Contrary to popular belief, you can use eSIM phone plans without needing a phone that supports eSIM.

Why would you want that? Many prepaid eSIM plans are very cheap and can be bought ahead of travel, but most phones don't have an eSIM chip built-in.

So how does this work?

The tl;dr is that eSIM is actually a specification that is implemented by a UICC, or universal integrated circuit card. Phones with eSIM support have an eUICC (embedded UICC) chip, but there's nothing preventing a vendor from making a traditional nano SIM-sized card with an eUICC that follows the eSIM spec. These are called "removable eUICCs" and are actually used in IoT devices, but their use in mobile devices is still somewhat new.

A few companies have popped up that sell you removable eUICCs, like eSIM.me and esim.5ber.com, but it's also possible to DIY your own.

There are tutorials online on how to take an off-the-shelf eUICC chip, remove the original chip in a nano SIM, and then weld the eUICC chip onto the card. Some Chinese retailers also sell the finished product for pretty cheap, but you can't just buy it, insert it into your device, and then download an eSIM profile.

That's because you need a way to actually provision the eSIM plan onto the removable eUICC. Most Android phones with eSIM built-in ship with an app that does this, like SIM Manager on Pixels (shown above), but these apps won't work with removable eUICCs you insert. Companies like eSIM.me and 5ber offer apps that work with their own products, but if you go the DIY route, you'll need to use something like OpenEUICC.

OpenEUICC is an open source app for Android that allows for provisioning eSIM profiles onto removable eUICCs. It requires certain system privileges to function, so you need a phone with root access to provision an eSIM plan. Once a plan is provisioned onto the card, though, you can use it on any device that has a SIM card slot.

If you want to learn more about removable eUICCs and how eSIMs work in general, check out this article I wrote last year.

Google Play Services is starting to roll out a big redesign of its settings page. I'm referring to the page you access by going to Settings > Google.

Now, instead of showing the full list of settings by default, you'll get quick access to a couple of key settings in the "recommended" tab. The "all services" tab houses the remaining settings.

I got this new UI after updating Google Play Services to version 23.33.14, but I only see it on one of my devices. Let me know if you see this new UI on your device - it's long overdue, IMO!

Android's "Link Your Devices" settings may also add "instant hotspot" and "automatically share Wi-Fi" features, in addition to the previously spotted "call switching" and "Internet sharing" features.

As initially spotted by user @AssembleDebug, the latest version of the Google Play Services app has added new strings pertaining to these features.

1) "Instant hotspot": "Your devices can turn on this hotspot and connect whenever they need internet"

2) "Randomize name & password": "Prevents other devices from discovering your instant hotspot"

3) "Internet sharing": "Let your devices connect to your hotspot and Wi-Fi." "Internet sharing works with Chromebooks and Android devices signed in to your Google Account. Bluetooth needs to be on to share internet."

4) "Automatically share Wi-Fi": "Your nearby devices can connect to Wi-Fi without entering the password again"

5) (Previously seen) "Call switching": "Switch between devices for calls"

I personally think the features that the Cross-Device services/Nearby team is working on at Google are REALLY important for the future of Android. Ecosystem interoperability is one of the biggest strengths of Apple products, and it results in making it harder for users to switch from that ecosystem.

Google really needs to counter Apple's ecosystem with more cross-device features. I'm looking forward to seeing what the team there releases next!

Google Play appears to be cracking down on "cleaner" type apps that scan your phone to remove files.

Multiple developers on Reddit's /r/AndroidDev community are reporting that their apps/accounts were suspended for violating Google's "stalkerware" policy.

While I'm not sure if the "stalkerware" claims are valid in each instance, Google did warn earlier this year that they would crack down on apps that misleadingly claim they could boost your phone's performance. And last month, Google Play announced new guidelines to their Deceptive Behavior policy that went into effect this month.

It's possible this recent slate of suspensions is related to that, though I'm not sure why "stalkerware" is being cited instead of "deceptive behavior."

(Sidenote: I hear all the time about developers getting suspended from Google Play for X and Y. While the number of stories paints a bleak picture, it's hard to really take a side in any particular case without knowing the exact details of a particular app. Google Play can definitely make a mistake, but you shouldn't always assume that to be the case! I think the SD Maid developer is probably innocent, though.)

Absolutely blown away by the response to my post about WarpShare!

It goes to show that:

a) Apple-related posts are popular

b) People REALLY want better cross-device file sharing services.

With that in mind, here's a round-up of other Android --> PC file-sharing apps (links in the reply):

1) Android --> macOS:

* WarpShare. This app uses Apple's AirDrop protocol, so you don't have to install anything on your Mac (you do need to set AirDrop discoverability to "everyone" though). You do have to install the WarpShare app on your phone, though, and then select it from the share sheet when sharing file(s). Does not support receiving files on Android. (If you want my compiled APK, subscribe to me on Patreon/X.)

* NearDrop. This app uses Google's Nearby protocol, so you don't have to install anything on most Android phones since Nearby is built into Google Play Services. You do, however, have to install an app on your Mac in order to make it appear in the Nearby Share menu on your phone. Also does not support receiving files on Android.

2) Android --> Windows:

* Nearby Share from Google: An official app made by Google that uses Google's Nearby protocol, so you don't have to install anything on your Android phone. You do, however, have to install the program on your Windows PC. Sending/receiving files works extremely quickly.

* Nearby Sharing Windows 10/11: This app supports Microsoft's Nearby Sharing protocol so you don't have to install a program on your Windows PC. You do, however, need to install the app on your Android phone. Receiving files works, albeit very slowly as it's over Bluetooth.

3) Android --> Linux

There are no apps (yet) that support Microsoft, Google, or Apple's wireless file sharing protocols, though one developer is attempting to port NearDrop to Linux. That project, CrossDrop, is still a WIP, though.

Otherwise, KDE Connect is a good option. Requires installing an app on your phone and PC, though.

Stylus handwriting support is nearly ready to go live on the Pixel Tablet!

The Pixel Tablet, if you aren't aware, supports USI 2.0 styli. When you connect one to the tablet, you'll get the option to select a "default notes app" and "write in text fields".

Tapping "write in text fields" opens up Gboard's new stylus handwriting settings, where you can change the handwriting speed or handwriting stroke width.

You can also tap "try it" to open a text entry field where you can demo Gboard's new stylus handwriting gestures, including writing, deleting, selecting, inserting, joining words, and new line.

(The first screenshot in this post is from a tipster who actually has a Pixel Tablet and a USI 2.0 stylus. The remaining screenshots are from me, who doesn't have a Pixel Tablet so instead had to fake the config.)

Unfortunately, my tipster reports that, despite the fact that Gboard's stylus handwriting settings appears for him WITHOUT any modifications, it doesn't actually work. We may be missing some stylus handwriting library in the build or APK that's required, or possibly some feature flag needs to be toggled first.

Still, this shows that the feature is closer to launch than previously thought, when users were manually launching the StylusSettingsActivity of Gboard.

By the way, if you're wondering what the heck the "default notes app" is, check out my previous thread where I show a first look at the feature and explain how it works.

—-

This is just my guess, but Google could launch a first-party stylus & keyboard accessory for the Pixel Tablet later this year.

Many features (improved keyboard shortcuts, notetaking role + AppClips API, stylus integration in Settings) just weren't ready for Android 13.