TCL showcases World’s first 57.1-Inch Dual 4K Curved Gaming Display with a 240Hz refresh rate

-

Apr 27, 2023

Microsoft is apparently facing issues with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in the UK. The government’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked this merger proposition, citing possible monopolistic effects of this deal in the gaming industry.

Microsoft faces a roadblock in Activision Blizzard acquisition in the UK

In a statement, the CMA stated that it is preventing “Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision over growing concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come.” To put things simply, the agency is worried that the acquisition would allow the American tech giant to hold a monopoly in the recently growing cloud gaming market. Since Microsoft announced that it will be buying out Activision Blizzard, it has faced scrutiny from various government bodies across the globe as well as its market competitors.

An example being Sony, which claimed that the company could leverage this acquisition to offer inferior versions of its products (games) from Activision Blizzard on its popular PlayStation platform. Apart from this, it is also facing a pending lawsuit in the US by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) against Microsoft on the grounds that the brand might breach anti trust laws as well and could even establish a monopoly.

The CMA further added that “We have concluded that the merger would result in the most powerful operator in the fast-developing market for cloud gaming, with a current market share of 60-70%, acquiring a portfolio of world-leading games with the incentive to withhold those games from competitors and substantially weaken competition in this important growing market.”

RELATED:

POCO F5 Pro Appears In Leaked Unboxing Video Ahead Of Official Launch

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

POCO is set to debut the F5 and F5 Pro smartphones in the global market on May 9th. The pro model was spotted in leaked renders recently. Now the device has appeared in a leaked unboxing video shared by tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore on Twitter. It gives us a real look at the upcoming offering.

POCO F5 Pro unboxing. https://t.co/siKVsRcnR7 pic.twitter.com/qHfTOlyTf9
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) April 27, 2023

The POCO F5 Pro will arrive in a Black box with Yellow colored fonts for text and the brand name. Apart from the smartphone, the box contains a 67W charger, a USB-C cable, a transparent phone cover, and user manual. Past reports suggest that the POCO F5 Pro will be a rebranded version of the Redmi K60 that debuted in China last December. The latest unboxing video indeed corroborates the same.

The POCO F5 Pro has a slim design with a curved back panel. The volume rocker and power buttons are located on the right side. Both sides of the rear panel seem to feature a carbon-fiber-like pattern whereas the rest has a glossy finish. There is a rectangular camera module at the top left corner. It houses three sensors and an LED flash. A USB-C port, SIM tray, and speaker grille are located at the bottom of the device. The video reveals the front of the phone with a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout.

Since the POCO F5 Pro is expected to arrive as a rebadged Redmi K60, we can expect the device to feature a 6.67-inch 2K 120Hz AMOLED display. It is tipped to be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC and be backed by a 5,500mAh battery unit with support for 67W wired and 30W wireless charging.

Related:

Apple discloses monthly active users for App Store in Europe, forced to comply with EU’s rule

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Apple has been forced to disclose the monthly active user count of its App Store in Europe in order to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act. The disclosure revealed that the iOS App Store has 101 million users in Europe, while iPadOS has 23 million, indicating the immense popularity of Apple’s mobile devices in the region.

iOS App Store boasts 101 million active users in Europe

While the Mac App Store has 6 million users, the tvOS App Store has 1 million, and the watchOS App Store has less than 1 million users, Apple’s disclosure highlights the dominance of its mobile devices in the European market. In addition, less than 1 million people in Europe use Apple Books and Podcasts for paid subscriptions each month, according to Apple’s report.

The EU’s Digital Services Act aims to regulate “very large online platforms”, which are defined as platforms with over 45 million monthly active users. While Apple considers each operating system’s App Store as a separate platform, only the iPhone iOS App Store is classified as a “very large” online platform, with over 101 million monthly active users in Europe alone.

In response to the Digital Services Act, Apple has pledged to “adjust” all its App Stores in Europe to comply with the regulations, even though the law only requires compliance for the iOS App Store. The regulations set by the DSA include protecting children from advertising, limiting the spread of misinformation, and more, aligning with Apple’s goal of protecting consumers from illegal content.

However, the Digital Markets Act, another EU regulation, may force Apple to support alternative app stores and app sideloading on the iPhone, at least for its European customers. This could potentially have a significant impact on Apple’s app store revenue, as the company currently takes a 15%-30% commission on all app sales and in-app purchases made through its platform.

With further regulations on the horizon, it remains to be seen how Apple will adapt to the changing landscape of the digital marketplace.

