Technology

Google will allow file manager applications demand “All Files Access” on Android 11 next month

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2021

Google has begun to send out emails to developers whose applications demand broad access to device storage. The email tells engineers that, beginning May fifth, they should educate Google why their application demands broad storage access or they will not be permitted to distribute refreshes that target Android 11.

Before Android 11, applications could demand broad access to a device’s storage by announcing the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission in their Manifest and requesting that the client award it. Numerous applications that had no legitimate need to peruse every one of the files stored on the device’s storage were requesting this permission, making Google slender capacity access consents with Android 11’s “Scoped Storage” changes. Nonetheless, for applications that truly need broader storage access, for example, document supervisors, Google urged them to keep on focusing on Android 10 (API level 29) and to demand “legacy” storage access by proclaiming requestLegacyExternalStorage=true in their Manifest.

Heritage access permits applications to have broad access to the gadget’s storage without being exposed to Scoped Storage restrictions. In any case, all applications that target Android 11 (API level 30) or more are dependent upon Scoped Storage limitations and can’t demand inheritance admittance to gadget stockpiling. All things being equal, they should demand another consent called MANAGE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE (appeared to the client as “All Files Access”) to be given wide storage access (barring a modest bunch of catalogs like/Android/information or/Android/obb).

Beginning November of 2021, all applications and application updates submitted to Google Play should target Android 11, implying that file manager apps and other applications that need more extensive stockpiling access should ultimately change to the Scoped Storage model and solicitation the All Files Access authorization. The lone issue is that Google at present doesn’t permit designers to demand the “All Files Access” permission. Google prior said it needs engineers to sign a Declaration Form before the application will be permitted on Google Play. This Declaration Form is expected to permit Google to remove applications that have no requirement for “All Files Access”, similar as how Google restricts access to the SMS, Call Log, and the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES consents.

Despite the fact that Google reported their intention to make designers sign a Declaration Form right back in November of 2019, they actually haven’t made those Declaration Forms really accessible. The organization refered to labor force difficulties originating from the COVID-19 pandemic with regards to why they were conceding permitting applications focusing on Android 11 and mentioning “All Files Access” to be uploaded to Google Play. Google set the unknown date of “early 2021” for when they would open up the Declaration Form.

Presently at last, Google has begun to advise engineers when applications can really demand the “All Files Access” permission. The email sent to developers is confusingly phrased, however a recently distributed help page adds some lucidity. As indicated by the help page, applications that target Android 11 and request “All Files Access” can finally be transferred to Google Play beginning May 2021, which is probably when the Declaration Form goes live. For a rundown of allowed uses, special cases, and invalid uses of “All Files Access”, just as recommended elective APIs, visit Google’s support page.

Related Topics:All Files Access Android 11 file manager applications Google

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Microsoft Expands Copilot Voice and Think Deeper

Published

2 months ago

February 25, 2025

Archana Suryawanshi

Microsoft Expands Copilot Voice and Think Deeper

Microsoft is taking a major step forward by offering unlimited access to Copilot Voice and Think Deeper, marking two years since the AI-powered Copilot was first integrated into Bing search. This update comes shortly after the tech giant revamped its Copilot Pro subscription and bundled advanced AI features into Microsoft 365.

What’s Changing?

Microsoft remains committed to its $20 per month Copilot Pro plan, ensuring that subscribers continue to enjoy premium benefits. According to the company, Copilot Pro users will receive:

Preferred access to the latest AI models during peak hours.
Early access to experimental AI features, with more updates expected soon.
Extended use of Copilot within popular Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The Impact on Users

This move signals Microsoft’s dedication to enhancing AI-driven productivity tools. By expanding access to Copilot’s powerful features, users can expect improved efficiency, smarter assistance, and seamless integration across Microsoft’s ecosystem.

As AI technology continues to evolve, Microsoft is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation, ensuring both casual users and professionals can leverage the best AI tools available.

