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      Feed has moved to new host

      Matt · pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Saturday, 20 February, 2021 - 01:37

    This feed can now be found at pubsub.do.nohost.me

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      Here’s Why Nvidia Won’t Let You Mine Cryptocurrency On RTX 3060 GPUs

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 14:46 · 2 minutes

    Nvidia Throttle cryptomining RTX 3060

    The graphics giant Nvidia has announced that it will limit the cryptocurrency mining efficiency of its RTX 3060 GPUs. At the same time, the company has also announced Nvidia CMP HX, a series of dedicated cryptocurrency mining processors for professional mining.

    The cryptocurrency boom is on the rise and recently we have seen the meme-inspired Dogecoin scoring big on the popularity charts. More and more people are using powerful graphics cards to churn out as much crypto juice as they can.

    With that said, the question that needs to be answered is why Nvidia chose to limit the cryptomining powers of its GPU. The company has announced that RTX 3060 software drivers will detect traces of the Etherum crypto mining algorithm and reduce hashing rate by 50%. For reference, Etherum is currently one of the most mined crypto coins on the market.

    Graphics Cards are running out of stock

    As mentioned above, more people are mining crypto, which means they’re buying more GPUs. This is one big reason Nvidia took the decision because the shortage of GPUs is leaving gamers empty handed who are the company’s target customers.

    “With the launch of GeForce RTX 3060 on Feb. 25, we’re taking an important step to help ensure GeForce GPUs end up in the hands of gamers,” Nvidia said in a blog post .

    And that makes sense because GeForce GPUs are fitted with technologies designed for games, ray tracing, AI-assisted image upscaling, to name a few. However, these programmable graphics chips can be used for various other applications like weather simulation, robotics, gene sequencing, etc.

    This brings us to reason number two.

    Nvidia has announced a dedicated cryptominer

    Nvidia has announced a new cryptocurrency mining hardware called CMP HX. The shortage of GPUs in the market couldn’t be the sole reason the company would make such a move. GPU shortages due to cryptomining have been there in the past, so it isn’t a coincidence that the graphics giant chose to throttle its GPUs right now.

    In other words, how would you convince people to buy your new cryptocurrency miner when they already have an easy way out!

    But Nvidia explains the new CMP miners have considerable changes that make them a better fit for cryptocurrency mining.

    For example, CMP doesn’t pack display outputs which improve the airflow and allows it to be more densely packed. Also, to boost mining power efficiency, Nividia has toned down the peak core voltage and frequency on CMP GPUs.

    “With CMP, we can help miners build the most efficient data centers while preserving GeForce RTX GPUs for gamers.”

    The new CMP HX GPUs are available from authorized partners, including ASUS, Colorful, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, etc.

    The post Here’s Why Nvidia Won’t Let You Mine Cryptocurrency On RTX 3060 GPUs appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      How To Get Android 12 Developer Preview On Your Pixel Device?

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 13:06 · 2 minutes

    How to install Android 12 DP1 Pixel

    The first developer preview of the next big Android update is finally here — Android 12 Developer Preview 1 (DP1). As always, it is only available for Google Pixel devices for now.

    The Android 12 supported device list includes Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5.

    Unfortunately, the Android update is not available for Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, and the original Pixel. While the outcome was obvious for the original Pixel, we were hoping that Google might deliver one final update to the Pixel 2, despite the device losing guaranteed support .

    Nevertheless, if you have a Pixel 3 or higher device, here’s how to install the Android 12 first developer preview on your device right now —

    Note
    Android 12 DP1 is intended for developers and has several developer-focused features. Also, since it’s an early Android 12 release, it contains several bugs and other system issues. We recommend installing the update on your secondary device.

    How to install Android 12 Developer Preview (DP) on your Pixel phone —

    You will need ADB and Fastboot tools on your PC to install Android 12 on your smartphone. For those who don’t know, read this guide to download ADB and Fastboot for your PC.

