OPPO has recently shared a detailed explanation of the Private Safe feature in ColorOS, showing users how they can hide, lock, and protect private files on their phones. The feature works as a built-in vault for photos, videos, audio, notes, and documents, keeping selected files away from the regular gallery, file manager, and casual phone browsing.

Private Safe can be accessed through Settings > Security and privacy > Private Safe. Users need to enter their privacy password before setting it up or opening stored files. Once enabled, selected file types such as images and videos can be protected. Users can tap Add, choose the files they want to hide, and select Set as private.

OPPO also allows users to move files into Private Safe from supported apps. In the Photos app, for example, users can long-press a photo, select it, tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner, and choose Set as private. After this, the file will no longer appear in the regular Photos view.

The feature is useful for users who share their phones with others or want to keep personal files out of casual view. This could include personal photos, private videos, voice notes, sensitive documents, or notes stored on the device.

Accessing hidden files follows the same route. Users can go to Settings > Security and privacy > Private Safe and unlock the space using the privacy password. For faster access, ColorOS also supports fingerprint and face unlock.

To enable biometric access, users need to open Private Safe, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, go to Settings > Privacy password > Other unlock methods, and turn on fingerprint or face unlock, depending on the option they prefer.

Private Safe also includes a recovery option for deleted files. Files removed from the vault can be restored within 30 days through the Recently deleted section. Users need to open Private Safe, enter the privacy password, tap Recently deleted, long-press the files they want to recover, and select Restore.

The feature gives OPPO users a simple way to control what stays visible on their phones and what remains private. It is meant for files users want to keep on the device, without leaving them open in the regular gallery or file manager.

Don’t miss a thing! Join our Telegram community for instant updates and grab our free daily newsletter for the best tech stories!

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

(Source)

The post ColorOS Private Safe Lets OPPO Users Lock Away Photos, Videos, and Documents appeared first on Gizmochina.

It’s no secret that Android users are often dissatisfied with the frequency of software updates. Although this issue has slightly improved in recent years, almost every brand has received complaints from users. Fortunately, OnePlus is taking a significant step to change this perception by offering extended software upgrades. The company strives to be a reliable, long-term friend to users. Here are the details…

OnePlus Aims to Be a Long-Term Friend to Users with Extended Software Upgrades

OnePlus has officially announced that its users can enjoy the longest software version maintenance update in the market. This news has created a buzz in the smartphone market, and it is expected to benefit users of OnePlus 11, OnePlus Ace 2, and OnePlus Ace 2V. Here are the details…

According to the company’s statement, the OnePlus 11 will receive 4 major Android version upgrades and push security patches every 5 years. On the other hand, Ace 2 and Ace 2V will receive 3 major Android version upgrades and push security patches every 4 years. This means that users of these devices will have access to the latest features and security updates for a much longer period than any other smartphone brand in the market.

Li Jie, President of OnePlus China, expressed his gratitude to the users for their support and recognition. He also stated that this decision of providing the longest software version maintenance update is not an easy one, as it involves a huge investment in research and development, amounting to more than 100 million yuan. However, OnePlus is committed to providing the latest software updates to its users, and this latest announcement takes its commitment to a whole new level.

The company is known for its commitment to providing regular updates to its devices. This latest announcement shows that OnePlus is willing to be a real “long-term friend” with its users. It is a testament to their dedication to providing the best user experience and building long-term relationships with their customers.

RELATED:

• Best Tablets Under $150: Samsung, Teclast, and others
• Insta360 X3 360° Action Camera Review: A Revolutionary Versatile Camera For Everyone
• Motorola Razr 2023 Alleged Live Image Hints At A Dual-Tone Design
• iQOO Z7i With Dimensity 700 Spotted On Google Play Console

(source)

The post OnePlus Takes Lead in the Android with Extended Update Support appeared first on Gizmochina.

Nothing Phone (1), the first smartphone from the Nothing brand founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, released the first Open Beta build of Nothing OS 1.5 back in December.

After a brief period of testing, the company has now officially started rolling out the first stable build of the Nothing OS 1.5 based on the Android 13 operating system to the users of Nothing Phone (1).

According to reports from a number of users, the stable Android 13 update for the smartphone is available in the form of Nothing OS 1.5.2. It is around 157MB in size if the user is upgrading from the last public beta version, which is a very small size in comparison to the update from other brands.

The newer version of the software comes with the January 2023 Android security patch. This mark the first stable build of the Nothing OS 1.5 but the rollout may be limited to users who are Open Beta participants and the rollout for all the users should take place in the coming weeks unless it faces any issues and the company needs time to fix them.

Here’s the changelog for the new Nothing OS 1.5.2 based on the Android 13 operating system for the Nothing Phone (1):

• Weather app
  • New Nothing weather app
  • Tapping a weather widget on the home screen now directly opens the corresponding city in the app instead of opening a link.
• Customization
  • All new Glyph sound pack for more ringtone and notification sounds.
  • More color schemes are available from the wallpaper selector.
  • New collection of minimalist wallpapers.
  • Icons can match your background color to make your home screen look more consistent.
  • Lockscreen shortcut customizations. Create shortcuts for the camera, torch, device controls, and wallet.
• Improved experience
  • Easily switch data usage when using dual SIM with the improved network Quick Settings panel.
  • Automatically show the current network and display how much mobile data you have used in Quick Settings.
  • Directly scan a QR code in the Camera app. The scanner also appears as a shortcut in Quick Settings.
  • Select language preferences for different apps.
• Visual improvement
  • A New look for Media Control. Puts album artwork on full display with a wider set of music controls.
  • Improved volume settings panel. Allows granular volume control without unlocking the device.
  • Improved Game Mode light notifications. So there is less distraction when you are playing.
  • Smoother animations when transitioning the display between on and off.
  • More refined Camera app interface.
• Privacy and safety
  • Get an alert when an app accesses your clipboard. Cleared history after a period of time to prevent unwanted access.
  • Added Personal Safety app.
  • Better privacy protection, including Photo Picker, nearby Wi-Fi devices permission, and select media permission.
• System performance
  • Fingerprint unlock accuracy has improved by up to 12%.
  • App startup speed has increased by up to 71%.
  • Standby power consumption has improved by up to 50%.
  • Implemented a new self-repair feature to periodically delete unused system dumps and cache.
  • Increased system stability.
  • General bug fixes.

RELATED:

• Nothing Phone (2) Model Number, Launch Timeline, Key Specs Surface Online
• Nothing Ear (2)’s Design to Remain Mostly the Same, May Offer Personalized ANC & Dual Connectivity
• Nothing Could Announce ‘Particles By XO’ Sub-Brand, Renders Of TWS Earbuds Surface
• Nothing Phone (1) & Ear (Stick) Sees Special Valentine’s Day Discount in India
• Android Smartphone Sales Decline: Production Cutbacks on the Horizon

The post Nothing Phone (1) Starts Receiving Stable Nothing OS 1.5 Update Based on Android 13 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google has released the first developer preview of its new Android 14 operating system for smartphones, which comes with several changes for improving device system health and offering more customization offers.

As it’s a Developer Preview, the newly released operating system build isn’t intended for regular usage, and as the title indicates, it is aimed at developers to test out new features and ensure that their apps will work on the updated devices.

The company has made some changes to the API behaviors to offer users a more consistent app experience across devices while reducing system resource usage. There’s also updated guidance to help developers take advantage of multitasking and features unique to large-screen devices.

It also comes with improvements to the internal broadcast system to help make the device’s battery life and battery consumption efficient. There are also tons of customization options, such as enhanced accessibility and language features.

Google has already revealed platform stability milestones, indicating when Google intends to deliver the final SDK/NDK APIs along with internal APIs and app-facing system behavior. Based on the information released, the company is planning to release the stable version in June 2023 and the final version is expected to be released in August this year.

