Amazon introduces Prime Gaming in India with free in-game content for Prime subscribers

Amazon Prime members in India get access to a variety of benefits ranging from faster delivery times to Prime-exclusive deals, along with access to services like Prime Video, Amazon Music, and more. Adding on to the list, Amazon has now introduced gaming offers for Prime members in the country, offering free in-game content like collectible characters, upgrades, in-game currency, and Prime-only tournaments, in a couple of popular mobile games.

As per a recent report from the Times of India, Amazon has set up a new microsite for the gaming benefits which lists down all the games in which members will be able to unlock the new benefits. These include popular titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, World Cricket Championship, Black Desert Mobile, Words with Friends 2, Mafia City, and The Seven Deadly Sins. To claim the Prime benefits in these games, users will have to log-in to the game with their Amazon Prime account and click on ‘Allow’ when prompted.

In a statement regarding the new Prime benefits, Akshay Sahi, Director and Head of Prime at Amazon India, said, “With the launch of Prime gaming, we continue to make Amazon Prime more valuable for members in India. We recognize the need for in-game content by mobile gamers to enhance their playing experience and are delighted to provide access to this content free to Prime members. We will continue to add new in-game content for other popular games, with frequent content refreshes.”

For now, the free content line-up is quite limited and includes things like a Stadium Unlock for World Cricket Championship, 50 Gold and 10K cash for Mafia City, an item chest, hero and skin trial cards for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and a Mystery Box for Words with Friends 2. However, you can expect new content and games to be added to the list in the near future.

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Via: TOI

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MediaTek details the Helio G85, a mid-range SoC for high-performance mobile gaming

Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek has expanded its gaming-focused Helio G series of chipsets with a new addition in the form of Helio G85. We first learned about the Helio G85 with the launch of the Redmi Note 9 last month which was the first phone to be powered by this new SoC. However, our knowledge about the exact details and specs of the chipset was quite limited at the time. Now, MediaTek has finally shed more light on the new SoC. The Helio G85 is an upgraded variant of the Helio G80 and aims to deliver a high-performance mobile gaming experience on a budget. 

The Helio G85 is built on a 12nm process and features an octa-core CPU arranged in a big.LITTLE setup. It has 2x ARM Cortex-A75 performance cores clocked at 2.0GHz frequency and 6x ARM Cortex-A55 efficiency cores running at 1.8GHz frequency. The GPU architecture is also unchanged from the Helio G80 but it features slightly higher clock frequency – 1GHz compared to the previous 950MHz. 

The ISP supports up to 25MP single camera with zero shutter lag or up to 16MP + 16MP cameras with ZSL — It can also process up to 48MP snapshots. The Helio G85 offers various gaming enhancements as part of its HyperEngine suite including dynamic allocation of CPU, GPU, and memory while factoring in power, thermal, and gameplay requirements. It also offers several network optimizations such as “intelligent prediction of Wi-Fi and LTE concurrency triggers in just 13 milliseconds” and the ability to postpone incoming calls while in-game without dropping the data connection.

The SoC also supports MediaTek’s neural engine, which accelerates Computer Vision (CV) tasks in apps like Google Lens and also supports boosting the performance of scene detection, object segmentation with background removal, and Bokeh-shot enhancements. NeuroPilot, MediaTek’s AI SDK, is compatible with Android’s Neural Networks API (NNAPI) so app developers using the API for machine learning and artificial intelligence can take advantage of the SoC’s hardware acceleration in their apps.

In terms of connectivity, the Helio P85 keeps things basic. It supports dual 4G LTE with Cat-7 DL / Cat-13 UL, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The MediaTek Helio G85 has already started shipping on smartphones and will serve as an excellent choice for smartphone OEMs looking to deliver a powerful gaming performance in the budget and mid-range segments.

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Source: MediaTek

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The POCO M2 Pro may be another POCO smartphone with a mid-range processor

Shortly after the launch of the POCO X2 earlier this year, we learned that a new POCO phone was in the works. However, we knew it to be a flagship device called the POCO F2 Pro which would essentially be a rebranded version of the Redmi K30 Pro. But we now have evidence to believe that the POCO F2 Pro isn’t the only device that the company is working on right now and it may soon launch another mid-range device.

A new device, called the POCO M2 Pro, was recently spotted on the Mi India website, in the section where Xiaomi lists data from its SAR testing. The device has the model name “M2003J6CI” and,  according to an analysis conducted by XDA tipsters kacskrz and akhilnarang, the device has the code-name “gram.” Kacskrz has also spotted firmware for “gram_in_global”, which suggests that the phone will launch in India.  Interestingly, the code-name “gram” has previously appeared in the kernel source code for the Redmi Note 9 Pro and a watermark for “gram” has also appeared in the firmware for the Redmi Note 9 Pro.

Since the Note 9 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, we suspect that the upcoming POCO M2 Pro may also feature the same SoC. However, we can’t be sure of this, since it’s possible that the device is running on a Qualcomm processor that’s software compatible with the Snapdragon 720G, which would also explain why references to “gram” appear in the Redmi Note 9 Pro’s kernel source code and firmware. What we can safely assume, however, is that this POCO M2 Pro may be a mid-range smartphone powered by a Snapdragon 7 series processor.

