Samsung starts mass producing its third-gen 16Gb LPDDR5 RAM modules

LPDDR5 RAM has now become the standard on flagships, and we are seeing new flagships in 2020 regularly reach the insane 16GB capacity. This jump up implies an increase in demand, and consequently, an increase in supply. Back in February 2020, Samsung had begun its first mass production line for the 16GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM package utilizing the 1y process node (second-generation 10nm class process). Now, Samsung has begun mass production for the 1z process node for 16Gb LPDDR5 DRAM.

Samsung Electronics has been pushing the envelope for high-capacity RAM adoption. The company had announced the development of 8Gb (gigabit) LPDDR5 RAM in back in July 2018, following up with mass production of 12GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM package in July 2019 and 16GB LPDDR5 mobile DRAM package in February 2020. This new announcement is for the second production line in Pyeongtaek, Korea, which has now commenced mass production of the industry’s first 16-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR5 DRAM using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology and built on Samsung’s third-generation 10nm-class (1z) process.

“The 1z-based 16Gb LPDDR5 elevates the industry to a new threshold, overcoming a major developmental hurdle in DRAM scaling at advanced nodes. We will continue to expand our premium DRAM lineup and exceed customer demands, as we lead in growing the overall memory market.”

Jung-bae Lee, Executive Vice President of DRAM Product & Technology, Samsung Electronics

Samsung’s Pyeongtaek Line 2 is the largest-scale semiconductor production line to date, spanning more than 128,900 square meters/1.3 million square feet, which is the equivalent of about 16 soccer fields. Samsung says that the new Pyeongtaek line will “serve as the key manufacturing hub for the industry’s most advanced semiconductor technologies, delivering cutting-edge DRAM followed by next-generation V-NAND and foundry solutions, while reinforcing the company’s leadership in the Industry 4.0 era“.

The new 16Gb LPDDR5 is the first memory based on currently most advanced 1z process node and which is being mass-produced using EUV tech, making it the highest speed and largest capacity available in mobile DRAM. The 1z process also makes this LPDDR5 package about 30% thinner than its predecessor (referring to the 12Gb LPDDR5 package), and about 16% faster. The 16Gb LPDDR5 can build a 16GB package with only eight chips, whereas the 1y-based 16GB LPDDR5 package required 12 chips (eight 12Gb chips and four 8Gb chips) to provide the same capacity.

Samsung is also planning to expand the use of its LPDDR5 offerings into automotive applications, offering an extended temperature range to meet strict safety and reliability standards in extreme environments.

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Source: Samsung Newsroom

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[Update: Wider Rollout] Google is rolling out Nearby Share, its file-sharing AirDrop clone for Android 6.0+

Update 1 (08/31/2020 @ 01:20AM ET): Google Nearby Share is rolling out widely. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on August 4, 2020, is preserved below.

Last year, we learned that Google was preparing a new file-sharing service for Android. This file-sharing service was originally called “Fast Share” during early iterations, but Google eventually rebranded it to “Nearby Share” during the course of development. We got an early glimpse of the feature in January, and in late June, Google started testing the service with a handful of users on the latest Google Play Services beta release. Today, Google has announced that they are finally rolling out Nearby Share to millions of Android smartphones running Android 6.0 and above.

For those unaware, Android has never had a simple, fast, and unified way to share files between devices. Until Android 10, most Android devices did have access to Android Beam, a file-sharing service that required users to tap their phones together to initiate a handshake over NFC followed by a file transfer over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct. Android Beam is, however, deprecated, clunkier, and slower than AirDrop, the file-sharing service on iOS that’s been around for years and is used by millions of iPhone and iPad users. AirDrop lets you quickly share files with any fellow iPhone or iPad users that are nearby. There are file-sharing services on Android that are arguably as simple and fast as AirDrop, but they all either require users to either download a third-party app or own a device from a specific smartphone manufacturer. Google is uniquely equipped to roll out a simple, fast, and unified file-sharing service thanks to its control over Google Play Services, which is installed on the vast majority of Android devices sold outside of China regardless of the manufacturer. That’s exactly what Nearby Share is—a simple, fast, and unified file-sharing service for Android.

