Finnish company HMD Global released its first Android smartphone in early 2017, the Nokia 6. Since then, the Nokia licensee has sold tens of millions of Android smartphones (and millions more feature phones), according to data collected by research firm Counterpoint Research. HMD Global’s smartphone business has seen success largely thanks to the power of the Nokia brand and the company’s strategy of selling many different smartphones across the budget and mid-range price spectrum. Now, the company has announced that it has raised $230 million in funding from some of its top global strategic partners, which includes Google, Qualcomm, and Nokia, as reported by VentureBeat.
In a press release published today, HMD Global announced that it intends to use the funding to expand its 5G smartphone business, transition to “digital-first” offerings in light of the increased number of people staying at home due to COVID-19, grow its presence in key markets like Brazil, Africa, and India, and strengthen its mobile service business.
HMD Global’s smartphones are designed by the company and manufactured by FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Foxconn. The company ships a near stock version of Android on its smartphones and promises 3 years of monthly Android security patch updates and 2 years of Android OS upgrades under Google’s Android One program. The company uses SoCs from both MediaTek and Qualcomm in its smartphones, though the company’s first 5G-enabled smartphone, the Nokia 8.3, features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G. The Nokia 8.3 was announced back in March and is launching in the U.S. this fall for an undisclosed price. With its new funding, HMD Global plans to increase its presence in the U.S. market in addition to Brazil, Africa, and India. And since HMD Global is a European company, they’re largely insulated from the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China, meaning they’re positioned nicely to swoop in where other Chinese smartphone makers may be forced to cut back.
HMD Global’s plans extend beyond smartphones, too. Earlier this year, the company launched HMD Connect, a SIM card with global data roaming. They also acquired the assets of Valona Labs, a mobile, enterprise, and cybersecurity software company, and launched a new “Centre of Excellence” in Finland to transition the company to a combined hardware and services company. The company faces tough competition from Chinese device makers, but this recent round of funding shows that investors are confident in the future of HMD Global’s phone business.
Just a day ago, OnePlus released a “Developer Preview” build of HydrogenOS 11 based on Android 11 for the OnePlus 8 series. Matter of fact, a similar build of OxygenOS 11 was expected to arrive on the same date, but it got delayed a bit due to the lengthy approval process. The wait is finally over, as the OEM has now released OxygenOS 11 builds for the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro that are based on Android 11 Beta 3.
Similar to the HydrogenOS 11 Developer Preview builds released earlier, the new OxygenOS 11 builds are mostly feature complete. Since HydrogenOS and OxygenOS are very close in terms of UI and core features, all the revamped UI elements and the new functionalities of HydrogenOS 11 (except the China-specific features) have made their way to OxygenOS 11 as well.
After downloading the appropriate package for your phone, go to Settings > System > System Updates, and then click on the top-right icon and select Local Upgrade option. From there, select the update package that you have downloaded and proceed. The update should successfully flash on your device.
In case you want to revert back to the stable release channel based on Android 10, download the relevant downgrade package for your model and flash it using the built-in updater module as mentioned above.
It is highly recommended that you backup your data before proceeding as the update and downgrade processes will wipe everything on your device. Note that the aforementioned beta builds are not compatible with Verizon and T-Mobile variants of the OnePlus 8 series.
Xiaomi is turning 10 years old this year, and it’s incredible to see the company reach new heights in global success. The journey that began with the humble Mi 1 has encompassed a plethora of innovative devices spanning across budgets and use-cases, and even crossing over the smartphone domain and into smarter home products. Xiaomi is celebrating its tenth anniversary with some style, by launching two new smartphones. Meet the new Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and the Redmi K30 Ultra.
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is a special upgrade over Xiaomi’s existing flagships, the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro. It takes the familiar flagships, which already boasted of some top-of-the-line specifications, and takes it all the way into overkill territory by packing in features such as a 120Hz display, 120W wired fast charging, 120x digital zoom, and copious amounts of RAM and storage.
The phone also comes with a 120W fast charger in the box, making it the fastest charging smartphone available in the market. The phone can go from 0% to 41% in 5 minutes, and a full charge of the 4,500 mAh battery takes only 23 minutes. The Mi 10 Ultra also comes with 50W wireless fast charging support, which is quicker than most wired solutions in the market, charging the battery completely in 40 minutes. You also get 10W reverse wireless charging.
