At Google I/O earlier this year, a trio of safety features were announced to keep Android devices safe in events like theft, locking the device and setting up new guardrails so that the phone won’t accept a fresh set-up in the hands of a bad actor.

Some of these changes were supposed to arrive in the same window as Android 15’s public release, which is right around the corner. But according to Mishaal Rahman and 9to5Google, they’ve already started appearing to users in the US following a test in Brazil.

The first one is Theft Detection Lock. “If a common motion associated with theft is detected, your phone screen quickly locks – which helps keep thieves from easily accessing your data,” says Google. It uses onboard sensors as well as connectivity channels to detect such an event.

Next, we have Offline Device Lock. If a bad actor has stolen your phone and they are trying to keep the phone offline for a prolonged period to avoid any kind of tracking, the screen automatically locks. A similar screen lock protocol will also kick into action when some is trying multiple authentication attempts to unlock the device.

Finally, we have Remote Lock. In the event that a device is stolen, and theft protection is not enabled, users can still lock their device remotely by visiting the Android.com/lock page. Users only need to pass a security check and use the same number that was active on the phone.

Once the remote lock has done its job, the stolen device can only be unlocked with the original screen lock method, which could be the user’s biometrics or password. But do keep in mind that for this feature to work, the phone must be online. In case the stolen device is offline, the remote screen lock will kick into action as soon as it comes online.

Theft Detection Lock, Remote Lock, and Offline Device Lock will be available for all Android devices running Android 15 or a later version. So far, it seems the rollout is being done in a phased manner, with users in the US receiving it at the moment.

Digital Trends has tested multiple multiple devices, including the Google Pixel 9 and OnePlus Open, but hasn’t received the feature update yet.

One UI 7 has been a hot topic of discussion for the past few days. This week, Samsung confirmed that the long-awaited stable update will arrive in 2025 alongside the Galaxy S25 series. During its developer conference, Samsung also showed off One UI 7 running on a Galaxy S24 Ultra for the first time.

During the first day of Samsung’s developer conference, the company confirmed the 2025 arrival of One UI 7, but didn’t show off anything about it. That made it seem like the company was still trying to keep its design and features a secret. However, the next day, the company showed off the software in motion for the first time. The first official look confirmed that it will bring some serious UI tweaks, as well as a notable iOS inspiration for certain sections.

Samsung One UI 7 splits notifications and quick settings into two panels

Android AOSP blends notifications and quick settings into a single panel. Swiping down once brings up pending notifications and some quick settings, while swiping down again brings up an expanded view of quick settings scrollers. However, inspired by iOS, some custom skins (like Xiaomi’s MIUI) have separated notifications and quick settings into two separate panels. That’s exactly what Samsung is doing now.

In One UI 7, swiping down from the left will bring up the notification shade. On the other hand, swiping down from the left will bring up the expanded quick settings panel. There’s no way to switch between panels once you’ve pulled one down. MIUI did receive a feature to switch between panels with a sideways swipe, which is convenient and adds fluidity to navigating the UI. Let’s see if Samsung does the same in the stable release or future updates. The change will likely be a bit confusing for those who have been accustomed to the single panel for years.

New iOS-like quick settings customization; blur effect present throughout the system

The images shared by SammyGuru show what the new One UI 7’s notifications and quick settings look like. They also confirmed that the customization of the quick settings look will be quite similar to iOS. Basically, you’ll be able to move the quick settings around as you like on the panel. Likewise, there’s a quick look at the new One UI 7 widgets. Another iOS-inspired change is the blur effect, which is present in practically the entire OS. You’ll now see a Gaussian blur appear at the bottom of notifications and quick settings panels, as well as on the multitasking/recents screen. Speaking of the latter, Samsung has adopted a new stacked card visual style.

The first leaks about the changes that One UI 7 would bring generated controversy among fans of the brand. The reason was the heavy iOS inspiration in certain things, such as the design of new icons. Weeks ago, tipster Ice Universe said that Samsung would get rid of the icons criticized by users. However, it seems the South Korean giant was looking beyond iOS icons for inspiration. It will be interesting to see the public’s response to the update’s new look once it’s available.

New releases in fiction, nonfiction and comics that caught our attention.

Harper

Normally a book described as being largely about a teen love triangle wouldn’t be something I’d reach for, but I decided to give this one a go after reading many glowing reviews, and found myself drawn in by Louise Erdrich’s prose right away. There is a love triangle, yes, but The Mighty Red is about much more than that. It covers a lot of ground, including the struggles of a farming community facing economic recession, land degradation and concerns about the chemicals being used to keep the land productive.

