Apple rolls out iOS 12.1.3 with Bug Fixes for HomePod, iPad Pro, CarPlay, Messages and more

Apple has started rolling out minor iOS 12.1.3 update for iPhone and iPad after beta testing for a few weeks. This includes several bug fixes affecting iPad Pro, HomePod, CarPlay, and more. It also finally fixes the issue that could cause  restarts or that could cause Siri to stop listening. It also fixes Audio performance issue when using some third-party apps is improved on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and iPad Pro 11-inch models. The iOS 12.1.3 comes after the iOS 12.1.2 that fixed eSIM bugs on iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, while iPad owners got iOS 12.1.1 update last month. iOS 12.1.3 includes bug fixes for your iPhone or iPad. Fixes an issue in Messages that could impact scrolling through photos in the Details view Addresses an issue where photos could have striped artifacts after being sent from the Share Sheet Fixes an issue that may cause audio distortion when using external audio input devices on iPad Pro (2018) Resolves an issue that could cause certain CarPlay systems to disconnect from iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max This release also includes bug fixes for HomePod. This update: Fixes an issue that could cause HomePod to restart Addresses an issue that could cause Siri ...

Xiaomi rolls out final MIUI 10.2 update for Redmi Note 3

Redmi 1S, Redmi Note/Prime, Redmi 2/Prime were the devices which redefined their respective price segments back in 2014-15 and helped Xiaomi becoming an established player in India but it was Redmi Note 3 that paved the way towards making company India's No. 1 smartphone brand. The device is almost three years old now and so, Back in December, Xiaomi announced that MIUI 10.2 will be the last update for the devices including Redmi Note 3 and Mi 5. Last year, it dropped software support for some devices including Redmi 1S, Redmi Note 4G, Redmi 2, Redmi 2 Prime, Mi 4i that were launched in 2015 or before. [gallery size="medium" ids="273481,273480,273482"] As per users on Mi Community, Redmi Note 3 has started receiving MIUI 10.2.1.0.MHOMIXM update which is 178 MB in size. The update is based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) but Xiaomi has managed to enable Split Screen and Quick Switch on devices running Android 6.0. In the changelogs, Xiaomi has mentioned that it has updated the Android security patch on the device but it still runs on July 2018 security patch similar to MIUI 10.1.1.0.MHOMIFI that was rolled out last month. Check out the changelog below, System Fix: Updated Android security patch Phone Fix: UI elements for switching between cameras during video calls were displayed incorrectly Lockscreen, ...

Apple 2016 and newer MacBook Pro models with touchbar report display issues due to fragile flex cables

According to several reports, users with 2016 and newer MacBook Pro models, particularly those with the Touch Bar are facing backlight issues. This results in a so-called "stage light effect" along the bottom of the display.  According to the repair website iFixit, which highlighted the issue, the underlying cause is Apple's use of thin, fragile flex cables that connect the display with the display controller board on 2016 and newer MacBook Pro models, instead of the more durable wire cables used in previous generations. https://youtu.be/xlmnOWNLbXg The normal, and repeated opening and closing of the laptops display lid can result in the thin flex cables becoming fragile and breaking over time. Since the issue takes time to manifest, the affected MacBook Pro models are outside of Apple's one-year warranty period when they start exhibiting symptoms. At this moment, it is unclear how many users are affected, but the number continues to increase. As iFixit claims, the flex cables are integrated into the display and cannot be replaced individually. Instead, the entire display assembly needs to be replaced, which in-turn becomes costly. While some customers without AppleCare+ have managed to get a free or reduced-cost repair, it appears many have been required to pay in full.  Apple so far ...

Google Chrome Manifest V3 API change might kill some ad-blocking extensions

Future Chrome update just might kill ad-blocker extensions. In October 2017, Google laid out plans to make extensions safer to use, however, these changes will reflect APIs and these might prevent most content blockers from working. Chrome extensions use a certain manifest version that determines what APIs they can and cannot use. The current manifest version is v2 and was introduced in 2012. Manifest v3 is currently under development, and will include several breaking changes to APIs, including one that affects content blockers. In a Chromium bug tracker, Raymond Hill, the developer behind uBlock Origin and uMatrix, explained that one of the changes in Manifest v3 would break complex content filtering. To put in simple, one of the suggested changes in Manifest V3 will replace the webRequest API with a new declarativeNetRequest API, which has far more limitations. Though this change has obvious performance benefits such as Chrome no longer has to wait for extensions to allow/block every network request, it would break countless extensions that rely on heavily modifying network requests. Since Manifest V3 is still under development, there's every bit of chance that Google might drop this specific API change. Source | Via

Fortnite for HONOR View20 60fps version and Honor Guard Fortnite outfit announced

Fortnite for Android comes to HONOR View20 and is also one of the few phones to support 60 FPS mode. Fortnite for Android didn't have a traditional Play Store release, instead, it is available only to compatible phones through its website. It was first released for Samsung smartphones starting from August last year and expanded to other devices later. As part of this partnership, owners of HONOR View 20 will have exclusive access to the HONOR Guard Fortnite outfit. Honor View 20 had its global launch yesterday and the phone will roll out from January 23rd. It sports a  6.4-inch Full HD+ All-View Display with 91.82% screen-to-body ratio, 25-megapixel front camera with just 4.5mm cut out, is powered by Kirin 980 SoC with GPU Turbo 2.0,  liquid cooling, up to 8GB of RAM, 48-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX586 1/2-type (8.0 mm diagonal) sensor, uses 4-in-1 light fusion that outputs better low-light images at 12MP resolution. It also has a TOF 3D secondary rear camera that lets you play games using 3D gesture recognition by capturing body movements. It has a V-shaped texture on the glass back, metal frame, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and packs a 4000mAh battery with support for fast charging.