With Nearby Share, Android users can quickly share files to nearby users with the tap of a button. After tapping the “share” button in an app, users can share file(s) by selecting the “Nearby Share” option. Nearby users will then get a notification that someone wants to share content with them. Users will always have the option to “accept” or “decline” the file, so files are never transferred without explicit confirmation. After tapping “accept”, the file(s) are transferred using the best available communication protocol: Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, WebRTC, or peer-to-peer WiFi. Thus, files can be shared even when the sender and recipient devices are both fully offline.

Google designed this feature with privacy in mind. You can send and receive files anonymously, for example. You can also choose which contacts (all, some, or none) are able to immediately see you when you turn on Nearby Share.

Perhaps the best part of Nearby Share is that Google is making it cross-platform. While we don’t know about iOS compatibility, Google confirmed they’re working to expand the feature to additional platforms. The company confirmed that feature will work with Chromebooks in the coming months. In fact, it’s already available on Chrome OS if you enable a few feature flags. More general OS support, such as Windows, will be available via Google Chrome.

Starting today, select Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy smartphones running Android 6.0 or later will start getting Nearby Share. Since this feature is baked into Google Play Services, it’ll eventually become available for more Android smartphones. Check out this support page for more information on how the feature works.

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Update: Google Nearby Share now rolling out widely

It appears that Google is rolling out Nearby Share more widely. We’ve spotted the feature on several devices now, like the ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro, OnePlus Nord, Nubia Red Magic 5S, and LG Velvet. All of these devices are running Google Play Services 20.30.19 stable. Other users with OnePlus, Xiaomi, Honor, Realme, and Nokia phones have also mentioned that they have received the feature.

To access Nearby Share, go to Settings > Google > Device Connections > Nearby Share, or Settings > Connected Devices > Connection Preferences > Nearby Share (this menu isn’t available on all OS versions and/or OEM skins). If this setting is visible to you, you can also edit your Quick Settings to add the Nearby Share tile.

As the screenshot indicates, number verification appears to be a newly added feature.

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T-Mobile OnePlus 7T, 7T Pro McLaren Edition can now be bootloader unlocked without waiting, 7T rebranding also possible

The bootloader unlocking experience on a T-Mobile-branded OnePlus smartphone is very much different from the unlocked variants. Once you pay off the contract and use the device on the network for at least 40 days, you’re eligible to perform a SIM unlock. After SIM unlocking, you need to generate a unique unlock token to be able to unlock the bootloader. Besides the added complexity of bootloader unlocking, the slower update frequency and the inability to participate in the OxygenOS Open Beta and Developer Preview programs are some of the main reasons why people prefer to “rebrand” their T-Mobile OnePlus phones to international (i.e. non-T-Mobile) firmware. If you have the T-Mobile OnePlus 7T and want to get rid of the carrier firmware, then you’ll be interested in learning that XDA Senior Member Superboy58 has managed to find a way to convert this variant to international without a traditionally unlocked bootloader/SIM unlock.

OnePlus 7T Forums

The trick is to patch the OPS file from the official unbrick package in such a way that the bootloader ignores the token generation part and allows users to unlock it with a standard Fastboot command. As soon as you unlock the bootloader, pick the Fastboot-flashable global firmware for the OnePlus 7T and do a clean flash to complete the rebranding process. Head over to the thread linked below for more instructions.

Rebrand T-Mobile OnePlus 7T to international firmware — XDA Thread

In case you have the T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition, there’s a similar mod to unlock the bootloader without waiting. The only catch is, you can’t rebrand it like the other model. The T-Mobile variant is 5G capable, whereas an international variant of the OnePlus 7T Pro 5G simply does not exist. There is no way you can replace the stock T-Mobile McLaren Edition firmware with another official OxygenOS ROM. You can, however, opt for custom ROMs that are specifically built for this model.

