How to enable “Hold for Assistant” gesture from Android 12 on older versions

Google’s big (virtual) I/O developer conference was held last week, and at the show, we were given teasers for all the new services and features that the Mountain View company is working on. The most exciting announcement for us was the big reveal of Android 12, and while the first beta release was missing a lot of promised features, it still had a lot for us to pore over. One of the new features that landed in Beta 1 is a gesture called “Hold for Assistant”, but as it turns out, the gesture itself isn’t actually new to Android. In fact, a method to enable it has been available in Android’s codebase as far back as Android 10, and we’re going to show you how to enable it.

You’ll find the new “Hold for Assistant” gesture tucked away under Settings > System > Gestures > Power menu in Android 12 Beta 1. When enabled, the feature lets the user “trigger the Assistant by holding the power button.” Depending on your device, a similar gesture may already exist, but a setting to enable this feature is at least new to Pixel phones.

Left: Press and Hold the Power Button settings in OxygenOS 11 on the OnePlus 9. Right: Power menu settings in Android 12 Beta 1 on the Google Pixel 5.

Using a simple ADB shell command, it’s possible to change the behavior of the long-press power button gesture on Android 10 and Android 11 to mimic Android 12’s “Hold for Assistant” gesture. The reason this is possible is because Google added code to Android that allows the long-press power button function to be tweaked at runtime. This code change was merged to Android in 2019 and is present in Android 10, as I’ve confirmed on my dedicated Google Photos upload machine Google Pixel XL. All you need to do is modify the value of Settings.Global.power_button_long_press and Settings.Global.power_button_very_long_press, two settings values that override the framework-defined values of config_longPressOnPowerBehavior and config_veryLongPressOnPowerBehavior respectively. The possible values for “power_button_long_press” and “power_button_very_long_press” are defined in AOSP under the PhoneWindowManager class. You don’t need to read up on any of these pages, though, as I’ll demonstrate how to change these values and what you can change them to.

Enable Android 12’s “Hold for Assistant” gesture on Android 10-11

This method may not work on all devices running Android 10 or Android 11. While we do know it works on Pixel phones, we don’t know if the changes that OEMs made to Android have blocked this method. Your mileage may vary!

1. Install and set up ADB on your PC or LADB on your phone (Android 11 only). Either way works since all we need is access to Android’s shell interface with sufficient privileges to modify the Settings tables. (That means apps like “Material Terminal” off the Play Store won’t work unless you’ve got root access.)
2. Run the following command in shell to change the behavior of long-pressing the power button:

   adb shell settings put global power_button_long_press X

   where “X” is one of the following:

   • “0” for “do nothing” (ie. long-pressing the power button does nothing)
   • “1” for “global actions” (ie. show the normal power menu)
   • “2” for “shut off” (ie. power down the phone)
   • “3” for “shut off no confirm” (ie. power down the phone immediately)
   • “4” for “go to voice assist” (launches the old Assistant UI with a top-down dialog and “search a song” button)
   • “5” for “assistant” (ie. launches the default Assistant service as defined in “Default Apps” under Settings)
3. Run the following command in shell to change the behavior of very (3.5s) long-pressing the power button:

   adb shell settings put global power_button_very_long_press X

   where “X” is one of the following:

   • “0” for “do nothing” (ie. very long-pressing the power button does nothing)
   • “1” for “global actions” (ie. show the normal power menu)
4. In order to not lock yourself out from accessing the power menu (as is currently the case when you enable “Hold for Assistant” in Android 12 Beta 1, interestingly!), I recommend running the above two commands with the following values:

   adb shell settings put global power_button_long_press 5

   adb shell settings put global power_button_long_press 1

   this will let you launch the Google Assistant (or whatever other Assistant app you’ve set as default) with a long-press of the power button for 0.5s while also letting you access the power menu with a very long-press of the power button for 3.5s.

5. To revert back to the default behavior, simply change “power_button_long_press” to 1 and “power_button_very_long_press” to 0 or run the following commands:

   adb shell settings delete global power_button_long_press

   adb shell settings delete global power_button_long_press

In case you’re wondering, changing these values won’t affect the behavior of very, very, very long-pressing the power button (ie. force reboot the phone) which is a safety feature that can’t be disabled by the user.

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As we recently spotted, the Google App is preparing to add its own support for the “Hold for Assistant” gesture. The feature is currently not available, but the latest version of the Google App has added a “talk to Google with the Power button” screen that informs the user that they’ll be able to long press the power button to access the Google Assistant. Interestingly, this screen also tells the user they’ll be able to power off the phone by telling Assistant to “power off”, a function that currently isn’t supported by Assistant.

We don’t know exactly how the Google App will implement this feature — whether it’s limited to Android 12 or if Google will use the built-in functionality mentioned above to enable it on Android 10 and Android 11. The Google App is currently missing the requisite permissions needed to do the above, and it’s also missing the permission needed for it to trigger a shutdown or reboot on the device. We’ll likely have to wait for newer versions of the Google App to come out, but rather than wait, you can run the ADB commands in this article to get Android 12’s “Hold for Assistant” gesture right now!

