Partial Render of the OnePlus 5T Leaks, Shows Thinner Bezels

Many of us are still getting used to the idea of OnePlus releasing more than one flagship smartphone each year. This raised a lot of resentment last year as it was simply unexpected, but now that we're hearing rumors about it happening again, which makes it seem as if this could be a yearly thing. Many of other smartphone OEMs release two flagship smartphones each year and today we get a nice, clear look at the top half of what has become known as the OnePlus 5T.

Many are assuming that it will follow the same naming scheme as last year, which would further establish the "T" revisions as a yearly release. Exactly one week ago we reported on an alleged render of the OnePlus 5T and in that image we saw almost non-existent side bezels with very slim top and bottom bezels. This matches the trend we've been seeing in the smartphone industry this year so again, it makes sense that OnePlus would release such a device.

Top-half of OnePlus 5T (2.5t? Ha). http://pic.twitter.com/pmfhdQSgWQ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 30, 2017

Today, we're getting another look at the device and while we're only seeing the top half of the OnePlus 5T, it's a much clearer and detailed view of the device. Again, we're seeing very thin side bezels and a much slimmer top bezel than we're used to seeing from OnePlus smartphones. Since we know there won't be a Snapdragon 836 SoC from Qualcomm for them to upgrade, we should look at other improvements OnePlus made last year to see what we can expect this year.

Besides the improved SoC, we also saw an upgrade to the front-facing camera. So it would make sense to see OnePlus upgrade the cameras in the OnePlus 5T when compared to the OnePlus 5. Rumor has it that we'll be seeing a dual camera setup on the back of the device like the OnePlus 5, but this time it will be with dual 20MP sensors.

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Source: @evleaks

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MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM is Rolling Out to the Mi 6 and Mi Mix 2

Xiaomi first announced MIUI 9 back in July of this year and since then we've seen the company testing the beta version of the update with multiple batches of devices. The company has given us a list of which devices will be receiving the Global Beta and we can assume that each of them will eventually be receiving the Global Stable version as well. Today, we have learned that people with the Mi Mix 2 and the Mi 6 are both currently receiving the Global Stable build of MIUI 9.

We're seeing MIUI V9.0.1.0.NCAMEI as the firmware version that is currently being rolled out to the Mi Mix 2, and MIUI V9.0.1.0.NDDMIEI as the version that is being sent to the Mi Max 2. These are a couple of Xiaomi's latest smartphone releases, so it makes sense for them to be receiving a stable build of MIUI 9. This is how most smartphone OEMs handle these things as well since they want to reward those who most recently spent money on their devices.

As we mentioned during the launch event of MIUI 9, this update brings a lot of features to the table that fans of Xiaomi have been waiting for. Many felt that MIUI 8 was very fast and brought a lot of good features (besides the notification system), and the company continues that progress with this latest update. Those receiving the new update will see new icons, new animations when closing and launching applications and a number of system optimizations all across the platform.

MIUI 9 users will now have access to the multi-window mode and they'll have the ability to search for applications in the Dual applications mode. The improvements of the new update include better protection from unintentional tapping for Dial pad, improved timers for Silent/DND mode, and a redesigned home page. There have also been some changes made to the cleaner and virus scan features of the platform.

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Source: GSM Arena Source: Xiaomi

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PSA: Windows 10 Fall Update Disables SMB v1, Breaks Many Android File Manager Apps

Shared Message Block (SMB) is a protocol allowing for file transfer access, printer access and serial port access over wireless. It was so exclusive to Windows that another name for the protocol was "Microsoft Windows Network". SMB, however, is extremely vulnerable, being the cause of the Sony Pictures hack in 2014 and more recently the WannaCry malware just a few months ago. Real-time attack tracking shows that SMB is still one of the primary methods of attacking clients, and so with the Windows 10 Fall update, SMB v1 has been disabled. This does not mean the protocol is entirely gone, rather replaced by SMB v2. The only problem about this is that many applications can no longer use a similar protocol to transfer files wirelessly to Windows computers. None are really as effortless as SMB. This removal comes after Microsoft already released guides on how to disable SMB v1 within Windows.

