Google Chrome in Lite Mode will stream videos in low resolution to save data

Back in April last year, Google introduced a new “Lite Mode” in Google Chrome which replaced the browser’s Data Saver feature. The Lite Mode aimed to improve Google Chrome’s performance on budget Android devices and reduce data consumption by compressing pages on the company’s servers before pushing them to a device. Now, in an attempt to further increase data savings, Google is adding a new LiteVideos feature to Lite Mode in Chrome for Android.

According to a recent report from Techdows, the new feature is expected to make its way over to the stable channel with Google Chrome 86 and it will help users save more data by instructing media players on individual websites to stream at the lowest resolution possible. To do so, the Lite Videos feature will simulate “low bandwidth conditions by throttling media responses” and therefore allow “MSE Video players to lower resolution and consume less data.”

The report further notes that the new feature won’t be limited to the Android version of the browser and it will also be available on Chrome for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS. The experimental flags to enable the new feature are already available on the Chrome Canary channel and you can try it out for yourself by downloading the app from the Play Store link below.

Once you have the app installed, you’ll have to head over to chrome://flags, enable the “Enable LiteVideos” and “Force LiteVideos decision” flags, and then restart the browser for the changes to take effect. With the flags enabled, Chrome will automatically instruct media players to use lower bitrates and run videos at the lowest possible resolution once the LiteMode is turned on. It’s worth mentioning that the feature will be automatically deactivated when you reload a page or navigate forward/back in the browser. The feature is expected to hit the stable channel later this year in October.

Chrome Canary (Unstable) (Free, Google Play) →

---

Story Via: Techdows

The post Google Chrome in Lite Mode will stream videos in low resolution to save data appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2BZeNbs
via IFTTT

Download: MIUI 12 stable update rolling out to several Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices

MIUI 12 is the newest big release for Xiaomi smartphones, perhaps even bigger than an Android version jump. Features on Xiaomi devices are dictated more by their MIUI versions than the underlying Android version, so a MIUI version upgrade is an exciting event. The first batch of devices to receive the MIUI 12 stable update included the Xiaomi Mi 9, Redmi K20/Mi 9T, and Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro. As we reach the end of June 2020, Xiaomi’s first phase of MIUI 12 rollout is complete, as many more devices have been added since the initial rollout. This article will serve as the central repository of download links for all Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices that have received their official MIUI 12 stable updates. We’ll update it regularly with fresh builds!

MIUI 12: Features

MIUI 12 was announced in April 2020, following the footsteps of MIUI 11 that gained massive popularity thanks to Xiaomi’s hardware push as well as the feature abundance within the UX.

MIUI 12 Hands-on: 12 interesting new features added in Xiaomi’s Android OS

MIUI 12 brings along a cleaner UI, new animations, changes to navigation gestures, new live wallpapers and AOD designs, privacy indicators for microphone, camera, and location usage, improvements to multi-window and Picture-in-Picture, an in-built sleep tracker, and many more changes throughout the UX!

Download: MIUI 12 Super Earth and Super Mars Live Wallpaper, ported for all devices

---

List of Devices that have received stable MIUI 12

This article covers devices that have received a stable MIUI 12 update in any region. If you are looking for closed betas, you can follow along our dedicated coverage here:

Download the MIUI 12 Closed Beta for Xiaomi and Redmi devices

Here are the devices that currently have a stable MIUI 12 build available. Note that the devices are sorted alphabetically for their codename.

1. Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia) — Added on 07/01/2020
2. Mi 9 (cepheus) — Added on 06/30/2020
3. Mi 10 Pro (cmi) — Added on 06/30/2020
4. Mi 9 Pro 5G (crux) — Added on 06/30/2020
5. Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T (davinci) — Added on 06/30/2020
6. Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro (lmi) — Added on 06/30/2020
7. Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G (merlin) — Added on 07/02/2020
8. Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 (phoenix) — Added on 06/30/2020
9. Redmi K30 5G (picasso) — Added on 06/30/2020
10. Redmi K30i 5G (picasso48m) — Added on 07/07/2020
11. Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (raphael) — Added on 06/30/2020
12. Mi 10 (umi) — Added on 06/30/2020
13. Mi 10 Youth Edition / Mi Note 10 Lite Zoom (vangogh) — Added on 06/30/2020

Generic flashing instructions are available at the bottom of this article. However, we advise users to refer to the device forums for specific flashing instructions for their device, in case there are any variations or special instructions that need to be followed.

