The Razer Kishi controller can be easily modded to fit larger Android phones or phones in cases

Mobile gaming is getting more and more popular as smartphones continue to push the boundaries of performance. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen a few AAA game publishers attempt to make their mark on the industry. The rise of console emulators and cloud gaming services is also improving choice for mobile gamers. Even though smartphones and data connections are more than capable of handling some decent gaming, playing with onscreen controls is just not optimal for many games. That’s where gadgets like the Razer Kishi come in. It’s a $79 telescopic controller that connects to your smartphone via its USB Type-C port to make it look like a Nintendo Switch with the joy cons attached. Unfortunately, the maximum dimensions of the controller limit its compatibility with some devices. As it turns out, there is a simple workaround for that.

The Razer Kishi is designed to extend so it can fit Android smartphones with a height between 145.3-163.7mm, a width between 68.2-78.1mm, and a depth between 7.0-8.8mm. Because of this, some larger devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, Huawei P40 Pro, and OPPO Find X2 Pro will either fit extremely awkwardly or not at all. Fortunately, a user on the /r/Stadia subreddit by the name of /u/totofra brought to our attention a very simple way around this problem. There are two rubber grips located at both ends of the controller; removing them increases the room between the pads and lets you use fit slightly bigger devices. The featured image at the top of this article shows a photo of the OPPO Find X2 Pro, a device with a height of 165.2mm, fitting snugly inside a Razer Kishi with the two rubber grips removed.

 

Keep in mind that the rubber grips were added to make sure your device doesn’t get scratched or wobble around while inside the controller. We recommend using a smartphone case or applying sticky pads to protect your phone and keep it from moving while you’re gaming. You do not need any tools to remove the rubber grips from the controller, though you may have some difficulties pulling out the rubber since it’s pre-installed pretty tightly. Once you do remove the rubber inserts, you can always reattach them in case you want to use the Kishi without a phone case.

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AniWeather is a beautiful new weather app for Android focused on animations and simplicity

AniWeather, like its name suggests, is an animated weather app developed by one of our community’s legendary Substratum themers, XDA Senior Member llevo3. If by any chance the word “animated” conjures up images of tacky whirling lights or flashing graphics from a 1996 Geocities homepage, there is no need to worry – there is none of that here. The animations strike an excellent balance between subtlety and adding to the user experience. Another outstanding feature of AniWeather is its simplicity – there is no complex labyrinth of settings within settings or any cluttered array of obscure weather data. 

When you open the app for the first time, you’ll be greeted by a prompt asking you to grant permissions access to your phone’s location. Then you’ll see a simple two-step tutorial: The first step will show you how to access the settings by tapping on the umbrella icon and the second step will show you how to access the forecast and weather chart panels by swiping to the left. 

When you tap on the umbrella you’ll see the easy-to-use settings screen from which you can select between metric, imperial, and universal (degrees in Kelvin) units. If you want to entertain your Fahrenheit-using friends on social media, I suggest sharing a screenshot with units in Kelvin so the app will indicate the temperature in your city is around 300 degrees. 

When you open AniWeather for regular use after you’ve set your preferences, you’ll be greeted by a current conditions panel with the forecast for today and the next two days on the bottom, though you can actually swipe left on that bottom strip to see the next seven days. One swipe to the left on the main panel leads to an hourly forecast for the next 48 hours (swipe up and down to scroll). The hourly forecast includes basic weather descriptions for each hour, wind speeds, and temperatures. One more swipe to the left takes you to a more detailed forecast for the next seven days, which includes the aforementioned data sets from the hourly forecast and adds barometric pressure, UV index, and humidity levels. Swiping left from the seven-day forecast panel leads to the last available panel, which includes charts for temperature, precipitation, and wind speed.

What really sets AniWeather apart from the myriads of weather apps available on the Google Play Store is the simple, uncluttered design, the easy access to relevant data, and the stylish artwork from a once-prominent Substratum themer. Also, while Google does list the developer’s email for feedback and feature requests, I’d recommend using the app’s thread in our forums where you can also see teasers of upcoming features.

