Tag: Android

Why I’m not upgrading my S9 to Android 10

Android 10 for Galaxy flagships is a trending topic right now, with the stable update having been released for Note10, S10, and now Note9, with the S9 stable update not too far away. However, I have not installed the beta, and will not be installing the stable either. Here’s why.

In November 2018, Samsung announced Linux on DeX, a feature for DeX users to be able to run Linux images and programs. It was initially exclusive to the Note9 and Tab S4. But in April 2019, support for the S10, S9, and Tab S5e on Android Pie was implemented. We were all expecting for Samsung to support the Note10 and Tab S5 (which actually turned out to be the Tab S6) with Linux on DeX when these devices were released. But they didn’t.

In November 2019, Samsung announced that the Linux on DeX beta program has come to an end and that the app would not run on any devices running Android 10. Linux on DeX will continue to work on compatible devices on Android 9.

I’ve been using Linux on DeX on my S9 since support was added for it. I enjoy using it as it opens my device up to more program options as I can now use Linux programs too. However, when I found out that Linux on DeX wouldn’t support Android 10, I knew I couldn’t lose this functionality.

Android 10 for Samsung devices isn’t as big an update as Android 9 was. Android 9 brought the new OneUI which changed the user interface a lot. Although Android 10 does have some cool new features, Android 9 is still perfectly adequate and still works with Linux on DeX.

How long I’ll hold out on upgrading is unknown for now. If Samsung announce that Linux on DeX will be released as stable for Android 10 later on I’ll consider upgrading, but for now I’m staying on Android 9. Linux on DeX is crucial functionality for me and I don’t want to lose it.

Galaxy S10 Android 10 beta now available in select regions

Samsung have launched the Galaxy S10 Android 10 beta, or ‘OneUI 2.0’ in select regions.They have currently launched the beta in Germany but the US and South Korea are sure to follow. The beta includes features such as Google’s new gesture based navigation feature, a redesigned camera UI, and a built-in screen recorder.

It is currently only available in Germany, but more countries are likely to follow soon. It isn’t a massive software update, not as big as Android Pie/OneUI 1.0 was.

To sign up for the beta, sign up through the notice in the Samsung Members app and then check for updates. Be aware that the update may take a little while to show up in Settings.

Enjoy!

-Chas 😎

Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Xcover 4s, and Galaxy A50 to receive monthly security updates

Samsung adds three devices to the monthly schedule, removes three devices completely, and demotes one to the ‘other regular’ schedule.

Samsung have updated their security updated devices list and added three devices to the list of devices to receive monthly security updates. They have also removed a few devices from the list completely, meaning that the benefit of security updates for them is coming to an end. The Galaxy A50, Fold, and Xcover 4s are the lucky devices to be put on a monthly schedule, whilst the Galaxy A3 and A5 2016 variants along with the Tab S2 Refresh appear to have been removed entirely from the list. The Galaxy Tab A (2017) saw a demotion to the ‘Other regular security updates’ list, meaning it will now only receive updates when necessary.

Usually, flagship devices and some lucky midrangers are put on a monthly schedule, whilst most other midrange devices are put in the quarterly updates section. Older devices that are on their way out are usually put on the other regular updates schedule for a while before being removed completely.

The Galaxy A3 and A5 2016 variants were announced at the end of 2015 and for them to get software updates until October 2019 is really impressive. This indicates a bright future for software support in the future. The Galaxy S7 and S7 edge were announced in February 2016 and are still on the quarterly schedule. Will we soon be seeing three major OS updates for flagships?

If you own a device that has been removed from the list or demoted to other regular updates, now may be a good time to look at upgrading to a newer device. Not only do security updates include security fixes but they also include bugfixes which will improve the stability of your device, so it’s important to ensure that your device is still getting updates.

What Samsung device do you have and when do you intend on upgrading? Tell me down below in the comments.

-Chas 😎

Nexus 7 (2012) review

How well does a 2012 midrange tablet hold up in 2019? Let’s find out.

Recently, I purchased a Nexus 7 (2012) from a local store. I’ve wanted this tablet for years now but it was always too expensive. But last week my lucky day came as a local shop was selling one for £35.

Android Lollipop issues

Turning it on, it ran the slow and laggy Android 5.1 Lollipop. Opening and switching between apps was a nightmare. And don’t even get me started on updating all the apps on ancient versions. I couldn’t put up with this, so I downloaded the KitKat 4.4.4 factory image from Google’s website and flashed it.

On KitKat, I can certainly say that it is faster than Lollipop, significantly faster. Updating apps took about 5 times quicker than on Lollipop, mainly because KitKat is more optimised for the Nexus 7 (2012) than Lollipop is, but also because not all the updated versions of preloaded apps can run on KitKat.

App support

App support on KitKat is still fairly good. Yes, some apps are starting to require Android 5.0 and 6.0, but those that I wanted to install that did had an older version that could be sideloaded. I managed to install an older version of Gboard to replace the old stock KitKat keyboard on there, as well as old versions of the Microsoft Office mobile apps. They all still work without issue.

