Google Meet will add hand-raising and background blurring for video calls later this year

Over the last few months, Google Meet has added new features to make it a more viable alternative to popular group video calling platforms like Zoom. To meet the needs of educators, students, and professionals, Google is adding even more features in the coming months, including background blurring.

Google detailed the new features during yesterday’s Google for Education event. In a blog post, the search giant said that beginning in October, users will be able to blur or replace backgrounds. Blurring a background is a nice option to have if you don’t want someone to see your messy home or if you simply want more privacy.

A hand-raising feature is also coming sometime later this year. The feature is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify students who need help or may have a question without them having to interrupt the group video call by speaking up. And a new polling feature for G Suite Enterprise for Education customers (shown below) will provide a way for teachers to engage students with questions without breaking the flow of the lesson.

Two more features are coming to Google Meet in September, including:

• A larger tiled view with a 7×7 grid so you can see up to 49 participants at once
• A collaborative whiteboard with Jamboard in Meet so you can encourage students to share ideas and try creative approaches to lessons

In October, Google Meet will also introduce attendance tracking and breakout rooms, so educators can split classes into small groups.

Later this year, Google said it plans to launch temporary recordings, allowing Education customers to record a meeting and share that recording for 30 days. They also detailed new controls for moderators that will roll out later this year, including the ability to block participants from joining meetings after they’ve been removed already or after they’ve been rejected twice, ending the meeting for all participants when class is finished, accepting or rejecting join requests in bulk, disabling in-meeting chat and setting restrictions on who can present, and requiring the teacher to join the meeting first.

With video conferencing applications becoming increasingly popular in the age of social distancing, it’s nice to see Google making some much-needed quality of life changes to Meet.

Google Meet - Secure Video Meetings (Free, Google Play) →

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Google announces ChromeOS.dev, a website for Chrome OS dev resources, announcements, and more

If you’re a developer interested in building for Chrome OS, you might want to bookmark Google’s new ChromeOS.dev website, an online resource for technical information, product announcements, code samples, and more.

Google said it created ChromeOS.dev in response to the massive increase in interest of Chromebooks. According to Google, between March and June 2020, Chromebook unit sales grew 127% year-over-year. It’s clear these devices are becoming increasingly popular due to more people working and learning from home.

By offering a hub of tips and best practices, Google is providing developers with a place they can refine their skills. There are resources for adapting your Android app(s), games, or web apps for Chrome OS. There’s a page on how to publish an app on Google Play that targets Chromebooks. Want to develop on a Chromebook? There’s a resource for learning about Crostini, which enables Linux app support on Chrome OS. There are also pages for setting up Android Studio, other IDEs that run on Linux, and how to efficiently use keyboard shortcuts, touchpad gestures, and virtual desks to improve your productivity. Lastly, near the bottom of the page, you’ll find the latest Chrome OS developer news and links to other pages you should keep an eye on, such as Google’s various social media channels and other websites.

To celebrate the launch of ChromeOS.dev, Google is deploying some updates that Chrome OS developers will find interesting, including changes to the Linux terminal. You can now customize the look and feel of the terminal, open tabs, and use keyboard shortcuts. Google also reiterates that select Chromebooks can use a full version of the Android Emulator and deploy apps directly to Chrome OS — no fiddling around with other devices or running developer mode.

With Chromebooks becoming increasingly popular, it’s great to see Google provide a central place for Chrome OS developers to get information. It’s also a very accessible way for new developers to learn the ins-and-outs of Chrome OS development.

You can poke around the ChromeOS.dev website now. The website is fully open-source, too, so it’s a great example of how to build a Progressive Web App.

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OxygenOS 11 on the OnePlus 8 Pro – Hands-on with OnePlus’s Android 11 update

OnePlus released its latest Android 11 developer preview for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro the other day. With this release, OnePlus introduced the new design language and features in its OxygenOS 11 software (also known as HydrogenOS 11 in China). I installed the latest developer preview on my OnePlus 8 Pro so I can show you the latest UI changes and features that are coming in OnePlus’s Android 11 update.

