Android location access to become safer and more transparent with Android 11

With the launch of the Android 11 Developer Preview for Pixel devices, Google is showing its commitment towards making user location data more safe and transparent to users. They have announced a bunch of changes in the preview that ensures unnecessary access to a users' location is limited along with timelines for developers to adhere for their future app launches. One of the main changes that users will see with Android 11 is the ability to share location access to an app just that one time. It is similar in functionality to how location permissions currently work in Apples iOS. With Android 10, Google enabled the option for users to allow an app to read location data only if the user was actively using the app. Before that, users could only either turn location access on or off. Soon with Android 11, Google is giving users the ability to only give the app their location data “Only this time”. This way, users can choose to not give an app its location data forever. Another change is that if the developer wishes to have constant access to location data for the app, users will need to go to the apps' location permission page ...

Samsung starts mass production of 7nm and 6nm-based mobile chips at new V1 EUV semiconductor line in Korea

Samsung today announced that it has opened new V1 semiconductor fabrication line in Hwaseong, Korea, dedicated to the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography technology and produces chips using process node of 7 nanometer (nm) and below. It started building it back in February 2018, and began test wafer production in the second half of 2019. The V1 line is currently producing state-of-the-art mobile chips with 7 and 6nm process technology, and the company said that it will continue to adopt finer circuitry up to the 3nm process node. Samsung already said that the cumulative total investment in the V1 line will reach US$6 billion by the end of 2020, and the total capacity from 7nm and below process node is expected to triple from that of 2019. Together with the S3 line, the V1 line is expected to play a pivotal role in responding to fast-growing global market demand for single-digit node foundry technologies. “As semiconductor geometries grow smaller, the adoption of EUV lithography technology has become increasingly important, as it enables scaling down of complex patterns on wafers and provides an optimal choice for next-generation applications such as 5G, AI, and Automotive,” said Samsung. With the V1 line in operation, Samsung now has ...

Microsoft launches new Office app that combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for all iOS and Android users

Microsoft Office is arguably the most powerful suite of applications for the work, home, and school on the PC and Mac. However, they didn't have much of a presence in the mobile app space. Now Microsoft plans to change that with the launch of the new Office app for both iOS and Android that consolidates Word, Powerpoint and Excel into one app. It was released in beta for Android users back in November last year. Combining all three products into one app reduces the hassle for users who don't have to install three different apps anymore. Microsoft claims that they have achieved this while still maintaining almost all functionality of the three individual apps. A functionality included in this release is a feature called Lens technology. With it users can use their phone camera to converting images into editable Word and Excel documents, scan PDFs and capture even whiteboards with digital enhancements. Microsoft has also made it easier to perform simple tasks when working on a mobile device like quick notes, signing PDFs, scanning QR codes and more. Other features that were added since the preview are support for third-party storage services, templates and more.      Microsoft has a lot of features planned ...

Vivo Z6 5G with Snapdragon 765G, liquid cooling, 5000mAh battery with 44W fast charging to be announced on February 29

Vivo is all set to introduce Z6 5G, the company's new mid-range 5G smartphone in China on February 29th. The company has also shared images of the phone which shows a punch-hole display, quad rear cameras and a rear mounted fingerprint scanner, so it should use an LCD screen compared to AMOLED screen. Vivo has also confirmed that the phone will be powered by Snapdragon 765G SoC with support for dual-mode 5G, liquid cooling for heat dissipation and a 5000mAh battery with support for 44W ultra-fast flash charge via USB Type-C. The Vivo Z6 5G will come in Blue, Aurora Black, and Silver colors, and should be available in several RAM and storage variants. We should know all the details including the price when the phone goes official next week. Some reports say that this will be the most affordable 5G phone, cheaper than the Redmi K30 5G that starts at 1999 yuan (US$ 285 / Rs. 20,395 approx.) for the 6GB + 64GB version. Source

Xiaomi opens crowdfunding for Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 in India for Rs. 1299

Xiaomi today opened crowd funding for its new Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 in India. It has Magnetic Levitation Sonic Motor, DuPont Tynex StaClean Antimicrobial bristles, EquiClean Auto Timer, IPX7 Water0Proof body and promises, 25 days Battery Life on a single charge. Xiaomi says that the brush-heads need to be replaced every 3-4 months and it will be sold separately on mi.com in the future. Features of Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 Powered by a superior magnetic levitation sonic motor, the electric toothbrush successfully produces up to 31000 vibrations per minute buzzing away at the bacteria, food particles and stains with less effort on your part The DuPont Tynex StaClean Antimicrobial Bristles are soft, thin-tipped and are set at a 10° angle that effectively loosens and whisks plaque and debris from even the blind spots of your teeth and gums Features Dual-Pro Brush Modes to match tour preferred style and pace. The EquiClean Auto Timer goes off after 2 minutes pausing after every 30 seconds, so you are reminded to switch sides. IPX7 water-proof design and the plastic brush head cover case makes storage simple and hassle-free The base features 3 different color rings for easy identification among family members A Low Noise ...

