WhatsApp Begins Rolling Out Video Calling to All Users

WhatsApp remains a strong competitor amidst the sea of instant messaging apps on the market. Despite attaining a mind-boggling 1 billion active users earlier this year, the company has not stagnated on rolling out updates and improvements to the core service. Surging popularity from the likes of Telegram have pushed Whatsapp to focus on their strengths as a messaging platform and introduce features to solidify its dominant position in the market. Thanks to its simple, yet beautiful user interface which is easy enough even for the technologically challenged among us, the average user in many parts of the world swears by Whatsapp to the detriment of carriers pushing for SMS plans.

But Whatsapp has evolved past being a basic instant messaging app. At first, there was the introduction of Voice Calls over a data connection. And today, after weeks of availability in the Beta channel, Video Calling has been officially announced to now be available for all users.

The feature is rolling out to Whatsapp users on Android, iOS and even Windows Phone devices in the coming week. Of course, you and the recipient of the video call would need the latest version of Whatsapp with Video Calling support installed for the feature to work. In order to place a call, simply use the call option which would then prompt you to choose between a voice call or a video call.

WhatsApp's enormous marketplace places it in a much better position to leverage video calls as a functionality to keep users hooked to the service. What Google hoped to accomplish with Duo is what WhatsApp will very likely succeed in accomplishing, at least in developing markets like India where the service can be found installed on nearly every smartphone in nearly every household.

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What are your thoughts on the Video Calling feature? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: WhatsApp Blog

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SuperSU Updated to work with TWRP on Pixel and Pixel XL

Last night, the first alpha release of TWRP was announced for the Google Pixel and Pixel XL. We delved into much detail about the release, including the changes to the installation procedure as well as what's new and what's broken. One of the caveats we mentioned in the article is that installing TWRP would cause SuperSU to no longer function.

Installing TWRP at this time will remove root if you are currently rooted. A SuperSU update will be required to allow TWRP and SuperSU to co-exist.

As we explained in an addendum to the article, the reason that installing TWRP would remove root is because the method used by Dees_Troy to allow TWRP to decrypt the data partition involves modifying the same init binary which is modified by Chainfire to achieve systemless root. Thus, by installing TWRP the changes made to the init binary by SuperSU would be overwritten. In order to not cause any conflicts, Chainfire himself recommended that if you currently run SuperSU and plan on installing TWRP, you need to first flash the stock boot image from the Factory Image. The two developers have been in contact regarding how to resolve this conflict, and today Chainfire has released SuperSU v.278 SR4 which fixes this issue for the two Google Pixel phones.

In the update, Chainfire mentions that this update will allow for SuperSU to be flashed on top of TWRP (and not the other way around). His boot to root script will now no longer conflict with the init binary changes made by TWRP, but until TWRP is updated the reverse isn't true. So for now, you will need to first install TWRP and then flash SuperSU once you're in the recovery environment. This is assuming you want to have both SuperSU and TWRP, of course. And to reiterate, if you are already rooted with SuperSU installed and want to now have TWRP as well, you will need to first re-flash the stock boot image, then install TWRP, and finally re-install SuperSU within TWRP.

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That's the gist of what's new in the update. Follow the link below for the full installation instructions by Chainfire as well as where to find the download links.

Source: Chainfire (Google+)

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[Exclusive] The Philosophy Behind the OP3T: Why OnePlus Released this Device, and What it Means for The Future of Your OnePlus 3

It is no secret that the OnePlus 3T is a controversial launch: coming only 134 days after the OnePlus 3's announcement, this update to its short-lived predecessor brings a bunch of impressive improvements for an extra 40 to 80 dollars.

After reading discussions on OnePlus communities including our own at XDA, the official forums, and the OnePlus subreddit over the past week, it's clear that many people are unhappy with OnePlus' decision to release a new device so early into the OnePlus 3's lifespan. Most importantly, the OnePlus 3 is no more as the phone has reached the end of its life in terms of official availability (this also means no more Graphite color option). From now on, the OnePlus 3T will be the company's flagship moving forward. While this might sound like a radical move for the company, OnePlus 3 owners do not need to be worried. I've spoken at length with a OnePlus representative who gave me a few important answers to the community's most pressing questions, beginning with the fact that software support for the OnePlus 3 will continue alongside the OnePlus 3T. In fact, OnePlus sees both devices as "two versions of the same phone", with one of the two being slightly more updated.

OnePlus says it is "not forgetting anybody", and OxygenOS will be on the same schedule and treated with near-identical priority.

The software will not be synchronized at launch, and it might take a few weeks for both devices to be running the exact same version of Oxygen OS. After that, however, both will receive updates together for the duration of their respective lives (which should be the same).

