On app stores like Apple’s and the Google Play Store, there are certain applications that are designed for adults. Now, it looks like Google wants to implement age verification across the board, requiring users to show proof they are 18 or older to download certain “mature” apps from the Play Store.

Google Play Store needs proof of your age

This is according to a post on X by Artem Russakovskii, where he shared screenshots of the age verification system in action. Basically, users need to show Google proof of their age, if not they might not be able to download many apps from the Play Store. This is part of Google’s larger efforts at identifying the ages of their users on search and YouTube.

Based on the screenshots, users have several ways of verifying their age. This comes in the form of uploading a government-issued ID, taking a selfie, using a credit card, or using a third-party service. If you’re already using a credit card in your name to buy from the Play Store, we reckon this shouldn’t be an issue.

At the moment, it is unclear what kind of limitations users might face if they do not verify their age. Presumably, at the very least, they will be blocked from downloading apps designated for adults. However, if the limitations go beyond that, it is going to be very annoying.

Not Google’s fault

Now, you might think that this is just Google’s way of collecting more information on you. That was our first instinct too. However, according to Russakovskii, Google isn’t entirely to blame for this. According to him, Google is just adhering to the law. In the US alone, there are several states that have implemented age verification requirements. This is also true for other countries like the UK.

Google obviously needs to play nice with these states and countries if it wants to keep operating in them. However, for users, these extra steps will be a pain. It would be less of an issue if the process were seamless. But we’ve already seen Google’s reliance on AI has resulted in adults getting banned.

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Have you ever deleted an important text in Google Messages and instantly regretted it? Well, you are not alone. Right now, it’s not possible to recover a deleted message. But to address the concern, Google seems to be working on an undo button for its Messages app, making the texting experience safer.

Google is working on an Undo texting button for the Messages app

As reported by Android Authority, a new beta version of Google Messages hints at a new “trash” or “bin” folder. The concept of the new folder is pretty similar to what Gmail already has. When you delete a message, instead of completely disappearing right away, it might move to this trash folder. From there, you could have up to 30 days to recover it before it’s permanently deleted. This change would be a big relief for anyone who’s ever deleted an important text by accident.

Currently, deleting a message on the app is permanent. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. There’s literally no way to undo the task or bring back the text. And that’s what makes this upcoming feature so exciting. It finally addresses a problem that’s faced by almost everyone once in their life. Messages are also used for storing important bank texts or transaction SMS, and deleting them by mistake is the fear of many. The new option will finally address this fear.

Google aims for smarter and more reliable messaging services

The latest move confirms Google’s push to make the Messages app smarter and reliable. The app already lets users archive chats they want to hide without deleting them. But archiving isn’t enough when you want to bring back something you’ve completely removed. A new trash folder or undo delete option finally bridges that gap. It gives users better control over their texting experience. It solves a real problem faced by millions of users daily.

The post Deleted a Text by Mistake? Google Messages Will Soon Let You Undo It appeared first on Android Headlines.

Meta has been increasingly focused on Threads in the recent past, and it’s visible in how frequently it’s been adding new features to the platform. Early last month, the social media app announced long-form posts. As part of that feature, users can now post up to 10,000 characters in one go. Now, Threads is getting a “disappearing post” feature, which Meta calls “ghost posts.” Meta started testing this feature back in April, alongside other features that are now available on Threads. 

All the replies to your ghost posts land in your Threads DMs

Threads’ new ghost posts feature enables you to share your thoughts or engage in conversation that vanishes after 24 hours. You’ll be able to create a ghost post on mobile by enabling the toggle that has the new “ghost” icon on the app’s compose screen. The feature is a handy addition for anyone who likes to post something but doesn’t want it to appear on their Threads profile. 

Every time you publish a ghost post on Threads, others will see it having a dotted bubble around. This gives an idea to others that it’s a disappearing post. What’s interesting is that the replies on such posts land directly into your DMs and don’t appear on your timeline. 

Another thing to note is that other Threads users can’t see the number of likes, replies, or the names of ghost post viewers. However, they can still see smiley-face icons below the disappearing posts. This gives an idea to people that others have replied to or liked the posts. 