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Gboard is rolling out a new design with some pill-shaped keys

Google’s new Material You guidelines are huge and deeply changed, and they not only extend to Android 12 itself, but they’re also going to extend to many other parts of the Google ecosystem as well. They give Material Design a much-needed facelift while also allowing for more customizability and design flexibility. One of the many Google apps that are getting facelifts based on some of these new features is Gboard. Gboard recently got released on Wear OS smartwatches, and we managed to spot a new UI revamp for Gboard that included automatic syncing with your wallpaper’s colors. Now, Gboard is officially rolling out at least some of those design changes.

The changes themselves seem to be pretty minor. Whereas the ?123 key had no outline and the Enter key was housed in a rounded rectangle, this new design introduces pill-shaped keys for both. This new design also extends to the spacebar. Pill shapes are prominent throughout the new stock Android UI, and here, they couldn’t look better. We first spotted this on a ZenFone 8 running Android 11, meaning that this new design is not exclusive to users running the Android 12 beta.

This new design, which uses pill-shaped keys for the ?123 and Enter buttons, is rolling out to users now, and it also doesn’t seem to be Pixel-exclusive. As we mentioned before, we got it on our ZenFone 8, for example, while we don’t have it yet on our Pixel 4 or Pixel 3 XL units. Since our ZenFone 8 isn’t running Android 12, we also can’t tell if the new “device” theme which themes Gboard based on your wallpaper is also rolling out. If you got it on your Android 12 device, let us know down in the comments.

If you want to check this out on your device, there’s not much you can do given that this is currently an A/B rollout. Updating the Gboard app on the Google Play Store might increase your chances, though.

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Samsung’s 128GB Galaxy Tab S6 Lite now on sale for just $330

Samsung released the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite last year as a slightly cheaper alternative to the Galaxy Tab S6, with an LCD screen instead of AMOLED and lower-power hardware. It has been succeeded by the Tab S7 and Tab S7 FE, but it’s still a great tablet for media streaming and light productivity. Now you can pick up the 128GB version for just $329.99 at B&H Photo, a savings of $80 from the original price. That’s also $20 lower than the current cost on Amazon.

This model of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has an Exynos 9611 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, and a 10.4-inch 2000 x 1200 LCD screen. There’s also a microSD card slot for adding more storage, plus an included S Pen stylus for drawing. The tablet supports Wi-Fi 5 (sadly not Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.0, and USB Type-C for charging and data transfer. Samsung also included a feature on the Tab S6 Lite that isn’t available on the Tab S7 or Tab S7 FE: a headphone jack.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (Wi-Fi)

This tablet has a 10.4-inch LCD screen, an included S Pen, 128GB of storage, and 4GB RAM. Not a bad deal at all for $329.99.

Buy at B&H Photo

Samsung confirmed last year that the Tab S6 Lite would get at least three years of Android OS updates, so it should receive Android 12 and 13. Even though it has largely been replaced by the Tab S7 and Tab S7 FE, it’s still a great purchase at this price.

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Google Photos adds a storage management tool ahead of unlimited backup changes

That dreaded day is about to arrive. Unlimited backup storage for Google Photos will be gone soon. Google has offered users free, high-quality backups for all photos and videos for probably as long as we can remember. And that was precisely one of the biggest selling points of the platform. Google even went so far as to offer free backups for full quality pictures rather than just high-quality ones as a perk for Pixel owners back when the first Google Pixel smartphones came out. Now, though, while you can still use Google Photos for free, you’ll be limited to however many pictures can fit in the 15 GB that is offered to all Google accounts for free, and if you need more than that, you’ll have to pay.

Google Photos is, however, adding tools to help free users have an easier time with that 15 GB of storage, or even for those paying for more storage. Google is adding a new storage management tool that can help you keep a check on your Google Photos storage and get rid of pictures that you might not want to keep. The app will analyze your pictures looking for things like blurry photos, screenshots, and large videos that you might not want to keep in the cloud. Then, it will give you the option to review and delete these pictures so that they don’t count against your Google account’s storage.

Google would also like to remind you of some other things they’re doing to make the transition easier. Pictures that you upload to Google Photos from today before June 1st will not count against your Google Storage even after that date and will still enjoy the unlimited benefit: it will only apply to new pictures you upload to the platform. After the changes come into effect, users will also get features like an estimate on how much will you be able to fit in your storage, easy options for getting more storage (the 100 GB tier costs $1.99 a month), and the “High quality” category will be renamed to “Storage saver” to differentiate it from full quality pictures, which already count against your phone’s storage.

If you have a Google Pixel phone, you might have better luck with unlimited backups. Users of all Pixel phones from the Pixel 5 down to the original 2016 Google Pixel will still get unlimited high-quality backups, and if you were promised unlimited, original-quality backups when you bought your phone (a benefit Google doesn’t offer anymore with new Pixel phones), Google will honor that as well. The original Google Pixels will get unlimited, original-quality backups indefinitely, the Pixel 2 lineup got them up until January 16th, 2021 (and they’ll still get unlimited storage saver backups indefinitely), and the Pixel 3 lineup gets them up until January 1st, 2022, after which you’ll only get unlimited storage saver backups going forward.

