Apple tightens App Store review process, requiring developers to explain API usage

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Jul 28, 2023

Apple has always been known for its strict App Store policies, which have sometimes caused mixed reactions among developers. In the latest development, the Cupertino company has announced that developers will need to justify their use of certain Apple APIs before their apps can be listed on the App Store. This is an effort to limit apps from tracking user data.

Apple is against unecessary user data tracking

Apple is adding a new category of APIs called “required reason APIs”. These APIs have the potential to be misused to track users, so Apple is requiring developers to explain why they are using them in their app’s privacy manifest file. If you use a required reason API in your app, you will need to update your privacy manifest file by Fall 2023 or your app will be rejected from the App Store.

“To prevent the misuse of certain APIs that can be used to collect data about users’ devices through fingerprinting, you’ll need to declare the reasons for using these APIs in your app’s privacy manifest. This will help ensure that apps only use these APIs for their intended purpose,” Apple explains.

The new changes will start to take place this fall, with the release of iOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. Developers will be notified about submitting apps using a Required Reason API without describing the reasons for using it. In fall 2024, Apple will start rejecting apps that do not provide a proper explanation.

The new requirements are designed to help protect user privacy. By requiring developers to explain why they need access to sensitive data, Apple can help ensure that apps are only using this data when it is truly necessary. However, this will also increase the number of app rejections.

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Honor flip phone coming next year, says executive

By

Anurag

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Jul 28, 2023

Honor made a splash in the smartphone industry with its thin and lightweight Honor Magic V2. The book-style foldable is thinner than any other foldable on the market and weighs less than even a mainstream flagship like the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Honor is also rumored to be launching a flip phone, and while we await more concrete information, an executive has hinted that it could be released sometime next year.

Honor flip to face tough competition from Samsung and Motorola

According to a Reframed report, an Honor executive recently confirmed that the company will launch its first Flip phone in 2024 (via Android Authority). “Honor not only has this Fold, we still have the Flip, but next year,” Honor Middle East and Africa (MEA) president Daniel Wang made the announcement at a media roundtable at the MEA launch of the HONOR 90 series.

While the executive didn’t reveal any other details, we expect the flip phone to offer consumers a unique experience. Similar to what Honor managed to pull off with the Honor Magic V2, the flip phone could have a lightweight design and could even be thin. It could also have a large cover screen, which is a trend in the industry.

The upcoming Honor Flip will have to compete with popular phones like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Moto Razr 40 Ultra. These phones have already established themselves as reliable and durable devices, with well-designed hinges and other important features. The competition in the folding phone market is fierce, and Honor will need to offer a compelling value proposition in order to succeed.

Currently the details about the upcoming foldable are pretty short. We hope to learn more in the coming days. Are you excited about the Honor Flip?

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Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition with a few design tweaks unveiled in Korea

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 28, 2023

Samsung has released the Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition smartwatch. The new Samsung wearable is a refreshed version of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic and comes with several design and software improvements. This is coming on the heels of Samsung opening pre-orders for the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition is being offered in Samsung’s home market of South Korea. The Golf Edition of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic mirrors Samsung’s approach in previous Galaxy Watch releases. The design changes provide distinguishing features between the Golf Edition model and the standard model. Functionally, however, the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic Golf Edition is identical to the regular model.

The Golf Edition model relates only to the Galaxy Watch6 Classic, while a similar model for the Galaxy Watch6 is lacking. The new Golf Edition model of the Galaxy Watch6 Classic has a green ring around its bezel. It also sports a green accent on its upper hardware button and comes with black and green watch straps. The Golf Edition Galaxy Watch6 smartwatch has the Smart Caddie app pre-installed. The Smart Caddie app is a subscription-based service that costs $6.99 per month.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Golf Edition smartwatch is currently available in South Korea for KRW 436,620 (~$342). It is unclear at this time whether the smartwatch will subsequently be available in overseas markets. However, we expect it to follow the trajectory of the Galaxy Watch5 series whose special edition model was available globally.

