Xiaomi has launched a new phone in the Redmi K30 series. Called the Redmi K30 5G Racing Edition (although machine translation also calls it the Extreme or Speed Edition), it’s the first phone to feature Qualcomm’s upgraded Snapdragon 768G chipset.
The new 5G-enabled processor brings a slight performance increase over the existing Snapdragon 765 and 765G. It boosts the CPU clock speed from 2.4GHz to 2.8GHz. It also ups the performance of the Adreno 620 GPU by about 15%.
Elsewhere, the new Snapdragon 768G includes an integrated 5G modem, making the Redmi K30 Racing Edition compatible with dual mode SA/NSA 5G. The phone also gets 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Besides the upgraded silicon, the Redmi K30 5G Racing Edition gets the same 120Hz refresh rate as its predecessor. The display size is also the same at 6.67-inches. It has an FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 pixels) and a 20:9 aspect ratio.
What else to know about Redmi K30 variant?
There’s a vertically aligned quad camera setup at the back consisting of a 64MP Sony IMX686 primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth-of-field sensor. As you can see, the camera setup is pretty much the same as the Redmi K30 5G.
On the front of the Redmi K30 Racing Edition is a 20MP selfie shooter assisted by a 2MP depth sensor, both housed within punch holes on the right corner of the screen.
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In terms of connectivity, the phone features a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as a USB-C port. In addition to 5G connectivity mentioned before, the phone also supports dual SIM compatibility, Bluetooth, NFC, an IR blaster, and GPS/ A-GPS.
The volume buttons rest on the right edge of the phone and the fingerprint sensor is integrated with the power button.
The entire package is powered by a 4,500mAh battery and there’s 30W fast charging onboard. There’s no wireless charging on the phone.
Redmi K30 Racing Edition: Price and availability
The new Snapdragon 768G phone has only launched in China for now. It is priced at 1,999 Chinese Yuan (~$ 282).
Overall, the new Redmi K30 Racing Edition isn’t at all different from the Redmi K30 5G. The only exception is its new Qualcomm chip, which should improve the overall performance of the phone and assist with a better gaming experience given its GPU boost.
If you love to play racing games like Gran Turismo: Sport or Forza Motorsport 7, then a racing wheel is a must. A racing wheel helps you feel more connected to the virtual car you’re driving. Your steering is more responsive, your braking and accelerating feels more realistic, and overall your racing experience is more immersive.
What to look for when buying a racing wheel
When buying a racing wheel, here’s what you need to look for:
A motor that is quiet, reliable, and highly responsive to steering
A sturdily constructed leather wheel that won’t break down and has a good grip
A set of sensitive gas and brake pedals that mimic real-life driving experiences
You’ll also want to find a racing wheel that has a professional feel and has some weight to it for a more stable racing experience. The right racing wheel will enhance your racing experience and help you stay focused on your game instead of fumbling around with a regular controller. Here are five of the best racing wheels out right now.
The Logitech G920 Racing Wheel has dual-motor force feedback, which means that you’ll have more control over your steering and you’ll feel different types of terrain under your wheels. The floor pedals are also highly responsive, which gives you a more realistic driving experience as you accelerate, brake, and change gears.
Compatible with Xbox One and PC, this racing wheel has a great feel to it, equipped with a hand-stitched leather wheel cover and 900° lock-to-lock rotation.
The Logitech Dual-Motor Feedback G29 has a lot of the same features as the Logitech G920, listed above, but it’s compatible with Playstation 3 and 4 and PC. This wheel is built to last with durable solid steel ball bearings in the wheel shaft and stainless steel pedals.
Similar to the above racing wheel, the Logitech Dual-Motor Feedback G29 also has the awesome dual-motor force feedback that gives you a responsive, realistic racing experience.