RELATED:

(Via)

Apple iMessages are finally making their way to Windows 11

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

While the Apple ecosystem is quite convenient for many and offers intuitive functionality, they don’t offer a seamless experience outside of this set ecosystem. However, it appears that the company’s massively popular iMessage platform is finally making its way to the Windows 11 platform.

Apple iMessages will finally work on Windows 11

Microsoft has just announced that it will be rolling out support for the iMessages through the Phone Link app. This update will be available to Windows 11 users and will let users send messages from their iPhones without actually using the smartphone. The Phone Link uses Bluetooth to sync help up your iOS devices. While this feature is already available for Android devices, it will only be available for iPhones in a limited manner.

So iPhone owners can only send and receive messages to others and manage the notifications as well as make phone calls. This is lesser than the many features offered by Phone Link’s functionality on Android devices. Some examples of this is Samsung’s Galaxy S series devices that allow for app streaming to mirror Android apps on your PCs. As per official notes, the company will still take till mid May before iOS syncing is allowed on Windows 11 users.

So for those interested, you can download Phone Link application from the Apple Store if you have an iPhone. Microsoft have been working on this compatibility feature for sometime now. The iMessage arriving on the Windows platform has apparently been in works for around five years now, beginning back in 2018. So this feature will easily be welcomed by many.

RELATED:

Sony Xperia 1 V To Launch In Japan On May 11

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Sony is rarely active in the smartphone market. The Japanese brand releases a few Xperia phones every year. Now Sony has announced that it is launching a new Xperia phone in its home market on May 11th at 1 pm local time. Although the name of the upcoming offering has not been explicitly revealed, it is expected to be the Sony Xperia 1 V. The device will arrive as the successor to the last year’s Xperia 1 IV.

Sony Xperia 1 V launch date

Next-gen Sensor. Next-gen Imaging. Next ONE is coming.

Tune into our YouTube Premiere on 11th May, 2023 13:00 Japan Time / 06:00 CEST.#Sony #Xperia #SonyXperia #ProductAnnouncement #NextGenXperia #XperiaReveal #NextXperia #NextGenSensor #NextGenImaging #NextOneIsComing
— Sony | Xperia (@sonyxperia) April 27, 2023

The Sony Xperia 1 V launch event will be live-streamed on the brand’s official YouTube channel. The company says that the upcoming Xperia phone will feature next-generation sensor and next-generation imaging. Apart from this, Sony has not revealed any additional details about the smartphone.

The Sony Xperia 1 V surfaced in leaked renders as well as a live image in February earlier this year. The smartphone will come with a similar design as its predecessor. It will have a tall aspect ratio with minimal screen bezels and a sleek look. The right edge of the phone houses volume rocker buttons, a power button with an integrated fingerprint scanner, and a camera shutter button. The back panel has a protruding vertically stacked camera module. It accommodates two sensors, a periscope lens, and an LED flash.

As for the core specifications, the Sony Xperia 1 V is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor coupled with up to 16GB RAM. The camera setup is rumored to comprise a 12MP main, 12MP periscope, and 48MP ultra-wide-angle lenses. The upcoming smartphone could retain the same 6.5-inch 4K HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Related:

Samsung confirms Exynos chipsets may return in Galaxy flagship smartphones

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Samsung Electronics has confirmed its plans to reintroduce its in-house Exynos chipset to its flagship lineup of smartphones, specifically the Galaxy S series. The announcement was made during the company’s Q1 2023 earnings call by Hyeokman Kwon, Vice President of the DS Division at Samsung LSI, who stated that they are “pushing for the return of Exynos to the flagship of the Galaxy series.”

Exynos SoCs likely to power next Galaxy S flagship lineup

While Kwon did not explicitly mention the Galaxy S24 lineup, it is widely known that Samsung introduces new chipsets to its flagship Galaxy S lineup rather than the Galaxy Z series.

Kwon also did not specify which Exynos chipset Samsung is planning to use, it is believed that the Exynos 2400 chipset is the most likely candidate since it is the only high-end chipset under development by the company. However, there are rumors that Samsung may use Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra variants while using the Exynos 2400 only in the standard Galaxy S24 model.

While this may come as a disappointment for Samsung fans in Europe and Asia, who have experienced issues with the Exynos SoC in the past. However, if the Exynos 2400 fails to live up to expectations, users in these regions can always opt for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the higher-end models of the Galaxy S24 lineup.

