Five reasons XDA loves LineageOS

LineageOS is one of the most popular custom ROMs available for Android devices, if not the most popular custom ROM out there. Evolving from the halcyon days of the CyanogenMod project, LineageOS is now known for being a lightweight ROM with the bare minimum in additional features resulting in a high-performance, high versatility Android variant. But why do people love it so much? Here are five of our biggest reasons.

1. It extends your phone’s lifespan

First and foremost, we love LineageOS because it lets you extend the life of your phone. Not every Android smartphone is eligible to get 3 years of OS and security updates from their makers, but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your perfectly good $1000 phone after the official support ends. By flashing LineageOS on one of the hundreds of officially supported devices, you can breathe new life into your old phone – saving the planet, and your pocket. Moreover, third-party developers frequently use its open-source codebase as the foundation for porting newer versions of Android to legacy devices, replacing their otherwise out-of-date (and insecure) firmware.

2. It’s stable and secure

Unlike typical homebrew software, official LineageOS builds are standardized against a Device Support Requirements charter. It ensures that all the basic hardware functionalities (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Camera, NFC, etc.) continue to operate after replacing the factory-installed software with LineageOS. Even if the OEMs stop updating the closed source vendor components, LineageOS maintainers continue to merge the latest patches to the Linux kernel corresponding to the device with each monthly Android Security Bulletin. To set the seal on security, SELinux is always set to enforcing on official variants. When you download and install a LineageOS build from lineageos.org, you know it’s been cryptographically signed by their build server, and not by anyone else, which further ensures that any one developer isn’t tampering with builds.

3. It’s a great way to de-Google your device

Some people love Android but don’t always feel comfortable with how closely tied it is to Google. LineageOS offers a great way to have the best of both worlds. By default, Google Apps aren’t included in LineageOS ROMs – but they can be installed in a streamlined and simplified way by flashing a suitable GApps package. You can even enjoy most of the Google services without the proprietary software components from the Mountain View giant by flashing a special forked version of LineageOS. It’s about freedom of choice.

4. It’s darn close to Stock AOSP Android

 

One of the most common complaints from Android users comes when a handset maker fiddles about too much with vanilla Android. We’ve come a long way from the likes of the Sony X10, which rewrote so much Android code that many standard modifications could brick it, but there’s still a glut of devices with alternative launchers, crippled options, and privacy hindering bloatware, replacing stock apps. There’s none of that with LineageOS. Sure, it has its own stock apps, but there’s nothing unnecessary, and more importantly – nothing is taken away. It’s pure Android loveliness, your way.

5. It’s got loads of exclusive features

Just because it’s a near-stock experience doesn’t mean that LineageOS hasn’t got a lot of exclusive features too. When building a ROM, it’s very tempting to throw the kitchen sink at it. The problem is, that can often affect the stability of the device. LineageOS strikes the right balance between great innovations like a dedicated Permissions Hub and a highly functional theming engine (based on the ThemePicker app from AOSP), without compromising the overall speed and stability of the phone – giving you advanced security, more customization options, and extra features, with the stability of a box-fresh phone. Oh yes, and did we mention? It’s incredibly easy to obtain superuser access, even though LineageOS doesn’t ship with a pre-installed root binary.

Find out more about LineageOS on the official website.

Or if you’re already sold, maybe you’d like to be amongst the first to own our XDA phone – the F(x)tec Pro1-X, which runs LineageOS out of the box. Find out more here.

With inputs from Skanda Hazarika

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The Moto G 5G could be Motorola’s next budget 5G phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 750G

The newly announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G could be the system-on-chip selected to power the upcoming Moto G 5G, XDA has learned, alongside other specifications. Furthermore, a live device photo has also surfaced on Slashleaks, showing off the display and the camera cutout on the front. The Moto G 5G Plus launched in July of this year.

