HTC U11 Life: News and Rumors

Why it matters to you

The HTC U11 is a very desirable phone, but it’s quite large. The rumored U11 Life may bring some of the U11’s best features to a phone that better fits in your hand.

HTC has won plenty of new fans with the HTC U11, a very capable camera phone with the unusual squeezable Edge Sense feature to really make the phone fun to use. It’s not finished for 2017 either, and rumors are to be believed, it will release another phone similar to the U11 called the U11 Life. It’s not expected to be so technically impressive, but is likely to bring many of the features that make the U11 desirable to a more reasonably priced, smaller device.

Here’s what we think we know about it.

Design

The HTC U11 looks stunning from the back, due to the eye-catching 3D liquid glass finish. We don’t know if the U11 Life will also have the same color-shifting look, as the only leaked image shows the device from the front. There’s a definite family resemblance between it and the U11, but the bezels show HTC won’t adopt the 18:9 screen aspect ratio championed by LG and Samsung recently, if the image is accurate.

A physical home button sits in the lower bezel, which we can assume doubles as a fingerprint sensor. The screen itself is expected to measure 5.2-inches and have a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, according to Android Authority. The phone may be quite durable, too, as an IP67 water and dust resistance rating is being rumored, matching the U11 and the Apple iPhone 7.

Specification

The U11 Life may not equal the U11 in power, but many of the best U11 features should still be present. Think of the U11 Life as a U11 Mini, and you’ll be about right. A Snapdragon 630, or a Snapdragon 660 processor is possible. This would be a step down in performance from the HTC U11, which has the Snapdragon 835 inside.

Sadly, it’s unlikely the U11’s 12-megapixel UltraPixel camera will make it to the U11 Life. Instead it may have a 16-megapixel rear camera, and a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The latter matches the U11, and the rear camera should benefit from phase detection autofocus. Further specs include a MicroSD card slot, 32GB of internal memory, and the active noise canceling USonic in-ear headphones.

Android 7.1.1 should be installed with HTC’s Sense 9.0 user interface, and the Edge Sense feature, where squeezing the phone can activate certain features. The battery may be a little small at 2,600mAh.

Release

HTC hasn’t officially confirmed the U11 Life, which has also been rumored under the HTC Ocean Life code name, and there haven’t been any rumors regarding its release. For now, the phone remains a rumor, but we’ll keep you updated here.

MIUI 9 global beta is now available for Redmi Note 4 and Mi 6

First global beta of MIUI 9 is now available for download.

Xiaomi unveiled MIUI 9 a few weeks ago in China, and the global version of the ROM is now available in beta. The ROM is being rolled out in stages, with the Redmi Note 4 and Mi 6 currently eligible for the update.

Most of the interesting new additions — the universal image search, smart app launcher, and smart assistant — are limited to the China ROM, but there’s plenty to like in the global beta. I have it installed on my Mi 6, and there’s a noticeable uptick in responsiveness. The UI doesn’t feel bloated anymore, and split-screen mode is now built into the ROM.

Here’s the changelog for the MIUI 9 build 7.8.10:

• New – Deep-level system optimizations (08-07)
• New – New icons (08-07)
• New – New animations for launching and exiting apps (08-07)
• New – Simpler Home screen editing (08-07)
• New – Introducing Split screen (08-07)
• New – Improved Silent mode triggered by the volume button (08-07)
• New – Improved readability for the start page of Messaging (08-07)
• Optimization – Devices with rare Bluetooth profiles are hidden in the device list (07-25)
• New – Search for apps in the Dual apps settings (08-03)

If you’re running a MIUI 9 beta ROM, you should be able to download the latest MIUI 9 build through the Updater app on your phone. If you’re on a stable build, you’ll have to download the ROM from the link below and flash it manually. Before you do that, you’ll have to get the bootloader unlocked.

Download MIUI 9 global ROM for Redmi Note 4/Mi 6

Xiaomi finally rolls out Nougat update to the Redmi Note 4 in India

Redmi Note 4 gets the Nougat update just as Indian sales cross the 5 million mark.

Six and a half months after it went on sale in India, the Redmi Note 4 is picking up the Nougat update via two different avenues. Xiaomi is rolling out the MIUI 8.5.4.0 OTA update to Redmi Note 4 devices in the country, delivering Android 7.0 Nougat, and the MIUI 9 global beta with Android 7.1.1 Nougat is now available for download for the phone.

