Apps
Download L-Launcher for your non-Wear OS Android smartwatches
Android operating system was originally developed for digital cameras. Thereafter it was moved to smartphones and smart devices, the success of which was before us. Android OS now runs on smart TVs, home appliances and even smartwatches.
The best thing about the Android operating system is that a separate launcher is customized for every device running on Android. You get a different home screen layout for each Android-based device.
However, smartwatches are a bit different. Most brands do not opt for the smartwatch-dedicated operating system from Google, Wear OS. There are many non-Wear OS smartwatches available in the market.
Again, the sad thing about associating these smartwatches is that they do not come with a good or customized launcher. This is where the new and completely free non-wear OS smartwatch launcher, L-Launcher comes into play. L-Launcher is a free launcher app that can be installed on non-Wear OS smartwatches running Android.
According to XDADevelopers, the app has been in development for two years. Fortunately, the new release, Pre-Alpha v0.0.3, offers new features that really excite non-Wear OS smartwatch users. The latest release of L-Launcher offers the new Wear OS 3-style tray-based navigation. Beyond that, other features of the L-Launcher are also compatible with Wear OS 3.
There are good watch faces that support L-Launcher. This will give you more options to keep your watch faces up-to-date and to stick with the shortlist of pre-loaded watch faces of non-Wear OS smartwatches. The L-Launcher is that it adds to the list of features that support square and round smartwatches with the ARM/ARM64 chipset.
You can check out more details about the L-Launcher here. To see all the watch faces developed by this launcher developer, you can visit the project’s GitHub page.
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Google Messages is finally adding a feature that many users have wanted for a long time, the ability to set custom icons for group chats. At the moment, group chats in the app use a default icon, which is just a grid of users’ initials or profile pictures.
Many people have asked for the option to change the grid option, and it looks like Google is finally bringing it soon. This new feature has been discovered in a beta version of the Google Messages app by AndroidAuthority.
The codes of the fresh version of the Google Messages app show that users will soon be able to upload their own images to use as group chat icons. It means you can choose a picture that represents the group, instead of just the default grid.
Moreover, the future update will make group chats easier to recognize and more fun. It will also bring Google Messages like other popular apps including WhatsApp, which already lets users set custom images for group chats.
Custom icons will make it easier to identify which group chat you’re in, especially if you’re part of many different groups. Since RCS works over the internet, the custom icon should appear for everyone in the group, not just the person who set it.
However, it’s unclear whether anyone in the group can change the icon or if only admins will be able to do it. It’s also not clear if iPhone users will be able to see the custom icons, as RCS works differently on iOS. Stay tuned for more information.
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will make it much easier to share messages, photos, videos, and other media with other apps. This new beta update WhatsApp Beta for Android arrives with version 2.24.25.20, available through the Google Play Beta Program.
The new feature adds a bottom bar to the WhatsApp app, allowing users to quickly share content with other platforms. When you want to share a message, photo, video, or GIF, you’ll have the option to send it directly to apps like Instagram and Facebook.
It means you can post media from your WhatsApp chats as stories on Instagram or Facebook without needing to download and upload the content manually.
Moreover, WhatsApp is also planning to expand sharing options to include other popular platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Snapchat. If you want to share an update from a WhatsApp channel, the app will generate a special link, making it easy to share channel content across other platforms.
To give users more flexibility, WhatsApp will add a “More” option to the new interface, allowing you to share content with even more apps beyond those listed in the bottom bar.
This new sharing feature is currently under development, but it will be available in a future update. For now, beta users can test this feature by installing the latest version. Keep an eye out for this feature in upcoming updates as WhatsApp continues to improve the sharing experience.
WhatsApp redesigns chat list interface with latest beta update
Your Samsung phone will soon update Gemini AI to enable calls and texts without unlocking the lock screen. Google is continuously working to evolve Gemini with new features and improvements, making it a one-stop assistant solution.
Samsung phones have three choices for digital assistant on mobile: Bixby, Google Assistant, and Gemini. Bixby is crafted by Samsung, while the other two options are from Google, and you can use only one of those at a time.
Gemini has taken over Google Assistant, thanks to its AI and Generative AI capabilities. Now with the lock screen functioning support, Gemini AI allows Android and Samsung phone users to make calls and send texts without unlocking.
Image: 9to5Google
Google app’s upcoming 15.48 update will deploy the feature on compatible devices. The app’s build is currently in the Beta testing stage. Gemini already supports calls and texts, but the update aims to ditch the requirement of unlocking the phone.
How to enable:
- Open Gemini and go to the app’s Settings section
- Now, access the Gemini on lock screen page
- Next, enter the Outgoing calls and messages section
- Enable the Make calls and send message without unlocking toggle
- NOTE: Only works on Google app v15.48.
9to5Google discovered that Gemini would take more time to get the same functionality as Gmail. While phone calls and text messages are enabled on the lock screen, Gmail still requires the phone to be unlocked by the user.