LightBlog

mercredi 18 mars 2020

Many Samsung Galaxy S20 users report GPS lock on issues in Google Maps and Waze

The Samsung Galaxy S20 series is undoubtedly among the best Android devices out there right now. Samsung’s flagships for 2020 pack in some insane hardware, like the 100x Super Zoom camera on the S20 Ultra, top-of-the-line SoCs, up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and stunning displays. However, despite the flagship hardware, the Galaxy S20 series isn’t perfect by any means. Just a few days after its launch, a number of reviewers revealed that the Galaxy S20 Ultra had some autofocusing issues while using the primary 108MP camera and even some issues with macro focus. Thankfully though, the issue was just software related and Samsung quickly rolled out a firmware update to address the concerns.

Soon thereafter, reviewers also reported that the 45W fast charging on the Galaxy S20 Ultra wasn’t as impressive as some of the other fast charging solutions in the market. Max Weinbach from our team then confirmed that the 45W charging was only enabled from 0-30%, after which it switched down to 25W. This added another chink in the Galaxy S20’s armor. Adding on to that, several users have now reported that they’re also facing issues with GPS in apps like Google Maps and Waze. A number of posts related to this newfound issue have popped up on our forums, with users claiming that the Galaxy S20+ takes 10-15 minutes to lock on to a location. Even after the GPS finally locks on to a location, it isn’t reliable and “jumps around all over a 1-2 mile radius” making navigation impossible.

None of the basic troubleshooting methods seem to have fixed this issue, with users reporting that it persists even after clearing and updating respective apps, calibrating the compass, using different connectivity options, changing the SIM card, etc. As you can see in the GIF attached above, the GPS briefly locks on while using the GPS Test app and then loses connection to all satellites. Several Galaxy S20 users on Reddit have also posted about the issue, highlighting the same problem with GPS lock on. While some users managed to temporarily fix the issue by turning off 5G, the problem seems to persist even on a 4G connection.

Over on the Samsung Community forums, a user claims that Samsung replaced their Galaxy S20 Ultra claiming that the GPS issue was just limited to that particular unit. However, the user is still facing the same issue with the replacement device. Interestingly, the GPS issue seems to be limited to the Snapdragon variant of the devices, as I didn’t come across any reports of people facing the issue outside of the US. Idrees from our team, who’s using the Exynos variant of the Galaxy S20+, also didn’t face any such issues while using Google Maps and he managed to get an assisted lock in under 10 seconds. As of now, Samsung hasn’t released any official statement regarding the issue, but since it’s so widespread we expect the company to release a fix soon.

Are you facing similar issues with your Galaxy S20? Try out the GPS Test app on your device and share your results in the comments section below.


Source: XDA Forums (1,2,3), Reddit (1,2)

The post Many Samsung Galaxy S20 users report GPS lock on issues in Google Maps and Waze appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2WnFU7R
via IFTTT

OnePlus unveils new logo as part of its brand visual identity refresh

OnePlus was established back in December 2013 by Pete Lau and Carl Pei. The then-startup grabbed everyone’s attention in April 2014 with the OnePlus One, the original flagship killer, a phone that offered flagship-level specifications at half the price of flagships. While OnePlus has evolved its product strategy over the years and moved past the flagship killer phase (though they could be exploring cheaper offerings with the OnePlus 8 Lite), the branding and visual identity have largely remained the same. OnePlus did change part of its visual identity with the launch of the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro, and now, the company has fully embraced the change with a new, refreshed logo and branding.

OnePlus Logo

At first glance, the logo and branding are practically the same. At second glance, you do notice that the font has changed, and so have a few design elements. The “1” is in a different font/shape, and the “+” is also bigger. It’s a different logo that largely retains the familiar elements of the previous one.

OnePlus Logo

OnePlus is not changing who we are, but reinforcing what we stand for – the true spirit of Never Settle. We always design for our users. We feel that these changes maintain the iconic elements of our brand that are beloved by our staff and our community while injecting both excitement and balance into our visual identity.

Mats Hakansson, Global Creative Director

OnePlus also claims that the new “refreshed logo creates a clearer association between the symbol and the trademark, while also allowing for more flexible application and improved recognizability in digital media“.

OnePlus Logo OnePlus Logo

To commemorate the change, OnePlus also showed off a few creative avatars based on the new logo on their Weibo announcement post.

