This could be our first look at Sony’s canceled Xperia Play 2

Back when Sony Ericsson was still a thing, the company had launched an innovative Android device geared towards mobile gamers — the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The device featured a sliding mechanism hidden underneath the display, which could be opened to reveal a D-pad, two touchpads to be used as joysticks, PlayStation buttons, and start/select buttons. The device was designed to play PlayStation mobile games and it was quite a hit among enthusiasts. But sadly, Sony didn’t refresh the device in the following years and the company’s gaming smartphone lineup met an untimely demise.  However, it now turns out that Sony had, in fact, been working on a second-gen Xperia Play and we now have our first look at the canceled Xperia Play 2.

As you can see in the attached images, the Xperia Play 2 prototype features a similar sliding mechanism as its predecessor. The controller features the same selection of buttons and trackpads, but buttons on the device have been slightly rearranged, it has a black and red color scheme, and there’s an additional button marked 3D.

The images in this post come from XDA Senior Member JerryYin, who is a collector of prototype smartphones based in Shenzhen, China. He claims that the device in the images is a prototype of the Xperia Play 2 and he has put it up on sale on Idle Fish, a Chinese eBay-like online marketplace.

Looking at the other images in the Idle Fish listing we can see that the Xperia Play 2 prototype also has left and right shoulder buttons on the right edge, with the volume rocker, SD card slot, and SIM card slot sandwiched in between. The device has a single camera on the back with an LED flash and the Sony Ericsson logo underneath. The device even has Android’s old touch capacitive buttons underneath the display and PlayStation branding at the top.

While Sony may have scrapped this project, I honestly wouldn’t mind the company bringing it back with current-gen hardware. With smartphone gaming on the rise and cloud gaming services gaining popularity, hardware like this could help Sony capture a significant chunk of the gaming smartphone market globally.

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Source: Idle Fish

Thanks to XDA Recognized Contributor AndyYan for the tip!

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Realme Narzo 20, Narzo 20 Pro, and Narzo 20A launched in India

Realme has aggressively expanded its portfolio in India, riding upon success in the budget and early mid-range segments. Back in May 2020, the company launched its Narzo series in India with the Narzo 10 and Narzo 10A (which were supposed to launch in March 2020, but had to be delayed because of COVID-19 lockdowns). Now, shortly after the launch of the Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro, and six months after the originally scheduled launch of the first Narzo 10, the Chinese OEM is back with the new Narzo 20 series, alongside the release of the Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11. Meet the new Narzo 20, Narzo 20 Pro, and Narzo 20A.

Realme Narzo 20A

Specification	Realme Narzo 20A
Dimensions & Weight	164.4 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm 195g
Display	6.5″ HD+ display 1600 x 720 resolution 20:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass 3
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
RAM & Storage	3GB + 32GB 4GB + 64GB Expandable via dedicated microSD card slot
Battery & Charging	5000mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Rear fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera	Primary: 12MP, f/1.8 Secondary: 2MP, f/2.4, monochrome Tertiary: 2MP, “retro”, f/2.4
Front Camera	8MP
Other Features	Bluetooth 5.0 3.5mm headphone jack Micro-USB port Waterdrop notch
Android Version	Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10

The Realme Narzo 20A is the lowest product in the Narzo 20 series. The phone comes with a humble polycarbonate build, with a striking design pattern on the back. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC, and it is coupled with 3/4GB of RAM and 32/64GB of internal storage. You do get a dedicated micsroSD card slot for expansion, and you also get a 3.5mm headphone jack. But you do lose out on a USB Type C port as the phone comes with a microUSB port. But to compensate, the phone still supports reverse wired charging.

The Realme Narzo 20A will be available in India in two colors: Victory Blue, and Glory Silver. You can get the phone for ₹8,499 (~$116) for the 3GB + 32GB variant, and ₹9,499 ( ~$130) for the 4GB + 64GB variant. The device goes on sale on Flipkart and Realme.com from September 30, 2020.

