[Update: Rolling Out] Google Maps is preparing to add a dark mode for menus and settings

Update 1 (09/29/2020 @ 1:44 PM ET): Google is now rolling out a toggle to theme the general UI of Google Maps with a dark theme. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on September 4, 2020, is preserved below.

Over the past year, Google has been gradually updating all its app with a new dark mode setting. The company recently released dark mode support for Google Translate, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. And now, the company is preparing to add a dark mode option for menus and settings on Google Maps. While Google released a dark mode for navigation on Google Maps back in 2018, the app didn’t include an option to turn on dark mode for the menus and settings pages. According to a recent tweet from Android app developer and reverse engineer Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a), the company is finally working on adding a universal dark mode toggle to the app.

#Google is finally working on the dark mode for Google Maps pic.twitter.com/DhbLeaiY9G

— Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) September 3, 2020

As you can see in the screenshots shared in the tweet, the new dark theme option in Google Maps can be found within the Appearance section in the app settings. Tapping on the option brings up a pop-up window with three options — Light theme, Dark theme, and Default to device theme. Selecting the Dark theme option and tapping on the Save button converts all of the app’s white UI elements to a dark gray, with the text going from black to white to maintain visibility.

The Default to device theme option, on the other hand, will let Google Maps automatically pick the system-wide theme currently in use. This means that if you’re using a scheduled system-wide dark mode, the app will conform to the current theme based on your global settings. As of now, it isn’t clear which version of the app will introduce the new Dark theme setting. Paluzzi managed to manually enable the feature in version 10.5.0 of the app, but it isn’t available for users at the moment. We will update this post as soon as the feature starts rolling out to users.

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Update: Google Maps Dark Mode Toggle Rolling Out

The Google Maps app for Android finally has a complete dark theme, at least for some users. According to one Redditor with version 10.51.1 of the Maps app, there’s a new “appearance” option in settings that lets you switch between a light theme, a dark theme, or the device default theme. When toggled, the menus and settings of Maps are tinted according to your preference. Theming the appearance of the map during navigation is accessible from a dedicated option in navigation settings.

Appearance settings in Google Maps. Screenshots credit: Redditor /u/BrokenFuckenArm

We checked for the presence of this appearance setting on several of our devices but could not find it. It’s likely rolling out to users via a server-side update.

Maps - Navigate & Explore (Free, Google Play) →

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[Update: Rolling Out] The new Google Assistant will soon support German, French, Spanish, and Italian on the Pixel 4a/4

Update 1 (09/29/2020 @ 1:26 PM ET): The new, faster Google Assistant now works in German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on August 3, 2020, is preserved below.

Today, Google lifted the veil on the Pixel 4a, the company’s second-ever mid-range Pixel smartphone. They also surprisingly teased the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5 for a fall launch. But new hardware isn’t all that Google announced today. The company also announced software updates to two of its nifty AI-powered features: Live Caption and the new Google Assistant. The former can now work over voice and video calls while the latter will soon work in 4 new European languages: German, French, Spanish, and Italian.

Back at Google I/O 2019, Google demonstrated a much faster version of its Google Assistant service. According to Google, the “new Google Assistant” processes speech at nearly zero latency, offers nearly real-time transcriptions, and works without a network connection. They accomplished this by trimming down 100GB of speech recognition and language understanding machine learning models to less than 0.5GB in size. The new Google Assistant experience also supports Continued Conversations and integrates with other Google apps on your device.

At launch, the new Google Assistant was only available on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL in U.S. English and with personal Google accounts. However, Google has since expanded support to G Suite accounts, new English locales including Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Singapore, and the first foreign language: Japanese. With the Pixel 4a launch, however, Google announced that the new Google Assistant will be available in the aforementioned 4 European languages.

Introduced last year, the new Google Assistant is also available on Pixel 4a to help with multitasking across apps and getting things done quickly, like finding a photo or sending a text. You can now try out the new experience in German, French, Spanish and Italian, in addition to English, with more languages coming soon.

