Spotify and Call of Duty: Mobile win Google Play’s Users’ Choice Awards for 2019

The Google Play Store contains hundreds and thousands of apps and games, which can quickly become overwhelming for anyone and everyone. The sheer quantity of options available makes it very difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, and quality apps will definitely find it difficult to come to the notice of the average user. Google thus began its annual Google Play Awards in 2016, aiming to highlight some of the best apps and games to users, and even have separate categories for users to vote for. Voting for the Users’ Choice Awards began last month, and the results have now rolled in, crowning Spotify and Call of Duty: Mobile as the best app and game of this year, respectively, according to user opinion.

Users’ Choice Awards 2019

As the name implies, Users’ Choice Awards are given to apps, games, movies, and books, solely on the votes from users. Thus, these are the best choices solely from the average user opinion and do not necessarily reflect objectivity.

Users’ Choice App of 2019

Nominees:

• Hike Sticker Chat – Fun & Expressive Messaging
• Video Editor – Glitch Video Effects
• Spotify: Listen to your favourite music & podcasts
• Vedantu: Learning App for Class6-10, IITJEE & NEET
• Shilpa Shetty – Fitness (Yoga, Exercise & Diet)
• OkCredit – Udhar Bahi Khata
• Work from Home, Earn Money, Resell with Meesho App
• Ablo: Talk to new people & explore the world
• Enlight Pixaloop – Photo Animator & Photo Editor
• Live Line & Cricket Scores – Cricket Exchange

Winner:

Spotify emerged as the winner of the Users’ Choice App of 2019.

Spotify: Listen to new music, podcasts, and songs (Free, Google Play) →

Users’ Choice Game of 2019

Nominees:

• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• RAID: Shadow Legends
• Call of Duty®: Mobile
• Angry Birds Dream Blast
• Brawl Stars
• Stick Cricket Live
• Assassin’s Creed Rebellion
• Ludo All Star – Online Classic Board & Ludo Game
• Masala Madness: Cooking Game
• Indian Air Force: A Cut Above [DISHA – IAF HQ]

Winner:

Call of Duty®: Mobile emerged as the winner of the Users’ Choice Game of 2019.

Call of Duty®: Mobile (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Google Play Awards 2019

In addition to Users’ Choice, Google also independently crowns apps as the best choice for the year.

Best App of 2019

Ablo: Talk to new people & explore the world has been crowned the best app of 2019, as it stood out to Google for its ingenuity, polish and thoughtful execution.

Ablo: Talk to new people & explore the world (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Best Everyday Essentials of 2019

This category contains apps that are considered practical tools for everyday functioning. Since people’s needs can vary, there are multiple apps suggested in this category.

• Boosted – Productivity & Time Tracker

Boosted - Productivity & Time Tracker (Free, Google Play) →

• Hike Sticker Chat – Fun & Expressive Messaging

Hike Sticker Chat - Fun & Expressive Messaging (Free, Google Play) →

• OkCredit – Udhar Bahi Khata

OkCredit - Udhar Bahi Khata (To be announced, Google Play) →

• Spotify: Listen to your favourite music & podcasts

Spotify: Listen to new music, podcasts, and songs (Free, Google Play) →

• Vedantu: Learning App for Class6-10, IITJEE & NEET

Vedantu: Learning App for Class6-10, IITJEE & NEET (Free, Google Play) →

Best Personal Growth Apps of 2019

This category contains apps that encourage users to go on a journey of self-improvement, set goals and achieve those goals.

• Work from Home, Earn Money, Resell with Meesho App

Work from Home, Earn Money, Resell with Meesho App (Free, Google Play) →

• Scripts by Drops – Learn to write

The app was not found in the store. 🙁

Go to store Google websearch

• Shilpa Shetty – Fitness (Yoga, Exercise & Diet)

Shilpa Shetty - Fitness (Yoga, Exercise & Diet) (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• SleepTown

SleepTown (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• Smarter – Brain training & Mind games

Smarter - Brain training & Mind games (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Best Hidden Gems of 2019

This category surfaces apps that are relatively newer but are quickly rising in rank.

