ZTE unveils its MiFavor 10 skin based on Android 10

With the Android 10 rollout picking up pace, OEMs have started releasing updated versions of their Android skins. While some manufacturers like Xiaomi and OnePlus have already released updated versions of OxygenOS and MIUI for a couple of their devices, others like OPPO have just announced their Android 10-based skins with plans to roll them out to devices in the next couple of weeks. Chinese smartphone manufacturer ZTE is the latest to jump on the bandwagon and it has now unveiled its MiFavor 10 skin based on Android 10.

In a recent post on Weibo, ZTE has shared a nifty infographic for its upcoming Android 10-based skin — MiFavor 10. As reported by GSMArena, the updated skin includes a new system-wide dark mode, along with plenty of black backgrounds, to make night-time usage a bit more comfortable. The skin also includes completely redesigned icons, with ZTE including over 1600 system icons to choose from. As stated in the infographic, over 80 of the new system icons are designed for micro-motion effects that add a nice touch to the overall experience. Additionally, the skin features optimizations to motion curves that are expected to make transitions a whole lot smoother.

ZTE’s MiFavor 10 also features dynamic wallpapers, most of which go along with the new darker aesthetic, along with six new built-in themes with their own distinct iconography. Notifications have also been updated with a new visual style and they now pop-up in a small floating window that’s expected to keep distractions to a minimum. The new notifications look a whole lot like the ones we’ve seen on Samsung’s One UI. ZTE has also shown off a new compact window interface and a floating keyboard to make multitasking easier.

The MiFavor 10 update also brings a couple of interesting smart features that will allow users to recognize the contents of your screen by long pressing on it with two fingers. The system will be able to recognize both text and images and provide users with product matches and recommendations based on what is identified. ZTE also claims that the new software will feature full-fledged voice control and navigation that will allow users to execute certain in-app actions. On top of all that, the new skin brings improvements to ZTE’s AI engine, Z-Booster 2.0 for fast app startup times, superior graphics and less stutter. While ZTE has confirmed that MiFavor 10 will be coming to the Axon 10 Pro, Blade V10, and Axon 9 Pro, the company hasn’t released an update schedule.

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Source: Weibo

Via: GSMArena

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LG starts rolling out the stable Android 10 update for the G8 ThinQ

Early last month, LG launched an Android 10 preview for its current flagship — the LG G8 ThinQ — in South Korea. The preview allowed users to experience all of the cool new features released in Android 10 on their device and it also included a couple of additional UI changes. For instance, the Android 10 preview on the G8 ThinQ moved all of the menu tabs and pop-ups towards the bottom of the display for easier access, introduced a new intuitive card type menu, and more. Now, the company is finally rolling out a stable version of the update to the device.

As reported by GSMArena, the stable Android 10 release for the LG G8 ThinQ is now rolling out to users in South Korea. The update (software version G820N20c) not only upgrades the device to Android 10 but also bumps up the Android security patches to the November 2019 release. While we don’t have access to a detailed changelog as of now, we do know that the update includes all of the new features introduced in Android 10, including the system-wide dark mode, new navigation gestures, etc. The update also includes the aforementioned UI changes that we previously saw on the LG V50S ThinQ.

Currently, we have no information regarding a broader rollout for the update, but we expect the company to release it in other regions over the next few weeks. It’s worth noting that the company also launched the Android 10 preview for the LG V50 ThinQ last month. Since the Android 10 stable release has started rolling out for the G8 ThinQ, LG V50 ThinQ users should also get the stable update in the following weeks.

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Via: GSMArena

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How to enable Pixel 4’s Live Caption feature on older Pixel phones and other rooted Android 10 devices

For users who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, Google’s new Live Caption tool in Android 10 could be really useful. This tool was announced at Google I/O earlier this year, and what it does is automatically provide captions for audio that’s playing on your device. It works with videos, podcasts, audio messages, and other supported media (but not phone or video calls). When Google launched the feature, they made it a Pixel 4-exclusive, though they said they planned to bring it to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a sometime this month. However, we’ve already shown that it can run on other devices, too, and now I’m going to share how to enable it on your own device.

