Android
WhatsApp Community could be the app’s upcoming social media function
With over two billion people on its service, WhatsApp has quickly become one of the most used communication tools of the modern-day. People use to chat with each other, people use it for official purposes — believe it or not, most of the official work is done on WhatsApp here in India — and people use it for group chats and calls. One of the other uses of WhatsApp is when a sporting event or any other major event is in play. Be it a great goal or a missed touchdown, a phone launch, or any other news breaking event, people love to discuss it over text messages. According to a new report, WhatsApp might be working to bring people with similar interests easier to find using a new feature called Community.
XDA-Developers tore down the WhatsApp APK file for Android revealing details about the community feature. Though the APK teardown doesn’t reveal much about the feature, it hints that the so-called Community feature will co-exist with Groups and share a similar codebase.
Though it isn’t sure about it, XDA says the Community feature could possibly be a social media function within WhatsApp. It will be similar to how Facebook Groups work. A community will have multiple groups under it. Or it could also be a feature where an admin could host threaded responses in a discussion, much like how Telegram allows for threaded responses to its own Channel posts.
For now, it’s only a speculation. WhatsApp hasn’t uttered a word about this feature being developed. Moreover, one of the most active leakers of the WhatsApp features, WABetaInfo, is yet to say anything about this feature. Also, please keep in mind that the APK teardown doesn’t mean this feature will end up being a part of a future update because it is still not implemented or even tested and developers may decide to remove it.
Make sure to check out our up-to-date coverage of WhatsApp features that are in development here.
Via: XDA-Developers
HONOR announced the Magic 4 series back in February 2022, and now it’s finally launching the premium Magic 4 Pro in the global markets with a price tag to match. HONOR was originally introduced as a sub-brand by HUAWEI to launch smartphones that were aimed at the affordable phone market. But, the company is no longer restricting itself to the budget market and is now dipping its toes into the flagship segment with the launch of the HONOR Magic 4 Pro in the UK, followed by the key regions in Europe.
Even though the Magic 4 Pro is HONOR’s first-ever global flagship, the company is not cutting corners anywhere. Living up to its premium status, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. The smartphone comes with a minimum of 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. It runs on Magic UI 6.0 (based on Android 12), which offers a range of intelligent features that are optimized for smart life experiences.
On the front, the smartphone comes with a 6.81-inch LTPO OLED panel that supports refresh rates up to 120Hz (which can go down all the way to 1Hz when not in use). The display has a peak brightness of 1,000 nits and comes with a 2,848 x 1,312 pixels resolution and 460 PPI. Like other flagship smartphones in this price range, there is support for HDR 10+ content as well.
The triple-camera system on the back is arguably the highlight of the Magic 4 Pro. This setup includes a 50MP primary camera, a 50MP ultra-wide with a 122-degree FoV, and a 64MP telephoto lens that supports up to 3.5x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom. There are two extra sensors, a flicker sensor and an 8×8 dTOF laser focusing sensor, on the back as well.
All the three camera sensors of the Magic 4 Pro support Ultra-Fusion Computational Photography technology that allows the smartphone to produce high-definition images in stunning clarity, even when shot from afar. In addition, it also supports Dual Chain Computational Photography and Videography Algorithm, which allows the smartphone to capture truly high-quality images while shooting videos.
Another key highlight of the HONOR Magic 4 Pro is its battery. The smartphone comes with a 4,600 mAh cell, which isn’t extraordinary. The thing that makes this battery stand out is the support for HONOR’s proprietary SuperCharge technology. Thanks to this technology, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro supports 100W wired charging and 100W wireless charging. HONOR says the 100W fast charging should charge the smartphone from 0% to 100% in just about 30 minutes, whereas 100W wireless charging can provide a 50% charge in just 15 minutes.
HONOR Magic 4 Pro: Price and Release Date
HONOR Magic 4 Pro has been priced at £950/€1,100. Pre-orders for the Magic 4 Pro go live on 13 May 2022 in the UK. The smartphone will go on sale in the rest of Europe a little later. If you place an order before the 26th of this month, you will receive a special-pre-order bundle worth £324 free of cost. This special bundle includes the all-new HONOR Watch GS 3, a wireless charging dock, and some official cases. If you’re in the UK, you can also take advantage of the Three UK offer, allowing you to get a cashback of up to £250.
