It’s not just you: Gmail is having an outage in some regions

Some of Google’s services have been facing server issues for the past few hours, causing problems for users around the world. Services affected at the moment include Gmail primarily, with users in India, Europe and parts of the USA complaining that they are unable to sign in to the service and access their emails.

Down Detector is showing a spike in complaints related to connectivity issues for Gmail. Here is the outage map for the service at the time of writing:

The G Suite Status Dashboard indicates that other Google services are not facing server issues, and it’s just Gmail that is having a service disruption.

The official Gmail Twitter account further confirms the service disruption as users complained about their inability to log in and send emails. The G Suite Status Dashboard mentioned the following update:

Our team is continuing to investigate this issue. We will provide an update by 11/3/20, 7:30 PM with more information about this problem. Thank you for your patience. The affected users are unable to access Gmail, but we’ve provided a workaround below.

Please use Gmail mobile apps

There is currently no ETA on when the services are expected to resume normal functioning. The outages do not affect all users of these services, and in this case, only a smaller number of users are affected. Google advises using the Gmail mobile app for accessing, but we haven’t spotted any user reporting success with this.

We’ll update the article when we get more information on this outage.

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WhatsApp’s new storage management tool lets you bulk delete annoying image forwards

WhatsApp started testing a redesigned Storage Usage section in a beta release (v2.20.201.9) earlier this year in September. The updated Storage Usage section featured a new UI with a bar at the top to show current storage usage, a “Suggested clean up” section that listed forwarded and large files that could be removed to save space, and a section with a list of all the chats that occupied the most storage space on your device. Now, WhatsApp is finally releasing the feature on the stable channel with a few minor changes.

As per a recent tweet from WhatsApp, the redesigned Storage Usage section is rolling out to users with the latest stable update. To access the section, you’ll first need to update to the latest version of the app from the Play Store link below. Once you have the update installed, you’ll have to navigate to the app settings by tapping on the three-dot menu icon in the top left corner and selecting the Settings option.

We’ve made it easy to review, bulk delete items and free up space. This new storage management tool can be found in Settings > Storage and Data > Manage Storage. pic.twitter.com/eIMFZ1Oyzr

— WhatsApp Inc. (@WhatsApp) November 3, 2020

Here, you’ll have to tap on the Storage and data option and select the Manage storage option in the following window. As seen in the beta release, the new storage usage section features a bar at the top that shows the total used storage, the amount of storage occupied by WhatsApp media on your device, the storage occupied by apps, and other items the amount of free storage.

The “Suggested clean up” section that we saw in the beta release has been renamed to “Review and delete items”; however, it serves the same purpose. The section includes two options, one for media that has been forwarded many times and the other for files that are larger than 5MB. Tapping on either of these options opens up the respective media in a gallery where you can quickly select and remove them from your device. The last section remains the same, and it shows a list of chats occupying the most space on your device.

WhatsApp Messenger (Free, Google Play) →

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Google to use AV1 codec to improve bandwidth for Stadia, Photos, Meet, and TV

The Alliance for Open Media came out with the royalty-free AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) codec back in 2017 to replace H.264 as the primary codec for online streaming and media consumption. The AV1 codec offered around 30% better compression than Google’s previous VP9 standard without hampering picture quality. Since its release, the AV1 codec has been adopted by several services and platforms, including Google Chrome, Android, YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, and Facebook. Recently, Microsoft also announced that it was bringing hardware-based AV1 codec support to Windows 10. Now, in a recent panel discussion on the codec’s commercial readiness, Matt Frost from Google has revealed that the company will soon bring AV1 support to Stadia, Photos, Meet, and TV.

