OS Archives - Gizmochina

ASUS Zenfone 9 flagship smartphone starts receiving Android 13 beta update

Jeet — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 02:50:07 +0000

Last month, ASUS launched its latest Zenfone series smartphone in the form of the ASUS Zenfone 9. The phone runs the Android 12 operating system out-of-the-box, but the company is working on updating the software.

Now, the company has officially announced the Android 13 beta program for the ASUS Zenfone 9 smartphone, and the new software is already being rolled out to those who are enrolled in the beta program.

Those who want to enroll in the Android 13 beta program for the Zenfone 9 can open the Settings app on their phone and navigate to System > System update menu and tap on the gear icon at the top-right corner and select “Enroll in the Beta Test Program” from there.

It’s not an open process yet, so once you submit the application to enroll in the beta testing programs, the company will take a decision. If you are selected for the beta testing program, then you will get the new Android 13 beta update on your phone. It’s noteworthy that the software may have bugs and issues and could impact the user experience as well as the phone’s performance.

The ASUS Zenfone 9 features a 5.9-inch SAMOLED display with a Full HD+ screen resolution and up to 120Hz refresh rate with 445PPI pixel density, HDR10+ support, and a 112-percent DCI-P3 color gamut.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, coupled with up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a dual-camera setup on the back consisting of a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 primary sensor coupled with a 2-megapixel Sony IMX363 ultra-wide sensor with 113 degrees field of view. On the front side, there’s a 12-megapixel Sony IMX663 snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The IP68-rated water and dust-resistant smartphone is powered by a 4,300mAh battery and has 30W fast charging support. The company claims that the battery can be charged from zero to 50 percent in under 30 minutes.

Apple releases fifth iOS 16 public beta ahead of stable version rollout

Jeet — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 01:48:40 +0000

Apple announced the latest iOS 16 operating system for the Apple iPhone models at its Worldwide Developers’ Conference a couple of months back. Since then, the company has released several developer builds and public beta versions of the software.

Now, in the latest development, the Cupertino-based tech giant has rolled out the fifth public beta version of the iOS 16 operating system, which is most likely the final public beta before the official rollout of the stable version.

The fifth public beta of the iOS 16, along with the iPadOS 16, comes just a week after the company released the fourth public beta, corresponding with the seventh developer beta version of the operating system.

The new iOS 16 from Apple comes with several new features, including a revamped Lock Screen with support for customizations of wallpapers, time, and widgets. It also allows multiple lock screens, which can also be linked to Focus modes.

Apart from the major changes to the design of the OS and new features, the first-party apps have also received several new features and improved functionalities, including Messages, FaceTime, Safari, and more.

If you haven’t enrolled in the public beta testing program, then you can sign up through Apple’s website. The operating system is still under development, so the beta builds may have stability issues. But, the company is expected to roll out the stable version of iOS 16 in the coming weeks.

Huawei to officially announce next-gen HarmonyOS 3 on July 27 in China

Jeet — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 04:18:36 +0000

Huawei has its own operating system named HarmonyOS that has a wide range of use cases and after two major releases, the company is now all set to launch a new version of the HarmonyOS in China.

The company has announced through its official Weibo account that the official launch of the next-generation HarmonyOS 3 will take place on 27th July.

With the new HarmonyOS 3, the company claims to being some new features to the operating system, including an experience for connections, pages, collaboration, and some other major aspects of UX.

The market share of the operating system appears to be growing as Yu Chengdon of Huawei had earlier claimed that there are more than 300 million devices running HarmonyOS, which includes 200 million devices in the ecosystem and 100 million third-party products from its partners.

Huawei released the developer beta version and opened public beta recruitment for the upcoming HarmonyOS 3 last month, which supports devices like the P50 series, the Mate 40 series, and the MatePad Pro 12.6-inch 2021 model.

In addition to this new version of the company’s self-developed operating system, Huawei is also gearing up to launch a few more products at the launch event, including the company’s first Smart TV powered by HarmonyOS 3.