    1. Download the Android 12 OTA file for your specific Pixel model and move it to the ADB tools folder. You can download the zip file from here .
    2. Turn on USB Debugging in the Android Developer Settings.
    3. Power off the device. Now, hold the Power button and volume down button to get to the Bootloader page.
    4. Here, use the volume buttons to choose Recovery mode in the menu and hit the power button.
      Going Into Android Recovery Mode
    5. On the next screen, hold down the Power button and Volume simultaneously for about a second to enter the recovery menu.
      Android Recovery Main Screen
    6. Next, search “Apply update from ADB sideload” and hit the power button to enter.
      Apply Update From SD Card Android Recovery
    7. Connect the Google Pixel device to the PC via a USB cable.
    8. Open Command Prompt on your PC, and type in the command — adb devices.
      Apply Update From ADB Sideload CMD
    9. Now, enter the command — adb sideload “filename”.zip
    10. Select Reboot from the Android recovery menu once the installation is complete.

    While this method won’t wipe your data, we recommend that you backup your device in case any issue occurs while updating the device.

    Once you have installed the Android 12 Developer preview, all the following updates will arrive over-the-air (OTA).

    Did you find our how to install Android 12 guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below.

    The post How To Get Android 12 Developer Preview On Your Pixel Device? appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      Yify Alternatives: 8 Best YTS Alternatives To Use In 2021

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 13:05 · 5 minutes

    Yify alternatives

    Torrent sites have always faced scrutiny from law enforcement agencies owing to their notoriety for allowing users to download copyrighted content. This is the reason why some of the best torrent sites like Pirate Bay, Extratorrent, and Kickass torrent have been blocked in several countries. Another torrent site that has faced the brunt of the laws is Yify movies or YTS. Yify movies is one of the best torrent sites as it’s regarded as one of the popular sources in the peer-to-peer sharing community.

    If you reside in a country where Yify or YTS does not work, here is a list of YTS alternatives you can always use to download torrent files. These Yify alternatives also have a wide selection of torrent files to download, and most of the alternative sites mentioned here work in most countries.

    Disclaimer: The torrent sites mentioned ahead are just for an informational purpose. We don’t support using them to download copyright-protected content.

    8 Best Yify Alternatives 2021: Best Torrent Sites

    1. The Pirate Bay – Best Yify Movies alternative

    Pirate bay Yify alternative

    The Pirate Bay is one of the most popular torrent sites in the world. Recently, we heard the news that The Pirate Bay is back online and will be accessible via its original domain – thepiratebay.org. TPB is a rather renowned torrent site amongst torrent enthusiasts owing to the large variety of torrents you can download from here and its decluttered user interface. Using this YTS alternative, you can download torrents for movies, software, tv-series, music, and more.

    2. 1337x – Top Yify Movies clone site

    Best The Pirate Bay Alternative 2 1337x

    If you want to download torrents for movies, apps, and software using torrent and Yify movies isn’t working, 1337x is your next best option. The torrent site has an impressive visual appeal as everything starting from the index page to search results, is neatly designed. 1337x caters to a large audience of torrent enthusiasts owing to the categorization of torrents. You can browse through movies, television, games, music, applications, anime, and more. Besides, there is a trending section at this YTS torrent alternative that offers all the popular and trending torrents without having to go through the trouble of searching them manually.

    3. Kickass Torrents – A popular YTS alternative

    Kickass torrents proxy

    Kickass Torrents needs no introduction as the torrent website is quite popular on the internet. Emerging as one of the best torrent sites of 2021, Kickass torrent has the potential to serve as the perfect Yify alternative for those who cannot access YTS due to any reason. While the original Kickass torrent site shut down long ago, several mirror sites have appeared on the internet. The mirror domain carries basically the same user interface and layout of options. You can find the torrent catalog, most popular torrents, and Top torrents section at the top. These are complemented by a tag cloud that tells you about the common searches on the website.

    4. Extratorrent – YTS.mx Alternative for all torrent needs

    ExtraTorrent

    Extratorrent was one of the most popular torrent sites until it was shut down in 2017 like other torrent wites. Ever since Extratorrent faced the brunt of officials and law enforcement agencies, several mirror sites of Extratorrent have appeared. You can also use Extratorrent proxy sites if the torrent site is not accessible in your region. Extratorrent caters to a wide audience by offering a large number of torrent files and thus it could be a YTS alternative you can use.

