PUBG Mobile’s new Livik map introduces shorter 15-minute, 52-player matches

PUBG Mobile is typically always a step behind the desktop version of the game when it comes to introducing new changes and features. While the mobile game does offer its own unique set of features, any major additions almost always make an appearance on the desktop version first. For instance, the changes to the Miramar map, the new canted sight attachment, and the 2.7x scope for the Win94 rifle that were released with PUBG Mobile 0.18.0 earlier this year in May had been available on the desktop version for quite a while. However, that’s set to change with the latest update for PUBG Mobile, as Tencent has added a brand new map to the game that isn’t available on the desktop version yet.

The latest update for PUBG Mobile (v0.19.0) has started rolling out to players via the Google Play Store and it introduces a new 2km x 2km Nordic-style map called Livik for shorter 15-minute, 52-player matches. The update also kicks off Royale Pass Season 14 of the game, introduces Spark the Flame-themed game mode, The Ancient Secret mode, and much more. Here are some of the most noteworthy changes in the latest update:

• New Livik Map
  • The Livik map is now available. This Nordic-style map measures 2km x 2km, with 52 players and 15 minute match times, making for a faster and more exciting experience! Livik is still in its BETA stage, and we will continue to adjust and improve it for the best visual and gaming experience.
    
  • Map exclusive firearms
    • Map-exclusive SMG: P90
      
    • Map-exclusive marksman rifle: MK 12
      
  • New vehicle
    • Map-exclusive vehicle: Monster Truck
      
  • Livik super firearm training (coming soon)
    • When the event starts, Experimental Trial Weapon Crates containing a special weapon will appear on Livik. Special weapons look similar to normal weapons, but there are differences in the names, icons, etc. Finishes can be used normally on both types.
    • Experimental Trial Weapons have slightly better stats than normal weapons. You can view your firing and hit stats with your Experimental Trial Weapon after leaving combat.
• Spark the Flame-themed Gameplay- The Themed mode will be available on Erangel and Miramar maps in Classic Mode. Players have a chance to enter this mode after selecting these maps.
  • Small Statue- Burns up after interaction. Drops supplies and event items after burning.
  • Giant Statue- Has multiple construction stages that change as the themed event progresses. It burns in the final stage.
  • Statue Camp- There are tens around the statue. Enter them to search for supplies.
• The Ancient Secret (coming soon)- This themed mode takes effect on Erangel and Miramar when activated. Players can choose whether to participate via settings on the Mode Selection screen.
  • Ancient Temple- Large, major building with a two-story structure. It initially sits on the ground, but it starts to float in the air after a fixed period of time and moves slowly with the playzone.
  • Slate puzzle- An interactive puzzle made up of ancient slates.
  • Boss fight- Players who make it to the sealed room on the second floor of the Ancient Secret can challenge the boss of the temple and win great rewards.
  • Small ruins- Small, randomly-appearing ruins with crates and puzzles.
• Season Warm-up Event Gameplay- At the end of Season 13, a season warm-up event will be available for a limited time. After joining the event, players will battle in 4-player teams in Classic Mode (unranked) and can complete missions to earn a small amount of Season 14 ranking points, which will be converted into Season 14 rating points after the update of Season 14.
• Adjustment of Mode Availability Times- After the version update, Payload and RageGear modes will only be available during the weekend, and Bluehole Mode will no longer be available.
• Arena Gameplay: New Arena Gameplay- Team Gun Game (Available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from July 31st)
  • 4v4 match- The starting weapons are the same, but can be upgraded by defeating opponents. The winner is the first team to use the final weapon, the Pan, to defeat the opponents (or the team with the highest score when time runs out).
  • New Map- Library. The first0-ever indoor map, with a symmetrical layout and three assault routes: left, right, and center. Take positions on platforms, in doorways, or behind bookshelves depending on your current weapon. This gives players with different styles a fighting chance.
  • New Arena Attachment- Now Loadout attachment: Barrel Extender. This is a muzzle attachment that can be used with the vast majority of Sniper Rifles, Rifles, and SMGs. It increases the firearm’s effective range and reduces the damage reduction of bullets due to distance.

