The Redmi Note 10 Pro was arguably the best smartphone in its price range when it was launched in 2021. In fact, the device is so good that Xiaomi re-released it earlier this year in select markets as Redmi Note 12 Pro 4G with some tweaks.
However, this phone is plagued with issues, especially in India where it goes by Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. The country also got a toned-down version called Redmi Note 10 Pro with a different primary camera. Even this has the same issues.
Both these handsets run the same software builds. And for some reason, they haven’t received system updates for months.
Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
Recently, Xiaomi started rolling out a new update (V14.0.7.0) for the Redmi Note 10 Pro global variant. This OTA software update arrives within 3 months from the last one (V14.0.4.0), which was released in July.
On the other hand, the Indian variant still runs V14.0.1.0. This version of the software was released in March for the global variant and in April for India. The global variant also received V14.0.2.0 in April, which never reached the Indian version along with the other two releases discussed above.
In simper words, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and Redmi Note 10 Pro have not received a single system update in India since April. Whereas, the global model got three builds during these six months.
Xiaomi has officially not clarified this discrimination so far. However, we believe this could be due to the hardware issues faced by users by installing new MIUI updates.
Multiple users of Redmi Note 10 Pro and Redmi Note 10 Pro Max in India have been affected by software updates since the phones made their debut in the country. I personally know 3 people who are affected and it was me who recommended the handset to them in the first place.
Xiaomi answered this widespread issue with an additional year of warranty in May. This announcement came a month after the company released the last OTA software update for the devices.
All in all, it seems like Xiaomi has yet to fix the hardware failures caused by new MIUI updates. This could be the only plausible reason we could think of the lack of new software updates for the Indian variant.
Vivo has announced that its 2023 Developer Conference will be held in Shenzhen on November 1. The highlight of the event will be the launch of OriginOS 4, Vivo’s latest custom skin based on Android 14. However, Vivo has also teased that it will be announcing another self-developed OS at the event.
While Vivo has not yet revealed much about the OS, tipster Digital Chat Station suggests that it will be used in IoT devices. It is unclear whether the OS will be available on mobile phones in the future, but Vivo is unlikely to depart from the Android/AOSP ecosystem just yet.
Additionally, Vivo will also release a self-developed AI large model at the conference. According to the latest C-Eval large model evaluation, Vivo’s self-developed model ranks first in the global Chinese list.
The company has revealed that the model will be used for the first time in the upcoming OriginOS 4 system, and will include five self-developed large models with three different parameter levels. These models will cover a comprehensive range of core application scenarios.
The Vivo Developer Conference is just a couple of weeks away, so we should know more about the self-developed OS and OriginOS 4 pretty soon.
Alongside Samsung, OnePlus is the only OEM that is actively working on the Android 14-based Oxygen OS 14 update for its majority of smartphones and tablets. After bringing Oxygen OS 14 Closed Beta Program and consecutive Open Beta builds for OnePlus 11, here’s the Open Beta 3 for the smartphone which fixes some major issues.
The new update for OnePlus 11 aka Oxygen OS 14 Open Beta 3 build is now live for users in India and North America regions. It fixes several bugs, including a fix for the Dark Mode toggle on the Play Store, and “The System Interface Irresponsible” error while using the Play Store. Further, it fixed the screen flashes while navigating between different apps. Below is the full list of known issues.
Known Issues:
-Stucking issue of music sound connecting wired headphones when taking photos.
-"The system desktop has stopped running" error while setting third-party fonts.
-Screen flashes when swiping the navigation bar to switch apps.
-Directly back to the desktop when swiping up to exit the cards in Shelf.
-Dark mode does not work on the Play Store page.
-Incoming call notification banner does not show on desktop.
-"The system interface irresponsible" error while using the Play Store.
Apart from the fixes, there are plenty of other changes and new improvements. The update packs the latest October 2023 Security Patch update and improves system stability. The display issue which was affecting the widgets on the Home screen while switching to Dark mode has also been fixed.
Further, plenty of third-party app issues are fixed which were affecting the payments from third-party apps, and even the photo sharing issue is resolved.