Google’s support page has been updated to reflect today’s announcement, with the notice that support for these 4 languages “will be available soon.” We’ll let you know when these new languages are added. Meanwhile, check out our Pixel 4a coverage to learn more about Google’s latest device.

Google Pixel 4 Forums ||| Google Pixel 4 XL Forums ||| Google Pixel 4a Forums

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Update 1: German, French, Spanish, and Italian support added

At the launch of the Pixel 4a last month, Google announced that its cleaner and faster Assistant will support 4 new European languages, including German, French, Spanish, and Italian. As reported by AndroidPolice, you can now go to Assistant’s language settings and change the language to one of these 4 languages. However, AndroidPolice notes that the experience is a bit limited right now. While it’s indeed faster than before thanks to on-device machine learning, it doesn’t support continuous conversations, doesn’t integrate with Google Chrome, and doesn’t seem to work with some of the other in-app experiences such as Google Photos, YouTube, and Gmail.

New Google Assistant in French, Italian, German, and Spanish. Screenshot credits: Rita El Khoury for AndroidPolice.

As of now, the new Assistant is still only available for the Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, and Pixel 4a, but the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 will almost certainly support it.

The post [Update: Rolling Out] The new Google Assistant will soon support German, French, Spanish, and Italian on the Pixel 4a/4 appeared first on xda-developers.

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[Update 3: Microsoft Bing Wins Big] Google adds search provider choices for Android users in the EU

Update 1 (09/29/2020 @ 1:09 PM ET): The latest set of search providers to have won Google’s auction have been announced, and Microsoft’s Bing has won big.

Update 2 (1/9/2020 @ 11:50 AM ET): The alternative search providers that will be shown at setup alongside Google have been announced.

Update 1 (10/1/2019 @ 9:50 AM ET): Google is testing showing search provider choices in Android ahead of the 2020 rollout. The article as published on August 2nd, 2019, is preserved below.[/alert]

Android users in Europe can now look forward to easily selecting between a host of search providers, as Google has just announced an upcoming change to how Android would function in the European Union. From 2020 onwards, Android smartphone and tablet users in Europe will be able to select a search provider that will power the search box on their home screen, as well as be used as the default search provider within Google Chrome, if the browser is installed. This change is part of the steps that Google has taken to comply with the European Commission’s ruling on Android.

This change is limited to all new Android phones and tablets that will be shipped into the European Economic Area (EEA) in 2020, where the Google Search app will be pre-installed. In its blog post, Google reiterates that Android users are free to customize and personalize their devices in whichever manner they deem fit, including the apps they can download and how the apps are arranged on the homescreen.

Google has also opened up the application process for search providers to be listed on the above screen. Eligible search providers will need to fill out an application form and can bid for inclusion based on an auction. Auctions will be conducted on a per-country basis and will be valid for a duration of one year. In each country, search providers will have to state the price that they are willing to pay each time a user selects them from the choice screen in the given country, and the top three bidders that exceed the minimum bid price will appear in the choice screen for that country. The auction winners, and Google, will be ordered randomly in the choice screen. If the bid process fails to get three entities that exceed the minimum bid price, the remaining slots will be filled randomly from the pool of eligible search providers (including those who applied to participate but did not submit a bid). Further details on the application process and other related questions are present on the application page.

In July 2018, the European Union found Google guilty of violating antitrust regulations, and subsequently imposed a fine of $5 Billion. The EU held that Google “imposed illegal restrictions on Android device manufacturers and mobile network operators to cement its dominant position in general internet search.” After the ruling, Google announced changes to how it did business in the EU, allowing Android partners to build forked smartphones for the European Economic Area, and introducing a new paid licensing agreement for smartphones shipped into the EEA, among other changes. Later on, Google also announced that it will present additional app options for Search and Browser on smartphones for users in Europe. This latest move from Google should further appease the conditions laid down in the European Commission’s July 2018 Android ruling.

