Google and Apple announce new privacy and functional improvements to their COVID-19 contact tracing API

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our habits have changed drastically. Social distancing is now the norm because of the sheer amount of asymptomatic people carrying the virus. Knowing who has tested positive and who came into contact with those persons is essential to containing the spread of the virus, and that’s why Google and Apple teamed up to create a COVID-19 contact tracing API called Exposure Notification. This API is meant for use in contact tracing applications from public health agencies, and it supports both iOS and Android. Today, Google and Apple announced a few improvements to the API.

One of the improvements gives public health agencies more flexibility in determining the level of risk associated with an exposure event. Another improvement is support for interoperability between countries for the app to work on a more global scale. With better Bluetooth calibration on hundreds of devices (the Exposure Notification API uses Bluetooth LE in order to ping nearby devices), contact tracing will be less prone to false positives.

Google and Apple are also addressing privacy concerns that have been raised by users and developers. You can now easily turn off the notifications with a toggle and, if the feature is turned on, you will also get a periodic reminder that it’s on. On Android 11, users will no longer have to enable Location Services in order for the Exposure Notification API to work. The reason the API requires location access to be enabled is that Bluetooth scanning can be used to infer a device’s location. Google tied Bluetooth (and WiFi) scanning to location services to warn users of this fact, but this has scared some users into thinking that all contact tracing apps are actively tracking their location.

Here’s a summary of Google and Apple’s improvements to the Exposure Notification API, per Google’s blog post on the matter:

Improvements to the Exposure Notification API

• When an exposure is detected, public health authorities now have more flexibility in determining the level of risk associated with that exposure based on technical information from the API.
• Bluetooth calibration values for hundreds of devices have been updated to improve the detection of nearby devices.
• The API now supports interoperability between countries, following feedback from governments that have launched Exposure Notification apps.
• To help public health authorities build apps more efficiently, we’ve added reliability improvements for apps and developer debug tools.
• We’ve improved clarity, transparency and control for users. For example, the Exposure Notifications settings on Android now include a simple on/off toggle at the top of the page. In addition, users will also see a periodic reminder if ENS is turned on.

Public health authorities have used this API, jointly developed by Google and Apple, in 16 countries, including those in North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. More areas are planning apps using the API, with 20 U.S. states and territories (accounting for over 45% of the U.S. population) exploring its usage. We are tracking the apps that use the Exposure Notification API in a separate article, in case you’re interested. Using contact tracing to contain the spread of COVID-19 is essential in establishing a return to normalcy, but we’re still a long way off from that goal.

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Netflix is rolling out playback speed controls on Android

Ever wish you could speed up or slow down video playback on Netflix? On Android, now you can.

Netflix is rolling out the ability to watch videos at 0.5x, 0.75x, 1.25x, or 1.5x speeds on Android. Now you can binge-watch your favorite shows faster than ever. Playback speed controls are available on Android for both streamed and downloaded content and will be tested on iOS and browsers in the future. This feature will not be tested on built-in TV apps, though.

Playback speed controls were apparently something Netflix users have requested for years, according to Netflix’s Keela Robison, Vice President of product innovation. “Tests show that consumers value the flexibility [playback speed controls] provides whether it’s rewatching their favorite scene or slowing things down because they’re watching with subtitles or have hearing difficulties,” Robison said. The National Association of the Deaf and the National Federation of the Blind applauded Netflix for introducing this feature, with both organizations adding that playback speed controls can help those with auditory and/or visual difficulties.

While the new playback speed controls might be a boon for users, some in Hollywood are apparently unhappy with the new feature. As The Verge points out, when Netflix previously confirmed they were testing this feature last year, directors Brad Bird and Judd Apatow spoke out against it. Apatow in particular said that “distributors don’t get to change the way the content is presented.” These creators argue that playback speed controls disrupt how they intend viewers to consume their content. Many creators currently rail against motion smoothing features on home televisions for largely the same reason.

Netflix said it is aware of the concerns from Hollywood creators and has worked to quell their anger. For one, Netflix said it will correct the pitch in audio at faster and slower playback speeds, so content doesn’t sound warped. The company also purposely limited the available playback speeds and requires users to manually change the playback speed for every video they watch.

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YouTube to axe community contributions for closed captions and subtitles

Google on Friday announced YouTube’s Community Contributions feature, which allows viewers to add closed captioning and subtitles to videos, will be discontinued on September 28, 2020. The company cites two reasons behind the discontinuation of the feature: It’s not being widely used and is a regular source of spam and abuse.

According to Google, community contributions were featured in “less than 0.001% of channels” in the past month, covering than 0.2% of watch time. Creators are, for the most part, relying on alternative captioning tools for their videos.

As The Verge points out, deaf and hard-of-hearing creators will be most affected by the feature’s removal. Several “VTubers”, or Virtual YouTubers, will also be affected, as well as content creators with significant foreign language audiences. Some content creators have already voiced their concerns, pleading with Google to create a better community contributions system rather than axing it entirely.

It’s a fine line to walk for Google. Captions and subtitles are crucial for accessibility—not just to reach deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, but to reach viewers who speak different languages. While the community contributions feature is being canceled, captions and subtitles will still be available in YouTube videos. Creators can continue to manually add captions, while YouTube has technology that automatically adds captions to every video. The automatically generated captions are generally not as accurate as user-contributed captions, but they can be improved over time as Google continues to train its speech recognition and language translation technologies.

