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lundi 22 février 2021

Wear Installer makes it easy to sideload Wear OS apps again

Every day, independent developers post new apps or games on our forums as well as various other online platforms. In fact, there are so many releases each day that finding a truly unique and fascinating app can be like looking for a needle in a haystack, but that’s exactly what we’ve done today. A developer named Malcolm Bryant has come up with a really innovative solution to the problem of sideloading apps on Wear OS devices. Called “Wear Installer,” the app lets you save your legacy Wear OS apps and sideload them on your watch without any hassle.

Before we start, here’s a quick refresher of Google’s latest policy on the Wear OS app model: The company wants to decouple Wear OS apps from regular Android apps starting March 10, which in turn severely limits the app sideloading capability. Malcolm, AKA Reddit user u/malbry, first highlighted the issue and is now back with a quick fix in the form of Wear Installer. Although it is still possible to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to sideload apps on a Wear OS device, Wear Installer takes a slightly different, admittedly better, approach to streamline the installation process.

How to use Wear Installer to sideload Wear OS apps

Instead of relying on an external PC/Mac for accessing Android Debug Bridge, Wear Installer comes with its own ADB instance. Moreover, the app can extract the embedded Wear OS-compatible APK components from legacy phone apps. As a result, you just need to sideload the Wear Installer APK on your phone so the app can communicate with your smartwatch via ADB and remotely sideload any app! It also allows you to sideload valid Wear OS APKs from the Download directory on your phone.

The easiest way to understand the brilliance of this app is by watching a quick demo:

Download Wear Installer

You can download the application from the developer’s website. Be sure to check out the Reddit discussion thread in case you want to leave the developer some feedback.

Download Wear Installer version 1.00

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10 top VPNs for security and streaming on sale now

Whether you want to secure your connection, lose the trackers, or stream geo-restricted content — using a VPN is a smart move. Right now, you can save up to 96% on subscriptions from top providers via the XDA Developers Depot. 

FastestVPN: Lifetime Subscription (5 Devices)

With P2P-optimized servers and unlimited bandwidth, FastestVPN is a great option for streamers. It also helps you stay secure and anonymous on all major platforms, with AES-256 encryption, malware protection, and a kill switch. 

Get a FastestVPN lifetime subscription for $19.99 (reg. $600), a saving of 96%. 

Ivacy VPN: Lifetime Subscription

Winner of the BestVPN.com Fastest VPN Award, this service has over 1,000 servers in 100 locations worldwide. Ivacy VPN works on all major platforms with support for P2P, and there’s even a dedicated Kodi add-on.

Get an Ivacy VPN lifetime subscription for $39.99 (reg. $1,194), a saving of 96%. 

VPN by VeePN: Lifetime Subscription

With lightning-fast servers in 2,500 locations around the world and a strict no-logging policy, VeePN provides the kind of online privacy we all hope for. Rated at 4.5 stars on TrustPilot, the service also offers bank-level encryption and coverage for up to 10 devices.

Get a VeePN lifetime subscription for $29.99 (reg. $659), a saving of 95%. 

Disconnect VPN Premium: Lifetime Subscription

Along with the usual VPN protection, Disconnect blocks trackers to save your privacy, your battery life, and your mobile data allowance. The service is rated at 4 stars by VPN Mentor, and the New York Times called it “our anti-tracking tool of choice.”

Get a Disconnect VPN Premium lifetime subscription for $19.99 (reg. $300), a saving of 93%. 

KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: Lifetime Subscription

Named as PC Mag’s Top VPN, this service has 400 servers in 80 locations around the world, allowing you to unblock Netflix, iPlayer, Hulu, and other streaming sites. A zero-log policy keeps your data secure, along with military-grade encryption and a kill switch.

Get a KeepSolid VPN Unlimited lifetime subscription for $39.99 (reg. $199), a saving of 80%. 

Goose VPN: 2-Yr Subscription

In the words of Tech Radar, Goose VPN offers simple protection that is both “good value and faster than many.” It works on all major platforms, with zero logging and protection for unlimited devices at the same time.

