OnePlus Buds are now available in Gray in the U.S.

When the OnePlus Buds launched in the U.S., they were only available in a glossy white color. Now, OnePlus has opened up sales for a version in gray, giving consumers a sleek, stealthy option for the back to school season.

The OnePlus Buds in gray come with a case to match and also feature a red accent around the chrome touchpad, a nice attention to detail. Whereas the OnePlus Buds in white look a little too much like Apple’s AirPods, the version in gray is uniquely its own. The beautiful Nord Blue color option is not available in the U.S., though.

We reviewed the OnePlus Buds last month, praising their sound, design, and affordable price. The earbuds also feature support for Google’s latest Fast Pair features, which makes pairing the OnePlus Buds quick and easy with an Android device.

If you decide to pick up the OnePlus Buds in gray, you won’t have to pay a premium; the wireless earbuds are available for just $79. The OnePlus Buds are thus more affordable than the more premium wireless earbuds on the market, including the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live and Apple AirPods Pro, but they lack some features like Active Noise Cancellation and wireless charging. The app also only supports OnePlus phones, so you won’t be able to update the firmware or remap the double-tap gestures if you pair them with a smartphone from another manufacturer. They’re otherwise a great option if you own or plan to own a OnePlus device.

OnePlus Buds

Fast charging TWS earbuds

Free yourself from wires with a pair of truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus.

$79 at OnePlus.com

The post OnePlus Buds are now available in Gray in the U.S. appeared first on xda-developers.

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

The OnePlus 8T could have a flat display with a hole-punch cutout

It’s been a busy year for OnePlus. The company has already released 3 smartphones this year (the 8, 8 Pro, and Nord), its first-ever truly wireless earbuds (the OnePlus Buds), and plans on releasing possibly 2 more mid-range smartphones (code-named “clover” and “Billie“). As usual, though, OnePlus is gearing up to launch another flagship smartphone in the fall, and it’s expected to be the OnePlus 8T. Thanks to a teardown of the latest OxygenOS 11 Beta 4 release, we may have just caught our first glimpse at the upcoming phone, which is expected to be code-named “kebab.”

XDA Member and frequent OnePlus tipster Some_Random_Username did a teardown of OxygenOS 11 Beta 4 for the Oxygen Updater blog, and he found a few interesting tidbits that may pertain to the upcoming OnePlus 8T. First, a teardown of the new OnePlus Camera application suggests OnePlus is working on 8K video recording support, which currently isn’t available on any OnePlus device and is thus thought to be for the OnePlus 8T. We previously discovered evidence an upcoming OnePlus device may come equipped with a 64MP camera sensor, which can capture more than enough pixels to record at 8K resolution.

Here is the code mentioning 8K resolution support:

More importantly is a file found in the latest OnePlus Settings app called “oneplus_8t.webp.” This is an image file that is shown in the About Phone page in OxygenOS. Presumably, this render will be shown if the OS detects that the device is a OnePlus 8T, though we can’t confirm if this render is of the actual device or merely a placeholder.

From the render, we can see that the device has a flat display and a single hole-punch cutout in the top left. The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, in contrast, have curved displays, while the OnePlus Nord has a dual hole-punch cutout. We can’t really see anything else, though, including the back, but we can see the earpiece speaker, the volume buttons on the left, the power button on the right, and the Alert Slider on the right.

OnePlus typically releases its T-series of devices in the fall, which is right around the corner. With hints of a OnePlus 8T already trickling out, we’ll likely get more concrete details in the coming days and weeks.

The post The OnePlus 8T could have a flat display with a hole-punch cutout appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/34Pxvy7
via IFTTT

Lenovo announces the mid-range Tab P11 Pro and 2nd-gen Tab M10 HD Android tablets

Depending on who you ask, you might hear that Android tablets are dead. They’re not exactly dead, but Windows-powered alternatives and iPads are objectively better products overall. Android, with all its good and bad bits, is not as good as it used to be on tablets. But that doesn’t stop OEMs from trying to make them. Samsung is one of the few manufacturers that is deeply invested in the tablet ecosystem with its Galaxy Tab lineup. Now, Lenovo is launching a couple of new Android tablets of its own: the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro and the second-generation Lenovo Tab M10 HD. And they’re wildly different devices.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is the most powerful device of the two, and it’s being touted as the premium option. It’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G which, while not the highest-end mid-range processor out there, is powerful enough to handle most games and apps, as well as daily usage. There’s an 11.5-inch 2560×1600 resolution, HDR10/Dolby Vision-certified OLED panel to allow for amazing media consumption capabilities, four JBL speakers with Dolby Atmos tuning, an optional keyboard attachment with a trackpad that connects via the 4-point pogo-pin connector, and support for the Lenovo Precision Pen 2 for getting work done on-the-go. The tablet is quite thin at 5.8mm and weighs 485g. It runs Android 10 and features 4/6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, an 8,600mAh battery, a dual 13 MP main + 5 MP wide-angle rear camera array, a dual 8MP + 8MP front camera array, a ToF sensor, and optional LTE support for the international SKU.