We’re bummed to see Google end unlimited backups, but these changes do go a long way towards providing greener pastures for free users that plan to keep using Google Photos.

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Microsoft is adding themes to the Windows 10 touch keyboard in Sun Valley

The touch keyboard has been a feature of Windows since Windows 8, but it’s never been terribly good. The problem is that it tends to respond differently to different kinds of apps, and it’s just not as seamless as modern operating systems like iPadOS and Android. Microsoft is set to change that with this fall’s Sun Valley update, which is the visual overhaul that we’re getting with Windows 10X being dead.

Sun Valley is a big visual overhaul of Windows 10. It’s going to focus on making the touch experience better. This is something that Microsoft really hasn’t done since it went way overboard with Windows 8. When Windows 10 shipped in 2015, the company scaled back a lot of its touch efforts in an effort to win back the faith of customers. Unfortunately, it was to the detriment of people who bought products like the Redmond firm’s own Surface Pro.

As spotted by Windows Latest, it seems that Microsoft is also making some big visual changes with the touch keyboard. You’re going to be able to set a background for the keyboard. In fact, if you look in C:\Windows\Web\touchkeyboard, you’ll find four designs, each with light and dark theme options.

That’s not all. You’ll be able to change the colors of the keyboard, change the size, and more, features that were spotted by Albacore. Unfortunately, while you can find the wallpaper images in File Explorer, you won’t find these new features yet.

If any of that sounds familiar, it should. A lot of this is pretty similar to what you might have seen from SwiftKey, which is a Microsoft-owned keyboard application on Android. SwiftKey has seen over 500 million downloads through the Google Play Store alone. With significant success on the Android end of things, it makes sense that Microsoft would bring some continuity between it and the touch keyboard. In fact, many would argue that the company needs to do that more often, such as with its Outlook apps.

The Windows 10 Sun Valley update is set to arrive later on this year. We should see it as part of the Windows 10 version 21H2 feature update that’s going to arrive in the fall. However, if you’re a Windows Insider, you should get to see it a lot sooner. As we know, new versions of Windows 10 are set to RTM in June and December, and then they head to the Beta channel the month after that for servicing until they’re released.

Sun Valley is more or less ready to go. Microsoft is just holding it back because it wants to show it off at a big event in June. Sadly, Windows still isn’t important enough to take the stage at Build, which takes place this week. After that big event in June, the whole visual refresh should be dumped on Windows Insiders, and then it should go to the Beta channel shortly thereafter.

It would seem that the folder of touch keyboard backgrounds discovered by Windows Latest was left there by Microsoft. As mentioned, Sun Valley is ready to go, but it’s being stripped out of Windows 10 preview builds. It would seem that some things remain.

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Here are all new emoji changes in Android 12 Beta 1

Another round of Android betas is here. During Google I/O 2021, Google introduced to the world a closer look at how Android 12, the upcoming version of Android, will look like and function once it’s out. While Android 12 has been out as a developer preview for a while, we hadn’t get seen the full extent of the UI changes that were coming with it. And Android 12 is one of the most outstanding updates in several years. It brings more radical improvements than even Android Pie, released in 2018, did, in terms of both functionality and looks. Material You is the most radical redesign to the original Material Design guidelines since they were first introduced back in 2014 with Android 5.0 Lollipop. There are other changes, however, that have gone unnoticed. One of them is a new emoji revamp.

Google revamps their emojis pretty much yearly, given that new versions of the Unicode standard are released every year with new emojis. However, Android 12 also brings some minor improvements to existing emojis as well to make them look more standard and in line with other emoji designs from other companies (design standardization is important to ensure the same emojis can convey the same message across all platforms regardless of who designed them). Some of these changes are immediately noticeable, while others are more minor and harder to notice at a first glance.

Some of these changes include the Coconut emoji now showing only half of the drupe, the Mount Fuji emoji getting rid of the water and the reflection, the Alarm clock and the Shopping cart getting more realistic designs, the Toolbox emoji being closed instead of open, the Smartphone emoji getting a revamped design, and so on and so forth. In total, there are over 389 emojis that have been revamped in Android 12, and most of these changes are made so that they don’t look out of place compared to emojis in other platforms.

You can check out the full Android 12 emoji design changes in Emojigraph if you want to check them out in closer detail.

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Verizon subscribers can now get free games on iOS and Android

Carriers often offer some pretty cool perks to get you to stick with them. Of course, with the smartphone market in the U.S. depending heavily on carriers and carrier support (something that has both pros and many cons), these carriers need these perks to stand out from the tight competition. Often, these perks come in the form of discounts on either smartphones or cell plans, but Verizon has an interesting one now, at least if you’re a smartphone gamer. Now, Verizon users can enjoy a free Google Play Pass subscription for getting free games (and perks on games) on the Google Play Store.

