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mardi 31 octobre 2017

Google is Extending Preferred Care to 2 Years and Eliminating Deductibles for Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL Customers

Rejoice! If you own a brand new Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, then we have some good news to share. Google is sending out emails to its Preferred Care customers tonight telling them that they are extending the manufacturer’s warranty from 1 to 2 years. Not only that, they are also eliminating deductibles if you experience hardware failures due to normal wear and tear during the warranty period!

This news comes in light of the recent display-related troubles that some Pixel 2 XL owners have been having experiencing. Some people took issue with the muted colors of the display’s default calibration profile while others experienced temporary burn in and blue tint color shifting. To address these issues, Google announced that they would offer an update that would bring a more saturated color profile to the Google Pixel 2 XL. Furthermore, to make things up to their customers, they announced that they would extend the 1 year manufacturer warranty to 2 years.

At the time, however, the company stated that Preferred Care customers would not receive an extension to their warranty contract. Preferred Care customers were understandably miffed that regular customers would receive these added benefits but their premium warranty contract did not receive any extra benefits. Given that customers have to pay $129 to buy Preferred Care and also a $79 deductible to process a claim, it seemed odd that nothing would be done for these users.

Google Pixel 2 Preferred Care

Email sent out to customers

Thankfully, Google has reversed course and is now offering 2 years of warranty under the Preferred Care plan, and they’re even waiving the deductible on top of it! This might sweeten the deal for existing users and entice even more people into purchasing the plan. Personally, I baby every device I own but for those of you who are more prone to accidentally damage your device (or just want to be extra cautious), then you’ll have another year of Preferred Care coverage to enjoy.


Thanks XDA Member Nathan for the tip!



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Google is Extending Preferred Care to 2 Years and Eliminating Deductibles for Pixel 2 & Pixel 2 XL Customers

Rejoice! If you own a brand new Google Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL, then we have some good news to share. Google is sending out emails to its Preferred Care customers tonight telling them that they are extending the manufacturer's warranty from 1 to 2 years. Not only that, they are also eliminating deductibles if you experience hardware failures due to normal wear and tear during the warranty period!

This news comes in light of the recent display-related troubles that some Pixel 2 XL owners have been having experiencing. Some people took issue with the muted colors of the display's default calibration profile while others experienced temporary burn in and blue tint color shifting. To address these issues, Google announced that they would offer an update that would bring a more saturated color profile to the Google Pixel 2 XL. Furthermore, to make things up to their customers, they announced that they would extend the 1 year manufacturer warranty to 2 years.

At the time, however, the company stated that Preferred Care customers would not receive an extension to their warranty contract. Preferred Care customers were understandably miffed that regular customers would receive these added benefits but their premium warranty contract did not receive any extra benefits. Given that customers have to pay $129 to buy Preferred Care and also a $79 deductible to process a claim, it seemed odd that nothing would be done for these users.

Google Pixel 2 Preferred Care

Email sent out to customers

Thankfully, Google has reversed course and is now offering 2 years of warranty under the Preferred Care plan, and they're even waiving the deductible on top of it! This might sweeten the deal for existing users and entice even more people into purchasing the plan. Personally, I baby every device I own but for those of you who are more prone to accidentally damage your device (or just want to be extra cautious), then you'll have another year of Preferred Care coverage to enjoy.


Thanks XDA Member Nathan for the tip!



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HTC U11+ & U11 Life Appear in Hands-On Video Ahead of Launch Event

It's now 2 days until HTC officially announces their final 2017 devices, the flagship HTC U11+ (with a larger 6″ 18:9 LCD display and key improvements over the regular U11) and the mid-range HTC U11 Life (an Android One device with a Snapdragon 630 SoC many U11 features at a cheaper price point). As we approach launch day, the rumor mill starts turning faster and faster. Both the HTC U11+ and the U11 Life have been leaked in full during the past few days, so we already know what to expect from HTC's launch event. This time around, though, both devices have appeared in a full hands-on video before their release.

A German-language news outlet called Blick has managed to get a hold of the HTC U11+ and HTC U11 Life, giving us a close look at what is going to be announced on Thursday.


HTC U11+: HTC Hops into the 18:9 Trend

HTC U11+ translucentThe star of the show will, obviously, be the HTC U11+, HTC's latest flagship refresh which will be marketed as the superior alternative to the U11. The video confirms that the device will feature a 6″ QHD+ display with considerably reduced screen bezels as well as wireless charging capabilities, contextually aware Edge Sense, and a mammoth ~4000 mAh battery while keeping the water resistance rating. The phone also adds some extra software features like a rotary-dial like app shortcut reachability feature which can be accessed by long-pressing the frame.

The device will also come in a translucent version together with the regular color options. This translucent version, while it's not completely transparent like JerryRigEverything's clear back mods, does leave the wireless charging coil and other internal components visible from the back of the phone. The phone will be available in a 128 GB storage configuration, but it's not clear yet whether we'll find other storage configurations like on the U11.

There are also some visible improvements that are not directly referenced in the video, however. For example, the phone in the video sports the stock white Android Oreo notification shade with Sense UI icons and the Sense Home launcher features what looks like adaptive icons for Dialer, Messages, Camera, and Google Chrome. While the Android version is never directly shown during the video, these two things, together with the previous rumors that the device was launching with the newest version of Android, give us some fair confidence that the U11+ will indeed launch with Android 8.0 out of the box. And this would mean that users will be able to take advantage of other added benefits, like Project Treble for better update support.

HTC U11 Life: An Android One Mid-ranger with Some Flagship Features

HTC U11 Life Android OneThe black edition of the HTC U11 Life, the HTC U11's upcoming mid-range little brother, is also depicted in the video. The first thing we notice is that the phone swaps the glass back found in the U11 and U11+ for a much more modest polycarbonate back, likely to keep costs low, and downsizes the U11's 5.5-inch display for a 5.2″ panel. It does feature Edge Sense and other features found in the U11 and U11+, though.

However, the similarities end there. The main seen difference between both devices, aside from the external looks, is the radically different software. That's because the U11 Life is a part of the Android One program, and as such, the phone runs stock Android (with some HTC additions like the camera app) instead of HTC's own Sense UI skin. Previous rumors said that the phone would come in both Android One and retail editions, featuring stock Android 8.0 and Sense Android 7.1 respectively, so there's no surprises here.


Pricing

Finally, the video also covers the pricing aspect for both devices. The HTC U11+ will retail in Switzerland at a hefty 849 Swiss Francs, which equals 851 dollars, while the HTC U11 Life will retail for a much more modest 349 Swiss Francs ($350). We can expect the HTC U11+ to retail for something like $699 or $749 in the United States given the typical pricing disparity. The U11 Life's $350 price tag, however, is something we can expect for the US as well, given that its direct competitor, the Moto X4, is available for $399.

It is not clear yet whether this was an intentional leak or the site accidentally broke embargo on the pre-recorded video, since the video was taken down shortly after being published on Blick's official Facebook page and there's currently nothing regarding both devices on their website. But if you would like to have a look at the video yourself, you can have a look at a video mirror here. Both of these phones will be officially announced this Thursday, so be sure to stay tuned to XDA to know more about the U11+ and the U11 Life as soon as they are announced.


Source: Blick (Mirror) Via: /r/android



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HTC U11+ & U11 Life Appear in Hands-On Video Ahead of Launch Event

It’s now 2 days until HTC officially announces their final 2017 devices, the flagship HTC U11+ (with a larger 6″ 18:9 LCD display and key improvements over the regular U11) and the mid-range HTC U11 Life (an Android One device with a Snapdragon 630 SoC many U11 features at a cheaper price point). As we approach launch day, the rumor mill starts turning faster and faster. Both the HTC U11+ and the U11 Life have been leaked in full during the past few days, so we already know what to expect from HTC’s launch event. This time around, though, both devices have appeared in a full hands-on video before their release.

