Google is adding DRM to Play Store apps for offline verification

Google is adding small sections of security metadata to every app that makes it way through the Google Play Store, or other authorized app stores.

The addition comes as part of Google’s continued drive to make Android safer and more secure. 2017 saw Google take down over 700,000 malicious apps, with 99 percent of those apps being removed before any users installed them. That’s pretty good, but Google’s working hard to make sure the Play Store’s security is even more water-tight, and DRM seems to be the answer to that.

The word “DRM” — or “digital rights management” — leaves a sour taste in many mouths, and we’ve seen a bunch of companies do questionable things with their DRM over the years. However, it’s important to note what Google attempting to achieve with this addition, and how the DRM helps to keep Android devices safe. Google’s existing app verification methods require a device to be online, but with the addition of small sections of security metadata, Android phones can identify when an app has been verified by the Play Store’s security measures. If that security metadata is missing, then Android can warn the user that the app they’ve downloading doesn’t come from a legitimate source.

Why all this emphasis on offline verification? With certain markets having reached smartphone saturation levels, Google has shifted focus to developing markets, where smartphones populations are not as dense, and where Android has room to grow with variants like Android Go. Problem is, those areas can lack a consistent mobile data connection, or mobile data itself can be more expensive. Therefore, security measures that rely on a data connection simply won’t fly in those areas.

It seems that Google has come up with a pretty good way of sidestepping the data problem, though it remains to be seen how secure Google’s security metadata is — if the metadata can just be copied by malicious third-parties, then the DRM is pretty useless. Still, we imagine Google’s seen that problem coming, and taken steps to avoid it.

Still, while Google’s security has taken several giant leaps up in the last few years, there are still a few things that you, the user, can do to make sure you’re safe. Check out our list of tips on how to stay safe, and the best antivirus apps for Android.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google launches its lightweight search app, Google Go, in South Africa
• Google Lens is now available as a stand-alone app on the Google Play Store
• The 100 best Android apps of 2018 (May)
• Top family-friendly Google Play Store apps track children’s personal data
• How to use Google Pay and Google Pay Send

3 Great Third Party Wireless Charging Docks for Samsung Gear S3

Keep your Gear S3 charged at home, at the office, and wherever your travels take you!

The Samsung Gear S3 is still one of the best smartwatches you can buy in 2018.

If you own one you may have bought a couple of stylish bands to swap out your style. Another important accessory you should consider is an extra charging dock or two so you can keep your watch topped up while you’re working at your desk, or keep one out at the cabin so there’s no chance of forgetting it at home.

You can get an official one from Samsung but for $45 it’s a bit pricey. Fortunately, there are some pretty great third-party chargers available for a fraction of the cost.

BeneStellar

We’ll start off with this popular option from BeneStellar. This is the same cradle design as the Samsung charging port and features PTC protection to protect your device from overcurrent faults and features an LED indicator so know at a glance that your watch is charging.

This product includes a three-foot Micro-USB cable for supplying power and is backed by an 18-month warranty with hassle-free replacement or money back options available.

Get yours for just $11 on Amazon.

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LoveBlue Charging Stand w/ USB ports

Looking for something for your desk at work that adds a bit more utility than a standalone smartwatch cradle? This charging stand from LoveBlue is right for you.

Rather than copying the exact design of Samsung’s charger, this one adds a conductive dock for charging your Gear S3 on top of a three-port USB hub. This is great if you hate cluttering your desk with accessories that only serve one of your devices. With this hub, you can keep your phone, tablet, Bluetooth speaker — whatever you need — while also charging your Gear S3. Just be aware that the lack of overheat protection means you’ll want to use this device in an air-conditioned environment.

Available for $25, this is the perfect charging dock for any Gear S3 power user.

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YiJiYi Wireless Charging Dock (2-pack)

Need multiple charging docks but don’t want to spend a ton of money? Check out this two-pack of charging docks for just $14. Sounds too good to be true?

These chargers include built-in magnetic attachment to keep your watch connected to the charging dock and also includes anti-slip pads. Some reviewers have complained that you really get what you pay for here (at just $7 each compared to $45 for the Samsung one). But it’s backed by a one-year warranty so if you aren’t impressed by the value you can reach out to customer service.

See at Amazon

How often do you need to charge your Gear S3?

