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mardi 16 juin 2020

LG Velvet goes on sale in Italy for €649 with pre-order benefits of up to €400

The LG Velvet was announced last month with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC and stylus support. This phone is significant because it marks a shift for LG, turning around the focus from the spec sheet to the design and greater general availability of the phone. The idea with the LG Velvet is to bring a good experience to a greater number of people, a strategy that makes sense seeing how 5G has made flagships very expensive this year. LG recently announced wider availability for the device, indicating that the phone is coming to more international markets. Today, the LG Velvet has launched in Italy, coming in at a price of €649, giving us the first pricing information for the product.

LG Velvet XDA Forums

Specification LG Velvet
Dimensions and Weight
  • 167.2 x 74.1 x 7.9 mm
  • 180g
Display
  • 6.8” POLED display
  • 20.5:9 2460×1080 FHD+
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM and Storage
  • 6GB LPDDR4X + 128GB UFS 2.1
  • 8GB + 128GB
  • Expandable using microSD card slot
Battery & Charging
  • 4,300mAh
  • Fast wired charging up to 25W
  • Fast wireless charging support up to 9W
Rear Camera
  • Primary: 48MP
  • Secondary: 8MP Ultra Wide-Angle Camera
  • Tertiary: 5MP Depth Sensor
Front Camera 16MP
Other Features
  • 3.5mm headphone jack
  • Wacom stylus support with 4096 pressure levels
  • Support LG Dual Display
  • USB Type-C
  • In-display fingerprint scanner
  • IP68 water resistance
Android Version Android 10 with LG’s custom UI on top

As mentioned, the LG Velvet is available for pre-order in Italy for a price of €649. If you are pre-ordering between June 15 to June 30, LG Italy will offer you the LG Dual Screen accessory, the LG Tone Free earbuds, and a silicon clear case (claimed combined value over €400) for free.

Download the LG Velvet wallpapers in Full HD (2460×1080)

In addition to South Korea and Italy, the LG Velvet will also be coming to Germany, Spain, Hungary, and Poland in June. North America, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America will get it “in the weeks ahead”. You can expect pricing to be in line with the pricing in Italy.

The post LG Velvet goes on sale in Italy for €649 with pre-order benefits of up to €400 appeared first on xda-developers.



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OPPO launches the A52 and A72 mid-range smartphones in Germany for under €250

OPPO launched the Find X2 series in Germany late last month, a couple of months after the devices were first unveiled globally. As part of the series, OPPO launched the flagship Find X2 Pro in the country, along with the new Find X2 Neo and Find X2 Lite. Now, the company has added two more devices to its portfolio in the country — the OPPO A52 and OPPO A72.

The new mid-range devices from OPPO were first spotted online earlier this year in April when German tech blog Winfuture shared leaked renders of the devices along with a few key specifications. OPPO has now listed the A52 and A72 on its website in Germany and the devices are available for purchase on German eCommerce platform OTTO for €199 (~$225) and €249 (~$282), respectively.

OPPO A52 and OPPO A72: Specifications

Specifications OPPO A52 OPPO A72
Dimensions & Weight
  • 162 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm
  • 182g
  • 162 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm
  • 192g
Display
  • 6.5″ TFT LCD
  • FHD+, 2400 x 1080 pixels
  • 6.5″ TFT LCD
  • FHD+, 2400 x 1080 pixels
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

Adreno 610

 Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

Adreno 610

RAM 4GB 4GB
Storage 64GB 128GB
Battery & Charging
  • 5,000 mAh
  • 18W wired fast charging
  • 5,000 mAh
  • 18W wired fast charging
Rear Camera
  • Primary: 12MP, f/1.7
  • Secondary: 8MP, wide-angle, f/2.2
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Quarternary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Primary: 48MP, f/1.7
  • Secondary: 8MP, wide-angle, f/2.2
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Quarternary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Front Camera 16MP, f/2.0 16MP, f/2.0
Other Features
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C
Android Version ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10 ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10
Colors
  • Twilight Black
  • Stream White
  • Twilight Black
  • Aurora Purple

The devices look identical, with an L-shaped quad-camera module on the back and a 6.5-inch LCD display over on the front with a single hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. In terms of hardware as well, the devices are nearly identical and are powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 665 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM.

