Firefox Private Network will soon go public as Mozilla VPN with Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Linux clients

Mozilla Corp., the organization behind popular Firefox web browser, has been working on its own paid VPN service since last year. The service, called Firefox Private Network, was launched in beta last year as a browser extension for desktop versions of Firefox web browser that was followed by an Android app in February this year. Now, the service is set to be renamed as Mozilla VPN and launched as a standalone and system-wide VPN service for Android, iOS, Windows, ChromeOS, macOS, and Linux platforms over the next few weeks.

As per a blog post, Mozilla VPN will move out of the beta and be available as a standalone service later this year starting with select regions, which will definitely include the U.S. The VPN will be available for $4.99 per month and you will be able to use up to five devices with the same account. Mozilla mentions this pricing is only for a limited time but has not clarified whether the price will be increased or new plans introduced for fewer devices. Meanwhile, the price for the VPN extension for Firefox has been set at $2.99 per month. While the Android, iOS, Windows, and Chromebook clients will be available initially, Mozilla is also working on Mac and Linux clients which have also been requested by the beta testers.

The service, in its current form as Firefox Private Network, is powered by Mullvad VPN and has servers in more than 30 countries. It runs on WireGuard standard that offers more privacy and better performance as compared to traditional standards like OpenVPN. being a new protocol, it may not be as stable as the legacy ones.

Mozilla, unlike other web browser creators like Opera, isn’t offering the service for free. They claim that a paid service will allow the organization to continue offering the service without profiting from users’ data.

If you want to be a part of the beta testing or express interest for the service to be available in your region, you can join the waitlist by signing up on this page.

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Via: ZDNet

Firefox Private Network VPN (Free, Google Play) →

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Download: Xiaomi Redmi 7A receives stable beta Android 10 update with MIUI 11

The Redmi A series is intended for the entry-level Android smartphone market, and the lineup truly offers the best bang for the buck. They can easily outperform the Android Go-powered phones from the same budget segment, thanks to the better hardware configuration. In terms of software updates, Xiaomi usually delivers one major Android version update to these phones, albeit the MIUI layer is refreshed more than once before EOL. Staying true to its reputation, the company has now rolled out the Android 10 update for the Redmi 7A.

Redmi 7A XDA Forums

The Snapdragon 439-powered Redmi 7A was launched back in 2019 with an exceptionally low ₹5,799 ($85) price tag for the base (2GB RAM/16GB storage) version. The factory-installed operating system was MIUI 10 on top of Android 9 Pie. Although Xiaomi managed to deliver the MIUI 11 update in a fairly quick manner, they didn’t upgrade the underlying Android layer at that time.

Redmi 7A XDA Review – Great Phone, Even Greater Pricing

The wait is finally over, as the long-anticipated Android 10 update has now landed on the Redmi 7A. At the time of reporting, the OTA is available on the European variant of the phone, but it is technically possible to cross-flash it on other regional models. The version number of the new build, which is still based on MIUI 11, is V11.0.1.0.QCMEUXM, and it bumps the Android security patch level (SPL) to May 2020. Other regions should get their updates soon.

Download MIUI V11.0.1.0.QCMEUXM for the Redmi 7a (code-name: “pine”)

• Recovery ROM (1.6GB)

It is worth mentioning that the aforementioned build is considered as “stable beta” at the time of publishing. As a result, users need an “authorized Mi Account” to sideload the above package. The restriction can be bypassed by flashing the recovery ROM using a custom recovery like TWRP. Once Xiaomi greenlights the build to be stable enough, they will flip a server-side switch to remove the Mi Account verification routine. The same download file will then be installable on the phone without needing an authorized Mi Account. But as of right now, you can either flash it through TWRP, or arrange for an authorized Mi Account.

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The official Reddit app for Android now has an Anonymous Browsing mode

Reddit is often known as the front page of the internet, deriving its spontaneity and popularity from communities focused around varied topic segments. The system in place lets individuals post content, and then others can upvote or downvote the content depending on its fit around the topic segment and their viewpoint. These upvotes and downvotes decide how much attention the content further gets. The individual is thus at the center of Reddit’s functioning. Some users might not appreciate the fact that Reddit can personalize recommendations. To cater to this specific need, Reddit’s official app is introducing an Anonymous Browsing mode.

