Google’s Project Treble could mean faster updates for your Android phone

Why it matters to you

Android phones aren’t known for their quick updates, but Google’s Project Treble could change that.

Android phones have a bit of a reputation for slow updates. One reason is that silicon manufacturers, the companies that make the chips that power Android devices, have to work closely with phone makers every time Google’s Android team makes a change, which does not always happen expeditiously. But thanks to Project Treble, it won’t be necessary for much longer.

Project Treble, which Google announced on Friday, is a re-engineered update framework that lets device manufacturers modify Android incrementally. Effectively, Google is separating the device-specific, low-level firmware maintained by chip makers from the broader Android codebase — the “biggest change to the low-level system architecture of Android to date,” Iliyan Malchev, Project Treble’s team lead, said in a blog post.

Currently, Android updates published by Google have to be modified by silicon manufacturers. Then, those silicon manufacturers have to pass the modified update to device makers like HTC and LG, which adapt it to their devices.

With Project Treble, that is no longer the case.

“[The separation] is achieved by the introduction of a new vendor interface between the Android OS framework and the vendor implementation,” Malchev said in a blog post. “With Project Treble, we’re re-architecting Android to make it easier, faster and less costly for manufacturers to update devices to a new version of Android.”

Project Treble introduces a “vendor interface” (VI) which sits between Android’s core operating system and manufacturer-specific customizations. When a phone maker like HTC makes software changes, the VI acts as a protective buffer against any hardware-specific code.

It’s akin to Android’s Compatibility Test Suite (CTS), a set of tools that makes it easier for developers to ensure their apps work across the thousands of different hardware configurations in Android’s ecosystem. “Project Treble aims to do what CTS did for apps, for the Android OS framework.”

Google gave Sony and Qualcomm as an example. “[They’ve] contributed dozens of features and hundreds of bugfixes to Android O,” Malchev said, “so they no longer need to rework these patches with each new release of Android.”

Project Treble’s architecture shipped in Android O’s first Developer Preview which became available in April, Malchev said. Later this year, the search giant will work with its silicon and device partners to move major code changes — like features for a carrier in a specific country, for example — into Android’s core code.

In real-world terms, Project Treble means faster — and more frequent — updates to Android-based phones and tablets. But there is a drawback: Based on Malchev’s language, it seems that Android O-based devices will be the first to benefit — meaning phones running older versions of Android are out of luck.

Luckily, we will not have to wait much longer for confirmation. Google is likely to talk about Project Treble at I/O, its annual developer conference, next week.

Google has changed its developer guidelines to protect users against phishing attacks

Taking steps to prevent future phishing scams.

Google has updated its app identity guidelines and put new review processes and restrictions on web apps that request user data in response to the phishing scam that popped up last week. It’s all outlined on the Google developer blog, which outlines the new steps web app developers will need to abide by in order to help Google and its users better detect spoofed or misleading app identities.

On May 3, you may have received some suspicious emails with convincing Google Doc links. This was a phishing scam concocted by a third party developer who managed to create a web app that convincingly mimicked Google Docs and quickly spread, spammed users with links requested access to send and receive emails on users’ behalf, along with general access to accounts.

To Google’s credit, it took immediate action and had disabled the offending accounts little over two hours after users first started reporting the issue on social media. In its official response, Google stated it was working on new measures to prevent such things from happening again.

These changes are now in place and may affect how developers go about registering new applications or modify existing applications. The new review process includes a manual review for some web applications asking for data permissions, which Google says may take up to 7 business days to process. Developers will be able to continue testing their applications with accounts registered as an owner or editor of the project, but public accounts will get an error message instead of a permissions consent page.

These changes might be a bit frustrating for those developers who have no malicious intent, but should prevent future phishing scams. Meanwhile, as users, we should always be paying attention to those app permission windows whenever they pop up.

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Star Trek Bridge Crew is almost here, and it’s time to prep your PlayStation VR

It’s time to get prepared for Star Trek Bridge Crew.

To explore strange new planets and go where no man has gone before. This was the original premise of Star Trek, and now you have a chance to live it out from the bridge of the U.S.S. Aegis. That’s right! After what seems like forever, Star Trek Bridge Crew is nearly here, and it’s time to get ready. We’ve got some tips on how to do it.

Read more at VRHeads.com

Here’s what we want to see at Google I/O 2017 [Roundtable]

Here’s what we want Google to show us at I/O 2017.

Google I/O 2017 is just a few days away and we’re excited. If you’ve ever been to I/O you know that it’s three days where the future of Android, Chrome and just about everything Google does gets talked about and shown off. While it’s primarily a developer conference, seeing that future and getting a hands-on demo of it has everyone looking forward to using it every day.

