Samsung Galaxy A42 5G gets One UI 4.1

A couple of weeks ago Samsung started pushing the latest One UI 4.1 to all the eligible devices. It started with the flagship Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy Tab S8 series, and now to the budget devices. The new device added to the list is the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G.



The One UI 4.1 update is now live for the Samsung Galaxy A42 5G and brings the March 2022 security patch with it. The March 2022 security patch addresses more than 50 privacy and security flaws. Along with the March 2022 security patch, the update also brings all the new One  UI 4.1 features with it. The latest software update for the Galaxy A42 5G has firmware version A426BXXU3DVC2 and is now being rolled out in Italy. It will also be available in other European countries in the coming weeks.

One UI 4.1 features

With the latest update, Samsung is bringing features like live sharing in Google Duo to the device. It will also allow users to turn off the GOS (Game Optimization Service), which was a huge issue for Samsung devices recently. The GOS was reducing the device performance to stop the processor from overheating. One UI 4.1 also provides users the new enhanced object eraser allowing them to remove unwanted objects and reflections.



Samsung has provided all the major One UI 4.1 features to the Galaxy A42 5G. However, unlike the flagship S series, the A42 5G is not receiving the Smart Widgets as part of the update. You can still use the wallpaper-based color theming and the color palette picker is also changed to a vertical rectangle now. There are many more features introduced to the Galaxy A42 5G with the One UI 4.1 update. Update your Galaxy A42 5G device if you want to explore all of them.

To update your Galaxy A42 5G device manually, open the Settings app and navigate to the Software Update section. Click on the "Check for updates" button, if it is available hit on the "Download and Install" button. The installation will take some time and after that, you can explore the One UI 4.1 on your device.

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Realme C31 announced with UniSoC T612 SoC, 5000 mAh battery, and more

Realme has added one more device to its budget offering range. The Realme C31 has is finally made its global debut in Indonesia as a successor of the Realme C21. The device was running around the rumor mill for a couple of months.

Must see: [Update] Download Realme Community v2.4.8 app!

Realme C31 is built around a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen featuring a waterdrop notch display. The panel offers a 120Hz touch sampling rate and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The device offers Android 11 out of the box along with Realme UI R Edition, which is quite disappointing.

Under the hood, Realme C31 powers an octa-core processor based on UniSoC T612 SoC paired 4GB RAM and up to 64GB storage. The storage can be expanded via a dedicated micro-SD card slot. A 5,000mAh battery keeps the system working with a 10W charging support over a USB Type-C port.

For optics, the Realme C31 houses a 5 MP camera for selfies and video calls. Also, there's a triple-rear camera setup led by a 13MP primary shooter. This is accompanied by a macro lens, a B&W sensor, and an LED flash.

Further, the connectivity options include Dual-SIM, 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, a 3.5mm audio port, Beidou, and Galileo. Lastly, it measures 164.7 × 76.1 × 8.4mm in dimensions and weighs 197grams.

Availability and Price

The Realme C31 is available in Light Silver and Dark Green color options. The device arrives in two storage variants of 3GB + 32GB and 4GB + 64GB costing IDR 1,599,000 (~₹ 8,500) and IDR 1,649,000 (~₹ 8,700), respectively.

Related: Realme Narzo 50A Prime with Unisoc T612 SoC announced in Indonesia for Rp1,799,000

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Redmi 22041219G and Poco 22041219PG bags IMDA Certification

Two unknown smartphones by Xiaomi have made their appearance on multiple certification websites, including TENAA, China's 3C, IMEI databases. The Redmi 22041219G and Poco 22041219PG have now bagged the IMDA Certification. Here's what we know about smartphones.

[caption id="attachment_124212" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Representative Image[/caption]

Make sure to visit: Download the latest Xiaomi Mi Flash Tool, All You Need to Know

The Redmi 22041219G and Poco 22041219PG have hit several portals. However, the name of the smartphones still remained unknown. Unfortunately, the appearance of the devices on the IMDA database doesn't reveal much besides their 5G connectivity and support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Luckily, do have some details from TENAA, China's 3C certification, and the IMEI portal. Talking about the Redmi 22041219G, it could be a global variant of some device shipping with a 22.5W charger in India. On the other hand, the Poco 22041219PG could be a global model.

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Moreover, the smartphones could be a mid-range offering as confirmed by TENAA. They will boost the MIUI version V13.0.1.0.SLSCNXM. Considering this, the handsets will come pre-installed with Android 12 paired with MIUI 13 on top. In addition, based on the details, the upcoming Xiaomi devices are likely to power the MediaTek processor, or most probably, a Dimensity chipset.

Reportedly, the Redmi 22041219G and Poco 22041219PG belong to the L19 series. Based on the details, it is speculated that the device may be Redmi 11X 5G, Redmi Note 11X 5G, POCO M6 Pro 5G, or a new Redmi Note 12 series.