Along with the Huawei Smart Screen S Pro 86, the company is also said to launch a new MateBook X Pro, flagship tablet MatePad Pro 11, and Huawei Chang Enjoy 50 Pro.

Google launches Chrome OS Flex to turn older PCs and Macs into Chromebooks

Jeet — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 03:52:55 +0000

Google has announced a new version of its Chrome OS, dubbed Chrome OS Flex which is now available for early access. This new operating system from the search engine giant is designed to run on old PCs and Macs.

The company is targeting businesses and schools for this new operating system and claims that it can be installed “within minutes.” Google says Chrome OS Flex can run efficiently on devices that are up to 13 years old.

The announcement of this new operating system from Google comes a few years after it acquired Neverware, a company that made Cloudready, a lightweight operating system for schools and businesses with fleets of old PCs or Macs.

Talking about the use case, Google says that the old systems could be revitalized by replacing Windows or macOS with Chrome OS Flex, a lightweight operating system that can run on weaker hardware and remain stable for years.

Interestingly, the company says that the Chrome OS Flex will get the same attention from Google as Chrome OS. It will look and feel the same as the Chrome OS available on the Chromebook as it is built from the same codebase.

However, the availability of some features may be dependent on the hardware. This means that some of the features like always-on Google Assistant and Android smartphone syncing may not be available for everyone.

The Chrome OS Flex is available for early access but the company says that it has not done any large-scale testing. Google is just giving users a chance to play around with the OS and provide feedback before it pushes it in the market.

Google announces Android 12 Go Edition with improved performance

Jeet — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 01:45:52 +0000

It’s been a couple of months since Google released the Android 12 operating system and now the tech giant has finally announced the toned-down version of the same for entry-level smartphones — Android 12 Go Edition.

The new version of the Go Edition of Android comes with several upgrades and improvements, especially in terms of performance and privacy.

The company says that the Android 12 Go Edition can offer up to 30 percent faster performance compared to the best Android Go phones that are currently available in the market. Hopefully, this means that the users won’t have to wait for a couple of seconds before the app loads up on the screen.

Google also seems to have improved the battery performance on this updated operating system as it is claimed that the system will automatically hibernate applications that don’t get used for an extended period.

There’s an increased focus on improving the user experience and in line with that, Google has added a feature that will show options to the users to translate the content displayed on the screen when navigating to the recent apps screen.

It has also got support for sharing apps with nearby Android devices using Nearby Share and Google Play. Also, the profiles are now available on the lock screen, which further simplifies the experience for the users.

With users getting more concerned about privacy, the company has now introduced a privacy dashboard thorugh which users will be able to see apps that access sensitive data. There’s also an indicator that will notify users when an application is using the camera or microphone on the device.

Apart from the system-wide changes, some built-in apps have also got new features. For instance, the Files Go application has been updated with a feature that allows users to recover deleted files within 30 days.

Google has also shared that there are more than 200 million users with Android Go Edition devices. The company has also confirmed that the first Android 12 Go Edition devices will launch early next year.

Microsoft announces Windows 11 SE operating system designed for students and schools

Jeet — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 04:39:39 +0000

Microsoft has announced a new version of the Windows 11 operating system which is designed to run on low-cost laptops — Microsoft Windows 11 SE. It is specially designed for students and schools.

Windows 11 SE is a stripped-down version of the regular Windows 11 operating system and is targeting K-8 students. The laptops powered by this new edition of the OS will be coming from companies like Dell, HP, Acer, and ASUS, and others.

Microsoft is attempting to focus on simplicity and is optimized to run on slower or low-cost hardware. There’s no Microsoft Store for installing apps but Win32 and Universal apps can be deployed on the device.

Administrators have exclusive control over what apps are installed and run on Windows 11 SE laptops via Microsoft Intune for Education. It has removed several features from the standard Windows 11 for creating a more streamlined and distraction-free experience.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has launched a stripped-down version of the regular Windows operating system. Earlier, the company had launched Windows 10 S which is streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar experience.

