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lundi 11 janvier 2021

Xiaomi confirms the Redmi K40 is coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

A few weeks after Qualcomm unveiled its flagship chipset for 2021, the Snapdragon 888, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi 11. Powered by the Snapdragon 888, the new Xiaomi Mi 11 brought some compelling hardware to the table, including a 6.81-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and 1500 nits of peak brightness, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and an impressive triple camera setup boasting of a 108MP primary sensor. While the Mi 11 is yet to make its way to international markets, Xiaomi’s budget-friendly sub-brand Redmi is now gearing up to launch the Redmi K40 — a Snapdragon 888-powered affordable flagship.

Redmi K40 teaser Weibo body

In a recent post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, Redmi’s General Manager, Lu Weibing, has released some key details about the upcoming Redmi K40. As per the post, the Redmi K40 will be unveiled in China next month. The device will pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC, coupled with a 4,000mAh battery, and a premium flat display. The post also states that the device will go on sale at a starting price of CNY2,999 (~$463), which is significantly cheaper than the base variant of the Xiaomi Mi 11 (CNY 3,999).

While the post doesn’t reveal any additional details, we suspect that Redmi will offer a good mix of flagship and mid-range hardware on the Redmi K40. Much like its predecessors, the device may feature mid-range camera hardware, an FHD+ flat display instead of a QHD+ curved panel, and slower LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.0 storage on the base model. On top of that, the device may not include some of the premium display features found on the Xiaomi Mi 11. However, at the moment, this is all just speculation. We expect Redmi to release more information in the days leading up to the launch. We’ll update this post as soon as we learn more about the upcoming Redmi K40.

The post Xiaomi confirms the Redmi K40 is coming with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 appeared first on xda-developers.



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dimanche 10 janvier 2021

Here’s when Vivo will roll out its Android 11-based Funtouch OS beta

While Google’s latest Pixel devices are typically the first to launch with the latest flavor of Android, Chinese OEM Vivo beat Google to the punch last year with its Vivo V20. The device was the first new smartphone to launch with Android 11 out of the box, beating the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G by just a few hours. Since then, Vivo has launched a few other devices running the latest flavor of Funtouch OS based on Android 11, but the company is yet to release the update to older devices.

Although Vivo has previously released a Funtouch OS 11 beta for the Nex 3S 5G and the iQOO 3 4G/5G, the company hasn’t shared an update timeline for other devices in its portfolio. That changes today, as Vivo has now shared a Funtouch OS beta roll-out plan on Twitter. According to the tweet, Vivo has already started rolling out the Funtouch OS 11 beta to the X50 Pro last month. The Vivo V19 and X50 should start receiving their first beta releases by the end of this month.

Older devices, like the Vivo V17, V17 Pro, V15 Pro, and S1, will start receiving the first Funtouch OS 11 beta by the end of March 2021. The Vivo S1 Pro, Z1x, and Z1 Pro will follow soon thereafter by the end of April 2021. And finally, the Vivo V15 will receive its first Android 11 beta by the end of June 2021. The beta releases for all the aforementioned devices will roll out in a staggered fashion, with users receiving the update in small batches. Once Vivo ensures that the beta release doesn’t have any critical bugs, the devices should receive the stable version of Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 11. As of now, the company hasn’t shared a release timeline for the stable update.

It’s worth noting that Vivo has already debuted a new Android skin, called OriginOS, which is expected to replace Funtouch OS in the future. But, at the moment, the company hasn’t clarified exactly when the new Android skin will land on its devices. Currently, the Vivo X60 and X60 Pro are the only devices in its portfolio that run OriginOS 1.0 based on Android 11.

The post Here’s when Vivo will roll out its Android 11-based Funtouch OS beta appeared first on xda-developers.



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OnePlus launches an affordable fitness tracker to compete with Xiaomi

OnePlus today made its first foray into the wearable space with the launch of a new fitness tracker in India. Dubbed the OnePlus Band, this new fitness tracker takes on the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 with an attractive set of features, including a bright color display, up to two weeks of battery life, a SpO2 sensor, 24-hour heart rate monitoring, and more.

