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OnePlus recently ported a feature called "DC dimming" to its older OnePlus 6 and 6T phones, and we thought a bit of explaining might be in order when it comes to the subject. What is DC dimming? The short answer is that it replaces quick flashes on your display with constant illumination — which is how an OLED screen typically functions — and we can show you what that looks like in a slow motion 960fps video capture.
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Based on the details of an FCC exhibits listing, Wyze may soon have a smart bathroom scale to add to its smart home gadget lineup of security cameras, sensors, and lights. The "Wyze Scale" will run off of 4 AAA batteries, connect to the Wyze app over Bluetooth, and measure both weight and body fat percentage. According to a report by Zatz Not Funny!, a Wi-Fi smart plug may also be in the works.
The ultimate and original automation convenience is the universal remote: a simple gadget that replaces all your similar devices, turning elaborate multi-step operations into a one-button convenience. Logitech's Harmony series of remotes and hubs have offered one of the best experiences out there, but at the cost of a complex setup and maintenance process. The new Harmony Express streamlines almost everything about the experience, but I don't think that convenience is worth the sky-high price tag.
The OnePlus 6 and 6T just picked up a new Open Beta release, and while the changelog is pretty lean, there is one slick new feature coming to the pair of phones: DC dimming. In case you aren't aware, the AMOLED display in the phones used something called PWM (pulse-width modulation) to control brightness, which quickly flickers it on and off faster than we can see to approximate different brightness levels. If you're among those with a sensitivity to PWM, this is great news.
If you use Chrome, then you have probably seen it deliver a notification — or, at least, you've been to one of those sites that spams you with repeated requests to enable them, yuck. According to some changes spotted by Chrome Story at the Chromium Gerrit, that notification system could be picking up the ability to schedule notifications for the future.
Now that we've seen renders of both the front and back of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL (not to mention the previous renders and leaks), you've probably already come to some sort of judgment about the design. From the bigger square camera bump to the vertically asymmetrical bezels, there's a lot to like (or dislike) depending on your tastes. How do you feel?
Two sets of images related to the upcoming Pixel 4 have appeared today. In addition to the earlier renders that showed off the smaller Pixel 4 for the first time (that we know of), noted leaker IceUniverse earlier tweeted out a pair of photos showing off what appears to be either the front-facing glass for the Pixel 4 and 4 XL or screen protectors for the two phones. Either way, a honkin' cutout on the right side of that now-familiar top bezel raises some questions — or potentially answers them when it comes to those "Face Authentication" details spotted in Android Q.
As an Android blogger, one of the tools on OnePlus phones I am most thankful for is the Screen Recorder introduced with the OnePlus 7 Pro. Documenting details for our readers is a whole lot easier when the process of recording a demonstration is built right in. Other lovers of the app will be glad to hear that a brand new update for OnePlus Screen Recorder has been spotted today. Version 2.2 delivers a new frame rate setting, plus an option to hide the floating widget while recording.
The XDA forums are the capitol of all Android root/ROM development efforts these days, and from its multitudes of developers and endless pages of posts come most of the homebrew software that provides us with root access, liberates draconian device restrictions, and keeps older phones ticking. Android enthusiasts aren't the only ones making use of the software there, though. Turkish OEM General Mobile recently rolled out its own Android Q beta program for two of its phones even though it isn't among the manufacturers Google lists as participating in these early Q tests. It turns out, that's because General Mobile's Android Q beta is merely a lightly-tweaked ripoff of an unofficial GSI from XDA's forums.
Over the last couple days, some tweaks to the Messages app on Android have been spotted in testing, updating the iconography and style in the message composition area to more closely match Android Q's outlined aesthetic. Also of note, Messages now supports transparency behind the new gesture bar in Android Q, though we can't be sure when this change happened.
It was inevitable that Google's music streaming service would be video-focused once placed in the hands of YouTube, but plenty of folks interested in music have zero interest in watching the associated video. Thankfully for them, The YouTube Music app now lets you seamlessly switch between music videos and plain 'ol music with a single toggle, and you can even disable videos entirely by default.
