Video Streaming Platform Nebula is now available on Android TV

Nebula is a video streaming platform similar to YouTube that was started by a YouTuber to help creators be less reliant on YouTube’s unpredictable algorithms. Gosh, that’s a lot of YouTube in one sentence! Nebula essentially allows creators to post videos on its platform that may not be fit for posting on YouTube or videos that a creator may not want to post on YouTube due to several reasons. This can be experimental content, content with copyrighted material, or something different from the usual genre a creator is known for.

If you follow your favorite creators on Nebula and have been watching videos on the platform, you will now be able to do so on a much larger screen. The Nebula app for Android TV is now available to download from the Play Store. Nebula announced (as spotted by Rene Ritchie) that its app is finally available on Android TV so those who wish to stream content via the platform can now get the app.

Nebula for Android TV. Finally. https://t.co/uiqOZk9gqA pic.twitter.com/BdOmLFHuJl

— Nebula (@WatchNebula) January 5, 2022

The way Nebula is different from YouTube is creators don’t have to worry about a dip in views or revenue when posting content on the platform that’s a little different from the usual set of videos they upload. In fact, the way monetization works on Nebula is entirely different from YouTube. Unlike YouTube that pays creators based on the number of views their videos have got, Nebula pays based on the time spent by viewers watching a creator’s videos. The revenue, which is essentially 50% of the subscription fees to the platform, is divided proportionally based on the watch time of each creator.

That way, the higher the duration viewers watch your videos for, the higher you’re going to get paid as a creator. Nebula is a subscription-based service that costs $5 per month and has more than 200,000 subscribers from across the world. If you wish to watch some unique content uploaded by your favorite creators, you can head over to Nebula and sign-up, and while you’re at it, you can also download their app on your Android TV now!

Nebula (Free⁺, Google Play) →

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Schlage announces smart lock with Apple Home Key support

Schlage has announced a new smart lock that comes with Apple Home Key support. The Cupertino giant first introduced the feature in iOS 15 — which allows users to store digital house keys in their Apple Wallet on iPhone and Apple Watch. When you want to control your lock, you only have to tap your device on it. The technology uses NFC and is similar to Apple’s Car Key feature. It’s also worth mentioning that Home Key works for an additional five hours or so after your device’s battery dies — thanks to Power Reserve mode.

The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt was virtually announced at CES 2022. The new lock works with both the Schlage mobile app and Apple HomeKit. You can use either one or both simultaneously to take advantage of everything it has to offer. Both methods allow remote control, but you’d need an Apple Hub — such as a HomePod — if you’re not using the Schlage app. What makes this Schlage lock so special is it being the first in North America to support Apple Home Key. The company highlights some of its features:

• Homeowners will enjoy being able to check the status of their deadbolt and lock/unlock the deadbolt remotely from their phone.
• Homeowners can create and manage up to 100 access codes from the app, as well as set schedules for those codes for recurring, temporary or permanent access.
• Real-time activity logs make it easier to know when a code has been used, and customizable push notifications provide an added layer of security and peace of mind.
• Pairing the Schlage Encode Plus deadbolt with the Schlage Home app allows homeowners to use Alexa or Google Assistant to securely control their lock via voice.
• The Schlage Encode Plus deadbolt is compatible with iOS and Android devices via the Schlage Home app.

It’s also worth noting that the lock supports the traditional, physical key. So you could always depend on that as a last resort option. Based on the features you use, the battery of this lock could last you anywhere between four months and a year. If you’d like to get your hands on it, you will have to wait till next Spring and put aside $299, though.

Will you be buying this smart lock? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments section below.

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iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and 120W fast charging launched

iQOO is known to make some great value-for-money devices. The iQOO 7 and iQOO 7 Legend were affordable flagships that provided a well-rounded experience with fast performance and reliable cameras. They even made it to our list of the best Android phones in India for 2021. Building on the success of the iQOO 7 series, the brand has now launched the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro smartphones with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset. iQOO has always been about speed and it’s evident when you take a look at the specs of the iQOO 9 series along with the fact that the phones are available in a special BMW version.

iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro: Specifications

Specification	iQOO 9	iQOO 9 Pro
Build	Metallic frame Glass back	Metallic frame Glass back
Dimensions & Weight	164.5 x 76.7 x 8.4 mm 206g	164.8 x 75.2 x 8.8 or 9.2 mm 204/210g
Display	6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels HDR10 120Hz refresh rate 1,500 nits peak brightness	6.78-inch QHD+ AMOLED 1440 x 3200 pixels HDR10 120Hz LTPO panel 1,500 nits peak brightness
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Adreno 730 GPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Adreno 730 GPU
RAM & Storage	8/12GB RAM 128/256/512GB storage	8/12GB RAM 128/256/512GB storage
Battery & Charging	4,700mAh 120W fast charging	4,700mAh 120W fast charging
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner	In-display fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 50MP, f/1.8, OIS Secondary: 12MP, f/2.0, 2X telephoto Tertiary: 13MP, f/2.2, ultra-wide	Primary: 50MP, f/1.8, OIS Secondary: 16MP, f/2.2, 2.5X telephoto Tertiary: 50MP, f/2.3, ultra-wide
Front Camera(s)	16MP. f/2.5	16MP. f/2.5
Port(s)	USB-C	USB-C
Audio	Stereo speakers	Stereo speakers
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS	Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
Software	OriginOS Android 12	OriginOS Android 12
Colors	Black, Orange, White with BMW stripes	Orange, White with BMW stripes

iQOO announced its latest pair of flagship phones in China that succeed the iQOO 7 series from last year. Both the iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro come with Qualcomm’s latest mobile platform — Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. There are a few differences between the two phones though in the rest of the specifications and features. The standard iQOO 9 features a 6.78-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. One of the unique aspects of this panel is that it can achieve a peak brightness of 1500 nits. You can choose between 8/12GB of RAM coupled with 256/512GB of onboard storage.

The rear of the phone houses a 50MP f/1.75 primary camera with OIS accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP telephoto lens with 2X optical zoom capabilities. One of the major highlights of the iQOO 9 is the 120W fast charging onboard that can reportedly juice up the 4,700mAh cell in under 19 minutes. The iQOO 9 uses Vivo’s OriginOS based on top of Android 12.

While the chipset running the show is the same on both devices, the iQOO 9 Pro gets more premium features compared to the standard version in the form of a 6.78-inch QHD+ display which is now an LTPO panel. Apart from the 4,700mAh battery and 120W fast charging, the iQOO 9 Pro also gets 50W wireless charging support making it a true flagship offering. The primary camera on the rear is the same 50MP shooter but the ultra-wide camera has received an upgrade to a 50MP sensor. The 2X telephoto lens has also been upgraded to 2.5X with a 16MP unit. Unsurprisingly, the iQOO 9 Pro also runs on OriginOS based on top of Android 12.

iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro: Pricing and Availability

The iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro will currently be available only in China from 12 January, but the device should make its way to other shores in the near future. The standard iQOO 9 will be available in three color variants — Black, Orange, and a White version with BMW stripes. 8GB of RAM with 256GB of storage is what you’ll get on the base variant for RMB 3,999 ($630/₹47,000). The price goes all the way up to RMB 4,799 ($750/₹56,000) for the top-end variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

The iQOO 9 Pro forgoes the black variant and is available only in two colors — Orange and White with BMW stripes. Even the iQOO 9 Pro has the same RAM and storage configuration as the iQOO 9 on the base variant — 8GB + 256GB — and starts at RMB 4,999 ($785/₹58,000). The top-end variant with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage will cost you RMB 5,999 ($940/₹70,000).

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Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 promises better upload performance and improved efficiency

At CES 2022, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced Wi-Fi 6 Release 2, an update to the Wi-Fi 6 standard. The latest release brings several improvements including faster uplink performance, improved power efficiency, and more.

First and foremost, Wi-Fi Certified 6 Release 2 offers greater uplink capacity. It adds support for uplink multi-user MIMO, allowing multiple devices to upload content concurrently to an access point (AP). Uplink multi-user MIMO support enables faster upload speeds and reduces latency for gaming, video conferencing, and IoT devices. In addition, the release also adds new high-speed channels in the 6 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi 6E, unlocking an even faster and more reliable Wi-Fi experience.

“Wi-Fi delivers advanced capabilities that have driven tremendous global innovation, paving the way for massive growth in Wi-Fi applications that users rely on every day. Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 Release 2 furthers Wi-Fi’s evolution to address today’s market needs, and supports more high-performance Wi-Fi scenarios with greater capacity, efficiency, and reliability,” said Edgar Figueroa, president, and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance.

