Spotify Wrapped 2021 is here to expose your guilty pleasures

It’s that time of the year again — when listeners get to view their annual music statistics. Spotify has announced Wrapped 2021, which includes new additions this year. The company has been offering a compilation of beautifully visualized data every December, and this year is no different. These include your top artists, songs, genres, and more. If you’re interested in checking them out, make sure your iOS or Android Spotify app is up to date.

In a newsroom post, Spotify has announced that Wrapped 2021 is now available to mobile users on the latest version of the app. This announcement comes after the company revealed this year’s global top music and podcasts. This year’s Wrapped comes with a few extras; Spotify states:

In addition to your top artists, genres, songs, and podcasts and the minutes listened, your personalized Wrapped experience includes several all-new features:

2021: The Movie – This feature pairs your top songs with classic scenes from a movie that’s all about you.

Your Audio Aura – We worked with an aura expert to visualize your audio aura based on your top two music moods. (You can read more about that here.)

Playing Cards – This is an interactive, data-based game that you play and then share with your friends. We’ll display several statements about your listening this year and you’ll have to guess which are true.

2021 Wrapped Blend – Tapping into the new Blend feature launched this year, Spotify fans can see how their 2021 music tastes match up with friends, stream their blended playlist, and share their results on social.

These statistics come in addition to:

• Your Top Songs 2021
• Your Artists Revealed
• Top Tracks & Artists of 2021
• Best New Podcasts of 2021
• Best Episodes of 2021
• The Best of 2021
• A Look Back at 2021

You can view them all exclusively through the 2021 Wrapped Hub on Spotify’s mobile app and share them to social media.

Who is your top artist this year? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Imint’s new Vidhance Video Stabiltization 4 engine delivers better motion detection, improved memory performance and more

Imint, the Sweden-based company that specializes in video software solutions for smartphones, today unveiled the Vidhance Video Stabiltization 4. The fourth-generation video stabilization engine builds upon the company’s previous solutions and offers various improvements including better motion detection, lower power consumption, improved memory handling, and more.

Imint says the new stabilization engine is completely redesigned from the ground up and addresses many of the shortcomings of traditional approaches to stabilization. For one, Vidhance Stabilization 4 can intelligently detect and remove unwanted motion in a video while leaving behind desired motion so the final video doesn’t look overly processed.

“Not all camera bumps, shakes, and sweeps are bad, and this new solution can sense the difference. The result is professional-looking content that appears exactly as the video creator intended, even when the user is moving rapidly,” the company wrote in a blog post.

Next up, the latest video stabilization engine comes with new look-ahead processing that greatly improves memory performance. When compared to traditional look-ahead methods, which often require a tradeoff between video performance and memory usage, Vidhance Video Stabilization 4’s claims to provide great performance while still preserving valuable memory.

“VidhanceVideo StabilizationGeneration4 builds extensively on our years improving the Vidhancesolution but takes everything a leap further. Iterative enhancements had reached the limit of effectiveness. But this new solution is a whole new approach to video stabilization and positions Imint, once again as light years ahead of other solutions on the market,” said Andreas Lifvendahl, Chief Executive Officer of Imint.

Imint says lower power consumption was one of its top priorities when developing Vidhance Video Stabilization 4. The company claims its new stabilization engine is optimized for both performance and battery and can deliver all the above-mentioned benefits without drawing significant battery juice.

Imitnt says its new solution has been tested by leading smartphone OEMs and can be delivered to users with a simple software update.

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Google is testing a new location for the Google App’s search bar

The Google app comes pre-installed on every Android device out there. So, if you’re using an Android phone, there’s a good chance you use the Google app for quick searches or to get news and weather updates. If you often use the Google app for search, you might have to get used to tapping in a different location. That’s because Google is testing a new location for the search bar in the Google app. The company is also testing a minor redesign for the search bar.

According to the Google News Telegram channel, a redesigned search bar has started showing up for some users on the latest Google app beta release. As you can see in the attached screenshot, the updated search bar appears right at the top of the app, replacing the weather widget in the upper left corner and integrating the profile button.

(Screenshot: Google News Telegram channel)

In the current version of the app, the circular button with your profile picture is located outside the search bar in the top right corner. Integrating it into the search bar gives the app a cleaner look and clears up some space for the cards below. The traditional camera and voice input keys are present at their usual locations, just like how they are in the current version of the app.

