Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Play Store for Wear OS 3.0 receives a major a UI overhaul

During the Google I/O 2021 keynote event, the software giant announced the new Wear OS 3.0. The system is on the way, before that, Google has updated its Play Store on Wear OS with a redesigned user interface. The update goes in line with the underlined changes at the conference. The biggest update ever by Google, Wear OS 3.0 overhaul is now rolling out.

Wear OS 3.0

Make sure to visit: Google updates Wear OS: brings major improvements to the wearable platform

After flashing an update, you will notice changes in your Play Store account. Firstly, all items in the list will be present inside a pill-shaped card. Also, the color is changed to grey, making it more compact and easier to read with less stress on the eyes. Secondly, the search button on the main home screen is now housed in a white circle, instead of green.

Wear OS 3.0Wear OS 3.0

Thirdly, there is a card-based motif on the My Apps updates page. Placing everything in a card makes your screen less shaky, making it more clear and convenient to use. Lastly, the “Open” button is again pill-shaped, light, and stretches to the entire display.

Wear OS 3.0

Wear OS 3.0

On the other hand, the platform continues to display the list of apps with an icon on the left followed by the name and star rating beneath. To mention, there's a slight color change in the overall platform, the white text on the black background is now a slight grey.

As usual, the update is unfurling to a limited number of users as of now. It will probably take time to arrive at every Wear OS-powered watch.
Read more: Google has started to display Progress Bar for System Updates

Monday, July 5, 2021

[Update: July 2021 Security Patch] Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Update Tracker

The Galaxy A 8.0 by Samsung is a mid-range device released in 2019 powering Android 9 Pie. It powers Snapdragon 429 under the hood paired with up to 64GB storage and 2GB RAM. The smartphone features an 8.0 inches TFT display housing a 2MP front camera. On the rear side, Galaxy Tab A 8.0 holds an 8MP shooter.

Galaxy Tab A 8.0

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Note: This is an update tracker and will be updated frequently with the updates of the Galaxy Tab A 8.0

Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Update Tracker



  • [July 5, 2021]: The July 2021 security patch update is rolling out to the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019). The update arrives on firmware version T295XXU4CUF8. The latest build is limited to the LTE variant of the device in Bolivia, while other regions are expected to get a hit soon. This is a minor safety bump and does not bring any new additions, but internally it drives system fixes and stability.

  • [June 29, 2021]: Samsung is expanding the Android 11 OS for the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019) to few more markets with Core One UI 3.1. The fresh build arrives on firmware version T295XXU4CUF7. Presently, the update is rolling out in Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the UK. Along with the major changes, the package also cultivates the May 2021 Android security patch. To know what more exciting this software brings, tap here.

  • [June 2, 2021]: Samsung is sending Android 11 based Core One UI 3.1 to the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019). Along with this, the software also brings May 2021 security patch. The latest update can be identified by firmware version P205DXU5CUE2 that weighs around 1.6GB in size. Currently, the build is rolling out in the Philippines for the LTE variant with model number SM-P205. It will shortly expand to other regions as well. Head here to know the precise details on the update.

  • [July 2, 2020]: Samsung has started rolling out the Android 10 based One UI 2.0 update to the LTE variants of Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2019). The device is updated to version P205DXU5BTFB. Alongside, it is also receiving the latest July 2020 security patch that enhances security and addresses vulnerabilities.

  • [May 28, 2020]: Verizon-based Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 has started receiving the latest security patch. The new OTA update brings all the new security enhancements packed with May 2020 security patch. The update bears the version The new OTA firmware version T387VVRU2BTE4, will gradually roll out to all the Verizon-locked devices. Apart from the security patch, the latest update doesn’t include any significant changes to the devices.

  • [May 12, 2017]: Samsung has started rolling out April 2020 security patch update the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 variants. The latest software arrives on the build number P350ZSU1BQD5. The update consists of important bug fixes, performance enhancements, and brings stability improvements for your device.

  • [Samsung starts rolling out long-awaited Android Marshmallow update for Galaxy Tab A 8.0. Android 8.0 Marshmallow contains Update is currently hitting the WIFI models of Galaxy Tab A 8.0 in Australia. The Update Approximately weighs around 1.1GB in size. Alongside, the update also includes additional bug fixes, stability improvements, and speed optimizations, which are all targeted at improving a user’s experience when carrying out tasks that require the multitasking function.


