Fire-Boltt Eterno With 1.99-inch Display Launched In India

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Mar 12, 2023

Fire-Boltt has launched a new smartwatch in India. The latest offering from the homegrown brand is dubbed the Fire-Boltt Eterno. It is an affordable offering and falls under the Rs 2,000 segment. The wearable device competes against other smartwatches offered by brands like Noise, boAt, DIZO, and more in the market. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.

The Fire-Boltt Eterno has a square dial with a large 1.99-inch display bearing an HD resolution and 500 nits peak brightness. It is IP68-certified water-resistant and there is a physical button on the right side.

On the health-centric front, the Fire-Boltt Eterno is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and a sleep tracker. It packs support for 120 sports modes. There is also breathing training sessions.

The Fire-Boltt Eterno features a built-in mic and speaker for voice calling via Bluetooth. The smartwatch offers access to call history, a quick dialpad, and sync contacts. There is also voice assistant support. The wearable device is backed by a 280mAh battery unit that is claimed to last 5 days on a single charge. The smartwatch packs convenient features like music and camera control, weather updates, notifications, and more. There are also built-in games.

The Fire-Boltt Eterno carries a price tag of Rs 1,999. It is offered in Blue, Black, Silver Green, Black Silver, and Gold Pink colour options. The smartwatch can be purchased from the brand’s official website and Amazon.

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Xiaomi 13 Ultra Launch Timeline Tipped, To Be Available Globally

By

Viraj Gawde

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Mar 12, 2023

Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 13 series smartphones globally at MWC last month. Now the brand is expected to launch a new device in the lineup. The upcoming offering is tipped to be the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. It will arrive as the successor to the last year’s Xiaomi 12S Ultra (review) which was not limited to the Chinese market. The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra was the last Ultra offering in the global markets in 2021.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra == May 2023 https://t.co/rzoxVzBy28
— SnoopyTech (@_snoopytech_) March 10, 2023

Now as per reputed tipster Ice Universe, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is said to be sold in the global markets. He also adds that the OPPO Find X6 Pro may not arrive globally. Additionally, another tipster Snoppy Tech revealed that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra could debut in May 2023. However, it remains to be seen whether the device will first launch in China and then arrive in the global markets.

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has surfaced on the web in the past. The device was spotted in a leaked live last month. It revealed slight design changes. The upcoming offering is seen with DSLR-like circular camera module housing four sensors including a periscope lens. There is Leica branding that confirms the presence of the legendary camera maker on the smartphone. The back panel of the Xiaomi 13 Ultra has a vegan leather finish. The upper part of the back panel is raised, however, the camera island is not protruding like the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.

Apart from the information mentioned above, reliable Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station revealed that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra would come with USB 3.2 data transfer as well as USB PD charging standard protocol.

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HP’s Latest Firmware Update Blocks Third-Party Ink Again

By

Soumyakanti

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Mar 12, 2023

HP is facing backlash from customers once again for blocking the use of third-party ink in some of its printers. The move comes after a recent firmware update that expands HP’s “dynamic security” policy, which aims to protect the quality of HP’s printing systems and intellectual property. The policy prohibits the use of ink or toner cartridges that do not contain new or reused HP chips.

Numerous reports on social media platforms and the HP community forum suggest that some printers are now blocking the use of non-HP ink altogether, rather than simply displaying a bypassable warning message. The move has sparked outrage among HP printer users, who accuse the company of trying to lock them into its ecosystem and limit their options for affordable ink.

This is not the first time that HP has faced criticism over its dynamic security policy. In 2020, the company reached a $1.5 million settlement with US customers in a class-action lawsuit that claimed HP’s firmware acted as “malware” by diminishing the capabilities of HP printers and rendering third-party cartridges incompatible. HP also paid out millions to customers in the European Union and Australia affected by dynamic security.

While HP issued an optional update in 2016 that removes dynamic security, the change only applies to a set of specific models, some of which were required to be made before December 1st, 2016. It remains unclear which printers currently have dynamic security installed, but several models, including the OfficeJet Pro 6970, OfficeJet Pro 6968, OfficeJet 6950, and OfficeJet 7740, are reportedly affected.

The move is seen as a desperate attempt to maintain revenue in the face of declining net printing revenue, and it could prompt some users to switch to other printer brands that offer more flexibility in ink options.

