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mardi 6 octobre 2020

Tasker 5.10 rolls out in stable with Android 11 Controls support

Tasker developer joaomgcd showcased an experimental plugin earlier this year in August, which allowed the automation app to hijack Android 11’s new power menu to trigger any event. The plugin was rolled out to users with Tasker 5.9.4 beta late last month, and it allowed users to add Tasker tiles to the power menu as clickable buttons. Now, the feature is finally available on the stable channel with the latest update.

As you can see in the attached video, the new Power Menu Action feature in Tasker lets you create tiles for the power menu in Android 11. These tiles can be customized to trigger every available task on Android 11 with just a tap. But they’re not limited to single tasks. The tiles can also be dynamic in nature, allowing you to perform different tasks based on various factors like your location, time of day, etc.

Along with the Power Menu Actions, Tasker 5.10 brings a new Action Command which lets you trigger the Command event with the AutoApps Command System, an Event Command that you can trigger with the Command action, and the ability to allow third-party apps to send commands that trigger the Command event. Check out the changelog section below to see everything new in the latest Tasker update.

Changelog

Added:

  • Added Action Power Menu Action which allows you to create tiles for the Android 11+ Power Menu.
  • Added the Power Menu Shown event which triggers when the Power Menu screen is shown on Android 11+
  • Added Power Menu tiles for every available task on Android 11+
  • Added Action Command which allows you to trigger the Command event with the AutoApps Command System
  • Added Event Command which can be triggered with the Command action
  • Added ability for third party apps to send commands that trigger the Command event but they have to explicitly ask the user for a permission to do so.
  • Added Phone Call permission to kid apps when they use Contact Via App action
  • Added text option to Signal and Telegram messages in the Contact Via App action
  • Added option to add to new project when importing a profile or task from Taskernet
  • Added option to disable number of enabled profiles in Tasker notification

Changes:

  • Changed the dialog where you choose an icon so that it shows an icon for each option
  • Don’t warn user about deprecated HTTP GET action if in kid app
  • Don’t execute actions in exit tasks of active profiles when shutting down: was previously executing all of them, even if disabled or in non-matching if conditions so it was unwanted behaviour. Tasks in profiles with the Device Shutdown event will still run.

Removed:

  • Removed option to insert SMS into messaging database since it wasn’t possible to do that anymore

Bugfixes:

  • Fixed situation where the same variable is set multiple times in a row to different values and the same value would be reported in the Variable Set event
  • Fixed %TETHER variable in some situations
  • Fixed long standing situation where Tasker would run disabled actions when the device is shutting down
  • Fixed keyboard automatically hiding in input fields on Scenes on Android 11+
  • Fixed Termux command so it’s compatible with upcoming Termux release
  • Fixed dialogs not cancelling when screen is rotated while they are showing
  • Fixed crash when reading a file too large to be read
  • Fixed copying/moving files with weird extensions to external SD cards
  • Fixed javascripts for devices that do not have recent webviews
  • Fixed a few crashes

Tasker ($3.49, Google Play) →


Source: joaoapps, Reddit

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Teracube 2E is an affordable, sustainable smartphone with modest specs and a 4 year warranty

Teracube has introduced an affordable new smartphone that takes sustainability to a whole new level. The Redmond-based company unveiled the Teracube 2E, which is designed with recycled materials and comes with a fully biodegradable case. If you pre-order the device today, you can get it for just $99.

The Teracube 2E features a 6.1-inch HD+ IPS display, the MediaTek Helio A25 octa-core processor, 64GB of expandable storage, and a 4000mAh battery. The device also features a dual-camera setup, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and Android 10, with three years of guaranteed software upgrades.

