The Galaxy Tab S8 is so popular, Samsung is pausing pre-orders in the US

Samsung kicked off their 2022 lineup earlier this week with the launch of the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the new Galaxy Tab S8 series, which features an Ultra tablet for the first time ever. Naturally, the phones have captured most of the attention and the Galaxy Tab S8 series was for those few who want an Android tablet, right? Wrong.

As it turns out, the Tab S8 and S8 Ultra are so popular that Samsung has had to pause pre-orders in the US, instead of continuing to take customers’ money without knowing fully when it would be able to fulfill them. When you head over to Samsung’s website, you’ll notice you can still pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus but it’s almost inevitable that this will also end up out of stock.

We reached out to Samsung, who said the following:

We are thrilled by the consumer response to our new Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. Due to the overwhelming demand in the last 48 hours, we will be pausing preorders at Samsung.com for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S8. We are working quickly to meet consumer excitement and demand. Please stay tuned for more updates

Having gone hands-on with the new tablets before they were announced, I’m not surprised that they sold out. Compared to the Tab S7 Plus – which I bought last year – this year’s tablets bring a series of innovations that make them a fairly substantial upgrade over previous models. These innovations include the S Pen – which has a vastly reduced latency that feels like putting pen on paper – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and the displays. Especially the Tab S8 Ultra, which sports the first 14-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display on an Android 2-in-1 and looks absolutely incredible.

I personally bought both the regular Tab S8 and the Tab S8 Ultra earlier this week for two reasons. The smaller Tab S8 could be perfect as an Android alternative to my iPad Mini, which I carry in my jacket but isn’t as good at multitasking as Samsung’s tablets. The Tab S8 Ultra is my new go-to device for video chat, as its dual front-facing cameras and enhancements should make it ideal for video calls. The size also makes it perfect for drawing and as a second display, but mostly I really want the giant screen as it’s the perfect portable media player.

If you still want a Tab S8 – and you really should – you can either still buy the Tab S8 Plus at Samsung.com (for now, at least) or you can head over to Best Buy who still seem to have the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Ultra available to pre-order and they each come with a free keyboard! Did you order any of Samsung’s new tablets? Let us know if you did, and why, in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Free Keyboard Cover

When you pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8, you will get a free Book Cover Keyboard Slim which props up the tablet, adds functionality and is worth $149.99!

Pre-order at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

Free Keyboard Cover

If you pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus directly from Samsung, you will get the same free Book Cover Keyboard Slim, saving you $149.99!

Pre-order at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

Free Backlit Keyboard

The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the most premium product so comes with a better freebie – the Book Cover Keyboard which features a backlit keyboard and is worth $349.99!

Pre-order at Best Buy

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The Galaxy Tab S8 is so popular, Samsung is pausing pre-orders in the US

Samsung kicked off their 2022 lineup earlier this week with the launch of the Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the new Galaxy Tab S8 series, which features an Ultra tablet for the first time ever. Naturally, the phones have captured most of the attention and the Galaxy Tab S8 series was for those few who want an Android tablet, right? Wrong.

As it turns out, the Tab S8 and S8 Ultra are so popular that Samsung has had to pause pre-orders in the US, instead of continuing to take customers’ money without knowing fully when it would be able to fulfill them. When you head over to Samsung’s website, you’ll notice you can still pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus but it’s almost inevitable that this will also end up out of stock.

We reached out to Samsung, who said the following:

We are thrilled by the consumer response to our new Galaxy Tab S8 lineup. Due to the overwhelming demand in the last 48 hours, we will be pausing preorders at Samsung.com for the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Galaxy Tab S8. We are working quickly to meet consumer excitement and demand. Please stay tuned for more updates

Having gone hands-on with the new tablets before they were announced, I’m not surprised that they sold out. Compared to the Tab S7 Plus – which I bought last year – this year’s tablets bring a series of innovations that make them a fairly substantial upgrade over previous models. These innovations include the S Pen – which has a vastly reduced latency that feels like putting pen on paper – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor and the displays. Especially the Tab S8 Ultra, which sports the first 14-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x display on an Android 2-in-1 and looks absolutely incredible.

I personally bought both the regular Tab S8 and the Tab S8 Ultra earlier this week for two reasons. The smaller Tab S8 could be perfect as an Android alternative to my iPad Mini, which I carry in my jacket but isn’t as good at multitasking as Samsung’s tablets. The Tab S8 Ultra is my new go-to device for video chat, as its dual front-facing cameras and enhancements should make it ideal for video calls. The size also makes it perfect for drawing and as a second display, but mostly I really want the giant screen as it’s the perfect portable media player.