Google is also testing moving the search bar to the bottom of the screen, making it more accessible and easy to use. This is similar to what Google had done with the search bar on some earlier versions of Android. The search bar was integrated into the dock to make it easier for users to access it. We can observe something similar within the Google app now.

(Screenshots: Google News Telegram channel)

As shown in the attached screenshot, the search bar appears right above the navigation bar at the bottom. It disappears as soon as you start scrolling and resurfaces when you scroll up again. Since these search bar changes are only available to a handful of users on the beta channel right now, it might be a while before they make it to the stable channel. We’ll make sure to let you know as soon as the changes start rolling out.

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Keep the Holidays Jolly and Bright with EcoFlow Backup Power

Home. The one place we all dream of no matter where we are. This year has been a difficult time for everyone across the world. The Christmas season is all about the feeling of being home with your friends and family even if you’re thousands of miles away, EcoFlow wants to bring home to you this holiday season.

With the winter holidays approaching, it’s a great opportunity to spend some time with your family, go on winter adventures, or enjoy some snow. To make sure everything goes as planned, EcoFlow is here to provide some holiday sales on their best backup power solutions. Don’t let the winter weather cause power disruptions that could ruin your plans. Check out these power station solutions and find one that fits your needs.

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EcoFlow RIVER mini

Power at Hand

• EcoFlow website
• Amazon

EcoFlow RIVER mini gives you power at hand. Throw 210Wh of portable power in your backpack and be at ease knowing you’ve got power anywhere. The EcoFlow RIVER mini can be fully charged in 1.5 hours and with a 300W output (600W surge), it is ideal for 99% of consumer electronics.

EcoFlow RIVER mini

• MSRP: $349
• Sale: $259

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EcoFlow DELTA mini

Prosumer Backup Power

• EcoFlow website

• Amazon

Bring along DELTA mini and keep your devices powered at all times. DELTA mini’s 882Wh capacity is perfect for power outages, outdoor adventures, and professional work. DELTA mini snags up to 300W from solar panels for a full recharge in 3 to 6 hours. It can also go from 0-100% in 96 minutes when charging from the wall.

EcoFlow DELTA mini

• MSRP: $999
• Sale: $899

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EcoFlow DELTA

Essential Backup Power

• EcoFlow website

• Amazon

Stay in charge of any situation with DELTA and keep your devices powered at all times. DELTA has a huge 1260Wh capacity that’s perfect for power outages, outdoor adventures, and professional work. Power up to 13 devices simultaneously and recharge from 0% to 100% in 1.6 hours, which is 10 times the speed of most portable power stations in the market.

EcoFlow DELTA

• MSRP: $1,399
• Sale: $1,099

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EcoFlow DELTA Max

Home Backup Power Master

• EcoFlow website

• Amazon

A single DELTA Max unit packs a 2kWh capacity that is expandable up to 6kWh with DELTA Max Smart Extra Batteries. This means when a blackout hits, you can continue to power your important home devices such as your fridge and lights for hours on end. With EcoFlow’s X-Boost technology, DELTA Max can

power heavy-duty devices up to 3400W. Plus, DELTA Max charges up safely and rapidly from 0-80% in just 65 minutes.

EcoFlow DELTA Max

• MSRP: $2,099
• Sale: $1,899

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DELTA Bundle

EcoFlow DELTA + 2*110W Solar Panels

• EcoFlow website

• Amazon

The EcoFlow 110W Solar Panel has a high conversion efficiency of 21-22%. Combine two 110W Solar Panels with an EcoFlow DELTA Portable Power station to enjoy improved solar charging in cold and cloudy environments (fully recharged in 7 to 14 hours).

EcoFlow DELTA Bundle

• MSRP: $3,399
• Sale: $2,299

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DELTA Max (1600) Bundle

EcoFlow DELTA Max (1600) + 4*110W Solar Panels

• EcoFlow website

• Amazon

The EcoFlow DELTA Max (1600) is a scaled version of the EcoFlow DELTA Max. With a huge capacity of 1612Wh, the EcoFlow DELTA Max (1600) can power 15 devices at once with a 2000W output. With the X-Boost mode on, it can power some 2800W appliances. Pair the EcoFlow DELTA Max (1600) with four 110W Solar Panels, it can be fully charged by solar in 4.5 to 9 hours.