OnePlus Logo OnePlus Logo OnePlus Logo OnePlus Logo

At the end of the day, products and their experiences speak louder than branding identities, at least for power users. We will have to wait and see what OnePlus has in store for us on April 15.

The post OnePlus unveils new logo as part of its brand visual identity refresh appeared first on xda-developers.



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

mardi 17 mars 2020

Google will certify Chromebook accessories under new “Works With Chromebook” program

We have a lot of gadgets in our lives, but for every laptop and smartphone, there are even more accessories that go with it. Choosing the right accessory in a sea of options can feel daunting at times. How do you know which accessories will work the best with your device? To help consumers make better decisions, Google is starting a new “Works With Chromebook” program.

Soon, you will begin to see accessories such as chargers, cables, keyboards, and mice with the “Works With Chromebook” logo on the packaging. These accessories have been tested by Google and they have ensured they comply with Chromebook compatibility standards. You will know without a doubt that the accessory will work with your Chromebook.

works with chromebook chrome os works with chromebook chrome os

The “Works With Chromebook” logo will be found on accessories from leading brands such as AbleNet, Anker, Belkin, Brydge, Cable Matters, Elecom, Hyper, Kensington, Logitech, Plugable, Satechi, StarTech, and Targus. You will be able to find these certified accessories at Amazon.com, Best Buy (U.S. and Canada), Walmart.com, and Bic Camera (Japan) (more retailers and countries coming soon).


Source: Google

The post Google will certify Chromebook accessories under new “Works With Chromebook” program appeared first on xda-developers.



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

GitHub for Android is now available on the Google Play Store

Update (3/17/20 @ 4:25 PM ET): GitHub for Android is now available for anyone to download from the Google Play Store.

GitHub is probably one of the most beloved products in the developer community. It is the most popular code hosting platform, which makes working on big projects easier for a lot of users. GitHub is where most of the source codes for custom kernels or ROMs from our own forums are hosted. The platform was acquired by Microsoft back in June of 2018. By now, we can tell that the acquisition has played out nicely for developers. Just now, GitHub has released its first-ever official Android app to the Play Store, as promised couple of months ago.

The GitHub for Android app is currently in beta testing, so you should expect more features and stability when the final version is released. As of now, the functionality of the app is quite limited. You can browse repositories, read their ‘readme’ files and view and create pull requests and issues. Unfortunately, you can’t currently view or edit the code, though I’d expect this feature in the stable build.

Github for Android beta Github for Android beta Github for Android beta

GitHub for Android also has a dark theme. You can turn it on manually in the settings. By default, the application’s theme will match system settings, as all apps should. The search and notifications features are also integrated, making it easier to browse the repositories and/or developers. Per GitHub’s promise, the app should soon let you review code and share feedback with contributors.

You can sign up for the beta version of the GitHub for Android app through the Play Store. The app is compatible with Android 5.1 and above.

GitHub (Free, Google Play) →

Source: The GitHub Blog


Update: Now Available

GitHub for Android has left beta and is now available for everyone in the Play Store. The company has made several changes during the beta period. VentureBeat highlights three main features of the app:

  • Organize tasks in a swipe: Swipe to finish a task or save the notification to return to it later.
  • Give feedback and respond to issues: Respond to comments while you’re on the go.
  • Review and merge pull requests: Merge and mark pull requests to breeze through your workflow.

GitHub didn’t initially think people would want to read and review code from their phones. That changed pretty quickly when one of their Android engineers prototyped the ability to comment on individual lines of code. The company has a “pretty detailed roadmap full of features” to come in the future as well. You can download GitHub for Android below.

GitHub (Free, Google Play) →

Via: VentureBeat

The post GitHub for Android is now available on the Google Play Store appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2Nu55QL
via IFTTT

[Update: Indefinitely Delayed] Google Cloud Next 2020 is now an online-only event over coronavirus fears

Update (3/17/20 @ 4:00 PM ET): Google Cloud Next 2020 has been indefinitely delayed.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak, now called COVID-19, has infected over 89,000 people globally with the global death toll surpassing 3,000. Not only has the virus had an adverse effect on the global supply chain, but it has also resulted in several major events being canceled. For instance, the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona this month was canceled due to the growing coronavirus threat, with a number of companies pulling out of the event even before it was officially canceled. Earlier this month, Chinese OEM Xiaomi hosted an online-only launch event for its flagship Mi 10 series as a preventive measure and that seems to be the only course of action for other companies going forward. As per a recent blog post from Google, the company’s upcoming Cloud Next 2020 event will also be an online-only affair.