The camera setup on the Mi 10 Ultra is also slightly different. The main sensor is a 48MP custom 1/1.32″ sensor (OmniVisions’s OV48C) which can output 2.4µm pixels after pixel-binning, along with OIS, EIS, and laser autofocus. The wide-angle camera is a 20MP shooter with a 128° FoV, that can also be used for 2.5cm far macro shots. The periscope camera is a 48MP shooter with OIS and EIS and the ability to zoom digitally up to 120x. Last but not the least, the 12MP portrait camera can also be used for a 2x optical zoom. For videos, you can shoot in 8K on the main sensor as well as on the periscope camera.
Mi 10 Ultra: Pricing and Availability
The Mi 10 Ultra comes in three color variants: Obsidian Black, Mercury Silver, and Transparent Edition. If previous transparent editions are any clue, the Mi 10 Ultra’s transparent edition wouldn’t actually come with a transparent back — the back graphic underneath the glass would merely depict a prettier, cleaned-up version of the phone internals.
The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra will be available in China for:
8GB + 128GB: CNY 5299 (~$762)
8GB + 256GB: CNY 5599 (~$806)
12GB + 256GB: CNY 5999 (~$863)
16GB + 512GB: CNY 6999 (~$1,008)
The Mi 10 Ultra will be available for purchase in Mainland China from August 16.
Redmi K30 Ultra
Specifications
Specification
Redmi K30 Ultra
Dimensions & Weight
163.3 x 75.4 x 9.1 mm
213g
Display
6.77″ FHD+ AMOLED
1080 x 2400
120Hz refresh rate
240Hz touch response rate
HDR 10+
Peak Brightness: 1200 nits
Pop-up camera
SoC
MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC:
4x ARM Cortex-A77 @ 2.6GHz
4x ARM Cortex-A55 @2.0GHz
7nm
Mali-G77 GPU
RAM & Storage
6GB + 128GB
8GB + 128GB
8GB + 256GB
8GB + 512GB
Battery & Charging
4,500 mAh battery
33W fast charging
Supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+, USB Power Delivery
33W fast charger in the box
Fingerprint sensor
In-display fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera
Primary: 64MP Sony, 1/1.7″ sensor
Secondary: 13MP, ultra-wide-angle, 119° FoV
Tertiary: 5MP, macro
Quarternary: 2MP, depth sensor
Front Camera
20MP
Other Features
Pop-up front camera
5G: SA/ NSA
Wi-Fi 6
USB Type-C
NFC
Bluetooth v5.1
IR Blaster
Stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio certified
3.5mm headphone jack
Android Version
Android 10 with MIUI 12
The Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra was already leaked previously, so we had a fair idea of what to expect. The design remains similar to other devices in the K30 5G lineup. This device features the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 Plus SoC, which is similar in overall specifications as the Dimensity 1000 SoC. Other notable highlights of the device include a 4500 mAh battery that is 33W fast charge ready and also compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ and USB Power Delivery.
Redmi K30 Ultra: Pricing and Availability
The Redmi K30 Ultra will be available in three color variants in China: Moonlight White, Midnight Black, Mint Green. The phone will be available at the following prices:
6GB + 128GB: CNY 1999 (~$288)
8GB + 128GB: CNY 2199 (~$317)
8GB + 256GB: CNY 2499 (~$360)
8GB + 512GB: CNY 2699 (~$389) // Special sale price: CNY 2499
The Redmi K30 Ultra will be available for purchase on August 14 through all official Xiaomi channels in Mainland China.
What are your thoughts on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and the Xiaomi Redmi K30 Ultra? Let us know in the comments below!
Google today announced some major updates for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS, which are expected to expand the reach of the two platforms and make it easier for app developers to create apps for the platforms. In a blog post regarding the matter, the company highlighted all the changes that are expected to make their way to Android Auto and Android Automotive OS in the coming months. Here’s a quick rundown of all the noteworthy changes making their way to Google’s Android experience for cars:
Android Auto updates
Since its inception back in 2014, Android Auto has gradually made its way to nearly every major car manufacturer globally and it’s on track to be in more than 100 million cars in the coming months. To offer a better Android Auto experience to users, Google has announced that it will be adding a host of new features to the platform. According to the blog post, Android Auto will soon get access to new categories of apps that will help users with features like navigation, parking, and electric vehicle charging.