Another important point to note: Xiaomi follows only a thin distinction between “beta stable” update and “stable” updates. Beta stable updates are only intended for users enrolled within the Mi Pilot beta testing program, meaning that builds assigned for this group will not install on devices with Mi Accounts that do not have the requisite permission. Once the Mi Pilot beta testers give positive feedback, the same build then gets opened up as stable release, creating a lot of confusion — for instance, the same builds linked below might first fail to install, but then they will make an appearance through the official OTA. If you get the error message that the update is for closed beta testers only, you can sideload the update through TWRP.

---

MIUI 12: Download Links

Download links to MIUI 12 stable and beta stable releases are included below. These builds are first sorted with device codenames, and then according to their regions and release. Recovery ROMs and Fastboot ROMs are both included, wherever present.

1. Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia)

• Redmi Note 8 Pro XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: The Performance Champion in the Mid-Range Segment

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	Global
1.1.	V12.0.0.4.QGGMIXM	Download Link	–

2. Mi 9 (cepheus)

• Xiaomi Mi 9 XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFACNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFACNXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Europe
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFAEUXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Global
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFAMIXM	Download Link	Download Link

3. Mi 10 Pro (cmi)

• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Review: Xiaomi’s best phone yet!

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJACNXM	Download Link	Download Link
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QJACNXM	Download Link	Download Link

4. Mi 9 Pro 5G (crux)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFXCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFXCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

5. Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T (davinci)

• Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.2.0.QFJCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.3.0.QFJCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Global
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFJMIXM	Download Link	–
	India
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFJINXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
3.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFJINXM	Download Link	Download Link

6. Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro (lmi)

• Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJKCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QJKCNXM	Download Link	–

7. Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G (merlin)

• Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJOCNXM	Download Link	–

8. Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 (phoenix)

• Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 XDA Forums
• POCO X2 Review: Every Bit Better Than the POCO F1

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.2.0.QGHCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.3.0.QGHCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

9. Redmi K30 5G (picasso)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QGICNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QGICNXM	Download Link	Download Link

10. Redmi K30i 5G (picasso48m)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.3.0.QGICMXM	Download Link	Download Link

11. Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (raphael)

• Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T XDA Forums
• Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro Review: ‘Flagship Killer’ Reimagined

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFKCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Europe
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKEUXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Global
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKMIXM	Download Link	Download Link
	India
4.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKINXM	Download Link	–

12. Mi 10 (umi)

• Xiaomi Mi 10 XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Review – Redefining Mi as a Premium Smartphone Brand

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJBCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
1.2.	V12.0.4.0.QJBCNXM	Download Link	–

13. Mi 10 Youth Edition / Mi 10 Lite Zoom (vangogh)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.3.0.QJVCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

---

Flashing Instructions for MIUI 12

Note that these are generic flashing instructions that should generally be applicable across Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices. However, there is a possibility that there is a variation that is unique to your device, so we strongly advise visiting your device forums for device-specific instructions.

Recovery ROM Installation

Recovery ROMs come with a .zip file extension and can be installed either through the Local Update method from within MIUI, or through the Xiaomi stock recovery. You can also use a custom recovery like TWRP for installing these ROMs, though do note that device-specific instructions may differ in that case.

1. Local Update method:
   1. Transfer the download .zip file to your phone, and ensure you place the file in the “downloaded_rom” folder in the internal storage of your device. If no such folder exists, create one in your internal storage base directory.
   2. Within your phone, navigate to Settings > About Phone > System Update, and then press the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, and select “Choose Update Package”.
   3. If the “Choose Update Package” option is missing, tap on the MIUI logo 10 times to activate the option.
   4. Choose the downloaded .zip file.
   5. Wait for the update to install.
2. Recovery method:
   1. Rename the downloaded .zip file to update.zip and transfer it to the base directory of your phone’s internal storage.
   2. Reboot your phone into recovery mode by powering it off and then pressing both the Power and the Volume Up buttons together.
   3. Scroll to the “Install update.zip” option using the volume keys, and select the option using the power button.
   4. Wait for the update to install.
   5. Choose the “Reboot” option if your phone does not reboot by itself after installation is completed.