 

The Lenovo Tab M10 HD 2nd Gen series, which is comprised of the regular Tab M10 HD, the Tab M10 HD with Google Assistant, and the Tab M10 HD with Amazon Alexa, on the other hand, are much more modest tablets. Not only spec-wise but also to the public they’re aimed towards. They’re powered by the MediaTek Helio P22T, which is much weaker than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G found in the Tab P11 Pro. They have 10.1-inch IPS LCDs at 1280×800 resolution, 2/4GB of RAM, 32/64GB of internal storage expandable via a microSD card slot, a 5,000mAh battery, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP front-facing camera, run Android 10 out of the box, and feature optional LTE support for the international SKU.

Where these 3 tablets’ hardware differ from one another are in audio and microphones; the regular Tab M10 HD features dual microphone and dual speakers, the Tab M10 HD with Google Assistant features a single microphone with a low-power DSP and dual speakers, and the Tab M10 HD with Amazon Alexa has dual microphones and speakers but supports a Smart Dock with dual 3W speakers and 3 far-field microphones.

Clearly, these devices aren’t catering towards enthusiasts but rather kids and families. In fact, Lenovo partnered with Google to introduce a new mode called Kids Space, which features apps, books, and videos curated for children.

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro will start at €699 including VAT, which is definitely quite a bit more expensive than we’d expect from a device with those specs. The Lenovo Tab M10 HD though, on the other hand, starts at a much more modest price point of €159 including VAT. The Tab M10 HD with Google Assistant starts at €179 including VAT while the Tab M10 HD with Amazon Alexa starts at €199 including VAT. The regular Tab M10 HD is expected to become available starting September 2020, the Tab M10 HD with Google Assistant is expected to be available starting October 2020, and the Tab P11 Pro and Tab M10 HD with Amazon Alexa are expected to be available starting November 2020,

The post Lenovo announces the mid-range Tab P11 Pro and 2nd-gen Tab M10 HD Android tablets appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2YTht2x
via IFTTT

OnePlus explains how they optimized OxygenOS 11 for better one-handed use

It won’t be long after Google rolls out the stable Android 11 release for Pixel phones that OnePlus rolls out the final version of OxygenOS 11 for its devices. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the latest version of its Android-based software and rolled out a beta for the OnePlus 8 series. Alongside a new beta release today, OnePlus took to its forums to explain how they came up with the new design language for OxygenOS 11.

In the post, OxygenOS Product Lead Gary C. explained how OnePlus analyzed data to design a system that’s more comfortable for one-handed use. The company says they conducted A/B testing and found that 65% of users prefer slightly smaller headlines while 80% of users prefer titles with subtitles rather than without. In accordance with these metrics, OnePlus designed a new “headline-body hierarchy that streamlines information delivery in OxygenOS 11.” Furthermore, the company looked at anthropometric data to determine the general regions of the screen where people can easily reach or struggle to reach, as shown below.

As a result, OxygenOS 11 moves touch controls closer to your thumbs for easier access. When you open a menu, settings will now be pushed to the lower half of the display. “We also wanted to add even more features to make one-handed use quicker and easier,” OnePlus said in a forum post. “So, for example, we added a new Quick Share button in the Camera app. Now you can long press the thumbnail of the last photo you took to quickly share the photo with just one motion.” The company also redesigned its Weather app based on these principles, with the new UI currently rolling out in beta.

 

The changes to OxygenOS 11 come in response to the current mobile landscape, which is flooded with devices that feature tall screens. While big displays are great for content consumption, they do present usability issues with people who have smaller hands.

Samsung made similar design changes in its One UI software, which made the company’s taller phones much easier to use by placing key interaction areas near the bottom of the screen. Even if OxygenOS 11 does take inspiration from Samsung, it’s still nice to see that better one-handed use is becoming more of a priority.

The post OnePlus explains how they optimized OxygenOS 11 for better one-handed use appeared first on xda-developers.

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

Lenovo Smart Clock Essential is a $49 multipurpose clock with Google Assistant

If you’re having trouble waking up for work or the new school year, then Lenovo’s new Smart Clock Essential can help. The company on Monday introduced the new Google Assistant-powered digital alarm clock, which is a cheaper version of the Lenovo Smart Clock from 2019. The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential introduces a handful of new features, including a night light and USB port for charging devices.