    5. Rarbg – Perfect Yify Movies alternative

    Best KickAss Alternatives Rarbg

    Despite being riddled with advertisements and pop-ups, Rarbg has retained its position as one of the world’s best-known torrent sites. If Yify movies isn’t working for you due to any reason, you can always go to Rarbg for downloading torrents. It has a healthy collection of torrents with ample of seeders. Rarbg is quite popular amongst those who look forward to downloading movies using torrent sites as this YTS alternative features trailers of the latest movies along with a dedicated section to download movies using torrent .

    6. Lime Torrents – A torrent site like Yify movies

    Best The Pirate Bay Alternative 3 Limetorrents.cc

    Lime Torrents has time and again appeared in the list of best torrent sites. The torrent website has received a positive response from users, as you can find almost any torrent file on this website. Lime Torrent is one of the best YTS alternatives that you can use to download torrent files if Yify movies is not working. Lime Torrent’s website is updated regularly, making it one of the preferred destinations for torrent lovers. Torrent files hosted here have a healthy number of seeders and leechers.

    7. Zooqle – Preferred Yify Alternative

    Best torrent sites zooqle

    Zooqle is the last torrent site appearing on our list of best Yify alternatives. It is a new name in the torrent niche that’s cementing its position by increasing the number of torrent files available to download for users. Zooqle also has different categories, including apps, games, movies, music, and software that you can use to get torrents easily. Zooqle has a dedicated section for the most seeded torrents, which is an interesting section that I would like to see on other torrent sites as well.

    8. EZTV – A Decade-Old YTS Alternative

    EZTV was established in 2005 and after a glorious life of 10 years, it was shut down in 2015 after its servers were taken into control by “EZCLOUD LIMITED”. In the past, EZTV has faced several stability issues and was down for a long period of time. Thankfully, this Yify alternative is now up and running and can be used by users to download torrent files. One of the downsides of EZTV is that it is plagued with advertisements that could annoy you.

    YTS Alternatives 2021: Use Proxy Torrent Sites

    If Yify movies is not working in your region and your ISP has blocked access to any of the torrent sites enlisted above, these proxies and mirror sites have got your back. You can use these proxy sites as Yify alternatives if the need arises.

    1. Yify Proxy
    2. The Pirate Bay Proxy
    3. Kickass Torrent Proxy
    4. Extratorrent Proxy
    5. Rarbg Proxy
    6. 1337x Proxy

    Yify Movies Alternatives: FAQs

    1. What is Yify?

    Yify Torrents or YTS (Yify Torrents Solutions) is a well-known torrent site that offers a large selection of torrent files and magnet links.

    2. What happened to Yify?

    The original Yify website was forced to shut down after the owner faced charges for illegal distribution of copyrighted content. Since then, several Yify alternatives and mirror sites have emerged with a similar user interface to service users.

    3. Does Yify still work?

    The original Yify site was shut down back in 2015 but you can still access Yify mirror sites and YTS alternatives we have mentioned above.

    4. Why is Yify movies not working?

    If Yify movies is not working for you, there are chances that the website has been blocked by your ISP. In that case, you can use Yify movie alternatives or other torrent sites to download movies via torrent.

    The post Yify Alternatives: 8 Best YTS Alternatives To Use In 2021 appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      The Pros And Cons Of Owning A Smart Speaker: Let’s Find Out!

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 12:28 · 4 minutes

    Are smart speakers really smart? Google Home, Echo Dot, Siri HomePod representative image

    You’ve probably arrived on this page looking for the best smart speakers or pondering over whether you should buy a HomePod, Echo Dot, or the slick-looking Google Home Mini. Here are some things you should really consider before buying a smart speaker. After all, ditching your conventional home theater setup for a committed smart speaker is big deal.

    Here we’ll talk about what smart speakers are capable of. How feasible is it to have one, and whether you really need one or not? I have an Echo Dot smart speaker at home, and I often use Siri on my iPhone. So I suppose I am in a good position to talk about the topic.

