Mishaal's Android News Feed
Google has announced that in Android 14, Health Connect "will be a core part of Android and available on all Android mobile devices." As I previously reported, this is because Health Connect is being shipped as part of a new, mandatory Project Mainline module.…
Google has shared how they'll migrate users from the old Play Store version of Health Connect to the new system version in Android 14.
Health Connect is being integrated into the OS as a new Mainline module that's updatable through Play System Updates.
The migration plan is as follows:
1) Once users update to Android 14, the Play Store version of Health Connect will become inactive.
2) The Jetpack Health Connect library will route the user to the system (module) APIs and block them while data migration is in progress.
3) The migration process starts when the system and Play Store versions are feature compatible. Both permissions & data will be migrated. The Play Store version may need an update to become "migration aware", whilst the system version may need one to become "feature compatible".
4) The migration process will commence. Once it's happening, the system (module) APIs will be suspended with a "migration in process" status. If this process is suspended, it can be resumed by the user.
Data migration "is not expected to exceed 2 hours." For example, migrating 10 years of running records collected 1 hour every day would take ~4s. Migrating 5 years of heart rate data collected every minute would take ~15 mins.
During migration, the system version will ignore any duplicate permissions or data originating from the Play Store version, in case it started to acquire data and permissions before any migration or cloud-based restore (not announced!) has taken place.
5) After data migration has completed, the user can uninstall the Play Store version. (On Pixels and the Nothing Phone 2, though, the Play Store version of Health Connect is preinstalled as a system app, so it can't be uninstalled outside of an OTA update.)
OEMs can create a RRO to style the data management and permissions screens for Health Connect. This should be done to bring the app's UI in line with the rest of the OEM's skin.
Health Connect is being integrated into the OS as a new Mainline module that's updatable through Play System Updates.
The migration plan is as follows:
1) Once users update to Android 14, the Play Store version of Health Connect will become inactive.
2) The Jetpack Health Connect library will route the user to the system (module) APIs and block them while data migration is in progress.
3) The migration process starts when the system and Play Store versions are feature compatible. Both permissions & data will be migrated. The Play Store version may need an update to become "migration aware", whilst the system version may need one to become "feature compatible".
4) The migration process will commence. Once it's happening, the system (module) APIs will be suspended with a "migration in process" status. If this process is suspended, it can be resumed by the user.
Data migration "is not expected to exceed 2 hours." For example, migrating 10 years of running records collected 1 hour every day would take ~4s. Migrating 5 years of heart rate data collected every minute would take ~15 mins.
During migration, the system version will ignore any duplicate permissions or data originating from the Play Store version, in case it started to acquire data and permissions before any migration or cloud-based restore (not announced!) has taken place.
5) After data migration has completed, the user can uninstall the Play Store version. (On Pixels and the Nothing Phone 2, though, the Play Store version of Health Connect is preinstalled as a system app, so it can't be uninstalled outside of an OTA update.)
OEMs can create a RRO to style the data management and permissions screens for Health Connect. This should be done to bring the app's UI in line with the rest of the OEM's skin.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
I was curious to see if it's possible to manually make a work profile on Android WITHOUT using a 3P app like Shelter, and it turns out it is! I wouldn't recommend doing so since Shelter is FOSS and using it is a more user-friendly approach, but if you're…
From time to time, I miss things that are ... obvious in hindsight. This is one of those times.
Yes you can create a work profile without the use of any third-party tools, but you can skip the ADB command in step 1 I mentioned earlier.
Instead, just install Google's Test DPC app and tap "Set up Test DPC" in your app drawer.
Thanks to AutobotJetfire on Twitter and da.hobin on Threads for pointing this out!
I think the reason I overlooked this is because I'm used to using Test DPC to set up a device owner, but that isn't possible to do unless you do it during setup. Just unfamiliarity with what the app offers, I guess!
Yes you can create a work profile without the use of any third-party tools, but you can skip the ADB command in step 1 I mentioned earlier.
Instead, just install Google's Test DPC app and tap "Set up Test DPC" in your app drawer.
Thanks to AutobotJetfire on Twitter and da.hobin on Threads for pointing this out!
I think the reason I overlooked this is because I'm used to using Test DPC to set up a device owner, but that isn't possible to do unless you do it during setup. Just unfamiliarity with what the app offers, I guess!
