The Montblanc Summit Lite could be a more affordable smartwatch from the luxury brand

Montblanc’s Summit 2+ recently went on sale in the US through Verizon. The luxury smartwatch features a 43.5mm case with a 1.28-inch AMOLED display, and it packs in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC. But despite the modest specs, the Summit 2+ retails for a whopping $1170, making it one of the most expensive Wear OS smartwatches out there. Because of its exorbitant price tag, we don’t expect the Summit 2+ to be a big hit among buyers, and it seems like Montblanc realizes the same. In order to appeal to a wider audience, the German luxury goods manufacturer is now working on a slightly more affordable smartwatch called the Summit Lite.

Last month, a new smartwatch from Montblanc was certified by the FCC (via Droid-Life). But, at the time, the FCC listing had only revealed the “Summit Lite” moniker. Today, Google updated its Device Catalog on the Google Play Console with a new entry for the Montblanc Summit Lite. The entry sheds more light on the upcoming smartwatch and reveals some of its basic specifications.

As you can see in the attached screenshot, the Montblanc Summit Lite will run Google’s Wear OS (based on Android 9 Pie), and it will feature 1GB of RAM, a 390 x 390 resolution display, and Qualcomm’s APQ8009 processor. However, it isn’t clear whether the smartwatch will include the Snapdragon Wear 2100 or 3100 SoC. Furthermore, the “system features” list confirms that the smartwatch will include GPS and NFC, along with a heart rate monitor, step counter, and microphone.

The image of the Montblanc Summit Lite included in the Google Play Console entry showcases the smartwatch with a black metal case and a circular display. It has two buttons on the right edge and a rotating crown between the buttons. While its design is similar to the Summit 2+, the watch looks to have a rubber strap instead of a premium leather strap. As of now, we have no confirmation from Montblanc regarding the Summit Lite. But since the smartwatch has already made its way to Google’s Device Catalog, it shouldn’t be long before the company makes an official announcement.

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Google Camera 8.1 brings the newer UI and cinematic pan to some older Pixel phones

Google Camera 8.0 debuted with the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G earlier this year in September. As expected, the updated app came with a host of new features for the devices, like Night Sight portrait mode, Cinematic pan, and more. Along with the new features, Google Camera 8.0 also brought a revamped UI with new buttons, a quick zoom toggle, quick access toggles to video modes, etc. But these new features and UI have been limited to Google’s latest Pixel devices so far.

While users with older Pixel devices have had the option to sideload Google Camera 8.0 to access these new features for quite a while now, the method doesn’t seem to work for everyone. Now, though, all users should be able to get the revamped UI and features with the Google Camera 8.1 update. The update has started rolling out to some users via the Play Store, and it includes the new UI and Cinematic Pan feature.

Google Camera just updated for me via Play Store version 8.1.008.341125824
On Pixel 4 XL. Looks like UI Revamp.@AndroidPolice @AndroidAuth @xdadevelopers @ArtemR @derekmross @verge pic.twitter.com/T0J7jKoFkB

— Kelvin Peralta (@KaKito_24) November 12, 2020

One Pixel 4 XL user on Twitter recently confirmed the rollout and shared a screenshot showcasing the new UI and Cinematic Pan feature. But, as of now, we aren’t sure if the update includes all the new features that were introduced with the Pixel 5/4a 5G. It also isn’t clear whether the Google Camera 8.1 update will bring the Cinematic Pan feature to all older Pixel phones.

Hands-on with Google Camera 8.0 from the Google Pixel 5

In case you haven’t received the update yet, you can try sideloading the Google Camera 8.1 APK from APKMirror. However, this method might not work for all users. Do let us know if you’re able to successfully sideload the APK on your device in the comments section below.

Download Google Camera 8.1 from APKMirror

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[Update 2: More relief] USA bans WeChat and TikTok from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Update 2 (11/13/2020 @ 12:41 AM ET): The US Commerce Department no longer wishes to enforce the TikTok ban.

Update 1 (09/22/2020 @ 02:23 AM ET): WeChat and TikTok have been given temporary relief, postponing their impending ban. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on September 18, 2020, is preserved below.

The US Commerce Department has announced prohibitions banning people in the US from downloading TikTok and WeChat in reponse to a pair of executive orders signed by US President Donald Trump in August.

In a press release on the matter, the US Department of Commerce noted: “The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has demonstrated the means and motives to use these apps to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the U.S. Today’s announced prohibitions, when combined, protect users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing their functionality.”

