Realme 8s 5G joins Android 12 update party based on Realme UI 3.0

Realme 8s 5G is finally receiving its first major update. The handset was launched last year in September with Android 11-based Realme UI 2.0 out of the box. Now, the smartphone is joining the stable Android 12 update party based on Realme UI 3.0 skin iteration.

Must see: Download Realme File Manager App Latest Version [Old Versions Archive]

The latest software update for the Realme 8s 5G is currently rolling out in India with firmware version RMX3381_11_C.03. However, before updating, make sure that your phone runs on the required version RMX3381_11_A.12. The other markets will also pick up the build soon.

Along with a new UI, the package carries a plethora of improvements, performance enhancements, and new features. As always, the changelog for this release is feature-enriched and quite immense with all the new elements. Needless to say, after flashing the build, you will get a more personalized, efficient, and smoother user experience. Take a look at the official changelog below.

Changelog

• New design
  
  
  
  • The all-new design, which emphasizes a sense of space, deliver a simple, clean, and comfortable visual and interactive experience.
  
  
  • Revamps the page layout based on the principle of reducing visual noise and spacing out elements, and prioritizes information with different colors to make key information stand out.
  
  
  • Redesigns icons using new materials to give more depth and a greater sense of space and texture to the icons.
  
  
  • Optimizes Quantum Animation Engine: Quantum Animation Engine 3.0 implements the concept of mass to make animations more lifelike, and optimizes more than 300 animations to bring a more natural user experience.
  
  
  
  


• Convenience & efficiency
  
  
  
  • Adds “Background stream” Apps in Background stream mode continue playing the audio of a video when you leave them or lock your phone.
  
  
  • FlexDrop is renamed Flexible Windows and is optimized:
  
  
  • Optimizes the method of switching floating windows between different sizes.
  
  
  • You can now drag a file from My Files or a photo from the Photos app to a floating window.
  
  
  
  


• Performance
  
  
  
  • Adds Quick launch, a feature that detects the apps you use frequently and pre-loads them so you can open them quickly.
  
  
  • Adds a chart to display your battery usage.
  
  
  • Improves the responsiveness of turning on or off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode.
  
  
  
  


• Games
  
  
  
  • In team fight scenes, games run more smoothly at a stable frame rate.
  
  
  • Reduces the CPU load average and lowers the battery usage.
  
  
  
  


• Camera
  
  
  
  • You can now decide which camera modes are displayed on the menu bar and in what order they are displayed.
  
  
  • You can now drag the zoom slider to zoom in or out smoothly when shooting a video using the rear camera.
  
  
  
  


• System
  
  
  
  • Optimizes the auto brightness algorithm to adapt screen brightness to more scenes for a comfortable screen reading experience.
  
  
  
  


• Accessibility
  
  
  
  • Optimizes accessibility:
  
  
  • Adds visuals to text instructions for an intuitive understanding of accessibility functions.
  
  
  • Optimizes categorization of functions by grouping them into vision, hearing, interactive actions, and general.
  
  
  • TalkBack supports more system apps including Photos, Phone, Mail, and Calendar.
  
  
  • Adds visuals to text instructions for an intuitive understanding of accessibility functions.
  
  
  • Optimizes categorization of functions by grouping them into vision, hearing, interactive actions, and general.
  
  
  • TalkBack supports more system apps including Photos, Phone, Mail, and Calendar.
  
  
  
  

Read more: Realme Narzo 50A Prime gets Realme UI 3.0 Early Access Beta Program

As always, the OTA update is rolling out in batches and will reach out to every user in a short while. In the meantime, you can head over to Settings > Software update to track the package manually.

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Realme Narzo 50A Prime gets Realme UI 3.0 Early Access Beta Program

Realme is constantly delivering the Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0 package to its eligible smartphones. In the latest development, the Chinese tech giant has initiated the Realme UI 3.0 Early Access Beta Program for the Realme Narzo 50A Prime users.

Make sure to visit: Download Realme Community App Latest Version [Old Versions Archived]

The statement was made official via the Realme community forum along with some essential details. The interested Realme Narzo 50A Prime users can enroll themselves in the Android 12 -based Realme UI 3.0 beta program. The Registration will be open from July 12. But as this is a closed beta registration, it will only be accessible to 200 users initially.