A German-language news outlet called Blick has managed to get a hold of the HTC U11+ and HTC U11 Life, giving us a close look at what is going to be announced on Thursday.


HTC U11+: HTC Hops into the 18:9 Trend

HTC U11+ translucentThe star of the show will, obviously, be the HTC U11+, HTC’s latest flagship refresh which will be marketed as the superior alternative to the U11. The video confirms that the device will feature a 6″ QHD+ display with considerably reduced screen bezels as well as wireless charging capabilities, contextually aware Edge Sense, and a mammoth ~4000 mAh battery while keeping the water resistance rating. The phone also adds some extra software features like a rotary-dial like app shortcut reachability feature which can be accessed by long-pressing the frame.

The device will also come in a translucent version together with the regular color options. This translucent version, while it’s not completely transparent like JerryRigEverything’s clear back mods, does leave the wireless charging coil and other internal components visible from the back of the phone. The phone will be available in a 128 GB storage configuration, but it’s not clear yet whether we’ll find other storage configurations like on the U11.

There are also some visible improvements that are not directly referenced in the video, however. For example, the phone in the video sports the stock white Android Oreo notification shade with Sense UI icons and the Sense Home launcher features what looks like adaptive icons for Dialer, Messages, Camera, and Google Chrome. While the Android version is never directly shown during the video, these two things, together with the previous rumors that the device was launching with the newest version of Android, give us some fair confidence that the U11+ will indeed launch with Android 8.0 out of the box. And this would mean that users will be able to take advantage of other added benefits, like Project Treble for better update support.

HTC U11 Life: An Android One Mid-ranger with Some Flagship Features

HTC U11 Life Android OneThe black edition of the HTC U11 Life, the HTC U11’s upcoming mid-range little brother, is also depicted in the video. The first thing we notice is that the phone swaps the glass back found in the U11 and U11+ for a much more modest polycarbonate back, likely to keep costs low, and downsizes the U11’s 5.5-inch display for a 5.2″ panel. It does feature Edge Sense and other features found in the U11 and U11+, though.

However, the similarities end there. The main seen difference between both devices, aside from the external looks, is the radically different software. That’s because the U11 Life is a part of the Android One program, and as such, the phone runs stock Android (with some HTC additions like the camera app) instead of HTC’s own Sense UI skin. Previous rumors said that the phone would come in both Android One and retail editions, featuring stock Android 8.0 and Sense Android 7.1 respectively, so there’s no surprises here.


Pricing

Finally, the video also covers the pricing aspect for both devices. The HTC U11+ will retail in Switzerland at a hefty 849 Swiss Francs, which equals 851 dollars, while the HTC U11 Life will retail for a much more modest 349 Swiss Francs ($350). We can expect the HTC U11+ to retail for something like $699 or $749 in the United States given the typical pricing disparity. The U11 Life’s $350 price tag, however, is something we can expect for the US as well, given that its direct competitor, the Moto X4, is available for $399.

It is not clear yet whether this was an intentional leak or the site accidentally broke embargo on the pre-recorded video, since the video was taken down shortly after being published on Blick‘s official Facebook page and there’s currently nothing regarding both devices on their website. But if you would like to have a look at the video yourself, you can have a look at a video mirror here. Both of these phones will be officially announced this Thursday, so be sure to stay tuned to XDA to know more about the U11+ and the U11 Life as soon as they are announced.


Source: Blick (Mirror) Via: /r/android



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Create Custom Voice Activated Hotwords for Tasker with the Hotword Plugin

Many have wondered why Google doesn't allow you to create custom hotwords for its voice assistant when other OEMs like Motorola do. Thankfully, we can handle the issue ourselves with the help of Tasker and this new free plugin called Hotword Plugin. The Tasker plugin is from XDA Senior Member Humpie and it uses Snowboy Hotword to listen to audio from the mic and process it completely locally. Different hotword models can be trained on the Snowboy website and you can then import them directly into the plugin. Check it out!

Hotword Plugin Free [Tasker] (Free, XDA Labs) →


Check out the Hotword Plugin in our Tasker Tips & Tricks forum



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Create Custom Voice Activated Hotwords for Tasker with the Hotword Plugin

Many have wondered why Google doesn’t allow you to create custom hotwords for its voice assistant when other OEMs like Motorola do. Thankfully, we can handle the issue ourselves with the help of Tasker and this new free plugin called Hotword Plugin. The Tasker plugin is from XDA Senior Member Humpie and it uses Snowboy Hotword to listen to audio from the mic and process it completely locally. Different hotword models can be trained on the Snowboy website and you can then import them directly into the plugin. Check it out!

Hotword Plugin Free [Tasker] (Free, XDA Labs) →


Check out the Hotword Plugin in our Tasker Tips & Tricks forum



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Get the New Pixel 2 Boot Animation on Any Device (Flashable Zip)

Just a few weeks after the Pixel 2 and 2 XL launch, we've managed to show you how you can easily get many of the Pixel 2's "exclusive" software features on your device. That includes the new Pixel Launcher with the bottom search bar, updated Google Camera app with Portrait Mode and Motion Photo, as well as the new Google Wallpaper app which brings the much-requested Beach Live wallpaper.

Now, thanks to XDA Senior Member Rishi2906, you can also enjoy the Pixel 2 boot animation on your device, as long as you have a custom recovery installed. If you want to give it a shot, the flashable zip and installation instructions can be found in the main thread linked below. Go check it out!


Download Pixel 2 boot animation for your device from our forums!

 



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Get the New Pixel 2 Boot Animation on Any Device (Flashable Zip)

Just a few weeks after the Pixel 2 and 2 XL launch, we’ve managed to show you how you can easily get many of the Pixel 2’s “exclusive” software features on your device. That includes the new Pixel Launcher with the bottom search bar, updated Google Camera app with Portrait Mode and Motion Photo, as well as the new Google Wallpaper app which brings the much-requested Beach Live wallpaper.

Now, thanks to XDA Senior Member Rishi2906, you can also enjoy the Pixel 2 boot animation on your device, as long as you have a custom recovery installed. If you want to give it a shot, the flashable zip and installation instructions can be found in the main thread linked below. Go check it out!


Download Pixel 2 boot animation for your device from our forums!

 



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Google has Resolved Android 8.1 Developer Preview 1 Installation Issues

Google released Android 8.1 Developer Preview a few days back and the stable version of the maintenance release for Android Oreo will be released in December. However, shortly after releasing the update, a myriad of Pixel and Pixel 2 owners who opted in the Google Beta Program reported they were not able to install the latest beta update.

Update Failed Message Android 8.1

The message users are getting after trying to install Android 8.1

Some users who went ahead with the installation of the downloaded OTA update reported failure in completion of the installation after which the phone reverted back to Android 8.0.

The good news is that Google has confirmed that an OTA update has been issued which fixes the Android 8.1 Oreo OTA installation problems. In a post on the Google product forum, the Google Community Manager of the Pixel User Community has stated the following:

"This issue has been resolved. For those of you that faced the issue and were reverted back to 8.0, you will be offered a new OTA (which is rolling out now). Thanks to all of those that sent up reports, and helped us get to the bottom of this."

Orrin - Community Manager

Users participating in the Google Beta program who have earlier been reverted back to Android 8.0 following a failure in the installation process should be receiving another notification for a new OTA update. According to Google, it should now be a straightforward task for users to install the OTA beta update on their compatible smartphones.

At this time users who want to install the OTA beta update can do so by enrolling in the Android beta program or alternately manually flashing the full factory images onto an unlocked bootloader. The points to be noted here are that this method of manual flashing requires an unlocked bootloader and also that users would simultaneously lose the assurance of OTA updates for future beta builds.

Our take is that this latest solution by Google to solve the teething issues faced by the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL should temper the disappointment of disheartened users. The company will be relieved to tick off one of the stacked problems that have plagued the tech giant in the recent few weeks surrounding the release of its latest flagship smartphones.


