Facebook is developing its own OS to reduce dependence on Android

Despite the recent privacy scandals, mishandling of user data, and a potential federal injunction looming in the distance, Facebook seems to be going full steam ahead with its ambitions. According to a recent report by The Information, the company is now developing its own operating system to reduce dependency on Google’s Android. The development, as per The Verge, is being led by Mark Lucovsky — an ex-Microsoft official who co-authored the Windows NT operating system.

While the report provides a limited amount of information about how Facebook plans to use the new operating system, it does point out that currently Facebook’s Oculus and Portal devices run on a modified version of Android. This leads us to believe that with its new operating system the company plans to replace Android on its VR and smart devices. And one of Facebook’s AR and VR heads, Ficus Kirkpatrick, mirrors this sentiment. According to Kirkpatrick, “it’s possible” that Facebook’s future hardware won’t need to rely on Google’s software which could possibly remove Google’s control over the company’s hardware.

Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s head of hardware, also told The Information that the company “want(s) to make sure the next generation has space for us. We don’t think we can trust the marketplace or competitors to ensure that’s the case. And so we’re going to do it ourselves.” Along with the aforementioned Oculus and Portal devices, Facebook is also working on AR glasses. Bosworth reveals that these glasses, codenamed “Orion”, could arrive as early as 2023. Interestingly, Apple is also expected to come out with its own pair of AR glasses around the same time. Facebook is reportedly also working on a brain control interface for its glasses, which could allow users to control them with their thoughts.

The report further suggests that Facebook is hoping to take a similar approach as Apple with its hardware in the future. Facebook is reportedly also working on its own custom chip hardware, alongside a voice assistant that it confirmed earlier this year. It’s worth noting that Facebook’s previous attempt at developing its own OS did not work out well. Back in 2013, the company created a forked version of Android that ran on an HTC device and it wasn’t well-received.

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Source: The Information

Via: The Verge

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[Update: Available] Onida launches a smart TV in India with Amazon’s Fire TV software

Update 12/20/19 @ 1:38 AM ET: The Onida Fire TV with Amazon Fire TV interface is now available for purchase. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on December 11, 2019, is preserved as below.

Onida, formally known as MIRC Electronics, is an Indian TV brand that was very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s for its CRT televisions. After plummeting initially to the wave of Plasma TVs, and eventually LCD and LED TVs, and competition from international brands like Samsung, Sony, and LG, Onida has transitioned into a smart TV brand and now has a decent portfolio of Android TVs. In partnership with Amazon India, Onida has now launched two new smart TVs, bringing a Fire TV software experience to these TVs and skipping the requirement to buy an Amazon Fire TV Stick separately.

The new range of smart TVs launched by Onida and Amazon includes a 32-inch HD TV and a 43-inch Full HD TV. Running the Amazon Fire TV software, the Onida smart TVs support OTT video platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar, YouTube, Zee5, Sony LIV, Sun Nxt, and others, out of the box. The remote bundled with the TV has an inbuilt microphone that can be used to interact with Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa. The remote also features dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, Zee5, Sony LIV. The screen supports a contrast ratio of 1200:1 and has a claimed brightness of 300 nits.

In terms of audio, the Onida TVs with Amazon Fire TV interface use a dual speaker setup with a combined audio output of 16 watts. They also feature DTS TruSurround and Dolby Digital Plus for sound enhancement.

Each of these Onida TVs comes with dual-band SISO Wi-Fi, three HDMI ports, one Ethernet, and one USB port. Additionally, they support input via composite video along with analog audio cables, TOSLINK aka optical audio, and output through a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Onida TVs audio-out capabilities via Bluetooth 5.0. The TVs can also be paired to and controlled using an Amazon Echo device with the help of an Alexa skill.

The Onida smart TV lineup with Amazon Fire TV interface will be available in India starting December 20th exclusively via Amazon. The 32-inch model will be available for ₹12,999 while the 43-inch Full HD variant will come for ₹21,999.

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Update: Onida Fire TV is now available for purchase

The Onida Fire TV is now available for purchase from Amazon.in. As is common practice with TVs sold online, Onida will contact the customer within 48 hours of delivery to schedule an installation free-of-cost. However, keep in mind that often in such scenarios, any additional equipment needed in the installation (such as a wall mount) might be separately chargeable.

Buy Onida Fire TV 32-inch from Amazon.in

Buy Onida Fire TV 43-inch from Amazon.in

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Leaked live images show the OPPO Reno3 and Reno3 Pro

OPPO is prepping up to launch the Reno3 series at an event in China later this month. Over the last couple of weeks, the company has released several teasers about the upcoming devices in the Reno3 series. The teasers, along with a couple of leaks, have revealed key details about the design and specifications of the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro. We already have confirmation from OPPO that the Reno3 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G chip and it will pack in a 4,025 mAh battery.

Both the devices will feature a similar design on the back, with a quad-camera array, a gradient finish, and minimal OPPO branding. We also know that the Reno3 Pro will feature a curved hole-punch display, while the regular Reno3 will feature a flat display with a waterdrop-style notch. OPPO has also released some information about the dimensions of the Reno3 series, with the Pro variant measuring in at just 7.7mm thick, while the non-Pro variant will be 7.9mm thick. And finally, we have evidence that suggests that the regular Reno3 will be powered by MediaTek’s unannounced Dimensity 1000L chip.

