OnePlus 6, OnePlus 6T are finally getting Android 11 based OxygenOS

HIGHLIGHTS

• Open beta for OxygenOS based on Android 11 is now out for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T.
• The update brings several System improvements and new features to the two smartphones
• Users are advised to wait for a stable version before upgrading to Android 11.

The OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T are finally upgrading to the OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11. A public rollout for the stable version is still a while away though, as only an open beta has been made available by the company as yet.

Some might think that it is a bit too late for the Android 11 upgrade to the device, with the Android 12 nearing launch. Keep in mind that the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T are around three-year-old smartphones and were launched with Android 8.1 Oreo and Android 9 Pie respectively. The Android 11 update will mark the third major software upgrade for the devices.

Though this may be the end of the line of any more upgrades for the two smartphones. Users of both OnePlus 6 and 6T are hence advised to upgrade to the Android 11 based OxygenOS 11 as and when a stable version is available.

For now, OnePlus has started rolling out an open beta for Android 11 for the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T. The company had first promised to bring the update for the two devices by the end of August. It has now been released more than a month ahead of schedule.

Since this is an early build of the OS, not everyone is advised to install it just yet. OnePlus will use the beta rollout to look for bugs in the system and gather feedback. Once it makes the required improvements, it will likely introduce a stable build in the near future.

For those who still want to upgrade to it right away, make sure that you backup your phone data before doing so. The upgrade will require users to manually download the open beta through the OnePlus forum titled “OxygenOS Android 11 Open Beta 1 for OnePlus 6/6T.” Users can then follow the steps listed on the forum once the package download is complete.

The open beta build for OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 will bring several new features to the OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. These include updates to the System UI that will now feature a new visual design with optimised details.

It will introduce new Game Space features, including convenient switches of Fnatic mode, new notification mode, quick reply, mistouch prevention and more. There will also be an update for Camera with a new and optimised UI, as well as the introduction of features like Ambient Display, Dark Mode and more.

11 Alternatives to Netflix for Online Streaming

Netflix is one of the most popular undisputed king when it comes to online streaming of TV shows and movies, but just because it’s the go-to option doesn’t mean it’s always the best one. Sometimes you’re looking for something different, and sometimes you want to be surprised. Maybe you live in a country where Netflix isn’t very good or it’s blocked (even though Netflix is now available Globally, with some exceptions of-course). What do you do then? Here are 11 sites that you can use instead of Netflix to watch TV and movies.

11 Best Netflix Alternatives

1. Amazon Instant Video

Amazon is really picking up the pace when it comes to video streaming—their original content is getting more recognition for being high-quality, they’re getting a lot of the shows and movies that people want to watch, and the price for instant video is also included in Amazon Prime, which has plenty of its own benefits. And now, with the addition of the Top Gear replacement show, it’s going to have some worldwide exclusives that will bring new viewers.

With a lot of new releases available to view or buy, Amazon is good way to go for viewers who want fast access to the newest movies available. It also offers a free 30-day trial to see if you like the selection of movies and shows that they have on offer. And at $99 per year after that, it’s very competitively priced, especially with the bonuses you get with Prime.

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2. Hulu Plus

If you’re just looking for TV shows, Hulu Plus is a great way to go—with episodes of the newest shows, you won’t miss out on any of your favorites when you can stream them instantly. Signing up for the Plus option at $8 per month gives you the most options for what to watch, and removes the pervasive ads that have long been the bane of non-paying users of Hulu.

With shows like South Park, Empire, Mythbusters, CSI, Law and Order, and The Tonight Show, you can watch the biggest names out there in the most popular shows. Hulu Plus does also offer movies, though the selection isn’t nearly as good as most other streaming services (though there are many hidden gems that can be found).

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3. Vudu

Owned by Walmart, Vudu has a lot of purchasing power and so offers quite a few of the most popular movies and shows online. One of the coolest parts of Vudu is that you can buy movies and TV shows, much like on Amazon, but there’s always a Deals section available—at the time of this writing, Spaceballs is available for $8, Collateral can be had for $5, there are plenty of two-movie sets for $10, and there are seasons of popular shows for $20.

With the wide selection of movies and TV shows, and awesome deals on bundles, it’s tough to beat Vudu for mainstream things to watch. Unfortunately, there’s no free trial, but you can see a lot of the titles that are available from the homepage.

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4. iTunes

You might not think of iTunes as a streaming service, but you can rent just about any movie from the iTunes library for a few bucks, making it a viable alternative to Netflix, especially if you don’t watch very many movies. For $3 or $4, you can find tons of movies in both standard and high definition to rent for 48 hours.

If you watch a lot of movies or want to stream TV shows whenever you want, iTunes might not be the best for you. But if you feel impulsive and want to rent a movie now and then—or buy and download something new right away—it’s hard to beat the wide selection offered by Apple.