Source: Pixel User Community
Via: SMArena



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Google has Resolved Android 8.1 Developer Preview 1 Installation Issues

Fast Pair Enables Quick Bluetooth Pairing with Compatible Devices

Some like to point at how long it takes for major versions of Android to roll out as a fragmentation issue. While that is definitely something that needs to be worked on, a lot of new features can come from Google Play Services updates. These new updates are rolled out via the Play Store and quickly reach the majority of active devices on the market. Today, Google has announced a new Google Play Services feature called Fast Pair that will be added to Android 6.0+ devices running version 11.7 or higher of Google Play Services.

Bluetooth pairing can be a hassle for some people but thankfully it doesn’t need to be done frequently. Still, opening up that new pair of headphones or needing to switch from one device to another can be much more inconvenient than just plugging in a 3.5mm headphone jack. To make this process faster and easier, Google has just announced the Fast Pair feature that enables discovery and pairing of compatible devices with ease for those running Android 6.0+ with the latest version of Google Play Services.

Fast Pair

I say compatible devices because this feature is currently only possible with the Google Pixel Buds or Libratone’s Q Adapt On-Ear headphones at this time. Soon, you’ll also be able to achieve this with the Plantronics Voyager 8200 series wireless headsets though but as we can see the device selection is rather limited. Fast Pair uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to advertise and discover compatible devices and then pairs them the traditional way.

The compatible headset needs to be in close proximity to the smartphone or tablet you wish to pair it with. Then you’ll receive a Nearby notification as shown in the image above. Simply tap on that notification and you’ll see that transition to a pairing notification which will then go away once it has been paired successfully.


Source: Android Developer’s Blog



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Fast Pair Enables Quick Bluetooth Pairing with Compatible Devices

Some like to point at how long it takes for major versions of Android to roll out as a fragmentation issue. While that is definitely something that needs to be worked on, a lot of new features can come from Google Play Services updates. These new updates are rolled out via the Play Store and quickly reach the majority of active devices on the market. Today, Google has announced a new Google Play Services feature called Fast Pair that will be added to Android 6.0+ devices running version 11.7 or higher of Google Play Services.

Bluetooth pairing can be a hassle for some people but thankfully it doesn't need to be done frequently. Still, opening up that new pair of headphones or needing to switch from one device to another can be much more inconvenient than just plugging in a 3.5mm headphone jack. To make this process faster and easier, Google has just announced the Fast Pair feature that enables discovery and pairing of compatible devices with ease for those running Android 6.0+ with the latest version of Google Play Services.

Fast Pair

I say compatible devices because this feature is currently only possible with the Google Pixel Buds or Libratone's Q Adapt On-Ear headphones at this time. Soon, you'll also be able to achieve this with the Plantronics Voyager 8200 series wireless headsets though but as we can see the device selection is rather limited. Fast Pair uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to advertise and discover compatible devices and then pairs them the traditional way.

The compatible headset needs to be in close proximity to the smartphone or tablet you wish to pair it with. Then you'll receive a Nearby notification as shown in the image above. Simply tap on that notification and you'll see that transition to a pairing notification which will then go away once it has been paired successfully.


Source: Android Developer's Blog



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Google Issue Tracker Exploit Allowed the Viewing of Unpatched Vulnerabilities

Google recently launched a new Issue Tracker and with all new pieces of software, there are bound to be various bugs that may not have been brought to the attention of the developers. Recently, a security researcher named Alex Birsan started noticing his vulnerability reports were being handled by opening a thread within the platform. Inciting his curiosity, the researcher started trying to "break it" and what resulted was a bug that allowed someone to view a full list of known, unpatched vulnerabilities within Google.

Many of us are familiar with Android's monthly security updates as we talk about them each and every month. But some people may not realize the process that goes into this entire cycle. What generally happens is the security researcher finds the vulnerability, contacts Google about it and then has it verified through the Android bounty program. The two parties agree to time frame as to when they can go public with it and by then Google is generally able to get the patches to 3rd-party OEMs a month before they begin updating their Nexus and Pixel devices.

This means that at any given time the Google Issue Tracker has a list of vulnerabilities that are unpatched and that can be quite dangerous in the hands of the wrong person. This doesn't only happen with Android devices either since Google uses this Issue Tracker for all of its services. Mr. Birsan found three vulnerabilities within the Google Issue Tracker with the largest of the three allowing them to see a full list of known, unpatched vulnerabilities within Google.

Thankfully Mr. Birsan contacted Google about these vulnerabilities and Google was very quick to respond and fix them (within hours). The company says that so far, there hasn't been any evidence discovered that would lead them to believe someone else found the bugs and exploited them. For those who are more interested in the details, you'll definitely want to read through his experience on his recent Medium article.


Via: Motherboard Source: @alex.birsan



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Google Issue Tracker Exploit Allowed the Viewing of Unpatched Vulnerabilities

Google recently launched a new Issue Tracker and with all new pieces of software, there are bound to be various bugs that may not have been brought to the attention of the developers. Recently, a security researcher named Alex Birsan started noticing his vulnerability reports were being handled by opening a thread within the platform. Inciting his curiosity, the researcher started trying to “break it” and what resulted was a bug that allowed someone to view a full list of known, unpatched vulnerabilities within Google.

Many of us are familiar with Android’s monthly security updates as we talk about them each and every month. But some people may not realize the process that goes into this entire cycle. What generally happens is the security researcher finds the vulnerability, contacts Google about it and then has it verified through the Android bounty program. The two parties agree to time frame as to when they can go public with it and by then Google is generally able to get the patches to 3rd-party OEMs a month before they begin updating their Nexus and Pixel devices.

This means that at any given time the Google Issue Tracker has a list of vulnerabilities that are unpatched and that can be quite dangerous in the hands of the wrong person. This doesn’t only happen with Android devices either since Google uses this Issue Tracker for all of its services. Mr. Birsan found three vulnerabilities within the Google Issue Tracker with the largest of the three allowing them to see a full list of known, unpatched vulnerabilities within Google.

Thankfully Mr. Birsan contacted Google about these vulnerabilities and Google was very quick to respond and fix them (within hours). The company says that so far, there hasn’t been any evidence discovered that would lead them to believe someone else found the bugs and exploited them. For those who are more interested in the details, you’ll definitely want to read through his experience on his recent Medium article.


Via: Motherboard Source: @alex.birsan



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Kickstart a Lucrative Career in IT with This Comprehensive Training Bundle

Few industries offer more career opportunities than IT. Whether it’s increasingly competitive salaries, more job availability and flexibility, or job security, IT sets itself apart from a slew of other career fields.

It’s for these reasons, however, that IT has experienced a boom, especially for newcomers. Those who are interested in entering this exciting and lucrative industry are often discouraged by costly graduate school fees, and the idea of spending thousands of hours in a classroom.

But you don’t need to invest countless hours and just as many dollars in a formal degree to land a career in IT. The Comprehensive IT Career Kickstarter Bundle will prepare you for the top IT certifications that employers respect for just $49.

Any successful career in IT starts with a CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) certification, which proves to potential employers that you have what it takes to work with a wide variety of tech platforms and systems.

With 11 in-depth courses provided by world-renowned iCollege instructors, this bundle will walk you through everything you need to know in order to ace the CompTIA A+, Network+, Cloud+, Project+, and Security+ certification exams, while teaching you the ins and outs of server installation, administration, and much more.

Don’t waste your money on a time-consuming and antiquated IT degree. The Comprehensive IT Career Kickstarter Bundle will give you the skills you need to be competitive in the field for a tiny fraction of tuition at just $49—over 95% off for a limited time.