OnePlus Band: Specifications

Specs OnePlus Band
Dimensions & weight
  • 40.4mm x 17.6mm x 11.45mm (Main Tracker)
  • 257mm x 21.0mm x 0.7mm (Band Strap only)
  • Net Weight 22.6g (Main Tracker with Band Strap)
Display
  • 1.1-inch AMOLED
  • 126 x 294 resolution
  • P3 wide color gamut
  • Scratch resistance coating
Sensors
  • Heart rate sensor (optical)
  • Spo2 sensor (optical)
  • 3-Axis Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
Connectivity
  • Bluetooth 5.0 BLE
Protection
  • IP68 dust and water resistance
Battery & Charging
  • 100 mAh
  • Up to 14 days of battery life
  • Wired charging dongle, USB Type-A
Compatibility
  • Android 6.0 and above
  • iOS
Other features
  • Notifications
  • Music playback controls
  • Stopwatch
  • Alarm
  • Camera shutter
  • Find My Phone
  • Zen Mode synchronization (OnePlus phones only)
  • Weather forecast
  • OTA updates

Much like Xiaomi’s offering, the OnePlus Band features a 1.1-inch color AMOLED display with silicone straps. The screen has a resolution of 126 x 294 pixels and offers 100% coverage of the P3 wide color gamut. In terms of sensors, the OnePlus Band is equipped with an optical heart-rate sensor, 3-Axis Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and a Spo2 sensor. With these sensors at its disposal, the Band can count your steps and calories burned, monitor your heart rate, track sleep, and measure blood oxygen levels. 13 exercise modes are supported, including outdoor run, indoor run, Fat Burn Run, outdoor walk, cycling, rowing, swimming, Yoga and Cricket.

Other notable features of the OnePlus Band include notifications support, music playback controls, Zen Mode synchronization with select OnePlus phones, Find My Phone, and the ability to mute or reject incoming calls. The tracker is IP68 certified for dust and water-resistance, so it can be used during intensive training and swimming sessions as well.

The OnePlus Band operates on Bluetooth 5.0 (Low Energy) and packs a 100 mAh battery that’s claimed to last up to 14 days on a single charge. The charging is done through a USB-A-powered dongle, and the good part is that you don’t have to dislodge the capsule from the straps.

The band needs to be paired with the companion OnePlus Health app, which you can download on any smartphone running Android 6.0 and above. Besides offering a detailed breakdown of various data collected from the tracker, the app also lets you customize watchfaces and control other features.

OnePlus Health (To be announced, Google Play) →

Pricing & Availability

The Band comes in three colors: Black, Navy, and Tangerine Gray. It’s priced at ₹2,499 (~$34) and will go on sale starting January 13, 2021, from Amazon India, Flipkart, and OnePlus India’s website, and offline locations. The Tangerine Gray and Navy dual-colored straps will be sold separately for ₹399 each. Early access sale for Red Cable Club members begins January 12, 2021, at 9 am IST.

Stay tuned for our full review of the OnePlus Band coming later this week!

The post OnePlus launches an affordable fitness tracker to compete with Xiaomi appeared first on xda-developers.



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Here are 4 free tools to download updates onto Samsung Galaxy devices

If you’ve ever tried to search for firmware to install on your Samsung Galaxy smartphone or tablet, it can be pretty annoying. While companies like Google, OnePlus, and Xiaomi provide download links on their websites, Samsung has yet to offer an official firmware download portal. That’s one of the reasons why there are so many third-party Samsung firmware download sites. These sites scrape Samsung’s FUS (Firmware Update Server) for the latest firmware releases and categorize them by model number, carrier/region, and OS version. However, many of these services use a “freemium” model which throttles the download speed for the base tier. For higher bandwidth or more advanced functions, you’ll have to pay to get access.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of community-developed tools to directly download a new software update for a compatible Galaxy device. We’ve talked about two such tools — SamFirm and Frija — many times in the past. Samloader is another open-source, cross-platform alternative. While I personally think that downloading Samsung firmware using one of these utilities is simple enough, some may still find them inadequate to meet their needs. If you do, then here are a few more solutions that make it even easier to grab official Samsung firmware packages for your device.

1. SamFirm_Reborn

SamFirm_Reborn

Created by XDA Recognized Developer Ivan_Meler, SamFirm_Reborn is a reincarnation of the original SamFirm tool. The developer decompiled the legacy application and patched the codebase to make it compatible with Samsung’s server-side changes. SamFirm_Reborn is open source and it does offer a handy command-line interface besides the familiar GUI.