Even though Google said YouTube’s Community Contributions feature is rarely used, the company acknowledged the difficulty this decision might cause for some creators. As a consolation, Google said it would cover the cost of a 6-month subscription to Amara.org, a service that captions, subtitles, and translates videos.

If you currently have contributions saved as drafts, they’ll be available to publish until September 28. All contributions that have already been published will remain, and creators can manage them as they see fit.

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Google and Pure Digital almost partnered for Flip Video camera

Back before Google acquired (and then sold) Motorola, and back before Google had developed its first Pixel-branded smartphone, the search giant nearly released a Flip Video camera in partnership with Pure Digital at the dawn of the YouTube era.

According to internal emails obtained by the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust sub-committee (via The Verge), Google Video product manager Peter Chane attempted to convince colleagues to partner with Pure Digital, the owner of Flip Video, for a consumer video camera.

In a 2006 email, Chane highlights the popularity of Pure Digital and argues how important personal video cameras would be for a community-driven site such as Google Video. The emails laid out Chane’s argument and his urgency to get a deal done before Yahoo and YouTube did something similar. At the time, YouTube was still a competitor to Google Video.

We already know that Google never made a deal to release a Google-branded Flip Video camera, but there were conversations about the possibility. What ultimately happened was, at the suggestion of Google Video director Jennifer Feikin, Google opted to pursue an acquisition of YouTube instead, and the rest is history.

“I think perhaps a better route to take would be quickly figure out the strategy of how to work with both types of content in the ideal ways, and then to acquire YouTube,” Feikin said in an email.

Feikin said she admired YouTube’s UI and active community. By acquiring YouTube, Google could then use its considerable resources to scale the service and bring it to a wider audience. Some colleagues were apparently skeptical about acquiring YouTube, but Google ultimately made a deal all the way back in 2006.

Today, Google is one of the most popular websites on the internet, while Pure Digital and its Flip Video cameras are no more, thanks in part to the rise of smartphones. In hindsight, it was good business sense from Google, but it still would have been interesting to see a Google-branded Flip Video camera.

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Huawei to Revolutionize Commerce with New Live E-commerce Platform

As the world changes, people are changing the way they shop. New solutions are needed to present new and effective ways for consumers to interact with online stores. This is where Huawei’s Live E-commerce service comes in. The new e-commerce solution is designed to help merchants boost their traffic while lowering costs. Live streaming brings new opportunities driven by e-commerce transformation. Online retailers will be able to easily implement this solution, which is based on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) to enhance live commerce capabilities.

Live E-commerce to be Officially Announce on Huawei Developer Day

To announce the launch of Live E-commerce, Huawei will be using their Huawei Developer Day #HDD event which is streamed online. This event will have the primary focus of showing online retailers, businesses, and developers how they can use HMS to profit off of the constantly-evolving online retail landscape. This event will demonstrate how Huawei is making live commerce easier, faster, and more immersive than ever. The key to this is the combination of the HMS compatibility kits. These allow developers to create a single e-commerce solution. The combination of Live E-commerce and HMS gives Huawei the technological advantage over other platforms in this field. Online retailers will now be able to produce a truly intelligent live commerce experience. HMS Core kits provide e-commerce platforms with easier control, more efficient operation, and more immersive scenario-based live stream experience.

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Huawei Developer Day

The Huawei Developer Webinar | Connect LIVEs with E-commerce
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE EVENT LIVE

August 6th, 2020

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The HDD event is totally free for developers to attend. It is hosted online in the form of livestreams that features speakers from partnering companies like LiveMe, Kumu and others. Developers that attend the event will have the opportunity to learn about the different ways that Huawei can help them increase their traffic. Using the powerful tools designed for online platforms, you’ll learn how to create a richer and more advanced live streaming experience. Huawei’s innovative technology enhances e-commerce capabilities, assisting vendors, and developers to realize business gains.

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“With more consumers and vendors converting to live commerce streaming to sell and buy products, e-commerce is continuing its rapid growth and represent an increasingly large section of the global retail industry. A key priority for Huawei is supporting the expanding number of developers around the world in this field, which is why our next HDD is dedicated entirely to e-commerce and online retailers. HDD is an invaluable opportunity for developers and retailers of all sizes and sectors to get a head start on competitors and learn how our new and enhanced HMS-based solution can greatly enhance their live commerce capabilities.”

Peter Gauden - Head of WEU EcoSystem Marketing at Huawei Consumer Business Group

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The HDD event will be very beneficial to anyone looking to learn about the increasingly interactive market of online retail. The livestreamed event will be one hour long and will feature interaction from the audience, in the form of live comments. This event is part of Huawei’s commitment to creating a better experience for developers, which includes an all-scenario smart ecosystem.

All of this is part of the support and resources that Huawei dedicates to developers that use HMS and host their apps on the AppGallery. Huawei’s fully open Chip-Device-Cloud capabilities enable the best app experience while promoting innovation. If you are a developer and want to learn how to succeed in this market, make sure you tune-in to the Huawei Developers Day event on August 6th, 2020.

This post is sponsored and written in part by HUAWEI. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

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Learn Linux Inside Out With 110 Hours of Training for Just $69

We often don’t realize it, but Linux plays a huge part in daily life. Every time you search with Google and check Facebook, your device is working with Linux servers. Using an Android phone? That is based on Linux, too. If you would like to know this system better, the Complete 2020 Learn Linux Bundle can help. This huge learning library offers 12 courses and 110 hours of training for only $69 at the XDA Developers Depot.