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Android 8.1 Lets Users Restore Data After Initial Device Setup

In Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google added the option to backup app data, device settings, call history and SMS messages to Google Drive, thus significantly removing one of the major pain points which had existed in Android for years. To restore app data, users had been relying on solutions which required root such as Titanium Backup. To restore call history and SMS messages, users had to rely on different apps as well, and so on. The feature addition in Marshmallow was a much-needed move, as it increased convenience for users and allowed them to change devices without having to lose their data or go out of their way to restore it.

However, the problem with restoring data until now was that the option to restore data was only present during the initial device setup. Once users had setup their devices, they could not restore their data from the cloud. If they skipped the option during the setup, they were out of luck if they wanted to restore the backed up data at a later point in time. The only option, in this case, would be to factory reset the device again. Some users even had their restoration process halt or fail, leaving them unable to get their backed data on the device even if they chose to restore it from Google Drive.

Android 8.1 Oreo rectifies this by adding an option to finish restoring data even after the initial device setup has completed. The new option is visible as a banner in the ‘Suggestions’ section of the Android Settings app. Once users tap on the option, they are presented with the choice to either restore from the web (cloud storage), or to restore data from an iPhone.

Android 8.1 Restore Data Android 8.1 Restore Data from Backup Android 8.1 Restore Data from Backup

 

When they choose “backup from the cloud” option, their backed up data is visible and users can choose which portions to restore from app data, device settings, call history, SMS messages, etc. Users can then choose to restore any specific portion or to restore everything from the backup.

Our take on this is that the new option polishes Google’s backup and restore capabilities. At one time, stock Android’s capabilities were lacking here, as custom OEM ROMs such as MIUI already have a full device backup and restore tool, which can be used anytime, not just during the initial device setup. Now, Google has caught up in this regard. This new capability will be part of the stable version of Android 8.1 Oreo, which will be released in December.


Source: Henry Roggy
Via: Android Police



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Kickstart a Lucrative Career in IT with This Comprehensive Training Bundle

Few industries offer more career opportunities than IT. Whether it's increasingly competitive salaries, more job availability and flexibility, or job security, IT sets itself apart from a slew of other career fields.

It's for these reasons, however, that IT has experienced a boom, especially for newcomers. Those who are interested in entering this exciting and lucrative industry are often discouraged by costly graduate school fees, and the idea of spending thousands of hours in a classroom.

But you don't need to invest countless hours and just as many dollars in a formal degree to land a career in IT. The Comprehensive IT Career Kickstarter Bundle will prepare you for the top IT certifications that employers respect for just $49.

Any successful career in IT starts with a CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) certification, which proves to potential employers that you have what it takes to work with a wide variety of tech platforms and systems.

With 11 in-depth courses provided by world-renowned iCollege instructors, this bundle will walk you through everything you need to know in order to ace the CompTIA A+, Network+, Cloud+, Project+, and Security+ certification exams, while teaching you the ins and outs of server installation, administration, and much more.

Don't waste your money on a time-consuming and antiquated IT degree. The Comprehensive IT Career Kickstarter Bundle will give you the skills you need to be competitive in the field for a tiny fraction of tuition at just $49—over 95% off for a limited time.



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via IFTTT

Android 8.1 Lets Users Restore Data After Initial Device Setup

In Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google added the option to backup app data, device settings, call history and SMS messages to Google Drive, thus significantly removing one of the major pain points which had existed in Android for years. To restore app data, users had been relying on solutions which required root such as Titanium Backup. To restore call history and SMS messages, users had to rely on different apps as well, and so on. The feature addition in Marshmallow was a much-needed move, as it increased convenience for users and allowed them to change devices without having to lose their data or go out of their way to restore it.

However, the problem with restoring data until now was that the option to restore data was only present during the initial device setup. Once users had setup their devices, they could not restore their data from the cloud. If they skipped the option during the setup, they were out of luck if they wanted to restore the backed up data at a later point in time. The only option, in this case, would be to factory reset the device again. Some users even had their restoration process halt or fail, leaving them unable to get their backed data on the device even if they chose to restore it from Google Drive.

Android 8.1 Oreo rectifies this by adding an option to finish restoring data even after the initial device setup has completed. The new option is visible as a banner in the 'Suggestions' section of the Android Settings app. Once users tap on the option, they are presented with the choice to either restore from the web (cloud storage), or to restore data from an iPhone.

Android 8.1 Restore Data Android 8.1 Restore Data from Backup Android 8.1 Restore Data from Backup

 

When they choose "backup from the cloud" option, their backed up data is visible and users can choose which portions to restore from app data, device settings, call history, SMS messages, etc. Users can then choose to restore any specific portion or to restore everything from the backup.

Our take on this is that the new option polishes Google's backup and restore capabilities. At one time, stock Android's capabilities were lacking here, as custom OEM ROMs such as MIUI already have a full device backup and restore tool, which can be used anytime, not just during the initial device setup. Now, Google has caught up in this regard. This new capability will be part of the stable version of Android 8.1 Oreo, which will be released in December.


Source: Henry Roggy
Via: Android Police



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Remap Bixby Button with bxActions

Eric has a tutorial for anyone who wants to get more from their dedicated Bixby button. This video shows you how to remap your button to use it with other apps, or disable it altogether.

bxActions Official Thread bxActions on the Play store



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Remap Bixby Button with bxActions

Eric has a tutorial for anyone who wants to get more from their dedicated Bixby button. This video shows you how to remap your button to use it with other apps, or disable it altogether.

bxActions Official Thread bxActions on the Play store



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Google is Adding AAC Bluetooth Audio Codec for All Devices in AOSP

Android has been criticized in the past for the way Bluetooth as a whole performs on Google's mobile platform. Some people have issues getting Bluetooth devices to connect properly, others have come across audio playback skipping and there's also been complaints about the audio quality itself. With the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack it seems Google is doing more work to improve the Bluetooth audio experience and we've just noticed they are adding the AAC Bluetooth audio codec for all devices via AOSP.

Just this month, we've seen two big changes happening to Bluetooth on the Android OS platform that many have been asking about for years. We first shared some commits that we had uncovered that show you will soon be able to initiate a conversation with the Google Assistant and end it entirely with your voice on devices with the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP).  Sadly, some have also experienced audio skipping during Bluetooth playback when the device is under high load. To relieve this issue, Google is working to grant real-time CPU scheduling of the Bluetooth audio playback.

These two changes go a long way to improving the Bluetooth audio experience on Android but Google's work doesn't seem to be stopping there. Some new commits merged to AOSP show that Google is adding the AAC Bluetooth audio codec to all devices. Granted, this doesn't mean that it will show up on every device running a new version of Android, but it should help make the decision to implement it easier on the OEM.

For example, the OnePlus 5 only has the option to choose between aptX, aptX HD, and SBC. Then, when we look at the Pixel phones from Google (both first and 2nd generation running Android 8.0 Oreo), we can see that we can choose between SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC Bluetooth audio codecs.


 



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Google is Adding AAC Bluetooth Audio Codec for All Devices in AOSP

Android has been criticized in the past for the way Bluetooth as a whole performs on Google’s mobile platform. Some people have issues getting Bluetooth devices to connect properly, others have come across audio playback skipping and there’s also been complaints about the audio quality itself. With the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL dropping the 3.5mm headphone jack it seems Google is doing more work to improve the Bluetooth audio experience and we’ve just noticed they are adding the AAC Bluetooth audio codec for all devices via AOSP.

Just this month, we’ve seen two big changes happening to Bluetooth on the Android OS platform that many have been asking about for years. We first shared some commits that we had uncovered that show you will soon be able to initiate a conversation with the Google Assistant and end it entirely with your voice on devices with the Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile (HFP).  Sadly, some have also experienced audio skipping during Bluetooth playback when the device is under high load. To relieve this issue, Google is working to grant real-time CPU scheduling of the Bluetooth audio playback.