As the name implies, Anonymous Browsing allows users to browse content on the Reddit mobile app without associating activities like searches and viewed communities with the user’s Reddit account. The official announcement lays down that in Anonymous Browsing, Reddit will not:

• Save your browsing or search history to your Reddit account
• Use your Reddit activity to personalize your recommendations
• Use your Reddit activity to send you personalized notifications

Of course, when a user is browsing anonymously, they will not be able to post, vote, comment, or take other actions that would need an account. But switching between a logged-in profile and Anonymous Browsing is easy and painless, so one can always swap back over when there is a need for interaction. If the Anonymous Browsing session is inactive for 30 minutes, the session will end and the user will be switched back to the profile that was last active.

The announcement post has further detailed how this feature is different from simply logging out, and from the previous anonymous browsing mode (which was simply emulating logged-out behavior):

New Behavior

1. When you start an Anonymous Browsing session, the session is assigned a new set of unique IDs, so that there’s no connection between that session and your Reddit account. It’s like you’re creating a new account with a new set of IDs every time you start an Anonymous Browsing session.
2. Because of the unique IDs, Reddit’s personalization engine resets every time you enter and exit the mode (to the engine, during an Anonymous Browsing session, you look like a newbie, with no search history).
3. While in Anonymous Browsing, you also won’t get personalized push notifications based on your Reddit activity during the session (any personalized notifications you receive during Anonymous Browsing would be related to prior activity associated with your logged-in Reddit accounts).
4. When you exit an Anonymous Browsing session, you are returned to the account you were previously using, and Reddit clears and deletes the browsing and search history for the session off the device you’re using. Any data collected during the session is only connected to the unique IDs, not your Reddit account.
   

Anonymous Browsing is rolling out on the official Reddit for Android app. To access this feature, tap on your profile picture and then tap on the username to open a list of accounts, and select the new option.

While most Redditors prefer different third-party clients to access the website, the official app has continued to grow in popularity ever since its launch. The official Reddit for Android app has received several key updates in the past, like spoiler and NSFW tagging, account switching, ability to view subreddit wikis, showing warnings before posting on highly moderated subreddits, dark mode, and more.

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Reddit (Free⁺, Google Play) →

Source: /r/changelog

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OnePlus Launcher prepares to add a “Pure Mode” gesture for hiding desktop objects

With the last few updates, OnePlus has added several minor tweaks to the stock launcher in OxygenOS. With OnePlus Launcher v4, the company revamped the Recents menu by adding app icons underneath the app previews for easier switching; with version 4.5.2, the changelog hinted at a system-wide search feature called SearchPlus or OnePlus Scout to search apps, contacts, and messages directly from the search bar in the app drawer. In the latest version i.e. v4.5.4, OnePlus Launcher adopted a new swipe down gesture to open Shelf. In the same version, we also spotted references for a seemingly new feature called “Pure mode,” which can be be used to “hide desktop objects.”

As per the strings we found in the teardown of the OnePlus Launcher 4.5.4 beta version, Pure Mode can be activated by putting four fingers on the screen and spreading them outward. Those of you who use iPad OS or macOS might be able to compare this to the “Show Desktop” gesture. As per the following strings for description, the Pure Mode can be reversed by pulling the fingers inwards.

Here’s are the strings associated with Pure Mode we found in the OnePlus Launcher v4.5.4 APK teardown:

<string name="launcher_pure_mode">Pure mode</string>
<string name="launcher_pure_mode_description">Put four fingers on the display and spread them apart to hide desktop objects; Reverse this gesture to resume from Pure mode.</string>
<string name="launcher_pure_mode_dialog_btn_close">Understand</string>
<string name="launcher_pure_mode_dialog_description">Put four fingers on the display and close them up to resume from Pure mode.</string>
<string name="launcher_pure_mode_subtitle">Gesture for hiding desktop objects</string>

Since the feature is already under development, we can’t determine whether “desktop” here refers to the homescreen or has something to do with the desktop mode that is activated when an external display is connected. The gesture isn’t activated currently nor is there any option in the OnePlus Launcher’s settings menu that could hint something related to Pure Mode, leaving us curious.

