Android P notifications could be getting new remind, send, and snooze actions

Notifications on Android became a lot more powerful last year when Oreo added the ability to snooze them. You can set them to reappear 15mins, 30mins, 1hr, or 2hrs later — which is incredibly useful. Before, I found myself leaving notifications lying around in my tray for hours so I wouldn't forget to action them. Snoozing lets you get them out of the way until you need them.

Thanks to a new screenshot added to the private Play Store listing for Google's smart response app Reply, it looks like notifications in Android P are going to have even more control options.

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Android P notifications could be getting new remind, send, and snooze actions was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

KEYone Successor To Be Called The BlackBerry KEY2: Leak

A new leak that is circulating on the Chinese social media site Weibo claims that the successor to the BlackBerry KEYone will be named as the BlackBerry KEY2. The name of the upcoming smartphone was discovered after a photograph taken by the rear camera of the device produced an image that contains the logo of the tech firm and the word “KEY2”, which is the likely name of the rumored handset.

Aside from the name of the smartphone, the leak also included an image of the front panel of the device. The front of the smartphone looks similar to a device that was recently certified by the Chinese telecommunications regulator TENAA. This device, which is believed to be the successor to the BlackBerry KEYone, is identified by the model number BBF100-4, and it also has the code name “Athena”. Based on both the recently leaked image and the photographs released by the regulator, the BlackBerry KEY2 will still retain the physical keyboard of its predecessor, although it seems that the device will sport a display with an aspect ratio longer than 3:2. In addition, the images included with the smartphone’s listing on the TENAA website shows that the upcoming handset will include a dual rear camera setup, which is placed near the upper left corner of the device’s back. Device renders that were leaked earlier this month also shows that the upcoming device retains the “convenience key”, which is a hardware button that users could map to open applications or perform certain actions, while the 3.5mm headphone jack is placed on the top of the handset. The bottom of the device, on the other hand, contains the USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill.

Reports claim that BlackBerry KEY2 will be powered by the Snapdragon 660 chipset from the semiconductor firm Qualcomm. This SoC is comprised of an octa-core Kryo 260 CPU and the Adreno 512 GPU. In contrast, the BlackBerry KEYone is powered by the Snapdragon 625 chipset. In addition, reports mention that the upcoming handset will contain 6GB of RAM and that the device will ship with Android Oreo pre-installed. The BlackBerry KEY2 is expected to be launched in June.

The post KEYone Successor To Be Called The BlackBerry KEY2: Leak appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Samsung Galaxy A6 Specs And Design Leak In New Video

More hardware specifications pertaining to the upcoming Samsung Galaxy A6 were indirectly confirmed recently through a leaked training video originating from Vietnam, which appears to contain information for Samsung’s employees on how to present the device to prospective buyers. This strongly suggests that Samsung is gearing up for the smartphone’s release in the country, and although what’s said in the video is unclear to anyone not speaking Vietnamese, there are some bits of text throughout the video that reveal some of the smartphone’s characteristics, such as its elongated 18:5:9 image format confirming the previous reports pertaining to the inclusion of an Infinity Display.

Additionally, the video also confirms that the Samsung Galaxy A6 should be equipped with a 16-megapixel main camera boasting an f/1.7 aperture, along with a similar 16-megapixel front-facing unit with an aperture of f/1.9. The video also demonstrates the camera application’s sticker feature for selfie shots, as well as its post-processing bokeh effect capabilities. The smartphone has a 7.7-millimeter profile and is equipped with a 5.6-inch Super AMOLED display with an HD+ resolution which will likely translate into a pixel count of 1480 by 720. Additionally, the training material further reveals that the display is covered with a layer of 2.5D glass, meaning that it should have rounded edges and fairly thin side bezels. Finally, the clip also contains a shot of the smartphone’s back panel which, in this case, is shown in three color options including black, gold, and blue. As expected, the device has a unibody metal design with antenna stripes at the top and bottom, and the back panel accommodates a fingerprint recognition sensor right below the main camera.

As per previous reports, the Samsung Galaxy A6 is expected to be powered by the Exynos 7870 chipset clocked at up to 1.6GHz, paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of on-board memory which will presumably be expandable through a microSD card slot. The components are likely to rely on a 3,000mAH battery and software-wise it should run Android 8.0 Oreo. As far as availability is concerned, it’s evident that the Samsung Galaxy A6 is destined to hit the shelves in Vietnam, either early on or eventually, but nevertheless, the device should also hit the European, Russian, and Middle Eastern regions, if previous reports turn out to be correct, and could debut in India.

The post Samsung Galaxy A6 Specs And Design Leak In New Video appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is cautious about the future of AI

The future of AI seems bright, but developments in the field need to be handled with great care and responsibility, warns Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google.

Beginning his annual Founders' letter with a quote from Charles Dicken's "A Tale of Two Cities", Alphabet's President and Google's Co-founder wrote: "The new spring in AI is the most significant development in computing in my lifetime. Every month, there are stunning new applications and transformative new techniques. But such powerful tools also bring with them new questions and responsibilities." 

It's ...

Explore the human body factory in unique puzzler Homo Machina

If you’re a fan of quirky mobile games then you’ll want to check out Homo Machina — an innovative puzzle game inspired by Fritz Kahn’s famous anatomical infographics.