Moto G 5G reported specifications

The Motorola Moto G 5G is said to feature a 60Hz. 6.66-inch 2400×1080 display. We don’t know if it’s an AMOLED or LCD panel yet, and a camera cut-out is present in the middle of the status bar. It will likely have 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, along with a 5,000 mAh battery too.

Small update on the #Kiev #MotoG5G…

Turns out, this is actually using the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G! This SoC has only just been announced, which is why we didn’t know what it was before. Full specs below https://t.co/9kPyTYkuXr pic.twitter.com/Yi7C39yxhu

— Adam Conway @ XDA (@AdamConwayIE) October 30, 2020

Missing some specs there

6.66-inch
2400×1080 resolution
5000mAh battery
Google Assistant button
Coming to Verizon (w/o GA button)
Also XT2113-1 and XT2113-5 models

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) October 30, 2020

As for the camera setup, the Moto G 5G reportedly features 3 cameras on the back and 1 singular selfie camera. The three cameras reported are the following.

• Samsung GM1 48MP primary sensor
• Samsung S5K4H7 8MP telephoto
• OmniVision OV02B10 2MP macro

The single selfie camera is the OmniVision OV16A1Q, which shoots at 16MP but uses pixel binning to create a 4MP image.

However, the more interesting news about the Motorola Moto G 5G is that it seemingly packs a dedicated Google Assistant button. This is a pretty self-explanatory button, as it will allow you to easily and quickly access the Google Assistant. It is also expected to come to Verizon in the US, though it will not have the Google Assistant button in tow. The Plus variant of this smartphone packs a Google Assistant button as well.

Finally, the Moto G 5G will have SD card support and an NFC reader. The model numbers for this particular smartphone are as follows:

• XT2113-1
• XT2113-2
• XT2113-3
• XT2113-5

The Moto G 5G was first reported by TechnikNews as having the codename “Kiev”. This is one of the first smartphones to pack a Snapdragon 750G, with both Xiaomi and Samsung being the only two OEMs to have confirmed launches.

---

Image source: Slashleaks

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Honor 10X Lite is a new mid-range smartphone coming to Saudi Arabia, Europe, and Russia

Honor, the millennial sub-brand of Huawei has announced the Honor 10X Lite, launching in Saudi Arabia with a wider European rollout expected. The lower mid-range handset comes at a knockdown price, but of course, won’t come with Google Mobile Services (GMS) out-of-the-box. It’s a more affordable version of the Honor 10X and 10X Max phablet, launched during the summer, but unlike them, doesn’t offer 5G connectivity.

The Honor 10X Lite offers a reasonable, if slightly pedestrian, set of specs that are reasonably on par at this price point. The fly in the ointment is, as ever, the lack of Google apps, because of the current sanctions against parent company Huawei. But if that doesn’t put you off (they can be sideloaded), there’s a Kirin 710 octa-core SoC backed up by 4GB or RAM and 128GB of storage, expandable with microSD by up to 256GB.

The camera is a 48MP quad-lens, flanked by a 5MP ultrawide sensor, with a 2MP for depth and 2MP for macro. Round the front, there’s an 8MP punch-hole selfie camera. The display is a 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS LCD, but at this price, we wouldn’t expect AMOLED. There’s a fingerprint sensor on the side of the device, an increasingly common location for security, and Android 10, wrapped in Honor’s Magic UI 3.1 skin.

Connectivity is pretty standard fayre at this level – LTE (no 5G), Wifi ac (no Wifi6), Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, and A-GPS. There is a headphone jack and USB-C 2.0. The generous 5000mAh battery allows for Honor Supercharge, which the manufacturer claims is capable of charging to 46% in 30 minutes.  All in all – a competent but uninspiring choice and with so many other phones competing in this space, the lack of Google apps will make this a difficult sell for many.

The Honor 10X Lite is available in three color variants – Icelandic Frost, Midnight Black, Emerald Green. It’s on sale now in Saudi Arabia priced at SAR799 ($213) and due to arrive in Russia on November 6th with a European release shortly afterward.