The Mighty Red follows characters Crystal and Kismet, a mother and daughter, and the people in their orbits in rural North Dakota. There is a tragedy that underlies much of the story (and a hint of the supernatural), but there’s a fair amount of humor mixed in too.

$23 at Amazon

W. W. Norton & Company

Every so often I’ll be minding my own business, just going about my day, when I suddenly remember the terrifying possibility that a small asteroid could someday strike Earth and do unfathomable damage. Mood ruined. This exact scenario is something that scientists have been investigating for decades and devising tactics to prevent. Promisingly, they’ve made some major strides in recent years. In How to Kill an Asteroid: The Real Science of Planetary Defense, science journalist Robin George Andrews dives into the ongoing efforts to develop a planetary defense strategy, like asteroid redirection.

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The beginning of this book reads like an apocalyptic nightmare, which is to say it’s pretty engrossing. As Andrews moves on from the hypothetical and into reality — the history and the science that the book is all about — he keeps it interesting with a conversational writing style that makes even the jargon feel readable.

$28 at Amazon

Oni Press

Despite being obsessed with Cult of the Lamb, it’s taken me a little while to get around to reading the comics, the first of which was released back in June. I finally snagged issues 1-4 this week, though, after the fourth and final book of this arc was released, and it’s been a lot of fun reading through them. The comics (so far) rehash the game’s already established lore — how the Lamb came to be leading a cult, why they’re fighting the Bishops of The Old Faith, etc — but there’s some new stuff to latch onto even for people who already know the story really well. At least, new to me (did you guys know Clauneck is a duck?).

Running a cult is complicated stuff, as anyone who has played the game can attest, and the comics get into the emotional ins and outs of that burden. It’s just as cute-yet-horrifying as you’d expect a Cult of the Lamb comic to be. Issues 1-4 are being collected in a volume called  that’s due to come out in December, but you can find them individually at your local comic store or in digital form.

$5 at Amazon

KOR Protocol, a Web entertainment protocol that reshapes intellectual property management, launched its Telegram music game Enkor: Tap to the Beat.

The company which manages, distributes, and monetizes IP said it collaborated with music label
mau5trap and leading Web3 IPs.

The music rhythm game is available on the popular messaging app, Telegram. Enkor lets players tap, swipe, and groove to epic tracks, while challenging their friends, hitting high scores, and unlocking exclusive rewards enabled by blockchain technology.

The global blockchain gaming market size was valued at over $128 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach more than $614 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 21.8%. The simplest form of these ‘play-to-earn’ games, ‘tap-to-earn,’ enables players to earn in-game currency and other items through repetitive actions with basic rules, fun, addictive gameplay, and continuous progression.

Telegram has quickly become a popular destination for users due to its accessibility—users can start playing immediately without downloading any additional apps or tooling as the games are directly integrated into the platform.

By combining rhythm gaming with iconic IPs and artists, Enkor is set to take Telegram gaming to the next level, enhancing interactivity within the music and entertainment industries through collaborations with iconic labels like mau5trap, who will debut exclusive new music, and film/tv franchises, which will launch soundtracks for players to remix and play with.

Enkor offers an immersive experience where players engage with interactive music and IP-based content, transforming how fans connect with artists and digital assets, and unlocking new ways to experience music and storytelling through gamified, blockchain-powered experiences.

Music for the Enkor game will be sourced from KOR Protocol’s KORUS platform as well as the KOR IP Registry, which has over 650,000 registered users. With AI-powered tools, players can create and remix tracks and transform the most creative and popular remixes into interactive game levels, allowing them to experience and master unique versions of their favorite songs.

Gameplay mechanics are intuitive, simple, and fun, letting players earn rewards by tapping to the beat. As the music plays, the play zone flashes, and users must tap, swipe, or hold in time to the rhythm, increasing in difficulty with every track and remix, allowing players to master their musical craft. IPs are able to upload their songs to the KOR Protocol and instantly have them distributed into new interactive formats, starting with Enkor.

Founded by advocates of art, technology, and interactive experiences, Pixelynx, the developer behind KOR Protocol was acquired by Animoca Brands, leaders in Web3 and entertainment space. With its simple and fun gameplay and high-quality collaborations with top-tier music and entertainment IP, Enkor has the potential to reshape the music industry, changing the way artists interact with their fans and creating new
revenue streams.

By being available on Telegram, Enkor is accessible to more gamers worldwide and can leverage the platform’s large user base of over 900 million. Inder Phull, creator of KOR Protocol commented in a statement, “We’re excited to share Enkor with the next generation of gamers and music fans. Games have become popular on Telegram and Enkor’s fun and rewarding experience will unleash a new wave of entertainment led experiences on the platform.”