As you may have gathered by now, Linux is a very powerful and versatile platform. For this reason, expert developers are always in demand, earning up to $111,000 a year according to Payscale. In addition, Linux skills are valuable in many other technical careers.

This bundle provides a comprehensive education in Linux. Through hands-on tutorials, you learn how to power almost any project using the open-source operating system.

You start by learning how to navigate the graphical user interface, before diving into the shell. Once you have some command-line skills under your belt, you discover how to deploy Linux in the cloud, set up enterprise systems, and run Linux servers.

The bundle also provides extensive training on networking and cybersecurity, including full prep for the CompTIA Linux+ exam.

You would normally expect to pay over $3,500 for these courses, but you can get them now for only $69 with this deal.

 

The Complete 2020 Learn Linux Bundle – $69

See Deal

Prices subject to change 

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Motorola One Zoom and Moto G8 Plus get Android 10 soak test updates in Brazil

Different smartphone OEMs go by their own schedule when it comes to Android updates. Motorola, for example, prefers to conduct limited invitation-based public beta testing (commonly referred to as “soak testing”) before the actual release of a major Android version update through the stable channel. The final beta firmware is often mature enough to be considered as the stable build, which means the soak testing phase is a pretty good indicator of the arrival of the stable update. Now, the Motorola One Zoom (also known as the Motorola One Pro) and the Moto G8 Plus have started receiving such soak test builds of Android 10.

Motorola One Zoom XDA Forums || Moto G8 Plus XDA Forums

Motorola One Zoom

Despite the “One” tag, the Motorola One Zoom (codename “parker”) is not a part of the Android One initiative. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 675-powered phone was announced at IFA 2019 with Android Pie onboard. The Android 10 soak test for this device is currently running in Brazil, where the company has pushed several beta builds so far. The version number of the latest soak test build is QPH30.29-Q3-28-13 and it comes with the July 2020 security patches.

Moto G8 Plus

The Moto G8 Plus (codename “doha”) packs in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The phone runs a close-to-stock version of Android Pie out of the box, while the soak testing of Android 10 is underway in Brazil. Those enrolled their device to Motorola’s Feedback Network (MFN) have received multiple beta builds as of yet, with the latest one featuring July 2020 security patches.

Thanks to Reddit user u/karanpatils for the screenshot!

It is worth noting that the soak test beta builds sometimes contain critical bugs. Therefore, we would recommend you to stay away from sideloading these beta builds on your daily driver. Once all the known issues are being ironed out, Motorola will push the stable update to all users, including the beta testers.

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Samsung rolls out the August 2020 security update to the Galaxy Note 10 series

Just a day ago, Samsung started rolling out an update for the Exynos variants of the Galaxy S10 series in some regions. The update included August 2020 security patches for the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e, along with a new bootloader (v8) for the devices. Even though the update is yet to make its way to most Galaxy S10 users, Samsung has now started rolling out a similar update for the Exynos-powered Galaxy Note 10 devices.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 XDA Forums || Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ XDA Forums

The latest update for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series (software version N975FXXS6CTGA/N975FOXM6CTGA) measures in at 168.86MB and it includes the August 2020 security patches. Much like the OTA update for the Galaxy S10 series, the update also brings a new bootloader (v6) for the Galaxy Note 10 series, which means that end-users will no longer be able to downgrade to older builds once they install this update.

Thanks to XDA Senior Member jaylence for the screenshot

As with all previous updates from Samsung, the latest OTA update is currently rolling out to a few users and it’s expected to reach all Galaxy Note 10 series devices in the coming days. In case you don’t wish to wait for the OTA update, you can use a community developed tool called Frija to download the updated firmware for your device from Samsung’s repository. The required parameters can be found in the screenshot below.

Thanks to XDA Senior Member henklbr for the screenshot

Once you have downloaded the decrypted firmware package created by Frija, you can flash it on your device using Odin. You can follow the instructions given in this post if you aren’t familiar with upgrading your Samsung device’s firmware with Odin. Do note that the aforementioned update is only for the international Exynos 9825-powered Galaxy Note 10 devices and it isn’t compatible with the Snapdragon 855-powered variants of the Galaxy Note 10 series.

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Honor 9A, Honor 9S launched in India with AppGallery, alongside Honor MagicBook 15

Honor is launching two smartphones in the Indian market, focusing on the entry-level segments in one of the most competitive markets in the world. The Honor 9A was released earlier this year in China, and the device made its way to the European markets later. Similarly, the Honor 9S and MagicBook 15 have also made their way to global markets, and are now finally making their way to India.

Honor 9A and Honor 9S

Specification	Honor 9A	Honor 9S
Dimensions & Weight	–	146.5 x 70.94 x 8.35 mm 144g
Display	6.3″ HD+ display	5.45″ HD+ display
SoC	MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762R	MediaTek Helio P22 MT6762R
RAM & Storage	3GB + 64GB Expandable via microSD	2GB + 32GB Expandable via microSD
Battery & Charging	5000mAh battery Reverse wired charging	3020mAh battery
Rear Camera	13MP 5MP 2MP	8MP, f/2.0
Front Camera	8MP	5MP, f/2.2
Other Features	Rear fingerprint sensor MicroUSB port 3.5mm headphone jack	MicroUSB port 3.5mm headphone jack
Android Version	Android 10 with Magic UI 3.1	Android 10 with Magic UI 3.1

The Honor 9A and Honor 9A are decidedly entry-level devices, so people used to flagships may not find them impressive by themselves. However, Honor’s use of the aging MediaTek Helio P22 on both the phones does not incite confidence as the phones will face very stiff competition from phones from Xiaomi, Realme, and Samsung. Further, both of these devices do not come with GMS and Google Play Store, and instead, adopt Huawei’s AppGallery and HMS Core.