RELATED:

• Google Pixel 6a’s Price Drops Again – Get It for $299 While You Can
• Google Pixel 7a TPU Case Leak Confirms Design of the Upcoming Smartphone
• Microsoft CEO Reveals Plans to Power Bing With OpenAI, Taking on Google in Search Engine Face-Off
• Google Announces Bard, Its Conversational AI Technology to Rival ChatGPT
• Google Could Soon Officially Add Smartphone as a Webcam Feature on Android

The post Android 14 Developer Preview 1 Released With New Features, Improved Battery Life, and More appeared first on Gizmochina.

Honor has a lineup of laptops under the Magic branding, and the company also has an operating system named MagicOS. Today, the company has announced that the Honor MagicBook V 14 is receiving the MagicOS 7.0 update.

The newly released update for the notebook supports the online upgrades of keyboard and mouse sharing, call and notifications sharing, and a few more features.

It enables users with Honor smartphones or tablets and laptops to share the keyboard and mouse as well as receive notifications related to calls. It also has support for notification sharing, enabling users to get the latest information no matter which Honor device they are using.

The list of devices getting the new update over the air (OTA) includes MagicBook V 14 and MagicBook V 14 2022 models, and the Honor MagicBook V 14 series also upgrades the Computer Manager to version 17.0.0.111 in batches.

Those who have an eligible device should be receiving a system upgrade prompt shortly to download and install the update. If not, then the users can also manually try to install the update by downloading the latest version of PC Manager from Honor’s official website.

The Honor MagicOS 7.0 comes with an upgraded software system architecture that creates a fusion ecological experience with an aim for seamless collaboration across the company’s devices and seamless flow across applications.

This new version of the MagicOS was released a couple of months back, in November 2022. There are four platform-level root technologies and system core services — Magic Ring trust ring, Magic Live Smart Engine, Turbo X System Engine, and MagicGuard Honor Secure.

RELATED:

• Honor Magic 5 series MWC teaser takes aim at Samsung’s Galaxy series
• Honor Partners With AutoNavi for Smart Travel & Smart Life Services and More
• Mysterious Honor Phone with 100MP Camera Emerges in Leaked Renders
• Honor Choice LCHSE Sports Bluetooth Headphones with a Neckband Design, Noise Reduction Launched
• Honor Pad V8 Pro Goes On Sale In China With A Starting Price Of 2,499 Yuan ($360)

The post Honor Magic V 14 Series Laptops Start Receiving MagicOS 7 Update With Support For More Features appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung is gearing up to launch its next-generation Galaxy S-series flagship smartphones under the Galaxy S23 lineup. While the launch date has not been officially revealed, it is speculated to go official on 1st February.

Now, ahead of the launch, new information about the phone’s software has surfaced. The upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 models will run a newer version of the One UI.

As per the latest report, Samsung is currently testing the new One UI 5.1 update for the Galaxy S22 series and carries firmware version S90xEXXU2CVL7. It was spotted on Samsung’s servers and is expected to release for the S22 lineup soon after it debuts with the Galaxy S23 series smartphones.

Currently, there’s no information available about what new features are coming to the One UI 5.1; however, it’s safe to assume that the update will be based on the Android 13 operating system, similar to the One UI 5.0. The South Korean giant had previously teased lock screen customizations, which we expect to see in the upcoming update.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, debuting as the company’s next-generation flagship lineup, will come with a slightly updated design, better display, upgraded camera sensors, and bigger batteries. The phones will also come powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and pack a newer version of One UI based on the Android 13 operating system.

RELATED:

• Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 43-inch 4K Mini-LED Gaming monitor launched in Korea
• Samsung Galaxy A13 Receives Stable One UI 5, Its First Major Update
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Struggles to Meet Expectations and Close Sales Gap with iPhone 14
• Samsung’s Camera Assistant App Coming to More Galaxy Devices for Better Camera Experience
• Samsung Expands Chip Production at Largest Plant Despite Economic Slowdown

Source, Via

The post Samsung Reportedly Testing One UI 5.1; Could Debut With Galaxy S23 Series appeared first on Gizmochina.

ZTE-backed Nubia has already confirmed that the company will launch its upcoming Z-series flagship smartphone — Nubia Z50 in China on 19th December.

Now, the company has revealed that along with the smartphone, a new version of its operating system — MyOS 13 will also get released on 19th December, which comes with upgrades and some new features.

It is revealed that the upcoming MyOS 13 will come with a refreshed design, a step-less speed change technology, and the overall system fluency will be increased by 30 percent.

As of now, the company has not revealed much about the new update to the user interface, but we expect to know more in the coming days thorugh teasers. It’s likely that the MyOS 13 will be based on the new Android 13 operating system.

Coming to the Nubia Z50, the smartphone is expected to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which was announced last month and uses LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.0 storage. A few smartphones have already launched powered by this new chipset, and we expect most of the upcoming flagship phones to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

The company has confirmed that it will be equipped with a brand-new 35mm custom optical system where the light input exceeds 1-inch primary camera sensor. Further, the company revealed that the device would also support Starry Sky Photography and will also offer several different types of photography modes.

RELATED:

• Nubia Z40S Pro Starry Night Collector’s Edition features Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting on the back
• Huawei Mate 50 Pro Named Best Smartphone for Selfies by DxOMark
• Realme GT Neo 5 Leaked Renders Give Us A First Look At The Smartphone
• Google debuts Android 13 QPR2 Beta 1 update for Pixel smartphones
• Samsung transfers 5G patents to Huawei in ongoing cross-licensing agreement

The post MyOS 13 To Launch With Nubia Z50 Smartphone On December 19 In China appeared first on Gizmochina.

It’s been quite some time since the Android 13 operating system was announced, and manufacturers are now updating their devices to the latest version of the Android OS. Now, ASUS has joined the list of brands that have released the new update for their devices.

As promised earlier, ASUS has now started rolling out the new Android 13 update to its compact flagship smartphone ASUS Zenfone 9. The official changelog includes adjustments, enhancements, tweaks, add-ons, and new features.

Earlier, ASUS had announced its Android 13 rollout roadmap, which includes Zenfone 9 and Zenfone 8 series receiving the new update in December 2022 and January 2023, respectively. The company has also promised Android 13 for ROG Phone 6D, 6D Ultimate, ROG Phone 6, and 6 Pro in the first quarter of 2023, while the ROG Phone 5 and 5s series will get the update in Q2 2023.

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.

RELATED:

• ASUS ROG Warblade 3 AimPoint 36K Wireless Gaming Mouse Released in China, Starting at 599 Yuan
• ASUS ExpertBook B9 thin & light laptop with 12th Gen Intel i7 CPU hits store shelves
• ASUS ROG Phone 6 Diablo Immortal Edition Goes On Sale In China For 6,999 Yuan ($990)
• ASUS ROG Phone 6 Series Can Now be Purchased in India Through Vijay Sales
• Samsung patents ASUS ZenBook Fold-like Laptop with a Flexible Screen

Source

The post ASUS Zenfone 9 Compact Flagship Smartphone Starts Receiving Android 13 Update appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung has been actively pushing out new updates for its Galaxy lineup of smartphones, and in recent times, the South Korean giant has rolled out Android 13 for several phones. Now, it’s the turn of the company’s cheapest 5G smartphone to get the new update.

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G mid-range smartphone has started receiving the Android 13-based One UI 5.0 update. The phone debuted two years ago, which means that this could be the last major software update for the device.

Samsung is one of the brands that has been actively involved with the revamping of its software strategy and is trying to expand the longevity of its devices with regular updates for a longer period of time compared to other Android phone makers in the market.

The Galaxy A42 5G, which was launched a couple of years back with the Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box, is now getting the Android 13 update. As the update has just been released, it may take some time for everyone to get it.

The One UI 5.0 update based on the Android 13 operating system with firmware version A426NKSU2DVK2 and November 2022 security patch has been spotted in South Korea. It appears that not all the carriers are offering the new update, which means that the wider rollout could take a few more weeks.