HONOR Magic 4 Pro
Pre-order now and get Watch GS 3, 100W wireless charger, and more for free!
HONOR Magic 4 Pro is the latest flagship smartphone from the company. It comes with all the high-end specs, including Snapdragon 8 Gen1, 50MP triple-camera, and 100W wired and wireless charging. Pre-order the HONOR Magic 4 Pro now and get Watch GS 3, 100W wireless charger, official cases, and more for £0!
HONOR Magic 4 Pro Specs
| Category | HONOR Magic 4 Pro |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.81-inch, Quad-curved LTPO OLED, 120Hz, 2,848 x 1,312 pixels |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 |
| GPU | Adreno 730 |
| Memory | 8/12 GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 256/512 GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Expandable Storage | No |
| Rear Cameras | – Primary: 50MP, f/1.8, wide-angle – Ultra-wide: 50MP, f/2.2, 122-degree FoV – Periscope Telephoto: 64MP, f/3.5, 3.5x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom – 8×8 dTOF Laser Focusing System |
| Front Camera | 12MP |
| Security | Pin, Pattern, Password, Under-display fingerprint sensor, Face unlock |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Ports | USB-C 3.1 Gen 1, No Headphone Jack |
| Battery | 4,600 mAh |
| Wired Charging | 100W |
| Wireless Charging | 100W |
| Water Resistance | IP68 |
| Operating System | Magic UI 6 (Android 12) |
| Colors | Black, white, cyan, gold, orange (vegan leather) |
| Dimensions | 163.6 x 74.7 x 9.15mm |
| Weight | 215g |
| Price | £950/€1,100 |
How does HONOR Magic 4 Pro stack up against the competition?
HONOR Magic 4 Pro is not cheap. At a price of £950, you can get flagships and premium devices from brands like Apple, OnePlus, Samsung, and even Google. While we’ll recommend you to wait for our review of the HONOR Magic 4 Pro for a final verdict on the device. But until then, let’s see how it compares to the other notable flagships in the market.
Display
Like all the other flagship devices in this price range, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro offers a great viewing experience. Its 6.81-inch OLED panel supports an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. This means the display’s refresh rate can go down as low as 1Hz when it’s not in use thus preserving the battery. In addition to offering high-refresh-rate, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro is the first smartphone to offer a PWM of 1920Hz. This technology minimizes the strain on the eyes and provides a comfortable viewing experience, even in low-light environments.
To make sure that everything looks smooth and bright, HONOR has added a dedicated display chipset to the Magic 4 Pro. This MEMC chipset upgrades all the SDR videos to HDR video in real-time and converts low frame-rate videos to a higher frame rate. While other flagship smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus and the iPhone 13 Pro, offer a 120Hz refresh rate, no other flagship smartphone offers a dedicated chipset to upgrade the video refresh rate. This gives the HONOR Magic 4 Pro a slight edge over the other flagships.
Camera
Moving on to the camera, all the smartphones in this price range offer a great camera experience. Going against the likes of Samsung and Apple (and now OnePlus too) in this department, HONOR has decided to go with a triple-camera setup that contains a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 64MP periscope telephoto sensor that is capable of up to 3.5x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom.
What makes the Magic 4 Pro stand out in comparison to its competition is the array of sensors it carries on the back and the front. While the rear camera module comes with a dTOF sensor (that enables quick autofocus) and a flicker sensor (that reduces flickers while taking photos), the front-facing camera has a 3D depth camera next to it. While the other Android flagships make use of just the selfie camera for face unlock, the 3D depth sensor makes the face unlock feature even more secure.
The camera specifications of the HONOR Magic 4 Pro sound good on paper. Based on our past experience with HONOR flagships, we expect the Magic 4 Pro to perform excellently in the camera department. However, we would still recommend you to wait for our full review of the device to see how the camera fares in real life.
Performance
Like every other Android flagship device in this segment, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro also comes with a powerful chipset. The Magic 4 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a 4nm node process-based octa-core chipset with one ARM Cortex-X2 core clocked at 3GHz, three ARM Cortex-A710 cores clocked at 2.5GHz, and four Cortex-A510 clocked at 1.8 MHz.