If you still want a Tab S8 – and you really should – you can either still buy the Tab S8 Plus at Samsung.com (for now, at least) or you can head over to Best Buy who still seem to have the Tab S8 and Tab S8 Ultra available to pre-order and they each come with a free keyboard! Did you order any of Samsung’s new tablets? Let us know if you did, and why, in the comments below!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8

Free Keyboard Cover

When you pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8, you will get a free Book Cover Keyboard Slim which props up the tablet, adds functionality and is worth $149.99!

Pre-order at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Plus

Free Keyboard Cover

If you pre-order the Galaxy Tab S8 Plus directly from Samsung, you will get the same free Book Cover Keyboard Slim, saving you $149.99!

Pre-order at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra

Free Backlit Keyboard

The Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is the most premium product so comes with a better freebie – the Book Cover Keyboard which features a backlit keyboard and is worth $349.99!

Pre-order at Best Buy

The post The Galaxy Tab S8 is so popular, Samsung is pausing pre-orders in the US appeared first on xda-developers.

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Android 13 is an iterative upgrade that solidifies the path for the future

Android 12 brought a whole new design to Android, and it wasn’t necessarily a design that resonated with everyone. I was a fan of it, but the large buttons and pastel colors were a departure from what people knew the world’s largest operating system to be. Android 13 solidifies that direction of design, as, at least so far, it’s a very marginal iterative improvement.

If you’re looking to try out Android 13 on your smartphone, then you can check out our guide on how to install Android 13 on your Google Pixel device. It’s the very first development preview, meaning that not only is it likely buggy, but this is only the beginning of new features. Google expects the final release to come out later this year, which means there are going to be many months of changes between now and its final release.

Android 13 iterates on visual changes introduced in Android 12

Look and feel

If you’ve never used a Google Pixel smartphone, then you probably have no idea what Android 12 actually looks like in AOSP, much less Android 13. If you have used a Google Pixel smartphone, then Android 13 at a glance is completely indistinguishable from Android 12. Note that while Google Pixels do not run barebones AOSP, they look pretty similar.

The screenshots above look exactly like Android 12. Notifications are rounded, quick settings are expanded into the same number of tappable icons, and the settings app remains the same. The only real change that I’ve noticed is the introduction of a volume slider in the media player that can be moved over the current device being output.

Even the preloaded apps in the form of the Dialer, Google Messages, and the Files app all look the same.

Google says that Material You color theming (previously a Google Pixel exclusive) will also be coming to other OEM smartphones in the future.

Photo Picker API

The new Photo Picker API is an extension of Google’s already-existing document picker. It works by leveraging the Android system to select documents on the device that are then selectively shared with the app in use, rather than the app having wider storage access to the files on the device itself.

The Photo Picker API reduces the overall access that an app has to your photo library

I invoked the photo picker API in the above screenshots with an app that had no storage access, but a photo can be selected by the Android system and selectively shared with an app. Currently, if you want to send a photo to a friend through an app directly, your entire photo library needs to be shared with that app. From there, the app lists all your photos, and you select one and choose it to send. Now, photos are listed by the Android system, and only the photo you choose is shared with the app. This reduces the overall access that an app has to your photo library.

New quick settings

Google has also added a color correction quick setting, a one-handed mode quick setting, and a QR code quick setting. One-handed mode and the QR code scanner don’t work yet, and the reason for the latter is that a compatible app hasn’t been assigned to be the action of tapping it. Reports suggest that it’s possible to set your own app for usage in this quick setting tile through adb, but I was unable to get that working.

Install to guest, more button options, better battery stats

Google has made a handful of changes in the settings too, including a new “install available apps” button to the guest user in the account switcher. There’s also the ability to turn off holding down on the home button (when three-button navigation is on) to invoke the Google Assistant. Finally, Google has also added a proper X-axis guide to the battery statistics to make it clearer what’s being looked at.

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Android 13 is a familiar operating system with few visual changes… so far

Android 13 doesn’t have a whole lot of user-facing changes, but there are enough to show what direction Google wants to take it. Android 12’s design is, as expected, here to stay, and this is simply Google solidifying that design as the future of Android. I’m a big fan of these additions as all of them add functionality without taking away something that we previously had.

This is simply Google solidifying the Android 12 design as the future of Android

To be clear, all of these changes that we’ve documented here are visual changes. There are a ton of other improvements that are going to arrive in the future, such as easier user account switching, a Gboard-like clipboard auto-clear feature, and more. We’ll be keeping an eye out for any more changes in the future, and be sure to let us know what you think about Android 13 in the comments!

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Android 13 DP1 brings a redesigned media player UI, preps “Media Tap To Transfer” feature

The first developer preview of Android 13 is officially out. While the final release won’t come out until later this year, the first preview gives us a broad outline of changes and features that are coming in the next major release of Android. From updated privacy features and improvements to Material You theming to new language controls and optimizations for large screen devices, Android 13 brings many exciting changes. In addition, the latest version also showcases various improvements coming to the media playback experience, including a redesigned media output picker UI, a brand new media play UI, and more.