The update is rolling out in batches to the different serial numbers. So, Galaxy Tab A 8.0 owners can expect the update notification to reach them anytime soon. Alternatively, you can also download the package manually. To do this, head to Settings > Software update, and click Download and install.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G receives OxygenOS 11.0.4.4 update

Almost a month ago, OnePlus launched the Nord CE 5G powered by Snapdragon 750G 5G chipset. The smartphone runs the latest stable channel, Android 11 along with OxygenOS 11 on top. Soon after a week of release, the company released the first update for the device. Yet again, the smartphone is receiving another update within a month with OxygenOS 11.0.4.4.

OnePlus Nord CE 5G

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The announcement was made via the official OnePlus community post. The post mentions that the update is currently unfurling in India, while Europe and North American regions will follow soon.

The latest update for the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is live in India on firmware version 11.0.4.4.EB13DA. Whereas, the European and North American units of the device will soon grab version 11.0.4.4.EB13AA and 11.0.4.4.EB13BA​ respectively.

The changelog for the device in the respective regions remains the same. Talking about changes, the package brings some improvements for the system and in the camera app. Moreover, it further addresses the camera app by bringing some fixes and optimizations. Look at the changelog below for precise details.

Changelog



  • System

    • Improved the face unlock experience

    • Improved the charging speed

    • Improved system stability and fixed known issues



  • Camera

    • Improved front camera performance

    • Reduced noise in dark areas of NIGHTSCAPE photos

    • Optimized the video call experience




As mentioned, the update is currently limited to India while the EU and NA will be on a hit soon. The OTA build is meant for the stable channel. Accordingly, it will hit a limited number of users in the country initially. A border rollout will follow after making sure there are no critical bugs. Alternatively, you can also track the update manually via Settings > About > Software updates.
Related: OnePlus Nord N200 5G to get a major OS update & 3 years of the security update

Xiaomi to initiate MIUI 12.5 internal beta next week for Mi Mix 3

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 was released in Nov 2018 as the fourth product of the flagship with a Snapdragon 845 chipset. The smartphone arrived as a successor of Mi Mix 2 and is the last regular smartphone in the Mix series. Moreover, it is the world’s first smartphone to feature a 10GB RAM capacity and a full-screen magnetic slider.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 (2)

Make sure to visit: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 official: List of top 10 features

The director of the system software department of Xiaomi smartphones made an announcement for the Mi Mix 3 via an official channel. He mentioned that the 2018 launched smartphone is still eligible to get an update. Though, not a major OS update, but the device will grab the latest customized skin by the company, MIUI 12.5 next week.

To keep in note, the MIUI 12.5 will arrive as an internal beta update. That implies, only a selected number of users can have access to fresh skin. While a border rollout will follow after ensuring that there are no critical bugs. Presently, as per the reports on the Xiaomi community, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 does not have many bugs.

Keeping the above point in view, it should not take a long time for the beta to be available to the public. Also, a stable MIUI 12.5 version is expected to arrive soon after the public beta.

Talking about changes, MIUI 12.5 brings enhanced performance, UI tweaks, new animations, privacy features, an updated Notes app, and a lot more. Moreover, the changelog mentions that after flashing the build, the system has 20 times more rendering power. Here are the best of them!
Best MIUI 12.5 features that you would love to enjoy!

Read more: Xiaomi Redmi 9 receives Android 11 Update with May Security Patch

OnePlus Pad Trademark made appearance on EUIPO Website

Since the introduction of the OnePlus One smartphone in 2014, the company has extended its range of products. OnePlus works on multiple smart products including TVs, audio products, and watches. Now, the Chinese giant is working to prepare a OnePlus product in the tablet category. Reportedly, there's a new OnePlus Pad that made an appearance on the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

OnePlus Pad

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Though the OnePlus TAb is listed o the EUIPO trademark, there is still no official announcement by the brand. But, the listing suggests that the Pad could debut in the coming months. Let's take a brief look at the upcoming OnePlus Tab.

OnePlus Pad


OnePlus entering the new product category can be spotted on the European IP Office trademark. However, except for the device’s moniker, the listing on the website does not reveal much about the tab. While the other key specs like size, design, processor, etc, and performance details are still under cover.

In the European IP Office, the OnePlus Pad is trademarked under Class 9. For the unawares, the Class 9 classification includes product categories such as tablets, computers, and PDAs.

OnePlus Pad

Now, that the device has made its initial appearance, we can expect more information to reveal out soon. Also, the company has not yet made any official announcement regarding the launch or working of a new product.

