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mardi 27 septembre 2022

Some Galaxy S22 users in the U.S. aren’t able to receive text messages following the September update

Samsung has been doing a great job of keeping its flagship Galaxy S22 series up to date with the latest security patches since its launch earlier this year. The company recently released the September 2022 security update for the flagship lineup, addressing over 20 vulnerabilities. However, the update seems to have broken a crucial feature on carrier-locked models in the U.S. — text messaging.

According to recent reports on the Samsung community forums and Reddit (via PiunikaWeb), several Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22 Plus, and Galaxy S22 Ultra users have stopped receiving text messages on their devices following the September update. The bug reportedly affects carrier-locked Galaxy S22 series devices from Verizon, T-Mobile, and others.

At the moment, Samsung has not shared any details regarding a fix, but some users say that rebooting the device temporarily addresses the issue. In addition, a few AT&T and T-Mobile users claim that enabling chat settings or toggling the SIM card on/off also helps. Changing the default messaging app, however, doesn’t make a difference as the bug affects both the default messaging app on Samsung devices and the Google Messages app.

While Samsung hasn’t shared an official statement on the issue, we expect the company to release a fix via a software update in the coming days. We’ll let you know as soon as the fix starts rolling out to users. Until then, you can try out one of the several workarounds mentioned in the source links below. If you haven’t installed the September update on your Galaxy S22 series device so far, we recommend holding off until Samsung issues a fix.

Are you not able to receive text messages on your carrier-locked Galaxy S22 series device? Do the aforementioned workarounds resolve the issue? Let us know in the comments section below.


Source: Samsung Community forums (1,2,3), Reddit (1,2,3)
Via: PiunikaWeb

The post Some Galaxy S22 users in the U.S. aren’t able to receive text messages following the September update appeared first on XDA.



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The Nreal Air AR smart glasses are finally available on Amazon in the U.S.

Almost a year after its international debut, Nreal has finally brought the Nreal Air augmented reality smart glasses to the U.S. The glasses are up for sale on Amazon for a discounted price of $379, and Nreal is also offering an iPhone adapter for interested buyers.

In case you missed our previous coverage, the Nreal Air are a pair of lightweight AR smart glasses that aim to offer an immersive viewing experience to smartphone users. The glasses look a lot like Ray-Ban’s iconic Wayfarer sunglasses. But, unlike regular sunglasses, the Nreal Air feature built-in OLED screens that emulate a display measuring 130-inches when viewed at a simulated distance of 3 meters and a massive 201-inches at a virtual distance of 6 meters. The high-color density OLED screens offer a pixel density as high as 49 pixels per degree and 90Hz refresh rate support.

Nreal Air close up

Nreal claims that the new Nreal Air are 25 percent lighter than the Nreal Light, which went on sale through Verizon late last year. The newer model also consumes 50 percent less power, allowing users to enjoy an immersive gaming or video viewing experience for much longer.

The glasses are compatible with both Android and iOS devices. However, if you wish to use them with an iPhone or iPad, you’ll have to shell out an extra $59 for the Nreal Adapter. In addition, while the Nreal Air runs the company’s AR operating system, Nebula, when connected to an Android device, it only offers screen mirroring with iOS devices. Currently, Nreal has not shared any plans to bring its Nebula experience to iOS devices. If you’re still interested in trying it out, you can purchase the Nreal Air by following the link provided below.

    Nreal Air
    The Nreal Air AR glasses feature a trendy design and can emulate a 201-inch screen for an immersive viewing experience.

What do you think of the Nreal Air? Will you be purchasing a pair for yourself? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post The Nreal Air AR smart glasses are finally available on Amazon in the U.S. appeared first on XDA.



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These are the best iPhone 13 & 13 Mini deals: Where to buy the 2021 Apple phone?

Apple released the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini back in 2021. The phones are an incremental upgrade over the iPhone 12 series and are powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. The company has released the two phones in six color options and three storage variants. It has also ditched the 64GB model, and instead, the 128GB model will now act as the base version. In addition, you’ll be able to order the iPhone 13 and the 13 Mini in 256GB and 512GB models. As always, you can buy them in unlocked as well as carrier-locked variants. Below are the best iPhone 13 and 13 Mini deals you can find now.

