Samsung Officially Launches the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition in Korea

Many Samsung die-hards would claim that the Galaxy Note 7 was one of the best devices of its year. Despite Samsung recalling the device over incidents of exploding batteries, many customers still held onto the device and refused to part ways. Samsung eventually had to push out several updates to kill off charging and telephony, but consumers still persisted on by disabling updates to the device.

If you separate the Note 7 from its battery and explosion issues, it was indeed a remarkable phone. Samsung also had to face the monumental task of "disposing" off all unused Note 7's components, which would be a nightmare for the environment as well as their balance sheet. But, of course, there are smarter solutions than disposal…

To kill two birds with one stone, Samsung has relaunched the Galaxy Note 7 as the Galaxy Note 7 Fan Edition. This launch is currently limited to South Korea and that too, for 400,000 units only. Samsung will decide whether to sell the Note 7 Fan Edition in other international markets later on.

With the rebranding, two important aspects of the device have been changed. First, the battery capacity has been decreased to 3,200 mAh, from the 3,500 battery originally found on the Note 7. The new battery has reportedly been subjected to the same rigorous 8-point battery safety test that Samsung began with the Galaxy S8.

Second, the 'new' Note 7 Fan Edition has also received a software upgrade. The device now features the same software that came on the new Galaxy S8 and S8+, complete with Bixby.

The Galaxy Note 7 FE is priced at 699,600 KRW, which roughly converts into $609. If Samsung chooses to relaunch the device in other markets, the pricing would change accordingly. With the limited launch, Samsung may be testing how the public reacts to the branding after the recall. A confidence check on the branding is a good idea before the Note 8 arrives.

What are your thoughts on the Galaxy Note 7 FE? At what price would you be willing to purchase this device? Let us know in the comments below!

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Source: Samsung Korean Newsroom

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Android 7.0 Nougat is Now Rolling Out For The Moto X Style in Brazil

If you're still holding onto a Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure Edition), we have some good news to share: the long-awaited Android Nougat update is now finally rolling out for the device.

At the time being, the update appears to be rolling out only in Brazil, however, you can expect the rollout to expand to other markets in coming weeks.

The update is based on Android 7.0, carries build number NPH25.200-15, and also includes May's security patches.

The update has already begun rolling out in Brazil but if you can't wait for the OTA, you can use the flashable zip provided by XDA Member omar2005 to manually install it on your device. Keep in mind, the provided update file is from Brazilian variant of the Moto X Style so do not attempt to flash it on other variants.

Get the Android Nougat update for the Moto X Style!

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OxygenOS Open Beta Update for OnePlus 3/3T Brings Refreshed Launcher, Dynamic Icons, and UI Improvements

The OnePlus 5 may be OnePlus's flagship smartphone at the moment, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten about the previously released 3 and 3T. If you own a OnePlus 3 or 3T and are part of the Oxygen OS Open Beta, you should be receiving an update to Open Beta 19 or 10 respectively depending on which handset you own.

The update weighs in at just a little over 100Mb, and one of the most noticeable improvements has to do with the updated launcher. The newest version is now named as the OnePlus Launcher v2.1, and by holding down on the home screen and hopping over to the Launcher settings, you'll see that there's now information for the version of the launcher and a new option for adjusting your home screen layout. The home screen layout option allows you to change how many columns are present on your home screens and also allows you to change the icon size for all of your applications. It's not the most in-depth customization we've ever seen, but it's certainly better than not having any at all, and it's actually better than what's on the OnePlus 5 right now.

Also new with this latest update is the support for dynamic app icons. So far only the Google Calendar and OnePlus's stock Weather app are supported for this feature, but it's still great to be able to see what day it is and get a glimpse at current weather conditions just by glancing at the icon for an app and not having to actually open it up.

In addition to these more major changes, the new update for the 3/3T also brings a new OnePlus widget that shows the current date, weather conditions, and temperature, a new UI for the Clock app, new animations for incoming calls, a new search history in the app drawer, the ability to see the battery status of connected Bluetooth devices, and more.

The full changelog can be found below.

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WHAT'S NEW

Updates

All new OnePlus Launcher v2.1:

• Supports dynamic icons for certain apps
• New settings for grid and icon customizations
• Added search history in app drawer
• Newly installed apps tagged with a blue dot
• UI improvements

Other additions:

• Added battery status of connected Bluetooth devices
• Added OnePlus widget
• Adjustable clock widget
• Updated UI style for Clock

Optimizations:

• Smart Callback
• Incoming call animations
• OnePlus font optimizations
• Bluetooth connections

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Source: OnePlus

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Interview with AndroidFileHost’s Vice President of Public Relations: Roy R. (rwilco12)

AndroidFile Host has been the go-to service for hosting custom ROMs, kernels and mods for quite a fair amount of time. Developers and users trust the service and turn towards it when it comes to hosting files without giving much thought – they're one of the most reliable services around.