Bootloader unlock T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition without waiting

T-Mobile OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition Forums

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Google Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Galaxy M51, and Nubia Red Magic 5S forums are open

It’s been a busy month for smartphone releases, and there are no signs of that slowing down. After opening up forums for the ZenFone 7, Moto G9, and two new Realme devices, we’re opening up the floodgates for more devices for people to chat about. Our forums for the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung Galaxy M51, and Nubia Red Magic 5S are all open.

Google Pixel 5

Not long after Google teased the Pixel 5, some big leaks hit the web. In addition to a series of renders, nearly all of the specs of the Google Pixel 5 were revealed, including the battery size, RAM, and more. In other words, there’s not much we don’t know about the Pixel 5, except maybe the price. Google is expected to officially unveil the Pixel 5 towards the beginning of October.

Google Pixel 5 Forums

Alleged Google Pixel 5 CAD render. Source: @OnLeaks/Pricebaba.

Google Pixel 4a 5G

In addition to the Google Pixel 5, Google is also gearing up to introduce the Pixel 4a 5G. The device is expected to be a step up from the Pixel 4a and includes support for 5G which, as you’d expect, will demand a higher price tag. Some of the device’s specs were already unveiled, and there’s even been a leaked picture, so there’s not much else to do but wait for Google to unveil it alongside the Google Pixel 5 in October.

Google Pixel 4a 5G Forums

Alleged Google Pixel 4a 5G CAD render. Source: @OnLeaks/91Mobiles

Samsung Galaxy 20 FE

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Note 20 series, but the company isn’t done yet with the Galaxy S20 series. The company is allegedly prepping the Galaxy S20 “Fan Edition,” which is expected to feature a tweaked design and support 5G when it launches in the U.S. There are a number of other leaks and rumors about this device, which you can discuss freely in the forums.

Samsung Galaxy 20 FE Forums

Alleged Samsung Galaxy S20 FE press render. Source: Evan Blass

Samsung Galaxy M51

Big batteries have become commonplace in today’s smartphone market, but the Samsung Galaxy M51 will allegedly take it to the next level. Recent reports claim the device, which may include Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 730 chip, will feature a massive 7,000mAh battery, which should be plenty of juice to last through a day or two.

Samsung Galaxy M51 Forums

Alleged Samsung Galaxy M51 press render. Source: @Sudhanshu1414

Nubia Red Magic 5S

Looking to get your game on? Look no further than the Nubia Red Magic 5S. The gaming smartphone comes equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip, 144Hz OLED display, and a triple-camera setup, rounding out what should be a pretty impressive flagship device. And it costs a respectable $579, making it an affordable yet powerful experience all around.

Nubia Red Magic 5S Forums

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Are you looking forward to the Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, or Samsung Galaxy M51? Thinking of picking up the Nubia Red Magic 5S? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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BraveDNS is an open-source DNS-over-HTTPS client, firewall, and adblocker for Android

Replacing the factory-installed OS with an aftermarket ROM isn’t just limited to the Android ecosystem. People started modding Linux-powered wireless routers and access points long before the rise of Android smartphones in order to enable functionalities such as packet filtering, firewalls, or adblocking that aren’t otherwise present in the stock firmware. Unsurprisingly, such features are much requested in the world of Android as well. While it is possible to configure Private DNS (or DNS-over-HTTPS) and subsequently block ads on an Android device since Android Pie, end-users still need to rely on third-party apps to set up a proper firewall. If you are looking for an all-in-one app that can act as a firewall, adblocker, and even a DNS-over-HTTPS client, BraveDNS might interest you.

