Android 12 may automatically translate apps to your native language

With over 2.5 billion active users, Android is the most widely used operating system worldwide. While the OS itself has been localized to dozens of different languages, that’s not the case for many third-party apps. Larger companies can localize their apps in-house or hire professional translation services, but these options aren’t economically feasible for smaller teams or independent app devs. At best, a smaller team or indie app dev can crowd-source translations from native speakers, and at worst, they can use machine translation services to do the job. However, this could change in Android 12, as we’ve seen evidence that suggests Google may be working on a framework for automatically translating an app’s UI to the user’s native language.

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

Earlier this week, we obtained an unreleased Android 12 build that contains a couple of new features and UI changes. While digging through the release, we discovered loads of new classes in the framework related to a new “translation service.” Our search began when we discovered two new permissions added to this build of Android 12: BIND_TRANSLATION_SERVICE and MANAGE_UI_TRANSLATION. Android’s SystemUI holds the former permission to bind to an app that holds the latter permission, which by default is defined by the value config_defaultTranslationService. Presumably, an app like Google Translate or Device Personalization Services can be set up as the translation service, but Google may open it up to third-party apps as the MANAGE_UI_TRANSLATION permission has “role” defined as one of the supported protection levels. If you’ll recall, Android 10 added “Roles” that define apps that should have certain privileges; it’s possible that Google may add “Translator” as a Role, but we don’t know if this role can be granted to apps installed by the user.

In any case, we found references to these permissions in framework code, where we spotted evidence that this new translation code is acting on views within activities rather than on a screenshot or the recent apps panel. Translating text within screenshots or the recent apps panel can already be done by Google Lens, and in conjunction with Device Personalization Services, text can be translated right from the recent apps panel. Meanwhile, Android’s intent system already allows for the basic sharing of text to translate. This new framework, however, seems to be more complex and low-level, and we believe it aims to directly translate text within the UI of an app, replacing text in-line to make the translation feel more native.

We examined the latest versions of Google Translate and Device Personalization Services but did not find any evidence of either integrating this new API. It’s possible this API won’t use Google Translate directly but rather a different API endpoint. If this feature is implemented in line with our speculation, we doubt that Google will charge users for this feature. However, it’s possible they may enable UI translations powered by Google Translate as a Pixel-exclusive feature. Since the framework seems to be coming to AOSP, though, it’s possible that OEMs can define their own translation service if they don’t want to use Google’s.

Third-party apps like AllTrans have for years offered a UI translation feature of their own. Powered by the Xposed Framework, these mods work similarly to how we think Android 12’s UI translation will work, directly hooking into an app’s views to translate and replace the text. However, these mods require users to grab their own API key for a translation service since a shared key would go over the free limit quite quickly. With Google seemingly building a UI translation framework directly into Android 12, though, users would no longer need to root their device to translate apps to their native language. This will hopefully make thousands of apps more accessible to users worldwide.

Using the Xposed Framework, AllTrans hooks into text views within apps to translate the text using Microsoft’s Translator.

Developers will also benefit from automated UI translations. Developers who don’t have the resources to translate their app or who don’t want to use machine translation can let the OS handle things. Releasing a machine-translated app can result in negative reviews from users who blame the developer for the poor translation, but having the user themselves direct the OS to translate the app will result in less frustration as the user better understands where to place the blame for any poorly translated text.

While we’re fairly confident this feature is intended to translate the UI within apps, we aren’t 100% sure it’s the case until we see the feature in action. An alternative use of this feature would be to translate the UI within the OS or only system apps, but we think that’s unlikely because the OS is both already widely localized and any localization can be done before the device leaves the factory or via an OTA update. On the other hand, Google and OEMs can’t account for which languages an app supports, so this feature would help fill in the gap. Considering that Google is developing this feature at the View level, making it so it can be used in all apps, also makes it more likely it’s intended for use in apps rather than the OS. Again, though, we won’t know for sure until this feature gets released, which may or may not happen in the Android 12 stable release.

Thanks to developers Quinny899 and kdrag0n for their assistance in analyzing this code. Also 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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Project CHIP-certified devices could finally launch later this year

An initiative backed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and over 170 other companies is expected to finally get off the ground before the end of this year. Known as Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP), the initiative aims to make smart home products more compatible with each other.