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Samsung Wants More Money: Aims for One in Five Phones Sold to be a Foldable Galaxy Z Fold or Z Flip

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jul 28, 2023

Foldable phones are becoming more popular every day. Nowadays, almost all manufacturers, except for Apple, have a device that uses the flexible OLED technology. What’s more, it is known that Apple is also conducting some work on this. Without a doubt, Samsung was the quickest to adopt to foldable technology. In fact, the company recently unveiled its latest foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 models, of which it’s one of the pioneers.

According to the latest information, the company has high expectations from this technology. Samsung aims to make foldable phones account for 20% of its premium sales globally by the end of 2023. Here are the details…

Samsung Plans to Sell More Foldable Phones in 2023

Selling premium smartphones is more important for manufacturers than selling all their other models. This is because companies earn most of their money from these high-end devices. For example, despite Apple selling fewer units than Samsung for many years, it earns more money. The reason is not because of selling entry-level or mid-range models like the Galaxy M and A series, but because it sells flagship products. Now, Samsung wants to achieve the same by selling foldable smartphones.

Roh Tae-moon, the president and head of Samsung Electronics’ mobile business, made some comments about the company’s plans at a meeting he held a short time ago. Tae stated that 2023 is very important for them, saying, “Samsung aims to sell more foldable phones.” Their aim is to have these foldable phones make up more than 20% of total Galaxy smartphone sales worldwide.

“This year will be very important for Samsung. We want to make foldable phones popular,” said Roh. He also said that in a few years, Samsung might sell up to “100 million foldable phones each year worldwide.” These numbers come from reports by many firms that study the phone industry.

By 2025, Samsung plans for half of its smartphone sales to come from foldable models. This means foldable phones will be as significant to the company as its Galaxy S series. The company already holds a leading position in the foldable phone market. In 2022, Samsung had a whopping 77% of the global foldable phone market share. This is a big deal for a market that is expected to reach 48.1 million units by 2027. However, it’s still uncertain whether the company can maintain this success in the future.

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Meta Reverses Decision, Imposes Charges on Cloud Providers for AI Technology

By

Joane

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Jul 28, 2023

In a surprising turn of events, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has decided to charge cloud computing giants for its AI model, Llama 2, after initially announcing that it would be offered for free. The company had recently partnered with Microsoft and Amazon, intending to provide Llama 2 on their cloud platforms without any costs to access or use.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, clarified the change in their approach, stating that when cloud providers resell Llama 2’s services, Meta believes it should receive a portion of the revenue. While Zuckerberg acknowledged that this revenue may not be significant in the short term, he expressed hopes that it would become a substantial source of income over the long term.

This U-turn in Meta’s strategy has left industry experts and users questioning the company’s initial commitment to offering AI technology for free. Cloud providers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, who were expecting to leverage Llama 2 at no cost, will now be required to negotiate a business arrangement with Meta to utilize the AI tech on their platforms.

The move has raised concerns about potential implications for smaller cloud companies that may find it difficult to bear the additional expenses. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the dynamics between Meta and its cloud partners and how other companies in the tech industry will respond to this unexpected change.

With the news still fresh, many are awaiting further clarifications from Meta on the specific terms of their new licensing approach. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, industry players are closely observing these developments to gauge their potential impact on the wider tech community.

Large language models (LLMs), like Llama 2, have proven instrumental in powering text-based chatbots and enhancing AI’s ability to respond to various queries. However, the implications of allowing access to vast amounts of information for training these models have not been without controversy. Privacy concerns and potential biases embedded in the data used for training pose significant challenges that the AI community must address diligently.

Mark Zuckerberg’s reaffirmation of Llama 2 being open-source indicates Meta’s commitment to promoting collaboration and innovation in the AI domain. Nevertheless, the caveat that prominent cloud providers must enter into a business arrangement has given rise to speculations about the company’s long-term strategies and financial motivations.

As Meta continues to navigate this intricate landscape of AI technology, industry observers eagerly await further details on the specific terms and conditions surrounding the open-source offering and the nature of the business arrangements with cloud providers. The true impact of this decision on the development and accessibility of AI advancements remains to be seen, prompting stakeholders to closely monitor how the situation unfolds in the coming months.

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OnePlus Nord CE 3 Indian sale tipped for August 5, offers revealed

By

Sudhanshu

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Jul 28, 2023

Earlier this month, OnePlus announced two exciting mid-range devices in India dubbed the Nord 3 and the Nord CE 3. While the Nord 3 is a more premium variant, the Nord CE 3 will target the highly competitive sub-30,000 INR segment.

