вторник, 28 апреля 2020 г.

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These Xiaomi Smartphones Will Get The MIUI 12 Update
Apr 28th 2020, 08:44, by Kristijan Lucic

Xiaomi Mi 9 Review AM AH 11

Xiaomi has announced a list of its smartphones that will get the MIUI 12 update. In case you missed it, the company announced MIUI 12 yesterday, a new version of its Android OS / skin.

That being said, the company now shared a timeline for those updates. Do note that the company shared a timeline for its smartphones in China. This timeline does not apply to global variants.

It does, however, confirm which phones will get the update. If a global variant of the listed smartphones exists, it will get MIUI 12 sooner or later. The company did list quite a few devices here.

These Xiaomi smartphones will get the MIUI 12 update

The first batch of devices will start getting stable MIUI 12 in June. Beta builds are already rolling out, they've started rolling out yesterday. Having said that, the first Xiaomi smartphones to get the MIUI 12 will be the Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and Mi 10 Lite / Young Edition.

Those three devices will get the update in June, along with the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G, Mi 9 Transparent Edition, and Mi 9. The Redmi K30 Pro Zoom, K30 Pro, K30 5G, and K30 will also get it. The same goes for the Redmi K20 Pro Premium, K20 Pro, and K20.

We do not know when will second and third batch get the update, but we do know what devices are included in them. In the second batch, you'll find the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3, Mi MIX 2s, Mi CC9 Pro, Mi CC9, Mi CC9 Meitu Edition, and Mi 9SE. It also includes the Xiaomi Mi 8 UD, Mi 8 Transparent Edition, Mi 8, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Note 7 Pro, and Note 7.

The third batch includes quite a few devices as well. It includes the Xiaomi Mi CC9E, Mi Note 3, Mi Max 3, Mi 8 Lite, Mi 8 SE, Mi MIX 2, and Mi 6X. The Redmi Note 8 is also included, as is the Redmi 8, 8A, 7, 7A, 6 Pro, 6, 6A, 5, and S2.

As you can see, there are a ton of devices listed here. MIUI 12 is coming to quite a few Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones, and flagship devices will get it first, of course.

Global announcement is coming soon

Xiaomi is expected to announce a global variant of MIUI 12 in the near future. It will mostly be the same as the Chinese one, but without some of its China-specific features.

Xiaomi did boost its Android OS / skin this time around, as MIUI 12 is more refined than its predecessor. It comes with completely revamped navigation gestures, new privacy features, smart dark mode, interesting live wallpapers, revamped animations, and so on.

The company's navigation gestures are now much more similar to default Android 10 navigation gestures. The company also improved its multi-window mode, and a picture-in-picture feature is here.

If you'd like to check out what's new in MIUI 12, feel free to check out our article from yesterday by clicking here.

The post These Xiaomi Smartphones Will Get The MIUI 12 Update appeared first on Android Headlines.

Qualcomm Announces Quick Charge 3+ With USB Type-A Support
Apr 28th 2020, 08:01, by Sumit Adhikari

Qualcomm quick charge 3

Qualcomm has just announced a new version of its fast-charging technology for smartphones. The new Quick Charge 3+ is aimed to bring a faster wired charging solution to smartphones at a lower price point.

Quick Charge 3+ will be available first on Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 and Snapdragon 765G chipsets. Other Snapdragon platforms will get support for the new technology later this year.

Xiaomi's Mi 10 Lite Zoom is the first smartphone to support Quick Charge 3+. The handset, which is powered by the Snapdragon 765G, was launched in China earlier this week.

This device also supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4+, making it the world's first smartphone to support both charging technologies. Qualcomm isn't telling which other devices would be employing Quick Charge 3+.

Quick Charge is Qualcomm's proprietary fast-charging solution for smartphones running its Snapdragon SoCs. The company licenses multiple versions of the technology to phone makers. It claims Quick Charge to be the biggest fast-charging ecosystem in the world with 1000+ accessories and devices worldwide.

Quick Charge 4+, its most advanced fast-charging technology yet, was announced back in 2017. It has now announced Quick Charge 3+ with similar benefits as Quick Charge 4+ but at a lower price. The new technology brings significant improvements over Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0, the fast-charging technology that many lower-cost smartphones currently employ.

Key features of Qualcomm Quick Charge 3+

Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3+ promises a 35 percent faster charging compared to previous generations. The new technology is capable of charging a smartphone from 0 to 50-percent in just 15 minutes.

That's identical to the speed offered by Quick Charge 4+. Qualcomm also promises the new technology to keep the device 9°C cooler than the previous generation offerings.

While Quick Charge 4+ requires a USB-C connector, Quick Charge 3+ is compatible with the inexpensive USB-A connector as well. It supports standard USB Type-A to Type-C cables as well as accessories that support scalable voltage with 20mV steps from Quick Charge 4.

The new fast charging technology is backward compatible with previous-generation Quick Charge devices. So accessories based on the new technology can offer similar charging speed to older devices as well. Quick Charge 3+ also offers integrated cable power identification.

Support for new PMICs such as SMB1395 and SMB1396 means Quick Charge 3+ eliminates the need for external components such as over-voltage protection chip, a sense resistor, and others. Quick Charge 3+ also supports both wired and wireless inputs.

Qualcomm's idea behind Quick Charge 3+ is clearly to offer low-cost fast-chargings solutions. USB Type-A support means OEMs could offer lower-cost peripherals and chargers with their phones, making for a less expensive package.

The post Qualcomm Announces Quick Charge 3+ With USB Type-A Support appeared first on Android Headlines.

LG Velvet Smartphone Officially Revealed Ahead Of Time
Apr 28th 2020, 07:16, by Kristijan Lucic

LG Velvet official image 1

LG has officially revealed its Velvet smartphone ahead of time. The device was supposed to be officially unveiled on May 7, and it will be, globally. LG, however, decided to jump the gun, and unveil the phone on its official Korean website.

So, just to be clear, the official launch will still happen on May 7, even though we have all the details now, pretty much. The LG Velvet looks exactly as LG's teasers and leaks suggested.

This phone features LG's new design language, which actually looks quite familiar. Many smartphones out there featured a similar design. What's new here, is the 'raindrop' camera setup on the back. It's also worth noting that LG calls this design the '3D arc design'.

The LG Velvet features a 'raindrop' camera design

LG ushered in this new camera design to line up camera sensors from the largest to the smallest (top to bottom). This handset is made out of metal and glass, and it features a curved display, and a curved back.

The phone is actually symmetrical, and it includes a dewdrop notch on the front. That notch is extremely small, while the phone's bezels are almost non-existent. Its top and bottom bezels are the same thickness, as are its side bezels.

This phone includes three cameras on the back, and a single camera on the front. Its power / lock key is included on the right, while the volume up and down buttons are on the left.

The device features a 6.8-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) OLED display with 20.5:9 aspect ratio. The phone is fueled by the Snapdragon 765G 64-bit octa-core processor, and it supports 5G.

The LG Velvet includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. You can expand this storage via a microSD card, up to 1TB. Android 10 comes pre-installed on the device, while the phone offers two SIM card slots.

A 4,300mAh battery is included in the phone, and it supports fast charging. It also supports 10W wireless charging, by the way. Bluetooth 5.1 is also included, as is an NFC chip, and a Type-C USB port.

The phone does have a 3.5mm headphone jack

The phone offers an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also a part of the package. Speaking of which, the LG Velvet has Artificial Intelligence Sound that automatically analyzes the content being played, and sets the optical audio quality.

The phone does come with support for LG Dual Screen and Stylus Pen accessories, both of which are sold separately, by the way.

A 48-megapixel main camera is backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide one. A 5-megapixel depth sensor is also included on the back. A single 16-megapixel camera sits on the front side of the device.

The phone's camera setup takes advantage of quad pixel binning technology for low light shots. The phone is also able to individually separate background noise and voice when shooting video. It also supports ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) recording feature.

The device comes in Aurora Gray, Aurora Green, Aurora White, and Illusion Sunset color variants. The phone will get its global announcement on May 7, and become available on May 15 in Korea. Global availability will probably be announced on May 7.

LG Velvet official image 5

The post LG Velvet Smartphone Officially Revealed Ahead Of Time appeared first on Android Headlines.

Add Some Modern Class To Your Pixel Buds With These Leather Cases
Apr 28th 2020, 00:07, by Justin Diaz

Pixel Buds leather cases 1

Google officially put its new Pixel Buds up for sale starting today and you can already buy accessories to compliment them, like these leather cases from Nomad.

The cases are slim and sleek and fit over the top of the dual section case. One slips over the top lid and the other neatly fits nice and snug on the bottom housing where all the charging tech is.

Not only do these cases help keep your Pixel Buds charging case better protected, they also add a touch of modern class to the product. You can pick them up from the Google Store or from Nomad too. Meaning you can keep everything in one order and just grab them from Google if you were planning on snagging the earbuds.

The Pixel Buds leather cases come in three color options

The Pixel Buds charging case comes in White no matter which color of the buds you pick. But you can still add some color to the whole affair with the Pixel Buds leather cases from Nomad. Which come in three different color options.

You can grab the Brown case pictured above from Nomad. The cases also come in Black and Blue. The Brown is specific to Nomad, where both it and the Google Store will sell the Black. The Google Store will be the exclusive seller of the Blue case.

Both of those other colors can be seen below. Each case is also made with Horween leather so they should keep pretty well for a long period of time. As long as you take care of your tech.