These two changes go a long way to improving the Bluetooth audio experience on Android but Google’s work doesn’t seem to be stopping there. Some new commits merged to AOSP show that Google is adding the AAC Bluetooth audio codec to all devices. Granted, this doesn’t mean that it will show up on every device running a new version of Android, but it should help make the decision to implement it easier on the OEM.

For example, the OnePlus 5 only has the option to choose between aptX, aptX HD, and SBC. Then, when we look at the Pixel phones from Google (both first and 2nd generation running Android 8.0 Oreo), we can see that we can choose between SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC Bluetooth audio codecs.


 



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Asus Announces the ZenFone 4 Pro, the ZenFone 4, and the ZenFone 4 Max for North America

Asus has launched the ZenFone 4 series in North America. To be precise, the ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, and ZenFone 4 Max are now available in the United States. Asus states they are the first family of smartphones to all have dual cameras. The price range of these devices goes from $169 for the 5.2-inch ZenFone 4 Max) and all the way to $599 for the flagship ZenFone 4 Pro.

Asus ZenFone 4 Pro

The ZenFone 4 Pro is the flagship offering from Asus in 2017. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot powering a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920×1080) AMOLED display. For the main camera, the 4 Pro features a 12MP primary rear camera with a 1/2.55-inch sensor, 1.4 micron pixels, f/1.7 aperture, and OIS, combined with a 16MP 2x optical zoom camera. The front facing camera is 8MP, and the battery capacity is 3,600mAh. Software-wise, all three phones are identical, as they are powered by Android Nougat with ZenUI 4.0. Asus will be delivering an update to Android Oreo for these phones as well.

Moving on, the ZenFone 4 is the mid-range option with a price tag of $399. This device packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot,  and sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display. For the rear camera, we have 12MP primary camera with a Sony IMX362 sensor, 1.4 micron pixels, and a f/1.8 aperture combined with an 8MP wide-angle camera with 120 degree wide-angle lens. The front facing camera is 8MP, and the battery size is 3,300mAh. The phone comes in two colors: midnight black and moonlight white.

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max

Finally, for the budget price segment, Asus has launched two versions of the ZenFone 4 Max. They are intended for users who want excellent battery life and good camera quality, just like previous phones launched in the ZenFone Max series. The 5.2-inch version ($169) has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display. Its camera setup consists of a 13MP primary rear camera with a 5MP 120 degree wide-angle camera, 8MP front facing camera with flash, and it packs a huge 4,100mAh battery with support for fast charging.

The 5.5-inch version ($199.), on the other hand, has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage (and a microSD card slot), a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display. For its camera setup, it brings a 13MP primary rear camera with a 5MP 120 degree wide-angle camera, 8MP front facing camera with flash. Finally, it also comes with an enormous 5,000mAh battery.

The ZenFone 4 series is now on sale today at major retailers such as Asus Store, B&H, Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and others in the United States.


Source: Asus
Via: The Verge



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Asus Announces the ZenFone 4 Pro, the ZenFone 4, and the ZenFone 4 Max for North America

Asus has launched the ZenFone 4 series in North America. To be precise, the ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, and ZenFone 4 Max are now available in the United States. Asus states they are the first family of smartphones to all have dual cameras. The price range of these devices goes from $169 for the 5.2-inch ZenFone 4 Max) and all the way to $599 for the flagship ZenFone 4 Pro.

Asus ZenFone 4 Pro

The ZenFone 4 Pro is the flagship offering from Asus in 2017. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC, 6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot powering a 5.5-inch Full HD (1920×1080) AMOLED display. For the main camera, the 4 Pro features a 12MP primary rear camera with a 1/2.55-inch sensor, 1.4 micron pixels, f/1.7 aperture, and OIS, combined with a 16MP 2x optical zoom camera. The front facing camera is 8MP, and the battery capacity is 3,600mAh. Software-wise, all three phones are identical, as they are powered by Android Nougat with ZenUI 4.0. Asus will be delivering an update to Android Oreo for these phones as well.

Moving on, the ZenFone 4 is the mid-range option with a price tag of $399. This device packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage with a microSD card slot,  and sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display. For the rear camera, we have 12MP primary camera with a Sony IMX362 sensor, 1.4 micron pixels, and a f/1.8 aperture combined with an 8MP wide-angle camera with 120 degree wide-angle lens. The front facing camera is 8MP, and the battery size is 3,300mAh. The phone comes in two colors: midnight black and moonlight white.

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max

Finally, for the budget price segment, Asus has launched two versions of the ZenFone 4 Max. They are intended for users who want excellent battery life and good camera quality, just like previous phones launched in the ZenFone Max series. The 5.2-inch version ($169) has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display. Its camera setup consists of a 13MP primary rear camera with a 5MP 120 degree wide-angle camera, 8MP front facing camera with flash, and it packs a huge 4,100mAh battery with support for fast charging.

The 5.5-inch version ($199.), on the other hand, has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, 3GB of RAM with 32GB of storage (and a microSD card slot), a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display. For its camera setup, it brings a 13MP primary rear camera with a 5MP 120 degree wide-angle camera, 8MP front facing camera with flash. Finally, it also comes with an enormous 5,000mAh battery.

The ZenFone 4 series is now on sale today at major retailers such as Asus Store, B&H, Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and others in the United States.


Source: Asus
Via: The Verge



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T-Mobile & Sprint Merger Efforts Have Been Reportedly Dropped

A few months back, we reported that T-Mobile and Sprint were in talks for a potential merger, months after a previous attempt. Previously, problems relating to the US Department of Justice may have posed a problem to the telecom giants in America, but doubts about the Trump administration's views meant that the merge may have been able to go ahead. Now it seems that the potential merger has been dropped entirely, largely due to how much control of the Sprint telecom SoftBank would have to give to Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile. SoftBank's chairman and founder, Masayoshi Son, allegedly is afraid of giving up too much control of the company. Not only that, it seems that the two firms struggled to come to an agreement on the valuation of Sprint's shares. Talks may still be revived at any time, but for now, sources close to the companies claim talks have been dropped.

The previously mentioned reaction of the stock market towards Sprint's shares may also come into consideration. Sprint's shares have dropped for months, along with the profitability of the firm. The company has been hemorrhaging money for several years now, and that coupled with its dropping share prices means that the companies cannot agree on a valuation of Sprint's shares. People close to Sprint claim that the company now wishes to invest money into its services. T-Mobile's shares have dropped recently too, as a result of this potential union being allegedly dropped. However the company has been in a much stronger position than its prospective merger in recent years.

We'll see if talks pick up again between the companies, but for now, it seems the deal is off. This is a good thing for those who may have been afraid of a stronger oligopoly in the American telecoms market, so we'll see what happens next.


Source:
The Wallstreet Journal



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T-Mobile & Sprint Merger Efforts Have Been Reportedly Dropped

A few months back, we reported that T-Mobile and Sprint were in talks for a potential merger, months after a previous attempt. Previously, problems relating to the US Department of Justice may have posed a problem to the telecom giants in America, but doubts about the Trump administration’s views meant that the merge may have been able to go ahead. Now it seems that the potential merger has been dropped entirely, largely due to how much control of the Sprint telecom SoftBank would have to give to Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile. SoftBank’s chairman and founder, Masayoshi Son, allegedly is afraid of giving up too much control of the company. Not only that, it seems that the two firms struggled to come to an agreement on the valuation of Sprint’s shares. Talks may still be revived at any time, but for now, sources close to the companies claim talks have been dropped.

The previously mentioned reaction of the stock market towards Sprint’s shares may also come into consideration. Sprint’s shares have dropped for months, along with the profitability of the firm. The company has been hemorrhaging money for several years now, and that coupled with its dropping share prices means that the companies cannot agree on a valuation of Sprint’s shares. People close to Sprint claim that the company now wishes to invest money into its services. T-Mobile’s shares have dropped recently too, as a result of this potential union being allegedly dropped. However the company has been in a much stronger position than its prospective merger in recent years.