The update will be available for the users who have already opted for the Oxygen OS 14 Open Beta. However, if the users want to flash the new build, make sure they are running either of these builds:
CPH2447_13.1.0.591(EX01)
CPH2447_13.1.0.595(EX01)
For more information about the latest update, and installation steps the users may proceed to the OnePlus Community app thread.
Oxygen OS 14 Program
OnePlus gradually OOS 14 Closed Beta and Open Beta builds for more devices. A total of 15 devices from OnePlus will receive the Oxygen OS 14 update in the next coming months. The users can check whether their device will receive the Androdi 14-based update or not by heading to the Oxygen OS 14 Open Beta timeline here.
The Korean is not stopping by just the flagship and high-end smartphones, the company is actively pushing the One UI 6.0 Beta update for all the compatible devices, no matter they are flagship or entry-level smartphones. Following updates for the Galaxy A53, Galaxy A34, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, and a lot of other devices, the new Beta program is now live for the Galaxy A52s, and Galaxy M23 smartphones. The foldable smartphones including Galaxy Z Flip 4/ Z Fold 4 support for One UI 6.0 Beta are now extended to users in India.
One UI 6.0 Beta Program for Galaxy M23 and Galaxy A52s
One UI 6.0 Beta program has finally commenced for the Galaxy M23 users. Interested folks can head over to the Samsung Community app and avail of the program by tapping on the One UI 6.0 Beta update banner.
Similarly, Galaxy A52s users in South Korea can now participate in the One UI 6.0 Beta program and can enjoy the luxuries of the new Android 14-baed skin. There are plenty of new changes and features that are part of the latest update.
Galaxy Z Fold 4/Z Flip 4 India Vaariant receives One UI 6.0 Beta update
Samsung recently unveiled the Beta program for Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 smartphones in some regions. The program is now available for users in India. Interested users can participate by following the Steps below.
Steps to Apply for One UI 6.0 Beta
Any user who is willing to try the new One UI 6.0 beta before anyone else, can enter the Beta program by heading to the Samsung Members App. The user must update the app, and then sign in to the app before heading for the registration process.
Now, Open the Samsung Members app > then Go To Notice and Select “Registration for One UI Beta Program”. Once you accomplish the on-screen instructions, you will receive the beta update after some time.
After opting for the Beta update, users can check for the update by heading to Settings > Software update > Download and Install.
Precautions
The Beta build always bundles some bugs along with the new features, if your device is the only daily driver, then we don’t recommend installing it. Also, make sure to back up all your important data, as the bugs may make the phone unstable.
The users can submit feedback by heading to the Samsung Members App.
There are some exciting changes in the One UI 6.0, and you can take a look at the complete changelog here.
Realme‘s flagship GT series is due for an update soon. The upcoming Realme GT 5 Pro has leaked extensively in the past and is expected to debut sometime after the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. Now, known tipster DCS has leaked more information about the device ahead of its launch.
DCS has said that the Realme GT 5 Pro is expected to feature a circular camera module on the back, resembling the design of the Realme 11 Pro series. The phone will also come with a vegan leather variant. Last month, a leaked render of a Realme device emerged online which is expected to be the Realme GT 5 Pro.
Realme GT 5 Pro specs (expected)
Previous leaks say that the GT 5 Pro could feature a 50-megapixel Sony IMX966 OIS primary camera, along with an ultra-wide lens and a 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B periscope zoom camera featuring 3x optical zoom, promising versatile and high-quality photography capabilities
The device could boast a 2K curved-edge display provided by BOE. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor will be powered by a 5,400mAh battery with 100W wired fast charging. The hardware will be cooled by a massive 10,000mm² VC heat dissipation system.
The Apple iPhone 16 series is expected to be the company’s next generation of flagship smartphones. While the iPhone 15 lineup was just recently unveiled, new rumors and leaks have already surfaced regarding its successor. Now, the latest report hints at the A18 Bionic chipset being common across all four devices.
All Apple iPhone 16 models to come with A18 Bionic SoC
The news arrives from known analyst Jeff Pu. He claimed that sources from the Apple supply chain has revealed that the Cupertino based giant’s 2024 iPhones will be equipped with the A18 series SoC. Apparently, this new chipset will power every model of the iPhone 16 series. In other words, the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max will come with the same processor family.
