XDA

vendredi 5 février 2021

Skype’s background blur feature is finally making its way to Android

Microsoft is rolling out a new Insider build for Skype on Android, which brings a couple of new features to the app. These include an updated custom reaction picker that gives you access to more reactions, a background blur feature to help you hide your messy room during video calls, and more.

According to a recent report from Neowin, Microsoft has updated the custom reaction picker with the latest update, and it now lets users add even more types of reactions for quick access. The update also includes a new background blur feature that has been available on iOS for a couple of months. It works exactly like the background blur feature in Microsoft Teams, and it lets you blur out your background with a single tap.

Once the feature rolls out in the stable version of the app, you should see a new ‘Enable background blur’ toggle within the context menu during video calls. Tapping on the toggle will blur out your background automatically, keeping only you in focus. While Microsoft hasn’t revealed any information about the rollout at the moment, we believe that it should reach users in the coming weeks.

Along with the aforementioned features, the latest Insider build for Skype on Android includes a couple of bug fixes and improvements. Check out the changelog section below (via MSPoweruser) to learn more about all the changes included in the latest update.

Skype Insider build v8.68 changelog

Skype for Android, iPhone, and iPad
- React Hard 2: React Harder: We’ve upgraded your custom reaction picker, and you can now have more reactions right at your fingertips.
- Background redacted: Now you can blur your background in video calls on Skype for Android.
- Share away: We’ve made some improvements to the Share extension in Skype for iPhone and iPad, adding support for dark theme and improving performance.
- Bug fixes and stability improvements: We’ve disappeared some bugs and cleaned the place up a bit.
  - Virtual cameras on MacOS X are working again.
  - Missing sound in Voice Messages fixed.
  - Performance issues with the Emoji picker fixed.

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Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch next month

Popular battle royale game Apex Legends is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch next month. Based on the Titanfall franchise, Electronics Arts currently offers Apex Legends on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The company had announced plans of releasing the game on the Nintendo Switch late last year. However, after a bunch of delays, we finally have a release date as announced by the company via a blog post.

“Today, I’m proud to come to you with some good news. Apex Legends is coming to Nintendo Switch on March 9th, 2021,” said Chad Grenier, Game Director at Apex Legends. Compared to all platforms, the Nintendo Switch has a smaller display with a 720p resolution, and as per EA, porting the game has apparently been a ‘major achievement.’ The game developer has worked with Panic Button for the Switch port and says that players can expect a full-featured Apex Legends experience on the go. The best part is that EA has not only managed to port Apex Legends to the Switch, but it will also support cross-platform play. This means that players on all platforms can play with each other.

Just a few days back, Apex Legends saw the arrival of its new Season 8 with a brand new legend and character, Fuse. The new season also brings back King’s Canyon in a new avatar, a new weapon, and a bunch of new skins and other cosmetic additions. The Nintendo Switch port was expected to arrive on the same date as the new season, however, players will now have to wait for another month. To make up for the delay, Switch players will be offered 30 free levels for their Season 8 Battle Pass, and for the first two weeks after launch, playing on Switch will also earn you double XP.

Notably, EA has not confirmed if the game will be free to play as it is on the existing platforms. Recently there was a certain leak from Amazon Japan that suggested the Champion Edition of the game would cost around ¥5,641 ($54). Additionally, an Apex Legends themed Switch Pro controller has also been spotted, which is expected to hype up the launch of the game on the portable console.

Apex Legends Switch Pro controller

The best Nintendo Switch Controllers: Hori, 8bitdo, PowerA, and More!

Apex Legends is also expected to arrive on Android and iOS as EA is working with a partner in China to develop the mobile version of its popular battle royale game. While there is no concrete timeline for the launch, we last heard that we can expect the game to make its way to mobile phones, not before 2022.

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Apex Legends is coming to the Nintendo Switch next month

Apex Legends Switch Pro controller

The best Nintendo Switch Controllers: Hori, 8bitdo, PowerA, and More!

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Action Launcher brings iOS-style widget stacks to Android

In a not so distant past, Android enthusiasts used to have hot debates over what they thought was the absolute best Android launcher, with users often divided between camp Nova and camp Action Launcher. We don’t see such fervent debates anymore as most launchers have matured to a stable feature set. But to this date, both Nova and Action Launcher remain top picks for anyone who wants to take their homescreen customization game to the next level. And the best part is that both launchers keep adding new features to keep users up-to-date with the latest customization trends. Take, for example, this new update to the Action Launcher, which now brings iPhone-style widget stacks to all Android phones.

Widgets have been part of Android since the Eclair days. It was only with the latest iOS 14 update that Apple finally brought them to iPhones, letting iOS users enjoy something that Android had for a good decade at that point. However, Apple’s implementation has one nifty touch that its Android counterpart doesn’t have: the ability to stack different widgets on top of each other for easier access. With the Action Launcher v47 beta 2 (via AndroidPolice), you can finally do that with your Android widgets as well. Widgets stacks make for a much cleaner homescreen as you don’t have to allot a chunk of screen real estate for each widget.