German physician Kahn published a number of illustrations in the first half of the twentieth century which pictured the human body as a mechanical structure governed by industrial gadgets and gizmos, and controlled by a group of tiny humanoid workers.

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French studio Darjeeling has now taken this bold concept and transformed it into a puzzler for Android and iOS devices. The indie game will hit the Google Play Store on May 17 and will be a paid title with no in-app purchases (pricing TBA).

Homo Machina has already been nominated for a number of awards at different shows around the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Gameplay consists of various micro-challenges in different sections of the body, all of which are necessary to keep the wider subject alive and kicking.

Arte

If that sounds a little stressful, don’t worry. Darjeeling is aiming for a relaxed experience which simultaneously educates the player about Kahn’s incredible work. As such, the puzzles are fairly simple, requiring just a few taps and swipes to solve.

The game’s unique art style can be seen in action the trailer above. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Meizu mblu Handset Surfaces On TENAA With 4GB Of RAM

A new Meizu-branded handset has surfaced on TENAA (China’s equivalent to the FCC), the Meizu mblu M811Q. As you can see, this phone will come with ‘mblu’ branding, which is essentially Meizu’s sub-brand, in a way. In any case, this basically means that it won’t be a high-end phone, and thanks to this listing, we know exactly what to expect in the spec department, as the phone’s specs have been listed on TENAA, along with the design of the phone.

If you take a look at the images down below, you will be able to see that this handset is made out of metal, it sports a vertically-aligned dual camera setup on the back, while an LED flash sits above those two cameras. Below those two cameras, you will notice a fingerprint scanner, while the company’s mblu branding is located right below it. Meizu’s logo is also available on the back, but it’s noticeably smaller than the mblu branding, and it’s located at the bottom of the phone’s back side. The device’s volume up, volume down, and power / lock keys are included on the right-hand side of the device, while a SIM card tray sits on the left. The phone’s display comes with rounded corners, while this handset does not exactly have thick bezels, but they’re not exactly razor-thin either, even though they’re thinner than on any other low-end or mid-range Meizu-branded handset.

According to TENAA, this smartphone will feature a 5.7-inch HD+ (1440 x 720) display, along with 2GB / 3GB / 4GB of RAM and 16GB / 32GB / 64GB of storage. The device will be fueled by an octa-core processor clocked at 1.5GHz, though we still do not know what chip exactly. You will be able to expand this phone’s storage using a microSD card (up to 256GB), while the phone will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat, along with Meizu’s Flyme UI. A 3,230mAh battery will also be included in the package, and the phone will come in Black, Blue, Gold, and Red color variants, according to TENAA. 13 and 2-megapixel cameras will be included on the back of the phone, while you’ll find an 8-megapixel camera on its front side. The device will measure 152.3 x 73 x 8.4mm, while it will weigh 150 grams.

The post Meizu mblu Handset Surfaces On TENAA With 4GB Of RAM appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

OPPO’s New India-Bound Sub-Brand To Be Amazon Exclusive

Chinese smartphone maker OPPO has confirmed to launch a new sub-brand in the Indian market and has partnered with Amazon India for the same. The new sub-brand will be officially announced tomorrow, May 1, in India along with a new smartphone under the brand. A “Notify Me” page dedicated to OPPO’s new brand went live earlier today on Amazon.in with an emphasis on technology and design of the smartphone, besides the brand’s after-sales services. OPPO has also reportedly started assembling printed circuit boards (PCBs) at its new second manufacturing unit in the country to further boost its sales while keeping costs low. There is no detail on what exactly the new sub-brand will be called, but the smartphone launching tomorrow is expected to be priced between Rs. 10,000 ($151) and Rs. 15,000 ($226).

This move by OPPO is said to be aimed at taking on Xiaomi, that recently became the largest smartphone vendor in the Asian market. OPPO has traditionally been focused on offline sales, while Xiaomi follows the online-only flash sales approach that has driven the brand to the top position. A recent report by an industry research firm showed OPPO losing almost half of its market share to Xiaomi with the former having a 5.8-percent and the latter having a 31.1-percent share in the Indian smartphone market in Q1 2018. OPPO itself is a brand owned by Chinese corporation BBK Electronics, that also owns Vivo and OnePlus, with OnePlus also partnering with Amazon India to retail its entire line of smartphones.

OPPO recently introduced its F7 Android smartphone in India priced at Rs. 21,990 ($335) to have an offering in the mid-range segment. The variant launched initially came with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash memory, while another variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage was announced earlier this month at a price of Rs. 26,990 ($411). The company has made the device available across its sales channels both online and offline, probably as part of its plan to improve its sales and market share in the Indian market. The OPPO F7 includes a 6.23-inch FHD+ display with a small cut out on its top and is fueled by a MediaTek Helio P60 processor. With the company’s emphasis on selfie cameras, an AI-backed 25-megapixel camera is placed on the front, while there is a 16-megapixel camera unit on the back.

The post OPPO’s New India-Bound Sub-Brand To Be Amazon Exclusive appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Alleged BlackBerry Athena renders show that the keyboard will stay (Updated)

Slashleaks

Update (04/30): China’s TENAA regulatory body has uploaded images of a QWERTY-equipped BlackBerry handset, which appear to corroborate the Slashleaks renders of the BlackBerry Athena — for the most part.

