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jeudi 19 novembre 2020

Google details when developers have to use Android App Bundles for publishing on the Play Store

Google on Thursday detailed when developers will have to use Android App Bundles for publishing on the Play Store.

The search giant said beginning August 2021, the Google Play Console will require all new apps to publish with the Android App Bundle (.abb) format. Google first introduced the alternative app distribution format at IO 2018, and later provided more details over this past summer.

As we explained, the goal of the Android App Bundle is to reduce the file size of the final Android Application Package (.apk) delivered to the user, reducing the installation size and download time for users.

The .abb file contains APK files for the base application size and all supported architectures (ARM, ARM64, and x86), languages, and layout variants. This format requires giving a copy of your app’s signing key to Google so the Google Play Developer Console can generate a bundle with signed versions of each APK in the bundle; the correct APK for a particular device’s architecture, language, and layout are delivered via Google Play Dynamic Delivery.

Google said that the switch to Android App Bundle delivery will also impact instant experiences using legacy Instant app ZIP format. Beginning August 2021, the search giant said new instant experiences and updates to existing instant experiences will be required to publish instant-enabled app bundles.

From a consumer standpoint, not much will change. But developers and diehard users might notice some differences. Android App Bundles will make redistribution on other platforms more difficult, while AABs are harder to manually sideload, which could cause some headaches.

Google also said beginning August 2021, Google Play Console will require all new apps to utilize Play Asset Delivery or Play Feature Delivery to deliver assets or features that exceed download size of 150MB. Expansion files (OBBs) will no longer be supported for new apps. Developers will also be required to Target API level 30 (Android 11).

The post Google details when developers have to use Android App Bundles for publishing on the Play Store appeared first on xda-developers.



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NFC and USI collaborate to wirelessly charge styluses with a smartphone

The NFC Forum and Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) have announced a partnership that will allow mobile devices to wirelessly charge styluses.

The collaboration will allow hardware manufacturers to integrate the NFC Forum’s new Wireless Charging Specification (WLC) into products that adhere to USI standards, making it easy to charge them on the go. The NFC Forums unveiled its WLC standard earlier this year, detailing the benefits of charging via Near Field Communications (NFC).

One of the biggest benefits is that devices that integrate the NFC Forum’s WLC have more space for other components, including larger batteries. Traditional wireless charging requires dedicated coils that take up space, which is at a premium in smaller devices. By utilizing WLC, manufacturers don’t have to worry about accommodating those coils.

The only downside is the maximum output of the NFC Forum’s WLC is 1W. For styluses, which have small batteries, that shouldn’t be much of an issue. But it may pose a problem in devices that contain larger batteries such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.

The NFC Forum’s WLC uses the 13.56 MHz base frequency and leverages the NFC communication link to control the power transfer. As we explained earlier this year, there are two modes for charging: static and negotiated mode. The static mode uses standard radio frequency field strength and provides a consistent power level. The negotiated mode uses a higher RF field supporting four power transfer classes of 250, 500, 750 and 1000 milliwatts.

It’s unclear what new devices will include the NFC Forum’s WLC standard, but we will likely see products equipped with the technology sometime next year.

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Fitbit Versa 3, Sense get Google Assistant support with Fitbit OS 5.1 update

Fitbit has announced Google Assistant will roll out on select devices as part of its next firmware update. The fitness tracker firm which is expected to complete a takeover from Google by year-end will be bringing the voice assistant to the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 when they are upgraded to Fitbit OS 5.1, which begins its rollout today.

The keen-eyed amongst you will have spotted that this means that both devices will now be able to offer Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, the latter of which was already available on the Versa 2 and 3. At launch, Google Assistant won’t be able to reply to you through the built-in speaker as happens with Alexa, but this functionality is expected to be added in the first half of 2021. Instead, responses will appear in text format on the screen.

Android users will be able to dictate replies to SMS messages on their wrists, in addition to being able to use the speaker and mic to take calls via Bluetooth, as if you were Dick Tracy or a Thunderbird. In fact, little of the Google Assistant functionality is contained within the watch. All voice requests are sent via Bluetooth back to the phone for processing, so you won’t be able to use it if you leave your phone at home when you go for a run.

Google Assistant will be available in Fitbit OS 5.1 for the Sense and Versa 3, which is available from today. It’s only available in US-English right now, so you’ll only see it in the USA, with Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom before 2020 is through. We assume this is to give them a few weeks to fine-tune the various global English dialects. When additional languages are available in early 2021, expect to see it roll out in Belgium, French Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Spain and Switzerland too.

The post Fitbit Versa 3, Sense get Google Assistant support with Fitbit OS 5.1 update appeared first on xda-developers.



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The new Realme 7 5G is one of the UK’s cheapest 5G phones

Realme on Thursday introduced the Realme 7 5G, an affordable 5G option headed for the UK.

