Category: Android

About Samsung’s Temporary Cloud Backup

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Temporary Cloud Backup is a new service by Samsung. It is rolling out to Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6 or later.

The backup solution looks like many other cloud-based backup services on first glance. Samsung users may use it to back up data on cloud servers. What makes this different is that the storage is temporary.

The data is stored for up to 30 days in the cloud. Samsung claims that there are not any storage size restrictions. The only limitation, in fact, is that individual files may not be larger than 100 Gigabytes, which most users should not run into.

All the backing up and transferring happens on the user’s device. A second device, for instance a PC, is not required.

The backup feature is ideal for securing data before handing devices over to others, for instance for repairs.

The idea behind the feature

Samsung explains that the service is ideal for securing data before replacements or repairs. Devices that need to be repaired are often inaccessible for a period of time.

If they need to be send in, there is a slim but existing chance that the package gets lost during transit.

Temporary Cloud Backup is integrated into Maintenance Mode. Samsung introduced Maintenance Mode in the Samsung Galaxy S22. It protects personal data and information when activated.

When users activate the mode, a separate user account is created that others may access when repairing Samsung devices. Samsung users find the mode under Settings > Battery and Device Care > Maintenance Mode.

Samsung explains:

Maintenance mode protects your privacy while someone else is using your phone, such as when you’re sending it for repairs.

Personal data, including a user’s photos, documents and messages, is restricted in Maintenance Mode. User-installed apps become unavailable as well. While apps may be downloaded and installed in the mode, they are removed from the device along with any “data or accounts” when the owner of the device exits Maintenance Mode.

Temporary Cloud Backup complements Maintenance Mode. It pushes a backup of the user’s personal data to the Samsung cloud. From there, it can be retrieved at any time during the 30-day period.

Temporary Cloud Backup

Temporary Cloud Backup by Samsung

The new backup feature serves several purposes. Repair and maintenance are two of the main applications, but it is also helpful for new devices.

The integrated Setup Wizard of Samsung devices includes an option to restore data backed up at Samsung’s Cloud using the temporary backup feature. Users may use it to move their files between devices.

The feature is attached to Maintenance Mode and the device’s Reset function.

The backup app displays the available options. These include backing up apps, calls and contacts, messages, secure folder data, settings and more.

The process requires an active wireless connection. Samsung’s device displays the transfer progress during the operation.

Samsung informs owners of the data before the 30-day limit is reached. This should give them enough time to restore the data before it is deleted automatically.

Closing Words

The full rollout is starting this fall for all Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 6. The first devices will be the Galaxy S and Z series in Korea.

Temporary Cloud Backup and Maintenance Mode are two useful features. Maintenance Mode blocks access to personal data during repairs and maintenance operations. Cloud backup saves the data so that it can be restored at a later point; this is also useful when sending in devices.

Now You: how do you handle data on your devices during repairs?

Android 14 is ready: the main changes

Posted on by Martin Brinkmann

Google Android 14 is now available. This article looks at the main changes of the mobile operating system. The new version is in distribution already; Google Pixel owners are the first to receive the update.

Other device manufacturers will release updates for supported devices starting later this year.

Android 14: security improvements

One of the main changes of the new mobile operating system is that it blocks the installation of (very) old apps. Apps created for Android 5.1 or older can’t be installed anymore on new Android 14 devices anymore. The change does not affect old apps installed already on a device that gets upgraded to the new Android version. These remain available and users may run them like before.

Attempts to install old apps however will be blocked. Google explains that it implemented the change to block malicious apps. To better understand the logic, it is important to understand a core concept of Android.

Developers may target specific versions of Android for their apps. Older versions of Android may support different security features and features in general. Apps that target still run fine on modern Android devices, but security features may be limited, if introduced in a later version of the operating system. Malware developers use this to bypass certain security features on Android.

Block installation of apps targeting older SDK versions – To protect against malware that targets older API levels to bypass security and privacy protections, apps with a targetSdkVersion lower than 23 cannot be installed on Android 14.

The new Credential Manager supports multiple sign-in methods, including passkeys and federated sign-in solutions.

Privacy changes

A new privacy option in Android 14 allows users to give apps access to some photos or videos only. Previous versions of Android supported only full access, even if only a single photo or video needed to be shared.

Google confirms the change on its Android Developers blog:

The new “select photos” option gives users full control over the apps’ access. Apps only get access to the selected photos or videos, if the option is selected.

Another welcome change informs Android users about an application’s permissions or privacy changes. A popup is displayed that informs users about the changes the developer made. Android 13 and earlier did not inform users about the changes, unless the developer displayed a message directly.

Users who enter a PIN to unlock their device may notice that the PIN is accepted right away without having to tap on the OK button first. This button is removed, if the PIN is six digits or more. There is also a new option in Settings to turn of animations when entering a PIN.

New Media features

Android 14 adds support for Ultra HDR for images. The format is backwards compatible with JPEG according to Google.

The new Android version supports lossless USB audio, which allows Android users to experience these formats over USB wired headsets.

Last but not least, Camera extensions support new features that allow apps to “handle longer processing times, enabling improved images using compute-intensive algorithms like low-light photography on supported devices”.

Android 14: Customization improvements

Android 14 font scaling

The new Android version ships with new customization features, e.g., new language and font display options.

One of the most important changes is the ability to scale the font size up to 200%. This is an increase of 70% when compared to the maximum font scale size of Google Pixel devices on Android 13.

Android uses a non-linear font scaling curve to “ensure that text that is already large enough doesn’t increase at the same rate as smaller text”.

If you happen to miss a lot of notifications on your device, you may find the following change useful. Android may use the device’s flash to announce notifications.

Called Flash Notifications, it gives you the choice to announce notifications using the camera’s flash, the display flash, or both.

Other Android 14 changes

  • Battery life is improving as internal processes are more efficient now.
  • Additional battery information is found under “Settings > About Phone > Battery information. This includes the manufacturing date and cycle count.
  • Improved lockscreen customization options.
  • Android 14 improves passkeys support further.
  • Applications can only kill their own background processes.
  • Health Connect receives updates via Google Play.

Closing Words

Android 14 introduces several important changes, for instance the credential manager, improved privacy when sharing photos or videos, or information when apps change permissions or privacy policies.

It will take some time before non-Google device manufacturers push the update to their devices.