How to enable Android 10’s Rules feature on any Pixel smartphone

A new Android version is released every year, and Google takes the stage at I/O to highlight some of the most prominent changes to the OS. But there are always many features that are not covered on stage due to paucity of time, and these end up being discovered later on. “Rules” is one such feature of Android 10 that was not highlighted by Google either at Android Q’s keynote event at Google I/O 2019, nor at the Google Pixel 4 launch. Rules was first spotted as Settings Routine, allowing users to automate a few common actions on the device based on certain conditions. Curiously. the feature was missing from the surface in the stable Android 10 release, nor was it available on the Pixel 4. The feature then suddenly showed up for some Pixel owners, but there was no way to enable it across the board. Now, if you are willing to root your device, you can enable Rules on any Pixel device with the latest Android 10 release.

On Android 10, Rules allows eligible Pixel device owners to set up conditions, which when met, enable either Do Not Disturb, or set the phone to silent, vibrate, or ringer modes. These conditions range from being connected to certain Wi-Fi networks, or when you are in the vicinity of a chosen location. Of course, Rules does not match dedicated automation apps such as Tasker and Automate by a long shot in terms of functionality, but it offers useful basic functionality.

If you have root but are daunted by the more complex automation tools, you can follow the steps below to enable the function:

1. 1. Use a file explorer with root access and go to /data/data/com.google.android.settings.intelligence/shared_prefs
   2. Open SettingsGoogleIntelligenceSharedPrefFile.xml
   3. Change all boolean values with “RoutinesPrototype” in their name to “true“
   4. Force close Settings and Settings Suggestion.
   5. Run the following command on your phone through a terminal emulator:

      su
      pm enable com.google.android.settings.intelligence/.modules.routines.impl.settings.RoutinesSettingsActivity

   6. Now, you should be able to find “Rules” under “System” in Settings

Rules is admittedly basic in its functionality. If you have the experience rooting devices and carrying out the above instructions, you should also be able to create the same tasks (or even better) with Tasker. But Android is all about choices, so it is good to have some more.

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Story Via: /r/Android

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Google’s ARCore now supports the Realme X2/Pro, OPPO Reno 2, LG G8X, and more

Google’s ARCore (now Google Play Services for AR) is an SDK that allows developers to add augmented reality features to apps. While it doesn’t require any specialized hardware, Google still has to work with OEMs to create custom calibration profiles for each device. Since each device has a different camera and sensor setup, getting the calibration correct is crucial for the AR features to work properly. Over the last few months, Google has whitelisted a number of new devices to support ARCore and now the company has added the Realme X2/X2 Pro, OPPO Reno 2, LG G8X, and more to the list.

The following devices have been added to Google ARCore since our last coverage:

• LG G8X ThinQ
• LG Q70
• OPPO F11 Pro
• OPPO K5
• OPPO Reno 2
• OPPO Reno 2 Z
• Realme X2
• Realme X2 Pro

You can view the full list of ARCore supported devices by following this link. If your device is on the list, you’ll be able to download Google Play Services for AR from the Play Store and start using any apps that use the AR SDK. There are a number of useful AR apps on the Play Store that you can try right away. For instance, you can try Pokémon Go’s AR+ mode for an even more realistic Pokémon catching experience or Google’s own Measure app to take accurate measurements of objects around you.

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Galaxy Fit update adds Music Controls to Samsung’s fitness tracker

Back in June this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy Fit and Fit e smartbands in India. Priced at ₹9,990, the Galaxy Fit offered a bunch of cool features, including activity tracking, sleep tracking, notification support, and more. Surprisingly though it lacked the basic ability to control music playback, something that you’ll find even on entry-level fitness bands. Thankfully, Samsung is now pushing an update that includes this functionality, among other things.