The Samsung Galaxy A42 5G features a 6.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U display. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 processor, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for added security.

The phone has a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a 48MP primary camera sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro lens. There’s also a 20MP snapper on the front side for taking selfies and video calling. The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 15W fast charging.

RELATED:

• Samsung Rolling Out Stable One UI 5 Update to Galaxy A13 5G, A51 5G, Xcover 5
• Samsung Electronics Gets Its First-Ever Female President
• Samsung Galaxy A14 5G India Launch Seems Imminent as Support Page Goes Live
• Samsung’s Fingerprint Scanner Will Be Reportedly 2.5 Billion Times More Secure by The Year 2025
• Samsung Partners With Zigbang To Unveil a Unique UWB-based Smart Door Lock

Source

The post Samsung Galaxy A42 5G Smartphone Gets One UI 5.0 Update With Android 13 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple has been working on its AR/VR headset for years now and if the reports are to be believed, then the company is set to launch the device in a couple of months. There have been reports about the device being powered by its own operating system.

Now, as per the latest report, the AR/VR headset from Apple will come powered by xrOS, which is a dedicated operating system for the mixed reality headset from the Cupertino-based tech giant.

According to the report from Bloomberg, Apple has decided to call the software powering the augmented reality and virtual reality headset xrOS instead of the previously rumored RealityOS or rOS.

This new information about the software comes at a time when the technology giant is expected to be preparing for the launch of the headset sometime in 2023. Along with the headset having its operating system, it will also have a dedicated app store, similar to the Apple TV and Apple Watch.

If the rumors are to be believed, then the device from Apple will be a Mixed Reality device similar to the Microsoft HoloLens, which will support both Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality. The XR term stands for Extended Reality, which includes both augmented and virtual reality.

Apple has redesigned some of its applications like Maps and Messenger for a better experience on an AR/VR headset, but the company is also developing a Software Development Kit, allowing third-party developers to create applications for the new platform.

While there’s no solid information about the device getting launched, some reports indicate that the product could get launched in the first half of 2023 and will be available for purchase from the second half of the year. We expect to get more information in the coming months.

RELATED:

• An Engineer Fixes Apple’s Biggest Shortcoming By Making a Curved iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Apple has TSMC make 4nm chips from its Arizona plant in 2024
• Apple adds 2013 & 2014 iMacs to Obsolete list, Watch Series 2 is now Vintage
• LG Display wants to supply microOLED panels for Apple’s MR/AR headset
• Apple AR headset to reportedly feature Micro OLED display and M1 processor

The post Apple’s Upcoming AR/VR Headset To Run xrOS Operating System appeared first on Gizmochina.

ASUS has a lineup of popular smartphones in the form of the Zenfone series, and the company also has a sub-brand named ASUS ROG which is well-known for making high-end and premium gaming smartphones. Now, both these brands have announced their plans for major software updates for their smartphones.

Both the companies, ASUS and its subbrand ASUS ROG have revealed the Android 13 update rollout plan for their smartphones, which is set to commence next month, i.e. December 2022.

As per the information shared by ASUS on its social media profiles, the Zenfone 9 will be the first smartphone to get the latest Android 13 update in December 2022, followed by Zenfone 8, which will get the update in January 2023.

On the other hand, the ROG Phone 6D and 6D Ultimate, as well as the ROG Phone 6 and 6 Pro, will be getting an Android 13-based software update sometime in the first quarter of 2023, which means between January 2023 and March 2023.

The ROG Phone 5 and ROG Phone 5S series will get the new Android 13 update sometime in the second quarter of 2023, which means between the months of April and June. We expect the company to reveal a more specific timeframe for the updates in the coming months.

The company has also added that the actual timeframe for the update rollout may differ based on regions and conditions. We expect the phones to get an updated version of the custom user interface when they get the Android 13 update. ASUS phones come with the company’s Zen UI, while the ROG phones run the ROG UI on top of Android.

RELATED:

• Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro returns a dismal performance on JerryRigEverything’s durability test
• Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED foldable laptop comes to India with an eye-watering price tag
• Asus ROG Phone 6 Batman Edition Launched, Here’s What You Need to Know
• Asus Zenbook 17 Fold OLED makes its way to US and Europe markets
• ASUS ExpertCenter PN53 mini-PC with AMD Ryzen 6000H APUs, DDR5 RAM announced

The post ASUS And ROG Reveal Android 13 Update Roadmap For Their Smartphones appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung has been rolling out the latest Android 13 update for its flagship Galaxy S22 series smartphones for about a month now and the company is now finally releasing the new version update for users in the United States.

After releasing the update for Verizon and T-Mobile users, the South Korean giant is now releasing the new Android 13 update for those users who have an unlocked phone, reports SamMobile.

Samsung usually rolls out new updates in the United States sometime after releasing them globally, most likely because the market is very critical for the company and it doesn’t want to release a botched update and lose customers.

Those with the unlocked Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphones, which include Galaxy S22, S22 Plus, and S22 Ultra, will be getting firmware version S90xU1UEU2BVJA for the Android 13 operating system with the company’s own One UI 5.0 custom user interface and October 2022 security patch.

The update comes with several visual changes to the user interface as the company attempts to make the user experience better and seamless. It also comes with support for disabling RAM Plus, improved Digital Wellbeing, and the addition of various emojis, stickers, text styles, animations, and transitions, among others.

If you have an unlocked Galaxy S22 series smartphone and live in the United States but haven’t received the update yet, then you can go to the Settings app and navigate to Software Update, and then tap on Download to install the new update.

RELATED:

• Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ appear on the Bureau of Indian Standards website ahead of launch
• Samsung may soon rollout One UI 5.0 based on Android 13 to Galaxy S21 FE
• Samsung ends Android updates for the first Galaxy Fold model
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra to feature a new & improved 200MP camera & telephoto lens: Report
• Samsung Galaxy M23 5G, A04 & A04e could launch soon in India, spotted on Samsung’s support page

The post Samsung Galaxy S22 series unlocked models start receiving Android 13 update in the US appeared first on Gizmochina.

Vivo has today officially confirmed that the company will be announcing OriginOS 3, the next generation of its custom mobile operating system for smartphones on 8th November.

The company has shared a teaser poster confirming the release date of 8th November for OriginOS 3 at the Vivo Developer Conference. It also adds that the new OS will be “more handy” without revealing anything about it.

The Vivo Developer Conference 2022, where the new OriginOS will be announced, has a theme of “MORE, close to what you think” and along with the new mobile operating system, the company will have different sessions for IoT ecosystem, artificial intelligence, privacy and security, game ecology, and more.

While the features of the upcoming OriginOS 3 have not been revealed yet, it is said that the company’s primary focus is on offering a light and smooth system experience to the users. It will also come with several new features that aim to make the user’s daily use more convenient.

If the release timeline of the OriginOS Ocean is anything to go by, then we expect the company to start rolling out the update soon after the official announcement, at least for a select few premium flagship smartphones, and then roll it out to several other devices in a phased manner.

RELATED:

• Vivo X90 Pro+ specifications leak reveals E6 AMOLED display, SD8G2, camera configuration
• Mysterious Vivo V2238A phone 3C certified, could be Vivo X90 series phone
• OxygenOS 13 x Android 13 Beta rollout schedule announced by OnePlus for eligible devices
• Vivo S16 series chipset tipped once again, likely to feature new Dimensity 8-series chip
• Vivo shares Funtouch OS 13 x Android 13 update timeline for Vivo X80 Pro, V25, Y22, and more

The post Vivo to announce OriginOS 3 at Vivo Developer Conference on November 8 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple recently rolled out the new iOS 16.1 version for the iPhones just weeks after the company had released the iOS 16, bringing several new features and functionalities to the operating system. Now, the company is working on the next version of the update.

According to the latest report from Mark Gurman’s PowerOn newsletter, the next major update for the iPhone’s software, iOS 16.2, is expected to be officially released sometime around mid-December along with the iPadOS 16.2.

