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Nubia Red Magic gaming phone with RGB LED strip, GameBoost button, and Snapdragon 835 launches in India
Nubia has launched the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835-powered Nubia Red Magic gaming phone in India for ₹29,999. The phone has a dedicated GameBoost button.
The gaming phone niche rose to prominence in the Android smartphone market in 2017. The Razer Phone was the first phone to draw attention to itself as a phone for gamers, and it was followed by the Razer Phone 2 this year. Other companies such as Asus, Xiaomi, and Nubia have since entered the gaming phone niche by launching the ROG Phone, Black Shark series, and the Red Magic series respectively. The first modern Android "gaming phone" to arrive in India was the Asus ROG Phone. The Indian launch took place in November at an exceedingly high price of ₹69,990 ($1,002). Now, Nubia, a subsidiary of ZTE, has launched the first-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 835-powered Nubia Red Magic phone in India at a substantially cheaper price (₹29,999).
IDC has released its report for the Indian smartphone market in Q3 2018. According to the company's Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, the Indian smartphone market reached an all-time high of 42.6 million-unit shipments in 3Q18, growing 9.1% year-over-year. IDC states that this is the first time when the smartphone market is at par with the feature phone market, with each market contributing 50% to the overall mobile phone market (previously, feature phone shipments were higher than smartphone shipments in India).
Download MIUI 10 Global Stable for the Xiaomi Redmi 5/5A
The MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM is now available for the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and the Xiaomi Redmi 5A. Both ROMs are based on Android 7.1 Nougat.
Xiaomi has been briskly rolling out MIUI 10 Global Stable updates to its devices since the month of September. MIUI 10 Global brings a redesigned UI, new Recent apps menu, and AI pre-loading features. It was announced in June at the Xiaomi Redmi Y2 event. Most of the company's 2018 phones have already received the Global Stable update, including flagships such as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Xiaomi Mi 8, and the Xiaomi POCO F1. Recently, the MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM was released for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4/Note 4X. Now, the ROM is available for the Xiaomi Redmi 5 and the Xiaomi Redmi 5A.
Sharp unveils the Aquos R2 Compact with Dual Notches
Sharp has launched the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact in Japan. It's a Snapdragon 845 phone featuring dual notches on the top and bottom of the display.
It's safe to call 2018 as the year of notched phones. The Essential Phone was the first Android phone with a display cutout, but the notch only became popular after the launch of the Apple iPhone X. This year, flagship and mid-range phones from the likes of Huawei, Xiaomi, LG, OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, Google, HMD Global, and others have incorporated display notches. We have seen that some notches are much better than others. By and large, the smartphone market has accepted the notch as an acceptable compromise towards a "full-screen" display until we see the wider adoption of more radical solutions like display sliders, popup cameras, or even an under-screen front camera. Up until now, though, we haven't seen dual notches. This changes today as the Sharp Aquos R2 Compact has now been launched in Japan with the dubious distinction of being the first phone with dual notches on the top and bottom of the display.
Download MIUI 10 Global Stable for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and Redmi Note 4/4X
MIUI 10 Global Stable ROMs are now available for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4/Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X.
MIUI 10 is the latest version of MIUI, the proprietary custom user interface developed by Xiaomi. MIUI 10 Global was announced in June at the Xiaomi Redmi Y2 event. Since September, Xiaomi has been rolling out MIUI 10 Global Stable updates for many of its devices. The most recent device to get the MIUI 10 Global Stable update was the Xiaomi POCO F1. Now, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4/4X (Qualcomm Snapdragon variant) are the latest devices to get the MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM.
Google Contacts 3.2.4 adds a working dark theme
Version 3.2.4 of Google Contacts adds a dark theme. It can be enabled from the app's sidebar menu, or by turning on Night Mode in Developer Options.
Android 9 Pie brings a new Material Theme, which has been colloquially referred to as Material Design 2 (MD2). The key points of the new Material Theme are: greater emphasis on white space, the removal of colored backgrounds in favor of white, and prominent use of the Google Sans font. Undoubtedly, the new Material Theme is more minimalist than its predecessor. However, the greater use of white potentially increases the power draw on OLED displays. The power efficiency of OLED displays varies depending on the Average Picture Level (APL). The power draw in OLED displays increases as the APL (the percentage of white content on the display) increases. In light of this, dark themes are gaining a new significance.
Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro, and Realme C1 launch in Malaysia
Realme has launched the Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro, and the Realme C1 in Malaysia. The phones will be available at fairly affordable price tags.
This year, we have seen an interesting strategy of device makers creating and then relying on sub-brands to cater to specific niches in the smartphone industry. This was popularized by Huawei, which established the Honor sub-brand in 2013. In 2018, companies such as OPPO and Xiaomi followed Huawei's lead by forming the Realme and POCO (also known as Pocophone) sub-brands. Realme was formed as a online-only sub-brand of OPPO, while the POCO brand was formed to cater to the enthusiast affordable flagship segment. In July, OPPO's VP resigned from the company to form Realme as a separate brand. The brand has launched four smartphones in India, namely the Realme 1, Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro, and the Realme C1.