Specification	Honor 10X Lite
Build	Icelandic Frost, Midnight Black, Emerald Green
Dimensions & Weight	76.88 x 165.65 x 9.2mm 206g
Display	6.67″ hole-punch IPS LCD FHD+ 2400 x 1080
SoC	Kirin 710
RAM & Storage	4GB RAM 128GB internal storage Storage expandable via microSD up to 256GB
Battery & Charging	5000mAh with 22.5W fast charging
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Rear Camera(s)	48MP 5MP ultrawide 2MP depth 2MP macro
Front Camera(s)	8MP
Port(s)	USB-C
Audio	3.5mm audio jack
Connectivity	LTE/Wi-Fi 5/Bluetooth
Software	Honor Magic UI 3.1 on Android 10 with HMS (no GMS)
Other Features	Game Acceleration e-reader mode

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Telegram’s latest update allows multiple pinned messages, distance alerts on live locations, and more

Messaging app Telegram has announced a new raft of features for Android users, including some that you’re unlikely to find in other messenger apps. It’s the second tranch of updates to Telegram in the past few months, as the battle between competing platforms continues.

The Pinned Messages feature now lets you pin a number of threads — great for multitasking between different people where you want to keep conversations separate, or perhaps you’re talking with the same person about several different things at the same time. To use it, you can either tap the top bar to cycle through the threads or use the newly added button to move them all to their own page. This is the first time that pinning has applied to one-to-one conversations, as well as group chats.

 

Also new, where users are sharing their live location with you, you can set an alert to tell you when they’re nearby. Additionally, the map will now show what direction you’re going in, so you can guide them in to meet you more easily. If that wasn’t enough, when you send multiple songs over Telegram, the receiver now gets sent a playlist. When you start playing one, the entire playlist will be added to a queue in Telegram’s built-in media player. You can choose to separate each song from the playlist if you prefer, but there’s no doubt this is a much tidier way of doing it.

Finally, there are new analytics tools for your shared posts. You can view data for the whole channel, or for individual posts. You can even see where your post has been forwarded into public channels. There are some fancy new animations and emojis to choose from, plus you can now annotate a photograph from someone you’re chatting to in-line, without downloading it and reuploading it.

All these features are available now by updating your Telegram app in the Play Store. As Telegram notes, “If you’re on iOS, you’ll get the update as soon as either a) Apple finishes reviewing it OR b) you decide it’s time to switch to Android.”

Well, we didn’t like to say, but….

Telegram (Free, Google Play) →

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The recently launched TCL Android TVs are up to half off at Best Buy

Very recently, TCL launched its Android TVs in the US, exclusively via Best Buy. These quality sets launched and went on sale quickly, with the 50-inch and 55-inch models receiving some discounts to entice consumers to pick up these new models. Well, if you waited because the upcoming holiday shopping might lead to deeper discounts, your patience has paid off. The TCL Android TVs are even cheaper now, with some models being close to impulse-buy levels!

These are 4K TVs with Android TV built-in, which is a change from TCL’s usual Roku TV models. If you’re not a fan of the Roku platform (I know I’m not, you have to do weird workarounds just to watch Twitch on it), Android TV is going to be really enticing, especially since it or Google TV is standard for Android devices.

Originally, just the 50-inch and 55-inch models of the this TCL TV were on sale. They’re still on sale at Best Buy, but now they’re even cheaper! The 50-inch TV is now $230, while the 55-inch model is even cheaper at just $200.

TCL Android TV (50-inch)

Need something a little smaller to fit your entertainment center? The TCL 50-inch Android TV is just $230! Offering the popular streaming UI and 4K capabilities, this is a perfect set to upgrade with.

$230 at Best Buy

TCL Android TV (55-inch)

$200 for a 55-inch, 4K smart TV? No, it's not a Black Friday doorbuster! TCL's new Android TV is at an incredible price--make sure to grab it today!

