A Raspberry Pi is a great mini-computer that helps you explore computing without spending too much on a machine. With a size as small as a credit card, it offers numerous I/O ports, unlike Appl.. (*cough) $3000 machines that offer only two USB Type-C ports.
Raspberry Pi can run Ubuntu and its own operating system Raspbian, which, as the name suggests, is also based on Debian. But now, thanks to OmniROM, the first Android 11 port for Raspberry Pi 4 has arrived.
While Android ports on the older Raspberry Pi models exist, what makes this Android port special is it integrates low-level firmware, allowing Pi to run a regular Android version. This is quite tiresome work and requires a lot of patience and effort.
Users can boot into the ROM by either using a microSD card or an external USB storage media. The parameter can be set by heading over to the config.txt by enabling the needed overlay. Additionally, users can also select the MicroG variant if they prefer a “de-Googled” experience. Features like Wi-Fi hotspot, hardware-accelerated video playback, and screencast are currently broken.
This mod certainly didn’t come as a surprise as Android ROMs for Raspberry Pi’s have existed for a long time. Either way, it’s great to see the modding saga continue.
Download OmniROM based on Android 11 for the Raspberry Pi 4 here. Wondering how to install? Head over to this XDA thread.
Let us know in the comments section below how excited you are for the future development scene of the Raspberry Pi? Do let us know if you own one and what you use it for.
The bundled Apple services subscription plan, Apple One, has been launched in India. The country gets the Individual and Family plan options, priced at Rs 195/month and Rs 365/month.
Apple introduced the bundles last month with the Individual, Family, and Premier plans, but didn’t announce the Apple One release date. Now the service is launched in India, minus the Premier plan. This translates to no 2TB iCloud space or Apple News+ for users in India.
Apple One Plans And Pricing in India
In India, the Apple bundle brings Individual and Family plans for the Apple One service. Starting with the individual plan, you get Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB iCloud storage for Rs 195/month. If you go with the family plan instead, you get the same bundle but with an upgraded 200GB iCloud storage for Rs 365/month. As the name suggests, the family plan lets you share your Apple One Plan with up to 5 family members.
If we do the math here, then the standard Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade subscriptions will cost you Rs 99/month each. Combined, the trio will cost you Rs 297/month. Throw in the additional 50GB iCloud space (priced at Rs 75/month), and the total goes up to Rs 372. So if you get an Apple One subscription, you’re saving Rs 177/month and getting the exact same services. The family plan saves you Rs 201/month.
There’s a third Apple One bundle as well, which isn’t coming to India. The premier plan, which includes Apple News+ and the upcoming Apple Fitness+, isn’t available for Indian users right now. Another benefit of the premier plan is 2TB iCloud space with family sharing. If you use Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and need additional iCloud storage, Apple One bundles are a great deal. You can get an Apple One subscription here.
Today, we have two of the most awaited electric cars, Tesla Model S Plaid and Lucid Air Dream Edition, up for a head-to-head comparison. These two electric sedans have rivalries like no other in the EV industry. On one side, we have the successor of the undisputed Tesla Model S, and on the other side, we have a strong newbie Lucid Air Dream Edition.
The most interesting part is that the chief engineer of both the electric cars is the same man. In simple words, a former Tesla employee who served as chief engineer for Model S is now the CEO and CTO at Lucid Motors and the most prominent figure behind the development of Lucid Air.
However, he worked on the initial version of Model S and the Plaid variant is entirely developed by Tesla itself.
Before we move ahead here is a quick overview of both the cars.
Tesla Model S Plaid
Image: Tesla
Plaid is the upcoming top-end variant of Tesla Model S. When launched, it will be Tesla’s most high-end performing and flagship electric car.
Tesla recently announced details of the Model S Plaid . The Tesla Model S Plaid price starts at $139,900, and its deliveries will begin in late 2021.
Lucid Air Dream Edition
Image: Lucid Motors
Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan from the California-based EV maker Lucid Motors. It has four trims, and Lucid Air Dream Edition is the top variant of the electric sedan. Its makers have developed it specifically as a rival of Tesla Model S.
It’s scheduled to arrive in the spring 2021 and the price for Lucid Air Dream Edition starts from $169,000.
If we look at the on-paper specifications, then Tesla Model S Plaid seems better than Lucid Air. Also, Tesla claims it to be the quickest accelerating production car ever.
However, both electric sedans have an all-wheel-drive configuration, which contributes to providing a superior ride quality.
The most noticeable difference is in the top speed of both the EVs. In our personal opinion, the top speed of sedans bothers only a small portion of customers (racing enthusiasts) as many users never even try to achieve speeds above 150 mph.
However, it’s a personal opinion and those who like to test the limits of their vehicles can surely go for a better one.