The Thrustmaster TMX Force Feedback racing wheel has a very realistic, ergonomic wheel design with rubber-coated grips on the wheel. With a mixed belt-pulley and gears system and a metal ball-bearing axle, this racing wheel will provide a smooth, easily controllable racing experience. This wheel also comes with a set of pedals that have wide footrests and adjustable inclinations.
The Thrustmaster TMXis automatically recognized by Xbox One consoles and compatible in the console’s menus. It’s also compatible with PC with a quick installation of Thrustmaster drivers.
This Thrustmaster TX racing wheel is a 7/10 scale replica of the actual Ferrari 458 Italia wheel, with textured rubber grips and comprehensive driving controls. There is an industrial class servomotor that boasts frictionless action, meaning your racing experience will be extremely smooth and responsive. It’s compatible with Xbox One and PC.
The pedal set is also designed to mimic the pedals of the Ferrari 458 Italia, with metal pedals that provide progressive resistance when braking. This wheel also has a 900° dual-belt, friction-free system that helps you feel and focus on the road in your game, not the wheel.
The Hori Racing Wheel is officially licensed by Sony, so it’s compatible with Playstation 3 or 4, but there are more buying options for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
The full-size wheel has a 270° turn radius and the pedals have been optimized for a highly realistic racing simulation. The wheel itself has a textured rubberized grip, making it easy to control while at high speeds in your game. The pedals are the real highlight of this wheel; you can customize the pedal sensitivity for acceleration to make it feel exactly how you want it to feel.
Update, May 8, 2020 (3:30 AM ET): The Motorola Razr has finally released in India after getting postponed several times. We’ve added details about its India availability in the original article.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to pick up the new Razr before it goes out of stock, you can do so by clicking on the link below.
Motorola Razr
Upgrade to a powerful new flip phone… you read that right, flip phone.
Original article, November 13, 2019 (11:16 AM ET): Motorola took the wraps off its very first foldable device this week: the Motorola Razr! The new smartphone joins the very limited selection of foldable devices launched this year, including the Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X. However, the Motorola Razr price is much lower than those phones.
That doesn’t mean that the Razr is cheap! On the contrary, this is still a very expensive device, especially when you consider it has a much weaker spec sheet than the Mate X or the Galaxy Fold. Still, the design of the device is much different than those foldables and might be the practical product that will get people interested in the foldable future.
Motorola Razr release date
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
Motorola formally launched the Razr at an event in Los Angeles on November 13, 2019. The device looks just like the Razr phones from the early 2000s — in fact, folded in half, the device is as thin as the very first Razr phone from 2004.
Motorola is continuing its partnership with Verizon and offering the Razr as an exclusive on that carrier. Pre-orders for the Razr were scheduled to open on December 26, 2019, but Motorola later delayed that date due to high demand. It previously announced a general in-store availability beginning on January 9, 2020, but that date was also delayed.
The phone finally went up on pre-order in the US on January 27 and sales for the device started on February 6.
While it’s likely the device will eventually be available as an unlocked model, keep in mind that only Verizon customers will have access to the device in the United States at first.
Continue on to read about the Motorola Razr price and release dates in other countries around the world.
Motorola Razr US price and availability
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
On Verizon in the US, the Motorola Razr is priced at $ 1,499. You can either pay for the device outright or sign up for a payment plan and pay $ 62.49 per month for the next 24 months.
That price is a little lower than the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which starts at $ 1,980. It’s also significantly cheaper than the Huawei Mate X, which starts at €2,299 (~$ 2,529). However, since there’s just a Snapdragon 710 on board with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, one wonders why the company couldn’t make the Motorola Razr price even lower than $ 1,500.
In comparison, Samsung’s new clamshell foldable — the Galaxy Z Flip — is priced at $ 1,380 and comes with a superior Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset. You can read our review of the Galaxy Z Flip here.
If you’re still interested in picking up the Motorola Razr from Verizon, you can do so by hitting the buy button below.
The Motorola Razr is also available in the UK through an exclusive partnership with EE. Customers in UK will have to shell out upwards of £2,000 (~$ 2,562) to buy the Razr on contract.
