Smartphone Users Consumed 25% More WiFi and Mobile Data in 2017

For many folks, smartphones have replaced laptops and tablets as the go-to media consumption device. That isn't terribly surprising — it's easier than ever to watch content on the go — and stats show that people have warmed to the idea of using mobile data for streaming videos, music, and games. According to a report from research firm NPD, smartphone users in the US consumed 25 percent more data on their mobile devices in 2017 than in 2016.

The average monthly data usage per person climbed to 31.4GB this year, according to the report, up from 25.2GB last year. Of the total amount of data smartphone users consumed this year, 83 percent was video content. And in the third quarter of 2017 (April to June), 67 percent of smartphone users said they accessed video content via an app on their phones at least once a month, up from 57 percent from the second quarter of 2017 (January to March).

NDP attributes the upward trend to new unlimited data plans from carriers including Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. According to the report, unlimited plan subscribers used 67 percent more data than their limited counterparts. Unsurprisingly, subscribers with capped plans used eight percent more Wi-Fi data than their unlimited plan counterparts overall, and a whopping 18 percent more in October 2017. (Interestingly, NDP found that Android users tend to use more Wi-Fi data than iOS users.)

What do you use your data for? Do you stream media on your mobile data, or do you prefer to do it at home?

---

Source: NPD Via:
Axios

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2EsuaoX
via IFTTT

Xiaomi Mi A1 Android Oreo Update Now Officially Rolling Out

The Mi A1 is different from other Xiaomi devices, because of the fact that it is Xiaomi's first Android One smartphone. It was also one of the first Android One devices to feature mid-range specifications, instead of being an entry-level device. Launched in September, the Xiaomi Mi A1 has decent hardware for its price: the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 system-on-chip, 4GB of RAM paired with 64GB of storage, a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, dual 12MP+12MP rear cameras, and a 3080mAh battery.

The highlight of the device is its software: it's powered by nearly stock Android 7.1 Nougat with a few additions such as the MIUI camera app. At launch, Xiaomi promised that the Oreo update would be released before the end of the year, and started looking for beta testers at the start of December. The beta update started rolling-out a week later, and it was found that it contained fast charging support (which was tested with the OnePlus Dash Charger).

We're ending the year with an O! #MiA1 users, stay tuned as we're rolling out your long-awaited update in batches but make sure you're already on the latest December update (7.12.19) to receive Android O! http://pic.twitter.com/GhRtDnyJn4

— Mi (@xiaomi) December 31, 2017

Now, Xiaomi has finally fulfilled its promise, as the Android 8.0 Oreo update has started rolling-out to the Mi A1. The update is 1107MB in download size, and brings the December 1, 2017 security patch (and not the January 1, 2018 patch which some beta testers were receiving). It also has standard Oreo features such as picture-in-picture mode, smart text selection, adaptive icons, notification dots, and others.

For now, it's unknown whether the final stable build retains the fast charging support which was found in the beta build earlier. Xiaomi mentions that in order to install the update, users will need to be on the latest December update (7.12.19). Also, the update is currently being rolled-out in batches, so all users won't receive the update notification at the same time. The roll-out will be completed in the near future.

This is welcome news for stock Android enthusiasts, although it's worth noting that kernel sources for the device still haven't been released. Regardless, the update increases the value of the device, which we found to be a pretty good investment already.

---

Source: MIUI Forums

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2CxuXoi
via IFTTT

OnePlus 3/3T Owners on OxygenOS 5.0.1 are being warned by Play Protect to uninstall “FactoryMode”

The Android Oreo update for the OnePlus 3 & 3T started to roll out last month in the form of OxygenOS 5.0. Today, the company announced the broad availability of OxygenOS 5.0.1 which adds a support for Qualcomm's aptX HD Bluetooth audio codec, a new Adaptive screen calibration mode, December security patches, and more. Since the update started to roll out, numerous users have been greeted with a message from Google Play Protect telling them uninstall a "harmful app" called "FactoryMode."

Numerous reports from users over on the OnePlus forums and on Reddit show that this message seems to be widespread. The message states that the FactoryMode app "contains code that attempts to bypass Android's security protections." This is a rather vague message, but sounds pretty concerning nonetheless. So what's going on?

Play Protect Warning Users to Uninstall FactoryMode. Credits: /u/speedlever

Apparently, the FactoryMode application replaces what was previously EngineerMode, the pre-installed system app that was exploited to gain root access. OnePlus ultimately removed the root methods which were only accessible to a user with physical access to a device and ADB enabled, and they also chose to remove EngineerMode and rebrand it as FactoryMode.

