WhatsApp’s Disappearing Messages feature will roll out this month

WhatsApp will start rolling out its highly anticipated Disappearing Messages feature this month. The feature, which has been in development for the last few months, will let users share messages, images, videos, and GIFs on the platform that will automatically disappear after seven days.

In case you missed our previous coverage, WhatsApp has been working on the Disappearing Messages feature since March this year. The feature made its way to the beta channel with WhatsApp 2.20.197.4 beta in July, a couple of months after which it received support for media files. Just a few days ago, WhatsApp shared an FAQ section on its website, revealing additional information about the feature. The company has now officially announced that it will start rolling to all WhatsApp users this month.

In a recent post on Facebook Newsroom, the company wrote: “We’re starting with seven days because we think it offers peace of mind that conversations aren’t permanent, while remaining practical so you don’t forget what you were chatting about…We hope people enjoy disappearing messages, which will be rolling out to users everywhere this month.”

Once the feature rolls out, WhatsApp users will see a new “Disappearing Messages” setting in the app. When enabled, the feature will allow users to share disappearing messages, images, videos, and GIFs with each other. In individual chats, either user will have the option to turn on disappearing messages. In group chats, however, only the group admin will have the ability to enable/disable the feature.

Sadly, WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature won’t offer any security measures to deter recipients from saving the content of the disappearing messages or taking a screenshot before they expire. Recipients will also be able to forward disappearing messages, and the sender won’t be alerted of the same. Similarly, media shared using the feature will be automatically saved to the recipient’s device if they have auto-download turned on, and it won’t be removed from their device even when the original message disappears from the chat. The lack of such security measures makes disappearing messages a less than favorable addition.

It’s worth noting that WhatsApp recently added a new storage management tool to the app, which is a far more useful addition than the half-baked disappearing messages feature. You can learn more about it by following this link.

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Samsung’s ISOCELL Vizion 33D is a 3D ToF sensor that could be coming to your next smartphone

After launching four new sensors as part of its ISOCELL 0.7μm product lineup earlier in September this year, Samsung has now added a new ToF sensor to its portfolio. The new ISOCELL Vizion 33D sensor offers enhanced depth-sensing capabilities for “best-in-class photography and AR/VR experiences.” Samsung claims that its new ToF sensor can be used for a variety of applications, ranging from 3D scanning to implementing video bokeh effect, as it features the ability to track moving objects with low latency.

The ISOCELL Vizion 33D sensor features a 4-tap demodulation system and 120fps support for accurate tracking of moving objects. The demodulation system allows each pixel in the sensor to receive four phase signals simultaneous (0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°), allowing the sensor to generate a depth image with just a single frame. This system also reduces motion artifacts significantly.

Samsung further adds that the ISOCELL Vizion 33D sensor is capable of accurately detecting the depth of an object up to 5 meters with high accuracy in both indoor and outdoor environments. And using ISOCELL’s pixel technology, the sensor can accurately separate objects from the background to deliver a 3D bokeh effect. The sensor also includes Deep Trench Isolation technology (DTI), which maximizes isolation between pixels to reduce crosstalk, and Backside Scattering Technology (BST) to enhance its quantum efficiency. Using these technologies, the sensor can generate high-precision depth images that can be used for secure facial authentication.

Along with the 3D applications, the ISOCELL Vizion 33D is also capable of assisting the main camera’s autofocus on mobile devices. The sensor has been designed to offer maximum power efficiency in 3D applications, and it has a total power consumption of under 400mW for both the IR illuminator and the ToF sensor.