The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential features what looks like an LED display that shows information such as time, day, temperature, and whether you have an alarm set. Speaking of alarms, users can now use buttons to set an alarm, in addition to voice. There’s a mic mute switch and buttons for play/pause, volume up/down, and night light, a previously mentioned.

You can also use the Smart Clock Essential to control your smart home network using Google Assistant. That includes turning off/on smart lights and streaming music through the device’s 3W 1.5-inch speaker. You can also group the Smart Clock Essential with other compatible smart speakers for a more immersive listening experience.

The original Lenovo Smart Clock was more of a tiny smart display, similar to the Nest Hub, than an actual bedside clock. The latest Smart Clock Essential appears to function more like an old school alarm clock, complete with old school alarm clock looks, but with Google Assistant smarts. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

The Lenovo Smart Clock Essential retails for $49, which is about the price of a Google Nest Home Mini ($59). If you want the extra clock functionality, Lenovo’s new device might be the way to go. You can pick up the Smart Clock Essential in September. It’ll be available in the U.S., Europe, and several other regions, including Latin America, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and China.

The post Lenovo Smart Clock Essential is a $49 multipurpose clock with Google Assistant appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3bb372t
via IFTTT

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 leaked renders show off Gold and Gray colors

The Android tablet market stands in no competition against Apple’s iPad lineup. But still, there’s ground to be covered at price points which Apple does not serve, and options to provide at the points where Apple continues to exist. Samsung’s premier tablets for this year are of course the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus, but there’s definitely room for many more tablets to be spread across the price spectrum. Samsung appears to be working on a new tablet, as leaked renders now show off the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 in its Gold and Gray colors.

These leaked renders come to us courtesy of Evan ‘evleaks’ Blass and his Patreon, and they show off the upcoming tablet from Samsung in two colors:

The render shows off a surprisingly basic looking tablet with a single rear camera and a front with decently-sized bezels. The Samsung branding can be seen on the back. Evan does not mention anything else, but the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 (SM-T505) had earlier appeared in its 10.4″ avatar in a Google Play Console listing. From the listing, we know that the device will come with a 10.4″ display with a resolution of 1200 x 2000 pixels. The tablet will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC, and at least one variant will have 3GB of RAM.

From the looks and preliminary specifications, one can expect the Galaxy Tab A7 2020 to be targeting some of the early segments of the market. We can expect Samsung to offer multiple storage variants and possible options for Wi-Fi-only and LTE models. It isn’t immediately clear if the tablet would officially support the new S Pen just like the Galaxy Tab S7 series. But even if it does, it is unlikely that an S Pen would be included in the box as the target pricing is expected to be humble. There is currently no information on the existence of a smaller sized variant.

The post Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 2020 leaked renders show off Gold and Gray colors appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/3bdqbh5
via IFTTT

Google Maps now shows traffic lights on Android in the U.S.

Update 1 (08/31/2020 @ 12:11 PM ET): Google Maps is now showing traffic lights on Android for many people in the U.S. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on July 8, 2020, is preserved below.

Google Maps is undoubtedly one of the most popular apps in Google’s portfolio, and the company often releases updates to make the service even better. Since its 15th birthday earlier this year in February, the app has received a ton of new features like Live View AR navigation, integrated menu scanning, a new real-time location sharing UI, YouTube Music integration, and much more. Now, according to a recent report from Droid-Life, Google has started testing a new feature that will show traffic lights in Google Maps on Android.

The report cites screenshots taken by a reader who lives in West Des Moines, Iowa, which show traffic lights in several intersections around the city. The traffic lights are visible both while using the traditional map view and while navigating, however, they do appear slightly bigger and more noticeable while navigating. The feature is expected to give users a heads up when they’re about to reach a traffic light and even help them plan their route ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary delay.

As of now, the feature is limited to just showing the traffic lights on the map and Google hasn’t included any additional functionality for users. However, that might change by the time the feature is released to more users. The feature currently appears to be in its early stages of development as it’s only available for a small number of users in certain regions on version 10.44.3 of the app. It’s also worth noting that Apple Maps has had a similar feature since last year which offers additional functionality like using Siri to alert users when they’re about to reach a traffic light.

Maps - Navigate & Explore (Free, Google Play) →

---

Update 1: Rolling Out Widely

Traffic light icons are now showing up for many people on Google Maps, at least in the United States (via AndroidPolice). You don’t need to turn the feature on manually nor do you need to activate traffic layers. The icons look the same when this feature was first spotted back in July, and they also automatically adapt to the map size. The icons appear when browsing the map or navigating.

The post Google Maps now shows traffic lights on Android in the U.S. appeared first on xda-developers.

from xda-developers https://ift.tt/2CivCh2
via IFTTT