The Cupertino-based technology giant has already released the first beta of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 for developers and public beta testers. While the full list of the features and changes for the upcoming update remains unknown, some of the features and improvements that can be expected have been released through the beta release.

iOS 16.2 will come with support for Live Activities for select sports games for the built-in TV application, allowing users to track games in real-time on the Lock Screen or Dynamic Island. It will also allow users to add a new Sleep widget option on the Lock Screen.

Freeform, a new application from Apple which allows users to collaborate with friends and co-workers, was announced at WWDC. The app is currently available for developers and beta testers, and now it is expected to be rolled out to everyone with the new iOS 16.2 as well as to the users of iPadOS 16.2 and macOS 13.1.

As the update is expected to be rolled out in December, there’s still time for the company to add new features and make other noticeable changes to the operating system. After iOS 16.2, the company is expected to release iOS 16.3 sometime around February or March next year, coinciding with the new Mac devices launch.

RELATED:

• Apple iPad Pro (M2) & iPad (10th Gen) can now be purchased in India – Check prices, availability
• Global PC shipments fall 15.5 percent in Q3, 2022, but Apple grows 7 percent: Counterpoint Research
• Apple is rumored to be working on a 16-inch iPad expected to be launched in 2023
• iPhone 15 to launch with USB-C port, as Apple complies with EU law: Report
• Apple may launch new MacBook Pro, Mac mini models in the coming months

The post Apple expected to release iOS 16.2 in a few weeks with new features appeared first on Gizmochina.

A few weeks ago, Apple announced the latest iPadOS 16 along with iOS 16 and other newer versions of the operating systems powering the range of devices from the brand. While the iOS 16 was rolled out sometime back, the release of iPadOS 16 was delayed.

Now, in line with the previous reports, the Cupertino-based technology giant has rolled out the latest iPadOS 16 version for the iPad models, and it is now available for eligible devices.

While the company has not confirmed this, reports indicate that the official release of the iPadOS 16 was delayed because the company needed more time to polish some of the features, like Stage Manager for multitasking. It’s noteworthy that the company has skipped the public release of the iPadOS 16 and has released the iPadOS 16.1.

The rollout of the latest version of the software for its tablets comes at a time when the company is now all set to start shipping the newly announced 10th generation iPad and the iPad Pro models powered by the M2 processor.

The highlight of this new version is the revamped multitasking experience called Stage Manager, which automatically organizes apps and windows and allows users to overlap windows of different sizes, drag and drop windows, and much more. It also comes with new Messages features, a suite of smart tools for Mail, iCloud Shared Photo Library, new features for Safari, Weather application, and more.

Apple generally rolls out the software update to everyone instead of releasing it in phases, so if you have an eligible device, then you should get a prompt to update the device, or you can manually check for the new update from the Settings app.

RELATED:

• Apple Mac Pro could be powered by an M2 chip with up to 48 CPU cores
• Apple iPhone 15 Ultra to reportedly feature a premium titanium build
• Apple to reportedly launch its first OLED iPad Pro in the first half of next year
• Apple iPhone 15 Ultra might kill off the 6.1-inch base iPhone model
• Apple slowly catches up to Samsung in the falling smartphone market

The post Apple releases iPadOS 16 with Stage Manager, Weather app, and more appeared first on Gizmochina.

Realme is all set to officially announce the latest version of its custom user interface for smartphones, dubbed Realme UI 4.0. While the exact launch date is not yet known, it is expected to be announced in the coming days.

Now, the company has officially revealed the roadmap for the first batch of smartphones from the brand that are set to get the latest Realme UI 4.0 update based on the latest Android 13 operating system.

The Realme UI 4 Early Access is already available for the Realme GT 2 Pro flagship smartphone, and several more smartphones from the brand are to receive the update starting this month. Here’s the roadmap shared by the company:

• August 2022: Realme GT 2 Pro
• September 2022: Realme GT Neo 3 150W, GT Neo 3, GT Neo 3 Naruto Limited Edition, and Realme GT 2
• October 2022: Realme GT 2 Master Discovery Edition, Q5 Carnival Edition, Q5 Pro, Q5, GT Master Explorer Edition
• November 2022: Realme GT
• December 2022: Realme GT Neo 2, GT Neo 2 Dragon Ball Custom Edition, GT Neo Flash Edition, and GT Neo

The update roadmap for the Realme UI 4.0 Early Access is for the first batch of smartphones, and the company said that it will soon release a new list of devices that will receive the update in the first quarter of 2023.

The timeline is currently for the smartphones in the Chinese market and after the Early Access version is available for some time, the company will roll out a more stable version of the new operating system, but there’s no exact timeframe revealed yet.

The Realme UI 4.0 is based on the Android 13 operating system and will come with more fingerprint styles, optimizations for the live wallpapers with new and richer animation effects, an updated notification bar control center, and much more.

RELATED: 

• Realme Buds Air 3S spotted on Bluetooth SIG ahead of September 6 launch
• Realme C30s spotted on NBTC and EEC certification database, could launch soon
• Realme GT Neo 4 spotted on company’s website in India and China, could launch soon
• OPPO will no longer include chargers with SOME of its devices
• Samsung One UI 5.0 based on the latest Android 13 to reportedly release in October

The post Realme reveals roadmap for Realme UI 4.0 rollout to first batch of smartphones appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone, making it the first smartphone from the brand to come with Android 12L out-of-the-box. Now, the company is rolling it out to its tablets.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series tablets have become the first tablet from the South Korean giant to receive the Android 12L software update with One UI 4.1.1.

The update is currently being rolled out to Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, and Tab S8 Ultra in Europe. Both the versions of the tablet — cellular and Wi-Fi are eligible for this new update that is being rolled out.

The report from SamMobile reveals that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 comes with firmware version X70xBXXU2AVH2, while the Galaxy Tab S8+ model is getting the update with firmware version X80xBXXU2AVH5. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is getting the update with firmware version X90xBXXU2AVH2.

Along with the new version of the Android, the update also comes with the August 2022 security patch. The size of the update is also pretty large at 2.3GB, which means you will need about 2.5GB of free storage on the device.

Android 12L was announced at the Android Developer Summit last year, which brings an optimized user interface for large-screen devices such as tablets, foldable, and Chrome OS devices. Google says it has refined the UI to make Android more beautiful and easier to use on screens larger than 600sp.

RELATED: 

• Google Pixel 7 spotted on Singapore’s IMDA database ahead of launch
• Google is already developing the Pixel 8 series chipset: Report
• Google Pixel tablet may arrive with a 64-bit-only version of Android 13
• Google’s foldable smartphone Pixel Notepad could be manufactured by Foxconn
• Google Pixel 6a and Pixel 4a smartphones Android 13 update rollout begins in India

The post Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series tablets start receiving Android 12L update appeared first on Gizmochina.

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.

RELATED: 

• ASUS ROG Phone 6D with Dimensity 9000+ SoC appears on AnTuTu benchmark
• ASUS Vivobook 15 (touch), Vivobook S 14 Flip, Zenbook 14 Flip OLED launched in India
• ASUS MD100 Marshmallow Mouse launched in India for ₹1,499
• Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ and PG48UQ OLED Gaming Monitors released
• Sony teases its upcoming compact smartphone set to launch later this week

The post ASUS Zenfone 9 flagship smartphone starts receiving Android 13 beta update appeared first on Gizmochina.

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.

RELATED: 

• Apple officially confirms the delayed release of the new iPadOS 16 stable version
• Xiaomi Overtakes Apple as the 2nd Most Popular Smartphone Brand in Europe
• Apple Maps to reportedly start showing ads in search results from next year
• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch models set to enter mass production this year
• Apple to launch new entry-level iPad and M2-powered iPad Pro in October

The post Apple releases fifth iOS 16 public beta ahead of stable version rollout appeared first on Gizmochina.

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.