Minecraft, WordPress, and Geometry Dash World all installed fine on their latest versions. They all work without issue, except Minecraft which lags unless you turn off all the fancy graphics.

Specs and performance

There is an explanation for this, of course. The Nexus 7 (2012) has a Nvdia Tegra 3 CPU consisting of four ARM Cortex A9 cores clocked at 1.2GHz, along with 1GB RAM. Back then that was considered midrange and could probably run Minecraft and other games at high graphics. But now? Nah.

Custom ROMs

What about custom ROM support? It appears the community have developed ROMs for the Nexus 7 (2012) up to Android 7.1 Nougat. I haven’t tried any, and honestly, I wouldn’t expect great performance from these ROMs. The Nexus 7 (2012) runs near stock Android anyway, which most of these ROMs are based on. If the Nexus struggles to handle stock Android 5.1.1, as much as poor software optimisation could be partially the problem, I’m sure the specs play a major part too and that 6.0 and 7.x ROMs wouldn’t run much better.

Conclusion

So, how well does the Nexus 7 (2012) still hold up in 2019? As a basic tablet for playing basic games, word processing, and browsing the internet, it holds up well. But for heavy tasks you might want to look elsewhere as the Nexus 7 is not as up to the task in 2019 as it was in 2012. But for basic use, the Nexus 7 is a great tablet and holds up well provided you downgrade it to KitKat, even in 2019.

Do you still use a Nexus 7 and how well does it hold up in 2019? Tell me down below in the comments.

-Chas 😎

Samsung Android 10 supported devices – Estimation

Google have released Android 10 officially and it won’t be long until other manufacturers start doing the same. But what about Samsung? What devices will they support in the update?

Not all of these devices are guaranteed to receive Android 10, but these are all the devices which have a chance of getting it, as well as those ones definitely getting it.

  • Galaxy Note10 5G/Note10+/Note10 (definitely)
  • Galaxy S10 5G/S10+/S10/S10e (definitely)
  • Galaxy Note9 (definitely)
  • Galaxy S9+/S9 (definitely)
  • Galaxy A90 5G (definitely)
  • Galaxy A80 (definitely)
  • Galaxy A70 (definitely)
  • Galaxy A60 (very likely)
  • Galaxy A50 (very likely)
  • Galaxy A40 (very likely)
  • Galaxy A30 (likely)
  • Galaxy A20/A20e (likely)
  • Galaxy A10/A10e (likely)
  • Galaxy A9 Pro/A9 (very likely)
  • Galaxy A7 2018 (likely)
  • Galaxy J8 (possibly)
  • Galaxy J6 (possibly)

I can’t confirm for definite, but it would make sense for all these devices to get Android 10 at some point during 2020. Please note the absence of the Galaxy S8+/S8, Note8, and the Galaxy A8+/A8 (2018). The Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note8 launched on Android 7.x Nougat and received two major OS updates to Oreo and Pie over the years after it was released. Two major OS updates is Samsung’s current policy on software updates and it doesn’t look likely to change soon.

As for the Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018), despite being 2018 models, they actually launched at the end of 2017 running Android 7.1 Nougat, and have received their two major OS updates to Android Oreo and Pie. So Android 10 doesn’t look likely for them either. Chances are some people will complain about this being unfair because they think the A8 and A8+ 2018 should’ve launched with Oreo instead of Nougat, because earlier this year people were angry with Samsung for not releasing Pie for the Galaxy A5 (2017) because the device, also released at the end of the year before, ran Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow instead of Nougat. People even made petitions about it.

As for the J-series devices that launched on Android 8.0 Oreo (none launched on Pie), it is possible that they could receive Android 10 as their second and final major OS update, but Samsung merged the Galaxy J with the A series earlier this year and various cheaper A series phones (such as the A10 and A40) replaced various J series phones so surely Samsung would want to be putting people off buying older Galaxy J phones now by limiting software support. But I’m not entirely sure.

What Samsung device are you using and do you reckon it will get updated to Android 10 or not? Tell me down in the comments below.

-Chas 😎

SeaSurf 1.6 – new icon

This update adds a new icon to SeaSurf (or CSurf) as well as some other goodies. It is a great version to upgrade to.

SAFESIDE

Safeside means that this version is reliable to use in terms of security.

Bug Tracker:

SeaSurf 1.6 allows you to report bugs with the touch of a button. The bug will be looked at. Remember to provide your device details (model if you know it, Android version). Remember to check whether Android System WebView is installed or enabled on your system before reporting. Also the Bug Tracker only supports the latest version of SeaSurf (the one I am chatting about right now).

Are you supported?

The support lifecycle button helps users know if they are supported or not. If they aren’t supported, use another browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc) to download the latest version and update their current copy.

How to upgrade to this new miracle?

To upgrade, follow the steps provided below:

SeaSurf 1.5 – simply download the ZIP file provided in this post, extract it and you should get seasurf16.apk. Tap on it and you should be able to install the update.

SeaSurf 1.4 – if you didn’t upgrade to 1.5 then you can still upgrade with the same method as upgrading from 1.5.