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Nearby Share for Windows is now out of beta, and it adds a couple of new features:
* ETA for file transfers
* Image view within device notifications
Further, Google says it's working with partners to preinstall it on select Windows PCs, starting with HP's Dragonfly Pro.
More details in Google's blog post. Download Nearby Share for Windows.
* ETA for file transfers
* Image view within device notifications
Further, Google says it's working with partners to preinstall it on select Windows PCs, starting with HP's Dragonfly Pro.
More details in Google's blog post. Download Nearby Share for Windows.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Android 14 quietly made a HUGE change to work profiles! You can no longer turn them off. Instead, they're now "paused", meaning all apps keep running in the background, notifications get polled (you won't see them until you "unpause"), etc. Before you comment…
IMPORTANT UPDATE
A spokesperson for Google reached out to me with some feedback for the article. They confirmed the main change - that Android 14 now pauses instead of turns off the work profile - but also wanted to correct some things.
Below, I will summarize as best I can what they said and my/Jason's response. I submitted an updated version of the Android Police article, so you can alternatively re-read that.
* In case it wasn't clear (or you didn't see the screenshot), notifications WILL STILL NOT SHOW UP when the work profile is paused. That hasn't changed. Instead, the way notifications are handled has been improved for the better. Before, you might get a flood of notifications when turning the work profile on because all your work profile apps would start syncing. In Android 14, your notifications will already be ready for you to view when you unpause the work profile.
(One user told me they still received notifications on their Garmin watch when the work profile is paused in Android 14, but this could be a bug.)
* Work profile apps in Android 14 CANNOT access your location while the profile is paused. In Android 13, when the work profile is turned off, the launcher states that "your work apps can't send you notifications, use your battery, or access your location." In Android 14, this was changed to "you won't receive notifications from your work apps." I thought that this change in wording to remove "use your battery" or "access your location" implied that both would now be possible.
(I told Google it might be a good idea to reintroduce the notice in the launcher that work apps can't access your location.)
* Regarding whether this change means you'll always appear online now, Google says the responsibility lies with individual app devs in determining a user's online status. Previously, it wasn't possible for work profile apps to run a check for whether the work profile is paused...because the work profile was turned off so no apps could run.
In Android 14, though, developers can check whether the work profile is paused by seeing if their apps are "suspended" through the PM.isPackageSuspended() API or the ACTION_MY_PACKAGE_SUSPENDED broadcast.
(Though Google didn't explicitly say it, this implies that Android 14 now suspends apps in the work profile using the same APIs that Digital Wellbeing uses to suspend apps for Focus Mode.)
Jason brings up that some apps determine your online status through periodic check ins to their server, so unless these apps (Teams?) update to utilize these APIs, then you may indeed appear as online even when you aren't and the work profile is paused. The burden is on app developers.
* Lastly, Google wanted to highlight how this change helps users stay compliant with a company's update policy. Previously when the work profile was turned off, apps couldn't get any updates, which could be a problem if the user goes on an extended vacation and never turns the work profile back on during this time. In Android 14, apps in the work profile can continue to receive updates even when the profile is paused.
A spokesperson for Google reached out to me with some feedback for the article. They confirmed the main change - that Android 14 now pauses instead of turns off the work profile - but also wanted to correct some things.
Below, I will summarize as best I can what they said and my/Jason's response. I submitted an updated version of the Android Police article, so you can alternatively re-read that.
* In case it wasn't clear (or you didn't see the screenshot), notifications WILL STILL NOT SHOW UP when the work profile is paused. That hasn't changed. Instead, the way notifications are handled has been improved for the better. Before, you might get a flood of notifications when turning the work profile on because all your work profile apps would start syncing. In Android 14, your notifications will already be ready for you to view when you unpause the work profile.
(One user told me they still received notifications on their Garmin watch when the work profile is paused in Android 14, but this could be a bug.)
* Work profile apps in Android 14 CANNOT access your location while the profile is paused. In Android 13, when the work profile is turned off, the launcher states that "your work apps can't send you notifications, use your battery, or access your location." In Android 14, this was changed to "you won't receive notifications from your work apps." I thought that this change in wording to remove "use your battery" or "access your location" implied that both would now be possible.
(I told Google it might be a good idea to reintroduce the notice in the launcher that work apps can't access your location.)