Products certified for the new standard are expected to arrive by late 2021. These products — including lighting, blinds, TVs, door locks, and more — should feature improved interoperability across different ecosystems. With so many smart home standards out there, devices often don’t play well together. Project CHIP could change that. Older devices won’t be left out either; The Verge reports manufacturers will be able to bring Project CHIP support to older products through bridges. That means you might not have to reinvest in new smart home devices.

There are three components to Project CHIP: Bluetooth LE for setting devices up; and WiFi and Thread for connectivity. Thread is an emerging wireless standard that’s only in a few devices at the moment, including the newest Google Nest Hub, Eero routers, and Apple’s HomePod Mini.

If Project CHIP sounds familiar, that’s because the initiative was announced back in 2019, but due to complications brought on by the pandemic in 2020, its launch was delayed. Unfortunately, we’ll still have to wait until the end of 2021 for anything certified by the project to arrive, but it could introduce a new era of smart home interoperability.

Once the project does finally find its footing, customers will no longer have to worry about if a lightbulb they’re buying will work with the smart display they already own. At least that’s the promise. With nearly 200 companies showing support for the new standard, there’s plenty to be optimistic about. But we won’t really know until devices certified for the standard arrive later this year.

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Google may let users manage Android’s hidden Recycle Bin in Android 12

Google I/O 2021 kicks off on May 18th next month, and at the event, we’re expecting to see Google announce all the features coming to Android 12. Before the event starts, we’ve been collecting as much information as we can on the latest OS release from the two publicly available Developer Previews. The other day, we also got our hands on an unreleased build of Android 12 and showcased many of the smaller functional and design changes we could find. After digging through the framework and system apps, we’ve spotted code that suggests Google may surface Android’s hidden Recycle Bin/Trash feature in Storage settings.

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

Last year, Google rolled out Android 11 which enforced major changes to the way that apps can access a device’s storage. These changes, which Google calls “Scoped Storage”, significantly limit the amount of storage access an app can get by default. While certain apps like files managers can request broad access to a device’s storage, other apps have to use alternative APIs to add, open, edit, or delete files on the storage. One of these APIs is called the MediaStore API, and it provides access to common media files like audio, videos, and images. MediaStore has actually been around for a while now, but Google added a new feature to the API with the Android 11 release: trashing.

Apps using the MediaStore API can trash rather than delete a file to give users a chance to restore the file later. Most desktop operating systems have a similar feature, but Android 11 itself doesn’t provide a system-wide “Recycle Bin” or “Trash” folder that lists all of the files that have been trashed. Instead, apps with edit access to trashed files or that request user consent can show items from the hidden recycle bin, and we’ve spotted evidence that Google’s own Files by Google app is preparing to add such a feature.

The hidden Trash folder in the Files by Google app.

With Android 12, however, it looks like Google is working to add a new entry to Settings > Storage to show how much storage space all trashed items take up. Tapping this entry will launch a fragment that shows the number of files that have been trashed and also lets the user empty the trash, but the entry point is normally inaccessible since Google hardcoded it to false. However, thanks to a bit of effort and help from XDA’s Zachary Wander, we managed to get the entry point and dialog to appear.

Although users can empty the trash from here, we don’t know if users will also be able to restore them through this entry point. The upcoming Trash feature in Files by Google will let users view, restore, or permanently delete trashed items, though. We wouldn’t be surprised if Google plans to roll out the new feature in Files by Google at the same time as Android 12’s release, though technically Files by Google’s Trash feature doesn’t actually require Android 12 to be installed.

Trashed items on Android are currently hidden from most file managers as they’re prefaced with a ‘.’ in their filename, which is how Android understands a file should be considered hidden. These hidden trashed files are stored in the same directory where they were originally located rather than being moved to a system-wide Recycle Bin/Trash folder. Based on what we know, it doesn’t look like Google plans to add an actual Recycle Bin/Trash folder in Android 12, but it does look like Google plans to at least make the Trash a more prominent feature. The one issue is that apps have to use the MediaStore API to mark files as “trashed”, so some apps will continue to permanently delete files or utilize their own recycle bin, preventing users from viewing and restoring them in one easily accessible location.

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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The Best laptops with Windows Hello facial recognition: Surface Pro 7, Razer Blade 15, and more!

Windows Hello is a great way to make sure that no unauthorized person can get access to your Windows 10 PC. Apart from letting you set a secure PIN, Windows Hello also makes use of biometrics-based technology enabling Windows 10 users to authenticate secure access to their devices, apps, and other confidential data, using a fingerprint, iris scan, or facial recognition. While it is an alternative to passwords, it is a more user-friendly method to access your Windows machine. So today we have a bunch of laptops that come with Windows Hello, specifically facial recognition, offering a touchless solution to log into Windows 10.