You’ll need a rooted device running Android 10 to make this trick work because Google so far intends for Live Caption to only work on the latest Pixel smartphones. Apart from the method I used to enable Live Caption support on Android 10, there’s another method that involves changing system property values to trick the Device Personalization Services app into thinking it’s running on a Pixel 4. However, doing so on an older Pixel phone will break the Google Camera app, so I won’t share this alternative method. The method I’m sharing won’t touch any system properties; instead, it directly sets all the values controlling the Live Caption feature to be true. Thus, no camera functionality, or any other functionality for that matter, should be affected. Still, before flashing any mods like this, you should have a backup handy.

I enabled Live Caption on my Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 3 XL. Some of my followers on Twitter said it worked on the Pixel 3a, first-generation Pixel, Essential Phone, and Redmi K20 running a custom AOSP-based ROM. Live Caption doesn’t seem to work on the OnePlus 6T or OnePlus 7 Pro running OxygenOS 10 using this method, but hopefully, we can get it working with a little more debugging. If you want to try it out on your own device, here’s what you need to do.

Requirements:

• Android smartphone or tablet running Android 10.
• Root access with Magisk.

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps and tap the menu to show all system apps. See if “Device Personalization Services” is installed. This app is pre-installed on Pixel devices. It shouldn’t be there on non-Pixel devices, but some custom ROMs may have bundled it anyway.
2. If your device already has “Device Personalization Services” installed, then you must update to the latest version of the APK extracted from the Pixel 4. Specifically, install this APK. The APK extracted from the Pixel 4 has code for the Live Caption feature. Other versions of this APK will not have Live Caption. If your device doesn’t already have Device Personalization Services installed, then do not try to install it and just continue to the next step.
3. Open Magisk Manager and install the “SQLite for ARM aarch64 devices” Module from the Downloads section. Note: If you already have an SQLite binary from TitaniumBackup or Termux, then my Magisk Module installer script will detect it so you won’t need to install this separate SQLite binary.
4. Reboot your phone.
5. Download one of the following Magisk Modules that I made and install it in Magisk Manager. If your device had “Device Personalization Services” installed and you followed step #2 to update to the latest version, then install this Module called “LiveCaption_Pixel.zip“. If your device didn’t have “Device Personalization Services” installed and you skipped step #2, then install this Module called “LiveCaption_nonPixel.zip“. The difference between the _Pixel and the _nonPixel Modules is that the _nonPixel one has the “Device Personalization Services” app bundled with it. This is a system app, so it cannot be installed like any normal APK if you don’t already have it installed.
6. Reboot your phone.
7. Check Settings > Sound or Settings > Accessibility for the Live Caption setting. Enable the feature and see if it works by watching a YouTube video with English language audio. If it doesn’t work, try rebooting one more time.

Hopefully, you should have Live Caption up and running on your rooted Android 10 device. I’ve had the feature enabled on my Pixel 2 XL for over 2 months now without any issues. A word of warning, though. Do not update the Device Personalization Services app through the Google Play Store. Google serves different versions of the app to different devices—if you install a version that wasn’t made for the Pixel 4, you’ll lose the Live Caption feature. Disable automatic updates for this app in the Play Store, and check to make sure that any updated APK you do install through APKMirror came from the Pixel 4.

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I discovered this method on my own, but I would like to thank XDA Forum Moderator Didgeridoohan and XDA Recognized Developer topjohnwu for helping me debug my script. I would also like to thank XDA Senior Member 73sydney, jcmm11, adpoliak, and all others involved in the GPay-SQLite-Fix Magisk Module as I borrowed the code to check for an SQLite binary.

The post How to enable Pixel 4’s Live Caption feature on older Pixel phones and other rooted Android 10 devices appeared first on xda-developers.