Speaking on the matter, US Department of Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, was quoted saying, “Today’s actions prove once again that President Trump will do everything in his power to guarantee our national security and protect Americans from the threads of the Chinese Communist Party…At the President’s direction, we have taken significant action to combat China’s malicious collection of American citizens’ personal data, while promoting our national values, democratic rules-based norms, and aggressive enforcement of U.S. laws and regulations.”

The new prohibitions on TikTok and WeChat will go into effect on September 20th, 2020. As part of the new directive, the following transactions are prohibited:

• Any provision of service to distribute or maintain the WeChat or TikTok mobile applications, constituent code, or application updates through an online mobile application store in the U.S.;
• Any provision of services through the WeChat mobile application for the purpose of transferring funds or processing payments within the U.S.

Further, as of September 20, 2020, for WeChat and as of November 12, 2020, for TikTok, the following transactions are prohibited:

• Any provision of internet hosting services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.;
• Any provision of content delivery network services enabling the functioning or optimization of the mobile application in the U.S.;
• Any provision directly contracted or arranged internet transit or peering services enabling the function or optimization of the mobile application within the U.S.;
• Any utilization of the mobile application’s constituent code, functions, or services in the functioning of software or services developed and/or accessible within the U.S.

It’s also worth noting that President Trump has provided until November 12 for the national security concerns posed by TikTok to be resolved. In case they are, the prohibitions mentioned above may be lifted. It remains to be seen if there are further developments on this by the time the ban is put into effect.

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Update: Temporary relief to TikTok and WeChat

As expected, TikTok and WeChat have been granted temporary relief, postponing the ban that was to be put into effect on September 20, 2020. The Commerce Department has delayed the directions against TikTok by a week, with the new deadline being September 27, 2020. Meanwhile, the ban against WeChat has been blocked by a Court in California, with the relief expected to last until the next date of court proceedings.

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Update: US Commerce Department will not enforce TikTok ban

According to a report emerging out of Wall Street Journal, the US Commerce Department has chosen not to enforce its order that would have forced TikTok to shut down its functions in the USA. As mentioned in the coverage above, a new set of restrictions were scheduled to come into place on November 12, 2020. But now, the US Commerce Department is citing lawsuits in progress and resulting preliminary injunctions in order to delay the enforcement of the shutdown order, and give some more relief to TikTok.

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Amazon launches the GameOn app to let mobile gamers share gameplay clips

Amazon has unveiled another gaming service, this time aimed at mobile users. Dubbed Amazon GameOn, the service makes it easy for users to capture and share mobile gameplay.

With the GameOn app for Android, users can record 30 second to five minute clips in their favorite mobile games. Over 1,000 games will be supported by GameOn at launch, including PUBG Mobile, Angry Birds 2, and Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. Clips are stored on a user’s device and can be edited within the app and then shared to a user’s GameOn profile page. Users can also personalize videos with selfie commentary and on-screen captions.

While Amazon GameOn allows users to start and stop recording at will, there’s also a Recall feature. Instead of worrying about gameplay taking up all your storage, users can hit the Recall button and only save the last few minutes of gameplay. Users can configure the length of the saved clip, from 30 seconds to five minutes.

In addition to offering users a place to share gameplay clips, users can also participate in challenges. The Featured Challenges section on GameOn’s homepage includes game-specific time-limited contests where users can show off their favorite gameplay clips. Clips can be voted on, and the most popular will receive a digital ranking badge.

One of the challenges going on right now asks players to win a game in PUBG Mobile where the play zone is so small, “you can see the entire perimeter on screen.”

Amazon GameOn service arrives following the launch of Luna, a cloud gaming platform designed to compete in the same space as Google Stadia. Luna is available now in early access and has an introductory price of $5.99 per month.

GameOn is available now for Android and is coming soon to iOS.

GameOn: watch, share and record gameplay videos (Free, Google Play) →

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Facebook adds “Vanish Mode” for disappearing messages in Messenger and Instagram

Facebook hasn’t shied away from borrowing features from its competitors. Instagram benefited from the introduction of Stories, which aped on Snapchat’s core utility. Now, Facebook is looking toward Snapchat for inspiration again with the release of “Vanish Mode.” The new feature arrives as part of a major redesign to Messenger that Facebook announced in September.

Coming to Facebook Messenger and Instagram, Vanish Mode is an ephemeral messaging feature that will allow users to send texts, photos, voice messages, emoji, and stickers that disappear automatically. Facebook said that messages will disappear after they’re seen and you leave the chat, with no traces left in your chat history.