The biggest drawback to a smartwatch is when it dies and you can’t even check the time, let alone all the other cool functions these can do. Have you dealt with low-battery anxiety with your Gear S3?

Facebook Messenger Kids is expanding to Canada and Peru

The app’s also getting new stickers and support for two parents to manage accounts.

Facebook Messenger Kids is Facebook’s solution for letting young ones stay in touch with friends and family in a safe and secure manner, and starting June 25, the app is now available to use in both Canada and Peru.

In addition to the two new countries, Messenger Kids is also being updated to support Spanish and French in its new locales and the United States.

Messenger Kids’ Kindness Stickers.

While those accessibility updates are exciting enough on their own, that’s not all that Facebook has in store for Messenger Kids. The app is now being updated with Kindness Stickers, support for two parents to manage a child’s account, and a Messenger Kids Pledge that kids and parents need to read through together to make sure everyone’s on board with the app’s guidelines — Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Safe, Have Fun.

Coming soon, Messenger Kids will also get an “Appreciation Mission.” This will be found on the Missions page that teaches kids how to use the app and will “encourage kids to discover and express appreciation for their friends and family.”

Download: Messenger Kids (free)

This 11-course bundle may be your ticket to a six-figure career in Project Management

You’ve been thinking about getting new certifications to move you ahead at work; in fact, it’s been on your to-do list for a long time. Being a Project Manager is the ultimate goal, and you know you’d be perfect for the job with the right certification. With tuition costs that seem to climb with every passing year and limited free time on your hands, how are you supposed to attend classes and afford any kind of certification?

Learn how to use the essential tools of a successful project manager! Learn more

Project Management Professionals are sought after in nearly every field, and even if you’re convinced that you can’t afford the time or money to get your certificate, can you afford not to?

That’s where [the Complete Project Management Bundle]https://digitaloffers.androidcentral.com/sales/the-complete-project-management-bundle?utm_source=androidcentral.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-complete-project-management-bundle_062518&utm_term=scsf-291927&utm_content=a0x1a000003neEU&scsonar=1) can help. This 11-course program from SkillSuccess.com will guide you through everything you need to know and the tools that will help you become successful in your new role

There are nearly 30 hours of content spread across 11 courses which cover the following topics:

• Setting Up A Real-World Project In JIRA
• Understanding JIRA For Users, Managers & Admins
• Agile Project Management: Scrum Step By Step w/ Examples
• PMP Project Management
• Scrum Certification Prep Training & Agile Scrum Training

Pursue a High-Demand Profession while learning at your own pace! Learn more

By the end of these courses, you will have all the knowledge you need to prepare to use JIRA software and ace the Scrum certification exam. If you were to buy these courses individually it would cost you over $2000, but for a limited time you can get this entire bundle for just $29.

Yep, you read that right. You’ll save 98% off the regular price on these courses that may help you jumpstart a new career!

Apple, Facebook, Google, and more are meeting to talk data privacy

The Information Technology Industry council, of which many of the largest tech companies in the world are members, is meeting this week to discuss growing concerns about privacy.

According to a report by Axios, the Information Technology Industry Council — a Washington trade group that represents major tech companies — is planning to meet in San Francisco on Wednesday to talk consumer privacy online and how to best handle the growing concern surrounding the topic post-Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Members of ITI include such tech giants as Apple, Facebook, Google, Samsung, Amazon, and many others. Though ITI expressed to Axios that it expects representatives from multiple companies across a diverse sampling of industry sectors to attend, it didn’t explicitly say which companies would be there.

ITI CEO and president Dean Garfield shared its member companies’ thoughts regarding user privacy with Axios, describing their increased awareness of the issue in the current climate:

My experience is that they’ve always viewed privacy as a foundational principle, but the question of how do you give meaning to it and talk about it in a way that resonates is now something that’s more pressing.

Also making the meeting more urgent than ever is Europe’s recent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a set of stringent privacy requirements that went into effect last month in order to give individuals control over their personal data and unify data online privacy regulations across the EU. Many people are now calling for similar rules in the US, and the White House is currently exploring options that range from stricter guidelines to full-on legislation.

For more information regarding the meeting, you can check out Axios’ newsletter here and the ITI website here.

Thoughts?

What do you think the outcome of this meeting will be? How do you feel companies should tackle user privacy concerns going forward? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Android P features we love: Better, faster biometrics

Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo review: What to expect from your final software update

Getting up to the modern era is mostly good — with a little speed slowdown trade-off.