The Redmond-based tech giant was also working on a new modern version of the Windows OS, dubbed as Windows 10X with a focus on dual-screen devices but the product was eventually canceled.

Aaron Woodman, Microsoft’s General Manager of Windows, says that this latest Windows 11 SE is more focused on solving a specific problem — How can Microsoft create the ideal OS experience for students and teachers?

With this new version of the operating system, Microsoft is directly competing against the Chrome OS that is powering the Chromebooks which have been adopted for many schools and are offered to students.

Do note that the Windows 11 in S Mode is still a thing and allows users to switch to the normal Windows 11 system while the Windows 11 SE is meant to be run strictly in schools on hardware managed by school administrators.

The Surface Laptop SE, costing $249, is the first device to come running this new Windows 11 SE operating system. But there will be devices from other companies starting as low as $219 and will be launched through the remainder of this year and into 2022.

Google’s Fuchsia OS to support more devices and other form factors

Jeet — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 01:41:28 +0000

Fuchsia OS is the newest operating system from Google that was launched earlier this year. This latest software from the technology giant is already powering the company’s first-generation Nest Hub.

Now, a new job listing from the company, spotted by 9to5Google, sheds light on the matter that Google is looking to expand the Fuchsia operating system to “additional smart devices and other form factors.”

Google’s Fuchsia OS

For those who are unaware, Google has been working on this new Fuchsia OS for a few years, developing the software from scratch. It launched earlier this year without any fanfare, powering the Nest Hub, which seamlessly switched from Cast Platform.

The company has been working on adding support of Fuchsia OS on more devices, including the Nest Hub Max and the second-generation Nest Hub. Now, the company is looking to expand it to more devices and not just smart displays.

From the job listing, it appears that the “Fuchsia Devices team” will be working on the operating system and will be responsible for making sure that it can successfully apply the Fuchsia platform to real world products that make a difference to Google and users.

As of now, there’s no information about what new form factors the operating system will support but it’s likely to be the devices with support for Chromecast, Video Conferencing, and Machine Learning capabilities.

There’s also a possibility that Google could work with some of its partners and bring the latest Fuchsia OS to non-Google devices, including products from companies like JBL and Lenovo. Do note that there’s no concrete evidence on where this latest OS from Google is heading and this is just speculation until more details surface online.

OPPO ColorOS 12 confirmed to officially launch on September 16

Jeet — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 01:49:10 +0000

A few days ago, Chinese smartphone maker OPPO had revealed that its newly updated version of ColorOS will be officially unveiled in mid-to-late September without actually revealing the exact date.

Well, the company has now revealed more information. It has been confirmed that the upcoming ColorOS 12 will be officially announced on 16th September at a launch event in China, which will commence at 18:00 local time.

This new operating system coming from OPPO is codenamed “Da Vinci” and will come with several new features and functionalities. It is said to be based on the latest Android 12 operating system. Revealing the codename on its Weibo account, the company had said that there has been not a single human in history as proficient as Leonardo da Vinci in art, technology, and science.

A promotional poster of the ColorOS 12 leaked by ‘Digital Chat Station’ showcases a smartphone, a tablet, and a smartwatch, indicating that the newer version of ColorOS will have support for all three device types. It’s noteworthy that OPPO has not yet launched its tablet but this confirms that the product is coming soon.

The new OPPO software is said to come with a new feature called ‘Cross-Screen Interconnection’, which is similar to the Huawei Multi-Screen Collaboration. The company is also tipped to adopt several new features from Chinese Android skins, including the likes of MIUI from Xiaomi, Flyme from Meizu, Smartisan OS, and HydrogenOS.

Apart from OPPO smartphones, the OnePlus phones in China will run ColorOS while the global models will continue to run OxygenOS. Given that Realme is also virtually a sub-brand of OPPO, the ColorOS 12 or its features will also make its way to its phones as the Reame UI is just a tweaked version of ColorOS.

