[Update: Support added for Galaxy S10] PlayGalaxy Link is now available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10

Update (11/05/19 @ 6:25 AM ET): The Samsung PlayGalaxy Link app is now available for the Galaxy S10 series too. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on September 11, 2019, is preserved as below.

During the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch, there was one feature that flew under the radar because of how packed the event was: PlayGalaxy Link. This feature lets you stream games from your computer to your phone. It’s a really great service, especially as we head into the era of 5G connectivity when apps need a lot of bandwidth and low latency.

PlayGalaxy Link Website || Parsec Game Streaming Website

PlayGalaxy Link is based off a service called Parsec. Samsung worked with Parsec to brand their technology into a Samsung exclusive. PlayGalaxy Link will connect to your Samsung account on both the phone and computer. It will find all the games installed on your computer and list them. You can then select which game you want to play on your phone using the PlayGalaxy Link app. The games will run over 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi connectivity. This is different than Steam Link which requires you to be on the same wireless network.

Samsung PlayGalaxy Link is only available on the Galaxy Note 10 series of phones right now, but it will likely be released for older devices in the coming months. If you want to use what is essentially the same app but on any smartphone, you can try Parsec instead. Back in November of last year, I made a video on this service. In the video, I showed you how to set it up with your gaming PC and stream to any phone. You can even rent out a cloud PC from one of a few providers if you don’t have a gaming PC to stream from.

Both of these services are actually really great for gamers. You can play PC quality games while you’re on your phone. They’re not hard to use either; they’re essentially plug-and-play.

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Update: PlayGalaxy Link available for the Samsung Galaxy S10 series

PlayGalaxy Link has been updated v1.0.5 Beta with support for all the phones in the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, namely the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy S10 5G.

Source: SamMobile

The post [Update: Support added for Galaxy S10] PlayGalaxy Link is now available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 appeared first on xda-developers.

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[Update: Support added for Galaxy S10] PlayGalaxy Link is now available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10

Update (11/05/19 @ 6:25 AM ET): The Samsung PlayGalaxy Link app is now available for the Galaxy S10 series too. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on September 11, 2019, is preserved as below.

During the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 launch, there was one feature that flew under the radar because of how packed the event was: PlayGalaxy Link. This feature lets you stream games from your computer to your phone. It’s a really great service, especially as we head into the era of 5G connectivity when apps need a lot of bandwidth and low latency.

PlayGalaxy Link Website || Parsec Game Streaming Website

PlayGalaxy Link is based off a service called Parsec. Samsung worked with Parsec to brand their technology into a Samsung exclusive. PlayGalaxy Link will connect to your Samsung account on both the phone and computer. It will find all the games installed on your computer and list them. You can then select which game you want to play on your phone using the PlayGalaxy Link app. The games will run over 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi connectivity. This is different than Steam Link which requires you to be on the same wireless network.

Samsung PlayGalaxy Link is only available on the Galaxy Note 10 series of phones right now, but it will likely be released for older devices in the coming months. If you want to use what is essentially the same app but on any smartphone, you can try Parsec instead. Back in November of last year, I made a video on this service. In the video, I showed you how to set it up with your gaming PC and stream to any phone. You can even rent out a cloud PC from one of a few providers if you don’t have a gaming PC to stream from.

Both of these services are actually really great for gamers. You can play PC quality games while you’re on your phone. They’re not hard to use either; they’re essentially plug-and-play.

---

Update: PlayGalaxy Link available for the Samsung Galaxy S10 series

PlayGalaxy Link has been updated v1.0.5 Beta with support for all the phones in the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, namely the Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S10e, and Galaxy S10 5G.

Source: SamMobile

The post [Update: Support added for Galaxy S10] PlayGalaxy Link is now available on the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 appeared first on xda-developers.

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Google will make file manager devs submit a form to get broad file storage access in Android 11

The Android 10 beta 2 released earlier this year revealed that Google was planning to limit the way apps can access your phone’s internal storage. For this purpose, Google introduced something called Scoped Storage. However, due to backlash from several developers, the company had to backtrack on its implementation. The company allowed apps that don’t yet target Android 10 to work as they used to and gave developers time until November 1st, 2020 to update their apps to target Android 10.

Apps that already target Android 10 by default can only see files in their app-specific directory. In order to access files that other apps have created, such as photos, images, videos, and audio, the apps still have to request the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but getting this permission now no longer gives access to the entire /data/media partition. Instead, they only see files in the well-defined locations provided by the MediaStore API. While this implementation works for apps that require access to media files, it doesn’t work for file manager apps.