Fastboot ROM Installation

Fastboot ROMs come with a .tgz file extension and require a Windows computer for the installation, as well as a phone with an unlocked bootloader. However, despite being comparatively more complicated to install than Recovery ROMs, Fastboot ROMs are sometimes the only way to boot into a working system. For instructions on unlocking the bootloader of your phone, check your device’s subforums on XDA.

1. Download MiFlash Tool on your Windows computer. The latest version can be found in Step 1 of this link. Once downloaded, extract the tool and install it. It is also advisable to have ADB and Fastboot installed, just in case you need it.
2. Reboot your phone into Download mode by powering it off and then pressing both the Power and Volume Down buttons together.
3. Connect your phone to the computer using the appropriate USB cable.
4. Download the Fastboot ROM .tgz file and extract it. Remember the extract location, as you will need to paste the address into MiFlash Tool.
5. Run MiFlash Tool on your Windows Computer and in the address bar within the tool, paste the extract location from Step 4.
6. Click “Refresh” within MiFlash and the app should automatically recognize your device.
7. Click “Run” within MiFlash to flash the ROM file to the device.
8. The progress bar within MiFlash will turn green, which indicates that the ROM was successfully installed. Your device should boot automatically to the new version.

---

Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer yshalsager for providing the download links!

The post Download: MIUI 12 stable update rolling out to several Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/38kLDz5
via IFTTT

PSA: Xiaomi Mi A3’s latest update accidentally breaks dual-SIM functionality

Unlike the majority of smartphones on Xiaomi’s portfolio, the Xiaomi Mi A3 runs a close-to-stock version of Android, thanks to its Android One branding. The Google-flavored Android UX also ensures that the device is eligible to get 3 years of monthly security updates. Matter of fact, Xiaomi has pushed a new security update for the global variant of the Mi A3 earlier today that does bring in the July 2020 Android security patches. But there’s a major problem: The latest update (V11.0.3.0.QFQMXTC) reportedly breaks the dual-SIM functionality of the phone, introduces a carrier-specific logo in the boot animation out of the blue, and commits a bunch of unexpected changes.

Xiaomi Mi A3 XDA Forums

---

Why does this happen?

As it turns out, today’s update carries an entirely different identifier (QFQMXTC) than the global firmware (QFQMIXM). The “XTC” tag is actually meant for Mexican telecom operator Telcel – the name which is visible in the altered boot animation.

@MiIndiaSupport help! This is really serious. Can’t make or receive calls. @manukumarjain @s_anuj @geekyranjit @beebomco please see the above tweet! They gave some other regions update to #mia3 pic.twitter.com/YZkuPSJz7L

— Dakshit Shah (@DakshitShah) July 13, 2020

Although the Mi A3 is an Android One phone, Xiaomi maintains a couple of regional firmware channels for this device. Apart from the global and European software builds that you can find on respective unlocked units of the Mi A3, there exist some variants of the phone sold through carriers that run carrier-customized firmware packages. Those builds often come with pre-installed network configurations, brandings, and apps corresponding to the particular carrier, just like the one rolled out a while ago.

Only this time, Xiaomi somehow mixed up the targets. Telcel’s firmware basically disables the second SIM slot of the global (as well as Indian) Mi A3 models, virtually making it a single-SIM phone. It also comes with a handful of carrier “bloatware” apps.

---

What can be done about it?

If you’ve already installed the update, there is no easy way to revert back. Given that the bootloader of your Mi A3 is unlocked, then only you can manually flash the June 2020 global firmware (software version V11.0.16.0.QFQMIXM) on your phone using Mi Flash and regain the dual-SIM functionality.