For whatever reason, Google Play Protect has determined that there is some code within the FactoryMode app that is potentially harmful to security. Google Play Protect works by scanning the code of apps and looking for fingerprints that match a known collection of harmful code. It's not perfect by any means, but the database is ever growing and totally inaccessible from users so as to hide what Google is able to detect.

As such, Play Protect does not specify what code in an app is deemed harmful. Apps such as Viper4Android have triggered this message due to functionality related to changing the SELinux status to permissive. It's possible that the FactoryMode app contains something similar which is used by OnePlus for diagnostics. Keep in mind that the FactoryMode app is a pre-installed system application, so it already has more privileges than a standard Android app.

For now, you can ignore the request from Play Protect to uninstall FactoryMode because it's unlikely there's anything that is actually harmful to the user in there. However, this does still lead us to question why Play Protect is flagging FactoryMode as a harmful application in the first place, and we hope that OnePlus will have an answer on that matter in the near future. We've reached out to OnePlus for comment and will update this article when we have received a response.

---

Uninstall FactoryMode

If you want to uninstall the application, then you can enter the following ADB commands (taken from our guide on uninstalling system bloatware) in order to get rid of it:

  adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.oneplus.factorymode    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.oneplus.factorymode.specialtest  

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2lrRHP6
via IFTTT

Hands-On Overview of Android Oreo-based OmniROM on the OnePlus 5T

One disappointing aspect of the OnePlus 5T was that it shipped with Android Nougat instead of Oreo. (Even the Oreo beta the company pushed Friday is only 8.0.) But if you're interested in getting Android 8.1 on your 5T and you don't mind going the custom ROM route, there are several options available in our forums. One I spent time with recently was the first one published in our subforum, OmniROM.

---

OmniROM Features

In addition to standard Android 8.1 goodies like the redesigned power menu, fading navbar buttons, and inverted navbar backgrounds, OmniROM offers a plethora of custom features such as advanced reboot, dual-column settings, dynamic notification drawer headers, and OmniSwitch (just to name a few). Below is a screenshot gallery showcasing a sampling of these features, along with a small description of them.

Check out the hands-on video by Miles Somerville, my colleague, for more:

My favorite feature of OnePlus 5T custom ROMs is the ability to apply system themes via OMS, which became a lot easier with the advent of Android 8.0. In the case of OmniROM, I use Substratum to apply my themes — you can see screenshots with the Valerie Substratum theme applied below.

---

Taking Pictures While Running OmniROM

One of the biggest caveats of custom ROMs on all devices (but particularly OnePlus devices) is that you usually can't take advantage of the camera app and enhanced post-processing from the device's stock ROM, since it requires dependencies coded into the OEM firmware. The OnePlus 5T is no exception, which means the quality of the pictures you take are often inferior to those captured with the stock camera app.

To measure the severity of the problem on OmniROM, I compared several pictures taken in daytime and in low-light conditions using my first-generation Pixel XL (using the Google Camera application with HDR+ activated) to  (1) the stock OmniROM camera app in HDR mode on my 5T, and (2) a Google Camera port with HDR+ activated. You can see the three-way comparison in daylight conditions here and in low-light conditions here. I highly recommend using the Google Camera port — pictures taken with it rival those taken from the Pixel XL in quality. The stock OmniROM camera app is no slouch in daylight, but there was a noticeable drop-off in quality under low-light environments.

---

Conclusion

While the number of Android Oreo-based ROMs for the OnePlus 5T has grown substantially in recent weeks, OmniROM has some unique features that you might come to prefer. If you're looking for a no-frills, easy-to-configure ROM that won't bog down your phone with bloatware, look no further.

Eager to flash it on your OnePlus 5T? Check out the official XDA Forums thread, where you'll find step-by-step instructions on how to install it.

---

Source: OmniRom 8.0/8.1 [OP5T]

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2ChYoh7
via IFTTT

Get Google Pixel 2’s Portrait Mode on the Pixel, Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P

The camera on the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL is seen as one of the best smartphone cameras this year. Google put a lot of thought into how to tweak their camera software, and it really shows. Google Camera and its HDR+ algorithm is highly sought after, prompting some developers to go as far as porting it to other devices. Other Pixel 2 camera features such as Motion Photos and Face Retouching have also been ported to some devices, and now, the most popular camera feature, Portrait Mode, is now available on the first generation Google Pixel & Pixel XL, Google Nexus 5X, and Nexus 6P.

This development is thanks to XDA Senior Member Charles_l who publishes Google Camera mods on his website Chromloop. His previous mods have brought features such as Zero Shutter Lag (ZSL) with HDR+, 60FPS video recording at high resolutions, and the aforementioned Motion Photos and Face Retouching features. His camera modifications have also brought the new Stranger Things and Star Wars AR Stickers to the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P without requiring any extra files, and now he has worked his magic to bring us Portrait Mode to the Nexus devices.