POCO Launcher now lets you customize the desktop grid and icon size
An update is now rolling out to Xiaomi's POCO Launcher. It brings the Customize Layout feature to change the desktop grid as well as the icon size.
Until the Xiaomi POCO F1, MIUI-powered Xiaomi phones did not come with an app drawer. The MIUI launcher has always been polarizing because of its iOS-like functioning of just having a home screen and skipping the app drawer. This meant that all app icons were shown on the home screen, and many users missed the flexibility of the app drawer, where apps could be arranged alphabetically. Of course, this problem could easily be solved by downloading a third-party launcher, and the likes of Nova Launcher, Lawnchair, and Rootless Pixel Launcher all come with app drawers.
Download MIUI 10 Global Stable for Xiaomi POCO F1
The MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM has started rolling out for the Xiaomi POCO F1. We have the download link for it, which can be flashed via the MIUI Updater.
The Xiaomi POCO F1, also known as the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 in international markets, is one of 2018's best smartphones in terms of its value proposition. This is because in some specifications, it competes with more expensive smartphones such as the OnePlus 6, Asus ZenFone 5Z, now the OnePlus 6T, while managing to significantly undercut them in pricing. In our performance review, we praised the phone's real-world and gaming performance. The first phone released under Xiaomi's POCO sub-brand, the POCO F1 has a high-end list of specifications including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, 6GB/8GB of RAM with 64GB/128GB/256GB of storage, 6.18-inch Full HD+ (2246x1080) 18.7:9 IPS LCD, dual 12MP + 5MP (depth sensor) rear cameras, a 20MP front-facing camera with pixel binning, and a 4,000mAh battery. The phone shipped with MIUI 9.6 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo.
Download stable Pixel 3 Google Camera port for the OnePlus 6
A stable port of the Google Pixel 3's Google Camera app is now available for the OnePlus 6. Some features such as Night Sight and Slow motion don't work.
The Google Pixel 3 comes with a new version of the Google Camera app---version 6.1. Google Camera 6.1 brings a new UI with swipe gestures to navigate the UI. For the Pixel 3, it has new features such as Top Shot, Motion Tracking Autofocus, Auto Frame Rate in video recording, the upcoming Night Sight feature for low light photos, and more. We have already seen ports of the Pixel 3's camera app being developed for a few devices. Developers have managed to enable Night Sight for devices such as the Xiaomi Mi 5 and the Essential Phone. Separately, the Pixel 3 Google Camera port was developed for the Xiaomi POCO F1 and the Xiaomi Mi 8, and it also works on the Vivo NEX. Now, a stable Pixel 3 Google Camera port developed by XDA Senior Member Arnova8G2 is available for the OnePlus 6.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 launches with bezel-less design, magnetic slider, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 has been launched with a manual slider and a 6.4-inch display with 93.4% screen-to-body ratio. It's powered by the Snapdragon 845.
We are closer than ever to realize the dream of bezel-less smartphones. To start off, 18:9 displays with smaller bezels arrived in 2017. Then, we moved to the land of notched displays with aspect ratios higher than 18:9. After that, we are seeing waterdrop notches becoming a new trend in the market. Earlier this year, the Vivo NEX and the OPPO Find X broke away from the market by opting to do away with a notch entirely, in favor of a motorized pop-up camera and a motorized bezel respectively. What we hadn't seen yet is a phone with a manual slider, the bezel of which could be manually slid up just like the old days. The wait ends here, as the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 has finally been made official.
Google Pixel 2 will soon support VoLTE on Vodafone India
The Google Pixel 2 does not support VoLTE on Vodafone India. Google has now fixed the issue, and VoLTE on Vodafone India will be rolled out in an update.
VoLTE (short for Voice over LTE) is the next generation standard for voice calling on 4G LTE networks. It uses IP-based technology to place calls directly over LTE, instead of using CSFB (Circuit Switched Fallback) to place calls and deliver SMS messages on legacy networks such as 2G or 3G. With the roll-out of LTE nearly complete in most markets, VoLTE has become a popular feature since the last two years. The vast majority of networks around the world don't have a necessity to use VoLTE, as they can still make calls and send messages thanks to CSFB. In India, however, the use of VoLTE skyrocketed in 2016 thanks to the rise of Reliance Jio. Jio is an all IP-based LTE network with no fallback for 2G/3G calling. Therefore, users need to have a VoLTE-capable smartphone to use Jio (or use Jio's Jio4GVoice app).
Asus ZenFone Lite (L1) and ZenFone Max (M1) launch in India: What you need to know
Asus has launched the Asus ZenFone Lite (L1) and the Asus ZenFone Max (M1) in India. The phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC.