* Regarding whether this change means you'll always appear online now, Google says the responsibility lies with individual app devs in determining a user's online status. Previously, it wasn't possible for work profile apps to run a check for whether the work profile is paused...because the work profile was turned off so no apps could run.
In Android 14, though, developers can check whether the work profile is paused by seeing if their apps are "suspended" through the PM.isPackageSuspended() API or the ACTION_MY_PACKAGE_SUSPENDED broadcast.
(Though Google didn't explicitly say it, this implies that Android 14 now suspends apps in the work profile using the same APIs that Digital Wellbeing uses to suspend apps for Focus Mode.)
Jason brings up that some apps determine your online status through periodic check ins to their server, so unless these apps (Teams?) update to utilize these APIs, then you may indeed appear as online even when you aren't and the work profile is paused. The burden is on app developers.
* Lastly, Google wanted to highlight how this change helps users stay compliant with a company's update policy. Previously when the work profile was turned off, apps couldn't get any updates, which could be a problem if the user goes on an extended vacation and never turns the work profile back on during this time. In Android 14, apps in the work profile can continue to receive updates even when the profile is paused.
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Here's a first look at Android 14's new notetaking feature for styluses👀 🖊📓
In this video, I first launch the default notes app from a lock screen shortcut, then I unlock the device, press the stylus tail button to launch the notes app in a bubble, and insert a screenshot.
You've probably seen me talk about this feature before, but if not, this is probably the first you're hearing of it since Google hasn't made any mention of it.
I've never gotten it working until today, but thanks to @thegreatporg I can finally show it off! Here's how it works (continued in next post):
In this video, I first launch the default notes app from a lock screen shortcut, then I unlock the device, press the stylus tail button to launch the notes app in a bubble, and insert a screenshot.
You've probably seen me talk about this feature before, but if not, this is probably the first you're hearing of it since Google hasn't made any mention of it.
I've never gotten it working until today, but thanks to @thegreatporg I can finally show it off! Here's how it works (continued in next post):
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Android 14 adds a new role called ROLE_NOTES. This role can only be granted to apps that target SDK 34 and which handle the android.intent.action.CREATE_NOTE intent with the category set to DEFAULT and the showWhenLocked and turnScreenOn flags.
When an app qualifies for the Notes role, the user can make it the Notes role holder by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Notes app. This page can also be accessed through a shortcut when a stylus is connected or through the lock screen shortcut settings page.
(Currently, the Notes role is disabled by default, so you won't see this. You can enable it by going to Settings > System > Developer options and toggling "Force enable Notes role" and then rebooting. This toggles a RRO which sets config_enableDefaultNotes to true.)
When you activate the notetaking shortcut, Android sends off the android.intent.action.CREATE_NOTE intent targeting the default notes app with the intent extra android.intent.extra.USE_STYLUS_MODE. Devs of notes apps can respond to this by launching a stylus-optimized entry UI.
When an app becomes the default notes role holder, it's able to be granted the LAUNCH_CAPTURE_CONTENT_ACTIVITY_FOR_NOTE permission.
Apps with this permission can use the ACTION_LAUNCH_CAPTURE_CONTENT_ACTIVITY_FOR_NOTE intent action to trigger SystemUI to get a screenshot of the current window on behalf of the app. The user then has a chance to edit the screenshot, which can then be returned to the notes app.
This is what happens in the demo video, by the way. When I tap "attach screenshot" in the menu, it sends this intent to grab a screenshot of the window underneath. The screenshot opens in Markup, which I'd be able to edit by cropping/drawing before inserting it into the note.
If you're wondering how I launched the app in a floating bubble like that, that's actually Android doing that on my behalf.
When you tap the tail button on a connected stylus, Android 14 launches the default notes app in a floating bubble automatically.
When an app qualifies for the Notes role, the user can make it the Notes role holder by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Notes app. This page can also be accessed through a shortcut when a stylus is connected or through the lock screen shortcut settings page.
(Currently, the Notes role is disabled by default, so you won't see this. You can enable it by going to Settings > System > Developer options and toggling "Force enable Notes role" and then rebooting. This toggles a RRO which sets config_enableDefaultNotes to true.)
