WhatsApp is working on a “Mute Always” option for chats, continues work on expiring messages and multi-device access

WhatsApp for Android recently received a new mute feature on the beta channel, which allows users to mute any chat right from the notifications shade. However, the mute feature has been designed in a way that it only shows up when you receive at least 51 messages from a single chat. Before receiving the requisite number of messages, the app shows a ‘Mark as Read’ button instead, which you can tap to dismiss the notification. While the new Mute feature can come in handy when you’re trying to ignore messages temporarily, it isn’t as effective as the upcoming Mute Always feature that is currently in the works.

According to a recent report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on a new Mute Always setting for chats that will allow users to indefinitely mute any chat or group chat. The feature appears within the Mute notifications option within any given chat and replaces the 1-year option currently available in the settings.

The upcoming feature was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.20.197.3, and it’s currently under development. The feature is expected to make it to the beta channel in a future update.

Along with the Mute Always feature, WABetaInfo has uncovered some more information about the upcoming ‘expiring messages’ and ‘multi-device access’ features in the latest WhatsApp beta releases. We first learned about these features earlier this year in March, and WhatsApp recently started testing these features in a beta release.

With WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.20.197.4, the messenger has made some improvements to the UI for the expiring messages feature. Instead of giving users the option to choose how long new messages stay in the chat before disappearing, the updated UI reveals that all expiring messages will be automatically removed from a chat after seven days.

The multi-device access feature, on the other hand, has received a new UI to help users manage all connected devices. The updated UI has been spotted in beta version 2.20.196.8 of the app, and it brings a new ‘Linked Devices’ option to the three-dot menu. Tapping on the option opens up a new section on the app which lists down all the linked devices and gives users the option to link a new device or log out of a linked device with a single tap.

Furthermore, WABetaInfo reveals that WhatsApp is planning to release a new privacy policy for Brazilian users, and users in the region will receive an in-app banner notification once the policy starts rolling out.

WABetaInfo also highlights a few details about the upcoming ‘Advanced Search Mode’ feature, which has also received some UI improvements. The feature was first spotted earlier this year in April, and it will let users select tags like Audio, Video, Documents, Links, GIFs, etc. while looking for an item sent or received in a chat.

It’s worth noting that all the features mentioned above are currently under development, and they’re not available to end-users in the respective beta releases of the app.

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Source: WABetaInfo (1,2,3)

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Samsung Galaxy M31s with Exynos 9611 and 6000mAh battery launched in India

launched back in February 2019. The decent reception to the phone prompted Samsung to follow it up with the Galaxy M30s in September 2019, which really cemented the phone’s place for itself in a very crowded segment. The Galaxy M31 came around in February 2020, and since there wasn’t a whole lot to fix, to begin with, it remained at a decent spot. While we are still a full month and more away from September, Samsung has decided that it’s time for a refresh. Meet the new Samsung Galaxy M31s, the latest in one of Samsung’s popular smartphone lineups.

Samsung Galaxy M31s: Specifications

Specification	Samsung Galaxy M31s
Dimensions & Weight	–
Display	6.5″ FHD+ sAMOLED Infinity-O display Peak brightness: 420 nits
SoC	Samsung Exynos 9611 4x ARM Cortex-A73 @ 2.31GHz 4 x ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1.74GHz 10nm Mali G72 MP3 GPU
RAM & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X + 128GB UFS 2.1 8GB + 128GB
Battery & Charging	6000 mAh 25W fast charging 25W fast charger included in box Reverse wired charging (USB-C to USB-C wire included in box)
Fingerprint sensor	Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera	Primary: 64MP, f/1.8, Sony IMX682 Secondary: 12MP ultra-wide, 123° FoV Tertiary: 5MP depth sensor Quarternary: 5MP macro
Front Camera	32MP
Other Features	–
Android Version	Android 10 with OneUI

The Samsung Galaxy M31s follows largely along with the same formula from its predecessors, but we do see hints of stagnation on the device now. For instance, the Exynos 9611 was also present on the Galaxy M30s and M31, and we see it yet again on the M31s. The camera setup on the device is also similar to the M31, but the main sensor is different and there is a bump up in MP count on the ultra-wide camera.

We do see a move over to the side-mounted fingerprint scanner though, as well as a hole-punch display instead of a waterdrop notch. The device also has a somber gradient design on the glasstic back that is more visually appealing than the simpler designs of its predecessors.

Samsung is heavily leaning into the software prowess on the camera with features like Single Take that we have seen on the S20 series and more recently, on the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71. Other camera features include the ability to flip cameras while recording, smart selfie angle, night hyperlapse, and the ability to create your own filters.