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Realme Narzo 20

Specification	Realme Narzo 20
Dimensions & Weight	164.5 x 75.9 x 9.8 mm 208g
Display	6.5″ HD+ display 1600 x 720 resolution 20:9 aspect ratio
SoC	MediaTek Helio G85
RAM & Storage	4GB LPDDR4X + 64GB 4GB + 128GB Expandable via dedicated microSD card slot
Battery & Charging	6000mAh 18W fast charging 18W fast charger in the box
Fingerprint sensor	Rear fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera	Primary: 48MP, f/1.8 Secondary: 8MP, ultra-wide-angle, f/2.3, 119° FoV Tertiary: 2MP, macro, f/2.4
Front Camera	8MP
Other Features	Bluetooth 5.0 3.5mm headphone jack USB Type-C Waterdrop notch
Android Version	Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10

The Realme Narzo 20 sits in the middle of the Narzo 20 series. You now get an Helio G85, as compared to the Helio G80 on the Narzo 10. Much like the lower product, the Narzo 20 has a humble build that gets most of its eyeballs from the striking pattern on the back. The camera island is now a square on the back, giving the phone its unique look within Realme’s extensive lineup.

 

There’s also a few noteworthy features by itself, like the dedicated micsroSD card slot for expansion, the 3.5mm headphone jack, and you also get a USB Type-C port.

The Realme Narzo 20 will be available in India in two colors: Victory Blue, and Glory Silver. You can get the phone for ₹10,499 (~$143) for the 4GB + 64GB variant, and ₹11,499 ( ~$157) for the 4GB + 128GB variant. The device goes on sale on Flipkart and Realme.com from September 28, 2020.

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Realme Narzo 20 Pro

Specification	Realme Narzo 20 Pro
Dimensions & Weight	162.3 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm 191g
Display	6.5″ FHD+ display 2400 x 1080 resolution 20:9 aspect ratio 90Hz refresh rate 120Hz touch sampling rate Punch-hole display
SoC	MediaTek Helio G95
RAM & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X + 64GB UFS 2.1 8GB + 128GB Expandable via dedicated microSD card slot
Battery & Charging	4500mAh 65W SuperDart Charge fast charging 65W SuperDart Charge fast charger in the box
Fingerprint sensor	Side fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera	Primary: 48MP, f/1.8 Secondary: 8MP, ultra-wide-angle, f/2.3, 119° FoV Tertiary: 2MP, macro, f/2.4 Quarternary: 2MP, monochrome, f/2.4
Front Camera	16MP Sony IMX471, f/2.1
Other Features	Bluetooth 5.0 3.5mm headphone jack USB Type-C
Android Version	Realme UI 1.0 based on Android 10

The star of the show is the Realme Narzo 20 Pro, and its main highlight is the 65W SuperDart fast charging solution. While the rest of the specifications of the phone may be inline with what one expects out of an early mid-range phone, the 65W fast charging does indeed set the phone apart from the rest of the crowd. Having experienced 65W charging and seeing your phone charge back up within minutes changes your expectations from future flagships and other mid-range phones.

The pricing on the Realme Narzo 20 starts at ₹14,999 (~$205) for the 6GB + 64GB variant, and ₹16,999 (~$231) for the 8GB + 128GB variant. You can get the phone in White Knight, and Black Ninja colors. The device goes on sale on Flipkart and Realme.com from September 25, 2020.

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What are your thoughts on the Realme Narzo 20 series? Let us know in the comments below!

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OnePlus Messages app lands on the Google Play Store and adds a copy button for OTPs

In a bid to push stock app updates faster, OnePlus has previously released several of its OxygenOS stock apps on the Google Play Store. The company recently released the OnePlus Weather and OnePlus Notes apps to the Google Play Store, which gave users a chance to experience the new OxygenOS 11 design on devices running older firmware. Now, the company is rolling out OnePlus Messages on the Play Store, and the release comes with a couple of changes.

According to a recent report from Android Police, OnePlus has just released the OnePlus Messages app on the Play Store, and users will now be able to receive updates via the platform. The Play Store release is accompanied by a couple of nifty changes, including a new button that will allow users to easily copy one-time passwords (OTPs) from the notification with just a tap.

The updated app also comes with a new message organization feature, which will sort your messages based on a couple of categories. For instance, messages with OTPs, transactions, and promotions will be shown at the top of your screen. This new layout will ensure that your personal messages aren’t cluttered and are easy to reach with your thumb.

OnePlus Messages also has a new card format for messages that will display important information in a neat card that’s easy to read at a glance. Images in the Play Store listing show the cards being used to quickly view bank transactions and movie ticket info.