There is now a post on the Mi Community, suggesting users not to install the rogue update. The OTA in question is about 1.40GB in size, which is much larger than typical security updates. Users are thus advised to take a look at the update size and skip it for the time being. This is a crucial bug that needs to be fixed by Xiaomi as soon as possible.

---

Source: XDA Forums (1, 2), Mi Community

Thanks to Mi Community member BOTROBOTMOD and Twitter user Kaushik Raman for the screenshots!

The post PSA: Xiaomi Mi A3’s latest update accidentally breaks dual-SIM functionality appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2WhaW0h
via IFTTT

OPPO to showcase its 125W fast charging technology on July 15

Last year, several smartphone OEMs demonstrated new fast-charging technologies that should launch on new devices this year. While OPPO’s 65W SuperVOOC fast charging tech has already made its way to production models, Xiaomi’s 100W and Vivo’s 120W solutions are yet to make an appearance on a commercial device. But that might change soon, as Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO recently teased its 120W FlashCharge solution, which could be showcased on a production unit next month. Similarly, OPPO has now announced that it will be showcasing its 125W fast charging technology later this month.

If you don’t like waiting to charge, the wait is almost over. #FlashForward pic.twitter.com/Uq54uJEphQ

— OPPO (@oppo) July 13, 2020

OPPO shared the first teaser for the upcoming technology over on Twitter, revealing that the new fast charging technology will be demoed on July 15th. Still, it shares no further details about the technology. However, we can make an educated guess about its performance based on the demos we’ve seen so far.

Since Vivo’s new 120W FlashCharge tech can push 6A at 20V, it’s capable of charging a 4,000mAh battery from 0-100% in just 15 minutes. But with OPPO’s solution pushing 125W of power, it might be able to achieve the same feat in less than 15 minutes. In contrast, Xiaomi’s 100W technology can charge a 4,000mAh battery to full in 17 minutes.

As of now, it isn’t clear if OPPO’s upcoming 125W fast charging solution is ready for commercial use, but the company will share more details on that at the announcement. If the 125W tech is ready for primetime, we will likely see similar solutions from sister companies OnePlus and Realme in the near future.

The post OPPO to showcase its 125W fast charging technology on July 15 appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3eweIJz
via IFTTT

Google Play Store now lets Europeans see content from other EEA countries

Google restricts the availability of apps and other Google Play content by location. To bypass these geo-restrictions on Google Play Store content, users have tried different methods like VPN services, locations spoofers, market enablers, or even modified versions of the Google Play Store. But these efforts have usually yielded only limited success since these restrictions are controlled on the server-side. For the first time, however, Google is officially allowing users to browse apps, books, or movies from outside their countries. The change comes in Europe, where users can now view Google Play content from the entire EEA region.

As per the support page added by Google, users in the EU/EEA countries can browse the Google Play content from other countries in the EEA region. However, it clearly states that they will be not be allowed to download apps, games, or content that is not available in their country.

To browse another country’s content, users must open the Play Store on their phone browsers, log out of their Google Profiles, and scroll down to the bottom of the page where they can find the location selector.

The location selector is interactive only if you are in any of the countries part of the EU/EEA (including the U.K. until the Transition Period ends). If you’re from any other region, you can still browse the store for other countries by editing the “gl” query parameter in the URL. For instance, change the URL from play.google.com/store?gl=US to play.google.com/store?gl=IT if you are in the U.S. and want to browse Google Play Store content from Italy. You can even change the location to any country by using its two-letter, aka Alpha-2 code in the URL.

Without an official announcement, it is difficult to ascertain what compels Google to take this decision. It could be a way for Google to appease users in the European Union. The tech giant has long been under a strict scanner of the E.U. and even fined heavily for several antitrust violations, including the $5 billion fine for compelling smartphone OEMs to preinstall Google Search Chrome browser on Android devices. Google is currently under scrutiny by the E.U. for its acquisition of Fitbit. Still, it may be able to avoid an investigation by pledging not to use Fitbit’s health data for ads, a recent report suggests.

---

Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the tip and the screenshots!