The stable OTA update comes in at 1.5GB, and has a lengthy changelog detailing all the new additions:

• New – Support for exFAT SD cards
• New – Separate App locks for Dual apps
• New – Option for hiding the content of notifications on Lock screen
• New – Separate App locks for Dual apps
• New – Option for hiding the content of notifications on Lock screen
• New – Verification SMS are shown on the Lock screen only after the Lock screen password is entered
• New – Slide to browse wallpapers
• New – Renaming albums
• New – Custom groups for albums with people
• New – Pausing ongoing backups
• New – Redesigned the Music app
• New – Personal hotspot is now mutually recognizable by iOS devices
• New – Separate updates for the system apps
• New – Switches for common settings in search results
• New – Personal hotspot is now mutually recognizable by iOS devices
• New – Separate updates for the system apps
• New – Switches for common settings in search results
• New – Introducing Screen recorder
• New – Introducing Screen recorder
• New – Export birthday reminders from Contacts
• New – Added official holidays for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Russia
• New – Countdowns for exams, repayments, vacations, etc.
• New – Anniversary reminders for important events
• New – Export birthday reminders from Contacts
• New – Added official holidays for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Russia
• New – Countdowns for exams, repayments, vacations, etc.
• New – Anniversary reminders for important events
• New – Calculating discounts
• New – Manage to autostart for multiple system apps

Xiaomi said earlier this year that the Redmi Note 4 was the best-selling phone in India, and the company is now announcing a new milestone: 5 million sales. To commemorate the occasion, Xiaomi built the world’s largest grain mosaic at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in New Delhi.

The mosaic features over 88,000 lbs (40,000 kgs) of grains — including pulses and rice — with Xiaomi donating the grains to feed 5 lakh people on India’s upcoming Independence Day on August 15.

As for the Nougat update, if you’re looking to stay on the stable release channel, your best bet is to wait for the OTA update to MIUI 8.5.4.0. If you don’t mind flashing the MIUI 9 beta build, head here to get started.

Did your Redmi Note 4 pick up the OTA update? Let us know in the comments below.

The Morning After: Friday, August 11th 2017

We made it, people. This morning we’re covering the baby monitor trying to be a doula, the silent 10-minute song rocketing up the iTunes chart and LG’s latest effort to make the best smartphone camera.

Spring for the extended warranty
Consumer Reports pulls recommendation for Surface PCs

Through surveys conducted on over 90,000 tablets and laptops that Consumer Reports subscribers purchased between 2014 and early 2017, the company estimates that 25 percent of Microsoft laptop and tablet owners will experience problems like freezing, unexpected shutdowns and unresponsive touch screens by the end of the second year of ownership. In response, Microsoft specified that its stats for return rates of the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book are “well below” 25 percent and claims “there has never been a better time to buy a Surface.”

Another Samsung mobile app.
Samsung inexplicably opens up its Android browser

Samsung has announced that the new version of its Android browser, Samsung Internet, can be used on any relatively new Android phone, which is good news if you’re bored of existing mobile browsers that already do the job perfectly well.

Here we go again.
Google cancels company meeting due to safety concerns

Earlier this week, Google fired the engineer behind a memo decrying its supposed “echo chamber,” and yesterday it was supposed to follow up with a company-wide meeting on the issue. Information about employees who criticized the memo has been posted by certain alt-right websites and figures, leading to CEO Sundar Pichai’s decision to cancel the meeting for safety reasons. Instead, he says that “in the coming days, we will find several forums to gather and engage with Googlers, where people can feel comfortable to speak freely.”

Avoid hearing the same song every time you plug your phone into the car stereo.
A silent 10-minute song is climbing the iTunes charts

Sometimes, silence is golden. And ingenious.

This smart monitor tracks baby’s sleeping patterns, so you don’t have to.
Nanit the AI nanny tries to unravel the mysteries of a restless baby

Nanit’s artificially intelligent baby monitor is designed to outsource much of the brainwork necessary for getting your baby to sleep, by monitoring him or her. It’s a $349 night-vision camera that hangs over a cot and uses computer vision and deep learning to monitor your little one’s sleep. It’s not perfect — and it’s pricey — but there may not be a better baby monitor for helping the whole family sleep better.