The cases retail for $35

The Pixel Buds aren't the most expensive true wireless earbuds option out there. They aren't the least expensive either. At $179 you're paying a pretty penny to get Google's special earbuds features.

That price bumps up to $214 when you factor in the Nomad cases which retail for $35 ($34.95 exactly).

Still, it's a small investment to be made if you want to protect the charging case. Not to mention it makes the case more stylish. You can still charge the Pixel Buds case wirelessly with the Nomad case over the top, too. So you don't have to give up that very useful feature.

If you wanted to grab one of these rugged cases for yourself, they're live on both Nomad's site and on the Google Store right now and none of the colors appear to be out of stock at the time of writing.

Pixel Buds leather cases 3

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Huawei's Future Secured As China Preps $170 Billion For 5G
Apr 27th 2020, 23:31, by Dominik Bosnjak

Huawei Logo Red AH Resized 2020

Huawei's future is largely secured as China prepares to spend in excess of $170 billion on 5G rollouts. Even as the United States government continues targeting its businesses the world over, the Shenzen-based conglomerate appears largely unconcerned about its prospects. That's in no small part due to the enormous size of its domestic market.

Much like it somewhat insulated its consumer electronics performance, China's the reason Huawei's telecom ambitions are still massive. Huawei remains the world's largest manufacturer of wireless hardware and is hence the front runner for many 5G deployment projects in the Far Eastern country. According to new reports, China will make the leap toward the next generation of telecommunications primarily with Huawei technologies.

Not much hope for Huawei's 5G prospects in the West

None of that is to say the future of Huawei's overseas wireless business is anything but grim. Australia and Japan both followed Washington's lead in outright banning the firm's next-gen infrastructure. The Western intelligence community largely agrees Huawei poses a security risk to China's geopolitical rivals. Of course, the company has been dismissing those claims as baseless for over two decades now. According to Huawei, Beijing has no more power over its dealings than e.g. the U.S. government has over Google. Then again, that's hardly a comforting thought, even assuming it's true.

The Huawei-U.S. standoff has been years in the making until its 2019 culmination. Following countless clashes with American companies and numerous administrations, the Chinese behemoth's supply chain endured a heavy hit last year. Between Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets and Google Mobile Services for Android, Huawei's still extremely reliant on U.S. tech.

In the aftermath of the 2019 sanctions, the company doubled down on its proprietary Android apps and smartphone silicon. The move managed to counter the immediate effects of Washington's sanctions – to put it mildly, that is. More specifically, the sanction-burdened Huawei actually managed to grow its business across the board in 2019.

Whether Huawei's truly unstoppable remains to be seen, but the conglomerate certainly won't be going away anytime soon. China's understandably not to keen to let one of its largest corporations fold under U.S. pressure. That's without even accounting for Huawei's overseas businesses that have been doing great in recent times.

For example, its consumer electronics unit continues to make waves across Europe, especially after strengthening its partnerships with Deutsche Telekom and many other wireless carriers on the Old Continent.

Huawei's 5G prospects in Europe are also not too bad, given the circumstances. E.g. the company's likely to play a role in 5G rollouts across the UK.

The post Huawei's Future Secured As China Preps $170 Billion For 5G appeared first on Android Headlines.

Pokémon Masters Update Lets Players Partner Up With Charmander
Apr 27th 2020, 22:43, by Justin Diaz

Pokémon Masters Charmander

Pokémon Masters players are in for a bit of a nostalgic treat with the latest update, as you can now partner up with Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur after hatching them from eggs.

If you ever spent time with Pokémon Red or Pokémon Blue, you'll probably remember the struggle of having to choose your first starter Pokémon.

Once you acquire one of these eggs and hatch it in the game, you can set it as your main Pokémon that gets used in battles. If you want to swap out Pikachu that is.

Pokémon Masters players retrieve Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur from Professor Bellis

Just like with the original two Pokémon games on Game Boy, you can only choose one of the three Kanto region partner Pokémon.

You will need to find and head to Professor Bellis to pick up your new egg. After which you can choose if you want that egg to hatch into Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur.

To hatch the eggs you will need to complete battles though it's not mentioned exactly how many that would be. Players will just have to dive into the content and check it out for themselves it seems if they want to form a new sync pair with one of these classic Pokémon.

Future game updates will include additional hatchable eggs

Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur are just the start for eggs that you can hatch in Pokémon Masters.

DeNA Co. Ltd. and The Pokémon Company have stated that they will be working to add more hatchable Pokémon in future updates. Neither company makes any sort of announcement as to what Pokémon players can expect though.

Players can be assured that they won't be Pokémon that you can already acquire in-game. All future hatchable eggs will also be for Pokémon that can be used as a sync pair with the game's main character.

Today's new update also includes a new in-game event called Pure Hearts and Rainbow Wings. It features Silver and Ho-Oh, and begins Wednesday, April 29 at 11PM Pacific Standard Time.

The event will continue until May 13 at 10:59 Pacific Standard Time which gives players about two weeks to complete all the missions associated with it.

The beginning of the event will also be the beginning of the opportunity to pick up a new sync pair. Wallace and Millotic will be obtainable through the game's Spotlight Scout for the entire duration of the event time frame.

The post Pokémon Masters Update Lets Players Partner Up With Charmander appeared first on Android Headlines.

Facebook Messenger Rooms Integration Appears In WhatsApp Code
Apr 27th 2020, 22:07, by Daniel Golightly

Whatsapp AH NS 04

Facebook Messenger Rooms integration for WhatsApp may arrive sooner than later following feature's announcement via the company's official Twitter feed. That's based on recent reports indicating that the feature is rolling out to some users via the beta variant of the WhatsApp app. More directly, it's rolling out unfinished deep within the APK for the app.

That means it isn't currently available in a user-facing form but that the code to enable it is in place under the hood. That comes complete with a toggle for turning the feature on.

Once live, WhatsApp integration with Facebook Rooms will bring multiple benefits. Not least of all, users would be able to take part in a group WhatsApp or Messenger call across both apps. That's also without, the company has said, the need to download or install either. Instead, anybody who has the link to the group call will be able to participate at any time.

Messenger-based Rooms allows up to 50 users at a time. And Facebook is also expanding the number of users who can participate in a WhatsApp call in an upward direction. That number isn't quite going to hit 50 just yet, but WhatsApp video calls will support up to eight WhatsApp to start.

Other Facebook-owned apps are getting integration too

Now, integration with Facebook's Messenger is intended as part of the company's competitive efforts against Zoom and others. Group video calling has expanded rapidly along with ongoing health concerns worldwide. The apps have been utilized for everything from student-teacher interactions to work. In light of stay-at-home and sheltering orders against large gatherings, they have also seen adoption for virtual family gatherings.

Facebook Messenger serves as a near-ubiquitous platform for getting people together already. The company has an enormous user base to tap into.  But it isn't the only platform in use and it isn't the only popular platform. So integrating with WhatsApp in a platform-agnostic manner will make the feature more appealing to more users. That will also help it compete better with Zoom since no downloads will be needed.

Moreover, WhatsApp isn't the only Facebook-owned platform that Rooms is coming too. The company also indicated that it will be launching similar integration across Instagram and bringing Rooms to its Portal product line. That should help spread its use among users who aren't on Facebook but are on other Facebook-owned services. But, potentially, it could extend Rooms well beyond Facebook users of all stripes.

When is this coming, exactly?

The appearance of Rooms integration in WhatsApp suggests that finalization of that will likely occur sooner than expected. In fact, the current expectation is that it may arrive over the course of the next several weeks. Most likely, some regions will see the feature before others but that hasn't been specified either.

Once the feature does appear, if the UI remains unchanged between now and finalization, the integration will show up under the video-calling menu in WhatsApp. That's under the new call options in the WhatsApp Calls tab, based on the images shared by WABetaInfo.

WA MESSENGERROOMS NUX ANDROID 816x1536 1

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Google Will Hold Its First Stadia Connect Of 2020 On April 28
Apr 27th 2020, 21:21, by Justin Diaz

Stadia Controller

Google is having its first Stadia Connect event of 2020 tomorrow, April 28. Where it will talk about… who knows what.

So far Google hasn't given any hints as to what the contents of the live stream event will be. But one only needs to look at past Stadia Connect events to glean all possible scenarios.

The event will begin roughly at 9AM Pacific Standard Time. So it'll be noon on the East coast and much later in other parts of the world where Stadia is available. Here's what you may be able to expect at the company's first Connect event of the year.

The first Stadia Connect of 2020 could lean heavily on games

If there's one thing that Stadia is still missing out on its games. Not just any kind of games, but big, AAA, blockbuster titles that draw people into a platform.

Stadia has a handful of these already. A very small handful, with the most recent being DOOM Eternal. But, it still needs a whole lot more big games like this one to get some prospective newcomers excited.

Even with the Pro membership being free right now, some people may find it a waste of time to even consider testing it without many big games on board.

For example, many players in the Stadia subreddit have been pleading to add games like Call of Duty. Activision hasn't made any statements about partnering with Stadia to bring its games over. Nor has Google. But Call of Duty is a popular franchise that players on Stadia have been wanting.

A big announcement during the event tomorrow that includes a new AAA publisher partnership like this one could be just what Stadia needs.

It's also likely that if any games make it into tomorrow's event, that they'll just be other indie titles. Or titles coming from existing publisher partners.