The most noticeable change is in the new design language of the UI from Settings to most OxygenOS apps. Gone is the beloved “stock” Android look and feel; in its place is a UI that many say is reminiscent of Samsung’s One UI software. But before we get to the UI, I wanted to talk about the one feature that we’ve been waiting for OnePlus to implement for years.

Always on Display

One of the biggest new features included in OxygenOS 11 is the Always On Display. This has been included in many other Android devices for years, and as a community, we’ve been asking OnePlus to include it for years. They finally delivered, and its first iteration seems to be implemented pretty well. OnePlus partnered with the Parsons School of Design and Art in New York City to deliver a timeline-inspired AOD option shown to the right. This design has a digital clock that moves as the day progresses while also showing how often you’ve unlocked the device and how much battery you have left. It’s a mix of Digital Wellbeing and a standard Always on Display feature.

Right now, the AOD is a little dark and hard to see in daylight on my OnePlus 8 Pro running OxygenOS 11, but that’s nothing that can’t be tweaked in future updates.

Notifications

In Android 11, notifications got a big change with the addition of an entirely new section called “Conversations.” OEMs aren’t required to implement this, but OnePlus chose to do so in OxygenOS 11. That means that certain notifications (mostly those from messaging apps) will be placed in the Conversations section, which is placed above the other two sections: Notifications and Other notifications. Other notifications are where silent or low-priority notifications go, such as the Google App sending you a weather update or the ‘you took a screenshot’ notification. Regular notifications are comprised of all other notifications you’re familiar with, such as ones like Twitter DMs or new emails. Some Conversations can also be popped out as a floating chat head “Bubble” if the app supports it. Currently, Telegram v7.0.0 beta, Google Messages, and Facebook Messenger support Bubbles.

The Quick Settings panel in OxygenOS 11 isn’t that different from the one in OxygenOS 10. The one in Android 11 does add the date and notification ringer setting to the top of the panel. Unfortunately, OnePlus has not yet implemented the new media player in the Quick Settings panel feature that Google added in Android 11. I understand not everyone likes it, but it would be nice to have it as an option.

OnePlus did finally add a dedicated dark mode toggle in Quick Settings, though. Before, you would have to go to Settings > Customization and change the preset theme to “nuanced dark” just to activate the system-wide dark theme.

Weather App

The next big change comes from the weather app. It underwent a huge visual overhaul to match the new OxygenOS 11 design. I really love the new look, and I feel it makes the weather information easier to understand.

Other Stock Apps

A few other apps like Settings, Calculator, Contacts, Messages, Clock, and Recorder all underwent redesigns to align with the new design aesthetic in OxygenOS 11. These apps don’t have any major changes in functionality, but the designs are better suited for one-handed ease-of-use. Unfortunately, the one-handed mode feature (now called “Quick Access”) isn’t here yet.

Game Space and File Manager haven’t gotten a UI makeover like most other system apps. The OnePlus Camera app did get a minor UI and functionality change, though. OnePlus changed around a few of the icons to match the overall aesthetic of OxygenOS 11, and they also added a new share menu for quickly sharing photos to different social media and messaging apps.

Zen Mode also got a major redesign in Android 11. Along with the redesign, OnePlus added a multi-person Zen mode. It lets you create a room where you and others can all join in at the same time and make sure none of you are using your phones. This might be great for something like dinner with friends and family when everyone wants to actually socialize without turning to their phones.

The Gallery app also got a revamped UI and a new Stories option. A story will be created in the background with collections of your photos to show off an event. My OnePlus 8 Pro hasn’t created a story for me quite yet, but I assume it works similar to Google Photo’s highlights.

Power Menu Changes

OnePlus also decided to support the new Device Controls feature for smart home automation shortcuts in the power menu. This means you can control all your smart home appliances through apps like Google Home. App developers can even add their own tiles to this panel that aren’t related to smart homes.