In the recent past, the brand featured the latest A series chips on the higher end Pro models while the base and Plus models get the previous year’s chips. But from 2024, it seems like the entire lineup will feature the A18 series chips. The renowned analyst claims that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will feature the A18 Bionic SoC while the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will launch with the A18 Pro chipset. Just recently, Pu shared in a research note that the new iPhone 16 Pro series will arrive with some notable upgrades. This includes the faster Wi-Fi 7 standard and a new ultra wide angle lens.
Samsung has just announced the Galaxy Z Flip 5 in brand-new color options in the Indian market. The company’s official notes state that this is a special edition model, which adds four fresh color variants to its latest foldable smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Special Edition: What’s New?
The South Korean tech giant’s latest release is a special edition Galaxy Z Flip 5 model. For those unaware, it is a flagship clamshell folding phone. At the moment, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 already arrives in four color options, namely Mint, Cream, Graphite, and Lavender. Now, the smartphone will be released in four new color variants. This includes a Yellow, Gray, Blue, and Green version which joins the existing colors.
Apart from the external design, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is essentially the same on the inside. Despite being a special edition model, the new launch retains the same price tag as all of the other variants. So the foldable phone still starts from 99,999 INR for the base 256GB storage variant. The brand is even bringing a great deal for this device, with an instant 7,000 INR bank discount and an additional 7,000 INR discount if you exchange your older phone.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 sports a tall 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display on the front, while the cover screen is a smaller 3.4-inch AMOLED panel. Under the hood, the device is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM. The rear packs a 12-megapixel dual camera setup, while the front houses a 10-megapixel selfie shooter. A 3,700mAh battery pack powers this smartphone, which supports 25W fast charging.
Lenovo has various sub-brands for different types of products. One of them is Legion, which includes all the gaming products from the company.
Internationally, Lenovo’s Legion brand is mostly associated with gaming laptops and desktops. But in China, the brand even sells mobile gaming products like tablets and several exclusive accessories.
Earlier today, the company teased a new pair of gaming earphones. Let’s have a look at them.
Lenovo’s upcoming gaming earphones are officially called Legion H7. These are wired earphones with a USB Type-C port instead of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Thus, this audio accessory is more compatible as most mobile devices now lack a headphone jack. Further, it comes with a flat wire for better durability.
The image shared by Lenovo shows the earphones in a single black color option with turquoise-accented ear tips. It arrives with an inline remote control featuring a microphone on/off toggle and a slider.
This slider allows users to switch between 7.1 surround sound and regular stereo mode. It is possible as the accessory houses a dedicated 7.1 sound card.
That’s all the information we have on Lenovo Legion H7 gaming earphones right now. Perhaps, Lenovo may tease more about the product later before its official announcement. But honestly, there’s nothing much left to reveal.
As of now, we have no details on the global availability of these earphones. But they sure look eerily similar to the recently unveiled Lenovo Legion E510 7.1 RGB gaming earphones.
Xiaomi’s sub-brand Poco is extensively working to bring affordable smartphones to attract new customers in different market segments. In addition, the company is set to unveil a new mid-range smartphone i.e. Poco C65. The smartphone has already appeared in multiple leaks and renders. The recent FCC listing confirmed it as a rebrand of the yet-to-launch Redmi 13C. Surprisingly, the Poco C65 global variant surfaced on Singapore’s IMDA certification, confirming the upcoming launch.
The listing with model number 2310FPCA4G doesn’t reveal anything in particular but does confirm the presence of NFC. The global variant of the smartphone will house support for LTE, Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11ac, and NFC.
Poco C65 and Redmi 13C Previous Leaks
The Poco C55 successor is expected to bring some new advancements in terms of specifications and hardware. As per leaked renders, the Redmi 13C aka Poco C65 will bundle a water-drop notch display and a 50MP primary sensor on the rear.
Apart from the Redmi 13C 4G variant, there’s also a 5G variant that could come with model 23124RN87C, 23124RN87G, and 23124RN87I in respective regions. It will highly likely bundle the Dimensity 6100 Plus chipset.