OPPO A52

The only hardware differences can be found in the camera department and storage capacity. The cheaper OPPO A52 offers 64GB of storage and packs in a 12MP primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and two 2MP sensors for portrait photography. On the other hand, the OPPO A72 offers 128GB of storage and packs in a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and two 2MP sensors for portrait photography.

OPPO A72

Both the devices feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and support for Bluetooth 5.0. The devices are powered by 5,000mAh batteries which include support for 18W fast charging. In terms of software, the devices run OPPO’s ColorOS 7.1 skin based on Android 10.

Pricing and Availability

As mentioned earlier, the OPPO A52 and A72 are already available for purchase on German eCommerce platform OTTO. The OPPO A52 is priced at €199 (~$225) and it’s available in two color variants — Twilight Black and Stream White. The OPPO A72 is also available in two color variants — Twilight Black and Aurora Purple — and it’s priced at €249 (~$282).

The post OPPO launches the A52 and A72 mid-range smartphones in Germany for under €250 appeared first on xda-developers.



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OPPO launches the A52 and A72 mid-range smartphones in Germany for under €250

OPPO launched the Find X2 series in Germany late last month, a couple of months after the devices were first unveiled globally. As part of the series, OPPO launched the flagship Find X2 Pro in the country, along with the new Find X2 Neo and Find X2 Lite. Now, the company has added two more devices to its portfolio in the country — the OPPO A52 and OPPO A72.

The new mid-range devices from OPPO were first spotted online earlier this year in April when German tech blog Winfuture shared leaked renders of the devices along with a few key specifications. OPPO has now listed the A52 and A72 on its website in Germany and the devices are available for purchase on German eCommerce platform OTTO for €199 (~$225) and €249 (~$282), respectively.

OPPO A52 and OPPO A72: Specifications

Specifications OPPO A52 OPPO A72
Dimensions & Weight
  • 162 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm
  • 182g
  • 162 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm
  • 192g
Display
  • 6.5″ TFT LCD
  • FHD+, 2400 x 1080 pixels
  • 6.5″ TFT LCD
  • FHD+, 2400 x 1080 pixels
SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

Adreno 610

 Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

Adreno 610

RAM 4GB 4GB
Storage 64GB 128GB
Battery & Charging
  • 5,000 mAh
  • 18W wired fast charging
  • 5,000 mAh
  • 18W wired fast charging
Rear Camera
  • Primary: 12MP, f/1.7
  • Secondary: 8MP, wide-angle, f/2.2
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Quarternary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Primary: 48MP, f/1.7
  • Secondary: 8MP, wide-angle, f/2.2
  • Tertiary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
  • Quarternary: 2MP depth sensor, f/2.4
Front Camera 16MP, f/2.0 16MP, f/2.0
Other Features
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C
  • Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • USB Type-C
Android Version ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10 ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10
Colors
  • Twilight Black
  • Stream White
  • Twilight Black
  • Aurora Purple

The devices look identical, with an L-shaped quad-camera module on the back and a 6.5-inch LCD display over on the front with a single hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. In terms of hardware as well, the devices are nearly identical and are powered by Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 665 SoC, coupled with 4GB of RAM.

OPPO A52

The only hardware differences can be found in the camera department and storage capacity. The cheaper OPPO A52 offers 64GB of storage and packs in a 12MP primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and two 2MP sensors for portrait photography. On the other hand, the OPPO A72 offers 128GB of storage and packs in a 48MP primary camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and two 2MP sensors for portrait photography.

OPPO A72

Both the devices feature a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a USB Type-C port for charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and support for Bluetooth 5.0. The devices are powered by 5,000mAh batteries which include support for 18W fast charging. In terms of software, the devices run OPPO’s ColorOS 7.1 skin based on Android 10.

Pricing and Availability

As mentioned earlier, the OPPO A52 and A72 are already available for purchase on German eCommerce platform OTTO. The OPPO A52 is priced at €199 (~$225) and it’s available in two color variants — Twilight Black and Stream White. The OPPO A72 is also available in two color variants — Twilight Black and Aurora Purple — and it’s priced at €249 (~$282).

The post OPPO launches the A52 and A72 mid-range smartphones in Germany for under €250 appeared first on xda-developers.