Verizon announced the new perks today. Google Play Pass launched in 2019 as a subscription model for the Google Play Store. Subscribers are able to play paid games and use paid apps, as well as enjoy other bonuses such as no ads or in-game purchases on some games. For $4.99 a month, it’s a pretty good value, especially considering that over 800 apps and games are currently available through Play Pass and are fully accessible for free once you’re a subscriber. If you’re a Verizon user and you’re on an unlimited plan, you can enjoy Google Play Pass at no added cost to you for 6 months. If you’re on either the “Play More” or “Get More” plans, the benefit is extended from 6 months up to 12 months.

If you’re an Apple user, Verizon has you covered as well—this benefit is also extended to Apple Arcade, Apple’s equivalent to Google Play Pass that also happens to cost $4.99 a month. Just like Google Play Pass, Apple Arcade gets you a catalog of free, ad-free games that are fully accessible to you as long as you’re a subscriber to the service. The same terms for free Google Play Pass also apply for free Apple Arcade.

Sounds good? If you’re a Verizon user on an eligible plan, check out the official blog post for more information.

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Xbox consoles will be getting support for Dolby Vision on Apple TV and Spotify Video Podcasts

Xbox consoles aren’t just amazing for gaming. With an AMD Zen 2-based CPU and Radeon-based RDNA 2 graphics, the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S are ought to be great. But game consoles also often serve as all-purpose media consumption boxes as well, which is why you can use streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Spotify on it. And the experience for those will be stellar as well, with the Xbox Series X being capable of 8K video output and Dolby Atmos sound, as well as passthrough audio, which got added recently. Now, the Xbox lineup is getting a few improvements to its streaming capabilities.

The news was recently published on Xbox’s official blog. First up, Dolby Vision support is coming to Apple TV. Support for streaming content on Apple’s video streaming platform, Apple TV, was recently added to Xbox consoles last year. Now, if you enable Dolby Vision on your Xbox console and you have a compatible display to go along with it, you can enjoy shows like Ted Lasso, Mythic Quest, See, and The Mosquito Coast in Dolby Vision, meaning richer visuals, deeper blacks, and improved sound combined with Dolby Atmos support.

Additionally, Spotify Video Podcasts are now available on these consoles as well through the Spotify app. While Spotify is usually an audio-only experience, support for adding video to podcasts was added last year. Now, users can enjoy video on supported podcasts that have jumped on this feature, like The Misfits, Higher Learning with Van Lathan & Rachel Lindsay, and That was fun? with Addison & Sheri right from the Spotify app. If you’d rather only listen to it, though, you can also do so by playing Spotify in the background.

Microsoft also casually announced that apps like Discovery+, Paramount+, and IMDb TV are now available from the Xbox store, so if you’re a user of any of these three streaming services, you can now check them out on your Xbox as well.

If you have an Xbox, be sure to check all of this out!

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Apple details its WWDC plans with a June 7 keynote for iOS 15 announcement

Apple’s WWDC 2021 event is set to kick off on June 7. Today, the Cupertino firm detailed the highlights in the schedule. Just like every year, there’s going to be a keynote on day one at 10am PT.

And that’s the big one. Apple is going to announce everything that’s going to come with iOS 15 when it ships later this year. That’s not all though. We’ll find out about watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and macOS 12. Indeed, macOS now gets new version numbers every year, something that changes last year for the first time in over a decade.

The main keynote will be streamed on Apple.com, through the Apple Developer app, through the Apple TV app, and on YouTube. Yes, gone are the days that you need an Apple device just to watch.

At 2pm PT on June 7, Apple is going to hold its Platforms State of the Union keynote. This one is only available through the Apple Developer app and website, but it’s still free for everyone. Indeed, the whole show is free for everyone, not just the keynotes.

Apple is promising over 200 sessions from its show, including in-depth sessions and labs. There are benefits for members of the Apple Developer Program, as they can get one-on-one lab consultations. The company also said that its engineers will be available all week in the forums.

One other scheduled event that was noted is the Apple Design Awards. This is where the company highlights “artistry, craftsmanship, and technical achievement” from developers. This might be worth tuning in even if you’re not a developer. If you’re the type to watch a movie because it got an award, you might want to try out an app that got an award. These will also be highlighted in the App Store, of course.

Finally, there are going to be special events, although Apple didn’t go too deep into saying what that means. After all, the whole show is kind of a special event. There are also Pavilions, which are meant to be a way for attendees to explore the show.

But once again, the big event at WWDC 2021 is the keynote, which is June 7 at 10am PT. If you’re excited about what your Apple product will be able to do later this year, you should check it out.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE quietly launches with a Snapdragon 750G

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 series was a breakout hit by Samsung. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7+ both featured high refresh rate displays, flagship processors, among other premium features worthy of Samsung’s flagship series, and they’re one of the best tablets currently available. The Android tablet market has, for a long time, been dull, with iPads being the default choice for anyone looking for a tablet, but Samsung tablets, while far from perfect, delivered high-end specifications and a more compelling experience than other alternatives—not to mention, Samsung DeX support allowed you to use the tablet in desktop mode. Now, Samsung has quietly launched a new model in the series, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE.