There are a couple of differences between them, such as the lack of BlackBerry branding on the spacebar in the TENAA image. The TENNA device is also missing capacitive navigation keys (or they might not light up when the phone is turned off). Leaked device renders can be based on early/work-in-progress products, however, so these kinds of discrepancies can appear between leaks of the same product.

Nevertheless, we do spot what appears to be a “convenience” key for app shortcuts, as well as that dual-camera setup.

TENAA

The listing also gives us a few hard details, such as a 4.5-inch 1,620 x 1,080 LCD screen, a 3,360mAh battery, 6GB of RAM, a fingerprint scanner (presumably in the spacebar), and 64GB of expandable storage. The supplied chip is an octa-core processor running at 2.2Ghz. The BlackBerry KEYone made use of the mid-range Snapdragon 625 chipset, so a more modern Snapdragon 600-series chip is likely if the new model is indeed a successor.

All in all, we certainly have a better picture of what to expect from the phone when it eventually launches. Now all we have to do is wait for a release date… 

Original article: The usefulness of a physical keyboard on a smartphone in 2018 is questionable. At the same time, BlackBerry made enough tweaks with the KEYone’s keyboard to give us some of our favorite experiences in Android in 2017.

Whether that continues with the rumored Athena is unknown, though alleged renders published by Slashleaks show us that BlackBerry is not yet ready to give up on its famed calling card.

Taking a look at the Athena’s keyboard, it looks like the keycaps are larger than the KEYone’s. The layout remains the same, though the space bar now features the BlackBerry logo. We presume the space bar pulls double duty as the phone’s fingerprint sensor, much like it did on the KEYone, though we are not sure.

The alleged renders also show that the Athena’s keyboard is covered by some sort of matte material. By comparison, the KEYone’s keyboard is glossy.

Also redesigned is everything above the keyboard. The front camera seemingly lives in a smaller housing, while the earpiece goes from a grille to a smaller single piece.

Slashleaks

Even the sensor next to the earpiece shrunk in size. This size management looks to give the Athena’s display more room to work with, though we do not know if the display is larger relative to the KEYone’s.

The changes are equally subtle around back, where you can find dual primary cameras. The KEYone’s grippy back and metal frame make a return, though GizmoChina allege that the upper part of the back is leather.

Design annoyances rear their ugly heads, starting with the button placement. The Athena reportedly features the volume rocker, convenience key, and power button on the same side. Expect plenty of complaints concerning accidental button presses.

Also, capacitive keys seemingly make a return on the Athena. The KEYone’s capacitive keys sometimes got in the way when using the keyboard, so to see them return is disappointing.

I understand that BlackBerry wants to give you as much display real estate as possible when typing. Still, I hope that the company includes some sort of toggle between virtual and capacitive keys.

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Finally, the Athena’s alleged renders show a USB Type-C port at the bottom and a headphone jack up top. It is good to see that BlackBerry might not follow other manufacturers’ decisions to remove the unicorn that has become the headphone jack.

Because the Athena’s specs are still unknown, we do not know how it stacks up with the rumored Ghost and Ghost Pro. Based on what the KEYone offers, the Athena could feature mid-range internals and a decently-sized battery.

Here’s hoping that the Athena does not feature a high price tag.

Google Home and Google Assistant finally offer the same experience

After years of feedback, Google has fulfilled its promise of a consistent Assistant across phones and Google Home.

Once upon a time in 2016, Google announced their next foray into a connected home and an AI assistant with the Google Home featuring Google Assistant. Google Home was shiny and offered hands-free commands that would work across a crowded room and give us control of our media and services, but they made an even more tantalizing proposition. Google promised that the same AI magic would be available in each of our pockets with Google Assistant, offering the same features and functions as the homebound Google Home.

And at long, long last, they've finally given it to us.

When Google Assistant debuted with the Google Home, the features were quite different between the shiny new home speaker and the phones that it became available on. Google Assistant on phones felt hobbled, with many of the most practical and desired features being reserved for the Google Home.

Shower music is the primary duty of my TicHome Mini aka the portable Google Home Mini.

This was particularly painful with respect to media controls. For a time Google Assistant on phones couldn't even turn on songs or albums the way Google Now had allowed users to do for years. Meanwhile, Google Home allowed users to call up most any song, playlist, or album we wanted, and to not only change tracks but to fast-forward and rewind within tracks, hands-free. I confess that the primary reason for purchasing a Google Home was this media control, which allowed me to control my music while I was in the shower, with Google's voice recognition prowess making out my commands over the sounds of the shower over 90% of the time.

It took far longer than I would've liked, but this control — along with so many other features — has finally made its way to Google Assistant on phones. This is a major feat for Google to produce consistent commands across a wide array of devices, and with that feature parity comes another fun idea: if we all have the same Google Assistant as a Google Home in our pockets, what fun things could we use it to do while we're away from Google's smart little air freshener lookalike?

For instance, Google Home has advertised telling stories to our kids, even going on Disney adventures with Mickey Mouse or Lightning McQueen, but we don't all need or want a Google Home in our kids' bedrooms. Using Google Assistant on phones, we can still take them on adventures and Google can tell them wonderful stories, and even better, we can take it anywhere, from the bedroom to backyard camping to long car rides.

We can ask Google Home about calorie counts and recipes in our kitchen, but with the parity of Google Assistant on phones, we can also ask it about calorie counts while we try to figure out what to order for lunch, or while grocery shopping. Hey, if people can talk on their phones through the whole store, what's wrong with you talking to your phone while you shop?