FYI, the other BBK owned companies like Realme, Vivo, etc. are also working to produce their version of a tablet. Recently, a Vivo registered a new Pad name on EUIPO Trademark. Whereas Realme has already confirmed that it is working to make its debut in the tablet category. Therefore, this OnePlus tab listing did not arrive as a catch-out.

via
Read more: OnePlus 9T may debut in Q3 with ColorOS 11 and quad-camera set up

[Update: June 2021 security patch] Oppo Find X2 series update tracker

In March 2020, Oppo has officially launched the Find X2 smartphone with a 6.7-inch AMOLED, 1B colors display. Under the hood, the phone equips Snapdragon 865 5G Chipset along with Android 10. In terms of camera, the device packs a 48MP primary, 13MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide triple rear camera. On the other side, there's a 32MP single front-facing snapper.

Oppo Find X2
Must see: Download ColorOS System Launcher V11.1.00 for Oppo devices

Note: This is an updates tracker and will be updated regularly with the Find X2 updates.

Oppo Find X2 series update tracker



  • [July 4, 2021]: Oppo is releasing a new software update for Find X2 in India in firmware version CPH2023_11_C.68. The 812MB size update inculcates the June 2021 security patch to the device. Moreover, it comes with a virtual RAM expansion feature. That means the user can choose to expand up to 3GB, 5GB, or 7GB of RAM virtually. To do this, head to Settings > About phone > RAM menu. Restart the device for the new settings to take place.

    For those unaware, Virtual RAM means that your smartphone will take some internal storage and use it for RAM functions. For instance, if your device has 256GB of memory, you can borrow 3GB of it to increase the 12GB RAM to 15GB.

  • [March 26, 2021]: Oppo Find X2 Lite is receiving the Android 11 based ColorOS 11.1 update. The new update carries firmware version CPH2005_11_C.76 in Germany, while it is also expected to hit other regions soon. The package brings performance improvements and stability enhancements. To know the further details, head here.

  • [March 19, 2021]: Oppo is finally releasing the Android 11 based Color OS 11 update to the Find X2. Originally, the device came with Android 10 based ColorOS 7 pre-installed. Now, it is grabbing all the ColorOS 11 customizations and features for a more seamless experience.

  • [February 2, 2021]: Oppo is rolling out the Android 11 Beta update for the Oppo Find X2 Neo. The OTA update is rolling out with the CPH2009_11_A.27 firmware version that weighs 3.53GB in size. Needless to say, it will carry all the Android 11 goodies like Dedicated conversation notifications, Chat bubbles, New control menu for devices and media playback, Built-in screen recording, and much more. The update will commence in March 2021 starting from Western Europe and later expanding to other regions as well.

  • [November 4, 2020]: Oppo has started spinning out the Android 11 based ColorOS 11 stable update for the OPPO Find X2 Series. The update weighs 812 MB in size and rolling out on the CPH2023_11_C.05 Firmware version for the Find X2 users. Whereas, the number varies to CPH2025_11_C.05 for the Find X2 Pro users. As per the changelog, the update brings various changes across the system. It drives Personalizations, High Efficiency, Improved Performance, and much more with all the new features and UI. Visit our dedicated page for the detailed changelog for this build.



  • [July 22, 2020]: Oppo has started pushing July 2020 security patch update to their Find X2 flagship. The update comes with firmware version CPH2023_11_A.23, CPH2009_11_A.38 and CPH2005_11_A.38 for Find X2, Find X2 Neo, and Find X2 Lite respectively. It is to be noted that Find X2 Neo and Find X2 Lite are exclusively available in Europe, while Find X2 is available for the global market. Along with the bump in safety level, the build improves the system's performance and stability. Click here for the respective changelog for the devices.

  • [June 29, 2020]: Oppo Find X2 is now getting the June 2020 Security Patch update in India. This update comes as the CPH2023_11_A.23 Firmware version. Also, it will be released in many other countries shortly. Along with the patch, the software brings a bunch of new features and several optimizations. To know the precise changes and features, Click here.

  • [June 22, 2020]: Android 11 developer Beta 1 is finally released for Oppo Find X2 and X2 Pro with model numbers CPH2023 and CPH2025, respectively. Android 11 Beta 1 will have a ColorOS 7.2 user interface packed with the latest Google Mobile Services (GMS). Talking about Android 11 features, it includes Do Not Disturb and notification tweaks, fine-tuned the permissions, New media player widget, UI changes, Call screening improvements, and more. Head here for the detailed guide on how to flash the latest build.


