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.

The post The Montblanc Summit Lite could be a more affordable smartwatch from the luxury brand appeared first on xda-developers.

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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.

The post The Montblanc Summit Lite could be a more affordable smartwatch from the luxury brand appeared first on xda-developers.

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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

The post Google Camera 8.1 brings the newer UI and cinematic pan to some older Pixel phones appeared first on xda-developers.

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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.

---

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.

---

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.

The post [Update 2: More relief] USA bans WeChat and TikTok from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store appeared first on xda-developers.

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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

The post Google Camera 8.1 brings the newer UI and cinematic pan to some older Pixel phones appeared first on xda-developers.

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via IFTTT

[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.

---

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.

---

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.

The post [Update 2: More relief] USA bans WeChat and TikTok from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store appeared first on xda-developers.

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Philips Hue loses its Nest integration next week, and Google Home still isn’t ready

Philips Hue is undoubtedly the market leader when it comes to smart lighting, but it’s about to lose its compatibility with the outgoing Works With Nest protocol, as soon as next week. It’s been over a year since Google first announced it would be sunsetting the Nest app and closing Works with Nest, in favour of the Google Home ecosystem. From the outset, it has been handled badly, with users forced to choose between their existing integrations, or migrate their account to Google Home, which wasn’t, and indeed isn’t, ready to replace it. If you’re not familiar, a good example is the fact that Nest Protect devices still don’t work with Google Home properly, though Google has said that this is imminent (better late than never, eh), and some users are finally seeing devices showing up in their dashboard.

Meanwhile, Phillips has had integrations with both Nest and Google Home since day one and has preserved the latter for those that aren’t ready to migrate to an incomplete alternative. The company has posted an announcement on its blog, explaining:

Google is transitioning its ‘Works with Nest’ programme to the ‘Works with Hey Google’ programme. Related to this, Philips Hue integration with Nest Thermostat, Nest Cam and Nest Protect will be discontinued from November 17, 2020.

This will only be temporary, as Google is building existing Works with Nest features into the Google Home app. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

The use of the phrase “only temporary” doesn’t bring much optimism, given that, as discussed, these things have been “only temporary” since May 2019. Although Google is finally moving forward with the type of functionality that Nest had, such as Home/Away routines, at present, many of the interactions between Hue and Nest, such as being able to flash the lights if smoke is detected, will be lost, and there’s no way of knowing if the Google Home API will ever be updated enough for full feature parity – there’s currently no logic engine (ie  IF/THEN/AND/OR/ELSE routines). In the short-to-medium term, therefore, the only option is to migrate your Phillips Hue bulbs over to Google Home and keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime, you can recreate some of those lost routines with an ancillary service like IFTTT, Home Assistant or an open-source Smart Home hub such as Homey. The sad fact is that we shouldn’t be surprised. Google’s track record of launching services that aren’t ready at the expense of ones that were is stellar – Google Play Music, Google Reader, Google Hangouts are just three examples, and with so much to do in order to bring Google Home into line with its competitors, it’s all another case of history repeating. Nest Pas?

The post Philips Hue loses its Nest integration next week, and Google Home still isn’t ready appeared first on xda-developers.

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