The cheapest EE plan for the Razr starts at £94 (~$ 120) for 24 months. For that you’ll get a mere 10GB of data per month and will have to shell out £100 up-front to purchase the plan. This way you end up paying £2,356 (~$ 3,018) for the phone over the course of the two-year plan.
If you want to pick up the Motorola Razr from EE in the UK, you can head here to check out all the plans and purchase it.
Motorola Razr India price and availability
The Motorola Razr is priced at Rs 124,999 (~$ 1,687) in India. As part of an introductory offer, Citibank debit and credit card customers in India will be able to get a flat discount of Rs 10,000 (~$ 134) on the price of the phone.
The phone is now available on Flipkart but it’s not shipping to all cities in India owing to the ongoing coronavirus lockdown in the country. You can check availability for your region by entering you postal code on the ecommerce platform.
Those who buy the Motorola Razr in cities where Flipkart is delivering can expect it to ship in a week or so.
Interested Indian buyers can get the phone by clicking on the link given below.
Motorola Razr
Upgrade to a powerful new flip phone… you read that right, flip phone.
The Motorola Razr in also available in select regions across Europe. In Italy, the phone is available through carrier TIM and costs €1,599 (~$ 1,784). In France, it’s slightly more expensive and is still on pre-order for €1,699 (~$ 1,895).
Looking for more information on the Motorola Razr foldable smartphone? Check out our other content below!
Update, May 5, 2020 (2:20AM ET): OnePlus is reportedly rolling out another update for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. The new Oxygen OS 10.5.6.IN11AA for the OnePlus 8 Pro and 10.5.5.IN21AA for the OnePlus 8 brings some system and camera improvements.
The changelog doesn’t clearly verify if it fixes the ongoing display problems on the phones, especially the OnePlus 8 Pro. The previous update (read original article below) fixed the green tint issue on the OnePlus 8 Pro for some users, but the black crush issue wasn’t resolved. The latter was initially thought to be a hardware problem, although OnePlus has since claimed that it’s indeed a software problem too.
The latest software update mentions that it fixes known issues, but the language is very generic and doesn’t really point to a display fix. You can see the changelog for the update below.
Meanwhile, some users who have received the new update are not too happy with it. A user on Reddit says that the update fixes the green tint issue on the OnePlus 8 Pro when DC Dimming is switched on, but it reappears when DC Dimming is switched off. Another user on OnePlus forums reports that the camera on the OnePlus 8 Pro has become worse since the update and has resulted in images showing random flares. The experience, however, might not be the same for all users.
The new OnePlus 8/8 Pro updates are reportedly rolling out in parts of US and Europe right now. An official announcement from OnePlus and wider availability can be expected soon.
Welcome to the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro update hub. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the latest Android updates for the two devices, including their current versions and when future updates are likely to arrive.
Both the 8 and 8 Pro run OxygenOS, OnePlus’ proprietary Android skin. OxygenOS is known for fast updates that come for a very long time, so be sure to bookmark this page and visit often.
OnePlus 8 ProKiller flagship
OnePlus is all grown up. With the OnePlus 8 Pro, you get an unabashed flagship, with all the bells and whistles. Powerful specs, an amazing display, fast wireless charging, and water resistance make the OnePlus 8 Pro a great alternative to the Galaxy S20 Plus, and it’s up to $ 300 cheaper.
The OnePlus 8 sticks to the formula that has made OnePlus so successful. It gets you the latest processing package, a versatile camera, and a beautiful display, running the smooth Oxygen OS. You miss out on wireless charging and the official IP rating, but for what it offers the OnePlus 8 is an attractive deal.
When will the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro get Android 11? September 2020 (estimated)
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro launched on April 14, 2020. Both launched with the latest version of Android out-of-the-box: Android 10. We expect both devices to receive at least two major Android updates in the future — Android 11 in 2020 and Android 12 in 2021.
