Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 Android 8.1 Oreo stable update rolling out in select markets

The Nokia brand made a comeback in smartphones last year as HMD Global acquired the rights. The company released the Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and the Nokia 3 as its first ever Android smartphones. The phones were followed by the flagship Nokia 8 and the low-end Nokia 2. At Mobile World Congress this year, HMD Global released its new device portfolio which includes the Nokia 6 (2018), the Nokia 7 Plus, the flagship Nokia 8 Sirocco, and its first Android Go phone in the form of the entry-level Nokia 1.

HMD Global has had a good track record when it comes to rolling out software updates. All of the company’s phones have shipped with stock Android and it has committed to using the Android One platform. The Nokia 8 received Android 8.0 Oreo last year, and later went on to receive the Android 8.1 update. The Nokia 6 and the Nokia 5 have received stable Android 8.0 Oreo updates, and an official beta program is underway for the Nokia 3’s Android Oreo update.

Now, the company has started rolling-out the stable Android 8.1 Oreo update for the Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6. The Android 8.1 Oreo update for the Nokia 5 is available in India, Indonesia (TA-1053), and Tunisia (TA-1053). On the flip side, the Nokia 6’s Android 8.1 update is currently available in India.

The update brings the March security patches and a new settings menu, according to the changelog. It also contains “battery saving navigation buttons,” a revamped power menu, and Bluetooth battery percentage.

The Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6 were both launched at MWC 2017. The Nokia 6 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 system-on-chip, 3GB/4GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB of storage, 5.5-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS display, 16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery.

The Nokia 5’s list of specifications includes the Snapdragon 430 system-on-chip, 2GB/3GB of RAM with 16GB of storage, 5.2-inch HD (1280×720) IPS display, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, and a 3000mAh battery. Both phones shipped with Android 7.1 Nougat.

It’s good to see the Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6 receive stable Android 8.1 Oreo updates. Android 8.1 is a small update over Android 8.0, but the speed of the update roll-out means that the phones now belong to the few budget and mid-range devices that run Android 8.1, instead of an older Android version. We applaud HMD Global for its fast roll-out of software updates and hope the good run of form continues.

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Source : NokiapoweruserSource 2: Nokiapoweruser

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Google Home, Home Mini, and Home Max can now pair with Bluetooth speakers

Google Home devices have a feature that allows them to connect with each other and play audio in sync. This is great if you have a few Home devices spread out through your house. It’s an easy way to get whole-home surround sound. Today, Google has announced a feature that expands upon this functionality with non-Home devices. You can now connect Home devices to Bluetooth speakers.

The Google Home Mini is used as an example of why you might want to do this. On its own, the Home Mini might not be loud enough. Connect a Bluetooth speaker and suddenly you have better audio quality. Google says you can also add connected speakers to Google Home groups for multi-room audio. Putting the speaker in a group means the audio will play from the Home device and Bluetooth speaker.

Connecting a Bluetooth speaker can be done in the Google Home app in the device settings section. Set the Bluetooth device as your default speaker. In this mode, the audio will only play through the connected speaker. Use the Group feature to play audio on all devices at the same time. Keep in mind the Home device is still the brains behind the operation. Connected speakers will not extend the listening ability of the Google Home.

Google Home (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Google Blog

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Latest OnePlus 5 & OnePlus 5T OxygenOS Open Beta adds network boost in Gaming Mode

All eyes are on the upcoming OnePlus 6, but we’re still a few months away from launch. Meanwhile, the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T are still the company’s premiere devices, and today both are receiving an OxygenOS beta update. The OnePlus 5 is receiving an update to OxygenOS Open Beta 7 whereas the OnePlus 5T is receiving an update to OxygenOS Open Beta 5, although both share the same change-log.

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OnePlus 5 & OnePlus 5T OxygenOS Open Beta 7/5 Change-log

Launcher

• Added recent search tag in search app section of the app drawer

System

• General bug fixes and improvements

Weather

• Improved accuracy of the current location
• Added new icons and updated UI

Gaming mode

• Network boost in Gaming mode – network priority for gaming App in the foreground

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The update is still based on Android 8.1 Oreo just like the previous open beta updates for the 5 and 5T. The update doesn’t bring the March security patches, though.

The biggest changes here are the improved location accuracy for the weather app as well as a new “network boost” in Gaming Mode. The former can be thought of as a bug fix while the latter may be a useful feature if you’re a heavy mobile online gamer. The new network boost feature restricts network access from other apps when gaming mode is turned on. For those of you just getting into PUBG Mobile, maybe this will help ensure your connection is stable while you shoot at bots other mobile players users on emulators with keyboard and mouse.

Check out the threads below from the OnePlus forums for additional information. Also, we’ve provided the download pages in case you want to flash the update manually. Keep in mind that if your device is has TWRP installed, TWRP is overwritten during installation.

Source 1: OnePlus Forums for the OnePlus 5

Source 2: OnePlus Forums for the OnePlus 5T

Download OxygenOS Open Beta 7 for the OnePlus 5

Download OxygenOS Open Beta 5 for the OnePlus 5T

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Google Chrome will finally support casting local files

One of the handy features in Google Chrome is the ability to cast just about anything. The browser is great for casting videos, music, a specific tab, or the entire desktop. However, there’s one thing you can’t cast from within Chrome: local files. François Beaufort has once again shared a new feature of Chrome on Google+. This one addresses the lacking cast ability.