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Honor Eyes Europe, Believes Foldables Won’t Replace Bar Phones, Will Co-Exist

By

Soumyakanti

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Mar 12, 2023

Honor recently made waves at the Mobile World Congress 2023 in Barcelona, where it unveiled its latest flagship smartphones – the Honor Magic5 and Magic5 Pro. According to Honor CEO George Zhao, the company is eyeing big growth in Europe and treating 2023 as its “year 1” in the region, with plans to roll out its devices globally in the coming quarter.

The Honor Magic5 Pro and Honor Magic Vs will receive 3 years of Android upgrades and 5 years of security patches. Additionally, the Magic Vs, which is one of the lightest foldables with a vertical hinge, is poised to give the Samsung Galaxy Fold lineup some competition. While foldables are expected to explode in sales once they shed more weight and get thinner with better battery life, Zhao doesn’t see them entirely replacing traditional bar phones. Instead, he expects the two to co-exist, with clamshells and horizontal foldables also remaining in demand.

Honor has been making inroads in Europe, treating the region as a second home, with an R&D and product center dedicated specifically to Europe. Zhao believes that having a strong portfolio of devices is key to driving growth in the region and is open to the idea of opening physical stores, but for now, is focused on building partnerships with carriers and retailers.

However, the US market remains a challenge for Honor, and the company is taking a step-by-step approach to penetrate the tough market.

Overall, Honor is focused on providing innovative devices that cater to different user needs and preferences, while also ensuring longer software support for its devices. With its latest foldable devices, the company is looking to make a mark in the global smartphone market and continue its growth trajectory.

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Xiaomi Duokan Pro II E-reader Can Now Be Purchased Outside China

By

Anurag

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Mar 12, 2023

Last year in May, Xiaomi launched a new e-reader called Duokan Pro II in the Chinese market with an aim to compete with the popular Amazon Kindle. The device was introduced with a large E-ink display, up to 6 weeks of standby, and a quad-core chipset. Now after almost a year, Xiaomi’s Duokan Pro II E-reader can be purchased in the global market as well. Here are the details.

Interested shoppers can now buy Xiaomi’s latest e-reader—the Duokan Pro II— through e-commerce website Good e-Reader for $299.99. The price of the device is significantly higher than its cost in China, where Xiaomi sells it for 1,299 Yuan, which is equivalent to $188. However, when purchasing the device from Good e-Reader, it is important to note that there is an additional charge of $29.99 for shipping.

To recall, the reader tablet comes with a 7.8-inch flat E-ink display offering a resolution of 1872 x 1404 pixels. The panel has a 300 PPI screen density and a 24-level cold and warm two-color reading light. Design-wise, the e-book reader looks slim with a thickness of 7mm and weighs 250 grams. It gets an RK3566 quad-core chipset coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

Xiaomi claimed the Duokan Pro II has a 109% higher system response speed. The device features a 3,200mAh battery that should offer up to 6 weeks of standby. There’s support for built-in voice search and the Baidu network, however, these features will be useless in the global market. It also comes with WLAN book transfer, Bluetooth book transfer, and PDF rearrangement support. The reader can run formats like EPUB, PDF, TXT, EXCEL, and PPT.

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Samsung Reportedly Working on a Major Camera Update for Galaxy S23 Series

By

Soumyakanti

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Mar 12, 2023

Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy S23 line has been receiving mixed reviews from users, with complaints focused on the phone’s camera optimization. According to a tweet from reliable tipster Ice Universe, Samsung is preparing a “big update” to address these concerns.

One of the most significant issues with the Galaxy S23 line’s cameras is pixel binning, which reduces the image resolution but improves image quality by reducing noise and enhancing dynamic range. However, even with this feature, users are still experiencing issues with blurry photos, shutter lag, and problems with Night Mode.

Reddit users have been vocal about their frustrations, with one user stating, “The longer I have my S23 Ultra, the more I’m starting to feel that Samsung made a really terrible phone.” Another user added, “Samsung is so disconnected from their customers. This shutter lag issue has been around for so long it’s inexplicable how it hasn’t been resolved.”

Fortunately, Samsung is reportedly working on a solution to these issues with a camera optimization update. Tipster Ice Universe has suggested that Night Mode will be one of the features to be improved by the upcoming update.

The Galaxy S23 line features a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, a 10MP Telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP front-facing camera for selfies. The Galaxy S23 Ultra features a 200MP primary camera, a 12MP Ultra-wide camera, a 10MP Telephoto lens, a 10MP Periscope lens (one with 3x optical zoom and the other with 10x optical zoom), and a front-facing 12MP selfie camera.