• MSRP: $3,399
• Sale: $2,449 ($950 OFF)

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Enjoy shopping through these limited holiday deals on these essential EcoFlow backup power products. Do not let disasters sneak up on you, and be prepared for the next event where you might be left without power. To ensure that you always have enough power to weather a storm, power your home appliances, or last through your off-grid adventures, always choose EcoFlow.

We thank EcoFlow for sponsoring this post. Our sponsors help us pay for the many costs associated with running XDA, including server costs, full time developers, news writers, and much more. While you might see sponsored content (which will always be labeled as such) alongside Portal content, the Portal team is in no way responsible for these posts. Sponsored content, advertising and XDA Depot are managed by a separate team entirely. XDA will never compromise its journalistic integrity by accepting money to write favorably about a company, or alter our opinions or views in any way. Our opinion cannot be bought.

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Honor’s latest mid-range phones pack Snapdragon 778G Plus, 108MP main camera and 66W fast charging

In an event in China today, Honor officially lifted the covers off the new Honor 60 series, featuring the Honor 60 and Honor Pro. The new lineup succeeds the Honor 50 series that came out in June. As far as upgrades and improvements are concerned, the new lineup feels underwhelming. The only notable upgrades the Honor 60 series has to offer are better camera hardware and a slightly faster chipset.

Honor 60 series: Specifications

Specification	Honor 60 Pro	Honor 60
Dimensions & Weight	163.9 x 74.8 x 8.2 mm 192g	161.4 x 73.3 x 8 mm 179g
Display	6.78-inch OLED FHD+ (2652 x 1080) 120Hz refresh rate 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage	6.67-inch OLED FHD+ (2340 x 1080) 120Hz refresh rate 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut coverage
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus 4x ARM Cortex-A78 @ 2.5GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz Adreno 642L 6nm process	Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4x ARM Cortex-A78 @ 2.4GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz Adreno 642L 6nm process
RAM & Storage	8GB/12GB RAM 256GB storage	8GB/12GB RAM 128GB/256GB storage
Battery & Charging	4,800mAh battery 66W fast charging support	4,800mAh battery 66W fast charging support
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 108MP f/1.9 primary Secondary: 50MP ultra-wide f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP f/2.4 depth	Primary: 108MP f/1.9 primary Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP depth Quaternary: 2MP macro
Front Camera(s)	50MP f/2.4	32MP
Port(s)	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo	Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.2 NFC 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
Software	Magic UI 5.0 based on Android 11	Magic UI 5.0 based on Android 11

Honor 6o Pro

The Honor 60 Pro is the most powerful of the duo. It features a 6.78-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and DCI-P3 wide color gamut support. As far as the chipset is concerned, we’re not seeing any significant upgrades is here. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus SoC, paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. On the back, the phone features a triple camera setup, consisting of a 108MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MPdepth sensor. Over on the front, you get a 50MP selfie shooter.

A large 4,800mAh battery keeps the show running, a step up from the 4,000mAh cell on the Honor 5o Pro. However, the charging speed has been dialed down to 66W from 100W. On the software front, the Honor 60 Pro runs Magic UI 5.0 based on Android 11. Other highlights include 5G support, an in-display fingerprint scanner, NFC, and Bluetooth 5.2

Honor 60

The regular Honor 60 is similar to the Pro model in most regards, save for display, camera setup, and chipset. It flaunts a 6.57-inch FHD+ OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate support. The back houses four cameras, featuring a 108MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and two 2MP depth and macro shooters. Selfie and video calling duties are handled by a 32MP camera. Finally, the phone is powered by the Snapdragon 778G — unlike the Pro model which packs the Plus variant of the chipset.

Pricing & Availability

The Honor 60 Pro and Honor 60 are available for pre-order in China starting today at the following prices:

• Honor 60 Pro
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 3,699
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 3,999
• Honor 60
  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 2,699
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 2,999
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 3,299

Honor hasn’t shared any details about the subsequent international launch of the new Honor 60 lineup.

