Google “Evaluating” Firmware Update to Add Fingerprint Gesture Support to Nexus 6P and 5X

The Google Pixel and the Google Pixel XL have been stealing the show in the latter half of 2016 so far. Google deciding to turn on the heat in the premium smartphone segment certainly surprised many users, as many expected Google to remain closer to the Nexus roots. But the Pixels have proved to be different enough to earn their branding.

There is one thing that is similar in the Google Pixel duo and the Nexus duo released last year — the fingerprint scanner. Specifically, the sensor used in the Pixel and Pixel XL for fingerprint scans is the OneTouch FPC1025, which is the same as the sensor used in the LG Nexus 5X and the Huawei Nexus 6P. While the fingerprint response on all the four phones come very close competitively, there is one key factor which differentiates the Pixel and Pixel XL from the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X despite this particular hardware similarity: support for fingerprint gestures.

On the Pixels, a quick swipe down on the rear-placed fingerprint scanner pulls down the notification shade. While it might not seem very groundbreaking (after all, the Huawei Honor 5X had it before the Pixel on the same hardware sensor), the Pixel exclusivity of what appears to be a software addition on the surface angered a lot of Nexus users. Perhaps rightfully so, as the Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X are still under support from Google, and locking them out of features which they would otherwise be capable of seems like the kind of move expected from other OEMs, and not from Google.

Kernel developer at Google for Pixel and Nexus device, Nick Desaulniers, commented on Reddit on the issue:

Bullhead [Nexus 5X] and angler [Nexus 6P] use similar hardware but older versions of firmware that don't have gesture support. Updating the firmware used and HAL and some other stuff will take some effort. Doable.

Developer Advocate at Google, Ian Lake, spoke to AndroidPolice on the issue, commenting:

Same hardware doesn't mean same capabilities, alas.

What this meant that although the hardware was the same, the firmware used on the newer Pixels allowed them to build on fingerprint gesture support. But since this was a firmware update and not hardware limitation, this does mean that there is scope of bringing in newer functionality via an upcoming update.

Google did not deny such a possibility. In a statement given to AndroidPolice, Google's PR machinery commented that Google is "evaluating" a firmware update for the Nexus 5X and 6P to add support for the fingerprint scanner gestures. To be fair and realistic, they did not confirm that gesture support is coming to the devices either. But their acknowledgement of the issue and keeping an open mind towards bringing it to older hardware gives us hope. Perhaps all is not lost for Nexus, after all.

If you are looking to add fingerprint gestures to your Nexus 6P and the Nexus 5X, but can't really wait for Google to come to a decision, you can try out Fingerprint Quick Action app to emulate the same functionality on your device.

What are your thoughts on the issue? Would you like to see Fingerprint Sensor Gesture Support being added to Android as a stock feature? Let us know in the comments below!

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Motorola Moto MAXX/Droid Turbo Gets Unofficial Android 7.0 Nougat Update

Owners of the Motorola Moto MAXX/Turbo/Verizon Droid Turbo can now enjoy the taste of Android 7.0 Nougat thanks to crDroid Android ROM. Check it out!

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First Google Tango Phone, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, Now Available in the USA for $499

A few months ago, Lenovo introduced its first smartphone with Google's Tango, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. This device was to be the first smartphone developed to showcase the technological innovations that grew out of Google's ambitious augmented reality (AR) project, formerly known as Project Tango. The Phab 2 Pro was scheduled to go on sale in mid September 2016, but after a little delay, it's finally here!

Even without all of its Tango tricks, the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro sports some fairly decent specifications for its price. The front is dominated by a large 6.4″ QHD IPS display — a size necessary because the phone needs to incorporate a lot of additional sensors, though we might see smaller devices once more companies decide to invest in Tango. The Phab 2 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC, which might disappoint those of you expecting the latest and greatest Snapdragon 821, but the 652 is respectable in its own right. Couple that with 4GBs of RAM, 64GBs of internal storage and expandability up to 256GB via a microSD card slot through the hybrid dual-SIM tray, and you've got a pretty beefy device. Furthermore, the battery capacity of 4,050 mAh is certainly welcome keeping in mind the strain the display, Tango-related sensors, and the cameras will place on the device.

 

The main camera on the rear is a 16MP shooter with PDAF. Additional sensors on the back help it with motion tracking, depth sensing and 3D mapping. The front is a 8MP shooter with f/2.2 aperture.

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is the first device to support Google Tango, but more devices are expected in 2017 that will help build up the AR ecosystem. It is the first commercially available Tango device for the average consumer though, and with it being sold at an affordable price, the Phab 2 Pro seems primed for success. Assuming, of course, that the device is decently marketed to consumers.

So what about Tango makes this device so special? First of all, Phab 2 Pro utilizes its dual rear camera sensors along with a bunch of other sensors to create a 3D map of our physical surroundings. This 3D mapping is then displayed on the screen, supplemented by other elements and points of interaction that is filled in via software – thus creating an Augmented Reality experience on a smartphone. The uses of AR on a smartphone are limited as of now, albeit the possibilities are mostly left up to the imagination of developers. Currently, only a limited number of apps and games make use of the AR capabilities of the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro. Though with the crazy success of Pokémon GO, we can expect to see a lot more interest in AR now that the technology will be more widely available.

Google currently operates both Google Tango, its platform for Augmented Reality, and Google Daydream, its platform for Virtual Reality, under separate organizational heads. There is a chance that we might see a merge down the line, with phones coming in that might support both Tango and Daydream out of the box.