#ICYMI – Watch this @IBCShow 2020 Panel Discussion with @amazon, @Facebook, @Google, @IntelSoftware, @Netflix, and @TencentGlobal on #AV1 Commercial Readiness: https://t.co/X70Gq0S2Vb pic.twitter.com/9zeizTfSWJ

— Alliance For Open Media (@a4omedia) November 2, 2020

During the panel discussion, Frost revealed that the AV1 codec has already been deployed in several of the company’s platforms and services, including Google Duo, YouTube, Chrome, and Android. Going forward, the company plans to deploy AV1 support to “the whole range of Google’s video applications and services.” Although Frost didn’t explicitly mention the names of the applications and services that will get AV1 codec support in the near future, a slide shown during the discussion highlighted that AV1 support will soon make its way to Google Photos, Meet, Stadia, and TV. Sadly, the discussion didn’t highlight how and when Google plans on deploying AV1 support on the aforementioned services.

Along with Google, the panel discussion included representatives from Intel, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix, and Tencent, who talked about how the respective companies plan on deploying AV1 support to their various products and services. If you’re interested in learning more about AV1 commercial deployment, you can check out the panel discussion by following the link below. Do note that you will have to create an account on IBC in order to watch the discussion. To learn more about the AV1 codec, you can check out our detailed explainer by following this link.

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Source: IBC Showcase

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Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B mark the return of Micromax to the Indian smartphone market

Micromax today launched two new Android smartphones in India: Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B, marking a re-entry of the Gurugram-based OEM into the Indian smartphone market. The new smartphones boast interesting hardware, including a quad-camera array, a 5,000 mAh battery, MediaTek Helio G series chipset, and reverse charging support.

Micromax IN Note 1 and IN 1B Specifications:

Specifications	IN Note 1	IN 1B
Dimensions and Weight	NA	NA
Display	6.67-inch IPS, FHD+ 21:9 450nits Centered hole-punch 78% NTSC	6.52-inch HD+ Waterdrop notch
SoC	MediaTek Helio G85 ARM Mali G52 MC2 GPU	MediaTek Helio G35 IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU
RAM and Storage	4GB + 64GB 4GB + 128GB	2GB + 32GB 4GB + 64GB
Battery & Charging	5,000mAh 18W fast charger Reverse charging support	5,000mAh 10W charger Reverse charging support
Rear Camera	48MP primary 5MP ultra-wide, 115-degree 2MP macro sensor 2MP depth sensor	13MP primary 2MP depth sensor 960fps video support
Front Camera	16MP front shooter	8MP front shooter
Connectivity	Dual-band Wi-FI 4G LTE Bluetooth 5.0 Dual SIM Type C 3.5mm jack MicroSD card	4G LTE Type C Bluetooth 5.0 3.5mm jack Dual SIM MicroSD card
Other feature	Dedicated Google Assistant key Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock	Dedicated Google Assistant key Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner
Software	Android 10	Android 10

Micromax IN Note 1

The Micromax IN Note 1 is the more powerful of the duo, packing a 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS screen with a centered hole-punch on the front and a square camera module on the back. The quad-camera system is comprised of a 48MP primary camera, a 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. On the front, there’s a 16MP wide-angle selfie camera with a 78-degree field-of-view. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, coupled with Mali G-52GPU and up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The phone packs a 5,000 mAh battery and comes with an 18W fast charger and reverse charging support. The phone runs a near-stock version of Android 10, and Micromax is promising “two years” of Android updates.

Micromax IN 1B

The Micromax IN 1B, on the other hand, is an entry-level device. It sports a 6.52inch display and packs a MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, featuring 8x ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.3GHz. In terms of camera, the Micromax IN 1B has a 13MP primary sensor, 2MP depth sensor, and an 8MP selfie camera. Just like its bigger brother, the IN 1B packs a 5,000 mAh battery but comes with a slower 10W charger. The phone runs a near-stock version of Android 10, and Micromax is promising “two years” of Android updates.

 

Pricing & Availability

The Micromax IN Note 1 is priced at ₹10,999 ($147) for the base 4GB/64GB variant, while the top 4GB/128GB variant will cost ₹12,499 ($168). Meanwhile, the entry-level Micromax IN 1B starts at ₹6,999 (~$94) for the 2GB/32GB model and ₹7,999 (~$107) for the 4GB/64GB variant. Both phones are available for pre-order today and will be exclusively available from Flipkart. The IN Note 1 will go on sale on Nov. 24, followed by the IN 1B on Nov. 26.