Poco C65 will feature the same Redmi 13C colors of Black, Blue, and Light Green.
After the Poco C65 launch, we expect the company to launch successors for the Poco C51 and Poco C50 too.
Poco C65’s predecessor was launched earlier this year with some decent specifications to cater to the mid-range market segment. In features, it bundles octa-core Helio G85 SoC and Mali-G52 MC2 GPU,6 GB RAM, 128G Storage, a 5000 mAh battery, and a 6.71-inch HD+ display.
Vivo Y200 5G India launch date has been confirmed. The phone is set to go official on Oct. 23 in the country. Endorsed by Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan, the Y200 5G will be the successor to the Vivo Y100 5G that went official earlier this year in India. The below poster, released by the brand, has revealed its design and color variants.
According to reports, the Vivo Y200 5G will arrive with a 6.67-inch AMOLED FHD+ display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate. It will have a 16-megapixel front camera and a rear camera setup featuring a 64-megapixel main camera with OIS support and a 2-megapixel bokeh lens. As the above images show, the device will have a ring-LED smart Aura flash.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip will power the Vivo Y200 5G. It may arrive with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The device will run on FunTouch OS 13-based Android 13 and offer up to 8 GB of virtual RAM. For security, it will have an in-screen fingerprint scanner.
It will come equipped with a 4,800mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging. It will maintain a sleek profile with a thickness of 7.96mm and a weight of 190 grams.
With a week remaining for the launch, Vivo is expected to confirm more details about the Y200 5G in the coming days.
Mini-PCs have become increasingly popular recently due to the rising desire for small and portable computing devices. These mini-PCs are typically tiny enough to be tucked away in a corner or easily transported in a backpack. SZBOX has now released a new mini-PC called the S100, which is so small that it can fit in your pocket.
The SZBOX S100 measures 2.8″ x 2.8″ x 1.8″ and comes with a removable external dual antenna for WiFi 6 AX600 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity. Under the hood, the device features a quad-core Intel Alder Lake N-100 processor, paired with 16GB LPDDR5 4800MHz RAM (soldered on) and up to 1TB M.2 SATA SSD.
The Intel UHD integrated graphics, equipped with 24 execution units, can handle two displays running at 4K resolution and 60Hz. Notably, the manufacturer has successfully incorporated a cooling system into this compact PC, which includes a blower fan attached to a copper heatsink.
The connectivity options include three USB 3.2 Type-A ports (although it’s not specified whether they operate at 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps), dual HDMI 2.0 ports, 2.5 GbE LAN, and a 3.5 mm audio combo jack. The device is powered through a dedicated USB-C port.
The SZBOX S100 is currently up for purchase on AliExpress. All configurations come with 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and pricing varies, starting at $184 for the model without a storage device and going up to $241 for the version that includes a 1 TB SATA SSD.
Black Shark has officially announced its upcoming launch of two smartwatches, the Black Shark S1 Pro and the Black Shark S1 Classic, in the Chinese market. These watches will include Black Shark’s innovative game health monitoring mode. The S1 Pro introduces “Wen Xinyiyan,” potentially an AI assistant readily available on your wrist. Moreover, they will feature Baidu map navigation and a diverse selection of AI watch faces.
The Black Shark S1 series is rumored to track the player’s gaming activity, including the type of games played and their duration. If the gaming sessions become excessively long, it is expected to provide health reminders. While the Black Shark S1 Pro has already made its global debut, information regarding the Classic variant remains undisclosed. However, it is possible that the Classic model could share similarities with the Pro version.
For those who don’t know, Black Shark has already launched the Black Shark S1 in the global market. Here is a look at its specifications and price.
Black Shark S1 specifications
The Black Shark S1 smartwatch features a round dial sporting a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with 466 x 466 pixels resolution. It offers 600 nits of brightness and a 60Hz refresh rate. It also supports Always on Display (AOD) and provides access to over 100 watch faces. The Shark S1 can monitor more than 100 sports modes and promises a 10-day battery life under regular usage.