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The Google Maps Platform is now open for game developers to make Pokémon GO-like experiences

In order to help more game developers create Pokémon Go-like experiences, Google opened up its real-time Google Maps data and released a Unity Software Development Kit (SDK) for a limited group of game studies back in 2018. The studios have since released ten games built on the Google Maps Platform, which are played by more than 11 million players each month. The number of immersive real-world games on the Google Play Store is likely to shoot up soon, as Google has now opened the Google Maps Platform to all mobile game developers.

According to a recent blog post from the company, any independent mobile game developer can now get access to the Semantic Tile API and Playable Locations API to build their location-based games. To do so, developers can follow this link to create a billing account, set up a Google Cloud Project, and then download the Maps SDK for Unity. Once the Maps SDK is downloaded, the two APIs will be automatically enabled, and developers can start building games by following the instruction in this quickstart documentation.

Since the initial launch, the company has added new features like Mixed Zoom and Pathfinding to the Google Maps Platform, which will allow developers to create better experiences for their players. The Mixed Zoom feature renders a high level of detail for areas close to a player, while areas further away display progressively lower levels of detail. In effect, this will help developers generate expansive maps that span thousands of meters while using less processing power. The Pathfinding feature, on the other hand, will enable developers to create more complex in-game characters.

Access to the Google Maps Platform will also allow developers to add a real-world mode to existing titles with new location-based in-game features. You can follow this link to learn more about the Google Maps Platform and how you can use it to create a unique immersive game or AR experience.


Source: Google Cloud blog

The post The Google Maps Platform is now open for game developers to make Pokémon GO-like experiences appeared first on xda-developers.



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[Update: It’s Back] HMD Global’s bootloader unlock server for the Nokia 8 has been down for days

Update 1 (06/16/2020 @ 04:52 AM ET): HMD Global has brought back the bootloader unlocking support for the Nokia 8. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on March 23, 2020, is preserved below.

HMD Global wasn’t the fastest to jump onto the 5G bandwagon, but they did bring the first Android One smartphone with global 5G support. The company has a clear Android 10 update roadmap for its users, and they are not shy to explore the possibility of running a touchless version of Android on feature phones. However, the brand hasn’t caught on among a segment of power users due to its controversial bootloader unlock policy. HMD Global took a long time to set up an official method to unlock the bootloader – and it only did so for the Nokia 8 – but it seems that they have now pulled the plug.

Nokia 8 XDA Forums

According to recent user reports from our own forums as well as on Reddit, the unlocker app recently started to fail to communicate with the token generator server. This is different from the error you could get by running the same app on Android Pie, which can be solved by downgrading the firmware to a specific Android Oreo build. HMD Global might have closed down the server altogether, thus the popular NB1-Collision bootloader unlock method, created by XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx, for first-generation Nokia phones is now non-functional as well.

nokia_8_bootloader_unlock_network_error

It is worth mentioning that HMD Global unintentionally shipped an unlockable bootloader inside the initial factory firmware for the Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 7.2. The community also discovered a few loopholes to bypass roadblocks and unlock the bootloader of select Nokia phones, such as the Nokia 3.2 and Nokia 4.2, but the complexity involved and stability issues of those methods were enough to prevent the modding community from picking up those phones for tinkering. Now that HMD Global’s official unlock server went offline, there is virtually no hope left for Nokia power users.

The existing unlock token received via email can theoretically be reused by Nokia 8 owners in the future, which is the only silver lining to this news. This is not the first time an Android OEM has abruptly stopped giving out the bootloader unlock codes or unnecessarily complicated the unlocking mechanism, and it is no good for aftermarket development.

Thanks to XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx for the screenshot (via Twitter)!


HMD Global brings back bootloader unlocking for the Nokia 8

In a surprising move, HMD Global has brought back bootloader unlocking for the Nokia 8. And even better, the method has also been simplified. Users no longer need the unlocker app. Instead, they need to just input relevant details on the website and receive the unlock token on their email.

Keep in mind that this remains restricted to the Nokia 8, for now. Nonetheless, it is good news for the owners who are looking to unlock the bootloader on their phones.

The post [Update: It’s Back] HMD Global’s bootloader unlock server for the Nokia 8 has been down for days appeared first on xda-developers.