The device has been leaking out in several parts of the Internet for a few days as the “Galaxy Tab S7 Lite”, but it seems Samsung took the “FE” moniker to position it around the same device category as phones like the Galaxy S20 FE—which are similar to its flagship counterparts but cut down on some corners for cost savings. Now, the device quietly showed up on Samsung’s German website, without a keynote or announcement of any sort (via: WinFuture). The Galaxy Tab S7 FE comes with a Snapdragon 750G, which is the same CPU that powers devices like the Galaxy A52 5G and the Galaxy A42 5G. It also comes with up to 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, an 8 MP rear camera, 5G connectivity, and Android 11 based on One UI 3.1.

This clearly isn’t Samsung’s best value proposition either, at €649 for the only storage/RAM SKU currently available. But it should still be able to provide a decent experience if you’re not looking for all the fluff that comes with the more premium models. It’s S Pen compatible, it comes with Samsung DeX support, AKG-optimized sound, a 10,090 mAh battery that should be able to last a fairly long amount of time given the specifications, and a premium-feeling metal build.

If this sounds like your kind of tablet, it’s set to become available in Germany and it’s expected to be released in other parts of the world as well.

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Download YouTube Vanced APK [Non-Root]

YouTube Vanced is a popular modded version of YouTube. It adds a number of features to the official YouTube app, including built-in adblocking, background playback, black/dark themes, and much more. This page has installation instructions and download links for non-rooted devices. YouTube Vanced for rooted devices can be found here.

Latest version of YouTube Vanced

The latest version of YouTube Vanced is 16.16.38.

Which Vanced should I choose: Root or Non-root?

In terms of user experience, there is virtually no difference between the root and the non-root builds.

Root variant: The root variant of Vanced seamlessly replaces the official YouTube app. As a result, you can directly open YouTube links or call them using Google assistant through the modded app.

Non-root variant: However, if you have a device that is difficult to root or you don’t want to root your daily driver on the first hand, you should opt for the non-root variant. It can be installed on a rooted device as well. Since the package name of the non-root variant is different from the stock YouTube app, they can co-exist. Note that you need to install an additional companion app (MicroG) to be able to log in with your YouTube/Google account. Moreover, you have to manually set Vanced as the default app for opening YouTube links. However, the non-root variant is simply easier to live with, so our recommendation is to stick with the non-root variant unless you really need to replace the stock YouTube app on your phone.

How to install YouTube Vanced Non-root variant with Vanced Manager

The YouTube Vanced team has created a new, easier method for getting Vanced up and running. Users can now simply install the Vanced Manager app and it will facilitate the process of installing MicroG and YouTube Vanced. Support for Vanced Music, i.e., a similarly modded version of YouTube Music is also there since version 1.3.0. The app makes it easy to choose which theme you want and to install future updates.

Steps:

1. Download the latest Vanced Manager from here on your Android device.
2. Install the app and open it.
3. Make sure to select “nonroot” during the initial configuration wizard.
4. Tap “Install” next to MicroG.
5. Follow the instructions to allow installing from unknown apps.
6. MicroG will download and then you’ll tap “Install” when it’s ready.
7. Next, tap “Install” next to Vanced.
8. Select your preferred theme and tap “NEXT”.
9. Select your preferred language and tap “FINISH”.
10. Vanced will download and you’ll tap “Install” when it’s ready.
11. Success!

Vanced Manager Downloads

Title	Latest Version	Codename	MD5 Checksum
Vanced Manager	2.6.0	Crimson	da6df973ae78789497d90598b020e447

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Manual Installation

While Vanced Manager is always the recommended method for installing and managing the modded YouTube instance, power users may like to have more control over the installation process. In case you want to install YouTube Vanced without using Vanced Manager, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:

How To Install without Vanced Manager

1. Install the latest Vanced MicroG APK if you want to log in with your YouTube/Google account.
2. Find the suitable YouTube Vanced APK components for the target device and download them.
3. Install the set of APKs using Split APKs Installer (SAI). You can download SAI from its GitHub repo, F-Droid, or Google Play Store.

Vanced MicroG Downloads

Title	Latest Version	MD5 Checksum
Vanced MicroG	0.2.18.210500	6b8a808e931a7d47c4c54b12191afb02

Non-Root Versions

Note that you may not find newer versions of YouTube Vanced as separately downloadable Split APKs.

YouTube Vanced Version	APK Components
15.05.54	Architecture Language Theme

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Note for Huawei/Honor users

Starting from v0.2.12-203316, Vanced MicroG has a special “Huawei” button in the login wizard. If you are running a Huawei (and Honor) device that doesn’t come with Google Play Services by default but you sideloaded them later, you can still login to your YouTube/Google account while using Vanced modded apps using that option.