When you activate the notetaking shortcut, Android sends off the android.intent.action.CREATE_NOTE intent targeting the default notes app with the intent extra android.intent.extra.USE_STYLUS_MODE. Devs of notes apps can respond to this by launching a stylus-optimized entry UI.
When an app becomes the default notes role holder, it's able to be granted the LAUNCH_CAPTURE_CONTENT_ACTIVITY_FOR_NOTE permission.
Apps with this permission can use the ACTION_LAUNCH_CAPTURE_CONTENT_ACTIVITY_FOR_NOTE intent action to trigger SystemUI to get a screenshot of the current window on behalf of the app. The user then has a chance to edit the screenshot, which can then be returned to the notes app.
This is what happens in the demo video, by the way. When I tap "attach screenshot" in the menu, it sends this intent to grab a screenshot of the window underneath. The screenshot opens in Markup, which I'd be able to edit by cropping/drawing before inserting it into the note.
If you're wondering how I launched the app in a floating bubble like that, that's actually Android doing that on my behalf.
When you tap the tail button on a connected stylus, Android 14 launches the default notes app in a floating bubble automatically.
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Mishaal's Android News Feed
Android 14 adds a new role called ROLE_NOTES. This role can only be granted to apps that target SDK 34 and which handle the android.intent.action.CREATE_NOTE intent with the category set to DEFAULT and the showWhenLocked and turnScreenOn flags. When an app…
(I don't actually have a USI 2.0 stylus connected to a Pixel Tablet, nor do I even have a Pixel Tablet yet lol. To simulate the stylus tail button press, I used the ADB command
FWIW, Keep currently doesn't qualify for the notes role, but I suspect it's going to eventually.
There are rumors the Pixel Tablet will get an official stylus accessory (it supports USI 2.0!) so this feature makes a lot of sense.
If you're a developer of a Notes app or are just curious about how to implement this, @thegreatporg will soon share details on GitLab. They forked the OSS Notes app "Quillpad" to test this API/notes role out, so many thanks to them for their help!
input keyevent.)FWIW, Keep currently doesn't qualify for the notes role, but I suspect it's going to eventually.
There are rumors the Pixel Tablet will get an official stylus accessory (it supports USI 2.0!) so this feature makes a lot of sense.
If you're a developer of a Notes app or are just curious about how to implement this, @thegreatporg will soon share details on GitLab. They forked the OSS Notes app "Quillpad" to test this API/notes role out, so many thanks to them for their help!
Android Authority
Pixel Tablet may be getting a stylus and keyboard, according to a Google app
The Pixel Tablet debuted without an official stylus or keyboard accessory, but Google may be bringing them to market soon.
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I've been working on a review of Nothing OS 2.0, and I really like what they've built.
There are some parts that make me go, "why'd they do that?" which lead me to dig deeper.
eg. why did Nothing make their own bedtime scheduler for Glyph and not sync with Digital Wellbeing?
The answer: They can't, because Google doesn't allow it.
There's no way for 3P apps to detect when Digital Wellbeing activates bedtime mode, because the app doesn't send a broadcast or store the state in a Settings table value or something.
But then how can the YouTube app on Android remind you when it's bedtime "when [your] phone's bedtime mode is on"?
It turns out that Digital Wellbeing does send a broadcast when bedtime mode is enabled, but it can ONLY be received by the YouTube app.
The Intent action, by the way, is
If the bedtime mode broadcast was open, they could do some other cool stuff, like maybe enable the monochromatic icon pack at bedtime but use the color (themed) icon pack otherwise.
Anyway, this is just a small tidbit from my upcoming Nothing OS 2.0 review! There's a LOT more I'll talk about, so look forward to that!
(If anyone on the Digital Wellbeing team sees this, I'd love to know if there's some privacy reason why the bedtime mode broadcast is restricted to YouTube!)
Regardless of whatever hacks Nothing could make to the OS to detect the broadcast, I think an open bedtime mode broadcast would be useful for a lot of apps!
Other video apps like Netflix, Prime Video, etc. could also add a bedtime mode alert like YT.
Social media apps could add an alert to stop doomscrolling when it's bedtime (...though obviously they want you to keep doing that lol)
3P VoIP apps could detect when you're in bedtime mode and silence most calls/automatically send a message to the caller.