Electric Range And Battery
Tesla Model S Plaid
Lucid Air Dream Edition
Electric Range
520+ Miles
503+ Miles
DC Fast Charging
Yes (250 kW)
Yes (350 kW)
The long-range variant of the Model S boasts a 100 kWh battery and can provide a 402 miles range. The electric range of the Plaid variant is 520 miles, which is 100 miles more than the current long-range variant. Most of the credit for this improvement goes to the newly developed 4680 battery cells used in the Plaid variant.
However, Tesla has not unveiled the size of the battery pack it incorporated into the Model S Plaid.
On the other hand, if we talk about Lucid Air Dream Edition then sources suggest it has a 113.0 kW battery pack. In addition, Lucid Motors claims that its electric sedan is the fastest charging EV ever. Its fast charging works on a 900V architecture and it’s capable of charging at a rate of 15 miles per minute.
It means within 20 minutes, you will have an electric range of 300 miles. Furthermore, the automaker provides three years of free charging at Electrify America.
In contrast, the charging rate of Tesla is relatively lower and you will have to pay to use its Superchargers.
Features
Tesla is one of the best electric vehicle makers globally and is famous for its next-gen technology. Since the Model S Plaid is its flagship sedan, it’s got the best features among its siblings. Some of the best features of the Model S include its advanced Autopilot system that runs on a Level 3 hardware chip, over the air software updates, an expansive 17-inch screen, heated seats, an expansive glass roof, and much more.
Though Lucid Air Dream Edition might have missed it by a fraction of seconds in performance, it’s a relatively premium car with luxury appeal. Lucid Motors claims that Air is a luxury electric sedan and thus comes loaded with premium features. The automaker provides a Design Your Vehicle option that allows customers to customize their car as per their needs.
Image: Lucid Motors
Apart from this, Lucid Air Dream Edition comes equipped with a Santa Monica interior decorated with Nappa Full Grain leather, glass canopy roof, a premium 3D sound system, and much more. Customers can also choose between the standard 21″ Aero Dream Edition wheels and 19″ Aero Range wheels.
Furthermore, similar to Tesla, Lucid Air Grand Touring is equipped with level 3 hardware autonomous driving chip and supports over the air updates.
However, Tesla is currently testing the Full Self Driving Beta version, which when completed will take its autonomous driving ability to the next level.
Which One Should You Buy? Tesla Model S Plaid Or Lucid Air Dream Edition
All EV enthusiasts on this planet are well aware of Tesla Model S, and most of them are die-hard fans of it. We cannot deny the value Tesla provides through its electric cars. We have been reporting on Tesla for quite a long time now, and we can say that it’s simply one of the best EV makers in the world right now.
However, there are a few issues that Tesla owners have reported quite often. Most of these issues are related to the built quality of their cars. There are chances that one could find not up to the mark paint quality or finish of it. Similarly, sometimes people find problems in the alignment and fitting of various plastic panels. Apart from these, we can’t say there’s anything to complain about.
On the other hand, we have Lucid Air which will be the first electric car of Lucid Motors. However, Lucid Motors is a reputed company with a specialization in making electric vehicle batteries and powertrains.
Thus, we can say it will be a good quality product with a low risk of failure. If we compare it with Tesla, then both electric cars are somewhat similar in performance. However, Lucid Air Dream Edition would be a more premium electric car, but there’s a significant difference of $21,510 in price.
In short, Tesla Model S Plaid should be your first option as it has better specs and is cheaper as well. However, if you want a touch of elegance with additional features then you can go for Lucid Air Dream Edition.
Which one will you choose? Drop your views in the comments section below.
A decade-long lawsuit between Apple and VirnetX has concluded with a Texas jury ordering Apple to pay the Nevada-based software company. Earlier this year, Apple paid VirnetX $454 million in a patent infringement case. Now it is instructed to pay $502.8 million. Bloomberg reported the development.
Both companies have locked horns in litigation since 2010 when VirnetX sued Apple of infringing four of its patents. The case involved two of the Cupertino giant’s key services, FaceTime and VPN on demand. Since 2016, the case took several turns in favor of both companies at times, ultimately settling with Apple ordered to pay up.
VirnetX Inc. Vs. Apple Inc.
Apple’s FaceTime feature was accused of infringing VirnetX patents
For the uninitiated, VirtnetX is a security software company that had patents to technology like VPN on-demand. Its case with Apple started when iOS devices started supporting FaceTime secure communication and VPN on demand.
VirnetX’s then accused Apple of patent infringement. The first major ruling in the trial came in 2016 when Apple was asked to pay $625 million for patent infringement. Later, a Federal Circuits judge quashed the verdict and ordered two retrials.
After the retrials, Apple was ordered to pay $302 million first and finally $439.7 million to VirnetX. In January 2019, Apple appealed against the court’s decision after the U.S. Patent And Trademark office invalidated VirtnetX patents. However, that appeal was rejected, and Apple was again told to pay the full amount in settlements.