We went around the table to talk about the thing(s) we want to see most from Google this year. Think of this as our wish list for Google Claus just in case we’re in the “nice” column.

Russell Holly

I want a better way to share VR experiences locally.

I want Google to explain its messaging solution. That explanation can be massive feature additions to Allo, it can be a way to import Hangouts to Allo, or it can be a firm public declaration that Hangouts is getting Allo features. Something. ANYTHING that helps Google’s long-time users return to a messaging plan that makes sense.

I’m also looking forward to seeing what comes next for Daydream. I’d like to see Google explore the social aspect of VR, either with Hangouts/Allo plugin for Daydream or a better way to share VR experiences locally. The important thing here is the social layer, and I think Google can have some real fun with this.

Alex Dobie

I want some clarity on Google’s laptop/tablet/convertible strategy. We’ve been theorizing around Andromeda and Fuchsia for the past few months — developers need to be part of that conversation, and I/O 2017 is as good a place as any to kick things off. Android, as we know it on tablets probably, isn’t going away, but Google needs to lay the foundations for whatever’s next, whether it’s a collision between Android and Chrome OS, or some other platform that’s an evolution of both.

I want some clarity on Google’s tablet/laptop/convertible strategy.

I’m also looking forward to putting some meat on the bones of Android O. We’ll hopefully find out a little more about what the next major release will mean for end users — sure, I/O is a developer conference, but it’s seen consumer-relevant announcements in the past.

And finally, a bit of a wildcard — remember that crazy old rumor about some adaptation of the Android One program coming to the U.S.? If that’s real, I’d love to see how it’s going to work as part of this year’s keynote.

Andrew Martonik

By Evan-Amos – Public Domain

I’m looking forward to seeing what Google lays out for Android O in terms of more specific features and direction for this release. The early Developer Preview is obviously not intended to be feature-complete, and Google I/O is a great place to start getting a feel for what the next version of Android will really be when it’s released. High on my list is seeing what it can do with tablets — there are a few different rumors swirling, and I want Google to make sense of it all.

Show me those Android O features!

More selfishly, I want to hear something that shows Google cares about Project Fi still. The service is still a tiny focus compared to Google’s other big businesses, but it’s one that feels particularly ignored considering we all pay monthly for it. We’re still using Hangouts for SMS, call forwarding is broken since the Google Voice app updated and we haven’t heard anything new in terms of extra features. It feels like Fi is in a holding pattern, and it’s not at a particularly great place to do so.

Jerry Hildenbrand

Tell me something good about Project Fi. Tell me you have SMS support built into the Fi app. Tell me you are going to officially support Android Wear devices. Tell me anything, even if you have to lie to me.

Why I should keep using Project Fi?

And if you are going to just lie to me, go on and tell me you’re making a Pixel Tablet that runs Chrome OS and has a SIM card slot. One that works on Project Fi.

Android is in good shape. They can make small refinements, as will the people making the phones, but there isn’t a real need for any big changes (even if we want them). But Google does a lot of other things, and some of those (cough Project Fi) could use some special I/O lovin’.

Marc Lagace

Show some love to Canada, Google!

My favorite reveal from last year’s I/O was the Google Home, so I’m hoping that Google announces an official release date for us Canadians along with some more features and functionality for Google Assistant. I didn’t realize how much I’ve been relying on Google Assistant on the Pixel until I recently switched to a different phone. It’s quickly become a feature something I use frequently throughout the day, so I’m hoping Google has been able to iron out some of the kinks.

Speaking of Canadian availability, man would I be happy if Google announced it was going to start offering Project Fi service up here, too. Show some love to Canada, Google!

Ara Wagoner

I hope for the same thing every year at Google I/O: a dark theme for Google Play Music. But in all seriousness, if YouTube can get a dark theme, as can Google Play Movies, then Google Play Music can too. Oh, and I want the voice controls Google Play Music has on Google Home (fast forward 90 seconds) to migrate to Google Assistant on phones and Android Auto. Crazy, right?

Dark. Themes. Yes?

Turning to things that might actually happen, I want to hear new developments on the Chromebook front, be it Andromeda, be it Google Play finally rolling out to the rest of us with legacy Chromebooks, or the debut of a new Google-made Chromebook that will be beautiful beyond all reason. I also want to see Google announce some sort of initiative to try and get Android manufacturers to roll out monthly updates in a timely manner. It matters, and our choices for buying phones that get timely updates shouldn’t be Blackberry and a couple of flagships.

