Tag: Android

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Niantic is shutting down Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in January 2022

Niantic has confirmed that it will soon be discontinuing its Harry Potter: Wizards Unite mobile game.

In a blog post, the San Francisco-based gaming giant said Wizards Unite will be delisted from the App Store and Play Store on December 6th, 2021, ahead of a full January 31st, 2022 shutdown. In-app purchases will also cease on December 6th.

Leading up to the shutdown, Niantic is offering bonus XP and other in-game rewards, as well as a promise that the game’s two-year narrative arc featuring Harry and Hermione will be resolved. A full breakdown of all of the gameplay changes taking effect starting today can be found here.

Wizards Unite originally launched in June 2019 as Warner Bros.’ response to Pokémon Go, also developed by Niantic. The game took the location-based, augmented reality framework of Pokémon Go and applied a Harry Potter coat of paint.

Set after the Battle of Hogwarts, Wizards Unite tasks players with going around to locate mystical creatures and items and “unconfound” them, as well as fight dark wizards. The game allows you to choose your wizarding house, their wand and their profession (Professor, Auror or Magizoologist).

However, the game just never seemed to quite take off, despite the massive popularity of the Harry Potter brand. According to the analytics firm Sensor Tower, Wizards Unite has only generated $4.7 million USD (about $5.9 million CAD) in revenue so far in 2021. By contrast, Pokémon Go has topped $1 billion USD (roughly 1.2 billion CAD) this year alone. Overall, Wizards Unite‘s to-date revenue sits at only $40 million USD (about $50 million CAD).

Looking ahead, Niantic says it has the recently launched Pikmin Bloom and the upcoming Transformers: Heavy Metal in the works. Of course, the ever-popular Pokémon Go will also continue to receive support.

Altogether, the company notes that it has “nine games and apps in our development pipeline.”

Image credit: Niantic/Warner Bros.

Source: Niantic

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Mobile Syrup

Netflix Games to launch on November 3, starting with Android

Netflix’s long-awaited push into video games is officially kicking off on November 3rd.

The company has confirmed that its first five games will launch worldwide in the Netflix Android app on that date. An iOS rollout is “on the way,” the company said.

Notably, these games will be offered at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers. Further, they won’t feature any ads or in-app purchases.

Here are the initial five games:

  • Card Blast
  • Shooting Hoops
  • Stranger Things: 1984
  • Stranger Things 3
  • Teeter Up

To access these games, either select the Netflix Games banner on the Netflix app homepage or navigate to the ‘games’ tab. From there, select the game you want to play, which will direct you to your device’s app store to download the game. You’ll then be able to play the game through the app.

Netflix says all adult profiles under a given account can access games, although kids profiles are not allowed. The company also notes that some games require an internet connection, while others can be played offline, although it didn’t specify which.

In a blog post, Netflix noted that this is only the first step in its broader plans for gaming.

“Just like our series, films and specials, we want to design games for any level of play and every kind of player, whether you’re a beginner or a lifelong gamer,” the company wrote. “And we’re just getting started. We’re excited to continue improving our mobile gaming experience and adding to our entertainment offering in the months ahead.”

Back in July, the company said these efforts will be “primarily focused on games for mobile devices,” although that certainly leaves the door open for at least some AAA console/PC titles.

Beyond that, Netflix hasn’t indicated what types of titles it will make, but the company’s intention, at least in part, appears to be to use games to promote its video content. The two Stranger Things games so far are evidence of that.

Netflix has also seen a benefit from CD Projekt’s The Witcher games. The action-RPG series helped make the Polish fantasy property more popular, which helped Netflix’s Witcher show find its own massive audience. This, in turn, gave The Witcher 3 a significant spike in players, even though the game had been around for four years at the time. Netflix and CD Projekt later partnered on a ‘WitcherCon’ to promote both their respective Witcher projects.

One Netflix property that could get the video game treatment is Squid Game. The breakout success of the South Korean survival drama series has led Netflix to look into various ways to expand that universe, including gaming.

Source: Netflix

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung teams up with Dr Denim to make Z Flip jeans

Now, this is weird.

Samsung Australia and Dr. Denim have collaborated to release the ‘Z Flip Pocket Denim’ limited edition jeans designed to play off the Galaxy Z Flip 3’s retro form factor.

Interestingly, the jeans feature pockets designed exclusively to fit the Z Flip 3 into their pockets.

Samsung partnered with Dr Denim to remove what it describes as big bulky “unfashionable” pockets, and believes the small, square pockets are the next big trend in jeans.

“Smartphones are often not pocket friendly, so we’ve leveraged Dr Denim’s style credentials to design jeans that shake up the pocket norm and perfectly fit our compact Galaxy Z Flip3. Our Galaxy Z Flip3 users expect the very best in design and pocketability, and what better to accompany our premium phones than the perfect pair of bespoke jeans,” said Hayley Walton, head of brand marketing at Samsung Mobile, in a statement.

The companies plan only to release 450 pairs of Z Flip Pocket Denim jeans sold exclusively in Australia for the astounding price of $1,499 AUD (roughly $1,392 CAD).