RELATED: 

• Huawei officially teases FreeBuds Pro 2 earphones in China; claimed to be the World’s first HWA-certified stereo eabuds
• Huawei Nova 10 and Nova 10 Pro are now available for purchase in China; the price starts at 2,699 yuan ($402)
• Huawei-backed car maker launches the Aito M7 electric SUV in China
• Huawei released its first anti-lost device with one+ year of battery backup
• Huawei says it would have been on par with Apple if not for the US sanctions

The post Huawei to officially announce next-gen HarmonyOS 3 on July 27 in China appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple has been regularly releasing new software updates and firmware versions for its portfolio of products. The company recently concluded its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), showcasing several new and upcoming features.

Now, the company has started rolling out a new beta firmware version for several AirPods models, including the Apple AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max.

The new beta version for the AirPods lineup bring released by Apple carries version numbers from 5A5282d to 5A5304a. As of now, the new firmware is limited to developers and can be downloaded from the Apple developer website.

Also, to install this new beta firmware for the wearable audio products, the user needs to be running the Apple iPhone with the latest iOS 16 beta operating system or a Mac device with the macOS Ventura beta along with Xcode 14 beta for the supported AirPods.

Apple claims that this new beta firmware version includes improvements to the Automatic Switching as well as some bug fixes and stability improvements. Once the testing is completed, the software will be released to all the AirPods, which could be in fall this year.

RELATED: 

• Apple iPhone 14 might see a major price hike, warns supply chain
• Future mid-range iPhone models will reportedly not come with Apple’s latest processor, claims analyst Ming-Chi Kuo
• Apple files patent to enable future iPhone users to operate the device in wet conditions
• Apple Japan hikes prices by up to 20% due to global inflation and supply shortages
• Apple’s upcoming AirPods Pro 2 earbuds to reportedly come with a USB-C port

The post Apple releases new beta firmware for the AirPods lineup of wearable audio devices appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung is working on a new version of its One UI custom user interface — Samsung One UI 5.0 which will be based on the latest Android 13 operating system. It appears that the new version of the software isn’t far away.

As per the latest report coming from SamMobile, the South Koren giant is gearing up to release the new One UI 5.0 Beta version next month for the users of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S22 series smartphones.

While the company hasn’t confirmed the plans for the One UI 5.0 beta version release but the report claims that it will be released in the third week of July. It further adds that the stable version will be released a couple of months before the end of this year.

Once the update is released to the Galaxy S22 series smartphone owners, we expect the company to expand it to other premium devices from the brand, including the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Samsung has been doing a pretty good job of releasing new version updates for its premium smartphones for the past couple of years. Based on that, we may get the new update for other devices from the brand by the end of this year. But it’s a good idea to wait for the official announcement from the company before getting your hopes high.

RELATED: 

• Samsung Galaxy S23 series will reportedly not come with an under-display camera
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 smartphone to reportedly come in a variety of color options
• Samsung fined $14 million in Australia for misleading Galaxy smartphone ads
• Samsung announces 200MP ISOCELL HP3 smartphone camera sensor, with the smallest ever 0.56μm Pixels
• Samsung unveils the world’s first wireless Dolby Atmos Soundbars, and others in India

The post Samsung to release One UI 5.0 beta for Galaxy S22 series smartphones next month appeared first on Gizmochina.

A few days ago, Samsung had announced the first-ever public beta program for the company’s latest smartwatches in the market — Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic.

Now, a new report from SamMobile claims that the South Korean giant has started rolling out the first beta build for the smartwatches which is based on the Wear OS 3.5 for those users who have enrolled their devices for this program.

To enroll in the program, you will need to open the Samsung Members application on a Samsung smartphone that is connected to the smartwatch and sign into the account. If you are in an eligible region, then there will be a banner for the beta program. Click on the banner and follow the on-screen instructions to register.

Once you have registered for the program, you will start receiving the new beta build of Samsung’s One UI 4.5 on your smartwatch. It comes with several new features, including a user interface for the dual SIM functionality, improved notifications, improvements for the built-in keyboard, and support for handwriting, among others.

As of now, there’s no information available about how long will the beta program last before the South Korean giant start rolling out the stable update for all the users. While the timeline is not confirmed yet, we expect the update with the new features to be rolled out to all the users in the coming months.

RELATED: 

• Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 5 wireless charger gets FCC certification, 5W Charging speed tipped
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 key specifications tipped, the same device with bigger battery and new chip
• Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro may not come with the fan-favorite rotating bezel
• Samsung Galaxy A04s Spotted on Geekbench, May sport Exynos 850 SoC: Report
• Samsung Galaxy A13 5G India launch imminent, support page live

The post Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series starts receiving first beta of One UI 4.5 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Motorola‘s Moto G200 5G, which was launched last year by Lenovo, is now finally getting the latest Android 12 version update along with the March 2022 security patch.

The over-the-air (OTA) update is currently being rolled out in the select European markets but the update is expected to be soon made available for the Moto G200 5G smartphone users in the United States.

While the expansion of the update rollout for the smartphone to more regions is expected, there’s no official announcement or timeline available regarding the same. It is expected to get released in Latin America and the UK ahead of the US.

This is likely because the non-5G Moto G200, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, is still not available in the United States. It’s noteworthy that mid-range and low-end Moto G30 Pro and Moto G30 launched last year have already received the new Android version update ahead of the G200 5G.

Coming to the specifications, the smartphone features a 6.8-inch Full HD+ display and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC. It comes packed with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

In the camera department, there’s a triple-camera setup on the back consisting of a 108-megapixel primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. On the front side, it features a 16-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

The phone comes with some other features such as Bluetooth 5.2, FM Radio, USB, and GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, and GALILEO. It is powered by a 5,000mAh battery and comes with support for 33W fast charging.

RELATED: 

• Motorola Edge S30 gets treated to MYUI 3.0 based on Android 12
• Moto G62 5G and Moto G82 5G clear essential certification, to launch soon
• Motorola Moto G22 launched in India with a 90Hz display, 50MP quad-camera, and more
• Samsung Galaxy M62 starts receiving One UI 4.1 update based on Android 12
• Motorola Moto G82 5G with Snapdragon 695 and Android 12 clear multiple certifications

The post Moto G200 5G starts getting Android 12 update with March security patch appeared first on Gizmochina.

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.

RELATED: 

• Google Pixel 6 series officially launched in Singapore, Here are the pricing details
• Gaming Chromebooks to launch soon, with full RGB keyboards: Report
• MediaTek launches Kompanio 1380 chipset for premium Chromebooks
• Chromebook shipments down by 63.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021: Report
• Google launches Android 13 Developer Preview 1 with improved interface and privacy

The post Google launches Chrome OS Flex to turn older PCs and Macs into Chromebooks appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi recently announced their Q1 plans for the global rollout of Android 12 based MIUI 13. Yesterday, the update was announced for the Redmi 10 making it the first budget device to get the MIUI 13, and now, the Redmi Note 8 (2021) and the Note 10 Pro have also been issued the Android 12 upgrade.

Redmi Note 8 (2021) MIUI 13

The update carries firmware version V13.0.2.0.SCUMIXM for the Redmi Note 8 (2021) and is rolling out the “Global” region. The full ROM is sized 2.7GB and comes with the January security patch. Being marked as a “stable beta” means that it is yet to roll out widely, but once declared bug-free, more users should be getting it.

The official changelog reveals that other than bringing the latest MIUI version to the device, the update also brings better optimization for some apps and overall improvement in system stability.

Redmi Note 10 Pro MIUI 13

The Redmi Note 10 Pro also gets the MIUI 13 update, however, it is only limited to Europen regions for now. The update comes with version number V13.0.3.0.SKFEUXM and is rolling out to devices in the EEA (European Economic Area) region. The update carries a size of 3.3GB and similar to the Note 8 update, it is marked as “stable beta.” The update will be released to the general consumers once it is declared bug-free

The official changelog doesn’t have much to say about the contents of the update and touts optimized system performance and improved system security and stability which may indicate in the inclusion of the January security patch.