Announcements of upcoming features are possible

While Google has been good about ramping up Stadia's updates to include more games and some of the missed features, there are still more missing.

The first Stadia Connect of 2020 may just be the launch pad for announcing some of these features. Things like Family Share, and wireless support for the Stadia Controller on Chrome and on Phones are just a couple of examples.

These are things which many have been hoping for since the launch of Stadia last year. So here's to hoping that Google has to something to share about them tomorrow.

 

The post Google Will Hold Its First Stadia Connect Of 2020 On April 28 appeared first on Android Headlines.

Zynga & Amazon Prime Team Up To Give Players Free Rewards
Apr 27th 2020, 21:00, by Justin Diaz

Zynga Amazon Prime Collaboration

The next batch of Twitch Prime rewards are in, and it's a series of little gifts that players will receive in Zynga games thanks to a new Amazon Prime collaboration.

Starting today, users who play games like Words With Friends 2 will be able to claim a batch of continuous rewards.

You don't need to have a Twitch Prime account setup to get these freebies. You do however need to be an Amazon Prime member to get the content. That is more or less the only requirement that players have to meet.

Zynga/Amazon Prime Gifts can be found within Words With Friends 2

Typically with Twitch Prime or Amazon Prime loot for games, you claim the loot from the Twitch Prime page.

That isn't the case with this particular set of gifts. Instead, players will be able to find the rewards inside of the game. Once you boot the game up you will notice a series of banners that are linked to the promotion.

By tapping on those you'll be asked to sign into your Amazon Prime account. Then claim your loot, and then it'll show up shortly after. This is how the loot drops work in Black Desert Mobile.

Not all of the rewards were mentioned. Some of them however will include things like mystery boxes and exclusive tile styles. There is likely to be more than just those two items though. So players should keep a look out even after these initial rewards have been claimed.

More loot for more Zynga games in the future

Words With Friends 2 isn't the only Zynga game that the company is collaborating with Amazon Prime on. It says more games will be getting their own unique rewards in the future.

At the time being Zynga hasn't announced any other games specifically. Just that there would be additional games added into the promotion.

It doesn't mention anything about times either. So how far in the future is unclear but it likely won't be too far off from now. Loot drops from Amazon Prime and Twitch Prime tend to be every month.

That being said, if Words With Friends 2 players are getting rewards from today, players of other Zynga games should expect gifts in the next few weeks.

What those will be all depends on which games they are. But they will all be in-game items to be used with the gameplay. Also recently released was a new collection of Twitch Prime loot for Destiny 2 players, which can be claimed for Stadia, Steam, PS4, and Xbox One.

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LG Velvet Appears In New Image From The Wireless Power Consortium
Apr 27th 2020, 19:18, by Daniel Golightly

LG Velvet from EvanBlass Wireless Power Consortium

The upcoming LG Velvet has now been spotted in a new render pulled down from its appearance at the Wireless Power Consortium. That's according to a recent Twitter post from prominent leak provider Evan Blass. The image as well as where it appeared raises several questions. Not least among those centers on design.

That's because the newly leaked image differs drastically from expectations set by prior leaks. Or at least it does in terms of the front panel. The rear panel has already been discussed directly by LG and is effectively already known. But the front glass for LG Velvet was reportedly prior to the Wireless Power Consortium as touting a punch-hole style selfie camera. That was expected to be embedded in a near-bezel-free screen.

Contrary to that, the new image shows a screen with diminished side bezels and more prominent bezels at the top and bottom. The top edge shows an elongated earpiece speaker grille, possibly hinting that may be used for more than just calls. LG may instead use that speaker in conjunction with others to offer a more stereo audio experience.

Just below that is a waterdrop notch containing what is a single 16-megapixel selfie snapper based on previous leaks.

The differentiation in bezels here also suggests the aspect ratio of the LG Velvet screen will be somewhat less tall than expected based on previous reports.

This appearance of LG Velvet means more than just a new image and screen differences

One other takeaway from the leak centers not on the screen or its cutouts but on internal specs and features. The Wireless Power Consortium is a multinational technology consortium focused on one goal. Wireless power delivery. More directly, that seems to be an indication that the LG Velvet will — at the very least — support wireless Qi chargers.

Now, specs and feature leaks have already suggested that the LG Velvet would be driven by a 4,300mAh battery. That's been stated as packing in both fast wired charging and wireless charger support. This appearance all but confirms that, if the leak is accurate. While the other leaked specs may or may not be accurate, that also means they could perhaps bear a bit more weight.

Replacing the LG G-Series from May 7

Among the rumors surrounding this device, leading from the Velvet branding and the LM-G900N model designation, is that it will replace the LG G-series. That means it's not going to be a slouch, although LG is reportedly bringing the series back down into the mid-range.

Reports indicate that a Snapdragon 765 SoC will be used for starters, rather than a Snapdragon 865 flagship chipset. That'll be backed by 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable up to 2TB. The build surrounding that, under the expected 6.7-inch display panel, will not only be IP68 protected against water and dust. Reports also claim it will meet US Defense-certified military-grade standards.

Other flagship remnants will remain too, such as an in-display fingerprint scanner and AI-driven audio from stereo speakers. The dual-screen case accessory from prior G-series handsets is expected to be kept too.

For cameras, LG will reportedly pack in a 48-megapixel camera with OIS support, driven by Samsung's ISOCELL Bright GM2 sensor. That'll be backed by an 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 5-megapixel depth sensor.

Setting aside those details, the expectation is that this LG device will be available in Aurora Green, Aurora Gray, Aurora White, and Illusion Sunset color options. It'll also pack in a 3.5-mm headphone jack.

The LG Velvet is expected to be announced on May 7.

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Grab The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active For $120
Apr 27th 2020, 19:12, by Alexander Maxham

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active Gray 3

Amazon has the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active on sale right now for just $119.99. That is a savings of about $80 from the regular price. Making this a really good price, for those that have been looking to grab the Watch Active.

The Galaxy Watch Active is a really good smartwatch to pick up for a number of reasons. Firstly is the battery life. Since Samsung is using its own Tizen operating system, it is able to control things a bit more and be more efficient compared to Google's Wear OS. So you're going to be able to get four to five days on a single charge. That is pretty impressive to be honest.

On top of that, you can track all of your activity. This includes walking, running, workouts and much more. The Galaxy Watch Active is able to track your calories burned as well, and your heart rate. So you can push yourself to take things up a notch in your workouts. And because the Galaxy Watch Active is waterproof, it can also track your swimming. Which is really great for those that are swimmers.

Finally, the Galaxy Watch Active is also a smartwatch. So you can get your notifications on your wrist. Now there's not a whole lot of app support available for the Galaxy Watch Active, unfortunately. But that could also be a good thing. As most things aren't great on a small circular display. But the basics are there, like reading and archiving emails, as well as reading and replying to messages and so forth.

This is the WiFi version of the Galaxy Watch Active, so you do need to keep it connected to your smartphone.

You can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active from Amazon by clicking here. It is available at other retailers, but others have it for $199 instead of this discounted price.

Galaxy Watch Active - Amazon - $119

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Australia COVIDSafe Secures 1 Million Downloads in 5 Hours
Apr 27th 2020, 18:36, by Deidre Richardson

AH Coronavirus 1

The current pandemic continues its spread across the globe, and the new Australia COVIDSafe app will aid Australian researchers in how the virus continues thriving in their country.

Australia COVIDSafe secures 1 million downloads

Called "COVIDSafe," the app traces encounters for smartphone users. A person who stays in the presence of other smartphone users for more than 15 minutes (who also have the app on their phones) will find nearby users info in their phone data. The contact info remains on a user's phone for 21 days and disappears afterward. Notice, though, that a person has to stay in another's presence for over 15 minutes. What this means is that, if you quickly pass by a person in the store for a few seconds, the passerby's information won't show up in user data.

Australia's new contact-tracing app downloads are at 1 million times in just 5 hours after launch. This is interesting, in light of the fact that contact-tracing apps come with privacy suspicions for users.

What explains the popularity of the contact-tracing app?

What are some reasons for the app's popularity? First, there's the urgency to discover how the disease spreads. Next, there's the desire of citizens to know if they're at risk of contracting the disease. If someone is at risk, he or she can quarantine and take proper steps to protect themselves and others from further exposure.

Apart from these, the privacy issue isn't a problem. Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt says that phone users nor others can access the on-phone information. User data has encryption and goes to a national server. All contact-tracing information is preserved within Australian borders and won't be allowed to travel elsewhere. Finally, no location or geographic data is shareable. Australian developers, decoding the app, find it to be as secure as Hunt says.

There is one privacy problem, however. It pertains to the fact that the Australian servers (the ones that will preserve the contact-tracing data) are controlled by Amazon, the famous online American retailer. Some fear that the US Federal Government could access Australia's contact-tracing data without Australia's consent. Some also think that these Australian servers fall under US law.

What is contact tracing?

Contact tracing refers to the ability to track those with whom a person comes in contact. The feature is being implemented into smartphones by way of a phone's Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS technologies. Australia joins others worldwide in creating an app for its citizens. Outside of Australia, there are tech companies Google and Apple introducing contact-tracing implementations for both Android and iOS. Google and Apple are creating a cross-platform solution for users so that information from both Google's Android and Apple's iOS can be recorded when users come into contact with one another.

