How To Get Early Exclusive Access to Samsung OneUI 3.0 Public Beta

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November 17, 2020

How To Get Early Exclusive Access to Samsung OneUI 3.0 Public Beta

Android 11 was released on September 8 and since then, OEMs are catching up with its beta and stable updates. Samsung which wasn’t a part of the Android 11 developer previews program, has stepped up its Android update games with the various beta updates on-board OneUI 3.0 which is based on Android 11. Perhaps, the OneUI 3.0 is almost ready for its Public Beta and you could be a part of early access as soon as it is available.

Samsung has delivered a couple of beta updates on its Galaxy S20 and Note 20 lineup enhancing the experience with each consecutive update. Samsung has over 90+ models that are expected to get OneUI 3.0 update with Samsung Galaxy S20 & Note 20 at the forefront. Both Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and S10 series joining the wagon soon. Now that the Android 11-based OneUI 3.0 Public Beta is right around the corner. Here’s how you can apply for its early access before anyone else can get their hands on the latest Android 11 update.

How To Get Early Exclusive Access to Samsung OneUI 3.0 based on Android 11 Public Beta?

First, open the Samsung Members app on your Samsung device. If you don’t have it, download it from Google Play Store.

Click on the OneUI Notice section of the Samsung Members app.

Tap on “Registration of OneUI Beta Program” and fill out the form with details as asked and submit it.

Go to Settings >> Software Update >> Download updates manually.

How To Get Early Exclusive Access to Samsung OneUI 3.0 Public Beta via Samsung Pay?

The Samsung Pay app on your device also has a shortcut to register for early access. Here’s how you can apply via the Samsung Pay app.

Go to the Samsung Pay app on your phone.

You will get the banner for OneUI 3.0 public beta registration either right away or after scrolling through the carousel.

Tap on the banner and it will redirect you to the Samsung Members app.

Samsung OneUI 3.0 (Android 11) Features

Samsung OneUI 3.0 offers a tonne of features. It has some major user interface changes than its predecessor. It includes an overhauled notification shade, tweaks to the lock screen, and volume controls. OneUI 3.0 offers a double tap to turn off, a dynamic lock screen, and more on-board.

Its vivid list of features includes an improved Single Take, auto-exposure and auto-focus, high zoom levels, and stabilization. Users can tweak the background of the call screen. OneUI 3.0 has a tonne of built-in widgets for anything and everything. A Bubbles notification enables replying and retracted floating chat icons just like Facebook Messenger.

Google Brings New Setting for Smart Features and Personalisation in Gmail

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 17, 2020

Google Brings New Setting for Smart Features and Personalisation in Gmail — Image courtesy: Google Blog

To give users more control over their data, Google brings a new setting for smart features and personalization in Gmail. It announced through a blog post on Monday that Gmail will soon get new settings that will enable users the ability to control their data in Gmail, Meet, and Chat. The new settings will launch in the coming weeks and post that users will be able to turn off/on the smart features in Gmail and other related Google products.

Google’s smart features for Gmail include Smart Reply, Smart Compose, tabbed inbox, email filtering, and summary cards. These essentially provide suggestions to users while composing an email and suggest replies for a received email. Though these features already have an option to turn them off individually but now the tech giant wants to give users a ‘clearer choice over the data’. Here’s more about the upcoming settings for smart features in Gmail.

New Settings for Smart Features in Gmail

The smart features in Gmail provide more convenience to users, but they use a significant amount of data. But now, Google will implement a setting that the users can use to disable smart features if they don’t need or trust them. This will stop sharing the content of emails and messages with Google. Notably, the settings, if disabled, will also stop offering suggestions while composing an email. However, users can turn it back on at any time.

The smart features and personalization data offers users a lot of features on Gmail, Meet, and Chat. Also, when a user personalizes this data, he’ll have access to a lot of features in Google Assistant, Maps, and Google Pay. These include reminders from Assistant for invoices, an option to view restaurant reservations in Maps, and more. Disabling the toggle in new settings will also disable these features.