Download SamFirm_Reborn

2. SamFirm-continued and SamFwTool

SamFirm Continued SamFwTool

SamFirm-continued started its journey as yet another open-source fork of the legacy SamFirm, but the maintainer abandoned the project a few months ago. Later on, XDA Member Tungtata picked up the baton and created SamFwTool. One of the highlights of SamFwTool is the auto-detection feature. Just connect your phone in MTP mode and press “Auto detect” to identify your device model and region code.

Download SamFwTool

3. SamFirm.js

The whole Samsung firmware downloading saga is now on a different level, as XDA Recognized Developer jesec has presented SamFirm.js, a streaming downloader, decryptor, and extractor coded in JavaScript. With SamFirm.js as the backend, you should be able to construct a web app to fetch stock Samsung firmware packages. The project is a collaboration between developers jesec and LuK1337.

Download SamFirm.js

4. SamFetch

In case you’re looking for a web API variant of the Samloader project, you should try out SamFetch. XDA Member YusufCihan reimplemented the functions from Samloader’s code as web routes in order to expose a simplified REST API to download Samsung firmware.

Download SamFetch


Have you tried any of the above or a similar project? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Here are 4 free tools to download updates onto Samsung Galaxy devices appeared first on xda-developers.



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The OnePlus One, Google Nexus 5, and four 8 year-old Sony Xperia phones get Android 11 custom ROMs

If your old phone still works, then why should you upgrade? That’s the question a lot of people ask themselves every month. Sometimes, you’ll be forced to upgrade when your carrier makes changes to their network, but if you have an older phone that can still make calls, texts, and use mobile data, then you can keep using it for as long as the hardware lasts. The biggest problem with using outdated hardware is getting up-to-date software to make your apps keep working and keep your device safe from security exploits. Fortunately, if you still use the OnePlus One, the Google Nexus 5, or the Sony Xperia SP, T, TX, or V, you can upgrade your software to the latest Android 11 release, albeit unofficially, thanks to custom Android 11 ROMs on our forums.

Each of these phones was released when Android was still in its 4.X release stage. The OnePlus One and Google Nexus 5 were released at around the same time, both with Android 4.4 KitKat on board. OnePlus and Google both offered upgrades to Android 5.0 Lollipop and Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but no further OS updates were offered. The Sony Xperia SP, T, TX, and V were all released around 8 years ago and stopped receiving updates after their respective Android 4.3 Jelly Bean updates. These devices are ancient and definitely don’t have the hardware to run Android 11 very well, but that doesn’t mean developers are ready to give up on them. Despite the many hacks needed to port the latest Android release, developers have managed to port Android 11 to each of these devices.

These Android 11 ROMs are clearly not for the faint of heart as they are still being beta tested by their developers. The build for the OnePlus One, for example, originally had an issue with the lockscreen PIN, while the builds for the Google Nexus 5, Sony Xperia SP, and Sony Xperia T/TX/V have SELinux set to permissive, which is a no-no when it comes to security. Furthermore, vendor support for these devices ended years ago, so there’s no telling what chipset-related bugs and security exploits are still exploitable on these devices. Still, flashing one of these Android 11 ROMs will get you the latest OS release with all the security patches to the Android framework that have accumulated over the last few years, give you access to new security and privacy features to protect your data from malicious apps, and of course, let you enjoy many of the latest Android OS features.

If you’re interested in any of these Android 11 ROMs, you can download them from their respective forum threads linked below. If you have another device and are interested in seeing if there’s an Android 11 ROM available for it, then check out our article that lists all the Android 11 ROMs we’ve spotted on our forums.

Device and XDA Forum link Original/Last Android Version ROM Name and Forum Link Contributor(s)
OnePlus One Android 4.4 KitKat/Android 6.0 Marshmallow Unofficial LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 Tomoms
Google Nexus 5 Android 4.4 KitKat/Android 6.0 Marshmallow Unofficial LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 z3DD3r, EnesSastim, Sashko98, razorloves, esa-n, jprimero15, and others
Sony Xperia SP Android 4.1 Jelly Bean/Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Unofficial LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 AdrianDC
Sony Xperia T/TX/V Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich/Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Unofficial LineageOS 18.1 based on Android 11 AdrianDC

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samedi 9 janvier 2021

Discussion: What’s more important to you? Access to WhatsApp or your privacy?

