Pixel 2’s Portrait Mode Ported to some Non-Google Devices running Android Oreo

There are a few contenders for best smartphone camera of 2017, and many would argue that the Google Pixel 2 & 2 XL were the best mobile shooters. That's thanks in large part to the phone's exceptional combination of camera hardware with Google's prowess in image processing software as seen by their famous HDR+ technology. Ports of Google Camera with the HDR+ technology have been shown to dramatically improve the picture quality of budget phones like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and flagship phones like the Essential Phone. The Pixel 2 camera experience is largely an iterative improvement over the first generation Pixel, though it adds some polish with features such as Motion Photos, Face Retouching, and lastly Portrait Mode.

The Pixel 2's Portrait Mode is perhaps its best new feature due to how the algorithm can produce beautiful photos that focus on one or more persons. While Pixel 2 camera features such as Motion Photos, Face Retouching, and even the new AR Stickers have been ported, it was thought that Portrait Mode would remain a Pixel 2 exclusive for quite some time. Fortunately, XDA Senior Member Charles_l proved that Portrait Mode could be forced to work on other devices, starting with the first generation Google Pixel & Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X. Thanks to this preliminary work, other developers have joined in to port the Portrait Mode feature over to some non-Google devices running Android Oreo.

Pixel 2 Portrait Mode on Non-Google Devices

XDA Senior Member Arnova8G2, best known for his work on porting a Snapdragon-optimized version of Google Camera app, has modified Charles_l's Camera NX 7.3 app to work on non-Google devices. We're seeing reports that his app brings a functioning Portrait Mode feature to devices such as the Xiaomi Mi 5/5s on LineageOS 15, OnePlus 3 & 3T on OxygenOS 5, Moto G5s Plus, and reportedly even the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 running the leaked Oreo beta ROM.

Pixel 2 Portrait Mode on the OnePlus 3. Credits: XDA Senior Member djtnh

It seems like many 64-bit devices running Android Oreo are compatible with Arnova8G2's port of the Pixel 2 Portrait Mode feature. The best part of this mod is that it doesn't require root to function! The only caveat for now is that it only works with the device's rear camera, though we're sure that the developer will be able to get Portrait Mode working via the front-facing camera soon.

Download Google Camera with Portrait Mode for Non-Google Devices

Arnova8G2 is sharing his work over on our forum. He has posted about the latest update to his Google Camera modifications here and I've mirrored the download link below in case the Drive link goes down.

Download Google Camera Port with Portrait Mode for Non-Google Devices

We recommend you follow Arnova8G2's thread for future updates on his Google Camera mods. We will be following his work ourselves in order to share any note-worthy feature updates (such as when he gets the feature working with the front camera) so you can also follow the XDA Portal if you would like.

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LineageOS 15.1 Brings Android 8.1 to OnePlus 5

Last week, an alpha of LineageOS 15.1 was released by XDA Senior Recognized Developer codeworkx for the OnePlus 5, bringingAndroid 8.1 Oreo to the OnePlus 5. It's little unstable, and a clear upgrade path from the 14.1 official to the 15.1 build has yet to be established. But a data wipe followed by a clean flash is enough to get 14.1 to the latest version.

codeworkx hinted that he might release a unified package for the 5 and the 5T sometime in the future, once the current alpha build enters stable. Right now, though, not all of LineageOS's applications and features have made it into the alpha build.

A word of caution: If you haven't set a PIN or password, custom recoveries such as TWRP might not be able to decrypt your phone's data. We suggest reading the flashing guide carefully before proceeding.

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LineageOS 15.1 for the OnePlus 5

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Telegram 4.7 Adds Multiple Accounts and Quick Replies

Telegram got one more update last week to close out 2017. The new version, Telegram 4.7, adds a quick reply shortcut and support for multiple accounts to the application's roster of features.

With the new quick reply feature, swiping left on a message allows you to quickly respond to it, saving you the trouble of tapping on the message and then hitting the reply button.

In addition to the new quick reply functionality, the app gained the ability to switch between multiple accounts. You can add up to three and switch between them using the left sidebar menu — you'll receive notifications from all signed-in accounts. For developers out there (especially those who have bot-owner accounts), support for multiple accounts could be a really handy feature.

 

Telegram 4.7 is available now, and you can get it by heading to the Play Store on the web or the device of choice.

