After AT&T confirmed last month that it would begin rolling out a "5G E" indicator to select Android devices with support for its 5G Evolution network, updates to enable that indicator have begun rolling out.

AT&T is now updating the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, LG V30, and LG V40 ThinQ to add the 5G Evolution network indicator. The Galaxy S8 Active is receiving an update to version R16NW.G892AUCU3BRL1 that also includes the December 1, 2018 Android security patches, while the LG V30 is getting updated to version H93120l and the LG V40 ThinQ is being bumped to version V405UA10l.

After updating, you should see a "5G E" indicator in your status bar when you're connected to AT&T's 5G Evolution coverage. AT&T 5G Evolution is not true 5G, but rather advanced 4G LTE technologies like 3-way carrier aggregation, 256 QAM, and 4x4 MIMO that can help to give you faster download speeds. "These technologies serve as the runway to 5G by boosting the existing LTE network and priming it for the future of connectivity," AT&T says of 5G Evolution. "We can enable faster speeds now, and upgrade to 5G when it’s ready."

This new 5G E network indicator has received a lot of criticism ever since it was announced last month. Many folks feel that the 5G E indicator is misleading since it's not true 5G and some consumers may not know that it's actually based on advanced 4G LTE technologies. AT&T appears to be set in its plans to roll the 5G E network indicator out to its devices that support the feature, though, so be on the lookout for more Android phones to get it in the future.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Active

LG V30

LG V40 ThinQ

AT&T

source: androidandme

The start of a new month means new Android security patches from Google.

Google today released the January 2018 Android security updates for Pixel devices. The full factory images and the OTA images are now available for download for the Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel, Pixel XL, and Pixel C. Unfortunately for Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X owners, there are no images available for those devices, which means that the December 2018 update may be the last that the Nexus phones receive. Time to pour one out.

Along with these updates, Google has posted an Android Security Bulletin to detail which vulnerabilities were squashed in this new update. The 2019-01-01 security patch level fixes vulnerabilities with the framework and system. And then there's the 2019-01-05 security patch level, which adds in fixes for vulnerabilities with the kernel components, NVIDIA components, Qualcomm components, and Qualcomm closed source components.

Google also posted a document to reveal which Pixel-specific patches are included in the January 2019 update. Vulnerabilities related to kernel components have been patched, and Google also says that the update improves audio quality when recording videos on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

If you've got a Google Pixel device, you should see your update arrive in the coming days. Let us know when your update arrives!

Google Pixel 3

Google Pixel 3 XL

Google

source: androidandme

After taking some time off for the holidays, Apple has resumed its iOS 12.1.3 beta testing.

Apple today released iOS 12.1.3 beta 3 to registered developers. The update can be downloaded over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad, or you can point your computer's web browser to the Apple Developer Center on the web.

As noted by MacRumors, this is actually only the second iOS 12.1.3 beta update released by Apple. It contains the same changes that were included in the first iOS 12.1.2 beta, but Apple released an emergency update to iOS 12.1.2 to avoid a sales ban on iPhones in China due to a legal battle with Qualcomm. The changes that were originally meant for iOS 12.1.2 have been rolled into iOS 12.1.3, and that's how we got to this third beta.

Also released today is the third beta for Apple's watchOS 5.1.3 update. This is likely a minor release that focuses on under-the-hood improvements and fixes.

Apple hasn't said when it'll release iOS 12.1.3 or watchOS 5.1.3 to the public. Stay tuned and we'll let you know when those rollouts commence.

Apple

source: androidandme

Looks like Samsung isn't the only smart TV maker that's adding Apple AirPlay 2 support to its televisions.

LG and Vizio have confirmed that they'll be adding Apple's AirPlay 2 functionality to their smart TVs in 2019. During its CES 2019 event, LG revealed that Apple AirPlay, AirPlay Audio, and HomeKit support will be added to its 2019 TVs. There aren't many other details on LG's plans quite yet, but we should hear more soon.

As one of Apple’s first TV partners, LG is adding Apple AirPlay, AirPlay Audio & HomeKit support to our 2019 TVs! #CES2019 #LGCES2019

— LG Electronics (@LGUS) January 7, 2019

Meanwhile, Vizio today announced that it will added AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to its Vizio SmartCast TVs. The features will be available for registered beta members in the U.S. and Canada starting in Q1 2019. Following this beta test, Vizio SmartCast 3.0 will be released via a software update to new and existing SmartCast TVs and displays in Q2 2019.