Along with the aforementioned features, the update brings quite a few gameplay changes that can be found in the official patch notes linked below. Additionally, players who install the new update before July 13th will receive 2,88 BP, 100 AG, and a three-day Nightmare Helmet reward. In case you haven’t updated the game yet, you can follow the Play Store link below and download the latest PUBG Mobile update to receive these rewards.

PUBG MOBILE - NEW MAP: LIVIK (Free⁺, Google Play) →

---

Source: Patch notes

The post PUBG Mobile’s new Livik map introduces shorter 15-minute, 52-player matches appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/38D6AFM
via IFTTT

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

MIUI 12 is the newest big release for Xiaomi smartphones, perhaps even bigger than an Android version jump. Features on Xiaomi devices are dictated more by their MIUI versions than the underlying Android version, so a MIUI version upgrade is an exciting event. The first batch of devices to receive the MIUI 12 stable update included the Xiaomi Mi 9, Redmi K20/Mi 9T, and Redmi K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro. As we reach the end of June 2020, Xiaomi’s first phase of MIUI 12 rollout is complete, as many more devices have been added since the initial rollout. This article will serve as the central repository of download links for all Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices that have received their official MIUI 12 stable updates. We’ll update it regularly with fresh builds!

MIUI 12: Features

MIUI 12 was announced in April 2020, following the footsteps of MIUI 11 that gained massive popularity thanks to Xiaomi’s hardware push as well as the feature abundance within the UX.

MIUI 12 Hands-on: 12 interesting new features added in Xiaomi’s Android OS

MIUI 12 brings along a cleaner UI, new animations, changes to navigation gestures, new live wallpapers and AOD designs, privacy indicators for microphone, camera, and location usage, improvements to multi-window and Picture-in-Picture, an in-built sleep tracker, and many more changes throughout the UX!

Download: MIUI 12 Super Earth and Super Mars Live Wallpaper, ported for all devices

---

List of Devices that have received stable MIUI 12

This article covers devices that have received a stable MIUI 12 update in any region. If you are looking for closed betas, you can follow along our dedicated coverage here:

Download the MIUI 12 Closed Beta for Xiaomi and Redmi devices

Here are the devices that currently have a stable MIUI 12 build available. Note that the devices are sorted alphabetically for their codename.

1. Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia) — Added on 07/01/2020
2. Mi 9 (cepheus) — Added on 06/30/2020
3. Mi 10 Pro (cmi) — Added on 06/30/2020
4. Mi 9 Pro 5G (crux) — Added on 06/30/2020
5. Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T (davinci) — Added on 06/30/2020
6. Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro (lmi) — Added on 06/30/2020
7. Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G (merlin) — Added on 07/02/2020
8. Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 (phoenix) — Added on 06/30/2020
9. Redmi K30 5G (picasso) — Added on 06/30/2020
10. Redmi K30i 5G (picasso48m) — Added on 07/07/2020
11. Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (raphael) — Added on 06/30/2020
12. Mi 10 (umi) — Added on 06/30/2020
13. Mi 10 Youth Edition / Mi Note 10 Lite Zoom (vangogh) — Added on 06/30/2020

Generic flashing instructions are available at the bottom of this article. However, we advise users to refer to the device forums for specific flashing instructions for their device, in case there are any variations or special instructions that need to be followed.

Another important point to note: Xiaomi follows only a thin distinction between “beta stable” update and “stable” updates. Beta stable updates are only intended for users enrolled within the Mi Pilot beta testing program, meaning that builds assigned for this group will not install on devices with Mi Accounts that do not have the requisite permission. Once the Mi Pilot beta testers give positive feedback, the same build then gets opened up as stable release, creating a lot of confusion — for instance, the same builds linked below might first fail to install, but then they will make an appearance through the official OTA. If you get the error message that the update is for closed beta testers only, you can sideload the update through TWRP.

---

MIUI 12: Download Links

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

1. Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia)

• Redmi Note 8 Pro XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro Review: The Performance Champion in the Mid-Range Segment

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	Global
1.1.	V12.0.0.4.QGGMIXM	Download Link	–

2. Mi 9 (cepheus)

• Xiaomi Mi 9 XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFACNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFACNXM	Download Link	–
	Europe
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFAEUXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Global
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFAMIXM	Download Link	–

3. Mi 10 Pro (cmi)

• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro Review: Xiaomi’s best phone yet!

