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Tag: android

  • #beta – Paranoid Android Sapphire available for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro

    #beta – Paranoid Android Sapphire available for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro

    The first beta build of the Paranoid Android Sapphire ROM for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro has just been released by the Paranoid Android team. For quite some time, an Alpha version of the Android 12 based ROM has been available for both phones. The new beta version, on the other hand, offers a more stable software experience.

    The Paranoid Android Sapphire Beta is now available for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, as announced by XDA Recognized Developer arter97. Several device-specific enhancements are included in the latest build, including redesigned blobs, improved sleep mode, fingerprint scanner improvements, and a transition to arter97’s kernel. Repainter integration, improvements from ProtonAOSP, a burn-in protection feature for devices with OLED panels, the latest f2fs tools, and more have all been added to the Paranoid Android platform.

    Paranoid Android Sapphire available for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro

    The beta release still has a few known faults. These include delayed mobile data activation after reboot, Wi-Fi not working after a few reboots, and less-than-ideal pocket recognition, which can wake up the smartphone or activate gestures by accident.

    If you wish to try out the Paranoid Android Sapphire Beta on your OnePlus 9/Pro, head over to the forum mentioned below. It includes a download link for the ROM as well as step-by-step instructions for flashing it. Although the beta build can be flashed onto a current Sapphire Alpha system, the developer recommends “a clean flash.”

    Download Paranoid Android Sapphire Beta for the OnePlus 9 / OnePlus 9 Pro

    Full update changelog:

    Here are some device-specific highlights:

    • Prebuilt blobs are revamped to fix various issues (audio, video, NFC, etc)
    • Sleep mode is changed to fix excessive idle battery drain
    • VRR implementation is now working, which will improve battery life a lot
    • Corner masks are now done properly
    • Fingerprint improvements
    • Kernel switched to a customized version of arter97 kernel

    Here are platform-wise highlights:

    • Latest CAF tag merged
    • kdrag0n’s Repainter service integrated
    • Optimized bionic, memory routines (ported by xboxfanj)
    • Latest f2fs-tools
    • Few optimizations merged from kdrag0n’s ProtonAOSP
    • Burn-in protection feature added

    Device issues

    • Mobile network will initialize a bit slowly after boot
    • Wi-Fi may not work on a few reboots. You may have to reboot multiple times for Wi-Fi to work
    • Pocket-detection is less than ideal, it may result in accidental wake-ups or ignored gestures
    • Bootanimation will pause for a split second. This is a known issue from the kernel


    There are likely many other issues, these are just the most prominent to me. Don’t come into this with the expectation any issue you come across will be fixed in a timely manner.

    Requirements


    Make sure you are coming from any Android 11 based OxygenOS build, stable is recommended.

    Downloads

    You can always get our Alpha builds from ourTelegram Group or directly download them from here:
    OnePlus 9 Pro – Beta 1
    (Note, OP9 & Pro builds are no longer unified)

    Note: Custom kernels are not supported unless the kernel says it supports AOSPA and GMS is included!

    How to install

    1. Download the latest fastboot zip we released (hint: it has an -img appended to zip name)
    2. Reboot to bootloader.
    3. Wipe userdata with the command “fastboot -w”
    4. Flash the fastboot zip with “fastboot update aospa-*-image.zip”
    5. Reboot.

    Changelog

    • Prebuilt blobs are revamped to fix various issues (audio, video, NFC, etc)
    • Sleep mode is changed to fix excessive idle battery drain
    • VRR implementation is now working, which will improve battery life a lot
    • Corner masks are now done properly
    • Fingerprint improvements
    • Kernel switched to a customized version of arter97 kernel

    Here are platform-wise highlights:

    • Latest CAF tag merged
    • kdrag0n’s Repainter service integrated
    • Optimized bionic, memory routines (ported by xboxfanj)
    • Latest f2fs-tools
    • Few optimizations merged from kdrag0n’s ProtonAOSP
    • Burn-in protection feature added

    Starting with Beta 1, you must clean flash due to recent commits related to userdata.