It’s also worth mentioning that Xiaomi has since removed all mention of the POCO M2 Pro from the website, but you can still see the listing in an archived version of the page.

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Download: MIUI 12 Super Wallpaper port adds two new options – Hale crater and Evergreen Garden

MIUI 12 was announced just last week, as the upcoming major update to Xiaomi’s custom UX that is found on Mi and Redmi smartphones. The new update brings a lot of new changes, but one of the most eye-catching features on the update is the introduction of Super Wallpapers. Super Wallpapers are space-inspired live wallpapers that include different backgrounds at different zoom levels to correspond to the UX screen you are viewing it on. For instance, you can see a zoomed-out overview of a planet on the Always-On Display, but neatly transition into a close-up when landing on your homescreen. We’ve shared the new live wallpapers and static wallpapers previously, as well as shared a port of the Super Wallpaper made by XDA Recognized Contributor linuxct for use on any Android device. The Super Wallpaper port has now been updated with two new live wallpaper options that were previously hidden, and it has also been updated with a much-requested feature.

MIUI 12 has two main sets of Super Wallpapers: Super Earth and Super Mars. Originally, only the “default” flavor of these was located, but each of these sets actually comes in three different flavors, changing where you land when you transition to your homescreen. Super Earth is available in “Defaut”, “Forest”, and “Glacier” flavors, which were discovered shortly after the port was posted.

Now, linuxct has located the other two flavors of Super Mars aside from “default” — “Central Mountains of Hale Crater”, and “Evergreen Garden”.

Additionally, the developer has added a much-requested feature to the port. Previously, the live wallpaper would react to the system theme and subsequently lighten or darken the live wallpaper, which meant that people running dark themes all the time would get a very dim wallpaper. Now, you can force the live wallpaper to either follow the system theme, or be bright always, or be dark always. This gives you much more flexibility over the aesthetic you wish to show off on your homescreen. The various sets, flavors, and themes makes for a total of 18 live wallpaper APKs, so be sure to download the option that best suits you.

Download MIUI 12 Super Wallpaper port for Android smartphones

The developer has also adapted the port to work on any Android 8.0+ device, even those running on AOSP-based custom ROMs. Further, there is now a forum thread too, which will make it easier to follow along any updates or bug fixes as released by the developer working on the port.

MIUI 12 Super Wallpaper — XDA Forum Thread

If you’re interested in trying out the live wallpapers, you can download the APKs from the download link above and install them on your device. Then, you can pick the live wallpapers from the stock wallpaper picker on your device. In case the live wallpapers don’t show up in the stock wallpaper picker, you’ll need to install the Google Wallpaper app from the Play Store to apply the wallpapers.

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The Huawei FreeBuds 3i and Honor Magic Earbuds are affordable true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation

Late last year at the IFA trade show in Berlin, Huawei announced the FreeBuds 3 — its latest truly wireless earbuds featuring active noise cancellation, wireless charging, bone conduction for voice, and 4 hours of music playback (up to 20 hours with the case). The FreeBuds 3 packed in Huawei’s HiSilicon Kirin A1 chipset, which enabled dual-mode Bluetooth 5.1 and BE+LE 5.1 connectivity, allowing the earbuds to deliver stereo sound with latencies as low as 190ms. Adding on to its FreeBuds lineup of truly wireless earbuds, Huawei has now announced the FreeBuds 3i — a more affordable version of last year’s FreeBuds 3.

Huawei FreeBuds 3 Specifications

Specifications	Huawei FreeBuds 3i
Dimensions & Weight	41.8 x 23.7 x 19.8mm (per earbud) 80.7 x 35.4 x 29.2 mm (charging case) About 5.5g (per earbud) About 51g (charging case)
Type	In-ear/ True wireless / Bluetooth
Noise Cancellation	Active noise cancellation Call noise cancellation
Charging Time	Earbuds: About 1 hr Total: About 115 min
Battery Capacity	37mAh (per earbud) 410mAh (charging case)
Drivers	10mm
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v5.0, supports A2DP 1.3, HFP 1.6, AVRCP 1.5
Charging case	Wired: USB Type-C
Color	Ceramic White
Pop-open connectivity	Supported for smartphones running EMUI 10 or above

The new FreeBuds 3i features a design that’s reminiscent of the FreeBuds Lite, which were launched alongside the Huawei P30 series in March last year. The earbuds also offer active noise cancellation and feature 10mm dynamic drivers for high-quality audio output.

For voice functions, the FreeBuds 3i feature two outward-facing microphones to pick up your voice among environmental noises and one inward-facing microphone that receives your voice conducted inside your ears to improve call quality. The earbuds support tap gestures (long-tap to toggle ANC and double-tap to toggle music or answer/end calls) and can automatically pause playback when the earbuds are taken out and resume when they’re reinserted into your ears.