According to OnePlus, the 3T was devised after the launch of the OnePlus 3, and it was a decision made in part because of the intricacies of the company's business model of limited supply and also because they had continuously worked on advancing the hardware, and they felt that they could implement these improvements into a new device and optimize their line-up. OnePlus cannot handle the production of multiple SKUs at the same time, though, in great part because of the difficulty with maintaining the different orders (like the different processors) across two sets of demand, but also because of the multitude of shared components, some of which are rarer than others. Readers might recall, for example, that the OnePlus 3 has been either out of stock or on backorder for the past couple of months, and delivery itself has been very slow as of late. OnePlus claims, however, that the development of the OnePlus 3T was not the reason for these annoyances and that there were two production streams. Rather, they say it had to do with the device reaching its end-of-life but only for the past couple of weeks.

Many of the components are the exact same, though, and thus the experience is extremely similar across on both devices. The rear camera, for example, is not only identical in terms of hardware but also the resulting experience is the same as well (no differences in image processing algorithms), except for the inclusion of updated EIS for video — the pictures will be the same on the back camera, so the main shooter on your OnePlus 3 is not any worse than that of the OnePlus 3T and both will be running the same optimizations. Other changes like the increase in battery capacity from 3,000mAh to 3,400mAh are clear advantages, and it's understandable why OnePlus 3 owners might be upset at the fact that their device has a smaller battery when the dimensions and weight are kept equal. OnePlus has stated that a slim profile for a slick design was one of their priorities when building the OnePlus 3, and that was one of the reasons why the battery didn't go past 3,000mAh. However, the OnePlus 3T's battery is not physically bigger, rather it went through a safe voltage change from 4.35 volts to 4.4 volts (which explains the 13% increase in mAh, clever huh?).

Going back to software, the OnePlus 3T is indeed launching with Marshmallow and will likely be getting Nougat before the year is up. OnePlus also confirmed to us that the Nougat Community Build for the OnePlus 3 will be coming in a few weeks — this likely means OnePlus 3 owners will experience OxygenOS Nougat before anyone receives their OnePlus 3T. It also must be noted that the version of OxygenOS that the OnePlus 3T is running is similar to the community builds in terms of user interface and design — that means it is not as close to Stock Android as the main firmware branch currently available for the OnePlus 3. Yes, this essentially means that OnePlus 3 users have been "beta-testing" the firmware that the OnePlus 3T is launching with — but do keep in mind that this is the firmware that both devices will be running synchronously moving forward. There is no Daydream support for the OnePlus 3T either, as the company is weighing its options when it comes to figuring out which VR standard they should be aiming for, and they are waiting to see how that market develops on Android.

…the OnePlus 3T will receive the same developer-friendly treatment as the original OnePlus 3 including timely source releases and no loss of warranty upon rooting/flashing ROMs

Finally, OnePlus told us this is not indicative of a new line-up and that users should not infer that there will be two separate SKUs (one being superior) in 2017 and beyond — they claim that the OnePlus 3T is a situational phenomenon, given it made sense for them to release the phone at this time due to their technological optimizations and the complicated relationship between supply, demand and component availability. Do note that the OnePlus 3T will receive the same developer-friendly treatment as the original OnePlus 3, including timely source releases and no loss of warranty upon rooting/flashing ROMs.

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What the Future Entails

OnePlus was kind enough to answer some of the questions that the community would most likely have asked, about topics that are sensitive given this product is being released not too long after their flagship. We have concerns regarding the possible fracture this will create within the OnePlus 3 enthusiast community at XDA — which, by the way, is one of the fastest-growing the site has seen. The OnePlus 3 has been an extremely dev-friendly device, and a new version does mean split development due to the slight hardware differences, namely the processors. XDA administrators will keep a close eye and help where needed, and we might end up merging the forums as a result.

The OnePlus 3T is an excellent phone with very good value, but so was the OnePlus 3. If you enjoy the OnePlus 3 you own, this new release doesn't make your device any worse. However, we also understand the concerns and frustration that many loyal OnePlus fans and recent OnePlus 3 buyers likely have with this release. XDA won't pick sides here, and many of our staff members are also frustrated at the fact that they would need to buy a new device to stay on OnePlus' bleeding edge, and we don't want to see a fissure in this booming dev scene. While we don't necessarily condone the move, we can't say it was completely unexpected from a company that has made it its goal to continuously improve in 2016, and whose motto is Never Settle. That it did, as the OnePlus 3T looks to be one of the best smartphones of 2016… as much as that might hurt.

Missed the launch announcement? Read it here!