The cast pop-up now includes a new “Cast file” option. Users will be able to select a video or audio file from the explorer and cast it to an appropriate device. This feature is rolling out in the Beta channel, but not everyone will see it right away. You can force the experiment by restarting the browser with the –enable-features=EnableCastLocalMedia switch enabled. Find out how to do that right here.

Google is always working to make Chrome your one-stop shop for all things. Now it’s possible to cast local media files directly from the browser. No more 3rd-party apps or extensions required. Of course, it’s still probably easier to cast from streaming services, but it’s always nice to have extra options. If you do a lot of media casting this feature should come in handy.

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Source: Google+

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Magisk 16.3 fixes issues with Pokémon GO; topjohnwu discusses “uncertified devices” controversy

If you’ve rooted a device in the last year or so, you’ve probably heard of Magisk—the systemless root solution. Magisk has quickly risen in popularity as one of the preferred solutions to rooting modern Android devices, mainly because it offers the ability to have root access while still passing SafetyNet so you can use apps like Pokémon GO. A recent update to the popular mobile game seemed to introduce its own detection system on top of SafetyNet, however, which made Pokémon GO unusable with Magisk. In response, XDA Recognized Developer topjohnwu has released Magisk version 16.3.

This latest update removes Pokémon GO from Magisk Manager’s internal list and now allows you to manually add it to MagiskHide. This is important because you’ll need to do this in order for the game to work again.

topjohnwu also took this opportunity to discuss progress on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. The developer is aware that Magisk currently does not work on those devices likely because of some issue related to the devices’ Project Treble implementation.

Finally, he also touched upon the recent controversy related to uncertified Google Play devices that we covered. Rather than applying for an exemption using the Google Play Services Framework Device ID, the developer says you simply need to install Magisk before you run the setup process so your device will be seen as a certified Google Play device.

If you’re looking for more information on Magisk, you can check out this page. We also have a quick guide on installation. We highly recommend that you follow the official XDA forum to stay up to date on all the latest news from the lead developer himself. The developer states that his mandated military training will cause development to be slower than usual, but rest assured that development is still going strong.

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Become a Certified IT Security Expert with this Course

Cybersecurity has become a top priority for practically every government and major corporation on Earth. And, with major system breaches taking place at an alarmingly fast pace, employers are shelling out big bucks to IT professionals who are able to predict and thwart these attacks.

The CISSP Certification Training Course will help you enter this booming field by prepping you for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional Exam—a leading credential in the industry that’s renowned across both the public and private sectors—and the course is currently on sale for 95% off at just $29.

Regardless of your experience in IT or cybersecurity, the in-depth instruction in this course will introduce you to some of the most important strategies and platforms in the business. Through eight comprehensive modules, you’ll master the fundamentals of information systems security, learn how to strengthen major firewalls, implement information governance and risk management practices within a wide range of networks, and more.

This course even teaches you how to use cryptography to protect data in transit (an especially important and in-demand skill set), build large-scale security architectures, and implement business disaster recovery plans.

You can fight the good fight by becoming a certified IT security professional, with help from the CISSP Certification Training Course—on sale for just $29.

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Yes, the OnePlus 6 will have a display notch

Depending on who you ask, the display notch is either an exciting advancement in smartphones or an annoying trend. We’ve seen it pop up now on devices from Xiaomi, Huawei, ASUS, and LG. The OnePlus 6 has been rumored to have a display notch, but it hasn’t officially been confirmed yet. If you were still holding out hope, OnePlus is about to ruin your dream.

OnePlus has shared the first official image of the OnePlus 6 (above) and it does indeed have a notch. The notch is home to the earpiece, front-facing camera, proximity and ambient light sensors, and LED notification light. Knowing the notch would be a controversial decision, co-founder Carl Pei had a lot to say about the implementation on the OnePlus 6.

A common argument from notch-naysayers is “why not just put all the sensors in a thin bezel across the top?” This is the approach Samsung takes with the Galaxy S9 and Note 8. Pei says they couldn’t have gone that small without compromising the quality of the components. He points out that their notch is smaller than the iPhone X notch because they don’t have a Face ID feature.

Pei explained why users should embrace the notch for extra screen real estate, “what you are essentially doing is moving the entire notification bar up, giving users more content on their screen.” The clock has been moved to the left (like in Android P), which allows more room for status icons. OnePlus is also taking great care to make sure the notch doesn’t interfere with video. When a video is playing the notch is disguised with a black bar, essentially shrinking the screen to a more normal aspect ratio.

A lot of people look at the notch as a copy-cat design choice. OnePlus is adamant that their choice to use the notch is purely hardware-driven. Along with the new gestures, OnePlus is able to utilize as much screen real estate as possible. The future of smartphones is full bezel-less displays with very few buttons. OnePlus is on that train and trying to make thoughtful decisions to get there. The OnePlus 6’s 90% screen-to-body ratio is certainly a step in that direction.

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Source: The Verge

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