Android

Daniel Gultsch, developer of the Android XMPP chat app Conversations, has announced the app is leaving Google Play and is now free. Previously the app was paid on Play while free via F-Droid, a split tied to Google's policies on donation-funded apps. Gultsch explains his reasons for the split and what it means for the app's future funding and distribution.

A report by The Register describes long-standing file security vulnerabilities affecting Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows. The flaws, described as decades old, span all major desktop and mobile platforms, raising concerns about how widely shared code or inherited designs carried the weakness across the industry. Security professionals are discussing the disclosure and its implications for systems that have gone unpatched for years.

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, its new flagship smartphone chip, alongside a higher-tier 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company describes both as flagship processors, with spec differences between them relatively minor and focused on improved AI processing, video capture and gaming performance. Coverage is focused on what the incremental upgrades mean for upcoming premium Android phones.

Speedtest maker Ookla has released benchmark data on Android foldable phones, comparing network and device performance across the foldable market. The timing is notable as rumours intensify that Apple is preparing its own foldable iPhone, often dubbed the iPhone Duo, which would put it in direct competition with Samsung and other Android foldable makers.

The iPhone 13 and 14 'Duo' cases and Microsoft's Surface Duo share a name despite being unrelated products: Apple's is a foldable accessory style for its phones, while Microsoft's is a dual-screen Android tablet-phone. Tech commentators are highlighting the naming overlap and comparing the two very different takes on mobile design.

Reports say Apple has successfully tested a variable aperture camera system for the iPhone 18 Pro, a feature long used by Android rivals to adjust light intake for better photos. Coverage notes there is a catch, though the specifics remain unstated, possibly relating to cost, complexity or timing. Apple has not confirmed the plans, and the handset is not expected until 2026.

Hidden code reportedly found in Apple's software suggests the company may be working on a new iPhone security feature similar to one already used on Android devices. Details about the feature remain limited, as Apple has not commented, but the discovery points to Apple drawing on security capabilities that Android phones have offered. Tech outlets are weighing what this could mean for the next iPhone.

Code spotted in Apple software suggests the company could bring an Android-style security feature to the iPhone. Details are scarce beyond the discovery itself, and Apple has not commented on any plans. If real, the move would see Apple borrowing a protection already standard on rival Android devices, tightening iPhone security for users.

The Motorola Signature 27 is likely to become the first Motorola smartphone to support GrapheneOS, the privacy-focused Android operating system previously limited to Google Pixel devices. If confirmed, it would mark a significant expansion for the security-focused platform, giving privacy-conscious users a hardware option outside Google's own lineup for the first time.

The postmarketOS project, which has spent close to ten years building a Linux distribution for mobile phones, is rebranding itself as Nura. The change marks a new chapter for the community-driven effort to bring mainline Linux to smartphones, a niche area of ongoing interest to enthusiasts seeking alternatives to Android and iOS.