Another area of focus is power management. The latest release includes some new power and sleep mode enhancements such as broadcast target wake time (TWT), extended sleep time, and dynamic multi-user spatial multiplexing power save (SMPS). These enhancements will allow devices in Wi-Fi Certified 6 Release 6 networks to receive extended sleep periods, specific wake up times for transmitting data, and allow dynamic shut off of redundant chains for improved power efficiency.

New features introduced in Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 will work across all three bands — 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz — supported by the Wi-Fi 6 standard. The new release comes as the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 continues to grow by leaps and bounds. According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, nearly 2 billion Wi-Fi 6 devices are set to enter the market in 2022.

Major industry players such as Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm, NXP, and onsemi have already pledged support for the new release. First devices supporting Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 are expected to arrive in the first half of 2022.

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Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge with 120W fast charging support launched in India

The past few months in India have been rather quiet with respect to phone launches. The Redmi Note 11T did make its way to India at the end of 2021 but there was nothing really special about it. However, that’s changing now with the launch of the Xiaomi 11i and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge.

Xiaomi reintroduced its ‘i’ series of phones in India with the Mi 10i at the beginning of last year, which offered 5G support and a 108MP camera. Continuing that tradition of introducing new innovations in this series, the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge is the first phone to come with 120W fast charging in India. It’s accompanied by the more affordable Xiaomi 11i that also charges pretty fast at 67W. Here are all the details about the two devices.

Xiaomi 11i and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge: Specifications

Specification	Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge	Xiaomi 11i
Build	Polycarbonate frame with flat edges Glass back IP53	Polycarbonate frame Glass back IP53
Dimensions & Weight	163.65 x 76.19 x 8.34mm 204g	163.65 x 76.19 x 8.34mm 207g
Display	6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 360Hz touch sampling rate HDR10 1200 nits peak brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5	6.67-inch Full HD+ AMOLED 120Hz refresh rate 360Hz touch sampling rate HDR10 1200 nits peak brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5
SoC	MediaTek Dimensity 920 Mali G68 MC4 GPU	MediaTek Dimensity 920 Mali G68 MC4 GPU
RAM & Storage	6/8GB RAM 128/256GB storage Expandable via microSD	6/8GB RAM 128/256GB storage Expandable via microSD
Battery & Charging	4,500mAh battery 120W fast charging	5,160mAh battery 67W fast charging
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner Face unlock
Rear Camera(s)	Primary: 108MP Samsung HM2, f/1.89 Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP macro	Primary: 108MP Samsung HM2, f/1.89 Secondary: 8MP ultra-wide, f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP macro
Front Camera(s)	16MP, f/2.45	16MP, f/2.45
Port(s)	USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack IR Blaster	USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack IR Blaster
Audio	Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-res certified audio	Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos Hi-res certified audio
Connectivity	Hybrid SIM slot Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.2 5G bands: n40, n77, n78, n1, n3, n5, n8, n28	Hybrid SIM slot Wi-Fi 6 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.2 5G bands: n40, n77, n78, n1, n3, n5, n8, n28
Software	MIUI 12.5 Android 11	MIUI 12.5 Android 11
Colors	Pacific Pearl, Stealth Black, Camo Green, Purple Mist	Pacific Pearl, Stealth Black, Camo Green, Purple Mist

If you went through the specifications of both phones, you would realize that the only difference between the Xiaomi 11i and the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge is in terms of battery and charging. The standard Xiaomi 11i has a larger 5,160mAh battery with 67W fast charging support. But, the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge takes it up a notch with 120W fast charging. The battery capacity has been reduced slightly on the HyperCharge variant, though, and you get a 4,500mAh unit. Given the extremely fast charging, the smaller battery size shouldn’t matter too much. After all, Xiaomi claims that you can charge the phone completely from 0-100% in just 15 minutes which is insane.

Apart from that, both phones share the exact same specifications throughout. Under the hood, there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC based on the 6nm manufacturing node. It is a mid-range SoC that should ensure great performance on the device. Of course, you also get 5G connectivity with 8 5G bands. The base variant of both devices gets 6GB of RAM along with 128GB of internal storage. The storage can be expanded via a hybrid slot, which means you can either use two SIM cards or a SIM and a micro SD card.

Another highlight of the Xiaomi 11i and 11i HyperCharge is the 108MP primary camera. Of course, Xiaomi has used this sensor on a lot of its phones already so it isn’t something new. But it ensures that the phones are well-rounded in all aspects from performance to cameras to charging. An aspect where Xiaomi has been doing really well on all its upper mid-range devices is the display. The Xiaomi 11i and 11i HyperCharge don’t disappoint in this regard either. The phones get a 6.67-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and HDR10 support.

