Google Chrome’s form controls are getting a revamped UI and touch support

Chrome is undoubtedly one of the most used browsers out there. It’s fast, packs in a ton of features, and keeps receiving new ones with each successive update. Over the last few weeks, Google has added a new notification prompt style to the browser to make it less intrusive, tested a custom share sheet in Chrome Canary, added a new media control tool on PCs, and added a screenshot editor to the browser. Now, according to a recent post on the Chromium forums, the company is pushing a refreshed design for the browser’s form controls.

As per the post, the Form Control Refresh feature (chrome://flags/#form-controls-refresh) has already been enabled by default in Chromium 81 for Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux as of last week. The feature completely changes the look and feel of form controls, giving them a refreshed appearance with better accessibility and touch support. The design refresh is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Microsoft and Google, and it brings design changes to a variety of elements including checkboxes, buttons, text, progress bars, meters, etc. You can see all the changes introduced in the refreshed design by following this link.

As mentioned earlier, the Form Control Refresh has been enabled in Chromium 81 by default, but it’s also available in Chrome v79 as an experimental flag. You can enable it by following this link, enable the Web Platform Controls updated UI flag, and then restart the browser for the changes to take effect.

---

Source: Chromium forums

The post Google Chrome’s form controls are getting a revamped UI and touch support appeared first on xda-developers.

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

[Update 2: Enabled in Chrome 80] Google Chrome’s annoying notification prompts will be less intrusive soon

Update 2 (1/7/20 @ 5:20 PM ET): Google’s less annoying permission prompts are now enabled in Chrome 80.

Update 1 (11/18/19 @ 10:45 AM ET): The flag in Chrome for Android for making prompts less intrusive is now working in Canary.

Browsing the web in 2019 isn’t always a pleasant experience. Websites are constantly asking you to accept cookies, get your location, and, maybe most annoyingly, send notifications. Google is working on making those prompts less annoying in Chrome.

A lot of people may not know that you can disable all notification prompts in Chrome (Site Settings), but if you prefer to keep it enabled, Chrome will soon make them less intrusive. A flag in Chromium nightly called “Quieter notification permission prompts” is the answer.

This flag is currently not working, most likely because the code isn’t there yet, but it should be in Chrome Canary soon. It gives you a few different options: Default, Enabled, Enabled (Heads-up notifications), Enabled (mini-infobars), and Disabled. Since the flag isn’t functional right now, we don’t know exactly what these different modes look like. However, heads-up notifications are the typical pop-ups we’ve had in Android for a while. The “mini-infobar” may be a small overlay on top of the address bar.

As mentioned, we should see this show up in the Chrome Canary channel soon (though that doesn’t guarantee it will work). We’ll then get a look at how much “quieter” the prompts appear. Anyone who has been annoyed by these notification requests will want to enable this flag as soon as it shows up. Google created the problem by allowing sites to send notifications in the first place, but at least they recognize the problems.

---

Update 1: Now Working

The flag that wasn’t working back in August is now live in the latest build of Chrome for Android on the Canary channel. When enabled, notification prompts are less intrusive, so you can still see them, but they don’t get in the way so much. The flag is titled “Quieter notification permission prompts” and you’ll want to select Enabled (force quiet notifications), Enabled (force heads-up notifications), or Enabled (force mini-infobars). The browser must be relaunched to apply the changes.

Chrome Canary (Unstable) (Free, Google Play) →

Via: Techdows

---

Update 2: Enabled in Chrome 80

Desktop (Left), Mobile (Right)

Google’s “quieter” notification prompts have finally made their way to prime time in Chrome 80. Notifications in Chrome can be useful, so to protect that value, Chrome 80 will show a new notification permission UI in certain conditions. Users will be able to opt-in to this after updating to Chrome 80. However, if you’re a user who typically blocks notification requests it will be automatically enabled. The new UI will also automatically appear on websites with very low opt-in rates.

Users can enable the quieter notification prompts by going to Settings > Site Settings > Notifications, then the check the box or toggle for “Use quieter messaging.”

Source: Chromium

The post [Update 2: Enabled in Chrome 80] Google Chrome’s annoying notification prompts will be less intrusive soon appeared first on xda-developers.

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

Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology

The smart speaker space is one of the hottest battlegrounds in the tech world right now. These devices have slowly made their way into millions of homes across the globe, giving the companies behind them ecosystem lock-in power and access to tons of information. Google has become a major player in this market and Sonos is claiming they stole technology to do so.

