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Android 15 looks set to bring in the ability to control your phone's media output with Wear OS smartwatches.

In a code deep-dive of the Wear OS companion app function (which grants Wear OS app a host of phone data access, such as access to contacts and calendars) in the Android 15 beta by Android Authoritys Mishaal Rahman, a mention of "MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL". This new permission reportedly grants the companion app access a list of available devices and control which one streams or casts audio or video from other apps.

A somewhat vague description, Android Authority noted one such privileged control permissions are granted to the companion app, they also apply to the connected smartwatch. This basically means the smartwatch would have access to a list of available connected devices (presumably ones paired with a companion smartphone) in order to route audio to video through them.

So that reportedly means you could, for example, start playing music on your phone through a pair of connected headphones, and then use a Wear OS smartwatch to switch playback to a paired smart speaker without needing to use the phone.

This would be handy if you wanted to change the device your audio was playing from (for example, switching from your earbuds to a Bluetooth speaker) but had left your phone in another room, in a bag, or just wanted to perform a few quick on-wrist gestures instead of opening your phone.

As it stands, Wear OS provides some control over media playback directly from a smartwatch and within watch-based apps, but for greater control over audio from services such as Spotify, one needs to use the connected phone.

But adding more direct control over media feedback via a Wear OS smartwatch could allow for a lot more to be done from a wrist-worn wearable device, bypassing the need for one to dip into a pocket or purse to pluck out a connected Android phone. By building out Wear OS functionality and interconnectivity, Google could help bolster its device ecosystem and the interplay between such devices to provide an experience that's closer to Apple's product and software ecosystem.

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It's not clear if such functionality will come to all Wear OS devices, or be reserved for select Google devices like the Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, or even if it'll make it to the full release on Android. We're likely to find out at Google I/O 2024 on on May 14, where we expect a good look at what's next for Android, Wear OS, and other Google software.

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This secret Android 15 feature could finally give you more media control with a Wear OS smartwatch - TechRadar

Microsoft Edge wants to enhance your playback experience with taskbar upgrades.

Many users believe Microsoft isn't doing everything right with the Edge browser to win critics over. However, on the bright side of things, Microsoft doesn't forget to introduce new features and enhancements to what's already available. In addition to making Copilot in Edge more potent for effective settings management, two interesting improvements the software giant is currently working on for Edge are all about making you want to use Windows taskbar media controls more often.

Microsoft Edge currently doesn't have media control options on the Windows taskbar. That means you can't quickly pause or resume a YouTube video playing in the browser from the thumbnail preview in the taskbar. Some streaming apps like Spotify offer this feature for Windows users, and sometime in the future, Edge will also introduce something similar, or maybe better.

As first spotted by famed leaker @Leopeva64, Microsoft has been working on adding media controls to Edge's Windows taskbar for the past few months. During the initial days of development, only play/pause and forward and backward track options were available. But now, on top of those, Microsoft has added three more buttons in the thumbnail preview of Edge on the Windows taskbar: one for mute/unmute, and the other two for seeking forward and backward.

These are useful media control options on your Windows taskbar because you can effectively customize the playback experience as per your preferences with a click of a button, all while browser windows stay minimized.

Microsoft was spotted working on media controls on the Windows taskbar for Edge Canary, and it looks like those features are still being tested internally. In other words, you won't see those playback control options in thumbnail previews even after installing Edge Canary. But in all likelihood, they will be rolled out to all Edge Canary users when ready.

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New features in Microsoft Edge want to make you use the taskbar media controls more often - XDA Developers

My good friend in Kiev (former Soviet Union), Slava Pilman, was a promising and struggling visual artist. In the early 1970s, he admired Western art of the mid-19thand early 20thcenturies, but he had no passion and tolerance for the Socialist Realism style.

From about the early 1930s to the mid-late 1980s, Socialist Realism was the official cultural doctrine of the Soviet Union. This style mandated an idealized representation of Soviet life and cultural traditions under socialism in literature and the visual arts. The doctrine was first proclaimed by the First Congress of Soviet Writers in 1934, which approved the standardized methods for the Soviet cultural production in all media.

Soon after the October Socialist Revolution of 1917 in Russia, Vladimir Lenin laid down his principles on what purpose visual art must serve for the working masses. He believed that it was important that visual art was no longer a domain of the upper classes and the bourgeoisie.

Then, socialist realism was seen as the means of educating people; so, any deviance was often punishable by the Soviet Secret Police with varying harsh outcomes.

Art belongs to the people, he stated. It must leave its deepest roots in the very thick of the working masses. (Clara Zetkin, Reminiscences of Lenin, January 1924).

Writers and artists were required to follow the party line on style and substance, especially under Joseph Stalinspolitical rule (19221953). Moscow University and Moscow Metro are clear symbols of Stalinists architecture style. Then, socialist realism was seen as the means of educating people; so, any deviance was often punishable by the Soviet Secret Police with varying harsh outcomes.