Florence Ion

This is my fifth consecutive year attending Google I/O and I’ve grown an affinity to calling it Google Disneyland by virtue of the fact that it’s now held at an outdoor venue. It also feels like the new digs are a nod to what it must be like to develop with Google: fun, a little chaotic at times, and incredibly forward-facing.

Making new friends at Google Disneyland is great!

This year, in particular, I’m excited to see what’s next for Android and Google Assistant, but I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with the Android community in one common space. The energy at I/O is so incredibly infectious; there are nascent and experienced developers alike making connections, sharing stories, and nurturing one another in a space that encourages it. It’s also fun to make friends while you’re waiting in line for a session and catch on to how some developers are using their apps to make the most out of what’s available to tinker with on Android.

Daniel Bader

Let’s go back to what I/O is all about: Developers.

Every year, Google I/O promises improvements for developers that will bring their apps to the next level. But the Play Store is still full of terrible apps, along with thousands of great apps that no one will be able to find. This year, I’d like Google to focus once again on why people came to Google I/O years ago: to build amazing Android apps that can actually make money, in a marketplace that showcases the best and brightest curated by real people and not just algorithms.

I’d also like Google to expand upon its plan for Assistant, which is quickly growing into one of Google’s most important properties. We’ve seen it expand to all Android phones running Marshmallow and above, along with Allo and Google Home, but I’d like Google to address its poor discoverability — did you know the Galaxy S8 has Assistant built in?

Jen Karner

OK, Google; What’s next for Allo?

This is my second year of actually keeping a close eye on what is going on at Google I/O, and what I’m really interested to see is what they’ve got planned next for Daydream. It’s already incredibly capable, but I’d love to see more social aspects for this headset, where my friends and I can enjoy things together — even when geographically we’re thousands of miles apart.

While VR is where most of my attention is going to be focused at, I’m also hoping to see what is next for Google Assistant and Allo. Additionally, I’m curious to see what new developments Google is going to surprise me with this year and whether I had any clue they were coming.

Your wishlist?

We know everyone out there has a thing or two they want google to show us at Google I/O 2017. Sound off in the comments and let us know what’s on your list!

The Play Store finally joins the rest of its family with a Play button app icon

App icons don’t change all that often.

It’s understandable. After all, most folks don’t look for the title under an app icon, they just look for the shape or color and tap it. So when app icons change, there’s usually a good reason for it. Google is changing one of the most important app icons on your phones, the Google Play Store, and the reason was spelled out a long time ago. It just begs the question: what the heck took them so long?

Over a year ago, Google announced that it was updating its app icons to give a consistent shape and look across the Google Play family, from the slick-looking Google Play Movies icon to that dumb-ass Google Play Music icon. (Give me back my headphones!) The Play Store would maintain its iconic shopping bag for a time, but the others have long since adopted the big, bold play button shape, and it was time that Google Play followed suit.

Remember me?

If you had trouble finding the Play Store this morning, like one of our editors, that’s why. If you don’t like it, may I suggest using an icon pack? Has it reached your devices yet? Let us know in the comments.

Google’s Project Treble will make Android updates faster for all devices

Google I/O is starting soon, but Google may have just pre-announced one of Android O’s biggest changes.

It’s just five days until the Google I/O keynote but the company can’t help itself: it has pre-announced what could be one of the most important changes to Android since its inception.

Called Treble, the project involves making it easier for Android manufacturers and carriers to roll out updates to their devices by creating a set of tests aimed at the vendors that create the components inside phones, tablets and anything else running Android. From Google:

Project Treble aims to do what CTS did for apps, for the Android OS framework. The core concept is to separate the vendor implementation – the device-specific, lower-level software written in large part by the silicon manufacturers – from the Android OS Framework. This is achieved by the introduction of a new vendor interface between the Android OS framework and the vendor implementation. The new vendor interface is validated by a Vendor Test Suite (VTS), analogous to the CTS, to ensure forward compatibility of the vendor implementation.

Like the CTS, or Compatibility Test Suite, the VTS will ensure that all the chips inside the phone, from the SoC to the baseband to the tiny little sensors that let our phones do amazing things, work properly when Google releases a new version of Android.

Here’s the amazing part: Treble will allow the Samsungs, LGs and Huaweis of the world to push out updates without having to rely on the Qualcomms and Broadcoms to make large changes to the underlying core Android framework.

With a stable vendor interface providing access to the hardware-specific parts of Android, device makers can choose to deliver a new Android release to consumers by just updating the Android OS framework without any additional work required from the silicon manufacturers.

