Google Photos adds private messaging to make it easier to share photos

Google Photos is arguably one of the best Google apps out there, thanks to its great sharing and cloud storage capabilities. With each successive update, Google adds even more new features to the app to offer better functionality. Over the last month, the app received new markup functions, manual face tagging, and a couple of UI changes. Now, the company is rolling out a new feature to making sharing photos a simpler process.

Google Photos already offers a couple of sharing options like live albums, shared libraries and shared albums. These features primarily help you share lots of photos in one go. But sharing a single photo using these methods could feel like a cumbersome process. In a bid to make simplify the process even further, Google has now added private messaging to the app. With this new feature, you’ll be able to share individual photos with just a couple of taps in a private conversation right within the app.

As per a recent blog post from the company, the feature works pretty much like image sharing on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp. You can just tap on the Share button on any photo, select a contact from the share menu and the app will instantly send the photo to that contact. What’s even better is that this feature also works for videos. All your shared photos and videos will appear within a private conversation within the app in which you’ll also be able to chat with your friends. You can like photos or drop comments right in the conversation and the recipients will also be able to save shared photos to their own gallery.

The new sharing feature will gradually start rolling out to users over the next week and it will be available on all platforms — Android, iOS, and the web. At the time of writing, I wasn’t able to find the feature on Google Photos v4.32 on my Galaxy S10e or Redmi K20 Pro.

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Source: Google Blog

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Xiaomi Mi Note 10/CC9 Pro kernel sources released for Android 9 Pie

Xiaomi has done a great job regarding the release of kernel sources in recent times. There was once a time when the device maker was a routine violator of the GPL, as it failed to either release the kernel sources for a device on time or release the kernel sources at all. However, in 2018, the company publicly committed to releasing kernel sources for a new device launch within three months of release, and things have only got better from there. Problematic episodes such as the delay in releasing the Xiaomi Mi A1’s kernel sources are now a thing of the past. These days, Xiaomi has actually become a great example on how to release the kernel source code in time.

Recently, the company has released kernel sources for the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, Xiaomi Redmi 8 and Xiaomi Redmi 8A, and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G. The company’s diligence in rolling out the kernel source means that it was quick in releasing the updated source code for the Android 10 update for the Xiaomi Mi 9 and the Redmi K20 Pro. Now, Xiaomi has released kernel sources for the Android 9 Pie software of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10/Mi CC9 Pro (device code-name: tucana).

The Mi CC9 Pro was launched in China last month, and it made its way to international markets as the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 and the Mi Note 10 Pro (device code-name: tucana). The Mi Note 10 and the Mi Note 10 Pro are two variants of the same phone, as they differ in only the RAM and storage specifications.

The Mi Note 10/Note 10 Pro/CC9 Pro is an upper mid-range phone, and its list of specifications includes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G SoC with the Adreno 618 GPU, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 128GB/256GB storage, 6.47-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, and five rear cameras including a 108MP primary camera, a 5MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, another 12MP telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom, a 20MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2MP dedicated macro sensor. It has a 32MP front camera, and it’s powered by a 5,260mAh battery. The phone ships with MIUI 11 on top of Android 9, and it will receive the Android 10 update in the future.

Users can download kernel source code for the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 / Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro via the source link.

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Download kernel sources for the Xiaomi Mi Note 10/Mi CC9 Pro

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5G Galaxy Note 10+ on T-Mobile is the first Samsung phone to ship with Android 10

T-Mobile launched its nationwide 5G network earlier this week. This nationwide 5G network consisted of using the low-band 600MHz sub-6GHz spectrum that had earlier been used for 4G LTE. This 5G network, therefore, was completely different from T-Mobile’s launch of its millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G network in June. That network worked in parts of six cities, but thanks to millimeter wave’s line-of-sight coverage restrictions and its inability to penetrate buildings and trees, it didn’t cover a lot of people, and T-Mobile wasn’t especially promoting it for consumers. (The carrier had only a single phone that supported its 5G millimeter wave network: the Galaxy S10 5G.) Instead, the company’s 5G strategy consists of using the low-band 600MHz network to provide a lot more coverage, and T-Mobile specifically promoted that the sub-6GHz network is covering 200 million people in the US. Alongside the new network, T-Mobile also launched the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren.