Now, admittedly, there are still few holdouts here and there. For instance, Google Assistant on phones can pull up Netflix episodes and movies to watch on the phone, but can't cast them to Chromecasts and Android TV like Google Home can. And new features, like waking up to music instead of a generic alarm seem to start on Google Home as a test group before coming to other platforms. Think of Google Home as the Google Assistant text bed before features come to millions of phones. That said, Assistant is improving and updating all the time, and these few holdouts will hopefully come around soon.

What Google Home tricks have you enjoyed bringing to your phone? Are you still waiting for more feature parity on watches or Chromebooks? What features are you hoping Google announces for Assistant at Google I/O? Share with us in the comments.

LumiWatch Concept Can Project A Touchscreen On Your Hand

It seems as though yet another projector-enabled wearable project has been undertaken in the pursuit of a smartwatch that extends well beyond the usual timepieces. The project, headed by Carnegie Mellon University’s Chris Harrison and several researchers from that institution and ASU Tech Co. Ltd., resulted in a prototype called LumiWatch. Unlike some of its predecessors, however, LumiWatch goes a bit further than simple projections and allows for touchscreen-like interactions with the projected image on a wearer’s arm or hand. Of course, it’s worth pointing out that this is only a prototype and not necessarily something that will ever enter production. Moreover, it’s not exactly sleek, aesthetically appealing, or even all that usable in its current form. With that said, based on an associated YouTube video uploaded by one of the researchers, Robert Xiao, the group really didn’t intend for this to be a final design. It acts more as a proof of concept, intended to show that a final product could be built which would be much more acceptable in the mainstream.

The premise is fairly straightforward and centers around a self-contained system comprised of a heat-dissipating aluminum shell, battery, projector module and driver, a 1D sensor array, and a logic board. That’s built around a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm APQ8026 SoC coupled with a 450 MHz GPU. Bluetooth 4.0 and a WiFi controller are a part of that package, rounded out with 768 MB of RAM, 4 GB of flash memory, an inertial measurement unit, and an ambient light sensor. The software is based on Android 5.1. The built-in laser projector casts an image that’s around the average screen size of a large smartphone at just over 6-inches. Through continuous 2D finger tracking, and an initial “swipe to unlock” for calibration, touches on the projected interface are calculated.

As shown in the associated video, included below, there are a few problems that need to be overcome before this project becomes a real-world product for sale. Aside from being bulky, at 50mm x 41mm x 17mm, pricing would also be a big obstacle to this device appearing in the real world. As of this writing, the researchers believe the prototype could feasibly be created at a retail cost of $600. What’s more, the projections themselves will need to be calibrated in a much more concise way to achieve a truly screen-like experience for end users. But that’s without considering that the researchers noted issues with different skin types or in the hair on a user’s arm – let alone problems with brightness with outdoor use compared to indoor use. So it’s likely to be quite some time before the imagined wearable shows up on shelves or for sale online if it ever does at all.

The post LumiWatch Concept Can Project A Touchscreen On Your Hand appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

iPhone X wins our blind camera comparison vs Huawei P20 Pro, Galaxy S9+, Pixel 2 XL

A week ago, we invited you to take part in our blind camera comparison – a comparison where you, our readers, got to vote for the images you liked best without knowing which phone took them. The star of the show was the Huawei P20 Pro and it was running against the iPhone X, the Galaxy S9+, and the Google Pixel 2 XL. 

Hardly a surprise: the Huawei P20 Pro takes flagship-grade photosSo, did the P20 Pro dominate this one? Did its triple camera setup obliterate its competitors? Well, not quite. Huawei's handset won in two out of seven scenes, demonstrating prowess ...

LG ‘Q Note’ Trademarked; New Stylus-Equipped Phone Coming?

According to a new report, LG may be planning to release a Q Note phablet in the near future. LG has registered a ‘Q Note’ trademark in South Korea earlier this month, it seems, though that info just surfaced. This trademark was registered with the Korean Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS), and the trademark was classified as ‘Cat 9’, which includes smartphones and mobile applications, phone displays, batteries for handsets, TV receivers, and wireless headsets. This essentially means that the Q Note device could be any of those, but based on its name, it’s probably a smartphone.

Now, based on its name, the device could arrive with a stylus, though we do not have any such info at the moment. The phone’s design is completely unknown, same goes for its specs, and a release date. It is still unclear whether this is a low-end, mid-range or a high-end handset, though it is possible that LG is making a competitor to the upcoming Galaxy Note 9, and if that is the case, this smartphone will almost certainly sport a stylus. On the other hand, it’s possible that we’re looking at a budget phone here, who knows. The LG Q Note probably will not be announced along with the LG G7 ThinQ, as LG will want to reserve that whole May 2 event for its flagship, so a second smartphone announcement will probably not happen. The device may arrive in the coming months, though, maybe even in June or July, but we’re only guessing here.

Speaking of stylus’, we’ve recently shared some exclusive info regarding the LG Stylo 4, LG’s upcoming budget handset which will include a stylus. The LG G7 ThinQ is probably LG’s most anticipated smartphone, as it will be announced in two days, on May 2, and it will be the company’s new flagship handset. We’ve shared some exclusive info regarding that handset as well, including its render, color options, and a ton of camera info, click here if you’d like to read more about that. The LG G7 ThinQ will sport a display notch, it will be available in a number of color variants, while it will be fueled by the Snapdragon 845. As its name suggests, the phone will utilize AI, especially in the camera department.

