SwirlWalls brings fun, interactive spiral live wallpapers to your Android device

Chris Lacy, the developer behind Action Launcher, is back with a new app called SwirlWalls. Described as a “next-gen wallpaper experience,” the app adds handcrafted spiral live wallpapers to your Android device.

“SwirlWalls makes the countless home screen page changes, gesture navigation swipes and lock screen interactions you do each day instantly feel more responsive,” the app’s listing says on Google Play. “And with FlickFX, SwirlWalls’ (optional) Wii Remote style flick physics system, you’ll discover a delightfully fun micro gesture that simply make using your phone more fun.”

SwirlWalls features over 140 custom, swirl-themed wallpapers with endless customization options. Every wallpaper is available in 10 or more “remixes,” so there are plenty of options available to match your style. The app also offers full Dark Theme support, and automatically switches depending on your system preferences.

Below are some of the other features highlighted by the app’s listing:

• Unlock true wallpaper interactivity: Once you discover how much more responsive SwirlWalls’ animated wallpapers make your phone feel, you’ll wonder how you’ve gone so long without it.
• FlickFX: A surprisingly addictive gesture based control system where you flick your device (just like a Wii Remote) to make your wallpaper spin. Try chaining left and right swipes together and bask in the micro bites of delight that ensue!
  
• Dynamic render speeds: SwirlWalls matches your phone’s refresh rate, so there’s no better way to experience and show off your high refresh rate screen!
  
• Configurable gestures: Switch wallpapers directly from your home screen via customizable gesture controls. You can even set a gesture to “Lock” the device screen.
  
• Settings: Tweak the wallpaper dim, tint the status/navigation bars, adjust rotation speeds and more.

It’s an interesting take on the wallpaper, and one that Lacy promises will be more fun and interactive than a typical background image. SwirlWalls is available now for $4.99.

SwirlWalls: Interactive UHD Wallpaper Backgrounds ($4.99, Google Play) →

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Apple may be making a magnetic battery pack for its iPhones

Apple has released a handful of MagSafe accessories since the iPhone 12 series was introduced, including a leather wallet and several cases. Now, a new report claims Apple is preparing another MagSafe accessory similar to its Smart Battery cases.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing a new battery pack that would magnetically attach to the latest iPhones and support wireless charging. Unlike the Smart Battery cases previously released by Apple, the new MagSafe accessory won’t serve as a full protective case. Evidence of a magnetic battery accessory actually showed up in a beta version of iOS 14.5, but was later removed.

Apple has reportedly been developing the attachment for over a year, with a possible launch in the coming months. Bloomberg reports that some prototypes of the battery pack have a white rubber exterior, but it’s unclear if Apple will go with that design in the final product.

Image of Apple’s Smart Battery case

It’s not even clear if there will be a final product. Development has reportedly been slowed by issues with the software thinking the battery pack is overheating. “Apple also has been working to mend issues related to a customer switching between using the device on an iPhone sometimes with and without a case,” Bloomberg said. These issues could see Apple scrap the accessory altogether.

Apple is reportedly being extra cautious with the new MagSafe accessory following the infamous AirPower blunder. In 2017, Apple introduced a wireless charging mat that promised to intelligently charge an Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods at the same time. But engineering challenges ultimately forced Apple to cancel the product.

So far, Apple has released a handful of MagSafe accessories that include cases, leather wallets, and chargers, including the MagSafe Duo charger, which can charge the iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. A MagSafe battery from Apple would see the company compete with similar devices from other accessory makers.

Bloomberg’s report also said that Apple wants to eventually create an ecosystem where many of its devices support reverse charging. The feature was expected in the iPhone 12 series but was later canceled. Unfortunately, the report says that the new functionality, which is offered by some of Apple’s rivals, is “unlikely in the near future.”

Outside of the iPhone, MageSafe technology is expected to feature in other Apple products, including redesigned MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.

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Android 12 may use machine learning to fix the Back Gesture Problem

Google released the first Developer Preview of Android 12 the other day, and we’ve been digging into the code to find everything that’s new. One of the most exciting changes we’ve spotted is an overhaul to how Android detects back swipe gestures. If implemented, Android 12 will use machine learning models to predict when the user intends to use the back gesture.

With the launch of Android 10, Google introduced its fullscreen gestural navigation system. Android’s gesture navigation system places a pill at the bottom of the screen that you can interact with to switch between apps, open up the recent apps interface, or go to the homescreen. The back button, meanwhile, was replaced with an inward swipe gesture that can be triggered from the left or right side of the screen. Much ink has been spilled about the problem with Android’s back gesture, but to Google’s credit, they’ve made the experience consistent across the ecosystem and have provided APIs for developers to ensure compatibility with the gesture. While plenty of apps have shifted away from using a Navigation Drawer, there are still plenty of apps where the back gesture can conflict with the in-app UI. To solve this problem, Google is testing a new machine learning-based approach to back gesture detection in Android 12.