Google to upgrade classic Hangout users to Hangouts Chat and Meet from October 2019

As mentioned in December 2017, Google starting from April 16, 2019, will transition classic Hangouts users on G Suite domains to Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. Between April and September 2019, Google says that features from classic Hangouts will come to Chat. In October 2019, support for classic Hangouts for G Suite customers will be ended. On April 16th, 2019, for G Suite domains that have classic Hangouts enabled, Chat will also become available to users on the web and via mobile apps. They can also continue using classic Hangouts in Gmail, mobile, web or the Chrome extension. Admin changes on April 16th will let the chat admin settings control chat capability in both classic Hangouts and Chat. A new setting in the Admin console under Apps > G Suite > Hangouts Chat will be added so admins can disable classic Hangouts user interfaces at a time of your choosing. The "Google Hangouts" settings page in the Admin console will be renamed "Hangouts Meet." This setting will control both classic Hangouts video and Hangouts Meet. Classic Hangouts will be retired for all G Suite customers starting October 2019 and all remaining users will be transitioned to Chat. Between April and September 2019, Google said that it will add more features for users to ...

Xiaomi shows off dual-side foldable smartphone in official video

After a leak earlier this month, Xiaomi has officially teased its foldable smartphone in a video. Xiaomi co-founder and President Lin Bin said that the phone has been developed after several technical problems inflexible folding screen technology,  four-wheel drive folding shaft technology, flexible cover technology, and adapting MIUI to the foldable screen. As we had seen earlier, the large screen folds on two sides to turn into a compact device. The company says that this will be the world's first foldable phone with dual-side foldable  technology. "This symmetrical dual-folded form perfectly combines the experience of the tablet and mobile phone, which is both practical and beautiful," said Xiaomi president. The video also shows that the screen on the back doesn't turn off even after folded, however the company says that it is still in in prototype stage, so this should be fixed in the final version. Xiaomi also says that if people are interested in this, it will consider  mass production of the device in the future. It also asks people for a name for the phone. Xiaomi has started Mi Explorer programme to take 20 Mi Fans to attend the Mobile World Congress from 23th to 26th February, so there are chances for the company to ...

Samsung 970 Evo Plus NVMe M.2 SSD with up to 2TB storage announced

Samsung Electronics has introduced the Samsung 970 EVO Plus; the company's newest entry to the (NVMe) SSD portfolio. It comes with up to 2TB storage capacity. Samsung says that the 970 Evo Plus has achieved significant performance improvements – up to 57% faster write speed. The 970 EVO delivers sequential read and write speeds of up to 3,500 megabytes per second (MB/s) and up to 3,300 MB/s, respectively, while random speeds come in at up to 620,000 IOPS for read and up to 560,000 IOPS for write operations. It also allows users to upgrade their devices as the 970 Evo comes in a compact M.2 form factor using the PCIe Gen3 x4 interface that is found in most modern computers. It comes with Samsung 9x-layer V-NAND 3-bit MLC storage memory, and Samsung Phoenix Controller. The 970 EVO Plus comes in various storage options; the 250GB, 500GB, and 1TB capacity versions are now available for purchase worldwide, and the 2TB capacity will become available in April starting at $89.99 (₹ 6,400 approx.) for the 250GB. Dr. Mike Mang, vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics said: Since introducing the first NVMe SSDs to the consumer market in 2015, Samsung has continued to challenge technical barriers in SSD ...

Twitter’s new web interface brings emoji button, quick keyboard shortcuts and more

Twitter for the web is getting a new interface that brings several key features including a newly designed emoji button, quick keyboard shortcuts, upgraded trends, advanced search, and more.  A new https://t.co/fHiPXozBdO is coming. Some of you got an opt-in to try it now. Check out the emoji button, quick keyboard shortcuts, upgraded trends, advanced search, and more. Let us know your thoughts! pic.twitter.com/G8gWvdHnzB — Twitter (@Twitter) January 22, 2019 Furthermore, the company is also working towards bringing easier ways to switch between your accounts, faster load times, and cropping your image before you Tweet it. An updated trending section appears on the right-hand side of the page. Twitter’s desktop version has been cut down from three columns into two, in order to make it easier to both read and send tweets. It should be noted that none of these changes are part of Twitter’s previously announced updates. Twitter says that these new desktop features would be available as an opt-in to some, but it is not clear if it would be random or manual. Source

HMD Global releases Android Pie update roadmap for Nokia 5, 3.1 Plus, Nokia 6 and more

HMD Global started rolling out Android 9.0 (Pie) update for its smartphones beginning from Nokia 7 Plus back in September last year. It finished rolling out the update to Nokia 6.1, 6.1 Plus, 7.1, 5.1 Plus, Nokia 8 Sirocco and most recently, the Nokia 8. Today Juho Sarvikas, chief product officer at HMD Global has confirmed Android Pie update for older Nokia smartphones will begin this January. The update will begin starting from Nokia 5 and 3.1 Plus later this week, Nokia 6 shortly after as soon it has Dolby implementation complete, and other devices will get the update throughout Q1 and early Q2 2019. When will Nokia smartphones get Android Pie update? Nokia 5 and Nokia 3.1 Plus - January, 2019 Nokia 6, Nokia 5.1, Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1 - Q1 2019 Nokia 3 and Nokia 1 - Early Q2 2019 HMD Global recently released an infographic explaining process it takes to release the final version of Android Pie to a Nokia smartphone starting from getting the code to mandatory set of  tests. Source 1, 2