NewPipe 0.20.3 improves YouTube video loading speed and adds a new two-finger swipe gesture

NewPipe, the open-source YouTube client for Android, received a major update early last month. The update included the unified video player UI that we saw in a previous test release and several other improvements. Shortly after the rollout, the app received another update that patched a bug with the YouTube search. The developers behind NewPipe are now rolling out another update that brings improvements for YouTube video loading speed and a new swipe gesture.

According to a recent post on the NewPipe blog, the latest update (v. 0.20.3) introduces a new two-finger swipe down gesture that makes closing the embedded player much easier. Closing the embedded player was a two-step process on previous versions of the app. You first had to swipe down on the embedded player to switch to the mini player and then swipe down again to close it. Now, you can close the embedded player in one go with the new two-finger swipe down gesture.

The second significant improvement in the latest update is that NewPipe now loads YouTube videos much faster. As the blog post explains, “YouTube has removed obfuscation for most of its URLs, so now we can directly access them, speeding up video loading by a lot! The deobfuscation code is still cached in case it is needed.” Other noteworthy changes include:

• All the different enqueuing options have now been replaced with a unified one
• The app now has a new setting that allows users to clear the reCAPTCHA cookies
• Added a new option to turn off the colorized notification that popped up when playing streams on Android 8.0 and above. Once enabled, the notification has a static color.
• Added support for YouTube Short URLs
• Added support for shortened channel links which look like: “youtube.com/username”
• Added support for discarding the extra cruft on redirect URLs to help users open links from Google in NewPipe.

If you already have NewPipe installed on your device, the app should prompt you to update to the latest release when you open it up. In case you don’t have an older build, you can grab the latest release from NewPipe’s GitHub. To see all the other improvements/fixes in the latest release, check the changelog section below.

NewPipe 0.20.3 Changelog

• New
  • Replace specific enqueue options with only one #4425
  • Two finger to close player gesture #4476
  • Add button in settings to clear reCAPTCHA cookies #4453
  • Add option to not colorize notification #4643
• Improved
  • Do not show notification creation / update time #4410
  • Remove remember popup properties setting #4367
  • Ask for confirmation before replacing even single video queues #4463
  • Also delete stream state when deleting stream history #4413
  • Improve age restriction and yt restricted content strings #4354
• Fixed
  • Fix crash when stream was paused and fast forward / rewind buttons were clicked #4410
  • Fix PlaylistAppendDialog showing when no local playlists exist #4345
  • Don’t rearrange lists by dragging the thumbnails #4550
  • Fix opening VideoDetailFragment and more #4562
    • Fix infinite buffering
    • Better detect when to autoplay and when not to
    • Make sharing to NewPipe more consistent
  •  Fix playlist select dialog and do some refactoring #4771
  • Change YouTube subscription import instructions to Google takeout #4759
  • Correct Gigaget’s license from GPLv2 to GPLv3 #4892
• Localization
  • Add Santali language #4749
  • Add Central Atlas Tamazight localization
  • Add Korean translation of the README #4845
  • Updated translations
• Development
  • Use DisplayCutoutCompat in VideoPlayerImpl #4338
  • Use DrawableCompat. #4592
  • Use ContextCompat methods #4276
  • Use TextViewCompat.setCompoundDrawablesRelativeWithIntrinsicBounds(). #4594
  • Hide Leaks launcher icon #4436 #4450
  • Format all XML resources #4471
  • Disable Ktlint pending upstream update #4517
  • Use Core KTX functions #4547
  • Use multidex for all build types. #4557
  • Migrate AboutActivity to ViewPager2 #4553
  • Optimize and shrink app PNGs #4610
  • Convert notification actions to a custom preference #4652
  • Use Java 8 APIs #3817 #4556
  • Separate player gesture logic and UI #4587
  • Use RxJava instead of AsyncTask #4499
  • Change loop index from float to int #4784
  • More miscellaneous little fixes and improvements #4710
  • Fix NullPointerException in queue handling and improved performance #4555
• Other
  • Pull request template reworked #4317
  • Issue templates reworked #4378 #4379 #4415 #4431 #4606
  • Add info on how to use a local NewPipe Extractor version #4528
  • Add Weblate widget to README #4530