Honor 9A

The Honor 9A will be available in Midnight Black and Phantom Blue color variants, starting from August 6, 2020, on Amazon.in. The phone will cost ₹9,999, but users can get it for ₹8,999 in the first sale.

Honor 9S

On the other hand, the Honor 9S comes in Blue and Black color options for ₹6,499, but users can get it for ₹5,999 in the first sale.

Honor MagicBook 15

The Honor MagicBook 15 is Honor’s first foray into the laptop market in India. As the name implies, it features a 15.6″ FHD IPS display with an 87% screen-to-body ratio and TÜV Rheinland certification. The laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor coupled with Radeon Vega 8 graphics. You also get 8GB of DDR4 dual-channel RAM and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD.

The laptop is charged through an included 65W charger that charges the laptop 0-50% in half-hour through the USB Type-C port. Other notable features on the notebook include a two-in-one fingerprint power button, a pop-up webcam hidden underneath the camera button, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and more. And of course, you also get Windows 10 Home edition preloaded.

The Honor MagicBook 15 is priced at ₹42,990 in India and will go on sale on August 6, 2020, in the Mystic Silver color option on Flipkart.com. There is a first-sale discount available, letting users pick it up for ₹39,990.

Buy the Honor MagicBook 15 from Flipkart

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Xiaomi Black Shark 3S with 120Hz refresh rate display, Snapdragon 865 launched in China

Over the last couple of days, several smartphone OEMs have launched their latest and greatest gaming smartphones. ASUS unveiled its ROG Phone 3 and ROG Phone 3 Strix Edition, Lenovo launched the much-awaited Lenovo Legion Phone Duel, and Nubia launched the Red Magic 5S. Adding on to the list of new gaming smartphones, Xiaomi has now unveiled the Black Shark 3S in China. Xiaomi’s latest gaming smartphone is just a minor upgrade over the Black Shark 3 from earlier this year, with a better screen and a few other changes.

Xiaomi Black Shark 3S: Specifications

Specification	Xiaomi Black Shark 3S
Display	6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 270Hz touch sampling 17ms latency
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
RAM & Storage	12GB LPDDR5 + 128GB UFS 3.1 12GB + 256GB 12GB + 512GB
Battery & Charging	4,720mAh 65W fast charging via USB Type-C 18W fast charging via secondary magnetic port
Rear Camera	64MP primary camera 13MP wide-angle camera 5MP depth sensor
Front Camera	20MP
Other Features	3.5mm headphone jack Secondary magnetic charging port USB Type-C
Android Version	Joy UI 12 based on Android 10

For the most part, the Black Shark 3S is the same device as its predecessor. It’s powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, packs in 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It offers the same camera setup, with a 64MP primary camera, a 13MP wide-angle camera, and a 5MP depth sensor on the back, along with a 20MP selfie camera over on the front.

The device packs in the same 4,720mAh battery with support for 65W fast wired charging via USB Type-C, it still features a 3.5mm headphone jack, and it also includes a secondary magnetic charging port, which is capable of charging the device at 18W.

In terms of improvements, the Black Shark 3S packs in a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz high refresh rate display, instead of the 90Hz display found on the previous model, and it runs the company’s latest Android skin — Joy UI 12.

Thanks to the new software, Xiaomi has managed to include several new features on the Black Shark 3S, including screen pressure 4.0 for 3D touch controls, voice control 2.0 to help users adjust settings using voice commands while in-game, and something called somatosensory control that offers 6 built-in somatosensory actions. We aren’t exactly sure what somatosensory control offers, but it seems to refer to touch-sensitive shoulder buttons on the device.

Additionally, Joy UI 12 brings features like Game barrage to control notifications while playing games, Game macro to help users set up macro commands in games, Hunting mode to enhance vegetation and ground contrast in games, and Black Shark Moment 3.0 for game recording and editing.

Joy UI 12 also enables screencasting support on the Black Shark 3S, which will let users cast their device’s screen on a larger display with a delay of just 40ms.

Along with the Black Shark 3S, Xiaomi has also announced a couple of new gaming accessories. These include the Black Shark Gamepad 3, Black Shark Gaming Finger Gloves, and an attachment that adds physical shoulder keys to the device.

Pricing and Availability

The Black Shark 3S will be available in three RAM/storage variants that have been priced as follows:

• 12GB+128GB: CNY 3999 (~$573)
• 12GB+256GB: CNY 4299 (~$616)
• 12GB+512GB: CNY 4799 (~$688)

The device will go on sale in China starting from August 4th via JD.com and other major Chinese etailers. Buyers will be able to choose from two different color options — Skyfall black and Crystal blue.

The new Black Shark Gamepad 3 has been priced a CNY 238 (~$34), while the Black Shark Gaming Finger Gloves and shoulder keys will be available for CNY 29 (~$4) and CNY 79 (~$11), respectively. As of now, we have no information from Xiaomi regarding a global launch.