Users of the Redmi 10 Pro outside Europe are also expected to soon receive this update. As for Indian users, they can expect this update to hit their Redmi Note 10 Pro Max devices the company has rebranded the Redmi Note 10 Pro in the Indian market.

RELATED:

• Redmi K50 Gaming Edition display specs detailed, achieves 15 quality records
• Redmi 10 Global bags Android 12-based MIUI 13, is one of the first budget offering do so
• Android 13 gets an Italian coffee flavored dessert for its codename
• Dynamic theming will come to Samsung, Xiaomi & other OEM’s Android 12 devices: Google

The post Redmi Note 10 Pro and Note 8 (2021) bag MIUI 13 update appeared first on Gizmochina.

It’s been a few months since Google released the Android 12 operating system and even though there are plenty of devices waiting to get updated to the newer version of Android, the company is working on its successor.

The first developer preview of Android 13 is now available to download for the users of the Pixel 4, 5, and 6 series. The new version comes with an improved user interface and new privacy-related features.

As the newly released version is a developer preview, it is meant for testing purposes and is not suitable to be used on a daily driver. The majority of the features revealed in this version appear to be focused on the developers.

There are new tools for the developers to better integrate apps with the Material You theme. The themed app icon can also inherit a part of the color palette, matching the rest of the interface on the device. The feature is coming first to Pixel devices but Google says it’s working with other manufacturers to release it more widely.

The company is also tweaking how Android handles security and permission. A new photo picker will let users share photos and videos with an individual app without the app needing permission for all photos. This feature won’t be limited to Android 13 and will make its way to devices running Android 11 and above.

In Android 13, Google is adding a new “NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES” permission which will give apps a list of nearby devices without the need for location permission. The language preference can also be set on a per-app basis.

Google has said that it plans to release Android 13’s developer previews for a couple of months and then transition to beta release sometime around April. This means that the official stable version could get released around June or July.

RELATED: 

• Google swats Pixel 6 Magic Eraser bug with the recent Photos app update
• Apex Legends Mobile is now available in select countries on Android
• Google Pixel 6 Pro appears on Amazon India, but buyers beware…
• Google Pixel Fold smartphone’s possible design revealed in Android 12L Beta 2
• Google Pixel Notepad foldable smartphone to cost significantly lower compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3

The post Google launches Android 13 Developer Preview 1 with improved interface and privacy appeared first on Gizmochina.

Samsung has improved a lot in terms of rolling out software updates for its smartphones and now the company is going a step forward by promising to offer four generations of Android operating system updates for the latest Galaxy S22 series smartphones.

At the Galaxy Unpacked event, the South Korean giant confirmed that the Galaxy S22 lineup as well as other recent devices from the company will be upgraded to the latest Android versions for four generations.

This means that the users will be getting new features and security updates down the line for a longer time compared to what is currently the industry standard. Most of the smartphones getting launched these days come with a promise of two years of Android version updates.

With long-time support for software updates, the useable life of the devices will be extended, keeping the device in the hands of the customer for a longer time. The development appears to be in line with Samsung’s “Together for Tomorrow” marketing campaign for promoting sustainability.

The company has confirmed 12 devices that will get Android operating system updates for at least four years. Apart from the Galaxy S22 lineup and the Galaxy Tab S8 series, the devices in the list include the Galaxy S21 lineup launched last year as well as the Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy Z Fold3, and Galaxy Z Flip3.

Samsung’s commitment is interesting and impressive given that Google itself is promising just three years of Android OS updates for its Pixel 6 series flagship smartphones. However, the search engine giant has promised five years of security updates.

RELATED: 

• Samsung Galaxy A51 demoted to biannual updates before Android 12 rollout
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with S Pen deals a death blow to the Note series
• Samsung Galaxy S22 series uses new material made of abandoned fishing nets
• Samsung could face its first labor strike in 50 years over flopped wage talks
• Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G gets Android 12 based One UI 4.0 update in India and Europe

The post Samsung promises to offer four generations of Android OS updates for its devices appeared first on Gizmochina.

It’s been a few months since OPPO announced its latest ColorOS 12 custom user interface for its smartphones. The ColorOS 12 is now also available on smartphones manufactured by OnePlus after both OPPO and OnePlus merged their operations as well as the codebase of custom UIs ColorOS and OxygenOS.

The newly announced custom user interface from OPPO comes with several improvements and is also one of the first brands to roll out the Android 12 update for its devices. Last month, it had revealed the ColorOS 12 update rollout plan for Q1 2022.

Now, the company has revealed the list of smartphones getting the new ColorOS 12 update in the month of February 2022. The list includes devices set to receive the stable update as well as the public Beta update.

Stable Update:

• 22 February: OPPO Reno5 K 5G, K9 5G, A93 5G
• 23 February: OPPO A72 5G
• 24 February: OnePlus 9R 5G
• 28 February: OPPO Ace2, Ace2 EVA Limited Edition

Beta Update: 

• 16 February: OPPO K9 Pro 5G
• 17 February: OPPO Reno4 SE 5G
• 24 February: OPPO Find X3 Pro Photographer Edition
• 28 February: OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G, Reno3 Vitality Edition, Reno3 Pro 5G Classic Blue Custom Edition, OPPO K7

The company recently introduced ColorOS 12.1 version which is currently limited to the newly launched OnePlus 10 Pro smartphone in China. It comes with new features like HyberBoost to improve the gaming performance, Omoji, and the company promises a faster and smoother software experience for the users.

RELATED: 

• OPPO surprises Reno5, Reno6 smartphone users with new Android 12 update
• H₂OOS may replace OxygenOS and ColorOS in the future: Report
• OPPO finishes ColorOS 12 stable rollout for January 2022 with OPPO A95 5G
• ColorOS 12 stable update rolling out for OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G, Reno5 Z 5G
• Xiaomi Debuts “Pure Mode” on MIUI similar to “Security Check” found on ColorOS

The post Here’s the list of smartphones getting ColorOS 12 update in February appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last month, Xiaomi had officially announced its latest custom user interface for the smartphone — MIUI 13. Now, along with the global launch of the Redmi Note 11 series, the company has also announced the MIUI 13 for the global markets.

Xiaomi has also revealed that it plans to roll out the new update for the operating system in the first quarter of this year (i.e. Q1 2022) but it has not yet announced the exact date for the release. However, it has shared the list of smartphones that will get the update.

The MIUI 13 comes with a new MiSans font which is a part of Dynamic Font System 2.0. Similar to the iOS 14, this one too comes with support for dynamic widgets, a feature that the company was testing since August 2021.

It brings Liquid Storage which reduces fragmentation and actively manages stored data along with improving defragmentation efficiency by up to 60 percent. There’s also Atomized Memory that brings RAM efficiency.

It also has Focused Algorithms for dynamically allocating system resources based on usage scenarios which help make the interface fluid and responsive. It also prioritizes active apps, allowing the CPU to focus on important tasks.

There’s also a Smart Balance feature to automatically find the balance between performance and power consumption. It is also claimed to extend the battery life by up to 10 percent. Xiaomi is also focusing more on privacy with the MIUI 13.

Here’s the list of smartphones from Xiaomi that are set to receive the new MIUI 13 update in the first quarter of this year:

• Mi 11 Ultra
• Mi 11
• Mi 11i
• Mi 11 Lite 5G
• Mi 11 Lite
• Xiaomi 11T Pro
• Xiaomi 11T
• Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE
• Xiaomi 11 Lite NE
• Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
• Redmi Note 11 Pro
• Redmi Note 11S
• Redmi Note 11
• Redmi Note 10 Pro
• Redmi Note 10
• Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
• Redmi Note 10 JE
• Redmi Note 8 (2021)
• Redmi 10
• Xiaomi Pad 5
• Redmi 10 Prime
• Mi 11X
• Mi 11X Pro

Do note that the company’s flagship smartphones — Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro as well the recently launched global version of the Redmi Note 11, Note 11S, and Note 11 Pro come pre-installed with MIUI 13.