Google is doing numerous changes to its products and services. Earlier this week, the company announced that it would no longer offer free unlimited storage for high-quality photo backups in Photos after June 2021. But these new settings for Gmail will indeed give users more control over their data and privacy settings.

Samsung Galaxy M42 Leak Reveals The Phone Could Soon Launch With 6,000mAh Battery in India

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Punkaj Kumar

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November 17, 2020

Samsung Galaxy M42 Leak Reveals The Phone Could Soon Launch With 6,000mAh Battery in India

Samsung was recently in the news for its upcoming Galaxy M series smartphones that the company is working on for quite some time. The South Korean electronics company has two smartphones in queue for the Galaxy M series — Galaxy M12s and Galaxy M42. The Galaxy M12 was in talks last month, but after this, the Galaxy M42 battery capacity has been revealed. Both of these smartphones will hit the markets by the end of this year or early 2021.

According to a report by SamMobile, the Galaxy M42 with model number SM-M425Fis spotted on 3C and DEKRA certification platforms. The report claims that the battery (model number: EB-BM425ABY) of the upcoming device has passed through the certification process, and the listing reveals a battery capacity of 5,830mAh. Samsung could most likely market it as a 6,000mAh battery, says the report.

Samsung Galaxy M42 Specs (Expected), Availability

There’s not much information about the complete specifications of the Galaxy M42 smartphone. But as per the previous rumors, the upcoming smartphone will come with a 6.5-inch display and a quad-camera setup. The phone could feature a 64-megapixel primary camera and 128GB of internal storage. But now, this leak reveals the battery capacity too. As said before, the phone will pack a 5,830mAh battery.

Currently, there is no detail about the processor, RAM size, or price of the Galaxy M42 but, some reports say the phone will be a stripped-down version of Galaxy A42 5G. Even the other phone, the Galaxy M12, is said to have been designed similar to the A42 5G.

About availability, the report says that the same battery is also spotted on BIS’s database. BIS is an Indian certification agency, which means the phone could launch in India soon. Note that it’s quite common to see 6,000mAh batteries in Samsung’s midrange smartphones these days. So this shouldn’t be a surprise for most people. We may get to see more details about the upcoming device shortly.

Xiaomi and POCO Users Face Random Bootloop Issue

By

Kaif Nasir

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November 16, 2020

Xiaomi and POCO Users Faces Random Bootloop

Several Xiaomi and POCO users face random bootloop after installing the newly released MIUI 12 resulting in indefinite reboots.

The affected users have reported that their device shows a “Find device closed unexpectedly” error. And after this error shows up, the smartphone reboots continuously for indefinite times. The reboot range varies from smartphone to smartphone.

As per the reports, the issue is not related to hardware. It is most likely caused due to Airtel’s Thanks app and MIUI’s Find My Device settings.

However, on November 14, Airtel’s CIO Harmeen Mehta confirmed that the Airtel Thanks app is the primary source of these bootloops. She has also confirmed in her tweet that Airtel is working with Xiaomi to fix this bug in numerous devices.

Some @airtelindia customers are experiencing phone crashes on MI phones. We have worked with Xaomi to find the cause & they are preparing a fix. Meanwhile we have put a small tweak in the airtel #Thanksapp to help. Please open the app once to effect new settings. #HappyDiwali2020
— Harmeen Mehta (@HarmeenM) November 14, 2020

In the meantime, they have issued a small tweak as a temporary fix for the issue.

As of now, temporary fixes that worked for some users are uninstalling the Airtel Thanks app, disabling the “Ultra Battery Saver” mode in phone settings, disabling the “Find My Device” service, and simply removing the SIM card.

The smartphones facing the bootloop issue are Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, and POCO M2 Pro

Moreover, the permanent fix for the issue will arrive earlier next week. Even if still users face the bug, they are required to visit the closest service center to resolve the issue.