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OnePlus Announces OnePlus 3T: Snapdragon 821, 3400mAh Battery, 16MP front Camera, 128GB Storage for $480

Five months after the launch of the 3, OnePlus has officially announced the next evolution of their flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 3T. The phone features some impressive upgrades to both the hardware and software of one of 2016's hottest devices.

Device Name:	OnePlus 3T	Release Date/Price	Nov 22nd, 439 USD
Android Version	6.0.1 (Oxygen OS ROM)	Display	5.5 inch 1080p AMOLED
Chipset	Snapdragon 821 MSM8996 Pro (2.35 GHz)	Battery	3,400 mAh, Dash Charge (5V 4A)
RAM	6GB LPDDR4	Sensors	Fingerprint, Hall, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Ambient Light, Electronic Compass
Storage	64GB / 128GB (Gunmetal only) UFS 2.0	Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou
Dimensions	152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 cm (~73% screen-to-body)	Rear Camera	16MP Sony IMX 298 Sensor, 1.12μm, OIS, EIS, PDAF, f/2.0, RAW support, 4K 30FPS / 720p 120FPS video
Weight	158g	Front Camera	16MP Sony 3P8SP, 1.0 μm,  f/2.0, Fixed Focus, 1080p at 30fps
North American Bands	WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8 FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/4/5/7/12/17/30 CDMA EVDO: BC0	Europe / Asia Bands	WCDMA: Bands 1/2/5/8 FDD-LTE: Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20 TDD-LTE: Bands 38/40

The OnePlus 3T is, at its core, the same device that we have come to love since the launch of the OnePlus 3 back in June — but it also features some key upgrades in order to offer the latest hardware and software improvements. Like its predecessor the OnePlus ships with an aluminium unibody design, the available colours are a darker gunmetal gray which will be available for both the 64GB and 128GB models, and shortly after launch a 64GB Soft Gold version will also be available. Thankfully, the unit uses the same body as the OP3 which means that any accessories such as the official cases are interchangeable between the two devices.

The first major upgrade to the hardware is the change from the 2.15GHz Snapdragon 820 to the 2.35GHz Snapdragon 821, which keeps power consumption at a similar level in most use cases. On top of this, OnePlus has also managed to increase the battery capacity by just over 13% from 3,000mAh to 3,400mAh without having to increase neither the weight nor volume of the device.  

The cameras have also been modified by the OEM, and the front camera sees an upgrade from 8MP to an impressive 16MP, and video recording now has EIS. The rear camera has not changed in terms of hardware like the sensor, which remains the same (rumors be damned!), but it now sits beneath a more durable sapphire glass meaning the camera should be less susceptible to scratches.

"At OnePlus, we are constantly striving to provide a better product and user experience for our customers, who are some of the most discerning and tech-savvy users in the world. We developed the OnePlus 3T to bring significant improvements with new technology that is available today, so that our customers do not have to wait for the best possible user experience."

OnePlus Founder and CEO Pete Lau.

While the device does ship with Android 6.0.1 it is certainly worth noting that a Nougat community build is coming for the OnePlus 3 later this month so it is likely that the OP3T will have Android 7.0 shortly after, and it should be available by the time the device arrives. To demonstrate the current state of Oxygen OS, OnePlus have released a video which you can view below.

The OnePlus 3T will be available in Canada and the U.S. on the 22nd of November, a week before it reaches Europe and Asia on the 28th, where it will launch simultaneously in 31 other countries.

Readers who are up to date on their exchange rates may notice that the prices listed above don't exactly match up. OnePlus has been known to tweak their prices according to the current economic state of a region. This was seen last March after fluctuations with the Euro forced the price of the OnePlus One up by 30 EUR and again in July when the GPB fell after Britain voted to leave the EU forcing the price of the OnePlus 3 up by 20 GBP. This is due to a situation not often found in the mobile industry, OnePlus has become popular in part for the thin margins on their handsets which ultimately means that even a small change can end up having a large impact on revenue when sustained over a period of time. Even after this is taken into account, local taxes and logistical costs mean that the prices do make sense at the moment.

Mario answers pressing questions and covers many more details about the OP3T in his exclusive article here!

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Vivo Officially Announces the V5, with a 20MP Front-Facing Camera

Whether or not some people want to admit it, selfies are incredibly popular these days and we're seeing more smartphone OEMs leveraging this customer base. Vivo recently launched the Vivo X7 Plus (with Android 5.1 Lollipop for some reason), but it did feature a 16MP cameras on the front and back of the phone. Many people have praised this device for the photo quality of its front-facing camera, so now Vivo wants to capitalize on this segment yet again.

The Vivo V5 has what the company is calling a 20MP Moonlight Camera on the front of the phone. This is actually the Sony IMX376 1/2.78" camera sensor that has a bright bright f/2.0 aperture. They've also equipped the phone with a front-facing LED flash as well. It's quite rare for a smartphone to have a selfie camera with that many megapixels. Instead of putting this same camera on the back though, Vivo opted to include a 13MP sensor with Phase Detection AF.