Though any announcement is yet to come on its availability, tipster Yogesh Brar has revealed that the phone will be available to purchase in India starting August 5. The tipster has also revealed that the OnePlus Nord CE 3 will get a 2,000 INR discount on its price for purchases made through select back cards.

Consequently, the 8GB+128GB variant, originally priced at 26,999 INR, is expected to be discounted to 24,999 INR, while the 12GB+256GB model, originally priced at 28,999 INR, is likely to be offered at 26,999 INR.

OnePlus Nord CE 3 specs

The OnePlus Nord CE 3 boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera, offering a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The display features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, complemented by 2160Hz PWM dimming for enhanced visual performance.

Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 782G, a 6nm octa-core CPU with a maximum clock speed of 2.7GHz. The processor is paired with options of 8GB or 12GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

In the camera department, the device comes equipped with a triple camera setup on the rear. The main camera boasts a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with OIS, similar to the OnePlus Nord 3. Additionally, there’s an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro shooter for capturing a variety of shots. On the front, the device has a 16MP selfie snapper.

Powering the device is a robust 5000mAh battery that supports rapid 80W fast charging. On the software side, the Nord CE 3 runs on Android 13 OS with OxygenOS 13.1, offering an optimized user experience.

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Xiaomi 13T Pro gets NBTC certified confirming moniker, October launch expected

By

Sudhanshu

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Jul 28, 2023

Xiaomi is preparing for the release of a new smartphone in China, which will bear the name Redmi K60 Ultra. However, for the global market, the device is expected to be rebranded as the Xiaomi 13T Pro. According to rumors, the launch is likely to take place around October. Excitingly, the smartphone has made an appearance on the NBTC certification website, suggesting an imminent launch in Thailand.

As per the NBTC certification, the device carries the model number 23078PND5G and is officially confirmed to be named Xiaomi 13T Pro. However, apart from these details, no further information has been disclosed by the NBTC certification regarding the smartphone’s features or specifications. Let’s take a look at what the leaks have to say about the device.

Xiaomi 13T Pro specs

As per a recent report, the Xiaomi 13T Pro will feature a Dimensity 9200 Plus chipset that has a maximum clock speed of 3.35 GHz. That being said, the Geekbench score of 1289 points in the single-core test and 3921 points in the multi-core test lags behind the cutting-edge chips from Qualcomm.

Rumors surrounding the device suggest that it may boast a 144Hz OLED screen, backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 120W fast charging support. Furthermore, the smartphone is expected to offer ample storage with 512GB capacity and a Leica-optimized camera setup for enhanced photography. Interestingly, an accidental Amazon UK listing from last month hinted at a price tag of £799 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage configuration of the Xiaomi 13T Pro.

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Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus With AMOLED Display And Apple Watch Ultra-Like Design Launched In India

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jul 28, 2023

Fire-Boltt has launched a new smartwatch that resembles the Apple Watch Ultra. Previously also, the brand has launched smartwatches that look similar to the Cupertino-based tech giant’s wearable device. The latest offering from the homegrown brand is called Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus. It is an upgraded version of the Gladiator that was announced in December last year.

Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus specifications and features

The Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus is pretty much identical to the Apple Watch Ultra in terms of design. It has a square dial with a rotating crown and a physical button on the right side. The smartwatch features a metal body that is said to be crack-resistant. There is an IP67 certification making it resistant to dust and splashes.

The Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus comes with a large 1.96-inch AMOLED display bearing a resolution of 410 x 502 pixels. It offers a 600 nits peak brightness and Always-on display mode.

Coming to the health-centric and fitness features, the Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, sleep tracker, and menstrual cycle tracker for women. The device also reminds users to hydrate themselves and the sedentary reminder alerts them to keep moving. The wearable device packs is capable of monitoring more than 115 sports modes.

The Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus enables users to make calls directly from the smartwatch with the built-in speaker, mic, and Bluetooth calling feature. The device comes with 2048 and Flappy Bird built-in games. There are convenient features like a calculator, weather updates, social notifications, and more.

