Software

The April 2021 security update for the Google Pixel series comes with connectivity, camera, and stability improvements for the entire lineup, but the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G get a noticeable gaming performance boost. However, the new patch arrives after the first stable Android 11 update which unfortunately came with a decline in performance.

A future version of WhatsApp will let users migrate their chats data across platforms. The feature is currently available in a beta version of the app and only allows iOS to Android transfers. There is no word as to when it will be available on the stable version of WhatsApp, though.

The Huawei MatePad Pro 2 is currently touted as an upcoming rival to the iPad Pro or Samsung Galaxy Tab S7-series slates. According to a Weibo-based tipster, it might launch with HarmonyOS in China, at least. This new leak includes screenshots indicating that this UI will provide a "Dual Dock" when in tablet mode.

Although the data breach in question today apparently took place back in 2019, it is quite disturbing to find out that more than 500 million Facebook accounts are now in danger since the database has surfaced online in a freely accessible low-level hacking forum. Thankfully, the vulnerability exploited back then has been patched.

The Galaxy SmartTag is Samsung's recent answer to Tile-like devices. It was released in vanilla and Plus variants, although only the former has been available until now. The latter is now also on the market, although it is listed with only 1 retailer thus far.

Various leaks, official ones included, point to the imminent debut of the Galaxy F12 in India soon. Samsung has just confirmed then with by announcing that the phone will launch in April 5, 2021. However, its specs might be less than unexpected in this new market.

OnePlus has just launched the 9 series of flagship phones. Despite this, it has felt the need to push a software update to the 2 devices already with tweaks for their Hasselblad-branded cameras.

A device called the Samsung Galaxy A Quantum 2 - possibly the South Korean product name for the A82 - has appeared on the Google Play Console A82. According to its new leaks, it will launch with 6GB of RAM, an FHD+ screen and the former flagship Snapdragon 855 Plus processor.

The OPPO Reno5 smartphones has been around for about 6 months now; therefore, going by this line's usual release cycle, it might nearly be time for a 6 series launch. New leaks suggest that they are indeed in the works, and will debut with similar premium mid-range specs, although at least 1 variant might get a newer SoC.

Some Realme fans might already be aware of Realmeow, this OEM’s recently-unveiled visor-rocking feline mascot. Now, some official-looking Twitter accounts allege that this character is to become much more to the brand. In fact, it is due to be rolled out as a smart assistant soon.

The LineageOS team has finally released version 18.1 of its OS. LineageOS 18.1 is available for 70 devices, including many that are unlikely to receive Android 11 officially. LineageOS 18.1 contains several new features beyond those that Google introduced with Android 11, too.

Microsoft has pulled the Cortana apps for Android and iOS from their respective app stores. The move comes after Microsoft announced that it would stop supporting its Cortana mobile apps, but it also has disabled functionality on existing installations. Microsoft recommends using its To Do app or the Cortana Windows 10 app, instead.

Eager Xiaomi fans outside of China can now order the new Mi Smart Band 6 from AliExpress, with prices starting from US$44.97. The NFC model is also available for purchase although the payment feature likely won’t function outside of China. A Mi Fit app update has introduced a useful sleep breathing quality monitor to the fitness tracker.

Repeated leaks have pointed to the imminent arrival of a new member of the Lenovo Yoga Tab series. Now, the FCC has certified a device going by this device's alleged model number, indicating that it is destined for the US market, at least. It may launch there with the Snapdragon 870 processor, and, thus, as an Android slate.

The V13 is a new Realme phone launched on the Chinese market today. Admittedly, its processor - the MediaTek Dimensity 700 - has been seen before. It is joined by a 90Hz display and a 5000mAh battery in its latest vehicle, which, as rumor has it, might launch in other regions as the Realme 8 5G soon.

Xiaomi has started rolling out MIUI 12.5, its latest OS following last year's MIUI 12. MIUI 12.5 has arrived ahead of schedule, although most devices will not receive it until sometime during the summer.

If the data found in the latest version of the Galaxy Wearable app turns out to be accurate, Samsung's next-gen smartwatches will only run Google's Wear OS. The Galaxy Watch 4 and its Active sibling are expected to arrive later this year, more precisely before the end of its second quarter.

A select handful of mobile device OEMs design their own custom silicon, and Xiaomi has just re-joined these ranks with the new Surge C1. Unlike other first-party chipsets, this one is a new image signal processor designed specifically for the company's new flagship foldable device. It controls a cutting-edge liquid lens, as well as a multi-use sensor.