You can still revisit the post from the “archived” section

Not to forget, you can still check ghost posts from the “archived” section of the Threads’ settings menu. Think of this feature as Instagram Stories that are only available for 24 hours. Meta, in the announcement post, notes that this feature is for those who want to “share unfiltered thoughts and fresh takes without the pressure of permanence or polish. Here today and gone tomorrow, you can feel confident trying new things and posting spontaneous thoughts.”

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Earlier this year, Google announced that a Fitbit Personal Health Coach was coming to eligible devices, such as the Pixel Watch 4, and this week, it’s entering an early preview phase. This brings it one step closer to being fully launched, although it will take a little more time to get there, Google admits. This early preview will serve as a way for users to test the new feature and give some feedback to Google so that it can improve where things need to be improved. “Building this health coach takes time, rigor, and input to make sure it works well for everyone, which is why we’re starting with a preview and asking for your honest feedback,” Google says.

Since this is a preview, Google is quick to point out that everything it has mentioned as part of the preview is “by no means a comprehensive list of everything it can do.” That means users can expect it to do even more than what Google has announced so far. Which, by the way, includes everything from creating workouts on the fly to understanding more about specific health conditions. These don’t even have to be health conditions you have. It can just be something you’re particularly interested in learning more about.

The Fitbit Health Coach early preview begins October 28

Good news for anyone who wants to try this out: you’ll be able to give the Personal Health Coach a try starting tomorrow, October 28. Google doesn’t mention a specific time, so you may just have to end up keeping an eye on the Fitbit apps on your devices.

Google says you will need an eligible device to check it out, and this includes Pixel Watch and Fitbit devices. You also need to be a Fitbit Premium subscriber, as this will be a Fitbit Premium feature. Once the feature begins rolling out, users will be able to spend about 5 to 10 minutes having a conversation with their AI-powered fitness coach to get the ball rolling. Doing this isn’t mandatory to begin using the preview, as Google notes you can come back to it later, but it does seem to be recommended.

It’s also worth noting that this preview doesn’t have access to everything the current version of the Fitbit app has. A lot of features are missing. This includes menstrual health logging and tracking, body temp logging and tracking, social features like friends and leaderboards, and a host of others.

That being said, this is a preview, and Google confirms that users can swap back and forth. So, it isn’t a one way or another kind of situation. You can have both, just not in one app experience yet.

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It looks like we’re one step closer to putting this whole TikTok saga behind us. According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jinping are expected to “consummate” the TikTok deal this Thursday.

Trump to close TikTok deal this Thursday

According to Bessent, “We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea. My remit was to get the Chinese to agree to approve the transaction, and I believe we successfully accomplished that over the past two days.”

Last month, Trump signed an executive order that would see ByteDance sell its TikTok US operations to American-owned companies. Ever since he came into power, Trump had been pushing for China and ByteDance to sell TikTok. This was based on concerns that ByteDance is a Chinese company. The US government was worried that data of US citizens and users would be sent back to China.

Under the Biden administration, TikTok was due to be banned in the US at the start of the year. However, following Trump’s re-election, he extended the deadline of the ban several times. At one point, it looked like we would never hear the end of this whole TikTok saga. But come Thursday, Trump will officially close the TikTok deal and put it to bed once and for all.

What does the future of TikTok look like?

Once the deal has been closed, TikTok’s US operations will come under control of a new board of directors. Oracle will be responsible for security operations. These board of directors are also expected to oversee TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, source code, and also take over duties when it comes to the moderation of content.

Note that this only applies to TikTok in the US. For the rest of the world, your TikTok experience should remain the same. However, we have to wonder if TikTok US could undergo a huge change. TikTok’s algorithm is kind of what gives the platform an edge over competitors like Instagram Reels.

But if US companies and engineers are taking over the algorithm to make their own tweaks, what could this mean for creators based in the country? Could they see a drop in views? We suppose we’ll have to wait and see.

The post Trump and Xi to Finalize TikTok Deal This Thursday appeared first on Android Headlines.