The Fire-Boltt Gladiator Plus comes in Nylon, Silicon, and Metal strap versions. The former two are offered in Black, Blue, Orange, Beige, and Green colors. These are priced at Rs 2,999. The metal strap options are available in Black, Blue, Silver, Grey, and Rose Gold hues. These cost Rs 3,499. The smartwatch is available for purchase from Amazon.

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Huawei Mate 60 Renders Leaked: A Strong Rival to the iPhone 15

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jul 28, 2023

Huawei is undoubtedly the most unlucky company among smartphone manufacturers. It captured the attention of all technology enthusiasts in the 2010s with its great phones like Mate 20 series and aimed to be the global market leader. However, the company has been facing challenging times since 2019 due to the US embargo. Despite losing a significant portion of its market share in almost every country outside China, Huawei has no intention of giving up. The tech giant is currently working on the Mate 60, which is expected to be one of the strongest competitors of the iPhone 15. Most recently, render images of this stunning phone have emerged. Here are the details…

Huawei Mate 60 Render Leaks Show a Stunning Design

In today’s world, keeping secrets is quite difficult and Huawei is no better at this than all the other tech companies in the market. The good part of this is that tech enthusiasts like us get to learn about the products they are eagerly waiting for much before their release.

Most recently, a blogger leaked render images of the Huawei Mate 60. As shown in the images, the phone has three cameras on the back in a round design similar to the Mate 40 Pro. The flash module is located at the top.

The phone in the image appears to be matte black and looks resistant to fingerprints. This is great news for users who prefer to use their phone without a case. The golden color of the logo and around the camera island adds a stylish look. Unfortunately, there is no image showing the front of the device. However, since we know what to expect, this is not a problem.

One of the most notable features of the Huawei Mate 60 series is that it will come with a Dynamic Island type (Spirit Island) pill-shaped front camera. This area will be interactive, just like on Apple’s phones. The Huawei Mate 60 series is expected to be launched with the HarmonyOS 4.0. This new operating system, which will be revealed on August 4, is anticipated to introduce many new features and elevate Huawei phones to a new level, making it easier to compete with iOS and Android.

Huawei has not yet revealed the official release date for the Mate 60 series. However, some reports suggest it might be launched in September or October of 2023.

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The Nubia Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Goes On Presale: Comes with 1.47-Inch Display at 899 Yuan

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jul 28, 2023

Marketing and advertising strategies are very important for smartphone manufacturers. For this reason, companies often collaborate in various ways to increase their recognition. We recently saw one of the most tangible examples of this with products named “Xiaomi Civi 3 Disney 100th Anniversary Limited Edition”. Now, Nubia Red Magic has done a similar project for its mechanical keyboard. The company has partnered with the beloved Transformers movie series and has opened pre-sales for its keyboard inspired by Bumblebee. Here are the details…

Nubia’s Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Super Edition Now Available for Presale

The Nubia Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Super Edition is inspired by Bumblebee and features a striking black and yellow design. It is made with durable PBT keycaps and has a compact layout of 100 keys. The TTC Quick Silver V2 shafts and a unique CASKET structure work together to reduce noise and vibration from typing.

One of the most unique features of the Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Super Edition is its hot-swappable design. This means that you can swap out the switches on each key without having to desolder the keyboard. This gives you the flexibility to customize the feel and performance of your keyboard to your liking.

The keyboard also features a 1.47-inch display that can be used to display useful information, such as the time, battery level, and keystrokes per minute. The display can also be used to show off custom wallpapers. In terms of connectivity, the Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Super Edition can be connected to your devices via wired, 2.4GHz wireless, or Bluetooth. It also has a large 4000mAh battery that can last for up to 200 hours on a single charge.

The Red Magic Esports Mechanical Keyboard Super Edition is available for presale now for 899 Yuan. It is expected to start shipping in early August.

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Poco Pods TWS earbuds unveiled in India with complete spec sheet, sale starts tomorrow

By

Sudhanshu

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Jul 28, 2023

Xiaomi’s sub-brand, Poco, has recently launched its inaugural true wireless earbuds in India, named the Poco Pods. These earbuds boast an array of appealing features, including Bluetooth v5.3 LE, sweat resistance, and large drivers, all while being budget-friendly. Let’s delve into the specifics of what they have to offer.