Days after the phones launched, OnePlus rolled out the Oxygen OS 10.5.4 update for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro. It was a minor update, but brought Google’s Live Caption feature to the phones. It also enhanced support for the OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z earbuds, optimized the cameras and fingerprint sensor, improved system stability and more.
However, a bunch of users started reporting the appearance of a green tint on the displays of their phones. Some also reported a black crush issue which made dark areas of the screen lose detail.
OnePlus then rolled out Oxygen OS 10.5.5 for both the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The update sort of fixed the green tint problem for some, but the black crush issue remained.
The changelog was also tight-lipped about the display problems. The only indication on it related to the display was a pointer noting “optimized the display effects,” which doesn’t clearly mean the green tint or black crush issue.
Android 10
Android 11
OnePlus 8
Current
TBA
OnePlus 8 Pro
Current
TBA
Let us know which OnePlus 8/8 Pro update you’re rocking in the comments, and if you’ve spotted a recent update we’ve missed, tip us!
Are you looking for another device update? Head to our general Android 10 update tracker at the link.
Apple TV+ shows started immediately with the streaming service’s launch in November 2019. Since then, we have seen a low but steady trickle of new series debut on the service, and now there’s enough content to really dive deep into its selections. But which series are the best Apple TV Plus shows? Good question, and one we aim to explore here.
As you will see, the original Apple TV Plus series already has a variety of content; from children’s shows to more mature series just for their moms and dads.
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Remember, if you buy a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV box, you get one year of the service for free (read more about it here.) For everyone else, you can sign up now for Apple TV Plus for $ 4.99 a month, following a seven-day free trial, at the link below.
This is our favorite of the current crop of Apple TV Plus shows. It’s an alternate history tale, showing the Soviet Union winning the race to put a man on the moon in 1969. In response, the NASA of this timeline decides to keep going. Part of their plan is to recruit more women and minorities into the US space program much earlier than what happened in our reality. It’s a different look at how early space exploration could have happened.
Emily Dickinson is the real life US poet who inspired tons of other writers over the decades. This show examines a fictionalized version of Dickinson’s early life. The twist is that this incarnation of the poet, as played by Hailee Steinfeld, and her friends act and sound more like teenagers in modern times. It’s not exactly historically accurate, but it is entertaining.
We have read stories about fictional young reporters in school. However, this show tells the story of a real-life young journalist, Hilde Lysiak. As played by Brooklynn Prince in this series, the 11-year old Lysiak publishes her own newspaper for her community. Things take a big turn for her as she starts investigating a murder that happened near her home.
This reboot of the classic children’s TV series focuses on four kids. They attempt to solve mysteries that are tied into well-known books like The Jungle Book and Alice in Wonderland. If you have kids and want to encourage them to read more, this series might be a good first step.
This Apple TV Plus show is based on the best selling novel of the same name by William Landay. Chris Evans takes off his Captain America uniform and shield as the star of this series. He plays an assistant DA in a Massachusetts town, who suddenly has to deal with the fact that his son Jacob is accused of murdering a fellow classmate in school. This is an old-fashioned murder mystery, but with some family drama as well.
HBO’s Silicon Valley made a comedy out of the creation of tech startups. Mythic Quest does something similar. Instead of an internet app company, this show is about the workings of a video game developer. Specifically, it centers on the creator of an MMO game, and his team members that have to deal with his sometimes outrageous ideas and requests. Rob McElhinney, the co-creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, also co-created this show, and stars as its lead character Ian Grimm, who sometimes believes his job is to “create worlds”.
This series isn’t as flashy or as high concept as most of the other Apple TV Plus shows on this list. However, it may be more human and heartwarming. It’s an anthology show, with each episode following an emigrant as he or she tries to make a life in America. Episodes have shown the life of a Nigerian boy who comes to Oklahoma and becomes a cowboy, along with a Chinese woman who ends up winning a cruise for her family. It shows the American experience through many different eyes.