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJACNXM	Download Link	Download Link
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QJACNXM	Download Link	Download Link

4. Mi 9 Pro 5G (crux)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFXCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFXCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

5. Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T (davinci)

• Redmi K20 / Xiaomi Mi 9T XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.2.0.QFJCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.3.0.QFJCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Global
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFJMIXM	Download Link	–
	India
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFJINXM	Download Link	–
3.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFJINXM	Download Link	–

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

• Redmi K30 Pro / POCO F2 Pro XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJKCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

7. Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G (merlin)

• Redmi Note 9 / Redmi 10X 4G XDA Forums

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJOCNXM	Download Link	–

8. Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 (phoenix)

• Redmi K30 4G / POCO X2 XDA Forums
• POCO X2 Review: Every Bit Better Than the POCO F1

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.2.0.QGHCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.3.0.QGHCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

9. Redmi K30 5G (picasso)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QGICNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QGICNXM	Download Link	Download Link

10. Redmi K30i 5G (picasso48m)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.3.0.QGICMXM	Download Link	–

11. Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro (raphael)

• Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T XDA Forums
• Redmi K20 Pro / Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro Review: ‘Flagship Killer’ Reimagined

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKCNXM (Rolled Back)	Download Link	–
1.2.	V12.0.2.0.QFKCNXM	Download Link	Download Link
	Europe
2.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKEUXM	Download Link	–
	Global
3.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKMIXM	Download Link	Download Link
	India
4.1.	V12.0.1.0.QFKINXM	Download Link	–

12. Mi 10 (umi)

• Xiaomi Mi 10 XDA Forums
• Xiaomi Mi 10 Review – Redefining Mi as a Premium Smartphone Brand

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.1.0.QJBCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

13. Mi 10 Youth Edition / Mi 10 Lite Zoom (vangogh)

Sr. No.	Build Number, Region, and Status	Recovery ROM	Fastboot ROM
	China
1.1.	V12.0.3.0.QJVCNXM	Download Link	Download Link

---

Flashing Instructions for MIUI 12

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

Recovery ROM Installation

Recovery ROMs come with a .zip file extension and can be installed either through the Local Update method from within MIUI, or through the Xiaomi stock recovery. You can also use a custom recovery like TWRP for installing these ROMs, though do note that device-specific instructions may differ in that case.

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

Fastboot ROM Installation

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

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

---

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

The post Download: MIUI 12 stable update rolling out to several Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/38kLDz5
via IFTTT

Google Chrome tests throttling background JavaScript timers to improve battery life

In a bid to reduce Google Chrome’s impact on laptop battery life, Google is working on a tweak that could significantly reduce the browser’s battery usage. According to a recent report from TheWindowsClub, the company has started testing an experimental feature with Chrome 86 that limits JavaScript timer wakeups in background webpages and can potentially extend battery life by up to two hours.

The report cites a technical document from Google which details the new feature, along with a couple of experiments that highlight the expected battery savings. The document reveals that a new Chrome flag will limit the JavaScript timer wakeups to just 1 per minute, much like Apple’s Safari browser, and help extend the battery life without breaking the user experience. However, the throttling will only target webpages that don’t stop timers on visibilitychange events and those that haven’t switched to modern APIs like MutationObserver, IntersectionObserver, or requestAnimationFrame.

 

In a test using a 2018 MacBook Pro 15-inch, Google Chrome developers observed that the laptop discharged in 6.4 hours while browsing in Chrome without the flag enabled. The same laptop discharged in 9.3 hours while using Safari. However, once the flag was enabled, the developers found that the laptop lasted a total of 8.2 hours using Chrome. In all cases, the developers had a single blank tab open in the foreground with 36 tabs open in the background.

In another experiment, the developers replaced the blank tab with a YouTube video played in fullscreen and the laptop lasted 4.6 hours in Chrome’s current state. With the JavaScript throttling flag enabled, the same laptop lasted 5.3 hours.

The experimental flag, called “Throttle Javascript timers in background,” is already available in Google Chrome Canary 86 and can be enabled on Chrome for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Chrome OS. According to BleepingComputer, the feature is scheduled to roll out with the stable version of Google Chrome 86 in the near future and it will be enabled by default. Chrome Enterprise users, however, will get the option to disable the feature once it becomes default behavior.

