You can now emulate the Nokia N-Gage (and Symbian) on Android

The Symbian mobile operating system played a vital role in the rise of PDAs (and later smartphones) in the late 1990s and early 2000s, especially outside North America. The platform had an extensive library of applications and games, and now you can try some of them on your Android phone or tablet.

EKA2L1 is a cross-platform Symbian emulator, mostly written in C++, that has been in development for over two years. It can currently emulate the S60v1, S60v3, and S60v5 platforms, which powered phones like the Nokia 7650, Nokia N95, Nokia E50, and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The emulator also boasts compatibility with games created for the N-Gage, Nokia’s unsuccessful attempt at a mobile phone/game console hybrid from 2003. Only three million N-Gage devices were sold during its short life, so there aren’t many games for it, but the N-Gage is still an important part of history that EKA2L1 is helping to preserve.

The emulator has offered an Android version on GitHub for a while, but the app was just published to the Google Play Store. The app works best with 64-bit Android devices, but there is also experimental 32-bit support. When used with compatible software, EKA2L1 can run games at a higher framerate than original Symbian devices. Some of the best games and applications are shown off in the above video.

You’ll need to find your own device firmware ROM to use EKA2L1, as well as a repackage of the device’s Z drive. There’s a wiki article on how to dump the ROM and file system from compatible Symbian devices. You can download EKA2L1 from the Play Store at the link below.

EKA2L1 (Free, Google Play) →

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Google introduces new Chrome features to boost your productivity

Google has announced a handful of new features coming to Chrome. The new additions are all about boosting your productivity, from new PDF reader features to naming your browser windows.

In a blog post on Thursday, Google highlighted a number of the features, some of which the company has already touched upon, like the browser’s improved performance. Thanks to a recent update, active tabs are now prioritized over tabs you aren’t using, resulting in up to 35 percent reduction in CPU usage.

Building on Chrome’s tab freezing feature, Google said it’ll soon launch tab freezing for groups that are collapsed (and tabs that are hidden). Tabs that are in a collapsed group will use less memory and CPU, which should provide users with a smoother, more optimized experience. Google said this feature will launch soon in beta.

Meanwhile, Google said the process of sharing specific text on a page will be a little easier. Google is adding a “link to highlight” feature that will allow you to highlight text you want to share, right-click the window, and choose “Copy link to highlight.” Once you send the link, the person who opens it will see the exact section you highlighted. The feature is rolling out now on desktop and Android and coming soon to iOS.

Chrome is also rolling out new PDF reader features. There’s now a sidebar to browse the PDF’s thumbnails, and there’s also a presentation mode, which removes all on-screen distractions, including toolbars, the address bar, and tabs. Additionally, Chrome has added document properties, two-page view, and an updated top toolbar in an effort to make viewing PDFs a more enjoyable experience.

Speaking of presentations, Google said you can now mute notifications when presenting or sharing Chrome windows. Once you’re done presenting, notifications will be unmuted. The new feature is designed to cut down on distractions and let you focus on the task at hand.

Finally, Google said it’s adding a feature that will allow users to name Chrome windows. Not to be confused with tab groups, the window naming feature will let you name each of your windows, which Google said should help users stay more organized. The company said you can press alt+tab to switch windows or right-click on a tab and select “Move to another window.” Window naming joins a recently added tab search feature that was previously announced.

Google Chrome: Fast & Secure (Free, Google Play) →

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Microsoft Edge adds Kids Mode to keep children safe online

Microsoft has announced a new Kids Mode for its Edge browser, which provides users with a space that’s described as kid-friendly. The feature is free and comes built into Microsoft Edge.

When enabled, parents can customize Kids Mode to only show approved sites. Parents can further customize the experience depending on the child’s age. There are currently two options in Microsoft Edge: The option for 5-8 years features a simplified browsing experience; the option for 9-12 years offers more interesting kid-friendly articles and news around topics like animals, science, and fun facts.

“We believe this is a game-changer for parents who are juggling all the demands of life today,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “Kids Mode gives parents peace of mind by providing a protected online environment as their kids browse the web on a shared device.”

Kids Mode was developed for scenarios where parents and kids are sharing the same devices. Parents can enable Kids Mode by selecting it from the profile icon in the top right corner of the browser window. Once enabled, Microsoft Edge will turn into a more colorful browser with themes from Disney and Pixar. The mode automatically approves 70 popular kids sites, and parents can also add sites of their own. If a kid visits a website not on the approved list, they’ll be met by a block page with an option to request permission.