The Shark S1 comes with a rotating crown and comes with metal bezels. It’s exclusively available in black and boasts an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water damage. One notable feature is Bluetooth calling support, enhanced with Xiaomi’s ENC algorithm and signal-processing microphone for clear calls. The smartwatch can be paired with the Shark Wear app for precise GPS tracking and periodic exercise updates. It includes essential functions such as a calculator, camera control, stopwatch, message alerts, and more.
The Black Shark S1 is exclusively available in black, and it comes with an attractive price tag of $50. Pre-orders can be made directly on the official Black Shark website, with shipping services available to customers in the United States and across Europe.
Garmin has expanded its Marq (Gen 2) smartwatch series with the new Marq Carbon Collection. The collection consists of three watches—the Marq Athlete, Marq Commander, and Marq Golfer—all of which feature a unique Fused Carbon Fiber build that the company says is “decades in the making.”
Fused Carbon Fiber is a lightweight and durable material that Garmin says is 62% lighter than titanium, while also offering greater abrasion resistance. It consists of 130 carbon fiber layers that are rotated during manufacturing to maintain the housing’s tensile strength.
Garmin then uses heat and pressure to align the block with the shape of the watch housing, bending the layers to match the angles of the watch lugs. The material is then machined using a diamond cutter over the course of multiple hours to create lightweight components that have a unique spiral pattern that runs throughout the material itself.
On the new Garmin MARQ Carbon series, the middle case and bezel are made from Fused Carbon Fiber, while the buttons, outer bezel ring, and caseback are all made from grade 5 titanium with a black DLC finish.
Aside from the new material, the Marq Carbon Collection shares the same specifications as the regular Marq 2 series. This means that the new smartwatches have 46mm case sizes, within which sit 1.2-inch AMOLED displays operating at 390 x 390 pixels. Moreover, the MARQ Carbon Collection is rated for up to 6 days of battery life in smartwatch mode or 21 days with battery saver mode enabled.
However, there are also certain features unique to each device in the collection. For example, the Marq Athlete comes with Garmin’s HRM-Pro Plus chest strap heart rate monitor for more accurate biometrics, the Marq Golfer includes three Approach CT10 club tracking sensors, and the Marq Commander is supplied with two straps: one made from heathered black woven nylon, and one from black silicone rubber.
The MARQ Carbon Collection starts at US$2,950 for the Athlete edition. Alternatively, Garmin sells the Golfer and Commander versions for US$3,100 and US$3,200, respectively. The smartwatches are available to purchase from Garmin’s official site.
Itel has silently introduced the latest addition to its A-series smartphone lineup, known as the Itel A05s, in India. Priced below the Rs 7,000 (~$84) mark, this smartphone offers a spacious LCD display, a big battery, and a dual-camera setup. Here is a look into the detailed specifications of the A05s to get a comprehensive understanding of what it brings to the table.
Itel A05s specifications and features
itel A05s
The Itel A05s has a 6.6-inch LCD panel with a teardrop notch that offers an HD+ resolution of 1612 x 720 pixels, 270 ppi pixel density, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 120Hz touch sampling rate. The device comes preloaded with the Android 13 Go edition.
To keep the lights on, the itel A05s houses a 4,000mAh battery. While there is no official confirmation, it appears that the device offers at least 10W charging. Thankfully, the entry-level phone comes equipped with a USB-C port for charging. According to the brand, the device can offer 7.5 hours of talk time and 32 days of standby time.
The itel A05s is powered by the Unisoc SC9863A octa-core processor that clocks at 1.6GHz. The device ships with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. In addition, it features a microSD card slot for more storage.
itel A05s
For selfies, it has a 5-megapixel camera on the front. The square-shaped camera module on the back houses a single 5-megapixel camera, an LED flash, and a fingerprint scanner. The device offers other features, such as dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Itel A05s price in India, availability
The itel A05s is already listed for purchase on itel India’s website. Priced at Rs 6,499 (~$78), buyers can choose from color options, such as Nebula Black, Meadow Green, Crystal Blue, and Glorious Orange.
Oppo is set to unveil its latest folding screen smartphone, the OPPO Find N3, on Oct. 19 in China. Ahead of the launch, the company has officially disclosed that the upcoming flagship will come with an independent security chip, introducing an advanced level of security.