In case you have a OnePlus device, and you wish to experience these new features, you can now download the latest update for OnePlus Messages from the Play Store link below. Do note that the app is in early access at the moment, and you might face some unwanted issues in the current release.

OnePlus Messages (To be announced, Google Play) →

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Via: Android Police

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Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 is coming with ColorOS 11 features

Google rolled out the first stable build of Android 11 for its Pixel lineup earlier this month. Since then, several Android OEMs have unveiled their custom Android skins based on Android 11 and rolled out beta builds for a few popular devices. Chinese smartphone giant OPPO showcased ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 about a week ago and we got a chance to check out a beta release on our Find X2 Pro. Now, Realme has announced Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 and it packs in some of the new features introduced in ColorOS 11.

New customization features in Realme UI 2.0

Realme claims that the second version for its custom Android skin is the most “open” smartphone OS, which aims to help users completely customize their smartphone’s UI. The upgrade brings support for third-party icon packs and launchers, to help users give their smartphones a unique look.

Realme UI 2.0 also packs in a new Global Theme color, which will let users define the accent colors of their smartphones. The feature will give users access to 5 types of color series and 10 single colors to customize their device’s settings toggles and icons. On top of that, the upgraded Android skin packs in a variety of AOD customizations, font and icon personalization options, and an improved dark mode. The new dark mode will give users the choice to pick from one of three new styles to meet their needs. It will also give users the option to darken the wallpaper and icons as well.

As with other custom Android skins announced recently, Realme UI 2.0 also includes all the new Android 11 features, like Bubble notifications support, redesigned media controls in the quick settings panel, an output switcher for media, etc.

Performance improvements and privacy features

Realme UI 2.0 also includes a host of performance improvements and privacy features to make the software more efficient and provide better protection for user data. For privacy, Realme has introduced a new suite of additional privacy protection and data security features called ‘Deep Sea Privacy’.

The features can help protect users’ personal information from leaking to any app by providing them with a blank ID, help users store personal information and sensitive files in a private locker, and ensure payments made on the software are protected from malicious activities. Furthermore, Realme UI 2.0 can also protect users from fraudulent messages and advertisements. The suite also includes a System Cloner which will help users keep their work and personal lives separate on their smartphone. Users will be able to access these separate profiles by setting up different fingerprints for each profile.

To make Realme UI 2.0 more efficient, the company has included several convenient ways for users to share and multitask. These include features like the ability to easily share screenshots with other users and stitch the right subtitles to each frame, Floating & Mini Window to help users multitask with several apps open at the same time, and a new Sleep Capsule feature, which will help users lock their phone at a set time and help them get a good night’s rest. Realme further claims that with Realme UI 2.0, they’ve managed to improve utilization of system resources by 45%, increased overall system speed by 32%, and increased frame rate stability by 17%.

Realme UI 2.0, with these new features and improvements, makes its debut with the new Realme Narzo 20 Series today. The company has revealed that the software will make its way to older Realme devices in the coming weeks, but we haven’t received a release timeline from the company yet. Stay tuned to our coverage of Realme UI 2.0 to learn when your device might receive the company’s latest software upgrade based on Android 11.

Android 11 Update Tracker: List of major phones getting the latest release!

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The Google Pay India app is getting a new design built with Flutter

Not a lot of people know this, but Google Pay in India and Google Pay in the rest of the world are not the same thing. While both services have the same branding, Google Pay in India, formerly known as Google Tez, plugs to the country’s local UPI payment system, while Google Pay in the rest of the world works more like a normal payment service. But both versions are equally as maintained and supported. Now, the Google Pay India app is getting a Flutter rewrite.

In case you don’t know what Flutter is, or in case you forgot, Flutter is an open-source UI development kit made by Google that allows developers to make their apps using a single codebase and then deploy that to several platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and the web. By writing the app in Dart, using Flutter, and deploying it on both Android and iOS, Google says that they can deliver the best-in-class experience on both platforms alike, allowing them to maintain them equally.

As for the changes themselves, the app doesn’t look that much different on the surface. Google Pay actually already got a facelift almost a year ago. The real news here, however, is the massive rewrite that the app underwent: it was rebuilt with Flutter from the ground up. So that’s actually huge news. You might also spot that Google Pay in India also works as a messaging app, allowing users to send messages to each other — but that’s not actually new, as conversations within the payment platform have been around for a long time now.