The idea is very simple: you drop an empty container on your home screen and then start layering your favorite widgets one by one in it. You can then swipe vertically on the box to cycle between them, as you can see in the demo below.

The Stacks Widgets feature is now live in the latest beta of Action Launcher but it requires the Plus version. If you’re not on the beta channel, you can join the program here.

Action Launcher v47 Beta 2 Update Changelog:

Introducing widget stacks! Layer widgets on top of each other, and page through them with a vertical flick! Select “Widget Stack” from Action Launcher’s widget list and get stacking!
2021 Supporter Badge! This year’s bonus goodies include 6 awesome wallpapers!

Action Launcher: Pixel Edition (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Action Launcher brings iOS-style widget stacks to Android

The Stacks Widgets feature is now live in the latest beta of Action Launcher but it requires the Plus version. If you’re not on the beta channel, you can join the program here.

Action Launcher v47 Beta 2 Update Changelog:

Introducing widget stacks! Layer widgets on top of each other, and page through them with a vertical flick! Select “Widget Stack” from Action Launcher’s widget list and get stacking!
2021 Supporter Badge! This year’s bonus goodies include 6 awesome wallpapers!

Action Launcher: Pixel Edition (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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You can now get your hands on Fossil’s new Gen 5E smartwatches in India

Fossil’s latest lineup of Wear OS smartwatches, the Fossil Gen 5E, is finally available for purchase in India. First unveiled back in October last year, the new smartwatches offer almost all the features that you get with the premium Gen 5 lineup but at a more affordable price.

Fossil Gen 5E: Specifications

Specification	Fossil Gen 5E
Dimensions	44mm 22mm standard band 42mm 22mm standard band
Display	1.19-inch AMOLED (390 x 390 pixels)
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100
RAM	1GB
Storage	4GB
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 LE, NFC
Sensors	Heart rate sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope
Water resistance	3 ATM
Battery & Charging	300mAh, 50 minutes to 80%
Software	Wear OS

The Fossil Gen 5E lineup is based on last year’s Gen 5 series. It’s essentially the same lineup with a couple of missing features. As such, the new Gen 5E smartwatches feature a smaller 1.19-inch AMOLED display with a lower 390 x 390 resolution. They include almost all the fitness tracking features offered on the Gen 5 lineup, including sleep tracking, activity tracking, and continuous heart rate monitoring. You can also use the Fossil Gen 5E smartwatches to make and receive phone calls, control your smart devices with the Google Assistant, and make payments via Google Pay.

Since the Fossil Gen 5E smartwatches are based on the Gen 5 lineup, they feature similar hardware. They pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 300mAh battery. The watches are also water-resistant up to 3ATM. However, Fossil has shaved off some features to keep the price low. Along with a lower resolution display, the Gen 5E lineup misses out on an ambient light sensor or standalone GPS, its internal storage has been halved to 4GB, and the crown on the watch doesn’t rotate for navigation. As a result, the new lineup is priced around ₹4,500 cheaper than the Gen 5 variants.

Pricing & Availability

The Fossil Gen 5E lineup is priced at ₹18,495, and it’s already up for sale at Fossil’s offline stores, the company’s website, Flipkart, and Myntra. The lineup includes two size variants — 42mm and 44mm — and a bunch of colorways. However, the pricing remains constant across all models.

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Google launches News Showcase in Australia as it battles the controversial media code

In its bid to support journalism and help users find quality news, Google last year announced a new program called News Showcase, which pays participating news publishers a monthly fee for distributing high-quality content on Google’s news products. In December, Google rolled out some new updates to the program, giving users free access to select paywalled stories. Today, the search giant is launching the News Showcase in Australia.

In the first wave, Google has partnered up with seven local Australian publishers to bring curated news content on Google News on Android, mobile web, and Discover on iOS. Google says it plans to bring News Showcase to “Search as well as the other surfaces of Google News and Discover” soon.

The list of Australian publishers who have signed up for News Showcase includes The Canberra Times, The Illawarra Mercury, The Saturday Paper Crikey, The New Daily, InDaily, and The Conversation, with Google planning to bring even more partners on board in the coming months.

Participating News Showcase publishers receive a set monthly fee for curating their articles for News Showcase, and in some cases for providing access to articles behind their paywall so that readers can see the value of becoming subscribers and publishers can build a relationship with readers.

This development comes when Google is engaged in a dispute with the Australian government, which is planning to proceed with a new bill that would make Google and Facebook pay publishers for their news content. Earlier, Google had said it would have no real choice but to withdraw its search service from Australia if the new law came into effect. However, tensions have appeared to ease down after Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday.

News Showcase displays curated stories from publishers on swipeable cards called “story panels”. Articles featured here are selected daily, and users can follow their favorite publishers. Publishers have direct control over things like branding and the presentation of stories. The News Showcase currently has over 450 publications across a dozen countries, including the U.K., Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Japan.

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