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Qualcomm has a Snapdragon Developer Kit to test Windows apps

Qualcomm announced its Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset today. Specifically, it’s aimed at entry-level laptops, just like its predecessor was. However, the company is introducing the Snapdragon Developer Kit for Windows, which includes the new SoC.

The idea is to give app developers an inexpensive way to test out their native ARM64 apps. While the amount of apps that need to be emulated with Windows on ARM has decreased, there’s still a barrier to entry. Qualcomm is trying to make it as easy as possible.

Powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset, it’s also going to include things like .NET 5.0, Visual Studio Code, FFMPEG, LLVM, Chromium, Wix, and more. With x64 emulation currently preview, developers can test that out as well to see the benefit with a native ARM64 app.

“We have a proud history of creating helpful developer tools in coordination with Microsoft, and the Snapdragon Developer Kit is the latest outcome of that collaboration,” said Miguel Nunes, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This developer kit provides an affordable alternative to other consumer and commercial devices. With the smaller desktop configuration, this kit gives developers more flexibility than notebook options, and at a lower price point. We remain committed to helping developers address requests from customers, while reducing the overall cost of deployment.”

One company that’s committing to Windows on ARM is Zoom. Indeed, in Qualcomm’s announcement, Oded Gal of Zoom Video Communications promised that the firm will release a native ARM64 app this summer.

The Snapdragon Developer Kit is also set to arrive this summer. You’ll be able to buy one through the Microsoft Store. Pricing wasn’t made available, but it should only be a few hundred dollars. Qualcomm also said that more will be shared in the ‘What’s new for Windows desktop application developers’ session at Microsoft’s Build 2021 conference this week.

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Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 for entry-level PCs

Today, Qualcomm is introducing its Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform. It’s the next SoC that’s designed for entry-level Windows 10 laptops and Chromebooks. The first generation of the product saw some moderate success, bringing cellular connectivity to sub-$300 Windows 10 laptops in the educational space. It was also the chipset that allowed Qualcomm to bust into the Chromebook scene.

Just like we saw from last year’s Snapdragon 8cx Gen 2, the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 is a minor refresh. In fact, it’s the same 150MHz clock speed boost.

Qualcomm is boasting features that it’s comparing to x86 systems that cost more than twice as much. Compared to a $349 Snapdragon 7c machine, the San Diego firm is touting things like sustained performance while using the battery, resuming from sleep in less than a second, over nine hours of battery life. fast charging, HD webcams, and a chassis that’s less than 15mm. A lot of this doesn’t exist at that sub-$400 space when it comes to Intel-powered PCs.

“Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 brings the leading innovations of our compute portfolio to the next generation of entry-tier and affordable devices. Laptops powered by this platform will redefine mobile computing for education users, first line workers, and everyday light consumers, enabling
reliable and powerful devices that feature advanced AI, and support for multi-day battery life,” said Miguel Nunes, Senior Director, Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We are excited to bring this next generation upgrade to our entry level platform, for the very best mobile PC experiences.”

These inexpensive devices also come with 4G LTE connectivity. That’s something that can be key for the educational space. These devices can make a real difference in areas where high-speed Wi-Fi isn’t as common. In fact, it could just be useful for a school that has a congested network.

Qualcomm is promising enterprise-grade security, something it promises for all of its modern chips. The Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 supports Microsoft Secured-Core PCs, and Hyper-V is coming later this year for Windows on ARM. Of course, the integrated cellular connectivity is a security feature as well. Alongside Hyper-V, we’re also going to get support for x64 app emulation.

The Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 comes with an eight-core Kryo 468 CPU that’s up to 2.55GHz, an Adreno GPU with support for QHD 60Hz screens, a Spectra 255 ISP with 14-bit image signal processing, and Qualcomm’s fifth-generation AI Engine with the Hexagon 692 DSP. Aside from the clock speed, this should all sound like the original Snapdragon 7c.

You should see devices with the new chipset this summer, including a Snapdragon Developer Kit.

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The best Samsung laptops include the Galaxy Book Pro, Galaxy Book S, and more

While Samsung doesn’t have quite the range of PCs compared to laptops from HP or laptops from Dell, it has a little something for everyone. The firm’s laptops range from extraordinarily thin and light clamshells to some of the finest Chromebooks around. If you’re on a budget, you’re covered there as well. These are the best Samsung laptops.

Navigate this article:

• Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro
• Best thin and light: Samsung Galaxy Book S
• Best convertible: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺
• Best Chromebook: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
• Best Chromebook on a budget: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Best overall: Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

Samsung’s Galaxy Book Pro seems to have it all. It comes with a 13.3- or 15.6-inch FHD display, but one thing that puts it over the competition is that it’s a Super AMOLED screen. That means that you’re going to get the vibrant colors that OLED is known for, but it’s not going to suck down battery life like the 4K OLED panels that everyone else is using.

Naturally, it comes with Intel’s 11th-generation processors, but it also has a bunch of apps that work well with your Samsung phone. Samsung Notes is there, so you can access all of the notes from your Galaxy Note device. There’s also Quick Share, which lets you easily share files between devices.