AniWeather XDA Forum Thread

AniWeather (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Samsung Galaxy S20 and Razer Phone 2 receive updates with July 2020 security patches

Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S20 series has once again broken its own record of getting monthly security updates ahead of the Google Pixel lineup. Just like the previous month’s incident, the company has now been able to deliver the July 2020 security patchset to the regular Galaxy S20 as well as the “Plus” and “Ultra” variants. And in a bit of a surprise, the Razer Phone 2 has also picked up an unexpected OTA, which similarly bumps the Android security patch level (SPL) of the phone to July 2020.

Samsung Galaxy S20

At the time of reporting, the Korean 5G editions of the Galaxy S20 (model number SM-G98xN) are the only variants that have received the new update. Unlike the global models, these are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC, which means cross-flashing firmwares is impossible. The updated firmware, tagged as G98xNKSU1ATFD, brings in camera enhancements in zoomed-in shots and improves video stabilization. This update also deprecates the MirrorLink service, as mentioned by Samsung some months ago.

Credits to Twitter user @Kuma_Sleepy for the screenshot!

Galaxy S20/S20+/S20 Ultra Forums

Buy from Amazon.in — Samsung Galaxy: S20 ||| S20+ ||| S20 Ultra

Razer Phone 2

Amidst all the uncertainties with Razer’s smartphone business future, the new update for the Razer Phone 2 is indeed a breath of fresh air. The version number of the new build is P-SMR4-RC001-RZR-200616.3181, i.e. it’s the Android Pie-based MR4 update for the global variant of the device. The MR3 build came out nearly three months ago, thus the jump from March 2020 patch level to July 2020 is quite significant.

Thanks Rox for the tip!

Razer Phone 2 XDA Forums

Razer has yet to publish the updated factory image on their official download portal, so you have to wait for the OTA to hit your device. Galaxy S20 users, on the other hand, can use tools like Frija to download the new firmware straight from Samsung update server.

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Unlock More from Your Streaming Service with CyberGhost VPN

When looking for a VPN solution, it can be a little overwhelming with the number of options out there. The benefits of using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) every time you browse the Web have been widely established. These apps are the first and most important line of defense against hackers who are intent on stealing everything from your browsing history to your credit card information—a feat that’s made much easier when you’re using public WiFi.

But, not all VPNs were created equal. CyberGhost VPN is one of the fastest, most respected, and streamlined VPNs on the market, and right now you can subscribe for as little as $2.75 per month.

CyberGhost VPN is a feature-packed solution while being easy enough for first-time VPN users. Unlike most VPNs that inhibit your browsing speed and sap your bandwidth, CyberGhost VPN lets you browse at full speed on up to seven devices simultaneously. It offers 256-AES bit encryption across the board, top-tier protection against malware and cyber infiltrations, and access to over 6,400 secure VPN servers worldwide.

Moreover, CyberGhost VPN has dedicated apps for all platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV&FireStick, Xbox, PlayStation, and even for routers.

Stream your Favorite Shows from Anywhere in the World

Streaming services tend to have different selections of content for different parts of the world. What you see on Netflix in the U.S. could be totally different from what your friend sees in the UK. These geographic restrictions can sometimes make you miss out on content. Many countries even block entire streaming services, making traveling even worse than it already has to be.

CyberGhost VPN is the solution to unlock and bypass geographical restrictions. By routing your internet traffic through a server in another country, you’re unlocking all the streaming shows and movies that are available in that part of the world. This is particularly useful during the COVID-19 social distancing which has so many people staying indoors. There have been many times where I try to watch a movie with a friend from another country, only to find out that one of us doesn’t have it available. Now I can set my VPN to the country they’re in, and just like that, we can have access to the same content.

The streaming feature works with all of the major streaming services. This includes Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube Premium, and tons of other options. With the fast speeds of CyberGhost’s VPN service, you won’t run into additional buffering times while you’re watching your shows. Enjoy your content in its full quality with high-speed streaming.

Unlock the full potential of your streaming subscriptions

One of the best ways to utilize the streaming feature is to set up CyberGhost on your Android TV. CyberGhost is optimized for Android TV, and it’s as easy as downloading it to your TV from the Play store and logging in to your account. Your CyberGhost VPN account will support up to seven different devices, so you can use it on your TV, phone, PC, Xbox, and anything else you need.