The post Google Chrome tests throttling background JavaScript timers to improve battery life appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3eaAAtr
via IFTTT

LG plans a comeback in India with cheap smartphones under ₹15,000

It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that the Indian smartphone market has been shaped by the likes of Chinese OEMs in the last half-decade. OEMs like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo have established themselves as household names. While OPPO and Vivo have managed to ride upon high marketing and visibility, Xiaomi takes pride in its high-value proposition which has allowed it to dominate the sub-₹15,000 (sub-$200) segment in the Indian market. Now, LG is planning to capitalize on the prevailing anti-China sentiments in India and make a comeback in the sub-₹15,000 market.

To provide some context, there are political tensions between India and China emerging due to activities at the border between the two countries. While attempts are being made to de-escalate the situation, the Government of India did ban access to 59 popular Chinese apps like TikTok and Mi Community in the country by way of an interim order. There has been a wave of anti-China sentiment in the country, especially on platforms that allow vocal discussions, with calls to boycott Chinese brands across all product segments in favor of alternatives from India or other regions.

In an interview with Economic Times, Mr. Advait Vaidya, Business Head of Mobile Communications at LG Electronics mentions that LG is sensing a “window of opportunity” in the Indian market, and plans to utilize it to make a comeback in the smartphone market by focussing on the popular <₹15,000 segment. Not just this, LG is also hoping to scale up local manufacturing and assembly by almost 15 times by the festival of Diwali and expand its distribution. It also plans to apply for the production-linked incentive scheme to help it scale up local production. The company has already seen a ten times increase in sales of smartphones in the past two months, so the renewed focus comes from this newfound success.

LG iterates that this strategy is not merely based on short-term anti-China sentiments. But it certainly feels that this is a good opportunity to “level up”. The company had released its W-series smartphones last year — these smartphones were made exclusively for India in the country itself and were said to not be sold outside — and these smartphones continue to see good reception (but in the report, LG does concede that these smartphones were exported to Middle East and Africa)

For 2020 in India, LG plans to launch six smartphones starting from ₹10,000 all the way up to the flagship segment — though most of the demand is said to be concentrated in the initial segments because of COVID-19’s impact on consumer spending. Apart from ramping up distribution across online and offline channels, LG will also be partnering with enterprise mobility partners to offer their phones to the enterprise segment as well. The company also plans to enter the tablet market in India by the end of the year to serve the e-learning needs of the consumers.

Competition is certainly appreciated in all forms, and LG does have a strong background to be a decent contender. Only time will tell how their bets in the Indian market pay off.

---

Source: Economic Times

The post LG plans a comeback in India with cheap smartphones under ₹15,000 appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2Z5qxSj
via IFTTT

POCO M2 Pro launched in India with Snapdragon 720G, 5000mAh battery and 33W fast charger

POCO, an independent offshoot from Xiaomi, has just announced a new smartphone in India. Dubbed the POCO M2 Pro, the latest entry in the POCO lineup is geared towards the budget segment. The phone is priced very competitively and offers a premium design, a quad-camera setup, a sizeable battery, and a 33W fast charger.

POCO M2 Pro: Specifications

Specification	POCO M2 Pro
Dimensions and Weight	165.7 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm Gorilla Glass 5 front & back Plastic frame 209g
Display	6.67″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080) IPS LCD; Center-weighted punch-hole display HDR10 support
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G: 2x Kryo 465 Gold (Cortex-A76-based) cores @ 2.3GHz 6x Kryo 465 Silver Cortex-A76-based cores @ 1.8GHz Adreno 618
RAM and Storage	6GB RAM LPDDR4 64GB/128GB UFS 2.1
Battery & Charging	5,000 mAh battery 33W fast charger (inside the box)
Rear Camera	Primary: 48, f/1.8, 0.8μ Secondary: 8MP wide-angle, f/2.2, 119° Tertiary: 5MP Super Macro with autofocus Quaternary: 2MP Depth Sensor, f/2.4
Front Camera	16MP selfie shooter
Other Features	3.5mm headphone jack Bluetooth 5.0 Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) Dual-frequency GPS Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac USB Type-C, USB 2.0 Side-mounted fingerprint scanner IR blaster
Android Version	Android 10 with MIUI 11 for POCO

The POCO M2 Pro features a 6.67-inch full HD+ LCD with a centered hole-punch to house front camera. The display supports HDR10 content. The back and front are protected by Gorilla Glass 5 while the frame is made out of plastic, which also harbors a fingerprint scanner. Unlike the POCO X2, the display here doesn’t offer a higher screen refresh rate.

