
Samsung's Android 16 News Surprises Galaxy S25 And S24 Owners
This should not be happening again. Whisper it quietly, but is there another set of Android update delays heading for flagship Galaxy owners as Android 16 and One UI 8 stutter at what should be the final hurdle?
Samsung's One UI 7 rollout was described as a disaster, opening a six month gap to Pixels as the Galaxy-maker seemed to struggle to get a stable releases out to its phones. Telling users this was all about ensuring a bug-free release didn't help.
Just as with Android 15, Google's latest releases brings a raft of security and privacy upgrades to phones, and given the worsening mobile threat landscape, users want these as soon as possible. One UI 8 also fixes a security issue of Samsung's own making.
Now according to SamMobile, while 'we were so close to a stable One UI 8 release for the Galaxy S25.' the bad news is the newest phone's One UI 8 beta 'removes features [and]This won't just come as a nasty surprise for Galaxy S25 owners, it will also hit Galaxy S24 owners hard — especially as they also bore the brunt of the One UI 7 delays.
'Once again,' SamMobile says, 'whether Samsung will release the One UI 8 beta build ZYG5 to Galaxy S25 testers is unknown, but the firmware exists on Samsung's servers, which indicates that the company isn't finished working on the update.'
This isn't the only bad news. SammyFans warns that 'after months of beta testing and recent feature removals, it's becoming clear that One UI 8 won't be the game-changing update many Galaxy users were hoping for. Instead, we are looking at what feels more like a routine monthly maintenance update than a major software overhaul.'
The best new security features coming with Android 16 is Google's new Advanced Protection Mode, which significantly narrows the gap to the more secure iPhone — critical when it comes to flagships costing between $1000 and $2000.
This security shield restricts dangerous wireless and fired connections, shores up safer browsing and also stops apps from being installed from outside official stores — which is a good thing. It's recommended for all security conscious users.
Fortunately, Samsung users don't need to wait for the Android 16 / One UI 8 upgrade to get almost all those benefits. Just ensure you have enabled Maximum Protections on your phone, a Samsung-specific setting that does most of the same.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


TechCrunch
9 minutes ago
- TechCrunch
Itch.io is the latest marketplace to crack down on adult games
Indie video game marketplace announced this week that it has 'deindexed' adult and not-safe-for-work games, removing them from its browse and search pages. The move, the company said, was in response to a campaign by Collective Shout (an advocacy group that has previously criticized video games, rap music, and lingerie commercials) targeting both and Steam for selling 'No Mercy,' a game that depicts rape and incest. In an open letter addressed to executives at PayPal, Mastercard, Visa, and other payment processors, Collective Shout said that games 'endorsing men's sexualised abuse and torture of women and girls fly in the face of efforts to address violence against women.' 'We do not see how facilitating payment transactions and deriving financial benefit from these violent and unethical games, is consistent with your corporate values and mission statements,' the organization added. The campaign appears to have worked, with Steam saying earlier this month that it would ban games that 'may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers.' Similarly, said, 'To ensure that we can continue to operate and provide a marketplace for all developers, we must prioritize our relationship with our payment partners and take immediate steps towards compliance.' It also said that 'No Mercy' had been 'temporarily available on before being banned back in April,' and that 'the situation developed rapidly,' forcing the company to 'act urgently to protect the platform's core payment infrastructure,' without providing advanced notice to creators. Techcrunch event Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They're here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don't miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise. San Francisco | REGISTER NOW The company said it's now conducting a 'comprehensive audit' to ensure that games available on the marketplace meet 'the requirements of our payment processors,' with adult content remaining deindexed until the audit is complete. After the audit, said NSFW game creators will be required to confirm that their content is allowed under the policies of their payment processors linked to their account. On social media, users criticizing decision noted that its current terms declare that adult content violations are 'permanent with no chance of appeal' and that any funds in an offending account 'will not be eligible for payout' — or as one developer put it, 'If you violate the rules, we take all your money. Not just the money from that work, ALL your money from EVERYTHING you've ever made.' This is far from the first time that payment companies appear to have pressured online platforms over adult content — for example, last year Gumroad pointed to restrictions from payment processors when it implemented stricter rules around NSFW art, and OnlyFans also blamed 'banking partners and payment providers' when it banned explicit content (a decision that it subsequently reversed). A petition with more than 137,000 verified signatures criticizes Mastercard and Visa for their role in these types of decisions. Among other things, the petition demands that the payment companies 'stop censoring legal fictional content that complies with the law and platform standards' and 'reject influence from activist groups that promote moral panic or misrepresent fiction as harm.'
