Tag: Android

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Google Pixel 6a cameras rumoured to be downgrade over Pixel 6

Google only released the Pixel 6 last month, but we’re already talking about the company’s upcoming Pixel 6a.

While the upcoming smartphone will reportedly sport the company’s proprietary Tensor chip, this latest rumour, unfortunately, points to the device lacking the Pixel 6’s top-of-the-line cameras.

Google’s mid-range handset will sport a rear visor like the Pixel 6 series, but according to 9to5Google, the phone will offer the 12.2-megapixel Sony IMX363 primary sensor that’s been featured in Pixel 3 through 5a devices.

However, the Pixel 6a is rumoured to sport the Pixel 6’s ultra-wide-angle 12-megapixel shooter and the 8-megapixel selfie camera on the from the smaller Pixel 6.

While the upcoming Pixel 6a featuring worse cameras when compared to the Pixel 6 series isn’t a shock, previous A-series Pixel smartphones have offered the same cameras as their flagship counterparts. A-series enthusiasts are likely expecting more affordable devices, but with great camera specs. While the Pixel 6a might still snap excellent photos, the images likely won’t be up to par with the Pixel 6 series.

It’s exciting that the Pixel 6a will offer Google’s Tensor as it should bring the Pixel 6 serires’ machine learning, camera features and Google Assistant functionality to the cheaper version of the smartphone.

Source: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Leaks suggest OnePlus 10 Pro will feature 3.3x telephoto zoom

As we approach 2022 and the rumoured launch window for the next OnePlus flagship smartphone, more specs regarding the device are beginning to leak regarding the upcoming smartphone.

The latest leak, courtesy of ‘Digital Chat Station,’ suggests that the camera won’t feature a very far-reaching telephoto and will instead aim for a 3.3x zoom lens. This will result in a 30x digital zoom, but there’s no word on any hybrid zoom capabilities.

Leaked renders also show off two other cameras, which are expected to be ultra-wide and standard focal length lens equivalents. These cameras also use Hasselblad’s colour science, but it’s still unknown if the partnership between the two brands will extend to hardware.

Another leak that was turned into a render shows off the phone in pine green colour that looks similar to the shade Apple used on the iPhone 11 Pro series.

In 2020 OnePlus skipped its usual ‘T’ series phone, so there could be a chance that the OnePlus 10 and OnePlus 10 Pro may launch a little earlier than normal. However, the company traditionally releases its flagships in the spring and the OnePlus 9 series launched near the end of March.

Since then, OnePlus has undertaken a software overhaul, so it will be interesting to see how well Android 12 runs on the new devices.

Source: Digital Chat Station, Android Authority

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Mobile Syrup

PS5 DualSense support comes to Android PlayStation Remote Play app

PlayStation’s Remote Play app on Android now supports the PS5’s DualSense controller.

This functionality rolled out on the iOS version of the app earlier this year. It’s important to note that it’s currently only available through the Android app on phones running Android 12.

With the DualSense, Android 12 users can take advantage of the controller’s unique adaptive triggers and haptic feedback in supported games.

Further, the Remote Play app update also adds touchpad, motion sensor, rumble and battery indicator support for the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller. This, too, is exclusive to Android 12 users, although general DualShock 4 compatibility remains for previous Android generations.

The PlayStation Remote Play app can be downloaded from the Play Store here.

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Mobile Syrup

Selects TLC TVs discounted by up to 33 percent today

Similar to other days and most likely leading up to the massive Black Friday deals, Amazon Canada has cut the cost of one of its more popular TV sets.

Up for grabs by a stunning discount of 33 percent, 30 percent and 25 percent are TCL Android-powered and Roku-powered TVs.

These three deals are available only for today, however, there are more Black Friday tech deals here.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

Image credit: TCL

Source: Amazon Canada

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Mobile Syrup

Google rolling out patch to improve Pixel 6’s fingerprint sensor

Google is rolling out a new patch that should improve the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro‘s fingerprint sensor, but it might not be coming to Canada yet.

Google’s support page notes that the update includes “minor bug fixes and some fingerprint sensor performance improvements for [the] Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.” However, the notes don’t specifically state how the sensor is improved, and they mention that the update is U.S. and Japan only.

Google previously stated that its fingerprint scanner takes a bit longer to authenticate than other devices’ because it uses “enhanced security algorithms” that can “take longer to verify or require more direct contact with the sensor.”

Some The Verge writers seem to have noticed a bit of improvement in fingerprint performance following the update, but according to Dieter Bohn, the publication’s executive editor, it’s still slower than the Galaxy S20’s. For what it’s worth, the update hasn’t arrived on my Pixel 6 Pro yet, which makes sense given I’m in Canada.

I haven’t personally experienced issues with the fingerprint scanner, but the problem does seem to be relatively widespread. We’ve reached out to Google for more information regarding if the update is coming to Canada.