Teracube 2E Specifications

Teracube 2E Specs
OS Android 10
Processor Mediatek Helio A25 Octa-core processor 1.8GHz
Memory 4GB RAM w/ 64GB storage
Display 6.1-inch HD+ IPS Display
Rear Camera 13MP + 8MP
Front Camera 8MP
Battery 4000mAh
Security
  • PIN
  • Pattern
  • Fingerprint
  • Face unlock
Connectivity
  • WiFi a/b/g/n/ac
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • NFC
Ports
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • USB-C port
  • Dedicated Dual-SIM with separate microSD slot
Color Black
Size 155.2mm x 73.3mm x 10.1mm

The specs aren’t necessarily the point of the Teracube 2E. The company said its goal is to provide consumers with a sustainable option that’s still high quality. That’s why the Teracube 2E is made from 25% recycled plastics and features a fully biodegradable case made of wheat starch and biodegradable polymers. The device also doesn’t come with the usual in-box accessories like a charging cable, wall charger, or earbuds.

Buyers who opt for the Teracube 2E are being promised a four-year warranty, encouraging consumers to keep the device longer, rather than upgrading on an annual basis. As part of the warranty, consumers get free two-way shipping for accidental repairs for a flat fee.

The Teracube 2E isn’t the only sustainable-first smartphone on the market, but it’s certainly one of the most affordable. The device is available now for preorder in the U.S., Canada and Europe, with early bird pricing at $99. Once the device ships in December, the price will go up to $199. The device can be used with T-Mobile, Metro, Ting, StraightTalk, Simple Mobile, Mint, and more.

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YouTube Premium subscribers get early access to experimental YouTube features

Going forward, only YouTube Premium subscribers can get early access to experimental YouTube features. Google previously picked users at random to beta test features before rolling them out to a wider audience.

YouTube’s experimental features page has been updated to reflect the change (via AndroidCentral). “For a limited time, Premium members can try out new features that we’re working on,” the page says. “Share your feedback to help us build a better YouTube.”

 

YouTube Premium is a monthly subscription that features an ad-free experience, the ability to download videos, background play, and YouTube Music Premium. You can sign up for a one-month free trial, but then it costs $11.99 per month after that.

It’s unclear why Google moved experimental features to YouTube Premium. Perhaps Google is doing it as a way to entice people to sign up for the service. Or perhaps people weren’t testing YouTube’s experimental features often enough, and the company decided subscribers would be more likely to test them out.

There are only three experimental features live right now, including the ability to search for videos in Chrome via voice and watch videos on the home screen on iOS 14. These experimental features are available until October 20th, 2020. Another experimental feature lets you filter topics on your home screen in 3 new languages: Spanish, French, and Portuguese.

Google previously made YouTube Premium and YouTube Music prepaid plans available in India around this time last year.

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Today’s Top Tech Deals: Surface Pro 7 Bundle Discounts, Half Off the Echo Show 5, and More!

Happy Tuesday! I’m counting down the days to Prime Day, which is a week from today. You might be wondering if Prime Day is a fun set of days for a Deals Guru such as myself. My response is that famous Curb your Enthusiasm gif and an empty bank account. So instead of giving you a straight answer, I’ll be looking at this round-up of Galaxy Note 20 covers and cases as I wonder if the flagship will see a deeper discount next week.

Today’s top tech deals include half off the Echo Show 5 as an early Prime Day deals, a discount on the Surface Pro 7 bundle, and more!

Garmin Vivoactive 4S, 20% Off

It can be hard to stay motivated to exercise, but one thing that I round helped me a lot is a smartwatch. I love looking at data, for one, and pleasing the robot motivator in my various apps always felt nice too. Today at Amazon, you can pick up the Garmin Vivoactive 4S for $280, $70 off the MSRP. This watch tracks everything from steps to energy levels to how stressed you are, allowed you to download songs and hook up Bluetooth headphones for easy listening, and plenty more. If you’re looking to really get into fitness and tracking, you can’t go wrong with this watch.

    Garmin Vivoactive 4S
    Track it all and then some with the Garmin Vivoactive 4S. Only $270 at Amazon, you can track all your fitness activities, phone notifications, and things you never thought you needed to know. Grab one today!