Read more: Redmi MAX 100-inch Giant Screen TV appears on Bluetooth SIG certification

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Poco F3 receives Android 12 update globally based on MIUI 13

Poco F3 was unveiled a year ago with Android 11 based MIUI 12 out of the box. On its birthday, Xiaomi is endowing the device with the latest operating system. The Poco F3 is getting the Android 12 update globally based on the company's own skin iteration MIUI 13.

Make sure to visit: [Download] Poco Launcher v2.20 focuses on Minimalist design and Personalization

The latest stable update for Poco F3 is rolling out globally bundled with the firmware version V13.0.2.0.SKHMIXM. The package weighs 3.1 GB to download and is currently available only for the pilot testers. It will soon be released to the general public and more regions as well.

Concerning changes, the Android 12 operating system paired with MIUI 13 is loaded with new features. In addition, the package increases the system security and stability by integrating February 2022 security patch. Moreover, the apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar. Check out the changelog below for more details.

Changelog

[System]

• Stable MIUI based on Android 12


• Updated Android Security Patch to February 2022. Increased system security.

[More features and improvements]

• New: Apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar


• Optimization: Enhanced accessibility support for Phone, Clock, and Weather


• Optimization: Mind map nodes are more convenient and intuitive now

The OTA update is having an incremental rollout, making it take more time to reach all units. If you want to try the new version, you can track the update manually via the Settings app > Software update > Check for updates.

Read more: List of eligible Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices to get Android 13 update

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Realme Narzo 50A Prime with Unisoc T612 SoC announced in Indonesia for Rp1,799,000

Realme has unveiled a new smartphone under its Narzo series flagship. The new Realme Narzo 50A Prime is an upgraded model of Narzo 50A, which was launched in India earlier this year. Here's a detailed look at the new smartphone.

Make sure to visit: Download Realme Weather App Latest update [Old Versions Archive]

Realme Narzo 50A Prime is built around a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen featuring a waterdrop notch. The panel offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, 600 nits of peak brightness, and a 90.7 percent screen to body ratio.

Under the hood, the Narzo 50A Prime powers a Unisoc T612 SoC paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. For software, the device offers Android 11 OS out of the box along with Realme UI 2.0 on top.

In the optics department, the Realme Narzo 50A Prime houses an 8 MP front camera. The rear panel carries a triple-camera island led by a 50 MP primary sensor. The other lenses include a 2 MP macro unit and a 2MP portrait sensor.



A 5,000 mAh battery keeps the screen lightened up with an 18W fast charging support over a USB Type-C port. The connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, 4G VoLTE, a micro SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. For security, there's a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. 

Price and Availability

Realme Narzo 50A Prime arrives in Flash Black and Flash Blue color variants. Depending upon the storage variant, the device costs IDR 1,799,000 and IDR 1,999,000 respectively for the 4GB + 64GB and 4GB RAM + 128GB model.

Related: Realme GT Neo 3 with MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC launched for ¥1999

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Oppo K10 goes official in India with Snapdragon 680 SoC for ₹16,990

Oppo has added a new budget smartphone under its K series of the flagship. The Oppo K10 is launched in India with all the affordable specs. Here's a detailed look at the new phone.

Make sure to visit: Download Oppo/ Realme Quick Glance Latest Version [Old Versions Archive]

Oppo K10 Specifications

Oppo K10 features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a 90Hz screen refresh rate. The panel has a punch-hole cut-out and a Glow design that offers an assortment of glossy and matte finishes with 2B colors.

Under the hood, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor powers the Oppo K10 paired with Adreno 610 GPU. It offers default storage of 128 GB coupled with up to 8 GB RAM that can be extended via the Virtual RAM feature. For software, unfortunately, it comes pre-installed with Android 11 OS tossed with ColorOS 11.1 on top.



For shooting purposes, the Oppo K10 houses a 16 MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. On the other side, there's a triple camera island consisting of a 50 MP primary lens and a couple of 2 MP sensors for depth and macro aspects respectively.

A 5,000 mAh power cell keeps the system working with a 33W SuperVooc fast charging support. The connectivity options include a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, speaker grille, and a dedicated microSD card slot to expand storage.

Price and Availability

Oppo K10 arrives in two storage variants of 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB costing ₹14,990 and ₹16,990 respectively. The smartphone will go on sale from March 29 via Flipkart in Black Carbon and Blue Fame color options.

Read more: Oppo A53s 5G and Reno 4Z 5G gets ColorOS 12 early access beta

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Google adds major new features on the Google Photos app

Google Photos is one of the most used photos gallery apps on smartphones whether it's an Android device or iOS. Today, Google introduced some new changes and addition to their Photos app for the upcoming updates. There are a lot of improvements made on the app to help users easily organize, import and sort through albums, access shared content, and use screenshots. The new features help in using the on-device folders and also sorting the files in the libraries.