CyberGhost for Streaming

Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks

Every time you connect to a public wifi network, you are at risk of having your data stolen. Without seeing the security behind a wifi router, you are trusting that everything is secure before you connect. Unfortunately, there’s really no way of knowing if you’re joining a poorly secured wifi or not. Hackers use insecure wifi spots to try to access victim’s computers.

By encrypting your connection with CyberGhost VPN, you’ll have a secure connection when using public wifi. Once you’re behind a VPN, an attacker won’t be able to monitor your internet activity. All they will see is one connection between you and the VPN. This protects you from many different types of attacks that are aimed towards people with vulnerable connections. These types of attacks include:

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
• Denial of Service Attacks
• Evil Twin Attacks
• FTP Brute Force Attack
• FTP Bounce Attack
• MAC Spoofing
• Packet Capture
• Port Stealing
• Cookie side-jacking
• Nasty worms

It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you fall victim to one of these types of attacks, it could cost you quite a bit and end up being a massive headache. Don’t wait to be a victim, and start using CyberGhost VPN.

CyberGhost Connection Features

Torrent Files without Being Tracked

Torrenting is a very popular way of downloading large files, software, and media. When you torrent a file, your IP gets added to the network of seeders and leechers. This list of IPs can be seen by anyone downloading or seeding that particular file. This leaves you vulnerable to anyone looking to log your IP, and associate it with that particular file.

If you’ve ever used the software PeerBlock, you’d be able to see for yourself just how many government and private companies are trying to track your IP. Once you start a download, a list of dozens of known government IPs popup trying to track you. There’s no telling what these organizations could be doing with your information.

Torrenting involves a connection called P2P or peer to peer. Not all VPN services support these types of connections, but CyberGhost VPN fully supports this feature so you can be secure in all of your online connections. Download torrents without worrying about who’s watching you.

CyberGhost for Torrents

CyberGhost VPN is a great option for a complete online privacy solution. Sign up today using our affiliate link below. It’s a very affordable option with some of the best features you’ll find in any VPN service.

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Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 TWS Review: Good sound limited by bad design and missing features

Xiaomi entered the TWS earphones segment in India earlier this year with the launch of the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 and the Redmi Earbuds S. Of the two, the Redmi Earbuds S is the company’s budget-friendly offering, which is undoubtedly one of the best pair of TWS earphones in the sub-₹2,000 price bracket. The more premium Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, on the other hand, is a tough sell at ₹4,499. While the earphones do sound better than the Redmi Earbuds S, they have a couple of drawbacks that are difficult to overlook at this price point. I recently got my hands on the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 and here are my thoughts on Xiaomi’s premium TWS earphones.

Note: Xiaomi India sent us a pair of Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 for review. However, the company did not have any input on the content of this review. This review is written after two weeks of use.

Design

Even though the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 draws inspiration from Apple’s AirPods, its design isn’t nearly as similar to the AirPods as that of the Realme Buds Air. The charging case isn’t as rounded and has flat edges on the top and bottom. It’s slightly larger in size and offers a more secure grip when opening with one hand. Unlike the Redmi Earbuds S, the case feels more premium, features a function button to help you pair the earphones with a new device, and an LED indicator to show the current battery level. The case has a USB Type-C port on the bottom for charging.

Much like the case, the earbuds feature a slightly angular design that distinguishes them from other AirPods clones available in the market today. The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 has a wider stem that protrudes at the top, which isn’t as stealthy and I, for one, am not a fan of how much the earphones stick out when in use. Xiaomi claims that the shape of the earphones has been optimized by mapping millions of ears in simulation software, and they seem to have done a good job. The fit is comfortable, the earphones stay in place even while running, and long term use doesn’t cause any fatigue. However, the design of the earphones does have some major drawbacks.

Since the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 don’t feature silicone tips, they offer no noise isolation. This means that even at high volumes, you’re able to hear almost everything that’s going on around you which doesn’t lend to a pleasant listening experience when you’re out and about. On top of that, when you’re playing music at over 60% volume, there’s significant sound leakage and everyone in a one-meter radius can hear what you’re listening to. This could prove to be annoying for the people around you, making the earphones bothersome to use in public spaces unless you keep the volume low.

