Wednesday, August 4, 2021

The new SwiftKey update can sync Android's clipboard with a Windows PC

SwiftKey is a virtual third-party keyboard app by Microsoft for both Android and iOS devices. Since its introduction in 2010, the software had received numerous updates. The new update is knocking with a new feature that enables the user to sync Android's clipboard with a Windows PC.

Swiftkey stickers

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As of now, the new feature is currently in the beta stage. To try this out, you can flash the latest beta of the SwiftKey app from the Play Store link provided at the end of the page.

Once the installation is complete, visit the app's Settings > Rich input > Clipboard. You will see a new window opening up, in there, enable the “Sync clipboard history to the cloud” toggle.

SwiftKey

Once you've enabled the toggle, visit your Windows 10 PC settings > Clipboard. Under this section, turn on the “Clipboard history” and “Sync across devices” options. After following all the above-mentioned steps, you will be able to access your Android device clipboard history on the PC. Interestingly, this feature works both ways.

SwiftKey

To access the smartphone’s clipboard history on your Windows 10 PC, you can simply use the “windows+V” keyboard shortcut. Before this, do not that the feature will only show the history for an hour. While the last copied item will display on the prediction bar in the SwiftKey app.

Also, do not worry about your privacy as the clipboard data will be encrypted, plus it will not be linked to any Microsoft account. The stable release is still undercover but we will make sure to let you know soon as we get any other updates.

Download Microsoft SwiftKey Beta



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OnePlus Nord 2 gets OxygenOS 11.3.A.08 update with camera optimizations

Last month, OnePlus launched the successor of its highly anticipated Nord smartphone, OnePlus Nord 2 5G. The smartphone comes with Android 11 based OxygenOS 11.3 on top. The first software update for the device arrived with OxygenOS 11.3 A.05. Yet again, the company is releasing another update to Nord 2. The new firmware brings OxygenOS 11.3.A.08 update along with some camera optimizations.

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

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As posted on the OnePlus community forum, the build is arriving on the firmware version 11.3.A.08. The package weighs 248.6MB which is presently live in India. Regarding changes, the update adds improvements and optimizations to the smartphone.

To be more precise, the build improves the system's stability. Plus, it brings improvements in the camera and system app. Getting into details, the shooting performance of the camera app is improved. Moreover, the HDR feature effect is now optimized. Here is the official changelog released by the company.

Changelog



  • System

    • Improved system stability



  • Camera

    • Optimized the HDR feature effect

    • Improved the shooting performance




Like all the others updates, the OTA update is also unfurling in a phase-wise manner. As mentioned, the build is currently limited to India and will roll out to Europe soon. Accordingly, it will hit a limited number of users initially. A border rollout will follow after making sure there are no critical bugs. Alternatively, you can also track the update manually by heading to Settings > About > Software updates.
Read more: OnePlus 7 & 7 Pro are grabbing a new update with OxygenOS 11.0.2.1

[Update: July 2021 Security Patch] Realme X7 Max Update Tracker

A couple of months back, Realme X7 Max was officially released featuring a 6.43 inch Super AMOLED display protected by Dragontrail Glass. Under the hood, it equips an Octa-core processor-based Dimensity 1200 5G chipset. The smartphone ships with Android 11, Realme UI 2.0 out of the box paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Realme X7 Max equips a triple camera module at the rear with a 64MP primary sensor and a 16MP snapper for selfies.

Realme X7 Max

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Note: We will keep this post updated with the latest updated information regarding the Realme X7 Max smartphone updates.

Realme X7 Max Update Tracker



  • [August 04, 2021]: Realme is sending a new software update that carries the July 2021 security patch along with some system fixes and optimizations. The new update for Realme X7 Max arrives on the firmware version RMX3031_11_A.17 and is presently live in India. The build enhances the system's stability and also optimizes its performance. Further, it carries few fixes which are mentioned below.


UPDATE LOG:



  • Security

    • Updated Android security patch: July 2021



  • System

    • Optimize system performance and improve system stability.

    • Fixed an issue where the Weather app would fail to find your location sometimes.

    • Fixed an issue where the Camera app would exit automatically sometimes.

    • Fixed an issue where the mobile network would be disconnected occasionally.

    • Fixed an issue where typing on a Bluetooth keyboard would be responsive.