During the Nikita Khrushchev political era (19571964), literature and visual art were still stagnant. Khrushchev declared:As long as I am President of the Council of Ministers, we are going to support genuine art. We arent going to give a kopeck [cent] for pictures painted by jackasses. History can be our judge. For the time being history has put us at the head of this state, and we have to answer for everything that goes on in it. Therefore, we are going to maintain a strict policy in art. (Source:Encounter (London), April 1963).

Leonid Brezhnevs stagnant political era (19641982) in the Soviet Union continued to be sanctioned by only one artistic style Socialist Realism. Paintings and sculptures emphasized idealized figures heroically enduring hardships on a relentless crusade for progress and prosperity toward delusional communism.

So, Slava Pilman, as well as many other intellectuals in the Soviet Union, was trapped in the illusive socialist reality. I kept advising Slava to compromise and adjust his artistic style to the existing socialist environment, Slava, paint cows, peasants and workers, otherwise you will starve to death. Slavas usual response was, I am a free artist, and I will paint what I see and think, not what they want me to see and think. Slava, you are free from a job, I reminded him, and you are going to die in the Gulag as a free man.

editors of the major newspapers in the former Soviet Union, for the most part, were political appointees, with the connection to the State Secret Police. Their job was to suppress freedom of speech and advocate socialist doctrines.

I left the Soviet Union on March 16th, 1977, under the status of a political refugee; and I lost track of my friend Slava Pilman. One day, however, Slavas predicament re-appeared in my memories when in 1987 the Soviet delegation visited Juneau. Then, I was teaching archaeology, history and Russian Studies at the University of Alaska Southeast; I was frequently called to translate/assist for various delegations from the Soviet Union, visiting Alaska.

That delegation consisted of six high-ranking Soviet officials; it was sponsored by Rotary International. My close friend, the late Bill Ruddy and his wife Kathy Kolhorst hosted this group. Vladimir Nadein, a long-time letters editor of theIzvestiya(News) newspaper, was one of the delegates in this group. Then,Izvestiyawas the second largest newspaper afterPravda(Truth) in the Soviet Union, with a circulation of several million copies and all content tightly controlled by the Communist Party watch dogs.

One day, Nadein asked me, Sasha (Alexander), is there any way we can visit the State Archives? I am curious if we can locate any existing first-hand documents related to the Alaska-Siberia Lend-Lease Program during WWII. Per his request, I took him to the State Library and in about ten-fifteen minutes the librarian brought us several original documents of the ALSIB program. Remarkable, Nadein proclaimed. It would take months just to get permission to request the information in our State archives. He examined the documents attentively and took some notes.

In fact, the editors of the major newspapers in the former Soviet Union, for the most part, were political appointees, with the connection to the State Secret Police. Their job was to suppress freedom of speech and advocate socialist doctrines.

I have never expected that todays progressive American media, including those in Alaska, would resemble far-left Soviet style practices poorly edited publications, unchecked primary sources and, periodically, publication of poorly written and misleading articles. No surprise that newspapers in Alaska and around the nation are losing their readership.

As my good friends noted in our private correspondence: Every day, I wonder and despair about the condition of the media. Ive always said, why isnt lying against the law? It is so common, not only in the media, but in our government, which has failed us miserably.

Indeed, our American media is dominated by far-left ideology. Once known for their pursuit of the factual truth with an open mind, they are now indoctrinated by progressive dogma in our illiberal journalism schools and universities.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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OPINION: Soviet-style control of art and media is not so foreign as you might think - Alaska Watchman

After intense backlash to his guitar smashing at Coachella, AP Dhillon has withdrawn from the festival's second weekend, citing scheduling conflicts.

On April 14, Dhillon smashed his metallic gold ESP LTD Kirk Hammett V on stage, an act that received considerable backlash online. Since the controversial performance, however, Dhillon has clarified why he smashed his guitar.

In photos shared by Dhillon on social media, a backdrop is clearly visible, stating Justice for Sidhu Moosewala. He wrote: The media is controlled and I'm out of control. Dhillon also shared a video of Kurt Cobain smashing his guitar.

Sidhu Moosewala was an Indian rapper and singer known for his contributions to Punjabi music and cinema. Some of the themes he covered in his music are considered controversial in India.

However, he was widely considered a key figure in mainstreaming Punjabi music at a global level. In May 2022, Moosewala was shot and killed in broad daylight by unidentified attackers at the age of 28. The murder, later attributed to a well-known gang, was committed shortly after the government temporarily withdrew his security cover.

Despite the controversial act, AP Dhillon continues the long lineage of artists smashing their guitars in protest, anger, or as a public statement.