We often find ourselves at forks between convenience and privacy. Many times, large internet companies usurp users’ choices and force them into sharing their personal data so they can continue using a free service. More often than not, we witness this when an app or service is so engrossingly popular that it almost overshadows any other competitor. Such is what turned out to be the case with WhatsApp, the world’s largest messaging app. WhatsApp will be enforcing a new privacy policy starting early February 2021 for users outside of EU, and this policy allows parent company Facebook to read data such as your mobile number, IP address, and other identifiers to be able to — yes, you guessed it right — serve you more personalized ads. Does that bother you or will you continue to use WhatsApp normally?

The updated WhatsApp Privacy Policy claims these changes will improve how businesses interact with individuals and help the company improve its services. Overall, these changes shall also allow Facebook to use data on how you interact with WhatsApp Business accounts and suggest a variety of other relevant businesses (through targetted advertising) on other Facebook-owned platforms such as the Facebook app, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger. It should also allow you to interlink different Facebook services across different apps — for example, WhatsApp Pay on Instagram. All of these changes are in the pursuit to enable an interconnected Facebook ecosystem.

Most importantly, users cannot back out of this data sharing exercise — unless they live in the EU-governed regions and are protected by GDPR, and the only way out for everyone else is to stop using the app altogether. Given the massive stretch of WhatsApp’s userbase, the second option is almost impossible to execute. Even if you do plan to stop using WhatsApp, how do you convince your friends and kin to stop using the app, especially those who are not very familiar with fast-evolving technologies? Or even convince them why data privacy matters to you and should matter to them as well?

Although there have been rumors about ads within WhatsApp and a paid version of the app to skip those ads, the new privacy policy steers clear of this — for now. The company apparently has no intention to sell banner ads until further notification. But even despite criticism from users as well as the wrath of policy regulators, Facebook is brazen about sharing user data instead of being apologetic and leaves users with a do-or-die conundrum.

What do you feel about this change? If you disapprove, will you jump the gun and delete WhatsApp? Tell us in the comments below!

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The Best Nintendo Switch headsets: HyperX, PDP, Corsair and more!

The world of Nintendo Switch accessories is ever-growing and can sometimes be overwhelming! From the practically necessary microSD cards to the variety of Switch controllers, there are all sorts of things you’ll want to make your gaming experience the best. What you probably didn’t think about grabbing, though, was a headset for the console! We have five Nintendo Switch headsets for you to choose from below, so pick one up and complete your Switch accessory collection!

Table of Contents:

Best Nintendo Switch Headset Overall: JLab Audio Play Gaming Wireless Headset

Unlike most gaming consoles, you’ll be playing your Switch in a lot of different situations. You maybe be playing on the big screen in docked mode, or on the couch, or even out and about in handheld mode. The best Nintendo Switch Headset isn’t necessarily the one with the best look, or the one that offers the very best in mic sensitivity — it’s going to be the most versatile headset. The Nintendo Switch is a versatile console, and unless you want to buy a bunch of headsets, then you want one that works in every scenario… and that headset is the JLab Audio Play Gaming Headset.

This headset is one you can use either wired or wireless. You’ll get both an AUX cable and a USB cable, so you can plug it in whether in docked or handheld mode. Also, the headset is slim and comes with a carrying case–two very important factors if you’re looking to carry the headset with you on the go. Finally, you can use the JLab Audio Play headset via Bluetooth! It does not come with a dongle, though, so you’ll need to get a special Bluetooth adapter for the Nintendo Switch.

Honestly, even with needing to buy a Switch dongle, the JLab Audio headset ticks all the right boxes for the best Nintendo Switch headset. It can be used anytime, anywhere, and has a great price to boot.

    JLab Audio Play Gaming Wireless Headset
    This Black and Blue headset is the perfect complement to your Switch! Use it wired or wirelessly, and take it with you on the go with the included carrying case.

Best Switch Headset for Docked Mode: Corsair Void RGB Elite Gaming Headset

If you’re using a headset when having your Switch docked, you’ll need to plug it in via USB cable. Also, presumably, if you’re using your Switch in docked mode, you’re plugged into a TV. So you’re going to want a Nintendo Switch Headset that has a long wire and is still a quality product. The best headset for the job is the Corsair Void Elite!