As the update is having a phase-wise rollout, it may take some time to reach all the units. In the meantime, you can head to Settings > Software updates > Security updates to check the update manually. We also suggest you switch over to a WiFi network before downloading the update to avoid data charges.
Related: [Update: June 2021 security patch] Samsung Galaxy A40 update tracker

Saturday, July 3, 2021

OnePlus 9T may debut in Q3 with ColorOS 11 and quad-camera set up

As with every OnePlus flagship, the company is also working to launch a T-series mobile for the OnePlus 9. Reportedly, there will be OnePlus 9T by the Q3 of this year. However, the brand is not planning to accompany it by OnePlus 9T Pro. According to some leaks, the OnePlus 9T will run Oppo's ColorOS as per the deed. Also, it may feature a quad-camera module

OnePlus 9T

Must see: Leak: OnePlus working on a phone without Snapdragon SoC

OnePlus recently announced the merger with Oppo. Also, to unify OxygenOS with Oppo’s ColorOS. Accordingly, the OnePlus 9T is supposed to debut with ColorOS 11 in China. Furthermore, the quad-camera will feature a 108-megapixel Hasselblad lens. As per the OnePlus and Oppo alliance, the global edition of the OnePlus 9T might not run Oppo's customized skin, not sure though.

Furthermore, the leak suggests that the OnePlus 9T will hold an LTPO Samsung E4 flexible AMOLED display. The panel is likely to feature a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the smartphone can equip Snapdragon 888 SoC.

The rest of the details about the OnePlus 9T still remain unknown. Stay connected with us to know about further leaks or official information.

In the other news, OnePlus is also rumored to launch Nord 2 in Q3. OnePlus Nord 2 will carry a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The device may fuel Dimensity 1200 processor paired with up to 256GB storage and 12GB RAM. As a later product, this might also have OxygenOS 11 on board. OnePlus Nord 2 will house a triple rear camera including a 50MP main sensor and a 32MP front shooter. A 4,500 mAh power cell will back up the device with the support of Warp Charge 30T charging.

OnePlus Nord 2
Related: Unknown Oppo CPH9771X smartphone arrives at FCC with 5,000 mAh battery

Unlocked Galaxy S21 units in the USA gets June 2021 security patch

Samsung is sending a new software update to the unlocked variants of the Galaxy S21 series i.e; Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. The trio on the unlocked networks including AT&T, Bluegrass Cellular, C-Spire, Sprint, Tracfone, and Verizon are grabbing an update with June 2021 security patch.


Galaxy S21 5G series

Must see: Download Android 11 Wallpapers fresh out of the box

The fresh update for the Galaxy S21 family in the USA arrives on firmware version G99xU1UEU4AUF5. As mentioned, it carries the June security patch, but there's more to it. The package also addresses some bugs that users were facing such as the camera lags and overheating issues.

On the contrary, the Galaxy S21 series was the first one to get the June 2021 patch, even before the beginning of the month. Additionally, the international variants of the lineup got updated twice. These couple of updates drove camera enhancements and performance optimization. Now, a similar package is rolling out for the unlocked Galaxy S21 units in the USA.

According to Samsung’s documentation, the June 2021 patch brings over 60 fixes to the system operations. This includes 47 fixes from Google and 19 fixes from Samsung, including the ones that have been marked as critical.

If your Samsung Galaxy S21 device is on the unlocked variant in the US, you will receive the OTA update shortly. Or as always, you can give it a manual check by heading to the device's SettingsSoftware update and tapping on Download and install.
Related: [Update: July 2021 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy S10/ S10 Lite updates tracker

Redmi Note 9 Pro Max is receiving Android 11 update in India

Last year, Xiaomi added the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max to its Note 9 series. The device debuted with Android 10 based MIUI 12 as the first-ever Redmi Note Pro Max model. Following the update schedule, the Pro Max variant is also joining the Redmi Note 9 for the Android 11 update party.

Redmi Note 9 Pro Max

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For those unaware, the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max is only limited to India, so is the software. The latest build arrives on firmware version V12.0.1.0.RJXINXM. Also, keep in not that the build only brings Android 11, not the accompanied skin, MIUI 12.5.

Talking about changes, the company has not yet released the official changelog for the update. However, the package will bring all the Android 11 features to the device such as revamped UI, enhanced dark theme mode, in-build screen recorder, smart media control, lock screen conversations, one-time permissions, chat bubbles, and other improvements or customizations.

Now that the smartphone has grabbed the Android 11 OS, it should soon get MIUI 12.5 as well. FYI, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max has only received a single major OS and skin update since launch. And as per Xiaomi's policy, the device is eligible to grab Android 12 and MIUI 13 in the future.

Also, the software is currently under the stable beta phase, which means it will initially roll out to selective units. After assuring that there are no critical bugs, the company will push a border rollout.
Read more: Redmi Note 8 (2021) spotted on FCC with Helio G85 processor