Android Auto gets Yandex.Maps; an alternative to Google Maps

Managing maps and navigation while driving can be a tough task, but thanks to Android Auto. Google Maps is the first thing that strikes when we talk about navigation, but there are plenty of other options as well. Over the last few months, Android Auto has introduced more such platforms like Waze, TomTom, and Gaia. Again, there's another alternative arriving— Yandex.Maps.

Make sure to visit: Download Android Studio 4.2; New Features and Changes in the Bag

The new Yandex.Maps is a popular mapping app from Russia-based Yandex. Earlier this month, the Android Auto was operating version 10.5.0. With the new addition added in the changelog, the version has been bumped to 10.5.1 on the Google Play Store.

However, according to the changelog, the new functionality in Android Auto is only present in Russia as of now. Also, the user will be asked to upgrade to a Yandex Plus subscription that costs 169 roubles a month. There are chances that this can lead to limit the users of Yandex.Maps on Android Auto. Surprisingly the app has already crossed 50 million current downloads.



Regarding features, Yandex.Maps have all the regular mapping app things like cities and satellite view, real-time information about traffic and public transport, and so on. Furthermore, you can also;

• Manipulate the map: change the scale, measure distances, etc.


• Use Map Constructor to create your own map with your map items.


• Create and edit various items (roads, streets, villages, buildings, organizations, gardens, rivers, wells, and so on), which will appear on Yandex.Maps after passing moderation.

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Xiaomi Mi 11T and Redmi K40 Ultra key specs bought to light

Xiaomi is preparing a successor of Mi 10T launched last year. The Mi 11T has been leaked extensively so far and now we have a more clear picture of what we can expect from the smartphone. Alongside, the company is also planning to launch Redmi K40 Ultra in China. Both upcoming devices share some identical specs. Keep scrolling to have a detailed look at them.

Make sure to visit: Download Android 12 GApps for every Android device

Xiaomi Mi 11T Specifications (expected)

The Xiaomi Mi 11T is codenamed 'Amber.' As per reports, it will feature a 6.67 inch super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The panel will offer 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 shield. Under the hood, the phone is likely to equip a MediaTek chipset. However, the processor is still undercover.

For shooting purposes, the Mi 11T is expected to carry a 64MP triple camera setup at the back. The other two sensors will be Sony IMX355 wide-angle camera and a telemacro lens offering 3x zoom. Further, the device could ship with a 5,000 mAh battery with 65W of fast charging support.

Redmi K40 Ultra Specifications (expected)

The Redmi K40 Ultra is codenamed 'Agate.' Just like the Mi 11T, this is likely to offer a 120Hz refresh rate and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Also, in the hardware section, the phone is tipped to fuel an unknown MediaTek chipset.

Both smartphones differ from each other in the shooting department. The Redmi K40 Ultra is said to house a triple rear camera setup with a 108MP primary lens, a Sony IMX355 wide-angle snapper, and a telemacro sensor with a 3X zoom.

Read more: Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra gets MIUI 12.5 enhanced version stable update

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Google Pixel 5a 5G key details revealed in leaked renders

A few days back, Google confirmed the launch of Pixel 5a 5G this year. Reportedly, the upcoming smartphone is set to release on August 17. As we're getting closer to the official launch, the device has managed to leak online. Here's what we know so far.

Make sure to visit: Get official Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro wallpapers for free!

Talking about the design, the rear side of the Google Pixel 5a 5G carries a square shape camera cutout which is accompanied by a LED flash. Beneath the module, a fingerprint scanner is placed in the middle. The mid-bottom spot is taken by a subtle Google logo.

A newly textured power button sits on the right side above the volume rocker featuring a mint green color touch. The front side offers a punch-hole cutout to house the selfie camera in the top left corner. That implies the smartphone will be identical to the Pixel 4a 5G launched last year.



Google Pixel 5a 5G is said to support a 6.4-inch OLED Full HD+ display. Under the hood, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G chipset could power the device paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The front is likely to house a 16MP front lens while the rear could house a 12.2MP dual camera setup.