After what feels like an inordinately long wait, many versions of the Galaxy S7 have received their Android 8.0 Oreo update. Considering that the phone launched back on Android 6.0 marshmallow, Oreo is the final major platform update for this line, bringing it up to the Galaxy S9’s software level before being left to live out the rest of its life on it.

Because this is the last major update these phones will see, finding out how Oreo runs on these “old” phones is rather important. For those holding off on the update, or patiently waiting for the notification on their phone, I want to offer you a look into what to expect when that big download finally arrives on your own Galaxy S7 or S7 edge. Here’s what you need to know about your Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Visual consistency

Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo improvements

Samsung’s take on Oreo, first shown off with the Galaxy S9, isn’t for everyone. But as far as Samsung’s software goes, it’s the best it’s ever done and a nice improvement in design and functionality over the Nougat builds before it. And a huge benefit of this Oreo update for the two-year-old Galaxy S7 series is that it’s near-identical to what comes out of the box on the Galaxy S9.

There isn’t a whole lot to talk about here, particularly since you’ve already been using your Galaxy S7 or S7 edge on Nougat for a year now. Things haven’t changed all that much visually with Oreo, but you get a lot of behind-the-scenes improvements. There are new background limits for apps that help improve battery life, notification channels to give you better control over what apps notify you, and the biggest of the group will be the new Autofill APIs that let apps pull usernames and passwords from the cloud to speed up sign-in processes.

This is a near-perfect recreation of the Galaxy S9’s software, and battery life hasn’t taken a nosedive.

The biggest difference in the Oreo update compared to the Galaxy S9 is the camera interface, which has stuck with the Nougat-style interface rather than the new tab-style interface that lets you swipe between modes. You also don’t get AR Emoji, but you probably don’t care about that. Camera quality remains unchanged as far as I’m concerned — it’s still surprisingly good for a two-year-old phone, but nobody would confuse it for one of the 2018 flagships.

Battery life hasn’t changed appreciably for me, which is a positive — I wasn’t expecting battery life to improve, but I was definitely fearing that it’d degrade. We’re bound to hear many horror stories about how Galaxy S7 battery life takes a nosedive after the Oreo update, as is the case with every major platform upgrade, but that hasn’t been my experience. As you’ll read below this may be a result of my choice to factory reset my Galaxy S7 edge after the update, which at this point I’m recommending everyone do on their phone if they can stomach the time it takes to set up your phone again.

My Verizon-branded Galaxy S7 edge updated to the April 1 security patch, which is (somewhat hilariously) a month ahead of the U.S. unlocked Galaxy S9 at the time of writing. I wouldn’t expect Samsung to keep rolling out security patches for the Galaxy S7 series for too much longer, but knowing that you at least get a somewhat up-to-date patch on such an old device is good.

Hiccups

Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo downsides

Starting up my Galaxy S7 for the first time in several months, I feared the worst. I knew I’d be applying a dozen updates or so, all leading to the eventual big download of Oreo. It took most of a Saturday periodically checking and applying several updates, but eventually I got there and had Oreo installed … but it was horrendously slow. Even after charging up for a few hours, updating all of my apps and restarting multiple times, it just didn’t smooth out. Everything was stuttering, apps took several seconds to open, it was a complete mess.

I’m recommending everyone do a factory reset after installing Oreo.

Like so many Samsung phones before it, I decided to factory reset the phone to clear out the junk, start fresh and evaluate a clean slate of Oreo. To my relief, it improved dramatically. But it still didn’t do enough — this phone is appreciably slower on Oreo than it was on Nougat. Comparing this Galaxy S7 edge side-by-side with another Galaxy S7 I have that’s still on Nougat, it just isn’t the same, and that’s a shame.

The best way to describe the performance on Oreo is that everything just takes an extra beat to complete. When you open an app, it takes a moment extra to open and then may take an extra few moments to be fully responsive. Scrolling through an app, the movement lags behind your finger enough to be noticeable. Quickly switching between apps or using something intensive, you notice dropped frames and stutters. It’s not downright bad, but it’s disappointing to see for a device that I felt was still relatively quick and modern-feeling when running Nougat.

The performance isn’t downright bad, but it’s disappointing for a phone with this capable of specs.