Google is also planning on doing this Flutter rebuild to the standard Google Pay app as well. That could mean that they are unifying both apps, or it could just mean that they are just rebuilding it for simplicity’s sake. Either way, we’re excited to see what Google will be coming up with. If you’re in India or Singapore, you can check out the app right now by going to the Google Play listing and signing up for the beta program.

Google Pay - a simple and secure payment app (To be announced, Google Play) →

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Here’s when LG plans to update its phones in India

LG has been putting out some amazing smartphones lately. The LG Velvet represented a change in direction from their usual release plans, as the Velvet is essentially a mid-range phone at a comparatively cheaper price. The LG Wing, on the other hand, packs a lot of weirdness (in a good way) for a phone that stands out from the pack notably, for a change. But one aspect where the company has not stood out as much is in software. In fact, historically, they’ve been bad when it comes to maintaining and rolling out frequent updates to their phones. If you’re in India and you’re still awaiting an update to Android 10, then good news: LG actually has a page with dates on when updates are rolling out to certain devices.

Android 10 with LG UX 9.0 updates for the LG G8X ThinQ should be rolling out now, while an update for the LG G7 ThinQ should roll out by September 25th. Updates in the pipeline for October include the LG V40 ThinQ, which will be getting an update in the 5th, and the LG G8s ThinQ, which will be getting an update in the 7th.

And… That’s about it. That’s not a whole lot, but again, we’re also talking about Android 10, an Android version that came out roughly 1 year ago. Android 11 is now out too, so as one can imagine, these updates have long been overdue.

Still, it’s very good to see manufacturers putting out ETAs for their firmware updates, and for what it’s worth, it’s almost unheard of from an OEM to put an exact date for an update rollout. So good on LG in that regard. We hope that they can redeem themselves with their update cycle when they start rolling out Android 11 to their lineup. We hope this for every year, but just like the Korean company, we never lose hope.

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Super Mario 64 can be natively run on Android without a Nintendo 64 emulator

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is finally here, which means you can now play the first three 3D platformers in the series — Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy — in high-definition on your Nintendo Switch. In case you’re looking for a way to enjoy Princess Peach’s cake on your Android phone, you can either try your luck with Switch emulation or grab a compatible Nintendo 64 emulator to dive into the world of Super Mario 64.

Unfortunately, emulation has its fair share of shortcomings. Nothing can beat the performance and scalability of a native executable, which is the driving force behind the long-standing effort to reverse engineer the Super Mario 64 ROM into an equivalent C codebase. As long as you have access to the human readable C code, you have the ability to port the game to any platform, including Android.

As a matter of fact, XDA Member VDavid003 has already stepped up and prepared a repo containing a ready-to-compile Super Mario 64 port for Android using Simple DirectMedia Layer (SDL) with OpenGL ES 2.0. You can clone the repo to your PC running Microsoft Windows or Linux, prepare the build environment, and finally get the APK after compilation which can be easily sideloaded on an Android device. However, what makes the porting process more interesting is the fact that it can also be compiled directly on your Android phone!

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How to natively compile and run Super Mario 64 on Android

DISCLAIMER: XDA does not condone pirating games. You must provide your own copy of Super Mario 64 for the following process to work.

If command line voodoo is your thing, then follow these steps to configure the build environment in Android and compile the classic Nintendo platformer from scratch:

1. Install Termux from Google Play Store.
2. Install the required dependencies inside the Termux environment:

   pkg install git wget make python getconf zip apksigner clang

3. Clone the appropriate repository using git:

   git clone https://github.com/VDavid003/sm64-port-android
   cd sm64-port-android

4. Copy the baserom of the game using Termux. Once again, you must supply your own copy.

   termux-setup-storage
   cp /sdcard/path/to/your/baserom.z64 ./baserom.us.z64

5. Get SDL includes:

   ./getSDL.sh

6. Start the build:

   make --jobs 4

   You can increase the value of the “jobs” parameter depending on how many CPU cores you can devote to the building process.

7. If things go well, the resulting Super Mario 64 APK should be found inside the “build” folder:

   ls -al build/us_pc/sm64.us.f3dex2e.apk

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Have you spotted a compilation glitch the developer hasn’t fixed yet? Want to submit a patch? Head on to the GitHub repo linked below.

Super Mario 64 Android Port — GitHub Repo

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