There are some parts that make me go, "why'd they do that?" which lead me to dig deeper.
eg. why did Nothing make their own bedtime scheduler for Glyph and not sync with Digital Wellbeing?
The answer: They can't, because Google doesn't allow it.
There's no way for 3P apps to detect when Digital Wellbeing activates bedtime mode, because the app doesn't send a broadcast or store the state in a Settings table value or something.
But then how can the YouTube app on Android remind you when it's bedtime "when [your] phone's bedtime mode is on"?
It turns out that Digital Wellbeing does send a broadcast when bedtime mode is enabled, but it can ONLY be received by the YouTube app.
The Intent action, by the way, is
com.google.android.apps.wellbeing.action.ACTION_WIND_DOWN_STATE_CHANGED. I'm not sure why Google locked down this broadcast to just YouTube, but as a result, Nothing had to duplicate a bedtime scheduler UI for Glyph lights.If the bedtime mode broadcast was open, they could do some other cool stuff, like maybe enable the monochromatic icon pack at bedtime but use the color (themed) icon pack otherwise.
Anyway, this is just a small tidbit from my upcoming Nothing OS 2.0 review! There's a LOT more I'll talk about, so look forward to that!
(If anyone on the Digital Wellbeing team sees this, I'd love to know if there's some privacy reason why the bedtime mode broadcast is restricted to YouTube!)
Regardless of whatever hacks Nothing could make to the OS to detect the broadcast, I think an open bedtime mode broadcast would be useful for a lot of apps!
Other video apps like Netflix, Prime Video, etc. could also add a bedtime mode alert like YT.
Social media apps could add an alert to stop doomscrolling when it's bedtime (...though obviously they want you to keep doing that lol)
3P VoIP apps could detect when you're in bedtime mode and silence most calls/automatically send a message to the caller.
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Google has announced that unknown tracker alerts is beginning to roll out to users on Android 6.0+ this month! Unknown tracker alerts helps you detect unwanted Bluetooth tracker tags that may be traveling with you.
The unknown tracker alerts feature is part of a dynamically delivered module that's downloaded by the Google Play Services app. Since Google Play Services is preinstalled on all Android devices with GMS, that's why this feature is coming to most Android 6.0+ devices!
There are multiple ways you can use this feature. After turning it on, it can work automatically to scan for and detect unknown tracker tags traveling with you. You'll get an alert in the form of a notification if one is detected.
You can also perform a manual scan of your surroundings by going to Settings → Safety & Emergency → Unknown tracker alerts and tapping the “Scan Now” button. It will take about 10s to scan for nearby unknown trackers, and the results will be shown in a list.
Either way, when an unknown tag is detected, you'll have multiple ways to take action. From the notification, you can learn more about the tracker and see a map of where it was seen. To locate it, tap "play sound" to force the tracker to make noise (without alerting its owner).
When you tap the tracker against your phone (NFC), the tracker may share some information like its serial number or the last 4 digits of its owner's phone number. The details page will also provide a link to instructions on how to physically disable the tracker.
Unknown tracker alerts currently works with the Apple AirTag but Google says they'll continue to work with tag makers to expand support. For more information on unknown tracker alerts, see this support page.
The unknown tracker alerts feature is part of a dynamically delivered module that's downloaded by the Google Play Services app. Since Google Play Services is preinstalled on all Android devices with GMS, that's why this feature is coming to most Android 6.0+ devices!
There are multiple ways you can use this feature. After turning it on, it can work automatically to scan for and detect unknown tracker tags traveling with you. You'll get an alert in the form of a notification if one is detected.
You can also perform a manual scan of your surroundings by going to Settings → Safety & Emergency → Unknown tracker alerts and tapping the “Scan Now” button. It will take about 10s to scan for nearby unknown trackers, and the results will be shown in a list.
Either way, when an unknown tag is detected, you'll have multiple ways to take action. From the notification, you can learn more about the tracker and see a map of where it was seen. To locate it, tap "play sound" to force the tracker to make noise (without alerting its owner).
When you tap the tracker against your phone (NFC), the tracker may share some information like its serial number or the last 4 digits of its owner's phone number. The details page will also provide a link to instructions on how to physically disable the tracker.
Unknown tracker alerts currently works with the Apple AirTag but Google says they'll continue to work with tag makers to expand support. For more information on unknown tracker alerts, see this support page.
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