HiFuture FlyBuds True Wireless Earbuds with Touch Controls launched for Rs. 2499

HiFuture, a consumer audio manufacturer, has launched FlyBuds, the company's latest True Wireless Earbuds with Bluetooth 5.0 chip, and it says that this is the most affordable touch sensor-enabled True Wireless Earbuds in India. Highlights of HiFuture FlyBuds  Bluetooth 5.0 to connect to devices Built-in dynamic N42 Neodymium magnet driver offers rich sound with crisp treble and powerful and deep bass. Graphene drivers oscillate with extreme precision to bring you sound with extraordinary sound signature and an ultra-realistic listening experience Earpieces feature 45° angled nozzles extended by a small stem for nice seal and noise isolation. Earphones have an ergonomic fit and sit neatly in the ear canal giving you enhanced comfort and security Each earpiece weighs 5 grams, and the entire weight of the device with the charging case is just 45 grams Case is slim, yet robust and slips easily in your pocket, sports 3 LED indicators and a pairing button Intelligent Touch Sensor Controls on the earpieces let you power them on and off, play music, pause, skip forward or backward a track, answer incoming calls from your phone, and summon Siri or Google Voice. Splash resistant (IPX5 certified) 4 hours of playback on a single charge, 500mAh ...

Android 11 Developer Preview with privacy and security enhancements, APIs for 5G, biometrics and more released

Google has released Android 11 Developer Preview ahead of the final release later this year so that developers can test it, this time bit early. This brings new features to help users manage access to sensitive data and files, and Google says it has hardened critical areas of the platform to keep the OS resilient and secure. For developers, Android 11 brings several features including enhancements for foldables and 5G, call-screening APIs, new media and camera capabilities, machine learning, and more. The Android 11 Developer Preview is available for Pixel 2 / 2 XL, Pixel 3 / 3 XL, Pixel 3a / 3a XL, or Pixel 4 / 4 XL on the Android developer website here. Developer Preview 2 will be available in March, Developer Preview 3 in April, Beta 1 in May during Google I/O, Beta 2 in June (with final APIs and official SDK), Beta 3 and the final stable release at the end of Q3 2020. New features in Android 11 5G - Dynamic meteredness API - with this API you can check whether the connection is unmetered, and if so, offer higher resolution or quality that may use more data. Extended to include cellular networks, so that you can ...

Realme X ColorOS Software Update Tracker [Update: A.12 with Jio, Airtel VoWiFi and February Android security patch]

realme launched the realme X smartphone in India back in July running ColorOS 6.0 on top of Android 9.0 (Pie). realme doesn’t follow a fixed update frequency but the company rolls out updates frequently. The company is supposed to roll-out Android 10 based realme UI 1.0 for realme X this month, you can check out this post to learn about new features that realme UI brings to realme devices. This post will help our readers in keeping track of ColorOS updates for realme X. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="305423,305424"] ColorOS updates rolled out for the realme X so far, [Feb 19, 2020]: realme has started rolling out RMX1901EX_11_A.12 with February security patch. The update weighs 220 MBs in size and brings support for Airtel and Jio VoWiFi along with bug fixes. [Download Link] [Jan 29, 2020]: realme official Francis Wang has confirmed that realme X series devices will receive two major Android updates, so we can expect realme X to receive Android 11 in the future. [Dec 30, 2019]: realme has started rolling out RMX1901EX_11_A.11 with December security patch. The update weighs around 206 MBs in size and improves system stability. [Download Link] [Nov 26, 2019]: realme has started rolling out RMX1901EX_11_A.10 with November ...

HUAWEI to introduce new devices at global virtual event on February 24

Huawei has announced that it will introduce new range of products at its "Huawei Consumer Business Product and Strategy" virtual launch event on February 24th in Madrid, after the GSMA cancelled the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona due to Coronavirus concerns. Richard Yu, Chief Executive Officer at Huawei Consumer Business Group, will unveil the latest innovations and exciting new technologies, said the company. According to recently rumors the company plans to introduce a new foldable smartphone other than the Mate XS, which will be powered by updated Kirin 990 SoC and an improved hinge mechanism. It is also said to have an upgraded camera and lower price. The company is also expected to introduce new Matebook X Pro models, new laptops, global version of its smartwatch, Mate Pad Pro 5G and lots more at the event. "Immediately following the livestream press conference, interactive demos will be on display for consumers to experience HUAWEI's cutting-edge products," said the company. The launch event is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2020 2PM CET (18.30 IST). We should know more details in the coming days. As usual the company will offer its live stream on Youtube.

Emperion Nebulus ARM-based Windows 10 device that can run Android apps teased

Emperion, a company based in UK has teased a device, in a tweet, that has the form factor of a phone and is apparently running Windows 10 on an ARM based processor. The device is called Nebulus and will have the capability to run Android apps without an emulator. Emperion has not revealed much in the tweet except for showing an image of the device itself. Sources from Windows Central have managed to get more information, confirming that the device is powered by an overclocked version of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip. It will have a headphone jack, come with carrier unlocked and will have expandable storage up to 2TB via MicroSD. The device will be able to switch to desktop mode quickly via wireless or its USB-C port, similar to Continuum. While the phone will have a SIM card slot, the phone is unlikely to support phone calls as Windows 10 on ARM does not have native telephony abilities. Emperion will likely use Skype and LTE for calls and messages. Another interesting feature that Emperion confirmed is the ability to run Android apps without using emulators. At the moment, Android apps can run on Windows on emulators like Blue Stacks, etc. ...