However, as we all have come to know, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has overheating issues. This is one of the reasons why many OEMs have had to throttle apps on their phones to keep the temperate low. To avoid such a situation, HONOR has added a special cooling system to the Magic 4 Pro that uses graphene, liquid cooling, and AI to dissipate the heat.
In addition to using a powerful cooling system, the HONOR Magic 4 Pro also uses a dedicated GPU Turbo X chipset. This chipset allows the smartphone to retain high-quality visuals on-screen whilst lowering energy consumption simultaneously. Barring Apple’s A15 Bionic chip-powered iPhone 13 models (which has become the gold standard of performance in smartphones), you’ll probably get the same performance on the Magic 4 Pro as all the other Android flagships powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen1. The improved GPU and cooling system might give HONOR an edge, though.
Battery
HONOR Magic 4 Pro beats all the other flagship smartphones, hands down, when it comes to the battery. Although the smartphone comes with a smaller battery of 4,600 mAh than the OnePlus 10 Pro’s 5,000 mAh cell, HONOR has added support for its SuperCharge technology. This technology enables the HONOR Magic 4 Pro to support both 100W wired and 100W wireless charging.
While the OnePlus 10 Pro offers 80W fast charging, none of the other flagship smartphones, including the Pixel 6 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro, or the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, come close in charging speeds. HONOR says the 100W wired charging can fill the smartphone from 0% to 100% in just about 30 minutes, whereas 100W wireless charging can provide a 50% charge in just 15 minutes.
At its I/O 2022 Developer Conference, Google officially unveiled Android 13. Even though the company released the first Android 13 Developer Preview back in February, giving us an idea of what to expect from the company’s major OS update, this was the first time Google executives officially talked about the features and changes coming to the new operating system. Though the new Android 13 update isn’t as major of an update as the last year’s Android 12 (which brought a visual change with Material You UI), it builds on the foundation laid by Android 12 and brings a number of new features and changes. Here are the best Android 13 features we’ve spotted so far:
Android 13: Best New Features
New Privacy and Security Features
Google has added a ton of security and privacy features to Android 13. The new OS builds on the Security & Privacy settings page that Android 12 brought and now gives the user a clear color-coded indicator of their safety status. It will also provide the user guidance and steps that they can take to boost their smartphone’s security.
In addition, there are a number of other security changes as well. For example, an app no longer needs to access the location in order to enable Wi-Fi scanning. While Android already sends you a notification when an app accesses the Clipboard, Android 13 goes even further and automatically deletes the Clipboard history after a short period of time. There are a number of other notable privacy and security changes as well. We’ve discussed all of them (in great detail) down below.
Revamped Google Wallet
One of the key highlights of this year’s I/O was the new and revamped Google Wallet — yes, Google is bringing back the Wallet. The new Google Wallet functions much like its counterpart Apple Wallet and can now store almost all sorts of cards and keys. You can store your credit/debit cards, transit passes, office IDs, vaccine certificates, car keys, boarding passes, hotel keys, and student IDs in the new Google Wallet.
You can now digitally share cards via NFC or a QR code instead of physically handing your phone over to the person checking it. The Wallet now has deeper integration with other Google apps as well. For example, if you have a transit card stored in your Google Wallet, your card and balance will automatically show up in apps such as Google Maps when you search for directions. However, the new Wallet is not an Android 13 exclusive feature. Google says it will expand the revamped Google Wallet to all the Android smartphones running Android Lollipop (version 5.0) and up.
New Material You Features
Android 12 brought the new Material You theming system. The new Material You theming engine essentially picks colors from your wallpaper and applies them throughout the system so that your smartphone feels even more inclusive. Android 13 extends the Material You rvrn further by adding more theming options.
For those who don’t want their phone’s theme to match the colors of their wallpaper, Android 13 now allows you to pick a preset color scheme for your smartphone. Moreover, “Themed icons” are no longer limited to first-part Google apps. In Android 13, you can color themes to the third-party apps as well. In addition, there are a number of subtle design tweaks here and there.