RELATED: 

• Xiaomi 12 Pro “derivative” model in works with newer version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
• Xiaomi U Disk Flash Drive launched in China, offers 150MB/s read speeds
• MIUI 13 global update out for pilot testers of Redmi Note 10, Note 10 Pro, Mi 11 Lite
• Redmi 7A gets MIUI 12.5 update in India, likely its last major software update
• Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 foldable smartphone’s display and chipset details leak online

The post MIUI 13 global rollout to begin in Q1 2022; here’s the list of devices getting the update appeared first on Gizmochina.

It’s been a few years since Huawei launched its own operating system named HarmonyOS (aka HongMeng OS in China) soon after the Chinese giant was barred by the United States government from using Google’s Android as well as other technologies made in America.

Ever since launching HarmonyOS, the company has been actively pushing new updates with features to improve the platform. Currently in version 2, a new report now reveals information about the official launch of the upcoming HarmonyOS 3.0 later this year.

According to a new report, Huawei’s next-generation HarmonyOS 3.0 is expected to officially get released in July this year. However, there’s a possibility that the official announcement of this new software could be made a bit early.

It is being claimed that the announcement could happen sometime by the end of the second quarter of this year, i.e. by June 2022. The Chinese giant is expected to host an event during the Spring festival but it’s not yet known what could be announced.

The Huawei HarmonyOS 3.0 Developer Preview was released by the company a couple of months back, in October 2021, at the Huawei Developer Conference 2021. It continues to innovate around three core areas — System Architecture, Super Terminal, and One-time development of multi-terminal deployment.

As per the reports, given that the HarmonyOS is a new-age operating system, its system architecture can be deployed flexibly, allowing smart devices with different memories to communicate in the same language. In the latest version, there are deployment automation tools and developers can select the required components based on hardware to complete the operating system assembly.

Huawei has announced that the HarmonyOS 3 Beta is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2022, i.e. by March 2021, which will provide developers with more complete system capabilities and development tools.

RELATED: 

• Huawei reports a decline in its 2021 revenue by 28.9% YoY, expresses resilience
• Huawei Mate X2 Plain Leather Collector’s Edition goes on sale in China
• Huawei HiSilicon unveils Yueying ISP Engine that captures smarter and clearer images
• Huawei JLN-AL00 is an upcoming 4G phone with HarmonyOS
• Huawei Releases the World’s First Bluetooth and NFC Supported Digital Car Keys in China for its AITO M5 Smart Car

The post Huawei HarmonyOS 3.0 tipped to officially release in July this year appeared first on Gizmochina.

Motorola smartphones come running the brand’s own My UX skin which offers a near-stock version of the Android operating system. Now, the company is set to update its smartphones with the new version of the software — Android 12.

The Lenovo-owned company has revealed the list of smartphones that will be upgraded to the Android 12 operating system. Further, the company has also revealed details about what we should expect from the new version.

Motorola has confirmed that the company will start rolling out the latest Android 12 version update for its smartphones from February 2022. Here is the list of devices that will be getting the new version update.

The post Motorola reveals list of smartphones getting Android 12 update appeared first on Gizmochina.

Earlier this month, Google officially announced the stable version of the Android 12 operating system for the smartphone. However, unlike the previous version, this time, Google didn’t roll out the latest update to its own smartphones nor did the company announce a timeline for the same.

But now, after officially launching the latest Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones in the market, the technology giant has also started rolling out the Android 12 update to the Pixel series of smartphones.

It’s noteworthy that the latest Pixel 6 lineup already comes pre-installed with the latest Android 12 OS. The rollout of this new update for other devices comes after the company released the final Beta 5 version of Android last month.

While the latest Android 12 comes with several new features and functionalities, one of the major changes comes in the form of the revamped interface. This time, the company is using the new Material You user interface.

Apart from the new design, the latest version of the operating system also comes with new widgets and notification design, privacy dashboard and security enhancements, scrolling screenshots, Nearby share, and more. For a detailed list of features available with Android 12, check out this article.

Earlier, Google had revealed that the Android 12 update will be made available for devices from companies like Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi later this year. Some of these brands have already announced their own custom user interfaces based on the latest Android 12, including ColorOS 12 from OPPO and One UI 4.0 from the South Korean giant Samsung.

RELATED: 

• Google unveils the Pixel Stand (2nd Gen) with up to 23W wireless charging
• Google has high hopes for the Pixel 6 series and aims to manufacture 7 million of them
• Honor 50 series global launch imminent, Google Mobile Services support confirmed
• Google TV will get support for multiple user profiles starting next month
• Google to launch “Quick Phrases” that activate Assistant without saying “Hey Google”

The post Google starts rolling out Android 12 stable version to Pixel smartphones appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google had unveiled the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones a couple of months back and the technology giant is now all set to officially launch both devices next week, at a launch event on 19th October.

Ahead of the official announcement, almost everything related to the upcoming phones has leaked online. Now, a new report reveals one of the major features for the upcoming Pixel 6 series flagship smartphones.

A tipster going by the name Snoopy (@_snoopytech_) on Twitter has revealed that the upcoming premium smartphones from Google will offer four years of operating system upgrades and five years of security patches.

This means that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which will come pre-installed with the Android 12 operating system, will also be getting the upcoming Android 13, 14, 15, and 16 versions, with security patches guaranteed till 2026.

If it turns out to be true, then it is a major advantage for the users of the Pixel 6 series given that most smartphone manufacturers only promise up to two major OS version updates, which basically means two years of support.

It appears that this is becoming possible for the company as it will be using its own Tensor chipset for smartphones. Prior to this, Google smartphones were powered by Qualcomm’s processor, which may have created an issue for the search engine giant to guarantee a smooth transition to newer OS versions.

The commitment of Google to offer updates for more years could also force other Android smartphone manufacturers to expand the software support duration. Although it is still not up to Apple’s standard, it’s good to see companies making an effort in this direction.

RELATED: 

• Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro differences revealed through leaked images
• No, the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick isn’t better than Chromecast with Google TV
• Honor 50 series global launch imminent; Google Mobile Services support confirmed
• Google’s newest Fuchsia OS to support more devices and other form factors
• Google Pixel Pass could bundle Pixel 6, Google Fi, YouTube Premium, and more

The post Google Pixel 6 series to reportedly offer four years of OS updates and five years of security patches appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google has officially released the latest Android 12 operating system but the update isn’t available for users to download, even for the users of Google’s own Pixel lineup of smartphones that are eligible for the updates.

The official launch of Android 12 means that smartphone manufactures can now announce an updated version of their own custom user interface based on this latest Android version and we’ve already got an event scheduled from Realme.

Realme CEO Madhav Sheth recently confirmed that the company will soon launch the Realme UI 3.0 based on the Android 12 operating system. Now, it has been confirmed that the launch event will take place on 13th October.

Although the company is yet to confirm the rollout of the upcoming Realme UI 3.0, it is being believed that the Realme GT 5G will be the first smartphone to get this new Android 12-based update. On the other hand, the upcoming global variant of the Realme GT Neo2 is expected to come pre-installed with the Realme UI 3.0.

Currently, there’s no information available about the new features coming to the Realme UI 3.0 which is based on the latest Android 12. However, we expect some major changes in terms of the user interface, including wallpapers, icons, and layout.

The Android 12 comes with a new user interface named Material You, a refreshed notification UI with a more modern look, splash screens for all apps, faster and efficient system performance, new privacy-related features, and much more.

The update will be available for the Google Pixel series smartphones in the next few weeks and soon after that, the Android 12 update will be available for smartphones from Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Vivo, and Xiaomi, among others.