This sci-fi series takes place hundreds of years in the future, after an unnamed disaster strikes the Earth, and blinds all humans. The few survivors manage to stay alive, and one tribe of people, led by Aquaman’s Jason Momoa, weds an already pregnant woman. To their surprise, she has twins, both of which can see. This development gets the attention of a rival tribe, who wants the twins for their own purposes. This is a different sort of post-apocalyptic tale with heart and family.
M. Night Shyamalan is an executive producer of this thriller series, and also directed two of its episodes. The show itself fits with his dark storytelling themes. A young couple deal with the tragic death of their baby boy. However, the wife later starts to take care of a reborn doll that she thinks is really alive. The husband hires a nanny to help take care of their “child” but she seems to act like this thing is real as well. Get ready for some Shyamalan-style twists and turns in this series.
This show is by far the biggest high-concept series on Apple TV Plus. It also has the biggest stars, with Jennifer Aniston as a national morning news anchor who is shocked when her co-anchor, played by Steve Carell, is fired for alleged sexual misconduct. To make matters worse for Aniston’s character, she also has to deal with a rising young female reporter, played by Reese Witherspoon. The office and media politics can sometimes get a bit confusing and dull, but the performances by Aniston, Carell, Witherspoon and Billy Crudup as a news executive make this show very watchable.
That’s our look at the best Apple TV Plus shows so far. We will update this list when more shows debut on the service. In the meantime which ones are your favorites?
Again, you can sign up for the service at the link below, which costs just $ 4.99 a month after a seven-day free trial.
Update, May 1, 2020 (2AM ET): The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 phones are now receiving the May 2020 security patches in select regions. According to XDA-Developers, the new update is rolling out with software version N97xFXXS4CTD1. It’s reportedly available in a bunch of European countries, including France, Poland, Switzerland, and Germany.
With this update, the Note 10 phones also get a new bootloader (v4), which means that you won’t be able to manually downgrade to previous builds after downloading this OTA.
The update will first hit Exynos variants of the Galaxy Note 10 and is expected to roll out in batches to all other models and regions subsequently.
Original article: Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus update hub. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the latest Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus updates. That includes their current versions and when future updates are likely to arrive. Keep in mind that the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus generally receive their updates at the same time.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 PlusThe S Pen is mightier than the sword
The S Pen makes the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus better than the vast majority of its competition. It offers more pro features than you can poke a stick at and packs all the top-tier specs you’d expect from a Note.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus update
Current stable version: Android 10
When will the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus get Android 11? December 2020 (estimated)
The Galaxy Note 10 line launched in August 2019 with the then-latest version of Android, Android 9 Pie. Like most Android flagships, these are expected to receive at least two major updates in their lifetimes.
The first confirmed major update is Android 10, which publicly launched toward the beginning of September. Soon after, Samsung began a beta program for its flagships, including the Note 10 line. This beta program lasted for a few months before Samsung started rolling out Android 10 in a stable form.
At this point, nearly every device in the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 family, including the Star Wars model and the Sprint version, should have the Android 10 update. Any stragglers should get it by the end of January 2020. That update will include One UI 2.0, based on Android 10.
Samsung also beat Google to the punch with the January 2020 security patch, rolling it out to the Note 10 before Google rolled it out to the Pixel 4. Samsung’s update game has been on point lately, and the Note 10 is its sixth device to get the latest security patch.
According to a few Reddit posts, Canadian Galaxy Note 10 devices began receiving the latest Android 10-powered One UI 2.0 update January 6. Devices on carriers Telus, Bell, Rogers, and Sasktel received the update first, and other carrier devices followed suit shortly.
Two days later, a tipster over at Android Police let the world know Samsung began pushing out the latest stable Android 10 update to unlocked Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G devices in the UK. That same day, we also saw the update roll out to Indonesian variants of the Note 10 series thanks to a post on Reddit.