Telegram (Free, Google Play) →

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Source: Telegram

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Magisk v15.2 Brings Minor Fixes for OnePlus and Samsung Devices

Magisk v15.0, the latest major release of the user-acclaimed systemless interface, was introduced back in December 26 — but not without minor issues that went under the radar during beta testing. XDA Recognized Developer / Recognized Contributor topjohnwu, the lead developer of the project, was quick to address some of these problems with v15.1, released just 3 days later. But it caused boot loops on devices including the OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T on stable/beta Android Oreo. Now, Magisk v15.2, the first update of 2018, addresses those issues and implements new SELinux policy rules that improve MagiskHide support on Samsung devices. Hop into the forums and download it now!

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Download Magisk v15.2

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Samung’s Detachable “Nautilus” Chromebook will Have a Sony IMX258 Sensor

After releasing the Chromebook Plus and the Chromebook Pro last year, it seems that Samsung is developing a new detachable Chrome OS laptop.

In November, Chrome Unboxed reported on a Samsung Chromebook device in development. It's code-named "Nautilus," and it's a detachable model.

More recently, the publication found a commit in the Chromium Gerrit confirming a few "Nautilus" specs. Here's the relevant description:

imx258: Add imx258 camera sensor PO driver

VIDEO_IMX258 is added to Kconfig for this new component for camera sensor. It will enable this sensor in kernel, so the component used on samsung nautilus project could have the mipi camera support. RAW image dump is supported in this PO version.

The commit makes it clear that "Nautilus" will have a camera module with Sony's IMX258 sensor, an 13MP Exmor RS 1/3.06-inch sensor with 1.1 micron pixels. It's in the LG G6, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, and other smartphones, and its full list of specifications can be found here.

Just because the "Nautilus" will have Sony's IMX258 sensor doesn't mean it'll take great photos or video, of course. Software is equally important as hardware, and the Chrome OS camera app isn't particularly well-suited for taking photos or videos — something which would need to be rectified in time for the device's release.

Still, the sensor's an enormous increase in resolution over current Chromebooks. No Chromebook on the market uses a camera with a resolution higher than 720p.

As of now, the device's release time frame remains a mystery, but we'll keep an eye out for more information.

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Source: Chromium GerritVia: Chrome Unboxed

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Private Internet Access VPN Is So Private, Even the FBI Couldn’t Find Any Data

When you protect yourself with a VPN, you expect to be truly secure and anonymous online. Many services claim that they keep no records, but it's difficult to know who you can trust.

Over the years, Private Internet Access VPN has proven itself to be ethical and reliable. It provides rock-solid online protection, while also blocking ads and malware. You can currently get a three-year subscription for only $89.95 — that's 64% off.

Back in 2016, Private Internet Access was subpoenaed by the FBI. It came through this test with flying colors; the Bureau noted that no useful data could be retrieved. Furthermore, Private Internet Access employs a range of security measures to keep your IP address under wraps.

Along with masking servers, the VPN has a kill-switch to prevent IP leaks. You also get firewall protection and AES-256 encryption. The new MACE feature blocks malware and trackers, and there are several VPN protocols to pick from.

Private Internet Access provides one-click installers on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. You can protect five devices at the same time, and choose from 3,310 servers in 25 countries. Plus, thanks to unlimited bandwidth, you can stream to your heart's content.

Three-year subscriptions are normally $250, but you can get yours now for just $89.95. You can also upgrade to five years via the link and save 66% on the regular price.

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Smartphone Users Consumed 25% More WiFi and Mobile Data in 2017

For many folks, smartphones have replaced laptops and tablets as the go-to media consumption device. That isn't terribly surprising — it's easier than ever to watch content on the go — and stats show that people have warmed to the idea of using mobile data for streaming videos, music, and games. According to a report from research firm NPD, smartphone users in the US consumed 25 percent more data on their mobile devices in 2017 than in 2016.

The average monthly data usage per person climbed to 31.4GB this year, according to the report, up from 25.2GB last year. Of the total amount of data smartphone users consumed this year, 83 percent was video content. And in the third quarter of 2017 (April to June), 67 percent of smartphone users said they accessed video content via an app on their phones at least once a month, up from 57 percent from the second quarter of 2017 (January to March).

NDP attributes the upward trend to new unlimited data plans from carriers including Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. According to the report, unlimited plan subscribers used 67 percent more data than their limited counterparts. Unsurprisingly, subscribers with capped plans used eight percent more Wi-Fi data than their unlimited plan counterparts overall, and a whopping 18 percent more in October 2017. (Interestingly, NDP found that Android users tend to use more Wi-Fi data than iOS users.)

What do you use your data for? Do you stream media on your mobile data, or do you prefer to do it at home?

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Source: NPD Via:
Axios

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