Poco Pods earbuds specs

The Poco Pods earbuds offer Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, ensuring stable wireless connections to your devices. The SBC codec enables high-quality audio streaming for better sound performance.

The earbuds come with Google Fast Pair, making the pairing process quick and effortless with Android devices. Designed for music enthusiasts, the 12mm drivers are intended to provide professional-level bass, offering a rich and immersive sound experience. The inclusion of Environmental Noise Cancellation technology helps block out ambient noise, allowing users to focus on their music or calls without distractions.

For gaming enthusiasts, the 60ms Low-latency Gaming Mode reduces latency for a more responsive and immersive gaming experience. The earbuds also feature touch controls, allowing users to manage music playback, answer calls, and activate their voice assistant (Siri or Google Voice) conveniently.

In terms of durability, the POCO Pods have an IPX4 rating, making them splash-resistant and suitable for various outdoor activities. The earbuds house a 34mAh battery, providing up to 5 hours of playback on a single charge, while the 440mAh battery in the charging case offers 30 hours of backup power. Additionally, the fast charging feature allows for 90 minutes of music playback with just a 10-minute charge.

Pricing & availability

The POCO Pods are competitively priced at Rs 1,199 in the Indian market. Following the brand’s trend, these earbuds will be exclusively available for purchase on Flipkart. Interested customers can buy them starting from July 29.

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Pebble Revolve Smartwatch With 3 Changeable Dial Casing Launched In India

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jul 28, 2023

Pebble has expanded its range of smartwatches in India. The latest offering from the brand is dubbed the Pebble Revolve. It falls under the Rs 4,000 price segment and competes against other smartwatches offered by brands like Noise, boAt, Fire-Boltt, and more in the market. Read on to know what the device offers out of the box.

Pebble Revolve specifications and features

The Pebble Revolve has a circular dial. The striking highlight is that the dial casing is changeable and comes in three options. The device is also offered in three removable strap options. This gives users the option to customize the look of the smartwatch depending on their preferences. The smartwatch features a 1.39-inch HD display with a 550 nits peak brightness and Always-On display mode. There is IP67 water-resistant rating and a rotating crown for navigation.

In terms of fitness, the Pebble Revolve is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, female cycle tracker, and sleep monitor. The wearable device packs support for multiple sports modes.

The Pebble Revolve comes with Bluetooth calling feature that also offers access to call logs and a dial pad. It has support for voice assistants. The wearable device packs convenient features like a notification display, weather updates, calendar, camera and music control, alarm, and more. It is powered by a 230mAh battery unit that is claimed to last up to seven days on a full charge.

The Pebble Revolve is priced at Rs 3,499 and offered in Classic Metal, Soft Silcion, and Premium Leather strap options. It can be purchased from the brand’s website and Flipkart.

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Samsung Galaxy M44 5G With Snapdragon 888 SoC Spotted On Geekbench

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jul 28, 2023

Samsung is reportedly working on a new Galaxy M-series phone. It is likely expected to arrive as the successor to the Galaxy M34 5G. The upcoming M-series device could reportedly be the Samsung Galaxy M44 5G. It has been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking website. Read on to learn what we know so far.

Samsung Galaxy M44 5G Geekbench

The Samsung Galaxy M44 5G has appeared on Geekbench with model number SM-M446K which seems to be for the Korean market. The listing reveals a motherboard codenamed ‘lahaina’ and it comprises four cores clocked at 1.80GHz, three cores at 2.42GHz, and a prime core ticking at 2.84GHz. The setup corresponds to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. The benchmarking database also reveals that the Galaxy M44 5G will pack 6GB RAM and we can expect more options at launch. It will ship with Android 13 OS out of the box.

In the Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests, the Samsung Galaxy M44 5G scores 1,531 and 3,771 points respectively. Apart from this, the Geekbench listing does not reveal any additional details of the Samsung Galaxy M44 5G. Additionally, this is also the first listing of the device and we can expect it to bag more certifications in the coming weeks that should hopefully reveal more details.