Right before it locked horns with Apple, VirnetX took a $200 million settlement from Microsoft in 2010. That settlement, too, was about Microsoft having used VirnetX VPN patents without paying for them. The latter then filed an additional suit stating Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 were infringing upon its patents.
Bloomberg noted that a pending court complaint against VirnetX stated that the company is “plagued by nepotism, waste, and corporate governance failures.” It is so because its CEO Kendall Larsen’s family makes a fifth of the company’s 21 employees.
The recently launched iPhone 12 lineup with a refreshed design, 5G, and a more durable screen. What it didn’t come with is a charger in the box. Apple has decided to separately sell the power adapter as an accessory for $19.
The company is under fire from fans, with memes lighting up the internet, but there’s another side to the story too. Here, we’ll talk in detail about the iPhone 12 charger sold separately, and what it means for Apple and for you.
The Charger E-Waste Menace
If you buy the new iPhone 12 series, the box will come with just the iPhone, a USB Type-C to Lightning cable, a sim tool, and minimal paperwork. The box itself is smaller in size, and Apple says the reduced size means it can ship 70% more devices on a single pellet.
Apple says that the move is to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and that it aims to become carbon neutral by 2030. Before we start on what a blunder it is on Apple’s account to exclude chargers, let’s look at some facts. According to a European Parliament report from 2014, smartphone chargers are responsible for 51,000 tonnes of e-waste annually. While that number might be different now, it gives us an idea of where we are heading
Another report suggests that 3,50,000 phones are discarded globally every day, which adds up to 152 million phones in a year. Do all those phones come with chargers? Probably Yes. Then are all those chargers waste now? Yes again. If I look around my house, I can find working chargers of phones as old as my first Nokia 6600. It’s common for people to discard the devices while the chargers are lying around.
Apple’s own estimates count 2 billion iPhone chargers on the planet, but there are several catches to that statement. There may be 2 billion iPhone chargers out there, but we have no idea how many of those support fast charging, a feature that’s complimentary to having a new iPhone. Apple also says nothing about the number of power adapters with a USB-C port. So the 2 billion chargers include older, slower ones too.
iPhone 12 Charger Removal: Great Bad Timing!
Apple’s own website says that the box has a Type-C to Lightning cable, but you should use the older one.
It’s clear that we do have multiple chargers, or let me say it better, multiple useless chargers among us. Apple’s move of removing a charger from the box is good but ill-timed. The cable that comes with the iPhone 12 is a Type-C to lightning cable, but only iPhone 11 Pro users would have an Apple Type-C adapter.
There’s also no word on the wastage Apple is going to create by separately packaging the chargers. Unless Apple is going to ship chargers without packaging, there’s no chance they can save the extra materials that’ll go in the manufacturing, packaging, and shipping of all the new chargers.
Well, you can use any other Type-C adapters, but the majority of wall adapters that shipped with Android, as well as iOS devices, are USB Type-A. Encapsulating the whole deal, most of the users will have to buy a new charger for the iPhone 12. Period. Apple stepped up the game again here, giving the MagSafe alternative.
What might be bad timing for users is a marketing opportunity for Apple. The company knows that you’ll need a Type-C power adapter and it knows you’ll need the 20-watt one. It also knows that you’d go for a third-party adapter. So what Apple did is make that exact product and MagSafe to accompany it.
Apple Trends And The MagSafe
There’s one thing that we can undeniably say about Apple. It sets trends. Apple was the first to go with the idea of removing the headphone jack, adding a notch to the display, and now removing the charger. In terms of software too, Apple came up with facial recognition.
When you talk about these features that are now a trend in the industry, charger removal seems like a move that companies may follow in the near future. In fact, there are reports already that Samsung may ditch the charger in their next S-series flagship.
Coming to MagSafe, it is the latest trend that Apple has come up with. While the company introduced a MagSafe charger, cases, and a wallet that sticks to the back of the iPhone 12, third-party manufacturers may do far more than that. It’s the latest Apple gig, but there are certain things you need to be careful about.
First, you’ll have to have to buy a MagSafe leather wallet if you want to carry credit cards in the same pocket as your iPhone. It is so because your cards are shielded from the iPhone’s magnets when it’s in the wallet. Secondly, if we talk about environmental viability, wireless chargers waste a lot of energy. A recent report stated that wireless charging consumes as much as 47% more energy.
It’s amply clear that Apple can get you to buy MagSafe only if traditional chargers are out of the equation. So the company has done exactly that but given some choice to the users by including a charging cable in the box. So you can either for the traditional power adapter or choose MagSafe.
Right And Wrong
Before you think it’s unethical, it’s absolutely okay to do what Apple has done, but the company is treading on thin ice. Removal of a charger makes sense for a bigger picture, good. However, Apple is showing signs of introducing an entirely wireless iPhone lineup.