All contact-tracing apps arriving on the global scene draw their inspiration from China. Early on, China released its own Close Contact Detector app. The feature allows Chinese citizens to input their name and governmental ID to see if they've come into contact with an infected user. There's no word on just how China detects a person's exposure or risk to the disease. Singapore's TraceTogether app tracks contacts users encounter within a 2-meter distance.

There is currently no vaccine available to treat COVID-19. The best enemy global citizens have at this time is to maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet apart) and proper hygiene (washing one's hands for at least 20 seconds).

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Gain Better PC Pairing And Ambient Sound
Apr 27th 2020, 18:23, by Justin Diaz

Samsung Galaxy Buds

Samsung is updating its older Galaxy Buds true wireless earbuds with ambient sound and other features.

One of those new additions is the ability to better pair the Galaxy Buds with Windows 10 PCs. While it was possible to do this before, it now happens more seamlessly and quickly thanks to the Microsoft Swift Pair feature.

Support for this feature is part of an update to the earbuds that bring them in line with the more robust and capable Galaxy Buds+ that Samsung launched earlier this year.

This also makes the earbuds even more of a value. You can pick them up for around $100 now. Compared to the roughly $150 that it would cost for the newer Galaxy Buds+ model.

Galaxy Buds now have ambient sound

Ambient sound was a feature that Samsung introduced with the original pair of true wireless earbuds that released. The Gear IconX.

For whatever reason Samsung didn't initially add it to the Galaxy Buds when they launched back in 2019. But now with today's update, the Galaxy Buds have ambient sound too.

This makes it more possible to hear exactly what you want to hear and less of what you don't. This feature update also adds the capability for the ambient sound to be experienced with a single earbud. So if you're only wearing one you don't have to miss out on using it.

New, single-tap Spotify integration

Music might be the one thing that keeps you going during your daily 9-5. Or whatever your own work hours are.

With the Galaxy Buds and the new single-tap Spotify integration, you can get to your music even faster than before. All you have to do is tap and hold on the touch sensor button and Spotify will begin playing music from the last spot you were on when listening.

You can also tap and hold again to have Spotify recommend specialized playlists for you. Just in case your mood has changed and you want to listen to some other type of music.

This is a feature which also doesn't work automatically. Users looking to test it out will need to set it up first. To do so you open the companion app and then head to settings. Enter the Touch Pad menu and enable the gesture so you can get to Spotify more quickly.

These new features should be live for anyone that has the latest update on the earbuds. If you haven't done so in a while, check to see if an update is available.

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YouTube Exec Discusses Hardline Ban Approach To Coronavirus Content
Apr 27th 2020, 18:04, by Daniel Golightly

YouTube AH NS 09

YouTube policy changes are now resulting in the removal and ban of any coronavirus content that includes misinformation, the company's CEO indicates. That's according to a recent interview given by YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. Specifically, the policy relates to any information or claims that are "medically unsubstantiated."

That falls in line with a shift that's intended to raise information from "authoritative sources" such as the World Health Organization. Ms. Wojcicki indicates that content has seen a rise in demand of around 75-percent from the start of the year. But, in tandem with that, there's also been an increase in misinformation.

YouTube's response is now to simply remove videos containing misinformation while previous policies have seen most related content demonetized. Examples provided by the executive include videos claiming that people can be cured by taking vitamin C or turmeric. Neither has been proven to act as a cure according to the wider health community.

Another example of prominent videos that are being removed, she continues, are those related to 5G as an underlying cause. The policy changes, like the rise of those conspiracy theories, have had to be rapid. As a result, for the time being, Videos that contain claims in direct opposition to information provided by WHO will be removed as well.

YouTube hopes that by removing conspiracy theories and misinformation, it can help keep users better informed.

YouTube isn't just pulling down or enforcing a ban on coronavirus-related content

Simultaneously, YouTube is working to meet the demand for content that's legitimately helpful. Ms. Wojcicki indicates that viewers have been actively seeking out authoritative information on the topic since the outbreak began. That all kicked off with searches to discover exactly what coronavirus and COVID-19 are.

To begin with, the executive says that the company never expected to host quite so many hand-washing videos. So YouTube is working to surface those types of videos more readily, as well as oft-requested content about life under quarantine, in general. But it's also working to promote videos that users are actively seeking out in terms of legitimate information.

Ultimately, the need to meet demand has been met by a number of campaigns. Among the most prominent of those is a recent spin-off of YouTube's popular #withme campaign.

The company is tapping both celebrities and experts for that campaign. Content will focus on everything from taxes and financial management to more straightforward entertainment. It's also putting a focal effort on education for teens at the high school level. Those will, as the associated Celebrity Substitutes branding implies, center on celebrities teaching everything from biology to code.

Other content being surfaced is broader. YouTube has seen rapid increases in videos related to home DIY projects, exercise under quarantine, and how somebody can give themselves a haircut, for example.

These policies will likely be tweaked but shouldn't be expected to go anywhere

Now, YouTube has been enforcing and enacting similar anti-misinformation campaigns throughout much of its existence. That's a fact pointed out by its chief executive during the interview.

As discussed by the CEO, YouTube is noting an acceleration of 'digital lives' in everything from working to learning from home. These are concepts that, according to Ms. Wojcicki, previously occupied a realm more akin to science fiction than reality. But the ongoing health issues are driving the trend forward. That's going to feed into a need for measures against misinformation.

So it doesn't seem as though the Google-owned company will be considering backing away from the new policies anytime soon.

 

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Upgrade To The Motorola One Action For Only $249
Apr 27th 2020, 17:04, by Alexander Maxham

motorola one action deal AH

Amazon has a really great deal on the Motorola One Action right now, allowing you to pick one up for just $249. That's a savings of around $100 from the regular price.

Both the white and black colors of the Motorola One Action are on sale at this price too.

The Motorola One Action is an Android One device from the company, which means that it is getting fast updates from Google for the latest versions of Android. And that also means that it is running on stock Android. Which is a really good thing to have.

What gives the Motorola One Action its name though, is the fact that Motorola built an action camera into this phone. Looking to make it a cross between a smartphone and a GoPro. It has a fast focusing camera, allowing you to quickly get the shot, without it being out of focus. And it also has 128GB of storage on-board for plenty of space for all of those shots.

Motorola outfitted the One Action with a large 6.3-inch Cinematic display. That means it has a 21:9 aspect ratio display, making for a really cool looking phone that is also really tall. But it means that you can watch movies and such in their intended format. And you can also shoot cinematic footage on the Motorola One Action.

It is powered by an octa-core 1.8GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, with a 3000mAh capacity battery inside. That battery should last all day with the Motorola One Action. And there is also the TurboCharger included in the box too, so you can quickly recharge the Motorola One Action, if needed.

The Motorola One Action is also fully unlocked and compatible with all four US carriers. That includes AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.

You can pick up the Motorola One Action from this Amazon deal by clicking here. 

Motorola One Action - Amazon - $249

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You Can Buy The Google Pixel Buds Starting Today
Apr 27th 2020, 16:28, by Alexander Maxham

Google Pixel Buds Hands On 4

Google announced the Pixel Buds late last year, and said they'll be available to buy in the Spring. Well, today, they are officially available for purchase.

The Google Pixel Buds are the company's first venture into truly wireless earbuds. And they are pretty impressive.

These Pixel Buds are going to be priced at $179, making them rather pricey for a pair of truly wireless earbuds. And currently they are only available in Clearly White. But they will be available in Almost Black, Quite Mint, and Oh So Orange in the coming months.

The Pixel Buds aren't new, but this is the first truly wireless headphones from Google

Google made a version of Pixel Buds before that were just wireless. Now, we have a pair of truly wireless headphones available. That will work great with your Pixel smartphone, or really any device, since they do use Bluetooth for connectivity.

The Pixel Buds are really good for staying in place, and are very comfortable to wear for hours on end. Battery life is somewhat decent here, at five hours of continuous playback. Though it's not the best, for a pair of truly wireless earbuds. With the included carrying case, you can get about 19 hours total, though.

Now perhaps the reason why the battery life isn't that great, is because of the ability to use Google Assistant, and provide real-time translation in over 40 languages.

Google also uses the Adaptive Sound tool in the Pixel Buds, that allow the earbuds to automatically adjust the volume when you enter a noisy area.

And of course, the noise isolation is pretty good here. This is not active noise cancellation at all, but still pretty good.

The app for the Google Pixel Buds also went live in the Play Store earlier today, and it is pre-installed on all Pixel phones.

Pixel Buds are available starting today

You can buy the Pixel Buds starting today from the Google Store and Best Buy. They will be coming to other retailers in the coming weeks and months. Including the carriers, as well as Walmart and Target.

The Pixel Buds are one of the more expensive pairs of truly wireless earbuds out there. But if they do deliver on all the promises that Google made last year when they were announced, then they are likely going to be worth the price. Though we're going to have to wait and see if they do.

You can purchase your Pixel Buds from Best Buy today by clicking here. Stock is limited right now, due to obvious reasons, so it may not ship right away.

Google Pixel Buds - Best Buy - $179

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PaMu Unique Review – Top-Notch True Wireless Audio In A Custom Shell
Apr 27th 2020, 15:41, by Daniel Golightly

00 PaMu Unique Review Title Editors Choice

Padmate's PaMu Unique headphones, even on sale for just $89.00 at the time of this review, have a lot to live up to. With a suggested retail cost of $199, these are not the most inexpensive true wireless earbuds available. In fact, that puts these earbuds in the same price bracket as some of the heaviest hitting competition around. A pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds+, for example, costs just $149.99 while Apple AirPods Pro costs just $249.