New media player UI

With Android 11, Google consolidated the media player controls into the notification shade. In Android 12, the media player gained support for dynamic theming, but its overall design remained more or less the same. With the Android 13 Developer Preview 1, though, Google is preparing a fresh design (via Esper). The new media player is larger and puts a prominent play/pause button in the right corner. It also shows a progress bar with track info displayed on the left side. The album art is missing for some reason, but that’s likely to change in the future update. Note that this new media player UI isn’t live in the Developer Preview 1 and needs to be enabled by a SystemUI flag.

Screenshots credit: Esper

Redesigned media output Picker

Earlier this month, we learned that Android 13 might ship with a redesigned audio output picker. This new design is now live in the Android 13 DP1. For the unaware, the audio output picker is a button that appears in the upper right corner of the media player. When you click on it, it brings up a menu with all the available devices that you can route sound output to.

The new design replaces the old volume slider with a rounded and bubbly one. It now also highlights the currently selected audio device with a checkmark.

Media Tap To Transfer

Finally, the first developer preview of Android 13 contains references for a feature called “Media Tap To Transfer.” We first spotted this upcoming feature in January, and it’s still a work in progress in Android 13 DP1. It appears to be Google’s answer to Apple’s “Hand off audio” feature, allowing users to hold an iPhone close to a HomePod speaker to transfer media playback.

Screenshots credit: Android Police

When you’re playing media on your smartphone or tablet and move close to a compatible Cast-enabled device, Android 13 will display a “media tap to transfer” chip. This will allow users to transfer the media playback from their current device to the receiver device, say, a speaker or smart TV. Like the new media player UI, this feature isn’t live in Android 13 DP1.

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Android’s Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks become mainline modules in Android 13

Google just dropped the first Android 13 developer preview, and it gives us a glimpse of some of the changes coming in the next major Android upgrade. As we highlighted in our announcement post, Android 13 DP1 reveals that Google will roll out updated privacy controls, a new Photo picker API, a Quick settings placement API, new Quick Settings tiles, and much more with Android 13 later this year. But those aren’t all the changes coming in the next big Android release. In fact, Google’s blog post glosses over some of the other critical changes included in the release. In this post, we’ll take a look at one such change, which will allow Google to push new Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband features to users without depending on OEMs to release timely software updates.

According to Mishaal Rahman’s deep dive into Android 13 DP1, Google will make the Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks mainline modules in Android 13. For the unaware, Android’s Project Mainline essentially lets Google take control of critical framework components and system applications, thereby allowing the company to deliver new features and security updates for those components/applications without waiting for OEMs to roll out a software update.

To do so, Google makes use of Mainline modules, which can be updated through the Google Play Services framework and the Google Play Store. In Android 13, Google is making Android’s Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks mainline modules. This will let the company add new features to the Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stack and get them to users as quickly as possible.

Rahman further reveals that Google is already working on adding new features, like support for the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard, to the Bluetooth stack. In addition, the company is working on a new Jetpack Library and a reference HAL for the Ultra-wideband stack, which, combined with the updateable UWB mainline module, will allow the company to expand the use of UWB hardware for new software features.

The post Android’s Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks become mainline modules in Android 13 appeared first on xda-developers.

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Android’s Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks become mainline modules in Android 13

Google just dropped the first Android 13 developer preview, and it gives us a glimpse of some of the changes coming in the next major Android upgrade. As we highlighted in our announcement post, Android 13 DP1 reveals that Google will roll out updated privacy controls, a new Photo picker API, a Quick settings placement API, new Quick Settings tiles, and much more with Android 13 later this year. But those aren’t all the changes coming in the next big Android release. In fact, Google’s blog post glosses over some of the other critical changes included in the release. In this post, we’ll take a look at one such change, which will allow Google to push new Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband features to users without depending on OEMs to release timely software updates.

According to Mishaal Rahman’s deep dive into Android 13 DP1, Google will make the Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks mainline modules in Android 13. For the unaware, Android’s Project Mainline essentially lets Google take control of critical framework components and system applications, thereby allowing the company to deliver new features and security updates for those components/applications without waiting for OEMs to roll out a software update.

To do so, Google makes use of Mainline modules, which can be updated through the Google Play Services framework and the Google Play Store. In Android 13, Google is making Android’s Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stacks mainline modules. This will let the company add new features to the Bluetooth and Ultra-wideband stack and get them to users as quickly as possible.

Rahman further reveals that Google is already working on adding new features, like support for the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard, to the Bluetooth stack. In addition, the company is working on a new Jetpack Library and a reference HAL for the Ultra-wideband stack, which, combined with the updateable UWB mainline module, will allow the company to expand the use of UWB hardware for new software features.