How Android’s back gesture currently works is as follows. An invisible trigger area exists at nearly all times on both sides of the screen. This trigger area extends between 18dp-40dp in width from the sides of the screen depending on the user-defined back sensitivity setting. The user can trigger a back gesture by simply placing a finger anywhere within the inset and then moving that finger inward past a minimum distance. Google used phone screen heatmaps when designing the back gesture insets, and they settled on recognition areas that users feel are ergonomic and one-handed friendly.

Gesture navigation in Android 10+. Source: Google.

The problem with this approach, as Google themselves admit, is that some users still swipe to open navigation drawers, which conflicts with the back gesture. Every app is designed differently, but the back gesture trigger area still says the same. This one-size-fits-all approach to the back gesture thus doesn’t play nicely with how some apps are designed, so that’s why Google is experimenting with machine learning to replace the current model.

While investigating the changes that Google made to the double-tap back gesture in Android 12, XDA Recognized Developer Quinny899 discovered the presence of a new TensorFlow Lite model and vocab file called “backgesture.” The latter contains a list of 43,000 package names for both popular and obscure Android apps, including 2 of Quinny899’s own apps. We believe this list contains the apps that Google trained its machine learning model against — ie. they determined the most frequent start and end points for the back gesture on an app-by-app basis. Digging deeper, we discovered the machine learning model is referenced in the updated EdgeBackGestureHandler class in the SystemUI of Android 12. If a feature flag is enabled, then it seems that Android 12 will use the ML model to predict if the user intended to perform a back gesture or if they simply wanted to navigate in the app. The data fed to the ML model for inferencing includes the start and end points of the gesture, whether the app is in the list, and the display’s width in pixels. Alternatively, if the feature flag is disabled, then Android 12 simply reverts back to the standard back swipe detection method (ie. insets).

Currently, the ML-based back gesture prediction is disabled by default in Android 12 Developer Preview 1. It’s possible that Google may scrap this approach if it ends up not being superior to the existing inset-based model. However, we won’t know for sure until Google unveils the Android 12 Beta in a couple of months, as that’s the time that Google usually reveals its bigger changes to Android.

Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.

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Samsung may soon launch a cheaper version of its Galaxy Tab S7

Android tablets typically fall far behind Apple’s iPad line. But if there’s one OEM that manages to be competitive, it’s Samsung. The company last year produced the fantastic Galaxy Tab S7, and a new rumor suggests we’re about to see the launch of a more affordable version.

Twitter account WalkingCat published what appears to be marketing material for the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite. There isn’t a ton of information to go with the image, but we do learn a few important bits. Namely, the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will feature a 12.4-inch display and 5G connectivity. The device will also allegedly support Samsung’s Galaxy Continuity feature, which lets users receive phone calls and messages from a compatible Galaxy phone.

pic.twitter.com/AJHLIKrOhY

— WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_) February 18, 2021

When the Galaxy Tab S7 launched last year, we had nothing but praise for the tablet. In fact, XDA’s Nirave Gondhia thought the device was so good that he sold his iPad Pro. Very few tablets can match the high quality of Apple’s iPad line, so choosing the Tab S7 over an iPad Pro is high praise.

It’s unlikely the rumored Tab S7 Lite will be as powerful as the Tab S7. We can probably expect watered down specs, and differences in build quality. But it should come at a more affordable price, and you get the larger 12.4-inch display to match that of the Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. That device also featured a 10,090mAh battery and up to 8GB RAM.

The Galaxy Tab S7 launched for $649. We’re not sure how much the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite will retail for when it launches, but hopefully it’ll be in the $499 range (or even cheaper). According to the image shared by WalkingCat, the new tablet will be available in June of this year, alongside the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite, which is said to feature an 8.7-inch display and a slim metal design.

Featured image: Galaxy Tab S7

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Samsung’s next Galaxy Watch could run Android instead of Tizen OS

It’s been several years since Samsung released a smartwatch running Android. You have to go all the way back to 2014 when the original Gear Live launched to find a Samsung wearable equipped with Google’s Android Wear (now known as Wear OS). Since then, the company has used its in-house Tizen platform, but a new report claims that could change.

Twitter user UniverseIce said on Friday that an upcoming watch from Samsung will use Android, not Tizen. We assume that means the wearable will run Wear OS, but it’s also possible the device will feature Samsung’s own UI based on Android. The Tweet doesn’t divulge too much information, so we’re now left to speculate about Samsung’s plans.

Samsung's new watch will use Android to replace Tizen.

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 19, 2021

If the report is true, it would be a huge boost for Wear OS, which has floundered in recent years (to put it mildly). Seeing support from Samsung could help reinvigorate the platform and finally give Android users a worthy alternative to the Apple Watch. Right now, there are only a small handful of smaller companies showing consistent support of Wear OS. Not even Google has released a smartphone running the platform.

The question is: Why would Samsung jump to Android when Tizen has evolved into such a good wearable platform? By all accounts, the Tizen experience is superior to Wear OS, so this almost seems like a downgrade. We’re not entirely what’s behind the alleged move, but we’re hoping to get answers soon.