However, this isn't Padmate's first attempt either and the company has brought some reasonably big guns to the fight. Not only do these earbuds offer available wireless charging or USB-C charging. Padmate packed one of Qualcomm's best audio chipsets into the slim, lightweight build. It backed that up with a long-lasting battery and an IPX6 water-resistance rating.

That's alongside two mics for active advanced noise cancelation. And the company also includes extra sizes of earbud tips for a more personalized choice of fit. But one other big selling point here, aside from incredible sounding audio and great comfort, is in the aesthetic. PaMu Unique comes customizable right out of the box with no extra purchases needed. That's thanks to its unique magnetic scroll-like design and leather scroll covers.

Taken together, all of these attributes make PaMu Unique a force to be contended with in the true wireless audio market. This gadget not only lives up to its full retail cost. It's an absolute steal while it's still on sale.

Personalization is the name of the game for PaMu Unique

02 PaMu Unique Review Customization
PaMu Unique delivers no fewer than three wrap-around case designs with every purchase

Now, we'll cover the most important aspects of these true wireless headphones, the audio and battery life, momentarily. But one of the biggest features that sets these apart isn't the sound but the level of customization available. That's because PaMu Unique's scroll-like covers are replaceable. And the company doesn't just ship one cover with each purchase.

PaMu Unique ships with no fewer than three leather covers and there are two packages available. Both ship with a honeycomb grid-like black cover. That design is interesting because some of the honeycomb-shaped pattern segments are matte toned while others are glossy. The resulting effect, as shown in review images here for PaMu Unique, is actually kind of stunning.

But, its the lacquer painting-stylings of the other covers that really stands out. Padmate says that its artists combined that art style with modern graffiti and abstract art. And each PaMu Unique comes with two of those too.

Unlike the somewhat simplistic, but no-less high-quality drawstring carry-bag included in the package, those covers are replaceable at a moment's notice. That lets wearers express themselves differently and without losing style from day-to-day or even minute-to-minute if they feel so inclined.

One other way that users can express their individuality is through the purchase of another accessory. For just $20, Padmate also sells a disk-shaped PaMu Unique USB-C wireless charging adapter. That plugs into the end, acting as an extension of the round-shaped carry case rather than adding too much bulk. It charges wirelessly, based on a quick assessment, just about as quick as wired charging.

Last but not least, in every PaMu Unique package, Padmate includes no fewer than six earbud tips. Most companies, by comparison, ship their earbuds with just three — small, medium, and large. Here, buyers get not just those but also "+" sizes. That means that those who have a need for an in-between size or a slightly larger size aren't left out of a great listening experience.

The hardware feels and looks great too

01 PaMu Unique Review Hardware
PaMu Unique with honeycomb carbon leather wrap cover installed looks sleek

Looking past the charging case, the design used for PaMu Unique isn't entirely, well, unique. On initial unboxing, they closely resemble just about any AirPod-style true wireless earbud on the market. That is, until closer inspection. In hand, these earbuds have subtle curves. And the end piece has a specially-engineered shape and curve to ensure they fit comfortably in the ear.

Each individual bud weighs just 7.1 grams. So, thanks in part to the shape and as long as the correct size silicone tip is installed, these buds almost feel like they aren't being worn at all. In fact, for the first week or so, I kept thinking they were going to fall out. The level of comfort here, summarily, took some getting used to throughout my review of the PaMu Unique.

That's not to say that they ever did fall out. They didn't, regardless of whether I was running, riding a bike, or even jumping on a trampoline.

The one complaint I had for the earbuds themselves is that the silicone sheath around the back continually gathers dust and that's almost impossible to wipe away. The buds are rated at an IPX6 for water resistance, so it should be possible to wipe that away with a damp cloth. I just resigned myself to the fact that they'd never look quite as clean as I'd like.

Now, the earbuds each slot into their own individually marked slot in a plastic carrier and charging case. They do so easily and via magnets but are also easy to take back out. That hasn't always been the case with earbuds I've review but it is for PaMu Unique.

The cylindrical case has a satisfying sheen to it but isn't so shiny as to look gaudy. It's a good look, even without the magnet-lined leather cover in place. At the ends of that is a shiny, ridged circle element, surrounded by a deep groove. The left-hand side also houses a snug-fitting USB-C port, while the groove of the right-hand side is embedded with white battery-indicator LEDs.

The included leather covers slot over that via magnets and carefully placed indentations. Those covers are also well-designed. They not only feel like they're high-quality, but they also look great. The cylindrical shape fits neatly into just about any pocket, without the cover sliding off.

Better still, the leather covers are resistant to cold and hot shock, high temperatures or humidity, and wear. So they should last for quite some time.

Connection quality and special features are top-notch

03 PaMu Unique Review Connections
Connections are as solid and PaMu includes features and functionality to spare

As noted above, my average distance from the audio source during this review of the PaMu Unique was around 5-feet. And that maxed out at around 20-feet. But Bluetooth 5.0 is in use here so the maximum range should ultimately be much further without losing distortion or unwanted artifacts. I certainly didn't notice any of those during my review.

Better still, these earbuds connect and reconnect automatically quickly. They stay connected even when they're charging. That means that listening via just one earbud is entirely feasible. The one drawback to that is this device's touch interaction layout, with each individual bud packing individual functionality.

Interactions here rely on taps or tap-and-hold actions on either bud, just below the silicone jacket. Those touchpads are intuitive to use, as are the interactions. And the buds are easy enough to securely fit or remove using just the extended arm of the bud. So there's little chance of accidental interactions.

Touching once on either pad works to pause or play media. That also works to answer a call if one is incoming, while a double-tap rejects the call. To turn volume up requires a long-press on the right-hand bud. A similar action on the left-hand bud turns the volume down.

Double tapping on the right-hand bud while a call isn't incoming, conversely, skips to the next song. Repeating that action on the left-hand bud launches the source device's AI assistant.

That works with Siri if you happen to be on an Apple device but this was tested on a smartphone that had Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Bixby installed. The phone gave me the choice among those, the first time I performed the action. That choice can be set to just once or to be remembered with each double-tap.

In every case, the taps were equally responsive, lending to a smooth overall experience.

Battery life is acceptable but charging times are great

04 PaMu Unique Review Battery
PaMu charging is great whether wired or via the available slim-fitting USB-C wireless charging adapter

My listening with this device fell in between 60- and 75-percent volume, at an average distance of 5-feet from the source. That distance ranged from between two-feet with the phone in my pocket and 20-feet. With a single charge of the earbuds themselves, I saw just a minute or two short of nine-and-a-half hours of listening.

It bears pointing out that, as with all Bluetooth accessories, distance, range, volume, and media type are going to have an impact on battery life. And the battery life here isn't at all bad, only made better by the fact that just five minutes of charging should net users an additional hour of playback. But charging to full from the carry case was great too.

Padmate advertises a charging time of an hour-and-a-half for the earbuds. It actually took just a few minutes under that in my review of PaMu Unique. So that performs as advertised. The same held true for the carry case, which held just over two charges for a total of 22-hours and 30-minutes of playback. The case charged in just under two hours, with drained earbuds installed.

So where's the big caveat for the battery life here? That arrived with the built-in low battery warning, played as a voice in the right earbud. Not only was that sounded much more frequently than normal, playing every few moments. It also arrived just a song or three before the device died. So I didn't have much warning at all and the annoying voice felt almost constant once it started.

The sole consolation there is that the low battery warning was, once fully, charged, hours away. I wasn't forced to listen to it for more than a dozen songs — as is the case with some competing true wireless headphones.

But how's the audio quality with PaMu Unique?

05 PaMu Unique Review Audio
Audio quality from the PaMu Unique can only be described as 'on-point'

Of course, the most important aspect of any listening device or true wireless headphones is the quality of audio delivered. Associated features such as dual-mic noise-canceling technology in playback and calls help. But, as revealed over the course of my PaMu Unique review, these could almost have done without the extra bells and whistles.

Now, that technology definitely has its advantage. Padmate placed it over the top of 16ohm 6mm drivers with SBC, AptX, and AAC audio support driven by Qualcomm's high-transmission, low-power QCC3020 chip. And it serves to cancel out as much as 90-percent of background noise. That works relatively well even at volumes lower than 50-percent.

But that other underlying technology does a spectacular job here, as would be expected of any earbuds with a near-$200 retail price tag. Not only is the signal transmission solid and audio clear — on both sides — when used for calls. PaMu Unique offers clear coverage of the audible frequency spectrum at a balanced volume.

The result of that is clear pounding bass that sounds precisely as its meant to. That bass doesn't drown out the mids or highs either. Across all genres of music that this was tested with, the audio came through clearly. They revealed hidden details in more complex layered tracks and keeping less complicated songs stable.

What the term audio quality means can vary drastically from person to person. But there was never any unintended distortion throughout my listening. Consistency held true across multiple listens as well.  Summarily, these earbuds are going to offer what could subjectively be referred to as a peak of audio clarity and balance. They'll more than compete with sets that are much more expensive.

Is PaMu Unique worth the price tag?

06 PaMu Unique Review Final
These earbuds are, all things considered, well worth the money

Obviously, spending $200 or more on a pair of headphones is an investment. It's also easy to write off true wireless and other Bluetooth-driven listening devices. Or at least it is for most users that would readily identify as 'audiophiles'. But these headphones come as close as any other pair I've tested and they do so at a fraction of some of those devices' cost.