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Download: OnePlus 6 and 6T receive OxygenOS 10.3.5 with RAM optimizations, OnePlus Buds support, and more

OnePlus recently rolled out new OxygenOS updates to the OnePlus Nord and the OnePlus 8 family that brought in necessary support for their first pair of truly wireless earbuds — the OnePlus Buds. In a similar fashion, the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T have now picked up a new stable build of OxygenOS that not only enables official support for the OnePlus Buds on the device duo, but also brings over the July 2020 security patches.

OnePlus 6 XDA Forums || OnePlus 6T XDA Forums

According to a recent post on the OnePlus Community forums, the OEM has started the incremental rollout of OxygenOS 10.3.5 for the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. Besides the bump in the Android security patch level (SPL), the update also addresses an issue related to frequent crashing of Google Chrome on these phones. Moreover, the new build of OxygenOS includes a fix for the black screen bug while opening the OnePlus Logkit app. For those not familiar with OnePlus Logkit, it is a handy built-in diagnostic app to collect device logs which can be executed by dialing *#800# in stock dialer.

You can find the complete changelog for this update below:

OxygenOS 10.3.5 Changelog for the OnePlus 6 & 6T

• System
  • Optimized RAM management
  • Newly adapted OnePlus Buds, easier to take advantage of wireless connection
  • Fixed the crash issue when browsing on Chrome
  • Fixed the black screen issue when opening logkit
  • Improved system stability and fixed general bugs
  • Updated Android Security Patch to 2020.07
  • Updated GMS package to 2020.05

Thanks to OnePlus Community user MMuralidhar for the screenshot!

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Download OxygenOS 10.3.5 for the OnePlus 6 & 6T

The company is following a staggered rollout model, which means they are rolling out the update to a handful of users first. If no critical issue pops up during the initial phase, the rollout will gradually be expanding to more devices over the coming days. However, you can grab the appropriate update package for your model from the index below and freely sideload it right away.

OxygenOS 10.3.5 for the OnePlus 6

• Incremental OTA from 10.3.4
• Full OTA

OxygenOS 10.3.5 for the OnePlus 6T

• Incremental OTA from 10.3.4
• Full OTA

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Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links!

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[Update: Reno 4 too] OPPO unveils Reno4 Pro global variant with a curved 90Hz Super AMOLED display, 65W charging, and Snapdragon 720G

Update 1 (07/31/2020 @ 03:50 AM ET): In addition to launching the Reno 4 Pro in India, OPPO has also launched the global version of Reno 4 in Thailand. Scroll to the bottom for more information.

OPPO introduced the Reno series last year with a higher mid-range and an affordable flagship — the Reno and the Reno 10X Zoom editions. The first-gen Reno devices were succeeded shortly with the Reno2 series, which was then succeeded by the Reno3 series powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets in December 2019. While the outbreak of COVID-19 slowed down OPPO a bit, the company still went ahead and launched the Reno 4 and the Reno 4 Pro in China back in June 2020. They are now launching the Reno 4 Pro globally but with Snapdragon 720G instead of the Snapdragon 765G, and an extra camera on the back.

The OPPO Reno 4 Pro global variant varies from both — the Chinese Reno 4 and the Reno 4 Pro variants — in terms of dimensions. It is actually lighter than both of the Chinese variants and weighs only 161 grams. This is because of the plastic composite material used in place of the AG glass on the Chinese variants. Despite the difference in materials, the global Reno4 Pro comes with a similar “anti-glare matte finish.” Globally, the Reno 4 Pro will be available in two different colors — Starry Night & Silky Black.

The Reno 4 Pro retains the same 6.5-inch curved Super AMOLED display as on the Chinese version of the device. The display is claimed to cover 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut as well as have a peak brightness of 1,100nits. OPPO boasts of a high contrast ratio of 5000000:1 along with a screen-to-body ratio of about 92%. The display also houses a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. In addition, the display sports a 90Hz refresh rate beside all the other virtues.

When it comes to the cameras, the Reno 4 Pro global features a quad-camera setup. This includes a 48MP primary camera with a Sony IMX586 sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP mono sensor for phase detection. Unlike the Chinese variant, there’s no Laser Autofocus on this variant. On the front, the Reno 4 Pro features a 32MP camera with a Sony IMX616 sensor — the same as the OnePlus Nord and the Realme X3 SuperZoom. Besides supporting OIS on the primary rear camera, the phone also supports EIS for videos recorded using the front camera.

The next major highlight of the phone is the 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging technology that can recharge the entire 4,000mAh battery in about 30 minutes. OPPO provides a 65W charger within the box. The same charging technology is also supported on the OPPO Find X2 Pro and the Realme X50 Pro and the claims of getting the battery fully charged in about 30 minutes have turned out to fairly accurate.

In terms of internals, the OPPO Reno 4 Pro global variant comes with 8GB of RAM along with a Snapdragon 720G chipset. This primarily means that the global variants lack 5G support. The phone also uses a graphite-based cooling system to keep the phone from overheating. There is a 128GB UFS 2.1 storage which can be expanded further using the dedicated microSD card slot.

In terms of software, the smartphone features OPPO’s custom Android skin ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10.

OPPO Watch

OPPO has also announced the OPPO Watch powered by the Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC. The OPPO Watch resembles the Apple Watch aesthetically and comes in 41mm and 46mm dial sizes. The 46mm variant features a 1.91-inch display but the company does not reveal the size of the display on the smaller variant.