Samsung announced the Galaxy M34 5G earlier this month in India and it is expected to debut in more global markets. It features a 120Hz AMOLED display and a 50MP OIS-enabled primary camera. The device is powered by an Exynos 1280 SoC paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage. It is backed by a 6,000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Z Flip 5 Indian Units Are Made Locally At Noida Factory

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jul 28, 2023

Samsung unveiled the fifth-generation Galaxy Z foldables i.e. the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 at the recent Unpacked event globally. Both devices arrive as the successors to the last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 respectively. They are already up for pre-orders in various markets. Now Samsung India has confirmed an interesting info of the newly launched foldable phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 are made in India

Samsung India has confirmed that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 sold in India are assembled locally. The South Korean brand already has its biggest smartphone factory in Noida but the foldable phones were never made there. The previous generation Galaxy Z devices were assembled in South Korea and Vietnam. However, this changes now with the fifth-generation foldable phones.

While it’s good news that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 Indian units are made in the country, there is no respite for customers as the phones are pricier compared to their predecessors. The company has probably received tax breaks for making the foldable devices in India but they are not passed on to the Indian consumers in the form of reduced prices.

India is the second biggest smartphone market. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 starts at Rs 99,999 whereas the Z Fold 5 starts at Rs 1,54,999 for the base variants. Customers pre-booking the devices until August 17 will be eligible for benefits worth up to Rs 20,000 on the Z Flip 5 and Rs 23,000 on the Z Fold 5. You can go through the full specifications of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 here and Galaxy Z Fold 5 here.

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Apple AirTag Used to Track Down Restaurant Burglar Who Stole $15,000 Worth of Goods

By

Oğuz Çakır

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Jul 28, 2023

Technology continues to make our lives easier and accomplish things that were once thought impossible. For instance, GPS devices which used to be very expensive and large are now much more affordable and smaller thanks to technologies like AirTag. As a result, people are using these technologies to secure and track their valuable items. This leads to interesting stories almost every week. The most recent one occurred in South Carolina, where a thief was arrested for multiple burglaries, thanks to location tracking by an Apple AirTag.

AirTag Helps Police Track Down Restaurant Burglar

Without a doubt, the AirTag is one of the most practical products produced by Apple. This small yet effective item, which you can attach to your keychain, wallet, motorcycle, or even your pet’s collar, allows you to track the location instantly, preventing you from losing things that are valuable to you. The device is also a nightmare for thieves.

For example, not long ago, we told you a story about how a man was able to recover his valuables worth $7k that were stolen from his hotel room, all thanks to AirTag. Now, a thief was caught by the police, thanks to this technology.

The police have reported that a man from South Carolina is said to have stolen a dummy safe from the Sneaky Beagle back in July. The safe was fitted with an Apple AirTag, a device that helped the police track the man’s actions. His movements led the police to a series of other thefts in the area.

The man, named Smith, is believed to have stolen cash, money bags, and other items from four different restaurants. The total value of what was stolen is still being worked out, but it is thought to be somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000. Smith was taken into custody last Friday and is now in Horry County Jail. His court date is set for August 1.

As we previously mentioned, this isn’t the first time the AirTag technology has been used in theft cases. However, this technology does have serious drawbacks. For instance, an event that emerged at the start of July revealed that an AirTag was used by a stalker to track US actress Hannah Rose May.

The only thing that prevented the situation from escalating was a “Find My” notification on her iPhone. As you can see, the AirTag, with its advantages and disadvantages, is one of the most controversial technologies of recent years. However, it’s still possible to turn unfortunate situations around with this device. What are your thoughts on this issue? Should tracking technologies continue to be used, or are the risks greater than the benefits?

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boAt Storm Plus smartwatch with 1.78″ AMOLED display, BT calling & 7-Day battery life launched in India

By

Sudhanshu

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Jul 28, 2023

After launching the Storm Connect Plus, Storm Pro, and Storm Call 2 smartwatches, boAt has now launched a new smartwatch in the series called the boAt Storm Plus. It comes with a large AMOLED display, Bluetooth calling, and long battery life.

boAt Storm Plus specs

The boAt Storm Plus smartwatch comes with a 1.78-inch HD (368 x 448 pixels) 2.5D curved AMOLED screen, a brightness of 700 nits, and an Always-on display feature. It offers more than 100 customizable watch faces. With Bluetooth 5.1, the smartwatch provides a smooth connection to your phone, and you can make and receive calls directly on the watch using its built-in microphone.