Snapchat's fortunes may be turning around. Okay, so the glasses idea was a bust, and the company's stock has spent the last year below even the IPO price, but we millenials are really into making ourselves look like terrifying dog-human chimeras, for some reason, and we've driven the app to over a billion installs on the Play Store. (Though the platform's ubiquitous use among adult models may also explain the rising popularity.)
More specs for Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note10 have leaked. According to well-known leaker Ice universe, the Note10 will support charging at up to 25W, and the larger Note10+ will support up to 45W — though it will only come with a 25W charger in the box. WinFuture further believes that the Note10 will be using a Snapdragon 855 in the US, and not the upcoming Snapdragon 855 Plus.
The European Commission has just issued a fine of €242 million to Qualcomm for allegedly anti-competitive actions made by the company circa 2009-2011. The commission claims that Qualcomm abused its market position by using predatory pricing to push out competitors, selling some of its chipsets at a loss to Huawei and ZTE.
Going into Prime Day, the rumored Nintendo Switch deal tantalized us the most. Details weren't known, but with discounts on Nintendo's latest console being so few and far between, almost any price cut would have been welcomed. In the end, Amazon elected to sell the Switch for its usual 0 price but with a eShop Gift Card, which is alright, but the current promo on the "New" 2DS XL seriously steals that deal's thunder.(I know, I know, Android Police, whatever. Many of our readers asked for info about the Nintendo Switch sale, so we thought some of you might also be interested in this.)While the Nintendo Switch might be the new hotness, there are still plenty of great games for the 3DS/2DS, and Nintendo still remains adamant that the Switch Lite isn't a "replacement" for the 3DS/2DS. The New 2DS XL usually runs around $150, but unlike the Switch, Amazon is offering a substantial discount, slinging them right now for a mere $130. And you don't just save $20 over the usual price, you even get two free games with it.
We're mere hours away from Amazon's Prime Day sales, which are effectively Black Friday in July. It's had such an influence on consumer spending habits, even other retailers are trying to get in on the action. Many folks have set aside some cash for the occasion, and we've got a short list of deals to keep an eye out for over the next two days.If it isn't clear, these deals aren't live just yet, but we're told they're coming over the next two days. The mechanisms of sales may vary, some of these may be long-lasting sales that span the entire event, others may be lighting deals that sell out in minutes, so if anything on this list catches your eye, be sure to follow our coverage.(As always, our prices and numbers below regarding discounts and comparisons are free of inflated MSRP or other ridiculous numbers. When a recent price isn't clear or has fluctuated, savings are indicated as a range. Several of these deals may also be Prime Member exclusives, YMMV.)
One of the biggest features introduced in Android Q was the new "fully gestural navigation" system, which replaces the old buttons with an entirely gesture-based method of navigating around apps, returning to the home screen, and multitasking. This builds on the previous two-button "gesture" system introduced in Android 9 Pie, which itself replaced the nearly timeless three-button navigation. Many phones these days have several options when it comes to navigation — some OEMs have even made their own gesture systems. Assuming you have more than one option, which do you prefer?
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Android Q Beta 5 officially lands today. As expected, it doesn't deliver a ton of changes or new features, representing the first so-called "release candidate" for developers to test their apps against before the final release later this summer. There are a few new tweaks in Beta 5, though.
Amazon wants to make sure that no one misses out on its upcoming Prime Day sales, which begin next Monday. To keep us all tantalized, the company has just pushed out a list of deals to watch for, including many first-party hardware discounts for things like Kindles, Fire TVs, and Echo smart speakers. Among the bigger discounts are a Fire TV Stick w/ Alexa Voice Remote for just $15, an Echo for $50, and the "all-new" Kindle for $60 with $5 in eBook credit and three months of Kindle Unlimited.Prime members will see some deals beginning as early as noon on July 14th (Sunday), and some others will even be live via Alexa tomorrow. Just ask, “Alexa, what are my deals?" to find out.The full list of discounts (which aren't live yet) when it comes to electronics gadgets is just below:
When the AMD Link app launched way back in 2017, it was a pretty limited experience, merely allowing you to monitor your PC's resource utilization and other statistics remotely. Once it picked up the ability to stream games, à la Nvidia GameStream, Moonlight or Steam Link, AMD GPU owners started getting antsy for a way to bring the experience onto their TVs. Luckily for them, the AMD Link app has come to both Android TV and Apple TV.