Early Prime Day Deal: Half Off the Echo Show 5

Prime Day is a week from today, but why wait to take advantage of the deals? If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can pick up an Echo Show 5 for half off at $45. This handy smart home device can read you the time, connect to a wide variety of apps, and allow you to check in on cameras around the house all with a simple command. If you’re leaning into the smart home life, the Echo Show should definitely be on your to-buy list.

    Amazon Echo Show 5
    Get your smart home set up even better with the Echo Show 5. Control the smart cameras around the house, get step by step cooking instructions, and plenty more. It's currently only $45 for Amazon Prime members!

Samsung 3.1ch Soundbar with Subwoofer, $30 Off

One of the most common buys during the holiday shopping season is a new TV. That’s great, but a good TV needs a good sound system to truly be spectacular. Grab the Samsung soundbar and subwoofer combo for just $270 at Walmart, and you’ll be well on your way to a great home theater setup.

    Samsung 3.1ch Soundbar with Subwoofer
    Get a sound system your new TV deserves. With the Samsung soundbar and subwoofer, you can have quality sound without breaking the bank... and without your neighbors complaining about the noise.

Surface Pro 7 + Type Cover Bundle Starting At $599

For productivity, it’s almost easier to recommend a high-end tablet over an actual laptop. With a keyboard cover and the right specs, tablets are easier and lighter to carry around, have touch screen functionality, and more than many laptops do not. At the Microsoft Store, you can get yourself a Surface Pro 7 with a keyboard cover starting at $599. The base specs come with 4GB RAM and 128 GB, but you can expand those before checking out if needed.

    Surface Pro 7 + Type Cover Bundle
    Need to be productive anywhere you go? The Surface Pro 7 is light and can do anything you need. Starting at $599, you can customize the bundle to give the device more power, if needed!

Motorola Razr 5G (Unlocked) for $1,200

Ready to step into the world of foldable phones? Do it for cheaper by getting the Motorola Razr 5G for $200 less, bringing the unlocked phone’s total to $1,200. This foldable flip phone is globally unlocked, and used with any 4G network in and out of the US. You can also use the Razr on 5G networks, if they’re available with your carrier!

    Motorola Razr 5G (Unlocked)
    Join the foldable phone life today with the Razr 5G, currently $200 off at Amazon. While this model was created for the US, it's globally unlocked so you should be able to use it with any plan.

More Tech Deals

Looking for even more tech deals? We have them for you below!

Early Prime Day 2020 Deals

We’ve rounded up the early Prime Day 2020 deals we have found so far below!

The post Today’s Top Tech Deals: Surface Pro 7 Bundle Discounts, Half Off the Echo Show 5, and More! appeared first on xda-developers.



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Google makes persistent Cloud Anchors widely available for developers with ARCore 1.20

Back in 2018, Google introduced the Cloud Anchors API in ARCore, which made it possible for users to share the same AR content across devices. Starting today, Google is making Cloud Anchors more widely available for developers with ARCore 1.20, allowing more apps to create AR content that can persist over a period of time.

The nice thing about the Cloud Anchors API is that it’s cross-platform, so developers can create experiences that can be shared between iOS and Android devices. That means an iPhone user can collaborate on an AR experience with someone who owns the new Pixel 5. Back in 2018, Google highlighted the AR app “Just a Line” that made it possible for users to draw in a 3D space with other people.

In a blog post announcing the new feature, Google highlights a handful of apps that take advantage of the Cloud Anchors API. One of them is MARK, a social platform that lets people leave AR messages in real-world locations. You can essentially tag famous landmarks, but only friends and family can see what you wrote.

Google highlights some other apps, too, many of which utilize AR for education purposes. REWILD Our Planet, for example, features AR content that allows users to venture into earth’s unique habitats and interact with endangered wildlife. There’s also SJ Labs, which uses Cloud Anchors to help railway passengers find their way in Sweden, and Lowe’s Persistent View, which will let users design their home in AR with the help of an expert.