    Important / Useful links
    Paranoid Android Twitter
    Paranoid Android Channel (Telegram)
    Paranoid Android Community (Telegram)
    Paranoid Android OnePlus 9 Family (Telegram

  • Kernel bug exposes Android to potential malware – Linux Dirty Pipe

    Kernel bug exposes Android to potential malware – Linux Dirty Pipe

    If Android were a car engine, and you popped the hood and poked around a bit, you’d find the label “Linux” etched on the engine block. The open-source operating system provides the starting point that Android’s built on top of, but sharing code also means sharing vulnerabilities. Now a newly discovered Linux kernel bug is raising concerns for the security of Android devices, as it leaves a door open for malware intrusion.

    android malware 1

    The glitch in question has been dubbed “Dirty Pipe” by software engineer Max Kellerman, who provides a detailed writeup about the bug’s discovery. He first spotted some mysteriously corrupted log files last year, and his analysis of the problem revealed a kernel-level flaw that’s existed since 2020. The vulnerability lets software overwrite the system page cache, even for files where apps shouldn’t otherwise have permission. He determined that in the wrong hands the issue had potential for exploitation and alerted the team behind Linux kernel security. Properly coded malware could use this method to obtain full control of a vulnerable system by overwriting files as vital as the system’s root password.

    Kellerman was also able to reproduce the bug on a Pixel 6, and reached out to let Google know. The company similarly prepared a fix, and merged it into the Android kernel. Right now, it’s just a matter of OEMs needing to incorporate that fixed kernel in future device updates.

    For what it’s worth, Google confirmed to Android Police that Dirty Pipe did not play a role in delaying the release of Android 12L for the Pixel 6. Linux users, meanwhile, need to install their distro’s most recent security updates ASAP.

  • TCL 30 XE 5G – budget phone with 90Hz display

    TCL 30 XE 5G – budget phone with 90Hz display

    TCL has just released the TCL 30 XE 5G, a low-cost phone with some impressive specs.

    TCL has produced a number of fascinating phones since establishing its own brand. This company is focusing on manufacturing affordable phones as well as challenging the luxury market and working on a foldable phone.

    TCL 30 XE 5G

    The TCL 30 XE 5G has a 1080p display at 90Hz

    We’re not dealing with any high-end or ground-breaking specifications right away. This is a simple phone with some interesting features. It features a 6.52-inch 1080p+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. While that may seem insignificant, it is enhanced by TCL’s NXTVISION technology. The display also features a touch sample rate of 180Hz.

    The octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz powers the TCL 30 XE 5G. There are 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, which should suffice for most casual users. If it isn’t, this phone can be expanded with a microSD card up to 512GB.

    A triple camera package is available in the camera package. The main camera on this phone is 13 megapixels, with a 2 megapixel macro camera and a 2 megapixel depth sensor. The main camera can record 1080p video at 30 frames per second. There’s an 8MP selfie camera on the front. It appears to be a camera combo that will simply do the job.

    TCL included a 3.5mm headphone jack, a 4,500mAh battery, mobile hotspot, a rear-mounted fingerprint reader, face unlock, Android 11 out of the box, and an 18W charger in the box to round out the features. So, this is a really basic start into the TCL 30 phone series.

    Complete spec sheet on GSMArena

    TCL 30 XE 5G
    TCL 30 XE 5G
    TCL 30 XE 5G

    Other details on this phone are scarce

    We don’t know much about the TCL 30 XE 5G at the moment. We don’t know when or where this phone will be released, or how much it will cost when it does. We can expect a similar price to the TCL 30 V 5G, which is roughly midrange and costs $299. It could be a little lower due to some of the specifications being less reliable.

    While this phone does not compete in the premium smartphone market, it is still a good option for individuals who do not require much from their phones. For those who aren’t used to more expensive screens, the 90Hz refresh rate should be a nice touch. While we don’t know when this phone will be released, it shouldn’t be long.

  • Banking malware ‘Xenomorph’ have impacted thousands in Android Comunity

    Banking malware ‘Xenomorph’ have impacted thousands in Android Comunity

    Staying on top of the ever-changing environment of mobile security is one of the most difficult tasks for Android users. While Google has made significant progress in combating malware on its platform, fraudsters are quick to change their tactics. Under the guise of “Fast Cleaner,” security experts have discovered a new banking virus.

    ThreatFabric, a security group, conducted a thorough investigation of the Fast Cleaner app. Before Google took it down, it had roughly 50,000 installs.

    “Based on the intelligence gathered, users of 56 different European banks are among the targets of this new Android malware trojan, distributed on the official Google Play Store, with more than 50.000 installations,” the research team said in a blog post (via Phone Arena).

    The Fast Cleaner program infects the Android device with a trojan meant to steal important information from the user, according to ThreatFabric. This could entail reading texts or receiving notifications without the user’s knowledge. This new malware is dubbed “Xenomorph” by the researchers, and it shares some characteristics with the recent Alien banking trojan.