However, as we covered only a couple of months ago, there is one file explorer which actually supports SMB v2. FX File Explorer was updated back in August to include a new UI, and more importantly, SMB v2 support. There aren't a huge amount of differences between SMB v1 vs SMB v2, it's mainly all just security fixes. This change is likely to disadvantage many who actively use the feature, but with FX File Explorer already supporting the new protocol and the forced switch over, it's likely other app developers will follow too.

Ransomware like WannaCry spread through SMB v1 too, as all Windows machines on the network will by default support SMB v1 connections from the same network. This meant that the malware could spread easily and quickly, so closing up the hole and removing SMB v1 was certainly the right move there. As was said above, there should be some initial issues with its removal if you actively used it, but there are replacements and soon applications will support the new protocol.

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Source: Microsoft Support

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Google Pixel 2 XL Now Available in Italy and Spain (Google Store)

Historically, the greatest issues with the Pixel line have always been availability issues. While the Pixel is catering to a much more wider audience that the Nexus aimed for (average smartphone users vs developers), they haven't kicked up production for this wider audience. Even taking away production issues, the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL face yet another key problem: global availability. Both the original generation and the new generation of Google Pixel phones are only officially available in 6 countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, and the United States. However, this issue is being slowly solved as the new generation of Pixel phones becomes more and more global. Google has silently made the Google Pixel 2 XL available in two more countries: Italy and Spain.

This move makes Google's new, and slightly controversial, large-screen offering more widely available outside the American continent. And given that Android more popular than iOS in both countries, it seems like a safe choice. But did you notice how we didn't mention the regular Google Pixel 2 in the paragraph above? Weirdly enough, rather than launching both, Google has only decided to sell the Pixel 2 XL in Italy and Spain, while the HTC-made smaller Pixel 2 stays only available in the 6 original launch locations.

There could be many reasons behind this, the most possible one being supply chain or distribution issues, possibly related to the Samsung-made AMOLED screen or other components. Or it could be a matter of Google wanting to push the larger Pixel 2 XL as the better choice over the Pixel 2 after having some market research. Whatever it is, we do expect the Pixel 2 to eventually make its way to both of these countries sooner or later.

If you're in Italy or Spain and have been looking into getting the Google Pixel 2 XL, hop into your local Google Store website to order yours now. However, if you'd rather have the smaller Pixel 2, you either have the option of waiting until it becomes available or just straight out importing it.

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Source: Google Via: r/Android

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Google is Collecting Feedback on Android 8.1 Developer Preview 1 OTA Installation Issues

Google released Android 8.1 Developer Preview on October 25 and the stable version of the maintenance release for Android Oreo will be released in December. However, Android Beta Program users can test-drive the latest update through an OTA, and all users can also download and install the system images with an unlocked bootloader. The principal advantage of the OTAs in the Android Beta Program is that they don't require a device factory reset/wipe or an unlocked bootloader.

Google has been going through a rough patch with the increasing amount of issues reported with the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL. To say the least, the company has come under a lot of fire recently. To add to the already mounting problems, new issues have surfaced through the new Developer Preview.

We have already reported that some Pixel 2 models were failing to flash factory images of the Android 8.1 Developer Preview. At the time, we also noted that some devices had trouble installing the OTA sent by Google as well. After numerous user reports, Google is examining the Android 8.1 beta installation failures.

The message users are getting after trying to install Android 8.1 (source: Reddit)

Users who had enrolled their device in the Android Beta Program to receive the latest preview releases over the air received the notification about the pending update which was available for download. Several users who proceeded with the installation of the downloaded OTA have reported that they are unable to install and boot into the Android 8.1 Developer Preview. They stated that they received an 'Update failed' notification after restarting the phone, which was required to complete the installation process. Their devices booted back to Android 8.0 (safe and sound thanks to the A/B partition system), greeting them with the installation failure message.