The company first introduced AirPods with a wireless case and then got rid of the Apple Watch charging port. Finally, the removal of the wall adapter from the iPhone 12 packaging sends out a clear message from Apple. Wireless charging is still far from perfect, and it might be some time before Apple switches to an entirely cable-free ecosystem, but the company is banking on a wireless future.
Last month, we reported about a Linux multi-touch gesture recognizer app called Touchégg. A completely revised version 2.0.0 arrived as a major update after more than years of gap.
As the rewritten version of Touchégg became compatible with the latest Linux desktop tech stack, its developer José Expósito has now announced a new Touchégg v2.0.2 with more important enhancements.
Before I speak about v2.0.2, those who’re unfamiliar with Touchégg, it’s a Linux app that runs in the background and transforms the gestures you make on your touchpad into visible actions on your desktop. For example, you can swipe up with 3 fingers to maximize a window or swipe left with 4 fingers to switch to the next desktop.
Now coming to the latest Touchégg 2.0.2, it has added support for the touchscreen. This means you can now also use PINCH and SWIPE gestures on your touchscreen device to perform actions.
Here you can watch the demo of Touchégg v2.0.2 with touchscreen support running on a Raspberry Pi 4 using pi-top’s touchscreen on Debian.
Other important updates include smooth animation, even if you’re using devices with limited resources like Raspberry Pi 4.
In addition to switching between desktops/workspaces through previous/next direction using CHANGE_DESKTOP action, you can now also use up/down/left/right direction for a grid of desktops.
Furthermore, with v2.0.2, the desktop file of Touchégg is included to autostart programs on installation. Hence, you can avoid adding its desktop file to autostart manually.
However, if you’ve already moved the desktop file to /etc/xdg/autostart, you don’t have to do anything as running multiple instances per user is now restricted.
Lastly, if you want to give it a try right now, grab Debian or RPM package from here and follow the installation or configuration instructions.
PlayStation has unveiled November’s PS Plus free games on its official blog. Subscribers can claim Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition on PS4 between Nov 3 and Nov 30.
This time, apart from the usual two games, users that buy PS5 will also get an additional game called Bugsnax on their new console. Players can claim it as soon as Sony’s next-gen console releases in their country.
Free PS Plus Games For November 2020
Middle-earth: Shadow of War
2017’s Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an action RPG set in JRR Tolkiens’s universe that includes The Hobbits and The Lord Of The Rings. The game, developed by Monolith Productions, is the sequel to Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, released in 2014.
In this game, you play as Talion, a ranger from Gondor’s fictional kingdom, who has his eyes set on conquering Mordor. Using your unique elven powers, you can assemble an army, take over fortresses, and decimate Sauron’s presence in the magical land filled with wizards and elves.
Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition
Hollow Knight is an indie game from Team Cherry, which was originally released for Windows in 2017. The Voidheart Edition is its console port, which includes the main game and all four content packs.
It is a visually appealing 2D platformer where you take on the role of a knight, fighting his way through a sprawling underground world called “Hollownest.” You will run, glide, jump, and battle your way past the devilish bosses in this game.
Bugsnax (PS5 Only)
The first PS Plus free game on the next-gen PlayStation is a first-person adventure from developer Young Heroes. Your objective in the game, as a news journalist, is to track and capture the half-bug-half-snack creatures living on Snaktooth Island.
There are a total of 100 such creatures spread across the awe-inspiring island that you can set traps to capture. After capturing a creature, you can feed it to Grumpuses, the island’s natives, and watch them inherit the bug’s characteristics.
Apart from these games, PlayStation’s blog post also listed the free PS Plus Collection games coming to PS5 at launch. The library is full of PS4 hits such as God Of War, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, The Last Of Us Remastered, etc.
Finally, make sure you pick up October’s free games, Vampyr and NFS Payback, by Nov 2.
Cloud solutions achieved a powerful boost in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sure, if you work remotely, there are no better tools than cloud-based technology. However, this boost raised a number of questions related to privacy, stability and reliability of such collaboration.
Why Prefer Serverless Collaboration?
Together with the benefits of flexibility and accessibility, there are several serious concerns for using cloud tools:
Less control. When you upload your documents to external servers, you have to fully trust the way they manage data, since you are giving up control over it.
Privacy risks. Data leaks can be a serious threat to your business, especially when it concerns secret commercial information that only owners and investors should have access to.
Dependence on the Internet. Once there is an electricity blackout in your office or poor Internet connection, you won’t be able to access your documents.
Communication gaps. The switch to remote work and use of cloud solutions forced us to hold most communication in writing. Conveying your ideas digitally can take more time.
Limited functionality. Though the world’s leading software providers are constantly adding more features, they can’t yet fully replace traditional software that provides users with a complete set of tools.