With the 13-inch model weighing in at 1.04kg, it’s improbably light, and it’s only 11.2mm thin. It starts at $999.

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro

Why can’t laptops be more like phones? They can when they have PC power that’s smartphone thin. Combining the latest Intel 11th Gen Core processor with Windows 10 OS and designed on the Intel Evo platform, Samsung Galaxy Book Pro comes in under two pounds, so it’s the perfect mix of portability and productivity.

$999 at Samsung.com

Best thin and light: Samsung Galaxy Book S

If 1.04kg simply isn’t light enough for you, let’s try 0.95kg. That’s how much the Samsung Galaxy Book S weighs in at. It comes with either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx chipset or an Intel Core i5-L16G7. The former comes with integrated 4G LTE as well, while the Intel model is Wi-Fi only.

This one is 11.6mm thin at its thickest point and 6.1mm at its thinnest, and if you’re looking for something that’s ultra-portable, this is it.

Samsung Galaxy Book S

Do everything super fast with the latest Intel Core i5 Processors with Intel Hybrid Technology to keep you connected, even when Wi-Fi isn’t available. Enjoy the freedom to take your work anywhere with a long-lasting battery and super-light chassis weighing just over 2 pounds.

$949 at Samsung.com

Best convertible: Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺

Samsung’s Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺ has an FHD QLED touchscreen, 11th-gen Intel processors, and pen support. It’s just over half an inch thick, weighing in at 2.62 pounds. For something a bit beefier, the Galaxy Book Flex2 is also available.

Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺

Everything you love in a Galaxy PC, taken further. The ultra-slim Galaxy Book Flex2 ⍺ sits at the top of its class with a super vivid QLED touchscreen, the latest Intel 11th Gen Core processor and a 2-in-1 design that transforms from a laptop to a tablet. With a super-fast-charging battery that lasts 18.5 hours and innovations galore, this Galaxy Book was made to exceed all expectations.

$849 at Samsung.com

Best Chromebook: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook

If you’re looking for a Chromebook but you still want the best, that’s where the Galaxy Chromebook comes in. This thing is wild, from the beautiful 4K AMOLED display down to the metallic Fiesta Red color with silver accents. But don’t worry if Fiesta Red is too flashy for you; it comes in Mercury Gray too. It’s easily one of the best Samsung laptops, no matter which operating system it runs.

It’s also a convertible, it comes with a pen, and it weighs in at just 2.29 pounds. This isn’t low-end hardware either, packing an Intel Core i5-10210U, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook

Beautiful performance, even better looks. With its 4K AMOLED touchscreen, powerful processor, 360° convertible design and built-in pen, the new Chromebook's ready to knock any project out of the park.

$999 at Samsung.com

Best Chromebook on a budget: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 isn’t so much a successor to the Galaxy Chromebook, as much as it’s a more affordable version of it. Instead of a 4K OLED screen, it has an FHD QLED screen, and instead of a Core i5-10210U, it has a Core i3-10110U. It weighs in at 2.72 pounds, and while it comes in the same Fiesta Red and Mercury Gray colors, it doesn’t have the silver accents.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Now work can be just as fun as play, thanks to the world’s first QLED Chromebook. Dive into your favorite past-times, study into the night or present your next big idea with a larger-than-life color display. Plus, with a powerful, fast Intel Core processor and a battery that works around the clock, this sleek, compact Chromebook has everything you need to stay connected and in the moment.

$549 at Samsung.com

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Samsung makes some really slick laptops, and they also have great display technology. Options like the Galaxy Book Pro and the Galaxy Chromebook have Super AMOLED displays, while the Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a QLED screen. The Korean firm has long been a Windows on ARM partner with its Galaxy Book 2 and Galaxy Book S, so it’s no stranger to cellular connectivity. And with its convertibles, you get S Pen support.

The company also tries to make sure that its products all work well together, so if you’ve got a Galaxy phone, you’ll get some perks with a Galaxy Book. Samsung has a tight partnership with Microsoft as well, offering exclusive features like screen mirroring and Android app pinning in Your Phone on Windows 10.

If you want to check out more, take a look at our list of best laptops.

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Here are the best Galaxy S21 clear cases you can get in May 2021: Spigen, Ringke, and more!

The Samsung Galaxy S21 series represents the best spec proposition from Samsung in quite a while. Not only does it continue the line that was established with the Galaxy S20 series and further refines some of its rougher edges, especially with the Galaxy S21 Ultra, we were also treated with things such as a price cut of $200. The Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus, in particular, are noteworthy devices because not only do they take cues from their predecessors and the Note lineup, but they also take some of the things the Galaxy S20 FE did right as well. And one aspect that Samsung also publicized a lot is the colors. You probably want to protect your phone, but what if you want to show off that precious colorway? Then check out our list with the best Galaxy S21 clear cases money can buy.