In terms of build quality, I have no complaints with Xiaomi’s premium TWS earphones, other than the fact that it doesn’t feature any IP rating. This is disappointing since even Xiaomi’s budget-centric Redmi Earbuds S features an IPX4 rating.

Features

The Mi True Wireless Earbuds 2 isn’t as feature-rich as other TWS earphones in this price range. The pairing process for the earphones is quite simple as you just need to press and hold the function button for 2 seconds. After this, the LED indicator on the case starts blinking and the earphones are ready to be paired with your device. Reconnecting with a previously connected device is as simple as pulling out the earphones from the case and putting them in your ears. The pairing process is even simpler if you’re using a Xiaomi/Redmi device, as it just requires you to open the lid near the device. When you do so, a pop-up will appear on your home screen and you just need to follow the instructions to get connected.

Interestingly, the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 also let you connect each earbud with a different device. To do so, you’ll need to place one of the earphones in the case and then follow the regular pairing process with the first device. Once the earbud is paired, you can follow the same process for the next earbud to connect to the second device. However, before you use this feature, you’ll need to need to clear the connection history of each earphone. You can clear the connection history by placing the earbuds in the charging case and holding the function button for 10 seconds. The indicator LED will blink red and white to confirm that the connection history has been cleared.

Unlike the Redmi Earbuds S, Xiaomi’s premium TWS earphones feature touch controls for music playback and calls. Both the earbuds have a small touch-sensitive area towards the top of the stem that can be tapped twice to control all of the features. You can answer incoming calls or end an ongoing call by double-tapping on either earbud, tap twice on the right earbud to play/pause music, and double tap on the left earbud to bring up the voice assistant of your choice. If you’re using a single earphone, however, you’ll only be able to play/pause music using the gesture. Since the earbuds feature a proximity sensor, you can also play/pause music by pulling one earbud out. In my experience, all the touch gestures worked as intended but the earphones took a noticeable amount of time to register the input.

For connectivity, the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 supports Bluetooth 5.0. Unlike the Redmi Earbuds S, Xiaomi’s premium earbuds support three Bluetooth codecs — SBC, AAC, and LHDC — with the latter making a prominent appearance in Xiaomi’s marketing for the earphones. The earphones also offer environmental noise cancellation for voice calls. The functionality offered by the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 is pretty standard for TWS earphones in this price range, but it doesn’t offer a low-latency gaming mode that’s found on several of its competitors and the Redmi Earbuds S. It also doesn’t include gestures to adjust volume or switch tracks, which could be a deal-breaker for some of you.

Audio Quality

The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 feature 14.2mm dynamic drivers, and Xiaomi claims that the earphones offer a high-end audio experience. However, the earphones don’t quite live up to Xiaomi’s claims. Before I proceed any further, I’d like to clarify that since we all perceive sound differently, you might not agree with some of my observations about the audio quality.

Playlist

• Hometown — French 79
• Teardrop — Massive Attack
• Safety — Gashi (ft. DJ Snake)
• Panda — Meute
• Time Goes By — Kupla
• Seven Nation Army — The White Stripes
• Mad World — Gary Jules (ft. Michael Andrews)
• The Blower’s Daughter — Damien Rice
• Tadow — FKJ
• Rockstar — Post Malone (ft. 21 Savage)
• Young Folks — Peter Bjorn and John
• Wasted Years — Iron Maiden
• Purusha — NVDES
• Parallel Jalebi — Four Tet
• Who We Want to Be — Tom Day

I listened to the same playlist that I used for the Redmi Earbuds S review, and I instantly noticed that the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 sounded much better than the budget-centric earphones. But that was expected given the price difference between the two. Xiaomi’s premium TWS earphones offered much better vocal clarity and a wider sound stage, which meant that I could easily differentiate between all the different instruments played in Meute’s Panda. Bass, however, wasn’t as punchy as that of the Redmi Earbuds S and the mid/high frequencies often overpowered the lower notes.

The earphones got quite loud at max volume, but the overpowering high frequencies made the listening experience a bit painful during a few songs. While the audio reproduction was quite satisfactory for a pair of earphones in this price range, the lack of noise isolation due to the design left a lot to be desired. Even while listening to music in my room, I could constantly hear my AC droning away amidst the Delhi heat, and that leads me to believe that the earphones will perform worse in noisier environments. And as mentioned earlier, turning up the volume meant that everyone around me could hear what I was listening to, which eventually ended up annoying my brother who was trying to work in peace.