Today we have with us Roy R., the Vice President of Public Relations over at AndroidFile Host, answering questions that have always been lingering around in public chat rooms and/or forums.

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On the vision behind AndroidFileHost

How did you start AndroidFile Host? What was the vision behind it?

Many years ago, our founder and CEO, Alex, was trying to download a custom ROM for his HTC Evo 4G LTE. He was frustrated with the slow download speeds, dropped connections and the all-around poor experience of getting the files he needed.

We'd like to say he was doing it for selfless reasons, but the real reason for starting Android File Host was that he wanted a faster and more reliable way to download ROMs and other files.

Now, we have a greater vision of being able to provide a single hosting solution for all of our users, not just Alex.

We work hard to make sure that all of our users around the globe have access to the fastest servers possible, with no headache and no issues.

On the benefits of using AFH or their Premium Service

Can you please inform our readers about the premium service AFH has to offer?

We offer a lot of premium services and have different types of premium services, depending on whether you are a regular user or a developer.

All of our premium users have no wait time for downloads, the ability to set their own preferred mirrors and they'll never see any ads. Premium developers get even more!

Everything from custom URLs for their files and folders, to importing files from Dropbox, upload notifications for their followers (via social media or email), and we're always adding new features!

You can find more information, or sign-up, right here.

What do you think is the most under-utilized aspect of AFH?

The most under-utilized feature would have to be our premium services.

Users just don't realize how much more is available with those premium services.

Why should developers and users use AFH over services like BasketBuild, Google Drive and Dropbox?

One word, "unlimited". We offer developers unlimited storage and bandwidth. Google Drive, Dropbox and similar services charge for anything more than their basic packages, and they cut you off after any significant bandwidth usage.

As far as BasketBuild? We've spoken highly of them in the past, but unfortunately, they have been in Maintenance Mode now for several months.

We've seen a lot of competitor sites come and go over the years, but none of them stick around for very long, or if they do, they resort to using shady ad companies and bad practices that result in a bad experience for the end user.

We've been around now for a long time and we have no plans on going anywhere! And if we haven't proven ourselves by now, we're in trouble!

How is AFH beneficial to the average XDA member?

The biggest reason? Reliability and stability. As we said earlier, we've been around for a long time.

We have high-speed servers all over the world and we're constantly adding more. Need something for your phone?

Look on XDA or AFH and you're sure to find it. We're here to support the developers who need hosting and the end-user who is looking for the dev's work.

On personal experience as a team member

What are the challenges you face on a daily basis, handling a site that hosts thousands of files?

We face a lot of challenges but the biggest challenge we face is that of ad-blocking.

And trust us, we get it. We hate ads too! We see all the sites out there that go into overkill on ads and the negative experience that they create. In order to keep the user experience a positive one, we keep our ads to a minimum and only use trusted ad providers.

We get paid by the ad views and the occasional click when users click on an ad that interests them. We offer services for free to the end user but unfortunately nothing is truly free, and ad revenue is the necessary evil that helps us finance AFH.

When users block those ads we don't have the necessary revenue stream to support and grow the site.

Could you please describe what your role demands of you to our readers?

My official title is Vice President of Public Relations. Really that's just a fancy title that means I get to work with awesome people.

I run most of our social media accounts, I put together giveaways, I work with developers, users, YouTubers, XDA and more.

If I had to boil it down to one thing, I would say my job is to work with people and keep them loving AFH.

What challenges do you face on a daily basis as the public relations guru?

Honestly? It's a super easy job. I get to work with people on a daily basis that are doing the very things I enjoy.

I got involved with AFH as a dev who needed hosting. I don't get to do as much dev work now as I used to, but I still get to work with the people who make it happen.

I enjoy it and really don't have any complaints!

How has your journey with AFH been?

My personal journey with AFH has been a fun one.

A long, long time ago, I was looking for a new host for Rwilco12's Android Repository (really, that's just a fancy name I gave to the place where I warehoused all the files you could ever possibly need for the Epic 4G Touch).

I was doing dev work with Team Nocturnal and they used AFH for hosting all of our ROMs. I figured it was worth a shot and reached out to Alex to see if he could help me out.

We worked out a deal and I did some work for him here and there. Eventually, I became a full member of the team and the rest is history!

On some of the other questions floating around in the community

What have you planned for the future of AFH?

We're always working on new ideas and trying to find the best way to implement them.

We've gotten a few things in the pipeline that we hope to roll out here in the near future. Keep an eye out for future announcements and sneak peeks.

Are there plans for releasing a mobile app any time soon?

At this time, we do not have any plans to roll out a mobile app. Our site is optimized for use on mobile devices, and we feel that adding features to the site is a better focus for our development efforts.

We're not saying we won't ever do it, just not anytime in the immediate future.

Can we expect a site revamp soon?

Let's just say we've got something cool coming soon and we are super excited for it!