Source: Google Support page Via: The Verge

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Samsung Galaxy S22 series will reportedly only feature Qualcomm chips

Samsung is reportedly taking a different approach with the processor featured in its upcoming Galaxy S22 series smartphones.

According to LetsGoDigital — which says it was tipped off by ‘Super Roader,’ a former Samsung employee — the company recently decided to forgo the use of its Exynos 2200 chip in its upcoming Galaxy S22 series.

This news means that all Samsung S22 models will be equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor even in Europe and Asia. Previous reports indicated that Samsung planned to bring the Qualcomm chip variant to Africa and parts of Asia, but it looks like the South Korean company has decided to take a different route.

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 series will reportedly be very similar to last year’s handsets. Rumours indicate the S22 will sport a 6.1-inch display, with the S22+ model featuring a 6.6-inch AMOLED screen.

The top-end S22 Ultra model is rumoured to feature an S Pen compartment, alongside a 6.8-inch rounded display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a brighter display.

All three smartphones are also tipped to feature the cameras that are nearly identical to the S21 line’s shooters. Samsung’s S22 series is rumoured to launch in either February or January of next year.

Source: LetsGoDigital 

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Samsung will reportedly launch 64 devices in 2022

While Samsung is globally the largest smartphone manufacturer, it’s still shocking to see that the company plans to launch 64 different smartphones and tablets throughout 2022.

South Korean publication The Elec reports that Samsung has plans to release 64 different devices in 2022, including various foldables, smartphones and tablets. The company plans to launch 20 phones with its Exynos chips, 31 devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and 14 with the MediaTek chipsets. Of course, as usual, chipset differences will likely be based on region.

More specifically, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 will reportedly feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 898, and the Galaxy S22 series will use both the Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets depending on the release region. However, some devices will use the Exynos processors exclusively, according to the report. For example, the report states that an Exynos chip will power the Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy S22 FE.

The Elec also reports that the company plans to ship more than 10 million foldables in 2022, with the South Korean manufacturer projecting a total of 6.9 million devices sold. Finally, the report states that Samsung plans to sell 67 million devices.

Rumours indicate that the Galaxy S22, the South Korean tech giant’s next major smartphone, will release in January or February of next year.

Source: The Elec, 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Google releases fix for Pixel 6 autodialing issue

Google has finally fixed one of the Pixel 6 series’ most annoying bug.

For those who are unaware, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro suffered from an issue that caused the device to randomly automatically dial people in your contact list. Now, according to Android Police, the issue has been remedied

The problem relates to Google Assistant’s hotword detection. You can clear the Google app’s cache and settings to briefly resolve the issue, but the only way to prevent it currently is to disable the feature.

The problem was first spotted in early November shortly after the Pixel 6 series release. Google then announced a fix was coming and it’s already here. This all happened in just 10 days, which is pretty impressive on Google’s part.

Google’s new flagship handsets also suffer from a display flickering problem that will be fixed in an upcoming December update. 

Source: Android Police

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Niantic’s Pikmin Bloom was downloaded 2 million times in two weeks

Pikmin Bloom, Niantic’s latest augmented reality game that is very inspired by Pokémon Go, seems to be a moderate success — at least so far.

According to app analytics firm Sensor Tower (via Eurogamer), Pikmin Bloom has been downloaded 2 million times in the past two weeks. Breaking the numbers down further, nearly half of the installs come from users in Japan, with the U.S. holding second place and the U.K. coming in third.

In comparison, Pokémon Go hit 75 million downloads in its first two weeks and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite — which is shutting down in January 2022 — gained 12.4 million new users.

Of course, it’s important to note that Pikmin is a less popular property than Harry Potter, which makes these numbers seem far more positive. Niantic likely has far more modest goals when it comes to Pikmin Bloom.

In Pikmin Bloom, players grow and feed Pikmin creatures while collecting various flowers. The game is free-to-play and is available on iOS and Android. I’ve yet to try the game, but as a fan of the Pikmin series and in particular, Pikmin 3, I’m hoping to check it out over the holiday season.

Image credit: Niantic

Via: Eurogamer 

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE specs and marketing materials leak online

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 FE has yet to launch, but after months of rumoured delays, it’s not surprised that the device’s full specifications and marketing images have leaked.

This latest leak reveals that the phone sports a 6.4-inch FHD+ 120Hz OLED display with Gorilla Glass and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The device features a plastic rear and a camera module that features a 64-megapixel primary shooter, an ultra-wide lens and a depth sensor with a 32-megapixel selfie shooter.

It’s also paired with a Snapdragon 888 processor, 6GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage as well as a 4,500mAh battery.

This leak was shared by Coinbrs, not a source I know well, but this looks pretty legitimate. The phone is rumoured to launch at an upcoming ‘Unpacked’ event in January.

Source: Coinbrs