This is OPPO Reno3 Pro, light, thin, curved, hole, 90Hz, almost perfect. pic.twitter.com/q0Ez4POhcK

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) December 19, 2019

Now, leaked images of the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro have surfaced online, giving us our first good look at the upcoming devices. Renowned leakster Ice universe has shared live images of the Reno3 Pro that showcase the more premium of the two devices in all its glory. The images confirm everything that we’ve learned about the devices so far, including the curved hole-punch display, quad-camera setup and gradient finish. The device looks quite impressive and Ice universe has also revealed that it will feature a high refresh rate 90Hz display.

As for the Reno3, live images of the device have surfaced on Weibo that showcase a back panel design reminiscent of the Redmi K20 series. The images also confirm that the device will feature a quad-camera setup, a flat display with a notch, and it will run ColorOS 7 based on Android 10 at launch. As of now, these are all the details we have about the upcoming devices and we expect to learn more as the launch draws closer.

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Source: Weibo

Via: Twitter, Android Central

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OnePlus opens up a bug bounty program called the OnePlus Security Response Center

Cybersecurity is more important than ever as we go into a new decade that is sure to, again, radically change technology as we know it. And no matter how huge your developer team is or how thoroughly you test your software, some critical vulnerabilities and bugs still manage to cross the pond to stable software a lot of the time. This is why several companies, including Samsung, Google, and Huawei, have bug bounty programs that allow security researchers to have a go with the company’s software and walk away with a very generous amount of cash if they manage to find any critical exploit. OnePlus is now joining this list of companies, as they promised earlier this year.

OnePlus has unveiled its own bug bounty program, which they are calling the OnePlus Security Response Center, or OneSCR for short. The premise is simple: If you (properly) find a vulnerability, you can get money in exchange for (properly) reporting it. The opening of this program comes nearly two years after the company disclosed a security breach in its payment portal, and one month after they disclosed a breach of customer data in the OnePlus Store.

This bug bounty program is a bit different compared to the equivalents from other companies, though, and this is because of payout amounts. While other companies are willing to offer several hundred thousand dollars for a very critical security vulnerability, OnePlus is offering up to $7,000 for what it deems to be the most critical threats, while smaller bugs will go as low as $50-$100. The Submission Policy page clarifies OnePlus’ stance on responsible/coordinated disclosure, account interaction, disallowed attack methods, ineligible issues, and finally, the payments.

Here’s the reward tier list:

•   Special cases: up to $7,000
•   Critical: $750 – $1,500
•   High: $250 – $750
•   Medium: $100 – $250
•   Low: $50 – $100

While $7,000 is a decent sum for some people, it is a very far cry from what other companies offer. With a company of OnePlus’ size and scope – they’ve grown a lot larger since they launched the OnePlus One 5 years back – you’d expect payouts for such a program to be just a bit more generous. Nonetheless, we hope the program will help to improve the security of OnePlus products. You can submit bug reports here.

OnePlus also says they will collaborate with HackerOne, a hacker-powered bug bounty platform, to launch a pilot program in 2020, inviting select security researchers to test their systems against potential threats.

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Source: OnePlus

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Pokémon GO’s “Buddy Adventure” AR multiplayer mode is available now

Pokémon GO isn’t the darling child of mobile gaming like it was back in the summer of 2016, but it’s still one of the most-played titles out there. That continued popularity is thanks in large part Niantic’s continued support and the slow rollout of new features and events. The newest feature to grace trainers’ handsets is “Buddy Adventure,” an AR multiplayer mode available now.

So what is Buddy Adventure? Basically, it allows you to become best buddies with your favorite Pokémon. You can do this in a number of different ways and unlock various bonuses along the way. There are four “Buddy Levels” that you and your Pokémon can achieve: Good Buddy, Great Buddy, Ultra Buddy, and Best Buddy. Leveling up requires collecting “Affection Hearts,” which are earned through various forms of interaction with your Pokémon.

You can be constantly collecting hearts by walking with your buddy, just like the existing “Buddy Pokémon” feature works with candy. You can also feed berries to your Pokémon, tap and pet your buddy in AR mode, do battles in gyms, take snapshots of your buddy, and visit new PokéStops or Gyms with your buddy. All of these activities earn different numbers of hearts.

As mentioned, there is an AR multiplayer element to Buddy Adventure as well. Eventually, your buddy Pokémon will be able to meet fellow trainers’ buddies in a “Shared AR Experience” mode. You will be able to sync up with trainers with AR+ and take a group photo with your buddies. Buddy Adventure is a massive update for Pokémon GO as it touches many parts of the game. If you’ve been looking for a reason to hop back in, now is the time.

Pokémon GO (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Source: Pokémon GO Live

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Get better online security with Surfshark VPN for Android

In a day and age where so much of our lives are spent on the Internet, privacy and security have never been more important. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the easiest ways you can improve your cybersecurity on all devices. If you’re looking to download an Android VPN, Surfshark has you covered on your phone and on other platforms.