Google is working to make its on-device security features more transparent and manageable for users. An analysis of a recent beta version of the Play Protect Service app indicates that the company is adding updates to its Live Threat Detection tool, which uses artificial intelligence models to identify potentially malicious applications on Pixel phones and Android devices in general.

The Live Threat Detection feature fully relies on local, on-device AI. This means all the processing happens entirely on the local hardware. This approach allows for quick threat detection without requiring sending sensitive application data to Google’s cloud servers. The result is a strong layer of user privacy throughout the scanning process. Now, Google is making it friendlier and easier to use.

Live Threat Detection upgrade for Android: See every flagged app in one place

Currently, Android’s Live Threat Detection issues real-time alerts when it detects suspicious app behavior. However, the feature offers limited visibility beyond those initial notifications. Google is now fixing this lack of a central hub. The recent findings (by Android Authority) point to the development of a dedicated new page for the security tool. This upcoming screen is expected to clearly list all applications that the system has flagged as potential threats. Moving the threat information from individual, potentially numerous notifications to a permanent, centralized report is a great move. It improves user control and makes the security status of the device significantly easier to check at a glance.

Additionally, Google is adding a new, specific alert type focused on data harvesting. Code strings reveal a future warning designed to explicitly inform users when an application deemed unsafe is detected monitoring the device’s location or activity. This alert directly addresses a major area of ​​concern for user privacy: applications that covertly harvest sensitive data or track user movement patterns without proper consent.

These changes aim to enhance the usefulness of Android’s security tools. The mainstream public often underestimates security improvements because they often act in the background. However, keeping your personal data safe from potential bad actors is key in today’s tech industry.

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Google brought visual call customization to Android with the “Calling Cards” feature. However, one key piece of functionality has been notably missing. Android users could design unique screens for their contacts’ incoming calls, but they could not control what their own call screen looked like on a friend’s device. This omission was a significant one compared to rival operating systems. However, Google is now ready to address this long-standing oversight in Android‘s implementation with a new “My calling card” option.

Code spotted by Android Authority within a recent beta version of the Phone by Google app reveals work on an upcoming setting called “My calling card.” The description associated with this unreleased tool is straightforward. It will help you to “customize how you’ll appear when making or receiving calls.” While the feature is not yet functional in the public beta, the explicit text confirms that a true two-way customization system is actively in development.

Android Calling Cards could match iOS’ Contact Posters soon

This change would finally bring full creative control to users. It could allow them to define their visual identity on a remote device. The potential move could also bring feature parity in the competitive mobile space. However, it raises one interesting technical consideration: how will the system handle a potential conflict? What happens if the sender uses the “My calling card” feature, but the recipient has already created a custom card for that contact? Google will likely implement a dual-option system, perhaps giving the recipient the choice between displaying the card designed by the sender or the one they created themselves. This level of user control is necessary for a fluid experience.

There is no official timeline for the public rollout yet. But the discovery of the “My calling card” setting is a clear signal that Google is refining Android’s Calling Cards experience. Once this functionality arrives, Android users will finally gain the full creative control over their call identity.

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The European Commission has accused TikTok and Meta of breaching the EU’s strict transparency laws under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The authority claims that the two popular social media platforms have made it difficult for researchers to access public data and for users to report illegal content or challenge moderation decisions. Both companies are hereby taken into legal custody.

TikTok and Meta face EU scrutiny for transparency breach

As per the commission’s preliminary review, TikTok and Meta have imposed complicated steps that hinder the researchers from studying how their respective platforms operate. The officials have also argued that such barriers prevent them from analyzing how the platforms are used, especially by minors, and that the users are exposed to harmful and illegal materials.

The DSA, for reference, mandates that the large tech companies must make their data easily accessible to qualified researchers. Both Meta and TikTok have failed to do so. The regulators believe that they may be undermining efforts to keep digital ecosystems accountable. If the commission’s allegations are proven right in the court of law, the companies could face fines worth billions.

