FRESH TECH NEWS | SAYID DASTAAN: Oreo

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Xiaomi Mi A1 Android 8.0 Oreo update roll-out restarted

Update (Jan 26): Xiaomi has restarted the Android Oreo update roll-out for the Mi A1 smartphone. You can go to settings > software update to look for the OTA update now.
In addition to all the Oreo goodies, the update includes January Android security patches and the following fixes and improvements.

Optimized audio parameters.
No more “quick charge” on the lock-screen when charging.
Performance optimizations from MIUI
Fixed bluetooth power consumption issue and missing dialer icon
Fixed camera connection issues and network problems
Updated Feedback app
Faster fingerprint unlocking

Update (Jan 13, 2018): Xiaomi has suspended the roll-out of the Android Oreo update for Mi A1. It is expected to restart in the next few weeks.

Update (Dec 31): Barely keeping its promise of providing the Android 8.0 Oreo update for Mi A1 before the end of this year, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has released the final Oreo update for the smartphone. The update is now automatically reaching the Mi A1 owners over-the-air (OTA). As the software update are released in batches, it will take a few days in reaching all the consumers.
“We’re ending the year with an O! #MiA1 users, stay tuned as we’re rolling out your long-awaited update in batches but make sure you’re already on the latest December update (7.12.19) to receive Android O!,” Xiaomi wrote in a tweet.
The update is over 1107MB in size. The complete changelog is not available at this point, but you can expect to see the usual Oreo goodies like notification dots, autofill for passwords, picture-in-picture support, faster boot times, new emojis and more.
Earlier (Dec 12): Mi A1 getting Android Oreo beta
Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has released the Android 8.0 Oreo beta update for the select Mi A1 owners, who had signed up to be a beta tester. The update is rolling out now over-the-air (OTA) and will reach your Mi A1 unit if you had registered for the beta. You can read more about the Mi A1 beta update participation at this link.
As per the reports on MIUI forums, the Oreo beta is over 1104MB in size. If everything goes well, we will probably see the stable version roll-out before the end of this year. If you have already installed the Oreo beta on your phone, do let us know about the experience in the comments section.
Also read: Best Android Oreo features
To remind you, Mi A1 is Xiaomi’s first Android One smartphone. It was launched in September this year with Android 7.1 Nougat on-board. Apart from Oreo, the Mi A1 will receive at least one more major Android ‘release (Android P). It features a 5.5-inch full HD screen and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor. It also packs 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage, dual rear cameras with 12-megapixel wide-angle and 12-megapixel telephoto lens and 5MP selfie camera.
In related news, Xiaomi India recently announced the first price-cut for Mi A1. The phone is now available at INR 13,999 in India. It is offered in Black, Gold and Rose Gold colour options.

Nokia 8 getting Android 8.1 beta update

After a successful roll-out of the Android 8.0 Oreo update in November last year for the Nokia 8 smartphone, HMD Global has released the beta of the Android 8.1 update for the phone. According to the company, the beta update is now available and can be installed by joining the Nokia beta labs.
If you are already a member of the Nokia beta labs, your phone will automatically receive the Android 8.1 beta OTA update notification.
“Be our guest as we serve Android Oreo 8.1 beta for Nokia 8. Updating your device today will enable a host of new features. And most importantly – the hamburger emoji fix with cheese now on top of the patty,” wrote Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer, HMD Global, in a tweet.
Last line of Juho’s statement takes a dig at the Android hamburger emoji episode, when someone pointed to Google CEO Sundar Pichai that the hamburger emoji on Android has cheese below the patty rather than on top of the patty. Pichai had replied that he will drop everything else and get right on that. The emoji fix was one of the changes introduced in Android 8.1 release.
Android 8.1 Oreo was announced in December, 2017 and includes a number of new APIs and other improvements. Among the consumer-facing changes, the update brings settings revamp, quick settings update, notification shade changes, final Oreo easter egg, and more. You can read the full list of changes in this report.
Nokia 8 was the first Nokia phone to get Android 8.0 and now, it seems to be all set to become the first Nokia to get Android 8.1 as well. The company has said that Nokia 2 will directly jump to Android 8.1 and the phone could be next in line to get the 8.1 update after Nokia 8. Among other Nokia Oreo updates, the company has already released the update for Nokia 6 (2018) and Nokia 7 phones. Nokia 6 (2017) and Nokia 5 are currently undergoing the beta testing and should be getting the final update soon.