According to a recent report from Tizen Help, Samsung has started rolling out firmware version R370XXU0ASK1 to Galaxy Fit users in the US, UK, Italy, South Korea, and India. To get the latest update, you will first have to update the Galaxy Fit plugin from the Play Store. Once you’ve updated the plugin, you should receive the firmware update in the Galaxy Wearable app. The new music controls will let you easily switch tracks and pause or resume playback with your Galaxy Fit. Additionally, the smartband will display the name of the current song on the home screen.

Along with music controls, the latest update introduces 31 watch faces for the smartband. The new watch faces focus on offering more information to the user and display the date, time, heart rate, steps, and weather information. The update also brings improvements to the DND feature which wasn’t as responsive in the previous firmware release. In case you own a Galaxy Fit, you can download the latest update for the plugin from the link below to receive the firmware update.

Galaxy Fit Plugin (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Tizen Help

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Twitter update lets you follow Topics you’re interested in, not just People

Twitter has a strong gravitational pull and you can’t just occasionally browse, check your notifications, and move over. This is because of the dynamic and instant nature of Twitter and while this can be both engaging and informative, it can also get overwhelming. The astounding flow of information (as well as the banter and the trolling) on the platform can often drown its purpose of always being up-to-date. In an attempt to remedy this, Twitter is announcing a new feature called “Topics” that should help users follow the trends or discussions they are interested in besides following just people.

Twitter will automatically recommend you to follow topics based on your search and interaction patterns on Twitter. When you follow a topic on Twitter, you’ll be able to see tweets from other accounts even if you don’t follow them. For instance, you follow a particular sports team in Topics, you will start seeing tweets from their official handles, their fans, as well as other discussions about the team. The idea behind is to let you see the most “relevant and interesting Tweets” and in the “right amount.”

When you search for anything, you’ll see a suggestion to keep a track of that particular topic by pressing the Follow button. You can manage the Topics you follow by heading to the dedicated menu in Twitter’s Settings.

The feature is similar to the ability to follow hashtags on Instagram but much more refined. Twitter has not detailed how they will make sure to serve you the “right amount” of tweets related to the topic and if there’s any criteria basis which they will choose the right tweets. The feature will be coming to Twitter in the coming months but a specific date hasn’t been promised.

Meanwhile, Twitter 8.22.0-beta.01 is already rolling via the Google Play Store and the feature may be available for the beta testers before users on the stable channel can enjoy it.

One of my friends shared a screenshot of the Topics icon showing up on their Twitter feed (for Android app 8.23.0-alpha.02) here in India but the Follow button in search results is still missing. We cannot say with confidence if this whether this is because of the region but will update the article once we know better.

Thanks to Anmol Sachdeva for the screenshot!

Twitter (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Twitter Blog

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Realme 3/3i update brings November 2019 security patches, dark mode, Digital Wellbeing, more

Realme’s update cycle has been on point of late and the company has been doing a great job of releasing new features for its devices. Early this month, the Realme 3 Pro and Realme X received updates with the new system-wide dark mode, Android security patches, and more. And just yesterday, it released ColorOS updates for the Realme 5 and Realme 2 Pro. Now, the Realme 3 and Realme 3i have joined the list of devices to receive the new update.

Realme 3 XDA Forums || Realme 3i XDA Forums

The latest OTA updates, version RMX1821EX_11.A.24, for the Realme 3 and Realme 3i, include the system-wide dark mode that was previously released on other devices, along with the Android security patch for November 2019. The updates also brings Google’s Digital Wellbeing suite for the devices and a couple of minor improvements that are expected to improve the user experience. Here’s the official changelog for the ColorOS 6.0 update on the Realme 3/3i:

• Security
  • Android security patch: November, 2019
• System
  • Added the manual lock feature by long press the power button
  • Display the data consumed by connected devices
  • Customizable data consumed reminder
  • Update charging animation
  • Android version: Android 9.0
• Settings
  • Added realme Laboratory
  • Added Dark Mode
  • Added Google Digital Wellbeing
  • Updated battery interface display the screen on time
  • Added a switch of notification dot for updates
  • Clone Apps support more third-party applications (PayTM, PhonePe, Amazon, Flipkart)
• Launcher
  • Optimized lock screen clock widget design
  • Added date and weather widget
  • Optimized Smart Assistant interface
• Notification Center and Status Bar
  • Redesigned the notification center style
  • Swipe left or right to remove the message prompt after receiving the message
  • Added fast switch toggles between SIM in notification center
  • Removed the reminder after the hotspot enabled
  • Added a switch of swipe down on home screen for global search or notification center
  • Removed the prompt while rooted

The update has already started rolling out to Realme 3 and Realme 3i users. In case you haven’t received it yet, you can download the update package from the link below and flash it manually.