Get two years of Goose VPN for $19.99 (reg. $349), a saving of 94%. 

personalVPN Pro

With one-click protection, personalVPN Pro is a great option for first-time VPN users. It unblocks streaming sites efficiently, and provides up to 4096-bit encryption on connections. PCWorld called it, “a great service with plenty of speed to go around”.

Get one year of personalVPN Pro for $34.99 (reg. $69), a saving of 50%. 

Hop VPN: Lifetime Subscription

Want to run your own virtual private network? With Hop VPN, you can. It provides all the protection you would expect, and you have complete control. All you need is one desktop machine to work as a server.

Get a Hop VPN lifetime subscription for $39.99 (reg. $148), a saving of 72%. 

IPVanish VPN: 1-Yr Subscription

With over 1,600 servers and 40,000 shared IP addresses, IPVanish maintains impressive speed and security. The apps are very user-friendly, and subscribers even get 250GB of cloud storage with SugarSync. In the words of CNET: “It’s fun, fast, and flexible.”

Get one year of IPVanish VPN for $29 (reg. $143), a saving of 79%. 

Windscribe VPN Pro Plan: 3-Yr Subscription

If you care about privacy, Windscribe VPN is definitely worth your attention. Rated at “Very Good” by Tom’s Guide, this service has a strict no-logging policy and you can sign up without an email address. It also has a built-in feature that blocks trackers and malware.

Get three years of Windscribe VPN for $89.99 (reg. $324), a saving of 72%. 

Prices subject to change 

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Kodi 19 adds support for AV1 decoding, HDR10, Dolby Vision, tvOS and more

If you’re into the media server business, you probably don’t need an introduction to Kodi. But if this is the first time you have come across the product, let us enlighten you: Kodi is a popular, open-source media player that makes it possible to access all your digital media, including your movies, music, and TV shows, all in one place, from any device, anywhere. Its plugin system makes it incredibly modular, and there are many, many different addons to try out. The last major update to Kodi came in January 2019. Now, after spending several months in alpha and beta stages, Kodi 19 “Matrix” is finally out as a stable release.

This is a major update, bringing significant improvements to audio and video playback, improved subtitles support, support for Apple’s tvOS, and security improvements.

Kodi 19 now supports AV1 software decoding and HLG HDR and static HDR10 content playback on Windows 10. The Android client, meanwhile, also gets support for playing back static HDR10 and dynamic Dolby Vision content. Although Kodi can now recognize these formats, playback support will depend on your hardware. On the audio side, we see improvements to the library, new tags, new displays, new Matrix-inspired visualization, and several improvements to the handling of release dates, album durations, multi-disc sets, and so on.

For gaming, integer scaling delivers improved video quality of Pixel Art games, while iOS gains support for several Bluetooth game controllers, including Xbox and PlayStation.

In terms of design tweaks, the Music screen has been redesigned. Other changes include new metadata displays, changes to playlist views, a new “Now Playing” view, improvements to artwork and image files, and new GUI controls.

Subtitles are also seeing some improvements. You can now select a dark grey color and set the opacity for the captions, both of which help provide a comfortable watching experience while watching HDR content.

Other notable changes in Kodi 19 include a switch to Python 3 with new metadata scrappers, support for Apple TV’s tvOS, better logging and notch support for iOS, usability improvements to PVR and Live TV, improved security, and more.

The Kodi 19 Matrix update is rolling out for Android, Windows, Linux, iOS, and other supported platforms. The team notes that the Xbox build will be delayed.

Kodi (Free, Google Play) →

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OxygenOS update for the OnePlus Nord N100 brings January 2021 security patches

Hot on the heels of the OxygenOS 10.5.9 update for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G late last week, OnePlus is pushing a new update to its budget-friendly smartphone: OnePlus Nord N100. The new update improves power consumption, system, and network stability and optimizes VoWiFi. More importantly, the update also brings along January 2021 security patches.

The European variant is receiving OxygenOS 10.5.7 while the North American unit is getting OxygenOS 10.5.5.  The update is still based on Android 10 and it looks like you’ll have to wait for some more time to get your hands on the new OxygenOS 11 launcher that OnePlus promised to rollout at a later date.