We’ll see if talks pick up again between the companies, but for now, it seems the deal is off. This is a good thing for those who may have been afraid of a stronger oligopoly in the American telecoms market, so we’ll see what happens next.


Source:
The Wallstreet Journal



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The Upcoming HTC U11 Life Leaks in Full, Courtesy of T-Mobile

HTC is now preparing for an event on Thursday, where they'll announce new additions to the HTC U lineup. The star of the show will allegedly be the HTC U11+, which is pretty much a revision of the critically acclaimed HTC U11, swapping the 5.5″ 16:9 display for a bigger 6″ display with a beefier battery to match. But we're also getting a midrange device: the HTC U11 Life, which will allegedly also be sold as an Android One device. T-Mobile has now told us all we need to know about the HTC U11 Life, which has accidentally popped up on their support website.

The T-Mobile support website pretty much confirms most of the rumors we've heard until now. We're getting a Snapdragon 630 processor, which should provide plenty of horsepower for the average customer, coupled with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion. Specwise, it's identical to the Motorola Moto X4 (which also offers its own Android One flavor). However, similarities mostly end there.

While the Moto X4 features dual cameras on the back, the U11 Life has 16 MP sensors (single) on both the back and the front. A 3,000 mAh battery powers Motorola's midrange device, while the HTC equivalent downgrades to a smaller – and rather lackluster – 2,600 mAh battery. However, there are some discrepancies with the rumored specs, mainly in the software. The phone, which is rumored to come with a clean stock build of Android 8.0 (as a part of the Android One program), seems to be instead powered by the same software as the U11: Android 7.1.1 with the Sense UI skin, as well as Amazon Alexa and Sense Companion as add-on voice assistants.

Now, this does not mean that's the software that is going to run on all U11 Life devices. As it was the case with the Moto X4, we'll could be seeing both a retail model with the stock software sold at retailers and carriers and an Android One model with the Google-supervised software sold exclusively through the Google Store/Project Fi. But, this does mean that those getting the retail model will be dealing with an arguably inferior software experience, as well as slower updates and very possibly a lower Android version (if the Android One model does come with Android Oreo after all) out of the box.

The support page was pulled just as quickly as it came online, but if you'd still like to have a look at it, you can check out an archived version here.


Source: Android Police



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The Upcoming HTC U11 Life Leaks in Full, Courtesy of T-Mobile

HTC is now preparing for an event on Thursday, where they’ll announce new additions to the HTC U lineup. The star of the show will allegedly be the HTC U11+, which is pretty much a revision of the critically acclaimed HTC U11, swapping the 5.5″ 16:9 display for a bigger 6″ display with a beefier battery to match. But we’re also getting a midrange device: the HTC U11 Life, which will allegedly also be sold as an Android One device. T-Mobile has now told us all we need to know about the HTC U11 Life, which has accidentally popped up on their support website.

The T-Mobile support website pretty much confirms most of the rumors we’ve heard until now. We’re getting a Snapdragon 630 processor, which should provide plenty of horsepower for the average customer, coupled with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage with microSD expansion. Specwise, it’s identical to the Motorola Moto X4 (which also offers its own Android One flavor). However, similarities mostly end there.

While the Moto X4 features dual cameras on the back, the U11 Life has 16 MP sensors (single) on both the back and the front. A 3,000 mAh battery powers Motorola’s midrange device, while the HTC equivalent downgrades to a smaller – and rather lackluster – 2,600 mAh battery. However, there are some discrepancies with the rumored specs, mainly in the software. The phone, which is rumored to come with a clean stock build of Android 8.0 (as a part of the Android One program), seems to be instead powered by the same software as the U11: Android 7.1.1 with the Sense UI skin, as well as Amazon Alexa and Sense Companion as add-on voice assistants.

Now, this does not mean that’s the software that is going to run on all U11 Life devices. As it was the case with the Moto X4, we’ll could be seeing both a retail model with the stock software sold at retailers and carriers and an Android One model with the Google-supervised software sold exclusively through the Google Store/Project Fi. But, this does mean that those getting the retail model will be dealing with an arguably inferior software experience, as well as slower updates and very possibly a lower Android version (if the Android One model does come with Android Oreo after all) out of the box.

The support page was pulled just as quickly as it came online, but if you’d still like to have a look at it, you can check out an archived version here.


Source: Android Police



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NVIDIA SHIELD Experience 6.1 Rolling Out with New Assistant Actions, IR Remote Controls, New YouTube TV App, and More

Roughly a month ago, NVIDIA began rolling out yet another major version update, the NVIDIA SHIELD Experience 6.0, to the NVIDIA Shield TV. While it didn't bring a major Android version bump or any UI changes, it did bring with it two important improvements. First off, we got Google Assistant support, bringing the conversational voice assistant to NVIDIA's Android TV-powered device. And we also received SmartThings support, which gives the Shield TV the ability to work as a SmartThings hub for your smart home, and allows you to control different (previously paired) smart components of your home, like your thermostat or your lights. NVIDIA is now rolling out yet another update, which further improves the previously introduced features while adding other enhancements.

With this SHIELD Experience 6.1 update, Google Assistant keeps getting smarter for US owners of the Shield TV. Now you can use your voice to navigate, open shows and control playback on Hulu, as well as ordering takeout food or Uber rides and shopping at Target, Costco, Walmart, and more. The update also adds support for TV on/off over IR for the SHIELD Remote, by tapping home + back, together with support for the recently launched YouTube TV app for Android TV devices.

The update also brings security patches, including a patch for the dreaded KRACK vulnerability, as well as some minor bug fixes, features and improvements. So, if you own an NVIDIA Shield TV, remember that, as we said in the beginning of the article, the update is now rolling out globally so be sure to check for an update coming soon to your device. If you own other Android TV devices, like a Sony Bravia TV set, then you'll have to wait for news from your manufacturer if you'd like to get YouTube TV and other features on your TV set. As always, we're looking forward to new updates for this device.


Source:
GeForce Forums



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NVIDIA SHIELD Experience 6.1 Rolling Out with New Assistant Actions, IR Remote Controls, New YouTube TV App, and More

Roughly a month ago, NVIDIA began rolling out yet another major version update, the NVIDIA SHIELD Experience 6.0, to the NVIDIA Shield TV. While it didn’t bring a major Android version bump or any UI changes, it did bring with it two important improvements. First off, we got Google Assistant support, bringing the conversational voice assistant to NVIDIA’s Android TV-powered device. And we also received SmartThings support, which gives the Shield TV the ability to work as a SmartThings hub for your smart home, and allows you to control different (previously paired) smart components of your home, like your thermostat or your lights. NVIDIA is now rolling out yet another update, which further improves the previously introduced features while adding other enhancements.

With this SHIELD Experience 6.1 update, Google Assistant keeps getting smarter for US owners of the Shield TV. Now you can use your voice to navigate, open shows and control playback on Hulu, as well as ordering takeout food or Uber rides and shopping at Target, Costco, Walmart, and more. The update also adds support for TV on/off over IR for the SHIELD Remote, by tapping home + back, together with support for the recently launched YouTube TV app for Android TV devices.

The update also brings security patches, including a patch for the dreaded KRACK vulnerability, as well as some minor bug fixes, features and improvements. So, if you own an NVIDIA Shield TV, remember that, as we said in the beginning of the article, the update is now rolling out globally so be sure to check for an update coming soon to your device. If you own other Android TV devices, like a Sony Bravia TV set, then you’ll have to wait for news from your manufacturer if you’d like to get YouTube TV and other features on your TV set. As always, we’re looking forward to new updates for this device.