The post LG ‘Q Note’ Trademarked; New Stylus-Equipped Phone Coming? appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Kimera Systems Aims To Redefine AI With Tell-All Webinar

Kimera Systems, the creator of the world’s first functional artificial general intelligence, is going to be sharing its special quantum-based method with the world in excruciating detail on May 3. Kimera started off not by following the crowd and trying to optimize neuroscience-based approaches to make AI mimic the human brain, but instead worked backward from a new definition of intelligence that it determined from quantum mechanics theory. This yielded a new breed of AI that was incredibly versatile, allowing the company to create the first functional, consumer-facing AGI program, Nigel AGI. The fruits of those labors are available on the Play Store right now, but those who want to dive in and see how it’s all done from the ground up will have to wait for the webinar.

The first thing the webinar will cover is Kimera’s unique quantum approach to the definition of intelligence, the foundation of its AGI work that eventually resulted in the creation of Nigel and the AGI framework behind it. From there, the webinar will go over the architecture of the Nigel AGI specifically, showing how AGI can be crafted to learn and grow over time, but cannot be created with a specific problem in mind like contemporary AI programs. After that, the webinar will cover subnet modeling, Kimera’s unique approach to AGI’s growth and training that, theoretically, could allow for an AI that grows infinitely, under the right circumstances. After that, two algorithms used with Kimera’s AGI framework will be presented; a machine learning algorithm based on cause and effect, and a more complex algorithm that encourages the AGI program to come to its own conclusions, then test those hypotheses and refer back to that data in synthesizing new ideas, understanding, and concepts on its own.

For those not in the know, Kimera Systems created and introduced the Nigel AGI last year, and it became a relative success in a short time. It didn’t take Nigel long to gather enough users to begin learning what it should do and when in a more general sense, and once that happened, it started acting, for most users, according to privileges it had been granted and things it had seen the user doing before. Nigel was the world’s first AGI, and the aim of Thursday’s webinar is that it won’t be the last. If you would like to register for the webinar, click the button below.

Register For Kimera's AGI Webinar

The post Kimera Systems Aims To Redefine AI With Tell-All Webinar appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Gameloft’s Dungeon Hunter Champions action RPG takes one step closer to launch (Updated)

Update: Dungeon Hunter Champions is coming to Android on Thursday, May 3, as brought to our attention by Droid Gamers.

The new title, developed by Gameloft, features more than 250 champions and MOBA-like five-vs-five player battles. The company knows a thing or two about developing successful mobile titles, having made the Asphalt and Modern Combat series, so you can expect a similar level of polish from DHC.

There are only a few days left to pre-register if you want a chance to win an extra 15 heroes; if you’re interested, find the link for that at the bottom of this page.

After soft-launching in the Philippines in August 2017, Dungeon Hunter Champions is now available in the Canadian and Vietnamese Google Play Store.

The latest entry in Gameloft’s action RPG series, Dungeon Hunter Champions offers a single-player campaign where players hack and slash through different worlds and environments. The game also features a five-on-five multiplayer mode reminiscent of Dota 2, League of Legends, and other multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) titles.

You can choose from over 250 collectible Champions to form your team, which introduces some strategy to the gameplay. Champions are divided into several character types, like Fighter and Tank. Picking the types of Champions for your team is just as important as the Champions themselves, especially since you can level up and outfit each Champion with various weapons and equipment.

As you win more battles, you can climb the leaderboards and earn random items. You can also buy items with real-world money, which is where Dungeon Hunter Champions makes its money. Based on the trailer above, the game features at least two different currencies, as well as an energy-based system. This saddens me, since energy systems limit how much you can play in one sitting.

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All we can hope is the game will dole out as much of the in-game currency and items as possible without shoving the paid portions in your face.

Dungeon Hunter Champions is available in the Philippines, Canada, and Vietnam. Folks in other regions can pre-register at the link below to receive items and a chance to win 15 Champions.

Pre-register for Dungeon Hunter Champions

Samsung confirms plans to release Galaxy S7 and S7 edge Oreo updates by mid-May

It looks like we're just a few weeks away from the release of the long-awaited Android 8.0 Oreo update for Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge. Not long ago, a Turkish website handled by Samsung said the update will be launched in mid-May, but the information may have been deemed unreliable by many since the same website initially said it would be available much earlier.

Well, it appears that the reason the initial information wasn't accurate is that these schedules may change according to the development and approval procedures, which is why we're now looking at a mid-May timeframe for the release ...

Still Here is an unbearably cute platformer about the demise of humanity

Still Here is a side-scrolling adventure for Android and iOS devices in which players jet around a dystopian world trying to find out what happened to all the humans.

Despite the macabre-sounding theme, visually the game is bright and cutesy. Main character Pip spends its time befriending artificial life forms and flying around discovering new locations, leading to plenty of interesting hidden areas and puzzles for players to get their teeth stuck into.

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The platformer has been developed by David Smit in collaboration with Emie Kampen. Apparently, David decided to create his own game after becoming frustrated by “commercial design work-flows where artistic charm is often lost.”

The game costs $3.99 and was released worldwide on April 26. At the moment, if you decide to buy the game you will have access to three playable characters as well as 15 locations. Each location has numerous quests for you to complete. You can get it now on Google Play by clicking the button below. 