The post Google Play Store now lets Europeans see content from other EEA countries appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3iUS1BX
via IFTTT

iQOO’s 120W FlashCharge fast charging solution can fully charge a 4000mAh battery within 15 mins

In the past few years, the focus for smartphones has slowly shifted towards sufficiently large batteries and faster-than-ever charging. And it makes sense — as we push for power-hungry technologies like 5G and high refresh rate high-resolution displays, we need to ensure that our phones last in our hands for a few hours at least. Companies are now exploring faster charging technologies. Last year, we saw Xiaomi demo its 100W Super Charge Turbo technology that charged from 0-100% in 17 mins. While the tech hasn’t made its way to Xiaomi devices just yet, we are now seeing other manufacturers also work on super-fast charging technology. In an online event for the Chinese market, Vivo’s sub-brand iQOO has now shown off its 120W fast charging solution.

Through a Weibo announcement, iQOO demoed its latest 120W FlashCharge fast charging solution. iQOO’s solution works by pushing forth 20V x 6A for a total of 120W of power. The technology makes use of dual-cell battery designs, as most super-fast charging technologies do, as well as a proprietary charging brick. This lets iQOO’s FlashCharge 120W power a dead phone to 50% within a staggering 5 minutes and then flattening the charging curve to achieve 100% charge on a 4000mAh battery in just 15 minutes.

In comparison, Xiaomi’s 100W charging tech reached 39% in 5 minutes and 100% in 17 minutes in the demo from last year. While this objectively makes Xiaomi’s demoed tech “inferior”, the differences become minor at this stage and a consumer is unlikely to notice the difference between the two in his everyday life. The conversation would then need to shift to safety and battery longevity, and these are the reasons why we haven’t yet seen these superfast charging technologies in the hands of consumers just yet.

iQOO may have addressed the safety and longevity aspects in their demo, but due to language translation constraints, we are unable to properly ascertain the same. iQOO’s announcement post also hints at a launch in August, which implies that they just might have cracked the code on this one.

---

Source: Weibo

The post iQOO’s 120W FlashCharge fast charging solution can fully charge a 4000mAh battery within 15 mins appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3j0765d
via IFTTT

Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro start getting the EMUI 10.1 (Magic UI 3.1) update in Europe

Alongside the launch of its flagship P40 series earlier this year, Huawei rolled out a slightly upgraded version of its custom Android 10-based skin called EMUI 10.1. Shortly after the launch, the company shared an update roadmap detailing the EMUI 10.1 beta release timeline for older Huawei and Honor devices. Since then, the company has rolled out beta updates for a bunch of devices in its portfolio, with some premium devices even receiving stable updates. Last month, the company shared a list of all Huawei and Honor smartphones that were scheduled to receive the EMUI 10.1/Magic UI 3.1 update this year. Keeping in sync with its release schedule, Huawei has now started rolling out EMUI 10.1 (Magic UI 3.1 in this case) to the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro in Europe.

Honor 20 Review — A Fairly Decent Budget Flagship Behind A Flashy Exterior

According to recent posts on our forums and on the Honor subreddit, Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro users in Europe have now started receiving the EMUI 10.1/Magic UI 3.1 update on their devices. The update (build no. 10.1.0.230) brings all the new features introduced with the Huawei P40 series earlier this year, including a preloaded app called “MeeTime” for video calls, Huawei’s digital assistant Celia, multi-screen collaboration, new fingerprint animations, and a cross-device photo gallery.

Honor 20 XDA Forums || Honor 20 Pro XDA Forums

It’s worth noting that while some users have revealed that the update is currently available through the Support app, several other users have not received the update notification on their devices. This leads us to believe that Huawei is pushing the EMUI 10.1 update in a staged fashion and it should reach all users in the coming weeks. In case you haven’t received the OTA update notification yet, you can manually check for the update by navigating to the Update section in the Support app on your Honor 20 and 20 Pro.

---

Source: XDA Forums, Reddit

The post Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro start getting the EMUI 10.1 (Magic UI 3.1) update in Europe appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2DBwv5c
via IFTTT