Xiaomi Weather App Receives a New Update With UI Changes and Bug Fixes

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 16, 2020

Xiaomi Weather App Receives a New Update With UI Changes and Bug Fixes — Image courtesy: Xiaomi

Xiaomi is not just an electronic hardware manufacturer but is also a developer of many utility apps. Its Weather app is one of the most popular apps that provides weather forecasts and other related information directly from AccuWeather. Recently, the Chinese technology giant released a new update for its weather app, bringing the version up to 12.3.5.7 globally. This version brings numerous new features and bug fixes, this time with new UI changes for sunrise and sunset timings.

The new global update for the Xiaomi Weather app this time brings the AQI feature to all locations. This feature was earlier available for select cities only. Besides, there is an indicator related to the percentage of humidity in the given area. Here we have brought you a list of all new features that Xiaomi Weather v12.3.5.7 brings for you.

What’s New in Xiaomi Weather

The latest version of the Xiaomi Weather app comes with a new feature that gives information about the sunrise and sunset timings. In addition to the ones mentioned above, version 12.3.5.7 also predicts the chances of rain. Also, there are many changes made to the graphic interface of the app. These include the UI changes to the timing of sunrise and sunset for a given location. Besides, Xiaomi has also fixed some known bugs in the app.

The Mi Weather app offers a wide range of features, but one major plus point of this app is its clean and simple design. Users can check the weather forecast for up to the next five days with detailed information. It provides AQI data, sunrise and sunset timings, real-time rain, storm, and snow reports, and more. If you’re a Xiaomi smartphone user, then you’ll already have the app pre-installed on your phone. All you have to do is update the app to its latest version for making use of these new features. Other smartphone users can download the Mi Weather app from the Google Playstore directly.

Google May Soon Add an Assistant Button to Chrome Toolbar on Android

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 16, 2020

Google May Soon Add an Assistant Button to Chrome Toolbar on Android

Google regularly keeps adding new features to its various products and services, and Chrome is not an exception. According to a report, Google Chrome will soon get an Assistant search button to its toolbar on Android. The company is working on this feature for quite some time, and a new Chromium code confirms the feature will come to Android only. It looks like Google wants to route all searches through the Assistant as the new “voice search” button will launch the Assistant search UI in Chrome itself. However, if a user’s phone does not have the Assistant, the voice button will default to the regular voice search.

Currently, the Android version of Google Chrome displays a voice search icon on the new tab page. And that too, is not connected to the Assistant by default. But now, Google is testing this connection by providing a new flag called “Omnibox Assistant Voice Search” to enable Assistant voice queries. This is after a long time the tech giant is considering to change the voice search UI in the toolbar of Google Chrome.

Voice Button in Chrome Toolbar Details, Availability

As said before, a new flag is spotted in the Chromium code by ChromeStory that intends to bring the Assistant’s integration into Chrome. A flag, termed Voice button in the top toolbar comes with a description “Enables showing the voice search button in the top toolbar.” If enabled, the flag will display a voice search button in the Chrome toolbar. This button will open an Assistant voice search UI when a user enables another flag called “Omnibox Assistant Voice Search.” And if disabled, the voice button will fall back to a normal voice search. You can see the flags in the attached screenshots.

Note that this button is disabled by default, and a user needs to enable it first to use the feature. Further, the Google Assistant feature will work only if the device has the Assistant app otherwise it will revert to the normal voice search.

Since this feature is still under testing, there’s no guarantee that it’ll come to all users in a stable release. It all depends upon the users’ response that the feature receives during the testing phase. And if it receives sufficient engagement, Google may release the new voice search UI in a stable build of Chrome in near future.