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OriginOS is Vivo’s latest software release based on Android 11

Vivo’s primary UX skin has been FunTouch OS for a few years now, and the skin was recently rebased onto Android 11 for certain phones. Surprisingly, the company had even beat Google to launching the first phone with Android 11 with the launch of the Vivo V20. The UX skin is overdue for a refresh, and it’s getting one as Vivo has now released OriginOS, its latest software release based on Android 11.

Vivo’s OriginOS succeeds Funtouch OS and has been announced at the two-day Vivo 2020 Developer Conference held in China. There are a bunch of functional and visual changes in this new UX skin. For one, the homescreen is now arranged in a tidier “Klotski Grid” format that is said to be more efficient than the predecessor.

Users now also get “Nano Alerts” which are tiny popup widgets that provide context-based alerts such as details on upcoming flights, package delivery status, and more.

What further sets Nano Alerts, apart from their compact UI, is that they can also be displayed on the Always-On Display.

The retouching of how alerts are displayed also carries over to Public Alerts such as earthquake alerts and pandemic information, and these have been integrated into the UX in a more intuitive manner.

Beyond health and emergency alerts, the new UX also brings over weather elements as a Live Wallpaper. Vivo says that the shape, size, and density of the cloud layer is simulated after they sampled through data from thousands of different regions. The weather and even the moving speed of the clouds will vary across regions.

If you want to stick to your own wallpaper, OriginOS will give you an option to integrate different effects onto the wallpaper. The wallpaper that you choose can thus change its look by varying light and shadow effects.

And if you are still looking for more live wallpapers, there’s a new live wallpaper that captures the blooming process of several flowers.

Under the hood, OriginOS also packs in several changes. “Enhanced Memory Fusion Technology 1.0” uses a three-step process (memory integration, process optimization, and application pre-loading) to make for a better and smoother experience. “Multi-Turbo 5.0” allows for optimal allocation of computing resources, application preloading 2.0, intelligent app freezing technology 2.0, and more. While all of these sound good, it remains to be seen how they translate into observable, real-life improvements.

And finally, there is also a new pull-down menu for opening a Control Center for direct IoT control.

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Vivo OriginOS Rollout Schedule

OriginOS based on Android 11 will roll out in batches for the following phones in China:

• Batch 0 (Shipping with Origin OS):
  • Next-generation X series
• Batch 1 – First Open Beta in January 2021:
  • Nex 3S
  • Vivo X50 Pro
  • Vivo X50 Pro+
  • Vivo X50
  • Vivo S7
  • iQOO 5 Pro
  • iQOO 5
  • iQOO 3
  • iQOO
  • iQOO Pro
  • iQOO Neo 3
• Batch 2 – First Open Beta in February 2021:
  • Nex 3/Nex 3 5G
  • iQOO Neo
  • Vivo X30/X30 Pro
  • iQOO Neo Snapdragon 855 Edition
• Batch 3 – First Open Beta in Q2 2021:
  • Vivo X27 Pro
  • Vivo X27
  • Vivo X27 (8+128)
  • Vivo S6
  • Vivo Z6
  • Vivo Z5i
  • Vivo S1
  • Vivo Z5x
  • Vivo Z5
  • iQOO Z1X
  • iQOO Z1
  • Nex Dual Display Edition
  • Nex S
  • Nex

Exact dates have not been provided. Vivo has also not provided any information on when these updates will be reaching devices outside of China. We hope to hear more from them soon.

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What are your thoughts on Vivo OriginOS based on Android 11? Let us know in the comments below!

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Digital Wellbeing preps “Heads Up” to stop you from using your phone while walking

Earlier today, version 1.0.342229637.beta of the Digital Wellbeing app rolled out on the Google Play Store. While the update doesn’t include any significant additions on the surface, we’ve spotted code for an upcoming feature, called Heads Up, that will stop you from using your phone while walking.