A 4,680 mAh battery is likely to back up the Pixel 5a 5G. If this stands true, this will be the first Pixel to have the highest power cell on board. Also, it is expected to be rated IP67, making it resistant to dust and water.

Price and Availability

According to leaks, the Google Pixel 5a 5G will launch on August 17 and will be available to purchase from August 26 onwards. The phone is worth $450 (~33,377 INR) and will debut in black color.

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Samsung Galaxy A03s design and specifications revealed

Last month, an entry-level smartphone by Samsung has made an appearance at the Bluetooth SIG certification. The same device, Galaxy A03s has managed to leak ahead of its launch in India and Europe. Let's take a look at the smartphone's design and key specifications we have with us.

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Samsung Galaxy A03s will have model number SM-A037F as revealed by the Bluetooth certification authority. According to the leaks, the handset will feature a 6.5-inch TFT LCD Infinity-V display. The panel will offer an HD+ resolution with 1,600 x 720 pixels.

Underneath the screen, Galaxy A03s will equip an octa-core processor-based MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. The latest stable channel, Android 11 will power the device with One UI 3.1 on top. The device will have a dedicated microSD card slot and a default configuration of up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage.

For shooting purposes, Galaxy A03s will have a 5MP snapper to serve selfies and video calls. On the rear side, it will carry a tri-lens consisting of a 13MP primary camera and a couple of 2MP sensors to measure macro and depth aspects. Also, the handset can record 1080p videos.

A 5,000 mAh battery will back up the Galaxy A03s that supports 15W fast charging over a USB Type-C port. FYI, this will be an upgrade for entry-level smartphones. The other key specs include a dual-SIM card slot, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, LTE, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Price and Availability

Now that the device has passed major certifications, we can expect the Galaxy A03s to launch anytime soon. Reportedly, the phone will arrive in black, blue, and white color variants at a starting price of €150 (approx INR 13,000) in Europe.

Related: Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G key specs disclosed in render leaks

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Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra gets MIUI 12.5 enhanced version stable update

Xiaomi's product director and MIUI experience chief Jin Fan announced the enhanced version of MIUI 12.5 at the company's press conference on August 14. As per his statement, the software update will be released to 12 smartphones in the first phase.

Make sure to visit: List of Android smartphones launching in August 2021

Reportedly, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is one of these devices receiving the MIUI 12.5 enhanced version. The latest package arrives on firmware version 12.5.12.0.PKACNXM weighing 314MB in size.

According to a survey, Xiaomi addresses 160 system header issues and 224 system application issues with the MIUI 12.5 enhanced version. Moreover, the build optimizes the overall performance of the device.

Talking about features, the enhanced version of the current stable skin supports liquid storage. That implies it can measure the amount of fragmentation with high sensitivity. Plus, this can be defragmented with 60% increased efficiency.



Furthermore, the fresh version pays special attention to the storage area. The MIUI 12.5 enhanced version supports ultra-fine memory management and refines/ compresses the current memory usage. Alongside, it prioritizes to end non-essential tasks and splits application memory.

In fact, the new version improves the power consumption by almost 8% and reduces the CPU utilization fallen by approx 15%. Additionally, it brings enhancements like the device's operation is calculated according to the scenes. Alongside, the skin smoothly accelerates 51 core scenes and adds focus calculations.

Accompanying the Mi 11 Ultra, the Redmi K40/K30 Pro/K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition, Xiaomi 10S, and Xiaomi 10 Pro have bagged the stable update of the MIUI 12.5 enhanced version.

Read more: [Update: August 2021 Security Patch] Xiaomi Mi 11 Series Updates Tracker

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Oppo PECM20 surfaces on TENAA ahead of its launch

After an effective launch of Oppo A16 and Reno 6Z, the company is spotted preparing another device. Another smartphone with model number PECM20 has surfaced on TENAA and successfully received the certification. Though the listing has not disclosed the handset's design, we have the key specifications in our hands.