More Optimizations for Big Screens
Google made a number of major updates to the interface in Android 12L. Android 13 picks up right where Android 12L left off as Google has brought official support for split-screen with the new update. You can now drag and drop apps from the toolbar to open them side-by-side. You can even drag and drop files between two apps in split-screen mode. Google says it is updating more than 20 first-party apps to take full advantage of the extra space and is working with a number of third-party app developers, including TikTok, Zoom, Facebook, and many others, to optimize their Android apps for the big screen. The company adds that the Play Store will also start displaying tablet-optimized apps first, starting with Android 13.
New Cast Features
Chromecast allows you to watch content on the big screen in just a couple of taps. Google says millions of people use the Chromecast feature daily, and now it is extending casting capabilities to new partners and products. You will now be able to cast content on your Chromebook or even your car.
Permission to Send Notifications
Undoubtedly, Android has a far better notification system than iOS. However, one of the pain points of Google’s operating system is that it allows all the apps and services to send notifications by default. If you want to disable an app’s notification, you’ll have to do it manually. Not anymore, as in Android 13, apps must get your permission before sending you notifications.
Granular Media Access Permission
Google is putting more restrictions on how much personal data apps can access by default. Now, instead of permitting access to “Files and media,” which basically gave access to all the data stored on the phone, there are two new categories you can control access to: “Photos & videos” and “Music & audio.” There’s also a new Photo Picker that gives access to only select photos to an app. It’s discussed in more detail down below.
Brand New Photo Picker
Android 13 comes with a new-looking Photo Picker UI. The new Photo Picker API will allow users to share select photos and videos without allowing the app to see all the photos on your device. This is basically an extension of Android’s Document picker that lets users a document without allowing the app to access all of the documents on the device. Google says it will bring this feature to all the devices with Android 11 and above through Google Play system updates.
Per-App Language Setting
As rumored before, Android 13 brings support for the per-app language setting. With Android 13, you will now be able to use an app in a different language, all while using other apps in a different language. For example, you might want to use social media or messaging in one language, but the bank app in another — Android 13 will allow you to do this.
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio
Android 13 also brings support for Bluetooth Low Energy Audio. Bluetooth in Android 13 uses a new default audio codec — called the Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3) — that transmits higher-quality audio all while consuming less energy.
End-to-End Encryption for Group Chats With RCS in Messages
Google Messages is going to get a big upgrade this year as the company says that it will launch end-to-end encryption for group chats by the end of 2022. Currently, end-to-end encryption is only available in one-to-one RCS chats in Google Messages, but the company now plans to expand it to group chats later this year.
New Media Playback UI
Android 13, again, revamps the Media Playback UI. The media player now shows a squiggly animated wave during music playback. The media player also shows the album artwork now.
Copy-Paste Improvements
Google has added a number of features to the clipboard in Android 13. Now, when you copy something, you will notice a small floating panel that will come up towards the bottom of your display. This floating panel allows you to view and edit the contents of your clipboard without pasting it anywhere. You will also get relevant options depending upon the type of content you copy. For example, you’ll see a browser option if you copy a link. Similarly, you’ll see a photo editor option if you copy an image.
In addition to this, Google is bringing another Apple ecosystem-like feature. Now, you can copy anything on your phone and paste it directly onto your tablet. Talking about the Chromebook, Google says that you will be able to stream apps directly from your phone to Chromebooks later this year. “You’ll be able to send and reply to messages, view your conversation history and launch your messaging apps from your laptop,” says the company.
Quick QR Code Scanner
From payment to placing an order, QR codes are being used everywhere. Believe it or not, many people have to rely on third-party apps just to scan a QR code. Google is making the life of those people much easier with Android 13 as the company has added a dedicated QR code scanner to the quick settings on Android 13. You can now just swipe down and scan a QR code with just a couple of taps.
More: Android Developers Blog
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
We have no idea when we’re getting the new iteration of Samsung’s foldable devices, but you can still check out the current foldable models that are now on sale.