The primary caveats for these headphones aren't numerous. Battery life could always be better and the low-battery warning, short-lived though it is, is somewhat more obnoxious here. Dust gathers on the materials used like magnets — likely because, at least in part, there are audio components underneath. But the water resistance also means that these can be kept clean with some effort too.

On charging and longevity, PaMu Unique falls into the "just about average" end of the spectrum.

On audio quality, however, my review showed that PaMu Unique is definitively in the upper class. Bass tones hit hard without degrading the quality of other notes and even at high volumes, there's no end to the above-average balance.

At just shy of $200, these earbuds are easily worth the money. But whether or not the features make that true is also almost irrelevant while they're still on sale for under $90. For those shopping in that price range, PaMu Unique is undoubtedly among the best options available. And it's easily recommended as a top suggestion.

The post PaMu Unique Review – Top-Notch True Wireless Audio In A Custom Shell appeared first on Android Headlines.

T-Mobile Will Offer Up To $350 Off The OnePlus 8 5G
Apr 27th 2020, 15:07, by Alexander Maxham

OnePlus 8 review AM AH 8

T-Mobile has announced the pricing for the OnePlus 8 5G, as well as some deals that will allow you to get half off of the brand new smartphone.

You'll be able to save up to $350 off of the new OnePlus 8 5G, by trading in your current device. Now, you can also save $350 on the OnePlus 8 5G by adding a new line of service to your account. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any BOGO deals going on for the OnePlus 8 5G, at least not yet.

Trade-in for the OnePlus 8 5G

You can get up to $350 off, by trading in your device. Which means that not all trade-ins are valued equally.

To get the full $350 off of your new OnePlus smartphone. You are going to need to trade-in a newer device. That includes the iPhone XR or X, Samsung Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, S10 5G, Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Note 10+, Galaxy Note 9, Google Pixel 4, 4 XL, OnePlus 7T,  or 7 Pro.

Now if you have an older device, you can likely still get $200 off of the OnePlus 8 5G, which is still not too shabby.

This is actually not a bad deal if you were looking to upgrade to a OnePlus 8 5G now, since you can get it for just $349 now. That is a pretty insane deal for a 5G device. And since you likely won't get much more from selling your old phone yourself, this is a good move.

T-Mobile pricing for the OnePlus 8 5G

While those T-Mobile deals for the OnePlus 8 5G seem pretty good. Now it's time to talk about the price.

T-Mobile generally does not raise the price on its phones. But when it comes to OnePlus, it generally does not sell the base-model. But it is this time around.

T-Mobile will be selling the 8GB/128GB model of the OnePlus 8 5G, for $699. And it'll be available in Onyx Black or Interstellar Glow. Now the Interstellar Glow is going to be a carrier exclusive – meaning that Verizon won't be selling it. Basically, what that means is that OnePlus did not make the OnePlus 8 5G UW model in Interstellar Glow, but Verizon does get its own exclusive color.

Remember that the OnePlus 8 5G is going to support T-Mobile's nationwide 5G network on the 600MHz band. It also supports Sprint's network. Which is important as the two networks are working on merging into one right now. Since the merger is now complete between the two companies.

The post T-Mobile Will Offer Up To $350 Off The OnePlus 8 5G appeared first on Android Headlines.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Comes To Disney+ On Star Wars Day
Apr 27th 2020, 14:22, by Alexander Maxham

Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

Disney+ has confirmed that Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker  is going to be available on its streaming platform on May 4.

That's perfect timing, considering that is also Star Wars day. And Disney+ has a lot of content lined up for the big day, which is next Monday.

This also brings the final Star Wars film to Disney+, allowing you to do a marathon watching all of the films on Star Wars Day. Just as any Star Wars fan should do.

Disney's plans for Star Wars Day

Disney+ has some pretty big plans for Star Wars Day. Other than The Rise Of Skywalker making its debut on the platform, it is also launching a new documentary series. This is titled Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian. This is a documentary about the making of The Mandalorian. Which is a Disney+ original series that debuted with the service back in November.

The Mandalorian is responsible for Baby Yoda. So it's bound to be a hit.

Disney+ is also planning to update the artwork for its Star Wars movies and shows with original concept paintings from a number of different artists, including Ralph McQuarrie and Doug Chiang.

So to say that Disney+ is going big this year for Star Wars Day, might be an understatement.

How you can watch Star Wars Day content

Since Disney now 100% owns Star Wars, thanks to its deal with Fox, it has all of the content available on its streaming service. Disney+ is available for $6.99 per month, after a seven-day free trial. And you can sign up for it right here.

Disney+ has all of the Star Wars movies that have been released, including a couple original series – with more in the works, but they have been delayed for obvious reasons. Additionally, Disney+ has Marvel, which includes the majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies – really only missing SpiderMan because Sony owns it. As well as the Disney classics. From That's So Raven, to The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hanna Montana and much more. There's a ton of content available on Disney+.

And since there is a lot of kid-friendly content on Disney+, it makes it better for those of us that are stuck at home right now. As there's something to keep our kids busy during this quarantine. Which is a good thing.

You can sign up for Disney+ right here, and grab that 7-day free trial while you're at it.

Sign Up For Disney+

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Here's Where You Can Buy The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 LTE
Apr 27th 2020, 13:25, by Alexander Maxham

galaxy tab a 8 4

The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 LTE is now available to buy from all four carriers, with four different prices. Here's where you can buy Samsung's latest mid-range tablet.

This tablet from Samsung is a nicely sized tablet, coming in at 8.4-inches, and it also offers up LTE. Allowing you to take things on the go, and not worry about needing to hotspot your smartphone to the tablet for Internet.

Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 with an 8.4-inch 1920×1200 display, that gives you a 16:10 aspect ratio. It is running on Android Pie, but it should get updated to Android 10 rather soon. There is no DeX support here, that is being saved for the more expensive Galaxy Tab S6.

Internally, you'll find the Exynos 7904 processor, with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There is also a 5,000mAh capacity battery that should get you around 10 hours of battery life. And it does use USB-C for charging. As far as cameras go, there is a 8-megapixel camera on the back, and a 5-megapixel camera on the front for those all-important Zoom calls.

Finally, there is a headphone jack here. And there's dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Making for a really good sounding tablet.

Buying from Samsung

You can buy the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 from Samsung for any of the US carriers. And the prices are the same as at the carriers. So the major benefit here is if you have Samsung Pay points you want to use for your purchase. As they likely won't work with the carrier's billing systems.

Samsung has the Verizon variant for $279. T-Mobile is running for $264, with Sprint at $259 and AT&T surprisingly being the cheapest at $239. That is not something you see everyday, normally AT&T is the most expensive, by a mile.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 - Samsung.com

Buying from the carriers

You also have the option to buy the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 from the carriers. That includes AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon. They are all the same prices, so the AT&T model is $239, Sprint is $259, T-Mobile is $264 and the Verizon model is $279. There really isn't any advantage to buying it from the carriers versus Samsung. Unless you are on Verizon and have raked up some of those device dollars from Verizon UP to spend on a new device. Then it's worth it to buy it from Verizon.

You can purchase the Galaxy Tab A 8.4 from all four of the carriers by hitting the links down below.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 - AT&T

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 - Sprint

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 - T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 - Verizon Wireless

The post Here's Where You Can Buy The Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.4 LTE appeared first on Android Headlines.

NexFan Ultra Is A Crowd-Funded Portable UV Air Cooler
Apr 27th 2020, 12:51, by Kristijan Lucic

NexFan Ultra image 9

We've spotted a rather interesting product on Indiegogo. It is called NexFan Ultra, and it's a crowd-funded portable UV air cooler. The company claims this is "world's first UV air cooler with powerful cooling and high energy efficiency".

This campaign has been launched by NexFan, a US-based company. The campaign not only reached its goal, but managed to crush it, hard. The company aimed for $2,000 in order to start production, and it managed to collect $370,967 at the time of writing this article.

The campaign is still not over, there are four days left. This project found 4,265 backers, and if you calculate all that, the company raised 18,548-percent more than it originally aimed for.

It seems like a lot of people want a good, portable air cooler. Summer is right at our doorstep, and such a product could prove to be very useful for a lot of people.

The NexFan Ultra is already in production

The company has already pushed this product into production, as the goal has been met. The next step is shipping, of course. The company will send out the first batch of products on May 7, it seems.

The second and third batches will be shipped on May 11 and 15, respectively. You can find more information about that on the source link, in case you backed the project or still want to back it.

The company claims that the NexFan Ultra is a 4-in-1 device, it's not just an air cooler. The company says that it provides multiple forms of superior air quality. That includes refrigeration, humidification, air purification, and aromatherapy.

This device is ultra-portable, and it comes with a USB charger. This tiny device can cool the air around you by 5℃/9℉ in an instant, claims the company. That will, of course, depend on the environment you're in as well, of course.

This product utilizes an atomizer, while regular swamp coolers only use a moisture pad, says the company. The atomizer provides more spray volume through water depressurization in order to achieve a rapid temperature drop.

This product can deliver a refreshing breeze up to 5 ft. It has a three-dimensional corrugated network of wet curtains and a germ-free filter on the inside.

