Alongside the launch of the selfie-centric Redmi Y2 in India, Xiaomi has today also unveiled the global variant of its modernized MIUI 10 ROM on stage at the launch event. The Global MIUI 10 ROM will be rolled out to compatible Xiaomi devices in mid-June.
While most of the features including the redesigned UI, multi-tasking window, AI portrait, and gesture navigation remains the same as those we’ve already seen on the Chinese ROM of MIUI 10, but the company has added a ton of India-centric features as well (just like last year’s MIUI 9). Here’s the quick look at new features added for Xiaomi’s Indian user base:
India-Centric MIUI 10 Features
-
Access PWAs of Indian Services
With the 4G revolution of last year, millions of Indians are getting online for the first time. And these new users may not always know which apps and services to use to get their work done. Xiaomi says the browser has, hence, become one of the most important apps and it wanted to make it even useful.
This is the primary reason that the browser app on MIUI 10 will come packed with an “apps section” that gives you access to Progressive Web Apps (PWA) of popular local services in India. You can open PWAs of services like BookMyShow. MakeMyTrip, Ola Cabs, OYO Rooms and more.
-
Scan Paytm QR Codes Easily
Paytm became the go-to digital payments platform post demonetization in India and we now see its QR Codes at most retail stores and even at street-side hawkers. Xiaomi saw an opportunity here to simplify the payment process and has done the same with MIUI 10.
You can now just open the camera app on your MIUI 10-powered Xiaomi phones and scan a Paytm QR code to instantly pay for stuff. The camera app is deeplinked with the Paytm app, which means you’ll need to have it installed on your phone as well.
-
Messaging App Updates
With MIUI 10, Xiaomi is also making its messaging app more handy for Indian users. The app could previously recognize and club together messages from businesses, which didn’t require you to ever send a reply. In such cases, Xiaomi will remove the reply box altogether in MIUI 10, and replace it with a new ‘Quick Menu’. Quick Menulets users jump straight to the official app from the business which has messaged you, or its PWA. For bank-related messages, you can also search for nearby ATMs and open their website with a tap.
Xiaomi, in its official MIUI Forum post, has stated that it will make the quick menu feature available for more than 100 sender IDs, such as Paytm, ICICI Bank, IRCTC, Flipkart and a lot more.
-
MI Music And Mi Video
Xiaomi also announced on stage that the Mi Music and Mi Video apps have added a ton of content via partnerships with Hungama Music, Voot, TVF, and many others. But, we were already aware of it as the company has unveiled the same at its annual Mi Pop Festival in India earlier last month.
The MIUI 10 Global beta ROM is scheduled for rollout in mid-June, as announced on stage at the Redmi Y2 launch event. You can find the complete list of Xiaomi phones that will be receiving the MIUI 10 update above and that’s a lot of devices — dating back to 2013. So, are you excited to try out MIUI 10? Let us know in the comments below.