What is the iPhone 13 price?

Here’s the unlocked* pricing of the Apple iPhone 13 and the 13 Mini, available direct from Apple.com and other retailers:

Storage iPhone 13 Mini iPhone 13
128GB $629 $729
256GB $729 $829
512GB $929 $1,029

*Much like last year with the iPhone 12, the carrier versions have a $30 discount compared to the unlocked pricing. The pricing above does not include the discount.

Best iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini deals: Unlocked

Apple Online Store

The Apple Online Store is a great place to order the SIM-free (unlocked) versions of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. You can order all storage variants and color options of the phones. In addition, the Apple website provides trade-in discounts if you have an old smartphone lying around. Trade-in discounts are available only for Apple, Samsung, Google, and LG phones.

    Apple Online Store
    You can choose a one-time payment for your iPhone 13 purchase or go for the Apple Card monthly instalments at the Apple Online Store.

Best iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini deals: Carriers

Apple Online Store

Apart from the unlocked and SIM-free iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Mini, the Apple Online Store also sells carrier variants. It offers the AT&T, T-Mobile/ Sprint, and Verizon variants of the phone. In addition to its trade-in offers, the store also provides carrier-specific credits when you trade in your old smartphone. You can also choose between a one-time payment and Apple Card monthly installments.

    Apple Online Store
    The Apple Online Store gives the option to get the free delivery of your new iPhone at your home or pick it from an Apple Store.

AT&T

When you buy the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 Mini from AT&T, you can get bill credits with an eligible trade-in. Depending on the trade-in value of your old smartphone, the bill credits will vary. The promotion is available for both new and existing AT&T customers.

    AT&T
    AT&T offers all color variants and storage options for both iPhone models.

Verizon

New and existing subscribers will get bill credits when they purchase the iPhone 13. The bill credits are only applicable on select trade-ins and select unlimited plans.

    Verizon
    The iPhone 13 is available on Verizon if it's your carrier of choice.

T-Mobile

There are trade-in offers available via T-Mobile as well on both iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. The carrier will provide bill credits if you trade in an eligible phone, pick the Magenta Max or Plus plan, and buy the phone on a monthly payment plan.

    T-Mobile
    T-Mobile also offers all color variants and storage options for the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Mini.

Best Buy

Best Buy is offering the carrier version of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. Trade-in offers are also available, with trade-in value varying for different phones.

    Best Buy
    If you are purchasing your new iPhone with a trade-in offer from Best Buy, you’ll have to select the Store Pickup option.

Amazon

Amazon is only selling the Cricket Wireless carrier-locked versions of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. However, if you buy either of the phones from the e-retail giant, you’ll get $4.17 every month on your Amazon Gift Card until you’re subscribed to a carrier plan. Trade-in offers are also available for further savings.

    Amazon
    Amazon is selling all color options and storage variants of the iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13.

These are the best iPhone 13 and 13 Mini deals available right now. We’ll keep updating this page as more deals and promotions are announced by other retailers and carriers. You can also go for a newer model and buy an iPhone 14 or 14 Pro.

Which iPhone 13 model do you plan on buying? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post These are the best iPhone 13 & 13 Mini deals: Where to buy the 2021 Apple phone? appeared first on XDA.



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lundi 26 septembre 2022

These are the best wallpaper apps for Android for your homescreen and lockscreen wallpaper needs

The background or wallpaper on your phone’s homescreen or lockscreen plays a substantial part in the device’s personalization. For those who like having a theme, a curated library of wallpapers is essential. This article lists eleven background apps that you should check out. If you want something more than just an aesthetic change, we also have an article that lists some of the best Android apps you should use to increase or improve your device’s usability. The list includes recommended apps for podcasts, device automation, and productivity, to name a few.

Before picking a wallpaper, you must understand its sizing and whether it will scale to your display. You can do this by reading its resolution, expressed with two numbers. For example, 1080 x 2412 is the resolution of a 1080p display used on the OnePlus 10T. The first number indicates the width, while the second refers to height.