After all, the Galaxy S7 has a Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM, running out to a 1920×1080 resolution that’s set by default to help performance — that should be enough to get better performance than I’ve been seeing on my Galaxy S7 edge here. Instead, this latest update makes the phone feel like it’s running every action through some sort of extra layer that’s getting in between your input and the response from the device.

I won’t say that the slowdown is enough to warrant skipping the Oreo update altogether. There are lots of under-the-hood improvements and new features to be used in Android 8.0 and Samsung Experience 9.0 that are worth updating for. But it just rubs me the wrong way that Samsung couldn’t retain solid performance on a device with this level of internal hardware, especially one that performed quite well on Nougat.

And yes, how could I forget — Oreo did remove the ability to set individual text message notification sounds on a per-contact basis. I’ve been reminded of this problem every day by at least one person who’s angry about it. Samsung has said that it is working to bring the feature back after facing the wrath of thousands of angry users online. But in the meantime, there are many ways to bring back the feature using third-party messaging apps. I never knew that this was such a massively popular feature, but I sure do now.

Your final update

Samsung Galaxy S7 With Oreo

It was a long time coming, but the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge finally have Oreo, roughly 27 months after they first launched and 8 months after Oreo itself was released. Samsung has done a really good job of recreating the software experience from the Galaxy S9 back on the two-year-old Galaxy S7, save for a few small differences. You get all of the same features and design elements found across all other devices with the Samsung Experience 9.0 software, and that makes the Galaxy S7 instantly feel more modern and up to date.

Oreo didn’t offer these phones a new lease on life, but it gave them another year of usefulness with no use downside.

Nothing in the software is outright broken, buggy or filled with issues. There are no show-stopping problems. Camera performance has stayed the same, and in my experience battery life hasn’t changed from Nougat either. In this respect, the update process has gone off without a hitch.

The only downside to speak of, as we’ve seen time and time again with big platform updates, is a drop-off in overall performance. Even after a factory reset, which I recommend everyone do after updating, the Galaxy S7 just isn’t the same on Oreo as it was on Nougat. That’s a real shame, but the slowdown isn’t big enough to make me recommend that you stay on Nougat. There are enough improvements here, and few (if any) further problems, that it’s a clear improvement overall for these phones that have been out in the wild for over two years at this point.

Being the last major software update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, some would hope that these phones would receive a whole new lease on life with Oreo. Unfortunately, they didn’t — but they got up to date with the latest software and features to give their users another year or so of modern software while they await the next Samsung flagship release.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge

• Galaxy S7 review
• Galaxy S7 edge review
• U.S. unlocked Galaxy S7
• Should you upgrade to the Galaxy S7?
• Best SD cards for Galaxy S7
• Join our Galaxy S7 forums

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Caseology Skyfall Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ review: Shines bright and smudges fast

Take your clear case game to the next level with the Skyfall’s shiny metallic bumpers.

Android phones have come a long way from matte plastic backs. Android flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S9+ sport shimmering, mirror-finish glass backs, and while we all need a little extra grip and protection for our $800 phone, why cover up perfection? Now, there are plenty of clear cases on the market today — including a slim Liquid Crystal case we love — but none have quite the style of Caseology’s Skyfall case.

Caseology Skyfall Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Price: $14.99

Bottom line: It’s a clear case with style and grip; just be prepared to wipe down the smudges and grime frequently.

The Good

• Higher lips around the sides better protect the curved screen
• Great colors that compliment each color model
• Good port cut-outs

The Bad

• Picks up fingerprints and grime very quickly
• Feels bulkier than it is
• Plastic frame feels flimsy when applying/removing case

See at Amazon

Slick as a Bond film

Caseology Skyfall Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I like

Clear cases are often ill-fitting; their crystal-clear bumpers are stiff to get on and off or have gaps between the case and phone that collect dust or let the phone shift around just enough to pop out. Luckily, the Skyfall has none of these problems: the Galaxy S9+ fits inside like glove and the bumper’s two-layer design ensure that the phone stays securely in place while showcasing bright colors to compliment the Galaxy’s own hue.

The buttons on the Skyfall are silent and solid without feeling stiff, and the cutouts around the bottom ports are wide enough for the average cable. The cutout around the cameras and fingerprint scanner is separate from the cutout for the flash and heart rate sensor, which makes the heart rate sensor a little harder to get readings with, but it’s not like the heart rate sensor is something most Galaxy owners actually use.