File managers need broad access to the external storage in order to work and if they target Android 10, the only way to get broad file access is to use the Storage Access Framework (SAF) API. Even though SAF has been around since Android 5.0 Lollipop,  developers tend to not use it, as it has a difficult and poorly documented API, a poor user experience, poor performance, and poor reliability. Now, Google aims to address these issues with Android 11.

According to a recent talk titled “Preparing for Scoped Storage” presented by Googlers Roxanna Aliabadi, Zimuzo Ezeozue, and Yacine Rezgui, Google is planning on granting “special app access for select use cases.” As part of the talk, they mention that this “special app access” is only given to apps that prove a “clear need” for full access to shared storage, “submit a declaration form” to Google, and don’t access “external app directories”.

This means that file managers will have to ask Google for permission to access the external storage, much like how apps requesting SMS/Call Log permissions have to ask Google. Thus, there could be arbitrary enforcement issues, much like we’ve seen in the past with Google Play decision. Lastly, another potential issue is the fact that file managers will no longer have access to external app directories. Therefore, things like mods for games won’t work anymore.

---

Source: YouTube

Via: Reddit

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Google will make file manager devs submit a form to get broad file storage access in Android 11

The Android 10 beta 2 released earlier this year revealed that Google was planning to limit the way apps can access your phone’s internal storage. For this purpose, Google introduced something called Scoped Storage. However, due to backlash from several developers, the company had to backtrack on its implementation. The company allowed apps that don’t yet target Android 10 to work as they used to and gave developers time until November 1st, 2020 to update their apps to target Android 10.

Apps that already target Android 10 by default can only see files in their app-specific directory. In order to access files that other apps have created, such as photos, images, videos, and audio, the apps still have to request the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE permission, but getting this permission now no longer gives access to the entire /data/media partition. Instead, they only see files in the well-defined locations provided by the MediaStore API. While this implementation works for apps that require access to media files, it doesn’t work for file manager apps.

File managers need broad access to the external storage in order to work and if they target Android 10, the only way to get broad file access is to use the Storage Access Framework (SAF) API. Even though SAF has been around since Android 5.0 Lollipop,  developers tend to not use it, as it has a difficult and poorly documented API, a poor user experience, poor performance, and poor reliability. Now, Google aims to address these issues with Android 11.

According to a recent talk titled “Preparing for Scoped Storage” presented by Googlers Roxanna Aliabadi, Zimuzo Ezeozue, and Yacine Rezgui, Google is planning on granting “special app access for select use cases.” As part of the talk, they mention that this “special app access” is only given to apps that prove a “clear need” for full access to shared storage, “submit a declaration form” to Google, and don’t access “external app directories”.

This means that file managers will have to ask Google for permission to access the external storage, much like how apps requesting SMS/Call Log permissions have to ask Google. Thus, there could be arbitrary enforcement issues, much like we’ve seen in the past with Google Play decision. Lastly, another potential issue is the fact that file managers will no longer have access to external app directories. Therefore, things like mods for games won’t work anymore.

---

Source: YouTube

Via: Reddit

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Xiaomi Mi Watch is unapologetically inspired by the Apple Watch, but costs only $185

Xiaomi has been well-known for its fitness products, especially the Mi Band lineup. In the past, Xiaomi has depended on another Chinese company Huami – the maker of Amazfit smartwatches – for these Mi Bands. Today, alongside the launch of the Mi CC9 Pro and the Mi TV 5 Series, Xiaomi announced its first true smartwatch called the Mi Watch, which comes with LTE connectivity and looks like an unapologetic copy of early generations of the Apple Watch from the front. It also comes with a custom UI called MIUI for Watch based on Google’s Wear OS.

The Mi Watch features a 44mm square dial with a 1.78-inch AMOLED display. The display has a resolution of 410 x 410 pixels with a pixel density of 326dpi. The display is curved along all four edges and this should facilitate swiping inwards for navigation, though do note that the curved part is not touch-sensitive. The display is being claimed to have anti-glare properties.

The watch features a crown on the right side – the exact same position as the Apple Watch – alongside a button right below it and there’s a mic between the two. On the left, there’s a speaker chamber with another mic below it. The matte frame of the Mi Watch is made of an aluminum alloy and Xiaomi claims the surface makes it scratch resistant.

The Mi Watch comes with eSIM connectivity, allowing you to use LTE for music streaming and voice calls, even when you’re not carrying the smartphone with you. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 3100 platform for smart wearables. Besides LTE, the Mi Watch supports Wi-Fi for connectivity and NFC for tap-to-pay. Meanwhile, there’s Bluetooth for connecting headsets and GPS for using Maps.