ColorOS 11 Based on Android 11 is Now Available: See How to Download and Install it on Your OPPO Device

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 15, 2020

ColorOS 11 Based on Android 11 is Now Available: See How to Download and Install it on Your OPPO Device

OPPO has finally announced the latest version of its operating system — ColorOS 11 — based on Android 11. The Chinese OEM has already started pushing the stable update for its smartphones bringing a brand new UI design and new features. However, the ColorOS 11 update is currently rolling out for only a few devices in few countries. Find X2 Series is the first set of OPPO phone models to get the Android 11 based update. The company is first rolling it out for the said model in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Egypt, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Apart from OPPO Find X2 Series, the ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 is rolling out for the OPPO F17 Pro too. However, the phone manufacturer says that the update is currently available in India only. Besides, in addition to the new UI design, the latest ColorOS 11 update brings a bunch of new features, custom dark mode, new Always On Display, and above all, a new user experience.

Features of ColorOS 11 Based on Android 11

In addition to the features that come with Android 11, the Oppo’s custom skin brings a bunch of additional features for its users. Other than the ones mentioned above, the ColorOS 11 brings a wallpaper and ringtone maker, gamer mode, three-finger translation, and an ability to change notification tone dynamically. For X2 users, there comes another feature called FlexDrop that will let them turn apps into resizable windows. Why not check out all those features by yourself by downloading and installing the ColorOS 11 on your compatible device? Here’s a guide to show you how to download and install the Android 11 based ColorOS 11 on your Oppo device.

Caution: Before Installing The Update

Before you download and install the ColorOS 11 based on Android 11 on your OPPO smartphone, please ensure the following things.

1. Ensure your phone has no pending update by checking it by going to Settings > System > Software update.

2. Make sure your device has at least 5GB of internal storage available.

3. To prevent data loss, back up all your data and complete all systems updates, if any.

4. Before beginning to install the update, have your device charged to at least 50%.

Note that you may encounter some issues like faster battery drainage or your battery getting unnecessarily hot. OPPO itself has pointed out these things and said the device should get normal in a few days.

Download and Install ColorOS 11

OPPO has already released the official version of its custom UI, and users can get it through 2 ways as follows:

1. Go to the Settings app on your Oppo device and then select Software Updates, or

2. Click Settings and then tap into Trial Version (same as the Official Version)

Now, check the update, and if available, tap to download it. Once downloaded, you can install the update after ensuring the things mentioned above.

Currently, the stable update of ColorOS 11 is available for OPPO Find X2 series, F17 Pro, and Reno Ace 2. It’ll arrive for other devices, including the Reno, F, and A series during early 2021.

How to Mute the PS5 Controller’s built-in Microphone

By

Aadil Raval

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November 15, 2020

Sony PlayStation 5 is here and the fun begins. Apparently, Sony also launched a DualShock next-gen controlled with the PS5 with a myriad of built-in features. It includes a sophisticated haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and more. The controllers have a built-in microphone thus, eliminating having an external mic. Turns out there’s no default mute mode on PS5. It means whenever you join in a game, the console will turn on the microphone by default. Luckily, PS5 is well-equipped to cope up with this setting.

A default unmuted microphone leaves users vulnerable as others can hear their chatter. Turning off the microphone and turning it on at will is imperative for the sake of security and privacy. There are basically two ways users can mute the mic on the controllers on startup.

Method #1: How To Quickly Mute PS5 Controller (mic)?

This is a sureshot and quickest way you can disable microphone when starting a game. On your controller, just below the PlayStation icon, there’s a button with a microphone symbol under it. Tap it and this will temporarily mute the mic. You can press it again to turn on the mic and repeat innumerable times based on your convenience.

Note that this will mute the mic unless and until you turn off the controller or the console. In that case, the microphone will turn back on.

Method #2: How to permanently mute your PS5 controller?

This method won’t take more than a minute but you do it, you won’t have to worry about the mic starting up by default.

Firstly, you need to go to the PS5 Settings menu on your console. Tap on the cog icon on the top-right corner of the screen.

Next up, tap the “Sound” menu by scrolling through the various menus.

Microphone Muted on PS5 Sound — Image Courtesy: Polygon

Select Microphone, and then, select change the settings related to “Microphone Status When Logged In” from ‘On’ to ‘Mute’.