The full update changelog of OxygenOS 10.5.7 / 10.5.5 is as below:

  • System
    • Improved the power consumption
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2021.01
    • Improved system stability and fixed some bugs
  • Network
    • Further improved network stability
    • Optimized the stability of VoWiFi connection

OnePlus has already started rolling out the new update to the OnePlus Nord N100 units in Europe and North America. The update is being pushed in batches, meaning it will reach only a small portion of the user base today, followed by a wider rollout in the coming days. To check your luck, head over to Settings > System > System updates. If you don’t see any updates there, don’t worry. You can still grab the new update and install it on your OnePlus Nord N100 manually. To do so, download the appropriate OTA package corresponding to your variant from the links posted below. Once downloaded, place the zip package in the root directory of your internal storage. Now, navigate to Settings > System > System Update > Local Update and select the update package to begin the installation. Your device should automatically reboot after it’s finished installing the update.

OnePlus Nord N100 XDA Forums


Download links

Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links and tip!

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Huawei takes the Galaxy Z Fold 2-approach with the new Mate X2

Huawei entered the foldable smartphone space back in February 2019 with the launch of the Mate X. It was followed by the Mate Xs, which was a small improvement over the original, featuring a better hinge, a more durable screen, and the Kirin 990 SoC. Earlier this month, we learned that Huawei was gearing up to launch a new foldable device called the Mate X2, and now, it’s finally here.

Huawei Mate X2: Specifications

Specification Huawei Mate X2
Dimensions & Weight
  • 161.8 x 74.6 x 13.6 – 14.7mm (folded)
  • 161.8 x 145.8 x 4.4 – 8.2mm (unfolded)
  • 295g
Display
  • 8-inch foldable OLED display
    • 2480 x 2200 pixels
    • 90Hz refresh rate
    • 180Hz touch sampling rate
    • 413ppi
  • 6.45-inch OLED display
    • 2700 x 1160 pixels
    • 90Hz refresh rate
    • 270Hz touch sampling rate
    • 456ppi
SoC
  • Huawei HiSilicon Kirin 9000
    • 1x Cortex-A77 @3.13GHz
    • 3x Cortex-A77 @2.54GHz
    • 4x Cortex-A55 @2.05GHz
  • Mali-G78 GPU
RAM & Storage
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB/512GB storage
Battery & Charging
  • 4,500mAh battery
  • 55W wired fast charging support (charger included)
Security Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)
  • 50MP f/1.9 primary camera with OIS
  • 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
  • 12MP f/2.4 3x telephoto camera with OIS
  • 8MP f/4.4 10x telephoto camera with OIS (AF)
Front Camera(s) 16MP f/2.2 wide-angle selfie camera
Port(s) USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port
Connectivity
  • 5G NR
  • Wi-Fi 6
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • GPS, AGPS, GLONASS< BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC
Software EMUI 11 based on Android 10

Huawei lifted the covers off the Mate X2 in China earlier today, and it features several improvements over the Mate X and Mate Xs. The latest foldable phone from the Chinese OEM features an 8-inch foldable OLED display with a resolution of 2480 x 2200 pixels that folds open like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The display has a pixel density of 413ppi, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Unlike the Z Fold 2, however, the device doesn’t feature a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera on the inner display.

Huawei Mate X2 hinge
On the outside, the device features a secondary 6.45-inch OLED display, which also offers a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a resolution of 2700 x 1160 pixels, which gives it a pixel density of 456ppi. Powering the two displays is a HiSilicon Kirin 9000 chip, coupled with a Mali-G78 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage.

In the camera department, the Huawei Mate X2 features a 50MP Ultra Vision primary camera with OIS, a 16MP ultra-wide cine camera, a 12MP 3x telephoto camera, and an 8MP 10x SuperZoom camera. The device also features a pill-shaped hole-punch cutout on the outer display, which houses a 16MP selfie shooter.

Keeping the device up and running is a 4,500mAh battery, which supports Huawei’s 55W SuperCharge fast charging technology. For connectivity, the device features a USB 3.1 Gen-1 Type-C port, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.2.

On the software front, the Huawei Mate X2 runs EMUI 11 based on Android 10, which comes with a bunch of additional features to help users make the most of the foldable display. These include features like Smart Multi-Window mode to help users open multiple apps on the 8-inch display, Floating Windows support, a multi-video mode to display up to 4 videos on the 8-inch display at the same time and more.