A VPN is essentially an encrypted pathway for your web data to pass through. This allows you to browse the web and hide your IP address and other sensitive information. Simply put, it fools trackers into thinking you’re using the internet from somewhere else. Surfshark VPN makes this super simple to set up and use on any device you might have.

Surfshark offers a few different subscription plans to choose from. You can pay for one month at a time for $11.95 per month, pay yearly for $71.88, or pay for 2 years for $47.76. The two-year price breaks down to only $1.99 per month. Plus, currently, Surfshark is running a Holiday deal where you can get one month for free. So you can give it a proper test before putting down money.

Here are a few of the features of Surfshark VPN:

• Apps for Chrome, Firefox, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Fire TV, and Trust DNS
• Watch Netflix in the US and 15 other countries.
• Whitelist specific apps and websites to bypass the VPN.
• Prevent malware and phishing attempts.
• History is not logged.
• Industry-leading encryption.
• Kill Switch to instantly disable the internet if the VPN connection drops.

We thank Surfshark for sponsoring this post. Though [Honor] did have input on the topic, the content was written by XDA. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including servers, developers, writers, and more. While you may see sponsored content alongside Portal content, all of it will be clearly labeled as such. The XDA Portal team will not compromise journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company. Our opinion cannot be bought. Sponsored content, advertising, and the XDA Depot are managed by our marketing director and not the editorial team.

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Enable Quick Wallet Access for Google Pay on any rooted Google Pixel smartphone running Android 10

During the early Android Q betas, a new gesture called “show cards & passes” was discovered in Settings. According to its description, this feature allows one to access their credit cards, passes, and tickets from Google Pay, as well as an emergency information card, in the power menu. When Google launched Android 10 for the general public, they put up a webpage detailing some of the new features of the new OS. One of the features was called “quick wallet access,” and its description matched what we saw in the early Android Q betas. However, this text was removed from the page, and the feature never appeared in any Android 10 release – even with the launch of the Pixel 4 in October and the first “Pixel Feature Drop” in December. We know the feature is still there, though, because we managed to activate it in mid-September, and we’ve confirmed it still works today. Now, we’re sharing our mod to enable Quick Wallet Access on your own rooted Pixel smartphone.

Enabling this feature will change the UI of the power menu that you access by long-pressing the power button. Instead of a column of buttons aligned towards the right-hand side, the new power menu consists of one large and one smaller card aligned horizontally towards the bottom of the screen. At the top of the screen, you’ll find a row of cards that you can swipe left or right through. Your emergency information and any cards you’ve added in Google Pay will appear here. The purpose of this “quick wallet access” feature is to make it so you don’t have to open the Google Pay app to switch your active card. All you have to do is long-press the power button and swipe left or right to pick your desired card.

In order to make a payment after changing your active card, you’ll still need to unlock your phone. If you set up Face Unlock on the Pixel 4, you’ll be able to immediately unlock your phone – before quick wallet access even shows up in the power menu – to make a payment. That’s why I was expecting this feature to appear in the first Pixel Feature Drop for the Pixel 4, but fortunately, we know this feature won’t be a Pixel 4-exclusive. The changelog for the December 2019 update references this feature, suggesting it could be coming to the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL. Google says it’s an “experimental feature,” though, so it might never roll out officially. If they do roll it out, it’ll likely come to the Pixel 4 first before rolling out for older Pixels. If you would rather not wait, or you own a first-generation Pixel phone and want to get in on the fun, you can try my mod linked below.

Requirements:

• SystemUI with the quick wallet access feature baked-in. This includes the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL on Android 10. This will very likely not work on non-Pixel smartphones unless you’re running a custom ROM such as Pixel Experience that uses Google’s SystemUI.
• Root access with Magisk.

Steps:

1. 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 the installer script will detect it so you won’t need to install this separate SQLite binary. If so, proceed to step 3.
2. Reboot your phone.
3. Download my Magisk Module and install it in Magisk Manager: GooglePayPowerMenu.zip
4. Reboot your phone.
5. Go to Settings > System > Gestures and check to see if “Cards & passes” appears in the list. Make sure that the feature is enabled.
6. Long-press the power button to check and see if the new power menu UI is showing. At the top, you should see an emergency information card and any cards you’ve added in Google Pay.

Troubleshooting:

You may have to wait a bit or reboot once more for the quick wallet access feature to start working. For me, it appeared after I opened the power menu a second time. Also, if you’re having trouble adding a card to Google Pay because of SafetyNet, then be sure to install the GPay-SQLite-Fix Magisk Module.

Uninstall:

Lastly, if you want to completely uninstall this mod and revert the power menu back to the original UI, you must do the following:

1. Uninstall the module in Magisk Manager
2. Delete the 2 quickwalletaccess scripts from /data/adb/service.d
3. Run the following shell commands:

   adb shell settings put secure global_actions_panel_debug_enabled 0
   adb shell settings put secure global_actions_panel_available 0

4. Reboot

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I would 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.

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