In terms of battery life, the FreeBuds 3i boast of 3.5hours of music playback, which can be extended up to 14.5hours with the charging case. In comparison with the more premium FreeBuds 3, the new FreeBuds 3i are almost half the price and will be available in the UK for £90. However, Huawei has cut a few corners to reach this price segment and the FreeBuds 3i offer a lower battery life and no wireless charging. The earbuds are also relatively bigger and heavier, have smaller dynamic drivers, and don’t include the Kirin A1 chipset.

Along with the FreeBuds 3i, Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has also released its own truly wireless earbuds in the European market. The Honor Magic Earbuds, which were launched earlier this year in February, seem identical to the Huawei FreeBuds 3i and offer hybrid active noise canceling and adaptive noise canceling. The earbuds are also equipped with 10mm drivers and feature a 37mAh battery, with an additional 410mAh available on the charging case. The Magic Earbuds offer all the same features as the Huawei FreeBuds 3i.

Honor Magic Earbuds Specifications

Specifications	Honor Magic Earbuds
Dimensions & Weight	41.8 x 23.7 x 19.8mm (per earbud) 80.7 x 35.4 x 29.2 mm (charging case) About 5.4g (per earbud) About 51g (charging case)
Type	In-ear/ True wireless / Bluetooth
Noise Cancellation	Active noise cancellation Call noise cancellation
Charging Time	Earbuds: About 1 hr Total: About 115 min
Battery Capacity	37mAh (per earbud) 410mAh (charging case)
Drivers	10mm
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v5.0, supports A2DP 1.3, HFP 1.6, AVRCP 1.5
Charging case	Wired: USB Type-C
Color	Ceramic White
Pop-open connectivity	Supported for smartphones running EMUI 10 or above

The Honor Magic Earbuds are available starting today on HIHONOR.COM in France, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy for €99. The earbuds will also go on sale in the UK on May 21st for £99 and will be available in two color options — Pearl White and Robin Egg Blue.

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ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 receives second Android 10 beta update with April 2020 security patches

Despite not taking part in the Android One program, ASUS launched the ZenFone Max Pro M1 back in 2018 with a close-to-stock version of Android 8.1 Oreo. The phone received its Android Pie update around a year ago, and ASUS delivered a beta version of Android 10 for this device in January 2020. While we don’t know any specific timeframe regarding the arrival of the stable Android 10 update as of yet, it seems quite close as ASUS decided to publish a second beta build of Android 10 for the ZenFone Max Pro M1.

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 XDA Forums

The version number of the new build is 17.2017.2004.424, which is a rather steep jump from the initial beta build tag (17.2017.1911.407). The Android security patch level has been bumped to April 2020, and those who are on the latest stable Android Pie build can now perform an upgrade without failing. Unlike the previous build, the Widevine DRM level is now at L1, thus ZenFone Max Pro M1 owners can stream Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in full HD.

The complete changelog of the latest Android 10 beta for the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is listed below.

1. Updated Android security patch
2. Fixed fingerprint cannot be set issue
3. Fixed latest Android P image cannot upgrade to Android 10 issue
4. Fixed user can’t hear low frequency sounds issue
5. Fixed fast charging not working issue
6. Fixed Arena of Valor without high frame rate mode issue
7. Improved sound quality at Media and notification sounds
8. Fixed Netflix no HD (widevine L3) issue
9. Fixed lock screen wallpaper issue if user sets different pictures for the wallpaper lock screen, and double-click to wake up
10. Fixed text display issue of APP name

There is no incremental OTA package, so interested users have to download the full-sized update zip that weighs about 1.6GB. Keep in mind that Electronic Image Stabilization for video recording is still broken, and the Fingerprint related options under Settings may randomly disappear. One should also perform a full backup before flashing, as ASUS does warn about potential data wipe issues.

Download second Android 10 beta for the ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1

Download downgrade package to revert back to Android Pie

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Source: ASUS

Thanks to ASUS ZenTalk Community user umangsharma9199 for the screenshot!

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Slack is testing a cleaner UI with swipe gesture navigation in the latest Android beta

More people than ever are working from home these days and many businesses rely on Slack for communication. With tons of useful integrations with other services, and apps on nearly every platform, it’s a great choice. One of those platforms is Android and the Slack app recently received a pretty big UI update.

The latest update for the Slack beta app introduces a new bottom bar for navigation. The bar has four tabs: Home, DMs, Mentions, and You. The Home tab is where you see the list of channels, direct message conversations, and the compose button for new messages. DMs and Mentions is exactly what you would expect, and the You tab is where you can set your status and adjust preferences.

Along with the new UI is a brand new way to navigate with gestures. When you’re on any of the four tabs listed above, you can swipe from the right to go to your last active channel/message. Swiping from the left while in a channel/DM will go back to the last tab you were on. Swiping from the right on the tab pages will open a sidebar that shows your other workspaces and shortcuts to a channel browser, inviting members, and preferences. These gestures don’t need to be performed from the edge of the screen.

The gestures feel a little wonky at first, but it seems like this will be a nice update. Any UI that minimizes the interference of Android’s built-in Back gesture is a good thing. Nothing is more annoying than trying to slide open the hamburger menu and accidentally going Back. You can try this new UI in Slack version 20.05.10.0. Opt-in to the beta track in the Play Store if you haven’t already.

Slack (Free, Google Play) →

Via: 9to5Google

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