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Check out our Favorite Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S22 series

The Galaxy S22 series of smartphones is here and it is Samsung’s flagship lineup for 2022. The standard Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus are catered towards an audience that wants a phone under the price of $1,000 whereas the big boy Galaxy S22 Ultra is for those who want a no-limits flagship. Regardless of which phone you get, it’s important to protect your investment from getting scratched or dented. The best way to do that is by using a case. Here are some of our favorite cases for the Samsung Galaxy S22 series of smartphones!

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro

The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro has been one of our recommendations for the longest time thanks to its robust design and rugged frame. If you’re someone who drops your phone often and wants to make sure that it stays protected at all times, the Unicorn Beetle Pro is the perfect option. It’s got a silicone layer that wraps around the phone plus a hard plastic layer that comes in contact with any surface upon impact.

If that doesn’t sound like ample protection already, you even get a built-in screen protector so there’s no need to purchase one separately. Not only is the Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro protective, but it’s also got some nice utilitarian features up its sleeve. For starters, there’s a kickstand on the rear that can help you rest the phone on any surface you like. This comes in handy when viewing content on the phone for long hours. Apart from this, you also get a belt holster with the case so if you like carrying your phone around on your belt, you know which case to get!

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro

The Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro is for those who want the best protection with extra utility like a kickstand.

View at Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit

While some people may want complete protection for their smartphones, not everyone wants to use a case that’s drop-resistant. Such cases are generally thick and change the way the phone looks and feels in the hand. However, a case is still necessary to provide some type of protection at least against scratches and dings. The solution to this problem is to use a thin case. A thin case adds a basic layer of protection without adding too much bulk or changing the dimensions of your phone considerably.

One of the best thin cases out there is the Spigen Thin Fit. While the Thin Fit used to be a hard plastic case some time back, Spigen revised the design last year and it’s now more flexible as well as more protective. It’s lightweight and doesn’t add any noticeable weight to the phone and this is especially appreciable on a large and heavy device like the Galaxy S22 Ultra. It also looks stealthy and is the perfect case for someone who wants something minimal.

Spigen Thin Fit

The Spigen Thin Fit is for those who want a minimalistic case that doesn't add too much bulk to the device.

Galaxy S22

Galaxy S22 Ultra

i-Blason Ares

The Galaxy S22 series of phones come in a variety of attractive colors. When you’ve picked a color of your choice, you would surely want to show it off to everyone when using the phone. That’s where a clear case comes in handy. The i-Blason Ares isn’t your average clear case though. It has a transparent back that shows off the color of the smartphone but also offers a ton of protection thanks to rugged bumpers running all around the edge of the case.

This is easily one of the most protective cases that you can buy that’s also clear. It’s also available in a variety of colors along the edges so you can either choose to match it with the color of your phone or choose a contrasting finish that can give your phone a completely new look altogether.

i-Blason Ares

If you're looking for a clear case that doesn't compromise in the protection department, this case is for you.

View at Amazon

Ringke Fusion X

This case is for those who are a fan of the military camo look. The Fusion X case from Ringke has a translucent back with a camo pattern that looks great when you put it on a phone. There’s also a nice texture on the back that improves the grip of the phone when you’re holding it. Apart from looking tough, the Ringke Fusion X also has tough protection with large corner bumps that protect the device in case of a fall.

The bumper runs all along the edges of the device and is made of TPU which is shock-absorbent. The backplate is polycarbonate which means it’s sturdy and offers good protection for the back as well. The elements from the side bumper extend onto the back in some parts to give the case a more aggressive look. If you want a rugged case that has a nice design and doesn’t add too much bulk, you can consider this case from Ringke.

Ringke Fusion X

The Ringke Fusion X case is for those who want a protective case that doesn't add too much bulk and also has a nice design or pattern at the back. It looks pretty cool!

Galaxy S22 Plus

Galaxy S22 Ultra

Clayco Xenon

A lot of people want to protect their phone from drops but do not want to add too much bulk or compromise on the design. This is where the Clayco Xenon comes into the picture. The Xeon series of cases from Clayco is protective but doesn’t add a lot of bulk to your smartphone. If you got the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it’s already quite a bulky device so if you put on a thick case, it may get slightly uncomfortable to hold and use for long hours.

The Clayco Xenon case solves that by using softer materials that don’t necessarily add too much thickness. The design of the case is also nice and sober without too many aggressive elements. You get a matte finish on the back that makes it easier to grip the phone accompanied by carbon fiber accents on the top and the bottom to give the case a slightly tough look. It even comes with a built-in screen protector and is available in a few color options depending on the device.

Clayco Xenon

Want a good amount of protection but don't want to add too much bulk? Consider this case from Clayco!

View at Amazon

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We thank Supcase, i-Blason, and Clayco for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more.

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