If you’re looking for a smartphone wallpaper to use on your Android phone, you’ll want a higher second number and a lower first; this prevents your smartphone from zooming into an image and making it look grainy. If you use a tablet, pick a wallpaper based on what orientation you use your device in, a higher first number if landscape mode is your go-to, or a higher second value if it’s portrait.

Without further ado, let’s present to you the best wallpaper apps for Android.

Navigate this article:

Abstruct

Abstruct wallpaper app screenshots

Abstruct features collections made by Hampus Olsson, an artist known for the stock wallpapers used by OnePlus. As you may have inferred from the name of the app, a lot of the art found within it is abstract. The collection offers over 450 wallpapers and is updated by the creator when they release new artwork.

If you’ve been a fan of OnePlus’ stock wallpapers or you like the ones from the Paranoid Android ROM, this application is a great source to acquire them in high-resolution formats. Users can apply them directly from within the application or save them to their gallery for other uses.

Do note that at this point, out of the eight available collections, four are locked behind a paywall that requires the Pro Pack.

Abstruct - Wallpapers in 4K (Free, Google Play) →

AmoledPix

AmoledPix wallpaper app screenshots

AmoledPix showcases over 10,000 artworks for users to apply as wallpapers. Its primary focus is on providing options that feature deep blacks across a variety of categories which include Anime, Architecture, Quotes, or Cars, to name a few. Upon selecting an image, users can also choose to tap on the colors tagged to find wallpapers with a similar aesthetic.

The app offers a premium version via a subscription or a one-time purchase model. Paying the fee will remove ads and allow access to more collections.

AmoledPix - Wallpapers 4K (Free, Google Play) →

Backdrops

Backdrops wallpaper app screenshots

Backdrops, one of the most popular background applications, features collections that showcase photography or vector art. Its catalog is updated daily by digital artists and its community.

The Pro version provides users with the ability to apply wallpapers from a Backdrops notification and save wallpapers from the Explore page — otherwise limited to Community and Free Collections. It will also remove ads from the application.

Backdrops - Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

SwirlWalls

Android homescreen with a live wallpaper A spiral wallpaper

If you’re looking for something beyond static and live wallpapers, you might want to check out SwirlWalls. Developed by Chris Lacy, SwirlWalls is a fresh take on live wallpapers, offering beautiful spiral live wallpapers to take your home screen personalization game to the next level. The app puts a spiral wallpaper on your home screen, which naturally animates as you interact with your home screen, lockscreen, or perform gesture navigation swipes. It has over 200 custom wallpapers, and each wallpaper can be customized using remixes and styles. All wallpapers fully support dark mode as well and can automatically switch between dark and light mode depending on your system settings.

SwirlWalls automatically matches the refresh rate of your smartphone, so those with higher refresh rate screens can experience even smoother animations. The app is compatible with all launchers, including the stock Pixel Launcher and Samsung One UI Home, as well as other third-party launchers. SwirlWalls is free to download, but you’ll need to pay for the Prime version to unlock additional features and benefits.

SwirlWalls: 4K Live Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

Sphaera

sphaera wallpaper application image

Sphaera is an application that generates wallpapers based on locations around the world. Users can pick any spot and then customize the generated image with the available style choices. The application claims to work well with custom launchers and that its generated art will fit any high-resolution display.

With a one-time purchase model, this application features no ads and has unlimited downloads.

Sphaera - 4K, HD Map Wallpaper ($2.49, Google Play) →

Stokie

Stokie wallpaper app screenshots

Stokie features a wallpaper collection that contains stock wallpapers provided on devices by their manufacturers. It develops upon these by allowing you to select an image and customize attributes like its brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, level of blur, and RGB makeup.

Hence, allowing you to maintain the aesthetic of the wallpaper while making it your own. If stock wallpapers are not your go-to, or perhaps you’re looking for something simpler, the application also allows the creation of gradient-style wallpapers.

It’s free to download but offers an in-app purchase to remove ads, access additional features, and receive priority support from customer care.

STOKiE - HD Stock Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

Tapet

Tapet wallpaper app screenshots

Tapet is an application similar to Stokie and Sphaera, in the sense that it allows users to generate wallpapers by controlling specific parameters. It does not offer a collection but instead uses mathematical functions to create patterns. The application uses a swipe-based system to show users various options which they can choose to save to their device.