Navigate this article:

• Best display on a laptop: ASUS ZenBook Flip S
• Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 15
• Best premium laptop: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3
• Best 2-in-1 laptop: HP Spectre x360 14
• Best convertible: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
• Best business laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen-9

Best Display on a Laptop with Windows Hello: ASUS ZenBook Flip S

A premium offering from ASUS, we recently reviewed the ZenBook Flip S and found face recognition to be quite accurate and snappy. The main highlight feature of the laptop is its bright and vivid 4K OLED touchscreen that can flip back all the way so it can be used in different modes. The ultraslim notebook can be configured with up to an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor with Iris Xe graphics, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.

ASUS ZenBook Flip S

The ZenBook Flip S comes with an IR based webcam with Windows Hello and it is also one of the best ultraportables with a really good looking OLED panel.

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Best Gaming Laptop with Windows Hello: Razer Blade 15

You don’t usually see a Windows Hello face recognition camera on a gaming laptop, but Razer hasn’t skipped on that. The new 15-inch Razer Blade is probably the best gaming notebook that you can get if you care about a seamless way to unlock your PC. The newest model retains the 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, but you can now configure it with up to an RTX 3080 graphics card from NVIDIA and up to a crazy 360Hz refresh rate full-HD panel.

Razer Blade 15

If you are looking for a great gaming laptop with Windows Hello face recognition, this is the one you should go for

Buy at Amazon

Best Premium Laptop: Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

One shouldn’t be surprised to see a Surface device under this list. Microsoft introduced the Surface Laptop 3 in early 2020 and it features an IR-based webcam for facial recognition, which works seamlessly. The laptop is available in two different sizes where both the 13.5-inch and 15-inch models can be configured with up to 16GB of DDR4 memory and 1TB of storage. They are, however, available with different processor options with Intel 10th-gen series on the smaller size and custom AMD Ryzen chipsets on the larger model.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 3

The Surface Laptop 3 is one of the most premium and reliable laptops from the house of Microsoft and of course, you get Windows Hello authentication on this.

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Best 2-in-1 Laptop: HP Spectre x360 14

We are recommending the HP Spectre x360 series as one of the best 2-in-1 laptops as it comes with a pretty reliable face recognition camera with Windows Hello. The laptop comes with a 3:2 13.5-inch display that is available in a standard full-HD resolution with 400-nits of brightness or a 3K2K (3000 x 2000-pixels) OLED panel or even a 1000-nit option featuring a special anti-reflective technology for privacy. The laptop is available with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage with 16GB of Intel Optane. The top variant comes with the Intel Core i7-1165G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB storage with 32GB Intel Optane.

HP Spectre x360 14

This is one of the best 2-in-1 notebooks featuring a great design and hardware along with Windows Hello face recognition authentication

Buy at Amazon

Best Convertible with Windows Hello: Microsoft Surface Pro 7

Another great Surface device with Windows Hello is the Surface Pro 7. It features an IR camera that can scan and unlock the device fairly quickly. The Surface Pro 7 is also one of the best ultraportables that you can put your money on, as it is technically just a tablet. Currently, it is available with up to a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB LPDDR4x RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage that can be expanded using a microSD card. Do note that you are going to need to spend an extra $130 if you want the Surface Type keyboard cover as it is sold separately.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Surface Pro 7 is one of the best Windows tablets featuring Windows Hello facial recognition and with its Surface Type keyboard cover, it can expand your product similar to a full-fledged laptop.

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Best Business Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen-9

Business notebooks usually offer advanced security measures to keep users’ data safe. If you are looking for a solid business laptop that features Windows Hello facial recognition, there are many options available. One of them is the 9th-gen Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon. Apart from the optional IR-based webcam, the laptop also offers a built-in fingerprint reader. You can configure the Thinkpad X1 Carbon with up to an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 vPro processor, a 14-inch full-HD+ (1920 x 1200) IPS anti-glare touchscreen, 16GB LPDDR4x 4266MHz, and up to 1TB PCIe SSD. There are fast connectivity options on this laptop as well including Wi-Fi 6, optional 4G/5G connectivity, and a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen-9

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is one of the best business notebooks out there featuring Windows Hello facial as well as fingerprint recognition.

Buy at Amazon

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If you don’t really care about Windows Hello, but want the top-of-the-line features, then check out our list of the best laptops for 2021. We also have a list of some of the best 5G laptops so you can always stay connected. If you are on a tight budget, check out our list of the best cheap laptops for 2021.