The March 2020 security update officially rolled out to Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus devices in the first week of March. It landed on devices in the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and Hungary. The update didn’t introduce anything particularly exciting, but improved security is always welcome.
On April 21, Samsung made Galaxy S20 camera features available on Canadian Note 10 devices. The features included: Single Take Mode, Night Hyperlapse, custom filters, Pro Video Mode, and more. The update also introduced new Quick Share and Music share functionality to the phones. Quick Share lets Galaxy Note 10 users easily share photos, videos, and other large files with contacts nearby, while Music share lets others play their music on Bluetooth devices connected to your Galaxy Note 10. You can read more details about the new camera features here.
You can manually check for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 update on your own device by heading to Settings > Software update >Download and install.
Android 10 also landed on Galaxy Note 10 devices in Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Qatar (h/t: Android Police) in January 2020. A little more than a month later, the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10 Plus got their first post-Android 10 updates. These updates brought improvements to facial recognition and navigation gestures.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10/Note 10 Plus update availability
Android 10
Android 11
AT&T
Active
TBA
Sprint
Active
TBA
T-Mobile
Active
TBA
Verizon
Active
TBA
Star Wars Edition
Active
TBA
U.S. Unlocked
Active
TBA
International Unlocked
Active
TBA
Let us know which Galaxy Note 10 update you’re rocking in the comments. Also, feel free to tip us if you’ve spotted a recent update we’ve missed!
Update, April 29 2020 (6AM ET): Samsung pushed out Android 10 to the Galaxy Fold in late March and early April, including several Galaxy S20 features as well. Unfortunately, we didn’t see the Galaxy S20’s camera features in this update.
Thankfully, Samsung has just rolled out another Galaxy Fold update (h/t: SamMobile), and this one brings a few prominent S20 series camera features. Some of the more prominent additions include Single Take mode (automatically taking videos and pictures) and Night Hyperlapse.
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Other prominent additions include the ability to record videos in Pro mode, custom filters based on your existing snaps, and the May 2020 security patch.
SamMobile adds that the update has the version number F900FXXU3BTDD and is rolling out in France right now. Hopefully it doesn’t take too long to reach other markets.
Welcome to the Samsung Galaxy Fold Android update hub. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the latest Galaxy Fold updates, including their current versions, and when future updates are likely to arrive.
Samsung Galaxy FoldOne of the first folding smartphones in the market.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Fold get Android 11? TBA
The Samsung Galaxy Fold launched with Android 9 Pie, the then-latest version of Android. It’s expected to receive two major updates in the future in keeping with most flagship Android phones.
Samsung Galaxy Fold update availability
Android 10
Android 11
AT&T
TBA
TBA
US Unlocked
TBA
TBA
International Unlocked
Yes
TBA
The Samsung foldable received a major update (version F900U1UEU3BTCE) in late March and early April, bringing the Android 10-based One UI 2.1. This update also delivered Quick Share and Music Share capabilities.
Let us know which Galaxy Fold update you’re rocking in the comments, and if you’ve spotted an OTA we haven’t, tip us!
Xiaomi has announced a new version of its Android skin MIUI. Succeeding MIUI 11, the latest MIUI 12 software will bring a number of UI and visual improvements to eligible Xiaomi phones. It also gets new features such as a revamped dark mode, improved privacy and security tools, new animations, new wallpapers, and much more.
At its MIUI 12 reveal event, Xiaomi also noted that MIUI now has 310 million monthly active users and that the latest version is the first mobile operating system that has passed TÜV Rheinland’s “Android System Enhanced Privacy Protection Test.”
Let’s break down all the new features of MIUI 12 along with details about phones eligible to receive the update.
MIUI 12 features
Dark Mode 2.0
The new Dark Mode 2.0 on MIUI 12 will bring wallpaper dimming to Xiaomi phones. The feature will work in tandem with the time of day and will gradually dim the wallpaper as daylight changes to night time.