All of the testing was done using the SBC and AAC codecs and I wasn’t able to test the performance using the high-quality LHDC codec. Even though this article points out that Google was bringing LHDC support to all Android 10 devices, I wasn’t able to find LHDC support on any of my devices. Upon further research, I found that codec isn’t quite popular and is only supported by a few Xiaomi and Huawei devices. Tushar from our team confirmed that the Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro included support for the codec so, if you have one of these devices, you might be able to improve the audio performance of the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 even further. Most other users will have to stick with the SBC and AAC codecs.

As far as call quality is concerned, I faced no issues while taking calls with the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2. Its dual-microphone setup ensured that my voice sounded clear on the other end, albeit slightly compressed, and the environmental noise cancellation ensured that the earphones didn’t pick up any unwanted noise from the background. Overall connectivity was also solid and the earphones didn’t disconnect even if I left my phones in a different room.

Battery Life

The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 pack in a 30mAh battery in each earphone and a 250mAh battery in the charging case. Xiaomi claims that the earphones can be used for up to 4 hours on a single charge but, in my testing, I found that the earphones didn’t last more than 3 hours and 40 minutes at 80% volume. Turning up the volume to 100% while listening to music dropped the battery life to about 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Once the battery is drained out, you can use the case to charge the earphones back up about three times over. This gives us a total playback time of about 11 hours, which is significantly lower than Xiaomi’s 14-hour playback rating. Charging the earphones from 0-100% using the case took about 40 minutes and the case itself took about an hour and a half to get back to full. The battery life is just about average for a pair of earphones in this price range, however, the faster charging speed will let you squeeze out some more playtime in daily use.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a pair of TWS earphones in the sub-₹5,000 price range, then the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 isn’t the best option you can go for. Its noise isolation is poor, which greatly affects the overall audio quality, the battery life is just about average, the LHDC support isn’t useful if you don’t have a supported device, and you can’t really use the earphones at above 60% volume without annoying the people around you. On top of that, the earphones don’t feature a low-latency gaming mode, volume controls, or a track switching gesture.

In comparison, Xiaomi’s budget-friendly Redmi Earbuds S actually presents a better overall deal. Even though they don’t sound as good, they’re less than half the price, offer better noise isolation, feature IPX4 water resistance, and even include a low-latency gaming mode. If you’re not comfortable using earphones that feature a silicone ear tip and would much rather prefer a design similar to the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, you can also consider the Realme Air Buds which are priced at ₹3,999 and offer similar battery life and audio performance, along with a couple of additional features like wireless charging support, a low-latency gaming mode, and a gesture that lets you skip to the next track.

Buy the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2: Amazon || Mi.com

This article contains affiliate links, which will net XDA a small commission if you purchase a product from clicking a link.

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Exclusive: Google plans to relax security update requirements for Android Enterprise Recommended

While Android is the overall dominant smartphone operating system according to data from IDC, Apple’s iOS is the OS of choice for most enterprises. It’s easy to see why: Apple updates its iOS devices generally far longer and more consistently than most Android device makers update their smartphones, iPhones are simple to configure and manage, and there are far fewer SKUs to support if a company picks Apple. But there are also reasons for enterprises to pick an Android device, including reduced cost and more flexibility in hardware. To make Android even more enticing for the workplace, Google launched “Android for Work” in early 2015 (later rebranded as “Android Enterprise” in late 2016). Then in early 2018, Google launched the Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) program to certify devices for business use. Google codified a set of requirements that devices must meet to be “Android Enterprise Recommended,” including minimum hardware specifications, support for bulk deployment, availability of unlocked devices, consistency of app behavior running in managed profiles, and delivery of Android security updates within 90 days of release for a minimum of three years.

However, documents uncovered by Android developer @deletescape that were reviewed by XDA-Developers reveal that Google is planning to loosen security update requirements for Android Enterprise Recommended devices. Instead, Google is pushing for vendors to be more transparent about how they handle security updates. According to @deletescape, these documents were shared with vendors within the last 15 days. Thus, while we can’t guarantee that these proposed changes to Android Enterprise Recommended will make their way into the final list of requirements, we can at least confirm that Google has very recently considered these changes.

