Google’s affordable Pixel 6a is officially coming to India later this year

Pixel fans in India rejoice! The newly announced Pixel 6a is officially coming here, marking the return of Google’s Pixel line to the Indian smartphone market after nearly a two-year hiatus.

There have been rumors in the past weeks that Google might bring the Pixel 6a to India, and that has indeed turned out to be the case. While Google’s official announcement didn’t make any mention of the international availability of the Pixel 6a, the company Tweeted out last night that the phone will be coming to India later this year.

We’re so thrilled to announce that the Pixel 6a is coming to India later this year
More details #GoogleIO https://t.co/WsYLhBu6ud

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) May 11, 2022

There’s no word on pricing yet. But it’s safe to assume the device will be reasonably priced — anything in the ballpark of ₹30,000-40,000 will be considered competitive. Google is also not giving us a proper launch date yet, just a vague “later this year” timeframe. Here’s hoping Google won’t make us wait until Diwali to get our hands on its new mid-ranger.

The Pixel 4a had a good run in India, with Google unable to restock enough units to meet the growing demand. We expect the new Pixel 6a to do even better — though it will all depend on how Google prices the phone.

The Pixel 6a offers a solid hardware package at a bargain price, including a premium design, Google’s in-house Tensor SoC, dual 12MP cameras with new photo editing features, a 4,306mAh battery, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The phone will be available for pre-order in the US starting July 21, with sales kicking from July 28 onwards. It comes in three colors: Chalk, Charcoal, and Sage.

Android fans in India, are you going to pick up the Pixel 6a when it launches here? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Google’s affordable Pixel 6a is officially coming to India later this year appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/ubiGX5E
via IFTTT

Download: Android 13 beta is now available for the Realme GT 2 Pro

Android 13 Beta 1, as the name implies, is the first beta from Google for its upcoming Android release. It came after two Developer Preview builds. While the Developer Preview phase remained restricted to Google Pixel smartphones, the beta has been making its way to several other devices from other OEMs. OnePlus, for example, just released an Android 13 preview build for the OnePlus 10 Pro. Now, Realme has announced Android 13 Beta 1 for its flagship Realme GT 2 Pro.

The Android 13 beta is available as a part of the Developer Preview program by Realme. Unlike stable versions of software for Realme devices, the current beta for the Realme GT 2 Pro lacks several Realme UI-specific features. The company recommends this build only to developers who want to test apps aimed at upcoming Android release. If you’re a regular user and just want to try out Android 13 on your smartphone, we shall warn you that the experience may be buggy and unstable, and thus, not usable.

Realme GT 2 Pro XDA Forums

---

Download: Android 13 Beta 1 for the Realme GT 2 Pro

Those willing to flash the update out can start by taking a backup of their devices. This part is absolutely necessary, as the upgrade process will completely wipe out the internal storage. Furthermore, make sure the phone is running the RMX3301_A.14 stable build.

If everything checks out, then download the beta firmware ZIP file from the link below and copy it to the smartphone. Next, navigate to Settings -> Software Update -> Settings in the upper right corner and manually select the installation package. The device will restart after installing the build.

• Realme GT 2 Pro
  • India (RMX3301_11_C.01)
    • Download Android 13 Beta 1
    • Rollback package

If you get stuck at any point during the first boot or want to revert back to Android 12-based stable Realme UI, you can use the rollback package. For more details, refer to the beta announcement thread linked below.

---

Source: Realme Community Forums

The post Download: Android 13 beta is now available for the Realme GT 2 Pro appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/nKAPROM
via IFTTT

Google I/O 2022: How to watch the company’s developer conference

Google I/O is the company’s yearly conference for developers, and it goes live in just a few hours! Last year, Google gave us a better look at Android 12 during I/O 2021. This year during I/O 2022, we will likely get an extensive preview of Android 13 — which is already in the beta testing phase. The company could also potentially reveal some new hardware during the event, such as the rumored Pixel 6A phone and all-new Pixel Watch. Ultimately, we won’t need to speculate later today, as Google will make all of the details official during the main keynote. Now you must be wondering — how and when can I watch Google I/O 2022? Here’s everything you need to know.

What time is the Google I/O 2022 event?