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.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Mishaal Rahman, has managed to enable the feature manually, and here’s what it looks like:

As you can see in the attached screenshots, the unreleased Heads Up feature shows up in the Digital Wellbeing settings within the Reduce Interruptions section. Tapping on the option opens a setup screen, with the description: “Watch your step with Heads Up…If you’re walking while using your phone, get a reminder to focus on what’s around you…Use with caution. Heads Up doesn’t replace paying attention.”

You can then tap on the Next button in the bottom right corner to start the setup process. Once the feature is successfully set up, it will bring up a reminder if you’re using your phone while walking. In case you wish to disable the reminders, you’ll have to tap on the “Heads Up” option in the Digital Wellbeing settings once again and then tap on the toggle next to the Heads Up option on the following page. This page will also show the permissions required by the feature — Physical Activity and Location (optional) — and it will also feature a feedback button at the bottom.

As mentioned earlier, the Heads Up feature is still a work in progress, and it hasn’t rolled out to users. However, the feature appears to be nearly fully functional, so it could roll out soon. We’ll update this post as soon as the feature rolls out to users on the beta channel. Along with the upcoming Heads Up feature, Google is working on bringing a work profile scheduler and a Mindful wallpaper feature to the Digital Wellbeing app. These features were spotted in APK teardowns of the app earlier this year in September.

Digital Wellbeing (Free, Google Play) →

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Thanks to PNF Software for providing us a license to use JEB Decompiler, a professional-grade reverse engineering tool for Android applications.

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Xiaomi redesigned the power menu and volume panel in the latest MIUI 12 beta

Xiaomi recently rolled out an MIUI 12 beta update that included new strings of code for three unreleased display features — MEMC, SDR-to-HDR upmapping, and AI upscaling. The build also included short clips showcasing these features, which led us to believe that the company was preparing to introduce these display features on its upcoming flagship — the Mi 11 Pro. While we’re yet to receive any confirmation from Xiaomi about these display features, the company has now released another MIUI 12 beta update that brings a redesigned power menu and volume panel.

XDA Senior Member kacskrz spotted (via MIUIPolska) the new power menu and volume panel in the latest MIUI 12 beta update based on Android 11. As you can see in the attached screenshots, the new power menu looks like the power menu on Realme UI and appears as a wide slider in the center of the display. The slider has a white button in the center, which you can move up to switch off your device or move down to reboot it.

The redesigned power menu also has new animations, as seen in the video attached below. When you move the button to the Power off position, it changes color from white to red, and the blue arrows on it are replaced by the power icon. Moving it to the Reboot position changes the color to green, and the arrows are replaced by a circle. In both cases, the blurred background gradually fades to black when the button is moved.

The volume panel now appears as a wide slider with a three-dot menu button at the top and the Ringer and DND toggles underneath. The volume slider controls the ringer volume by default, but tapping on the three-dot menu button opens up additional volume controls.

As the attached video demonstrates, the expanded volume panel includes three sliders that let you control the ringer, media, and alarm volume. The Ringer and DND toggles also expand in size.

It’s worth noting that the new power menu is restricted to Xiaomi devices running Android 11 based builds of MIUI 12. But the new volume panel has no such restrictions. The Xiaomi.eu team is working to remove these restrictions and plans to release an updated beta version of the ROM with the new power menu and volume panel by the end of this week.

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WhatsApp tests new wallpaper features, video muting, and a read later feature

WhatsApp is by far one of the most popular IM apps out there, if not the most popular. The app is used by millions of people around the world every day. But as opposed to its massive scale of operations, newer features are slower to roll out to the IM app. After rolling out features like Disappearing Messages and Storage Management tools, WhatsApp is now testing new features like more wallpaper options, muting videos, and Read Later.

