Tag: apps

Android Apps

Alibaba develops native DingTalk app for HarmonyOS, as Huawei aims to end support for Android apps

Alibaba Group Holding is developing a new version of its workplace collaboration app that is compatible with Huawei Technologies’ HarmonyOS platform, as the US-sanctioned telecoms equipment giant seeks wider adoption of its home-grown operating system and moves to cut dependence on Google’s Android.

DingTalk, one of four business pillars newly tasked with spearheading Alibaba’s future growth, will also collaborate with Huawei in industrial innovation, technology application and business development, according to a post published on DingTalk’s WeChat account on Thursday.

“Digitalisation and the development of intelligent technology require innovative collaboration across the industry chain,” said Ye Jun, president of DingTalk.

The move by Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, comes as major Chinese internet companies from Alibaba’s e-commerce rival JD.com to food-delivery giant Meituan are actively recruiting app developers for projects based on Huawei’s self-developed operating system.

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Can Huawei’s Harmony OS for smartphones compete with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS?

Can Huawei’s Harmony OS for smartphones compete with Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS?

Huawei introduced HarmonyOS in August 2019 as an alternative to Google’s Android, three months after the Shenzhen-based company was added to the US government’s Entity List, barring American suppliers from selling software, chips and other technologies to the Chinese tech firm without Washington’s approval.

As part of a strategy set out this year by Huawei founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei, the company aims to get more companies and users into the HarmonyOS ecosystem to counter the impact of US sanctions.

The next iteration of Huawei’s cross-device platform, HarmonyOS Next, will no longer support Android-based apps, said Richard Yu Chengdong, chief executive of the firm’s consumer business group and chairman of its Intelligent Automotive Solution business unit, at the company’s annual developer conference in August.
Huawei’s confidence has been buoyed by strong
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Android Apps

Google Play reveals its ‘Best of 2023’ apps and games

Summary

  • Google Play is giving out its annual awards for the best apps, games, and books on the Play Store.
  • Imprint: Learn Visually wins Best App with its visual storytelling approach to finance, business, science, and technology topics while Honkai: Star Rail, a sci-fi space fantasy RPG, grabs the Best Game award.
  • The Users’ Choice App award goes to ChatGPT, reflecting the popularity of AI in tech this year.


2023 is coming to an end, meaning it is time for all our favorite services to release their yearly awards and wrap-ups. This also means it is time for the Google Play’s Best of 2023 Awards, highlighting the best apps and games to hit the Play Store this year. To keep up with the times, Google has added several new award categories: Best with AI, Best Game for Good, Best on Google Play Games on PC, and Best Multi-device App and Game.

Imprint picked up the best app award. It uses visual storytelling to help you understand important topics in finance, business, science, technology, etc. This app is only available to download in the US, so don’t be surprised if you have not heard of it before. As for the best game, Honkai: Star Rail, a sci-fi space fantasy RPG, got that award.

The list of winners can vary by region. You can find the award-winning apps in the US below.

Google had opened voting for the User’s Choice Awards at the beginning of the month for a couple of weeks. Apart from apps and books, the company also accepted votes for your favorite book on the Play Store this year. This category was not there for the last two years.

It is not surprising to see ChatGPT win the Users’ Choice app award, given that AI and ChatGPT were two

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Android Apps

Google Play names best Android, Wear OS, & tablet apps of 2023

With 2023 winding down, Google Play today named the best Android apps and games of the year. This includes Users’ Choice and several “Best for” categories. These lists are localized, and you can browse your country by tapping the banners at the top of the Play Store.

Users’ Choice 2023

The list below reflects US results, with ChatGPT taking the Users’ Choice App award. BeReal won last year, with the two winners before that being streaming services (Paramount+ and Disney+). Meanwhile, MONOPOLY GO! is the Users’ Choice Game.

Best Android apps of 2023

The “Best [overall] App of 2023” is Imprint: Learn Visually:

As our best app of 2023, Imprint: Learn Visually shares bite-sized lessons that use visual storytelling to bring concepts to life. Explore the worlds of psychology, history, health, technology and more in a brand new way.

Meanwhile, Google Play named Spotify as offering the “Best Multi-device App”:

Whether listening to your favorite music in the kitchen, on the commute or out on a hike, Spotify shines when it comes to working smoothly across devices. We love how you can remotely control playback on another device, and download tracks or episodes for offline playback.