For more on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, check out our review of the smartphone.

Source: Samsung

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Pixel 3 hits end-of-life status

Pour one out for Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

Following three years of software updates, Google’s Pixel 3 series has officially hit end-of-life status, with last month’s October Security bulletin being the final patch the smartphone will receive. This followed Android 12 hitting the smartphone just a few weeks ago

Google’s Pixel 3 series first released back in October of 2018. While the smartphone series was generally praised for its excellent value, the Pixel 3 XL also featured a rather massive display notch.

The Pixel 3 features a 5.5-inch OLED display, while the Pixel 3 XL includes a 6.3-inch POLED screen. Both devices also come equipped with a 12.2-megapixel rear-facing camera and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chip.

Google recently released its Pixel 6 series to a significant amount of critical acclaim. The smartphones feature impressive camera software, a new sleek design and most importantly, great value. For more on the Pixel 6 series, check out our reviews of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Via: XDA Developers

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Mobile Syrup

Samsung has reportedly started mass producing Galaxy S22 parts

Samsung could reportedly launch its Galaxy S22 as early as January 2022.

The report comes from the Netherland-based publication, WinFuture, which says that Samsung has started mass producing the Galaxy S22’s parts. The components in question are flex cables that reportedly connect to various circuit boards inside the still-year-to-be-revealed smartphone series.

Additionally, WinFuture says that tens of thousands of Galaxy S22 components have already been manufactured.

It appears that Samsung is currently creating components for all S22 and the S22+ variants, but for regarding the S22 Ultra, the company is focusing on the US variant.

The report also states that the S22 series could launch in January, but SamMobile previously reported the handset will release in February.

According to previous rumours, the S22 series will feature a 120Hz refresh rate display, IP68 water and dust resistance, a triple-camera setup for the S22 and S22+ and a quad-camera setup for the S22 Ultra.

Source: WinFuture

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Mobile Syrup

How do you like your new Pixel 6 or 6 Pro?

Last week, I asked if you pre-ordered the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, and based on the response, it seems like a lot of people are interested in buying Google’s latest flagships.

However, now we’re interested in knowing your thoughts on the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro. If you are one of the people that were able to get your hands on a Pixel 6 series device, how do you feel about it after using the smartphone for a few days?

After about two weeks with the phone, I’m still really enjoying it, especially its fantastic camera, display, speed and overall user experience. For more on the Pixel 6 Pro, check out my review. MobileSyrup’s Jon Lamont also reviewed the Pixel 6.

Let us know in the comments below how you feel about the Pixel 6 series so far if you purchased the smartphone.

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Google’s shows off Material You Google News and Calendar widgets

Google has announced that its new Android 12 widgets have been developed with ‘Material You’ in mind. While the tech giant’s blog post specifically mentions a new Google Fi widget (Fi isn’t available in Canada), there are several other new widgets designs.

For example, there’s a new Calendar schedule and a new Google News widget. The redesigned Calendar widget adopts a more modern look with the date in the top left corner and the addition of a button in the top-right corner.

The News widget, on the other hand, has been redesigned with a large pill up top, with the publication and corresponding headline sitting below. Additionally, the new Gmail widget features a large ‘new email’ button in the top-right corner.

What’s cool is that some of Google’s renders of the updated widgets show Android 12L running on a tablet. The tech giant recently announced Android 12L, a new version of its mobile OS designed for larger screens, including tablets, foldables and devices that run Chrome OS.

You can learn more about it, Android 12L here.

Source: Google Store

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Mobile Syrup

Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are now available in Canada

Google’s Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are now available at Google’s Store, carriers and retailers like Best Buy across Canada.

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro cost $799 and $1,179 in Canada, respectively, directly through Google (the smartphone is likely sold out).

Pixel 6 Pro

Pixel 6 Pro

Display

6.71-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate

6.71-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate

Processor

Tensor

Tensor

RAM

12GB of RAM

12GB of RAM

Storage

128GB, 256GB

128GB, 256GB

Dimensions (in.)

163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm

163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm

Weight

Rear Facing Camera

50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)

50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)

Front Facing Camera

11.1-megapixel

11.1-megapixel

OS

Android 12

Android 12

Battery

5,000mAh

5,000mAh

Network Connectivity

LTE/ 5G

LTE/ 5G

Sensors

Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass

Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass

SIM Type

Nano SIM, eSIM

Nano SIM, eSIM

Launch Date

October 28, 2021

October 28, 2021

Misc

Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance

Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance

Display

Pixel 6 Pro

6.71-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate

Pixel 6 Pro

6.71-inch, (1440 x 3120) LTPO AMOLED display, 512ppi, 120Hz refresh rate

Processor

Pixel 6 Pro

Tensor

Pixel 6 Pro

Tensor

RAM

Pixel 6 Pro

12GB of RAM

Pixel 6 Pro

12GB of RAM

Storage

Pixel 6 Pro

128GB, 256GB

Pixel 6 Pro

128GB, 256GB

Dimensions (in.)