Powering the POCO M2 Pro is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core SoC, featuring 2x ARM Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.3GHz and 6x ARM Cortex-A55 cores running at 1.8GHz, coupled with Adreno 618 GPU, up to 6GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. Coming to the cameras, the device features a quad-camera array comprised of a 48MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 5MP depth sensor, and 2MP macro lens. The front camera, meanwhile, is a 16MP shooter.

The POCO M2 Pro packs a 5,000 mAh battery and supports fast charging via a 33W fast charger that comes inside the box. On the software front, this phone ships with MIUI 11 for POCO based on Android 10. Other notable highlights of the POCO M2 Pro include IR blaster, a 3.5-mm audio jack, bottom-firing speaker, Bluetooth 5.0, dual VoLTE with VoWiFi support, and support for Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC).

POCO M2 Pro XDA Forums

If the POCO M2 Pro does sound familiar to you, that’s because it is. All of POCO’s devices have been rebrands of a Xiaomi device, and this is the same. The POCO M2 Pro is a very close relative of the global Redmi Note 9 Pro, which was launched in India as the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max — the difference coming in the form of a 48MP camera vs. the 64MP camera. To put it into perspective better, the POCO M2 Pro sits between the Indian Redmi Note 9 Pro and Indian Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, two devices that were very similar to each other to begin with. Curiously, this is the first time that POCO has launched a device in India that already exists in some form. So what does separate POCO from Xiaomi? In previous interviews and interactions, POCO General Manager Mr. C. Manmohan had accepted that POCO does share a centralized product R&D with Xiaomi. It is the other legs of the business, such as the go-to-market strategy and sales that are independent and differentiated from Xiaomi. POCO’s strength apparently lies in the community and its feedback, which is where the team can work and build upon. It remains to be seen how POCO will capitalize on its strengths with the POCO M2 Pro.

Pricing & Availability

The POCO M2 Pro will go on sale starting 14th July via Flipkart for a starting price of ₹13,999 ($187) for the 4GB + 64GB variant. The 6GB + 64GB variant will cost you ₹14,999 ($200), while the top model with 6GB + 128GB will cost ₹16,999 ($227). The device will be made available in three colors.

The post POCO M2 Pro launched in India with Snapdragon 720G, 5000mAh battery and 33W fast charger appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2O7SkuV
via IFTTT

Xiaomi is testing a Google Camera-like astrophotography mode in the MIUI 12 camera app

Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 adds many new flavors to the UX on Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO smartphones. Although the Android skin has already started rolling out to some devices globally, that doesn’t prevent Xiaomi from experimenting with and constantly adding new features. When it comes to cameras, Xiaomi has already added a bunch of nifty features such as “Magic Clone” and full-screen gesture support to the Camera app in MIUI 12 beta in China and has also been testing another feature similar to Google’s Top Shot. Now, we learn that Xiaomi may be testing another feature similar to Google Camera’s Astrophotography mode.

XDA tipsters kacskrz and @Deiki recently informed us that Xiaomi is working on a long exposure mode in the MIUI 12 Camera app. The feature will allow users to take images of a starry sky, moving crowds, light paintings, silky water, etc. by capturing trails of moving objects.

An APK teardown can often predict features that may arrive in a future update of an application, but it is possible that any of the features we mention here may not make it in a future release. This is because these features are currently unimplemented in the live build and may be pulled at any time by the developers in a future build.