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OnePlus 6/6T’s latest OxygenOS 10 Open Betas bring bug fixes and camera improvements

While some devices are just now getting an Android 9 Pie update, OnePlus is pushing out another Android 10-based beta update with its OxygenOS 10 skin or the OnePlus 6/6T. This update brings fixes to some minor bugs along with camera improvements. The update is on top of the October 2019 security patch level.

One of the more important bugs being fixed is a certain tendency of the phones to randomly freeze and reboot (such is sometimes the case with beta OS builds). Another important bug being addressed is an issue with fingerprint identification, along with a fix for animation lag when fingerprints are used to unlock the phones. If you prefer using the 5GHz channel on your WiFi router then you may experience an improved connection to it with this update.

OnePlus 6 Forums ||| OnePlus 6T Forums

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OxygenOS 10 Changelog

The full changelog for OxygenOS 10 Open Beta 31 (OnePlus 6) and Open Beta 19 (OnePlus 6T) follows:

• System
  • Fixed the fingerprint identification issue
  • Fixed the animation lag for the fingerprint unlock
  • Fixed the automatic Freeze and Reboot issues
  • Improved system stability and fixed other known issues
• Camera
  • Improved the performance and General bug fixes
• WiFi & Internet
  • Fixed the 5GHz WiFi connection

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OxygenOS 10 Downloads

Open Beta 31 (OnePlus 6)

If you don’t want to wait for the update to be automatically pushed to your OnePlus 6 you can manually sideload the incremental OTA if you’re already on Open Beta 30.

OnePlus 6 Open Beta 30 -> Open Beta 31 Incremental OTA

If you’re not already on Open Beta 30 you can download the full OTA below.

OnePlus 6 Open Beta 31 Full OTA

Open Beta 19 (OnePlus 6T)

If you’re already on Open Beta 18:

OnePlus 6T Open Beta 18 -> Open Beta 19 Incremental OTA

If you’re not on Open Beta 18:

OnePlus 6T Open Beta 19 Full OTA

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Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for the download links!

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Lawnchair 2 stable is now rolling out on the Play Store with tons of new features

Third-party launchers may not be as tightly integrated into the system as first-party launchers are, but they generally offer a lot more features than the stock launcher on any given device. Take Google’s Pixel Launcher, for example. It’s clean and beautifully designed, but there are only a handful of options to customize the launcher. In comparison, a third-party launcher like the popular Lawnchair app has dozens of features. You can stick with a more minimalist, Pixel Launcher-like experience or you can customize out the wazoo. The last stable update was version 1.2.1 back in July, and now the Lawnchair app has reached version 2 in the stable channel after months of beta releases.

Here are the highlights of the v2 update, per the team:

Lawnchair v2 Update Highlights:

• Adds Drawer Categories (Tabs & Folders).
• Introduces Adaptive Icon customisation.
• Enables integration with Sesame and Homefeeder.
• Adds Pixel Launcher’s At a Glance widget.
• Integrates with Android’s Recents page via QuickSwitch.

And here’s the full list of key features available in Lawnchair v2:

Key Feature List

• Theme
  • Adaptive Icons: Pick between 6 presets or easily create custom shapes—even for your favourite icon packs
  • Blur: An adjustable transparency effect for surfaces
  • Smart Appearance: Dark Mode turns on automatically to match system settings, your wallpaper, or the time of day
  • Colours: A new colour picker creates palettes based on your wallpaper and offers precise tint control
  • Custom Fonts: Apply fonts to selected areas—like titles and labels. Pick from dozens of free typefaces or add your own.
• Desktop
  • Layout: Add or remove rows and columns—visually. Use Lock Desktop to prevent accidental edits.
  • App Shortcuts: Customize icons, hide labels, and set swipe gestures.
  • App Launch Transitions: Pick custom animations—like Blink or Slide Up—to show when launching apps from the Desktop and Drawer.
  • Notification Dots: Stay updated with subtle alert indicators.
• At a Glance
  • Contextual Data: See what you care about—like today’s weather, notifications, or events from your calendar.
  • Icon Packs: Add custom weather icons to At a Glance.
• Dock
  • Style: Customize the Dock—from colour to size. Set the corner radius, change the opacity, and more.
  • Page Indicator: Navigate around the Desktop without losing your place.
• Drawer
  • App Suggestions: Your most-used apps, right below the Search Bar.
  • App Actions: Contextual shortcuts to your favorite pages in apps—like directions home or your latest earworms.
  • Hidden Shortcuts: Hide shortcuts you don’t need from the Drawer.
  • Categories: Tabs & Folders help keep your Drawer tidy. And Smart Tabs group shortcuts automatically.
• Search & Plugins
  • Search Bar: Find apps, websites, and contacts. The Search Bar changes shape to match Adaptive Icons.
  • Sesame: Do even more with Search—instantly launch a show on Netflix, or quickly find chats in Messages.
  • Feed: Google Feed and Homefeeder bundle updates into compact lists—a perfect addition to your morning coffee.
• QuickSwitch
  • Recents: Your customized Dock appears in Android’s Recents—launch your most-used apps, or swipe up to see all.
  • Navigation Gestures: Customize swipe gestures on Android 9 and 10.

The Lawnchair v2 stable update is rolling out now on the Google Play Store. You can also download it from XDA Labs. Visit the XDA Forum Thread if you want to give any feedback.

Lawnchair Launcher (Free, Google Play) →

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The Honor 9X Makes Major Improvements Over the Honor 8X

When it comes to phone upgrades, we can usually expect the same types of changes in phones from the same series. You will usually see a slightly better camera, the next fastest chipset, new software, and maybe a slightly different design. However, when a phone makes significant changes to improve just about every aspect of the next release, then you will see true evolution of a phone and not just a standard upgrade.

In the case in the Honor 9X, Honor has truly evolved the X-series line to be something much different and significantly better. I have been reviewing the X-series since the Honor 5X and it has always been a solid budget line that provides smartphone basics at an extremely competitive price. Let’s see how the Honor 9X takes the brand in a more exciting direction.

Large Notch-Free Display

Honor 9X Body Design

Honor 9X Full Screen Display

Honor 9X Selfie Camera

If you’re thinking the Honor 9X looks much larger than the other phones from the X lineup, you’re not wrong. By moving the selfie camera to a motorized popup mechanism, Honor was able to fit a dynamic full-view display without any interruption of a notch. This means more of the front of the phone is dedicated to the display. The Honor 9X manages to fit a large 6.59″ display while the body of the phone isn’t much bigger than that of the Honor 8X.

Honor 8X with Micro-USB

Honor 8X in Blue

Honor 8X Display

While the Honor 8X is a great option for the budget phone scene, it feels like a very different phone. With the display noticeably smaller at 6.5″, the notch becomes quite an intrusive feature when compared to the new design of the Honor 9X.

Better Photos at 48MP

The Honor 9X saw a massive jump in photo quality when Honor decided to treat it with a 48MP triple camera. With the 48MP camera being the most exciting feature coming from flagship phones in 2019, this set the Honor 9X right up there with many of the top phones of the year. Along with the 48MP sensor, there is an 8MP Ultrawide lens and a 2MP depth sensor.

Honor 9X 48MP Triple Camera

Honor 8X 20MP Dual Cameras

While the camera of the Honor 8X was respectable, it was clearly a member of the budget phone category. The 20MP sensor was paired with a 2MP depth sensor for the dual camera setup. The 48MP upgrade on the Honor 9X takes the camera from good to great and sets high expectations for future X-series phones.

A Better Design

While the designs of the two phones are similar in some ways, the 9X has improvement everywhere it counts. The 9X finally ditches the micro-USB charge port in place for a USB Type-C. They have chosen to still include a 3.5MM headphone jack at the bottom of the phone, much to the approval of just about everyone. The larger display is also a big improvement, and ditching the notch was a much needed step in the right direction. The 9X is a little heavier than the Honor 8X, but it’s larger size means it is able to fit a larger battery. While the 8X had a decent 3750mAh capacity, the 9X bumped the capacity all the way up to 4000mAh.