ColorOS 6.0 (vRMX1821EX_11.A.24) for the Realme 3 || ColorOS 6.0 (vRMX1821EX_11.A.24) for the Realme 3i

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Facebook Pay is a new payment system for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook

Facebook’s plan to assert greater control over its company’s sprawling divisions is no secret, as was first reported back when talks of unification of the messaging infrastructure of WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger first emerged. The company then went on to make its branding very prominent within these services, to really remind users of the umbrella under which all of these services operate. Now, taking advantage of the same umbrella, Facebook is launching Facebook Pay, a new payment system for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.

Facebook Pay claims to be a convenient and secure payment method that provides a consistent payment experience across Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Facebook Pay will make existing transaction habits within Facebook easier while ensuring payment information is secure and protected. The highlight for the average user, though, is the convenience and consistency in experience, wherein they can add their payment method once and then use the same across some of the world’s most popular and widely used services.

With Facebook Pay, users can:

• Add a preferred payment method once, and have it be available for use across Facebook apps
• Choose to set up Facebook Pay app-by-app or across apps, meaning that Facebook will not automatically set up Facebook Pay across the user’s active apps unless the user chooses to do so
• View payment history, manage payment methods and update settings in one place
• Get real-time customer support via live chat in the US

Facebook Pay will begin rolling out on Facebook and Facebook Messenger this week in the USA for fundraisers, in-game purchases, event tickets, and regular person-to-person payments on Messenger and purchases from select Pages and businesses on Facebook Marketplace. In the near future, Facebook Pay will be made available for more regions, and for more services like Instagram and WhatsApp. The service supports most major credit and debit cards as well as PayPal. Facebook also clarifies that this new service is separate from the Calibra wallet which will run on the Libra network.

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Source: Facebook

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Google Opinion Rewards will start warning you when Play Store credits are about to expire

The Google Opinion Rewards app gives you an easy way to earn some Play Store credits by answering surveys. But a lot of people don’t know that the promotional credits you get from the app have an expiry date. According to Google, any Play Store credits accumulated by answering surveys will expire 1 year after they were earned. But sadly, the app doesn’t show when the credits are about to expire.

A recent post on Reddit caught the attention of a number of users and prompted them to check the status of any Play Store credits they accumulated on the app. The post highlights inconsistencies in Google’s expiration policy, with the user losing $63 worth of credits in one go. This seems quite odd, as anyone who’s ever used the app knows that it’s quite impossible to earn that amount in a single year, let alone in one day.

Google seems to have taken note of the issue and has since pushed a message in the Opinion Rewards app. The message warns users about the expiration policy and urges users to visit the Help Center in case they’ve noticed an unexpected drop in their Play Store balance. The Help Center link in the message redirects to this page, which reveals that Google is working on a way to notify users of impending expiration. It also urges users to check back in a week for an update, in case they saw a recent decrease in their Play Store balance due to a bulk expiration.

In case you have any promotional credits in your Play Store wallet, you can check the next expiration date in the Play Store. To do so, tap on the hamburger menu button in the app and then select the Payment methods option. In the following screen, you’ll find the next expiration date under the Google Play balance option. Several users have reported that the expiration date changes every time you make a purchase using your Play Store balance. However, some other users noticed no change in the date even after spending their credits in the app. As of now, we aren’t quite sure how the credit expiration works, but we expect to hear more from Google on this matter in the coming week.

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