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Fitbit Luxe leak reveals elegant new fitness tracker

Fitbit is reportedly gearing up to launch a new fitness tracker, according to leaked images. The images show off an elegant design highlighted by a stainless steel body and a slim, lightweight profile.

WinFuture’s report is relatively light on technical details, but the site suggests the Fitbit Luxe will be similar to the Ace 3. That device, which retails for $79, offers up to 8 days of battery life and is aimed at younger users. The design of the Luxe suggests it’ll be for people who want the benefits of a fitness tracker and the luxury of a high-end device. Based on the numerous leaked images, the Luxe is as much a fashion accessory as it is a fitness tracker.

Images: WinFuture

In addition to a stainless steel body — which will come in silver, gold, and black finishes — the Fitbit Luxe will also seemingly feature a color OLED touchscreen. Like other Fitbit devices, the Luxe will likely include a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and the same fitness tracking features we’ve seen in the company’s other products. Expect it to also sync notifications with your phone, so you’ll know when you receive a message or incoming call.

For those looking for a fitness tracker with basic smartwatch functionality, the new Luxe looks like it could be a good fit. But what we’re really waiting for is to see Fitbit and Google pool its resources together and create a smartwatch that will compete with the Apple Watch. Earlier this year, Google said that its acquisition of Fitbit would see the two companies “create new devices and services that help you enhance your knowledge, success, and health and happiness.”

Google has yet to release a smartwatch, and all eyes will be on the search giant to introduce something soon. Whether that will happen remains to be seen. For now, we have the Fitbit Luxe to look forward to.

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Australian court rules Google misled customers on location data collection

A federal court in Australia has found Google mislead users about personal location data collected through Android mobile devices between 2017 and 2018. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it’s seeking “declarations, pecuniary penalties, publications orders, and compliance orders.”

Apparently, Google mislead people into thinking location data was collected only if the “location history” setting was enabled. But it was discovered a separate setting enabled the search giant to collect, store, and use personally identifiable location data when the “Web & App Activity” feature was turned on.

Google has since taken more steps to be more transparent with users, with features that will automatically delete a user’s location history and also allow users to use Maps without being tracked.

“This is an important victory for consumers, especially anyone concerned about their privacy online, as the Court’s decision sends a strong message to Google and others that big business must not mislead their customers,” said ACCC Chair Rod Sims.

While the court agreed Google mislead customers regarding location data collection, it dismissed some of the ACCC’s other allegations. Overall, Sims called the decision an “important step” in an effort to hold tech companies accountable for data collection practices.

“Companies that collect information must explain their settings clearly and transparently so consumers are not misled,” Sims said. “Consumers should not be kept in the dark when it comes to the collection of their personal location data.”

This isn’t the first time the Australian government has taken issue with Google. Earlier this year, Google was engaged in a dispute over a new bill in Australia that would make Google pay publishers for their news content. The search giant said the law would force Google to pull Search in the country, but tensions have apparently eased after Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

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Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A7 Lite has leaked once again before launch

Samsung is expected to launch a new affordable tablet soon called the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. As its name suggests, it should be a toned-down version of the Galaxy Tab A7 that launched last year. Well-known tipster Evan Blass has shared some more renders of the upcoming device along with some of the specifications.

This isn’t the first time we have reported on the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite. A previous leak in February suggested that the tablet will launch alongside the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite in June. In fact, the tablet’s support pages have already appeared on Samsung’s website for various European markets. According to the new renders shared by Blass, we can see that the new Galaxy Tab A7 Lite looks fairly similar to the original Galaxy Tab A7, with a metal finish on the back and thick bezels around the display. We can also see a single square camera at the back (but no LED flash), a single camera on the front, and notably, no signs of a fingerprint scanner. This means that it will offer security via a PIN or pattern lock and possibly face unlock.

Image: Evan Blass

Blass claims that the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite will feature an 8.4-inch LCD panel with an FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution. Powering the device will be the MediaTek Helio P22T SoC that includes an octa-core CPU and an IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. It may come with only 3GB of RAM, a 5,100mAh battery, and run on Android 11 out of the box.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is expected to launch alongside the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite, a more affordable version of Samsung’s current flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7. Rumors claim that this tablet will feature a 12.4-inch LCD, 5G connectivity, support for an S-Pen, and two stereo speakers tuned by AKG.

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