An in-app purchase will provide access to patterns that may otherwise not be available, an option to create a color palette, and the ability to apply Tapet’s generated art to the lock screen as a Live Wallpaper.

Tapet Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

Unusual Wallpapers

unusual wallpapers android wallpaper application image

Unusual Wallpapers features a collection of over 900 vector-based artworks. New wallpapers are added every Wednesday and Sunday, so there’s always something new and fun to check out. All wallpapers are of high resolution, and there are many different categories to explore.

It charges a one-time fee and offers an ad-free experience with unlimited downloads.

Unusual Wallpapers ($1.49, Google Play) →

WallCandy

WallCandy wallpaper app screenshots

WallCandy is another application that caters to users with a device that has an AMOLED panel. It has a catalog of over 5,000 artworks classified as wallpapers that are ideal for your lock screen or perhaps the notched display on your smartphone. Like most other applications on this list, it offers a feature to change wallpapers automatically.

It’s free to download and offers no additional purchases. It does include ads that, in my experience, did not appear frequently.

Wallcandy - Wallpaper & Widget (Free, Google Play) →

Wallpapers by Google

Wallpapers by Google wallpaper app screenshots

Wallpapers by Google is a standard recommendation on most background application lists. Even in 2021, this app showcases some of the best landscape, cityscape, or seascape wallpapers. Its daily rotation feature will download images when connected to WiFi and switch between them each day.

The application is free to use and features no ads.

Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

Walpy

Walpy wallpaper app screenshots

Walpy is an application that uses Unsplash to source its images but goes a step further than Resplash, another application that uses the same source, by providing users with the ability to edit an image’s blur level, brightness, saturation, vignette, and color. While the application is free to download, its listing mentions the presence of in-app purchases, although we could not find any at the time of writing.

For those unaware of Unsplash, it’s a website known for its free catalog of high-quality wallpapers, also available in 8K resolution.

Walpy - Wallpapers (Free, Google Play) →

While these are traditional applications, if you are looking for versions that offer dynamic options, you can also check out Muzie Live Wallpaper. If you liked this list or have some great alternatives, you think we may have missed out on, let us know below in the comments.

The post These are the best wallpaper apps for Android for your homescreen and lockscreen wallpaper needs appeared first on XDA.



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XDA forums are now open for the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, Motorola Edge 30 Ultra, and Poco F4

Since we last added new forum pages for the latest smartphones, Xiaomi and Motorola have announced a couple of new phones. Xiaomi unveiled its Galaxy Z Fold 4 competitor, the Mix Fold 2, and Motorola announced the Moto X30 Pro (AKA Motorola Edge 30 Ultra). We’ve now opened forum pages fo these devices to give buyers and enthusiasts a place for discussions, third-party development, mods, and more. In addition, we’ve opened a forum page for the mid-range Poco F4.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2

The Mix Fold 2 is the latest flagship foldable from Xiaomi, featuring an updated design, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 SoC, 12GB RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. The phone features a 6.5-inch 1080p cover screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a large 8-inch foldable LTPO 2.0 OLED display.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 in hand

In the camera department, Xiaomi offers a 50MP  primary camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP 2x telephoto came on the back, along with a 20MP selfie shooter over on the front. A 4,500mAh battery with 67W wired fast charging support and symmetrical stereo speakers round off the Mix Fold 2’s hardware. As far as software is concerned, the device runs MIUI Fold 13 based on Android 12 out of the box.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 XDA Forums

Motorola X30 Pro/Edge 30 Ultra

The Motorola X30 Pro is also a flagship phone featuring Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chip, up to 12GB RAM, and up to 512GB storage. However, unlike the Mix Fold 2, it features a regular candy bar form factor, with a 6.67-inch FHD+ display over on the front that refreshes at 144Hz.

Moto X30 Pro front and back on white background.

What sets the Motorola X30 Pro apart from other flagships is that it’s one of the first phones on the market to feature a 200MP camera. The 200MP sensor is accompanied by a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a 60MP selfie shooter. Other noteworthy features include a 4,500mAh battery with 125W wired fast charging support and 50W wireless fast charging support. The device runs Motorola’s custom skin based on Android 12 out of the box.