Source:
GeForce Forums



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The ZTE Axon M Will be Available for Purchase from AT&T Starting November 1st

The announcement of the ZTE Axon M phone, has taken many people by surprise despite its frequent leaks and rumors. Instead of going for a conventional smartphone with top-of-the-line specs, as everyone is currently doing, ZTE is instead going for a more "experimental" approach with their 2017 Axon flagship. That's why the Axon M, in true Nintendo DS fashion, features dual 5.2-inch LCD displays – one on the front and another one on the back – with a hinge that allows the phone to be folded like a book. The unusual (yet interesting) looking device is now right around the corner, and US customers might get a taste of the phone on AT&T as soon as Wednesday comes.

Suggested Reading: Hands-on with the ZTE Axon M – A Compelling Modern Dual Screen Smartphones

The ZTE Axon M will be available exclusively through AT&T in the United States, and customers will be able to order their device starting on November 1st, right after Halloween ends. You will be able to order it online through AT&T Next at 24.17$ a month during a 30-month device financing period, also giving away that the retail price for the device would be somewhere around $720. The device will also be available in stores starting on November 17, before the Christmas season kicks off.

It's still unclear whether the device will be available on other carriers, or even as a GSM unlocked model, sooner or later. However, given AT&T previous track record with exclusive devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, we wouldn't get our hopes too high. Also, AT&T devices are known to be bootloader locked, so if you're the kind of person who's into modding and rooting, then you're probably going to have to import an unlocked model. Otherwise, if you want to take advantage of AT&T financing or you're already using AT&T, you can order the phone from here starting Wednesday.


Source: PMNewsWire



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The ZTE Axon M Will be Available for Purchase from AT&T Starting November 1st

The announcement of the ZTE Axon M phone, has taken many people by surprise despite its frequent leaks and rumors. Instead of going for a conventional smartphone with top-of-the-line specs, as everyone is currently doing, ZTE is instead going for a more “experimental” approach with their 2017 Axon flagship. That’s why the Axon M, in true Nintendo DS fashion, features dual 5.2-inch LCD displays – one on the front and another one on the back – with a hinge that allows the phone to be folded like a book. The unusual (yet interesting) looking device is now right around the corner, and US customers might get a taste of the phone on AT&T as soon as Wednesday comes.

Suggested Reading: Hands-on with the ZTE Axon M – A Compelling Modern Dual Screen Smartphones

The ZTE Axon M will be available exclusively through AT&T in the United States, and customers will be able to order their device starting on November 1st, right after Halloween ends. You will be able to order it online through AT&T Next at 24.17$ a month during a 30-month device financing period, also giving away that the retail price for the device would be somewhere around $720. The device will also be available in stores starting on November 17, before the Christmas season kicks off.

It’s still unclear whether the device will be available on other carriers, or even as a GSM unlocked model, sooner or later. However, given AT&T previous track record with exclusive devices, like the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, we wouldn’t get our hopes too high. Also, AT&T devices are known to be bootloader locked, so if you’re the kind of person who’s into modding and rooting, then you’re probably going to have to import an unlocked model. Otherwise, if you want to take advantage of AT&T financing or you’re already using AT&T, you can order the phone from here starting Wednesday.


Source: PMNewsWire



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Essential Phone Receiving OTA That Fixes KRACK Vulnerability and Adds Fingerprint Gestures

Andy Rubin's Essential Phone announcement received a ton of hype it's easy to understand why. The man behind the company is considered "the father of Android", so many looked forward to experiencing his vision of a perfect (or essential) Android phone and ecosystem. As it turns out, the new startup has come across a number of issues since its announcement but at least there's some progress being made. The latest update to roll out to the Essential Phone patches the WPA2 KRACK vulnerability and it also adds fingerprint gestures as well.

One of the selling points of the Essential Phone was that it would be a pure Android experience. Therefore, we were to expect there wouldn't be any additional bloatware installed and that there wouldn't be an OEM ROM holding the phone back in terms of performance. Such barebones ROMs are great for those who love Stock Android, but the lack of features might turn some enthusiasts off as well should they be more used to something like OxygenOS.

Over time, we've seen the company roll out a number of OTA updates that have managed to improve various aspects of the device. The recent update which focused on camera quality likely stands out to most, since this was something that was really lacking in the past. As the team continues to work on Android, and the upcoming Oreo update, we're likely to see more refinements added and that is what we're seeing now with the latest OTA update being rolled out.

Those who are focused on security will be happy to see that this update (build NMJ20D) brings the highly anticipated patches that fix the WPA2 KRACK vulnerability. We're also seeing that fingerprint gestures support has been added as a feature. It also fixes the resolution/touch scrolling issues that have been reported by multiple users. This is definitely an update that you'll want to download and install immediately.

Let us know your thoughts on this update!


Source: @essential



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Essential Phone Receiving OTA That Fixes KRACK Vulnerability and Adds Fingerprint Gestures

Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone announcement received a ton of hype it’s easy to understand why. The man behind the company is considered “the father of Android”, so many looked forward to experiencing his vision of a perfect (or essential) Android phone and ecosystem. As it turns out, the new startup has come across a number of issues since its announcement but at least there’s some progress being made. The latest update to roll out to the Essential Phone patches the WPA2 KRACK vulnerability and it also adds fingerprint gestures as well.

One of the selling points of the Essential Phone was that it would be a pure Android experience. Therefore, we were to expect there wouldn’t be any additional bloatware installed and that there wouldn’t be an OEM ROM holding the phone back in terms of performance. Such barebones ROMs are great for those who love Stock Android, but the lack of features might turn some enthusiasts off as well should they be more used to something like OxygenOS.

Over time, we’ve seen the company roll out a number of OTA updates that have managed to improve various aspects of the device. The recent update which focused on camera quality likely stands out to most, since this was something that was really lacking in the past. As the team continues to work on Android, and the upcoming Oreo update, we’re likely to see more refinements added and that is what we’re seeing now with the latest OTA update being rolled out.

Those who are focused on security will be happy to see that this update (build NMJ20D) brings the highly anticipated patches that fix the WPA2 KRACK vulnerability. We’re also seeing that fingerprint gestures support has been added as a feature. It also fixes the resolution/touch scrolling issues that have been reported by multiple users. This is definitely an update that you’ll want to download and install immediately.

Let us know your thoughts on this update!


Source: @essential



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Nokia 2 with 4,100 mAh battery and Snapdragon 212 SoC Launched For €99

In its global launch event today in India, HMD Global unveiled their new Nokia 2 smartphone. The Nokia 2 is the latest entry in the Nokia lineup and its the 5th Nokia device to be launched in India. The launch of the Nokia 2 comes just after the company launched its latest flagship device, the Nokia 8, in India last month.

The Nokia 2 is an entry-level device aimed at first-time smartphone buyers. HMD Global says that the Nokia 2, while still maintaining its affordable price tag, doesn't cut corners on important aspects like display, build quality and camera performance, unlike other budget smartphones. The new smartphone is targeted at those making the first jump from feature phones to smartphones, promising to offer the same solid build quality, long-lasting battery life, and the kind of great long-lasting value they're used to seeing in feature phones.

The Nokia 2 features a 6000-series aluminum frame with a Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front and a polycarbonate back. On the front, the device also boasts a 5" HD LCD display with LTPS technology, which the company claims is up to 50% more power efficient when compared to other display technology such as IPS.

On the inside of the phone is the Qualcomm's entry-level Snapdragon 212 SoC, featuring 4x ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.3 GHz coupled with Adreno 304 GPU and the X5 LTE modem. You get 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 8GB of internal storage and it also comes with a microSD card slot for further storage expansion.

On the back, the Nokia 2 features an 8MP rear camera with automatic scene detection, autofocus and an LED flash while the front camera is a 5MP shooter for selfies. The device comes running a pure version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box and HMD Global promises that it will eventually receive an update to Android Oreo.

To keep the show running, the Nokia 2 packs a hefty 4,100 mAh battery, which the company claims can easily get you through 2 days of usage on a single charge.

Finally, the phone comes with 4G LTE support, Bluetooth 4.1, IP52 dust and drip protection, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a hybrid dual SIM slot. However, there is no fingerprint scanner on board, unfortunately.