Both companies may face an industry-wide ripple effect

Meta has responded to the allegations by claiming that it has already adjusted its systems in line with DSA. New reporting options and data access tools have been added. An official spokesperson stated that the company “disagrees with any suggestion” of a violation and continues discussions with EU officials. Further, TikTok is yet to publicly comment but is expected to submit a formal response soon.

If the commission upholds its findings, the companies could face a penalty of up to 6% of their annual revenue. Several other tech giants, including Apple, have earlier objected to the Digital Services Act. But regardless, they abided by the rule, and the final decision could reshape how these companies handle transparency worldwide.

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Strava and Garmin used to be thick as thieves. However, in the past month or so, the relationship has soured. Some of you might recall that Strava recently filed a lawsuit against Garmin. But for some reason, Strava has since voluntarily dropped its lawsuit.

Strava drops its lawsuit against Garmin

It is unclear what led to Strava changing its mind. However, according to a report from DC Rainmaker, it speculates that this could be due for several reasons. For starters, the Strava and Garmin lawsuit did not hold much water to begin with.

For those unfamiliar, Strava accused Garmin of patent infringement. In particular, it covered patents related to the segments and heatmaps features. DC Rainmaker believes that suing Garmin over alleged infringement for segments is a risky way for Strava to get its own patents invalidated. That might have been one of the reasons behind Strava’s decision.

Another potential reason is the downside to the lawsuit. As the report points out, most of the risks fall on Strava. It notes that Garmin is the company’s most important partner and biggest source of customer revenue, where Garmin customers were some of Strava’s biggest paid subscribers. Let’s not forget that the data from Garmin helps boost Strava’s platform for routing. This means that if Strava were to really pull its service or if Garmin decides to cut off Strava, it could essentially force Strava to shut down.

Last but not least, Garmin seems to have a pretty good streak when it comes to patent infringement lawsuits. Over the past 10-15 years, Garmin has successfully defended itself against multiple patent infringement claims. The company also boasts a pretty substantial patent library of its own. This means that if Garmin wanted, it could easily file a countersuit against Strava’s 20 or so patents.

Is Strava toast?

Now, we wouldn’t be so quick to say that Strava is doomed. However, it does put the company in a difficult position. Like we said, Garmin’s partnership with Strava is important. Unless Strava can find a way to generate as much revenue with other wearable makers as it did with Garmin, we’re not sure what the company can do.

Garmin also appears to be ready to move on. The company announced new integrations with Komoot, a Strava competitor, in recent weeks. This suggests that Garmin has no interest in working with a company that would sue them. Either way, only time will tell if Strava will be able to survive this fallout.

The post Strava Drops Lawsuit Against Garmin Amid Fears of Damaging Key Partnership appeared first on Android Headlines.

Meta-owned Instagram has introduced new AI-powered image editing tools, which allow users to restyle their Stories. Previously, Meta’s AI editing tools were only available through the Meta AI chatbot inside Instagram. However, the tech giant has now streamlined the editing process, allowing users to quickly make changes before sharing their stories.

Instagram Stories get a new “Restyle” menu with AI image editing features

Instagram users now don’t have to rely on Meta’s AI chatbot to edit their images or videos. The social networking giant has now built the AI photo editing features right into the new “Restyle” menu in the app. These allow you to reimagine your photos and Instagram Stories by making edits, big or small, using Meta AI.

Now you can remove unwanted details, add playful elements, change the vibe, or start a trend with Add Yours stickers. These features are quite similar to other AI-based image editing tools, as they also allow you to remove unwanted objects from the background of photos or change up your outfit.

Here’s how to access Instagram’s new AI editing tools

You can access the Restyle menu by tapping the paintbrush icon on top of the screen while creating a story. Then, choose Add, Remove, or Change and describe what you want to edit. You can also type your image editing request directly into the text prompt bar.

Furthermore, you can get instant results by selecting from the preset effects above the bar. You can find even more options using the browser icon. Once you generate the new image, tap “Done” to finish before sharing your story. The new Add Yours stickers feature will make it easy for your friends to apply the same edits you used.