Download on Google Play

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New Sensor Could Spur Growth In Healthcare Wearables Sector

According to an April 25 newsletter from the sensor experts at ams, the company has now created an integrated vital sign sensor reference design which could bring healthcare-specific wearables closer to reality. Based on the company’s AS7024 sensor, the new reference design can perform continuous cuffless blood pressure measurements using a software solution from just hear rate measurements (HRM) and electrocardiograms (ECG). It also measures heart rate variability (HRV), making it the most comprehensive healthcare metrics sensor to-date. Best of all, it isn’t necessarily expensive and has an accuracy of around <± 7.5 mmHg for systolic pressure and to <± 5.5 mmHg for diastolic pressure. That’s based on a total of more than 1,000 measurements across more than 100 subjects with ages ranging from 18 to 65 and the AS7024 frontend sensor integrated circuit (IC) is priced per unit at just $2 each per million.

With regard to the AS7024 sensor IC’s technology, it’s said to be comprised of three LEDs, photodiodes, an optical front end and sequencer for HRM, and an analog front end for ECG. The reference design is on the smaller side, measuring just 6.1 x 2.7mm, and is designed to take into account variations in vagal tone, arterial elasticity, skin temperature, skin resistivity, and other factors in order to provide accurate readouts. As with other heart rate sensors, this IC utilizes light modulation to measure the pulse rate of expanding and contracting blood vessels. That means that wearables are an obvious choice for implementations which utilize the new solution, such as smartwatches, fitness wearables, and possibly even smaller wearables such as smart rings, earbuds, or smart glasses.

Since the solution is a reference design, this should also be easily integrated into existing healthcare-based technology platforms’ and the associated wearables’ designs. Furthermore, the news only gets better if current organizations taking part in that incorporate it into their ambitious A.I.-driven solutions. However, that should be tempered by a degree of skepticism that the new solution will ever be used at all. As with all reference designs for new technology, a lot more testing will probably be needed before any major manufacturers take advantage of it. More importantly, the AS7024 IC may not reach the level of appeal required or another company may swoop in with something even better. So it remains to be seen whether this new innovation goes anywhere, despite how helpful it could be to end users.

The post New Sensor Could Spur Growth In Healthcare Wearables Sector appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

There’s a 120Hz display mode lying dormant in many recent Sony phones (Updated)

Update (04/30): After learning that some Sony phones have a hidden 120Hz display setting, the company has now provided some insights regarding the matter. For the XZ Premium at least, it appears the 120 Hz mode has been disabled to preserve battery life.

“Please note that the [XZ Premium] supports 120Hz in terms of video decoding capability but we have opted to strike a balance between power consumption and consumer benefit (in terms of frame rate),” a representative told Android Authority in an emailed response.

The setting is likely to be unavailable on the other handsets for the same reason, but it’s a rationale that might disappoint some Android enthusiasts.

Smartphone users are often weighing up battery life for desirable features — be it with live wallpapers, automatic brightness, haptic feedback etc. Unless the setting completely nerfed standby times, and isn’t just another slight drain, making the setting available as an optional extra might have been a bit more consumer-friendly.

Original article (04/09): The Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia X Performance, Xperia XZ1 and many other Sony phones have been found to include a 120Hz display mode option. The news was picked up by XDA after some folks spotted it in Sony’s Android 8.1 AOSP build, but there doesn’t appear to be a way to enable it.

XDA notes that the toggle to switch between the display modes isn’t functional; however, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the screen mode itself won’t work — it just seems it may require some additional legwork from Sony.

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The 120Hz refresh rate — which notably featured on the Razer Phone‘s display — can result in a more fluid gaming experience with lower latency and less screen-tearing. Other devices said to include support for the screen mode are:

• Sony Xperia X
• Sony Xperia XZ
• Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
• Sony Xperia XA2
• Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

Why Sony has included this in the code without properly supporting it, we don’t know. It may have been an intended feature that was abandoned or something Sony wanted to add in a future update.

We can only speculate for the moment; we’ve reached out to the company on the matter and will update this post with a response should we receive one.

Nokia 7 Plus & 8 Sirocco Now Available For Purchase In India

The Nokia 7 Plus and Nokia 8 Sirocco are now available for purchase in India. These two devices have been available for pre-order in the country since April 20, and now you can purchase the Nokia 7 Plus from Amazon India, while the Nokia 8 Sirocco is available from Flipkart. Both phones are available from the Nokia Shop, while both are also available via various offline stores across the country.

The Nokia 7 Plus can be purchased for Rs. 25,999 ($392), while the Nokia 8 Sirocco can be purchased for Rs. 49,999 ($754), as that is the company’s most powerful smartphone at the moment. The Nokia 7 Plus comes in Black, Copper and White, and Copper color variants, while the Nokia 8 Sirocco comes in a Black color option only. Having said that, both of these devices were announced during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona back in February, and both are already available in some markets. The Nokia 7 Plus is a mid-range handset, but quite a powerful mid-ranger. This handset features a 6-inch fullHD+ display, while it is fueled by the Snapdragon 660 64-bit octa-core processor. The device packs in 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. Android 8.1 Oreo comes pre-installed on the device, and this is stock Android, as the Nokia 7 Plus is a part of Google’s Android One project. A 3,800mAh battery is included in this package as well, and it supports fast charging, while the Nokia 7 Plus features 12 and 13-megapixel cameras on the back. A single 16-megapixel camera is included on the front side of the phone, and all cameras come with ZEISS’ optics.