    What Is A Smart Speaker?

    For the uninitiated, a smart speaker is an artificial intelligence-powered speaker. It can answer your queries, play games with you, read the news, set alarms, reminders, play music, control smart home gadgets, and do a lot more.

    If you ask me what are the best smart speakers you can buy, there are three answers. We have the Amazon Alexa speakers (Echo series), Google Home , and the Siri HomePod . The smaller speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot and the Google Home Mini are the most sought-after smart speakers. It is so because they’re tiny, powerful, and feature-packed.

    That said, we also have bigger smart speakers like the Sonos One, that support Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. However, they’re on the more expensive side of the price spectrum. In a nutshell, a smart speaker is a WiFi-connected speaker that uses the same assistants as your phone (Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa).

    How Smart Is A Smart Speaker?

    Smart speakers have come a long way since their creation. They almost feel human when you interact with them, showing a level of refinement in the gadgets. However, all of that refinement and features are only with you as long as you have an internet connection.

    They are relay points that listen to your voice, send them to the cloud, process it, and answer your queries. These are WiFi-connected speakers and they need an active internet connection to work.

    If you lose internet connectivity and try to use your smart speaker, you’ll hear something like, “Sorry, I’m having trouble connecting to the internet. Please check the help section of your Alexa app.” I didn’t have to look it up because I remember that from my Echo Dot. That is so because there have been connectivity issues in my area lately, which means the internet isn’t stable, which translates to my smart speaker being no good at times.

    Another disadvantage of smart speakers is that most of them are not portable. Smart speakers usually don’t come with batteries, which means they need an active electricity supply all the time. So if you have a power outage, you can’t even use it as a Bluetooth speaker because it needs electricity to run.

    To summarize, a smart speaker is a regular speaker with a sophisticated circuit. It packs the same artificial intelligence as your phone, which means that it also needs an internet connection, just like your phone. So smart speakers are really smart in terms of design and price since you can get the cheapest smart speaker for as low as $40 (Rs 2,900).

    Pro Tip: As an iPhone user, I’ve been using what you can call a “hack” to make any speaker a smart speaker. I pair my iPhone with Echo Dot via Bluetooth, and then use Siri on my phone to play and control music, and do pretty much everything else Alexa can do. That way, I have my reminders and notes directly set on my phone, and Bluetooth pairing means I can shuffle between Apple Music and Spotify. Amazon Echo devices do not support Apple Music by default so this is one way around.

    Should You Buy A Smart Speaker?

    Are smart speakers really smart? HomePod representative image

    Now that you know what is a smart speaker and the prerequisites of owning one, let’s talk about whether you should buy a smart speaker. If you live in an area with frequent power cuts or unstable internet connections, it’s probably not a good idea to go for a smart speaker.

    However, if you’re looking for a speaker that can do much more than just play music, go for it. You can use a smart speaker just to know the weather, news, fuel prices, play music, games, and much more. Just remember it’s all fun and games till the WiFi acts up.

    Also, if you’re an audiophile or someone with a refined taste in music-listening, don’t go for the entry-level smart speakers. I have an Echo Dot and I have listened to a Google Home Mini as well. Both miss out on the mid-range and do an okay job with the bass.

    Rounding up, it’s functional to have a smart speaker because it can double up as a personal assistant and smart home control. However, you should keep in mind that a basic Bluetooth speaker at the same price might give you a similar, if not better, music quality and portability.

    The post The Pros And Cons Of Owning A Smart Speaker: Let’s Find Out! appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update Take 2: Sorry But Not Sorry

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 12:18 · 3 minutes

    WhatsApp privacy policy update second rollout featured image

    The WhatsApp privacy policy update debate is back on the roll. It is so because the company is yet again attempting to roll out the update. Although this time with much more clarity, the policies remain pretty much the same, and the questions remain unanswered.