OnePlus Launcher’s Pure Mode can either be:

• simple mode with only essential icons like phone, messages, and some messenger – as suggested by the name. This could be part of OnePlus’ digital wellness ventures like the Zen Mode that was launched last year, or
• the gesture could have some relation with the desktop mode (which currently has to be forced from Developer options) and could be used to hide all the open floating windows to show the desktop – exactly like on macOS.

However, both of the scenarios are speculative and may/may not be what the Pure Mode turns out to be so take them with a pinch of salt. We hope to learn more about the feature with the updates in the near future and will update the article if we find something significant.

OnePlus Launcher (Free, Google Play) →

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POSP custom ROM adds 4 cool volume panels in its latest build

Potato Open Sauce Project (no, that’s not a typo!) aka POSP is the go-to choice of many users when it comes to a lightweight AOSP-based custom ROM that also offers a handful of UI/UX customizations. Founded by XDA Recognized Developer Agent_fabulous, POSP is known for integrating useful features on top of its stock Android base, such as the Android Pie’s missing expandable volume panel. Talking about the volume panel, the development team behind POSP has now revamped the volume panel manager with four different panel styles.

After installing the recent-most POSP build 3.2.0, users have the freedom to stick with the vanilla Android 10 style volume panel, or replace it with any of the three different layouts: compact, Android Oreo, and tiled. The relevant volume panel style picker can be found under the “Themes” section as shown below.

ruh pic.twitter.com/IO9IlTZFmC

— PotatoProject (@PotatoAndroid) June 16, 2020

While it is possible to theme Android’s volume panel using third-party tools like Volume Styles, nothing beats a fully native solution baked into the OS itself. Apart from the addition of these new panels, Potato Open Sauce Project‘s latest update also brings in dark mode to its dialer app and the ability to change the size of the navigation pill as well as hide it altogether. Expand the following menu to see all the fixes and improvements in the latest update to POSP.

POSP v3.2.0 changelog

• Added volume panel manager with 4 built-in panels
  • AospPanel
  • CompactPanel
  • OreoPanel
  • TiledPanel
• Left volume panel alignment fixes
• Align owner info as per typeclock style
• Option to change navigation pill size to stock, medium & long
• Option to hide navigation pill
• Option to swap navigation buttons when using 3 button layout
• Remove white flash of screenshot in dark mode
• Fix live caption button on left side when using stock volume panel
• Option to hide/show Auto brightness icon in QS panel
• Clock app UI improvements
• Add Snap Camera
• Dialer app dark mode & video call improvements
• Option to unlink ring & notification volume
• Several under the hood improvements

Interested to try out POSP on your phone? Go ahead and head on over to the official download portal of the project. As always, you need to unlock the bootloader of your device beforehand and install a custom recovery like TWRP. For further information, refer to the POSP discussion thread under the device-specific XDA sub-forum before proceeding.

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Source: POSP GitHub

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Motorola One Fusion appears on Google Play with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 and an HD+ display

Motorola has pleasantly surprised the Indian market with the launch of the Moto One Fusion+. While the device itself was unveiled a week prior to the Indian launch, what surprised many was the aggressive pricing on the One Fusion+. Coming in at ₹16,999 ($224), the device went head-on against the likes of the POCO X2, proving to be a decent alternative on paper with close-to-stock Android experience. It appears that Motorola has at least one more trick product up its sleeve, as the Motorola Moto One Fusion has made an appearance on the internet.

The Motorola One Fusion, codename “astro” has appeared on the Google Play Console’s Device Catalog as well as the Android Enterprise Recommended Catalog. The regular, non-plus variant of the Fusion was also spotted previously when the Fusion+ was leaked, but the device codename was “titan”. We are unable to explain this variation, as some of the other specifications align on the astro and the titan. Interestingly, the Moto G2 from 2014 was also codenamed “titan”, so maybe this change is a course correction — we don’t know yet.