The OPPO Watch 46mm and 41mm have 24 hours and 36 hours of battery life. Additionally, the Watch also supports VOOC Flash charging that allows the Watch to get fully charged in 75 minutes.

Price & Availability in India

The OPPO Reno 4 Pro will be available in India starting August 5th. The 8GB/128GB is priced at ₹34,990 (~$470).

The OPPO Watch is priced at ₹14,990 (~$200) for the 41mm variant and the ₹19,990 (~$270) for the 46mm. The Watch will be available starting August 10th.

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Update: OPPO Reno 4 launches in Thailand

OPPO announced the standard Reno 4 in Thailand alongside the Reno 4 Pro in Inda. The standard variant is similarly tweaked for the global market. It comes with the same flat 6.4 AMOLED screen with dual hole-punch cameras. The Laser Autofocus from the Chinese variant has been replaced by a 2MP depth sensor. Similarly, the phone is also powered by a Snapdragon 720G chipset and therefore lacks 5G support.

Furthermore, the regular Reno 4 global variant comes with 30W VOOC fast charging instead of 65W charging on the Chinese variant. The changes in dimensions also align with the global Reno 4 Pro. It is available in Galactic Blue and Space Black colors.

The OPPO Reno 4 is priced at TBH 11,990 (~$385).

Source: OPPO Thailand || Via: GSMArena

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OPPO Reno 4 and Reno 4 Pro Global Specifications

Specifications	OPPO Reno 4 Global	OPPO Reno 4 Pro Global
Dimensions and Weight	160.3 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm 165g	160.2 x 73.2 x 7.7 mm 161g
Display	6.4″ AMOLED Flat display Dual hole-punch	6.5-inch hole-punch FHD+ curved Super AMOLED 1080 x 2400 90Hz, 20:9 aspect ratio
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G Adreno 618	Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G Adreno 618
Storage and RAM	8GB + 128GB	8GB + 128GB
Battery and Charging	4015 mAh 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 fast charging	4000 mAh 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging
Rear Camera	48MP Sony IMX 586 primary sensor 8MP 119° wide-angle sensor 2MP macro camera 2MP depth sensor	48MP Sony IMX 586 primary sensor, f/1.7, OIS 8MP 119° wide-angle sensor, f/2.2 2MP macro camera, f/2.4 2MP mono camera, f/2.4
Front Camera	32MP + 2MP	32MP
Fingerprint Sensor	In-display optical fingerprint	In-display optical fingerprint
Android Version	ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10	ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10

 

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Android’s Nearby Share now works on Windows via Google Chrome

Google’s alternative to Apple’s AirDrop sharing feature, called Nearby Share, started rolling out to some users in a Google Play Services beta late last month. Shortly thereafter, Google started rolling out Nearby Share support to Chrome OS, allowing Chromebook users to start sharing files with nearby devices by enabling a couple of experimental flags. Now, according to a recent report from Techdows, Nearby Share is rolling out to Google Chrome on Windows on the Chrome Dev and Canary channels.

In order to use the new Nearby Sharing feature, you’ll first need to head over to chrome://flags and enable the “Nearby Sharing” flag. Once you’ve enabled the flag, you’ll need to restart the browser and then head to chrome://nearby. The following page will bring up a list of supported devices that you can share files with.

However, there are a couple of requirements that you need to fulfill for the feature to work as intended. First, you will need a Windows PC with Bluetooth support and a supported Pixel smartphone or Chromebook. Secondly, both devices need to be unlocked and close to each other with Bluetooth enabled. And finally, if you’re using a Chromebook to test out the feature, the Chromebook should have Nearby Sharing feature enabled in the Quick Settings.

While I do have a PC that supports Bluetooth, I wasn’t able to see the feature in action because I don’t have access to a supported Google Pixel smartphone or Chromebook. In case you do have devices that meet all the requirements mentioned above, do try out Nearby Share and share your experience in the comments section below. It’s also worth noting that while Google Chrome on the stable channel (v84.0.4147.105) does show the Nearby Sharing flag on my system, it doesn’t open up the chrome://nearby page yet.

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Via: Techdows

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Xiaomi and Qualcomm reportedly collaborating on a new “Game Turbo” GPU tuning feature for the Mi 10 Pro+

Smartphones are getting more and more powerful, and as a result, mobile games are becoming more and more demanding. Games such as Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty are available on mobile, for example, and the highest quality settings in these games can really push the GPU of modern devices. Dedicated gaming smartphones like the ASUS ROG Phone 3 push the envelope with killer specifications that can handle every game you throw at them, and they also usually have special gaming modes that let you fine-tune performance settings. But gaming smartphones aren’t the only devices with top-tier mobile processing power, and they’re also not the only devices to have dedicated gaming modes. Several Xiaomi phones have had a game tuning feature called Game Turbo for some time now, but with the upcoming Mi 10 Pro+, Xiaomi is allegedly collaborating with Qualcomm to introduce a much more powerful iteration of the software.

This news comes to us courtesy of leaker Ice Universe on Twitter. According to the information they published, Xiaomi and Qualcomm’s new “Game Turbo” feature will be included in the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+, which is expected to be an upgraded version of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro but with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 Plus and possibly other enhancements. The new features will allow you to tweak the phone’s Adreno GPU in a way that usually isn’t available on most smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon chips. You can choose between a set of premade profiles if you want to prioritize either performance/battery life or graphics quality. You can also choose a “custom” profile that allows you to manually tweak parameters such as the anti-aliasing, anisotropic filtering, and texture filtering levels. This way you can choose how your games look according to your needs: whether you want the absolute best graphics, a balance between performance and battery life, or the longest possible playtime.