Pricing & Availability

The Huawei Mate X2 is priced at CNY 17,999 (~$2,785) for the 8GB+256GB variant and CNY 18,999 (~$2,939) for the 8GB+512GB variant. It will go on sale in China starting February 25th via all major online and offline retailers. The device will be available in four colorways — Black, White, Crystal Blue, and Crystal Pink.

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The Best Nintendo Switch headsets in February 2021: HyperX, PDP, Corsair and more!

The world of Nintendo Switch accessories is ever-growing and can sometimes be overwhelming! From the practically necessary microSD cards to the variety of Switch controllers, there are all sorts of things you’ll want to make your gaming experience the best. And these are just the accessories–think about all the games you want to play, too! What you probably haven’t considered yet, though, are good headsets for the console. If you plan on playing games online, you’ll need one! We have five Nintendo Switch headsets for you to choose from below, so pick one up and complete your Switch accessory collection.

Table of Contents:

Best Nintendo Switch Headset Overall: JLab Audio Play Gaming Wireless Headset

Unlike most gaming consoles, you’ll be playing your Switch in a lot of different situations. You maybe be playing on the big screen in docked mode, on the couch, or even out and about in handheld mode. The best Nintendo Switch Headset isn’t necessarily the one with the best look or the one that offers the very best in mic sensitivity — it’s going to be the most versatile headset. The Nintendo Switch is a versatile console, and unless you want to buy a bunch of headsets, you want one that works in every scenario… and that headset is the JLab Audio Play Gaming Headset.

This headset is one you can use either wired or wireless. You’ll get both an AUX cable and a USB cable, so you can plug it in whether you’re in docked or handheld mode. Also, the headset is slim and comes with a carrying case–two crucial factors if you’re looking to carry the headset with you on the go. Finally, you can use the JLab Audio Play headset via Bluetooth! It does not come with a dongle, though, so you’ll need to get a special Bluetooth adapter for the Nintendo Switch.

Honestly, even with needing to buy a Switch dongle, the JLab Audio headset ticks all the right boxes for the best Nintendo Switch headset. It can be used anytime, anywhere, and has a great price to boot.

    JLab Audio Play Gaming Wireless Headset
    This Black and Blue headset is the perfect complement to your Switch! Use it wired or wirelessly, and take it with you on the go with the included carrying case.

Best Switch Headset for Docked Mode: Corsair Void RGB Elite Gaming Headset

If you’re using a headset when having your Switch docked, you’ll need to plug it in via USB cable. Also, presumably, if you’re using your Switch in docked mode, you’re plugged into a TV. So you’re going to want a Nintendo Switch Headset that has a long wire and is still a quality product. The best headset for the job is the Corsair Void Elite!

This headset provides 7.1 surround sound, a custom set of audio drivers, and nice but not overly done RGB. Since it’s wired, you never need to worry about dropping your audio or voice connection either. There’s nothing worse than trying to communicate with your team in Fortnite and your Bluetooth connection having a problem! And while the USB cord is pretty long, you can always grab a USB extension cable for even more length.

    Corsair Void RGB Elite USB Premium Gaming Headset
    Corsair always has quality headsets, and those that play their Switch at home can enjoy the Corsair Void RGB Elite. This headset offers quality sound and some nice looking lights to boot!

Best Switch Headset for Handheld Mode: PDP LVL40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset

If you have a Nintendo Switch Lite or play your Switch in handheld mode most of the time, you’ll need a headset that plugs into the Switch’s AUX port. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with officially licensed gear! Nintendo does not create the PDP LVL40 Gaming Headset, but like various Nintendo accessories, the manufacturer is licensed by Nintendo specifically to make Nintendo Switch headsets.

The red and blue headset matches the Switch’s iconic colors and plugs into your Aux port, so you can only use it while the Switch is in handheld mode… unless you buy a PDP Switch controller to plug it into, of course. Other than that, it comes with everything you expect with a modern headset, with the ability to mute by flipping your mic up and the volume dial on the left ear cup. It’s also a slim headset, so it’s easy to pack and take with you wherever you go!