Conclusion

All around, I think the new OxygenOS 11 release is poised to be a great update. It takes a lot of the best parts of Samsung’s One UI and Huawei’s EMUI adds OnePlus’s flare to it. It’s a new approach, which is not necessarily a bad thing as OnePlus matures as a smartphone brand. There will be a lot of debates on if these UI changes are aesthetically pleasing, and that’s totally up to personal preference.

OnePlus will be releasing an open beta of OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 for the OnePlus 8 series soon and should release the official version of Android 11 with OxygenOS 11 around the same time that Google releases Android 11 next month. If you want to install the beta on your OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro, you can download the installation files from this article. It’s fairly stable on my 8 Pro, and in my short time using it, I haven’t noticed any bugs. Your mileage may vary, though.

OnePlus 8 Forums ||| OnePlus 8 Pro Forums

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The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is the first phone with Qualcomm’s 100W+ Quick Charge 5 technology

The new Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is an exciting smartphone as it’s the pinnacle of 10 years of Xiaomi’s growth in the smartphone business. Featuring a 120Hz refresh rate OLED display made by TCL’s CSOT, a 48MP Quad Bayer sensor with a 120mm-equivalent, 5x optical lens for up to 120X zoom, and 120W fast wired charging, the Mi 10 Ultra is yet more proof that Xiaomi can produce innovative smartphone hardware. That last figure is one of the more exciting features of the Mi 10 Ultra as it’s actually made possible from a collaboration between Xiaomi and Qualcomm. In fact, the Mi 10 Ultra is the first smartphone to launch with Qualcomm’s new Quick Charge 5 technology.

Powered by #Snapdragon 865 and the first device to include Quick Charge 5, we’re thrilled to share the @Xiaomi #Mi10Ultra received the top score from @DxOMark. https://t.co/abL7SsEyOj

— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) August 12, 2020

Announced late last month, Quick Charge 5 is the latest version of Qualcomm’s fast charging technology for mobile devices. Qualcomm boasts that it is the first commercially viable fast charging platform for smartphones that supports over 100W charging power. Quick Charge 5’s charge negotiation protocol is based on the existing USB Power Delivery Programmable Power Supply (USB PD-PPS) standard, and Qualcomm’s new SMB1396 and SMB1398 PMICs support 2S battery systems (dual cell batteries connected in series.) This allows for doubling the voltage for the same current, thereby doubling the charging speed. A device with 4,500mAh in total battery capacity, for example, can charge from 0 to 50% in just five minutes (a 1.5 C-rate). If you’re wondering how Quick Charge 5 affects the longevity of a battery, Qualcomm says that the new technology uses Qualcomm’s Battery Saver algorithm and the new Qualcomm Smart Identification of Adapter Capabilities technology to support “unparalleled efficiency.”

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Forums

In a blog post published on Weibo, Xiaomi further details the 120W fast charging technology in the Mi 10 Ultra. Xiaomi says the Mi 10 Ultra can be charged to 100% in just 23 minutes. They achieved this by converting two high-voltage currents of 20V/3A into two low-voltage currents of 10V/6A and then converting that to 10V/12A which is finally split among both 2,250mAh batteries connected in series. In collaboration with Qualcomm, Xiaomi says they achieved 98.5% conversion efficiency with this charging system.

In the blog post, Xiaomi also describes the changes they made to the battery and internal components to support this fast 120W charging. For example, the phone’s “butterfly double string battery” design is contrasted against traditional side-by-side dual cell battery designs, which Xiaomi says allows for a larger battery capacity without taking up more volume. The battery cells also have a “low internal resistance tab design” to reduce the resistance and temperature by 36% and 4.8°C respectively. The graphene material at the positive electrode is substantially more conductive than traditional carbon materials, the thicker and lower impedance “dual FPC connection” between the battery and motherboard reduces energy loss and heat generation, and the “Battery Sense” voltage monitoring technology accurately detects the true voltage of the battery cell to avoid errors caused by the battery protection circuit. Xiaomi says that the Mi 10 Ultra loses only 10% of its total battery capacity over 800 full charge-discharge cycles.