Pricing and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy M31s will be available on Amazon India and Samsung.com in Mirage Black and Mirage Blue colors. The 6GB + 128GB variant will cost you ₹19,499, while the 8GB + 128GB variant will cost you ₹21,499. Sales begin on August 6, 2020.

This is a marked increase from the Galaxy M31 which had introductory pricing of ₹15,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant, and which can still be purchased for ₹17,499 after accounting for recent tax hikes.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 pre-orders may get you free Galaxy Buds Live in some countries

With Samsung set to hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event on August 5th, it won’t be long until we see devices like the Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra officially unveiled. And speaking of which, a freshly leaked pamphlet has seemingly confirmed some sweet pre-order bonuses in some countries.

According to the pamphlet, which was apparently shared on an Indonesian Telegram group for the Samsung Note & S Series (via Slashleaks), the promotion will apparently run from August 6th to August 19th. The promo thus starts just one day after Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event, so the timing makes sense. Those who pre-order will receive a free voucher that will cover the cost of the Galaxy Buds Live or Galaxy Buds+. That’s a nice incentive to encourage consumers to buy one of Samsung’s upcoming flagships.

Source: Telegram – Samsung Note & S Series Indonesia Group@MaxWinebach @MaxJmb @UniverseIce pic.twitter.com/MiVvweP1aY

— Alvin (@sondesix) July 29, 2020

2.599.000 Indonesian Rupiahs converts to about $179 USD, which makes sense since credible leaker Roland Quandt pegs the Galaxy Buds Live U.S. pricing at $169. Another leaker, Ishan Agarwal, believes the European pricing for the Galaxy Buds Live will be set at approximately €189. Meanwhile, Ishan also shared possible pricing information for the Galaxy Note 20 series in Europe: The Note 20 4G allegedly costs €999, the Note 20 5G allegedly costs €1,099, and the Note 20 Ultra 5G allegedly costs €1,349.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Forums

There will likely be a Mystic Green Note 20 color in addition to the previously leaked Mystic Bronze color. Roland Quandt shared leaked renders of a Mystic White Note 20 Ultra earlier today, so it’s likely there are more color variants we haven’t seen yet.

Feast your eyes on the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G in Mystic White (afaik 256GB only). More pics in our updated full leak article (scroll down a bit for the full gallery) https://t.co/g3GI3pWaTr #SamsungUnpacked #GalaxyNote20Ultra pic.twitter.com/7UDRQUxBZK

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) July 29, 2020

Samsung has yet to confirm the existence of this promotion — after all, neither the Galaxy Note 20 nor the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra have been officially unveiled yet — but this pamphlet may be a good indication of what to expect in terms of deals. Preorder deals will likely vary by location, though, so don’t get too excited about this promotion just yet. But with Galaxy Unpacked set to take place on August 5, we’ll find out what Samsung has in store for us very soon.

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This is our best look yet at Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable smartphone

Next month, Samsung will host Galaxy Unpacked 2020, where the company is expected to unveil a host of new gadgets. One of those devices will most likely be the Galaxy Z Fold 2 which, according to a new leak courtesy of MySmartPrice, has been unveiled in a set of high resolution renders.

One of the most noticeable upgrades over the original Galaxy Fold is the hole-punch design, which looks set to replace the notch. As the renders show, the hole punch approach results in a much cleaner design.

In addition to the hole punch on the interior display, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will also apparently offer a more expansive cover display, so the phone is more useful when it’s folded. Providing users with a larger cover display will make the Galaxy Z Fold 2 much more versatile, as users won’t always have to open the device up to get things done.

The renders also reveal the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will feature a triple-camera setup, which has more or less become common in flagship devices.  The latest rumors point to the foldable device featuring 64MP, 12MP, and 12MP sensors on the back and a 10MP sensor in the interior, giving users plenty of camera hardware to play with. Other rumors point to the foldable having a 6.23″ Super AMOLED cover display, a 7.7″ Super AMOLED foldable display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 512GB of storage, 5G connectivity, a total battery capacity of 4,356mAh, 15W wireless charging, and 15W reverse wireless charging support.

When the original Galaxy Fold was released last year, we praised the phone for its innovative design, but there were also a lot of concerns about its durability. Now, with a year of refinements, expectations will be high for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 which, judging by the leaked renders, looks like a significant upgrade over the first model.

When the device is officially unveiled on August 5, it’ll apparently launch in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze — at least according to the latest renders.

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Source: MySmartPrice

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Google One app for Android now offers free phone backups

Google One, Google’s unified cloud backup service, offers subscribers the ability to automatically back up device data, multimedia messages, photos, and videos from their Android devices. Starting today, that same feature is being extended to all Android users free of charge.