In a separate report from GalaxyClub, Samsung is said to be working on two new wearable devices (SM-R86x and SM-R87X). It’s speculated that the devices will fall in the Galaxy Watch Active product line, with a release expected sometime this summer. Information beyond that is still a mystery, but they could launch with Wear OS.

Google’s Wear OS platform possibly making a comeback wasn’t the headline we expected in 2021. But if this report is true, maybe we’ll finally see the software blossom into something that can actually go toe-to-toe with Apple’s watchOS.

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Best Buy’s three-day Microsoft sale lets you save on laptops, tablets, and even has the Xbox Series S available!

Yes, that’s right–Best Buy has the Xbox Series S in stock, and they’ve been in stock long enough for me to write this article. All morning, in fact! As part of their Microsoft three-day sale, Best Buy has a slew of digital-only consoles in stock, and they’re pretty nice for those on a budget. Not to mention the discounts on items like the Surface Pro and the Surface Duo!

You may be wondering, though, how Best Buy has managed to hold onto stock this long. That’s because the Series S is only available via Xbox All-Access. All-Access is a special program where you get the console and Game Pass Ultimate for $25 a month for 24 months. While it’s 0% APR, it’s not exactly enticing for scalpers to pay for the console they want to flip for two years–and it’s not like you can snap up a bunch of them at once as it requires personal information. So If you want an Xbox Series S and don’t mind hopping onto a payment plan, you’ll be able to take advantage of this during the Microsoft three-day sale!

Xbox Series S with Xbox All-Access

Get the Xbox Series S console and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass for $25 a month, for $24 months! That'll add up to a total of $600.

$25/mo for 24 months at Best Buy

If you pick up the console, you might want to pick up some gift cards so you can play some games! Xbox gift cards are currently 10% off, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (which comes with Xbox games, PC games, and Xbox Live Gold) is $9 off. The gift card deal is perfect, as gift cards don’t go on sale that often! If you grabbed a Series S from the sale, you probably wouldn’t need additional months of Game Pass Ultimate, but it’s cool that’s it’s on sale for PC gamers or those that already have the newest-gen console!

Xbox Gift Cards, 10% Off

10% Off at Best Buy

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

$9 Off at Best Buy

But this is the Microsoft three-day sale, not the “hurray the Xbox Series S stayed in stock for more than fifteen minutes” sale. There are plenty of other products to look at that you can save big on!

Take, for instance, up to $380 off the Surface Pro 7. The 4GB Intel Core i3 model of the popular tablet is down to just $579, which puts it into the same range as similar spec laptops with less functionality than the tablet. Meanwhile, the 8GB Intel Core i5 model is $200 off and down to $700, and it’s really powerful. You can basically do anything but game on it… and depending on the game, you can even do that. I mean, it wouldn’t be games that run on the Xbox Series S, but that’d be a hard task for most tablets. Best Buy didn’t forget about the accessories either, as you can save $40 total on select accessories.

Surface Pro 7 (4GB Ram, Intel i3 Core)

$579 at Best Buy

Surface Pro 7 (8GB Ram, Intel i5 Core)

$700 at Best Buy

Surface Pro Accessories Bundle

Save $40 on two at Best Buy

So, did you pick up an Xbox Series S? Or are you planning on picking up something else? The Microsoft three-day sale only lasts until Sunday, so don’t delay!

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Microsoft will release the next version of Office for Windows and Mac later this year

Microsoft is officially launching two new versions of Office this year: Office 2021 for personal users and Office LTSC (Long Term Servicing Channel) for commercial purposes. Office 2021 will be an update to Office 2019 and will be available at a one-time cost without requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft doesn’t have any plans to increase the cost, which means you can expect the pricing to be similar to Office 2019.

As for Office LTSC, a commercial preview will be available this April. While the company hasn’t confirmed any relevant features coming to Office 2021, we know that Office LTSC will be getting support for at least 5 years. The new LTSC version is expected to bring accessibility improvements, a new dark mode, Dynamic Arrays, and XLOOKUP in Excel, as well as other smaller changes across all the popular apps, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  These features are also expected to be adopted by Office 2021. Microsoft has promised to share more details on the new features closer to the launch date, which would be in the second half of 2021.

The announcement of the new version of Office indicates that Microsoft isn’t just focusing on Microsoft 365, its cloud-based offering. That makes sense since many businesses don’t have the resources to move to the cloud completely. Jared Spataro, head of Microsoft 365, said in an interview with The Verge, “It’s just a matter of trying to meet customers where they are. We certainly have a lot of customers that have moved to the cloud over the last 10 months, that’s happened en masse really. At the same time, we definitely have customers who have specific scenarios where they don’t feel like they can move to the cloud.”

Microsoft recently released its all-in-one Office app for the iPad, giving users access to the company’s suite of productivity software on the tablet. The new app combines all of Microsoft’s popular office apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, onto a single application. This is great, especially for students and enterprise customers. It makes it easier to access all the productivity tools, including easily creating PDFs, signing documents, and more.

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