Like all the other OTA updates, this as well is rolling out in a staged manner. Accordingly, the users may have to wait a while to get the build. You can also check the update status manually by heading over to Settings > Software updates > Check for the updates.
Related: [Update: August 2021 Security Patch] Galaxy A8 (2018) Updates Tracker

Gboard now houses dedicated settings for ‘Emojis, Stickers, & GIFs’

Animated things like emojis, stickers, and GIFs are more expressive than letters and they add a little fun to your boring text. To make your control and search easy over the animated media, Google is rolling out a new setting to the Gboard app called “Emojis, Stickers & GIFs.” Ultimately, making it effortless for you to insert appropriate emojis, stickers, or GIFs into your chats and posts.

Gboard

Make sure to visit: Guide to turn off Clipboard suggestions in GBoard

The “Emojis, Stickers & GIFs” option replaces the Search section in the Gboard settings. The latest setting section will provide you with sub-sections to deal with Layout and Suggestions. This part includes the controls that were engaged in the main Preferences or Advanced sections previously. You can easily toggle the options accordingly by simply reading the descriptions.

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Moreover, with the update, the emoji access replaces the language switch button. Tapping on the new button will open the section just like before. Plus, the fast access row will show the most used and most popular above the main keyboard. While the Alt key will show the emoji with a physical keyboard, just toggle the best emoji settings for you.

Gboard

Furthermore, the settings that were present under the Text correction are now under the Suggestions sub-menu. You can choose for the Predictive content search that will suggest the animated media. Additionally, the app will suggest the appropriate emoji and sticker based on your text. Also, toggling the emoji stickers will offer sticker suggestions while inserting an emoji.

Gboard

The new settings with version 10.8 are currently limited to Android 12. But it will probably roll out to older versions as it is not something exclusively for the upcoming OS.
Related: Gboard color theme syncs with the wallpaper on Android 12

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Supported Pixel devices receive August 2021 security patch update

On the first Monday of every month, Google publishes a new Android Security Bulletin. Like before, this week's start is also arriving with a new Android Security Bulletin for August 2021. Alongside the details of the current security maintenance, the company has also teased the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro officially.

August 2021 security patch

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The latest August 2021 Android security patch fixes a range of bugs ranging in severity from high to critical. Most of these bugs are the ones that affect closed-source vendor components from Qualcomm, MediaTek, and other processors.

The Android smartphones that are running the patch as of 5 August do contain these closed-source vendor components. While the devices running on the 1 August patch are prone to these risks. To know more about the latest Android Security Bulletin, head here. However, do note that you will not find any detailed write-ups of every patched vulnerability here.

Alongside addressing the vulnerabilities across all Android devices, the patch resolves some issues that exclusively affect the Pixel smartphones. These risks are listed in the August 2021 Pixel Update Bulletin. Read the details here.

The August 2021 security patch is rolling out to supported Pixel devices as of 2021-08-05. that include Pixel 3 XL and above flagships. Additionally, the patch also includes a fix that prevents the accidental invoke of the Google Assistant. Below are the firmware versions that carry the update for respective smartphones.


  • Pixel 3 (XL): RQ3A.210805.001.A1


  • Pixel 3a (XL): RQ3A.210805.001.A1


  • Pixel 4 (XL): RQ3A.210805.001.A1


  • Pixel 4a: RQ3A.210805.001.A1


  • Pixel 4a (5G): RQ3A.210805.001.A1


  • Pixel 5: RQ3A.210805.001.A1


August 2021 security patch

The fresh update is unfurling to the supported Pixel handsets while you may have to wait in case you are using another device. Depending upon the OEM, the update could take some days or weeks to go live.



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Motorola XT2163-4 and XT2163DL arrives on FCC with NT40 battery

The Lenovo-owned company is once again caught preparing a set of new devices following the Motorola Aruba-21. The new Motorola XT2163-4 and XT2163DL have arrived on FCC ahead of their launch. The listing reveals some information about the upcoming smartphones. Here's what we know so far.

motorola

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The arrival of new Motorola handsets on FCC documentation reveals its model number XT2163-4 and XT2163DL. Furthermore, the listing does not divulge much information apart from the battery capacity and connectivity options available onboard. Reportedly, this could be the Moto Edge 20 series that was previously spotted on TENAA.