The MIUI for Watch interface is based on Google’s Wear OS platform and is perhaps, the only instance of a skin on top of Wear OS. It designed to support the stripped-down version of common apps like Tasks, Notes, recorder, Mi Home, Maps, etc. We couldn’t interpret the details about developer support for the ecosystem due to the language barrier, though our best guess is that MIUI for Watch is an app launcher on top of Wear OS

The Mi Watch will support more than 100 different watch faces along with support for custom always-on-displays. The smartwatch has dedicated applets to control Mi Home appliances and other products like table lamps and air purifiers. Aside from this, the watch currently supports 40 popular apps like QQ Messenger, QQ Music, Keep for fitness tracking, flight information app Umetrip, and many others.

Xiaomi’s Mi Watch can detect up to ten different forms of physical activities like walking, running, swimming, up-hill running, treadmill, general workout with wights, etc. Besides continuous heart rate measuring, the watch can also display VO₂ max. The watch comes with a 570mAh battery which has been promised to last 36 hours with continuous LTE connectivity. Xiaomi claims the watch supports FIRSTBEAT, an algorithm certified by more than 1,000 European sports organizations for accurate and in-depth health data. Besides measuring fitness-related stats, the watch is also capable of detecting when you might have an elevated heart rate despite any physical activity and could be stressed out.

Xiaomi Mi Watch: Pricing

The Mi Watch from Xiaomi looks like the Apple Watch but costs way less. The regular version is priced at CNY 1,299 (~$185/₹13,110). It will be available starting November 11, 2019, for the Singles’ Day sale in China.

The Mi Watch also has an “Exclusive” variant that comes with a Saphhire Glass top, stainless steel bezels, and stainless steel chain strap. This will be available as a limited edition and will be priced at CNY 1,999 (~$285/₹20,170). The Exclusive edition will be available in mid-December in China.

We do not know if the Mi Watch will be making its way to India or other markets. Seeing how well Xiaomi’s Mi Band has done in India, we are banking on seeing the Mi Watch in India in 2020.

The post Xiaomi Mi Watch is unapologetically inspired by the Apple Watch, but costs only $185 appeared first on xda-developers.

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Xiaomi Mi Watch is unapologetically inspired by the Apple Watch, but costs only $185

Xiaomi has been well-known for its fitness products, especially the Mi Band lineup. In the past, Xiaomi has depended on another Chinese company Huami – the maker of Amazfit smartwatches – for these Mi Bands. Today, alongside the launch of the Mi CC9 Pro and the Mi TV 5 Series, Xiaomi announced its first true smartwatch called the Mi Watch, which comes with LTE connectivity and looks like an unapologetic copy of early generations of the Apple Watch from the front. It also comes with a custom UI called MIUI for Watch based on Google’s Wear OS.

The Mi Watch features a 44mm square dial with a 1.78-inch AMOLED display. The display has a resolution of 410 x 410 pixels with a pixel density of 326dpi. The display is curved along all four edges and this should facilitate swiping inwards for navigation, though do note that the curved part is not touch-sensitive. The display is being claimed to have anti-glare properties.

The watch features a crown on the right side – the exact same position as the Apple Watch – alongside a button right below it and there’s a mic between the two. On the left, there’s a speaker chamber with another mic below it. The matte frame of the Mi Watch is made of an aluminum alloy and Xiaomi claims the surface makes it scratch resistant.

The Mi Watch comes with eSIM connectivity, allowing you to use LTE for music streaming and voice calls, even when you’re not carrying the smartphone with you. It is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 3100 platform for smart wearables. Besides LTE, the Mi Watch supports Wi-Fi for connectivity and NFC for tap-to-pay. Meanwhile, there’s Bluetooth for connecting headsets and GPS for using Maps.

The MIUI for Watch interface is based on Google’s Wear OS platform and is perhaps, the only instance of a skin on top of Wear OS. It designed to support the stripped-down version of common apps like Tasks, Notes, recorder, Mi Home, Maps, etc. We couldn’t interpret the details about developer support for the ecosystem due to the language barrier, though our best guess is that MIUI for Watch is an app launcher on top of Wear OS

The Mi Watch will support more than 100 different watch faces along with support for custom always-on-displays. The smartwatch has dedicated applets to control Mi Home appliances and other products like table lamps and air purifiers. Aside from this, the watch currently supports 40 popular apps like QQ Messenger, QQ Music, Keep for fitness tracking, flight information app Umetrip, and many others.