There are currently 170 different Android devices that are Android Enterprise Recommended. HMD Global, Sony, Motorola, OPPO, and of course, Google, offer devices that are AER. Even OnePlus is considering having its devices certified under the program. Well-known consumer smartphone brands aren’t the only companies selling Android Enterprise Recommended devices, though. Rugged smartphones from companies like Zebra, Honeywell, Sonim, and others are included in the program, and now even carriers can sell AER devices directly to businesses, provided they rapidly approve security maintenance releases.

The device provisioning flow in Android 10. Source: Jason Bayton

The list of requirements needed for entry into AER is not that extensive—many more Android devices could have made the list given the low base hardware requirements. Even AER’s software requirements don’t require many changes from vendors, as outlined by several internal Google documents. One of the documents outlines how vendors have to design icon badges for apps in the work profile, add a dedicated tab for work profile apps in the launcher, separate share targets for apps in the personal and work profile, preload certain Google applications, and manage cross-profile data communication. Another document outlines the UX requirements for the work profile launcher tab, work profile Quick Setting tile, work profile dialogs, launcher education messages, context switching, and other system design elements. These requirements are aimed at promoting a minimum standard of acceptable hardware as well as software UX consistency between Android Enterprise Recommended devices.

Work profile UX changes in Android 11. Left: Personal tab and work tab in Settings > App info. Right: Work app icons grayed out when the work profile is paused. Source: Google.

However, it seems that the requirement for devices to quickly get security patch updates after each monthly Android Security Bulletin (ASB) has proven to be too high a barrier for many vendors.

Google Pushes for Update Transparency for Android Enterprise Recommended

Android developer @deletescape, who recently shared a leaked draft of Google’s Compatibility Definition Document for Android 11, obtained a leaked draft of the new Android Enterprise Recommended requirements for devices running Android 11. Under the “Device Security” section, which we’ve reproduced below, Google is proposing the removal of a number of requirements for the AER program. Under these new proposed rules, AER devices will no longer be guaranteed to receive security patch updates within 90 days of an ASB. Interestingly, one of the rows in the chart suggests that Google actually tightened this requirement from 90 days to 30 days with the move to Android 10, but Google has still not updated the public list of requirements to reflect this change. Nonetheless, under the proposed changes, this requirement will no longer apply for Android Enterprise Recommended devices running Android 11. Furthermore, vendors will also no longer be required to provide 3 years of regular security updates for AER devices. They will, however, still be required to provide “Emergency Security Maintenance Release” (ESMR) updates, which presumably means they only have to roll out updates containing fixes for critical security vulnerabilities.

Android 10 versus Android 11 - Device Security Requirements for Android Enterprise Recommended

Category	Serial Number	MUST / MAY	Attribute and Implementation		Comments
			Q (Android 10)	R (Android 11)
Device Security	1	MAY	Operate an OEM Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP)	Operate an OEM Vulnerability Rewards Program (VRP)
	2	MAY	StrongBox support	StrongBox support
	3	MAY	Hardware backed Keystore support	Hardware backed Keystore support
	4	MAY	Device ID attestation support	Device ID attestation support
	5	MAY	Key attestation support	Key attestation support
	6		30-day security updates	Requirement removed	Replaced with Security transparency requirement
	7	MUST	3 yr support for Emergency Security Maintenance Release (ESMR)	3 yr support for Emergency Security Maintenance Release (ESMR)	Replaced with Security transparency requirement
	8		File-based encryption – on by default. Uses AOSP implementation.	Requirement removed	This is a GMS requirement enforced for all devices
	9		90-day security updates	Requirement removed	Replaced with Security transparency requirement
	10		3 year security update support (may sub 3rd year ESMR)	Requirement removed	Replaced with Security transparency requirement
	11		Publish latest security patch level	Requirement removed	Replaced with Security transparency requirement

As mentioned in the chart, Google is proposing replacing a lot of these requirements with new “transparency” requirements. Indeed, Google is proposing the addition of a new section titled “Security/OS Updates transparency.” The new requirements detail how vendors will be required to publish information such as the end-of-life date for security maintenance releases, the latest security patch that’s available, how frequently the device will receive updates, what fixes are contained in each update, the shipping and planned software updates of the device, and more. Interestingly, Google is also requiring that Android 11 devices undergo certification testing by the ioXt Alliance before they can become Android Enterprise Recommended. The ioXt Alliance is an alliance of companies whose goal is to improve the security of IoT products. Its members include Amazon, Facebook, Google, NXP, and more. Google says that having this certification will add to transparency, presumably since it will give enterprises an independent metric of how secure a particular device is rather than just Google’s assurance.