It is worth noting that phone manufacturers often release updates to address issues shortly after launching a new phone series. Therefore, Samsung’s efforts to optimize the Galaxy S23 line’s camera system may not be surprising. Regardless, users are eager to see whether the upcoming update will address their concerns and improve the Galaxy S23 line’s camera performance.

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Realme GT Neo 5 SE Leaked Specs Sheet Surfaces, Will Rival OnePlus Ace 2V

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2023

OnePlus has recently launched the OnePlus Ace 2V in the Chinese market. This device is likely to release globally as the OnePlus Nord 3 in global market. In the Chinese market, the 2V is likely to face competition from the Realme GT Neo 5 SE (or GT Neo 5 Lite), which is expected to launch in April in China as the first Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 1-powered phone. A Chinese tipster has shared the leaked specs sheet of the GT Neo 5 SE.

Realme GT Neo 5 SE specifications (rumored)

The new leak reveals that the Realme GT Neo 5 SE will have a 6.74-inch Tianma T7+ OLED display that offers a 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 2160Hz PWM dimming. The device will be equipped with an aluminium alloy middle frame and Gorilla Glass protection on the front and back.

The forthcoming SM7475 Qualcomm chip, which could be called the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 1, will power the Realme GT Neo 5 SE. The device will come equipped with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It will pack a 5,500mAh battery with 100W charging.

On the front, the GT Neo 5 SE will have a 16-megapixel Samsung S5K3P9 selfie camera. The back panel of the device will have an OIS-enabled 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64M main camera and an 8-megapixel OV08A10 ultra-wide lens. Other reports have claimed that the rear camera setup will have a 2-megapixel macro camera. The GT Neo 5 SE will be equipped with other features, such as an x-axis linear motor, NFC, an IR blaster, and an under-display fingerprint scanner.

The leak states that the GT Neo 5 SE will come in variants like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, and 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage. These could be priced at 1,799 Yuan (~$260), 1,999 Yuan (~$289), 2,299 Yuan (~$333), and 2,599 Yuan (~$376), respectively. As usual, readers are advised to digest the leak with a grain of salt.

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iQOO Z7 Appears with Snapdragon 782G on Geekbench Before Launch in China

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2023

iQOO Z7 is scheduled to launch on March 21 in India. The company has already confirmed that the iQOO Z7 will come equipped with the Dimensity 920 chipset. Reports have revealed that iQOO is also working on iQOO Z7 and Z7x for the Chinese market. The Z7x was recently spotted on Geekbench with the Snapdragon 695 chipset. The Chinese edition of the Z7 has also appeared on the benchmarking site. The listing confirms that the Z7 variants heading to China and India are different devices as they are powered by different chipsets.

The iQOO Z7x and Z7 heading to China have model numbers V2272A and V2270A, respectively. The V2270A variant now has surfaced on Geekbench with a Qualcomm chip, which has a single prime CPU core working at 2.71GHz, three CPU cores clocking at 2.40GHz, and four CPU cores working at 1.80GHz. The source code of the listing reveals that the chipset has the Adreno 642L GPU. These details reveal that the iQOO Z7 (Chinese edition) is powered by the Snapdragon 782G chip.

iQOO Z7 Chinese variant Geekbench listing

In the single-core and multi-core tests of Geekbench, the iQOO Z7 scored 876 and 2956, respectively. The Z7 variant that has appeared on the benchmarking platform has 8 GB of RAM and runs on Android 13 OS.

Previous reports have revealed that the iQOO Z7 will pack a 5,000mAh battery that will carry support for 120W fast charging. The real-life image of the device has revealed that it will have a punch-hole display. However, it is unclear whether the device is equipped with LCD or AMOLED display. The Z7x is expected to house a 6,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging.

The iQOO Z7 Chinese variant will succeed the iQOO Z6 (Chinese edition), which debuted in August 2022. The predecessor phone features a 6.64-inch IPS LCD FHD+ 120Hz display, Snapdragon 778G, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB / 256 GB of storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 80W charging. It has an 8-megapixel front and 64-megapixel triple cameras.

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Exclusive: Here’s First Look at Infinix Hot 30i in Diamond White, Marigold Color Variants Before March 27 Launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 12, 2023

Infinix has recently confirmed that it will unveil the Infinix Hot 30i on March 27 in India. Its landing page is now live on Infinix India’s website. The black and blue variants of the Hot 30i surfaced last week. Now, GizmoChina brings you the first look at the white and orange variants of the device.