    Researchers said that Xenomorph is a relatively new malware and not as advanced as the Alien trojan

    Of course, no one wants to install a harmful software on their phone. Users that downloaded the program did so based on the app’s description, which describes it as a “battery saver” and a “phone booster.” If you still have this app installed on your Android phone, uninstall it immediately.

    Unfortunately, simply removing the rogue program may not be enough. Users should also review their bank statements for any odd activity and call the bank for additional information.

    It’s practically impossible to tell which applications are excellent and which are terrible because there are so many with similar-sounding titles. The Fast Cleaner software was created by a developer identified as “ilzeeva4” and published on the Google Play Store.

    Xenomorph target

    According to ThreatFabric, Xenomorph was still in its early stages when it was discovered. This means it isn’t as sophisticated as the Alien trojan. This app was mostly targeted at European consumers, as shown in the graph below.

    In terms of future measures, users should always double-check the apps they download. It’s also wise to go through the ratings and reviews on the Play Store or through other sources.

  • How to download and use offline maps in Google Maps in 1 minute

    How to download and use offline maps in Google Maps in 1 minute

    When you download offline maps, you can access Google Maps’ most useful features even when you’re not connected to the internet. If you’re traveling in a distant place with spotty service or to a foreign nation where you may not have access to a data plan, it’s a terrific option.

    When using Maps offline, not all functions are available. You won’t be able to get instructions for public transportation, bicycling, or walking, and you won’t be able to get real-time traffic statistics. You will, however, be able to acquire directions and routes, as well as navigate and search for sites.

    Not only can you manually download maps of specified places, but Google Maps will also attempt to automatically update these maps. Because there are many regions in my hometown where the internet connection is sketchy at best, I keep an offline map downloaded at all times to ensure I don’t get lost.

    How to download an offline map

    1. Tap your profile icon in the top right of Google Maps.
    2. Tap Offline maps.
    3. Tap SELECT YOUR OWN MAP.
      1. Google Maps may also suggest maps based on saved addresses and upcoming trips. To download, simply tap the blue arrow to the left of the location.
    4. Pinch in and out to set the area to download.
      1. There is a limit to how far you can zoom out. If you wish to download a more extensive area, you’ll need to repeat this process for each section.
    5. Tap Download.
    offline maps

    Your map will now start downloading. The app will return you to the Offline maps screen, where you can monitor its progress.

    1. To rename the map, tap the three-dot overflow menu to the right of its name.
    2. Enter a name and tap Save.

    Update an offline map

    It’s critical to update your maps on a regular basis, and configuring your offline maps to update automatically saves you time. Most maps will expire a year after being downloaded, and you’ll be notified two weeks ahead of time if they haven’t been updated.

    Automatically update and download maps

    offline google maps
    1. Tap your profile icon in the top right of Google Maps.
    2. Tap Offline maps.
    3. Tap the Settings button in the top right of your screen.
      • Toggle the Auto-update offline maps switch to turn on automatic updating.
      • Toggle the Auto-download recommended maps switch to automatically download recommended maps (e.g., home, work, upcoming trips).

    How to manually update maps

    1. Tap your profile icon in the top right of Google Maps.
    2. Tap Offline maps.
    3. Tap the three-button menu to the right of the map you wish to update.
    4. Tap Update.

    You don’t need to do anything extra after downloading an offline map. When you’re not connected to the internet, simply open Google Maps to see your saved maps.

  • Best Android apps and games sales for this week

    Best Android apps and games sales for this week

    It’s time to check out the best Android app sales and the best Android game sales from the past week, all to get everyone prepped for the weekend. First up is a couple of discounts on Square Enix’s new pixel remasters for Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II. But that’s not all. This week, Monster Hunter Stories is also on sale, and it’s an excellent creature collection game. As always, I’ve highlighted all of the interesting titles in bold in order to make discovery easier. So without further ado, here are the best temporarily free and on-sale apps and games for the weekend.

    apps

    Free

    Apps

    1. Website Shortcut Maker – URL Shortcut Maker $0.99 -> free; Sale ends in 1 day
    2. CarBux – car lease, car loan & payments calculator $1.99 -> free; Sale ends in 4 days
    3. Photo Motion $2.99 -> free; Sale ends in 5 days
    4. Tracker Detect Pro for AirTag $3.99 -> free; Sale ends in 5 days