The name “BraveDNS” might sound like yet another DNS resolver service, but it is certainly more than that. This free and open-source app describes itself as “an OpenSnitch-inspired firewall and network monitor + a pi-hole-inspired DNS over HTTPS client with blocklists”. The DoH client module, which is mostly based on another popular open-source project named Intra, uses AdGuard DNS as the default endpoint with built-in adblocking support. The developer team also offers their own DNS resolver service as a paid option for those who need features like custom blocklists, allowlists, the ability to store DNS logs for later analysis, etc.

Below you can find a list of features that are currently offered by the app:

1. DNS over HTTPS (circumvent censorship and prevent surveillance of DNS logs by ISPs and everyone else).
2. View DNS logs.
3. Ad-block through Adguard DNS.
4. Firewall by app categories.
5. Firewall individual apps.
6. Firewall when apps are in the background (not-in-active-use).
7. Firewall when device is locked.

The initial version of BraveDNS requires at least Android Oreo, but the developers have plans to make it compatible all the way down to Android Marshmallow in the near future. Moreover, support for dual-mode DNS and firewall execution is promised to be backported to legacy Android versions.

You can download the BraveDNS app on your device from the Play Store link below, or grab the APK from their official site.

BraveDNS: GitHub Repo ||| XDA Forum Thread

BraveDNS: Fast, private, and safe DNS + Firewall (Free, Google Play) →

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This app uses root access to let you control the ASUS ROG Phone II’s RGB logo

The ASUS ROG Phone II already has a successor for this year, but the 2019 gaming flagship still packs some serious punch. Its powerhouse specifications include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, up to a whopping 1TB of internal storage, a behemoth 6,000 mAh battery, and a buttery smooth 120Hz AMOLED display. The ROG Phone II also has a developer-friendly OEM, which means you can try out plenty of mods and custom ROMs on this smartphone. If you’re running a custom ROM, though, you may have noticed the lack of RGB controls for the ROG Phone II’s “Republic of Gamers” logo. Thankfully, there’s a new app in town with which you can control the RGB illumination, even when you’re running a custom ROM.

ASUS ROG Phone II XDA Forums

XDA Junior Member Terminal_Heat_Sink has developed this app that not only allows you to customize the illumination pattern on the ROG logo on a per-app basis but also gives you the ability to utilize the second LED for notifications. Named “Asus ROG Phone 2 RGB”, the app internally hooks into the RGB driver, which is why root access is a prerequisite for using it. According to the developer, the app does work on the stock ROM as well, but you must upgrade to the official Android 10 firmware to ensure full compatibility.

Below you can find the list of custom animations supported by the app. Note that the color wheel doesn’t work with all of them.

1. None
2. Solid one color
3. Breathing one color
4. Blink
5. Rainbow 1
6. Rainbow 2
7. Rainbow breathe
8. Thunder
9. Thunder rainbow
10. Quick two flashes
11. Quick two flashes rainbow
12. Breathe rainbow 1
13. Breathe rainbow 2
14. Slow glitchy rainbow
15. Yellow light

ASUS ROG Phone II RGB: Download ||| Source Code ||| XDA Discussion Thread

The app is coded in such a way that you don’t have to set up all of the settings for custom notifications each time you reinstall it. There is an option to export all the settings to a file named .terminal_heat_sink.asusrogphone2rgb.xml which you can find at the root of the internal storage. To import, just place the XML file in the same location and use the “Import Settings” wizard inside the app.

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Ground Zero ROMs mourns the loss of one of its own

It was the year Motorola upended the Android world with the introduction of the first Moto X and Moto G, and it was the year that XDA Recognized Developer Martin Coulon (martinusbe) joined the Ground Zero ROMs team and began to establish a legacy that will last long after his recent passing due to cancer. Martin is remembered not only as a truly talented developer and maintainer but also as a kind and down-to-earth person who never hesitated to take the time to help others.