Microsoft releases first Windows 11 beta version for Windows Insider Program members

Jeet — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 05:16:42 +0000

Microsoft had announced the Windows 11 operating system a few weeks ago and it was available to install as a Dev build. The Redmond-based tech giant has now released the first beta version of the Windows 11 OS.

The Windows 11 Beta is available for those who are enrolled in Windows Insider Program. As per the company, the beta release is less volatile compared to the Dev build and is being validated by Microsoft.

To test out this new version of Windows you will need to have a computer that meets the compatibility requirements laid out by Microsoft. Those who have installed the Dev version can switch to the Beta version by going to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program and then clicking on Choose your Insider Settings.

Do note that while Beta releases are more stable than the Dev releases, they are still not stable versions and are likely to have bugs, crashes, and missing features. So, we would suggest not installing Windows 11 on your primary device yet.

Windows 11 operating system features a new user interface, including a centered Start menu and Taskbar design, rounded corners, new sounds, and much more. The preview version available misses some interesting features like in-box app experience and Android app support but Microsoft adds that they will soon go into testing.

Android 12 screenshots leak showcases redesigned interface and new features

Jeet — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 07:59:07 +0000

Google has been working on a newer version of the Android mobile operating system and is likely to get released this year in the fall if the company sticks to its usual schedule. Before the official rollout, there will be several beta versions.

However, ahead of all that, a few screenshots of the upcoming Android 12 have leaked online, which reveals that the operating system will have a newly redesigned user interface. The source of the leaked images is said to be a document from Google for summarizing the changes in the new version.

The company seems to have doubled-down the privacy-related features. From the leaked images, it appears that there will be a small icon in the top-right corner that will notify if the camera or microphone is being used. Tapping on that icon will reveal which application is what and there will be a quick way to disable the access.

It appears that new widgets are also coming with the newer version of Android. There’s a new Conversations widget, highlighting recent messages, missed calls, as well as activity statuses. The size of the widget is small and thus only one item shows up at a time. The quick access area now holds fewer icons, making them easier to access.

The upcoming Android 12 is expected to come with several features, including app pairs, a double-tap on the back panel to trigger an action, sharing Wi-Fi passwords, an improved theme engine, support for emojis decoupled from system updates, and an app hibernation feature, among others.

While the authenticity of the leaked screenshots has not been confirmed yet, folks at XDA-Developers claim to have seen the document from which the images have come. The first Developer Preview of Android 12 is expected to be available in a few weeks but to get to know the list of features, we will have to wait a bit longer.

Deepin OS could soon support tablets, suggests newly leaked images

Jeet — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 07:16:14 +0000

Deepin, a Linux operating system for computers, seems to be getting ready to power tablets. An image of the Deepin OS powering a laptop as well as a tablet has surfaced online through Weibo.

This seems to indicate that the company is gearing up to launch a tablet version of its operating system and thus, will support multi-terminal collaboration. Currently, not much information is available regarding this development.

For those who are unaware, the Deepin operating system is available globally and is known for having a beautiful user interface. It comes with support for 33 languages worldwide and has accumulated more than 80 million downloads.

The operating system is being developed by China-based Wuhan Deepin Technology Co., Ltd. The company generates most of its revenue through the sale of technical support and other services related to the OS.

The Deepin 20 Beta, which was expected to release in January, was finally released in April this year. The new distribution features Ubuntu 20.04 coupled with the Deepin Desktop Environment. It comes with a built-in AI assistant, Cloud Sync for easily syncing commonly changed settings across multiple machines, and an overhauled Control Center.

(Via)

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Facebook is developing its own operating system from scratch

Jeet — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 05:27:13 +0000

Social media giant Facebook, in an attempt to free itself from being dependent on other tech giants like Google, has reportedly started development of its own operating system. The development was first reported by The Information.

This means that in the future, hardware products from Facebook, which includes the likes of Oculus and Portal, could come running the company home-developed operating system, the report says citing Facebook executive Ficus Kirkpatrick.

