. At MWC 2014 we took a closer look at the Xperia Z2’s camera and were quite impressed by just how quickly the camera loaded up and was ready to go. We can most likely attribute this speed up to an improved processor, more RAM and general camera software optimizations.
Since we inevitably keep talking about malware in the Android ecosystem, and since we have already told you a bunch of times that Android 4.2 comes with some enhanced anti-malware security features, it’s time to look at Google’s official explanation regarding one of the new Google Play security protections that has been built into the new OS version, app verification.
Those features were confirmed once Android 4.2 was announced, and can be taken advantage of right away by any Android 4.
Google
Google Stadia is building all kinds of hype. It was mentioned by many developers and publishers at E3 and its catalog of games grows every week. Stadia seems a little too good to be true. You pay $69 for a controller and then you can stream games at 4k and 60FPS for $9.99 a month. It has the potential to disrupt an already massive gaming industry in a lot of ways.
Longtime fans of the massively popular Plants Vs. Zombies franchise will be elated to know that the developers just dropped a teaser advertising their upcoming game Plants Vs Zombies Heroes: The Lawn of a New Battle. Player will have to choose which side they will be on this time: the rugged plant life or the tireless zombie horde. Assisting both sides will be special characters with useful abilities, so you can build your team with strategy and tact.