The Nokia 8 Sirocco has the same dual camera setup on the back as the Nokia 7 Plus, while a 5-megapixel camera is included on the phone’s front side. The device features a 5.5-inch QHD pOLED display, which is actually curved on the sides. The Nokia 8 Sirocco is also a part of the Android One project, and it seems to ship with Android 8.1 Oreo as well. The phone is IP67 certified, while it sports a 3,260mAh battery on the inside, while it supports both fast wired and wireless charging.

The post Nokia 7 Plus & 8 Sirocco Now Available For Purchase In India appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

[Update: Rolling out to more users] Facebook testing a downvote button, claims it is not a dislike button

• Update 1: 2018/04/30 1:47am PDT
  It appears that Facebook is rolling these upvote / downvote buttons to more users. Thanks, Sidney Alcantara.

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is stay positive. As mothers everywhere are fond of saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." That's a good philosophy, but most of us probably forget to practice it, and Facebook is rolling out a new tool to allow people to hide that sort of content from its site. According to a report published by TechCrunch, Facebook is experimenting with a new "downvote" button, but it's actually just a "report" button. 

Most of us probably associate the idea of downvotes (and upvotes) with Reddit, but Facebook's recent implementation isn't quite the same.

Read More

[Update: Rolling out to more users] Facebook testing a downvote button, claims it is not a dislike button was written by the awesome team at Android Police.

Huawei has apparently been developing a secret mobile OS for six years

• Huawei is reportedly working on an alternative to Android, and has been since 2012.
• The platform is apparently inferior to Android and lacks third-party app support.
• If released, Huawei would join Samsung in having its own chips and mobile OS.

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Huawei is working on an alternative mobile OS to Google’s all-powerful Android platform. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), citing “four people familiar with the company’s plans,” the Chinese colossus has been developing its own mobile OS since 2012.

The news comes after reports that Huawei is under investigation by the U.S. for breaching sanctions against Iran. If confirmed, it would mark the second time in recent weeks that a Chinese brand has been charged with selling equipment to Iran, in violation of U.S. trade laws.

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ZTE currently faces a seven-year U.S. supply ban for selling equipment to Iran, which means it would be deprived of key technology like Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chips. It’s also believed that the company could lose access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) as a result. Google allows qualifying brands to use GMS on their phones, comprised of popular Google apps and APIs.

ZTE’s supply ban has also caused the Chinese government to ramp up its already ambitious plans for the domestic semiconductor industry, it has emerged.

Huawei’s rainy day plan

Huawei’s Mate 10 Pro (left) and P20 Pro.

The Huawei mobile OS project was started after the U.S. initiated an investigation against it and ZTE in 2012, one of the sources told SCMP, adding that Huawei also had an OS for tablets and PCs.

The sources said the project was initiated by founder Ren Zhengfei to prepare for “worst case scenarios.” It’s believed that the company hasn’t released the platform because “it’s not as good as Android” and doesn’t have as many third-party apps.

Read more: How screwed is ZTE right now?

Honor president Zhao Ming was also asked whether Huawei (Honor’s parent company) was working on its own mobile platform, especially following the ZTE ban.

“There is no doubt that Huawei is capable of doing it, but for now I don’t think it is necessary since we work very closely with Google and will continue to use its Android system,” Zhao said, according to the publication.

It wouldn’t be the first reported confirmation of Huawei’s mobile OS work either. Back in 2012, Caijing (translated version) reported on a speech by Ren. The Huawei founder reportedly said they were developing their own platform due to “strategic consideration” — in the event they were cut off from Google and Microsoft’s platforms.

Huawei could pull a Samsung and have its own platform, in addition to its own chips. But will it make a difference in the event of a trade ban?

Back in 2016, The Information reported that the Chinese brand was working on its own platform too. The publication’s sources said the project was still in its early stages. However, it’s believed that the project’s team is based in Scandinavia and includes former Nokia employees.

Huawei already has an advantage over ZTE and other Chinese companies in the event of a trade ban against it. The company develops its own Kirin mobile chips, helping the firm drastically reduce its reliance on foreign silicon, such as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors. The brand still uses Snapdragon chips in its low-end devices though, such as the Y series and Honor A family.

Huawei told SCMP that it had no plans to release its own OS in the “foreseeable future.” It added that it focused on Android but had an “open attitude” towards mobile platforms.

A stiff challenge, even for Huawei

Working on a mobile OS isn’t a walk in the park as, no matter how good the underlying platform is, third-party support and Google backing are increasingly important factors for success.

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Microsoft’s Windows Phone, for example, eventually crumbled due to withering developer and hardware support. Google support never came to the platform in any significant way either, as proper Google Maps and YouTube apps didn’t surface.

It’s a different story in China itself, as local apps and non-Google services form the backbone of Android there. But for a huge company like Huawei, being a top player in many markets around the world, a work-in-progress insurance policy is better than no policy at all.

