cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/24607994

Currently, you are unable to view the APKMirror web page. Instead, you get the following message shown in the screenshot below.

Tiktok downloads are currently blocked in the United States due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

The link in this statement leads to the following page, containing the bill that was passed:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7521

This sets a dangerous precedent going forward for the Android community which sideloads applications onto their phones, being that APKMirror is the largest mirror of APKs for Android phones. It's also possible for them to add more apps to be included under this bill, and possible for another bill to be passed which may act as an even more broad blanket to target specific groups of people (e.g. LGBTQ+, people of color), messaging applications that are truly secure (e.g. Signal), and so on.

Then of course there a very real possibility of our president forcing the integration of software updates into both Android (and possibly even iOS smartphones) that can forcibly remove applications for the "sake of national security".

---

Blocked APKMirror links:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/tik-tok/

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/lemon8/

Currently, you are unable to view the APKMirror web page. Instead, you get the following message shown in the screenshot below.

Tiktok downloads are currently blocked in the United States due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

The link in this statement leads to the following page, containing the bill that was passed:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7521

This sets a dangerous precedent going forward for the Android community which sideloads applications onto their phones, being that APKMirror is the largest mirror of APKs for Android phones. It's also possible for them to add more apps to be included under this bill, and possible for another bill to be passed which may act as an even more broad blanket to target specific groups of people (e.g. LGBTQ+, people of color), messaging applications that are truly secure (e.g. Signal), and so on.

Then of course there a very real possibility of our president forcing the integration of software updates into both Android (and possibly even iOS smartphones) that can forcibly remove applications for the "sake of national security".

Blocked APKMirror links:

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/tik-tok/

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/tiktok-pte-ltd/lemon8/

Use the following device key to interpret the January 2023 changelog for the Pixel 8 and other supported devices:

• [1] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8

• [2] Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel Fold

• [3] Pixel 5, Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro

• [4] Pixel Tablet

Camera

• Fix for users facing Camera crashes in certain conditions *[3]

User Interface

• Fix for users facing flashing black screen when playing video in certain conditions *[1]
• Fix for users unable to exit Setup Wizard in certain conditions *[4]
• Fix for Wallpaper on home screen showing black in certain conditions *[2]

Hey guys!

It's almost time again for the latest and greatest iterations of Pixel devices, where Google will show off their newest hardware and software upgrades to the masses.

The event will debut on October 4th at 10 AM EST (https://dateful.com/convert/est-edt-eastern-time?t=10am&d=2023-10-04), showcasing what's to be the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, and likely the Pixel Watch 2.

Rumors indicate signs pointing to a new Tensor chip in the Pixel devices, temperature sensors, Magic Audio removal features for video clips, and even a Qualcomm-based chip in the Pixel Watch 2.

Feel free to watch the event and sign up to be notified when it's live, at the following YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxlaUCJZ27E

See you all soon!

I've been searching all over for a computer or tablet with long battery life, and a tablet mode or detachable keyboard. I've been wanting to take notes and watch videos in portrait mode split screen while I'm out and about.

Firstly, not even the $800 iPad Pro can do split screen in portrait mode. I don't know why, but I'm not surprised it's something that Apple has overlooked.

So that leaves you with the option to either get a Surface Pro computer with an i5 or i7 processor with a maximum of 4 hours of battery with these Surface computers, OR you get something like a Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 which has an ARM processor and 11 hours of battery, but the problem is that these Galaxy Tab devices are wildly overpriced and OneUI isn't exactly my cup of tea.

Only Surface Pro 9 laptops with SQ3 exist, and these are also (shocking!) wildly overpriced. Of course, the 2023 Microsoft Surface Go 4 ARM model was scrapped in favor of an Intel processor, meaning battery life is out the door once again. Until battery life on these Surface computer is at minimum 6-7 hours I won't even look in their direction.

What gives? Is there any other computer or tablet I'm missing that exists? I don't want to spend much more than $800 or so on a device that I'd only use for specialized purposes; I'd buy refurbished but it's still completely insane to spend any more than that.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/5176306

Google says it can’t fix Pixel Watches, please just buy a new one | With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste.::With no official repair program and no parts, broken Pixel Watches are just e-waste.

Looks like we also won't see the Surface Pro 10 until October.

Looks like Google falls further behind as they fail to properly design and update newer iterations of Pixel phones. Rather than have a superior TSMC chip within the next 13 months, which would have a higher quality manufacturing process and significantly reduce power consumption, it looks like it'll be closer to 25 months if we're lucky.

Samsung phones have DeX widely available across their flagship devices, allowing users to plug their phones into a screen, connect a mouse and keyboard, and work as if it was a laptop or desktop PC.

Do you find features like this fitting into your workflow? How would you feel about a Google equivalent?

The Pixel 8 Pro includes generative AI features which allow it to do things like "SGE" and "Help me write" for apps such as Gmail.

The Pixel Watch 2 looks identical, with slightly different external features such as a modified crown, and potentially a slimmer build.

Following our previous report, Google is officially unveiling a new 3D logo for Android. The broad goal of this updated branding is to “help connect Android to Google,” and it follows the previous modernization in 2019.