The Google I/O event goes live later today at:

• West Coast: 10 AM PT
• East Coast: 1 PM ET
• UK: 6 PM GMT
• India: 10:30 PM IST

How to watch the Google event

Main Keynote

The first and main keynote of Google I/O tends to be viewers’ favorite. The company’s CEO — Sundar Pichai — will likely reveal the major announcements and changes Google has been working on in this department. You can watch it through the company’s official YouTube live stream or on the Google I/O website.

Developer Keynote

The Developer Keynote follows the main one on the first day. It is mostly aimed at developers to learn about the latest APIs and under-the-hood changes in Google’s operating systems. You can also watch it through the company’s official YouTube live stream and the Google I/O website.

The rest of Google I/O Day 1 and Day 2

Following the main and developer keynotes, Google will then hold other sessions throughout the first and second I/O days. These include a deeper dive into what’s new in Android, in addition to updates to Firebase, AR, and other Google apps. You can see the full schedule of days 1 and 2 on the Google I/O website, as well.

What’s your wishlist for Google I/O 2022? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Google I/O 2022: How to watch the company’s developer conference appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/45yvH1V
via IFTTT

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 looks eerily familiar in these leaked renders

Over the last few weeks, we’ve seen multiple leaks about Samsung’s fourth-gen foldables — the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. While the leaks revealed a couple of design and hardware details about the upcoming devices, they have not showcased what they might actually look like upon release. That changes today, thanks to renowned leaker OnLeaks.

OnLeaks has shared leaked renders (via Smartprix) of Samsung’s upcoming flagship foldable — the Galaxy Z Fold 4. As you can see in the attached images, the device looks a lot like its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, except for some minor tweaks to the camera island and aspect ratio. The device drops the pill-shaped camera island in favor of a more minimal design, like the one found on Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S22 Ultra.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 also seems to be flatter than the Galaxy Z Fold 3, and a bit wider, giving it a boxier look. This falls in line with a recent leak claiming that Samsung has tweaked the aspect ratio of both the external and main displays. Other noteworthy design elements spotted in the renders include speaker grilles on the top and bottom edges, a USB Type-C port, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Furthermore, OnLeaks has revealed that the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will feature a 6.2-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch main display. It will measure 155 x 130 x 7.1mm when unfolded. In contrast, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 measured 67.1 x 158.2 x 14.4mm when folded and 128.1 x 158.2 x 6.4mm unfolded. This means that while the device will offer the same screen sizes as its predecessor, it will be a bit thicker overall.

While the latest leak doesn’t shed any light on the Galaxy Z Fold 4’s hardware, previous leaks suggest that it will pack a 4,400mAh battery, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, and the same telephoto lens as the Galaxy S22 Ultra. The device will reportedly come in three color options — Beige, Black, and Gray.

---

Source: Smartprix

The post The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 looks eerily familiar in these leaked renders appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/9FKDe2l
via IFTTT

Download: OnePlus 10 Pro gets its first Android 13 beta update for early adopters

Google released the first Android 13 Beta back in April, enabling not just developers but also curious users to fiddle with the upcoming version of Android. Although the beta release is currently limited to Google’s own lineup of Pixel smartphones, many other OEMs are likely to follow in the footsteps and release Android 13 betas for their devices. Now, OnePlus is pleased to announce that the OnePlus 10 Pro is eligible to get an early taste of Android 13.

OnePlus is releasing its first Android 13 Beta as part of its Developer Preview Program. This allows app developers and early adopters to get started on creating software for the next version of Android and, ultimately, OxygenOS 13. OnePlus reiterates that this build is best suited for “developers and other advanced users,” as it’s still in early development. Don’t flash this on your daily driver unless you’re prepared to deal with a truckload of bugs.

Here is the list of known issues with Android 13 on the OnePlus 10 Pro:

• All data will be cleared while flashing the build or rolling to Android 12
• Some issues with system stability and performance
• Unable to access Shelf
• Unable to move the documents in My Files
• Some apps may not function as expected
• Unable to record voice to active Voice awake on Start-up navigation page
• Some features of ORoaming may not function as expected

OnePlus cautions that there is a risk of bricking your phone when flashing this build. Hence, read the instructions very carefully before proceeding. Keep in mind that this build is only for the carrier unlocked OnePlus 10 Pro variants. Do not try to cross-flash this onto the OnePlus 9/9 Pro or other OnePlus models. Make sure your battery is at least above 30% and there is a minimum of 4GB of free space available before installing.