Oppo Find N3 to offer top-notch security
As described by Oppo Chief Product Officer Liu Zuohu, this innovative security feature is designed to offer users greater privacy and peace of mind. Users can effortlessly access a dedicated, private space with a simple button press, aptly named the “Isolated Island.” It provides hardware-level security for safeguarding personal and business data, with a focus on values such as relaxation, courtesy, peace of mind, and freedom. OPPO has released a promotional video to highlight the enhanced security features of the N3.
The Oppo Find N3 foldable phone is expected to be available in two versions: a standard edition and a Collector’s Edition. According to reports, the N3 features a 7.82-inch foldable AMOLED screen with a 2K resolution on the inside, complemented by a 6.31-inch FHD+ AMOLED display on the outside Both screens support a 120Hz refresh rate and boast high pixel density. Under the hood, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, clocking at 3.36GHz, and offers 16 GB of LPDDR5x RAM paired with 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
The Find N3 is expected to house a 32-megapixel front camera, a 20-megapixel internal camera, and a 48-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 48-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 64-megapixel (periscope) triple camera unit on the back. The device will house a 4,800mAh battery with 67W fast charging and 50W wireless charging. The Collector’s Edition may come with 24 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 1 TB of UFS 4.0 storage.
It is already known that the OnePlus Open and Oppo Find N3 represent essentially the same foldable screen phone, with the Find N3 aimed at the domestic market and the OnePlus Open catering to international markets.
Xiaomi is reportedly working on a new laptop with an unannounced Intel Meteor Lake processor. The device was spotted on the benchmark platform Geekbench with an Intel 14th Gen Core Ultra 7 155H processor, revealing key details about it.
The Geekbench result shows that the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor is equipped with 16 cores and 22 threads, with 6 performance cores and 10 efficiency cores. In the benchmark test, the laptop managed to score 1567 points in single-core and 8228 points in multi-core.
This is relatively lower than the average score of Core i7-13700H, which is 2610 in single-core and 12989 in multi-core in Geekbench. However, it is important to note that these are early benchmarks and the performance may differ when the system makes its final debut.
Besides this, the Xiaomi laptop is equipped with 32GB of memory (should be dual-channel), the storage is unknown, and it runs Windows 11 system.
Intel is betting hard on Meteor Lake’s capabilities. It will be built on the Intel 4 process and will feature XPU (Intel’s device abstraction for CPU, GPU, FPGA, and other accelerators) enhancements with integrated AI and a tiled GPU architecture that, according to Intel, should deliver discrete graphics-level performance.
Intel has also announced that beginning with Meteor Lake, it will use new branding for the Intel Core Processors. The letter “i” will be dropped from the tiering (e.g. Intel Core 5 processor) and the preferred method to put the processor number after the word “processor”, such as Intel Core 5 processor ##xx.
Intel also mentioned that Meteor Lake will be an exclusively mobile architecture and processors on this architecture will be referred to as Core Ultra, while regular Core will be on the Raptor Lake Refresh architecture.
We are excited to see how the Xiaomi laptop with the Intel Meteor Lake processor performs when it is finally launched.
Vivo has announced that it will hold the Vivo Developer Conference on Nov. 1. One of the major announcements during the event will be the launch of OriginOS 4, which is Vivo’s latest custom skin based on the latest Android 14.
OriginOS 4: What to expect?
2023 VDC to be held on November 1
As it is known, the OriginOS UI is restricted to Vivo and iQOO phones launched in China, whereas the company offers the FunTouch OS in the global market for its smartphones. Vivo recently unveiled the FunTouch OS 14 based on the Android 14 for India.
FunTouch OS 14 brings significant improvements to enhance the overall user experience. The introduction of Smooth Envision optimizes system performance by reducing persistent processes and enhancing RAM utilization, adding up to 600 MB of extra RAM space for devices with 8G B or more. The App Retainer feature ensures that whitelisted apps are restored to their last state for seamless multitasking.
