Galaxy SmartTag+ adds UWB for AR locating, goes on sale next week

Update 1 (04/09/2021 @ 03:10 PM ET): Samsung has officially announced the launch date of the Galaxy SmartTag+. Click here for more information. The article, as published on April 2, 2021, is preserved below.

Samsung released the Galaxy SmartTag alongside the Galaxy S21 series earlier this year. Much like other smart tags from Tile and other companies, it’s designed to be attached to personal items for locating using a smartphone or tablet. Samsung previously teased an upgraded model with more connectivity options, and it seems we won’t have to wait much longer for it.

The Galaxy SmartTag+ is now available for pre-order from B&H Photo (via Droid-Life) but seemingly hasn’t been listed anywhere else, including Samsung’s own online store. Just like the regular SmartTag, which typically costs $29.99 (but is currently on sale for $24), the Tag+ can be located using Bluetooth LE using the SmartThings app up to a distance of 394 feet (about 120 meters). The tag can also be marked as lost, and any Galaxy smartphones enrolled in the Galaxy Find Network will attempt to find it. Finally, the tag’s button can be used for limited home automation.

While the regular SmartTag only uses Bluetooth LE, the SmartTag+ works with both Bluetooth and Samsung’s Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) implementation. The product listing doesn’t specify the range when using UWB, but it should be farther and more directionally accurate than Bluetooth. Samsung’s only devices with UWB are the Galaxy S21+, S21 Ultra, and Note20 Ultra — if you don’t have one of those phones, you’re better off just buying the cheaper tag.

B&H Photo has two versions up for pre-order, a black model and a ‘Denim Blue’ option — no photos yet for the latter. Both will cost $39.99, and while the black tag has a shipping date of April 12, there’s no ETA for the blue one. I hope the denim one looks exactly like jeans.

---

Update 1: Official Launch Date

After a premature listing by B&H Photo last week, we now have an official launch date for Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag+. In a press release, Samsung says the accessory will be “progressively available from April 16.” We checked Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung.com but could not find listings for the product yet. B&H Photo also seems to have pulled their early listings. In any case, it shouldn’t be too hard to get your hands on one of these trackers once it goes on sale next week. If you’re interested in picking up the Galaxy SmartTag+, check out the infographic that Samsung made that shows off the features and lists the differences between the regular and the plus model.

Source: Samsung

The post Galaxy SmartTag+ adds UWB for AR locating, goes on sale next week appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3rKVEO3
via IFTTT

Forums are now open for Legion Phone Duel 2, Nokia X20 / X10, Nokia G20 / G10, Realme C25, C21, C20 and more

Thursday was chockful of new smartphone announcements — a total of 10 phones launched within a 24-hour window! We witnessed the madness of Lenovo’s crazy gaming phone, Realme’s new entry-level lineup, and some interesting mix of new Nokia-branded hardware from HMD Global. To give users a dedicated space to connect with fellow device owners, potentially collaborate on aftermarket developments, and help everyone get the most out of their phones, we are opening up XDA forums of all these newly released devices.

XDA forums are now open for the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2, Nokia X10, Nokia X20, Nokia G20, Nokia G10, Nokia C series, and the new Realme C series.

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2

The Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is the second gaming-oriented phone from the Chinese company. Featuring a quirky design and insane hardware, the Legion Phone Duel 2 is well-positioned to take on the likes of the ASUS ROG Phone 5, Red Magic 6, and Black Shark 4. Some of the notable highlights of the Legion Phone Duel 2 include a 144Hz AMOLED display, dual active cooling fan, eight gaming trigger keys, dual USB Type C ports for a total of up to 90W charging speeds, and more. Check out our launch coverage for more details.

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 XDA Forums

Nokia X20 & Nokia X10

The Nokia X20 and X10 are the latest budget-friendly offerings from HMD Global. Both phones feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 SoC, a 4,480mAh battery, quad cameras and come running a near-stock version of Android 11 with guaranteed 3 Android version upgrades.