Motorola
If it is the rumored Edge 20 duo, the device had already crossed the 3C and a few other certifications last month. Regarding connectivity, the phone equips 4G LTE, dual-band Wifi, and Bluetooth 5.2 as disclosed by the FCC documentation. The duo is likely to be a budget offering as they do not have a 5G or NFC cutout.

Motorola

Moreover, the Motorola XT2163-4 and XT2163DL will be packed with a Tekk NT40 battery along with MC-101-106 model power adapter. However, the listing does not reveal the fast charging support details. To know the render leaks about the Motorola Edge 20 series, visit our dedicated article.

Motorola


At the moment, this is all the information that we have on the upcoming Motorola XT2163-4 and XT2163DL in our hands. But, now that the smartphones have passed the FCC certification, they will hopefully arrive soon. We will make sure to keep you all posted as soon as we receive any further information about the soon-to-launch devices.

Read more: AT & T Motorola RAZR 5G starts tasting Android 11

Google Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro are official with a custom Tensor processor

With all the leaks and hype, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are now officially announced by Google and will launch later this fall. Looking at the pictures shared by the company, the smartphones look quite different from the previous flagships. Apart from the new design, Google has powered these devices with its own Tensor processor. Let's take a detailed look at Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Google Pixel 6

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Instead of the typical XL model, this time Google has decided to introduce a pro variant. Talking about the design, both Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is almost the same apart from the difference in their screen size, camera lenses, and a few features. Moreover, unlike before, the camera bar runs across the width of the phones and houses bigger sensors.

The Pixel 6 duo features a dual-tone design with a blank left side, while the power and volume rockers are placed on the right side. The front side houses a punch-hole cutout for a selfie lens. Further, the smartphones will have in-display fingerprint scanners. Under the hood, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will equip Android 12 on board with Google's Material You design.

Talking about Google Pixel 6, the phone flaunts a matte aluminum finish that carries a 6.4-inch full-HD+ screen offering a 90Hz refresh rate. As per the images revealed, the rear side of the phone has a dual-camera module. However, the precise quality is not yet revealed.

Google Pixel 6 Pro

Heading to the Pro variant, it features a polished aluminum frame that holds a 6.7-inch QHD+ display. The panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate with a triple camera sensor on the rear side. The camera is said to include a 4X optical-zoom folded telephoto lens alongside a standard wide-angle and secondary sensor. Also, the primary lens is likely to take in 150 percent more light for a higher quality picture.

This is all we know about the upcoming Pixel devices so far. Stay tuned with us for further updates.
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Google Chrome 92 stable release, here are the best features!

Google Chrome 91 release has a lot of bugs that were fixed with a minor upgrade over the stable channel. Of course, this caused a delay in the stable rollout of Chrome 92, where the beta version was already available in June 2021. But Google is now back on track and has announced Chrome 92 for mobile and desktop.

Chrome OS 92

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The latest version of Chrome OS has some new features on board to enhance the user experience. Here are some of them!

Google Chrome OS 92 features


Dedicated emoji picker


Adding an emoji gives a sense of emotional shade to your simple boring text. Since the introduction, emojis are constantly expanding, providing you more options to express yourself. But sometimes it's difficult to find a perfect emoji from the whole bunch. To make it easier, Google has reframed the emoji picker for Chromebooks.

To try this on Chrome OS 92, rick-click on an empty text field and click the "Emoji" option at the top. To make it quicker, try pressing the Everything (Search), Shift, and Space keys on the keyboard.

Chrome OS 92

Enhanced clipboard manager for tablets


The native clipboard manager has taken over the virtual keyboard with Chrome 92. Now you can quickly refer to the clipboard for the copied text or image. The Chromebook will keep up to five copied items on the track, including screenshots.

To try out this feature, tap on an empty space and click the new clipboard icon on the virtual keyboard.

Chrome OS 92

Virtual desktops for Android and Linux apps


With Chrome OS 92, you can manage your task and the bunch of browser tabs cluttering up. Organizing is much easier now as you can create a dedicated desk for work, gaming, and so on. Moreover, virtual desktops will now allow assigning Android and Linux apps to all desks or to a specific one.

Clear your clutter simply by right-clicking on the app's window.

Chrome OS 92

Voice recognition


Typing takes more time than speaking and it increases the chance of mistakes. Chrome OS 92 has a solution for this with its powerful speech-enabled notepad that has support for continuous dictation. Moreover, Google's speech recognition technology will serve as a cherry on the cake.