Motion Blur is introduced to create smoother visual transitions, even on screens with a 60Hz refresh rate, offering an 18.7 percent improvement in smoothness. Enhanced multitasking features include an upgraded small window feature, supporting up to 12 active windows and side-swipe suspension.
Personalization options allow users to customize their lock screen clock style, offering various layouts and font styles. New always-on-display styles and a minimalist theme are also available. Advanced video editing tools provide users with options for lossless video export, customizable quality settings up to 4K at 60FPS, and 25 video filters. FunTouch OS 14 prioritizes user privacy and security with the Smart Mirroring feature for screen sharing without revealing personal information. Additional password protection is added to hidden photos for added security.
OriginOS 4 is expected to inherit these features while further enhancing animation smoothness and introducing new functionalities. Additionally, OriginOS 4.0 is rumored to integrate AI-driven recommendations to enhance the overall smartphone experience.
The upcoming iQOO 12 lineup and Vivo X100 series will come preinstalled with the OriginOS 4-based Android 14. Apart from OriginOS 4, the company is also expected to announce its self-developed AI for mobile platforms and the new in-house OS for IoT devices.
Everyone knows about HUAWEI. They recently made a new flagship phone with their own chip. This also means that HUAWEI is officially back in the race. But that’s the race of smartphones, the race of watches they never quit. And in this competition, HUAWEI has remained in the Top 3 all year round. And today we’re going to introduce their most advanced technology: the HUAWEI Ultimate, a state-of-the-art smartwatch, but with the look of a classic luxury watch.
Design
The Ultimate, their highest-end watch model, resembles a classic round watch face in design. If it wasn’t for the “HUAWEI” show on the dial, I would have thought it was some luxury watch. The entire watch is mostly made of sapphire crystal and ceramic. The case is made of zirconium-based Liquid Metal, and from the looks of it, you can tell that it’s not a cheap one by any means.
The default dial is also very much in the luxury watch flavor, and HUAWEI is so confident in its branding that its name is engraved in many places, including the crown. I don’t know much about luxury watches and I don’t know how to describe it in words. For an expensive watch like this, I would recommend you to find a store to get your hands on it first. That way you can understand how exquisite I am talking about.
Of course, HUAWEI gives you a silicone strap and a titanium strap. You can choose the right one to wear by yourself according to the occasion.
Features
After a few days of wearing it, what impressed me the most was not only the exquisite design but also some of its unique features. If you look closely at this knob, is the color different from the bezel color. This crown, apart from being the sports mode button, also functions as an ECG electrode to detect your heart health. Although this function is only available in the Chinese version, I would love to introduce it to you guys. Honestly, I think this feature will make you more aware of your body, in addition to making you more conscious of your health in life.
For example, a few days ago, I saw that I might be suffering from atrial premature beats, and HUAWEI Ultimate would suggest I take a good rest. I followed its advice and measured again a few days later and was back to normal. Whether it misdiagnosed me before or I did get some rest in the last few days to recover, as long as my body is healthier as a result, it’s a good feature.
Of course, basic features like blood oxygen detection, and temperature detection are also available on the Ultimate and are just as accurate and useful as the previous HUAWEI Watch, so I won’t go into that again. If I had to rate it, the data it records here has been the most reliable of all the models I’ve reviewed.
Born for outdoor
While the HUAWEI WATCH Ultimate doesn’t look too good for outdoor use. Quite the contrary, it’s also great as a watch for outdoor activities. While looking at this 60° compass-inspired bezel, I would say it’s born for outdoor. The zirconium-based Liquid Metal case has both hardness and weight advantages over stainless steel. So it’s not that easy to scratch or break it. There is another important feature that makes it stand out from the other smartwatches, which is the 100m-diving Water Resistance. Thanks to its 16-structure water-resistant design and lots of diving modes, it’s probably the best smart wearable for underwater.
It also has a dedicated outdoor adventure knob, which is the crown in the upper left corner. Pressing the crown and the Ultimate goes into all-new Expedition Mode. It is backed by Dual-Band Five-System GNSS to ensure more accurate positioning. Its specially designed dim mode makes it easy to read in dimly-lit environments, whether it’s a night by the campfire or a hike under the stars. Continuous location markings and Route Back navigation will get you back on track if you ever stray far off the beaten path.