These options for the Long Exposure feature were discovered by an APK teardown of the MIUI Camera app from the latest MIUI 12 China beta ROM. The following strings found in the Camera app’s code describe the different options in the long exposure mode:

<string name="ambilight_description_title">About long exposure</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_crowd_moving_part1">When shooting on a crowded street, ask your subject to stand still. Other people will appear as blurry trails.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_crowd_moving_part2">You can also take pictures of busy traffic and moving crowds. Long exposure will keep the buildings crisp, but all moving objects will be blurry.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_light_track">Use a light source to \"paint\" over a dark scene to bring all the lit pieces together in one image.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_magic_star">Use this mode in places with low light pollution. The exposure will be set to %d seconds, so using a tripod is a great idea.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_silky_water_part1">Use this mode when shooting moving clouds. It will give the sky an \"oil painting\" effect.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_silky_water_part2">This mode makes moving water (rivers, waterfalls, and lakes) look like satin.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_star_track">Shooting the starry sky for a long time can capture the trajectories of stars. Don\'t forget to use a tripod and shoot continuously for at least %d minutes.</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_star_track_2">对星空进行长时间的拍摄，可将星星的移动路径完整保留在画面中，请使用三脚架。拍摄%d分钟以上时，可同时获得星轨视频与照片。</string>
<string name="ambilight_intro_traffic_light">At night, you can capture the trajectory of bright moving lights (on cars and ships, for example). This mode allows to preview the final result on your screen in real time.</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_crowd_moving">Moving crowd</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_light_track">Light painting</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_magic_star">Starry sky</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_silky_water">Silky water</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_star_track">Star trails</string>
<string name="ambilight_scene_traffic_light">Neon trails</string>
<string name="ambilight_tips_for_longtime_using_tripod">Use a tripod to capture a longer exposure</string>
<string name="ambilight_tips_for_suggest_using_tripod">Use a tripod</string>
<string name="ambilight_tips_for_using_tripod">Use a tripod</string>

Interestingly, the feature is already live for MIUI 12 beta build for the POCO F2 Pro (Redmi K30 Pro). From the screenshot shared by Polish Telegram user @hardziol, we can see the feature can be used for light painting, silky water, starry sky using automated slow shutter speed. We can expect the feature to be available on other devices – unless Xiaomi is only selectively rolling it out for phones with specific camera sensors.

Thanks to Telegram user @hardziol for the screenshot

We’ll share more updates when the feature is more widely available.

The post Xiaomi is testing a Google Camera-like astrophotography mode in the MIUI 12 camera app appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3gC3lkH
via IFTTT

Here’s your first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in the flesh

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy Note 20 series later this year in August. However, we’ve already seen quite a few leaks about the upcoming flagship series that not only highlight their design but also give us a good look at their specifications. Earlier this month, we saw yet another leak of the top-of-the-line Galaxy Note 20 Ultra which showcased the mystic bronze color variant of the device but all the leaked images so far have been digital renders. Now, YouTuber Jimmy Is Promo (@jimmyispromo) has managed to procure a working unit of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra almost a month ahead of the launch and has shared live images that give us a clear look at the black color variant of the device.

It’s Here. It’s Beautiful.#Note20 #GalaxyNote20Ultra pic.twitter.com/gwfUlrQksM

— Jimmy Is Promo (@jimmyispromo) July 6, 2020

As you can see in the attached images, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra packs in a triple-camera setup on the back enclosed within a rectangular camera module that we’ve seen in previous leaks.

What do you think of the color?#Note20 #GalaxyNote20Ultra pic.twitter.com/MxEvg4MWfP

— Jimmy Is Promo (@jimmyispromo) July 7, 2020

The device features slim bezels around the display, with a slight curve on either side and a single hole-punch cutout in the center for the selfie camera. Both the power button and the volume rocker can be found on the right edge of the device.

Small Bezel#Note20 #GalaxyNote20Ultra pic.twitter.com/8uHqLpLEIR

— Jimmy Is Promo (@jimmyispromo) July 7, 2020

Much like the mystic bronze variant, the black Galaxy Note 20 Ultra comes with a color matching stylus that has a silver accent on the click button at the top. Jimmy Is Promo has also shared a screenshot of the software information of the device and it reveals that Samsung will ship the Galaxy Note 20 series with One UI version 2.5 based on Android 10.

Running on Samsung phones this August. #Note20 #GalaxyNote20Ultra pic.twitter.com/01I4esnNfg

— Jimmy Is Promo (@jimmyispromo) July 6, 2020

While the YouTuber has shared no information about the hardware specifications of the device, rumors suggest that the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will feature a 108MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 13MP periscope zoom camera on the back, along with a laser autofocus module. The device is expected to feature a 6.9-inch WQHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and it might be powered by Samsung’s new Exynos 992 chipset.

The post Here’s your first look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra in the flesh appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2VNKGdF
via IFTTT