To enable the continuous dictation, Click on the "Accessibility" option in the system preferences and select "Manage accessibility features." In there, head to the "Keyboard and text input" section and toggle on "Enable dictation (speak to type)."

Chrome OS 92

Use the device directly from the launcher


Chrome OS 92 is user-friendly even for those who are not well-versed with computers. Though the new version is already simple and easy to use. To make it more convenient, the launcher will extract information from the Explore app to help you with the desired task.

To ask for assistance, just type the question in the launcher to get it all started.

Chrome OS 92

More capable Tote


Google is as usual taking its productivity to a next level with a new feature that will save a lot of time. Chrome zos 92 will integrate downloads from Android apps and Chrome's print to PDF functionality straight away in Tote.

To access your all downloads, simply tap on the Tote icon present next to the system tray on the taskbar.

Chrome OS 92

Stay online from anywhere


Chrome OS 92 has eSIM support, making it easier to stay online and keep in touch with everyone. You can download settings and switch between carriers electronically on some compatible devices like the Acer Chromebook Spin 513

To enable eSIM, visit the "Network section" of system preferences and look for "Mobile data" to add a connection. Alternatively, you can also set up a new cellular network by using a QR Code.

Chrome OS 92

New wallpapers


Three artists, Aurelia Durand, Sabrena Khadija, and Meech Boakye have come up with a new set of wallpaper for Chrome OS 92. The theme is all based on togetherness with a blend of bold geometry. The figures portray pride, self-expression, and more indicating an inclusive future ahead for all.

To check out these wallpapers, right-click on the desktop and select "Set wallpaper."

Chrome OS 92

Additional Changes



  • keep always-on VPN without help from Android or Linux. After configuring a VPN, toggle "Always-on VPN" under VPN preferences

  • Ability to create searchable PDFs. Convert the scanned document into searchable text.

  • Linux app support on Chrome OS is finally stable after three years of the announcement.

  • For the Family Link users in the US, Explore app on Chromebooks offers a digital magazine crafted for kids

  • Enable live Caption in Chrome OS 92 by visiting Accessibility settings > Captions.


chrome os 92

  • The camera app on Chrome OS now supports Pan, Tilt, and Zoom (PTZ) controls.

  • Google introduced some new shortcuts with Chrome 92. See these updates in the Shortcuts app.



  • A person with mobility impairments can use the touchscreen on Chromebook with the Point Scanning feature

  • Google Chat and Meet will now be on board by default on the Chromebook.


Related: Chrome gets Screenshot, Editor & Google Lens features on desktop

Monday, August 2, 2021

[Update: August 2021 Security Patch] Galaxy A8 (2018) Updates Tracker

In December 2017, Samsung officially launched the Galaxy A8 (2018) with Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) on board. The smartphone equips an octa-core processor based on Exynos 7885 chipset. It features a 5.6-inch Super AMOLED display paired with up to 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. There's a dual front camera consisting of a 16MP primary sensor and a 16MP rear shooter.

Galaxy A8 (2018)

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Note: This is an update tracker and will be updated with every build released for the device. The updates are placed in ascending order (the latest one on the top).

Galaxy A8 (2018) Updates Tracker



  • [August 2, 2021]: The Galaxy A8 (2018) smartphones are grabbing a new update that brings the August 2021 security patch. The build is rolling out in Russia on firmware version A530FXXSLCUH1. Apart from this, the update does not carry any new features to the old edition. Also, Samsung is yet to detail its current security maintenance.

  • [February 26, 2021]: Samsung is releasing the March 2021 security patch to the Galaxy A8 (2018). The firmware version A530FXXSICUC1 is rolling out to all smartphone units across the globe. Apart from the new patch, the update doesn’t come with any new features. Hence, this update is only pushed to increase the smartphone’s Security level.

  • [February 3, 2021]: Galaxy A8 (2018) starts receiving the February 2021 Security patch update. The update arrives on the A530FXXSHCUB1 Firmware version and it’s currently rolling out only in the United Arab Emirates. The update doesn’t come with any new features, bug fixes, etc. Hence, this update is only pushed to increase the smartphone’s Security patch level.


As usual, the OTA update is having a staged rollout. You can either wait for a pop-up notification or check it manually. To do this, head over to the Settings app > Software update and tap on Download and install
Related: [Update: August 2021 Security Patch] Samsung Galaxy A72 Update Tracker