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5. BoxTV (India)

If you’re looking for Indian-made and -produced films, BoxTV is perfect. With movies in nine different languages (including Hindi, Bhojpuri, Kannada, and Urdu), the service offers hundreds of movies that will appeal to Indian audiences, no matter where they live; BoxTV is available in India, Singapore, the UAE, the UK, and the US.

BoxTV, compared to many other services, is also very affordable—at  ₹199, £4.99, or $4.99, it’s not much more than a cup of coffee. For that price, it’s hard to beat if you’re looking for Indian movies and shows.

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6. Stan (Australia)

Although Netflix is generally considered to be the best streaming service in Australia, Stan is making a run for the top spot. The company has made deals with a lot of content providers, and has a number of exclusives, including Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Stan is also producing its own content to rival the shows and movies produced by other streaming services.

Its $10 per month price tag is tough to beat, especially with the wide variety of movies and shows that you’ll find on the service, including a few things produced by Amazon, which will likely never make it to Netflix.

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7. Acorn.TV

People around the world love British shows, like Holy Flying Circus, Queer as Folk, and Outnumbered, all of which can be streamed in the US and Canada through Acorn.TV for the very reasonable sum of $5 per month. There are lots of weekly releases, bonus features, and trailers to check out, too.

The selection is rather limited, but if you’re a Brit abroad in North America—or just an Anglo-TV-phile—it might be worth it to subscribe to catch your favorite shows.

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8. Crackle

Sony’s online streaming service, Crackle, is free to watch, but includes commercials. If you’re trying to cut costs but still want to catch your shows and movies, this might be your best bet. It’s hard to know if you’re going to be able to find what you’re looking for, but there are quite a few options that will appeal to many viewers. Right now, National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, House of Flying Daggers, Seinfeld, and District 9 are all available.

You absolutely can’t beat free, and with the solid selection offered by Crackle, it can serve as a great replacement or supplement to another streaming service. Ads are annoying, but they’re not the worst thing in the world, and they could save you $10 a month, which adds up quickly.

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9. Fandor

Are you into indie and foreign movies? If so, Fandor has you covered. Popular indie flicks like Insomnia and Blind, documentaries including Propaganda and 5 Broken Cameras, and quirky cult classics like Ichi the Killer and Dark Star are all available on this service. While you’ll find some movies here that are also on other services, this is definitely the place to look for movies you can’t find anywhere else.

Plans start at only $7.50 per month, and half of what you pay goes back to the rights owners of the movies, so you can be confident that you’re supporting the indie and foreign film industries by becoming a member.

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10. M-GO

A newcomer to the online streaming scene, M-GO aims to become your one-stop shop for movies and TV shows. Because they’re new, the selection isn’t quite as good as some of the other services, but it’s growing quickly, and this site could be a major player in the very near future. The site itself is one of the biggest advantages of the service; it’s well-organized, can help you find lots of things that you’re looking for, and provides great recommendations.

M-GO doesn’t provide unlimited streaming like Netflix or Amazon, but serves as a portal through which you can buy movies and TV shows (like iTunes). It also allows you to accrue rewards points to save money on future purchases.

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11. Yaveo (Spanish)

With the growing Spanish-language market becoming a serious economic force in the United States, it was only a matter of time until a Spanish-language streaming service debuted. DirecTV’s Yaveo offers Mexican programming from Univision, Telemundo, and Caracol, as well as dubbed US programs from channels like Nickelodeon and MTV. Sports, movies, TV, telenovelas—it’s all on Yaveo.

With both Latin American and Spanish content, Spanish speakers will find their beloved shows and movies here when they can’t find them elsewhere. The fact that the service only costs $8 per month and doesn’t require a DirecTV subscription adds to the already solid value.

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SEE ALSO: 30 Best Free and Paid Movies on YouTube

These are the Netflix alternatives you may consider for watching movies, TV shows, etc online. If you know of any other superb alternative that deserves to be on the list, feel free to let us know in comments section.

You Can Now Drive a Tesla and Visit the Gigafactory in PUBG Mobile

PUBG Mobile is getting a huge update that adds a variety of changes, including a Tesla Gigafactory, Tesla electric vehicles, a new Mission Ignition mode, and more. Yeah, you heard that right. You can now drive a number of Tesla vehicles and even check out the popular Gigafactory in-game. Having said that, here’s all you need to know about PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition update.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update

Tesla Gigafactory

PUBG Mobile has teamed up with renowned EV maker Tesla to add a Tesla Gigafactory to the Erangel map. Players can activate switches in the factory’s assembly line to build a Tesla Model Y. Moreover, the cars assembled here will have an autopilot mode. Yeah, it is a life-like Tesla in-game. You can activate Autopilot mode on highways to automatically take you to pre-set markers along the highway.