$200 at Best Buy

Those aren’t the only two models on sale. This time around, the 75-inch Android TV is on sale, and it’s a really good sale. Normally $800, you can save $300 and get this massive 4K TV for just $500! If you have the room to use it, you really can’t go wrong with this price. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a deal for a TV that big, that’s from a company that you can verify the quality of, for that low outside of super limited Black Friday doorbusters. No need to outrace people for this one!

TCL Android TV (75-inch)

Previously not on sale, you can now save $300 on the massive 75-inch TCL smart TV. With Android TV and 4k capabilities, you can't go wrong with this purchase.

$500 at Best Buy

While there’s no known expiration date for these deals, they’re not guaranteed to last. Get one before they’re sold out!

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Samsung Galaxy Store gets a big redesign with an emphasis on games

Samsung has introduced a redesign to its Galaxy Store, and now there are only two tabs: one for apps and one for games. Unsurprisingly, the title prominently featured in the section for games is Fortnite, which was previously pulled from the Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

“Right now, Galaxy Store is the only mobile app store in the United States where you can download the hit title from Epic Games, Fortnite, and squad up with friends,” Samsung said in a blog post.

As part of the redesign, the bottom bar has been reduced to two sections for app and games, with the games section placed ahead of apps. Other sections, like the one for viewing Galaxy Watch apps, has been moved to a scrolling bar at the top; the same bar also offers quick access to exclusives and personalization.

Samsung is also pushing users to take advantage of Galaxy-exclusive rewards and benefits. If you buy a game from the Galaxy Store, for example, you’ll earn rewards points that you can put toward another purchase in the future.

In its blog post, Samsung reminds users that they can access Xbox Game Pass Ultimate through its Galaxy Store as well. While users can access Microsoft’s service through Google’s Play Store, only users of the Galaxy Store can enjoy the convenience of in-app purchase capabilities.

Samsung’s Galaxy Store has always been a decent alternative to Google’s Play Store, offering some exclusive apps for Galaxy owners. Touting its store as the only mobile app store in the U.S. where you can find Fortnite is a pretty big deal, especially considering the game will likely stay off the Play Store at least until the beginning of next year, when Epic Games and Google are expected to go to trial.

If you own a Galaxy device, you should be able to see the redesigned Galaxy Store starting today.

Samsung Galaxy S20 5G

What better way to access the Galaxy Store and play Fortnite than with a Samsung Galaxy S20 5G? This is one of Samsung's most well-rounded devices and a great way to enjoy mobile gaming.

See at Amazon

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Apple One services bundle now available, starts at $14.95 a month

Following an announcement in September, Apple has launched Apple One, which bundles together its many services for a low monthly price. There are three different plans: Individual, Family and Premier, the latter of which offers everything in Apple’s portfolio, from Apple Music to the company’s upcoming Fitness Plus service.

The Apple One individual plan is available for $14.95 a month and features Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade and 50GB of iCloud storage. The Family plan features the same services but ups the storage to 200GB, and can be shared with five other people for $19.95 a month. Finally, there’s a $29.95 Premier plan, which adds Apple News Plus, ups iCloud storage to 2TB, and includes Apple Fitness Plus.

Fitness Plus is Apple’s new personalized fitness platform that offers a variety of workouts and deep Apple Watch integration. Unfortunately, Fitness Plus isn’t available just yet despite the launch of Apple One, so Premier plan subscribers won’t get their money’s worth until the service launches later this year. If you decide not to subscribe to a Premier plan but want Fitness Plus, it will cost $9.99 on its own.

You have to consider your needs before subscribing to an Apple One plan, but if you already had plans to subscribe to all of Apple’s services individually, you’re going to save some money. The Individual plan saves $6 a month; the Family plan saves $8 a month; and the Premier plan saves $25 a month.

You can currently subscribe to Apple One through your iOS device. Launch Settings and click on your Apple ID, then tap Subscriptions and you’ll see an option to subscribe. Apple is offering a one-month free trial, after which account holders will be billed on a monthly basis. Individual and Family plans are available in over 100 countries, while Premier is available in the U.S., UK, Australia, and Canada.

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