According to the report, the operating system from Facebook, the name of which remains unknown, will be built from scratch. The project is being led by Mark Lucovsky, a former Microsoft engineer who co-authored the Windows NT operating system.

Its noteworthy that social media giant Facebook has not indicated when the said operating system (OS) might arrive or which products would use it first. This isn’t the first time Facebook has considered developing its own OS. Facebook once developed prototypes of a custom OS for Home, but ultimately decided to go ahead with Android.

It seems that the current version of the operating system that Facebook is working on is a part of the company’s larger effort to make itself self sufficient and reduce reliance on other companies.

Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s head of augmented and virtual reality, told The Information: “We really want to make sure the next generation has space for us,” “We don’t think we can trust the marketplace or competitors to ensure that’s the case. And so we’re gonna do it ourselves.”

Along with its own operating system, Facebook is also developing a voice assistant similar to Apple‘s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. The company even approached Microsoft to license data from its Bing search engine to train the assistant.

The development of all these software products to power its hardwares will take place in Facebook’s new 770,000-square-foot campus being built in Burlingame, California, where the company is also developing other products, including AR Glasses.

(Source)

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HarmonyOS to become fifth largest OS by 2020 with 2% market share

Jeet — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 05:17:47 +0000

Earlier this year, Huawei launched its much-anticipated operating system HarmonyOS as a replacement to Google‘s Android. However, the OS is not limited to smartphones and will power a range of devices, including smart home products.

Now, a new report claims that the market share of HarmonyOS will reach 2 percent globally next year, making it the world’s fifth largest operating system surpassing Linux. Counterpoint further points that the share of HongMeng OS in China will reach 0.1 percent by the end of this year and 5 percent by the end of next year.

Currently, Android is the world’s leading operating system with a market share of 39 percent, and is followed by Windows having 35 percent market share, Apple’s iOS with 13.87 percent market share, and macOS with 5.92 percent market share. Linux is currently the fifth largest operating system with 0.77 percent share.

HarmonyOS, announced earlier this year, can support a wide range of applications including Android, Linux, and HTML5 in the future. The new operating system uses Huawei’s ARK compiler and will support Kotlin, Java, Javascript, C, and C++ programming languages. It will also have a verified Trusted Execution Environment for a better connected security across multiple devices.

The company had said that it began working on the OS back in 2017. It is currently in version 1.0 with Version 2.0 scheduled for launch next year and version 3.0 planned for 2021. We should also see it appear on PCs next year and on VR headsets in 2022.

HarmonyOS has already started making its way to the company’s devices starting with smart televisions. Honor Vision TV and Huawei’s Smart TV both come powered by HarmonyOS out-of-the-box. However, the company has confirmed that it has no plans to launch a smartphone powered by this OS this year.

Recently, in an interview with the correspondents of Fortune Magazine, Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei made a bold claim saying that their in-house developed operating system would be able to compete with top rivals like Apple’s iOS within a period of 2 years.

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Huawei trademarks Hongmeng name, possibly for their upcoming OS

Airyl Jaszly — Fri, 24 May 2019 03:56:08 +0000

Google cutting off its Android relationship with Huawei in response to a US government ban on the Chinese giant wasn’t much of a surprise to Huawei. We’ve known for a while now that Huawei is in the process of making their own operating system, as confirmed by the company’s own Richard Yu. Today’s patent leak, however, gives us a possible name for the upcoming OS, that being Hongmeng.

The patent listing suggests that Hongmeng will be used as an operating system program, computer operating program, computer operating software, etc. In other words, it’s an operating system, though no other specifics have been revealed. It’s expected to appear later this Fall or early next year for phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars, and wearables.

RELATED: Huawei ban has started affecting sales across Europe and Asia

The OS will be compatible with all Android apps and they can also be recompiled to improve performance, like ChromeOS. Samsung has also done something similar in the past with Tizen, but this is different in the sense Huawei’s looking to completely replace Android and other operating systems on other platforms, like Microsoft’s Windows.