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Update 1: In testing

Google appears to have begun testing search provider choices in Android. A new commit mentions a flag for “Search Engine Choice” in Chrome for Android, which enables showing search engine choice selection at the Android setup. It’s not currently possible to test this flag as it requires a Chrome data/factory reset, which then disables the flag. However, it does show that Google is preparing for the rollout in 2020.

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Update 2: First Set of Search Providers Announced

As mentioned in previous updates, Google will be rolling out  “Choice Screen” for Android users in Europe in March. This will allow them to choose their search engine when setting up the phone. The search app will then be installed and automatically set as default in Google Chrome. This Choice Screen will include Google Search and three alternatives, but those alternatives will vary by region. The choices were decided by an auction process that took place last August. Here is the full list of three alternatives that will be available in different countries:

Country	Winners
Austria	DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
Belgium	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Bulgaria	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Croatia	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Czech Republic	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Seznam
Denmark	DuckDuckGo, Givero, Info.com
Estonia	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
Finland	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
France	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Germany	DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
Greece	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Hungary	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Iceland	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Ireland	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Italy	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Latvia	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
Liechtenstein	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Lithuania	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
Luxembourg	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Malta	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Netherlands	DuckDuckGo, GMX, Info.com
Norway	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Poland	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Yandex
Portugal	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Republic of Cyprus	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Romania	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Slovakia	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Seznam
Slovenia	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
Spain	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, Qwant
Sweden	DuckDuckGo, Info.com, PrivacyWall
United Kingdom	Bing, DuckDuckGo, Info.com

Every time a user selects one of the alternatives, Google will receive a fee. So at the end of all this, Google Search may not be used by as many people, but the company is still making money off of every user.

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Update 3: New Search Providers Announced

As reported by Reuters, Google has updated its Android Choice Screen Winners page today to reflect the search providers that will appear in the search engine choice screen shown during setup for Android users in Europe. The following search providers, in addition to Google, will be shown in a random order to Android users in each listed country:

Country	Winners
Austria	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Belgium	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Bulgaria	DuckDuckGo, GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall, Yandex
Croatia	DuckDuckGo, GMX, info.com
Czech Republic	info.com, PrivacyWall, Seznam.cz
Denmark	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Estonia	GMX, info.com, Yandex
Finland	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
France	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Germany	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Greece	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall, Yandex
Hungary	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall, Yandex
Iceland	DuckDuckGo, GMX, info.com
Ireland	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Italy	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Latvia	info.com, PrivacyWall, Yandex
Liechtenstein	DuckDuckGo, GMX, info.com
Lithuania	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall
Luxembourg	GMX, info.com, Qwant
Malta	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall
Netherlands	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Norway	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Poland	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall
Portugal	GMX, info.com, Yandex
Republic of Cyprus	GMX, info.com, Yandex
Romania	GMX, info.com, PrivacyWall, Yandex
Slovakia	GMX, info.com, Seznam.cz
Slovenia	Ecosia, GMX, info.com
Spain	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
Sweden	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall
United Kingdom	Bing, info.com, PrivacyWall

Microsoft was a big winner, with its Bing search engine now appearing as an option in 13 countries. The Puerto Rico-based PrivacyWall will appear in the the choice screen in 22 countries, while the U.S.-based info.com will appear in all 31 countries. Other notable winners include Russian-based Yandex and Germany-based GMX.

One search provider that is no longer as prevalent in this list is DuckDuckGo. The company published a blog post criticizing Google’s auction process, stating that it’s a “pay-to-play auction in which only the highest bidders are on the menu.” They argue that only those search providers that can recoup costs in each region can afford to place winning bids for each country; providers like DuckDuckGo, meanwhile, can’t afford to outbid their competitors because of its privacy-centric mission. In response, a Google spokeswoman told Reuters “the goal is to give all search providers equal opportunity to bid; not to give certain rivals special treatment. In developing the choice screen for Europe, we carefully balanced providing users with yet more choice while ensuring that we can continue to invest in developing and maintaining the open-source Android platform for the long-term,” she said.