    The company announced in the past that it will attempt a second rollout. Since we already know about the WhatsApp privacy policy update for WhatsApp business, you can read about them in detail here . What’s new is that this time, WhatsApp is unapologetic about the policy, and has issued clarifications from its end. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

    WhatsApp Privacy Policy: Attitude Adjustment

    WhatsApp privacy policy update is coming with more clarification A screenshot of the new in-app banners on WhatsApp privacy policy. Image: WhatsApp

    One of the major things we saw this time is an attitude change in the way WhatsApp is updating its terms. You’ll soon see banners in WhatsApp, clarifying the new privacy policy. In the past too, we’ve seen WhatsApp status defending its new terms of services.

    While the new policy applies majorly to WhatsApp business accounts only, it needs your consent whenever you chat with a business account. According to WhatsApp, the new policy allows businesses to use Facebook to manage inventory across platforms. Also, it will let WhatsApp business account holders generate automated replies for some queries.

    For instance, when you book movie tickets with your mobile number, you can now receive those tickets on WhatsApp. It is an auto-generated message and it is convenient to be able to use those tickets from your inbox. Aside from these changes, there’s not much that directly addresses businesses or customers.

    However, Facebook’s ownership of WhatsApp also means that your WhatsApp data will be used to target ads on Facebook. A simple example of this is when you interact with a business on WhatsApp, you’re likely to see similar “relevant” ads on Facebook and Instagram.

    The Unanswered Questions

    We can appreciate Facebook and WhatsApp for this second attempt at updating the policies. The company is trying to counter any confusion around it which is good. What it lacks, is a clarification on how it will treat certain business accounts.

    Let’s assume a doctor or a lawyer is using a WhatsApp business account with Facebook integration to manage appointments. So far, it was clear that a doctor-patient chat or a client-attorney conversation is privileged information. This means it cannot be seen by any third-party.

    But with the policy update, the automation is likely to feed some data to Facebook and WhatsApp. There are concerns around the privacy of doctor-patient and client-attorney conversations. If there’s any possibility of the private chats being monitor, it needs to be addressed.

    We’ve reached out to WhatsApp for a comment on the matter and will update the story if they respond. Till then, it isn’t clear how encryption will work for doctors, lawyers, and other personnel using WhatsApp business and accepting the new policy.

    WhatsApp To Telegram And Signal: Not Taking Names But Kicking It

    In a recent blog post about WhatsApp privacy policy update, the company briefly talked about alternatives. The post reads, “We understand some people may check out other apps to see what they have to offer. We’ve seen some of our competitors try to get away with claiming they can’t see people’s messages.”

    Here, the platform is referring to alternatives like Telegram and Signal, which became popular as people didn’t want to accept the new terms of services by WhatsApp. The company said that it wants to make its apps safe and reliable, hence requires some data to do so.

    We also partially agree with this. WhatsApp has indeed grown into a simple and powerful app in the past few years. However, the new policy that shares user’s data with Facebook to target ads is somewhere out of tune with WhatsApp as we know it.

    The post WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update Take 2: Sorry But Not Sorry appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      Rarbg Proxy List 2021 [100% Working Rarbg Mirror Sites & Proxies]

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 08:55 · 3 minutes

    Rarbg proxy list

    Torrent sites have always irked copyright watchdogs and original content creators, which is why many of the best torrent sites have been banned in several countries. Rarbg.to is another popular torrent site that is not available in several countries because it hosts torrent links to copyrighted content. Rarbg movies torrent links are particularly popular amongst torrent enthusiasts. As an alternative, users have resorted to Rarbg proxy sites and mirror sites to access the torrents.

    Since the website is not available in many regions, there are many ways to unblock blocked websites including torrent sites. You can use proxy websites and mirror websites if a website is not working in your country.

    If you’re not able to access Rarbg website from your country, you can check whether the website is globally accessible or not. If not, you have got the option to use Rarbg proxy sites to get Rarbg unblocked in your region.

    Disclaimer: The torrent websites listed here are just for informational purpose. We don’t recommend using them to download copyright-protected content.

