Archive

Samsung looks to Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo handsets for its Exynos chips

Samsung looks to Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo handsets for its Exynos chips

November 3, 2020
Samsung is reported to be looking to supply its Exynos chip tech to third party phone brands including Xiaomi and OPPO, following successful cooperation with Vivo during 2020. According to Business Korea (via GizmoChina) The deal would be for low-end SoCs for budget and mid-range smartphones, for which Samsung’s internal demand has decreased. The Exynos AP...
Google Keep will lose its Chrome app in February

Google Keep will lose its Chrome app in February

November 3, 2020
Google Keep will lose its Chrome App in February 2021 (via 9to5Google), as part of the company’s long term plan to kill off all Chrome Apps in favor of universal progressive web apps. Users of Google’s note-taking app who access it through the Chrome app are being greeted with a banner warning that “Keep will...
WhatsApp’s new storage management tool lets you bulk delete annoying image forwards

WhatsApp’s new storage management tool lets you bulk delete annoying image forwards

November 3, 2020
WhatsApp started testing a redesigned Storage Usage section in a beta release (v2.20.201.9) earlier this year in September. The updated Storage Usage section featured a new UI with a bar at the top to show current storage usage, a "Suggested clean up" section that listed forwarded and large files that could be removed to save...
Google to use AV1 codec to improve bandwidth for Stadia, Photos, Meet, and TV

Google to use AV1 codec to improve bandwidth for Stadia, Photos, Meet, and TV

November 3, 2020
The Alliance for Open Media came out with the royalty-free AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) codec back in 2017 to replace H.264 as the primary codec for online streaming and media consumption. The AV1 codec offered around 30% better compression than Google's previous VP9 standard without hampering picture quality. Since its release, the AV1 codec has...
Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B mark the return of Micromax to the Indian smartphone market

Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B mark the return of Micromax to the Indian smartphone market

November 3, 2020
Micromax today launched two new Android smartphones in India: Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B, marking a re-entry of the Gurugram-based OEM into the Indian smartphone market. The new smartphones boast interesting hardware, including a quad-camera array, a 5,000 mAh battery, MediaTek Helio G series chipset, and reverse charging support. Micromax IN Note 1 and...
Samsung S Translator service will be shut down next month

Samsung S Translator service will be shut down next month

November 3, 2020
After discontinuing some of Bixby Vision's augmented reality features last month, Samsung has now announced that it will shut down its S Translator service next month. Much like the Bixby Vision announcement, Samsung is now sending out in-app notices to South Korean users announcing its plans to discontinue its in-house translation service. The notice (via TizenHelp) states...
Pixel 5 teardown video reveals the internals of Google’s flagship phone

Pixel 5 teardown video reveals the internals of Google’s flagship phone

November 2, 2020
The Google Pixel 5 is now available across the world, giving people plenty of time to see what the device is all about. While there are more than enough reviews out there, what really caught our attention is a new teardown video from YouTuber PBKreviews. Right out of the gate, PBKreviews addresses reports about there being...
Google supported calls from smart speakers to be axed in the UK

Google supported calls from smart speakers to be axed in the UK

November 2, 2020
If you like to make Google supported calls from your smart speaker or smart display, and you live in the UK, we have some bad news: Google is pulling the feature before the New Year. On its support page (via AndroidPolice), Google has quietly updated its policies, saying the feature is set to go away by...
New Google Assistant’s keyboard dictation is starting to roll out for some

New Google Assistant’s keyboard dictation is starting to roll out for some

November 2, 2020
Last year, Google detailed a new Google Assistant, which included an improved keyboard dictation feature that promised to offer a more advanced way to communicate with your voice. After the feature showed up in app teardowns, it finally looks like a stable version is ready for the public. XDA Recognized Developer argraur sent us a tip...
The OnePlus Buds Z are now available at the OnePlus Store for just $50

The OnePlus Buds Z are now available at the OnePlus Store for just $50

November 2, 2020
With the holiday shopping season starting a little early this year, I'm sure you've already seen a ton of deals and articles about earbuds. In fact, the OnePlus Buds are still on sale! But the OnePlus Buds Z have just been released, and at only $50, they're worth your attention. The OnePlus Buds Z are wireless...
November 2020 Android security update rolling out for Google Pixel and some Samsung Galaxy phones

November 2020 Android security update rolling out for Google Pixel and some Samsung Galaxy phones

November 2, 2020
Another month is in the books, which means it’s time for the latest batch of Android security patches. Google has published the Android Security Bulletin for the month of November and is also rolling out the update to the Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a...
Pixel Slate users complain some devices are being crippled by storage failure

Pixel Slate users complain some devices are being crippled by storage failure

November 2, 2020
A handful of Google Pixel Slate users are reporting a mysterious bug that is forcing their devices into read-only mode, where they stubbornly remain. The 2-in-1 flagship Chromebook has had a less than smooth ride on the technical side, and frustrating bugs are nothing new, but this is on another level entirely. According to reports gathered...