Samsung’s move to use the Exynos SoC in its flagship lineup again could be seen as a strategic move to lessen the brand’s reliance on Qualcomm, which currently dominates the high-end smartphone chipset market. This also allows Samsung to showcase the performance of its in-house chipsets and potentially gain more market share in the long run.

It remains to be seen whether the Exynos 2400 SoC can meet the expectations of consumers, but it is undoubtedly a step forward for Samsung’s chip-making division.

RELATED:

(Source, Via)

Ayaneo 2S could be the next Steam Deck rival after ASUS ROG Ally

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Ayaneo has just announced that it is working on a brand new handheld gaming console that will be called the Ayaneo 2S. This new portable console might just be the next competitor to the popular Steam Deck and the highly anticipated ASUS ROG Ally.

Ayaneo 2S to take on ASUS ROG Ally & Steam Deck Handheld Console

The company announced that it will be launching the 2S model soon on YouTube at its ‘New Product Sharing Session’. Here, it was revealed that the upcoming handheld console from the brand will be powered by an AMD Ryzen 7000 series chipset, which is likely the Ryzen 7 7840U processor. To put things into perspective, this chip is said to offer around the same performance as the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor that was announced earlier this week.

Notably, the Z1 Extreme is also the chipset that powers one of the ASUS ROG Ally variants. Unfortunately, the company has only teased the new compact console, but it appears to be similar in design as the Ayaneo 2. In other words, 2S model likely features only slight changes in design but with internal upgrades and other refreshes to make it more up to date for the current market.

The video also showcased that the Ayaneo 2S will house a three pipe cooler for improved thermal management as well. Apart from the newer chipset offering better performance overall, the new Radeon 780M graphics should also run on a low TDP range between 8 to 15. Meaning, we can expect to see better energy efficiency.

RELATED:

Infinix Hot 30 Play With 6,000mAh Battery, 90Hz Display Launched In Nigeria

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Infinix has launched a new Hot 30 series phone in Nigeria. It is dubbed the Infinix Hot 30 Play. The latest offering joins the Hot 30 and Hot 30i that are available in the Thailand and Malaysian markets respectively. Read on to know what the Hot 30 Play offers out of the box.

Infinix Hot 30 Play specifications and features

The Infinx Hot 30 Play features a boxy form factor and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It has two camera rings on the back panel housing a 16MP primary sensor and an AI lens. The back panel flaunts a diagonal stripped pattern design.

The Infinix Hot 30 Play comes with a large 6.82-inch display bearing an HD+ resolution and a center-aligned punch-hole cutout. It offers a 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits peak brightness. There is an 8MP selfie snapper.

Under the hood, the Infinix Hot 30 Play is equipped with an octa-core MediaTek Helio G37 processor. It packs 4GB RAM along with RAM expansion up to 8GB. The device is offered in 64GB and 128GB storage options with microSD card slot support. The smartphone also has a double-layered graphite cooling system for heat dissipation. The Infinix Hot 30 Play draws its power from a 6,000mAh battery unit with support for 18W fast charging via USB-C port. It runs on XOS 12.6 based on Android 13.

The Infinix Hot 30 Play is offered in Bora Purple, Mirage White, and Blade Black colors. The smartphone carries a starting price tag of NGN 80,000 (~$173).

Related:

LG Gram SuperSlim Launches As The Brand’s Thinnest Laptop With OLED Display

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

LG has launched a new laptop in the US market. It is called the LG Gram SuperSlim (formerly called UltraSlim at CES 2023). As the name suggests, it is the brand’s thinnest laptop with an OLED screen. Read on to know what the machine offers out of the box.

LG Gram SuperSlim specifications

The LG Gram SuperSlim measures just 0.43 inches thick and weighs 2.2 pounds. This makes it a portable offering. The laptop features a 15.6-inch OLED display with an FHD resolution, 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut and VESA DisplayHDR certification. The machine has also passed seven tests ensuring military-grade durability.

The LG Gram SuperSlim has a full-sized backlit keyboard and an FHD IR webcam with support for face recognition. On the audio front, the laptop is equipped with dual stereo speakers with 5W output and Dolby Atmos.

Under the hood, the LG Gram SuperSlim houses the 13th generation Intel Core i7 processor paired with Iris Xe graphics. The machine packs up to 32GB LPDDR5 RAM and 2TB SSD storage. It runs on Windows 11 out of the box. The laptop draws its power from a 60WHr battery cell that is claimed to deliver up to 13-hour video playback.