OnePlus 6’s Base Model To Cost $558 In India: Rumor

Indian pricing details for the OnePlus 6 have leaked once again giving more precise numbers for each storage variant. According to the report, the upcoming flagship will be available in two storage variants – 64GB and 128GB – at a price of Rs. 36,999 ($558) and Rs. 39,999 ($603) respectively. In comparison, the OnePlus 5T Android smartphone was announced in the country at Rs. 32,999 ($497) and Rs. 37,999 ($573) for the same onboard storage options. The 256GB storage variant still remains to be a mystery, and OnePlus might possibly introduce the storage option at a later stage after the initial rollout of the OnePlus 6. If the provided prices turn out to be true, OnePlus 6 will be the first smartphone to cross the $500 barrier, pushing it further towards the premium segment.

The report goes on to cite its reliable source behind this information, which also provided the publication with pricing details of the OnePlus 5 prior to its launch mid-2017, which later proved to be correct. The Chinese company has confirmed to introduce its 2018 flagship on May 16 in London, followed by its announcement in India and China a day later. Alongside the standard variants, OnePlus 6 Avengers Limited Edition will also be announced in India on May 17 in partnership with Marvel Studios. Amazon India will be OnePlus’ exclusive retail partner in the Asian market and the OnePlus 6 will be available for purchase from the online retailer starting May 21 with its initial sales limited to Amazon Prime members.

OnePlus has already confirmed that its next flagship will sport Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 845 SoC paired with probably 6GB or 8GB of RAM, depending on the variant. It will reportedly feature a notched 6.28-inch display in a 19:9 aspect ratio and will also be water resistant. The Android flagship will feature a glass back which also indicates towards the presence of wireless charging capabilities, but OnePlus has yet to confirm that. A dual-camera setup will be present on the handset’s back with a recent report suggesting it to support “Super Slo Mo” camera mode, a feature seen recently on flagship smartphones from Samsung and Sony. The two cameras will now be placed in the center in a vertical orientation and will have a fingerprint scanner below them.

The post OnePlus 6’s Base Model To Cost $558 In India: Rumor appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Microsoft Office 2019 Commercial Preview Now Available for Windows 10 Users

Microsoft has announced the Office 2019 Commercial Preview of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, Project, Visio, and OneNote for Windows 10.

LG Confirms G7 ThinQ Will Sport Boombox Speaker, 2x Bass

The LG G7 ThinQ, the company’s new flagship, will be announced on May 2, and the company has just confirmed some new details about the phone. LG Korea has just confirmed that the phone will ship with a ‘Boombox’ speaker which will offer ten times louder sound compared to regular smartphones, and a ton more bass as well (more than 6dB), which is twice as much bass compared to most smartphones out there, says LG.

That’s not all, though, LG also says that you will be able to further amplify the LG G7 ThinQ’s sound output and quality by placing the phone on a solid surface or box, as its Boombox speaker relies on a special resonance chamber design, which can use the phone’s whole body in order to provide a more quality, and louder sound output. The phone’s body basically works in favor of the phone’s loudspeaker. The LG G7 ThinQ will also ship with DTS:X support, which means it will offer 3D surround sound effects at up to 7.1, and that applies even if you’re using a regular set of headphones, you will notice the difference. The LG G7 ThinQ will also include a Hi-Fi Quad DAC, which will lower distortion rate to 0.0002-percent, and provide a clear sound output. It is worth noting that a similar Quad DAC was included in both the LG G6 and V30S ThinQ. The device will also support MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) standard, which will make it possible for the phone to output high-fidelity, high-quality streaming with little data capacity. LG actually utilized something similar in both the LG V30 and V30S ThinQ.

That is more or less all the info that LG released today, but it’s worth noting that the other day, the company confirmed that the G7 ThinQ will ship with a 6.1-inch QHD+ Super Bright Display, which will be able to hit 1000 nits of brightness, max. We’ve exclusively shared the LG G7 ThinQ renders a while back, confirming all color variants of the device. The phone will sport a display notch, while it will be fueled by the Snapdragon 845. The device will include a dual camera setup on the back, and if you’d like to know more about that, click here.

The post LG Confirms G7 ThinQ Will Sport Boombox Speaker, 2x Bass appeared first on AndroidHeadlines.com |.

Xiaomi Mi A1 sequel may have been uncovered with Snapdragon 660 chip

• Recent firmware files have hinted that Xiaomi is currently developing two new Android One devices.
• The Xiaomi Mi A2 may be based on the Xiaomi Mi 6X and come with a Snapdragon 660 SoC.
• The other handset may be an Android One Xiaomi Redmi phone with a Snapdragon 625 chip.

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Xiaomi may be preparing a Mi A1 successor, according to a report from XDA. The speculation is based on a new device’s firmware files, and it looks like it would be an Android One handset like the original.

The smartphone, codenamed “jasmine_sprout” and possibly being released as the Xiaomi Mi A2, would reportedly arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset. The files also suggest it may be based on the recently revealed Xiaomi Mi 6X (like the Mi A1 was based on the Mi 5X) and would run Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, with Project Treble support.

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For context, the Mi 6X comes with a 6-inch, Full HD+ (2160 x 1080) display, Snapdragon 660 SoC, 4 or 6GB of RAM and up to 128 GB storage, in addition to a dual 12MP + 20MP rear camera with 2x optical zoom and a 3010 mAh battery.

XDA also found evidence of a potential Xiaomi Redmi Android One device, codenamed “daisy_sprout,” which would include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jen hinted only a couple of weeks ago that the Redmi series would be getting its own Android One device.

We don’t have any further details on the handsets or when they might be released.