The company has already started developing these new apps in partnership with the developers behind SpotHero, Chargepoint, and Sygic, and they will be available to beta testers by the end of the year. Following the beta testing phase, Google plans to release the new APIs for all developers and help them reach more drivers with their in-car apps.
In a bid to keep driver distraction to a minimum, Google has also developed best practice guidelines for developers in collaboration with the government, industry, and academic institutions. The guidelines are expected to help developers easily optimize their apps for cars, without needing to become an expert in driver distraction.
Along with the aforementioned changes, Google will also be rolling out a Calendar app and a Settings app for Android Auto. The Calendar app will let users easily check their daily schedule on their car’s display, while the Settings app will let users manage their Android Auto preferences right on the car’s display.
Android Automotive OS updates
While Google is making it easier for developers to create apps for Android Auto, the company is working with car manufacturers to increase the adoption of Android Automotive OS. For the unaware, Android Automotive OS is a customizable operating system for in-vehicle hardware that lets you use apps built for Android and Android Auto without requiring you to connect your device to the console.
In the blog post, Google’s Director of Product Management, Android for Cars, Mickey Kataria, states, “Polestar 2, the first car running Android Automotive OS with Google built in, is now on the road and available for customers globally. In addition, Volvo Cars, Renault, General Motors and more have announced plans for infotainment systems powered by Android Automotive OS with Google apps and services built-in.”
Furthermore, Google is also making it easier for developers to create apps for Android Automotive OS. The company already offers guidelines for developers to easily port their Android Auto apps to Android Automotive OS and an emulator to help developers create and test apps for the operating system.
The company has now announced some updates for the development process, including a Polestar 2 system image for the emulator to let developers test their apps with a software version available on the road today and support for Android Automotive OS APKs on the Play Console for a more seamless app review and publishing process. These changes are expected to help developers seamlessly complete the end-to-end development process for the platform.
In case you’re an app developer who’s interested in creating apps for Android Automotive OS, you can find more information about how to create an app for the platform on the android-automotive Google Group or Stack Overflow using android-automotive tags.
The popular Xposed App Settings module, which rolled out all the way back in 2013, has received a new lease on life thanks to XDA Member Blue cat. App Settings Reborn is an updated version of the original App Settings module for newer versions of Android, which lets you modify app settings like DPI, font scaling, fullscreen mode, locale, etc. on a per-app basis.
As you can see in the attached screenshots, the App Settings Reborn module gives you easy access to the settings for all the apps installed on your device. Tapping on any app on the home screen opens up the Settings page for the app, letting you modify the app’s DPI, font scaling, locale, fullscreen mode, orientation, notifications, and more with just a couple of taps.
The module also lets you check the permissions for each app and revoke all permissions with a single tap. Here’s a list of all the settings that you can control with the new App Settings Reborn Xposed module:
Screenshot control
Density/dpi
Font scale
Fake screen size for resources loading
Locale (language)
Fullscreen mode
Hide title bar
Keep screen on while app is visible
Show app above lockscreen
Disable fullscreen keyboard input
Force orientation (portrait/landscape/auto)
Mute audio (for most apps)
Insistent notifications (loop the sound/reboot required)
Force or prevent ongoing notifications (reboot required)
Mute notifications (reboot required)
Stay resident in memory (reboot required)
Force or exclude app from recent (reboot required)
Access to recent tasks (reboot required)
Revoke permissions (double reboot required)
Force using legacy (navbar) menu button (not available on Android 10.0+)
Notifications priority (not available on Android 8.0+)
Disable big (expanded) notifications (not available on Android 6.0+)
If you’re interested in trying out the App Settings Reborn Xposed module, you can download the module from the XDA Forums thread linked below. Do note that all apps on your device may not work with all of the aforementioned settings. It’s also worth noting that the module has only been tested on Android 10 (Samsung firmware), but it should work with older versions of Android.
Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India back in February 2019 with some solid specifications, such as a capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC, a 4,000 mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, and a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor as the primary rear camera. The factory-installed operating system on the phone was MIUI 10 on top of Android 9 Pie, but the OEM decided to keep the underlying Android layer intact in the subsequent MIUI 11 update. And now, Xiaomi has finally brought over the Android 10 update to the Redmi Note 7 Pro on the stable channel.
At the time of reporting, the stable Android 10 OTA is hitting the Indian variant of this smartphone, but there is a catch. Xiaomi initially pushed Android 10 for this phone through the closed beta builds of MIUI 12. Later on, the “beta stable” channel of MIUI 12 corresponding to the Redmi Note 7 Pro has been upgraded with Android 10-based builds as well, but those are primarily meant for a special group of testers known as Mi Pilot users. On the other hand, the stable build we are talking about is still based on MIUI 11, bearing version number V11.0.2.0.QFHINXM. It also bumps the Android security patch level (SPL) to July 2020.
Thanks to Twitter user @TechnoAnkit1 for the screenshot!
MIUI 11 Android 10 Download Link for the Redmi Note 7 Pro (violet)
You can either wait for the update to arrive on your phone, or you can sideload the update after downloading the update package linked below:
In case you face a step related to Mi Account authorization while trying to sideload the above package, you can bypass that restriction by flashing the recovery ROM using a custom recovery like TWRP.
The update distribution strategy of Xiaomi is indeed confusing to regular users. In this case, the company is probably testing the stability of the Android 10 firmware via two different sets – one is based on MIUI 12, while the other one is compiled with MIUI 11. A small part of the user base running Android Pie-based MIUI 11 will receive the Android 10 OTA initially, with the rollout gradually expanding to more users. Meanwhile, Xiaomi should be able to evaluate the Android 10-based MIUI 12 build for this phone using the inputs from Mi Pilot users. Once Xiaomi marks it to be stable enough, they are going to push MIUI 12 flavored Android 10 update to everyone.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G smartphones have been unveiled officially. While the Galaxy Note series is typically renowned for its productivity prowess, the Galaxy Note 20 series has several new features up their sleeves that make the phablets extremely desirable. The two new Note devices get improved productivity features including a more responsive and versatile S Pen, Wireless DeX support, Xbox Game Pass Ultim[ate clouding gaming support, and best performance in the Galaxy family thanks to Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus. This year, the Note 20 Ultra camera is one of the key specs that stands out.
The Galaxy Note 20 series also comes with a slew of advanced camera features to complement their fireball persona. These camera features include the hi-res 108MP camera on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, up to 8K video recording, Pro Video mode, and a lot more to justify the premium price. In this article, we’ll discuss the camera features that are new to the Galaxy Note lineup.
Before we get into the details of the features, here’s a quick look at the camera specifications of the all-new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G and the Note 20 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra Camera Specifications
Specification
Samsung Galaxy Note 20
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
Rear camera
12MP primary camera, Super Speed Dual Pixel AF, OIS
Pixel size: 1.8μm
FOV: 79°
Aperture: f/1.8
1/1.76″ image sensor size
12MP Ultra Wide Camera
Pixel size: 1.4μm
FOV: 120°
Aperture: f/2.2
64MP Telephoto Camera
Pixel size: 0.8μm
3x hybrid optical zoom, up to 30x hybrid zoom
FOV: 76°
Aperture: f/2.0
OIS, tracking autofocus
108MP primary camera, PDAF, OIS
Pixel size: 0.8μm
FOV: 79°
Aperture: f/1.8
1/1.33″ image sensor size
12MP Ultra Wide Camera
Pixel size: 1.4μm
FOV: 120°
Aperture: f/2.2
12MP Telephoto Camera
Pixel size: 1.0μm
Space Zoom — 5x Optical Zoom, up to 50x hybrid zoom
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra Camera Features
1. Triple cameras: 108MP wide-angle, 12MP ultra-wide-angle, and 5x telephoto
In August 2019, Samsung announced the super high-resolution 108MP Bright HMX camera sensor. Although the announcement was primarily in partnership with Xiaomi, Samsung also inducted the camera sensor in its own flagship lineup by introducing it on the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G. It is the first camera sensor on the Galaxy Note series to breach the 100MP mark.
