Table of contents for 95 in Android Advisor

Android security is always a hot topic on these here Nets of Inter – and almost always for the wrong reason. As we’ve discussed ad nauseam over the years, most of the missives you read about malware and viruses are overly sensationalized accounts tied to theoretical threats with practically zero chance of actually affecting you in the real world. If you look closely, in fact, you’ll start to notice that the vast majority of those stories stem from companies that make their money selling malware protection programs for Android phones. (Pure coincidence, right?) The reality is that Google has some pretty advanced methods of protection in place for Android, and as long as you take advantage of those and use a little common sense, you’ll almost certainly be fine (yes, even…

Losing your phone is one of the most stressful predicaments of modern-day life. We’ve all been there: You pat your pocket, swiftly scan every surface in sight – then suddenly feel your heart drop at the realization that your Android device and all of its contents are no longer in your control. There’s certainly no scenario in which losing your phone is a good thing. But with the advanced security tools now built into Android on the operating system level, finding and managing a missing device is often – well, quite manageable. And you don’t need any third-party software to do it. Android’s native Find My Device system can precisely pinpoint any Android device. It’ll show you the device’s exact location on an interactive map and give you tools to…

Price: £179 from fave.co/3HuamBf Xiaomi has quietly become a force to be reckoned with in every price bracket, and the Redmi 10 sees it offering a solid mid-range phone at an impressively budget price. It’s a good-looking phone, too, offering a glossy finish that feels more premium than most phones costing under £179. It’s got a fingerprint sensor in the wake button, an almost all-screen front, and it performs admirably given its components. Sadly, though, its 90Hz screen uses LCD technology, making it feel more than a little hamstrung compared to phones that are using more modern OLED technology. Still, for the price, it’s hard to argue. DESIGN Despite that low asking price, there’s no denying that the Xiaomi Redmi 10 looks, and feels, great. Thanks to a matte finish on…

By and large, Android 12 is a true treat to use. Google’s latest and greatest Android effort is without a doubt the most outwardly significant Android update since 2014’s Android 5.0 Lollipop release – at least, if you’re using a Pixel phone, where the software’s most noticeable interface enhancements and feature additions are fully present. But just like Lollipop – and almost any new Android version, really – Android 12 also comes with its share of quirks and controversial decisions. For all of the positive progress, you’re bound to run into a few things that rub you the wrong way and perhaps even make you less productive than you felt before. Well, fear not, because I’ve got your back. Today, we’re going to dive deep into Android 12’s most vexing…

Let’s get one thing out of the way: if you’re looking for recommendations about Android security suites or other malware-scanning software, you’ve come to the wrong place. Why? Because, like most people who closely study Android, I don’t recommend using those types of apps at all. Android malware isn’t the massive real-world threat it’s frequently made out to be, and Google Play Protect and other native Android features are more than enough to keep most devices safe. There are, however, some areas where third-party apps can add valuable layers onto your Android security picture. They’re less about fighting off theoretical bogeymen and more about proactively protecting your accounts and data. These are the actions that will actually boost privacy and security on your Android device, and the apps I’d suggest installing…

Price: £249 from fave.co/3eIlzlu Honor has managed to make a strong first impression after parting ways with Huawei and the launch of its 50 range. Even if we are yet to really see what the company can do on its own. The 50 Lite, while similar in many aspects to the flagship Honor 50, has noticeable differences right out of the gate such as its larger – though less impressive – centrally aligned camera ring and its lack of curved OLED display. But where the 50 Lite has its shortcomings, it makes up for with a number of other features that will appeal to any Android user looking for moderate use on a single charge. The 50 Lite’s battery and charging capabilities are particularly noteworthy as is its large display, particularly for the…

Our mobile devices are where we do so much of our actual work and contemplation these days, and yet it’s all too easy to overlook the importance of maintaining an optimal arrangement for both productivity and security within them. So now, as we gaze ahead at 2022 calendar, join me in taking 10 minutes to get your own Android phone fine-tuned and ready for the coming year. We’ll start with the simplest step of all. 1. THE APP CLEANSE Installing interesting and potentially useful new apps is easy. However, assessing which apps you use with any regularity and then uninstalling the stuff that’s sitting on your phone and using up data is a lot more difficult. An occasional app cleanse is valuable on a few different levels. First and foremost, it…

Fancy new features are fantastic. But let’s face it, we aren’t all carrying Google’s shiny new Pixel phones. And we don’t all have Android 12 in front of our shiny faces just yet. With all of that in mind, I thought now would be worth turning our attention to some of Android’s buried treasures – phenomenal time-saving and productivity-boosting possibilities built right into the software on our existing phones, no matter who made them or how old they may be). Specifically, I want to look at some incredibly useful advanced features connected to Google Assistant – the friendly companion that’s always standing by and ready to lend a helping hand. The best part about these Assistant-associated gems is that they’re every bit as beneficial with a three-year-old LG jalopy as…

Think fast: How many times a day do you pick up your phone to look at something? Unless you live in the tundra or have far more self-control than most, the answer probably falls somewhere between ‘quite a few’ and ‘more than any sane person could count’. Assuming you keep your device properly secured, that means you’re doing an awful lot of unlocking – be it with your face, your fingerprint, or the code you tap or swipe onto your screen. Security Is important, but goodness gracious, it can be a hassle. Thankfully, there’s a better way. Google Smart Lock provides a variety of options for keeping your Android phone unlocked in preapproved, known-to-be-safe circumstances. It’s an easily overlooked but incredibly useful feature that lets you create a sensible balance…

Price: £549 from fave.co/3zkLEQW There’s no denying that Motorola finds itself in a fiercely competitive market. With brands such as Xiaomi, Realme, and OnePlus throwing down increasingly impressive specs at affordable prices, we’ve all come to expect our phones to do more, and our wallets less. So when it comes to Motorola’s latest 5G flagship, the Edge 20 Pro, the bar is high. While it may not be apparent thanks to Motorola’s ever-confusing naming conventions, the Edge 20 Pro is a direct successor to 2020’s Motorola Edge. There are, however, significant differences between the two phones. Motorola culls some features while boosting specs in other places, resulting in a handset that headlines with a 144Hz OLED display (with HDR10+), a 108Mp main camera and a 4,500mAh battery. DESIGN The 6.7in…

Ah, a new phone. Isn’t there just something strangely special about that moment of opening up a box, peeling off the protective plastic, and powering up a pristine pocket-computer for the very first time? Unfortunately, after that fantastical start-up animation finishes, reality usually sets in – and you realize you’re in for a long, exhausting journey of copying stuff over, setting things up and trying to get your fancy new phone to look and act the way you want. To be fair, moving from one Android phone to another has become a lot easier. But despite all that progress, it can still be a daunting process that’s filled with both quirks and uncertainty. And all the Internet’s advice about moving from an iPhone to Android won’t help you one bit.…

Mobile web browsing is all about finding what you need quickly and with as little hassle as possible – well, in theory, anyway. In the real world, the act of surfing sites from your smartphone is often anything but efficient. Fear not, there are plenty of tricks you can learn to make your mobile web journey more pleasant and productive. Try these next-level tips for Google’s Chrome Android browser and get ready for a much better mobile browsing experience. 1. SWITCH TABS THE SIMPLER WAY If you have multiple tabs open, you can move between them with minimal effort by sliding your finger horizontally across the address bar. You’ll be zapping between sites in seconds. 2. MANAGE TABS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL For more advanced tab management, swipe down on a…