The Galaxy S10 5G on T-Mobile, powered by Qualcomm’s first-generation X50 5G modem, was a pretty limited phone as it supported only the millimeter wave T-Mobile 5G network, and not the 600MHz low-band network that was launched this week. However, both the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G T-Mobile variant and the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren use the newer Snapdragon X55 5G modem to provide sub-6GHz 5G connectivity. In their turn, these phones don’t support T-Mobile’s fast millimeter wave 5G network. They are ready, however, to use Sprint’s mid-band 2.5GHz 5G network spectrum if the T-Mobile-Sprint merger deal closes.

The millimeter wave network is much faster (roughly 500-600Mbps vs. roughly 100Mbps for T-Mobile’s 600MHz 5G network), but the 600MHz low-band network provides much more coverage, and it actually works indoors. Ideally, users would want to have the capability to use both networks to combine speed and coverage, but they will have to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S11 for that, even though the X55 modem theoretically supports both millimeter wave and sub-6GHz networks. OnePlus has publicly said it doesn’t want to deal with the complexity of building a millimeter wave 5G phone now, but Samsung’s reason not to include millimeter wave support in the T-Mobile 5G Galaxy Note 10+ is unknown. Adding confusion, the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is different from Verizon’s variant of the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G. The latter supports only Verizon’s millimeter wave 5G network, and it’s powered by the older X50 5G modem.

The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G on T-Mobile supports only one of two T-Mobile’s 5G networks, but it still costs a hefty $1,299 (the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren costs a more manageable $899). This means its value proposition is pretty questionable, but as the phone has started making its way to consumers, there is at least one good thing about it. The phone is the first Samsung phone to launch with Android 10 and One UI 2.0 out of the box, as confirmed by T-Mobile on Twitter.

I CAN CONFIRM #Note10Plus5G DOES HAVE #Android 10 OOTB! pic.twitter.com/3Nv4HH03w0

— Des (@askdes) December 3, 2019

 

Samsung has started rolling out the stable One UI 2.0 with Android 10 update for the Samsung Galaxy S10 series in Europe, but the update will take its while in reaching US carrier variants as well as the unlocked US variants of the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 phones. The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G on T-Mobile, therefore, has the distinction of having Android 10 weeks and possibly months before the other Galaxy Note 10/Galaxy S10 variants in the US will get the update. Does that improve the phone’s value proposition? That depends on consumers’ perception. The Galaxy Note 10+ 5G (12GB RAM/256GB storage) will be available for purchase from T-Mobile starting December 6th for $1,299.

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Larry Page and Sergey Brin make Sundar Pichai the new CEO of both Alphabet and Google

Back in 2015, Google’s founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin brought about a major change in the company’s structure. They create a new company called Alphabet, with Page taking the role of CEO and Brinn became its President. This new company was a collection of all the companies that existed away from Google’s main internet-based product line and Google itself became one of its subsidiaries. Now, Page and Brinn are stepping down from their roles in Alphabet and have appointed Sundar Pichai as the CEO of both Google and Alphabet.

The announcement was made in a recent letter from the founders in which they wrote, “While it has been a tremendous privilege to be deeply involved in the day-to-day management of the company for so long, we believe it’s time to assume the role of proud parents—offering advice and love, but not daily nagging!”. While Page and Brinn have decided to leave their respective roles in Alphabet, they will continue their involvement in the company as co-founders, shareholders, and members of the Board of Directors.

Sundar Pichai, who was appointed as the CEO of Google back in 2015, is now the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. His duties as the CEO of Google will remain the same as before, but now he will also assume the role of managing Alphabet’s investment in its portfolio of Other Bets. Pichai will also remain a member of Alphabet’s Board of Directors, a role he initially took back in 2017. In an email to Googlers following the announcement, Pichai wrote, “I’m excited about Alphabet and its long term focus on tackling big challenges through technology. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with Larry and Sergey in our new roles. Thanks to them, we have a timeless mission, enduring values, and a culture of collaboration and exploration. It’s a strong foundation on which we will continue to build.”

