Everything that’s new in the OxygenOS Open Beta

Wondering what’s new in the latest Open Beta? You’re in the right place.

There are a lot of reasons to like OnePlus phones, but one aspect that’s remained since the beginning is the excellent software experience they offer. All OnePlus phones now run OxygenOS, and if you want to test out new software features before anyone else, you can sign up for the OxygenOS Open Beta.

OnePlus updates the Open Beta quite frequently, with each new version including bug fixes, security patches, and feature galore.

To make sure you never miss a beat, here’s everything new in the beta right now.

May 15, 2018 — OnePlus 5 & 5T get group MMS, May security patch, and new launcher goodies

OxygenOS Open Beta 10 and 8 for the OnePlus 5 and 5T, respectively, is here and comes with a fair amount to check out.

In regards to user-facing changes, the OnePlus Launcher now has a Toolbox Card in the Shelf, Hidden Space section in the app drawer, and dynamic app icons (such as the calendar, clock, and weather) can now be edited. The OnePlus Switch app has a tweaked UI for the Backup & Restore section, as well as a more accurate time remaining timer and other general bug fixes.

This Open Beta also fixes a bug that was preventing group MMS from working on the 5 and 5T, and last but not least, the May security patch is here in all of its glory.

April 25, 2018 — Double-tap for lock screen comes to OnePlus 5/5T

With Open Beta 9 for the OnePlus 5 and Open Beta 7 for the 5T, OnePlus made very minor changes.

The most notable addition to this version is a new double-tap gesture that’ll turn on the lock screen when your display is off. This can be useful for quickly checking notifications if you don’t want to fully unlock your phone, so it’s nice to see something like this make an appearance.

Other than that, the only other items included is an improved search history when searching for apps in the app drawer and “optimized scanning logic for large files” with the File Manager.

OnePlus 5T and OnePlus 5

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• Join the discussion in the forums

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Let these $9 Spigen Bluetooth headphones be your impulse buy of the day

Buy now, celebrate later.

We’ve featured plenty of deals on affordable Bluetooth headphones, but most of the time they are from smaller brands. Right now, you can pick up a set of Spigen Bluetooth headphones for just $8.99, which is the absolute lowest price we’ve seen them hit. These headphones have been selling for $21.99 recently, and in the past have sold for as much as $26.99.

This price drop is only available for the white version of these Bluetooth 4.1 headphones. They are compact, lightweight and deliver high-quality audio. You can use them in the gym, while hiking, biking, and much more. Each charge will give you 4.5 hours of playback and 175 hours of standby, making them perfect to keep in your bag, at your desk, or anywhere else.

Whether you already have a good pair of Bluetooth headphones and need a backup pair, or you finally want to see what all the hype is about, you won’t want to miss out on this deal.

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Do you prefer Verizon or T-Mobile?

Red vs. pink.

When looking at post-paid carriers in the United States, two of the most popular options are Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. Verizon’s well-known for having one of the best networks across the entire country, but T-Mobile’s Un-Carrier movement has propelled it into huge success over the last few years.

Choosing between these two companies as your smartphone service provider can be a challenge, but at the end of the day, only one can reign supreme.

The Android Central forum users recently shared their thoughts on this comparison, and this is what they had to say.

amyf27
05-17-2018 05:39 AM

“

I moved to Verizon from T-Mobile a couple of weeks ago. It was a bit of a rough start with getting the new phones and having them straighten out the first bill that isn’t due for a couple of weeks but other than that there are a few things I like more about it already then T-Mobile.

Does anyone else have switched from T-Mobile to Verizon. The real test is how things go month by month. So we…

Reply

dpadams6
05-17-2018 11:29 AM

“

You made a wise move. Verizon has the best coverage in more areas, across the country, then any other carrier.