The phones adopt flat sides along the edges reminiscent of the new iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 design. The frame is made of polycarbonate while the back is glass. Xiaomi has opted for a nice-looking design for the Xiaomi 11i series and the color options complement it well. For those wondering, both the 67W charger for the Xiaomi 11i and the 120W charger for the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge are provided within the box itself.

Xiaomi 11i and Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge: Pricing and Availability

The Xiaomi 11 and the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge will be available in 5 color variants – Pacific Pearl, Stealth Black, Camo Green, Purple Mist and will be available starting from 12 January 2022. The Xiaomi 11i starts at ₹24,999 for the base variant while the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge starts at ₹26,999. The higher RAM variants are priced at ₹26,999 and ₹28,999, respectively. You will be able to purchase the phones from Flipkart, Mi.com, Mi Home Stores, and official retail partners.

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Google brings back Cast volume controls for Pixel phones with January 2022 update

With Android 12, Google quietly removed one important feature: the ability to control the volume of Cast-enabled devices using your phone’s volume buttons. On Android 11 and earlier versions you could change the volume of an ongoing Cast session by simply pressing the volume buttons from any screen. But that convenience is gone in the latest version of Android — you now have to open the relevant app to adjust the volume. Earlier in November Google said it had to temporarily disable the feature due to a legal issue and that it would bring it back in Android 12L. But it appears we won’t have to wait till the next Android release to get the feature back.

As spotted by Mishaal Rahman, Google has seemingly re-enabled Cast volume controls for Pixel phones running Android 12 with the January 2022 security update. That means you can once again control the volume of your Cast session using the volume keys from any screen.

Surprise! Cast volume controls have been re-enabled with the January 2022 update for Pixel. Google either settled its legal matter or this new method enables cast volume controls in a way that doesn’t violate the patent.

Here’s the relevant patch: https://t.co/trVx0zqhAm pic.twitter.com/mEZZy4FXn0

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) January 5, 2022

As you can see in the screenshot above, when you’re streaming something to a Cast-enabled device, pressing the volume key will bring up the familiar Cast volume slider.

It’s unclear whether Cast volume controls will make their way to other Android 12 devices anytime soon. For now, it seems the feature is only coming to Pixel phones running Android 12. The January 2022 update was released earlier this week and is currently rolling out to the Pixel 3, Pixel 4, and Pixel 5 series. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will get it sometime later this month.

Has the latest January 2022 update re-enabled Cast controls on your Pixel phone running Android 12? Let us know in the comments below.

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Samsung joins the Home Connectivity Alliance to promote interoperability and drive innovation

Interoperability, or lack thereof, is one of the most important factors you need to consider while purchasing smart home devices from different manufacturers. Since OEMs have different standards in place for their smart home products, you need to make sure that the devices you purchase are compatible with each other. This could prove to be a bit overwhelming for those who are new to the smart home scene. In an attempt to address this issue, Samsung and a few other manufacturers have set up the Home Connectivity Alliance.

According to its website, the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA) aims to provide consumers with more options within a safe, secure, and interoperable connected home ecosystem. It has three main goals:

• Provide consumers with more convenience and options through interoperability. Remove “walled garden.”
• Protect consumer data privacy, reduce additional points of failure, and provide uncompromised safety.
• Drive innovation through collaboration with Government agencies and other trade alliances, and foster innovation in the connected home space through competition.

During its CES 2022 keynote, Samsung said that as part of the HCA it plans to work with other member companies to develop shared guidelines for cloud-to-cloud interoperability while taking data security and consumer safety requirements into account.

Talking about Samsung’s commitment towards the HCA, Chanwoo Park, EVP and Head of IoT Business Group at Samsung Electronics, said, “As digital technology becomes more embedded in everyday life, we at Samsung believe that it’s essential to bring greater openness to our smart home ecosystem and empower consumers with more options to create truly personalized home experiences. We are excited to work with other members of the HCA and will work to make home lifestyles easier and smarter with meaningful innovations in smart appliances and connectivity.”

In essence, this means that Samsung’s smart home products will soon work seamlessly with products from other manufacturers, like Arçelik A.Ş., The Electrolux Group, Haier, GE Appliances, and Trane Technologies. Consumers will be able to access products from these manufacturers through Samsung’s SmartThings platform and they will also have the option to access Samsung’s smart home products through apps from other HCA members.

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