    Games

    1. The Secret of Crimson Manor $0.99 -> free; Sale ends in 1 day
    2. Let the Pharaoh Free $0.99 -> free; Sale ends in 3 days
    3. Spaxe | Procedural Survival Space Alien Shooter $1.00 -> free; Sale ends in 3 days
    4. Emoji Match: A sliding puzzle $3.99 -> free; Sale ends in 4 days
    5. ShapeOminoes $1.49 -> free; Sale ends in 5 days
    6. Becker cat’s adventures $0.99 -> free; Sale ends in 6 days
    7. Chess from Kindergarten to Grandmaster $2.49 -> free; Sale ends in 6 days
    8. My City : Love Story $2.99 -> free; Sale ends in 7 days
    9. Speed Math – Mini Math Games $1.49 -> free; Sale ends in 7 days

    Icon packs & customization

    1. Neon Valley [AMOLED] $1.00 -> free; Sale ends in 3 days
    2. Maple: live wallpaper $1.49 -> free; Sale ends in 4 days

    Sale

    Apps

    1. Clipboard Pro $2.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    2. Touch Block Pro – screen , touch , block $2.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    3. Cryptomator $9.49 -> $5.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    4. Handy Daily Data Logger $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    5. Handy List $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    6. AirPin(PRO) – Multi Windows $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 4 days
    7. Auto-rotate Control Pro $2.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 7 days
    8. Castro Premium – system info $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    9. Default App Manager $3.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    10. Graphie – EXIF editor $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    11. Notes $3.49 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    12. Skit Premium – apps manager $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    13. Tilla Premium $2.49 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 7 days

    Games

    1. 7Days: Offline Mystery Story $4.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    2. 112 Operator $7.99 -> $3.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    3. 911 Operator $6.49 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    4. Argo’s Choice: Offline Game $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    5. BE-A Walker $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    6. Buff Knight: Offline Idle RPG $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    7. Counter Terrorist Agency $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    8. Despotism 3k $3.49 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    9. Radio Commander $6.49 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    10. This War of Mine $13.99 -> $1.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    11. Underworld Office $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    12. World Of Chess 3D (Pro) $1.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    13. Not Exactly A Hero: Interactive Story Game $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 2 days
    14. Slaughter 2: Prison Assault $5.00 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 2 days
    15. ACE Academy $9.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    16. Crystalline $9.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    17. Dungeon Village $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    18. Ethereal Enigma $9.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    19. Game Dev Story $4.99 -> $2.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    20. Guitar Fretter $7.99 -> $3.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    21. Hot Springs Story $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    22. Hot Springs Story 2 $6.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    23. Kaori After Story $4.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    24. N752:Out of Isolation-Chapter 1 $1.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    25. OVIVO – Black and White Platformer Game $1.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    26. Pocket League Story $5.49 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    27. The Curse Of Zigoris $2.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    28. Knight Eternal: Pixel RPG $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    29. Mars Power Industries $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    30. MAYATCH $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    31. Solar 2 $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    32. Super64Pro Emulator $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    33. BotSumo: Battle Arena 2-player $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    34. Casino Crime $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    35. ChessFinity PREMIUM $2.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    36. KNIGHTS $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    37. PEG $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    38. Titan Quest: Legendary Edition $19.99 -> $13.99; Sale ends in 5 days
    39. Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Ed. $9.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
    40. Mega Mall Story $6.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 6 days
    41. Summer Catchers $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
    42. Suzy Cube $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 6 days
    43. AWAKENING HORROR 1-5 $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    44. Boss Rush: Mythology Mobile $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 7 days
    45. Fait – The Machine $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    46. Lovecraft’s Untold Stories $9.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in 7 days
    47. FINAL FANTASY $11.99 -> $8.99; Sale ends in ?
    48. FINAL FANTASY II $11.99 -> $8.99; Sale ends in ?
    49. G30 – A Memory Maze $3.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in ?
    50. Monster Hunter Stories $19.99 -> $4.99; Sale ends in ?
    51. [Premium] RPG Sword of Elpisia $7.99 -> $4.99; Sale ends in ?
    52. RPG Crystal Ortha $7.99 -> $4.99; Sale ends in ?
    53. RPG Grinsia $7.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in ?
    54. RPG Soul Historica $7.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in ?
    55. Rush Rally Origins $4.99 -> $3.49; Sale ends in ?
    56. SRPG Legna Tactica $7.99 -> $2.99; Sale ends in ?
    57. The Quest $7.99 -> $3.99; Sale ends in ?
    58. The Quest-Isles of Ice & Fire $3.99 -> $1.99; Sale ends in ?

