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Spotify’s Wear OS app is getting offline playback in the coming weeks
Spotify’s updated Wear OS app is releasing “over the coming weeks,” Spotify has announced, and it’ll support offline playback on smartwatches running Wear OS 2.0 and up. The new functionality was announced in May alongside the news of Google’s collaboration with Samsung on the next-generation of the wearable operating system, Wear OS 3.
The fact that offline downloads will be available on Wear OS 2 means that it’s not exclusive to upcoming Wear OS 3 watches like Samsung’s recently announced Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Spotify says it should work on watches from the likes of Fossil, Mobvoi, and Suunto. Meanwhile Google’s new YouTube Music Wear OS app, which also supports offline listening, is exclusive to Wear OS 3.
Similar to Spotify’s offline listening on the Apple Watch, which launched in May, you’ll need a Premium subscription to use the feature. Spotify says you’ll be able to download music or podcasts by hitting the “Download to watch” button in the Wear OS app. A small green arrow will appear next to a playlist, album, or podcast once it’s available for listening offline. Free users will be able to download podcasts directly to the watch for offline playback, but when it comes to music they’ll have to stream in shuffle mode over Wi-Fi or cellular.
Pixel phones getting new default ringtone and alarm sounds
Besides wallpapers, Google lets owners customize the Pixel experience by making available a large collection of ringtones, notifications, and alarm sounds. Android 12 Beta 3 introduces a trio of additions to the Sounds app, and they’re very likely the new/next Pixel defaults.
Update 8/11: With Android 12 Beta 4 today, “Your New Adventure” is now available to use in Settings > Sound & vibration > Phone ringtone > Pixel Sounds.
It’s a full 10 seconds longer than the previous default (“The Big Adventure”) and a bit more lively throughout. Your New Adventure’s availability with this release reflects how Google is finalizing even more user-facing aspects of the operating system before the public launch this fall. Beta 4 also sees the official Android 12 Easter egg with dynamic colors.
Old: The Big Adventure
New: Your New Adventure
Original 7/14: At the start of this year, Google introduced a new tone when Cast is initiated on Smart Displays and speakers. Softer and less jarring, it very much reflected the friendly Nest visual and auditory design language.
A similar upgrade has now come to Pixel phones with version 2.8 of the Sounds app included with Android 12 Beta 3. “Bright Morning” is the current “Default alarm sound” and comes in at 12 seconds. It’s still available, but Google has added “Fresh Start” to the collection. It shares the same structure and can best be seen as a softer evolution. This refinement is also much longer at 31 seconds.
Old: Bring Morning
New: Fresh Start
Meanwhile, “Eureka” looks to replace “Popcorn” as the “Default notification sound.” Like the Cast update, Eureka is not as sharp and somewhat less surprising. Both start out strong, but the new addition ends smoother.
Old: Popcorn
New: Eureka
There should also be an updated “Phone ringtone” called “Your New Adventure” to replace “The Big Adventure.” Unfortunately, it fails to download, but this is the clearest example of the lineage between the old and new sounds.
You can currently set Fresh Start and Eureka today if you’re running the Android 12 Beta 3. They will very likely be the new default sounds on future devices. Google will presumably not change the defaults for existing users. It notably comes as the Pixel setup experience was also revamped today.
The broader launch of this new Pixel trio (via the updated Google Sounds app) will presumably occur with the public Android 12 launch in the third quarter. That said, it’s possible Google just rolls out via the Play Store with a monthly security, though there are no more Android 11 Feature Drops scheduled.
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Zoom announces new ‘Focus’ mode for students
Zoom announced this week some updates to its popular video conferencing platform. The app is rolling out a new “Focus” mode today that is designed primarily to keep students from getting distracted during online classes.
As online classes have become more than necessary around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, audio and video calling apps are constantly adding new features and improving their services for a better experience. Now Zoom is offering a Focus mode, which can be used by anyone but is perfect for teachers.
The company first revealed the feature in a blog post (via The Verge) earlier today. Once the host enables Focus mode, the other participants will no longer be able to see each other on the call. The host will still have access to all participants’ webcams, but other people will not be distracted by the live videos of their peers.
Focus Mode allows educators to see their students’ videos, and students to see their teachers without seeing other class participants. With this feature, teachers can supervise their class, but students won’t be distracted by their peers’ video feeds or feel self-conscious about turning on their own camera.
According to Zoom, the feature can be enabled for accounts, groups, or even individual users. Focus mode is accessible through the More button that shows up while in a call.
Focus mode in iOS 15
iOS 15 also comes with a new feature called Focus mode. However, it works in a different way than the new option added to Zoom.
With Focus mode on iOS, users can create focus profiles for different activities like sleeping, working, or studying. Each profile can have different apps and contacts allowed, so all others not included in the list will not notify you when that mode is enabled. Users can also hide apps from the Home screen when Focus mode is on, and even schedule a profile for a specific time or location.
iOS 15 is expected to be available to all users this fall.
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The Amiga is the latest game system to get a mini retro remake
Commodore’s Amiga 500, a home computer that became a popular game system, is receiving a remake. The A500 Mini is being developed by Retro Games Ltd, which previously released a mini version of the Commodore 64.
The Amiga 500 was the most successful model in the Amiga family of PCs, which started to appear in the mid-’80s and drew a devoted following as gaming systems, particularly in Europe. While the A500 Mini is clearly based on the Amiga 500, Retro Games Ltd says it’ll also emulate the more powerful AGA graphics hardware from the Amiga 1200.
The list of games confirmed so far includes:
- Alien Breed 3D
- Another World
- ATR: All Terrain Racing
- Battle Chess
- Cadaver
- Kick Off 2
- Pinball Dreams
- Simon the Sorcerer
- Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
- The Chaos Engine
- Worms: The Director’s Cut
- Zool
There’ll be 25 included in total, and you’ll also be able to add more yourself with WHDLoad, an installation package for Amiga software. Other system functions include the ability to switch between 50Hz and 60Hz screen refresh rate, save states, a built-in CRT filter, and various scaling options.
The A500 Mini comes with a two-button USB mouse that is already making my hand cramp up with nostalgia, as well as a gamepad reminiscent of the one from the CD32, an ill-fated attempt to convert the Amiga into a traditional game console. The keyboard on the case is sadly not functional, but you can hook up your own over USB.
Retro Games Ltd will release the A500 Mini early next year. It’ll cost $139.99 in the US and £119.99 in the UK.
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