Game Turbo GPU tuning settings allegedly on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+. Credits: Ice Universe on Twitter.

Super Leak：Xiaomi Mi10 Pro+ has a unique feature: Game Turbo, a mode developed by Xiaomi and Qualcomm's GPU team, which is unprecedented. You can use it to adjust GPU parameters and modes, including GPU frequency adjustment and so on. pic.twitter.com/Tu609T7Dy9

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 30, 2020

Frequent Xiaomi tipster kacskrz told us he could not find evidence for this feature in the latest MIUI 12 beta builds, so take this leak with a small grain of salt. However, Ice Universe has a solid track record when it comes to smartphone news from Samsung as well as many Chinese brands, so we’re inclined to believe this is real. We, however, don’t know whether this feature will be rolling out to other devices such as the rest of the Mi 10 lineup once the Mi 10 Pro+ is released. We also don’t know if this feature will be available on other devices with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 or Snapdragon chipset in general. We reached out to Qualcomm to find out the extent of their involvement, whether they can confirm this news, and whether this feature will be made available for other Snapdragon devices, but a spokesperson told us the company doesn’t comment on speculation.

According to the latest rumors, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro+ is launching next month with a 120Hz refresh rate display, a 108MP main camera, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus processor. We don’t have information regarding the exact launch date or availability, but we will likely learn more about this device in the coming weeks. The device will likely be announced in China first given that all the news so far has come from leakers on Weibo, but it’s possible the device will launch globally much like the rest of the Mi 10 series.

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Google teases August 3rd as the Pixel 4a launch date

We know the Google Pixel 4a exists. After all, Google once again couldn’t prevent the phone from leaking in its entirety. However, we expected the phone to launch back in May at Google I/O 2020, which was canceled. Then we expected it to launch in June at the Android 11 Beta Launch Show…which was also canceled. We heard the phone may launch in July, but tomorrow is the last day of the month. Finally, thanks to Google, we have an idea for when the Pixel 4a will be announced.

The company on Thursday introduced a new campaign that is likely teasing the much-anticipated Pixel 4a. If you head to this website, you’ll find a page with placeholder “lorem ipsum” text along with information that’s seemingly been redacted. If you prod around on the website, however, you’ll discover that you can change the color of the blocks. Arrange the colors in the right order (blue, red, yellow, blue, green, red) and the text will be revealed.

“What are you looking at?” “Just What You’ve Been Waiting For,” the text reads, with a large date of August 3 overlaying the checkered image of a generic phone. That means we can expect the device to launch next week, just two days before Galaxy Unpacked.

Google Pixel 4A Forums

The Pixel 4a has been the subject of rumors for months now, with the affordable handset looking to build upon the success of last year’s (now discontinued) Pixel 3a. According to previous leaks, the device will reportedly pack a 5.8-inch AMOLED display, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage. The device is also expected to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 processor and a 3,080mAh battery. While none of these details have been confirmed, they’ve all come from reliable sources. A YouTuber in Cuba put the Pixel 4a through the works already, with a performance review, camera review, and hands-on already done before the official launch.

To add further intrigue to Google’s teaser website, the company also updated its Made by Google accounts on Twitter and Facebook with brand new assets. August 3 is next Monday, so it won’t be long until the Pixel 4a becomes official. The phone will reportedly cost just $349, making it an excellent choice in the mid-range category.

Rumored Google Pixel 4a Specifications:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730
• GPU: Adreno 618
• RAM: 6GB
• Internal storage: 64GB(?), 128GB UFS 2.1
• Display: Single hole-punch 5.81-inch display, 2,340 x 1,080 resolution, 443 dpi, 60Hz refresh rate
• Rear camera: 12.2 MP Sony IMX363, f/1.73 aperture, 1.4µm pixels, OIS, EIS, LED flash, 4K video recording, Autofocus
• Front camera: 8.0 MP Sony IMX355, f/2.0 aperture, 1.14µm pixels, EIS, Fixed focus
• Connectivity: 4G, Dual SIM, GPS, WiFi 5, Bluetooth, GLONASS
• Ports: USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Security: Rear fingerprint sensor
• Battery: 3,080 mAh
• Software: Android 10

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Google Assistant-enabled Smart Displays can now play some games

Google Assistant-enabled Smart Displays are great for watching YouTube videos, checking the weather, viewing photos of family and friends, and most recently, watching Netflix. Starting today, these devices also make for a great party distraction thanks to the addition of games.

Google announced today on its official blog that devices like the Nest Hub and Nest Max can now access games “that take full advantage of the screen, and combine with voice and touch controls for instant, easy fun.” Simply say, “Hey Google, Let’s Play a Game,” and you can browse what’s available.

There are a variety of games to choose from, according to Google, including “Jeopardy!”, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”, “Trivia Crack”, and something called “Guess the Drawing”, which challenges players to guess drawings as quickly as possible.

With families and friends quarantined together, these games are meant to provide a light-hearted distraction from the madness. It’s also just a nice way to add more value to Google Assistant-enabled Smart Displays, which are already great home companions.

Google said a handful of games are available beginning today, with more titles from “top game developers” coming later this year. It’s unclear what other titles are planned, but they’ll likely be party-focused.