Apart from Model Y, you will also see the Tesla Cybertruck, Roadster, and Tesla Semi trucks that randomly spawn alongside the road. You can damage the Semi to get supply crates that would meet all your ammunition needs in the game.

Mission Ignition Mode

Accessed through the EvoGround section, Mission Ignition is an experimental mode that envisions the long-term technological transformations on Erangel – the first map in PUBG Mobile. Notably, Mission Ignition mode revamps 6 major areas of Erangel. Check out the new names of popular spots in Mission Ignition mode below:

• Transit Center (Pochinki)
• Port of Georgopol (Georgopol)
• Tech Center (The School)
• Security Center (The Military Base)
• Logistics Agency (Yasnaya Polyana)
• Energy Center (Mylta Power)

Mission Ignition mode offers special gameplay systems, including dynamic elements where lifts, automatic doors, and other moving platforms appear in the upgraded urban area. You could expect HyperLines – a feature that lets players move between fixed locations at certain times. PUBG Mobile 1.5 also offers an Air Conveyor outside some urban areas to travel through the air.

Other than these, Mission Ignition offers new firearms and attachments, including the 5.56 mm ASM Abakan, ergonomic grip, muzzle brake, drum magazine, and more. You will also see a unique anti-gravity motorcycle in this mode.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 also offers other improvements including new glass windows and new firearms and combat improvements. The company has also extended 90 fps mode to some new devices. If you are interested, you can check out the entire patch notes on Reddit here. We will have to wait and see if these exciting features will eventually reach Battlegrounds Mobile India.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update: Size and Release Date

PUBG Mobile 1.5 Ignition Update has a size of around 686MB on Android and 1.64GB on iOS. You can’t team up with players on different versions, so make sure your entire squad is updated to the latest version.

PUBG Mobile 1.5 update will start rolling out from July 14. You can get 2,888 BP, 100 AG, and a Victorian Maiden Backpack for 3 days if you update the game before July 16 (UTC 0). So yeah, are you excited to finally ride a Tesla albeit virtually? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Google Pixel 6 Series Will Get Five Years of Software Updates?

Google’s upcoming Pixel 6 lineup is rumored to launch later this year. While we have seen numerous leaks regarding the Pixel 6, including the Whitechapel chip, a fresh report from Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech has revealed the complete specifications of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro.

Pixel 6 and 6 Pro Leaked Specifications

According to the report, the Pixel 6 will feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, while the Pixel 6 Pro may feature a 6.71-inch plastic OLED display. Notably, this is slightly larger than the previously rumored 6.67-inch display for the Pro variant.

Prosser’s report reiterates the presence of Google’s custom chipset. Moreover, he claims that the regular Pixel 6 could have 8GB of RAM and 128/ 256GB of storage. Pixel 6 Pro, on the other hand, is likely to equip 12GB of RAM and might come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage variants.

In terms of optics, the Pixel 6 may feature a 50MP wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. For selfies, an 8MP front camera is likely. Coming to Pixel 6 Pro, you could expect a triple camera setup consisting of a 50MP wide-angle camera, a 48MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. You might also find a 12MP front camera on the Pro variant.

As you would expect, both devices in the Google Pixel 6 series will run Android 12 out of the box. The battery capacity is likely to be 4,614mAh and 5,000mAh on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro respectively. Other tidbits mentioned in the report include support for Wi-Fi 6E, 5G, and Google’s Android Enterprise Recommended (AER) certification.

Notably, the report also highlights that the Pixel 6 series will get at least 5 years of software updates. While this is a significant jump from the current three years of OS update, it remains unclear if the newly added 2 years will include version updates or just security updates. So, stay tuned for more information.

How to Check Screen on Time in Windows 11

Microsoft has completely overhauled the UI and introduced a plethora of new features in Windows 11, including a new centered taskbar, a new Microsoft Store with Android app support, and more. The Redmond giant has also introduced a battery graph to help users check the battery usage in Windows 11. Within battery usage, you now have the option to check the screen on time, screen off time, and sleep time, much like what you are used to on smartphones. Now, if you upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10, here’s how you can check the screen on time in Windows 11.

Check Screen on Time in Windows 11 (2021)

Checking the screen on time in Windows 11 is fairly straightforward. Unlike switching back to Windows 10 start menu and customizing the taskbar, you don’t have to put in much effort to view the screen on time in Microsoft’s latest OS. Here’s how to check the screen on time on your Windows 11 laptop in easy steps.

Steps to Check Screen on Time in Windows 11

1. Open the Settings app in Windows 11 and go to the “Power & battery” section under the System tab.

2. Under Battery settings, expand the “Battery usage” section by clicking on it. You will find the Battery usage option below the “Battery saver” controls.