Possible technical issues. When your cloud provider needs to fix some system bugs or you experience technical issues with the service, you are dependent on how fast they can manage to help you, instead of solving it with your in-house IT administrator. Unfortunately, not all services provide 24/7 support.
That is why most companies use a mix of on-premises and cloud solutions to keep sensitive information safe. And some of them use only local tools to store and share data.
So, pay some attention to serverless collaboration. We’re going to tell you how it works and how you will benefit from it!
Collaborate without Connecting to the Web
The serverless collaboration technology called ad-hoc was developed by XCDS. In September they introduced Collabio Spaces — an office suite for iOS that supports this technology and in October they released the app for macOS. Collabio opens new horizons for teamwork — your device alone will be enough to provide a similar experience as powerful cloud-based collaborative editors do. Ad-hoc works with almost any local network, including iPhone’s hotspot. No need for external servers! Only you and your teammates with just your devices in front of you.
Another benefit of serverless collaboration is that you can co-edit documents together with your colleagues without passing your device to them. Such collaboration within a safe distance in one office can significantly reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 spreading.
How Does Ad-Hoc Work?
The magic behind the ad-hoc feature can be explained very simply!
Any Apple device — an iPhone, an iPad, a MacBook or iMac — acts as a server where changes are being recorded. The document that is edited in real-time by its owner and other collaborators is saved on the owner’s device once an editing session is over.
The connection range depends on the Wi-Fi power, in order for it to work all devices must be within the range of each wireless transmitter.
Although this technology won’t allow you to make edits from another city or region, the performance of ad-hoc overcomes its cloud competitors. Collabio’s algorithms consume much fewer resources, so they can work on a mobile phone, not on a server.
You can try ad-hoc right away, as this type of collaboration doesn’t need any pre-configuration!
And Now Let’s See How It Looks Like on an iPhone
Ad-hoc is depicted as a honeycomb, you will find this sign in every file or folder you open. The honeycomb is empty when you are not collaborating and filled with colour when you participate in active collaboration.
Do You Want to Start a Collaboration On Your Document?
Everything is pretty simple! Open a document and tap on the honeycomb icon to activate the Instant collaboration screen. You’ll see the generated password. Tap the “Start collaboration” button and share this password with your team members to start your work!
Keep in mind that sharing works as long as the file is opened on the owner’s device. If you close the file, the collaboration will end.
To stop collaboration, just close the file. Also, you can do this through the ‘honeycomb’ menu. Tap on it and find the “Stop collaboration” button.
Here’s How to Join an Active Editing Session:
If you click on this icon, you will see active collaboration sessions started by your colleagues. Click on the file you want to edit, enter the password provided to you by the file owner, and start making edits!
For the iPad actions are the same as we have shown them for the iPhone.
Do You Use MacBook or iMac?
Start Your Own Session
If you’re going to start an editing session on your Mac or MacBook, launch the app, inside any document you’ll find the “Start collaboration” button. There you will see the password, which you can share with your teammates. All participants will get access to edit your document. If you forget the password, click on the icon of a lock in the lower right corner.
When you need to close the editing session, click on the button “Stop collaboration”. That’s all! It’s that easy!
Want to Join an Ongoing Collaborative Editing Session?
Look for the Honeycomb Collabio icon in the top panel of your computer and see active collaboration sessions started by your colleagues. Choose the one you need and enter the password. Done! Now you can edit that document! 😉
As you can see, ad-hoc is extremely helpful in all situations when common cloud sharing features are not available. What other ways of serverless collaboration do you know? What apps does your team use on a daily basis? Which ones help you to maximise productivity?
As we approach the end of 2020, the launch of next-gen consoles such as the Xbox Series X, followed by Cyberpunk 2077, is all we hear about. Keeping this in mind, Samsung has partnered with Microsoft and CD Projekt Red (CDPR) to bring an exciting promotional event for fans aged 18 and over in the U.S.
Samsung will give away a brand new Xbox Series X, a copy of Cyberpunk 2077, and a Cyberpunk 2077-themed Samsung QLED TV to the winner of its “QLEDecode” contest.
In case you are unaware, Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the most awaited games in recent memory. It is an open-world first-person shooter featuring cyborgs and a distinct Cyberpunk theme. After several delays, developer CDPR will finally release the game for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on December 10, 2020.
Courtesy of Samsung, you have a chance of grabbing CDPR’s latest title, along with a complete next-gen gaming setup, for free. All you have to do is participate in Samsung’s QLEDecode and successfully crack the code before anyone else.
As mentioned on the contest page, the first player to find and decode all the clues “wins everything inside the container.” However, the website doesn’t give any clear lead to begin with, but only shows a cryptic message: “Don’t know where to start? Maybe you’re not looking closely enough.”
The first five to crack the code will face off in the final round on November 17 — Cyberpunk 2077’s original release date before it was postponed — for the main prize.