Security/OS Updates Transparency (New) Requirements for Android Enterprise Recommended

Category	Serial Number	MUST / MAY	Attribute and Implementation		Comments
			Q (Android 10)	R (Android 11)
Security/OS Updates transparency	1	MUST		MUST publish following updates information on OEM website – SMR support end-date (last date when the device will receive SMR) – Latest security patch available – Frequency of updates the device will receive – Fixes contained in security patch, including any OEM-specific fixes	Changing the requirement from SMR support to SMR/patches/updates transparency
	2	MUST		MUST publish following OS information on OEM website – OS that the device is shipped with – Current major OS ver – All major OS version update that the device will receive	Changing the requirement from support to transparency eg: Pixel 3 – Shipped ver – Android 9 – Current Ver – Android 10 – Expected major ver – Android 11
	3	MUST		Submit the device to IoXT certification	IoXT scoring adds to transparency

It’s no secret that vendors have trouble keeping up with rolling out monthly security patch updates. There are many, many reasons why that’s the case: carrier certification delays, waiting for patches from chipset and other vendors, the difficulty of applying patches to heavily modified Android framework builds and out-of-tree Linux kernels, and more. Some Android users have even taken notice of how some vendors fail to meet AER requirements. While Google’s development efforts and license agreements have helped improve how quickly security updates roll out for many devices, they clearly haven’t been able to sustain the current security patch requirements for the Android Enterprise Recommended program. Loosening these requirements in favor of more transparency will both help make the program more accessible to vendors and also give enterprises more confidence in the particular device they choose for their workers.

The proposed relaxation of security patch updates isn’t the only change that could be coming to the Android Enterprise Recommended program for Android 11, of course. Google also plans to increase the minimum hardware requirements from 2GB of RAM to 3GB of RAM, tighten training requirements, and implement a new set of requirements for the work profile UX. Most of these changes won’t impact knowledge workers, though. Android in the enterprise has grown a lot since its early days. If you’re interested in learning more about its history, I recommend reading this excellent article from Jason Bayton.

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Download the OnePlus Wallpaper Design Contest winners

While OnePlus is busy teasing their upcoming affordable phone that could be called “Nord,” the company has been running a wallpaper contest on the community forums. The “Creative Wallpaper Contest” started in May and the winners have just recently been announced.

The rules of the contest said that the wallpapers should be made with the OnePlus 8 series in mind. The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro feature single hole-punch display cutouts in the top left and a 2400×1080 resolution and 3168×1440 resolution respectively. Since these wallpapers were made in 3168×1440 resolution to match the high-resolution display of the OnePlus 8 Pro, these wallpapers should look nice on other Android smartphones as well.

OnePlus 8 Forums ||| OnePlus 8 Pro Forums

Five winners were selected in total, with one overall winner getting the top spot. Here are the winners:

1.  @Butch_Sales_ES (Entries)
2. @Daniel Franke (Entries)
3. @m4ngosteen (Entries)
4. @Sylvester.David (Entries)
5. @Gio567full (Entries)

The two wallpapers from the overall winner and the 15 wallpapers from four of the other winners have been shared on the OnePlus Forums in their full-resolution glory. Several of the wallpapers feature the “Never Settle” and OnePlus logo, but not all of them do. There’s a good variety to choose from, some going with photo-realistic elements, others more abstract, and some with an illustration. Check out the preview gallery below to see if there’s anything you like and download the ZIP file below for the full-resolution images.

Download OnePlus Wallpaper Contest winners ZIP

The post Download the OnePlus Wallpaper Design Contest winners appeared first on xda-developers.

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