Google Photos: What's new for you?

The first visual change that is seen on the update is in the libraries section. Now you can apply filters from the filter options present on the top and then sort them according to your choice. The three filters available are albums, shared albums, favorites, or on-device folders. So, now it will be easy to organize multiple galleries and access them quickly.



One more feature which will help you access all your photo on Google Photos is the Import option. Under the album grid, where you find all the options like archive and trash, you will find the new import option too. This option will allow users to import photos from other galleries like iCloud. It was also possible to import photos from Facebook and iCloud to Google Photos. But, now you can do it from Google Photos itself, making it much easier than other methods. This feature will make Google Photos your destination for all your photos.

 

The Sharing tab is also receiving a change, now it will provide sections for sharing with a partner, shared albums, and conversations. This will make it easier to manage the shared photos. Android devices will receive this update from today meanwhile iOS users have to wait a little more for it.



There are some more features like accessing screenshots quickly. Google will add shortcuts that will allow users to go to the screenshots directly. This shortcut will be present on the top of the main photo grid. Also, Google Photos will not recommend deleting these screenshots in order to save space in the clean-up suggestions. The update also introduces new shortcuts to copy text from screenshots or use Google Lens on screenshots. Google made these changes as most users capture screenshots for copying text or information from it. Google will roll out these features to Android in the coming weeks.

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Message Reactions feature to Android beta users

WhatsApp is one of the most popular instant messaging apps available out there. In the latest news, the message reaction feature is finally rolling out for the social media messenger. The feature was in light since last year and is ultimately making its way to some Android users on the beta channel.

Make sure to visit: FMWhatsapp Latest Version: Features and How to Install [APK]

For the unaware, this feature is similar to that of other apps, including Instagram, Messenger, Telegram, or iMessage. All you have to do is hold on to a message and choose an emoji as a reaction. As per the report, the ability to react to messages is limited to selected beta testers. Although WhatsApp has not officially confirmed when all users will get the feature, it will roll out to everyone soon.

According to WABetaInfo, the emoji reactions feature is rolling out for the users on WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.22.8.3. Initially, there are six emojis to choose or react from. This includes Like, Love, Laugh, Surprised, Sad, and Thanks (👍💖😂😮😢🙏).



The company could potentially add more emoji options in future developments. Also, for now, there is no word if the user can change or customize these reactions. On the bright side, WABetaInfo mentioned that all users will be able to see message reactions, even if they can’t send them.

Assuming this is a server-side rollout, it'll be available for the latest beta version users. However, as mentioned, there's no guarantee for everyone. The company will hopefully make it functional for general users in the coming months.

Read more: WhatsApp beta brings new Communities Tab and tweaks Voice Recordings

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Samsung Galaxy S20 and S21 series on Verizon starts receiving One UI 4.1

A couple of days ago, Samsung rolled out the One UI 4.1 update for the Galaxy S21 series in South Korea. The update was rolled out for all three devices in the Galaxy S21 series. Now after rolling out updates in South Korea, Samsung is pushing the update to the Verizon Galaxy S21 lineup. Not only the Galaxy S21 series but the Galaxy S20 series have also started receiving the One UI 4.1 update.

The update bumps up the firmware version on each device. The new firmware versions are listed below:

• Galaxy S21: G991USQU5CVC4


• Galaxy S21+: G996USQU5CVC4


• Galaxy S21 Ultra: G998USQU5CVC4


• Galaxy S20: G981VSQU2FVC5


• Galaxy S20+: G986USQU2FVC5


• Galaxy S20 Ultra: G988USQU2FVC5

Samsung has become the industry leader in terms of software updates as other brands are nowhere near updating their devices to Android 12. While other brands are not able to launch their device with Android 12, Samsung is updating the two-year-old flagship S20 to Android 12. Samsung's new One UI 4.1 brings a lot of new features to these devices giving them a much-needed refresh. The new update includes the latest March 2022 security patch. The changelog for the update is a big one, but we are going to discuss the main ones.

One UI 4.1

The first change is the palette picker in the wallpaper-based theming. As we all know, Android 12 brought the wallpaper-based color theming for the entire UI, Samsung also implemented it on One UI in its own way. Now, the color palette picker is a long vertical rectangular in place of the old circular one. There is also the new enhanced object eraser and the live sharing in Duo. The enhanced object eraser is a very useful tool for many users who wants a clean profile pic on their social handles.



Samsung has also enhanced the Grammarly integration on the keyboard. The other changes include the ability to search on youtube from the finder app. You can also hide search results on the finder. Now, you can also zoom up to 3x on the portrait video mode too. There is much more to explore once you update your device to One UI 4.1.

If you hold any one of the devices mentioned above, you might receive the update notification soon. You can also check for the update manually by heading to the Software Update tab in the Settings app.

 

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