These problems have been reported on the Google Pixel User Community as well as Reddit. Google is also recommending users who are having the problem to post their issues in the Pixel User Community thread.

The company also appears to have removed the manual OTA file downloads for the 8.1 developer preview, so, at this moment of time, the only way of installing the 8.1 beta are either by registering for the Android Beta Program and waiting for the official update, or flashing the full factory images.

Here is the statement from the Community Manager at the Pixel User Community:

"We are collecting feedback about user reports of OTA installation issues on the 8.1 beta. If this is happening to you, can you post your experiences here? That will allow us to possibly reach out for bug reports or additional information."

Orrin - Community Manager

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Source: Pixel User Community
Via: Android Headlines

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Call Manager Streamlines the Process of Making Multiple Phone Calls

A lot of people still do business and organize social gatherings using traditional phone calls, and this can sometimes lead to you going out of your way to keep things organized. This is where Call Manager comes into play from XDA Senior Member GroovinChip. The application requires Android 5.0+ and lets you add a phone call with a name, number and an optional description of the call. You can then tap on this entry to get options for calling, texting, viewing the timestamp or deleting it from the list. This makes it convenient to set up a list of calls you need to make and then go through them one by one, so you know you didn't miss out on anyone.

Call Manager Feature List

• Add a phone call with a name, number, and optional call description. Each call will be added to a chronological list on the main screen.
• Click on a call in the list to open a dialog box with a number of options: call, edit, send SMS, view timestamp and delete. Choosing 'call' will immediately dial the number, edit will allow you to edit the details of the call, send SMS will allow you to send a text, and delete will prompt the user to delete the call (the user can cancel).
• Long press on a call to see when the call was created
• Add a contact so that the name and number fields will autofill with that contact's name and number
• In the overflow menu on the main screen, you can toggle a dark mode for the app
• In the overflow menu, you can choose to clear all the calls in the list at once. The user will be prompted for this and can choose to cancel.
• App shortcut – Add New Call

Call Manager (Free, XDA Labs) →

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Check out Call Manager in our Apps and Games forum

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Google to Roll Out Fix for Audio Recording Issues in Pixel 2 XL

At this point, the issues found in the Google Pixel 2 XL are stacking up at a surprising rate. This was intended to be the year when Google would build on the foundation release of the first-generation Pixel phones to provide an excellent first-party hardware experience. However, thanks to a lack of effective quality control and issues inherent to LG's P-OLED display technology, the Pixel 2 XL has hardly had a great run so far. Google had to publish a lengthy response to display quality complaints, and the company doubled the warranty period for all Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL owners as well. However, new reports have started coming in detailing audio recording issues on the Pixel 2 XL.

The problem consists of users experiencing terrible audio quality while recording video. This was first reported in the Google Pixel User Community, and the first reports have now been corroborated by other users as well as reviewers.  The audio quality is said to be overly sharp and tinny. We don't know what the cause of this issue is at the moment, but clearly it is a significant problem as it has an adverse impact on the video recording capabilities of the phone.

Considering that Google has been heavily promoting the video recording quality of both the Pixel 2 and the Pixel 2 XL with fused video stabilization, this issue was found at the wrong time for the company. It should be noted that for now, users are reporting this issue only on the larger Pixel 2 XL, not on the smaller Pixel 2. On paper, there should not be any difference in the video recording quality of the phones, as they use the same camera hardware, but it's also not unsurprising given this issue relates to audio.

Google has now acknowledged this shortcoming in a response to CNET and promised that a software fix will roll out in the current weeks. The upcoming software updates for the Pixel 2 XL are confirmed to contain major changes, such as the reduction in max brightness by 50 nits, UI changes to prevent burn-in on elements such as the navigation bar, and now we have this fix for the audio recording issues as well.  Given that all of these problems are being addressed, Pixel 2 XL owners may have a much less worrisome user experience in just a few weeks.

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Source 1: Pixel User Community
Source 2: CNET

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