    Icon packs & customization

    1. Aline: bold linear icon pack $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    2. AlineT: bold linear icon pack $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 1 day
    3. Vion – Icon Pack $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 1 day
    4. Bilfy Icon Pack $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
    5. Lux Blue Icon Pack $0.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 2 days
    6. PixCards KWGT – Modern Card Style Widgets $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
    7. Pixurr Wallpapers – 4K, HD Walls & Backgrounds $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
    8. Prismatic Icon Pack $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 2 days
    9. Aline Orange: linear icon pack $1.99 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 3 days
    10. Drawon – Icon Pack $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 3 days
    11. Iggy-Icon Pack $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 4 days
    12. Peanut Iconpack $1.49 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 4 days
    13. TapOn KWGT $1.49 -> $0.99; Sale ends in 4 days
    14. WalliPop Wallpapers $0.99 -> $0.49; Sale ends in 4 days
  • Android 13 DP1 has dynamic icon theming for third-party apps

    Android 13 DP1 has dynamic icon theming for third-party apps

    Material UI will go beyond the Pixel family, according to Google, but that doesn’t mean it will stop changing and growing in new ways. In Android 12 Beta 3, an experiment extends the dynamic theming system’s reach to home screen icons, but only for Google’s own apps. Third-party apps can now build their own theming-friendly icons in Android 13, so you can have the two-tone icon packs you’ve always wanted without having to install a custom launcher.

    Themed app icons, like all of the other ways Material You may decorate an app, take on the color of your backdrop. This will either style the icon’s background or the icon itself, depending on whether you’re in light or dark mode.

    Themed icons are an opt-in feature, so no one will be forced to use them if they don’t like the look. To enable dynamically themed icons, long-press a vacant place on the home screen, select Wallpaper & style, and then scroll down to the Themed icons toggle.

    android 13 icons color

    Google is urging app developers to add support for themed icons. The requirements are fairly simple, requiring a new monochromatic vector icon — probably just a mask of the original app icon or reusing a notification icon — and a couple tiny changes to the launcher’s adaptive icon XML and the app manifest.

    There is no automated re-styling of app icons in the first developer preview, and there is currently no sign that it will ever be. As a result, programs that don’t support themed icons appear in full color, which detracts from the overall appearance. Of course, this is only the initial developer preview, and Google’s apps are the only ones with themed icon support, at least until the Play Store enables apps that use the Tirimasu SDK.

    Many apps will undoubtedly make the necessary adjustments in due time, but it’s unlikely that every app developer will prioritize this, particularly those who wait a long time between updates or resist boosting the target SDK for other reasons.

    In the meantime, you’ll probably either want to leave themed icons turned off, or go to the trouble of keeping non-themed icons out of your home screen.

  • Themes are coming to MIUI 13

    Themes are coming to MIUI 13

    Many of us have wanted the customization layers to merge with Android 12 since it was announced and the new mechanism for customizing mobiles with that version was released. The first to add it to One UI 4 in its own unique way was Samsung, and the next to do so will be Xiaomi, according to a leak shared on Twitter by user Mishaal Rahman.

    This has discovered within the Android internal code that the so-called Monet themes, which are hallmark of the purest version of Android, will also be in the Chinese manufacturer’s popular layer.

    A very important change, which gives more personality to Xiaomi brand mobiles, which with the themes already gave us a thousand and one possible style configurations. The colors are based on the wallpaper, but we can also choose our favorite combination of tones.

    The color arrives at Xiaomi

    Because of the photographs supplied by Xiaomi ui, we currently know how they operate and how they will behave on the Xiaomi’s smartphones, but it shouldn’t be long before we see additional circumstances where the adaptive colors of Android 12 reach Xiaomi smartphones. The feature is included in MIUI 13 version 22.1.17, which is currently only available in China.

    This option will be available to everyone in the future, albeit we will have to wait because it will not be included in the first global editions of MIUI 13. The program will be released later, allowing us to customize the appearance of our Android phone as if it were a Google Pixel.

    colores temas android 12 xiaomi miui 12 1

    The images show how the new Android 12 widgets, as well as Google Chrome tabs and even system components, adapt to the selected hue. All Google applications are expected to accept this shift, and we will gradually learn how other areas of the Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco terminals will follow suit.