The backup feature is a convenient and worry-free way to preserve your texts, contacts, apps, photos, and videos. And it’s all automatic, so very little work needs to be done by users. If you wind up breaking, losing, or upgrading your device, all of your important information will be saved in the cloud. Most Android devices already support backing up data to the cloud thanks to Google Play Service’s backup manager service which uploads files to a private directory on users’ Google Drive accounts. However, this backup solution doesn’t sync MMS or photos and videos in original quality, which is a perk available from Google Photos/One.

In addition to the free backup feature, Google is also introducing a storage manager, which will be available in both the mobile  app and online. This will allow users to delete files from across the various services that One supports, including Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, in order to free up space. You get 15GB of free storage with a Google account, and it’s $1.99/month for 100GB of data on Google One after that.

As usual, One allows subscribers to share their plan with up to five additional members, so if you do need more than 15GB of storage but not quite 100GB or more, you can split the extra storage space with your family members. That’s a nifty incentive to upgrade. A membership also features premium support, Google Play credits, and Google Store member rewards. There are also hints that a subscription will be required to access premium editing features in Google Photos, but we haven’t seen that come to fruition just yet.

Google said it’s also planning to launch a Google One app for iOS soon, so iPhone users will also get free automatic backups. The Android app is available from the Google Play Store right now.

Google One (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Source: Google

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OnePlus phones may finally get an always-on display with Android 11-based OxygenOS 11

Earlier this year, OnePlus finally committed to bring an always-on display feature to OxygenOS. Now, with the stable release of Android 11 coming in September for Pixel phones, OnePlus is teasing that they will introduce an AOD feature in the company’s OxygenOS 11 update.

OnePlus founder and CEO Pete Lau teased the feature with a cheeky Tweet, which you can view below.

11 "on display." pic.twitter.com/Y2prOL8Nge

— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) July 28, 2020

While Lau doesn’t explicitly say AOD is coming to OxygenOS 11, it’s hard not to make that conclusion considering OnePlus already committed to bringing the feature to its devices. In fact, it has been one of the community’s most-requested features for months now. Back in March, OnePlus officially added the feature to its software roadmap after overcoming initial power consumption tests. “We are working on fine-tuning AOD to make sure it is perfectly optimized,” said Gary C., an OxygenOS operations staff member.

OnePlus said it has entertained the idea of an AOD feature for a while, but it was apprehensive to release anything official due to power consumption issues. The company explained that AOD “could roughly consume about 350-500 mAh of the batter, which means you might get one or two hours deducted from your daily usage.”

Even still, OnePlus said that people deserve the option if they want it, and considering many popular Android devices already offer an always-on display feature, the company no doubt wanted to bring further feature parity to its devices.

Lau doesn’t provide an exact release date for the always-on display option, but with Android 11 set to drop on September 8, we could see the feature be available shortly after. Last year, OnePlus released an OxygenOS 10 stable update in September, so if history is anything to go by, OxygenOS 11 will begin rolling out in a matter of weeks.

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Realme 2 Pro and Realme 5/5s/5i Android 10 kernel source code now available

BBK Electronics’ Realme brand spun out of OPPO, but the brand’s Realme UI is still closely tied to OPPO’s ColorOS software. With the Android 10 update, Realme has introduced its self-branded Realme UI OS to many of its devices. The brand has been gradually publishing updated kernel sources corresponding to those releases. Now, the brand has now posted Android 10-compatible kernel source code for the Realme 2 Pro and the entire non-Pro Realme 5 family that includes the Realme 5, Realme 5s, and the Realme 5i.

Realme 2 Pro

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660-powered Realme 2 Pro already has a rich aftermarket development community, made possible by the early kernel source drop from Realme. The phone picked up its stable Android 10 update about a month ago. However, the kernel source code corresponding to the update wasn’t made available up until now. You can visit Realme’s GitHub repo at the link below to download the updated source code (all without a proper commit history).

Realme 2 Pro Android 10 Kernel Sources ||| Realme 2 Pro XDA Forums

Realme 5/5s/5i

The Realme 5 and the Realme 5s share a common firmware due to their internal similarities, which means the existing Android Pie-based kernel source for the Realme 5 is somewhat suited for the Realme 5s as well. Despite sporting the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC as the Realme 5/5s, the Realme 5i needs its own firmware, although there is very little difference between these devices. That’s why Realme has released the updated kernel source code for the Realme 5i in the same branch as the Realme 5/5s’s release rather than under its own branch as they did earlier this year. Check out the unified source below.

Realme 5/5s/5i Android 10 Kernel Sources ||| Realme 5 XDA Forums

Apart from the lack of commit history, Realme is known for publishing broken and/or incomplete source code. They are still not as swift as OnePlus when it comes to releasing and keeping the kernel sources up-to-date, but at least they are in a much better position than OPPO and Vivo, the two other companies owned by BBK Electronics.

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