Shown above is the Diamond White edition of the Infinix Hot 30i. It sports a premium glass-like finish like its black and blue variants, which will be marketed as Glacier Blue and Mirror Black.

The Hot 30i is also expected to arrive in a marigold finish. It will be a special edition variant with a leather-like design on the back. Hence, it does not have a diamond pattern design, which can be seen in the black, blue, and white variants.

The front design of the Hot 30i is not yet revealed. Hence, it is unclear whether it has a waterdrop notch or a punch-hole display. The back panel of the device has a dual-camera setup with an LED flash. The images of the leather-back variant show the device is equipped with a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The official landing page of the Hot 30i reveals that the Hot 30i will come equipped with up to 8 GB of physical RAM and up to 8 GB of virtual RAM. The device will offer users 128 GB of built-in storage. We can say that the Hot 30i’s display will offer up to a 90Hz refresh rate.

Other reports have revealed that the Hot 30i could be equipped with a 6.6-inch IPS LCD screen, an Helio G37 chipset, a 6,000mAh battery, and 50-megapixel dual rear cameras. Apart from the Hot 30i, the Hot 30 series reportedly include other models, such as the Hot 30 and Hot 30 Play. The brand is also said to be working on the Infinix Note 30 VIP.

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3 Ways 5G Will Transform the Smartphone Industry in the Next 5 Years

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Mar 12, 2023

Although 5G was only introduced less than 5 years ago, implementation has only really started picking up steam recently in countries such as the United States, Europe and India. The race for 5G technology is on and with it comes a new era of innovation and transformation in the smartphone industry. So these are the 3 ways 5G will transform the smartphone market in the next 5 years.

Better Smartphone Technology

5G technology will usher in a new era of smartphone technology. The low latency properties of 5G networks and improved download and upload data speeds will likely result in the mass adoption of virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (XR) and augmented reality (AR) applications. These technologies have been around for some time but have been limited by the capabilities of current mobile networks. With 5G, users can expect to see more immersive and interactive experiences on their smartphones.

Larger 5G coverage

5G will start to make an impact on the telecoms industry. Nearly all commercial 5G deployments to date have relied on non-standalone 5G (NSA 5G), which uses new radio technologies but still relies on existing network infrastructure. This means that telecom giants can deploy 5G today by leveraging the ecosystem and models in place for mobile broadband and enhanced mobile broadband while extending with more powerful cellular network connectivity. In turn, there will be larger and wider 5G coverage, meaning smartphones will not only be able to faster internet but stay on faster Internet for longer as well.

Smartphone Affordability

With prices for premium 5G smartphones expected to be up to 1000 USD for millions of customers, this applies significant pressure on telcos’ balance sheets. Up to 10 per cent of it can be tied up in receivables for smartphone-related affordability options. This could result in telcos offering more attractive financing options for customers looking to upgrade to a new 5G smartphone. And likewise, to appease telco companies, smartphone companies will be releasing more affordable 5G smartphones to the public as well.

OnePlus, recently announced the OnePlus Ace 2V, an relatively affordable 5G lower mid-range smartphone that features MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 9000 SoC, a metal frame, and a 120Hz AMOLED display. It is available with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

If you are interested in the OnePlus Ace 2V, you can pre-order one yourself today at Giztop starting from only 399 USD for the 256GB storage option.

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2 Year Warranty Given to Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro Buyers in Malaysia

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Mar 12, 2023

The Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro have finally gone on sale in Malaysia across all Xiaomi online and offline retail stores nationwide. And the great cameras and performance that it has to offer, Xiaomi is also offering exclusive VIP aftersales services to Xiaomi 13 series buyers in the country, which includes an extended period of warranty, and a spare phone service.

For starters, all Xiaomi 13 and 13 Pro devices purchased in Malaysia will have a warranty period of twenty-four months from the date of the first purchase of the device, as opposed to the standard 1-year warranty, given by competing flagship smartphones from other brands such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Vivo X90 Pro.

Xiaomi Malaysia offers a one-time screen replacement for free to buyers of the Xiaomi 13 series if they decide to send in their faulty Xiaomi 13 within 6 months from their first purchase date. If your Xiaomi 13 or 13 Pro was damaged by causes not stated in the warranty, do not worry as your device is eligible for 1 out-of-warranty repair for free by Xiaomi Malaysia within 12 months after the first purchase date.

