A new mod has now appeared for Xiaomi’s Mi A1, intended to extend on the handset’s functionality and add back some features that were previously missing due to its inclusion on Google’s Android One platform. For those who may not already be aware, the Android One platform is essentially a way for manufacturers to deliver a purer Android experience to their customers. Of course, that means that Android One devices don’t generally ship with the OEM overlays or extra features that would ordinarily be added by manufacturers. The mod in question was posted to the site by XDA Developer “Rajeev” on December 29 and adds some of the features that would usually be added by the OEM.
With regard to the features included in the mod, the developer has listed a total of six and most of those are changes to the notification bar and its pull-down menu. First, the mod will allow users to wake up their device using only the device’s fingerprint scanner. That is said to work not only with the stock lock screen but also with third-party lock screen apps. Better still, the mod will allow a device to be unlocked by users after a reboot without having to input a password or pin – which is usually required on the initial device boot. Beyond that, the “HD” symbol in the notification bar and other areas of the U.I. has been altered to show “voLTE,” giving users a clearer indication of what type of voice service they currently have available. Clicking the clock in the notification bar, meanwhile, will now launch the same action as pressing the Xiaomi Mi A1’s power button. Namely, it will cause the power down menu to appear, giving users the option to reboot or turn off the device, without having to press and hold the power button. The number of quick tiles found in the drop-down menu will also be tweaked, showing four columns instead of the usual three. Finally, the mod will add an auto-brightness toggle and slider to the menu, as well as a night mode.
None of the functions being added here is necessarily groundbreaking, but each can be exceptionally useful for making adjustments on the fly. However, it bears mention that, as with all device modifications, this mod should be approached with caution by less experienced users. Modifying the underlying software on any device comes with the risk that things will go wrong, resulting in devices that don’t function properly and often resulting in a device’s warranty becoming void. So anybody interested in checking the mod out will probably want to back up their device and ensure their device has all appropriate requisites before getting started. This mod is only designed to be installed on the current Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) build on the Xiaomi Mi A1. Bearing that in mind, in order to take advantage of the mod, users will need a device with root access and TWRP installed – to flash the mod. Once that has been achieved, installing the mod is fairly straightforward and further instructions can be found via the source link below.