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Today’s Top Tech Deals: $30 Off Galaxy Buds Live, Over 80% Off a Solar-Powered Battery Pack, and More!

I see some crazy products when looking for deals, but I have to say, this Sero Series TV is one of the strangest, yet coolest I’ve seen. It’s essentially a gigantic smartphone in many ways that you can flip into portrait mode for mobile content and flip back into landscape mode for media viewing. It’s exciting, though I don’t know if it’s ever something I’d particularly want in my home. It’s on sale and includes a $600 Dell gift card, so this may be the TV for you.

Enough about the TV, though. Today’s top tech deals include a huge discount on a solar-powered backup battery, $20 off the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live, and more!

If you’ve been looking to get the special edition Animal Crossing Nintendo Switch, they’re currently in stock at Best Buy. As usual with Switches, there’s no guarantee they’ll be in stock for long, and there’s always a chance they’ll come in and out of stock throughout the day. Keep checking and grab one if you see it available!

Google Pixel 4 XL, 25% Off

If you’re looking to jump onto the Google smartphone train, then the Google Pixel 4 XL may be a good choice for you. At Amazon, you can save 25% off the MSRP, bringing the total down to $750. The sale price is also available as part of a 5-month payment plan, open to anyone, not just for Amazon Prime Rewards cardholders. This is an unlocked Pixel 4 XL and should work with all US carriers.

Google Pixel 4 XL (Unlocked)

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Buy from Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live for $30 Off

The Galaxy Buds Live came out less than two months ago, but you can already save some money on the beans. Over at eBay, you can get a pair of Buds Live for $140, $30 off the MSRP. Our recent review for the Galaxy Buds Live praises the unique, bean-like design and having active noise cancellation (though not perfect). If you’re in the market for new buds, perhaps the Galaxy Buds Live will be your choice?

Samsung Galaxy Buds Live

$30 off Samsung's recent earbud release? You can't get much better than this! Choose between five colors and get to enjoying the bean-shaped earbud life. The Buds Live also have active noise cancellation!

$140 at eBay

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $280

Want a tablet, but don’t really need the bleeding edge? If you just need a tablet with a pen that gets basic tasks done, then you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite for $280, $70 off MSRP. The tablet comes with the ever-helpful S Pen, lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge, and has memory that can easily be expanded with a MicroSD card. You’ll be satisfied without breaking the bank!

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Get yourself a cheap but high-end tablet today with the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite! This tablet is great for basic productivity tasks and watching media, and the included S Pen makes it a great budget choice for note-takers and artists.

Buy from Amazon

Aduro Solar 6000mAh Dual Backup Battery for $15

Solar-powered battery packs are a great emergency item to have around. If your house is out of power, just let the sun charge your phone! At Woot!, you can save a whopping 81% on an Aduro solar backup battery, bringing the total down to $15. the 6000mAh should charge your phone once or twice depending on its battery capacity, which is perfect for when you might be out or the power goes out and you need your device for an emergency. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll also get free shipping.

Aduro PowerUp Solar 6000mAh Backup Battery

Be prepared for an emergency with a solar-powered battery pack. Save big on top of it by grabbing an Aduro solar-powered backup battery for just $15. With multiple colors and Prime Shipping available, why not grab one?

$15 at Woot!

TP-Link N300 Wi-Fi Extender for $18

If you live in a larger apartment or home, you know about the ‘dead zone’, that frustrating part of the home where the Wi-Fi isn’t quite as good. It’s lame, but you can help resolve the dead-zone issues with a Wi-Fi extender! TP-Link’s N300 extender, currently $18 at Amazon, takes your router’s Wi-Fi connection and just… makes it go farther! Putting it near (but not in) the dead zone should help resolve your connection woes.

TP-Link N300 WiFi Extender

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Buy from Amazon

More Tech Deals

Looking for even more tech deals? We have them for you below!

• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G for $1,050 at Best Buy
• Samsung Note 20 5G (Unlocked) for $800 at Amazon
• Microsoft Surface Pro 7 for $799 at Best Buy
• Samsung Tab S7 Black 128GB with Keyboard Cover for $750 at Amazon
• OnePlus 8 5G (Unlocked) for $700 at Amazon
• ASUS Designo MX27UC 27” Monitor for $483 at Amazon
• LG V50 5G ThinQ (Unlocked) for $320 at eBay
• NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 Hotspot 4G LTE Router for $298 at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy A51 for $225 at Samsung Store
• Logitech G910 Orion Spark Mechanical Keyboard for $105 at Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Buds+ for $94 at Amazon
• Logitech G533 Wireless Gaming Headset for $74 at Amazon
• Homedics UV Clean Phone Sanitizer for $60 at Amazon
• Roccat Kain 100 PC Gaming Mouse for $30 at Amazon
• Lexar JumpDrive 128GB USB Flash Drive for $22 at Amazon
• Wireless USB WiFi Adapter for PC for $15 with code 42XS7H23 at Amazon

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[Update: Approval Expected] EU to launch investigation into Google’s Fitbit acquisition

Update 1 (09/29/2020 @ 12:35 PM ET): Google’s deal to acquire Fitbit is expected to gain approval from the EU. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on August 4, 2020, is preserved below.

Last year, Google announced its intent to acquire Fitbit, an American technology company that focuses on wearable technology, saying the move was about “devices, not data.” Even with Google making these assurances, however, the European Commission this week revealed plans to launch an investigation into the acquisition, citing concerns over the search giant’s access to health data and its position in online advertising.

The investigation is expected to last 90 days, which means the Google-Fitbit deal can’t close until the end of this year at the earliest. Google said it hopes to build “compelling devices” once the deal is done, so the investigation will certainly put a damper on the search giant’s future plans — at least for now.

In a press release, the European Commission said data that’s collected via wrist-worn devices could provide Google with a major advantage in online advertising markets. “By increasing the data advantage of Google in the personalization of the ads it serves via its search engine and displays on other internet pages, it would be more difficult for rivals to match Google’s online advertising services,” the commission said.

Google, meanwhile, claims the acquisition is about providing customers with more choice. In a blog post on Tuesday, Google’s Rick Osterloh said that Google’s AI and Fitbit’s hardware expertise will “increase competition in the sector” and result in better wearables that are more affordable. Osterloh went on to say that Fitbit users have the choice to review, move, or delete their data, which will be siloed away from its ad tracking business. “We’ve been clear from the beginning that we will not use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads,” Osterloh said. “We recently offered to make a legally binding commitment to the European Commission regarding our use of Fitbit data.”

Despite Google’s commitments, the European Commission still believes Google will use data as a result of the transaction, giving the search giant an unfair advantage for advertising purposes. Google doesn’t currently make its own wearable devices but instead develops the Android-based Wear OS platform which is used in smartwatches made by the Fossil Group, Xiaomi, OPPO, Mobvoi, and other companies.

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Update 1: Approval of Google, Fitbit deal expected

According to sources speaking to Reuters, Google’s $2.1 billion purchase of Fitbit is on track to receive approval from the EU. In a statement, Google told the publication that it had offered to restrict the use of health data for ads and would strictly monitor the use of that data. “We’re also formalizing our longstanding commitment to supporting other wearable manufacturers on Android and to continue to allow Fitbit users to connect to third party services via APIs (application programming interfaces) if they want to,” a Google spokesperson told Reuters. These concessions, which were part of a proposal Google submitted to the EU in July, are apparently enough for the European Commission to consider approving the deal. According to Reuters, Google’s initial proposal was to just limit the use of fitness tracking data for advertising purposes, but that was rejected as being insufficient; Google’s new pledge to support interoperability by continuing to allow Fitbit users to connect their trackers to third-party services seems to have sweetened the deal.

The EU is scheduled to give its decision on the deal by December 23rd, 2020, though the Commission will now reach out to rivals and other customers in this space to seek additional feedback before deciding on whether or not to accept the deal. Reuters points out that healthcare providers and privacy advocates are concerned about what kind of data Google is seeking from this deal and where the company will acquire that data, so Google may still need to make more concessions before the deal is finalized.