There are 12 “Best for” categories by category:

Best for Watches: WhatsApp Messenger

Best for Tablets: Concepts: Sketch, Note, Draw

Best for Chromebooks: FlipaClip: Create 2D Animation

Best for Google TV: Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies

Best for Cars: Amazon Prime Video

Best for Fun: Bumble For Friends: Meet IRL

Best for Personal Growth: Voidpet Garden: Mental Health

Best Everyday Essential: Artifact: Feed Your Curiosity

Best Hidden Gem: Aware: Mindfulness & Wellbeing

Best with AI: Character AI: AI-Powered Chat

Best for Families: Paw Patrol Academy

Best App for Good: AWorld in support of ActNow

Best Android games of 2023

The “Best Game

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Android Apps

5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week

Nothing Chats on Play Store

C. Scott Brown / Android Authority

Welcome to the 511th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Once again we bring you the latest news and apps from the previous week. Let’s start with some of the biggest headlines from last week:

  • Nothing recently announced it would be the first to bring iMessage support to an Android phone and we were immediately skeptical, only to be proven right when numerous investigations quickly rose up and reported on the app’s many security flaws. In light of these reports, Nothing has since taken down its app, and even Sunbird — the company behind the technology — has followed suit.
  • While ChatGPT has offered voice support for a while, it was previously reserved for paying customers. This week that all changed, as the company rolled out voice conversations through its AI mobile app. You can start using it immediately. 
  • A new Snapchat code dive suggests Samsung phones may soon have the ability to launch the Snapchat camera right from the lockscreen. Another rumor suggests Instagram could get a similar feature in the future. 
  • Google Maps has rolled out a new color scheme with roads that are now gray, water bodies are a lighter blue, forested areas are a darker shade of green, and the route color is a new blue shade. Most Maps users have opposed the changed color scheme so far.
  • Google is looking to make it easier to unsubscribe to junk mail, adding a prominent “Unsubscribe” button that is much harder to overlook. The upcoming Gmail update will also reportedly add a predictive back navigation feature and a few other minor changes.
  • A new Google Messenger beta has arrived that brings changes to the chat conversation screen and profile section, including the use of more Material You and more.

Android Apps Weekly: New

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Android Apps

5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week – Android Apps Weekly

refind self

Andrew Grush / Android Authority

Welcome to the 510th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Once again we bring you the latest news and apps from the previous week. Let’s start with some of the biggest headlines from last week, which are very much dominated by Google in this week’s update:

  • Fitbit’s latest software update brings back step streaks to iOS, while also introducing the feature to Android users for the very first time. What is Step Streaks? In short, it motivates you to keep your running streak going for as long as possible. Be sure to follow the link to learn more about the latest Fitbit changes. 
  • A new code dive has shed light on an upcoming Google Message feature: Noise cancellation for voice recordings. This could be a very handy feature in situations where ambient noise is very loud, such as a coffee shop. 
  • YouTube recently started embracing AI in a big way and has begun by rolling out a variety of AI test features to select Premium Subscribers. This includes a new conversational AI chatbot, AI summaries of the comment sections, and more. 
  • A few days later Google also revealed another new YouTube AI experiment called Dream Track. This feature lets you type out an idea and then pick from a carousel of artists to create a 30-second Short soundtrack using the artist’s voice. Some of the participating artists include Demi Lovato, John Legend, T-Pain, and Charlie Puth. 
  • Yet another Google-related code dive! Reportedly, Google Play contains code indicating a new feature called Cubes. This is a WIP feature that would help with content discovery across various categories including what to read, what to play, what to listen to, and more. 
  • Google first announced plans for Photo Stack earlier this year, but now its new Google Stack photo
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Android Apps

Huawei’s HarmonyOS Will No Longer Support Android Apps

In September this year, Richard Yu officially announced that the next version of HarmonyOS, known as HarmonyOS NEXT, is ready to be launched. Native applications for HarmonyOS have been fully activated. The system foundation has been completely self-developed, eliminating traditional AOSP code and only supporting applications based on the HarmonyOS kernel and system. In addition, HarmonyOS NEXT can only use installation packages in Hap format, which means that HarmonyOS will no longer support Android applications.

With the continuous development and popularization of the HarmonyOS, more and more internet companies are starting to recruit talents related to HarmonyOS development in order to adapt to market changes and user demands. Recently, NetEase, Meituan, TouTiao.com, DingTalk, and other internet companies have posted multiple positions related to HarmonyOS system, involving software development, mobile development, embedded development, and other fields. The salary levels offered are also higher than the market average.

According to the Zhilian Recruitment platform, from January to October 2023, the industries that mainly recruit for HarmonyOS-related positions are concentrated in the internet, computer software, and telecommunications/value-added services sectors. The positions mainly include software development, mobile development (Android), C++ development engineer, embedded software development, Java development engineer, and software testing. These positions also require relatively high educational qualifications and work experience. Over 75% of the recruitment positions require a bachelor’s degree or above and more than 3 years of work experience. The average monthly salary for these positions is 17,537 yuan/month (approximatly ＄2,404) which exceeds the market average level.

SEE ALSO: Huawei Releases HarmonyOS 4

In addition to recruiting positions related to HarmonyOS development, a platform has already announced the launch time of HarmonyOS App. On November 6th, LY.COM announced the initiation of native version app development for HarmonyOS. The native version app for HarmonyOS by LY.COM is planned to

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