Googlefier is the simplest route to Google apps on Huawei and Honor phones

Googlefier is the simplest route to Google apps on Huawei and Honor phones

+Huawei just announced the Mate 40, but like any other recent phone from the company, it's crippled by the lack of Google apps.

It's possible to install these applications and the corresponding services on Huawei and Honor phones, but until now, the process was tedious and involved dozens of steps.

The aptly called app Googlefier is looking to change that — it doesn't offer a one-step solution, but it makes the process much more approachable with limited automation and step-by-step guidance.

Google’s new feature lets you create apps without coding

Google’s new feature lets you create apps without coding

+AppSheet is Google Cloud’s no-code development platform that is designed to let anyone create a powerful app without having to write a single line of code.

Through the cloud’s no-code development platform, Google aims to eliminate the hassle of learning or finding someone to code, develop and fix an app.

Users can create their own applications using AppSheet directly from Google Sheets. Simply open Sheet and look for ‘Open in AppSheet’ option under Tools.

"There are plenty of possibilities to explore, especially since AppSheet integrates with other handy tools like Google Calendar, Maps and more" - Google said.

Chrome 86 will block notification permission requests

Chrome 86 will block notification permission requests

+Google started rolling out Chrome 86 on the stable channel earlier this month. It will block notification permission requests for sites that send abusive notification content.

The update introduced security improvements to alert users if any of their saved passwords had been compromised, new menu icons to help users easily navigate large menus, Enhanced Safe Browsing for Android, and several technical changes.

According to a recent post on the Chromium blog, Chrome 86 also includes changes to the notification permission requests to prevent websites from sending abusive notification content.

Google delays its 30% fee for Android developers in India

Google delays its 30% fee for Android developers in India

+Days after announcing 30% fees for in-app purchases on Google Play from September 2021, Google has given an exception to Indian developers.

The company has delayed the charges for the country’s app makers until March 2022.

The search giant said that after listening to the developer feedback it’s giving more time to them to integrate Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for subscription payments in their apps.

Google adds WireGuard VPN to Android 12’s Linux Kernel 5.4 Tree

Google adds WireGuard VPN to Android 12’s Linux Kernel 5.4 Tree

+With remote work becoming the norm at many businesses thanks to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to secure network connections.

And it can be secured with a virtual private network, or VPN.

There are multiple VPN tunneling protocols that services can make use of, but a relatively new implementation called WireGuard has taken the tech world by storm.

WireGuard is a next-gen VPN protocol that embraces modern cryptography standards and has a secure, auditable code base.

After its inclusion in Linux Kernel 5.6, Google is now adding support for the protocol to Android 12’s Linux Kernel 5.4 tree.

Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability

Google launches the Android Partner Vulnerability initiative to improve the security of non-Pixel devices

+We do more than ever on our smartphones these days, which makes device security incredibly important.

With that in mind, Google’s Android Security and Privacy team on Friday announced a new initiative to help improve the security of non-Pixel devices.

Known as the Android Partner Vulnerability Initiative (APVI),

the program will let users known when it has discovered security concerns that affect devices shipped by OEMs.

An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) is a company that manufactures and sells products to another company, sells to its own customers while putting their own branding.

Google noted some vulnerabilities it discovered related to pre-installed apps on third-party devices.

In one instance, google said a popular web browser pre-installed on many devices could have exposed the credentials of its users.

Google reported the issue to the developer and an update was then rolled out to users.

If you’d like to check on the progress of APVI, you can visit this website, where Google will disclose any security issues it discovers under the program.

In two weeks, all app updates to the Google Play Store will need to set the target API level to 29 or above.

In two weeks, all app updates to the Google Play Store will need to set the target API level to 29 or above.

+Since November 2018, all app updates on Google Play have been required to target API level 26 (Android 8.0) or higher.

In order to provide users with the best Android experience possible,

the Google Play Console will continue to require that apps target a recent API level.

August 2019: New apps are required to target API level 28 (Android 9) or higher.

November 2019: Updates to existing apps are required to target API level 28 or higher.

Existing apps that are not receiving updates are unaffected and can continue to be downloaded from the Play Store.

Apps can still use any minSdkVersion, so there is no change to your ability to build apps for older Android versions.