Although we don’t know which QLED TV Samsung included in the prize, the website confirms that the TV will deliver up to 120 FPS in 4K HDR. So, you can rest assured that you’ll get the best next-gen experience if you go all the way and win the contest.
A while back, Activision put out a job listing with its description saying “WZM,” which clearly meant Warzone Mobile. Ever since then, Call of Duty: Warzone fanatics have been wondering if the battle royale game is coming to mobile.
Well, rejoice, because Activision recently confirmed that they want to expand Warzone to new regions, including mobile. It will be a separate first-person shooter mobile game from the already existing Call of Duty Mobile.
During Activision’s Q3 Earnings call, the American video game publisher revealed its future plans for COD Warzone and the upcoming Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War. Other than that, Rob Kostich, Activision’s President, answered some burning questions regarding the Call of Duty franchise across all platforms.
Mike NG, an Analyst from Goldman Sachs, asked Activision if there are “any opportunities to make Warzone truly cross-platform by making it available on mobile?” Surprisingly, Kostich answered the question by saying that they want to expand Warzone geographically by bringing it on mobile platforms.
Moreover, Activision confirmed that the studio wants to connect the “mobile experience with what’s happening with console and PC.” So, after launching Warzone for mobile, Activision wants to make the game cross-platform across PC, console, and mobile.
Activision’s statement on Call of Duty Warzone Mobile
However, Kostich said that they have no further announcements on COD Warzone Mobile as of now. So, you might say that we’ll have to wait a bit longer before seeing Warzone on mobile.
If Warzone goes mobile in the future, there is no doubt that the COD community will grow exponentially. However, because of cross-platform across mobile, console, and PC, it will be incredibly hard for mobile players to compete against the players on the other two platforms.
Facebook-owned Instagram is limiting its services to prevent any misadventure during the U.S. elections. The platform has done so by temporarily removing the “recent” tab from hashtag pages.
The company announced the development on Twitter, which traced to a whole new problem. Instagram users on Twitter started commenting and asking for account activation. As it turns out, a lot of Instagram users are facing delays in account reactivation.
Instagram Removes “Recent” Hashtags
Starting today, for people in the U.S. we will temporarily remove the “Recent” tab from hashtag pages. We’re doing this to reduce the real-time spread of potentially harmful content that could pop up around the election.
Instagram said the removal of the recent tab from hashtag pages is done to “make it harder for people to come across possible misinformation on Instagram.” The company’s move is in line with Facebook CEO’s recent concerns about social media’s role during the elections.
The feature has been restricted for users in the U.S. only. Instagram Comms tweeted that the removal is done to “reduce the real-time spread of potentially harmful content” during the election days. In a nutshell, the platform won’t entertain content that may go viral at the last minute, affecting the elections.
Honestly, it’s a big move, but kind of unnecessary too. Removal of the latest hashtags is likely to jeopardize the Instagram reach of all posts, irrespective of their relevance to the elections. A less harsh and more specific move like targeting hashtags with election-related terms would’ve made more sense.
Twitter: Shots Fired
While its PR team posted the update in good faith, Twitterati had their own issues for Instagram. Multiple users on Twitter started commenting on the post, asking Instagram to activate their accounts.
Turns out there are a lot of people who verified their details with the company but never got back into their accounts. It’s unrelated to the company’s removal of the recent hashtags tab but remains relevant in terms of user experience.
An IG account has tagged photos, friends and followers created over a long time. If you were to be locked out of your IG account, you’d want the access back, but it’s not that easy because there’s no real backend support.
It says 24 hours but it’s been OVER 4 WEEKS!! Please I know you are seeing this tweet. If I were a politician, celebrity, or verified account you would’ve answered by now. Just help me out please. pic.twitter.com/iW146pBO8k
Another response asked if the platform will ever have real-time support for users.
But will you be able to have a solid help center for people to actually talk to real humans instead of figureing out complex problems that can’t be fixed on your own and submitting a form that never gets a response ?
We also saw a tweet of two users, asking the relevance of the move.
Removing the Recent tab for 5 days is a CRAP DECISION!!!! You should only disable it for the tags PERTAINING TO THE ELECTION!!! Small businesses and artists are going to be negatively affected by this!!!!!
We can’t call it overkill, because Facebook was blamed for the 2016-election results in the U.S. Now, the company is trying to compensate. While it’s good on the part of social media companies, the approach needs to be more targeted at the elections. Removal of features from apps is disrupting everyone’s experience in the name of moderation.
OnePlus has steadily established itself as one of the most popular and prominent smartphone manufacturers in India and the US. Powered by its de-cluttered Android fork OxygenOS, the company has been releasing value for money smartphones for quite some time now. Besides all the premium features it brings to its flagship devices, one of the best things about OnePlus phones is OxygenOS.
The latest OxygenOS 11 update comes with several features already available in other Android forks like MIUI, EMUI, and Samsung’s OneUI. However, it is difficult to believe that with the help of OxygenOS 11 features, you can experience a near to stock Android experience as the company has started adding bloatware.