To restyle your videos, tap the + on your profile photo and choose a video from your camera roll to add to your story. Then, select the restyle icon from the top tray and pick a preset effect. Once the app generates a new version of your video, just tap “Done” to complete the process and share it to your story.

Instagram has started rolling out the new editing features on its smartphone application. Some of these options, like the new video editing presets, could take some time to reach all users.

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Google’s streaming platform, YouTube, is getting a major overhaul. This follows an announcement made last week. The redesign is hitting the app’s menu system and UI icons, including the top and bottom bars. The icons are now bolder and more rounded, helping with the visibility. Among the multiple tweaks, the major redesign comes to the YouTube video player, which is now reportedly rolling out for Android and iOS.

YouTube for Android and iOS gets a major video player redesign

The YouTube video player redesign, as spotted by 9to5Google, features a completely new look, with softer UI elements and almost transparent icons and buttons. This new design doesn’t obscure the content that’s on the screen. But then again, design is always subjective. In portrait orientation, there’s a new icon set. The landscape button is now slightly bigger and is placed in a circle. The new like and dislike buttons get longer thumbs.

Content interactions are getting more personal with custom “Like” button animations. When you like certain videos, there’s now a “custom, dynamic visual treatment” based on the content. For instance, liking a music video will trigger an animated musical note, and sports videos include a visual cue from the game.

The comment section also sees a major change

The video player in landscape has the thumbs up/down, comment, save, share, and overflow placed in a pill-shaped container at the bottom-left corner. On the bottom-right edge, there’s also a cleaner “more videos” button when you pause the video. The background is no longer darkened.

Double-tapping to skip gets a more subtle and compact animation compared to before. This is to be “less intrusive to your video watching experience.” Other changes announced last week include a more seamless transition animation that slides up the feed when moving between tabs. When saving videos to playlists or Watch Later, “a refreshed design simplifies the process.”

The comment section is also seeing a major change, with the new thread design. This makes it easier to follow conversations and replies. The new YouTube video player and icon redesigns are rolling out widely for Android and iOS (version 20.42).

The post YouTube's Major UI Redesign is Now Hitting Android and iOS appeared first on Android Headlines.

Earlier this month, OpenAI released its Sora app for iOS. It turns out it was a hit, surpassing 1 million downloads in under a week, outpacing ChatGPT’s growth. The bad news is that OpenAI did not release Sora for Android, but that’s changing soon.

OpenAI is bringing Sora to Android

In a post on X by Sora head, Bill Peebles, he revealed that OpenAI is bringing the app onto Android soon. The post talks about some of the changes that users can look forward to in future updates. This includes more creation tools, character cameos, and also improving the social experience.

The post also reveals that the app will introduce basic video editing capabilities. We’re talking about basic features like stitching together multiple clips. Then, towards the end of the post, Peebles mentions that the Android version of Sora is “actually coming soon.” However, he did not mention when the app will be available. But it’s good to know that OpenAI has not forgotten about Android users.

This is good news for Android users who have been looking forward to the mobile version of the app. However, do note that at the moment, Sora is still invite-only. It is also only available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, meaning paid subscribers. However, when the app is available on Android, you can sign up and be notified when invites become available.

What is Sora?

In case you’re learning about this for the first time, the Sora app is based on OpenAI’s Sora 2 video and audio generation AI model. It is essentially OpenAI’s version of Google’s Veo and Flow platforms. Users can use the app to generate videos with simple prompts. However, one of the standout features comes in the form of Cameos.

Cameos basically allow users to digitally insert themselves into videos. So, if you’re someone that’s a bit camera shy, Cameos are the perfect way to insert yourself in a video without actually being in the video. So far, the examples we’ve seen are pretty impressive and amazing.

At the same time, it raises all kinds of ethical and moral questions. Even before the arrival of Sora, deepfakes were a problem. Now that AI-generated videos have become more convincing, who’s to say that these tools won’t be abused for malicious purposes? OpenAI has considered that and has implemented safeguards.

This includes the use of visible watermarks and industry-standard metadata. This is so that it is clear that the video in question was generated by AI. Will that be enough? We’ll have to wait and see.

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