Make sure to visit: List of smartphones to get Android 12 based ColorOS 12

The OPPO PECM20 weighs 175 grams and measures 162.2 x 75 x 7.9mm. The smartphone features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display that offers 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, Oppo PECM20 will equip an unspecified 2.0GHz octa-core processor. The phone will have the latest stable channel, Android 11 on board. Like always, the upcoming device will initially be released in China with a 128GB storage configuration. This unexpandable option will be coupled with 4GB / 6GB / 8 GB of RAM.

In the shooting department, Oppo PECM20 will carry a triple rear setup at the rear side. A 16MP sensor will serve as a primary camera assisted with a couple of 2MP snappers. On the other side, an 8MP front camera will serve selfies and video calling purposes.

A 3,945mAh rated battery will back up the Oppo PECM20. Also, the handset will have a fingerprint scanner for security objectives. But, the placement of the reader is still unknown as the design is undercover. The 5 G-equipped smartphone is likely to arrive in black/white, purple/silver, and red color variants.

Read more: Oppo Find X3 Pro becomes the first phone to get ColorOS 12 beta update

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OnePlus Nord 2 5G receives OxygenOS A.09 update!

Last week, OnePlus pushed the OxygenOS A.08 update for the newly launched upper mid-range device, the OnePlus Nord 2 5G. That update included optimizations for the camera and system. Now, they have started rolling a new update (OxygenOS A.09) for the smartphone. The update comes with the build number DN2101_11_A.09 for the Indian variant. At the same time, the global variant gets the update with DN2103_11_A.09 as the build number. This is reportedly the fourth update that the OnePlus rolls out. Earlier, OnePlus has informed that the OnePlus Nord 2 5G will receive two major Android updates and three years of security updates. Here is the changelog of the new update.

Changelog

• System
  
  
  
  • Optimized the notification feature of the Community app
  
  
  • Improved system stability and fixed known issues
  
  
  
  


• Camera
  
  
  
  • Further optimized the HDR feature experience
  
  
  • Further improved the camera performance
  
  
  
  


• Network
  
  
  
  • Fixed the issue of unable to enable the Wi-Fi hotspot
  
  
  
  


• Gallery
  
  
  
  • Optimized the UI effect, bringing better experience
  
  
  • Improved the loading speed of previewing pictures
  
  
  
  

As you can see, the update has brought many fixes for the system, camera, network, and Gallery. The brand has improved the HDR optimization and the performance of the device. Further, they have also fixed the issue of not enabling Wi-Fi hotspots which was faced by some users. The update doesn't mention anything related to the change in the security patch. The brand has informed us that the update will be pushed via OTA (Over the Air). The OTA update will be pushed to only a few users initially, and at a later stage, it will be pushed to all the users.



The users who had received the update are requested to give feedback to confirm that there aren't any significant issues. Click here to share your feedback on the update. With that said, there is no manual link for installing the new update. If you didn't receive the notification regarding updates, then head to Settings and tap on About phone. Then click on Software Updates to see whether the update has reached your OnePlus Nord 2 5G. Would you please share the article with your fellow OnePlus Nord 2 5G users?

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Verizon Motorola Razr receives the Android 11 update!

Motorola was one of the first brands along with Samsung to launch foldable smartphones. Back in November 2019, they launched their first foldable device, which is the Motorola Razr. The phone didn't make up to the hype when it comes to sales numbers, probably because of the mid-range chipset inside it. However, it managed to sell some units in the US and other countries. With that said, the Motorola Razr came with Android 9 out of the box. Later, they had pushed the Android 10 update for the smartphone. Last year, they had promised that the device would receive the Android 11 update.