Hypothetically your Xiaomi 13 series smartphone was indeed sent for repair at the Xiaomi authorised service centre, the VIP aftersales service offered for Xiaomi 13 buyers means that Xiaomi will lend you a spare phone upon request as Xiaomi repairs your Xiaomi 13. This is particularly for people who only use one phone for their daily driver. And it must be noted that as per Xiaomi’s Spare Phone Lending Agreement, users will have to return the spare phone back to Xiaomi after the smartphone repairs have been done. It should be noted that the spare phone service is only offered to customers within 24 months after their first purchase date.

Lastly, Xiaomi offers a dedicated shortcut for Xiaomi 13 owners to cut the queue when contacting Xiaomi Customer Service in Malaysia on 1800-18-0112 ( Monday to Friday 9am – 6pm).

The Xiaomi 13 series features Qualcomm’s fastest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship SoC and is Xiaomi’s first smartphones to feature a Leica-branded camera setup for better smartphone photography. The smartphone also has Google’s previously Pixel-exclusive Magic Eraser onboard, as part of its photo-editing suite. To know more about the Xiaomi 13, check out our review here.

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Samsung Galaxy A54 Roundup: Design, Specs & Price – All in One Place

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 12, 2023

Samsung has announced the official launch date of the Galaxy A54 mid-range smartphone in India as March 16. While the global release date has not been confirmed yet, it seems that the Indian market will be the first to receive the device. With leaked specifications and design renders already available, we have compiled all the relevant information in one place, so you don’t have to go searching for it.

Design and display

In terms of design, the Galaxy A54 will undergo a significant change compared to its previous model, with the elimination of the camera bump on the rear in favor of separate protrusions for the triple camera system. This camera design closely resembles that of the Galaxy S23. The back of the phone will be flat, while the edges will be rounded to provide a more comfortable grip. The device will come in black and white shades, along with a bunch of vibrant color options.

According to renders, the bezels will be almost uniform on all sides, and the phone will feature a small punch hole at the center of the display for the front-facing camera. Talking about the display specs, we can expect the Galaxy A54 to come with a 6.4-inch sAMOLED Full HD display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080p. The display will likely offer 120Hz refresh rate enabling a smooth scrolling experience as well as high frame-rate gaming.

Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy A54 will likely feature the newly launched Samsung Exynos 1380 chipset. Manufactured on a 5nm process, this chipset boasts efficient performance with its four ARM Cortex A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz and four ARM Cortex A55 cores clocked at 2GHz. It also includes the Mali G68 GPU, enabling it to support Full HD+ resolution and refresh rates of up to 144Hz. The chipset is compatible with both LPDDR4x and LPDDR5 RAM as well as UFS 3.1 storage.

Additionally, this chip offers support for 4K video recording at 30fps with EIS and HDR, along with real-time object recognition capabilities to enhance camera performance. It’s worth noting that this processor is 5G compatible, and it can connect to both mmWave and sub-6GHz networks, providing download speeds of up to 3.67Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1.28Gbps.

In December 2022, the phone surfaced on Geekbench 5 featuring the Exynos 1380 chip, 6GB RAM, and Android 13. It achieved a respectable score of 776 in the single-core test and 2599 in the multi-core test. For reference, this performance is comparable to devices such as the Samsung Galaxy A73, indicating that the phone’s performance is likely quite close to that of a Snapdragon 778G chip.

Reports suggest that the phone will offer a maximum of 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. The phone will be powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging and is anticipated to have an IP67 rating, providing dust and water resistance. Along with dual SIM functionality, the device will feature NFC, OTG, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It will run on OneUI 5.0, which is based on Android 13.

Camera

The main camera cluster will have a total of three units. First, there will be a 50MP primary sensor on the back with support for OIS. This replaces the 64MP primary camera on the Galaxy A53. Although the number of megapixels has reduced, it will probably be a better sensor with a better lens than last year. In addition to the primary sensor, we will also get a 12MP ultrawide lens, 5MP macro unit on the back. For selfies, the punch-hole will house a 32MP sensor on the front.

Pricing

Leaked pricing information for the Galaxy A54 in Europe has been circulating online. The most widespread reports suggest that the phone will be available in two different configurations. The 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant is expected to be priced at €519, while the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant is anticipated to cost €569. Samsung is also rumored to have lower prices for the upcoming device in some regions.