Featuring an AR-powered cover of Katy Perry.
‘W Magazine’ shows how fashion is embracing augmented reality

Fashion loves augmented reality. From Gap to Nike, brands are trying to find different ways to integrate the technology into their retail experience. Now fashion media is getting in on the action. W Magazine, one of the most prominent fashion publications, has published an AR-powered issue. Its September 2017 Collector’s Issue features an interactive, computer-generated image of Katy Perry on the cover. At first glance, it seems like a traditional magazine, but that changes when parts of it come to life when viewed through the lens of a smartphone or tablet. For W Magazine, it’s about using tech to keep itself modern.

Too intense? How about the cheaper 12-core and 8-core models, you wuss.
AMD’s beastly 16-core Ryzen Threadripper CPU is now available

We already knew a lot about AMD’s monstrous $1000 16-core 1950X Threadripper CPU (and slightly cheaper 1920X $800 12-core version), but the company released a few more details as the processors went on sale. AMD is adding a third to the lineup: The 1900X is an 8-core, 16-thread version for $550 that’ll be out on August 31st for anyone who wants a powerful-budget CPU with a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz and boost of 4GHz.

But wait, there’s more…

• LG V30’s camera has the lowest f-stop in a smartphone
• The FCC wants mobile data to count as broadband internet
• Vertu phones are available (relatively) cheap at auction
• A nearby Sun-like star hosts four Earth-sized planets

Today’s Google Doodle teaches you to scratch and mix turntables

Google’s doodles are an outlet for the company’s playful urges. And, even though they’ve become all too common, the redesigns still manage to pack the odd surprise. Take today’s offering, which resembles New York’s iconic street graffiti. But, that’s not all, click the pulsing play icon at its centre, and the logo transforms into an interactive turntable. Now, you can play DJ, spinning a bunch of records that were instrumental to the creation of hip-hop. An accompanying video tutorial boasts narration from graffiti artist and TV presenter Fab 5 Freddy.

The doodle marks the 44th anniversary of the Bronx block party that birthed hip-hop. It was there that DJ Kool Herc invented the “break” (by isolating the percussive portion of a beat). The term also lends itself to breakdancing, a style of dance synonymous with early hip-hop.

While it’s no DJ Hero, Google’s interactive music tool does boast some replay value. Using click-and-drag controls you can scratch the records, change the crossfader and BPM, and pick and choose from a crate of iconic vinyls. It even boasts achievements (ten in total) that reward experimentation. Before you know it, you’ll be spinning beats like a pro. All that’s left is to get a friend to rap over them. Wisely, Google auto-mutes the music if you navigate to a new tab. Allowing you to put your procrastination (sorry, mix) on hold while you attend to more important matters.

Source: Google (blog)

The ISS is getting a ruggedized computer upgrade

When SpaceX’s rocket takes off on August 14th, it will be carrying a machine that could make things a lot easier for future astronauts embarking on deep space missions. That machine is the Spaceborne Computer, a high performance commercial off-the-shelf computer system running Linux that NASA and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) “ruggedized” for use in outer space. It will stay aboard the space station for a year, so the two organizations can find out whether it’s tough enough to operate seamlessly amidst the harsh conditions computers are bound to encounter on their way to Mars and farther locations.

These days, computers on Earth still perform most of the calculations needed by spacecraft in orbit. It’s still easy enough for astronauts or autonomous probes to beam back info to the ground and get the results back in near real time. However, the farther we go, the bigger the communication lag is, which could be disastrous for manned missions. For instance, it could take up to 20 minutes to beam data back to Earth from Mars and another 20 minutes to get the results.

A powerful onboard computer that can withstand radiation, solar flares, unstable power supply, extreme temperatures and other conditions could solve that issue. To make a machine like that, you’d typically have to use rugged equipment, but that would bulk up the computer too much and would cost a lot of money. Instead of tweaking the computer’s hardware, HPE developed software to toughen up the machine. This software powers down the computer when it detects radiation and other anomalies to mitigate environmentally induced errors.

HPE said in a statement:

“The Spaceborne Computer experiment will not only show us what needs to be done to advance computing in space, it will also spark discoveries for how to improve high performance computing (HPC) on Earth and potentially have a ripple effect in other areas of technology innovation.”