The watch has a Quick Dial Pad, where you can save up to 10 contacts for easy access. It offers over 100 sports modes for tracking various workouts. It is dust and water-resistant with an IP68 rating.

For health monitoring, the smartwatch tracks your heart rate and SpO2 levels. It also helps track your daily activity and menstrual cycle. Additionally, it reminds you to move if you’ve been inactive for a while.

Apart from fitness features, the boAt Storm Plus has other useful functions. You can control your phone’s camera and music from the watch. It provides weather updates, has an alarm, countdown timer, stopwatch, and a Do Not Disturb mode. It also helps you find your phone when needed.

The smartwatch comes with a 240mAh battery, offering up to 7 days of battery life under regular use, and up to 2 days when using Bluetooth calling extensively.

Price & availability

The boAt Storm Plus smartwatch will be sold on the boAt website and Flipkart, starting from July 29th at 12 P.M., with an introductory price of Rs. 2,299. The smartwatch offers different strap options: silicone strap variants are available in Jet Black, Gunmetal Grey, Rose Pink, and Olive Green colors; metallic strap variants come in metallic silver and black colors; and the leather strap variant is offered in Brown leather.

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Upcoming Smartphones: Redmi 12 5G, Infinix GT 10 Pro, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 28, 2023

After a slowdown for a few weeks, we will be witnessing multiple phone launches in the next few days. Three of these events will take place in India and one in Vietnam.

All of these conferences are meant for budget smartphones. The Indian releases will be from Xiaomi, Motorola, and Infinix. Whereas, the Vietnam launch will be headed by Realme.

Almost all of these handsets are brand new. In other words, they will be announced for the first time publicly.

With that out of the way, let’s go through these devices one by one.

Upcoming Smartphones Next Week

Prev Next

1. Realme 11 4G

The Realme 11 4G is scheduled to launch in Vietnam on July 31 (Monday). It will be the device’s initial announcement as it hasn’t gone official in any other market.

However, retailers have already revealed almost everything about the product, except for the price. The phone will be offered in black and gold color options.

As far as specs are concerned, the Realme 11 4G will come with a 6.4-inch FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display, a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, a 108MP main camera, a 16MP selfie camera, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 5,000mAh battery, and 67W wired fast charging support.

2. Redmi 12 5G and Redmi 12

The Redmi 12 5G will be making its global debut in India On August 1 (Tuesday). The handset will be accompanied by Redmi 12, which is already official in some markets.

As per teasers and leaks, the Redmi 12 5G is a rebranded Redmi Note 12R sold in China. Thus, it will arrive with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip, a 6.79-inch FHD+ 90Hz display (LCD), a 50MP primary camera, a glass back panel, a 5,000mAh battery, and 18W charging support.

On the other hand, the Redmi 12 shares most of its specs with the Redmi 12 5G. The only major differences are a MediaTek Helio G88 chipset and an 8MP ultra-wide camera.

3. Motorola Moto G14

Moto G14

The Motorola Moto G14 is planned to launch in India on August 1 (Tuesday). The product hasn’t gone official in any other market as of writing this article.

Thanks to teasers, we do have some information about it. The device will come with a 6.5-inch FHD+ punch-hole display (LCD), a Unisoc T616 SoC, a 50MP rear camera, Dolby Atmos-supported dual stereo speakers, a 5,000mAh battery, and 20W fast charging support.

The phone will be IP52-rated and will be available in black and blue color options.

4. Infinix GT 10 Pro

The Inifnix GT 10 Pro is expected to go official in India on August 3 (Thursday). The design of this smartphone is inspired by the Nothing Phone series.

According to teasers and leaks, it will arrive with a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 8050 chip, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 3.1 storage, and XOX 13 based on Android 13.

Other features of the handset include a 108MP main camera, a 32MP front-facing camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and 45W fast-wired charging support. It will be available for pre-order on the day of the announcement itself.

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OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro is on sale in various regions, Invite-only in India

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jul 28, 2023

OnePlus recently introduced its inaugural mechanical keyboard, the OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro, and disclosed its global availability timeline. As planned, the keyboard is now accessible for purchase in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Indian customers also have the opportunity to obtain the keyboard, but the process involves some complexity.