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via IFTTT

The Google Maps Platform is now open for game developers to make Pokémon GO-like experiences

In order to help more game developers create Pokémon Go-like experiences, Google opened up its real-time Google Maps data and released a Unity Software Development Kit (SDK) for a limited group of game studies back in 2018. The studios have since released ten games built on the Google Maps Platform, which are played by more than 11 million players each month. The number of immersive real-world games on the Google Play Store is likely to shoot up soon, as Google has now opened the Google Maps Platform to all mobile game developers.

According to a recent blog post from the company, any independent mobile game developer can now get access to the Semantic Tile API and Playable Locations API to build their location-based games. To do so, developers can follow this link to create a billing account, set up a Google Cloud Project, and then download the Maps SDK for Unity. Once the Maps SDK is downloaded, the two APIs will be automatically enabled, and developers can start building games by following the instruction in this quickstart documentation.

Since the initial launch, the company has added new features like Mixed Zoom and Pathfinding to the Google Maps Platform, which will allow developers to create better experiences for their players. The Mixed Zoom feature renders a high level of detail for areas close to a player, while areas further away display progressively lower levels of detail. In effect, this will help developers generate expansive maps that span thousands of meters while using less processing power. The Pathfinding feature, on the other hand, will enable developers to create more complex in-game characters.

Access to the Google Maps Platform will also allow developers to add a real-world mode to existing titles with new location-based in-game features. You can follow this link to learn more about the Google Maps Platform and how you can use it to create a unique immersive game or AR experience.


Source: Google Cloud blog

The post The Google Maps Platform is now open for game developers to make Pokémon GO-like experiences appeared first on xda-developers.



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[Update: It’s Back] HMD Global’s bootloader unlock server for the Nokia 8 has been down for days

Update 1 (06/16/2020 @ 04:52 AM ET): HMD Global has brought back the bootloader unlocking support for the Nokia 8. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The article as published on March 23, 2020, is preserved below.

HMD Global wasn’t the fastest to jump onto the 5G bandwagon, but they did bring the first Android One smartphone with global 5G support. The company has a clear Android 10 update roadmap for its users, and they are not shy to explore the possibility of running a touchless version of Android on feature phones. However, the brand hasn’t caught on among a segment of power users due to its controversial bootloader unlock policy. HMD Global took a long time to set up an official method to unlock the bootloader – and it only did so for the Nokia 8 – but it seems that they have now pulled the plug.

Nokia 8 XDA Forums

According to recent user reports from our own forums as well as on Reddit, the unlocker app recently started to fail to communicate with the token generator server. This is different from the error you could get by running the same app on Android Pie, which can be solved by downgrading the firmware to a specific Android Oreo build. HMD Global might have closed down the server altogether, thus the popular NB1-Collision bootloader unlock method, created by XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx, for first-generation Nokia phones is now non-functional as well.

nokia_8_bootloader_unlock_network_error

It is worth mentioning that HMD Global unintentionally shipped an unlockable bootloader inside the initial factory firmware for the Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 7.2. The community also discovered a few loopholes to bypass roadblocks and unlock the bootloader of select Nokia phones, such as the Nokia 3.2 and Nokia 4.2, but the complexity involved and stability issues of those methods were enough to prevent the modding community from picking up those phones for tinkering. Now that HMD Global’s official unlock server went offline, there is virtually no hope left for Nokia power users.

The existing unlock token received via email can theoretically be reused by Nokia 8 owners in the future, which is the only silver lining to this news. This is not the first time an Android OEM has abruptly stopped giving out the bootloader unlock codes or unnecessarily complicated the unlocking mechanism, and it is no good for aftermarket development.

Thanks to XDA Senior Member hikari_calyx for the screenshot (via Twitter)!


HMD Global brings back bootloader unlocking for the Nokia 8

In a surprising move, HMD Global has brought back bootloader unlocking for the Nokia 8. And even better, the method has also been simplified. Users no longer need the unlocker app. Instead, they need to just input relevant details on the website and receive the unlock token on their email.

Keep in mind that this remains restricted to the Nokia 8, for now. Nonetheless, it is good news for the owners who are looking to unlock the bootloader on their phones.

The post [Update: It’s Back] HMD Global’s bootloader unlock server for the Nokia 8 has been down for days appeared first on xda-developers.



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