HUAWEI Health & Battery Life
HUAWEI Health is the app you must download if you want your watch to reach its full potential. A couple of years ago, to install HUAWEI Health, you needed to install Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) first, but now, you can skip the HMS and install HUAWEI Health directly, one of the best companion apps both for Android and iOS. As always, all the features and data are available. And if you are using a Huawei phone, everything will be simple and you will get the best connection and complete performance.
As for battery life, I wore it for about a whole week. All tracking features and AOD were staying on with 42% battery remaining. That estimated that the battery life could last around 10-12 days under heavy use – That’s pretty impressive as a full-functional smartwatch.
I am satisfied with the HUAWEI Ultimate, since it delivered almost everything it promised it could, so I was struggling to pick out any drawback on this smartwatch. I might end up suggesting you reconsider a bit just because it’s truly not cheap. But there are also more affordable variants such as HUAWEI Watch GT 4 for options, which are almost as powerful as the Ultimate.
But I also found that some users who bought smartwatches wouldn’t care too much about the features because they buy a “smartwatch” mainly for “Watch” with smartness, not “Smart” in a watch. HUAWEI has always been like that, making the watch very much like a luxury item. It makes users realize that they are unique.
There are more interesting variants of HUAWEI’s new Watch series released, such as the HUAWEI Watch GT 4 and the HUAWEI Watch Ultimate Design Version with 18 Gold Bezel and gold crown. You can also click here to learn more.
The U.S. is back at it again, this time tightening the screws on AI chip exports to China. According to insiders, new rules are on the horizon, aimed at stopping American chip companies from sidestepping existing export controls. What makes this particularly noteworthy is the timing; the U.S. is in the midst of trying to smooth out relations with China. So, these additional restrictions could very well add tension to an already delicate diplomatic scene.
The focus of the US seems to be on specifically advanced AI chips
Here’s the rundown: Consumer-level chips, like the ones you find in laptops, won’t be affected by these new rules. Instead, the focus is on advanced AI chips, specifically those used in data centers. The aim is to close loopholes that have allowed companies such as Nvidia to dodge previous restrictions. Last year, Nvidia was prevented from shipping some of its most advanced AI chips to China, but it cleverly released a less potent variant, the H800, which skirted the U.S. export controls. This new chip variant could be directly impacted by the upcoming regulations.
This unfolding scenario puts the U.S. in a precarious position, raising questions about the fine balance between maintaining national security and enabling open trade. The added regulations could either safeguard U.S. technological advancements or add another layer of complexity to U.S.-China relations. The world will be watching closely to see how this policy pivot impacts the broader geopolitical landscape.
Japanese automaker Suzuki is unveiling its unique Suzuki MOQBA modular motorcycle concept. The MOQBA is expected to be showcased during this year’s Japan Mobility Show and it is a small electric motorcycle that can walk up stairs. Recall that Japanese rival Yamaha has also got a couple of interesting concept e-bikes to showcase at the same event.
Suzuki MOQBA modular mobility concept – An e-bike that can walk up the stairs
The Suzuki MOQBA electric scooter has four wheels that operate on articulating legs. It holds the record as the first motorbike that can walk upstairs. While it is still a concept motorcycle, the outlook seems to be bright that it could transit into a production model. It comes with added stability for navigating over obstacles and its modular Quad-based architecture is well-suited for such activities. Suzuki says the MOQBA is designed for customers who face barriers in transportation such as steps even in urban settings.
The Suzuki MOQBA concept electric scooter will be extremely useful for the physically challenged in moving up a staircase. It also has applications in medical emergency operations in moving a stretcher up the stairs securely. The MOQBA can be used to carry heavy stuff up and down stairs. The combination of the base chassis with attachments and body variation means that the model has three operational modes. These are the Chair, Standing, and Stretcher modes.
Much of the key specs of the Suzuki MOQBA are still under wraps. The model will however be on full display during the Japan Mobility Show and more optics will surface about the revolutionary scooter. It is however not known whether Suzuki plans to produce this quadrupedal electric motorbike in the near future.
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