Available in three colors —Copper Black, Pewter Black, and Pewter White— the Nokia 2 will go on sale globally in mid-November "at an average global retail price of €99".


Source: Nokia



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Nokia 2 with 4,100 mAh battery and Snapdragon 212 SoC Launched For €99

In its global launch event today in India, HMD Global unveiled their new Nokia 2 smartphone. The Nokia 2 is the latest entry in the Nokia lineup and its the 5th Nokia device to be launched in India. The launch of the Nokia 2 comes just after the company launched its latest flagship device, the Nokia 8, in India last month.

The Nokia 2 is an entry-level device aimed at first-time smartphone buyers. HMD Global says that the Nokia 2, while still maintaining its affordable price tag, doesn’t cut corners on important aspects like display, build quality and camera performance, unlike other budget smartphones. The new smartphone is targeted at those making the first jump from feature phones to smartphones, promising to offer the same solid build quality, long-lasting battery life, and the kind of great long-lasting value they’re used to seeing in feature phones.

The Nokia 2 features a 6000-series aluminum frame with a Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front and a polycarbonate back. On the front, the device also boasts a 5” HD LCD display with LTPS technology, which the company claims is up to 50% more power efficient when compared to other display technology such as IPS.

On the inside of the phone is the Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon 212 SoC, featuring 4x ARM Cortex-A7 cores clocked at 1.3 GHz coupled with Adreno 304 GPU and the X5 LTE modem. You get 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 8GB of internal storage and it also comes with a microSD card slot for further storage expansion.

On the back, the Nokia 2 features an 8MP rear camera with automatic scene detection, autofocus and an LED flash while the front camera is a 5MP shooter for selfies. The device comes running a pure version of Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box and HMD Global promises that it will eventually receive an update to Android Oreo.

To keep the show running, the Nokia 2 packs a hefty 4,100 mAh battery, which the company claims can easily get you through 2 days of usage on a single charge.

Finally, the phone comes with 4G LTE support, Bluetooth 4.1, IP52 dust and drip protection, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a hybrid dual SIM slot. However, there is no fingerprint scanner on board, unfortunately.

Available in three colors —Copper Black, Pewter Black, and Pewter White— the Nokia 2 will go on sale globally in mid-November “at an average global retail price of €99”.


Source: Nokia



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Samsung Internet v6.2 is Now Stable, Adds Night Mode, Tracking Blocker and More

When it comes to web browsers on Android, Google Chrome remains the most popular option simply because of the fact that it is installed by default on Android phones. However, we are now seeing a surge in popularity for third-party web browsers, and Samsung Internet has been riding on the very top of that surge.

Samsung recently announced that its Internet browser, previously available only for Galaxy and Nexus/Pixel devices, would be available for all Android 5.0+ devices. Version 6 of the app has been in beta stage since then, but this will change soon, as Samsung Internet v6.2 is now in the stable channel and will soon be released on the Play Store.

The browser is based on the Chromium engine at its core, and in v6.2, the Chromium engine has been updated to M56. On Samsung Galaxy devices, Samsung Internet has offered better JavaScript web performance than Google Chrome on the same hardware, thanks to optimizations.

Samsung Internet Night Mode

Night Mode and High Contrast Mode on Samsung Internet

There are several new features in v6.2. Samsung has added Night Mode and High Contrast mode to its browser, to reduce eyestrain by cutting down on the amount of bright light. Night Mode works by reducing the amount of bright light in web pages, and is intended for users browsing in bed. It can be turned on by tapping on the 'Turn on Night mode' menu.  High Contrast Mode, on the other hand, will show white text with a black background, and is intended as an accessibility feature. Users can enable it by going to Settings > Accessibility.

Samsung Internet Content Blockers

Content Blockers in Samsung Internet

Moving on, content blockers can be downloaded, installed and managed directly from the content blockers section in the settings of Samsung Internet. There is also a new Tracking Blocker, which will block all trackers that many websites use to follow users' browsing activity. This will make a user's web browsing private, and users can turn on its toggle. In Secret Mode, the tracking blocker is enabled by default. The built-in extension is powered by Disconnect Inc.

Samsung Internet Tracking Blocker

The new Tracking Blocker in Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet now also has the capability of syncing bookmarks with the desktop version of Google Chrome, thanks to a new desktop Chrome extension. Users can then access Chrome desktop bookmarks on Samsung's mobile browser and vice versa. The 'Sync with Samsung Cloud' option allows syncing of bookmarks, open tabs and saved pages with all of a user's Android devices.

The aforementioned Chromium M56 upgrade brings support for CSS grid, which gives developers the ability to create 2 dimensional layouts allowing control over columns and rows of elements.

In the US, Samsung Pay will be available to use for Web Payments. Users can also earn Samsung Rewards points in a variety of ways on Samsung Pay-eligible devices by using Samsung Internet. Finally, v6.2 of the browser will introduce some experimental new features that can be enabled via internet://flags, such as WebVR, Web Bluetooth, WebGL 2, and GamePad Extensions.


Source:
Medium

Via:
Android Police



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via IFTTT

Samsung Internet v6.2 is Now Stable, Adds Night Mode, Tracking Blocker and More

When it comes to web browsers on Android, Google Chrome remains the most popular option simply because of the fact that it is installed by default on Android phones. However, we are now seeing a surge in popularity for third-party web browsers, and Samsung Internet has been riding on the very top of that surge.

Samsung recently announced that its Internet browser, previously available only for Galaxy and Nexus/Pixel devices, would be available for all Android 5.0+ devices. Version 6 of the app has been in beta stage since then, but this will change soon, as Samsung Internet v6.2 is now in the stable channel and will soon be released on the Play Store.

The browser is based on the Chromium engine at its core, and in v6.2, the Chromium engine has been updated to M56. On Samsung Galaxy devices, Samsung Internet has offered better JavaScript web performance than Google Chrome on the same hardware, thanks to optimizations.

Samsung Internet Night Mode

Night Mode and High Contrast Mode on Samsung Internet

There are several new features in v6.2. Samsung has added Night Mode and High Contrast mode to its browser, to reduce eyestrain by cutting down on the amount of bright light. Night Mode works by reducing the amount of bright light in web pages, and is intended for users browsing in bed. It can be turned on by tapping on the ‘Turn on Night mode’ menu.  High Contrast Mode, on the other hand, will show white text with a black background, and is intended as an accessibility feature. Users can enable it by going to Settings > Accessibility.

Samsung Internet Content Blockers

Content Blockers in Samsung Internet

Moving on, content blockers can be downloaded, installed and managed directly from the content blockers section in the settings of Samsung Internet. There is also a new Tracking Blocker, which will block all trackers that many websites use to follow users’ browsing activity. This will make a user’s web browsing private, and users can turn on its toggle. In Secret Mode, the tracking blocker is enabled by default. The built-in extension is powered by Disconnect Inc.

Samsung Internet Tracking Blocker

The new Tracking Blocker in Samsung Internet

Samsung Internet now also has the capability of syncing bookmarks with the desktop version of Google Chrome, thanks to a new desktop Chrome extension. Users can then access Chrome desktop bookmarks on Samsung’s mobile browser and vice versa. The ‘Sync with Samsung Cloud’ option allows syncing of bookmarks, open tabs and saved pages with all of a user’s Android devices.

The aforementioned Chromium M56 upgrade brings support for CSS grid, which gives developers the ability to create 2 dimensional layouts allowing control over columns and rows of elements.

In the US, Samsung Pay will be available to use for Web Payments. Users can also earn Samsung Rewards points in a variety of ways on Samsung Pay-eligible devices by using Samsung Internet. Finally, v6.2 of the browser will introduce some experimental new features that can be enabled via internet://flags, such as WebVR, Web Bluetooth, WebGL 2, and GamePad Extensions.


Source:
Medium

Via:
Android Police



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