Also, the applications will be accepted in batches for the users who registered early. Before applying, make sure your device is charged above 60% and is running on the required RMX3516PU_11.A.29 version. So, take no time and follow the below steps:

1. Head to phone Settings > Software update


2. Look for the gear icon in the upper right corner of the screen


3. Click upgrade and early adopters and tap on Trial Version


4. Scroll down and click on Apply now


5. Submit your details and finish the quiz

However, the post did not specify any specific region where the program is available. Therefore, you can try testing if you have a compatible device in any region.

Read more: Realme C25s picks up stable Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0 update

In addition, keep in mind that this is an early software update. Therefore, your device may lag and some apps will not be compatible as well. Besides, some third-party application versions might not be compatible. Accordingly, we do not recommend you install the Beta software on your primary phone.

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Google Play Store is getting some Material You tweaks

Last year, Google updated its stock apps, including Play Store with the Material You design based on Android 12. Now, the latest update for the Google Play Store plays with the UI design elements, indulging more in the new theme.

Make sure to visit: Install Stable GCAM 8.3 APK on any Android smartphone

To recall, the initial Material You update for the Play Store app arrived last year in October. It applied dynamic color to key elements and updated the home screen, search field, and bottom menu bar. FYI, the Material You design applies a rich palette of color based on your home screen wallpaper so that the apps feel more personal.

With the latest update, the app is getting more tweaks. This includes pill-shaped buttons throughout the application. Earlier, they were Material Design 2 rectangular buttons with narrowly rounded corners. In addition, the button changes also apply to the “Install,” “Uninstall,” and “Update” buttons. On the other hand, the category chips/filters are getting a new layout. In addition, it applies to the Manage apps & device page and search results as well.

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However, the buttons do not coordinate with Dynamic Color theming, In fact, they're all mostly green. Besides, the new design is only limited to Android smartphones and tablets. The changes are not applicable to Web Play Store. Although it may be in development already.

Read more: Google Play system July update brings new features, improvements, and more

The new design has started appearing to some users. Goggle is pushing a wider roll-out now. As always, this is a server-side update and will automatically hit your device. Just in case, the new design doesn’t show up, head to the phone’s Settings -> Apps -> Google Play Store.

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Oppo Band 2 appears on EEC and BIS websites, launch imminent

After a two-year gap, Oppo is finally gearing up to introduce the successor of the Oppo Band. The Oppo Band 2 is in the works although as always, the company did not make any official announcement. Reportedly, the smart device has made an appearance on Russia’s EEC database and Indian BIS certification websites. Here's a closer look at the Oppo Band 2.

[caption id="attachment_127212" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Oppo Band[/caption]

Make sure to visit: List of Oppo smartphones to get a stable ColorOS 12 update in July

Both of these certifications tings suggest that the upcoming Oppo Band will make a debut in multiple markets, including India. To recall, the same device was recently spotted on Indonesia’s NBTC website as well. Unfortunately, as usual, none of these listings reveal any major detail about the band. Nevertheless, they confirm the moniker and indicate that the wearable will make a debut soon outside China.

On Russia’s EEC portal, the Oppo Band 2 emerged with model number OBBE215. Also, it suggested a 5Vdc 0.5A power rating of the band. The same model with the “Oppo Band 2” moniker was listed on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website as well.

On Indonesia’s NBTC website, the same device was certified but with a different model number. According to the leaks, they may be two new and different wearables by the company: Oppo Watch 3 and Oppo Band 2.

Read more: Oppo A97 5G appears on China Telecom website, launch imminent

However, as mentioned before, there is no official word from the company at the time of writing. Therefore, any details and specifications of the Oppo Band 2 are not available as of now. We expect the company to make it official by the end of this month.

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Google Play system July update brings new features, improvements, and more

Every month, Google rolls out updates to its services, including Android, Wear OS, Android TV, and other platforms. Likewise, the tech giant has released the July 2022 update to its Play system. The latest update brings along some new features, improvements to the existing ones, as well as some bug fixes. Let's check out the July 2022 update in detail.

Must see: Download GCam 8.5 APK [Link Included]

The July update for the Google Play System has arrived later than usual. Anyway, it carries multiple changes, including rebranding Google Pay to “Google Wallet” and improving the Google Play billing. Also, it brings some new ways to offer “seamless multi-device experiences.”