Xiaomi’s Mi Watch can detect up to ten different forms of physical activities like walking, running, swimming, up-hill running, treadmill, general workout with wights, etc. Besides continuous heart rate measuring, the watch can also display VO₂ max. The watch comes with a 570mAh battery which has been promised to last 36 hours with continuous LTE connectivity. Xiaomi claims the watch supports FIRSTBEAT, an algorithm certified by more than 1,000 European sports organizations for accurate and in-depth health data. Besides measuring fitness-related stats, the watch is also capable of detecting when you might have an elevated heart rate despite any physical activity and could be stressed out.

Xiaomi Mi Watch: Pricing

The Mi Watch from Xiaomi looks like the Apple Watch but costs way less. The regular version is priced at CNY 1,299 (~$185/₹13,110). It will be available starting November 11, 2019, for the Singles’ Day sale in China.

The Mi Watch also has an “Exclusive” variant that comes with a Saphhire Glass top, stainless steel bezels, and stainless steel chain strap. This will be available as a limited edition and will be priced at CNY 1,999 (~$285/₹20,170). The Exclusive edition will be available in mid-December in China.

We do not know if the Mi Watch will be making its way to India or other markets. Seeing how well Xiaomi’s Mi Band has done in India, we are banking on seeing the Mi Watch in India in 2020.

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Xiaomi Mi TV 5 and Mi TV 5 Pro series launched in China with 55″, 65″, and 75″ models

Xiaomi is recognized as a smartphone brand in markets outside of Asia, but it has also helped users in markets like China and India reap the best value from general living room electronics and connected devices. Xiaomi’s line-up of LED TVs is incredibly popular in these markets for the high-value conversion they bear, and today, at the launch of the Mi CC9 Pro smartphone, they have also revealed six models for the new lineup of the new generation of Mi TVs, namely the Mi TV 5 and the Mi TV 5 Pro, including 55″, 65″, and 75″ models with 4K resolution.

Xiaomi’s new Mi TV 5 and the Mi TV 5 Pro variants score high on style quotient because of their ultra-slim profile and super small bezels. Evidently, the Pro series is relatively more powerful, attractive, and is even priced higher. The smallest of the Pro models i.e. the 55″ model has a thickness of only 5.9mm, which is even thinner than most premium smartphones. The 65″ and the 75″ models have 6.0mm and 9.9mm of thickness, respectively. The Pro models use a screwless frame carved out of a single sheet of aluminum. Likewise, the bezels on the 55″ model have been narrowed down to just 1.8mm (0.07″), which is negligible compared to the massive display.

The Mi TV 5 and the Mi TV 5 Pro are utilizing 4K LED-backlit panels with Quantum Dot technology, but the ones used on the Pro variant have superior color and dynamic range. The Mi TV 5 Pro’s 4K panel is certified for HDR10+ playback and support 108% of the NTSC color gamut. The standard ones only get support for 85% of the NTSC gamut and lack HDR10+ playback compatibility. The Mi TVs in both of these ranges can play 8K content over USB but just like the Redmi TV, they downscale the content to 4K by software decoding and support maximum playback of 24fps.

Xiaomi has deployed a 12nm Amlogic T972 chipset on the TVs. The previous generations of Mi TVs also use Amlogic chips with quad-core CPUs. While the Pro gets 4GB RAM and 64GB of inbuilt eMMC storage, the non-Pro gets 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. In terms of audio, both TVs support Dolby Audio and are tuned for DTS-HD lossless sound output.

The Mi TV 5 and the Mi TV 5 Pro come with four far-field microphones so that you can interact with Xiaomi’s XiaoAI voice assistant and control the ecosystem of Xiaomi’s IoT products like water or air purifiers from the TV itself. In terms of software, both the TV come with PatchWall UI. This should be replaced with Android TV software if and when Xiaomi launches this in other markets such as India.

Price and Availability

The Mi TV 5 and the Mi TV 5 Pro come in three sizes each i.e. 55″, 65″, and 75″. The prices for these models in China are:

Mi TV 5

• 55″ – CNY 2,999 ($428/₹30,260)
• 65″ – CNY 3,999 ($570/₹40,340)
• 75″ – CNY 7,999 ($1,140/₹80,700)

Mi TV 5 Pro

• 55″ – CNY 3,699 ($527/₹37,320)
• 65″ – CNY 4,999 ($713/₹50,430)
• 75″ – CNY 9,999 ($1,426/₹1,00,880)

Keep in mind that these are pricing for the Chinese region. It is currently unknown if Xiaomi will bring the TV over to other regions like India. Seeing how popular Xiaomi’s Mi TV 4 series has been in India, we wouldn’t be surprised if they do plan to bring it to India.

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