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Samsung S Translator service will be shut down next month

After discontinuing some of Bixby Vision’s augmented reality features last month, Samsung has now announced that it will shut down its S Translator service next month. Much like the Bixby Vision announcement, Samsung is now sending out in-app notices to South Korean users announcing its plans to discontinue its in-house translation service.

The notice states that the S Translator service will be shut down on December 1, 2020, and Samsung will promptly delete all personal information collected by the service. In the notice, the company also thanks S Translator users for showing interest in the service and using it over the last few years. For the unaware, the S Translator service came pre-installed on several flagship Galaxy devices and offered language translation between 11 languages: Brazilian Portuguese, English (UK), English (US), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

Although Samsung is shutting down S Translator, Galaxy users already have access to an alternative translation service in the form of the company’s voice assistant Bixby. The voice assistant can translate text from one language to another, it supports a larger number of languages, and it offers a significantly better user experience than the outgoing service. On top of that, Bixby also supports live translation that makes use of your device’s camera to instantly translate any text you see around you from one language to another.

In case you don’t wish to use Samsung’s virtual assistant for your translation needs, you can also use Google Translate from the Play Store. The app features a ton of useful features to help with translations, including a real-time transcription feature that will help you have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you.

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Via: TizenHelp

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Pixel 5 teardown video reveals the internals of Google’s flagship phone

The Google Pixel 5 is now available across the world, giving people plenty of time to see what the device is all about. While there are more than enough reviews out there, what really caught our attention is a new teardown video from YouTuber PBKreviews.

Right out of the gate, PBKreviews addresses reports about there being a gap between the Pixel 5’s display and body. Apparently, some owners have noticed that the display doesn’t sit flush with the chassis — and the issue doesn’t appear to be isolated to one color or storage size, which is very concerning.

However, PBKreviews attempts to allay those fears by explaining that even if your display is a little raised, it should still be protected from water and dust damage. The display uses a ton of adhesive and there are also little latches around the frame, making it difficult for stuff to get in. Having a raised display on your brand new phone isn’t ideal, but you can seemingly rest easy based on the video’s findings.

The video goes on to provide insight into other engineering decisions in the Pixel 5. Early on, we find that Google’s device was unable to fit a standard earpiece speaker inside the device, and instead used a module that produces sound by vibrating the display panel.

Google Pixel 5 Forums

We also get a look at the circular haptic motor, which doesn’t produce effects that are quite as premium as we’ve seen in other phones. If you have the desire to take apart the Pixel 5 yourself, or perhaps you want to fix something yourself, the video from PBKreviews is a good template for getting past all the screws, cables, and adhesive hiding inside Google’s latest device.

As for the larger problem plaguing the Pixel 5’s display gap, it doesn’t seem as bad as things might first appear, but better to ere on the side of caution. Better yet, you might consider contacting Google to see if you can get a replacement.

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Google supported calls from smart speakers to be axed in the UK

If you like to make Google supported calls from your smart speaker or smart display, and you live in the UK, we have some bad news: Google is pulling the feature before the New Year.

On its support page (via AndroidPolice), Google has quietly updated its policies, saying the feature is set to go away by mid-December.

Starting in mid-December 2020, if you’re in the UK, you won’t be able to make Google supported calls on your speaker or display. You’ll still be able to make audio or video calls through Duo.

The feature allowed users to pair an unlisted number or phone number (for caller ID) to their Assistant device. Users in the UK could then ring other folks in the UK at no extra cost. Users in the U.S. and Canada can do the same thing, allowing them to make regional calls over a speaker or display.

The change will limit how Google users in the UK can communicate over smart speakers and smart displays. Here in the U.S., in addition to making free calls, we can link a Google Voice or Google Fi number to a smart speaker or smart display and make calls to any number at carrier rates. Without the free call option, UK residents will have Duo as their only option.

There’s no exact date for when the feature will disappear, just a general timeline of mid-December. That’s unfortunate because it likely means you won’t be able to make Google-supported calls during the holidays — a time when you’d expect a lot more smart speakers and smart displays to flood the market.

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