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Xiaomi Android 11 Tracker: Here are all the official MIUI beta and stable builds to download and install

Following the arrival of the first public beta of Android 11 back in June, Xiaomi published similar AOSP-style beta builds for the Mi 10/10 Pro and the Redmi K30 Pro (e.g. the Chinese variant of the POCO F2 Pro) later that month. Shortly thereafter, the Chinese OEM started rolling out MIUI 12-based closed beta builds for these phones, however, the underlying layer of Android was still based on the beta codebase. Now that Android 11 hits the stable milestone, Xiaomi has already prepared stable MIUI 12 builds on top of the latest iteration of Android.

The first batch of global devices to receive the MIUI 12-infused stable Android 11 update includes the Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. Many more Mi, Redmi, and POCO branded smartphones are expected to get the update in the coming days. This article will serve as the central repository of download links for all Xiaomi devices that have received their official Android 11 updates, including the ones powered by Android One instead of MIUI.

It is worth mentioning that the MIUI versioning scheme doesn’t have a one-to-one correspondence with the version of Android. While Xiaomi is expected to unveil a new version of MIUI — tentatively MIUI 13 — with new features in the near future, the company will continue to produce MIUI 12-based Android 11 builds for compatible devices during the transition phase.

The compatible devices will initially get the taste of Android 11 through the MIUI beta channel (which has now been rebased on top of the stable Android 11 codebase), and then through the stable channel builds. Features on Xiaomi devices are often decided more by their MIUI version and less by their Android version. So you can take a look at our other trackers for MIUI 12 builds.

Download: MIUI 12 stable update rolling out to several Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices

Download the MIUI 12 Closed Beta for Xiaomi and Redmi devices

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Xiaomi Android 11 Update List: Which phones have received the stable update?

This article covers Xiaomi (Mi), Redmi, and POCO devices that have received a stable Android 11 update—be it a “stable beta” or actual stable build—in any region. Cross-flashing different regional builds is technically possible but only do so if you’re familiar with the process.

Here are the devices that currently have an Android 11 build based on the stable Android branch available. Note that the devices are sorted alphabetically for their codename.

1. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (cmi) — Added on 09/09/2020
2. Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro (lmi) — Added on 09/09/2020
3. Xiaomi Mi 10 (umi) — Added on 09/09/2020

Generic flashing instructions are available at the bottom of this article. However, we advise users to refer to the device forums for specific flashing instructions for their device, in case there are any variations or special instructions that need to be followed. Notably, the concept of a downgrade ROM isn’t applicable here. First, check the Anti-Rollback Protection status of your model and then flash the appropriate stable Android 10-based Fastboot firmware if you need to revert back.

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MIUI 12 based on stable Android 11: Download Links

You can find download links of MIUI 12 based stable beta and stable releases below. These builds are first sorted with device codenames, and then according to their regions and release. Recovery ROMs and Fastboot ROMs are both included, wherever present.

1. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro (cmi)

• Xiaomi launches the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro with 90Hz screen, 108MP camera, and Snapdragon 865
• Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro launched globally with the Snapdragon 865, 108MP camera, and 90Hz display
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Review: Xiaomi’s best phone yet!
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Channel, Build Number, and Region	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM	Added On/Status Last Updated
	MIUI 12 Stable Beta (China)
1.1.	V12.1.2.0.RJACNXM	Download Link	–	September 9, 2020
1.2.	V12.1.3.0.RJACNXM	Download Link	–	September 29, 2020
	MIUI 12 Stable Beta (Global)
2.1.	V12.1.2.0.RJAMIXM	Download Link	–	September 10, 2020

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2. Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro (lmi)