On paper, the smartphone packs a real punch, featuring a 6.5-inch 120Hz FHD+ LCD, a MediaTek 800U processor, and support for 5G networks. The device also comes equipped with up to 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a beefy 5000mAh battery. The Realme 7 5G comes with a Dart Charge brick and supports 30W charging, so you can replenish the battery from 0 percent to 50 percent in less than 30 minutes.

The Realme 7 5G also sports a quad-camera setup, which includes a 48MP main sensor, 8MP ultra wide-angle lens, 2MP macro lens, and 2MP black and white sensor for portrait mode. The device also features a 16MP front-facing camera, which lives in a small hole punch in the top left corner of the display.

Specification Realme 7 5G
Dimensions & Weight
  • 162.2mm x 75.1mm x 9.1mm
  • 195g
Display 6.5″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080), 120Hz
SoC MediaTek Dimensity 800U
RAM & Storage
  • Up to 8GB (LPDDR4x)
  • 128GB (UFS 2.1, expandable)
Battery & Charging 5,000 mAh with 30W Dart Charge
Rear Camera(s)
  • 48MP wide-angle (f/1.8)
  • 8MP ultra-wide (FoV 119°, f/2.3)
  • 2MP B&W portrait (f/2.4)
  • 2MP macro (f/2.4)
Front Camera(s) 16MP (FoV 79.3°, f/2.1)
Port(s)
  • USB-C
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity
  • 2.4/5 GHz
  • 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
  • Bluetooth 5.1
Software Realme UI (Android 10)

Rounding out the device is a side-mounted capacitive fingerprint sensor, support for Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. And for those who need more storage, you can expand the device’s storage using a microSD card.

As far as budget devices go, the Realme 7 5G is a winner on paper. About our only complaint is that it’s launching with Android 10 (with Realme UI) instead of Android 11. Even still, the Realme 7 5G offers a lot without breaking the bank.

The Realme 7 5G, which launches in Mist Blue and Flash Silver, will retail for £279 through Amazon when it launches on November 27. However, consumers can take advantage of a Black Friday price of £229, making it one of the most affordable 5G phones in the UK.

    Realme 7 5G
    The new Realme7 5G packs a real punch without breaking the bank. It features a quad-camera setup, 5000mAh battery, and supports 5G. And it's cheap, making it a great 5G option in the UK market.

The post The new Realme 7 5G is one of the UK’s cheapest 5G phones appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google tests E2E encryption in Messages after rolling out RCS globally

Google has announced plans to launch end-to-end encryption in its Messages app for Android. The news comes on the back of the completion of the global rollout of its RCS-based chat features after the company decided last year to roll out access to the service itself, rather than waiting for telcos to enable it.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) brings the aged SMS standard into the instant-chat age, offering group chats, emojis, and higher quality photo and video sharing. It also brings online status, typing, and read indicators. The slow pace of global availability of the standard has led most people to switch to services like WhatsApp and Messenger. Last year, Google announced that it would start offering its own RCS servers,  beginning with the UK and France, thus bypassing carriers who were showing no sign of enabling it. Following launches in several other countries, that process has now completed and Chat features via Google are now available worldwide. The result is a service more akin to iMessage on Apple devices, and with more scope to be integrated with other messenger standards.

As part of the announcement, Google has confirmed that Messages will soon support end-to-end encryption (E2E) – one of the most attractive features of other chat packages – beginning with one-to-one conversations using RCS in Google Messages. Google confirms that means that “no one, including Google and third parties” will be able to see what either party has said at any point. Even if the message is intercepted by hackers, it’ll be unreadable. Google will begin rolling out E2E to beta testers beginning this month, and into early 2021. When it becomes available, any conversations that meet the criteria will be automatically upgraded to E2E. By eligible, we mean that both parties will have to be using Messages, with Chat Features switched on.

Despite being used by thousands of companies for two-factor authentication, the SMS standard is now almost 30 years old and increasingly insecure. The arrival of RCS and E2E will hopefully bring text messaging back to life for another 30 years. Google Chat, which is due to replace Hangouts next year also works using RCS, which might signal that one day, Google will actually have a coherent messaging strategy and bring everything together.

Messages (Free, Google Play) →

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Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 bands in 2020: Options for every style!

So you’ve got your Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, and you love it, but it somehow doesn’t scream “you”, style-wise. Fortunately, both the 41mm and 46mm models have access to a kaleidoscope of alternative bands so there’s bound to be the perfect one for you, available officially. And if not, you can buy a few alternatives and change them with your mood. Make sure you know which size you have before you order – 20mm for the smaller model, 22mm for the larger. Here’s Samsung’s official efforts, and some third-party designs we couldn’t resist.

    Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Stitch Leather Band

    The premium choice in the official range, this leather band is available in black or brown, with white stitching detail, a standard buckle fastener and two bands to hold the excess leather in place. It is a great choice if you want to give your device a professional vibe, but at $79.00, it is easily the most expensive strap in this list.
    Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Ridge Sport Band

    A more familiar style for anyone who bought their watch as a fitness tool. The silicone strap is about the stark, strong recessed strip in the middle, and the way that silicone allows the watch to hug the wrist - great for those heart rate measurements. It is available in gray or black directly from the Samsung website.
    Vigoss Replacement Watch 3 Band

    Sometimes, a plain old strap just will not do. For real self-expression, you need to find something a little bit funkier. These soft silicone straps come in a variety of patterns. We have gone for the Leopard Print, but you might fancy camo, daisies, or erm… black flower cow skull. Either way, these are a cut above a plain black watch strap for around ten bucks.
    MoKo Band Silicone Six Pack

    This is a six strap package, for just twenty bucks. And the good news is that although they can look a bit ‘chunky’ compared to the originals, buyers have raved about the design and comfort. Thanks to a quick-release clasp, you can easily switch between the six colors - red, yellow, blue, white, black, and green. Or mix them up for funky combinations!
    Kartice Metal Band

    It’s amazing how just changing the watchband can make a watch look and feel entirely different, and nowhere is that more noticeable than with stainless steel bands like this one from Kartice. Available in Black, Light Black, Silver and Light Silver, adding a metal band gives your S3 a feeling of urban utilitarianism, and just a smattering of style.
    UAG Nato Watch Strap

    Although NATO watch straps are tough, comfortable, and cheap; many NATO straps will cover the back of the watch and block the heart rate sensor. Urban Armor has given us the best of both worlds with this NATO-style nylon strap that will not interfere with the watch function. At present, it is only available in grey.
    Wearlizer Slim Leather Band

    One of the complaints we hear the most about smartwatches is that they are too chunky for smaller, thinner wrists. Although we cannot do anything about the size, a slim watch strap like this one can lend your Watch 3 a little more grace and will not look quite so odd when paired with the outfit you’re wearing out tonight, especially as it comes in a rainbow of color options.
    Konafei Multilayer Vintage Cuff Bracelet

    If you are the sort of person that loves the tech, but also has a seriously hippy streak, this unusual strap could be right for you. Part watch strap, part bead bracelet, this is meant to be a DIY bracelet - remove beads, add more beads, add charms, whatever you choose, you have a leather lace holding it all in place and a solid metal buckle.
    LeRobo Soft Silicone Sports Wristband

    A watch band full of holes might seem like an odd choice, but these air holes allow sweat to dry up more quickly, meaning you will not have to peel off the strap after a long workout. These sports straps do the job, whilst taking home the prize for the cheapest entry in this list at under $8, you can probably pick up more than one of the 15 colors.

Although we’ve only scratched the surface here – there are pages and pages of aftermarket watch straps on Amazon alone – we’ve tried to give you a flavor of the different types out there – posh ones, scruffy ones, funky ones, sporty ones. Because they’re all very different and subjective, we’re not going to pick our favorite, but hopefully, there’s one here that’s right for you. If not, let us know what you chose and we might add it to a future update. Just remember – pick one that’s right for your variant of the watch, your size of wrist, and if you’re looking beyond those made specifically for smartwatches, make sure you don’t get one that covers up the sensors on the watch back! In fact, given that you can buy multiple bands for the price of Samsung’s official leather one, why not buy a few and change the look to suit your mood?

The post Best Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 bands in 2020: Options for every style! appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google Camera 8.0 mod brings the Pixel 5’s camera app to OnePlus, Xiaomi, ASUS, and other phones

The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G were launched with a new version of the Google Camera app (v8.0) that featured a revamped UI and some exciting new features. While the app was initially reserved for Google’s latest phones, the company recently released Google Camera 8.1 which brought the new UI, Cinematic pan mode, and the Storage Saver feature to older Pixel devices. Now, thanks to the efforts of XDA Senior Member Arnova8G2, you can enjoy the new Google Camera 8.0 UI and features on a bunch of non-Pixel devices.

Arnova8G2‘s latest Google Camera mod, which is based on Google Camera 8.0.101, is now available for the following devices:

The Google Camera 8.0 mod includes the revamped UI that debuted with the Pixel 5/4a 5G, which features new buttons, a quick zoom toggle, quick access for video modes, a new icon for video recording, and cues to help users click a better image. As you’d expect, the mod also includes new features like Audio Zoom, Cinematic Pan, the Storage Saver mode, and social share for videos. Our Editor-in-Chief, Mishaal Rahman, tested the mod on his ASUS ZenFone 7 Pro, and he was able to access all of these new features on the device.

Google Camera 8.0 mod

If you’re wondering why the Google Camera mod is available for Google’s Pixel lineup, that’s because it enables additional options/tuning on Pixel phones that aren’t available in the regular app. The mod also unlocks some of the Pixel 5’s camera features that haven’t been released for older Pixel devices. In case you have any of the aforementioned devices, you can download the latest Arnova8G2 GCam mod by following the link below.

Download Arnova8G2’s GCam 8.0 mod

Arnova8G2’s GCam mod thread on XDA Forums

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