Microphone Muted on PS5 — Image Courtesy: Polygon

This will permanently turn off the microphone upon startup. You can still turn it on at will. This setting won’t change no matter whether you turn off the console or not, you don’t change it manually.

Now that the microphone settings are altered, you can commence your epic gaming session on the latest PS5 without your team or opponents picking up unwanted noises and sounds upon startup.

WhatsApp Beta Releases Advanced Wallpaper Features for Android

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 15, 2020

WhatsApp Beta Releases Advanced Wallpaper Features for Android

We saw WhatsApp release new features one after another through its beta program in these few months. Just a day or so ago, we spotted the company is considering to replace Archived Chats with Read Later. However, the news is about a feature that WhatsApp Beta came up with last month for iOS — new Advanced Wallpaper Features for iOS beta testers. But now, the Facebook-owned messaging service has started rolling out this feature for its beta testers on Android too. The new improvements to WhatsApp wallpapers bring a lot of new features and wallpaper configuration tools to Android now. Here is a complete list of all new features and what you can do with them:

New Features for Setting Wallpapers

Different wallpaper for each chat: One interesting feature that comes with the new beta update is that users can now set a different wallpaper for each conversation. So, you can customize the wallpaper for each chat as you wish to. Apart from this, users can also edit the opacity of their wallpaper.

Similar to the iOS version of the update, the advanced wallpaper features for Android bring a variety of new wallpapers. Users can now choose between 32 new Bright Wallpapers, 29 new Dark Wallpapers, and even a custom wallpaper. They’ll also have the choice to choose from solid colors. If a user prefers to add an old wallpaper, he can pick it from the Wallpaper Archive.

Another important feature for the users who prefer a solid color as their new wallpaper is that they will now have the ability to apply WhatsApp Doodle as an overlay. On the other hand, WhatsApp Desktop users can set WhatsApp Doodle from Wallpaper Settings.

This feature is still being rolled out for Android beta testers hence if you haven’t got it, you’ll have to wait for the next update. Further, there’s no update for the web release and stable versions as of now, but we hope it’ll be available soon.
You can also enjoy a lot of free wallpapers and stickers via GB WhatsApp Download 2022.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Receives One UI 3.0 Beta Update With December 2020 Security Patch

By

Punkaj Kumar

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November 14, 2020

Samsung Galaxy S20 Receives One UI 3.0 Beta Update With December 2020 Security Patch — Image courtesy: XDA-Developers

It looks like Samsung is running ahead of the time as the company starts rolling out the new One UI 3.0 beta update to its new Galaxy S20 devices. The company had released one update just a few days ago with November 2020 security patches. What’s surprising is that the new update comes with the security patch for December 2020, and the month is yet to come. This could be possible because Google notifies Android Partners of all Android framework and Linux kernel issues about a month before the public announcement. Recently, Samsung also joined Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended Program.

The new One UI beta update is already rolled out in the United Kingdom and Germany, and it will come to beta testers in other countries shortly. It fixes a bunch of known bugs and brings the security patch to December 2020. The list of bug fixes includes the fixed pop-up view when swiping edge lighting pop-up, expansion of the navigation gesture recognition area, and more.

New Samsung S20 One UI 3.0 Beta Update Details

The new beta update for Galaxy S20 comes with firmware version G98xxXXU5ZTKA, which fixes some known bugs as reported by the beta participants. As said above, it brings the Android security patch to December 2020 ahead of the time. Apart from a few bug fixes and security patches, the new One UI 3.0 beta update brings some camera improvements too. The company seems to be working on releasing the One UI 3.0 update for everyone as soon as possible. Even Samsung has previously said that its Galaxy S20 lineup will get the One UI 3.0 before the end of this year.

You should note that this is a beta channel update, and regular users will not receive it on their phones. It’s only available for beta testers in the UK and Germany as of now, and the beta participants from other countries should expect it to come in a few weeks. For regular users, it may take a while, and when Samsung rolls it for them, they will receive it as an OTA update.