Android 8.1 developer preview released: What’s new

Google has unveiled a new version of Android in the form of Android 8.1 Oreo. It is a minor release, but still includes a number of under-the-hood changes as well as some feature upgrades.
According to the search giant, Android 8.1 is now available as a developer preview, so that the app developers can make their Android apps ready for the new Android version. The final release of the Android 8.1 will be available in December. It will start pushing out to Pixel and Nexus devices first, followed by devices from other manufacturers. However, a beta build of the 8.1 can be installed on the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel C, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P devices right now. Google has already posted the factory images as well as OTA update files of the new version for these devices on its website. If you don’t want to go the manual way, you can enroll in the Android beta program and wait for the OTA update to automatically reach your phone. If you’re already a part of the beta program, there is no need to re-enroll.

What’s new in Android 8.1

Android 8.1 packs new features, developer APIs, latest optimizations, changes based on the consumer feedback, bug fixes and security patches.
Let’s start with the under-the-hood changes:

Memory optimization for Android Go

In order to provide a better experience on the Android Go configuration devices (with less than 1GB of RAM), Android 8.1 comes with a number of memory optimizations. The app developers will be able to provide different APKs in the same app for Android 8.1 devices with more than 1GB of RAM and devices with less than 1GB of RAM. Depending the signals in app, Play Store will also be highlight the APK version more apt for the particular Android device.
This should allow the app developers in bundling a lite version of their app within the main app, rather than publishing it as a separate app in the Play Store, as is the trend right now.

Neural Networks APIs

Google is also introducing a new Neural Networks API to allow the developers in better using the machine learning in their apps on Android devices. The new API enables hardware-accelerated inference operations on supported devices.

Autofill improvements

The search giant has improved how password managers and other apps use the Autofill framework, which was introduced in version 8.0.

Shared memory API

This new API lets apps allocate shared memory for faster access to common data. Apps can map anonymous shared memory and manage protection controls using this.

WallpaperColors API

This new API allows the Android apps to obtain the wallpaper colour on the device in order to possibly change the appearance of its own elements.
In addition to the above changes, the developers can also expect see updates related to EditText, Safe Browsing actions in webview, video thumbnail extractor, and fingerprint management in Android 8.1.
Coming to the visible changes:

Settings revamp

Google has tweaked the settings menu again in Android 8.1. It now includes a full search bar on the top to help users quickly find what they are looking for. Earlier, there used to be a search icon, but looks like most people missed that. The Moves menu has been renamed to Gestures in Languages and input. In addition, the ringtone selector will now use the full screen rather than appearing as a popup.

Quick settings and notification shade updates

Android 8.1 will show the battery levels of the connected Bluetooth devices right in the Quick Settings. Earlier the users needed to expand the quick settings toggle to see the level, but now it is right in the front.
Also, Google has made the notifications shade semi-transparent in version 8.1. So, rather than sporting a solid colour and hiding what is going on the screen behind that, it will now offer a little peek at whatever is going on in the background.

On-screen navigation buttons dim automatically

Android 8.1 will dim the software navigation buttons system-wide when they are not in use. This should avoid any distractions that these buttons may be causing the Android users.

‘Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep’ is gone

The option to keep or switch off Wi-Fi during sleep has been removed in the new Android version. It is unclear what the Android system will be doing by default in the absence of this setting, and how that would impact the battery life.

Updated Power menu comes to all devices

The new Pixel 2 phones were shipped with a new Power Menu, which rather than appearing in the middle of screen, showed on the right-edge near the power button placement. Now, the change is coming to all Android devices with Android 8.1 including the older Pixel and Nexus devices.

Oreo easter egg and Oreo icon in system notifications

Oreo has finally gotten a proper easter egg in Android 8.1 It replaces the the circular orange thing that was present in Android 8.0. You can check it out by going to Settings, then ‘About phone,’ then tapping a bunch of times on ‘Android version.’
Similarly, the system notifications will now show an Oreo icon rather than the circular thing.

Notifications sounds

In more notifications related changes, the Android apps can now only make a notification alert sound once per second. Alert sounds that exceed this rate aren’t queued and are lost.

Image Credit: Reddit

The post Android 8.1 developer preview released: What’s new .

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Xiaomi to launch a new selfie-focused phone in India

In a bid to further capitalise on its increasing popularity in the Indian market, Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has announced that it plans to unveil a new smartphone-series for the country. The company is hosting a press event on November 2, when it will be showcasing the first phone in the lineup.
Since the company claims that it is a new smartphone-series, there is little to speculate on what Xiaomi might be launching. However the press invite as well as teasers about the launch, all carry the hashtag ‘Your Best Selfie,’ suggesting that the new phone is going to be selfie-focussed. With the craze for selfie-centric phones in the country right now, it is not surprising that Xiaomi too wants to grab a pie of the lucrative market.
Industry insiders suggest that the upcoming Xiaomi phone will be a part of Redmi devices, making it an affordable smartphone, priced probably under INR 10K. The phone will most likely come with a 16MP wide-angle front camera with LED flash. Other specifications are a mystery at this point.
To remind you, Xiaomi currently offers six smartphone models in India with different storage and RAM variations. The upcoming smartphone will be the seventh model. Despite keeping a comparably small portfolio of smartphones, Xiaomi has seen great success in the country. It is currently the second biggest smartphone maker, just behind Samsung. Xiaomi recently revealed that it managed to sell record 4 million smartphones in the 30-days preceding Diwali.
Although Xiaomi started out as an online-only brand in the country, it realised that online-only strategy is not going to serve it for long in a market where the most smartphone sales still come from offline retailers. This realisation has led to the company’s increased focus on the offline sales, including building its own presence with Mi Home stores. The offline sales now account for over 20 percent of the company’s total shipments in the country.
The post Xiaomi to launch a new selfie-focused phone in India .