• Appy Weather: the most personal weather app

Appy Weather: the most personal weather app 👋 (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• Fitvate – Gym Workout Trainer Fitness Coach Plans

Fitvate - Gym Workout Trainer Fitness Coach Plans (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• MashApp – Video Punchlines

MashApp - Video Punchlines (Free, Google Play) →

• Morphin – CGI GIF Maker & Editor

Morphin – CGI GIF Maker & Editor (Free, Google Play) →

• Swoot – Podcasts with friends 🙂

Swoot – Podcasts with friends 🙂 (Free, Google Play) →

Best for Fun Apps of 2019

These apps help you pass the time by making good use of it.

• Concepts – Sketch, Design, Illustrate

Concepts - Sketch, Design, Illustrate (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• Enlight Pixaloop – Photo Animator & Photo Editor

Enlight Pixaloop - Photo Animator & Photo Editor (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• Live Line & Cricket Scores – Cricket Exchange

Live Line & Cricket Scores - Cricket Exchange (Free⁺, Google Play) →

• Video Editor – Glitch Video Effects

Video Editor - Glitch Video Effects (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Try out the apps and let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Also, let us know if there are other apps that you feel are worthy of being in the lists above, and that Google should have considered.

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OxygenOS 10.0.6 tweaks Android 10’s built-in dark mode to use AMOLED black

OxygenOS by OnePlus is known to serve one of the finest Android experience among the several overlay skins available. Not only is OxygenOS one of the best skin when it comes to fast and fluid usability and good animations, but also offers a wide scope of customizability. One customization option that has been available in the skin since as early as the OnePlus 3 is the native dark mode, which turns the background colors in the System UI to pitch black to help devices with AMOLED displays save battery. OnePlus made changed to the dark mode with the Android Pie update, adding hints of different grays but this received mixed reactions. Following the OxygenOS 10.0.6 update on OnePlus 7T, the grays in the UI are toned down and replaced by AMOLED black color.

Until Android Oreo, OxygenOS’s dark mode feature predominantly used solid AMOLED black color (#000000) throughout the UI. However, this was changed following the Android 9 Pie update on the OnePlus 6 last year, which is when OnePlus injected different shades of gray. So, with that update, the background of the Quick Settings panel, systems apps, and the floating volume control – all got painted in varying shades of gray. While some users liked the color scheme because it highlighted the Quick Setting menu separately, others were peeved by the discontinuity.

OnePlus 7T XDA Forums

The latter group of users can be satisfied now because OnePlus has updated the colors in the drop-down notification and the quick settings panels. These changes are in line with the unbuilt dark theme in Android 10. Like you can see side-by-side, the OnePlus 7T running Android 10-based OxygenOS v10.0.6 has an AMOLED black versus the grayish panel on the OxygenOS 10.0.2.

Not only that, but the gray on individual quick settings toggles is also darker. The default accent blue is visibly darker but since you can already customize that in OxygenOS using scrubbers or by setting a hex code for the colors, that’s does not make any difference.

Meanwhile, the volume controls in OxygenOS are still gray and we’re not sure whether these will be changed eventually or not. Besides the OnePlus 7T, the new AMOLED black tone is also present in the latest OxygenOS open beta for OnePlus 6T. The OnePlus 7T or the 7T Pro don’t have it yet but we’ll be adding details about other devices when we learn more about the availability in Open beta or stable channels.

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Via: Reddit 

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HP Chromebook x360 convertible launched in India in 12″ and 14″ variants

Chromebooks were formerly seen as cheaper alternatives to bigger or bigger and laptops. Apart from premium offerings like the last year’s $999 Pixelbook, the availability of native support for the Google Play Store and Android apps on Chromebooks has helped change the perception to quite an extent. HP is among the manufacturers that spare some SKUs for ChromeOS and has launched two new – 12″ and 14″ – models as part of its x360 series of convertible Chromebooks in India.