Samsung ISOCELL Vizion 33D: Specifications

Specification	Samsung ISOCELL Vizion 33D
Depth resolution	640 x 480
Pixel size	7μm
Optical format	1/3.2″
VCSEL wavelength	940mm
Distance range	0.2-5.0m
Quantum Efficiency	34% @940 nm
Demodulation Contrast	85%
Depth precision	<0.1%
Depth accuracy	Indoor: <1.0% Outdoor: <2.0%
ADC bit resolution	10 bit, 12 bit
Raw image frame rate	60fps @4-tap (typical)
Output interface	2-lane MIPI CSI-2
Power consumption	160mW (sensor only)

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Source: Samsung

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Applications open for Realme UI 2.0 Open Beta based on Android 11 for the Realme X50 Pro

Realme was among the first Android OEMs to announce Android 11 beta for its flagship device back in June. As promised, the Chinese OEM rolled out the first Android 11 beta to its Realme X50 Pro back a month later, joining the likes of OnePlus 8/8 Pro, Oppo Find X2/X2 Pro, Xiaomi, and Vivo, which had also rolled out a similar update to their newest flagships. Five months later, the company is now inviting more users to try out Android’s latest iteration through the Realme UI 2.0 Open Beta program. Unlike the first beta, which was limited to the Chinese variant of the Realme X50 Pro, the new Open Beta is available for the Indian variant — RMX2076PU to be precise.

Realme X50 Pro XDA Forums

If you’re interested in trying out the Realme UI 2.0 Open Beta based on Android 11, you’ll have to enroll your device in the beta program. Before you proceed, make sure your device is on firmware version A.37 – RMX2076PU_11.A.37.

To update your Realme X50 Pro to Realme UI 2.0 Open Beta, go to Settings > Software update > tap on the gear icon in the top right corner > select Trial Version > fill in your details and tap Apply Now. You should receive a software update shortly after. If you’re already using the Android 11 preview version, there’s no need to go through this process — you’ll directly receive this update.

If you encounter any bugs in the software or have suggestions for improvement, you can submit them here. You can also roll back to the latest stable build if you decide to leave the Open Beta program. You can do so by flashing the rollback package from here — do note that it will wipe all your data.

It should be noted that this beta software is meant for testing and feedback purposes only and is not suitable for average users. There’ll likely be a range of bugs and stability issues that will need to be ironed out before the stable release.

Realme hasn’t shared the concrete date for the final Android 11 release yet, but it shouldn’t take long now that the software is in Open Beta testing.

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Source: Realme India Community

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Samsung Galaxy Buds Beyond trademark hints at new wireless earbuds

Samsung has released some of the best truly wireless headphones over the past few years, including the excellent Galaxy Buds Live. As it looks to maintain a strong lineup of headphones, the company could be gearing up to release another product that could go “beyond” its current offerings.

According to a new trademark filing in the U.S. (via 9to5Google), Samsung looks set to introduce new headphones called “Galaxy Buds Beyond.” While the trademark filing is light on details, the name itself could be a good indication of what to expect. Samsung recently released the Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds+, both of which are excellent options in the world of truly wireless headphones.

It’s difficult to say what the Galaxy Buds Beyond could be. They might not even be headphones, and they might not even be a product that hits the market. We don’t want to speculate too much, especially since we have so little information to work with. But if history is anything to go by, the Galaxy Buds Beyond are likely some type of audio product that will be released in 2021.

It’s possible that whatever is in the works, the Galaxy Bud Beyond could be unveiled alongside Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S21, which reports say could be unveiled in January.

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Celebrate OnePlus Day with big savings on phones and earbuds, today only

Happy OnePlus Day! You may be asking, what on earth is OnePlus Day? Well, it’s a big sale at OnePlus’s store that offers huge savings on OnePlus products. As the name suggests, though, these sales are only available until the end of the day… and some of the sales are only available for certain time frames! OnePlus is really emulating the Prime Day model with this one.

For this celebration, we’re seeing some huge discounts on OnePlus’s flagship phones and earbuds, but the thing that really stands out is their $100 off flash sales. It’s exactly as it sounds–$100 off great products, for a six hour time-slot. This week, they have $100 off the OnePlus 7T, the OnePlus 7T Pro, and the OnePlus 8, all with their own active timeslots. If these deals are enticing, don’t delay, as you don’t have long to grab them!

If you’re coming across this a little late though, don’t despair! OnePlus Day has a number of sales that will last until midnight ET tonight. Picking up the OnePlus 8T, for example, will net you a free pair of the OnePlus Buds. Speaking of, the OnePlus Buds are at their Black Friday price of just $59, so if you’re just looking for new earbuds you can buy these and know you’re getting the best price you can.