Reply

Dngrsone
05-19-2018 11:25 AM

“

I went from Sprint to Verizon a year and a half ago and so far so good. Bill is a bit less than with Sprint, though I’m not looking forward to getting new phones with even more bloatware on them in the future…

Reply

westham7
05-21-2018 02:56 PM

“

I made a switch from Verizon to Tmobile been with tmobile for 9 years no complaints

Reply

Now, we want to hear your side of things. Do you prefer Verizon or T-Mobile?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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‘Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia’ Coming to Mac on Thursday, May 24

Feral has announced that Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia will be released this week for macOS. The epic historical strategy game made its way onto Windows last month to generally favorable reviews, and from Thursday, May 24, Mac owners too can test their strategic nous on the battlefield, provided they can match the system requirements.

Originally developed by Creative Assembly, Thrones of Britannia is the first in the new Total War Saga series of standalone titles inspired by great turning points in history.

The first game in the new series sets Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers against each other as they vie for supremacy across the British Isles, circa 878 AD. Players can command one of ten factions, each with a unique branching narrative, and make decisions that reshape history in unexpected ways.

Combining huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based strategy, THRONES OF BRITANNIA challenges players to build and defend a kingdom. Players will forge alliances, manage settlements, raise armies and embark on a campaign of conquest from the snowbound highlands of Gaelic Scotland to the green fields of Anglo-Saxon Kent.

Focusing on a specific historical flashpoint, Thrones diverges from typical Total War titles, with some changes to the series’ standard game mechanics, including variations in building construction and military training to better reflect geographical differences.

As for spec requirements, the game officially runs on the following:

• All 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since 2016
• All 15-inch Retina MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012
• All 15-inch MacBook Pros released since Mid 2012 with a 1GB Graphics Card
• All 21.5-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 with a 1.8GHz i3 processor or better
• All 27-inch iMacs released since Late 2013 (late 2012 models with Nvidia 675MX or Nvidia 680MX graphics card are also supported)
• All 27-inch iMac Pros
• All Mac Pros released since Late 2013.

Visit the minisite for more information. Thrones of Britannia can be pre-ordered now for $35.99/£26.99 from the Feral Store and Steam.

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Comcast’s Xfi Pods turn power sockets into a mesh Wi-Fi network

After an initial launch in Boston and Chicago at the end of 2017, Comcast’s Xfi Pods are now available to all Xfinity internet subscribers in a three-pack for $119, or a six-pack for $199. They’re compatible with the company’s Xfi Wireless Gateway and the Xfi Advanced Gateway, extending the reach of your wireless network in the home or office. 

“Our gateway devices are incredibly powerful, but we know that some homes have a unique layout or are constructed of materials that can disrupt Wi-Fi coverage in some rooms,” Eric Schaefer, Senior Vice President, Comcast Cable, said in a statement. “Our Xfi Pods can blanket a home with great coverage and are simple to install and easy to use.” 

The Xfi Pods are AC1200-class devices, meaning they support speeds of up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band (2x 150Mbps) and up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band (2x 433Mbps). They plug directly into a wall’s power outlet to create a “mesh” network: A web of coverage that shows up on your device as a single access point no matter where you are in the home or office. 

The hexagon-shaped Xfi Pods are the result of a collaboration between Comcast and mesh networking kit developer Plume. The Plume Wi-Fi system relies on what the company calls “Adaptive Wi-Fi” that is a bit different than the typical mesh networking kit. That is because it uses a feature called Auto Channel Hop, allowing data to “hop” from one transmission lane to another to avoid any congestion routed between the gateway, the Xfi Pods, and your device. 

Another difference between your typical mesh networking kit and the Xfi Pods is that they don’t physically connect to the gateway via an Ethernet connection. Instead, the unit serving as the “hub” connects wirelessly to the gateway with the others serving as “nodes” to create a web of connectivity. Thus, the included Ethernet port merely connects a wired device to the network. 

Comcast says these mesh devices will “evaluate” the environment and adjust the channels. They “self-monitor” their performance as well, diagnose all issues, and repair the connections between each Pod. They are powered by cloud-based remote management, meaning you can install, monitor and control these devices using a mobile app for iOS and Android. 