READ MORE :Oppo F5 launched with 20MP selfie camera & AI beauty tech .
READ MORE :Sony Xperia R1, R1 Plus launched in India, available Nov 10 .
READ MORE :Facebook adds support for live streaming and video chats to Instant Games on Messenger .

READ MORE :[Download Apk] Action Launcher v32 brings Adaptive icon Pack v3.0 with more icons .
READ MORE :Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Android Oreo test build leaks out .

READ MORE :Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus .

READ MORE :Nexus 6P receiving Android 8.1 Oreo update .

READ MORE :Best Custom ROMs for Moto X Play .

READ MORE :What is Project Treble? .

READ MORE :How to change font size on Galaxy Note 8 .

READ MORE :Best Custom ROMs for OnePlus 5 .

Huawei Enjoy 7s leaked in full, could be announced on Dec 18

Chinese smartphone giant Huawei is gearing up to introduce a new mid-range Android smartphone called Enjoy 7s. Since most of the Enjoy-series phones are often released with different names outside China, you might not have heard about the Enjoy-lineup. Some of the past Enjoy-series phones are – Huawei Enjoy 7 Plus aka Huawei Y7 Prime and Huawei Enjoy 6s aka Huawei Nova Smart.
The Enjoy 7s, which carries the model number FIG-AL00, was first spotted in the database of Chinese telecom certification agency TENAA last month. Now, thanks to a number of leaks, we not only have a press render of the phone, but a couple of live images as well as the full specifications. The date present on the home-screen of the leaked render also suggests that the phone could be made official on December 18 in China.
As per the leaks, Huawei Enjoy 7s will sport a 5.65-inch FullView screen with 2160x1080p resolution. The phone will be powered by the company’s own Kirin 659 octa-core processor. In terms of the software, the Enjoy 7s will run on Android 8.0 Oreo with EMUI 8.0.
Additionally, the phone will pack a 3000 mAh battery, a microSD card slot dual rear cameras with 13MP and 2MP sensors and an 8MP selfie camera.

Huawei is expected to introduce two storage variant of the Enjoy 7s – one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage and the other with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It will be offered in three colour choices – Gold, Blue and Black.
I am hoping to get details about the pricing on December 18. The company is unlikely to share the international release plans at the China event, but we might see the Enjoy 7s appear with some other name in rest of the Asia and Europe over the next few months.

The post Huawei Enjoy 7s leaked in full, could be announced on Dec 18 .

Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update might not arrive until early-Feb

Although Samsung is already in the middle of testing the public beta of the Android 8.0 Oreo update for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones, the final update is still quite a few weeks away.

A Samsung UK representative for the beta program replied to a curious S8 owner during a discussion hosted by the company’s Galaxy Beta Community service that the final update is expected to be ready by the end-of-January or early-February, 2018, which is more than six weeks away.

Typically when a manufacturer decides to offer a public beta, they provide an update, which is fairly stable and only needs a bit of testing to check for any underlying issues that might have been missed by the company. They release one or two beta versions before the stable version is rolled-out, but it seems Samsung is having a hard time fixing its Android 8.0 Oreo update. The company is already on the fourth public beta for the S8/ S8+, which was released earlier today, and they are still six weeks away from the stable release, meaning we would be seeing at least one or more public beta updates before the final version reaches the consumers.

Either Samsung released a fairly raw Oreo version as a public beta or they have been caught with their pants down with a number of underlying problems with the update. Whatever be the case, despite having Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S8/ S8+ owners will get the Oreo update almost six months after Google officially unveiled it.

There is no word on when the likes of Note 8 or other phones will get Oreo. Although Samsung has not officially revealed which of its Android devices will be getting the Oreo update, a leaked list did give us an idea about which Samsung phones and tablets can expect to see Android 8.0. You can check out the full list at this link.

What are your thoughts on Samsung taking so much time releasing the Oreo update for Galaxy S8/ S8+? Have you been testing the Oreo beta on your phone? Do share your experience with the update so far in the comments.

The post Galaxy S8 Android Oreo update might not arrive until early-Feb .