All of Caseology’s cases for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ feature higher lips on the sides of the display and a less gradual bevel towards the screen, which offers a greater degree of protection for a curved screen that is more prone to shattering during side and corner drops. The higher sides on the Skyfall better guard the screen’s curved edges while still allowing easy use of the screen from edge to edge. Unfortunately, there is one drawback to these higher sides.

Keep a cleaning cloth handy

Caseology Skyfall Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What doesn’t work

When switching from a clear Ringke case to the Skyfall, I was taken aback by how much bulkier the Skyfall felt. Its higher sides make the case sturdier and more protective, but it also makes the case and phone seem bulkier than they are. This feel in-hand seems even more odd when you separate the two layers of the Skyfall and feel just how thin and almost flimsy the polycarbonate bumper looks on its own.

Clear cases are known for gathering fingerprint smudges just as quickly as the mirror finish on the Galaxy S9+ itself, but the Skyfall seems to pick them up quicker than the last half-dozen clear cases I’ve used. At the end of a single day of regular use, the Skyfall already had a layer of noticeable, tactile grime on its back — not just smudges, but grime. My sweating in the Texas heat probably didn’t help matters, but I’ve reached for my microfiber cloth to clean this case more often than my glasses the last few days.

Caseology Skyfall Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

The Skyfall is a beauty, a flash of shine and color against a sea of unobtrusive, crystal clear plastics. It sports a perfectly matched bumper for each color of Galaxy S9 and S9+ — except late-comer retailer-exclusive Sunrise Gold — and better covers the curved screen and all-important ports securely and beautifully.

4
out of 5

It’s a gem of a case, but like most gems, it’s going to get dirty if you take it out into the real world for very long. I’m more than happy to give it quick polish here and there in exchange for stylish protection and excellent grip.

See at Amazon

Oculus TV now available for watching shows on Oculus Go

Content is available from Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV, and more.

The Oculus Go is one of the best ways to get high-quality virtual reality experiences wherever you are, and today, the new Oculus TV app is launching for it so you can get completely immersed in all your favorite programming.

Oculus TV can be downloaded for free from the Oculus Store, and upon opening it, you’ll be transported to a virtual living room of sorts where you’ll be faced with a screen that equates to a 180-inch TV if you were viewing it in real life.

From this virtual TV, you can watch shows from Netflix, Hulu, Showtime, Pluto TV, Newsy, Netherthink, and more. Oculus has a UI that makes it easy for browsing through both live and on-demand content between these various apps, and you can even tune into live MLB games with Facebook Watch.

Throughout the summer and fall, Oculus TV will get support for more apps and broadcast partners, with one of the highlights being ESPN.

Oculus TV is available now, and for the price of free, it’s definitely worth a look.

Oculus Go: Finally, VR for Everyone

T-Mobile Announces New ‘FamilyMode’ Feature for Monitoring Kids’ Online Activity

T-Mobile this morning announced the launch of T-Mobile FamilyMode, a new feature that is designed to let parents monitor and control what their kids are doing on their internet-connected devices.

T-Mobile FamilyMode requires both a FamilyMode app and a device called the FamilyMode Home Base, which is designed to connect to a home’s Wi-Fi system to provide access to connected devices.

FamilyMode from T-Mobile will let parents manage, monitor, filter, and set time limits for a range of devices, even those that aren’t connected to the T-Mobile network thanks to the Home Base. It will also provide location services for keeping track of kids.

According to T-Mobile, it will work with phones, tablets, gaming consoles, laptops, smart TVs, and other Wi-Fi connected devices.

T-Mobile is charging $20 for the FamilyMode Home Base and $10 a month for the FamilyMode app, which controls the FamilyMode system. The FamilyMode feature will be available to customers starting on June 29.

Device monitoring and time management features to cut down on device addiction have become popular in 2018. The newest version of Google’s Android operating system includes Android Dashboard for monitoring time spent on a device and setting limits, and a similar feature, Screen Time, has been included in iOS 12.

Screen Time includes comprehensive monitoring of the amount of time spent using iOS devices, along with detailed parental controls and app limit features.

T-Mobile isn’t the first carrier to join the device monitoring trend. Verizon in April announced “Smart Family,” an app that lets parents track screen time, set content filters, monitor location, and more. Verizon’s option does not include hardware and is priced at $4.99 to $9.99 per month.

Tag: T-Mobile
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