Instagram has for a while included an element of disappearing messages in its platform, with the ability to send photos and videos that vanish after they are viewed. Facebook is marketing the new feature as a fun way to share stuff that you don’t necessarily want to stick around forever, like an embarrassing selfie. Or as a video demonstrating the feature puts it, Vanish Mode allows users to “live in the moment.”

Vanish Mode is opt-in only, so you have to acknowledge the feature before using it with someone in a chat. Once the feature is enabled, messages will disappear automatically. If someone takes a screenshot of your conversation, you’ll be notified. Conversations can also be reported, and will include messages up to one hour after they disappear in the report.

To use Vanish Mode, you can swipe up on your mobile device in an existing chat thread. You can also turn the feature on and off in the settings of a particular chat message or group thread. To exit Vanish Mode, swipe up again and you’ll be back in your regular chat.

The feature has already rolled out to some users in Messenger, with a wider rollout happening in the U.S. and a handful of other countries. Instagram will get Vanish Mode in the U.S. and other countries soon. You must update to the new Instagram message experience in order to experience the new mode.

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Get the Apple Airpods Pro with free next-day delivery for just $194!

The Apple Airpods Pro are a popular and powerful pair of earbuds. While it’s Apple brand, the earbuds can connect to any Bluetooth enabled device, so Android users also get in on the Airpods experience. With the ability to seamlessly listen to music, take calls, and anything else you’d need to do, Airpods have always been a top choice for those looking for their next set of earbuds.

Now, at Staples, you can get the Apple AirPods Pro for just $194! Normally $249, this knocks a whole $55 off the retail price. In addition, Staples offers free next-day delivery, so unlike other retailers offering this price on the Airpods Pro, you can safely purchase these online and get them tomorrow, without needing to leave the house. That’s really important in times like these!

If there is a Staples near you, you can go and pick them up, though. Basically, the next-day delivery is really fast and convenient, but if you need them as soon as possible, you can get your new Apple AirPods Pro in as quickly as an hour.

If you’re not already an AirPods user, you might be wondering what the fuss is. Most consumers know that Apple can charge a premium for its device due to the brand name, but the Apple AirPods Pro are quality devices worth the price of admission. The AirPods Pro contains an H1 chip, which ensures low audio latency and are sweat and water-resistant. Perfect for outdoor fitness! You can get more than 24 hours of listening time on a single charge, and when they do run dry, they’ll charge quickly in the case, wirelessly or wired.

There is plenty more to get into, but it might just be better to look at the specs and details on Staples’ store page! The details include a deep breakdown of the audio aspects, which I can’t begin to understand. But, I know it’s a pretty solid piece of audio technology!

Apple Airpods Pro

Save $55 and get free next day delivery? What are you waiting for? The Apple AirPods Pro are a quality set of earbuds, and you can get them at a nice discount at Staples.

$194 at Staples

While you’re looking at Apple products, why not head on over to Ben’s hands-on of the iPhone 12 Mini? The phone’s so small, it’s really cute!

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The RedMagic Cyberpods are low-latency TWS earphones for gaming

There’s no shortage of wireless gaming headsets on the market — even Bose got in on the action — but there aren’t that many true wireless earphones designed with low-latency gaming in mind. If you’re looking for something discreet and next level, RedMagic’s new Cyberpods might be for you.

Weighing in at just 5g, there are a few things that set the Cyberpods apart. One is the “atmospheric lighting,” and the other is a low latency “Gamer Mode.”

RedMagic says the Cyberpods feature RGB lighting for some added sci-fi flair. Open the case and a light will display the battery life. The headphones, meanwhile, feature two lights to “create a gaming ambient lighting environment.”

The Cyberpods are also promising a low latency experience. RedMagic claims the Cyberpods offer 39ms audio latency and a “Gamer Mode” that can be manually turned on or off. Users should seemingly experience no discernible disconnect between what’s happening on their device and what’s playing on the earphones. Unfortunately, Gamer Mode is only supported by RedMagic phones; the headphones offer 60ms latency when paired with other devices.

Cyberpods owners should expect about four hours of battery life when connected over Bluetooth 5.0, with the case offering an additional 16 hours of power. The case includes a USB-C port, which RedMagic said can be fully charged in just two hours. That’s about on a par with other truly wireless headphones, including Apple’s AirPods.

The earbuds also support AAC and SBC Bluetooth audio codecs and can be controlled via touch-sensitive controls on the earbuds.

RedMagic says the Cyberpods will be available globally beginning November 20 and retail for $50, €50, and £40.

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