• Xiaomi launches the Redmi K30 Pro with a notchless pop-up camera design and Snapdragon 865
• POCO F2 Pro with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 launches globally, starting at €499
• POCO F2 Pro Review – A battery champ that cuts the right corners
• Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Channel, Build Number, and Region	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM	Added On/Status Last Updated
	MIUI 12 Stable Beta (China)
1.1.	V12.1.2.0.RJKCNXM	Download Link	–	September 9, 2020
1.2.	V12.1.3.0.RJKCNXM	Download Link	–	September 29, 2020

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3. Xiaomi Mi 10 (umi)

• Xiaomi launches the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro with 90Hz screen, 108MP camera, and Snapdragon 865
• Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro launched globally with the Snapdragon 865, 108MP camera, and 90Hz display
• Xiaomi Mi 10 5G with a 108MP camera, Snapdragon 865, and ad-free MIUI launched in India
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Review – Redefining Mi as a Premium Smartphone Brand
• Xiaomi Mi 10 XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Channel, Build Number, and Region	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM	Added On/Status Last Updated
	MIUI 12 Stable Beta (China)
1.1.	V12.1.3.0.RJBCNXM	Download Link	–	September 9, 2020
	MIUI 12 Stable Beta (Global)
2.1.	V12.1.2.0.RJBMIXM	–	–	September 9, 2020

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Flashing Instructions for Android 11-based MIUI 12

Note that these are generic flashing instructions that should generally be applicable across Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices. However, there is a possibility that there is a variation that is unique to your device, so we strongly advise visiting your device forums for device-specific instructions.

Recovery ROM Installation for Android 11-MIUI 12

Recovery ROMs come with a .zip file extension and can be installed either through the Local Update method from within MIUI, or through the recovery environment. Newer versions of the stock MIUI recovery don’t offer any option for sideloading, but you can use a custom recovery like TWRP for installing these ROMs, though do note that device-specific instructions may differ in that case.

1. Local Update method:
   1. Transfer the download .zip file to your phone, and ensure you place the file in the “downloaded_rom” folder in the internal storage of your device. If no such folder exists, create one in your internal storage base directory.
   2. Within your phone, navigate to Settings > About Phone > System Update, and then press the three-dot icon in the top-right corner, and select “Choose Update Package”.
   3. If the “Choose Update Package” option is missing, tap on the MIUI logo 10 times to activate the option.
   4. Choose the downloaded .zip file.
   5. Wait for the update to install.
2. Recovery method:
   1. Rename the downloaded .zip file to update.zip and transfer it to the base directory of your phone’s internal storage.
   2. Reboot your phone into recovery mode by powering it off and then pressing both the Power and the Volume Up buttons together.
   3. Scroll to the “Install update.zip” option using the volume keys, and select the option using the power button.
   4. Wait for the update to install.
   5. Choose the “Reboot” option if your phone does not reboot by itself after installation is completed.

Fastboot ROM Installation for Android 11-MIUI 12

Fastboot ROMs come with a .tgz file extension and require a Windows computer for the installation, as well as a phone with an unlocked bootloader. However, despite being comparatively more complicated to install than Recovery ROMs, Fastboot ROMs are sometimes the only way to boot into a working system. For instructions on unlocking the bootloader of your phone, check your device’s subforums on XDA.

1. Download MiFlash Tool on your Windows computer. The latest version can be found in Step 1 of this link. Once downloaded, extract the tool and install it. It is also advisable to have ADB and Fastboot installed, just in case you need it.
2. Reboot your phone into Download mode by powering it off and then pressing both the Power and Volume Down buttons together.
3. Connect your phone to the computer using the appropriate USB cable.
4. Download the Fastboot ROM .tgz file and extract it. Remember the extract location, as you will need to paste the address into MiFlash Tool.
5. Run MiFlash Tool on your Windows Computer and in the address bar within the tool, paste the extract location from Step 4.
6. Click “Refresh” within MiFlash and the app should automatically recognize your device.
7. Click “Run” within MiFlash to flash the ROM file to the device.
8. The progress bar within MiFlash will turn green, which indicates that the ROM was successfully installed. Your device should boot automatically to the new version.