This headset provides 7.1 surround sound, a custom set of audio drivers, and nice, but not overly done RGB. Since it’s wired, you never need to worry about dropping your audio or voice connection either. There’s nothing worse than trying to communicate with your team in Fortnite and your Bluetooth connection having a problem! And while the USB cord is pretty long, you can always grab a USB extension cable for even more length.

    Corsair Void RGB Elite USB Premium Gaming Headset
    Corsair always has quality headsets, and those that play their Switch at home can enjoy the Corsair Void RGB Elite. This headset offers quality sound and some nice looking lights to boot!

Best Switch Headset for Handheld Mode: PDP LVL40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset

If you have a Nintendo Switch Lite, or simply play your Switch in handheld mode most of the time, you’ll need a headset that plugs into the Switch’s AUX port. If that’s the case, you can’t go wrong with officially licensed gear! The PDP LVL40 Gaming Headset is not created by Nintendo, but like various Nintendo accessories, the manufacturer is licensed by Nintendo to create them specifically make Nintendo Switch headsets.

The red and blue headset matches the Switch’s iconic colors, and plugs into your Aux port, so you can only use it while the Switch is in handheld mode… unless you buy a PDP Switch controller to plug it into, of course. Other than that, it comes with everything you expect with a modern headset, with the ability to mute by flipping your mic up and the volume dial on the left ear cup. It’s also a slim headset, so it’s easy to pack and take with you wherever you go!

    PDP LVL40 Wired Stereo Gaming Headset
    You can never go wrong with officially licensed gear! The PDP Switch gaming headset does everything you need it for the Switch's handheld mode, and the color scheme will match your Neon Switch!

Best Nintendo Switch Bluetooth Headset: Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset

logitech g533 wireless gaming headset black friday
The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have native Bluetooth built-in, so in order to use a wireless headset, you need one of two things — either a USB dongle that you can plug into your Switch dock or a special Bluetooth adapter you can plug into the Switch’s charging port when playing handheld. Unfortunately, most Switch headset and special Bluetooth dongle combos appear to be… pretty shoddy quality. Also, wires are generally a little easier to deal with when in handheld mode you’re probably a bit farther away from the TV. So for this section, we focused on a headset that had a USB dongle with it.

So, it turns out then that any PC headset that you plug in via USB can also be used with the Switch, so you’re not limited with choices! But for the best Nintendo Switch headset that uses Bluetooth, you need to pick up the Logitech G533 Gaming Headset. The wireless headset sports a long battery life, a great audio range, and a microphone that does a good job of catching your voice without catching all the other sounds around you. The headset is also a simple black, dodging the bright and garish colors of most gaming headsets.

All in all, it’s a solid headset, and the versatility between the PC and Switch is just an added bonus! The G533 is pretty bulky, though, so it’s not the best for on-the-go gaming.

    Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset
    If you want a headset that works on both PC and with a docked Switch that's wireless, you can do no better than the G533.

Best Hybrid Headphone/Headset for Switch: HyperX Cloud MIX

Sometimes you don’t need all the functionalities of a headset, and just want to be able to hear the game music without any hassle. The hassle being that microphone, more or less, especially on single player titles. Those things can seriously get in the way when you’re not using them! So, why not get a headset that allows you to remove it?

So, the HyperX Cloud MIX isn’t strictly a Nintendo Switch headset — but then again, most of our picks aren’t! This headset is wired but is extremely comfortable. If you don’t mind the wire, you’re in for a treat! This headset had dual-chamber drivers to provide quality sound, and HyperX is a brand known for its quality. You can also detach the microphone, so if you simply want a pair of headphones, you just pop the mic right off! If you need it for a multiplayer game, just put the microphone right back on and you’re ready to game.

    HyperX Cloud MIX Wired Gaming Headset
    Get great sound and a detachable mic with the HyperX Cloud MIX. Use it with your Switch and your phone!

The best Nintendo Switch headset for you is honestly going to depend a lot on how you play your Switch in general. JLab’s headset is by far the most versatile in terms of how it works with the Switch itself, but other headsets will be better if you primarily only play one way. Choose the headset that’s best for you!

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