Nokia X20 / X10 XDA Forums

Nokia G20 & Nokia G10

The Nokia G20 and G10 are entry-level smartphones, combining modest hardware and a clean software experience in an affordable package. Both phones sport a 6.5-inch HD+ display, MediaTek Helio G35 SoC, and a 5,050mAh battery. They differ in terms of camera and memory configuration. On the Nokia G20, you get a 48MP primary shooter and a 5MP ultra-wide camera, while the G10 uses a 13MP primary shooter but lacks an ultra-wide cam.

Nokia G20 / G10 XDA Forums

Nokia C20 & Nokia C10

The Nokia C20 and C10 are targeted at first-time smartphone buyers and should be judged as such. They don’t have a lot going on for them in terms of hardware, but they’re ultra-affordable and come with a special flavor of Android called Andriod Go Edition, which is designed and optimized to run on less powerful devices like the Nokia C20 and C10.

Nokia C20 / C10 XDA Forums

Realme C25

The Realme C25 is a direct successor to last year’s Realme C15. While not a big of an upgrade over its predecessor, the latest model does offer a much powerful chipset in the form of the MediaTek Helio G70, along with a triple camera setup, a 6,000mAh battery, and Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 out-of-the-box.

Realme C25 XDA Forums

Realme C21 and Realme C20

The Realme C21 and Realme C20 are the cheapest Android phones from Realme. In terms of hardware, the Realme C21 features a 6.5-inch LCD HD+ panel, MediaTek Helio G35 SoC, up to 4GB RAM, a 13MP primary camera alongside two auxiliary lenses, a 5,000mAh battery, and Android 10. The Realme C20, on the other hand, gets you the same panel, chipset, and battery but comes with a single 8MP rear camera and 2GB RAM.

Realme C21 XDA Forums

Realme C20 XDA Forums

The post Forums are now open for Legion Phone Duel 2, Nokia X20 / X10, Nokia G20 / G10, Realme C25, C21, C20 and more appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3t75LOT
via IFTTT

ASUS is rolling out the Android 11 stable update to the ZenFone 7

Update 1 (04/09/2021 @ 02:50 PM ET): ASUS is rolling out the stable Android 11 update to the ZenFone 7 series globally. Click here for more information. The article, as published on March 25, 2021, is preserved below.

The ASUS ZenFone 7 lineup has been on the market for about half a year now. The device sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC (Snapdragon 865 Plus on the Pro variant), 6/8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 128/256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage alongside a dedicated microSD card slot. All of that comes in a slim package with 6.67-inch AMOLED display that refreshes up to 90Hz, stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 5,000mAh battery, and the signature Flip Camera module. To put it in short, it’s a solid flagship device, none less than any other flagship from 2020. The ZenFone 7 was originally released with Android 10 with ZenUI 7 on board, but ASUS was quick enough to start recruiting beta testers for its Android 11 update. The beta testing phase is finally over, as the company is now rolling out the first stable build of Android 11 to ZenFone 7 users.

ASUS ZenFone 7/7 Pro XDA Forums

According to a recent post on the ASUS ZenTalk forums, the first stable build of Android 11 is now rolling out to both the ZenFone 7 (ZS670KS) and the ZenFone 7 Pro (ZS671KS) in Taiwan. Bearing version number 30.40.30.93, the updated firmware brings all the obvious aesthetic and functional changes introduced in Android 11, along with a handful of Zen UI-specific changes. It also bumps up the Android security patch level on the phone duo to March 2021.

Thanks to ZenTalk forum member ades0212@tmu.edu.tw for the screenshot!

Here’s the full changelog (translated):

1. Upgrade system to Android 11
2. Update applications such as smart housekeeper, contact person, phone, file management, computer, clock, picture library, weather, recording program, settings, one-key switch and local backup
3. Support one-time permissions, improved file access permission control, automatic reset permissions and other privacy functions
4. Supports maintaining Bluetooth connection when flying mode is turned on
5. Adjusted to the Android 11 notification bar style, support for displaying notifications of ongoing conversations
6. The classic power button style supports Android 11 device control and Google Pay.
7. Added the use of buttons to adjust the volume and return to advanced gesture settings. Adjust the style and automatically switch the color setting of the system. Remove one-handed mode.
8. Notification settings Added notification records and dialog settings
9. Adjust the quick setting panel interface and support media control. Added nearby sharing option (need to be added manually)
10. Some third-party software is not yet compatible with Android 11
11. Please backup your data before upgrading. If you want to downgrade from Android 11 to Android 10, you can use the official software package, but all data will be erased
12. The system update “Wi-Fi automatic download and installation” setting is turned on by default

According to ASUS, the OTA is rolling out in batches, so it may take a few days for you to see the update prompt on your ZenFone 7. After the confirmation that the update is, in fact, reliable, the company will push it to a wider scale. As of now, ASUS hasn’t shared any concrete timeline for the global release, but we expect the update to start rolling out to users in other regions in the coming weeks.