Pixel 6 Pro

163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm

Pixel 6 Pro

163.9 x 75.8 x 8.9mm

Weight

Pixel 6 Pro

Pixel 6 Pro

Rear Facing Camera

Pixel 6 Pro

50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)

Pixel 6 Pro

50-megapixel (primary) + 48-megapixel (telelphoto, x4 zoom) + 12-megapixel (ultrawide)

Front Facing Camera

Pixel 6 Pro

11.1-megapixel

Pixel 6 Pro

11.1-megapixel

OS

Pixel 6 Pro

Android 12

Pixel 6 Pro

Android 12

Battery

Pixel 6 Pro

5,000mAh

Pixel 6 Pro

5,000mAh

Network Connectivity

Pixel 6 Pro

LTE/ 5G

Pixel 6 Pro

LTE/ 5G

Sensors

Pixel 6 Pro

Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass

Pixel 6 Pro

Fingerprint (in-display), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass

SIM Type

Pixel 6 Pro

Nano SIM, eSIM

Pixel 6 Pro

Nano SIM, eSIM

Launch Date

Pixel 6 Pro

October 28, 2021

Pixel 6 Pro

October 28, 2021

Misc

Pixel 6 Pro

Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance

Pixel 6 Pro

Colours: Cloudy White, Sorta Sunny, Stormy Black | IP68 water and dust resistance

For those not interested in getting the latest Google flagship from Google itself, you can purchase the phones from various Canadian carriers (we’re still waiting on Bell’s Carrier pricing).

You can check out our full reviews for the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro on MobileSyrup, alongside our video about Real Tone.

Additionally, you can check out carrier pricing, 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.

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Google announces Android 12L Developer Preview with release timeline

Google has officially announced the AndroidL Developer Preview alongside a release timeline.

First off, Android 12L features a new user interface designed for larger screens including tablets, foldables and devices that use Chrome OS.

For example, one way the operating system is optimized for larger screens is through the notification shade. The notification shade features a two-column layout with notifications, quick settings and system apps evenly spread out.

Additionally, Android 12L offers a new taskbar that lets users drag and drop an app into split-screen mode and switches apps easily when needed. With Android 12L, all apps will be able to enter multi-window mode, regardless of if they’re resizeable. Samsung’s One UI 3.1.1 also offers a similar feature that can force apps to enter multi-window mode.

Further, 12L features improved compatibility for apps that aren’t optimized yet, and Google Play will also indicate what apps are optimized or larger screens.

As for the timeline, the Developer Preview is launching now, and there will be three different betas, including one in December, another in January and the last one in February, with what looks like a stable release in March (but Google only says Q1 2022)

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4 and even the Pixel 5a 5G, will all be compatible with the Android 12L beta.

It’s possible that alongside the stable release of the AndroidL, Google will unveil its often rumoured foldable Pixel device. While Google will launch Android 12L officially in Q1 of next year, Samsung already has its own user interface for foldable devices.

Samsung’s One UI 3.1.1 offers an intuitive user interface for its foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Fold 3, Z Fold 2, Z Flip 5G and the original Z Flip. When I reviewed the Galaxy Z Fold 3, I Found One UI 3.1.1 on top of Android 11 offered a smooth experience, and if Android 12L is as good or better, it’s set to be a great update.

Source: Android Developer Blog, (2)

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Mobile Syrup

Google announces Android 12L Developer Preview with release timeline

Google has officially announced the AndroidL Developer Preview alongside a release timeline.

First off, Android 12L features a new user interface designed for larger screens including tablets, foldables and devices that use Chrome OS.

For example, one way the operating system is optimized for larger screens is through the notification shade. The notification shade features a two-column layout with notifications, quick settings and system apps evenly spread out.

Additionally, Android 12L offers a new taskbar that lets users drag and drop an app into split-screen mode and switches apps easily when needed. With Android 12L, all apps will be able to enter multi-window mode, regardless of if they’re resizeable. Samsung’s One UI 3.1.1 also offers a similar feature that can force apps to enter multi-window mode.

Further, 12L features improved compatibility for apps that aren’t optimized yet, and Google Play will also indicate what apps are optimized or larger screens.

As for the timeline, the Developer Preview is launching now, and there will be three different betas, including one in December, another in January and the last one in February, with what looks like a stable release in March (but Google only says Q1 2022)

Google’s Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5, Pixel 4a (5G), Pixel 4 and even the Pixel 5a 5G, will all be compatible with the Android 12L beta.

It’s possible that alongside the stable release of the AndroidL, Google will unveil its often rumoured foldable Pixel device. While Google will launch Android 12L officially in Q1 of next year, Samsung already has its own user interface for foldable devices.

Samsung’s One UI 3.1.1 offers an intuitive user interface for its foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip 3, Fold 3, Z Fold 2, Z Flip 5G and the original Z Flip. When I reviewed the Galaxy Z Fold 3, I Found One UI 3.1.1 on top of Android 11 offered a smooth experience, and if Android 12L is as good or better, it’s set to be a great update.

Source: Android Developer Blog, (2)