In addition, there are plenty of other changes, including the new UI in the “Data & Privacy” section. This follows multiple improvements like in the Play-as-you-download feature, Play Pass, and Play Points programs, as some bug fixes. Besides, there's a new developer feature that supports Maps-related developer services in their apps. For point-to-point modifications, check out the official changelog below.

Changelog

Account Management

• [Phone] The section headers in the Data & Privacy tab of the Google account settings have a new appearance.

Device Connectivity

• [Phone] APIs for developers to build seamless multi-device experiences.

Google Play Store

• Improvements to the Play-as-you-download feature to let gamers start playing mobile games while the app download continues to reduce waiting times.


• New Features to help you discover the Apps & Games you love.


• Optimizations allow faster and more reliable download and installation.


• New features to the Play Pass and Play Points programs.


• Enhancements to Google Play Billing.


• Continuous improvements to Play Protect to keep your device safe.


• Various performance optimizations, bug fixes, and improvements to security, stability, and accessibility.

Support

• [Phone] Provide an ability to filter the data plans available to purchase by various categories received from the Carrier.

Wallet

• [Phone] Updates user experience to latest Google Material design, rebrands as “Google Wallet”.

Developer Services

• New developer features for Google and third-party app developers to support Maps-related developer services in their apps.

Read more: Chromecast with Google TV finally launched in India for ₹6,399

To check the update, directly visit your Play Store listing. To update the Play Store, tap your avatar in the right corner > Settings > About > Update Play Store. Alternatively, you can also visit the device's Settings app, About phone > Android version > Google Play system update.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 appears on FCC ahead of launch

Samsung is expected to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold 4 at the Galaxy Unpacked event in August 2022. As per rumors, the next generation of foldable will go official on August 26. A few weeks ahead of its launch, the phone made an appearance on the FCC certification website. Here's what we could gather from the latest listing.

[caption id="attachment_126390" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Representative Image[/caption]

Must see: Download Samsung Shop App

The FCC listing again confirms the model number SM-F936U for the Galaxy Z Fold 4. Further, the portal reveals the phone’s networked details, connectivity onboard, and more. The device will have support for 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G bands, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC. Also, it will come with Qualcomm Gen2 smart transmit feature.

Similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, the successor will also come with S Pen as revealed by the website. Moreover, it may support reverse wireless charging as well. Unfortunately, the FCC listing does not divulge any other details. Although we do have other specifications in our hands already.

To recall, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was spotted on Geekbench last month with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC under the hood. The chipset will be paired with Adreno 730 GPU and 12GB of RAM at the very least. On the software front, the handset will boost Android 12 out of the box along with a layer of One UI 4.1 on top.

Read more: Galaxy Buds 2 Pro design and color variants leaked ahead of launch

On the other hand, the leaks suggest the presence of a 7.6-inch 2K AMOLED foldable screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The cover display could be a 6.2-inch HD+ screen. In addition, the rumors claim that there's a 16MP under-screen camera, a 10MP front camera, and a 50MP + 12MP + 12MP triple rear camera setup. Lastly, the device is likely to pack a 4400 mAh battery that will support 45W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging as well.

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Chromecast with Google TV finally launched in India for ₹6,399

Two years back, Google launched a streaming device called Chromecast with Google TV alongside Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G. At the time, the device was available in the global market. After a long interval of two years, the 4K steaming device is finally official in India.

Make sure to visit: How to install Mobdro on Chromecast with Google TV?

Following the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick, Google's Chromecast with Google TV becomes the second streaming device in the country to run on the Google TV software. As with every other firestick, it is a 4K streaming device that intends to convert non-smart TVs into smart TV. Moreover, the stick can also be used on smart TV operating an older version of Android

It simply is a plug-and-play device with an HDMI port on one side of the streaming device and a USB end. The USB is meant to be connected to the TV or any other power outlet. The device comes with a short remote which offers Google Assistant, Netflix, and Youtube buttons.

Talking about the UI, the home screen offers four tabs on the top: Search, Home, Apps, and Library. For features, the Chromecast with Google TV offers resolutions up to 4K HDR and 60 FPS. In addition, it supports Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HDR10+ formats as well. Besides, the default storage is 8GB paired with 2GB of RAM. Needless to say, there's Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz) and Bluetooth support as well.

Similar to all the other TV firesticks, it also comes with pre-loaded apps like Netflix, Prime, Disney+ Hotstar, and many more. To download other apps that are not already available, you can head to the Google Play store.

Read more: Google updates Chrome Password Manager with new design and features

Price and Availability

The Google Chromecast with Google TV firestick costs ₹6,399 in India. The streaming device is available in a solar color option of Snow (White). The users can purchase it through Flipkart. Also, the device will be available in other leading retail outlets in the coming days.

As for launch offers, there's no discount on the Google TV firestick. Although interestingly, the buyers can get the Google Nest hub at ₹4,999 and the Google Nest mini for ₹1,999.

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Vivo Y77 5G with Dimensity 930 SoC goes official in China for ¥1,499

Vivo has introduced another Y-series smartphone in its home market. The Vivo Y77 5G is official in China as the latest affordable offering from the company. The smartphone packs all the decent specs we expect from a mid-range handset. Let's take a detailed look at the Vivo Y77 5G specifications, price, features, and other details.

Make sure to visit: Guide to install Android 12 Emojis on any Rooted Android Smartphone

The Vivo Y77 5G is built around a 6.64-inch Full HD+ LCD screen with a center-aligned punch hole notch. The panel offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a 2388 × 1080 pixel resolution, and a 1500:1 contrast ratio.

Under the hood, the 5 G-powered phone equips an octa-core processor based on MediaTek Dimensity 930 SoC. The chipset is paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB of internal storage. For software, it ships with Android 12 out of the box along with a layer of OriginOS Ocean on top.

In terms of camera, there's a dual-rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP primary lens and a 2MP macro sensor. At the front, the Vivo Y77 5G houses an 8MP unit that serves selfies and video chats.

Lastly, the phone packs a 4500mAh battery unit that supports 80W of fast charging over a USB Type-C port. The other notable features include a 3.5mm jack, Dual-SIM, 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, Beidou, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for security.

Read more: Vivo Y01A appears on BIS Certification Website, launch imminent

Availability and Price 

Vivo Y77 5G is available in China in Black, Blue, and Pink color options. Depending upon the storage variant you choose to buy, here's how much the handset will cost:

• 6GB + 128GB – ¥1,499


• 8GB + 128GB – ¥1,599


• 8GB + 256GB – ¥1,799


• 12GB + 256GB – ¥1,999

Read more »

Samsung’s One UI 5.0 leaked; everything you need to know!

While Google is still cooking up the Android 13, all the major smartphone brands are busy with the development of their skin iteration. Likewise, Samsung is preparing the One UI 5.0 which will release alongside the next version of the mobile operating system.

Must see: Download Samsung Bixby Voice

As we already know, Android 13 is currently in beta for developers and is yet to be announced. Although it is expected to release sometime near Q4 2022. So is the case with Samsung's One UI 5.0 as well. Ahead of any official announcement, the rumors have revealed the design and some key features of the upcoming skin iteration.

One UI 5.0 Features  

• Tweaked notification design

As with One UI 4.0, the next-gen skin also plays with the notification design. The notifications icon and design are upgraded with a new style. Also, the shade and quick settings are tweaked slightly. However, none of the changes are major although they do offer a different feel to the user.

• OCR in Gallery and insert text from image on keyboard

As with Apple, Samsung is adding a feature that let users copy text from an image and keyboard. This is known as OCR (Optical Character Recognition). If your picture contains any context, you will see a button at the bottom of the gallery that will allow you to pull that text. To recall, this used to be part of Bixby Vision before.

• Security and privacy hub

On One UI 5.0, all of your accounts, passwords, security, and privacy features into one screen. This will allow the user to get easy access to everything you need. Besides, it will scam anything that might be a threat to your device.

• New multitasking gestures

There are new gesture features that will make multitasking convenient. Precisely, there are two new features. Firstly, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen with two fingers to access the split view. Secondly, you can swipe in from the top right corner to make a popup window.

Read more: Galaxy Buds 2 Pro design and color variants leaked ahead of launch

Besides the above-mentioned changes, Samsung will introduce some other modifications as well. This includes collaboration in the Notes app, UWB toggle in settings, currently active app in quick settings, and more.

Read more »