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Source: Google

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Google Chrome for Android is adding biometric authentication for payments and touch-to-fill for passwords

Google Chrome rolled out support for Windows Hello biometric authentication for payments earlier this year, allowing users with Windows Hello capable devices to authenticate payments on the browser with their face or fingerprint. Earlier this month, we learned that Google was working to bring a similar feature to Chrome for Android which would allow users to select “Screen lock” as an additional payment confirmation method on their smartphones. Now, Google has officially announced that biometric authentication support is making its way to Chrome for Android, along with a few improvements to the Autofill experience.

Once the feature rolls out to Google Chrome for Android, users will be able to enroll their device and retrieve card details via biometric authentication. While the feature will require users to enter their CVC manually the first time they use their credit card, all subsequent transactions will just require biometric authentication to confirm the credit card details. The biometric authentication feature will be optional and users will be able to enable or disable it from within Chrome settings.

Google further reveals that the browser will make use of the W3C standard WebAuthn to securely enroll you for biometric authentication and ensures that none of your biometric information will ever leave your device. It’s worth noting that the feature isn’t available in the current build of Google Chrome for Android and it should roll out to users in the coming weeks.

Along with biometric authentication support, Google Chrome for Android is also getting a touch-to-fill feature that will present your saved accounts for the current website in a new dialog. The dialog will let you quickly fill in your information without requiring you to scroll to the respective form fields to choose an account. As with the biometric authentication support, the new touch-to-fill feature isn’t available in the current build of Chrome for Android and should roll out in the coming weeks.

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Report: Huawei overtook Samsung in Q2 2020 to become the #1 smartphone vendor

The Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG), which both the Huawei and Honor smartphone brands are part of, has achieved incredible growth in the last few years. The Chinese technology giant is a major player in not only its home market of China but also in certain markets in Europe and other parts of Asia. The company’s growth has led them to become the #1 smartphone vendor in the second quarter of this year, finally overtaking Samsung. That’s according to a new report by technology analyst firm Canalys.

Canalys‘ data shows that Huawei shipped 55.8 million devices in Q2 2020, while Samsung shipped 53.7 million phones in the same period. As a result of the smartphone market contraction brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, Huawei’s smartphone shipments actually dropped 5% year-on-year. However, Samsung’s smartphone shipments dropped a whopping 30% in the same period, which is what has allowed Huawei to overtake Samsung as the global smartphone vendor. In response to this news, Huawei issued a statement saying that their business has “demonstrated exceptional resilience in these difficult times. Amidst a period of unprecedented global economic slowdown and challenges, we’ve continued to grow and further our leadership position by providing innovative products and experience to consumers.”

There’s a big caveat with these smartphone shipment numbers, though. Much of Huawei’s success in Q2 2020 came from increased smartphone shipments in its home market of China where they increased shipments by 8%. In contrast, Samsung has a minuscule presence in China, with only less than 1% of the total market share. Samsung’s core markets including Brazil, India, the U.S., and Europe have been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, and their economic activity contracting as a consequence. In these overseas markets, Huawei’s smartphone shipments actually dropped 27%, a decrease similar to the one Samsung suffered.

Samsung and Huawei’s worldwide smartphone shipments in millions of units tracked from Q1 2015 to Q2 2020. Source: Canalys.

This data is surprising for a big reason. First, U.S. trade sanctions have threatened Huawei’s ability to make new Android smartphones since 2019. With the sanctions in place, Huawei cannot license Google Mobile Services (GMS) for new smartphone models, which means that the company’s latest smartphone models do not ship with the Google Play Store or Google Play Services. Users in Western markets rely on many apps that are either downloaded from the Google Play Store or depend on APIs within Google Play Services. While Huawei offers its own alternatives to the Google Play Store and Google Play Services in the form of the Huawei AppGallery and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) respectively, many developers have not yet adapted their apps for deployment on HMS-only devices. Huawei has continued to sell smartphones with GMS on board thanks to a clever trick: Rebadging older, already-Google-certified models as new releases with slight design changes. However, this tactic of rebadging older models, as well as the company’s ability to create truly new smartphone models, is in jeopardy with the recent news that contract chip-makers have been barred from using U.S.-developed technology to fabricate chips for Huawei’s HiSilicon. The former measure affects the Chinese market very little, though, as the Chinese app ecosystem is wholly decoupled from Google already, while the latter measure is too recent for us to see the effects of in Q2 2020 smartphone shipments.

Then there’s the fact that we’re still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic effects of which have grown substantially during Q2. With the pandemic came a global recession as stay-at-home orders have affected both supply and demand for new smartphones. It’s thus no surprise to learn that the smartphone market contracted significantly this quarter. Huawei’s lead this quarter can be partly attributed to the effects on the market from the pandemic. Although the outbreak started in China, the country has managed to bounce back to relative normality as factories have reopened and new outbreaks are tightly controlled. Smartphone sales in the country are, thus, returning to normal, and since 70% of Huawei’s shipments are in China, they have weathered the storm better than Samsung.

It may be difficult for Huawei to maintain this lead going forward, though. As President Trump’s administration keeps imposing harsher trade sanctions on Huawei, it will become increasingly difficult for the company to compete in the global smartphone market. When the world recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, and thus, smartphone shipments, will bounce back. China may be Huawei’s most important market, but it won’t be enough to keep Huawei at the #1 spot for much longer.

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