OnePlus 10 Pro XDA Forums

---

Download: Android 13 Developer Preview 1 for the OnePlus 10 Pro

You can find the download links of the region-specific update packages below. Note that the OnePlus 10 Pro from T-Mobile and Verizon are not compatible with the developer preview release. Make sure to backup your personal data before flashing.

• OnePlus 10 Pro
  • Global (NE2215_11.C.01)
    • Download Android 13 Developer Preview 1
    • Rollback package
  • Europe (NE2213_11.C.01)
    • Download Android 13 Developer Preview 1
    • Rollback package
  • India (NE2211_11.C.01)
    • Download Android 13 Developer Preview 1
    • Rollback package

In order to install the Developer Preview release, do the following:

1. After downloading the appropriate update ZIP file, copy it to the phone storage.
2. Go to Settings -> About device -> Version -> Click the Build number 7 times and enter the password to unlock the Developer options.
3. Now we can apply the update.
   • For European and Indian models, go back Settings -> About device -> Up to date -> click the top right button -> Local install -> locate the update package -> Extract -> Upgrade -> wait to finish the installation.
   • For the global model, download and install this APK. Next, open the app -> tap the top-right gear icon -> find the update package and tap it -> wait to finish the installation.
4. After the upgrade is complete, click Restart.
5. The phone should boot to Android 13 Developer Preview.

---

Source: OnePlus Community Forums

The post Download: OnePlus 10 Pro gets its first Android 13 beta update for early adopters appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/8rH7GF5
via IFTTT

Sony’s new Xperia I IV brings a 4K 120Hz display, improved zoom lens, and a large battery

Sony has long given up on the idea of competing against big smartphone OEMs in every market at every possible price bracket. Instead of trying to appeal to mainstream buyers, the company has embraced its identity as a niche player and seems content with catering to a small but dedicated audience. The company’s Xperia 1 line has always stood out from the crowd for its unique characteristics and promoting features that have long disappeared from the mainstream flagships. Today, the Japanese smartphone maker unveiled the next iteration of its flagship, dubbed the Xperia I IV.

Sony Xperia I IV: Specifications

Specification	Sony Xperia I IV
Dimensions and Weight	166 x 72 x 8.9mm 211g
Display	6.5-inch 4K OLED HDR (3840 x 1644) 120Hz refresh rate 240Hz touch sampling rate 100% DCI-P3 HDR BT.2020 (Rec.2020) D65 White point 21:9 aspect ratio Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
SoC	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 1x ARM Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz 3x ARM Cortex-A710 @ 2.50GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A510 @ 1.80GHz Adreno 730 GPU 4nm process
RAM and Storage	12GB RAM 256GB/512GB storage MicroSD card support
Battery & Charging	5,000 mAh battery 30W fast charger (inside the box) Wireless charging Reverse wireless charging
Rear Camera	Camera setup: Primary: 12MP, f/1.7, 24mm, 1/1.7″, 1.8µm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.2, 16mm, 1/2.6″, Dual Pixel PDAF Tertiary: 12MP periscope, f/2.3-2.8, 85mm-125mm, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF Quaternary: 3D iToF sensor Features: ZEISS optics 120fps read out speed (all lenses) 20fps AF/AE tracking burst with noise reduction (all lenses) 60fps continuous AF/AE calculations Real-time Eye AF (all lenses) AI super resolution zoom Optical SteadyShot with FlawlessEye Cinema Pro 4K 120fps recording with up to 5x slow motion
Front Camera	12MP
Ports	USB Type-C port 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	5G (Sub-6Hz) Bluetooth 5.x 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi NFC GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
Other features	Full range front-firing stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-Res Audio 360 Reality Audio (through speakers) 360 Spatial Sound (over headphones) IP68 water and dust resistance Dedicated camera shutter button
Software	Android 12 out of the box

By and large, the Xperia I IV is an incremental upgrade, but it does bring some notable improvements to the table, including a brighter display, better telephoto and selfie cameras, new photography features, and a bigger battery.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV sticks to the same squared-off design that we have seen on the previous Xperia 1 models. You get a large 6.5-inch 4K OLED display on the front with a 120Hz refresh rate and 21:9 aspect ratio. While the size and resolution are unchanged, the new panel is now up to 50% brighter than the last year.