If Spaceborne’s year-long trial turns out to be a success, HPE and NASA plan to send other advanced computing systems to the ISS. The partners might have a few more years to test any technology they want anyway, since the first manned mission to Mars most likely won’t happen until the 2030s.

Source: NASA

Steam Link puts PC games on Samsung smart TVs

You can now play Steam games on your Samsung 2016 or 2017 smart TVs without having to worry about beta bugs and performance issues. The Steam Link app for the chaebol’s latest smart TV models is now out of beta and available for download from the Smart Hub app store. Take note that your TV’s firmware must be up to date to be able to install the app, but once you’re done, you won’t need the $50 Link device to play Steam games on what could be the biggest and clearest display in your home.

In addition to the app’s launch, Steam has also officially announced that Link is compatible with Xbox 360 wired and wireless, Xbox One wired and Logitech F510/F710 controllers in addition to its own gamepad. Testers were actually able to use those controllers with the app during the beta period, which is why Steam knows rumble on Xbox controllers causes a lag spike. The Link team is trying to find a way to fix that and will likely include it in future update, along with any other patches and new features.

Source: Steam

Game-Streaming Platform Twitch Launches First Desktop App for Mac

Popular game-streaming platform Twitch officially launched its first desktop app on Thursday, allowing Mac users to enjoy all the features of the existing web-based platform within a standalone native application.

Based on the CurseForge platform acquired last year, the Twitch Desktop App lets users watch live streams, clips, and video on demand, all while chatting with fellow gamers. Plus there’s a new Friend Sync feature that promises to help users find friends “across the creator-verse”.

In addition to private messaging, Twitch on Mac supports voice and video calls, indicating a clear bid to compete with rival platform Discord, which began testing a new video chat feature yesterday. The app also supports thousands of game add-ons made by the modding community, as well as in-game overlays so users can manage calls without needing to switch between windows.

The desktop app also includes the Dark Mode recently introduced in the mobile version, making watching streams in low light environments easier on the eyes. Amazon-owned Twitch is also promising a cloud storage feature in the near future that will allow users to access their data remotely.

In addition to established features, the Twitch desktop app introduces Servers, a new virtual home for gaming communities where users can watch video, play, and chat together even when a game stream is offline.

The Twitch desktop app for macOS is available now and can be downloaded for free directly from the Twitch website.
Discuss this article in our forums

Gmail for iOS will warn you about visiting phishing links

A few months ago, Google introduced an anti-phishing feature for Gmail on Android after a widespread attack affected millions of users. Now, Mountain View is adding the extra security measure to Gmail for iOS. Sometime within the next 15 days, a warning message will pop up when you click on a suspicious link. It will let you know that the URL you want to access leads to an untrusted site, and it will ask if you’re absolutely sure you want to continue.

If you do choose to continue, Google will load another warning that the website you’re trying to visit “has been identified as a forgery.” It’s a multi-layered protection against phishing attempts, and you’ll have to knowingly visit scam websites to fall victim to their schemes. Of course, it can only protect you if you click a link in Gmail — you’ll still have to practice vigilance everywhere else on the web.

Source: Google

‘GLOW’ is body slamming its way to Netflix for a second season

The Crown isn’t the only Netflix series that’s returning to the platform. The gorgeous ladies of wrestling will also be grappling their way back on to your screens. On Thursday, the GLOW Twitter account announced that season 2 is officially on its way. The show’s second season will reportedly feature 10 episodes, according to Deadline.

Here we #GLOW again… Season 2 is coming. pic.twitter.com/LXF8OIxcNG

— GLOW (@GlowNetflix) August 10, 2017

That’s all the info available, thus far. No word yet on returning cast members, a release date, or even when production begins. But, seeing as Netflix isn’t afraid to give its properties the chop, fans will be pleased to know that GLOW has performed well enough to survive. It probably helped that the show comes from the creative team behind Orange is the New Black. The crescendo of critical acclaim that greeted it — including praise for its period detail and sharp writing — can’t have hurt either. Inspired by the real-life wrestling league, GLOW follows the lives of a group of women who join its ranks during the mid-’80S.

Source: GLOW (Twitter)