Images: Microsoft

Additionally, when Edge’s Kids Mode is enabled, it’ll run the browser in full screen mode, so kids can’t access other apps (like another browser). Edge’s privacy will also be set to its strongest setting, and it will default to the strictest tracking prevention level. And to protect children from accidentally exiting Kids Mode, parents will need to enter their credentials before turning the feature off.

Microsoft Edge’s new Kids Mode is available starting today on Windows and macOS.

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Learn Android development and more with up to 98% off these training bundles

Whether you are thinking about starting a new career or you just want to try some weekend projects, learning new skills is a smart move. You can find top-rated training on Android development, data, and more at the XDA Developers Depot — now with up to 98% off the regular price.

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Motorola Razr 5G and Nokia 2.2 receive stable Android 11 update

The stable release of Android 12 isn’t too far away, but device makers are continuing to roll out Android 11 updates to their smartphones. Motorola, for example, has been doing an appreciable job of sticking to its Android 11 update plan so far and has released the update for several of its devices. However, since the company offers a vast variety of devices across different price brackets, it’s still in the process of releasing the update for some of its smartphones. In the last few weeks, the Lenovo-backed OEM has rolled out the Android 11 update for the Moto G 5G Plus and the Motorola One Hyper. And now, the company is rolling out the update for the Motorola Razr 5G.

Thanks to Reddit user u/crozone for the screenshot!

Back in March, Japanese telecom operator Softback launched a carrier-specific edition of the Motorola Razr 5G that runs Android 11 out of the box. While it is possible cross-flash the Softbank firmware on a regular Razr 5G, the process isn’t feasible for regular users. Thankfully, Motorola is now rolling out the Android 11 update in multiple regions, including India, Australia, Europe, and several South American countries, so you don’t need to opt for a manual flashing. Tagged with the build number RPS31.Q1-40-17-12, the Android 11 release for the Razr 5G is about 1.8GB in size and it comes with slightly old February 2021 security patches.

Motorola Razr 5G XDA Forums

Along with the Motorola Razr 5G, the Nokia 2.2 from HMD Global has also started receiving its Android 11 update. As with previous releases, the update (build number V3.270) brings all the new features introduced in Android 11 and the Android security patches for March 2021.

Thanks to Twitter user @m_arisR for the screenshot!

According to a post on the Nokia community forums, the first wave of the update is expected to reach 50% of Nokia 2.2 users across 24 regions today. If the rollout goes as planned, the update should land up at 100% users by April 17.

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XDA Basics: How to Set Up & Use Mac Voice Dictation

If you want to whizz through your emails and reports and impress your boss in the process, then Mac Voice Dictation is the way to go. The feature is built into your Mac and can be activated simply by going to the Preferences and switching it on. But surprisingly, many people I have encountered do not realize voice dictation is even there.

Many of us are so used to talking to Siri that it isn’t a stretch to also dictate email replies and memos using Mac voice dictation. But how do you activate it and set it up? That’s what we’ll be looking at today.

Activate Mac Voice Dictation

As with everything on a Mac, it all starts in the preferences. So go to the Apple menu in the top left-hand corner and choose System Preferences. The System Preferences box will now come up. Choose Keyboard.

When the Keyboard section appears, go to the Dictation tab.

The first step is obviously to switch on dictation. So toggle the button to On. This immediately prompts a privacy warning from Apple, that all information you speak into your Mac will be sent to Apple to be converted into text. So think carefully about what you’re dictating. Routine emails and run-of-the-mill memos would be OK, but you may want to think twice about really sensitive company information or other types of privileged content.

When you are sure you want to use dictation, click Enable Dictation.

Choose Your Native Tongue

The next step is to choose your language. If you drop down the Language menu, you’ll see what language packs are already installed. In my case, it is only UK English. If the language you want has not yet been installed, click Add Language.

The list of available language packs will now come up. As you can see, there are multiple versions of English (although no Scottish version, which I find scandalous). There are also all of the world’s major languages. Simply tick the ones you want to install (and untick any you want to uninstall), and click OK to start the process.

Now check the language menu drop-down again and you’ll see that your language pack has been installed.

Choose Your Keyboard Shortcut

As the Dictation tab says, you can access the feature by going to the Edit menu and choosing Start Dictation. But everyone knows the really cool kids all use keyboard shortcuts instead. So the second to last part of the setup process involves choosing your keyboard shortcut to begin voice dictation.

If you drop down the shortcut menu, you’ll see that some shortcuts have been suggested for you. If one of them appeals, choose it. If you’d rather have another one, click Customize and enter your desired shortcut. Assuming an app has not grabbed that shortcut already, you’ll be allowed it.