For now, OnePlus is exclusively offering the Winter Bonfire (or “optimized tactile switch”) variant of the 81-key mechanical keyboard. The alternative “linear” Summer Breeze switches option is expected to be released at a later date.

The OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro Winter Bonfire version is available at $219 in the US, €249 in the EU, and ₹17,999 in India. For Indian customers, OnePlus is currently selling the keyboard on an “Invite only” basis. Open sale in the region is expected to commence from August 7.

OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro specs

The keyboard has a lightweight aluminum body and gasket. Notable features include a built-in holder, hot-swappable switches, and open-source firmware. The keyboard is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux.

Users have the option of both Bluetooth and wired connectivity, easily switchable with a toggle key resembling an Alert Slider. Bluetooth 5.1 ensures a wireless range of up to 10 meters, and the 4,000mAh battery provides up to 100 hours of usage at the lowest brightness level. Charging and wired connection are through a USB Type-C port, with a full recharge time of about 5 hours.

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OnePlus Nord N20 SE Receives OxygenOS 13.1.1.501 Update: Flicker Issue Resolved and Fingerprint Sensor Improved

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jul 28, 2023

Last year, OnePlus launched the Nord N20 SE in multiple global markets. The device is essentially a rebrand of the Oppo A57. OnePlus has now released the OxygenOS 13.1.1.501 update for the device which comes with some major fixes and improvements.

The firmware version CPH2469_13.1.1.501(EX01) brings a variety of improvements and fixes. It addresses the occasional screen flickering problem that arises when using third-party themes. Additionally, it resolves issues related to excessive system data storage usage and the fingerprint unlock feature. Moreover, this update enhances camera stability. Lastly, it resolves the problem of the Google Calendar app failing to open in Split View. You can check out the official changelog below.

OnePlus Nord N20 SE OxygenOS 13.1.1.501 update changelog

System

• Improves system stability and performance.

• Fixes the screen flickering issue that might occur when a third-party theme is used.

• Fixes the issue where system data takes up too much storage space.

• Fixes the issue where fingerprint unlock might not work.

Camera

• Improves the stability of Camera.

Apps

• Fixes the issue where Google Calendar might fail to open in Split View.

Since the brand is rolling out the update in batches, the update will arrive on the devices of the global users in the coming days.

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(Source, via)

Vivo X Fold 3 launch timeframe leaked, periscope zoom camera tipped

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jul 28, 2023

Vivo X Fold 3 launch timeframe has been tipped by leaker Digital Chat Station. This aligns with an earlier leak by the same tipster, suggesting that the Vivo X Fold 3 and the Vivo X100 Pro+ will debut together next year. Here is a look at what the tipster said about Vivo’s next foldable phone.

Vivo X Fold 3 launch timeframe (rumored)

According to the tipster, the X Fold 3 is scheduled for an early 2024 release, which appears to be within the first quarter. It is expected to be a slim and lightweight device, featuring a periscope zoom camera. All the predecessor X Fold models from the brand have featured a telephoto camera, but not a periscope telephoto camera. The tipster did not share any information on the core specs of the X Fold 3.

There are rumors circulating about the Vivo X100 Pro+ suggesting that it will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. However, this has led to uncertainty about the chipset that will be used in the Vivo X Fold 3. It is unlikely for Vivo to release both the X Fold 3 and X100 Pro+ with the same chip simultaneously, leaving the question of which chipset will eventually be chosen for the X Fold 3 unanswered.

As far as the Vivo X100 and X100 Pro’s arrival in the Chinese market are concerned, both devices are expected to debut in November this year. It is speculated that both models will come equipped with the Dimensity 9300 chip.

The recent news about the Vivo X100 5G for the global market is causing confusion. According to a report, the Vivo X100 5G, identified by the V2308 model number, is expected to feature a 120Hz AMOLED display, a Dimensity 8-series chip, and storage options of 128 GB or 256 GB. The device will run on Android 14 OS and be equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 100W charging. Additionally, it will be available in Black, White, and Purple color variants. However, further reports are needed to provide more clarity on this device’s specifications and features.

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(source)