SeaSurf 1.3 – you should of upgraded to 1.5 but to upgrade to 1.6, follow the same steps as upgrading from 1.5.

SeaSurf 1.2 –  you should of upgraded to 1.5 but to upgrade to 1.6, follow the same steps as upgrading from 1.5.

SeaSurf 1.1 – You will need at least Android 4.1 to upgrade to SeaSurf 1.5, so you should check your OS version in the Device Settings. Then delete SeaSurf 1.1 from your device and then follow the instructions for all the above versions.

No SeaSurf – a new SeaSurf user. Awesome! Download the ZIP and extract it, then tap on the APK to install.

Here is the .ZIP!

Download .ZIP!

I hope you enjoy!

Epic Chas Gamer, developer of SeaSurf 😎

One lovely blog award – who are my favourite bloggers?

This challenge has spread across the internet like fire (I didn’t create this challenge) so I have decided to do one. Basically, I have to tell you 7 things about my character. And up to 15 bloggers I enjoy. I have over 40 followers, but as there are limits (a few don’t have blogs) and you can only do up to 15. I am sorry if I do not include you!

So, here are the 7 things about me!

1. I think about my web browser project, ECG SeaSurf , for a lot of my time. I love it because the world wide web is a big place, and making software that allows people to browse such a great thing makes me feel special.

2. I do not try to block the spotlight from other developers as I love seeing what others have produced too, and I love getting inspired.

3. I love playing video games because they are extremely fun, and it feels like I am in the game (no VR here!). They also take stress away.

4. I love writing stories, to entertain people. I am writing a story called Sir Wolf’s Castle, about Minecraft wolves and a villan called Sir Bum-Smacker.

5. I love looking at over blogs and leaving feedback and liking posts because I don’t want to look selfish.

6. I love ketchup. It is an awesome sauce.

7. There are lots of other things I love but don’t blog about: Star Wars and Legends of Chima, for example.

Now, here are my favourite bloggers: I DO NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LINK CONTENT CHANGING

1. Codeinfig:

An author of a coding language called Fig, a coding enthusiast, and much more. Check out his blog at codeinfig.wordpress.com!

2. Jacque:

If you want to go beyond my app-making service (I would recommend trying it first and requesting a removal if you don’t like it), then Jacque is the person for you. He can even get your app published to the Play Store (I didn’t ask for an app because I can make one myself).

Check out his blog at themarvelousmind.com

3.  ARJ

If you want a guide to coding and you want to be a pro, then ARJ’s blog “A bit of everything – copy” is the place for you. He has another blog, pythongr.wordpress.com, which is worth checking out too.

Find his main blog at abdurrahmaanjanhangeer.wordpress.com

4. Daniel He hetianding

A Minecraft enthusiast, this blogger creates maps and then publishes them.

Find his blog at worldofmanyworlds.wordpress.com.

5. LZH

A real tech enthusiast, admin of a website called TechCentral which contains everything tech.

Leave a comment or like at limzhenghong.wordpress.com

6. AntonioWestley

A master blogger, who loves posting about sites he recommends.

Check out his active site at alltheeabove.wordpress.com.

Check out his inactive site at antoniowestley.wordpress.com

7. antepher

A real ESP8266 and Arduino enthusiast, as well as Python Expert, antepher maintains a blog called techtutorialsx.

Like and comment on his blog at techtutorialsx.wordpress.com!

8. Paul Sinha

One of my first followers, Paul Sinha appears on the Chase and is really funny.

Check out his blog at sinhaha.com

9. Old and New Reviews

Reviewing and playing video games, I enjoy reading this blog.

Follow the blog at oldandnewreviews.com!

10. Is there any blog you recommend?

I can’t think of a tenth, but I want to reach 10, so if you recommend a blog, plz leave  a comment.

PS: The rules (I have forgotten the URL to the original creator’s blog) also mention that you should post about being chosen. So, thank you codeinfig for choosing me! SO, remember that!

Epic Chas Gamer 😀

 

 

 

New bluetooth keyboard

My old bluetooth keyboard broke :(. But I have a super-awesome new one. 🙂

Hey guys I forgot to tell you my old bluetooth keyboard stopped working so I got a new one. It is so awesome. Take a look.

If you are interested in getting one then the keyboard is called “Logitech K380 Multi-Device”. It can connect up to 3 devices at a time 🙂

My old keyboard could only connect to one device at a time, whereas my new keyboard can connect to up to 3 devices.

I haven’t tried it with my Raspberry Pi yet. I think it will work 😀

Why your device isn’t getting the latest Android

Hi guys! Have you ever visited android.com, and you saw a new version. You checked your Android device for an update. No update is available. Here is why:

When Google release a new version of Android, your device Manufacturer decides whether or not your device should get updated to it. If they decide an update should arrive, they have to optimise it for your device. This may take a few months.

If they decide not to release the update for your device, no update will be made available.

Hope you now know why your Android device may not be getting updated!

Epic Chas Gamer 😀