One of the first guitar-smashing acts was actually a performance art piece by DIAS, intended "to focus attention on the element of destruction in Happenings and other art forms, and to relate this destruction in society".

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In 1962, experimental artist Robin Page threw his guitar and kicked it out of the London Institute of Contemporary Arts' front door. This allegedly inspired Pete Townshend to incorporate guitar smashing into his performances.

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The media is controlled and I'm out of control: Artist who smashed guitar at Coachella pulls out after backlash - Guitar World

Social media is full of bad advice when it comes to your health. With so much of this content created by influencers who dont actually have medical qualifications, its no wonder that misinformation about health spreads so easily online.

In recent years, theres been a rise in misinformation about hormonal contraceptives on social media. Some women are reportedly even stopping their birth control as a result of misleading posts theyve seen on TikTok and Instagram.

These three common misconceptions about birth control are cropping up online and need to be put in context:

Countless videos on social media discuss the effect hormonal contraceptives have on mental health with some creators claiming birth control causes mood changes and even depression.

But these videos are anything but definitive. Although theres some correlation between mental health and some forms of contraception, there are many factors at play.

Evidence shows that modern, combined hormonal contraceptives (which contain artificial versions of the reproductive hormones progestin and oestrogen) do not have any affect on mood or mental function. Some research has even highlighted cases where patients who took combined oral contraceptives had lower levels of depression than patients who received a placebo dose.

This article is part of Quarter Life, a series about issues affecting those of us in our 20s and 30s. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.

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Five important things you should have learned in sex ed but probably didnt

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But research has shown a correlation between progesterone-only types of contraception (such as the mini-pill and the medroxyprogesterone acetate or Depo-Provera injection) and mood change. This is why some contraceptives list mood change as a common side effect (occurring in between one to ten or one in 100 women, depending on the brand). The evidence suggests depression is more common in adolescent girls and diminishes after the first two years of taking these forms of birth control.

Despite these links being drawn, a 2018 large-scale review disputes this, claiming that more high quality research needs to be undertaken. The Faculty of Reproductive and Sexual Health (FSRH), one of the leading voices in sexual and reproductive healthcare, also state in its prescribing guidelines that the evidence does not directly prove a relationship between the mini pill and depression rather, it only shows a link.

At present, theres little conclusive evidence that contraception (both hormonal and non-hormonal types) cause mental health problems. But if you have experienced mood changes or feel depressed after starting birth control (especially progesterone-only contraception) its worth speaking to your doctor as they may be able to prescribe you another type that works better for you.

Another common social media claim is that birth control causes weight gain. This again is not the full picture.

A 2019 report published by the FSRH concluded there was no evidence that any form of oral hormonal contraceptive (including the pill, implant and intrauterine device or IUD) caused weight gain. They did, however, find evidence showing the majority of reproductive-age women tend to gradually gain weight as they get older regardless of whether they used contraceptives or not. This can be due to the hormonal and metabolic changes that occur with age.

Other reviews have also reached similar conclusions. This study found that its unlikely that hormonal contraceptives cause major weight gain. But the authors of this review did acknowledge that these findings dont rule out the possibility that some individual women might in fact gain weight. They are calling for more research to be done that directly compares weight changes between birth control users and people who dont use a contraceptive.

There is one form of contraception that is linked to weight gain. The Depo-Provera injection, which is administered every 12 weeks, has been proved to cause weight gain. This weight gain is more prevalent in people who were already obese before starting the injection. According to one study, women who took the Depo-Provera shot gained almost 5kg in one year.

This weight gain may be due to the progesterone in the shot, which can cause people to feel hungrier potentially leading to overeating and weight gain.

If youre concerned about potential weight gain, the injection is not the only form of contraception available. Other forms of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives have not been shown to affect your weight.

Another common claim on social media is that birth control causes fertility issues. This is not true. Research shows hormonal contraceptives have no affect on fertility.

Theres also concern online that the IUD will could cause pelvic inflammation, leading to infertility. Again, evidence shows that IUDs pose no risk to fertility. A systematic review reports no specific differences in fertility between hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs.

Social media users have also claimed the Depo-Provera injection causes infertility. But again, theres no evidence to support this. Research shows pregnancy rates are similar for women who had previously used the Depo-Provera injection compared with those who had used other types of contraceptives.

It may take a few months for your menstrual cycle to return to normal after ceasing the injection. This is because of the larger build up of active ingredient in the body, which stops your periods and takes some time to dissipate. Your menstrual cycle may also be different for between two and four cycles after stopping oral contraception.

Many of the misconceptions around contraception have been sensationalised on social media. Contraception is rarely the primary cause of any issue. As with any medication, it may interact with conditions you already have, so its important to seek advice about contraception from your doctor or nurse not TikTok.

Originally posted here:
Social media will tell you birth control causes mental health issues, weight gain and infertility here are the facts - The Conversation