Honor 8X	Specs
Display	6.5″ 1080×2340 (397 ppi)
Chipset	HiSilicon Kirin 710
RAM	4/6GB
Storage	64/128GB
Main Camera	20+2MP (Depth Sensor)
Selfie Camera	16MP
Battery	3750mAh

Honor 9X	Specs
Display	6,59″ 1080 x 2340p (391 ppi)
Chipset	HiSilicon Kirin 710F
RAM	6GB
Storage	128GB
Main Camera	48MP+8MP (Ultrawide)+2MP (Depth Sensor)
Selfie Camera	16MP Motorized Pop-up
Battery	4,000mAh

These improvements make the Honor 9X more than just another routine update for the X-series. It is an evolution into a different phone that points to a much more exciting future for the line from Honor.

Honor 9X Forums

We thank Honor 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.

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[Update: Watch GT2 launch date] Huawei Kirin A1, Huawei’s first dedicated chipset for wearables, will launch in India next month

Update 1 (11/30/19 @ 03:05 AM EST):  Huawei Watch GT 2 will be launched in India on December 5, 2019.

The original article from November 15, 2019, remains unchanged.

The uncertainty due to the Sino-US trade conflict has led to much confusion about GMS (Google Mobile Services) support on Huawei and Honor smartphones. Despite exciting announcements like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro and the Honor 9X, the availability of these smartphones has been limited to only certain regions. However, the pace of innovation hasn’t dialed down even a bit and Huawei has been working on its first-part operating system called Harmony OS, which would be a backup option if official GMS support does not return to Huawei and Honor smartphones. Meanwhile, they are also vying to build their own ecosystem of accessories and smart wearables, and has developed the Kirin A1 SoC dedicated to the category of products.

The Kirin A1 chipset is not dedicated to a specific type of product and can be used to drive a wide array of wearables. The Huawei FreeBuds 3 and the Watch GT 2 are two of the products that already use the chipset and Huawei intends to launch more products like AR Glasses, over-the-year as well as neckband-style wireless headsets, and Bluetooth speakers. Huawei will be launching some products with the Kirin A1 chipset next month in India.

The key highlights of the Kirin A1 chipset include a dual-chip design and support for Bluetooth 5.1 and BLE 5.1 protocols. The latter helps the Kirin A1 switch back to the low-energy mode whenever possible, thereby resulting in power consumption as low as 10mA per MHz which, as per Huawei, is nearly one-third of similar wearable-centric chips from other manufacturers. For truly wireless earphones, the chipset supports isochronous Bluetooth connectivity which means that both of the earbuds can connect to the input source independently. The range of Bluetooth connections on devices using this chip is 150 meters (~500 ft / 165 yards).

Huawei’s Kirin A1 chip uses a single-core Arm Cortex M7 processor with a maximum frequency of 200MHz. The 4.3 x 4.4 mm die consists of a Bluetooth chip, an audio processing unit, a “low-power” application processor, and a power management unit. Huawei says the chipset is designed to deliver accurate readings and low-latency readings from multiple sensors and high-quality aural experience on audio accessories.

The first products with the Kirin A1 will be coming to India next month which is when we’ll be able to test these claims about power efficiency and low latency.

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Update: Huawei announced the launch date for Watch GT2 in India

Huawei has sent out media invites for the launch of the Huawei Watch GT2 in India. The event is scheduled for December 5, 2019, and in the creative, Huawei is boasting about the Watch GT2’s two-week-long battery life. We’re not sure of the variants that will be launched in India, or the pricing. Internationally, the Watch GT2 starts at $199.

The post [Update: Watch GT2 launch date] Huawei Kirin A1, Huawei’s first dedicated chipset for wearables, will launch in India next month appeared first on xda-developers.

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