---

Update 1: Rolling out globally

ASUS is now rolling out the stable Android 11 release to the ZenFone 7 series globally. The software release carries version number 30.40.30.96. The two announcement posts on the ZenTalk forums make it seem like this update doesn’t actually bring Android 11, but we’ve confirmed with an ASUS PR rep that the update does upgrade the OS. In addition, a tipster shared a screenshot of the update reaching their device, and we can also see that ASUS has uploaded the full firmware to its website.

Credits: Wichaya Poka

We’re glad to see the stable Android 11 release reach ZenFone 7 devices globally. ASUS may not be the fastest when it comes to delivering OS updates, but the company is perhaps the most developer-friendly and makes smartphones that appeal to power users. Hopefully, there aren’t any glaring bugs in the update that might cause it to be pulled, but if there are, we’ll be sure to let you know.

The post ASUS is rolling out the Android 11 stable update to the ZenFone 7 appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2QA83rf
via IFTTT

Apple admits porting iMessage to Android would hurt iPhone sales

Apple employees, including high-ranking executives, have admitted that bringing iMessage to Android would potentially impact iPhone sales. The company’s messaging service is a key component of iOS and a major barrier that deters users from switching platforms.

In a court case brought against Apple by Epic Games (via Reddit), a court filing revealed some key comments made during depositions and in emails from Apple employees. Epic Games argues Apple purposely creates an experience that locks iPhone users into the iOS ecosystem, with iMessage being a major part of that strategy. Apple could easily make switching from iOS to Android easier by making iMessage widely available, but comments made by Apple Fellow Phil Schiller suggest that will never happen.

“Moving iMessage to Android will hurt us more than hep us,” Schiller said in an email.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, echoed Schiller’s comments.

“iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones,” Federighi said.

Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services Eddie Cue admitted Apple could have made iMessage for Android, saying it would provide users with easy cross-compatibility.

“[Apple] could have made a version on Android that worked with iOS,” Cue said, allowing “cross-compatibility with the iOS platform so that users of both platform would have been able to exchange messages with one another seamlessly.”

Apple decided not to develop iMessage for Android as far back as 2013, according to the documents. iMessage originally launched in 2011 with iOS 5, and has become one of the platform’s most important services, gaining features like group messages and an App Store. iMessage is by no means the best messaging platform on the market. But since it’s the default option on iPhones, iPads, and Macs everywhere, it’s what a lot of people use to communicate.

Despite seemingly having no intention of bringing iMessage to Android, Apple has released a few apps for Google’s platform, including Apple Music and Apple TV.

The post Apple admits porting iMessage to Android would hurt iPhone sales appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2Qb9Kv4
via IFTTT

Google Chrome’s Incognito mode is getting its own native dark theme

Google rolled out native dark mode support in Chrome for Android with version 74 back in 2019. But in its current state, the dark mode doesn’t apply to the app menu, context menu, and a couple of other UI elements in the Incognito mode if the system-wide dark theme is turned off. This makes the dark mode experience on Chrome can be a bit jarring. Thankfully, Google is finally addressing this issue.

Light themed menu in Incognito mode with new flag and system-wide dark theme turned off

Chrome 91, which is currently in the Canary channel, includes a new flag that implements a native dark theme for the Incognito mode (via TechDows). You can find this flag by navigating to chrome://flags and searching for “Incognito mode.” This should bring up the new “Allow widgets to inherit native theme from its parent widget” flag.

Click on the dropdown menu next to it and select the “Enabled” option. Then, click on the Relaunch button at the bottom to restart the browser for the changes to take effect.

Now, open up the Incognito mode and tap on the three-dot menu button in the top right corner. It will now have a dark theme, even if you have the system-wide dark theme turned off.