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Thanks to XDA Recognized Developer yshalsager for providing the download links!

The post Xiaomi Android 11 Tracker: Here are all the official MIUI beta and stable builds to download and install appeared first on xda-developers.

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Motorola Razr 5G launch date in the US unveiled for October 2

After taking the wraps off its new Razr smartphone earlier this month, Motorola on Tuesday announced when the foldable will be available — and it’ll come at a pretty nice discount.

Motorola revealed the new foldable Razr 5G will be available in the U.S. on October 2 for $1,199, which is a $200 discount on the regular retail price. The new Razr will be available at AT&T and T-Mobile, and unlocked through Motorola, Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo in Polished Graphite, Blush Gold, and Liquid Mercury (AT&T exclusive) colors.

Here are some of the promotions being offered during the new Motorola Razr 5G’s launch:

• At AT&T, for a limited time, both new and existing customers who trade in an eligible device and purchase the Motorola razr on a qualifying installment plan with an eligible AT&T unlimited wireless plan could qualify for one of the following offers:
  • New customers get up to $700 off (50% off) the device by bringing their number to AT&T.
  • Existing customers get up to $400 off by adding a line or up to $300 off by upgrading their device.*
  • HBO Max is included on the AT&T Unlimited Elite plan
• At T-Mobile, for a limited time, has two offers for new and existing customers:
  • Get the Motorola razr for half off with 24 monthly bill credits when you activate a new line and trade-in an eligible device.
  • Get $400 off the Motorola razr with 24 monthly bill credits and eligible device trade in.
• At Motorola.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy and B&H Photo, for a limited time, customers can purchase the new razr for $200 off with no contract needed!

Announced at the beginning of September, the new Motorola Razr 5G is a step above the version introduced last year. Not only does the new device feature support for 5G, but it introduces a more durable design, a beefier processor, a larger battery, and an improved rear camera.

Motorola Razr 5G Forums

If you haven’t seen the new Motorola Razr 5G, it plays heavily on the old clamshell design that made Razr one of the most successful brands in mobile history. You can read more about the new Motorola Razr in our announcement post.

Motorola Razr 5G: Specifications

Specification	Motorola Razr 5G
Dimensions and Weight	Unfolded: 72.6 x 169.2 x 7.9 mm Folded: 72.6 x 91.7 x 16 mm Gorilla Glass protection on the back with a matte finish Water repellant design 192g
Display	Main: 6.2-inch pOLED (2142×876), 21:9 External: 2.7-inch gOLED (800×600), 4:3
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G: 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Performance core @ 2.2GHz 6x (ARM Cortex-A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz 7nm EUV process Adreno 620 GPU
RAM and Storage	8GB RAM 256GB flash storage
Battery & Charging	2,800 mAh battery 15W fast charger (inside the box)
Rear Camera	Rear: 48MP Quad Pixel f/1.7, 1.6μm OIS Laser autofocus (ToF) 4K@30fps video recording Front: 20MP Quad Pixel, f/2.2, 1.6μm
Connectivity	5G NR Sub-6GHz, 4G LTE (China/Japan/EMEA/ANZ SKU): 5G: sub-6GHz band n1/n3/n5/n7/n28/n41/n41 HPUE/n77/n78/n78 HPUE/n79/n79 4G: LTE band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/26/28/34/38/39/40/41/42/46/66/71 (NA/LATAM/CAN SKU): 5G: sub-6GHz band n2/n5/n25/n41/n41 HPUE/n66/n71/n78 4G: LTE band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/41 HPUE/46/48/66/ Bluetooth 5.0 NFC Type-C port (USB 3.1) WiFi 802.11.b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz) GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Other Features	Single bottom-firing speaker 4 microphones Dual SIM (1 Nano SIM + 1 eSIM)
Software	Android 10 with My UX 2 guaranteed major OS upgrades Bi-monthly security updates for 2 years

The post Motorola Razr 5G launch date in the US unveiled for October 2 appeared first on xda-developers.

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