News on Mobile OS Releases, April 2022

Android 

Android 13 Beta 1

Google has updated the media player notification with a new squiggle look for the track scrubber: the progress bar now changes to a squiggle look for any media that has already been played. Also, Google has introduced a new toggle simply titled “Control from locked device.” This option, which is off by default, allows control of “external devices'' without unlocking the phone. When this toggle is enabled, Android 13’s lock screen on Pixel smartphones gains the ability to control smart home devices through the Google Home app without unlocking the phone.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Google, 9to5Google

Android 13 may allow two carrier connections on one eSIM

According to Esper, Google is working on an Android 13 feature that would potentially be a game-changer for people using two SIM cards on a single phone. Through a feature called Multiple Enabled Profiles (MEP), the search giant wants to assign two carrier profiles to a single eSIM and easily switch between networks. 

Full content and details (external sources) :GSMArena

iOS gains ground in recent years, Android still dominates the global market

According to research done by StockApps, in 2018, Android had a 77.32% market share while this year, it is estimated that about 69.74% of all devices in the world run Android. That's almost an 8% drop in four years. In contrast, iOS has grown from 19.4% to 25.49% throughout the same period.

Full content and details (external sources) :GSMArena

Apple iOS 

Apple No Longer Signing iOS 15.4, Restricts Downgrading From iOS 15.4.1

By no longer signing iOS 15.4, Apple has restricted users from downgrading their iPhone models to the last iOS version and encourages them to update to iOS 15.4.1. Apple regularly stops signing older versions of its iOS builds to prevent incidents of jailbreaking devices.

Full content and details (external sources): Gadgets

Gurman: iOS 16 to bring improved notifications, Apple will demo rOS for VR headset at WWDC

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is scheduled to kick off on June 6 and we can safely anticipate the latest versions of Apple’s mobile, desktop and wearable operating systems. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that iOS 16 will bring improved notification management and new health-tracking features. In addition, Gurman reports that beta versions of iOS 16 indicate numerous references to Apple’s long-rumored VR headset which suggest we might get a tech demo of its rOS operating system on stage at the event. 

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena

iOS 15.5 beta blocks ‘Sensitive Locations’ for Memories in Photos app

Apple released the third beta of iOS 15.5 to developers and has made an interesting tweak to its native Photos app. The system will now block “Sensitive Locations” for Memories in the Photos app. Memories is a feature of the Photos app on iOS and macOS that recognizes people, places, and events in your photo library to automatically create “curated collections” with a slideshow.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

Apple releases iOS 15.5 beta 3 to developers and public beta testers

Apple is now rolling out iOS 15.5 beta 3 to developers. iOS 15.5 includes small under the hood changes, as well as updates to the Wallet app, Apple Cash, HomePod, and the App Store. The build number of iOS 15.5 beta 1 is 19F5062g.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

HarmonyOS 

HarmonyOS 3.0 coming in September, first betas to roll out next month

The third major version of Huawei’s Harmony OS was announced last year with the first Developer Preview coming out a few weeks later. Weibo user Changan Digital King reports that the stable release of Harmony OS 3.0 is scheduled for September of this year.

Full content and details (external sources): GSMArena, HuaweiCentral

Huawei HarmonyOS April 2022 Updates List

On the home ground, the least possible Huawei device is upgraded over the HarmonyOS 2.0 software version. Now, the HarmonyOS 3.0 vibes have started circulating through online platforms and it is expected to arrive in September this year.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Huawei HarmonyOS achieves 240 million device users

During the launch of the Huawei Mate Xs 2 foldable smartphone, the Chinese tech maker announced that HarmonyOS operating system has now achieved 240 million monthly active users in China. Yu Chengdong, Executive Director, Smart Device BG CEO, and Smart Car Solutions BU CEO announced that there are 240 million Huawei devices that are now equipped with the HarmonyOS operating system. 

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

EMUI

Huawei EMUI April 2022 Updates List

At the moment, Huawei is busy dispatching the latest EMUI 12 software update for its eligible devices. The company is also seeding regular software updates in Huawei EMUI devices. Early this month, Huawei published the latest April 2022 EMUI security patch details, which bring fixes for common vulnerabilities found in the latest EMUI software system. Currently, the March 2022 update is rolling out in the market.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

EMUI 12 Rollout Roadmap for Huawei devices in India and features

Huawei has disclosed an official EMUI 12 update roadmap for its eligible devices in India and other countries. Huawei has also released the EMUI 12 operating system, which comes with a suite of new features, user interface design, animation effects, seamless device controller, and other important enhancements over EMUI 11. Huawei has remained silent on the based software of EMUI 12.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral,  HuaweiCentral