The 108MP camera benefits from a large 1/1.33″ sensor size that captures more light than the 1/1.7″ size of the 64MP Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1. The 108MP sensor combines four pixels into one by pixel binning and produces 27MP images. The sensor is complemented by an f/1.8 aperture lens that captures a 79° wide field of view, same as the Galaxy S20 Ultra.
On the other hand, the regular Galaxy Note 20 comes with a 12MP camera but, with a similar lens arrangement. On paper, this camera resembles the primary camera on the Galaxy Note 10 and the Note 10+ from last year.
Additionally, both the devices feature a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera lending a 120° field of view. The 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensors on both the Galaxy Note 20 devices shoot images with a pixel size of 1.4μm and are paired with f/2.2 lenses. This may seem a downgrade from the Galaxy Note 10 series’ 16MP cameras that offer a 123° wide field of view.
Both of the Galaxy Note 20 smartphones also feature telephoto cameras. While the standard Galaxy Note 20 features a 3x hybrid zoom setup, the Ultra sports a periscopic telephoto setup offering 5x optical and up to 50x hybrid zoom, similar to the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Both of the smartphones feature OIS to eliminate shakiness and ensure smoother image capturing at high zoom levels.
Lastly, while the Galaxy Note 20 5G feature dual-pixel autofocus, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra leverages laser autofocus for sharper images. Samsung has skipped the time of flight sensor from both of the devices.
2. Space Zoom on Samsung Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra 5G
Just like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, the 5X telephoto camera on the Note 20 Ultra facilitates up to 50X hybrid zooming (ie 10x digital zoom on top of the 5X optical zoom). This not only allows users to capture far off objects with higher precision but also allows capturing of celestial bodies including a close-up shot of the moon. Samsung is not vying to achieve the 100x zoom that we found to be “a marketing gimmick” in our Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G review.
Nonetheless, the 50X can be very useful especially if you’re fond of moon-gazing. A special Moon mode on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra is set to eliminate the requirement of a telescope.
At the same time, the 3x hybrid zoom set up on the regular Galaxy Note 20 utilizes a 64MP camera, which has two advantages. The first advantage is that the 64MP sensor will capture more light, especially at night, as compared to another sensor with a smaller resolution — thanks to pixel binning. The second advantage of this sensor is that you can crop a small portion of the 64MP images to effectively replicate the same results as a telephoto camera with more zoom.
3. 8K video recording
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series leverages the processing capabilities of the Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform to record videos at up to 8K resolution using the rear cameras. The 8K video recording supports a maximum frame rate of 24fps.
In addition, users can choose the standard 16:9 or switch to a stretched 21:9 aspect ratio for a cinematic appeal. The 24fps recording and the 21:9 aspect ratio are not limited to only 8K and can be chosen to capture videos on all video modes.
4. Pro Video mode with 120fps recording, dynamic controls, and mic switching
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra features a Pro Video mode that allows users to actively control parameters such as the ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and change the focal range of the video. What is better is the fact that users can tweak these parameters while recording a video. They will also be able to control the speed of zoom by swiping across the zoom scrubber slowly or quickly.
Although flagships have featured voice zoom for video recording, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra takes it forward with in-video mic selection. The feature allows users to choose from various audio sources such as omnidirectional audio (ie using rear and front microphones), just rear or just front microphones, or external microphones connected via USB or Bluetooth. At the same time, you also get indicators signaling the gain for the left and right channels while recording.
Taking advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s AMOLED display, users can record videos at up to 120fps (at Full HD resolution). In post-processing, the speed of the video playback can be changed as per requirement. This feature, therefore, allows users to create both — slow-motion and timelapse videos from the same clip.
Lastly, users will be able to combine more than one videos to create something called a “Highlight reel.” This Highlight reel feature automatically picks the best parts of all the videos and combines them into a single clip. In addition, users can add different filters to change the mood of the videos.
To sum up the Pro Video features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G, here’s a quick video:
The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra camera offers a lot more than its smaller sibling, and more importantly, it seems to fix the autofocus issues that plagued the same sensor on the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. Clearly, Samsung means for the Ultra name to mean the very best camera it can offer, and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra seems to deliver on that. Check out our initial Galaxy Note 20 hands-on preview for more info, and stay tuned for the full review!
Get a great camera capable of 5x optical zoom, 8K video, single take mode to use all the camera's features at once and so much with the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