Google says that all phones and tablets running Android O and later will incorporate Project Treble, and that the first Android O Developer Preview already has it, waiting patiently for the VTS to roll out.

The company has been working towards this day for a long time, from splitting the carrier and vendor updates into separate partitions in Android M to making it easier for manufacturers and carriers to roll out specific, core OS updates with Android N.

Finally, Google is working with those same companies to entice them to bring core Android changes and bug fixes — from country and carrier-specific improvements to actual features — and bring them into the Android Open Source Project. Not only will this make Android more stable from the get-go, it will allow manufacturers to compete less on software differentiation than hardware, hopefully improving the experience for everyone.

While we’ll likely learn more next week at Google I/O, what remains to be seen is whether manufacturers will work with Google and the component vendors to ensure this process is smooth, or even whether Google will enforce the VTS the way it currently does the CTS. Lots more to come, so stay tuned to Android Central for all the details!

Android O

• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to install the Android O Developer Preview
• Android O isn’t in the Android Beta Program yet
• Join the Discussion

The best tech deals that you don’t want to miss out on

Our friends at Thrifter post some great deals every day, and here are the best ones available right now!

From mobile phones to general tech, home goods and much more, the team at Thrifter is scouring the web every single day to find the best deals. Whether something hits a new all-time low, gets discounted for just a limited time, or has a new coupon code available for it, you won’t want to miss out any of them. If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

So, what are the best deals that you should be looking at right now? Well, let’s take a look at them so you can see which ones are best for you!

Amazon Echo – $149.99 (normally $179.99)

Amazon doesn’t often discount the Echo, so seeing a savings of $30 makes it a great purchase. Alexa is always learning something new, so make your life a bit easier with one today. You can also grab a certified refurbished version for just $135.

See at Amazon

Sonos Play:1 – $179.99 (normally $199.99)

Sonos speakers have become more popular over the recent years, and are definitely one of the best ways to bring wireless audio to your house. While $20 may not seem like a huge discount, if you follow the Sonos brand at all you’ll see the discounts are quite rare. If you want to try out a Sonos speaker, or expand your setup, now is the time to do it!

See at Amazon

Jaybird Bluetooth headphones – $99.99 (normally $129.99 and above)

Jaybird makes some of the best fitness headphones out there, and they are worth every penny of their regular prices, but at just $99.99 these are a must-have. Don’t believe us? Check out this great video from Modern Dad, and then grab a pair of the X3 Sport or Freedom F5 for yourself.

See at Amazon

More great deals!

• Aukey jump start kit – $34.99 with coupon GZHPO9B5
• Apple Watch Series 1 at Target – $70 off
• Steam Link – $19.99 (normally $34.99)
• iTunes Gift Card – $42.50 (normally $50)
• Select Amazon Dash buttons – $2 w/ $5 credit on first use (normally $5)
• Withings Steel HR – $159.99 (normally $199.99)
• Elago Retro Mac Apple Watch charging stand – $9.99 (normally $12.99)

For even more great deals, and to see these discounts as they become available, be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

How Google’s Project Treble will help fix one of Android’s oldest problems

How Google can build one update that works everywhere.

In March 2016, when the Android N developer preview was released, we noticed something was different. With Android Marshmallow, Google had inserted a new partitioning structure that included a vendor partition. This held some files that had previously lived in the “regular” core OS folders in the system partition, as well as some files from the company who made the phone itself. But in the Android N developer preview, things changed even more and there were also files in this new partition that duplicated and overwrote pieces of the core OS when the phone was booted up.

At the time, we put our heads together and did some extra digging and came to the conclusion that this was the first step towards making Android easy to update by giving companies like Samsung or Qualcomm a place to call their own and splitting the system into two parts: a vendor area and an Android core area.

Project Treble splits Android into two parts: The Google part and the hardware support part.

Google announced Project Treble today, and everything has come full circle. This is exactly what that vendor area is for, and we get to see just how it can change the problem of phones not being updated fast enough.

The Vendor Interface and VTS (Vendor Test Suite) are coming with Android O, and it looks like this will take away any excuses for being slow with the updates. It’s a fairly technical thing to describe, and if you’re technically inclined, you should have a look at Google’s blog post on it all, but we can break it down so that everyone can understand what this is and why it can make a big difference.

We all know Android comes from Google. Plenty of other companies work with Google to make Android better (and Google has invited companies to do even more of this), but the code is finalized and hosted by Google. Anyone can download it and build it into Android, but this Android on its own is not a complete phone operating system.