After announcing his success on our forums, he has made his modification available for everyone to install. His Google Camera mod, called Camera NX, is now at version 7.3 and is available over on his website Chromloop. He explains how he was able to achieve this modification over on his website, but the actual implementation is probably more complex than his short description lets on. Still, we're sure that most of you are interested in the final product given the incredible shots that Portrait Mode can create.

Portrait Mode on the Google Pixel 2. Source: Google

If that describes you, then you can go ahead and grab the latest update to Camera NX and get Portrait Mode on your Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Nexus 5X, or Google Nexus 6P right now!

Download Camera NX v7.3 with Portrait Mode

You can also enable the ARCore mod and get the ARStickers by installing the following files provided by Chromloop.

Download AR Core Mod for Nexus 5X & Nexus 6P

Download AR Sticker Mod for Nexus 5X & Nexus 6P

Source: Chromloop 

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2lsGGgh
via IFTTT

Canceled Lumia Device Shown Off in Video with Pen Input

Currently, the mobile operating system market resembles a duopoly, with Google's Android and Apple's iOS in a league of their own. It wasn't always this way, though. Smartphone enthusiasts will remember that at one time, Nokia's Symbian was the most widely used mobile operating system in the world. Symbian couldn't compete in the touchscreen era, but for a time, Microsoft's Windows Phone looked to be a credible competitor to Android and iOS.

Microsoft acquired Nokia's Devices and Services division in 2014, and Windows Phone was starting to succeed in the budget smartphone market in some countries. However, it all went downhill from there as Windows 10 Mobile — Windows Phone's successor — failed to take off in the market because of various reasons. In 2016, the company discontinued the Lumia smartphone lineup, and we haven't seen a new mobile device from Microsoft since then. It's worth noting, though, that rumors are abound regarding a new ARM-powered Surface device codenamed "Andromeda".

In the past, we've seen many phones leak after being canceled by Microsoft. Probably one of the most notable canceled smartphone leaks was the Nokia McLaren, which had 3D Touch functionality. Now, another prototype of a Windows Phone has shown up in a video, being used alongside the Lumia 950 XL and the Surface Pro 4.

The prototype was called the Lumia Hapanero, and the interesting thing to note is that it supports pen input via the Surface Pen. (It's also worth noting that Microsoft's "Andromeda" device is rumored to have note-taking capabilities.)

The Lumia Hapanero was supposed to be released at Build 2015. It had a Snapdragon 810 system-on-chip with 4GB of RAM. Microsoft was said to be testing two variants of the device: one with a Full HD display, the other with QHD resolution.

In the video, it's obvious that the Surface Pen doesn't work very well on the Lumia Hapanero, but it does indeed work. On the other hand, the Lumia 950 XL doesn't recognize any pen input. (The prototype versions of the Lumia 950 and 950 XL did support pen input, according to leaks.) Of course, the unfinished nature of pen input support doesn't matter as the device will obviously never be released in the market.

The prototype device is powered by an old version of Windows 10 Mobile. The unfortunate thing to note for Windows Mobile fans is that Microsoft has officially confirmed that Windows 10 Mobile won't receive any feature updates in the future.

Seeing the Lumia prototype in a video also reaffirms the "what could have been" question for Windows on mobile. Although it had a lot of potential, Microsoft failed to make the mobile platform competitive against its rivals. Here's hoping that the tech giant learns from its past mistakes to do better in the future.

---

Source: Windows Latest

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2CsilOZ
via IFTTT

Become a Certified Network Engineer with this 11-Course Cisco Training

Being cut off from the outside world would be a disaster for any business. That's why the average network engineer gets paid $88,000 every year to keep things running smoothly. This rewarding career is open to anyone, and certified experts can work anywhere in the world.

As with many jobs, putting a certificate on your resume can really improve your prospects. The Cisco Associate Certification Training Bundle helps you pass the internationally-recognized Cisco exams, with 11 courses and 153 separate modules for only $79. Plus, you can use the code BESTOF17 for an extra 17% off at checkout.

Cisco Systems is the world's leading maker of networking equipment, so it makes sense that most companies value certified Cisco engineers. This bundle takes you through to Associate level, the second tier of the Cisco program.

Through hands-on videos, you'll learn how to install, maintain and troubleshoot any small branch network. The introductory course also looks at WAN technology, routing and switching, and basic security concepts.

In later modules, you'll discover how to handle complex enterprise networks — including tele-presence products and digital media — and meet professional IT standards. These skills can take you around the world, and being CCNA-certified instantly puts you ahead of the competition.

Worth $7,853, this professional training is now 98% off at $79 — order now and catalyze your tech education.

from xda-developers http://ift.tt/2EmkuMI
via IFTTT