    Rarbg Proxy List 2021

    Here’s a list of Rarbg proxy sites and mirror sites that we have collated from the internet. The Rarbg proxy server list below is updated regularly and all the Rarbg mirror and proxy sites could be accessed in 2021. All the proxies and Rarbg alternatives mentioned here were working at the time of writing —

    Rarbg Proxy Name Rarbg Proxy URL
    Rarbg Proxy 1 https://rarbgaccess.org/index53.php
    Rarbg Proxy 2 https://rarbgaccess.org/index80.php
    Rarbg Proxy 3 https://rarbgaccess.org/index52.php
    Rarbg Proxy 4 https://rarbgaccess.org/index54.php
    Rarbg Proxy 5 https://rarbgaccess.org/index55.php
    Rarbg Proxy 6 https://rarbgaccess.org/index56.php
    Rarbg Proxy 7 https://rarbgaccess.org/index57.php
    Rarbg Proxy 8 https://rarbgaccess.org/index58.php
    Rarbg Proxy 9 https://rarbgaccess.org/index59.php
    Rarbg Proxy 10 https://rarbgunblock.com/index70.php
    Rarbg Proxy 11 https://rarbgaccess.org/
    Rarbg Proxy 12 https://rarbg.unblockninja.com/
    Rarbg Unblock https://rarbgget.org/
    Rarbgmirror site https://proxyrarbg.org/
    Rarbg mirror site http://rarbgto.org/

    Is Rarbg down?

    To check the status of Rarbg, you can enter the Rarbg website (www.rarbg.to) in down detectors available on the internet. At the moment, you cannot access Rarbg in the following countries:

    • India
    • Australia
    • United Kingdom
    • China
    • France
    • Norway

    If you’re living in any of the countries and want to access the torrent website then you can use the mentioned Rarbg proxy sites or Rarbg mirror sites.

    How To Get Rarbg Unblocked?

    If your government or ISP has blocked Rarbg in your country or region, you can still access the website using proxies and Rarbg mirror websites. These websites bypass the imposed geographical restrictions to help you unblock Rarbg. A proxy server acts as an intermediate between your computer and the destination server to obscure your IP address. You can visit the below mentioned Rarbg alternatives to download torrents from the website.

    Rarbg Mirror Alternatives

    In case you are facing issues in accessing Rarbg proxy sites we have mentioned above, here are some alternatives that you can refer to:

    1. Kickass Proxy sites
    2. Piratebay Proxy sites
    3. Extratorrent Proxy sites

    Download Torrents Using Rarbg Proxy Sites

    Rarbg is one of the most popular torrent search engines out there. It has a neat interface with a large collection of torrent links. With our provided list of Rarbg proxy servers, you can access the website even if it is banned in your country.

    However, if the provided Rarbg alternatives are not working for you, you can also check out our Pirate Bay proxy list and Kickass proxy list to download files.

    Also Read: Best Pirate Bay Alternatives Working When TPB Is Down

    The post Rarbg Proxy List 2021 [100% Working Rarbg Mirror Sites & Proxies] appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      12 Biggest Android 12 Features, Release Date, Supported Devices & More

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 08:12 · 7 minutes

    Android 12 features and changes

    The first developer preview (DP) of Android 12 which is the next major update for Android devices, is finally here. Although many are still waiting for their Android 11 update but that’s past the point.

    Android is the most popular smartphone operating system in the entire world. Naturally, many are excited about the latest features of Android 12.

    In this article, we will talk about Android 12 best features, Android 12 release date, Android 12 supported devices, what Android 12 will be called, and a lot more.

    Android 12 code name

    For those of you who are looking for the Android 12 name — we hate to break it to you, but Android 12 will be called Android 12. That’s because Google stopped assigning dessert names to Android versions starting in 2019. For the past two years, it has been Android 10, Android 11, and now Android 12.

    However, last year we learned that Google is still internally assigning desert names to the latest Android versions. For instance, Android 11 (R) is internally called “Red Velvet Cake.” Based on Android 12 leaks, the next Android version i.e. Android S will be internally known as “Snow Cone.”

    Android 12 release date

    Android 12 timeline

    Based on the Android 12 roadmap, Google is planning to release three Android 12 Developer Previews in February, March and April. Presently, the Android 12 Developer Preview 1 is out for several Pixel devices.

    Then in the month of May, we can expect the first beta of Android 12. Google plans to release three more Android 12 betas in June, July and two in August.