Yesterday we covered the launch of the Lenovo K9 and the Lenovo A5, two phones launched by Lenovo to compete with the Xiaomi Redmi 6 and the Xiaomi Redmi 6A. The budget smartphone segment in India is becoming the new focus of attention for device makers. The Realme C1 was announced last month as Realme's offering. Now, Asus has joined Xiaomi's list of competitors by launching the Asus ZenFone Lite L1 and the Asus ZenFone Max M1.
Google Contacts 3.13 lets you clear interaction data and redesigns the sidebar
Google Contacts 3.13 brings a redesigned sidebr that removes the background behind the account header. It also brings the clear interaction data feature.
Many Google apps have received visual updates over the past two months. Android 9 Pie brings a new Material Theme, which is commonly referred to as Material Design 2 (MD2). It has a greater emphasis on white space, and it opts to go with white instead of using the bright colors that were the hallmark of the first generation Material Design. The new Material Theme used in Google apps such as Google Phone, Google Contacts, and Google Maps, also uses Google's new Google Sans font in many prominent areas such as headings. The Material Theme design refreshes of Google apps are still ongoing, and opinion is divided on whether the new Material Theme is an improvement over the previous design.
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite gets unofficial TWRP
The Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has received an unofficial port of TWRP, named Special Edition TWRP 3.2.3. This can help start custom development.
Xiaomi has released many phones this year. To give one example, the company has released five Qualcomm Snapdragon 845-powered flagship phones: the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, the Xiaomi Mi 8, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Explorer Edition, the Xiaomi Poco F1, and the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro. Last month, the company announced the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite and the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro. While the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro is scheduled to be launched internationally, the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite (device code-name: platina) remains a China-only device for now.
WhatsApp gets PiP mode for YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram videos
WhatsApp has started rolling out the picture-in-picture mode feature for all Android 4.4+ users who have updated to the latest 2.18.301 beta version.
Support for picture-in-picture mode in apps was one of the headlining features of Android Oreo. The feature already existed in some manufacturer custom user interfaces, but Android Oreo brought native support for the feature. App adoption for picture-in-picture mode was tepid at first, as even Google opted to relegate picture-in-picture mode in YouTube for YouTube Red subscribers in the beginning. Picture-in-picture mode has since been adopted by the likes of VLC media player and desktop Google Chrome. Last month, we saw that WhatsApp was working on adding such a feature. Now, the feature is available for users who have updated to the latest 2.18.301 beta version.
At the Surface hardware event yesterday, Microsoft announced a new update to the Microsoft Launcher for Android. The update is a big update that brings a new Your Feed page and support for the Windows Timeline feature. The Your Feed page is split into three tabs: Glance, News, and Timeline.
OnePlus 6T won't have wireless charging, is water resistant but doesn't have IP rating
Pete Lau, OnePlus CEO, has stated that the OnePlus 6T will not have wireless charging. It will be water resistant, but it won't have an IP rating.
The OnePlus 6T will launch this month. By now, we already know quite a lot about OnePlus' latest smartphone, thanks to 3D renders, marketing renders, and information revealed by OnePlus itself. The phone will be the first OnePlus phone to have an in-display fingerprint sensor and a waterdrop notch. It may also officially launch on T-Mobile. It will also be the first OnePlus phone to drop the 3.5mm headphone jack. Now, CNET has interviewed OnePlus CEO Pete Lau. Mr. Lau revealed several pieces of information about the OnePlus 6T, which we will go into below.
Enable 4K@60fps video on Exynos Samsung Galaxy Note 8/Galaxy S8
XDA Junior Member KunkerLV has shared a script to enable 4K@60fps video recording on the Exynos Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.
Recording 4K video at 60fps has become a popular feature in flagship smartphones this year. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 is the first Qualcomm SoC to support this feature, and we have seen it be adopted by phones like the OnePlus 6, Samsung Galaxy S9, LG G7 ThinQ, Samsung Galaxy Note 9, and more. The Apple iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XR also support 4K@60fps video recording thanks to the encoding capabilities of the Apple A11 and A12 SoCs. HiSilicon's Kirin SoCs still don't have 4K@60fps encoding support (even the Kirin 980 doesn't have this feature). On the other hand, Samsung's flagship Exynos SoCs have arguably been ahead of Snapdragon SoCs in terms of video encoding capabilities.
Download Google Camera with HDR+ & Portrait Mode for Poco F1 & Mi 8
An unofficial Google Camera port is now available for the Xiaomi Mi 8 and the Xiaomi Poco F1. Users don't need to unlock their bootloader to use it.
Google Camera with HDR+ is one of the defining features of the Google Pixel smartphones. It uses computational photography techniques such as merging up to 10 underexposed exposures into a brighter image. HDR+ has been a mainstay of Google smartphones since the Nexus 5, but the Pixel's introduction of Zero Shutter Lag (ZSL) made it a lot more popular. Google does not officially allow Google Camera to be installed on third-party devices anymore, and the company does not share the proprietary code behind HDR+. However, in August 2017, Google Camera with working HDR+ was ported to many devices by independent developers.