Over the last few months, Google has put much more focus on AR experiences, recently introducing new Live View features in Google Maps. With persistent Cloud Anchors in ARCore 1.20, developers will now have more powerful tools to create next-level AR experiences.

Google Play Services for AR (Free, Google Play) →

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Google refreshes its Google Wifi mesh router with a lower price tag

Google has been busy these past few weeks announcing new phones, a smart speaker, and rebranding G Suite. Among all the excitement, the search giant has also quietly introduced an updated Google Wifi for $99 in the U.S (via AndroidPolice).

The new mesh router looks a lot like the Google WiFi of old, featuring the same puck design that was launched in 2016. It features dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, support for WPA3 encryption, and up to 1,500 square feet of coverage per mesh point. It also comes equipped with a quad-core processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of eMMC storage, and two Ethernet ports.

While the new mesh router largely looks the same, Google made some subtle changes to the design. For one, 49% of its plastic weight is now made of recycled material, and the Google logo has been embossed on the top. There’s also now a reset button on the bottom and a barrel jack adapter for power.

Compared to the Nest Wifi, the new Google Wifi doesn’t double as a Google Assistant smart speaker. It also features the same hardware for the main router and mesh points, whereas the Nest Wifi offers a dedicated router and points. The Nest Wifi also offers more coverage, making it the better option for larger spaces.

Rumors of a revamped Google Wifi mesh router have been circulating for a few weeks now, so today’s quiet launch is no surprise. No matter which system you go with, they’re compatible with each other, so you can get a Google Wifi router and then add a Nest Wifi point down the line.

At $99 — or $199 for a three pack — the new Google Wifi will go nicely with Google’s nest Nest Audio speaker and updated Chromecast with Google TV. You can purchase the product now from the Google Store.

Google Wifi (Free, Google Play) →

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ASUS ZenFone 6’s latest Android 11 beta update enables VoLTE on T-Mobile in the US

Back in August, ASUS opened up an Android 11 beta program for the ZenFone 6. The smartphone received its first Android 11 beta build a month later, which bundled a number of improvements to ASUS’ own ZenUI skin. Now, the ASUS ZenFone 6, or the ASUS 6Z as it is called in India, is getting another update through the beta channel. The changelog is particularly interesting for T-Mobile users in the U.S., as the new build finally brings in official support of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) on the carrier network to the phone.

ASUS ZenFone 6 XDA Forums

Besides compatibility with T-Mobile’s VoLTE service, the update with version number 18.0610.2009.63 also optimizes the stability of the stock camera app. ASUS has also fixed minor bugs introduced in the initial Android 11 build, such as the broken Portrait mode and non-working FM Radio. You can find the full changelog of this Android 11 beta build for the ZenFone 6 below:

  • Improved system stability
  • Fixed “Ok Google” function
  • Enabled TMO US VoLTE
  • Optimized camera stability
  • Fixed Amazon HDR Display issue
  • Fixed FM-Radio not working issue
  • Fixed issue where switching to Portrait mode cause Camera function to not work
asus_zenfone_6_android_11_beta_tmobile_volte

Thanks to ASUS ZenTalk Community user Averan for the screenshot!

The update appears to be rolling out to existing beta users at the moment, albeit we have yet to spot the download link of the firmware package.

It is worth mentioning that starting January 2021, any device that does not support VoLTE on T-Mobile will no longer be able to connect to the carrier’s 4G LTE or 5G network. Given the fact that ASUS has recently brought T-Mobile VoLTE support to the ROG Phone 3 as well, it seems that the Taiwanese OEM really doesn’t want to lose the lucrative market. In case you’re running the stable Android 10 firmware on your ZenFone 6, you can still manually enable VoLTE (and VoWiFi) after rooting your device, courtesy of our fantastic aftermarket development community.

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