RELATED: 

• Realme GT Neo2 set to soon launch in Europe; memory variants and pricing leaked
• Realme promises only two years of maintenance updates in China
• Realme TechLife Air Purifier, Handheld & Robot Vacuum Cleaners launched in India
• Xiaomi Mi 11, Mi 11i, and Mi 11 Ultra Android 12 Stable testing program now live
• Lenovo is working on a handheld Android-based gaming console called Legion Play

The post Realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12 confirmed to launch on October 13 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Just a couple of days after releasing the stable version of the iOS 15 for iPhones, Apple has now started rolling out iOS 15.1 Beta. The update is currently available for developers to download as an over-the-air update in the Settings app.

It adds more features to the Health app which added support for storing health-related data for COVID-19 immunizations and test results. With the latest iOS 15.1 Beta, you can now add your vaccination cards to the Apple Wallet application.

For this new feature, Apple is using the SMART Health Cards specification. So, if your healthcare provider or state is using the SMART Health Cards platform, you can share verifiable health records stored in the Health app with approved third-party apps requesting this information, including airlines, event venues, and other businesses.

Currently, states like California, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, Hawaii, and some Maryland counties support Smart Health Cards. It is also available for those who were vaccinated through Walmart, Sam’s Club, and CVS Health.

Do note that the availability of the feature in the beta version doesn’t guarantee it for the stable build. Apple had added SharePlay to iOS 15 beta but the feature was later removed. It has now made a comeback in iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, and tvOS 15.1 betas. It is designed to let users call up their friends and family and then watch TV, watch movies, and listen to music together with shared playlists and TV show syncing for all users.

RELATED: 

• Kuo: Apple likely to finally ditch the Notch for a Hole-Punch Display on iPhone 14 Pro
• Apple AirPods 3 and new MacBook models on track to launch this year: Report
• iPhone 13 series battery capacities detailed in Apple product information sheet
• Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max pre-order shipments now delayed to October
• Apple Watch Series 7 detailed specs revealed via internal datasheet

The post Apple releases iOS 15.1 beta with SharePlay and vaccination cards support appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google has been working on the latest Android 12 mobile operating system and last week, the tech giant released the fifth and the final beta build of the new OS which means that the stable version should be rolled out in a few weeks.

While the search engine giant hasn’t revealed the exact launch date for the stable version of the Android 12 operating system, a new report from XDA-Developers claims that the Android 12 could be officially released for the Pixel smartphones on 4th October.

Google is expected to publish the source code for the Android 12 operating system on 4th October on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) Gerrit. If Google sticks with its tradition, then the latest Android version should be rolled out to its own Pixel series smartphones on the same day.

Do note that this is a tentative launch date for Android 12 and it could get changed as Google has not officially announced it. Going by history, Google is a bit late in releasing the stable build of the Android operating system. It’s likely that the development schedule was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The delay could be because Google wants to ensure that everything works properly and is taking more time in testing. Unlike the previous updates, this one comes with significant updates and several new additions, including revamped user interface and more security-focused features keeping user privacy in check. A detailed look at key features in the newer mobile operating system is available here.

The Android 12 Beta is already available for Google’s own Pixel lineup and a number of other smartphones from brands like Xiaomi, Realme, OPPO, OnePlus, ASUS, and Samsung. You can check the full list of eligible devices from this article.

Google is also reportedly working on a new minor update for the Android operating system and interestingly, it appears that it will be a version update. This means that the next update from the company will be Android 12.1 and not Android 13 and is expected to be rolled out pretty soon after the launch of Pixel 6 series phones. It’s noteworthy that the last point update was Android 8.1 Oreo and since then, there haven’t been point updates from Google for the Android operating system.

RELATED: 

• Huawei teases its upcoming laptops will feature support for Android apps
• OPPO ColorOS 12 confirmed to officially launch on September 16
• Samsung confirms One UI 4.0 (Android 12) Beta to hit German Galaxy S21 series soon
• New Google Tensor details surface, reveals it will have dual Cortex-X1 super cores

The post Google to reportedly release Android 12 stable version update on October 4 appeared first on Gizmochina.

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.

RELATED: 

• Alleged OPPO Find X3 Pro Photographer Edition appears in a live photo in a leather back
• OPPO K9 Pro specifications, renders, release date emerge through China Telecom listing
• OPPO Reno6 5G, Reno6 Pro 5G, Reno6 4G launched in Europe with Bundle offers
• ColorOS 12 update confirmed for OnePlus 7, 7T, 8, 8T series
• OPPO Enco Buds TWS earbuds launched in India offering 24hrs battery life

The post OPPO ColorOS 12 confirmed to officially launch on September 16 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google has just released the final beta version of the Android 12 operating system and soon the company will officially release the stable version of the same. While the Android 12 stable version is yet to be rolled out, details about its successor have surfaced online.

It is being reported that the next version update for Android will be a minor update — Android 12.1. Further, the report adds that this new update should be rolled out pretty soon to the Pixel 6 series phones, once they get launched.

This is an interesting development given that Google has stopped releasing minor version updates for the Android operating system which are called point updates. The last point update was Android 8.1 Oreo and since then, there haven’t been point updates from Google for the Android operating system.

Developers are being advised by Google to update their apps to target API level 31, which is the framework API that Android 12 delivers. The API level for Android 11 is 30 while its processor was 29. So, it’s being bumped with every Android version update.

Now, folks at XDA-Developers spotted evidence within AOSP Gerrit that suggests API level 32 corresponding to Android 12 “sc-v2” and not Android 13 “T.” In a new code change, a Googler changes the API level that a new NDK API will be first made available from 32 to 33. The reason could be because “there are currently no planned NDK APIs in sc-v2-dev.”

It looks like Google will be releasing an interim update between Android 12 and Android 13, with a change in the user-visible version number, resulting in the Android 12.1 point release. There’s also a possibility that the new API level won’t be accompanied by a new version number and could be targeted at another form factor.

Android 12 update comes with a major visual overhaul but it appears that Google’s own Pixel phones will be the ones to experience the full redesign. One of the highlights is support for a theming system, a redesigned lock screen, and quick settings menu, along with a new widget system, new animations, new privacy settings, and more.

RELATED: 

• Google could be sued by the US Justice Department over digital ads business
• Google Pixel 3 series phones are getting bricked with “EDL” message
• OPPO ColorOS 12 based on Android 12 confirmed to launch in September
• WhatsApp will drop support for Android 4.0.3, iOS 9, KaiOS 2.5.0 on November 1

The post After Android 12, Google could release Android 12.1 version update instead of Android 13 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Last month, at the Huawei Developers Conference, the company officially unveiled the HarmonyOS 2.0 and also revealed its plan of using the newer version of the self-developed operating system on smartphones.

Now, a new report about the adaptation of HarmonyOS for Huawei and Honor smartphones based on the chipset has leaked online. It claims that the Kirin 9000 will be the first to get the update, which includes the upcoming Huawei Mate 40 lineup.

After that, the next in line to receive the new operating system is Kirin 990 5G that powers the Huawei Mate 30 series, P40 series, Mate Xs, Nove 6 5G, and Honor 30 series. However, not all of these devices are expected to get the update in the first rollout.

In the third batch, the HarmonyOS update will be rolled out to devices powered by the Kirin 990 4G, Kirin 985, and select devices of Kirin 820 SoC. In the fourth batch, all the remaining devices of the chipsets mentioned earlier as well as Kirin 980 will get the update. At last, phones powered by Kirin 810 and Kirin 710 will get the newer version of the OS.

EDITOR’S PICK: Upcoming smartphones in October 2020: Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus, and More!

Notably, the list doesn’t include devices powered by the Kirin 970 chipset, which includes the Huawei Mate 10 series, P20 series, and a few other devices. The list seems to confirm that the update will be available for older smartphone models as well.

Previously, the company had revealed that it plans to roll out a beta version of HarmonyOS 2.0 by December exclusively for developers. After initial testing, the software will be available for a few smartphones in Q1 2021.

UP NEXT: Some Microsoft Surface Duo users have reported a cracked frame around the charging port

The post HarmonyOS for smartphones could also be available for older models appeared first on Gizmochina.