To get Android to do anything, you need support from companies like Qualcomm, Samsung, and every other company who makes the individual parts. The software that makes those parts work is separate, and the way things are before Project Treble mean that those parts need to be built into Android’s code when the companies making a phone build the operating system. Each time Android is updated, whether it be a full platform update, like the jump from Marshmallow to Nougat or a security update that only affects a few parts of the system, the parts that make the hardware work need to be incorporated.

Android itself is not a complete operating system. You need support from hardware vendors to do anything.

That slows things down considerably. Instead of Google being able to send a single update for every phone running Android to the companies that make them and have it work, they send a non-complete operating system that needs the rest built into the new base, then it needs to be compiled and tested. Samsung (for example) needs to do this for every model of the Galaxy S8 they make before they can even think about sending that update to you.

With the new system, Google’s portion of Android can live in its own space and the parts from Qualcomm and Samsung and HTC and everyone else can live in their own space. In theory, the update is already tested and will “just work.”

That’s what the new VTS is for. Think of the VTS as the rulebook about how to make Android. If everyone follows these rules, the changes Google makes and tests will work exactly the same on every phone running a particular version of Android. And with updates easier to build and send to us users, most new phones will all be on the same version. This is great for us, and it’s great for the companies involved because it lets them work on their area of expertise while someone else works on their stuff.

The Vendor Test Suite is designed to make sure every company builds Android the same way.

To check that the rules work and everyone is following them, a series of tests can be done on a new device before it goes up for sale and each time the system is overhauled. These test will make sure that Samsung’s TouchWiz Android and HTC’s Sense Android both work with Google’s Android the same way and a single update from Google works on both. This is how things are done to make sure all the apps in Google Play will work, and, for the most part, it’s a great system.

We don’t have the full details yet, but we’re told that everything will be published and pushed to the open source code for Android once Android O launches later this year. This will make for a very interesting time at Google I/O, and we’ll continue to check out this new way of doing things and what everyone else involved in making the phones we love is doing with them.

Android O

• Everything new in Android O
• Should you put Android O on your phone?
• How to install the Android O Developer Preview
• Android O isn’t in the Android Beta Program yet
• Join the Discussion

How becoming a TPO subscriber can affect change

Join TPO and put your monthly mobile bill to good use.

TPO (The People’s Operator) is a mobile virtual network operator that leases coverage from Sprint’s fast 4G LTE network.

It offers competitive data plans for folks who don’t want to pay the big carrier rates. In fact, as a promotional rate, you can get 1GB of Sprint’s fast 4G LTE data, unlimited calling, and unlimited texting for $7.35 per month for the first three months. After that, it’s only $21 per month. If you need around 3GB of data (which is roughly the amount most Americans use), you’ll pay only $31.50 for the first three months and $35 a month thereafter.

Great, but how does me saving money affect change?

How TPO is different

TPO isn’t just your average carrier, hell-bent on making a quick buck on no-contract phone plans. It was started by three friends who thought that if people were going to be spending money on their monthly mobile bill anyway, then they might as well put toward a force for good.

Charities and deserving causes often have trouble raising funds, but if you’re already going to be spending money on your phone bill, why not give some of that to the cause of your choice?

Yes, switching to TPO from one of the Big Four (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon) will save you money every month, but 10% of your bill will go to the cause of your choice. You don’t spend more just because a portion of proceeds are donated either.

You can choose from causes like the ASPCA, Action Against Hunger, Habitat for Humanity, the Planet Water Foundation, and many more.

How you can initiate change

In order to get in on affecting change by helping your favorite causes, all you have to do is sign up. That’s it!

Sign up for a monthly, no-contract plan, and 10% will automatically go to the cause of your choice. TPO doesn’t take a cut and you don’t spend any more than the plan you sign up for.

The HTC U 11 is not a German submarine [#acpodcast]

It’s not an under-11 soccer team or a Nazi submarine, but a new phone. The HTC U 11 is coming soon, and while we don’t know much about it, we do know that it will try to bridge the gap between the HTC 10, an underrated phone, and the U series that began earlier this year with the U Ultra and U Play.

The OnePlus 5 is probably going to be one of the most exciting releases of the year, but with component prices increasing rapidly, can OnePlus maintain its “affordable flagship” tagline?

And Google I/O is next week! The guys break down what to expect, and what they want, from Google’s annual developer conference!

This episode of the Android Central Podcast is brought to you by Thrifter, the best place to get great deals in your inbox every day!

Show notes:

• Everything we know about the HTC U 11
• OnePlus 5 rumor roundup
• Google I/O 2017 preview!

Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral335.mp3