You can even power it via power bank, if you want

You can even hook the NexFan Ultra to a power bank, if you want. The company says that a 10,000mAh power bank can provide 12-hours of usage out of this product. The NexFan Ultra measures 144 x 161 x 159mm, in case you were wondering. It's not even that loud at 68 dB.

The company is still offering some interesting perks to those of you who back the project. You can save up quite a bit of cash if you get two of these, for example. For more information, visit the company's project by hitting the link below.

NexFan Ultra image 10

The post NexFan Ultra Is A Crowd-Funded Portable UV Air Cooler appeared first on Android Headlines.

You Can Still Buy Face Masks From Amazon Right Now
Apr 27th 2020, 12:46, by Alexander Maxham

buy face masks

With the ongoing pandemic that's hitting the entire world right now, many governments are forcing everyone to wear a face mask or a covering of some sort. To help stop the spread of the disease.

While they have been out of stock for weeks, there are still some face masks that you can buy from Amazon, and surprisingly, the shipping isn't that bad. We're talking about it arriving next Monday. We've seen many other face masks with shipping dates nearly a month away, so things are getting better here.

You can pick up a pack of 50 face masks from Amazon right now for just $39.99. And this is the regular price, so you're not getting hit with price gouging either. That is definitely good to see.

And getting a pack of 50 face masks means that you and your whole household is going to be covered for quite some time. Most importantly, these are not the all-important N95 masks that hospitals are begging for right now. This is a general-use face mask that you can use to protect yourself from the disease when you have to go out in public.

These are Amazon's best-selling face masks, and they come from LeadPro. This is a really good choice if you need some sort of face covering, and do need to venture out in public from time to time to get groceries and what not.

You can also find a number of cloth coverings that you can use from Amazon and other places. Though most of those are severely delayed in terms of shipping. With some taking three weeks before they even start to ship. So this 50 pack of face masks from LeadPro on Amazon arriving next Monday is a really good deal. And the masks are about $0.80 each.

You can pick up these masks from Amazon by clicking here. 

LeadPro 50-Pack Face Masks - Amazon - $39

The post You Can Still Buy Face Masks From Amazon Right Now appeared first on Android Headlines.

Ulefone Discounts Armor 7E, It's Now Available For $199.99
Apr 27th 2020, 12:29, by Promoted Content

Ulefone Armor 7E image 36

Ulefone has decided to discount one of its newest rugged smartphones, the Armor 7E. This phone hasn't even gone on sale, and it's already discounted by the company. This Armor 7E discount comes as part of the phone's presale.

Ulefone discounts the Armor 7E as part of its presale

The phone is available to pre-order on Banggood, and the first 200 buyers can enjoy the aforementioned discount. Some of them will even get an extra protective case with the phone, the company says.

The next 500 buyers will be able to get the phone for $219.99, which is also a discounted price tag. These discounts will last until May 3, by the way, so keep that in mind if you're planning on getting the phone.

Along with the Armor 7E discounted price tag, the company also released a new video featuring this device. This time around, the company submitted the Armor 7E to a battery drain test.

The video has been published on YouTube, and we've embedded it down below. It has a duration of less than a minute, and yet it will give you a good idea as to what you can expect in terms of battery life.

After 1.5 hours of heavy use, the phone lost only 9-percent of its full battery charge. After 30 minutes of music playback, 30 minutes of movie playback, and 30 minutes of online gaming (PUBG).

Do note that the display was on the whole time, even while the music was playing. The company says that this phone can offer you around 17 hours of continuous use on a single charge, which is great.

This is an affordable, rugged smartphone

The Ulefone Armor 7E is a rugged phone, and it looks like a rugged phone. The phone includes a waterdrop display notch, and its bezels are not too thin, but that was to be expected.

The phone includes three cameras on the back, and it's reinforced all around. This phone is both water and dust resistant, and on top of that, it can handle some drops as well.

The Ulefone Armor 7E features a 6.3-inch fullHD+ display, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The phone is fueled by the Helio P90 64-bit octa-core processor from MediaTek.

The device packs in a 5,500mAh battery, and supports 15W wired charging. It also supports 10W wireless charging, while it offers two SIM card slots.

A 48-megapixel camera is placed on the back, along with two 2-megapixel sensors. A 16-megapixel camera is included on the front, in case you were wondering. If you're interested in the phone, a purchase link is included below.

Buy the Ulefone Armor 7E

Ulefone Armor 7E (more info)

Ulefone Armor 7E image 31

The post Ulefone Discounts Armor 7E, It's Now Available For $199.99 appeared first on Android Headlines.

You Can Buy A Refurbished Ring Video Doorbell 2 Today For $69
Apr 27th 2020, 12:20, by Alexander Maxham

Ring Video Doorbell second generation 4

Today, Woot is selling refurbished Ring Video Doorbell 2 models for just $69.99. That is a really great price, seeing as we have seen refurbished models go for around $89 or $99 recently. And a brand new Ring Video Doorbell 2 would go for around $129.

If you've had your eye on a video doorbell but have been waiting to pull the trigger, now is the time to do so. You won't see it this low again until Prime Day, which has been pushed back until August this year.

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is a really great video doorbell to pick up. Of course, it works with Amazon Alexa. After all, Amazon does own Ring. So that when someone rings your doorbell, it will ring on your Echo smart speakers as well as on your Fire TV. Which is pretty neat.

Now there is also two-way audio here, allowing you to talk to whoever is on the other side. This works whether you're at home or not. So if UPS is there to drop off a package, you can tell them to just leave it behind the potted plant on your porch. Instead of them leaving with the package. It's also a good way to scare off package pirates before they grab your Amazon package.

Ring is also great because it will alert you to when there is someone outside of your home. Even if they don't ring the doorbell. Hence the package pirates. They won't be ringing the doorbell, but you'll still know they are there. Thanks to the Ring Video Doorbell 2.

You can pick up the Ring Video Doorbell 2 from Woot today in this sale by clicking here. Now this price on the Ring Video Doorbell 2 won't last long, so you're going to want to grab it before it's gone. It'll likely be out of stock before the end of the day.

Ring Video Doorbell 2 - Woot - $69

The post You Can Buy A Refurbished Ring Video Doorbell 2 Today For $69 appeared first on Android Headlines.

Electronics Deals – April 27, 2020: Ring, Motorola, Roborock & More
Apr 27th 2020, 11:58, by Alexander Maxham

deals april 27 ah

Today, you can pick up the Ring Video Doorbell 2 refurbished from Woot for just $69.99. That is a really good price, even for a refurbished model, considering the fact that these are normally priced around $89 or $99 for a refurbished one. With the Ring Video Doorbell 2, you can see who is in front of your home, even when you are not home.

If you are in the market for a new smartphone, then the Motorola One Action is a really great one to buy, for just $239. This is an action camera that was put onto a smartphone. So you're going to get some really great camera shots out of this one. Making it great for using during this quarantine. And it also runs on stock Android. And it is fully unlocked to work on all four US carriers. This includes AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon in the US.

Amazon has the roborock S5 Robot Vacuum and Mop on sale for just $479 right now. This is one of the best robot vacuums on the market, so to see it for just $479 is pretty incredible. That's good for $120 off of its regular price.

Right now, you can grab an unlocked Google Pixel 4 for just $499. That is not a bad price at all, especially with this camera. The Pixel 4 XL is also on sale for $599 – making both of these $300 off. And it's definitely worth it to buy the Pixel 4 XL over the Pixel 4. Since Google decided to put an extra small battery in the regular Pixel 4.

These are only some of the best deals that you can find right now. There are plenty of other deals on Amazon that you can check out right here. Additionally, any deals that expire today are going to expire at midnight PST. So make sure you pick them up before they expire.

The post Electronics Deals – April 27, 2020: Ring, Motorola, Roborock & More appeared first on Android Headlines.

OnePlus 6 & 6T Update Fixes Black Screen Issue, Adds New Security Patch
Apr 27th 2020, 11:48, by Kristijan Lucic

OnePlus 6T AH NS 45 display

The OnePlus 6 and 6T are now receiving a new update that fixes the black screen issue. That is not the only entry in the changelog, but it's probably the most important one.

This update comes marked as OxygenOS 10.3.3, and the company is already rolling it out. Do note that we're looking at a staged update here, so you may not be available to download it straight away.

All users should be able to download and install this update within a week, if everything goes according to plan. This is an over-the-air (OTA) update, by the way.

This update fixes the black screen issue on the OnePlus 6 & 6T

In any case, the OnePlus 6 and 6T users have been having an issue with a black screen randomly appearing while playing games. This was not an issue for non-gamers, though.

That issue will be fixed after you install this update. In addition to that, this update also brings a new Android security patch, for April. The GMS package also got updated here, to a version from February this year.

In the 'System' part of this changelog, the company also listed improved system stability and general bug fixes. Some network improvements have been rolled out to users in Denmark and India. To be more specific, to users of Telenor and RJIO in those two countries, respectively.

On top of that, the company also issued Cloud Sync updates for users in India. To be more specific, it updated its CloudService to version 2.0. That is completely India-specific, though.

Both the OnePlus 6 and 6T were announced back in 2018. The two phones are still getting updates, it's nice to see that the company is still working hard to improve them.

This particular update did not bring any new features to users, at least when we look at it globally. Fixes are always welcomed, though. The company may roll out some new features in the future, though, of course.

Both of these phones have been rockin' Android 10 for quite some time now

The OnePlus 6 and 6T users are already rocking Android 10 on their devices. The company released that update quite some time ago for the two phones.