    PDP LVL40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset
    You can never go wrong with officially licensed gear! The PDP Switch gaming headset does everything you need it for the Switch's handheld mode, and the color scheme will match your Neon Switch!

Best Nintendo Switch Bluetooth Headset: Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset

logitech g533 wireless gaming headset black friday
The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have native Bluetooth built-in, so to use a wireless headset, you need one of two things — either a USB dongle that you can plug into your Switch dock or a special Bluetooth adapter you can plug into the Switch’s charging port when playing handheld. Unfortunately, most Switch headset and special Bluetooth dongle combos appear to be… pretty shoddy quality. Also, wires are generally a little easier to deal with when you’re probably a bit farther away from the TV when in handheld mode. So for this section, we focused on a headset that had a USB dongle with it.

So, it turns out then that any PC headset that you plug in via USB can also be used with the Switch, so you’re not limited with choices! But for the best Nintendo Switch headset that uses Bluetooth, you need to pick up the Logitech G533 Gaming Headset. The wireless headset sports a long battery life, a great audio range, and a microphone that does a good job of catching your voice without catching all the other sounds around you. The headset is also a simple black, dodging the bright and garish colors of most gaming headsets.

All in all, it’s a solid headset, and the versatility between the PC and Switch is just a bonus! The G533 is pretty bulky, though, so it’s not the best for on-the-go gaming.

    Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset
    If you want a headset that works on both PC and with a docked Switch that's wireless, you can do no better than the G533.

Best Hybrid Headphone/Headset for Switch: HyperX Cloud MIX

Sometimes you don’t need all the functionalities of a headset and just want to hear the game music without any hassle. The hassle being that microphone, more or less, especially on single-player titles. Those things can seriously get in the way when you’re not using them! So, why not get a headset that allows you to remove it?

So, the HyperX Cloud MIX isn’t strictly a Nintendo Switch headset — but then again, most of our picks aren’t! This headset is wired but is extremely comfortable. If you don’t mind the wire, you’re in for a treat! This headset had dual-chamber drivers to provide quality sound, and HyperX is a brand known for its quality. You can also detach the microphone, so if you want a pair of headphones, you just pop the mic right off! If you need it for a multiplayer game, just put the microphone right back on, and you’re ready to game.

    HyperX Cloud MIX Wired Gaming Headset
    Get great sound and a detachable mic with the HyperX Cloud MIX. Use it with your Switch and your phone!

The best Nintendo Switch headset for you is honestly going to depend a lot on how you play your Switch in general. JLab’s headset is by far the most versatile in terms of how it works with the Switch itself, but other headsets will be better if you primarily only play one way. Choose the headset that’s best for you!

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Google Fit on Wear OS is starting to automatically detect when a workout has finished

Google Fit for Wear OS is gaining a new ability that addresses a common pain point faced by many users: forgetting to end a workout session. Earlier, if you started recording your workout and didn’t end it manually, Google Fit would go on recording everything as though you were still doing your workout and thus mess up your activity data. But now, it’s getting smarter.

As spotted by Reddit user u/ayyndrew, Google Fit for Wear OS is now able to detect when you are finished with your workout activity. If you forget to end your workout, it will no longer keep recording your activity — which was the case before this feature rolled out. Instead, it will show a prompt on your smartwatch telling you to stop your workout session. It even sends haptic feedback to remind the user to finish their session, according to u/Zwiada.

Google Fit for Wear OS workout finish detection

It’s unclear if the new feature came as part of a new update to the Google Fit or was a server-side switch. But going by the Reddit thread’s user responses, it looks like it seems to be widely available. It’s a welcome quality-of-life addition that’s sure to improve the user experience of Wear OS users.

Google Fit for Wear OS received a big face-lift in November last year, which brought a revamped UI and some much-needed features. Some of the major changes in the new update include new tiles that make it easier to start workouts, the ability to set workout goals right from your smartwatch, pace alerts while you’re running, a Touch Lock button to prevent accidental touch inputs, a new Breathe Tile for guided breathing sessions, and so on.

At the same time, the new update also removed a useful feature: advanced strength training tracking, which allowed users to automatically track individual reps along with rest periods between sets.

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