ZTE has launched its new S30 series of Android phones today (March 30, 2021). Its flagship is the Snapdragon 768G-powered Pro variant, which debuts with a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that boasts HDR10+ support, 800 nits of brightness and a high-end 144Hz refresh rate. It is joined by the S30 and S30E, which also come with 5G processors.

AMD has released the latest version of its Adrenalin 2020 Edition driver for Radeon cards. It is hardly essential, yet may be useful for those wishing for the best experience in ray-tracing-heavy titles such as Cyberpunk 2077. It also adds support for some other games, including Outriders and Evil Genius 2: World Domination.

Xiaomi's bumper launch of today (March 29, 2021) mainly focused on its new Mi 11-series Android phones. However, it also introduced a number of new products that could be used alongside them, one of which is the new Mi AX9000 router. Its new, gamer-geared design gives it 12 antennae in total, and integrates a top-end Qualcomm chipset for tri-band Wi-Fi 6 speeds and specs.

Huawei has almost completed its EMUI 11 rollout after commencing it late last year. Only a few devices should be without EMUI 11 now, except for in India, where Huawei has delayed proceedings by two months.

According to the cybersecurity specialists Zimperium, a non-Google Play Store app masquerading as a system-update tool found online is in fact Android malware. Once installed on devices via side-loading, it apparently steals information ranging from SMS messages to clipboard data. It may also hijack phone cameras and mics to spy on unsuspecting users.

Recent leaks have pointed to upcoming, possibly more affordable, Samsung slates, one of which could be called the Galaxy Tab S7 Lite on its launch. However, the latest tip suggests that this device might in fact be the Lite version of the Tab S7 Plus instead. It has been touted as being 5G only up until now; however, there may now be scope for a 4G/LTE model as well.

The Xiaomi Mi 11's even more premium versions are slated to launch on March 29, 2021. Of these, the Pro had yet to be spotted in benchmarking leaks - until now. A device with its alleged model number has finally surfaced on Geekbench, possibly confirming 12GB of RAM along with the Snapdragon 888 SoC for this super-flagship Android phone.

Owners of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Mi Mix 3, Mi 8 Pro, and Mi 8 Explorer Edition smartphones can test out a version of Android 11 thanks to the team at Paranoid Android. The devs have frequently supported older Xiaomi devices with their custom ROMs, and now Paranoid Android Ruby is available as an initial dev release.

According to some recent leaks, Huawei is about to launch a new series of TVs. The OEM is also now said to have partnered with the sound specialist Devialet for these putative 2021 smart screens' audio solutions. This collaboration has, apparently, results in inbuilt speakers that might make the user forget about an external set-up.

The Ricoh Theta Z1 is this brand's latest miniature camera for 360-degree, spherical captures. It can achieve these in a single shot at a resolution of 6720x3360, and can also be used for all-around 4K/30fps video. Furthermore, it is the first of its series with an internal storage spec of 51GB, which may overcome the limitations of previous Theta models.

Huawei has confirmed that its HarmonyOS will start to roll out from April 2021. This in-house OS is intended to replace EMUI, which is based on Android, on its mobile devices. This process will start with the Mate X2, the OEM's latest foldable flagship.

Amazfit has finally launched the Pro version of its T-Rex outdoors-style smartwatch. Accordingly, it comes loaded with somewhat extreme resistance to heat and cold, not to mention 10ATM water-resistance. It is also now available on platforms that include Amazon for US$179.99.

LG has announced that the release of its latest A1-, C1- and G1-series of 4K OLED TVs to the US market has begun. They start at US$1,299 for a 48-inch model, although the highest-end 83-inch C1 variant is $6,000. Most models are available from now, although the OEM is holding back on some until April to June 2021.

The Realme GT Neo is set to launch on March 31, 2021 as the mid-range version of the flagship GT. Then again, according to its latest leaks, it will do so with pretty much all the best aspects of its premium sibling, its 120Hz AMOLED panel and 3.5mm jack included. It will, however, pack the crucial difference of a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC in place of a Snapdragon 888.

The idea of Discord being bought out by Microsoft in a billion-dollar deal has mostly been dismissed as clickbait fuel - until now. The Wall Street Journal has reported that the Redmond giant and chat-service stalwart are indeed in "advanced" talks concerning a potential acquisition. Therefore, the latter may not be merely trying to ramp up for a potential IPO after all.

iQOO's latest phone is the Z3, and has launched with the Snapdragon 768G chipset that, despite its mid-range power, is not often seen in new products. Its new vehicle has a 6.58-inch FHD display that, while it has a 120Hz refresh rate, is also LCD. It starts at just ~US$260 for a 6GB RAM SKU.