    For the time being, devices running Android 12 in its stock form can apply Monet themes to the icons and control panel, which is not possible with MIUI 13. However, we do not give up hope that they will arrive following this first application.

    What will happen to the themes?

    Until now, the best way to change the look of our Xiaomi device was to use MIUI’s themes app. We may find many other style combinations there, which we can customize to our liking on the smartphone by changing the icons, colors, and shapes. The incorporation of this new Android function raises a lot of questions about what will happen with this benefit.

    In recent months, the app has stopped integrating as many options in Europe, and some notable themes have been left alone in China.

    This could be the first step for Xiaomi to become more pure, at least for Spain and other countries, where stock Android is preferred and other systems that are visually much more complex are less popular.

  • Smart Downloads feature teased on Youtube for Android

    Smart Downloads feature teased on Youtube for Android

    If you use YouTube Music, you’re probably aware of the app’s Smart Downloads feature. It’s essentially a feature that saves mobile data by downloading some tunes offline anytime you’re connected to Wi-Fi. On the video side of things, the YouTube app for Android is experimenting with something similar. The YouTube app’s Smart Downloads feature will download a handful of videos for you every week based on an algorithm for recommended videos.

    Some Android users in Europe have gotten a reminder on their devices to try out the new Smart Downloads function, according to 9to5Google. When you sign up to try it, the YouTube app will automatically download a collection of 20 videos per week while connected to a Wi-Fi network. The videos will be tailored for you based on an algorithm that analyzes your viewing history as well as the types of material you consume on the platform. The downloaded videos, along with any other videos you’ve manually downloaded in the app, will be added to your offline playlist.

    • youtube smart download 1
    • smart download on youtube android 1

    While many individuals may find the feature unneeded, it can be useful for those who have limited mobile data and wish to view material while commuting or who do not have frequent access to an internet connection. Users with limited storage on their devices will be warned before any downloads take place, allowing them to take appropriate action to free up space. Only the most recent version of Android, Android 12, currently supports this functionality.

    Smart Downloads is currently available only for a few people to try out and only in specific regions. It’s also available only for YouTube Premium subscribers and users who receive the prompt can enroll to try the feature till 14 February. If you are one of the chosen ones, you should see a banner when you open the YouTube app or you can try heading to Settings > Try new features to see if you can find the option there.

  • PUBG is suing Garena, Apple, Google and YouTube over Free Fire

    PUBG is suing Garena, Apple, Google and YouTube over Free Fire

    PUBG is one of the most popular online shooter games in recent years, and it has had a significant impact on both the desktop and mobile gaming scenes. PUBG is credited with popularizing the online multiplayer battle royale genre, in addition to fueling competitive e-sports. Following PUBG’s success, a slew of other franchises have put their toes in the genre. PUBG’s untimely prohibition in India also left a gap in the market, which others quickly filled before PUBG could respond. PUBG’s creators have now filed a lawsuit against Free Fire’s creators, as well as Apple, Google, and YouTube, alleging IP infringement.

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    As Reuters reports, PUBG developer Krafton Inc has filed a lawsuit in the Central District Court of California, alleging that Garena Online’s Free Fire and Free Fire Max games copy several copyrighted aspects of PUBG: Battlegrounds, including its game structure, in-game items, equipment, and locations.

    Free Fire and Free Fire Max extensively copy numerous aspects of Battlegrounds, both individually and in combination, including Battlegrounds’ copyrighted unique game opening “air drop” feature, the game structure and play, the combination and selection of weapons, armor, and unique objects, locations, and the overall choice of color schemes, materials, and textures.

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    Apple, Google, and YouTube are also named as defendants in the lawsuit: Apple and Google distribute Free Fire through their own app stores, and it’s been reported that Free Fire sales in the United States generated millions of dollars in income in the first three months of 2021. Meanwhile, Free Fire gameplay footage and a Chinese film Biubiubiu, which is supposed to be a live-action portrayal of the game, are allegedly available on YouTube. According to the lawsuit, Krafton ordered Garena to stop “exploiting Free Fire and Free Fire Max,” but Garena refused. Apple and Google have been ordered to stop distributing the games, and YouTube has been urged to remove footage, both of which have yet to be done.

    Krafton consequently had to file the lawsuit, requesting the court to block the distribution and sales of the Free Fire games, the infringing videos, in addition to requesting damages that include the companies’ profits from Free Fire sales. It remains to be seen how this plays out in court.