    Finally, Google will release the Android 12 stable build in the month of September. Naturally, Pixel devices will be the first to receive it. But from there, other Android devices will gradually start getting the Android 12 update in Q4 of 2021, with most of them getting in 2022.

    10 Biggest Android 12 Features

    Here are the best Android 12 features based on the first developer Preview of Android 12. We will update this article when Android 12 DP2 comes out.

    1. Revamped Android settings

    One of the biggest new features of Android 12 is the UI changes in the Android settings. Right on the homepage, the search bar has been redesigned; now featuring rounded corners and the profile picture has shifted outside the search box.

    Apart from that, some settings can be seen with a blue hue in the background hinting of the arrival of a new in-house theming system that has been in rumors for quite a while now.

    2. Changes in the Notification shade

    Unlike Android 11, which added a big new feature called “Conversations” to the Notification panel, Android 12 appears to be focusing on design changes.

    The notification shade is now more transparent, and there appears to be more space between the notification sections. Another big change we are seeing is the addition of a new clock icon in the notifications which opens up the snooze menu.

    When you long-press on a notification, there is also a new “Automatic” option (currently in the works) that will enable Android to decide for itself whether a notification should give a ring or vibrate.

    3. New Media Player UI

    Speaking of the big Android 12 features, it appears Google has given a lot of attention to the Media Player.

    It is much bigger with larger playback controls and features a bigger album art. Also, there is now a small icon to denote which audio device is playing the music. Tapping on it opens a new pop-up where you can easily pair a new Bluetooth device.

    Apart from that, there is new settings page where you can choose which media player should show up in Quick Settings for an extended period.

    Speaking of Quick settings, Android 12 also features a new “Reduce Bright Colors” toggle that reduces screen brightness.

    4. New Privacy features

    Android 12 privacy features

    Google has added toggles to disable cameras and mute microphones entirely in the Android 12 privacy settings.

    Similar to how you can disable location access, you will now be able to restrict all apps at once from accessing the camera and the microphone. Presently, this feature is not available to everyone.

    5. One-handed mode

    The new in-house one-handed mode is one of the best features of Android 12. The Android 12 feature scales down the screen, therefore allowing users to easily use the device with a single hand. As seen in the screenshots, toggling the feature also magnifies some settings as well.

    But unlike the one-handed mode in other Android-based UIs where the screen shrinks vertically and horizontally, in Android 12, the screen only scales down vertically.

    The One-handed mode is available as the “Silky Home” feature flag in the Android 12 DP1.

    6. Scrolling Screenshots

    After years of delays, Google has finally added the Scrolling Screenshot feature in Android 12. A scrolling screenshot is where the device captures a normal screenshot, scrolls down and captures another one, stitches the two, and produces a long screenshot.

    As of now, the feature is buggy and is disabled by default in the Android 12 Developer Preview 1. However, we are hoping it will be one of the biggest Android 12 features.

    7. Double Tap (Pixel exclusive)

    Double Tap is a new Android 12 feature that works similar to the Back Tap in iOS 14 — you can double-tap on the back of the device to perform quick actions such as waking up the Google Assistant, opening the Notification center, opening a particular app or a setting, etc.

    The double-tap gesture feature first appeared in earlier builds of Android 11, however was left out of the final release. Even now, while the Double Tap has arrived with Android 12 DP 1, the toggle appears to be non-functional.

    8. Picture-in-picture

    As rumored, Android 12 features enhancements in the picture-in-picture mode, such as pinching to re-size and double-tapping the floating window to make it full size.

    Much like PiP in iOS 14, Android 12 has also added functionality to hide the Picture-in-Picture window to the side of the screen. In the first developer preview of Android 12, the feature works after enabling a flag.

    More Android 12 features based on previous Android 12 leaks

    9. Conversation Widget (Speculated)

    Google added a Conversation section to the notification panel in Android 11, which enabled users never to miss a message or an update from their friends or family.

    Adding on to that, the conversation widget is another big Android 12 feature. The new widget will enable users to view recent messages, missed calls, and status information of a person.