“Pods are not meant for outdoor use and should not be placed outside of your home,” the company FAQ states. “To extend Wi-Fi coverage to an outdoor location, place one of your Pods in an inside wall outlet that is closest to the outdoor area where you would like to extend Wi-Fi coverage.” 

Mesh networking kits complement your current gateway. Picture a radio tower: The further you move away, the fuzzier the music becomes until all you hear is static. Wi-Fi is similar, but adding a mesh network “extends” the coverage so your data transmissions remain fast and solid. Not every Xfinity subscriber will need this kit, such as small studio apartments. 

The new Xfi Pods are available to purchase online, at any Xfinity retail store, or within the Xfi app. 

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Xiaomi Mi 8 will be unveiled on May 31 with in-display fingerprint sensor

Xiaomi’s next flagship will launch at the end of the month with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Xiaomi usually launches a phone in its flagship Mi series in February, but this year it eschewed the Mi 7 in favor of an upgraded variant of the Mi Mix 2 dubbed the Mi Mix 2S. It now looks like the company is instead set to unveil the Mi 8 at the end of the month in China.

According to an invite shared on Weibo that was spotted by GizmoChina, Xiaomi will launch its next flagship on May 31. The phone is set to be called the Mi 8 Anniversary Edition, to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the brand.

We don’t know much about the device, but it is rumored with a 6.01-inch edge-to-edge OLED display, along with Snapdragon 845, and a 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge. Interestingly, the device is set to offer a 3D facial recognition feature similar to that of the iPhone X, and it slated to come with an in-display fingerprint sensor.

Vivo was the first brand to roll out a device with an in-display fingerprint sensor, and it looks like Xiaomi isn’t far behind.

Reports out of China indicate we’ll also see the Mi Band 3 fitness band at the event. It’ll be interesting to see if the Mi 8 or any of the other devices that are set to launch next week will make their way outside of China. Xiaomi launched the Mi Mix 2 in India, but in recent months the company has focused on the budget segment, with the launch of the Redmi Y2 imminent.

With the launch event just over a week away, we should know more about the Mi 8 in the coming days, so stay tuned. In the meantime, let me know what you’re looking forward to seeing from the phone in the comments below.

Video: First 6 things to do with your new OnePlus 6!

If you’re unboxing a shiny new mirror black OnePlus 6, or perhaps a not-so-shiny midnight black or silk white variant, there are lots of things that you’ll want to play with right away. The OnePlus 6 is one of the most anticipated phones of the year so far, and there are plenty of (somewhat) hidden features to explore.

In our latest video, we’ll explore the top six things to do with your OnePlus 6 after you’ve unboxed it and popped in your SIM. We’ll cover everything from gestures to themeing, and even lesser-known tricks like ambient display.

Check it out below, and be sure to hit up our OnePlus 6 review if you haven’t already!

• Android Central on YouTube
• See at OnePlus
• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 video review
• More on the OnePlus 6

Honor 7A and Honor 7C make their way to India, sales kick off next week

Honor is on the rise in India, and it is looking to continue the momentum with its latest budget phones.

After launching the mid-range Honor 10 a week ago, the Chinese manufacturer is now introducing its latest budget phones, the Honor 7A and 7C, in India. Both phones feature 18:9 displays, dual cameras, a face unlock feature, and will be sold exclusively online. The Honor 7A will go on sale at Flipkart starting May 29 for ₹8,999 ($132), while the Honor 7C will make its debut on Amazon starting May 31 for ₹9,999 ($145).

The Honor 7A comes with a 5.7-inch 18:9 display with a resolution of 1440 x 720, and is powered by the Snapdragon 430. It comes in a single variant with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and has a dual 13MP + 2MP camera configuration at the back as well as an 8MP front shooter. There’s also Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, FM radio, MicroUSB 2.0, and a 3000mAh battery.

The Honor 7C, meanwhile, comes with a 5.99-inch display with the same resolution, with the phone powered by the beefier Snapdragon 450. The default version comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and there’s another variant that offers 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for ₹11,999 ($175). The phone has the same 13MP + 2MP camera setup as the Honor 7A, and has the same 8MP front camera. It also has the same connectivity options, and a similar 3000mAh battery.