With Huawei’s massive and still growing popularity (possibly assisted by the said ban), it’s clear they need to recoup fast. Thankfully, it seems like they’re doing exactly that with all the latest news of their Hongmeng OS and other products. We’re eager to see how Huawei’s own OS turns out in comparison to Android, as well as how it performs in real life.

(Source)

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Africa head Wang Lingming dismissed on molestation charges

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Huawei’s own OS is coming in Fall, features Android app compatibility

Airyl Jaszly — Tue, 21 May 2019 15:17:53 +0000

Google cutting off its Android relationship with Huawei in response to a US government ban on the Chinese giant wasn’t much of a surprise to Huawei. Speaking to Chinese state media on Tuesday, Ren Zhengfei said there would be “conflict with the United States sooner or later” as Huawei seeks to grow its dominance in the global telecom industry.

Although many simply assumed Huawei would switch over to using AOSP, it looks like Huawei has different plans. According to a report by Chinese publication Caijing, Richard Yu, the CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, has revealed details about Huawei’s upcoming OS. It will apparently be available later this Fall or early next year on phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars, and wearables.

RELATED: Huawei trade ban delayed by 90 days

The OS will be compatible with all Android apps and they can also be recompiled to improve performance, like ChromeOS. Samsung has also done something similar in the past with Tizen, but this is different in the sense Huawei’s looking to completely replace Android, unlike Samsung. On top of that, rumors claim Huawei is also working closely with Google to achieve some sort of workaround.

With Huawei’s massive and still growing popularity (possibly assisted by the said ban), it’s clear they need to recoup fast. Thankfully, it seems like they’ve got plenty of backup plans in store already. We’re eager to see how Huawei’s own OS turns out in comparison to Android, as well as how it performs in real life.

(Source|Via)

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Huawei Official confirms New Independent OS is Under Development

Andrew — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 08:16:24 +0000

Huawei recently received a big blow when the US turned suspicious towards its telecommunications equipment business in the country along with ZTE. Huawei has denied any foul play from their part but the OEM has grown wary of the current stance of the US government. Recently, the US also pushed its allies to stop using equipment made by the Chinese OEM. Whatever the actual reason might be, the smartphone maker would make presumptions that other big companies like Google might also be forced towards the same route in the near future. Hence, it would make sense for the company to have an alternative not only in hardware (like SoCs) but in software.

Fresh information is that Huawei is developing its own operating system that will replace Android eventually. Now, this has been reported a couple of times in the past but now, Huawei has confirmed the same. Sketchy reports in the past had revealed Huawei was working on something called KirinOS with almost little to no detailed info on the subject. The new confirmation comes from Huawei’s Mobile Products VP, 李小龙 Bruce_Lee.

RELATED: Huawei CEO Comments On Rumors about its Independent OS

Besides the official’s confirmation on Weibo, there is little to go about more detailed info. As per his replies to the comments below his post, the best we can say is that the new OS is “under development.”

In a more recent development, Huawei has also been testing its recent smartphones with Google’s new FuchsiaOS and the doors are open to further testing with the company’s development team now making it compatible with Kirin 970-powered devices.

(via)

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Snapshot of MIUI 6 OS, shows flat icons and immersive status bar

Frank Tu — Tue, 12 Aug 2014 04:35:22 +0000

Only four days left until Xiaomi formally launches the MIUI 6 and the China Unicom and China Telecom versions of the Mi 3 and Mi 4 will be the first to be used for its beta tests. Not a lot has been revealed so far about the MIUI 6, only that it may have an immersive status bar and flat icons.

Last night, a snapshot of what is purportedly the MIUI 6 was leaked online. This is most definitely the beta version (MIUI 4.16.1). The photo shows that flat icons and status bar have become a standard configuration for the MIUI 6 and that the status bar at the top is now immersive. The MIUI 6’s UI is so different from the latest MIUI V5 that it is barely recognizable.

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