The LG Gram SuperSlim packs connectivity options like WiFi, Bluetooth 5.1, three USB-C ports (one supporting Thunderbolt 4), and a headphone jack.

The LG Gram SuperSlim carries a price tag of $1,699 for the 16GB + 512GB RAM and storage configuration whereas the 32GB + 512GB variant costs $1,999. LG is also offering a Gram+ View portable monitor worth $350 to customers purchasing the Gram SupreSlim by May 14th.

Related:

Google releases Android 14 Beta 1.1 with critical bug fixes

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Google has released an update for its Android 14 Beta, labeled as Beta 1.1, which primarily aims to fix numerous bugs that have been found in the previous version. The company has identified that some of the bugs in the Beta 1 were too annoying to wait for the next Beta 2 update, which is scheduled for next month. Hence, Google has launched this interim Beta 1.1 version to address the issues and make the users’ experience smoother.

While Android 14 is not expected to be released until later this year, Google is already making progress towards a stable version by releasing these beta updates for developers and early adopters to test and provide feedback.

The new build, UPB1.230309.017.A1 for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, and Pixel 6a units on Verizon, and UPB1.230309.017 for all others will be rolled out over-the-air to Pixel 4a 5G and later models that have enrolled in the Android Beta Program. However, the company has warned that the rollout might take a few days or more to reach all eligible devices.

Users who have already enrolled in the Android 14 Beta program will receive the patch as an OTA update shortly. Alternatively, they can also download the OTA files manually from Google’s website to flash them onto their devices.

Google has listed down some of the bugs that have been fixed in this Beta 1.1 version, such as issues with system UI crashes while accessing the Wallpaper & Style screen, problems with fingerprint unlock, and non-display of the mobile network on the status bar. Additionally, the update has fixed issues related to SIM card or eSIM detection, activation, and Smart Lock display on the lock screen.

Bugs that have been fixed in the Android 14 Beta 1.1 update

Fixed an issue where the system UI crashed when trying to access the Wallpaper & Style screen either through the Settings app or by long-pressing from the home screen.
Fixed some issues that prevented fingerprint unlock from being used.
Fixed an issue where the status bar did not display the mobile network.
Fixed an issue that prevented a SIM card or eSIM from being detected or activated in some cases.
Fixed an issue where the lock screen displayed a message with an unresolved string placeholder when Smart Lock was enabled.

Overall, the release of Android 14 Beta 1.1 should be welcomed by those experiencing the aforementioned bugs. With the fixes in place, users can continue to test out the new features of the upcoming operating system without the frustration of these issues.

RELATED:

Oppo Find X6 series receive camera improvements via software update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Apr 27, 2023

The Oppo Find X6 series went official in China in March. Unlike its predecessors, the new-gen models will not be released in global markets.

Thus, if you had already imported one or planning to do so, then make sure to download and install the new software update rolling out to these phones.

The latest software build for the handsets is not huge in size but brings important optimizations and upgrades, especially for the cameras.

OPPO FIND X6 Pro Review 05 — Oppo Find X6 Pro (Review)

The fresh software update for the Oppo Find X6 and Oppo Find X6 Pro arrives with firmware version PGEM10_13.1.0.123 (CN01). It weighs only about 280.74MB.

As per the official changelog, this update comes with optimizations for the telephoto camera, night mode, and camera stability. It also optimizes skin tone while clicking portraits, power consumption during video recording, and high magnifications while shooting videos.

Further, the update adds a permanent 2x option after some modes and a 2x portrait option. It also brings a Hasselblad color scheme update for the shutter button.

Apart from cameras, the new firmware update also improves mobile network compatibility, NFC, Bluetooth, and WiFi. There are also improvements for system stability and the security patch level gets a bump to April 2023.

Finally, the update brings along optimizations for Dolby sound effects, PC Connect, casting, and video calls in third-party apps.

As you can notice, despite being small in size, the latest system update for Oppo Find X6 and Oppo Find X6 Pro is crucial as it comes with multiple necessary optimizations and improvements.

Poco F5 renders & specs emerge ahead of May 9 launch

By

Sudhanshu

-

Apr 27, 2023

Poco is gearing up to launch the Poco F5 on May 9 in India. Whereas in the international market, the brand will also be launching the Poco F5 Pro. For those unaware, the Poco F5 is a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 12 Turbo, while the F5 Pro is a rebrand of the Redmi K60. In a recent report, renders of the Poco F5 Pro have surfaced online. Now, another report has surfaced online revealing the looks of the Poco F5.