For instance, you can pick up a new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 for just $850 over at Amazon.com. This clamshell-designed phone receives a 19 percent discount, translating to $200 savings. Or you can choose to get it from Samsung.com, where you will find it going for as low as $175 after an eligible trade-in.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 comes unlocked on its US version, which means that you get a new device with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage space. However, you can also opt for the entry-level variant that packs the exact RAM and processor, but it only features 128GB storage, and you would have to pay the same $850, which doesn’t make it the most brilliant move.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Galaxy Z Flip 3 is the latest clamshell-style foldable from Samsung. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset and comes with a high refresh-rate display, and a not-so-bank-breaking price tag.
Apple Watch Series 7
Moving on to the smartwatch department, we find that the Apple Watch Series 7 is starting to get some rather aggressive discounts as we get closer to the possible arrival of the Series 8. This device is now available for $430 after scoring a very compelling $99 deal. Upon purchase, you will receive a new 45mm model with LTE support with a Blue Aluminum Case and Abyss Blue Sport Band.
Of course, you can also mess around with color options and case sizes and even check out the higher-end variants with a Milanese Loop, as savings will vary depending on the variant you go for. For instance, I would go for the 45mm, GPS-only variant that sells for $359 after a $70 discount. And if you want to spend even less, you can also consider the 41mm model that sells for just $329 after receiving the same treatment, meaning you can get one and save $70.
Apple Watch Series 7
The Apple Watch Series 7 features a brand new display with slimmer bezels than the last generation. The Watch also features new sensors and is powered by the powerful Apple chipset.
MSI Creator Z16
Moving on to laptops, we have found a very powerful beast on sale. It comes as the MSI Creator Z16 A11UET-043 Professional Laptop that is now receiving a whopping 27 percent discount, which translates to $800 savings for those interested in one. Either way, you will have to pay $2,199, which is not bad considering what you’re getting.
The MSI Creator Z16 Professional Laptop includes a beautiful 16-inch QHD touch display that delivers 120Hz refresh rates. Inside, you get an Intel Core i9 processor, 2TB storage space, 32GB RAM, and GeForce RTX 3060 graphics, making it an excellent choice for those who want a gaming laptop without the aesthetics found in most gaming laptops. And if you want to make the best out of this purchase, I suggest you use those $800 savings to get your hands on a new 49-inch Asus ROG Strix Curved Gaming FreeSync Monitor that is now available for $699 after a $100 discount. This will help you improve your productivity and gaming performance since you will be able to see anything that goes on around you with that massive field of view. Oh, and it also supports 144Hz refresh rates.
MSI Creator Z16
The MSI Creator Z16 Professional Laptop is a perfect portable computer for those who need tons of power for graphics demanding apps, and it can also work perfectly as a gaming laptop.
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
You can also score huge savings on the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker that is now available for $90 after seeing a massive $60 price drop on its Night Black color variant. This portable Bluetooth speaker comes in four different color options, some of which are still selling for $150, so choose wisely if you want to save some money.
The Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker is a great option for those who want to enjoy their favorite tunes anywhere they go. They will keep the party going for up to 15 hours, thanks to its long-lasting battery life, and it also comes with an IP67 rating, meaning that you can get it wet without a worry in the world. Of course, you may also want to consider a similar option that comes as the JBL Charge 5 Portable Wireless, which is now selling for $120 after scoring a 33 percent discount.
Ultimate Ears BOOM 3
Enjoy your favorite tunes anywhere you go with the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker, which comes with a 15-hour battery life, an IP67 rating, and other great features.
Razer Opus X Wireless
And since we’re already in the audio department, you should also take a look at the Razer Opus X Wireless Low Latency Headset that are now receiving a $20 discount, leaving them up for grabs at $80. The Razer Opus X Headset features active noise cancelation, Bluetooth 5.0, 60ms low latency, and custom-tuned 40mm drivers to take your listening experience to the next level.
The best part is that the Razer Opus X Wireless Low Latency Headset comes in three different color options, and they are all receiving the same special treatment, meaning that you can pick up these fantastic over-ear headsets that can double up as a regular pair of headphones for $80. And if you want a more affordable alternative, you can also consider the Razer Kraken Gaming Headset that goes for $40 after a huge 50 percent discount.
Razer Opus X Wireless
Enjoy your gaming sessions even more with a pair of Razer Opus X that will deliver wireless, low latency gaming, active noise canceling, and custom-tuned drivers for an amazing audio experience.
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