Both devices are running better than ever on Android 10, at least from our experience. That is not surprising, though, considering the optimization level of OxygenOS, and the fact that both are still quite powerful.

Once this update becomes available on your device, the phone will notify you via a notification, presuming that option is not disabled, of course. This update will not wipe your data, or anything of the sort.

The post OnePlus 6 & 6T Update Fixes Black Screen Issue, Adds New Security Patch appeared first on Android Headlines.

Verizon Releases Android 10 For Galaxy Tab S6, Doesn't Bring One UI 2.1
Apr 27th 2020, 10:55, by Sumit Adhikari

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Review 04 Display AH 2019

The Android 10 update has now arrived for the Galaxy Tab S6 on Verizon. The carrier is currently rolling out the big Android OS update for last year's flagship Samsung tablet on its network. The update is rolling out over the air (OTA) and should reach all Tab S6 units on Verizon over the next few days.

The new update arrives with firmware version T867VVRU2BTC4 and packs the March 2020 Android security patch, which is quite disappointing. But what's more disappointing is that the update doesn't bring One UI 2.1, the latest iteration of Samsung's custom Android skin.

Samsung released the Android 10 update for the international variants of the Galaxy Tab S6 earlier this month. The update brought One UI 2.1 to the devices.

Galaxy Tab S6 Android 10 update on Verizon

The Android 10 update for the Galaxy Tab S6 on Verizon only brings One UI 2.0. Version 2.0 of Samsung's custom Android skin does bring plenty of new features and enhancements but there still are some features that are exclusive to One UI 2.1.

Camera features like Single Take, Night Hyperlapse, Pro Video mode, and improved Night Mode are currently exclusive to One UI 2.1.

One UI 2.1 also brings Music Share and Custom Filter features to Samsung Galaxy devices. Quick Share, Samsung's alternative to Apple's AirDrop, is also only available on Samsung devices running One UI 2.1.

As for One UI 2.0, it brings its own set of new features and enhancements to Samsung smartphones and tablets.

You get a redesigned camera UI, Sound Amplifier, Smart Reply, Live Transcribe, full-screen navigation gestures, Focus Mode, speed and time units converter in the calculator, Trash feature for Contacts and My files, and much more.

Samsung Daily replaces Bixby Home in Samsung devices on Android 10. The platform shows personalized content like news, weather, and more. It sits on the left of your device's main home screen.

One UI 2.0 also brings a new multilingual translation feature, a text undo/redo feature, and an ability to search for music in Spotify on Samsung Keyboard. The new software also promises better text over wallpapers.

As always, updates are released in stages and may not available for all units simultaneously. You should get a notification when the update becomes available for your Galaxy Tab S6. You can also manually check for the update from the Software update section in your device's Settings app.

Verizon may eventually bring One UI 2.1 to the Galaxy Tab S6 as well. However, it may not arrive anytime soon.

The post Verizon Releases Android 10 For Galaxy Tab S6, Doesn't Bring One UI 2.1 appeared first on Android Headlines.

Samsung's First Smartphone With A Pop-Up Camera Is Coming
Apr 27th 2020, 10:36, by Kristijan Lucic

Samsung first smartphone pop up camera leak 2

According to a report from Pigtou, in collaboration with OnLeaks, Samsung's first smartphone with a pop-up camera is coming. The source even shared some CAD-based renders of the device.

We still do not know what this phone will be called, but it's expected to arrive in the near future. This device will, almost certainly, be a part of the company's 'Galaxy A' series of devices.

Samsung's first smartphone with a pop-up camera will include three cameras on the back, flat display

That is at least our guess considering its camera setup on the back, its flat display, and the fact that its chin is visibly thicker than the rest of its bezels. Samsung still prefers phones with curved displays for its flagship lineups.

As you can see, the device has three vertically-aligned cameras on the back. Those cameras are placed in the top-left corner of the phone's back, and a capacitive fingerprint scanner can also be found back there.

Samsung's branding is placed on the back of the device as well. The back side of the phone is curved on the sides, as you can see. The device shown in these renders is black-colored. It seems to sport glass on the back.

The device will probably feature a 6.5-inch display

The source notes that the display on this phone is roughly 6.5 inches diagonally, and an IR blaster seems to be placed on the top. The phone is approximately 160.9mm tall, 77mm wide, and 9.2mm thick (9.7mm with a camera bump).

A Type-C USB port is placed on the bottom, along with a noise-canceling microphone. A speaker grille is located on the bottom as well, along with the main speaker.

A 3.5mm headphone jack is not a part of this smartphone, which is quite interesting. Samsung has a tendency of utilizing that port in its mid-range smartphones.

We still do not know if the company plans on includes 5G inside of this phone. We'll have to wait and see. It would be a bit clearer if we knew what device is this exactly, but that information is not yet available.

If you take a look at the images in the gallery below, you'll be able to see the phone's pop-up camera in action. It has a similar placement and look to the OnePlus 7 Pro's selfie camera.

The source even released a short video on YouTube. That video basically gives you a look at Samsung's first smartphone with a pop-up camera from all angles.

More information about this smartphone is expected to arrive in the near future. Samsung will probably wait for the whole health crisis to end (or calm down) before pushing this one out the door, though.

Samsung first smartphone pop up camera leak 1

The post Samsung's First Smartphone With A Pop-Up Camera Is Coming appeared first on Android Headlines.

MIUI 12 Is Official With New Navigation Gestures, Cleaner UI & More
Apr 27th 2020, 09:44, by Kristijan Lucic

MIUI 12 logo image 1

Xiaomi has announced a new version of its Android OS today, MIUI 12. The company announced it during a press event in China, along with a Chinese version of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite.

This new version of MIUI actually brings quite a few changes. It is not a huge revamp of Xiaomi's Android skin / OS, though, so keep that in mind. This is more of a refinement than anything.

MIUI 12 brings new animations, brand new navigation gestures, the UI itself looks flatter now, dark mode 2.0 has been added as well, as well as new privacy features, and so on. Do note that this is a Chinese version of MIUI 12, though, but most of these features will be the same in the global variant as well.

New animations

Let's talk about animations first. The company touched upon pretty much every animation in MIUI 11 in order to improve it in MIUI 12. The company actually claims that the animations are on par with smooth transitions in iOS, claims XDA.

The company improved pretty much everything, from app launching and closing animations, to screen rotations, and opening the recents menu. The same goes for a new charging animation, battery stats, and so on.

UI design changes

MIUI 12 UI changes

The whole interface now looks a tad bit better. It looks flatter and cleaner in MIUI 12. This new version of MIUI brings wider spaces between different pieces of text-based information, and the same goes for images. It also comes with a brighter white background, if you're using a light mode, of course.

New Android 10-like navigation gestures

MIUI introduced navigation gestures quite some time ago. In MIUI 12, however, Xiaomi is changing things up a bit. The company has opted to introduce Android 10-like navigation gestures. In other words, you'll get a flat line on the bottom of the display. Swiping up will take you on a home screen, swiping up and holding will launch the recents menu.

If you swipe from right to left or left to right, you'll be able to switch between your recent applications. In other words, it will work just as stock Android 10 navigation gestures work, as it seems like that's what most people prefer.

Dark Mode 2.0

Xiaomi has introduced some dark mode improvements in MIUI 12 as well. MIUI 12's invert color algorithm is actually based on Lab, HSV color space, and the inverse color adaptation is now wider and more natural.

MIUI 12 pre release info 2

The phone will automatically adjust the contrast if you're using dark mode. It will also adjust font weight dynamically in order to reduce glare and blur. MIUI 12 will restore normal font weight in light mode, in order to make your reading more comfortable.

AOD & live wallpapers

The company has added quite a few live wallpapers and AOD screen in MIUI 12. These are vastly inspired by landscapes of the Earth, the Moon, and Mars. The live wallpaper zooms in from a space-level view to an aerial view just a few hundred meters above the surface when you unlock your phone. This is a rather interesting spin on a live wallpaper, that's for sure.

Picture-in-picture & multi-window

MIUI 12 will deliver floating chat windows on your device, for full-screen apps like games and video players. The company has also added various ways in which floating windows and notifications can be expanded. Multi-window has been improved all around, and you can see it in action in the provided video, the same goes for many other features we've talked about.

Privacy improvements

Xiaomi has added quite a few privacy-oriented features in MIUI 12. Those features are called Flare, Barbed Wire, and Mask System. Those features have cleared the 'Android Enhanced Privacy Protection Test', which are great news.

Flare keeps a lot of all permissions and sensitive information accessed by apps. It will notify you when needed in different colors, depending on what aspect of the phone a particular app is using. Barbed Wire works like a location permission in Android. It does come with a number of additional options, though.

Mask System prevents untrusted apps from getting access to crucial information on your smartphone. It also allows you to get a virtual identity to spoof any app that is trying to capture your information without permission.

AI calling & fitness features

The company has also added something called 'AI Calling', which is similar to Google's screen calling. It is designed for people with hearing disabilities. New fitness features have also been added to MIUI 12. Though we don't have all the details regarding that just yet.

MIUI 12 beta starts rolling out today, though only to Chinese devices. The first round of stable updates will arrive in June, once again, to Chinese phones. We're still not sure when will Xiaomi announce a global variant of MIUI 12.

The post MIUI 12 Is Official With New Navigation Gestures, Cleaner UI & More appeared first on Android Headlines.

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