HP just announced the availability of these new convertible laptops running on ChromeOS. The HP Chromebook x360 12″ and 14″ models are powered by Intel’s Celeron N4000 CPU, previously part of the Gemini Lake family. Made with a 14nm foundry process, the Intel Celeron N4000 is a low-powered CPU for entry-level laptops. It features a 2-core-2-thread design and has a base and a burst frequency of 1.1GHz and 2.6GHz, respectively. Integrated with the Intel N4000 CPU, there’s an Intel UHD Graphic 600 GPU. HP’s Chromebook x360 series already has a 14″ model that come with Intel Core i3 or Core i5 options.

HP is primarily projecting the new Chromebook x360 laptop duo as entertainment and education devices for the Gen-Z. The 12″ model features a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the traditional 16:9 to facilitate easy usage in both – landscape and portrait orientations for the display. Further, the touch displays on both laptops support styluses certified for USI (Universal Stylus Interface) and can be used with any USI supported stylus – even with multiple USI styluses at once. The HP Chromebook x360 features a magnetic dock to attach the stylus on the side of the laptop. The HP pen, however, must be bought separately and is not included with either of the laptops. When it comes to the technology behind these displays, both the variants use an HD+ WLED-backlit IPS panel with different resolutions mentioned in the table below.

Complementing the Intel Celeron processor is 4GB of RAM on both models and 64GB of eMMC storage. The storage can be further expanded by another 256GB using a microSD card. For I/O, both the variants get two USB Type-C and a single USB Type-A port.

The new HP Chromebook models get full support for Android apps as well as the Google Assistant. You can also use commands on the laptop to control the smart home equipment in your personal IoT. Additionally, there’s 100GB of Google One Drive storage for a year.

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HP Chromebook x360 (Gemini Lake) Specifications

Specifications	HP Chromebook x360 12″	HP Chromebook x360 14″ (Gemini Lake)
Dimensions and Weight	272 x 216 x 17.3 mm 1.35kg	324 x 226 x 18.8 mm Starting at 1.58kg
Display	12″ IPS anti-glare WLED-backlit touchscreen Resolution: 1366 x 912 360º hinge rotation	14″ SVA anti-glare WLED-backlit touchscreen Resolution: 1366 x 768 360º hinge rotation
Design	3D metallic keyboard deck with Ceramic White polished cover	3D metallic keyboard deck with Ceramic White polished cover
Processor	Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-core 1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.6 GHz burst frequency 4 MB cache	Intel Celeron N4000 Dual-core 1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.6 GHz burst frequency 4 MB cache
Memory	4GB LPDD4-2400 SDRAM	4GB LPDD4-2400 SDRAM
Graphics Configurations	Intel UHD Graphics 600	Intel UHD Graphics 600
Storage Configurations	64GB eMMC Expandable up to 256GB	64GB eMMC Expandable up to 256GB
I/O Ports	2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (USB + DP 1.2 + PD 3.0) 1x USB 3.1 Type-A microSD card slot Headphone/microphone combo jack	2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C (USB + DP 1.2 + PD 3.0) 1x USB 3.1 Type-A microSD card slot Headphone/microphone combo jack
Connectivity	Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi5 (2×2 MU-MIMO) Bluetooth 5	Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi5 (2×2 MU-MIMO) Bluetooth 5
Camera	HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone	HP Wide Vision HD Camera with integrated dual array digital microphone
Audio	B&O-tuned dual speakers	B&O-tuned dual speakers
Battery Configurations	40.31Wh	47Wh
AC Adapter Configuration	USB Type-C 45W	USB Type-C 45W
OS	ChromeOS	ChromeOS
Color	Ceramic White, Natural silver	Ceramic White, Natural silver

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Price & Availability

The new HP Chromebook x360 will be available in India offline as well as via Amazon, Flipkart, and HP’s own online store. The 12″ model is priced at ₹29,990 (~$420) whereas the 14″ Intel Celeron N400 variant will be sold at ₹34,989 (~$490). The HP pen will have to be bought separately for ₹3,999 (~$55).