Motorola Edge 30 Ultra/Moto X30 Pro XDA Forums

Poco F4/Redmi K40S

The Poco F4 is a mid-range device from earlier this year, which features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chipset, up to 8GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage. The device sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display over on the front and a 4,500mAh battery on the inside with 67W wired fast charging support.

Poco F4

On the camera front, the Poco F4 features a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 20MP selfie camera. The device runs MIUI 13 for Poco based on Android 12 out of the box.

Poco F4/Redmi K40S XDA Forums

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Android 13 custom ROMs are now available for the ancient Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II

Even though it’s been over a month since Google rolled out Android 13 on the stable channel, the update is officially only available on a handful of phones. But since the company has also uploaded the Android 13 source code to AOSP, the aftermarket development community has released custom ROMs based on Android 13 for quite a few devices. Earlier this month, developers on our forums released Android 13 custom ROMs for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, and Galaxy Note 8. The ancient Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II are now getting the same treatment.

XDA Recognized developer html6405, who released an Android 12 custom ROM for the Galaxy S III earlier this year, is back with an unofficial build of LineageOS 20 based on Android 13 for the 2012 flagship. In addition, the developer has released a similar build for the iconic Galaxy Note II. If you’re still rocking one of these devices, you can now try out Android 13 by downloading the unofficial LineageOS 20 release from the links provided below and following the instructions in the post to install the ROM.

Unofficial LineageOS 20 based on Android 13: Samsung Galaxy S III || Samsung Galaxy Note II

Note that the unofficial LineageOS 20 builds for the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II are early alpha releases, so you might encounter some issues. The developer notes that a few features, like NFC, Bluetooth audio in phone calls, network monitoring, and SD cards, don’t work on the current builds. However, most other features should work as expected.

XDA Forums: Samsung Galaxy S III || Samsung Galaxy Note II

Custom ROMs like these are a great way to give your old phone a new lease on life. If you have an old Android phone lying around that hasn’t received an update in years, be sure to check out our roundup of the Android 13 custom ROMs currently available on our forums.

The post Android 13 custom ROMs are now available for the ancient Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II appeared first on XDA.



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Samsung kicks off One UI 5.0 beta program for the Galaxy A52

Samsung opened the One UI 5 public beta program for its flagship Galaxy S22 series early last month. Over the last few weeks, the company has released a few beta builds for the devices, giving users a chance to experience everything new in the Android 13 release ahead of the stable rollout. While the Galaxy S22 series is yet to receive the first One UI 5 stable release, Samsung has now opened the Open UI 5 public beta program for the mid-range Galaxy A52.

According to a recent post on the Samsung community forums, Galaxy A52 users can now enroll in the beta program by heading to the Samsung Members app and clicking on the new One UI 5 beta banner. After successful registration, users should receive the first One UI 5 beta update via an OTA update. Currently, the One UI 5 beta program for the Galaxy A52 only seems to be live in India. But it should reach other regions shortly.

Samsung members app screenshot with One UI 5 beta announcement for Galaxy A52.

Screenshots of the One UI 5 beta changelog shared in a separate post reveal that the update (firmware version A525FXXU4ZVIC/A525FODM4ZVIC/A525FXXU4ZCIB) measures just under 2GB and packs the Android security patches for October 2022. It includes most of the changes Samsung introduced in One UI 5 beta for the Galaxy S22 series, including new color options for dynamic themes, stackable widgets support, new gestures for split screen video, improvements for the My Files app, camera app improvements, and more. Check out the full changelog in the screenshots attached below.

Galaxy A52 One UI 5 beta changelog screenshot. Galaxy A52 One UI 5 beta changelog screenshot. Galaxy A52 One UI 5 beta changelog screenshot. Galaxy A52 One UI 5 beta changelog screenshot.

Credit: Š on the Samsung Community forums

For more details on One UI 5 and all the new features it brings to the table, check out our hands-on preview of the open beta update.

Have you received One UI 5 beta based on Android 13 on your Galaxy A52? What do you like/dislike about the update? Let us know in the comments section below.


Source: Samsung Community (1,2)

The post Samsung kicks off One UI 5.0 beta program for the Galaxy A52 appeared first on XDA.



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