Poco F5 design revealed

The report comes from 91mobiles Hindi citing known tipster Sudhanshu Ambhore for the leak. Based on the leaked renders, the POCO F5 appears to have a centrally placed punch-hole cutout for its front-facing camera, along with thin bezels. The power button and volume rocker are conveniently located on the right side of the phone for easy access.

The back of the phone features a rectangular module that houses three cameras and an LED flash. The back panel also has a textured finish that provides a better grip when holding the device. Finally, the USB Type-C port, primary microphone, and speaker grills are all situated at the bottom of the device.

Poco F5 specs (rumored)

According to reports, the phone is said to feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a punch-hole camera on the front.

Under the hood, the POCO F5 is confirmed to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen2 SoC paired with Adreno GPU for graphics. This will make it a powerful device that can handle demanding applications and multitasking with ease. Additionally, the phone is rumored to come with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, which may be expandable further.

The POCO F5 is likely to run on the Android 13-based MIUI 14 custom skin, providing a smooth and user-friendly experience. On the battery front, the phone is expected to pack a 5,160mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. This should ensure that the device lasts a full day on a single charge.

In terms of camera, the POCO F5 is rumored to feature a triple camera setup on the back, including a 64MP primary camera sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. On the front, there could be a 16MP shooter for selfies, ensuring that users can take high-quality pictures and videos on the go.

In terms of connectivity, the POCO F5 is expected to support 5G, 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a USB Type-C port. This should make it easy for users to stay connected to the internet and other devices.

RELATED:

(Source)

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 pendant, hollow bracelet strap, and other first-party accessories on sale

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Apr 27, 2023

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 was launched alongside the Xiaomi 13 Ultra earlier this month. The latest fitness tracker from the company is unlike its previous models.

Xiaomi Smart Bands (previously Mi Smart Bands) have historically featured designs that are more functional. But with the Xiaomi Smart Band 8, the brand boldly decided to make the design more fashionable than any other fitness trackers on the market.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 comes with a new strap mechanism. Thus, it can be used with a wide variety of unique-looking straps. In fact, users can even wear it as a pendant.

The company showcased a number of first-party accessories during the product announcement. These accessories are now finally on sale in China.

The regular TPU bands and the braided leather straps are priced at ¥39 (~$5) and ¥99 (~$15), respectively. Whereas, hollow bracelet strap, double circle band, and pendant cost ¥149 (~$20).

The hollow bracelet strap designed for women is made of stainless steel and can be availed in either black or white color options. Further, the black and white-colored double circle band uses calfskin, PU leather, and stainless steel.

Finally, the pendant’s back cover is plastic but its head grain is stainless steel. It is fitted with a wax leather rope.

Just like the previous iterations of the Xiaomi Smart Band, the latest 8th gen model should also release outside mainland China in the coming months. However, we are not sure if the aforementioned first-party accessories will be made available.

Redragon launches new Caraxes Pro K644 SE 65% Wireless RGB Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

By

-

Apr 27, 2023

Redragon has just launched a brand new gaming product in the Indian market. The company has unveiled a new 65% wireless RGB gaming mechanical keyboard, which is the Caraxes Pro K644 SE model. Back in February, the brand had even announced the K616 FIZZ Pro 60% Keyboard in the market and this is the latest keyboard model in the region.

Redragon Caraxes Pro mechanical gaming keyboard arrives in India

The company’s latest keyboard model features a compact design since its a just 65% the size of regular keyboards. As the name suggests, it is a mechanical keyboard that aims to provide a great experience to gamers. The new device can connect offers 3 mode connectivity options, which includes Bluetooth 5.0, a wireless mini USB receiver for 2.4GHz wireless connection with PCs, and even a USB Type C wired option as well.

The keyboard houses OUTEMU Red mechanical switches which support easy switch mounting and swapping while each key is fully RGB enabled. Meaning, users can customize their keyboards with 16.8 million colors. Apart from this, the keys on the Caraxes Pro K644 SE also feature a multi tone color scheme with a cream hue on the middle, gray on the sides, and an orange color Space Bar and Escape key.

The device lasts for up to 120 hours with its backlit off and 30 hours with its backlit on. It even offers 20 presets for backlighting modes. The Redragon Caraxes Pro K644 SE Mechanical Wireless Gaming keyboard is currently available for purchase on Amazon, Flipkart, and the company’s official website for an introductory price tag of 5,490 INR.

RELATED:

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 rumored to feature “folder-shaped” cover display

By