Last But Not Least, Choose Your Audio Source

As you can see on the left of the box, the audio source defaults to the internal microphone. This works in most cases, but you may instead want to use an external microphone to ensure better dictation accuracy.

My personal recommendation is the wonderful Blue Yeti, which you can pick up from Amazon for a very reasonable price. Like several other Mac accessories, there are other plug-and-play options too. Once it is plugged into your laptop, just drop down the audio source menu and choose the microphone from the list.

Blue Yeti Nano Microphone

For heavy and regular use

The Blue Yeti Nano is a premium USB microphone for broadcast-quality voice input.

Buy from Amazon.com

JOUNIVO Gooseneck Microphone

Voice input on a budget

This plug-and-play microphone is one of the cheaper and reliable options around, ideal for casual and light use.

Buy from Amazon.com

Tonor Microphone with Pop Filter

Affordable and practical

This microphone comes with a shock mount, tripod stand and a pop filter, with plug and play functionality.

Buy from Amazon.com

Let’s Do Some Dictating!

So by triggering your keyboard shortcut, the dictation microphone will appear on your screen. Place your cursor on the screen where you want the text to go (such as an email draft) and start talking! Watch your words magically appear on the screen!

If you found this helpful, you should also check out how to split your screen on a Mac, and why you should do it.

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The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra has three 64MP cameras, a 144Hz display and Snapdragon 888

ZTE’s Axon 20 5G made headlines last year as the first commercial smartphone with an under-display selfie camera. As impressive as the idea was on paper, it turned out to be a failed attempt as the images produced from the under-display camera were not great, to say the least. ZTE clearly doesn’t want to repeat the same mistake as its latest smartphone does away from the gimmicky under-display camera tech and is opting for more conventional components. While ZTE’s previous two phones, the Axon 20 5G and Axon 11 5G were mid-range offerings, the newly-launched Axon 30 Ultra is a proper flagship. It offers rather impressive hardware, including the Snapdragon 888 chipset, high refresh rate display, triple 64MP camera setup, and more.

ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G: Specifications

Specification	ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G
Dimensions and Weight	161.53 × 72.96 × 8.0 mm 70˚ side curvature with 4.22mm˚ bend 188g
Display	6.67” FHD+ AMOLED Borderless Curved Display 2400 x 1080 144Hz variable refresh rate (60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz) 300Hz touch sampling rate 10-bit color depth HDR10+ Anti-glare glass coating Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (front and back)
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: 1x Kryo 680 Prime Core @ 2.84GHz 3x Kryo 680 Performance Cores @ 2.4GHz 4x Kryo 680 Efficiency Cores @ 1.8GHz Adreno 660
RAM and Storage	8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 RAM 128GB / 256GB UFS 3.1 storage MicroSD card support
Battery & Charging	4,600mAh battery 66W fast charger (inside the box)
Rear Camera	Primary: 64MP Sony IMX686, f/1.6, OIS Secondary: 64MP f/1.9 Tertiary: 64MP ultra-wide, 120-degree field-of-view Quaternary: 8MP telephoto, OIS, 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, 120x digital zoom, LDAF
Front Camera	16MP
Ports	USB Type-C port
Connectivity	5G (SA & NSA n41/78, SA n1/3/28) WiFi 6E 4×4 MIMO antenna NFC Bluetooth 5.2 Dual GPS (GPS L1+L5, A-GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou) Type-C port
Other features	In-display fingerprints scanner Dual speakers DTS: X Ultra sound AI call noise reduction 3-mic Noise Suppression
Software	Android 11 with ZTE My OS 11

The Axon 30 Ultra features a 6.67-inch FHD+ curved AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of up to 144Hz and 300Hz touch sampling rate. It’s powered by the top-tier Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

The Axon 30 Ultra comes with a quad-camera setup on the back comprised of two 64MP primary sensors, a 64MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto lens with up to 5x optical, and 10x hybrid zoom. On the front, the phone features a 16MP selfie shooter.

The phone has a sizeable 4,600mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging. Elsewhere, the Axon 30 Ultra has an in-display fingerprint scanner, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6E, dual speakers, dual GPS, and Android 11 with ZTE My OS 11.

Pricing & Availability

The Axon 30 Ultra 5G will be available in Black, Gold, Green, and White colors. The device will go on sale in China starting April 19. It will also be coming to international markets, including the US as an unlocked phone, but the company hasn’t shared any concrete date just yet.

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