His introduction to Ground Zero ROMs came in 2013 when he helped XDA Recognized Contributor Char_G (currently the publicist for GZR) test a build of GZR’s Validus ROM for the first-generation Moto G (Falcon). From there he caught the attention of XDA Senior Member and founder of Ground Zero ROMs John Brewer (TheRingMaster_GzR), who brought him aboard the team as a maintainer but quickly recognized his talent and promoted him to a lead developer. It was John’s Validus build that Martin had helped Char with testing. He was a strong advocate for keeping code neat and clean, observing proper formatting and spacing, which is extremely important especially for team projects like most custom ROMs. He also insisted on a clean commit history and maintaining proper authorship. In the years following, he became instrumental in bringing GZR’s popular custom ROMs to OnePlus and OPPO devices and became a mentor to many other developers on the GZR team. In John’s words,

“The man made OPPO dev[elopment] what it is. They sent him devices because he knew what to do. Plus he made CAF devices possible on an AOSP system without a separate CAF manifest.”

Despite his ties to OPPO and OnePlus, he remained humble, never bragging about the devices he was sent but rather patiently lending a helping hand to anyone who asked. I can personally say that his help wasn’t limited to other developers. When I was having some problems getting “OK Google” to work on my OnePlus 5T back in late 2017, he took the time to help me through it, and he again helped me track down why the Amazon Appstore kept crashing (I was running Validus at the time).

Martin’s mentoring chops weren’t limited to coding, maintaining, or troubleshooting. Another member of the team known in Telegram as “Scoobyjenkins” mentioned that Martin had encouraged him to grow in graphic design skills, including making icons, wallpapers, and boot animations for the various ROMs developed by the team.

Martin was the one who started the popular GZR ROM Tipsy, naming each version after a popular Belgian beer in alphabetical order. Additionally, he helped John start GZOSP, which was envisioned as an alternative codebase to LineageOS for building custom ROMs. Incidentally, GZOSP was the subject of my very first article here, so Martin’s work was instrumental even to my own contributions to XDA.

Even in his later years, as he valiantly fought against the progression of his cancer, he refused to bend or break. He once told his GZR family the following:

“I’m like Churchill, never surrender.”

While he was a valued member of the Ground Zero ROMs family, he was also widely known in the larger Android development community and was highly respected by developers, as demonstrated by a touching tweet from the Dirty Unicorns team that was retweeted by the AquariOS and CarbonROM teams:

Today we lost a pillar of our community!

A man who was always willing to help and teach others. He had a passion for tech, like many of us, but what separated him from the rest was that as knowledgeable as he was, was even more humble!

R.I.P @martincoulon, we miss you already! pic.twitter.com/JZApJGyG6Z

— Dirty Unicrns (@_DirtyUnicorns_) August 27, 2020

Perhaps the most stirring tribute I’ve seen yet to Martin’s legacy comes from an XDA Senior Member who is more commonly known to the Ground Zero ROMs family in their Telegram chats as “CR45H 0V3RR1D3”:

“I’m not even really sure where to start. Trying to grapple with the fact that I will never speak to my brother (from another mother) again, has left me in tears since he said goodbye. To be affected so greatly by the loss of someone I have never even gotten the fortune of meeting in real life, should give everyone an idea of how incredible of a human being you really were. Even though we met through the Android community, you allowed so many people into your personal life, that it would be an injustice to think of you in any other fashion than family. The immense amount of knowledge that you held, balanced by your incredible humility, makes you a true one of a kind person and one that this world will never see the likes of again. It was a true honor to be your tester for so many years, along with your friend. You fought this disease head on, on your terms, and without fear, never once asking for anyone’s sympathy. You stayed strong, with your head held high, right to the end. I can only hope to emulate a fraction of the courage that you have displayed these past couple years, in any facet of my life. Sadly, I fear this is where many of us will falter and just one more example of one of the many qualities of your life that drew so many into orbit around you. Thank you for everything that you have taught me over the years, from an Android standpoint, but also from a life’s experiences viewpoint as well. I love you, brother. May you rest well til[l] our energies meet again.”

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