OnePlus has emerged as one of the top OEMs to offer Android 11 experience to its users soon after its release in the form of OxygenOS 11. Here are the OxygenOS 11 supported devices.
OxygenOS 11 Supported Devices
OnePlus 6
OnePlus 6T
OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition
OnePlus 7
OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus 7T
OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition
OnePlus Nord
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus 8T
If you have an OxygenOS 11 supported device, here are some features you should use:
8 Best OxygenOS 11 Features
1. Always-on Display – Top OxygenOS 11 Feature
OnePlus is late to the party, but with OxygenOS 11, it has finally introduced the Always-on display feature to its smartphones. The company has borrowed the design for this OxygenOS 11 feature from Samsung’s OneUI and added its personal touch.
Users can choose from 12 different AOD styles and there is also an option to schedule Always-on Display. OnePlus has focused on Digital Wellbeing with its Insight Always On Display feature of OxygenOS 11. AOD has the option to show the number of times you have unlocked your smartphone.
AOD is one of the best OxygenOS 11 features OnePlus has brought for its users as they don’t have to turn on the display of their phone every time to check time or notifications.
2. Enhanced Dark Mode – Schedule Dark Mode With OxygenOS 11
OxygenOS 11 brings improved dark mode to OnePlus smartphones. The smartphone manufacturer says its new and enhanced dark mode dynamically changes contrast, readjusts color tones, and makes it easy to read content by adding distinctive layers.
According to OnePlus, the OxygenOS 11 dark mode feature is certified by Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to offer a comfortable viewing experience to users. Another big change in the dark mode in OxygenOS 11 is that now you can schedule dark mode by visiting the Display section under the Settings menu.
3. Zen Mode 2.0 – Best OxygenOS Feature
Zen Mode is one of the best features of OxygenOS, where you can live a distraction-free life without your phone continuously beeping notifications. OnePlus has updated Zen Mode in OxygenOS 11, and now you can invite your friends into Zen Space and relax together.
The latest Zen Mode brings 5 new themes – Ocean, Space, Grassland, Meditation, and Sunrise. However, the option to invite other friends is only available for OnePlus users. Moreover, you can schedule Zen Mode and choose a time duration for it from different options.
4. Smart Gallery – Organize your photos smartly in OxygenOS 11
Gallery app in OxygenOS 11 has received an upgrade in the form of Smart Gallery in which, OnePlus says, your photos are organized intuitively in a sleek magazine design. It has also added a Story feature in OxygenOS 11 gallery app which creates a story from a collection of your photos to help you cherish your memories.
This is similar to Google Photos’ Highlight feature. The Gallery app has also been revamped with a new UI in OxygenOS 11.
5. New Sans Font – Improved readability in OxygenOS 11
To improve readability and overall user experience, OnePlus has added a new Sans font in OxygenOS 11. The new font has wider spacing and an improved typeface. You can choose the new Sans font by visiting the Customization menu in the Settings. The font looks cleaner and focuses on making content more visible to eyes for reading purposes.
6. Dynamic Live Wallpaper – Automatically changing wallpapers in OxygenOS 11
With OxygenOS 11, OnePlus has introduced its version of Dynamic wallpapers that change automatically depending upon the day’s time. Apple also introduced this feature in iOS 13. The colors of the wallpapers change when you turn on your device’s screen and again when you unlock it.
The live wallpaper OxygenOS 11 feature is currently available for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8T. Still, folks at XDA Developers have found a way to make it available for other Android devices as well. You can check it out here.
7. Customizable Swipe Down Gestures – A utility OxygenOS 11 feature
To make it easier for users to access widgets and notifications, OnePlus has added customizable swipe down gestures in OxygenOS 11. Now, you can customize the gesture to either access notifications or Shelf by swiping down on the notification pane.
In OxygenOS 10, there was only one swipe down gesture that allowed you to access the notification pane by swiping down anywhere on the screen. But, in OxygenOS 11, OnePlus has added another option that could be used to access Shelf, a pane with frequently-used widgets.
8. Revamped UI for default apps
This is not an OxygenOS 11 feature per se but something that makes the UI more cleaner and aligned for single-handed usage. OnePlus has revamped the UI of several default apps, including Weather, Notes, and Gallery. There are new and bold icons to enhance the overall user experience of OnePlus users.
The above list of OxygenOS 11 features is not exhaustive. There are several other tweaks that OnePlus has done in its latest OxygenOS update to improve the user experience and aesthetics of its smartphones.
OxygenOS 11 Features: Similar to Samsung’s OneUI
There is a very striking similarity between OxygenOS 11 and Samsung’s OneUI. It seems that OnePlus is moving away from the stock Android experience it is known to offer. The OxygenOS 11 update has brought disappointment for many who sought OnePlus for a clean UI as the company has included ‘unremovable’ apps like Facebook and Netflix.