The brand has pushed the Android 11 update for the Motorola Razr in the US by performing their promise. It has been eight months since the announcement of the Android 11 update for the device. Verizon, via a blog post, has informed us about the rollout of the Android 11 update. Apart from the bump up to the new Android version, they have also bumped up the security patch to July 2021. It will receive the popular Android 11 features like the new media controls, Conversations, chat bubbles, and much more. With the new Android 11 update, the device will not receive any further OS upgrades. We expect that Moto will continue pushing security updates for the upcoming year too. The new update comes with the build number RPV31.Q2-62-7-10. Here is the changelog of the latest update.

What's changing:

The current software update provides Android OS 11 and gives you the most up to date Android security patches on your device.

Android OS 11 Update

Android OS 11 is optimized for how you use your phone. Say hello to new and improved powerful device controls, easier ways to manage conversations, privacy settings, and so much more. So what’s new on OS 11 for your motorola smartphone?

• Manage Conversations


• Better communicate with the people in your life with Conversations and Chat Bubbles. See, respond to, and control your conversations across multiple messaging apps. All in the same spot. Then select people you always chat with. These priority conversations show up on your lock screen. So you never miss anything important.


• Control Connected Devices in One Place


• Simple, streamlined device and media controls allow new ways to control your compatible connected devices. Set the temperature to chill, then dim your lights. All from a single spot on your phone. Just long press the power button to see and manage your connected devices. Making life at home that much easier.


• Your Data, In Control


• Decide how and when your data is shared by setting one-time permissions and other new features. Give one-time permissions to apps that need your mic, camera or location. The next time the app needs access, it must ask for permission again.

The update is rolling via OTA (Over the Air), and most of you might have received the notification regarding the same. Suppose you didn't receive the notification, head to Settings and choose the About phone menu. Finally, tap on System updates to check for updates. Moto has already pushed the Android 11 update for the 2020 Motorola Razr 5G; it came with Android 10 out of the box.

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Vivo X70 series and Galaxy S21 FE receives Bluetooth SIG certification

2021 is becoming the year of production for all the major smartphone brands. Once again, Vivo and Samsung are almost ready to hit the market with one more flagship— the Vivo X70 series and Galaxy S21 FE. Recently, both devices have bagged the Bluetooth SIG certification. As always, the listing of the handsets has managed to reveal some key specs.

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Vivo X70 Series

Starting with the Vivo X70 series, the lineup could consist of two devices: Vivo X70 and Vivo X70 Pro. The model numbers for the duo are V2104 and V2105 respectively. Recently, the Pro variant of the series has surfaced on Bluetooth SIG, IMDA, and Geekbench authorities.

The arrival of the smartphone on three different certifications disclose new specs. As per Bluetooth SIG documentation, the phone supports Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. The duo has also managed to divulge at the Geekbench site. According to this, Vivo X70 Pro equips Dimensity 1200 chip paired with 12 GB RAM and Android 11 onboard.



The X70 series is expected to feature a 6.56-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Though we still don't know about the camera quality, the lens for the standard version may offer f/1.5 aperture and 5-axis image stabilization. Whereas the X70 Pro may feature gimbal stabilization.

Galaxy S21 FE

The Galaxy S21 FE by Samsung is getting leaked extensively. The device was supposed to launch alongside the Galaxy Z foldable series but it got delayed. The smartphone was previously spotted on TENAA, FCC, and few other platforms. Ahead of its launch, Galaxy S21 FE has now arrived on Bluetooth SIG.

The Galaxy S21 FE will have model numbers SM-G990B, SM-G990B_DS, and SM-G990N depending upon the region. The Bluetooth SIG certification only reveals the connectivity options for the phone i.e; Bluetooth 5.0.



As per TENAA, Galaxy S21 FE will arrive with Android 11 pre-installed and a dual cell capacity of 4,370 mAh. Further, the arrival of the handset at FCC discloses 45W of fast charging support.

The other specs of Galaxy S21 FE could include a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz high refresh rate. Alongside, it is likely to power Snapdragon 888 and One UI 3.1. Additionally, the phone is likely to offer a 12MP rear main camera and a 2MP selfie snapper.

Read more: Vivo is reportedly working on a smartphone with a detachable flying camera

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