The OnePlus 8 Pro is the same, currently on sale for its Black Friday price of $799. They also come with a pair of OnePlus Buds!

OnePlus Day!

Save big on OnePlus product with the OnePlus Day sale! Whether you're taking advantage of a $100 off flash sale or picking up something early at a Black Friday price, you're not likely to leave this sale disappointed.

See the deals at OnePlus

Again, these deals only last until the end of the day, but there is a silver lining–OnePlus is planning to continue OnePlus Day every Wednesday for the next few weeks! It’s likely that the sales will be different from week to week, although some of the products may stay the same. Don’t sleep on anything you might want, though! Check back next week to see what new days OnePlus will have for its fans.

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Xiaomi’s new Mi Box 4S Pro supports 8K video playback

Over the past few years, Xiaomi has released a great lineup of set-top boxes, from the Mi Box 4S to the Mi TV Stick. Now, the company is releasing another streaming device (via Android Authority), and it features support for 8K video playback.

Named the Mi Box 4S Pro, Xiaomi’s newest set-top box is one of the only 8K-capable set-top boxes available — and at such an affordable price, is very hard to beat. It features HDMI 2.1, 16GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, and supports Bluetooth voice controls. It also sports Xiaomi’s MIUI, which should be familiar to anyone who has used one of the company’s streaming devices in the past.

Xiaomi’s Mi Box 4S Pro is a notable upgrade from the Mi Box 4S, which featured 2GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and support for 4K 60fps video playback. That device also supported voice controls, Dolby Audio and DTS Sound, making it one of the most feature-packed streaming devices for its price. Adding support for 8K video playback is an obvious play for the future.

Unfortunately, not much else is known about the Mi Box 4S Pro, including what processor it runs. But that likely won’t matter to people when they see it supports 8K video playback.

The Mi Box 4S Pro will retail for 399 yuan (about $60) when it launches in China. Preorders for the device will be available beginning November 5. As of now, it’s unclear if Xiaomi’s latest set-top box will launch in any markets outside of China, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled if it does.

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LineageOS adopts SeedVault as its open source backup solution

Android’s built-in backup mechanism, which relies on the Google Play Services framework, can backup contacts, call history, text messages, and certain application data and device settings to users’ individual Google Drive accounts. However, backing up and restoring apps can be a pain, especially when you switch between phones from different OEMs or prefer to use a custom ROM without any Google apps. The Mountain View giant may be removing the fan-favorite ADB backup and restore tool, which means users have to opt for root-only tools for better backups. In light of these concerns, the developers over at LineageOS have chosen SeedVault as its default backup solution.

LineageOS XDA Forums

For those not familiar with SeedVault, it is an open-source backup app that uses the same internal APIs as adb backup. The application doesn’t need root access, but it must be compiled with the operating system. The backup location is user-configurable, with options ranging from a USB flash drive to a remote self-hosted cloud alternative such as NextCloud. This makes SeedVault a particularly viable option for users who doesn’t want to store their personal data to Google’s proprietary cloud-based storage.

All the backup contents created by SeedVault are encrypted by client-side encryption (AES/GCM/NoPadding), which is unlockable with a 12-word randomly-generated key compliant with the BIP39 standard. Moreover, power users have the freedom to decrypt, inspect, and re-encrypt their backups through an external standalone utility .

Below you can catch a glimpse of SeedVault in action. Note that the tweet was posted long before the app made its way to LineageOS, thus some UI elements might be different from the current implementation.

Encrypted #FreeSoftware backup for Android is now called Seedvault and has reached beta quality. Check out the video I made about it! pic.twitter.com/zzeBF0I47L

— Torsten Grote (@t_grote) January 22, 2020

The source code of the LineageOS version of SeedVault can be found here. With the addition of more contributors who can maintain or port the backup solution to different Android forks, we are hoping to see the list of SeedVault-supported custom ROMs grow in the coming days.

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