    10. App Pairs

    With Android 12, Google may introduce a new split-screen feature called App Pairs. When doing a split-screen, the two apps will now be shown as a pair in the Recents menu.

    “Once paired, you should be able to easily swap to using a different single app and then swap back to the pair you created,” writes 9to5Google .

    11. Face-based Auto Rotate (Pixel exclusive) (speculated)

    9to5Google reports that Pixel devices may get a new face-based auto-rotation feature in Android 12. With this, the device will use the front-facing camera to see the head orientation and will rotate the screen accordingly.

    Presently, Android devices use on-device sensors and rotate the screen to match the device’s orientation. However, it is far from perfect, and often users are forced to lock rotation. Hopefully, Android 12’s face-based option will solve this issue.

    12. Game mode

    Google is expected to introduce a game mode in Android 12. It is being called the “GameManager” service which is described as a “service to manage game related features.”

    There is not much information on the Android 12 feature for now, so we will leave it to your imagination.

    When will my device get Android 12?

    Every time there is a new Android version in town, this question is always on everyone’s mind. And like always, the answer lies with your smartphone manufacturer. OEMs like OnePlus are known to issue new Android updates quicker, while manufacturers like Xiaomi and Samsung are known to take a lot of time.

    Of course, if your smartphone vendor is none other than Google, i.e., if you own a Google Pixel device — there is no doubt you will be the first person to recieve the Android 12.

    As of now, the Android 12 Developer Preview 1 is out for the below devices —

    • Pixel 5
    • Pixel 4a 5G
    • Pixel 4a
    • Pixel 4
    • Pixel 4 XL
    • Pixel 3a
    • Pixel 3a XL
    • Pixel 3
    • Pixel 3 XL

    How to install Android 12 Developer Preview?

    As of February 18th, Android 12 first developer preview is officially available for Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, or Pixel 5.

    If you own one of Android 12 DP1 supported devices, you can install Android 12 by following this guide .

    As the name suggests, developer previews are intended for developers. While they are available to general users, the builds are barely stable and come with several issues. That being said, the excitement and pleasure of getting the latest Android version first are worth the risks.

    So this was everything about the latest Android update — Android 12. Do you like these new Android 12 features? Let us know in the comments down below.

    The post 12 Biggest Android 12 Features, Release Date, Supported Devices & More appeared first on Fossbytes .

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      How To Download Rage 2 For FREE From Epic Games Store?

      pubsub.dcentralisedmedia.com / FossBytes · Friday, 19 February, 2021 - 07:47 · 1 minute

    How To Download Rage 2 For FREE From Epic Games Store

    Developed by Bethesda Softworks, Rage 2 was one of the most popular video games of 2019. The first-person open-world game is set in an apocalyptic world where an asteroid hits Earth. Now, all that’s left in the world are some bandits and blood-thirsty mutants.

    Of course, Rage 2 didn’t live up to most players’ expectations in terms of story, and it isn’t exactly one of the best open-world games . However, no one can deny that Rage 2 has an extraordinary combat system. If you haven’t played Rage 2 up till now, maybe now is the time. That’s because right now, you can download Rage 2 for FREE and legally on Epic Games Store.

    Get Rage 2 For PC Free On Epic Games Store

    Epic Games Store is currently offering Avalanche Studio’s Rage 2 for free. However, this amazing offer is going to end on February 25 . So, you only have a few days to claim the FPS open-world title for FREE.

    First, to download Rage 2 for free, create your Epic Games Store account if you don’t have one already. Then, all you have to do is visit the Store section of Epic Games and scroll down to the Free Games section. There, you will see Rage 2 along with Absolute Drift, which is also free on Epic Games Store until February 25.

    Epic Games Store offers two video games, mostly Indie titles, for free every week. However, once in a while, popular games like GTA 5 , Borderlands , and Batman Arkham Knight are also included in the rotation. Now, Epic Games have come forward to give away another AAA title for free. So, if you were waiting to download Rage 2 for free in your Epic Games library, you probably shouldn’t miss this amazing opportunity.

    The post How To Download Rage 2 For FREE From Epic Games Store? appeared first on Fossbytes .