Xiaomi is also tweaking the way text is displayed as users switch between light and dark modes. In MIUI 12, the phone will automatically adjust the weight and boldness of the font to reduce glare when the dark mode is turned on. Font contrast will also be adjusted depending on the user’s ambient environment. This should vastly improve legibility of text in low-lit conditions.
Sensory Visual Design
In MIUI12, Xiaomi has visualized the core system information, allowing you to see the status of the system at a glance. Xiaomi is calling this the new “Sensory Visual Design.” What this basically means is that now when you visit the Settings page on your phone or check out things like storage availability, you will see the system information presented in the form of graphs and visual diagrams, making it easier to understand and consume. You can see examples of Xiaomi’s new design in the images above.
Super Wallpapers
Source: Xiaomi
Xiaomi has also introduced “Super Wallpapers” with MIUI 12. The company has created high-precision animated 3D models of Mars and Earth based on available space exploration data. You will be able to set these Super Wallpapers on both your locked and unlocked phone screens. When the dark mode is turned on, the planet chosen by you for the wallpaper will also enter night time, thereby enhancing your visual experience.
Xiaomi has focused a lot on visual redesign when it comes to MIUI 12. The new skin will bring realistic weather animations and show real-time weather changes displayed in the form of a time-lapse movie on your screen.
The animation of app icons also gets a refresh. App icons will now generate real-time feedback based on your gestures. Xiaomi says changes in gesture direction and speed will cause application icons to react differently.
For instance, when you delete an application, the ripple animation will also affect the surrounding app icons.
In other areas, you’ll notice new animations for screen rotation, opening and closing apps, and more.
MIUI 12 also brings some new gestures to your phones. For instance, you will be able to swipe down on the notifications panel to interact with a notification without having to abandon what you’re doing. You can also slide down on the notification panel to expand it into a small window, which you can then freely drag around the screen for a split-screen effect.
Xiaomi has been training its AI assistant — Xiao AI — to answer calls for users since last year. It’s similar to Google’s Call Screening feature which was introduced with the Pixel 3.
Xiaomi has now revealed that after half a year of testing, the AI phone assistant has answered 4 million calls for closed beta users. With MIUI 12, Xiaomi has officially upgraded the AI phone assistant to a feature called “AI Calling.” With it, users will be able to customize the language in which they want their calls to be answered. They will also be able to switch between automatic or manual call answering. However, it’s unclear right now if the feature will roll out to users outside of China.
Enhanced privacy
MIUI 12 also brings enhanced privacy features to Xiaomi phones. For instance, you can now choose to grant permissions to apps only once or only while you’re using them. Permissions will be revoked once you’re done using an app. For apps that don’t clarify the use of permissions on your phone, the “Always Allow” option will not be provided.
MIUI 12 will also help users keep track of app behavior. You will be able to view a record of how an app behaves on your phone, the information it collects, the other applications it uses, etc, all in one place.
Photo sharing will also be safer. Xiaomi says sensitive information such as device details will be removed from image files before you share them with anyone.
MIUI 12 release date and availability
Xiaomi says that it’ll start rolling out the stable version of MIUI 12 by the end of June, 2020. Meanwhile, it’ll open the beta testing program in China today at 6AM ET.
Eligible MIUI 12 update phones
The Xiaomi and Redmi phones eligible to receive the stable MIUI 12 update starting June include the following devices:
Unlike phones, smart speakers aren’t always personal devices. In fact, it is very common for a speaker to be shared by multiple users in a household, and Alexa voice profiles are a fantastic addition to ensure that every user gets a personalized experience. In fact, Amazon’s Echo speakers can be trained to recognize up to 10 different voices.
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Why should I add voice profiles to Amazon Echo?
Adding Alexa voice profiles enables a number of additional features to Amazon’s smart speakers. The most important is access to personalized shopping. With voice profiles enabled, each user can add products to their own wishlist or even make a purchase from their own personal account.
Additionally, the profiles enable personalized flash briefings for news and updates. Finally, if you use Alexa calling and messaging services, the setting lets individual users access their personal contact lists.