The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is available in the USA from today from Lenovo's official webstore or in select Lowe's retail stores. The phone will cost you $499.99, and shipping is expected to be within 4-5 weeks. At launch right now, only the Gunmetal Grey color is available, with the Champagne Gold color variant "coming soon".

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Would you be purchasing the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro? Would you like to see other smartphones with Google Tango? Let us know in the comments below!

Check out XDA's Lenovo Phab 2 Pro Forums!

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Android to iOS for 30+ Days Challenge

For this XDA TV video, Jared has switched from an Android device to using an iPhone as his daily driver. What happens when you no longer have lockscreen media control, app drawer, white balance and other android features? Check out this video and find out!

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Google Beefs Up Fraud and Spam Detection in the Play Store

As a developer, having your application rise to the top of the charts can mean the difference between having enough money to fund your next app or having to look for outside funding. You may not like it, but you can understand how a superior app beats your app in ratings. Competition will drive you to improve your app, and further satisfy your existing and potential customers. But it's completely different when you see an obvious spam app start to garner significant attention and bring in more revenue than a truly polished product.

Google uses a number of factors to determine an application's rank within the Play Store. These factors include things like the number of installs, highly-praised reviews, and how many stars a person is rating your application. The sad part is, some businesses have figured out ways to game these key factors and they sell services to desperate developers who want to increase the awareness of their application within the Play Store. This system is terribly unfair to developers who don't have the cash to spend to also use these systems, and it's unfair to users who are presented apps with artificially inflated ratings.

Google has been aware of this issue for awhile now, and they've been working hard to improve the experience for developers who are not trying to manipulate their app's rankings. The company has just announced some new and improved detection and filtering systems that will be able to spot these ranking abuses more effectively. Naturally, it is unlikely that this will be the end-all solution to the problem, but it's one much needed step further in the cat and mouse game between Google and Play Store ranking abusers.

Still, Google rolled out these new detection systems for the Play Store yesterday and they'll continue to improve them as they are able to collect more data. If Google's new systems detect an application's ranking is being manipulated, then they will simply filter out those changes. If a developer is caught manipulating the system for an extended period of time, then Google will remove all of their apps from the Play Store entirely.

Google still encourages that developers use 3rd-party marketing companies to promote their application, but asks that you follow the rules outlined in the Developer Support Resources.

Source: Android Developers Blog

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Xiaomi is Testing Devices in US Wireless Carrier Labs

Xiaomi has become a well-known smartphone OEM in countries like China, India, Russia, Mexico and the Middle East. These are the markets where they currently push their smartphones and they are working to get their smartphones sold in Poland, Vietnam, Thailand plus some Latin American markets soon. The causal smartphone owner in the United States likely will have never heard of them, but us enthusiasts have had them on our radar for years.

Just about every time someone in the United States interviews Hugo Barra, they inevitably ask when the company will start to sell smartphones in the country. Barra has said that the United States is certainly on their list of markets to expand into, but also frequently pointed out the number of hurdles the company would have to be ready for ahead of time. These hurdles range from patents to distribution to servicing centers and marketing. They realize it will be a wasted effort if they don't have plans for these things before launch.

This week we're seeing a report that sheds some new light on this move though. Engadget is speculating that Xiaomi could launch their smartphones in the United States as early as 2017. There's still a lot of work they have to do between now and then, but Xiaomi seems to believe they are getting close. Barra reveals that his team is currently in multiple carrier labs throughout the United States so they can test their smartphones.

The cellular bands that US wireless carriers use aren't the same ones that the rest of the world uses. So not only does a phone have to support that band, but they also have to pass strict compatibility tests before they're allowed to be sold on the carrier's network. Assuming everything goes smoothly, Xiaomi will likely have their phones sold directly from the carriers as opposed as directly to the customer (like we see with OnePlus).

Source: Engadget

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Photos Allegedly Reveal the Upcoming Mate 9 from Huawei

Huawei has a product launch event coming up this week, so it's not surprising that we're seeing an influx in rumors surrounding their next flagship smartphone. The company launched the Mate 8 last year in November, so everyone is expecting to see the Mate 9 during the November 3rd product launch. Rumors about the Mate 9 started all the way back in April of this year when the device was rumored to launch with the Kirin 960 and a dual 20MP rear camera setup.

We don't know if the two rear cameras will be 20MP or not, but the company did officially announce the Kirin 960 SoC recently. A couple of months ago Huawei trademarked the name SuperCharge in the EU and many are speculating that this be the name of the company's fast charging technology for the upcoming Mate 9. Then it was just last month that we had two leaks about how the device will look from none other than Evan Blass himself.

The first image showed that Huawei is likely to be launching two models of the Mate 9. One with a flat screen and then one with a dual curved edge screen (similarly to what Samsung does). Then toward the end of last month Evan was able to get his hands a high quality render of what he believed to be the Huawei Mate 9. He also revealed that his sources told him the device would have a 5.9″ display, 4GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

The most specced-out version of the Mate 9 is even said to cost upwards of $1,300 if rumors are to be believed. So today, there has been four different real life photos leaked of what looks like the Mate 9. The photos match up with the press renders that we've seen, and seem real convincing that this will be the device Huawei officially announced on November 3rd. Check out all the images at the source!

Via: Phone Arena

Via: Source

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