3. Here, you will see a chart that shows your PC’s battery usage over the past 24 hours. You can hover over individual bars to know the exact battery percentage during a specific hour. Just below the chart, you will find the screen on time, screen off time, and the total sleep time.

4. You can also view the average screen on, screen off, and sleep time for the last seven days from this page. Switch to the “Last 7 days” option from the dropdown menu at the right side of the “Battery levels” heading to access your average usage.

Check Battery Usage Per App in Windows 11

1. Apart from the screen on time, you can also see the per-app battery usage on this page. This way, you can easily single out the apps that are draining the battery. Windows 11 also lets you sort by apps in use, apps running in the background, and by name.

2. You can also check the battery usage of a particular app here. Just type the name of the app you would like to know the usage of in the search box. You will then see the battery usage when the app was in use and in the background, along with the duration.

This new battery usage feature, along with the screen on time details, could be helpful for Windows 11 laptop and ARM notebook users. If their battery life is deteriorating, they can now head to the “Battery usage” setting to see which app is draining the battery and take appropriate action.

Check Battery Usage Details in Windows 11

⁸So, that’s how you can check the screen on time in Windows 11. If you have not tried Windows 11 yet, we suggest you join the Windows Insider program and give it a go. If you didn’t like the experience, you could always choose to roll back to Windows 10 from Windows 11. Or, if you are waiting for your PC to get the Windows 11 update, take another peek at the best Windows 11 features to know what to expect.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Brings Back Refresh Button, Adds Search in Start Menu

After releasing the first Windows 11 preview build last week, Microsoft is now rolling out a new Insider build (version 22000.65) to Dev channel users. Here are all the changes and bug fixes in the new Windows 11 update.

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22000.65 Released

The most noticeable visual change in the new Insider build has to be the new search box in the Start menu. You don’t necessarily have to click to highlight the search box though. You can just start typing when you open the Start menu and Windows 11 will automatically process your search.

Another convenient change is the ability to show the taskbar across multiple monitors. To change the taskbar placement in Windows 11, go to Settings -> Personalization -> Taskbar and pick how you would prefer to see your taskbar in the secondary display.

You can choose to enable the taskbar in all displays, just the main taskbar, and taskbar where the window is open, or only in the taskbar where the window is open.

Apart from these, Microsoft has updated the system alert dialog box in some cases such as battery low alerts or when you change display alerts. In addition, Windows 11 now shows Power mode settings in the Power & battery page in Settings.

And just when we thought the Refresh option has taken a backseat in Windows 11, the 22000.65 build has brought back the beloved Refresh button to the right-click context menu. Microsoft has also optimized snap layouts when using smaller PCs and brought GIFs to the emoji panel for Windows Insiders in China.

As far as bug fixes are concerned, the latest Windows 11 build includes the fix for the critical PrintNightmare vulnerability and other miscellaneous improvements to Search, taskbar, Settings, File Explorer, Search, and the Widgets. You can check out the entire changelog right here and the best Windows 11 features from our linked article.

WhatsApp is focusing on improving the visual experience for Android and iOS users

WhatsApp is focusing on improving the visual experience for Android and iOS users. The messaging app is reportedly working on larger link previews and the possibility of allowing users to send high-quality images to their contacts. The messaging app was spotted testing large link previews during one of the beta tests. This as the name suggests would change the way a link appears in a chat.

As per Wabetainfo, WhatsApp is testing a large link preview for a future update. The feature was being tested on Android as well as the iOS app. “Not all websites support large previews, so WhatsApp will show the usual small thumbnail in this case. This feature is under development, and it will be available in a future update. Stay tuned to discover other features about WhatsApp beta for Android and iOS!” the report read. The screenshot shared by the WhatsApp features tracker reveals that the link previews would become larger. Users will get to see more content when they receive or send a link.

WhatsApp features tracker said that the feature will be available in a future update as it is still under development. The company has not made it available for public view yet but the beta testers can check the feature after updating their app.

Another feature that the messaging app is working on is to allow its users to send high-quality images on WhatsApp. The messaging app was earlier spotted working on a new feature to let users choose the quality of the video before sending it to their contacts. WhatsApp is now working on high-quality images. If the feature is rolled out, users will get to choose the quality of the image before sending it to their contacts.

Users will get three options— one is the Auto or recommended option, which would automatically detect the best compression algorithm for specific images, the other one is the Best Quality, this would send the image using the best quality available and the third is the Data Saver, which will compress the images when Data Saver mode is enabled in your Android device. The feature is currently under development and not available for the public.

Apart from this, WhatsApp has temporarily enabled waveforms for voice messages. The real-time waveforms will start appearing when you record voice messages. The feature has been spotted in the WhatsApp beta version for Android, and it is currently under development.