A surprising piece of Steve Jobs memorabilia has changed hands for a six-figure USD sum at a London auction. Rather than being an original Apple-1 or anything like that, it consists of a printed sheet of paper, filled out by the iconic Apple executive by hand in 1973. If nothing else, the document underpins Jobs' interest in computing even way back then.

Earlier this week, Firefox 87 arrived with SmartBlock for Private Browsing — a new intelligent tracker blocking mechanism that provides stand-in scripts to decrease the chance of a website breaking on load. The list of other changes includes a new default HTTP Referrer policy, full support for VoiceOver in macOS, and more.

Xiaomi is looking for more people to test MIUI 12 beta builds. This time, the company has opened its MIUI 12 beta program to devices enrolled on the Russian branch of MIUI. 29 devices are eligible to join; the deadline for doing so is April 15.

Modder nicobellic300901 released "Grainy SSR Begone" for Cyberpunk 2077. The mode leverages the Reshade platform to intelligently denoise low-resolution SSR reflections in the game for enhanced visuals, without the performance hit of "Psycho" quality RTX effects.

The Honor Band 6 is available to buy from some online platforms, albeit as the Chinese variant with or without NFC. However, the new fitness tracker's global SKU is now slated to become available. This release will start with a listing on AliExpress from March 28, 2021, with those on the OEM's own regional stores to follow.

The C20 is a smartphone now rumored to supplant the Nokia 1.4 in 2021. It is also touted to launch alongside other new devices from the HMD Global brand such as the G10 and X20 on April 8, 2021. Therefore, the event might unveil a considerable change in direction for this OEM's more affordable devices.

Samsung has started rolling out a new update to the Galaxy Fit 2, its budget fitness tracker. The update brings new features and improvements to the device, including an improved selection of watch faces.

OnePlus has formally introduced its inaugural smartwatch alongside its new 9-series flagships. The wearable has a round case made of "surgical-grade" stainless steel, or a special alloy in its limited-edition Cobalt version. The OEM claims its 402mAh battery can last for up to 2 weeks, and charges using its in-house Warp technology.

When updating from Android 10 to Android 11 but without moving to MIUI 12.5, some Mi 10T Pro users might find trouble. For me, this means fingerprint reader and touchscreen response issues, some random app crashes, and more. According to what others who got the update are saying, it doesn't stop here.

Those who simply cannot live with Xiaomi's MIUI interface on their Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro devices are now finally receiving the first alternatives, although all are custom ROMs. Nusantara Project is one of the first such pieces of code to go live, comes from Indonesia, and is based on the Android Open Source Project.

OnePlus has finally started rolling out OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 to the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7T series. All OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro handsets should receive OnePlus' latest OS within the next few days. Still, the updates are already available to download and install manually.

Fitbit has brought new features to the Charge 4 and Inspire 2. The features will arrive in new software updates, which Fitbit has already released for the Charge 4. Fitbit states that the Inspire 2 will start receiving its latest software update from next week.

Lenovo introduces its third-gen 11.6-inch Windows machines for education as devices robust and versatile enough for any kind of learning situation the student might encounter. The 500w and 300w convertibles come in casings with the durability-focused designs schools might prefer to see, as does the 100w clamshell. The series incorporates the AMD 3015e platform, although there is the option of a Pentium chipset in the 500w.

Although the new software is not coming with MIUI 12.5 on top, various older Redmi devices are now being updated to Android 11. The list of handsets that receive the new firmware this week includes the Redmi Note 9 and Note 9 Pro, as well as the Redmi Note 10 and its Pro sibling, both released earlier this month.

Vivo's 2021 flagships have been unleashed as the X60 and X60 Pro 5G for the Malaysian market. As rumored, the phones are based on the Snapdragon 870 SoC in this country, and not the Exynos processor they have in China. The X60 Pro is graced with a main shooter with the OEM's Gimbal Stabilization 2.0, although both variants have Zeiss branding.

"Rugged" phones from OEMs such as DOOGEE are often sold via platforms such as AliExpress. However, this company has now announced that it is also now selling its S59 Pro on Amazon (in the US and the UK). This IP68/IP69K/MIL-STD-810G device has one of the largest batteries on the Android market, which powers on-board speakers rated for up to 2W of audio power.