Finally, users can also listen to personal tracks from Amazon’s music service. Unfortunately, the Alexa voice profiles do not give you access to personalized access for other music streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music.
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How do I set up Alexa voice profiles on Amazon Echo?
Setting up an Amazon Alexa voice profile is a straight forward process.
Open the Alexa app on your phone
Tap the menu button and head over to the Settings option at the bottom
Now, go to Accounts and select the Your Voice option.
You will be prompted to select an Echo device. At this point, it is advised to mute any additional Alexa speakers you might have around you.
Simply follow the prompts asking you to read out four phrases.
That’s it. Tap complete once done and your voice profile is ready.
Once you have set up your primary voice profile, it takes about 20 minutes or so for the data to synchronize across your Echo speakers.
How to add more Alexa voice profiles on Amazon Echo speakers?
The process to add additional Alexa voice profiles is similar to setting up your primary voice profile.
You can either sign out of the Alexa app on your phone, ask the additional member to sign-in or ask them to install the Alexa app on their phone.
Now, head to the Settings option as before and tap the Your Voice option under accounts.
Your Echo device might prompt you to select an existing profile. Simply say that you are someone else.
Like above, the speaker will ask you to repeat four phrases.
Once done, the additional voice profile will be created and added to the speaker. Alternatively, you can cancel the process at any point by invoking Alexa and issuing the cancel command.
1. iPhone SE 2020 reviews: it’s great, not a battery beast
Last week I said the iPhone SE 2020 was good enough for most people. I can now add easily.
Now iPhone SE 2020 reviews are out, and the summary is compelling and remarkably similar across different reviews: Apple’s new small phone is a smash at $ 399.
It’s not perfect, it’s by no means better than the iPhone 11, and it’s not an upgrade for most people.
For those considering upgrading, it’s a phone without many compromises, especially for Apple.
Normally I’d linger on interesting review points or disagreements, but the reviews keep saying the same thing, with lots of high marks and star ratings:
The biggest improvements over the iPhone 8 come from the A13 chip, notably in a better camera. While there’s just one 12MP lens, like the Pixel 3a, it’s very capable of shooting good if not wonderful shots. The main downside is that there’s no low-light camera mode.
Other than that, the size and form factor appeal to many. The giant bezels are tired and don’t really make the most of the device, but many reviewers point out that this just feels normal for those with older iPhones already looking to upgrade.
Also, fast LTE (without 5G) and Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, plus wireless charging.
Focusing on battery life for a second: most rated it good, not great. It lasts a day but, for example, instead of coasting home with 40% battery life to spare, you might be down to 20%. All other iPhones in Apple’s range do better. CNET reckoned battery life was great based on battery tests, Wired was more pointed in explaining real-life usage examples that led to needing to charge more than once a day.
If I bought one, I’d recommend a battery pack case, but they’re not yet made for the iPhone SE 2020 per Apple.com listings, so third-party is your answer for now.
The Verge recommended paying $ 50 more to upgrade from 64GB storage to 128GB, noting overall that the iPhone SE is a great deal and a great smartphone.
The reviews are so positive you almost need to remember what you get when paying double for premium smartphones: better and more versatile cameras, bigger more brilliant screens for multimedia, longer-lasting devices, 5G for super-fast wireless networking, and more in the box, like fast-charging.
Devices like the S20 range, LG V60, or the OnePlus 8, or indeed the iPhone 11 feel more like computers in your pocket, while the iPhone SE is a capable smartphone.
2. The Motorola Edge launched yesterday on schedule and everything we thought we knew was about right: this new flagship looks like it can keep up with the best from Samsung, OnePlus, LG, and others, but at $ 1000, and locked down with Verizon in the US. It looks promising in terms of what a good phone may be, but there are no reviews yet, just hands on. Oddly, no details yet on global pricing. Full reviews to come (Android Authority).
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