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TWRP adds support for the Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro, Nokia 7.2, and Nokia 6.2

The TWRP custom recovery has been around for several years now and it has grown to become the go-to option for the Android community to install any kind of third-party software on their devices. TWRP’s open-source nature helped it reach popularity across a wide range of devices. On top of that, features like full backup and restore, ADB sideloading, etc. helped the custom recovery cement its position in the market. Now, TWRP is adding support for a few more devices.

Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro

The Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, which is also known as the Redmi K20 Pro in some regions, was launched earlier this year in May. The device packs in top-of-the-line specs, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 chip, up to 8GB of RAM, and a triple camera setup. While the device has had unofficial TWRP support for a while now, it has now officially received support for the custom recovery.

Official TWRP for the Mi 9T Pro/Redmi K20 Pro

Nokia 7.2

The recently released Nokia 7.2 is a mid-range smartphone that packs in a Snapdragon 660, coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device comes with stock Android out of the box, but if you wish to try out a custom ROM on your phone, you can now use the official TWRP release from the link below to flash a custom ROM.

Official TWRP for the Nokia 7.2

Nokia 6.2

The Nokia 6.2, which was also released alongside the Nokia 7.2, has also received official TWRP support. The device also packs in a mid-range Snapdragon 636 chip, coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Thanks to the TWRP support, you’ll now be able to install custom ROMs, kernels, or Magisk modules to add some functionality to the stock OS.

Official TWRP for the Nokia 6.2

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Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 do not use any US-made components

Huawei’s recent trade ban saga was an unfortunate incident, as it restricted US companies from conducting business with the Chinese company. The most prominent collateral damage in this trade war, to a smartphone enthusiast, was the fact that Huawei’s newer smartphones like the Mate 30 series will be left without the comforting shade of Google Mobile Services. However, the effects of the trade ban extend beyond software, as smartphones from Huawei did come with several components sourced from US companies. But a report from Wall Street Journal suggests that newer batches of Huawei devices like the Huawei Mate 30 and the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 do not come with any US-based components.

Huawei, much like other smartphone OEMs, depends upon cordial relations among nations to build the advanced pieces of technology that we often take for granted. Smartphones are a result of hardware and software cooperation among multiple entities with varied origins, so harmonious trade relations between powerful nations was considered a pre-requisite for building a globally competitive product. The US trade ban threw a wrench in Huawei’s plan, as companies like Qualcomm, Intel and others were forced to cut ties with the Chinese company. Later on, some companies assessed that they were not to be affected by the trade ban, while others were granted licenses to resume business. In the meantime, Huawei sought alternatives for the crucial components that it previously sourced from US companies. And as it turns out, the company was able to reduce its dependence on US companies for hardware.

According to the Wall Street Journal‘s report citing UBS and Fomalhaut Techno Solutions‘ analysis, newer batches of devices like the Huawei Mate 30 and the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 do not contain any parts sourced from US companies. For instance, audio amplifiers that used to be sourced from Cirrus Logic, a US company, are now being sourced from NXP, a company based in the Netherlands. Similarly, power management chips that came from ON Semiconductor (US), now see alternates from MediaTek (Taiwan); while antenna switches that were sourced from Qorvo (US), and Skyworks (US), now see alternate options originating from Murata (Japan), and Huawei’s own HiSilicon (China).

This switching over has allowed Huawei to reduce its reliance on US-based suppliers, and in some instances, entirely eliminate US-based options and use other competing suppliers.

The report quotes a statement from a Huawei spokesman:

It is the company’s clear preference to continue to integrate and buy components from U.S. supply partners. If that proves impossible because of the decisions of the U.S. government, we will have no choice but to find alternative supply from non-U.S. sources

The report further mentions that Huawei had anticipated a blacklisting after years of pressure from the US, and so, the company had begun stockpiling spare parts last year which would allow them some extra time in case of a blacklisting situation. The company also began identifying alternatives and working on its own replacement parts.