The lone device render present indicates that the phone will have a waterdrop notch, so no pop-up camera as seen on the Plus variant. The specifications as they appear on Google Play is as below:

• 6.5-inch display, 1600×720 resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 710
• 4GB RAM
• 64GB storage
• Android 10
• Fingerprint scanner

Other specifications from our previous leak include model numbers XT2073-1 and XT2073-2, an option of 4/6GB of RAM, 64/128GB of internal storage, a 5,000 mAh battery, Samsung’s 48MP ISOCELL Bright GM1 as the primary rear camera joined by 5MP, 8MP, and 2MP camera sensors. On the front, the device should have an 8MP camera. The One Fusion should land in Brazil, Latin America, and several Asian countries in black and blue colors.

Evan ‘evleaks’ Blass had mentioned that Motorola would be releasing both the Fusion and Fusion+ by the end of Q2. If this timeline leak is correct, the Fusion would just be around the corner. It remains to be seen if the device would be launched in India, and if yes, if it would follow the aggressive pricing as seen on the Fusion+.

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This Google Camera port can use the other cameras on the OnePlus 8 series without root

The OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro were launched in April this year. While the OnePlus 8 (review) carries forward a similar camera from last year, the OnePlus 8 Pro (review) with notable improvements in cameras over last year’s OnePlus 7T series. Among these changes is the bigger 48MP Sony IMX689 primary sensor while another 48MP sensor serves as the ultra-wide-angle camera. If you’re looking to pair the cameras on the OnePlus 8 series devices with Google’s rich photography skills, this Google Camera port linked below helps you use not just the primary camera but also the non-primary cameras on both the phones.

OnePlus 8 Forums ||| OnePlus 8 Pro Forums
Buy: OnePlus 8 (starting at ₹41,999) ||| OnePlus 8 Pro (starting at ₹54,999 via flash sale)

Unofficial ports of Google Camera have surged to immense popularity over the last few years because they add the benefits of Google’s computation photography to non-Google devices. However, since Pixel devices have launched with at max two cameras yet, developers need to modify the Google Camera ports to add support for auxiliary – i.e. other than the primary – cameras like wide-angle or telephoto separately.

The latest Google Camera port by XDA Senior Member Urnyx05 for the OnePlus 8 series enables the telephoto as well as the ultra-wide-angle sensors on the flagship smartphones. More importantly, this Google Camera mod works without rooting or adding any configurations XML.

XDA’s Max Weinbach tried out the Google Camera mod on his OnePlus 8 Pro and the results are as shown below:

The images taken with the stock Camera app are on the left while those captured with the mod are on the right side of the gallery

Google Camera evidently captures more natural colors and better contrast. The highlights and the shadows in Google Camera’s images don’t appear overblown and have lesser color noise. The Google Camera mod doesn’t falsely crop the 3X telephoto image and also reverses any fish-eye effect giving a natural appearance instead of a warped one on the ultra-wide-angle camera

There are a few limitations of this mod and the first one is that the images are captured in 12MP resolution i.e. after 4-in-1 pixel binning from the 48MP sensors (the main sensors on both phones and the wide-angle sensor on the OnePlus 8 Pro) and there’s no way to capture images in full resolution. While Pixel binning is usually advantageous as it adds more light and clarity to images, some users might want to capture images in full resolution and that is inaccessible here. Furthermore, the macro camera on the OnePlus 8 is not supported on the mod currently.

If you own either of the devices, you can download the modded Google Camera port from the link below. Do note that this Camera mod may/may not work with older devices from the company.

Download Google Camera port for OnePlus 8/8 Pro

To enable support for the auxiliary cameras, the package name for this Google Camera mod has been set to “org.codeaurora.snapcam” which is a whitelisted package under the “vendor.camera.aux.packagelist” property in devices’ build.prop. To use the auxiliary cameras, however, they must be exposed to the Camera2 API by the OEM.

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Via: Reddit (r/OnePlus)

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