Wallpaper Features for WhatsApp

WABetaInfo spotted new wallpaper related features in a recent beta. In the future, users will be able to set different wallpapers for each chat individually, edit the opacity of their wallpaper, choose between 32 new Bright wallpapers, 29 new Dark wallpapers, a custom wallpaper, and Solid Colors, and apply the WhatsApp Doodle on the Solid Color options.

Muting Videos

Further, WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp will also allow you to mute a video before sending it forward to a contact.

Read Later

The Read Later feature is an extension of the Vacation Mode feature that was spotted in the past, as WABetaInfo reports. The idea is to keep archived chats separate from the main conversation screen, and keep it there even when new messages arrive. You also will not get a notification for these new messages, and you don’t need to mute the chat for this. You will also be able to set the behavior on whether chats with new messages should be moved back to the main chats list.

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It is important to remember that all of these features are still under testing, either on the Android Beta or on the iOS Beta branches. Knowing how past rollout trends for these in-development features, it’s going to be a while before they roll out in the Stable branch. We’ll keep you updated when they do.

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Google announces new deadline for Android apps to request background location access

In February, it was revealed that existing apps that request a user’s background location would need to be approved by Google. A deadline of November 2 of this year was originally set, but that date has been pushed back, giving developers more time to seek approval.

Google revealed the new dates on its Android Developers blog. The search giant said that if your app uses background location data, you must submit a form for review and receive approval by January 8, 2021. Developers who don’t receive approval risk having their apps pulled from Google Play. Existing apps that were first published before April 16, 2020 have until March 29, 2021.

Along with the new dates, Google share a handful of tips for getting your app approved.

• If your app has multiple features that use background location, choose the one that provides the most user benefit. Describe in detail why background (and not foreground) location is needed and how it is used.
• You must include a short video that shows how users will encounter your prominent disclosure, location-based feature and enable it in-app. If your video doesn’t show this or we can’t access the link, your request won’t be approved. We recommend that you upload it to YouTube or Google Drive.
• Remember to include a prominent in-app disclosure to explain to users what data is used and how.
• Ensure your privacy policy is clearly labeled and includes details on location data usage.

Google’s updated policies are meant to give users more control and transparency over data access. Apps that request background location access can only do so if it’s critical to the app’s core functionality and provides clear user benefit. The company said most apps that requested background location didn’t actually need it, and removing or changing it to foreground improved device battery life.

When Android 11 was released, Google gave users more control over background location data by granting a “one-time” permission. That meant apps could only access data until the app was closed, and when the app was opened again, it would have to ask for permission again.

Google has created a number of tools that developers can refer to in order to meet the deadlines. With the year quickly coming to an end, the dates are coming up fast.

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Alexa routines can now include Amazon Fire TV commands

Amazon announced that Alexa routines now work with Fire TV commands, allowing users to execute multiple actions across your smart home devices.

For example, while watching The Boys, you can say, “Alexa, I’m getting a snack,” and Alexa will pause your Fire TV and turn on your smart lights. You could then say, “Alexa, I’m back,” and Alexa will resume your show and turn off your lights. That’s just one example. The routines you create are limited to your imagination.

Amazon revealed that in a survey that 75 percent of U.S. respondents said they pause their show or movie at least once per night, so being able to easily pause your TV through Alexa routines could come in handy for a lot of people.

With the Alexa app, you can set up your own custom routines with a wide range of actions to choose from. You can open a specific app, play specific content, turn on/off your TV, and much more. You can also control your smart home devices, including changing the temperature on your thermostat. It’s getting cold across the U.S., so you might consider creating a routine that will turn up the temperature.

Alexa routines have been a key part of the assistant’s core functionality for a while, and it’s nice to see support continue to land on other devices. If you’re unfamiliar with Alexa routines, they’re essentially shortcuts for Alexa. You can group together a bunch of actions and execute them by saying one key phrase. They can be activated by voice or at a certain time of day.

Amazon said Alexa routines supports all Fire TV devices. However, if you’re using a Fire TV Stick, you’ll need a TV that supports Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) to turn your TV on and off as part of a routine.

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