In addition to AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support, Vizio says that the update to SmartCast 3.0 will include expanded Google Assistant actions, like the ability to launch apps, select inputs, and control playback. Amazon Alexa users will also be able to control their TV, and later this year, they'll be able to launch apps with their voice, too.

Adding AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support is huge for Apple, LG, and Vizio. With AirPlay, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can play movies, TV shows, music, photos, and more from their device on their TV. And with HomeKit, users can control their smart home devices on their iPhone or iPad or using Siri. Vizio's SmartCast TVs can be added to the Home app on the iPhone or iPad, be included in scenes or automations, and be controlled from the iPhone or iPad.

LG

Apple

source: androidandme

At the tail end of last year, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all confirmed that they were planning to launch a 5G Samsung smartphone in 2019. Now Sprint has done the same.

Sprint today revealed that it will launch a 5G smartphone from Samsung in summer 2019. The device will include support for both 5G and 4G LTE coverage. For 5G and LTE, it'll offer support for Sprint's 2.5GHz spectrum. Also included will be support for 1.9GHz (Band 25), 800MHz (Band 26), and other LTE spectrum bands for roaming.

Sprint isn't saying much else about the identity of this device, its specs, or its release date, but the carrier does promise that more info will be revealed later.

A Sprint executive confirmed late last year that his carrier would launch a 5G Samsung smartphone, but it's nice to get extra confirmation from Sprint as well as a launch window. As for what this mystery phone is, it's likely a 5G version of the Samsung Galaxy S10. Not only do Samsung's flagship Galaxy S phones typically launch across all four major U.S. carriers, but rumors have suggested that a 5G version of the Galaxy S10 is in the works.

Sprint

Samsung

source: androidandme

Now that Android Pie is official and rolling out to devices, many folks have shifted their focus to Android Q and what features it might bring. A system-wide dark mode may be one of them.

A Google employee may have confirmed that a system-wide dark mode will be included with Android Q. In a post on the Chromium bug tracker that was spotted by Android Police, the Google employee said, "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 employee went on to say that the team working on Chrome should ensure the browser has a setting to enable Dark Mode and to modify the core UI elements to fit the theme. He also said there will be a master setting for Dark Mode.

Shortly after the thread was discovered, its permissions were changed so that only Google employees could view it, which could suggest that system-wide dark mode is indeed coming. Because this is the internet, though, screenshots of the thread were taken before it was hidden from the public's view.

There are some caveats to keep in mind here, like the fact that this thread was posted on October 31 and doesn't appear to have been super active since. Also, Android Q is still months away from being announced, so Google's plans may change. A system-wide dark mode would certainly be a major addition to Android Q, especially as we see more and more devices come to market with OLED displays in tow.

Would you use a system-wide dark mode if your phone had it?

Google

source: androidandme

After getting Apple Music onto Amazon Echo smart speakers late last year, Apple is now working with another surprising partner.

Samsung has announced that its 2019 Smart TV models will include iTunes Movies and TV Shows as well as Apple AirPlay 2 support. These televisions will be available starting this spring. What's more, support for these features will be made available in 2018 Samsung Smart TVs via an impending update.

"In an industry first, a new iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will debut only on Samsung Smart TVs in more than 100 countries," Samsung touts in its announcement. AirPlay 2 support will be available in 190 countries around the world.

With iTunes Movies and TV Shows, Samsung Smart TV owners will have access to their existing iTunes library and will be able to buy or rent hundreds of thousands of TV shows and movies, including 4K HDR films. The iTunes Movies and TV Shows app will also work with Samsung's Smart TV services, like Universal Guide, the new Bixby, and Search.

Meanwhile, AirPlay 2 support will allow users to play videos, photos, music, podcasts, and more from Apple devices on Samsung Smart TVs.

“We look forward to bringing the iTunes and AirPlay 2 experience to even more customers around the world through Samsung Smart TVs, so iPhone, iPad and Mac users have yet another way to enjoy all their favorite content on the biggest screen in their home,” said Eddy Cue, Apple's SVP of Internet Software and Services.

This partnership between Apple and Samsung is a pretty big deal. Previously, you'd need an Apple TV if you wanted to watch iTunes movies and TV shows on your television. Now that's changing, showing that Apple is serious about growing its services business, especially with rumors that the company is planning to launch a video streaming service in the near future.

Apple

Samsung

source: androidandme