New native dark theme for Chrome’s incognito mode

The new dark mode flag for Chrome’s Incognito mode is currently only available in the Canary channel, as previously mentioned. Once the flag is enabled by default for all users of the Stable channel, we’ll update this article. Although this won’t be a significant change by any means, it’s good to see Google streamline Chrome’s native dark mode to offer users a better experience overall.

In case you haven’t received the update yet, you can download the latest Google Chrome release by following this link.

The post Google Chrome’s Incognito mode is getting its own native dark theme appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3mAFVA5
via IFTTT

Google Pixel 5a has reportedly been canceled as global chip shortages persist

Google has reportedly canceled the Pixel 5a (codenamed Barbet), with sources placing the blame on the global chip shortage. The device was rumored to make its debut at Google’s I/O developer conference, which is scheduled to kick off in May.

The news was broken by Jon Prosser and later confirmed by Android Central.

“‘Barbet’ (Pixel 5A) has been canceled,” Prosser Tweeted on Friday. “I’m told it’s due to the chip shortage, and as of this morning, it’s not moving forward.”

The Pixel 5a was expected to be similar to last year’s Pixel 5, but with lower specs and a more affordable price tag. Google has followed a similar release pattern for the last couple of generations, introducing the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G toward the end of last year. With the Pixel 5a allegedly canceled, Google is reportedly turning its attention to the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G.

If true, it’s a surprising development considering how much we know about the Pixel 5a. We’ve seen leaked renders of the device and have also learned some of its specs, which may have included a 6.2-inch OLED display, hole-punch design, and a size that closely matches the Pixel 4a.

The global chip shortage has been a major concern for smartphone manufacturers over the last several months. Recently, Xiaomi warned that the shortage could result in increased phone prices, while Samsung’s Galaxy Note is reportedly facing delays. It’s also said to be partly to blame for the painfully slow production of Sony’s next-generation PlayStation 5.

While the Pixel 5a has reportedly been canceled, Google is still expected to launch new products this year. The search giant is expected to unveil more affordable wireless earbuds called Pixel Buds A. Meanwhile, it was recently reported Google is developing its own chip that will debut with the Pixel 6 this fall.

The post Google Pixel 5a has reportedly been canceled as global chip shortages persist appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/39TXxSw
via IFTTT

Microsoft finally releases a 64-bit OneDrive sync client for Windows 10

Microsoft has at long last released a 64-bit version of its OneDrive app for Windows. Released in 2017, Microsoft’s cloud storage and file-sharing app was only available in 32-bit for Windows users up until now.

In a blog post, Microsoft officially announced the release of the 64-bit OneDrive sync app for Windows. The new version is available as a public preview, meaning it hasn’t yet reached the “general availability” phase.

“We know this has been a long-awaited and highly requested feature, and we’re thrilled to make it available for early access. You can now download the 64-bit version for use with OneDrive work, school, and home accounts”, the company said in the blog post.

For now, you’ll have to download it manually from Microsoft’s website. You must be running a 64-bit installation of Windows on an x64 processor. Although this rules out devices like Surface Pro X or any Windows 10 on ARM for that matter, a 64-bit version for ARM is already in the works, as confirmed by Omar Shahine, Microsoft Vice President of product for OneDrive and SharePoint, on Twitter.

64-bit #OneDrive sync now available. And before you ask we are working on ARM.https://t.co/ywFD53Rr7V

— Omar Shahine (@OmarShahine) April 8, 2021

If you’re interested in trying out the new version and meet the system requirements, you can grab the 64-bit client of OneDrive from here. Just make sure that the OneDrive version you install is the same version as you currently have,  or newer. Microsoft says when the 64-bit OneDrive client becomes commercially available, it will automatically replace the preview version running on your device.

Windows users have been begging Microsoft to release a 64-bit version of OneDrive for what feels like an eternity. But for reasons known only to Microsoft, the company refrained from releasing a 64-bit client. The 32-bit client had started showing its age, and there were many user complaints about performance issues while trying to sync large amounts of files. The 64-bit should, in theory, resolve all such issues as it will be able to better utilize the available resources.

The post Microsoft finally releases a 64-bit OneDrive sync client for Windows 10 appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3dN4s18
via IFTTT