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is set to launch in China beginning August 16 but GSMArena reports the device won’t launch outside of the country.

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ASUS ROG Phone II, Google Pixel 3 & 3 XL, and Samsung Galaxy A7 2016 are now supported by LineageOS 17.1

Want to breathe new life into an old phone you have lying around? Sick of the stock software experience on your phone and want to try something new? If you have an ASUS ROG Phone II, Google Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, or the 2016 Samsung Galaxy A7, you can now download LineageOS 17.1, the latest version of LineageOS based on Android 10.

LineageOS has become the beloved custom ROM for many Android users, evolving from the halcyon days of CyanogenMod. While some of these phones are considered beyond their shelf life, they still have a lot of life in them once you flash a custom ROM. LineageOS 17.1 is based on Android 10 and it adds a slew of features over the previous version, including a partial screenshot UI, AOSP’s ThemePicker app, protecting apps in Trebuchet Launcher with biometrics, and more.

Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL

Google Pixel 3 Forums ||| Google Pixel 3 XL Forums

Download LineageOS 17.1 for Google Pixel 3 || Download LineageOS 17.1 for Google Pixel 3 XL

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are nearly two years old, and although they’re still being supported with official updates from Google, you may be itching to try a custom ROM out to expand functionality. These builds are maintained by developers razorloves, cdesai, and intervigil. At the time of publication, the ROM for the Pixel 3 has gone live while the ROM for the Pixel 3 XL failed to build. Hopefully, the Pixel 3 XL’s build will successfully compile the next time around.

ASUS ROG Phone II

ASUS ROG Phone II Forums

Download LineageOS 17.1 for ASUS ROG Phone II

The ASUS ROG Phone II is a powerhouse that launched last year and was designed with gamers in mind. It features a massive 6,000mAh battery and 48MP camera. This build is maintained by developer OrdenKrieger with contributions from Luca020400 (who has moved on to develop for the new ASUS ROG Phone 3 following a mishap with his ROG Phone II). ASUS sent the device to both developers back in December, resulting in an unofficial build of the custom ROM becoming available in late March. The new official build joins several other mods available on our forums for the ROG Phone II.

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016)

Samsung Galaxy A Series Forums

Download LineageOS 17.1 for Samsung Galaxy A7

The Samsung Galaxy A7 is the oldest of the four devices receiving support for LineageOS 17.1; the device was released back in 2016. Gaining support for the latest version of LineageOS will no doubt inject some new life into the Samsung device. This build is maintained by developers sourajitk, danwood76, and Stricted.

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Sony to SkullCandy: Save up to 68% off Big-Brand Headphones Today

Whether you like binging on podcasts through lockdown or listening to music while you work out, a good pair of headphones is a smart purchase. If you are thinking about an audio upgrade, take a look at these deals on big-brand headphones. Right now, you can save up to 68% off MSRP at the XDA Developers Depot.

Sony MDRXB450AP/B Extra Bass On-Ear Headphones (Open Box)

With twin 1.18-inch drivers and Bass Boost technology, these stylish Sony headphones deliver some audio punch. They sync with both iOS and Android devices, with comfortable earpads for all-day listening. Worth $80 new, they’re now $24.95 with this open-box deal.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC70 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Certified Refurbished)

These wireless headphones from Audio-Technica offer 25 hours of battery life on a full charge, with 40mm drivers for exceptional sound. QuietPoint active noise cancellation helps to block outside distractions, and they have touch controls for easy skipping. Originally $60, certified refurbs are now $49.99.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM 3 Wireless ANC Headphones

As you would expect from Sennheiser, the MOMENTUM 3 headphones deliver studio-quality sound. Rated at 5 stars by WhatHiFi?, they also feature powerful noise cancellation, Transparent Hearing, and smart TILE tracking technology. You can grab them now for $399.99.

Skullcandy Ink’d+® Active Wireless Sport Earbuds

Ideal for workouts, the Ink’d+ sport earbuds utilize the latest Bluetooth technology for excellent wireless sound. You get 15 hours of battery life on a full charge, and the whole headset is sweat- and water-resistant. You can pick them up for just $58.99. 