If you’re looking for something that will give you a bit more protection, you should check out my other, more generalized, round-up of the best Galaxy S21 cases. If, on the other hand, you want something that gives you an extra layer of protection while not adding a lot of bulge and still showing your phone’s back design, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s go!

Samsung Galaxy S21 Official Clear Protective Cover

For extra protection

Samsung's official clear protective cover for the Galaxy S21 is as simple as it gets, but it comes with textured sides for added grip as well for extra protection.

$39.99 at Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S21 Official Clear Standing Cover

Take a (kick)stand

The official Samsung clear standing cover for the Galaxy S21 is just your average phone case with a kickstand: it's clear, provides protection, and allows you to place your phone upright.

$34.99 at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S21 Official Clear Cover

Barebones

Don't need ribbed sides or a kickstand and just want an extra layer of protection? The official clear cover is as simple as it gets for an official accessory while still providing plenty of protection.

$34.99 at Samsung

Spigen Galaxy S21 Clear Case

For cheap quality

Official accessories are too expensive? We got you. This Spigen clear case is as quality as it gets on the cheap: it's durable, provides protection, and of course, it's clear: what else do you need?

View at Amazon

Ringke Galaxy S21 Clear Case

As good as it gets

Ringke is also a decent option for third-party cases and the Ringke clear case for the Galaxy S21 is no exception to this rule, providing good protection on the cheap.

View at Amazon

Coolden Galaxy S21 Clear Case

Cheap protection

This Coolden Galaxy S21 case is as basic as it gets, but that's not a bad thing here, as it provides drop and scratch protection while also showing off your back design.

View at Amazon

ESR Galaxy S21 Clear Case with Kickstand

A cheaper kickstand

This ESR Galaxy S21 case stands out from the pack of other cases as it features a handy kickstand while still keeping the sleek clear design that allows you to show off your back.

View at Amazon

Ferilinso Galaxy S21 Clear Case with TGSP

Extra screen protection

This Ferilinso Galaxy S21 case comes with extra screen protectors. Not only you can keep your phone looking exactly the way you want it to, but you can also protect the display at no extra cost.

View at Amazon

SPIDERCASE Galaxy S21 Clear Case

Thin and light

Want an option that is thin and light, and don't want to add too much bulk to your device? Well then, this SPIDERCASE clear case might just be what you're looking for.

View at Amazon

OtterBox Symmetry Clear Case

Unmatched Quality

Otterbox offers unmatched quality when it comes to cases that can take a beating, and if you want something that can actually take a beating while still showing your phone's design, this is a pricey, yet viable option.

View at Amazon

Coolwee Clear Glitter Case

Glittered Accents

This Coolwee clear case comes with glittered accents, in case you're into that and you want to compliment the looks of your phone rather than drown them out completely. It comes with glittered accents, yet still allows your phone to shine through.

View at Amazon

ANSIWEE Clear Case

Way too colorful

Don't like glitter but want to compliment your phone's looks in another way? This case comes with colored bumpers, leaving the back of your phone completely visible while adding an additional splash of color to your phone's borders as well.

View at Amazon

These are our top picks for the best clear cases for the Galaxy S21. As you can see, we took the 3 official options Samsung gives us, and we also threw in several other third-party options that will be able to do the trick just fine. If you can afford to pay a premium for official accessories, then you really can’t go wrong with Samsung’s official cases, as they’re OEM-blessed and no one knows Samsung phones better than the company that makes them. If you can’t, though, then we recommend you to go with either Spigen or Ringke‘s options as they’re reputable case makers with a lot of experience. Other, more unknown case makers also have their advantages, such as ESR, which has a kickstand, and Ferilinso, which adds two screen protectors as a bonus with your case.

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Download 4K Videos on Android with this HUAWEI AppGallery App

If you download a lot of videos from YouTube, you might be finding yourself using third-party websites or low-quality apps. Since YouTube does not have any sort of native way to save videos, users have to find alternative methods to do this. 4K Video Downloader is the best way to download a video in the highest quality, for free. Not only do they provide a one-tap solution to download any video, but you can choose the quality and format you’d like to download. This gives more choices and control to the user, to make sure your download is compatible with your device, or project.

While 4K Video Downloader has the best desktop software for downloading videos, they are also available on Android. You can get 4K Video Downloader through the HUAWEI AppGallery, or through a direct APK install from their website.

Download 4K Video Downloader from HUAWEI AppGallery

If you have trouble downloading the app from the HUAWEI AppGallery, you can grab the APK from the official website here.

The Android version of this powerful app includes all of the same download settings as the desktop version. You can choose between many different formats and quality settings. You can even download videos in 8K quality.

The app is very simple to use. You can copy the URL of the video you want to download, then open the app and tap the “Paste link” button. Your video will immediately start downloading in your preferred settings.

Choose the format and quality of your video download

4K Video Downloader is used by casual and professional users everywhere. With the Android app, you can take this powerful software with you everywhere you go. Whether you need to download a podcast, song, video element, or anything that you can find on YouTube, 4K Video downloader is the best way to do it.

We thank 4K Video Downloader for sponsoring this post. 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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