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Source: Google Blog

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Huawei P Smart 2019 receives Android 10-based EMUI 10 update

It’s no secret to anyone that Huawei is currently going through some adversity, mainly caused by US sanctions, that has not allowed them to operate at the capacity they should be able to operate at. But that has not stopped the company to support its products unconditionally throughout all this process. And despite what you may think about the company’s previous business practices, which have included measures such as removing support for bootloader unlocking on their phones, they are still one of the main names in technology as of right now. Not too long ago, the company unveiled their full EMUI 10 update roadmap which detailed which devices were going to get EMUI 10, based on Android 10. Now, yet another device from Huawei, the Huawei P Smart 2019, is receiving the update over-the-air according to a Reddit user, adding to the initial rollout.

I’m sure we don’t need to go over EMUI 10 and the changes it brings, but just in case you’re out of the loop, the update, besides bringing Android 10 to Huawei devices, includes a series of UI changes, improvements, as well as new features, serving as a very considerable update compared to the previous EMUI 9 software. The update, which goes by the version number EMUI 10.0.0.134(C432E3R1P3) and has a download size of 3.42 GB, includes all of the changes that have also made its way to other devices in the series, including the Huawei P30 and the Huawei Mate 20 series. The recently-launched Huawei Mate 30 series also have this software.

The update is seemingly now being pushed to Huawei P Smart 2019 devices, although it may be a while before it finally reaches your device as the original person who reported the update lives in Finland. Nonetheless, it will eventually roll out to all devices across the globe. If you’re eager to try it out right now, then a VPN should do the trick.

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Source: Reddit

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Xiaomi Redmi K30 and OPPO Reno 3 Pro will have the 5G Snapdragon 765

Qualcomm is busy teasing the Snapdragon 865 and Snapdragon 765 today at the Snapdragon Tech Summit. While we don’t know the details of these chips yet, we’re already hearing about the devices that will run them. The Xiaomi Mi 10 has been confirmed to feature the Snapdragon 865, and now we know the Redmi K30 and OPPO Reno 3 Pro will have the 5G Snapdragon 765, thanks to Xiaomi’s Bin Lin during the event today.

The Redmi K30 has shown up a few times in recent months. Back in August, Xiaomi confirmed it would have 5G support, and that is indeed the case with the Snapdragon 765. Some of the other important highlights include a 120Hz display, 60 or 64MP Sony IMX686 primary lens, quad rear cameras, dual front hole-punch cameras, and side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The phone is expected to be officially announced on December 10th.

As for the OPPO Reno 3 Pro, we don’t know nearly as much about it. It was expected to have 5G, so the Snapdragon 765 makes sense in that regard. Some of the other specs include a 4,025 mAh battery and a thin 7.7mm body. OPPO’s VP shared a teaser image of the device late last month.

We still have a lot to learn about the Snapdragon 765 and what it will offer. Expect both the Redmi K30 and Reno 3 Pro to be among the first to ship with Qualcomm’s latest chip.

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Xiaomi confirms the Mi 10 will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Today is the first day of Qualcomm’s big Snapdragon Tech Summit and the news is already rolling in. The company already teased the Snapdragon 865 and 765 along with a 3D Sonic Max fingerprint sensor. But what devices will feature the latest and greatest Snapdragon chip? Xiaomi has confirmed the Mi 10 will be among the first.

Bin Lin, a co-founder of Xiaomi, announced that the flagship Mi 10 will be one of the first smartphones with the Snapdragon 865. It will be coming in the first quarter of 2020:

“In 2020 Q1, Xiaomi is proud to announce that we will be introducing our flagship Mi 10 – one of the world’s first smartphones to feature the flagship Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform.”

In the same press release, OPPO also confirmed that an upcoming smartphone, likely the Reno 3 Pro 5G, will launch in Q1 2020 with the Snapdragon 865.

“In 2020 Q1, OPPO will launch its flagship product using the Snapdragon 865 Mobile Platform, together bringing a faster and superior 5G experience to users.”

We don’t know much at all about these devices yet, but there have been some teasers from OPPO. With the Snapdragon 865 in tow, they will both certainly be high-end.

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Source: Qualcomm

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