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These are the Best Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Cases in 2021

Microsoft launched the second iteration of its (sorta) foldable phone — the Surface Duo 2 with a bunch of improvements from its predecessor. It now has a dedicated camera array on the rear and runs on the latest smartphone SoC. While it’s slightly on the expensive side, you’re paying for that sublime hardware and the dual screens which make multitasking a great experience on the device. Given that it’s expensive and you’ve spent a lot of money on the device, protecting it against scratches and cracks is important. The Surface Duo 2 has glass all over which is susceptible to breakage if dropped on a hard surface.

To help you prevent exactly that, we’ve accumulated the best Surface Duo 2 cases that can help you protect the device. Repairs can be expensive especially if you shatter the glass on the back or on the display. Instead, it’s wise to spend on a good case that would protect your device in the long run. Here are some of the options you can consider.

Surface Duo 2 Bumper

Protection along the edges

This is a soft silicone bumper case that you can attach all along the edges of the device. It's the official case so it's going to have the best fit, but it doesn't offer a ton of protection.

View at Amazon

Surface Duo 2 Pen Cover

Charge your Surface pen

This is another official case that goes around the edges but also has a flap that wraps around the front. This case facilitates charging the Surface pen directly from the phone.

View at Microsoft

Surface Duo 2 Holster Case

Safe and secure

This is more like a purse for the phone as it doesn't wrap around the device itself for protection. It's safe to carry the phone in this but you've got to be careful while using the phone.

View at Amazon

Unfortunately, those are all the options that are available if you’re looking for a case for your Surface Duo 2. Given that the phone is still relatively new and has a unique form factor, renowned case-makers haven’t launched any cases as of yet. This may or may not change in the future but if it does, we’ll make sure to update this list. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for some basic protection for your Surface Duo 2 and also want to add a touch of flair to the way it looks, you can grab a skin of your choice.

dbrand Skin

If you're looking for some basic protection against scratches and want to customize the look of your device, a skin from dbrand is a great way to go about it.

View at dbrand

While a skin like this may not provide as much protection as a case, it can still prevent scratches and can improve the grip of the device when you’re holding and using it. You can also customize it to look the way you want it to which is a bonus! If you’re worried about the display, you can even pick up a screen protector to go with a case or a skin for added protection.

Surface Duo 2 screen protector

You can get a tempered glass screen protector to add an extra layer of protection for the displays.

View at Amazon

If you’re looking to purchase the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, you can check out the best deals along with the best chargers and best pens for the Surface Duo 2. You can even read our Surface Duo 2 review to get a better idea about the phone before you buy it.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2

The Surface Duo 2 is the latest foldable from Microsoft that comes with some much-needed improvements like updated internals and a dedicated camera module.

View at Amazon

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Stadia for Android prepares multiple new features including a search feature and stream spectating

Google Stadia for Android is preparing to add multiple new features, including a revamped search bar, stream spectating, a toggle to turn off suggested replies, and more.

Google’s Stadia has every reason to be doing well, but its biggest problems may be out of its control

Stadia version 3.44 recently rolled out on the Google Play Store and spills the beans (via 9to5Google) on multiple new features that Google is currently working on. The first is an advanced search feature. Currently, the Stadia app offers an experimental “Filter Search” feature that adds a text filter bar to let you quickly search through lists. However, it’s quite limited in terms of functionality. It looks like the app will finally get a proper search function similar to the web version of Stadia. Based on the evidence uncovered by 9to5Google within the Stadia APK, it appears the advanced search bar will let users search the Stadia store, games, add-ons, bundles, and also provide autocomplete suggestions when you begin a search query. It will likely appear at the top alongside the controller, friends, and profile buttons.

9to5Google also found hints of a feature that may allow users to watch livestreams. The feature seems to be quite early in development and there’s not enough info about exactly what it will offer. Finally, it appears that Google is working on adding a new toggle within Stadia’s Privacy options that would allow users to disable the suggested replies. When you’re texting your friends or teammates on Stadia, the Stadia app sometimes provides suggested replies above the text box. These context-based replies are generated based on your conversation history and most recent messages. If you’re not okay with sending your chats to Google’s servers, this upcoming toggle will let you easily opt-out of the feature.

None of the above features are currently live in the Stadia app. We don’t know when Google plans to roll them out to all users. We’ll keep an eye on any further developments and we’ll let you know as soon as we have more details.

Stadia (Free, Google Play) →

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