OnePlus this week followed Samsung’s lead by rolling out Android 12 to its latest flagships, the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro. Android 12 comes in tandem with the company’s Oxygen OS 12, the latest version of its own operating system, which brings OnePlus’ extras to Google’s update.
OxygenOS 12 brings in the usual Android 12 updates, as well as a lot of OnePlus-exclusive changes. There’s no Material You here, but there is a visual overhaul here that’s aimed at enhancing the readability of the operating system. It also makes OnePlus phones feel a lot more like Oppo’s phones, a consequence of the merger that occurred earlier in the year.
Some of the features being highlighted as new — including OnePlus Scout and Work-Life Balance (an iOS 15 focus mode-like feature) — were already available on the company’s Indian models. Other features build upon some that already existed, including a more customizable Always On Display, while the Notes and Gallery apps also have seen improvements. OnePlus has a more detailed changelog for those interested.
The update is rolling out to OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro owners in North America and India now. European owners can expect an update shortly.
OnePlus also shared that its older models would be getting an update to OxygenOS 12 in the first half of 2022. These include the OnePlus 9R, OnePlus 8T, OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus 8, OnePlus 7T Pro, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7, OnePlus Nord 2, OnePlus Nord CE, and the original OnePlus Nord.
OxygenOS 12 has proven controversial among Android enthusiasts, with some critiquing the move away from the Pixel-like Android experience OnePlus once offered and toward a user experience that’s more in line with what associated company Oppo has on its own phones. It’s a big departure from what OnePlus has typically sold itself as, and we’ve noted that these changes have led to an erosion of identity between OnePlus phones, Oppo phones, and even Realme and Vivo phones.
Two new highly requested iCloud plugins just got added to ChatGPT, giving people who rely on Apple’s Mail and Calendar services a way to search emails, check appointments, and manage their schedules directly through the chatbot.
The integration is rolling out to all ChatGPT plans, including the free tier. You can access it on the web, desktop, and iOS.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.