OnePlus released OxygenOS 11 on October 10 for OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. It is rolling out the beta as well as a stable version gradually to all OxygenOS 11 supported devices.
2. How to download OxygenOS 11?
If your smartphone is in the list of OxygenOS 11 supported devices, you will get the update as soon as the company releases it. You can check by visiting Settings>System>System Updates menu.
3. Which devices will get OxygenOS 11?
OnePlus has released the list of devices supporting OxygenOS 11, and the latest OS will be available to OnePlus 6 and later released devices.
4. Is OnePlus offering OxygenOS 11 for OnePlus 7 Pro?
Yes, OxygenOS 11 update is available for OnePlus 7 Pro.
5. Will OnePlus 6 get OxygenOS 11 update?
Yes, you will get OxygenOS 11 update for OnePlus 6 according to OnePlus’ official OxygenOS 11 supported devices list.
Google One has announced a VPN by Google One for subscribers with a 2TB or higher plan. The free Google VPN addon will roll out for Android, iOS, Windows 10 as well as Mac.
The company is also adding Pro Sessions for 2TB+ plan holders. These sessions will let members have a one-on-one interaction with Google experts on how to better use Google products, including Google One membership. This service is rolling out for users in the U.K, the U.S., and Canada.
The catch here is that you can’t add the Google VPN to 100 or 200GB plans which start at $1.99/month. To use this service, you’ll need a 2TB or higher plan, which starts at $9.99/month and goes all the way up to $299.99/month for the 30TB plan.
Talking about VPN by Google One, it’ll roll out for the users in the U.S. first and then in other countries. There are two key features I like about the new service already. First, it’ll be available for iOS, Windows, and Mac so you can use it from any device. Secondly, you can share the VPN with family members the same way you can share Google One.
What’s Google One?
Google One is a premium storage plan from Google, which has some other benefits too. Starting from 100 GB, the plans go all the way up to 30TB. Usually, Google gives you 15GB free storage and unlimited high-quality photo storage via Google Photos. However, you can backup your pictures in uncompressed original resolution without worrying about running out of space if you have a Google One plan.
Aside from the storage, Google One gives you direct access to Google experts if you need help using Google services. Another good thing here is that you can share this plan with your family. You can add up to 5 additional family members and give them additional Google Drive storage. With the added VPN, it makes the higher tier plans a better offering.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has moved into the education hardware arena by announcing a new smart lamp, its first device in this segment. Known as Dali Smart Lamp, the device looks like a street light and packs a camera, smartphone-style display, and a voice assistant which gives it the smart label.
Dali Smart Lamp is aimed at kids and allows parents to monitor their activity while they’re away. That’s where all the extra hardware comes into play. This also marks the beginning of ByteDance’s push in the education devices.
Priced at $119, the internet connected lamp is meant to help school-going kids finish their homework easily while their working parents see them through the camera using a remote app. It’s initially launched in China, however, it could be of great utility in other nations as work-life balance is a common problem that people face.
Dali Smart Lamp might take some time to mature into a reliable product. However, one plus point is it builds on top of ByteDance’s existing education services infrastructure which now comes under the new brand name Dali Education. For instance, its service GoGoKid is used to teach English to kids living in China.
The new education-oriented connected device might be able to help ByteDance improve profits at its big social media app TikTok sees an uncertain future.
If there were rumors of an impending return sparked by PUBG Corp’s job listing, they have been put to bed, at least for now, by Tencent’s latest announcement. The Chinese firm has announced that PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite will go offline in India on Oct 30, 2020.
Not long ago, the Indian government banned PUBG Mobile along with 118 other Chinese apps for security reasons. Ever since then, the game’s return has been constantly speculated by the Indian fans. Speculations grew stronger especially after PUBG Corp parted ways with Chinese publisher Tencent.
Following PUBG Mobile’s ban from the Play Store and the App Store, players could still access the game using its APK file. However, that workaround is no longer valid as PUBG Corp terminates server support for India.
In a Facebook post, Tencent announced its decision to take down PUBG Mobile’s servers for India. The post also revealed that the publishing rights of the game, for India, would return to PUBG Corp. Moreover, Tencent also included a statement emphasizing its commitment to data privacy.
The announcement was made on PUBG Mobile’s official Facebook page.
Although the post does ensure that the user data with Tencent would be responsibly handled, it doesn’t really explain how. This makes it unclear whether the database of Indian users would be totally erased or passed on to PUBG Corp so that it can restore user progress in case of the game’s re-launch.
Finally, PUBG Corp’s breakup with its publisher, Tencent, in India is fully complete. Although this development hints PUBG Corp are looking for a new publisher, there is no official information to back this. So, this means, while a re-launch in India could be on the cards, there is no timeline set for it.