Cameras are once again the main focus here. Sony hasn’t fallen for the megapixel race, choosing to use the good old 12MP resolution sensor for all three cameras. The main shooter has an f/1.7 aperture with 24mm equivalent focal length, optical image stabilization, and 1.8-micron pixels. The 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide shooter is the same as the last year.

The telephoto sensor is where we see an upgrade. Sony has used a variable periscope zoom lens that can seamlessly switch between different focal lengths between 85mm and 125mm. That means you can now shoot at 90mm, 100mm, or any other focal length between the 85mm-125mm range without degrading the resolution. This wasn’t possible on the Xperia 1 III, which could only switch between two focal lengths: 70mm and 105mm.

All three lenses offer 120fps read-out speeds, Real-time Eye AF, 20fps burst shooting with HDR, and 60fps continuous autofocus and auto-exposure calculations. Other noteworthy camera features include 4K 120fps video recording, Videography Pro with Live streaming support, and improved HDR video recording. Over on the front, the selfie camera has been upgraded from 8MP to 12MP.

Under the hood, the Xperia 1 IV is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage. The phone packs a large 5,000mAh battery — a step up from the 4,500mAh cell on the Xperia 1 III — and supports fast wired, wireless, and reverse wireless charging.

Sony is one of the few OEMs that pays close attention to the audio experience, and the new Xperia 1 IV is a testament to that. The phone comes equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack, full-range dual stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, 360 Reality Audio, and Hi-Res Audio support. The on-device speakers are now much louder thanks to the addition of an extra booster unit, improving the low-range sound.

On the software side, the Xperia I IV runs a near-stock version of Android 12 out of the box. Other noteworthy highlights include a side-mounted fingerprint reader, IP68 water and dust protection, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, a microSD card slot, and dual SIM.

Pricing & Availability

The Sony Xperia 1 IV is priced at $1,600 and will go on sale in September 2022. It’s available for pre-order starting today from Sony’s website in black and purple colors.

The post Sony’s new Xperia I IV brings a 4K 120Hz display, improved zoom lens, and a large battery appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/WfZojH5
via IFTTT

Netflix’s ad-supported tier could arrive by end of 2022

Streaming giant Netflix recently reported a loss of subscribers for the first time in ten years. Unfortunately, that loss of nearly 200,000 subscribers looks to be just the tip of the iceberg. The company has also forecasted that things could get much worse, leading to even more user hemorrhaging somewhere in the millions in Q2. Because of this, it looks like Netflix will add a lower-priced ad-supported tier to its streaming service.

For many years, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has talked about why Netflix doesn’t need to compromise its service with an ad-supported tier. However, last month, he changed his tune, and now reports are popping up that say the process to bring this new tier to the struggling service has accelerated. According to sources, this new ad-supported tier of Netflix could arrive by year’s end. The goal would be to launch it sometime in the final three months of 2022.  This would be an excellent time to introduce the service tier, as the holiday season does see a massive bump in viewership when compared to the rest of the year.

The goal would be to launch it sometime in the final three months of 2022

While its rivals offer ad-supported tiers, Netflix has been stubborn, choosing to continuously bump up its prices. Most recently, the service increased its monthly subscriptions in March 2022. At the moment, its Premium plan will cost $19.99 a month, while its Standard plan will cost $15.49, and its Basic plan comes in at $9.99. These prices don’t bode well when looking toward the competition. The company’s prices have steadily increased over the years and are in stark contrast to the original prices that were introduced in 2014. This doesn’t even put into consideration how much more crowded the streaming services scene has become, with consumers having an overwhelming number of choices.

Regardless of what path Netflix takes, it is sure to alter its customers’ experience. Netflix is in dire need of a new strategy, but will the ad-support tier be too little too late?

---

Source: The New York Times

The post Netflix’s ad-supported tier could arrive by end of 2022 appeared first on XDA.

from XDA https://ift.tt/Ttfla5P
via IFTTT