Aside from the 4GB of RAM, the rest of this phone falls into the mid-range category. We see the Vivo V5 has a 5.5″ 720p IPS LCD Gorilla Glass 2.5D display, an unnamed 64-bit octa-core SoC, 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot, an AK4346 Hi-Fi audio chip, a 3,000mAh capacity battery, and Funtouch OS 2.6 installed on the phone out of the box (which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow). It has a metallic unibody design and will be available in Crown Gold as well as Grey.

The V5 from Vivo will have 2G GSM connectivity on bands 2, 3, 5 and 8; 3G WCDMA connectivity on bands 1, 5 and 8; and 4G LTE connectivity on bands 1, 3, 5 and 40. We are told that pricing for customers in India will be INR 17,980 (which equates to about $265/€245), and it will be made available to the public on November 26th.

The reason this phone is interesting is that it signals that OEMs are likely to keep experimenting with better front cameras owing to the reception and success of such phones. More Indian OEMs are likely to follow suit with their own selfie-focused releases, a move which in turn has the potential of influencing the smartphone market through ripple effects.

Source: Vivo

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Unofficial CyanogenMod 13 Lands on the Honor 8

Honor's partnership with us at XDA gave rise to a lot of hope. While Honor has been making affordable and yet appealing hardware for a while, the thought of running Honor's custom skin often turned away tinkerers. Forum dwellers seeked ways to get the AOSP experience on such capable hardware, and a partnership like this was the perfect opportunity to turn around developer perception of Honor devices with regards their general tinkerability.

For Honor 8 owners, this partnership has brought about good news in the form of CyanogenMod 13. While not the absolute bleeding edge in terms of Android versions as CM13 is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this does bring the AOSP experience to the device, allowing users the choice to run an alternative to Honor's EMUI skin.

The ROM is maintained by XDA Recognized Contributor surdu_petru. The ROM is a Work-in-Progress Beta as there are a fair few bugs that need to ironed out. The bug list includes issues with NFC, GPS, Fingerprint, Camcorder and Encryption, as well as the absence of dual-SIM support; all of which may affect its general usability as a daily driver. But for a project that has just been released for the public, the progress is commendable and things will only improve as more people contribute back to the project.

The ROM supports all FRD versions of Honor 8. To install the ROM, you would need an unlocked bootloader as well as the special TWRP for CM builds on this device. For download links of the ROM and TWRP, as well as links to the Open Source Device Tree for the Honor 8, check out the CyanogenMod 13 thread in the forums!

For an OEM that was generally unknown for supporting development, the presence of an AOSP alternative, even if it originates from the community, is a step in the right direction in our books.

What are your thoughts on this CyanogenMod 13 build on the Honor 8? Let us know in the comments below!

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Magisk Receives an Update to V9, Prepares Itself for MultiROM Support

XDA Recognized Developer and Contributor, topjohnwu, is well known for his modification, Magisk. Magisk lets you apply certain root modifications to your phone or tablet, and then unmount those changes when you want to do something like check for an OTA update, or use Android Pay (both of which cannot be done when you have modified the /system partition). Magisk has been receiving steady updates since launch, and yesterday Version 9 of the mod was released.

There are a lot of changes going on with this latest version, even if you don't see most of them on the surface. topjohnwu tells us that this update is laying the ground work for version 10, which should bring a much-awaited feature to Magisk: MultiROM support. To start off, this new update brings an end to cache (aka post-fs) modules for Magisk. topjohnwu says this is the biggest change as one of the biggest advantages to Magisk was the ability to mount files before data and build.prop.

With this update, Magisk will actually remove all of the cache modules you have installed under /cache/magisk. Users will also no longer see cache modules when using Magisk Manager 2.5, so developers will have to update their modules to the new system. Thankfully, there is a new system in place that topjohnwu is using instead of the previously mentioned cache method. This new tool is called resetprop, and was originally called xsetprop as it was initially developed by XDA Recognized Developer and Contributor nkk71 as a way to bypass SafetyNet.

Version 9 also greatly improves Magisk Hide, which includes another way to bypass SafetyNet. topjohnwu advises that you update phh superuser to version r266-2 or higher, as older versions will not work with Version 9 (so you'll want to update phh superuser before updating Magisk). We also get an update on Magisk's progress for the Pixel and Pixel XL. The developer is unsure if they want to use Chainfire's closed source solution, but they would love to try and figure out an open source way of doing this.

Be sure to check the XDA forum link to look over the full list of changes going into Version 9!

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