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cisco Systems (CSCO): A Steady Performer Among the Dogs of the Dow
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is included among the 11 Dogs of the Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy Now. A technician in a laboratory, overseeing cutting edge cybersecurity solutions. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is widely recognized for its networking, cybersecurity, software, and cloud computing solutions. It produces routers and switches that use the Internet Protocol to move data across networks. Artificial intelligence has become a major growth area for Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), with AI-related revenue exceeding $1 billion in 2024. Cisco aims to at least double that figure in 2025. A key factor in this expansion has been its $28 billion acquisition of Splunk, completed last year, which is intended to strengthen customers' capabilities in networking, security, and AI. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) reported strong earnings in its fiscal Q3 2025. The company's revenue came in at $14.15 billion, which showed an 11.4% growth from the same period last year. The revenue also beat analysts' estimates by $91.4 million. Orders for AI infrastructure from webscale clients surpassed $600 million, allowing the company to hit its $1 billion goal a quarter ahead of schedule. This strong performance in AI is driven by the strength of its secure networking solutions, strong global alliances, and the value it consistently delivers to customers. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) generated an operating cash flow of $4.1 billion during the quarter, and it returned $1.6 billion to investors through dividends. In addition, it has raised its payouts for 18 consecutive years. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.41 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.39%, as of July 26. While we acknowledge the potential of CSCO as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


The Verge
41 minutes ago
- The Verge
The Fujifilm X-E5 proves familiar isn't always a bad thing
The X-E5 is Fujifilm's tiny powerhouse. It's part of a line of cameras that has often been described as similar to the X100, except with an interchangeable lens. But the X-E line has evolved this year and is taking on a new shape. It used to be seen as a budget option, but at $1,699, that can no longer be said. Despite the fact that I've used almost every Fuji out there, this was my first time playing around with any of the X-E line of cameras. The X-E5 is a gorgeous, petite, and classy-looking camera with sharp lines throughout the body, and with buttons and an occasional concave edge for some extra flair and a distinctive look. It is ever-so-slightly shorter and thicker than the X100VI, but weighs about the same when paired with one of Fujifilm's pancake lenses. It is hard to keep your eyes and hands off of it. Over the last few weeks using the camera, I've had a lot of people asking me about it. Two even assumed it might be a Leica. The camera build feels incredibly solid. The dials and the buttons are very clicky; even the side door just feels right. The hinges on the flip screen are sturdy, and it can flip all the way around for some vlogging, too. All those little details matter and make the camera feel premium, but unfortunately this camera is not weather sealed (something you'd also expect for this price). The big new feature for the X-E is the dedicated film simulation dial. We've seen other Fujis adding these, but this was my first time using it. I rarely shift between film simulations since I have a few of my own, which I stick to 99 percent of the time. But the dial does make saving these sims easier, and encouraged me to experiment with different looks a lot more than before. When it comes to video, you get 6.2k up to 30fps and 1080p up to 240fps. The X-E5 can also film in F-Log and F-Log 2 color spaces, so there is plenty of latitude for post-processing, which will match well with other Fujifilm cameras. And there's HLG HDR too. The rolling shutter isn't the greatest, although it's far from bad. But the X-E5 shouldn't be your primary video camera for two big reasons: the video mode takes a toll on this battery, and I've had it overheat after 13 minutes of continuous filming. As stated earlier, this Fuji is equipped with the same sensor we've seen for a few years now. It is a 40MP BSI CMOS 5 sensor and it is capable of making some great images. It has been my favorite Fuji sensor since the CMOS III. The photos are sharp, with plenty of detail, and the noise levels are well managed. Anything above 2000 ISO will slowly start to break down and look mushy and soft. This is where the 7-stop IBIS comes in and helps you to keep that shutter open for a bit longer, therefore lowering your ISO too. I brought this camera with me on a trip to Mexico along with a handful of lenses. The X-E5 proved to be a brilliant travel camera. I loved having the option to stick to my pancake 27mm for an ultra-compact setup or bring the all-rounder 16-55mm zoom lens for some versatility on a long day out. But despite how much I loved my time with the X-E5, all of the recent Fujifilm cameras are becoming too similar to each other when it comes to performance. Some of those cameras excel in some way, but the X-E5 doesn't have anything unique going for it. It is a classic jack of all trades. And that's not a bad thing. But once you start looking at the prices, you might have some second thoughts. When the X-E4 came out it was $850 and was seen as a hidden gem in the lineup. At $1,700, it starts to become a harder sell. However, if you do pick this one, be assured you're picking a brilliant and gorgeous camera. It might no longer be a hidden gem, but it's still a gem. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Vjeran Pavic Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Camera Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Cameras Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech