Monday, March 21, 2022

Gmail for Android updates status bar icons for Google Chat and Spaces

After the failure of Hangouts, Google has shifted its focus to Google Chat and Spaces. Both of them are Google's attempt to capture the messaging app market. These apps can be used for professional work just like Slack. Google maintains both the apps and updates them with the latest features regularly. Both the features are available on the Gmail app on Android.

You can access both features in Gmail from the bottom bar present in the Gmail app. The problem with this integration of all the different platforms on one app was the notification. It was not a big problem but, whenever you receive a notification, all three platforms show the same icon. Whether you receive an email, a chat, or a message on spaces, you will be having a double chat bubble icon placed on top of one another. But, now Google has changed it in the new Gmail app. Now, you will see different icons for different platform.

New status bar icons



As you can see in the image above, there are different icons for mails, Spaces, and Chat. The icon for Chat is a chat bubble with an empty interior, for Spaces, it is the icon with three persons standing next to each other and then we have our normal Gmail icon. As you can notice, these are the same icons present on the bottom bar of the Gmail app which makes them easy to recognize. So, now it is easy to recognize the kind of message received just by looking at the status bar icon.

Currently, these status bar icons are seen only on a single Android device running the 2022.02.20.x version of the Gmail app. The version is not available for every device as of now, but it might be available for more devices soon. The move comes as Gmail for iOS begins to display the Chat sender's profile photo beginning this month.

Sunday, March 20, 2022

OxygenOS 12 based on Android 12 rolling out for OnePlus devices

Recently, OnePlus launched the OnePlus 9RT and OnePlus Nord 2 CE 5G, both were interesting devices. However, both came with Android 11 out of the box, so, the OnePlus users were a little upset as Android 12 was launched last year, but it is still not available. So, now OnePlus has started rolling the Android 12 update for some of its devices not the ones mentioned above, but the other flagships. The list of devices that are going to receive the new Android 12 update are:


  1. OnePlus 9R

  2. OnePlus 8

  3. OnePlus 8 Pro

  4. OnePlus 8T


All of these devices have already received the Android 12 based ColorOS 12 in China. OnePlus devices in China run on ColorOS while the devices outside China still run on OxygenOS. So, now the update is made available for users outside China which means it is an OxygenOS update. It is the new OxygenOS 12 based on Android 12, which was in the beta stage previously and is now available in the stable version. The new update is made available to the open beta users and will be out for stable users later. Also, the update for EU regions is not available currently but will be rolled out soon.

oxygenos

The OxygenOS 12 is not a huge update in terms of visual changes as most of the design is similar to the previous version. There are some major changes like you can access the self from the notification panel, Work-Life balance function, and more. The update fixes the bugs that were present in the earlier beta stages of the OS.

OxygenOS 12 update,


The new update is available in different regions for different devices. The OnePlus 9R will receive the new update in IN region with firmware version LE2101_11.C.14. The OnePlus 8, 8T, and 8 Pro is receiving update in IN and NA regions. For the OnePlus 8 the firmware versions are:

  • IN region: IN2011_11.C.11

  • NA region: IN2015_11.C.11


For OnePlus 8 Pro:

  • IN region: IN2021_11.C.11

  • NA region: IN2025_11.C.11


For OnePlus 8T:

  • IN region: KB2001_11.C.11

  • NA region: KB2005_11.C.11


OnePlus 8T receives OxygenOS 11.0.9.9 Update

Changelog:




  • System


    • Optimized desktop icons with improved textures, by using a design inspired by brand-new materials and uniting lights and layers

    • Fixed the issue that background applications are abnormally closed in specific scenarios

    • Fixed the issue with lens permissions when using third party camera applications

    • Fixed the issue of the screen cannot respond when receiving notifications






  • Dark mode


    • Dark mode now supports three adjustable levels, bringing a more personalized and comfortable user experience




  • Shelf


    • New additional style options for Cards, making data contents more visual and easier to read

    • Newly added Earphone Control Card with Bluetooth earphone one-click adjustment

    • Newly added access to OnePlus Scout in Shelf, allowing you to search multiple contents on your phone, including Apps, Settings, Media Data, etc.

    • Newly added OnePlus Watch Card in Shelf, to easily glance at your health stats




  • Work-Life Balance


    • Work-Life Balance feature is now available to all users, allowing you to effortlessly switch between Work and Life mode via quick settings

    • WLB 2.0 now supports automatic Work/Life mode switching, based on specific locations, Wi-Fi network, and time, also bringing customized App notification profiles according to the personalization




  • Gallery


    • Gallery now allows you to switch between different layouts with a two-finger pinch gesture, intelligently recognizing the best-quality pictures, and cropping the thumbnail based on the content, making the gallery layout more pleasing




  • Canvas AOD


    • Canvas AOD brings you new diverse styles of lines and colors, for a more personalized lock screen experience with inspiring visuals

    • Newly added multiple brushes and strokes and support for color adjustment

    • Optimized software algorithm and improved face recognition to better identify the features and skin color of different figures




  • Network


    • Fixed the issue that unable to automatically connect to Wi-Fi




  • Bluetooth


    • Fixed the issue that wireless earphones cannot play a sound when connecting Bluetooth in specific scenarios




As we can see from the changelog, the update fixes the majority of bugs faced in the earlier builds of the OS. It also adds some new cards for earphone control, search, and more. You might have received the notification for the update on the device if you are on the open beta version. You can also check for the update manually by heading to the software update section in the settings app.

This is an early stable build so, it may contain some bugs and maybe a little uncomfortable for some users. If you are one of those users, you should wait for a review on the new OxygenOS 12. However, if you still want to try the new update, you can download and install it and roll back to the previous version using the rollback packages. But, you should make a backup before that as it will wipe your device.



 

Moto G30 starts receiving Android 12 update

Moto has been launching some of the best budget smartphones lately, one of that devices is the Moto G30. Launched last year, the Moto G30 is a very good offering in the budget segment with a lot of valuable features. Moto provides a clean stock Android experience to its users and Moto G30 is running the same near-stock Android OS. It was launched with Android 11 out of the box and now, it has started receiving Android 12. Currently, the update is available for the Brazil region and will be rolled out for other regions soon.

The update is the stable Android 12 update for the device and carries the February 2022 security patch. It is available for the device with model number XT2129-1-DS, which is the Brazilian model number for the device with two sims. The update weighs 1.09 GB in size and carries firmware version S0RCS32.41-10-9-2. It is an Android 12 update which means it carries all the Android 12 goodness and the new Material You design language. And, as mentioned earlier it will be clean Android 12 as Moto doesn't make huge changes to the UI.

Moto G30

With Android 12, users can also disable mic and camera access on the device so, the apps can't access them without permission. It is a small step towards privacy improvements on Android. The other changes are the new quick settings panel, new minimalist lock screen, and rounded corners throughout the UI. The update notification might hit your smartphone soon if not already. You can also check the update manually by checking the software update section in the Settings app.

Moto G30: Specifications


The Moto G30 features a 6.5 inch IPS LCD with 1600 x 720 pixels resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It came with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset paired with Adreno 610 GPU. In the camera department, the smartphone features a quad camera setup on the rear panel. The primary sensor is a 64 MP lens paired with an 8 MP ultrawide, 2 MP macro, and 2 MP depth sensor. On the front, it houses a 13 MP selfie shooter.

The battery on the device is a 5000 mAh Li-Po battery with fast charging support of up to 20W. It comes with 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. Considering all the specifications, the Moto G30 is a very valuable device on budget.

 

Saturday, March 19, 2022

How to take Screenshot on Samsung Galaxy S22 series

Taking screenshots helps a lot when you want to capture something quickly on the screen of your smartphone. If you are someone who wants to take a screenshot and don't know how to do it then this article is for you.

Samsung launched its new line of flagship smartphones last month. There are three devices in the flagship series, S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra. The S22 is the base model with similar looks to last year and the S22 Ultra is the topmost model with Note series design. All three devices come with the latest technologies and features available in the industry. However, having more features becomes a trouble when you can't remember the shortcuts to access them. In this article, we will provide some tricks to capture screenshots and some extra things that can help you.

Galaxy S22

Taking Screenshots on Galaxy S22 series smartphones


First, the most common way to take a screenshot on any device is the combination of power key and volume down key. You just have to press both the keys at once without holding them for too long. This is available on every Android smartphone you can find. However, it is not the most convenient way to do it as you face situations where clicking both buttons at once would be a little uncomfortable. So, there is another way to do it on Samsung Galaxy S22 series.

If you own a Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphone, you can use the gesture available on the device. All you have to do is open the Settings app and navigate to Advanced features > Motions and gestures > Palm swipe to capture and enable the toggle. Now, you can take a screenshot just by swiping your palm from the right edge to the left side. You can also enable other features in the Advance features section such as hiding the navigation bar in the screenshot, deleting screenshots after sharing, and many more. You can also use the toolbar available after taking a screenshot to make changes to the screenshot such as cropping and deleting screenshot.

With these shortcuts, you can easily take a screenshot of your new Galaxy S22 smartphone. You may find many more features as you explore the Advance features section.

Friday, March 18, 2022

Samsung starts pushing update to fix throttling issue on the Galaxy S22 series

Samsung Galaxy S22 series is the best you can get in the Android market right now. The series contains three smartphones, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra. The Galaxy S22 and S22+ are refreshed version of the S21 series, it comes with a more flat edge design. Samsung has also replaced the plastic rear panel on the base model with a glass panel. On the other hand, the Galaxy S22 Ultra is the topmost model of the series with premium looking design. It looks more like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the last Note series smartphone from Samsung. Unlike the S21 Ultra, the S22 Ultra follows the Note series and comes with a built-in S pen.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G Image 1

The new flagship series bring some new features onboard and a lot of improvements. However, there is one feature that became a problem for the users, the Game Optimization Service (GOS). Due to the throttling issue of the Game Optimization Service, Samsung has to apologize to its users. Samsung VC and CEO Jong-Hee Han issued an official apology to users for the GOS throttling issue during the annual shareholder's meeting. To solve this issue, Samsung has already pushed an update in South Korea, Europe and now it is available in India also.

Galaxy S22 series Update: March security patch


The new update on the device lets you disable the Game Optimization Service and also brings some app updates and improvements. The new update comes with firmware version S90xEXXU1AVC9 updates the security to the latest March 2022 security patch. Samsung has also updated some apps such as Samsung health, Samsung Pay, Samsung Members, Samsung TV Plus, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Smart Switch, and many other apps.



To disable the Game Optimization Service after updating the device, you have to open  Game Launcher and navigate to More » Game Booster » Labs, and then turn on Alternate game performance management. Wait for the official update notification on your device or you can check for the update manually.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21, Z Fold 3 , and Z Flip 3 are now receiving the latest One UI 4.1

Samsung has become the leader in the industry when it comes to software updates. All the latest and even the old Samsung devices are receiving the latest One UI updates. Every company is struggling to provide the Android 12 to its user while Samsung did it before the given timeline. Samsung also launched the new version of their skin, One UI 4.1 which is one of the best Android skins you can find in the market right now. The newly launched Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 ultra come with Android 12 base One UI 4.1 out of the box. Recently, the South Korean tech giant announced that the One UI 4.1 update will be available for the Galaxy Fold/Flip, S, Note, and A-series devices soon.

Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G

The Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 have started receiving the One UI 4.1 update in South Korea. The update comes with the CVC5 firmware and the March 2022 security patch. It fixes the buggy immersive mode which was not able to hide the status bar and navigation bar. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S21 series has started pushing the update to Canadian users on Rogers, Telus, and Sasktel networks with the CVBA firmware.

If you own any of the devices mentioned above in the respecting regions, you can download the update manually. To download the new One UI 4.1 manually, you have to open the Settings app on the device. After opening settings navigate to Software update and check for update. Once the update is available to you, hit the Download and install button.

Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G

One UI 4.1


The One UI 4.1 is the latest version of One UI based on Android 12 which means it brings all the Android 12 goodness with it. With One UI 4.1, Samsung has made some improvements and also introduced new features to their UI. Some of these features are not even present in Google's smartphone yet but Samsung has provided that to its users. For example, the live sharing feature on Google Duo, Google has not provided this feature to their smartphones yet.



There are many more features such as improved Object Eraser functionality, including the ability to remove shadows and reflections, deeper Grammarly integration in the Galaxy keyboard. Samsung has also introduced some new camera features, including Night Portrait, telephoto portrait video, enhanced Snapchat integration, and pet recognition, which is already available on the Galaxy S22 series.

 

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Redmi 10 goes official in India with Snapdragon 680 SoC for ₹10,999

Redmi 10 is now official in India as a successor to the Redmi 9. The latest budget offering is a rebranded Redmi 10C that debuted earlier this month in global markets. It packs all the impressive specs that we expect from an entry-level smartphone. Here are the key specifications and pricing details of the latest handset.

Redmi 10

Must see: How to install SafetyNet fix on Android 12!

The Redmi 10 features a water-drop notch display at the top of a 6.7-inch IPS LCD screen. The panel offers an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, a 20.6:9 aspect ratio, and a peak brightness of 400 nits. Also, there's a fingerprint scanner on the back panel to serve security.

Underneath, a Snapdragon 680 processor powers the Redmi 10 paired with Adreno 610 GPU. The phone is available in up to 128 GB of storage configuration paired with 6GB of RAM which can be expanded via a dedicated microSD card slot.

For shooting purposes, Redmi 10 houses a 5 MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls. On the other side, there's a dual-camera setup consisting of a 50 MP primary snapper and a 2 MP portrait lens.

Redmi 10

On the software front, the phone will have Android 11 onboard along with MIUI 13 on top. A 6,000 mAh power cell will keep the Redmi 10 working. Although the phone supports 18W fast charging, it will ship with a 10W charging adapter.

Price and Availablity 


The base model of the Redmi 10 costs ₹10,999, while it goes up to ₹12,999 for the higher variant. The device is available in Caribbean Green, Pacific Blue, and Midnight Black color options.

Redmi 10 will be available for purchase via Flipkart from March 24. In addition, the HDFC Bank card buyers can avail a ₹1,000 off.
Read more: Redmi K30 4G gets Android 12 based MIUI 13 update in China

Unknown Realme RMX3571 hits TENAA revealing key specifications

Realme may soon introduce a new smartphone in the market. A mysterious smartphone from the company is spotted on the TENAA certification website with model number RMX3571 revealing its key details. Here's everything about the unknown upcoming handset!

[caption id="attachment_124036" align="aligncenter" width="696"]Realme RMX3571 Representative image[/caption]

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

The Realme RMX3571 is built around a 6.58-inch TFT screen featuring a punch-hole or a teardrop notch display. The panel delivers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2408 pixels. However, we are not sure about the cutout as the images of the phone are not yet available. It measures 163.8 x 75.1 x 8.1mm in dimensions and weighs 190 grams.

Under the hood, Realme RMX3571 will equip an unidentified octa-core processor that works at 2.4GHz. The phone will arrive in three storage options of 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB paired with 6 GB, 8 GB, and 12 GB RAM respectively. On the software front, it is tipped to come pre-installed with Android 12 OS along with Realme UI 3.0 on top.



For optics, Realme RMX3571 will carry a dual rear camera island consisting of a 48 MP primary lens and a 2 MP secondary unit. On the other side, the phone will house an 8 MP snapper for selfies and video calls.

In addition, the rated battery capacity of Realme RMX3571 is 4,880 mAh. Although it could be advertised with a 5,000 mAh cell. Also, it is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner. Lastly, It will be available in black and purple colors variants.

Considering that the smartphone is packed with mid-range specs with 5G connectivity, it may debut under Q or a V-series flagship.
Read more: Realme GT Master Edition & Realme X7 Pro Extreme Edition gets stable Realme UI 3.0 update

Moto Edge 30 arrives on Geekbench with Snapdragon 778+ 5G SoC

The Lenovo-owned company introduced the Moto Edge 30 Pro last month. However, the vanilla model is still awaited. The Moto Edge 30 bagged multiple certifications, including TRDA, EEC, and Wi-Fi Alliance. Now, the device has arrived on the Geekbench benchmarking website, shedding light on some key specs. Here's what we know about the upcoming Motorola smartphone.

[caption id="attachment_124033" align="aligncenter" width="800"]Moto Edge 30 Representative image[/caption]

Make sure to visit: Specs Comparison: iQOO Neo 5S vs Motorola Edge S30

The standard Motorola Edge 30 has managed to score 821 in the single-core test and 2353 in the multi-core test. The Geekbench database discloses one essential particular, including processor, operating system, RAM, and GPU.

Recently, the TDRA database mentioned that the Moto Edge 30 will bear the model number XT2203-1. Now, we know that the device will arrive pre-installed with Android 12 OS out of the box, thanks to the Geekbench listing. In addition, the listing mentions an 8 GB RAM model. Although we do expect Moto Edge 30 to arrive in more storage variants as well.

[gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="124032,124031"]

Moreover, the portal confirms the presence of an octa-core processor under the hood paired with the Adreno 642L GPU. The chipset will come with one prime core clocked at 2.5GHz (Cortex-A78), three Gold Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.2GHz, and four Silver cores (Cortex-A55) clocked at 1.8GHz. To keep it simple, it is the Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G SoC.

Besides the above-mentioned details, the website does not divulge any other detail of the device. Needless to say, it will have some improvement over its predecessor Motorola Edge 20.
Read more: Moto E32 passes through multiple certifications ahead of launch