Stay tuned for further updates as Microsoft rolls out more enhancements to its AI offerings.

Technology

Google Launches Free AI Coding Tool for Individual Developers

Published

2 months ago

February 25, 2025

Archana Suryawanshi

Google Launches Free AI Coding Tool for Individual Developers

Google has introduced a free version of Gemini Code Assistant, its AI-powered coding assistant, for solo developers worldwide. The tool, previously available only to enterprise users, is now in public preview, making advanced AI-assisted coding accessible to students, freelancers, hobbyists, and startups.

More Features, Fewer Limits

Unlike competing tools such as GitHub Copilot, which limits free users to 2,000 code completions per month, Google is offering up to 180,000 code completions—a significantly higher cap designed to accommodate even the most active developers.

“Now anyone can easily learn, generate code snippets, debug, and modify applications without switching between multiple windows,” said Ryan J. Salva, Google’s senior director of product management.

AI-Powered Coding Assistance

Gemini Code Assist for individuals is powered by Google’s Gemini 2.0 AI model and offers:
Auto-completion of code while typing
Generation of entire code blocks based on prompts
Debugging assistance via an interactive chatbot

The tool integrates with popular developer environments like Visual Studio Code, GitHub, and JetBrains, supporting a wide range of programming languages. Developers can use natural language prompts, such as:
“Create an HTML form with fields for name, email, and message, plus a submit button.”

With support for 38 programming languages and a 128,000-token memory for processing complex prompts, Gemini Code Assist provides a robust AI-driven coding experience.

Enterprise Features Still Require a Subscription

While the free tier is generous, advanced features like productivity analytics, Google Cloud integrations, and custom AI tuning remain exclusive to paid Standard and Enterprise plans.

With this move, Google aims to compete more aggressively in the AI coding assistant market, offering developers a powerful and unrestricted alternative to existing tools.

Technology

Elon Musk Unveils Grok-3: A Game-Changing AI Chatbot to Rival ChatGPT

Published

2 months ago

February 19, 2025

Archana Suryawanshi

Elon Musk Unveils Grok-3: A Game-Changing AI Chatbot to Rival ChatGPT

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has unveiled its latest chatbot, Grok-3, which aims to compete with leading AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and China’s DeepSeek. Grok-3 is now available to Premium+ subscribers on Musk’s social media platform x (formerly Twitter) and is also available through xAI’s mobile app and the new SuperGrok subscription tier on Grok.com.

Advanced capabilities and performance

Grok-3 has ten times the computing power of its predecessor, Grok-2. Initial tests show that Grok-3 outperforms models from OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek, particularly in areas such as math, science, and coding. The chatbot features advanced reasoning features capable of decomposing complex questions into manageable tasks. Users can interact with Grok-3 in two different ways: “Think,” which performs step-by-step reasoning, and “Big Brain,” which is designed for more difficult tasks.

Strategic Investments and Infrastructure

To support the development of Grok-3, xAI has made major investments in its supercomputer cluster, Colossus, which is currently the largest globally. This infrastructure underscores the company’s commitment to advancing AI technology and maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

New Offerings and Future Plans

Along with Grok-3, xAI has also introduced a logic-based chatbot called DeepSearch, designed to enhance research, brainstorming, and data analysis tasks. This tool aims to provide users with more insightful and relevant information. Looking to the future, xAI plans to release Grok-2 as an open-source model, encouraging community participation and further development. Additionally, upcoming improvements for Grok-3 include a synthesized voice feature, which aims to improve user interaction and accessibility.

Market position and competition

The launch of Grok-3 positions xAI as a major competitor in the AI chatbot market, directly challenging established models from OpenAI and emerging competitors such as DeepSeek. While Grok-3’s performance claims are yet to be independently verified, early indications suggest it could have a significant impact on the AI landscape. xAI is actively seeking $10 billion in investment from major companies, demonstrating its strong belief in their technological advancements and market potential.