On the other hand, chip makers like Qorvo, Skyworks, and Broadcom have warned of a hit to their earnings because of the trade ban. So while Huawei appears to be maintaining its momentum because of globalization, others in the US might be feeling the pinch tighter.

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Source: Wall Street Journal
Via: The Verge

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Kernel sources available for Android 10 updates of Samsung Galaxy S10 series and Xiaomi Mi 9/Redmi K20 Pro

Timely kernel source releases from OEMs give developers and power users a chance to dive deeper into the code that runs their phones. It allows them to figure out ways to improve the phone’s overall performance and capabilities. Kernel source releases also help developers release custom ROMs for the device which, in turn, benefit users who aren’t satisfied with the stock ROM. In a bid to promote third-party development, most OEMs these days release kernel sources within a month or two of their devices hitting the market. Manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi have a good track record of releasing kernel sources and they’ve previously released kernel sources for the Android 9 Pie build for the Galaxy S10 series, the Xiaomi Mi 9 and the Redmi K20 Pro. Now, following the recent Android 10 rollout for these devices, the companies have released kernel sources for the Android 10 builds.

Galaxy S10 XDA Forums || Galaxy S10e XDA Forums || Galaxy S10+ XDA Forums || Redmi K20 Pro XDA Forums || Mi 9 XDA Forums

Kernel sources for the Exynos variants of the Samsung Galaxy S10 series are now available on Samsung’s Open Source website (linked below). These include the Galaxy S10e (SM-G970F), the Galaxy S10 (SM-G973F), and the Galaxy S10+ (SM-G975F). The latest releases are at the top of the list and contain the tag ‘QQ’ in the release description. On the other hand, sources for the Xiaomi Mi 9, codename Cepheus, and Redmi K20 Pro are available on GitHub. It’s worth noting that the kernel branch for the Mi 9 and Redmi K20 Pro is the same, so you can download kernel sources for either device from the same link below.

Kernel Sources for the Galaxy S10 Series

Kernel Sources for the Xiaomi Mi 9/Redmi K20 Pro

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Redmi K30 official teaser shows off quad rear cameras and side fingerprint scanner

Late last month, Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand first teased the upcoming Redmi K30. The initial teaser revealed that the device will come with 5G dual-mode 5G support and the attached image suggested that it would feature a dual punch-hole display. Soon thereafter, live images of the device surfaced online which revealed that the K30 will also include a 120Hz display. We also got to know that the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 730 or Snapdragon 730G chip. Then, the company’s General Manager, Lu Weibing, announced that the K30 series will be announced on December 10th. Now, just a week ahead of its launch, the company has floated more teasers giving us a first look at its design.

As per the recent images shared on Weibo, the upcoming Redmi K30 (5G variant) will feature a quad-camera setup arranged vertically on the back. The camera module itself is housed within a large circle that has a glossy finish, as opposed to the matte finish of the back panel. The dual-LED flash resides right beneath the camera array, outside the circle, with the 5G branding underneath. Other than that, the back of the device is quite clean with the exception of the Redmi branding towards the bottom. The power button resides in a recess on the right edge of the device and houses the fingerprint scanner.

 

The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is a departure from the in-display fingerprint scanner found on the Redmi K20 series, but on the bright side we can expect faster unlock speeds and the recess is definitely a nice touch. The teaser also reaffirms that the device will feature dual-mode 5G, but we don’t get a clear look at the other edges so we don’t have any information on the port selection yet. A different teaser image confirms that the device will feature a dual punch-hole display up on the front, with minimal bezels on all sides. In contrast, the Redmi K20 series featured a single pop-up selfie camera on the top edge.

Additionally, Weibing has shared a teaser that reveals that Redmi will be launching its first WiFi router, AC2100, and a smart speaker, Redmi Little Love speaker Play (translated), along with the Redmi K30 series at the upcoming event. As of now, we have no further information about the internal specifications of the upcoming devices. But we expect to learn more as the launch draws closer.

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Source: Weibo (1,2,3,4)

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