The New York Times is reporting that Sonos has filed two lawsuits against Google. Sonos claims Google stole its multiroom speaker technology after a 2013 partnership. On top of that, the company is asking for a sales ban on the products that have benefited from Google’s alledged stealing, including phones, laptops, and speakers.

The 2013 partnership allowed Sonos speakers to support Google Play Music, but Sonos is claiming Google used patented technology in the Chromecast Audio, Google Home devices, and Pixel devices. Sonos also says Google used the technology and subsidized its own products, which greatly undercut their own more expensive products. The company says it warned Google about this in 2016, 2018, and last year, accusing the company of infringing on 100 patents.

In the lawsuit, Sonos points out similarities between new Google products and its existing technologies. They mention things like synchronizing audio across speaker groups, adjusting group volume, and setting up services on a local wireless network. Sonos is also accusing Google and Amazon of sabotaging their attempts to make a device that would have allowed users to use both Google Assistant and Alexa. In fact, Sonos claims Amazon has also violated its patents, but the company doesn’t want to be “battling two tech giants in court at once.”

Google and Amazon have both already responded to the lawsuit, denying infringement. Google says they dispute the claims and “will defend them vigorously.”

Sonos v. Google by Russell Brandom on Scribd

---

Source: New York Times | Via: The Verge

The post Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology appeared first on xda-developers.

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

OnePlus announces new Optimized Charging feature to save battery health

You don’t need to be a genius to know about OnePlus’s Warp Charge technology, formerly known as Dash Charge. At first sight, it is little more than a rebrand from OPPO’s SuperVOOC charging technology, but it is outstanding nonetheless. Unlike USB-PD and other fast charging methods that increase voltage, Warp Charge increases the current of the charger, and it allows for insanely fast charging speeds while still maintaining the safety of slower charging methods and keeping overheating at bay whenever possible. The concern of battery health degrading over time, though, remains, and OnePlus is launching a new feature to help improve this factor as well.

“Optimized Charging,” as OnePlus calls it, has already been available since the OxygenOS Open Beta 7 on the OnePlus 7 series and is made for overnight charging: it will charge your battery up to 80% before temporarily stopping. Then, it will take information from your alarms or your calendar (your next alarm or the first event in your calendar) in order to continue charging 100 minutes beforehand so it’s ready to go by the time you wake up. Over time, it will also be able to learn your usual wake-up time by itself thanks to machine learning so it’s ready right before you take it off the charger.

This feature might seem slightly unnecessary: after all, the battery already charges insanely fast, so there’s not even a need for overnight charging. However, some people still do, and keeping it constantly connected and at 100% during the whole night can take a toll on your battery life and even your battery itself over time. OnePlus hopes that this feature will somehow mitigate this. This feature is now available for the OnePlus 7 series users currently rolled into the OxygenOS Open Beta, and it is expected to roll out to other OnePlus devices sooner or later.

---

Source: OnePlus

The post OnePlus announces new Optimized Charging feature to save battery health appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/37IG3oI
via IFTTT

TiVo is making a cheap Android TV dongle with an emphasis on live TV

Android TV dongles are used very conveniently to turn any standard television device to a smart TV. It gives you the ability to connect to the internet, stream your favorite content from various platforms like YouTube and Netflix, browse social media, and install thousands of apps from the Play Store. Though, there are some unique dongles that do more than that. TiVo’s new Stream 4K gadget is the next one to do so.

TiVo is most commonly known for making DVR devices. Now, they are releasing the TiVo Stream 4K. As the name implies, this little piece of hardware can stream content with the quality of up to 4K. What’s so different about it is that it has a heavy emphasis on live TV. TiVo Stream 4K comes with proprietary software, Stream+, that fires up at device launch and lets you stream live TV via the internet. It uses its own TiVo+ subscription as well as Sling TV channels to let you stream them effortlessly.

As you can see in the picture, the remote comes with all the standard buttons like channel switcher and a number pad. It also includes shortcuts to Google Assistant and Netflix apps. The dongle itself uses a microUSB port for charging, but also includes Type-C for storage expansion or direct ethernet connection. Outside of the Stream+ app, Android TV on the device includes a standard set of apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and others. TiVo Stream 4K also supports 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio.

The company is aiming to launch the device in April with the starting price of just $50. Though, after a short time, it will be priced at $69, which will be its official price.

---

Source: TiVo

The post TiVo is making a cheap Android TV dongle with an emphasis on live TV appeared first on xda-developers.