Skullcandy Venue Active Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones

These sleek Skullcandy headphones combine excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation, and 24-hour battery life. In addition, they have rapid charging technology; you can get five hours of playback from just 10 minutes of charging. Right now, you can grab them for $178.99.

Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7bSV QuietPoint® Headphones (Certified Refurbished)

Lightweight and foldable with QuietPoint noise cancellation, these Audio-Technica headphones are perfect for travel. They have 40mm neodymium drivers that deliver hi-fidelity sound and generous padding for comfort. Normally $199, they are now 65% off MSRP at just $69.99.

Urbanears Jakan Bluetooth In-Ear Headphones

In the words of L&B Tech Reviews, the Urbanears Jakan headphones provide “a good balance between design, price, and sound quality.” You get 12 hours of battery life, along with intuitive controls and an ergonomic fit. Usually $79, they are currently 50% off at $39.95.

Skullcandy Method® Active Wireless Sport Earbuds

Featuring a collarless design and soft gel ear fins, the sweat-proof Skullcandy Method earbuds are great for sports and fitness. They provide 10 hours of wireless playtime via Bluetooth 5.0, with rapid charging technology for a quick turnaround. You can pick them up today for $58.99. 

Audio-Technica Wireless Over-Ear Hi-Res Headphones

These versatile wireless headphones support aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs for impeccable wireless audio. You get an incredible 30 hours of listening time on Bluetooth, or you can connect the headphones to your phone via NFC. Meanwhile, the over-ear design helps to isolate the sound. Order now for $101.99 to save 40% on the retail price.

Sony Extra Bass On-Ear Headphones with Mic, Smartphone Headset (Open Box)

These affordable Sony headphones have 30mm drivers that produce balanced sound, with Acoustic Bass Booster to fill out the low end. The headset folds down neatly for storage, and the anti-tangle cable stretches to 1.2 meters. Worth $30, this pack of two open-box headphones is now $18.95. 

Prices subject to change 

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Xiaomi releases kernel sources for the Mi 10 Ultra and Redmi 7/Y3 Android 10 builds

Of late, Xiaomi has been doing a great job of releasing kernel sources for newly launched devices. Earlier this year, the company released the kernel sources for its flagship Mi 10 series on the day the devices were unveiled. Similarly, kernel sources for the Redmi K30 Pro were released just a few days after the device was announced. In keeping with the trend, Xiaomi has now released kernel sources for the recently launched Mi 10 Ultra.

Xiaomi Mi 10 XDA Forums || Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro XDA Forums || Redmi K30 Pro XDA Forums || Redmi 7 XDA Forums

Xiaomi’s 10th-anniversary flagship Mi 10 Ultra is the most powerful smartphone from the company yet, featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chip, up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage. The device packs in a 6.67-inch 120Hz OLED display, with a 240Hz touch response rate, 1120 nits of peak brightness, HDR10+ certification, and a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera.

 

In the camera department, the Mi 10 Ultra features a 48MP primary sensor, a 20MP ultra-wide sensor, a 48MP 120x digital zoom telephoto camera, and a 12MP depth sensor with 2x optical zoom. Over on the front, the device includes a single 20MP selfie shooter. The Mi 10 Ultra includes a 4,500mAh battery with support for 120W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging.

 

The device runs MIUI 12 based on Android 10 and, thanks to the kernel source code release, developers will now be able to build TWRP or Android 10-based custom ROMs for the device. If you’re a developer, you can access the kernel sources for the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra from the GitHub link below. It’s worth noting that Xiaomi has combined the kernel source code for the Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and Redmi K30 Pro with the Mi 10 Ultra, and it can be accessed via the same link.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Kernel Sources

Additionally, Xiaomi has released kernel sources for the Redmi Y3 and the Redmi 7. The kernel source code for both the devices has also been combined and you can download it from the GitHub link below.

Redmi Y3 and Redmi 7 Kernel Sources

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