Both phones come with EMUI 8.0 — based on Android 8.0 Oreo — out of the box, and Honor is rolling out a new feature called Ride Mode that’s designed for the Indian market. Ride Mode is similar to the S Bike Mode that Samsung introduced with the Galaxy J series a few years ago, and mutes notifications when you’re driving.

There isn’t anything noteworthy on either the Honor 7A or 7C, but the phones are designed to take on the Redmi Note 5, which features the Snapdragon 625. The fact that they run Oreo gives them an edge on the software front, but Xiaomi still has the lead when it comes to the hardware side of things.

With a variety of phones available in the budget category, it’s getting harder for brands to differentiate their products, but the intense rivalry is great news for customers as there’s no dearth of choice. What do you guys think of the Honor 7A and 7C?

Razer Launches New Core X External Graphics Enclosure, Adds Mac Support to Razer Core Lineup

Razer today announced the launch of its latest external graphics enclosure, the Core X, and alongside the debut of the new accessory, the company is also adding Mac support to its enclosure lineup.

Both the new Core X and the existing Core V2 and Core V1 external graphics enclosures are now compatible with all Macs that offer support for Thunderbolt 3, including the MacBook Pro, iMac, and iMac Pro.

The Razer Core X, which also works with Windows machines, has been designed based on customer feedback Razer received after releasing the Core V2. Users wanted a wider external graphics enclosure able to fit larger 3 slot PCIe graphics cards, which the Core X delivers along with better cooling capabilities.

Razer designed the Core X to be future proof with the aforementioned larger enclosure and a 650W power supply that offers enough power to support all graphics cards on the market today and those coming in the future. While this is larger than the Core V2, Razer still designed it with desktop use in mind, so it’s relatively slim and compact.

For those unfamiliar with Razer’s Core series, the enclosures are designed to add additional graphics power to a Mac or a PC for tasks like gaming and system intensive workflows. With an external graphics enclosure, a machine not normally capable of handling GPU-intensive tasks can be hooked up to a powerful GPU. You will, of course, need to purchase a GPU alongside the Razer Core accessories – these are just enclosures.

To use the Razer Core X with a Mac, the machine must be running macOS 10.13.4 or later, and the Razer Core X needs to be equipped with an AMD Radeon card. It is not compatible with NVIDIA cards when used with a Mac at this time.

Pairing the Core X to a Mac is as simple as plugging the accessory into the Thunderbolt port on a compatible machine, with no restarting or fussing with settings needed. 100W passthrough charging is supported, so even the 15-inch MacBook Pro can charge when plugged into the Core X.

Razer designed the Core X to be more affordable than the slimmer V2 enclosure, and it is priced at $299. It can be purchased directly from the Razer Store starting today. Razer is also continuing to sell the Core V2 for $499.

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Google Photos Gains ‘Favorite’ Feature and Shared Album ‘Hearts’

Google Photos is set to plug a couple of holes in its basic feature set over the next few days, bringing it in line with similar functions available in Apple Photos.

Up until now, the cloud-based photo service has lacked the ability to favorite photos, but that’s about to change. Google says it’s rolling out an option for users to tap a star in the upper right of any photo in their library, and the photos will be automatically added to a new Favorites album.

Google Photos will also soon let users “heart” photos that have been shared with them, which essentially functions the same way the “Like” button does in Apple’s Shared Photo Albums, adding a touch of social interaction to the service.

It’s OK to play favorites. Rolling out this week, tap the ⭐️ button to mark a photo as a favorite. Head to the Albums tab and view all your favorites in one place. pic.twitter.com/eWnSMDKQ72

— Google Photos (@googlephotos) May 21, 2018

Google has promised additional Photos features powered by some AI innovations the company showcased at its I/O event earlier this month. They include suggested quick edits to improve images, color pop, and the ability to colorize old photos.

Google Photos is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: Google, Google Photos, photography
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