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

Mobvoi announces the TicPods 2 and 2 Pro wireless earbuds with voice/gesture controls and noise cancellation

Ever since smartphones started ditching the headphone jack, competition in the wireless earbuds space has picked up. Apple’s AirPods have become incredibly popular, which has led many companies to offer similar products. Mobvoi, the makers of the TicWatch Pro, released their own version, the TicPods, back in 2018. Today, the company is announcing the TicPods 2 Pro and TicPods 2.

The TicPods 2 and 2 Pro offer a pretty substantial improvement over the nearly 2-year old TicPods. The original TicPods featured silicone tips and were shaped to seal off ambient noise. The TicPods 2 feature a more lightweight “open-fit” design that sits in your ear without the need for silicone tips. Essentially, they fit more like AirPods, which can be a good or a bad thing depending on your ears. Personally, I much prefer the open-fit design.

What may be even more of a big deal than the shape of the earbuds is the charging case. The case for both the TicPods 2 and 2 Pro is 42% smaller than the original. That’s a very big deal. You can fit the new case in the small pocket on the right front that most men’s jeans have. Another big update for the charging case is USB-C. Wireless charging would be even better, but not needing a separate cable from your phone is a big improvement.

Mobvoi is a company that does a lot of work with AI and that is present on the TicPods 2 Pro. The earbuds have two new AI-powered features: TicHear and TicMotion.

• TicHear – Use Quick-Commands to control your audio with your voice (“Play Music” | “Pause Music” | “Next Song” | “Previous Song” | “Pick Up” | “Hang Up”). Powered by Mobvoi’s innovative in-house AI algorithms, the TicHear Quick-Commands feature cuts out the wake-up word to give you a very direct and natural way to interact with the device. TicHear is built from a set of algorithms that includes VAD, noise reduction, AEC, beamforming, wake-up word detection and more, allowing you to activate your personal assistant whenever and wherever for a seamless interactive experience.
• TicMotion – Nod your head twice to pick up a call, shake twice to refuse TicMotion proactively tracks your head movement without your need to activate or notify the device. It enables TicPods 2 Pro to detect head and neck motion, giving you a seamless experience that goes beyond audio. You can now enjoy another point of hands-free access to interact with their device.

You can also easily activate the smart assistant of your choice with the “Hey Tico” voice command. The first time you do this you will be asked to select a default app. The TicPods 2 do not include TicHear or TicMotion, but both models still have the standard “tickle touch” controls for volume, play/pause, skip tracks, and pickup or refuse calls.

Last, but certainly not least, the TicPods 2 and 2 Pro have improved sound quality with Qualcomm aptX audio. This means Qualcomm’s aptX encoder is included in both models for clearer, high-definition audio. The TicPods 2 Pro takes things a step further with dual-mic noise cancellation for enhanced voice clarity and reduced ambient noise interference.

The TicPods 2 Pro will cost $139 at launch while the TicPods 2 will be priced at $99. They are available in three colors: Navy, Ice, and Blossom. Again, the difference between the models is the inclusion of TicHear/TicMotion and dual-mic noise cancellation. Pre-orders for both models begin today on Mobvoi.com and Amazon. You can get 10% off the retail price if you pre-order the earbuds before they launch on January 15th.

The post Mobvoi announces the TicPods 2 and 2 Pro wireless earbuds with voice/gesture controls and noise cancellation appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2urQ3Ey
via IFTTT

Free, Real-time Flight Status & Global Aviation Data API

Aviationstack is an API that offers developers access to full aviation data. With plans starting at $0 per month, different packages offer access to different features. Developers that use this powerful API will be able to gain access to real-time flight data, historical flights, airline routes and much more. It’s a complete solution for anyone looking for flight data to implement into their app, or other projects.

The API features access to 10,000+ airports, 300+ airplane types, 13,000+ airlines, 9,000+, 250+ countries and 500+ aviation taxes.

Powered by a strong backbone of aviation data sources, the API produces accurate details related to any global flight. These details are accurate down to the minute, for any stage of the flight. The API is built on top of scalable cloud infrastructure, which has the ability any volume of requests. With plans offering access to as many as 250,000 requests, it’s important to know that Aviationstack is prepared to handle any amount of requests.

“Whether it’s building booking platforms, visualizing and monitoring global flights or creating popular flight tracking applications — our flight data API is used by thousands every day. ”

Aviationstack

You can sign up for free, which will get you 500 requests to the entry-level access of data. This is a good option for anyone who wants to try out the API to see if it suits their needs. Use the link below to get started and see the different plans that are available.

START TRACKING FLIGHTS

We thank aviationstack for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

The post Free, Real-time Flight Status & Global Aviation Data API appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2QTKhD7
via IFTTT