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Android TV’s YouTube App Gets a Refreshed UI with Latest Update

Android TV will be receiving a massive refresh to its user interface later this year when Android O is released, and while we still have some time to wait for the overall platform to get a fresh coat of paint, Google finally updated the YouTube app for the big-screen version of Android after more than a whole year.

The core functionality of the YouTube Android TV app remains the same, but there are a few big changes that do clean it up quite a bit. Upon opening the app, you'll notice that the top section now features categories for videos you may want to watch, including Recommended, Originals, Technology, Music, Gaming, Entertainment, Trending, Comedy, and more. The navigation menu on the left is also a lot less cluttered with the new update. Previously having tabs for your Watch Later list, Purchases, Uploads, every channel you were subscribed to, and plenty more, the new menu now only has tabs for Search, Home, Subscriptions, Library, History, and Settings.

Another big change lies within the video player. With the old YouTube app, pressing the select button on your Android TV remote would bring up information for the name of the video you were watching, video playback controls, and more. All of this functionality is still there, but it's presented in a much cleaner and less distracting fashion this time around (see pictures below).

In addition to all of this, the YouTube update also changes the way that autoplay videos are handled. Previously, the YouTube app would automatically start playing a new video as soon as the current one you were watching ended. In the new version, you'll see a screen that shows which video will start playing in the next 5 seconds, along with other suggested videos below. And, better yet, you can hop to the refreshed settings menu and turn off autoplay functionality altogether.

Although I personally didn't have any major problems with the old YouTube Android TV app, the changes that Google has made are very welcome. The update should be rolling out now, but if you don't want to wait for the new software to hit your Android TV box or television, you can sideload the APK below.

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Android Police

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Vivo’s Prototype Device Showcases New Under-display Fingerprint Scanner

Last month at MWC Shanghai 2017, Qualcomm announced a new range of ultrasonic fingerprint solutions with the introduction of "Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensors". The new solution allows OEMs to implement a fingerprint sensor under display, glass, or metal. At the time, Qualcomm said that it would be collaborating with Vivo to demonstrate its Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensor for Display and Metal. However, up until now, we never got a chance to see how this new solution will look like on an actual device.

Thankfully, the Chinese smartphone OEM, Vivo, has posted a video on its official YouTube channel that shows this new technology in action. As you can see in the video below, the device in question features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that is hidden under the display, enabling the user to unlock the device just by placing a thumb or finger on the display.

The under-display scanner makes use of ultrasonic signals that can scan through an OLED panel up to 1200 μm thick. Additionally, the sensor works even with wet fingers and can also detect heart rate and blood flow.

While Vivo is the first OEM to demonstrate this new solution, luckily, it will not be the only one to take advantage it. Qualcomm says the new solution is designed to be compatible with all future Snapdragon Platforms and will work with non-Snapdragon chipsets as well.

Although the new solution is impressive, it also suffers from several sore points. One of the major drawbacks of using a under-display sensor right now is that it reportedly doesn't scan quite as fast as a capacitive fingerprint scanner. Also, the new solution only works when implemented on an OLED panel, leaving LCD displays out of the luck.

On the up side, the new solution will open up the doors for flexible designs since OEMs wouldn't have to drill a hole to add in a fingerprint scanner.

The technology is expected to be available in commercial devices in the first half of 2018.

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Playing with Fire Mod Brings Android TV Apps and UI to Amazon Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV is a really solid streaming box if you want something that'll stream 4K content, have access to a strong selection of apps, offer some decent games to play, and look fairly sleek on your TV stand. Dig a bit deeper into the Fire TV though, and you can do some pretty neat things with this little guy.

We've seen previous mods for the Fire TV that allow you to install GApps onto it, and while that's great if that's all you want to do, XDA Junior Member SimLynks recently created a thread over on the Forum to introduce a new mod that allows you to essentially transform your Amazon Fire TV into an Android TV.

The mod is called, "Playing With Fire", and it requires root access, the Xposed Framework, Build.prop modifications, changes to the system partition, and (of course) very careful reading of all the instructions that SimLynks has provided. Going through all of these steps will require a bit of time, but seeing as how this mod changes pretty much every single thing about the Fire TV, that's to be expected — make sure to be very, very careful when following these instructions.

Once you do get everything up and working, you'll have access to the full Android TV user interface, OpenGApps with almost everything working (Live Channels, USB Tuner, Leanback Launcher, etc.), the ability to install and run apps from both the Google Play Store and Amazon's App Store, automatic updates for Google Services and from the Play Store, button remapping, and much more.

This mod is not for the faint of heart, but if you've got a rooted Fire TV or TV Stick (both version 1 and 2 should work) and a bit of spare time on your hands, this is certainly one of the most interesting developments for the platform that we've seen yet.

You can head over to the thread on the XDA Forums via the link below, and while you should't have any issues as long as you follow everything step-by-step, you can always reach out to the community for assistance should you run into any bugs or issues.

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SimLynks

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