The event, which is scheduled for April 6-8, will now feature streamed keynotes, breakout sessions, interactive learning and digital “ask an expert” session with Google teams without the risk of travel. Google has also waived off the registration fee for the event and all the attendees who had already registered will be getting a refund. The in-person bootcamp at Next 2020 stands canceled and those who had registered for it will also be getting a full refund from the company. Those who had registered for certification testing are now required to contact Google’s dedicated certification support team and reschedule their certification visit or arrange a refund as needed. Additionally, Google will also be canceling all attendees’ hotel reservations made through the conference website. As of now, the company is planning a packed agenda with “hundreds of sessions” for the upcoming Google Cloud Next ’20: Digital Connect event and will be releasing additional details about the sessions on the Next ’20 website in the coming weeks.

Source: Google Cloud (1,2,3)


Update: Indefinitely Delayed

After changing the event to be online-only to help slow the spread of coronavirus, Google is now delaying Cloud Next 2020 indefinitely. The original event was scheduled for April and Google initially said they would hold a multi-day “digital-first” event in its place. Google is now saying it is “fully committed to bringing Google Cloud Next ‘20: Digital Connect to life, but will hold the event when the timing is right.” We will update this post when there is news about when that might be.

Source: Google

The post [Update: Indefinitely Delayed] Google Cloud Next 2020 is now an online-only event over coronavirus fears appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2TiaDB3
via IFTTT

Google and other tech giants are joining forces to fight coronavirus misinformation

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global pandemic, one that is grinding societies to a halt. To limit community transmission of the virus, health experts recommend that people engage in “social distancing” by staying at home as much as possible and avoiding any public gatherings. If one believes they may have been exposed to the virus, it is recommended for users to self-quarantine to see if they develop any flu-like symptoms. Because the COVID-19 disease caused by the novel coronavirus is still being studied by epidemiologists, that gives room for conspiracy theorists, grifters, and opportunists to take advantage of the chaos, giving rise to a flood of misinformation or outright fake news on the web. To stem this tide, Google and other technology giants are joining forces to combat misinformation.

In a joint statement, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Reddit, and Twitter have declared that they are working closely together to reduce misinformation about COVID-19. Each company will use their respective platforms and self-operated channels to inform users on the actual, verified facts that we know of so far. Reddit, for instance, guides users to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website if they search for “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” in the official app. Google recently updated its Discover service to allow users to report misleading or sensational news. Most people today get information and news through the Internet and social media, the largest of which are owned by these aforementioned companies. Given how important it is to be informed on the virus in order to contain its spread, we believe that such a measure is absolutely necessary.

Misinformation regarding the ongoing pandemic can, and already has, contributed to mass panic, which can have a negative effect on effectively containing the outbreak. Being well-informed is really important right now, so you should always refer to sources backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other official sources such as your local government agencies and trusted news outlets regarding the outbreak. We’re glad to see major tech companies doing their part to help.

The post Google and other tech giants are joining forces to fight coronavirus misinformation appeared first on xda-developers.



from xda-developers https://ift.tt/39XL5Pz
via IFTTT

Google Translate’s real-time translation feature is rolling out now

A few months ago, Google started work on a new feature in Translate called “Continuous Translation.” This feature was eventually shown off to the public in January earlier this year, but now it’s finally ready for primetime. The feature is now called “Transcribe” and it will be rolling out to Google Translate for Android in the next few days.

In a nutshell, Transcribe allows you to record spoken words in one language and have them translated on your phone in near real-time. The use cases for this are easy to see. You can translate your own speech, someone who is speaking to you, or hold it up to a computer speaker or TV. The translation happens without any noticeable processing delay.

This differs from Google Translate’s current transcription feature that requires you to input text or voice and then wait for a translation. Google says that “wasn’t well suited to listen[ing] to a longer translated discussion at a conference, a classroom lecture or a video of a lecture, a story from a grandparent, etc.”

Using the new feature is pretty straightforward. When you open Google Translate for Android, you’ll see a new “Transcribe” button under the text box. Tap this and you’ll be brought to the Listen page where you can select the languages. Just tap the microphone icon to start listening or to pause translation. At launch, Transcribe supports English, French, German, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Thai.

Google Translate (Free, Google Play) →


Source: Google

The post Google Translate’s real-time translation feature is rolling out now appeared first on xda-developers.



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