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Vox, Roblox, Unity, Roku and More American Corps Affected by SVB Bank Collapse

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Mar 11, 2023

Besides Etsy sellers affected by the sudden shut down of Silicon Valley Bank(SVB), many more American companies and businesses have revealed recently that they were affected by the collapse of SVB. Amongst those banking with SVB, the most notable are Vox Media, Roblox, Roku and Circle.

Affected American businesses by Silicon Valley Bank

Vox Media

Let’s start with the most famous one in tech circles, Vox Media. Vox Media is the parent company of The Verge – the popular online technology news outlet based in the United States, Vox – the viral American news and opinion website, and Polygon – the entertainment news website that covers news from the video game industry, as well as movies, comics, television and books.

The New York Times reported that Vox Media had a substantial amount of its operational cash in Silicon Valley Bank. The Vox Media personnel who was familiar with New York Times also told that Vox Media’s credit cards, which Silicon Valley Bank issued, had stopped working on Friday.

The personnel also claimed the company does not expect any disruption to its business yet, including payroll to its employees. Penske Media, Vox Media’s largest shareholder, said in a statement that it was ready if the company required additional capital but added that it didn’t foresee any issues for the time being.

Roblox

Roblox, the 21st century viral online game platform and game creation system, has also been affected by Silicon Valley Bank’s shutdown by regulators. According to Forbes, Roblox Corporation held 5% of its $3 billion in cash (150 million USD) at the bank. However, according to a filing, the video game company said SVB’s collapse will “have no impact” on its day-to-day operations.

Unity

Unity Technologies, the American video-game technology maker widely known for its video game engine, Unity, disclosed to authorities in the country today that the company held less than 5% of its cash and cash equivalents at Silicon Valley Bank and expects “minimal impact” from the bank’s collapse.

Unity Video Game Engine Logo

However, Unity Technologies has swiftly informed its video game publishers using Unity via email to swiftly update their payout institution from SVB to other banks before March 20, 2023 to avoid delays in payments.

Roku

Roku is an American corporation that offers Roku TV, its hardware digital media players, and a service of releasing streaming media content on its TV players.

Roku showed much concern in its SEC filing. The company reports that 487 million USD of its cash was within SVB, which is 26% of the company’s assets. What is more worrying is that Roku’s deposits with Silicon Valley Bank are largely uninsured. At this time, Roku does not know to what extent the company will be able to recover its cash on deposit at SVB.

Circle

American Cryptocurrency firm Circle, the owner of stablecoin USDC, had a massive 3.3 billion USD invested with Silicon Valley Bank, the company revealed in a tweet. That’s around 8 per cent of the company’s total $40 billion, which is held elsewhere.

Circle, stated in a statement, “Like other customers and depositors who relied on SVB for banking services, Circle joins calls for continuity of this important bank in the U.S. economy and will follow guidance provided by the state and Federal regulators.”

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Huawei Pushes Forward with 5.5G Development Despite Trade Restrictions

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Mar 11, 2023

Huawei is currently developing 5.5G technology, the next step after 5G, which aims to comprehensively enhance network connectivity and move away from connectivity-based development to full-service enablement. Huawei is collaborating with industry partners to advance towards an intelligent world.

At Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona 2023, Huawei unveiled a full series of One 5G solutions capable of driving all bands to 5G. This development of better 5G, Huawei calls the technology – 5.5G. John Gao, head of the 5.5G domain development at Huawei noted that among the new service trends driven by the new standard was a shift in communications being content.

Huawei believes that this new technology has the power to transform and digitize many different industries. The company predicts that 5.5G will vastly outperform 5G in many aspects such as cutting down the cost-per-bit of eMBB by ten times and delivering higher uplink capabilities using UCBC to meet the requirements of eighty per cent of ToB scenarios.

However, Huawei has been facing significant challenges due to global trade restrictions imposed on them. The U.S. crackdown has cut off the company’s access to essential supplies. Huawei’s global supply chain is being put under intense pressure.

Despite these challenges, Huawei remains committed to evolving their technology and pushing forward with their development of 5.5G. The company believes that this new technology will bring many benefits and advancements in the field of telecommunications.

It remains to be seen how these trade restrictions will affect Huawei’s ability to develop and implement their 5.5G technology on a global scale. However, the Chinese tech giant remains optimistic and determined to overcome these challenges.

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Etsy Struggles to Pay Sellers On Time on Its Platform After SVB Collapse

By

Leo Wong De Quan

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Mar 11, 2023

Etsy, the American e-commerce platform famous for DIY handmade or vintage items and craft supplies, is reportedly struggling to pay its sellers on time after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank(SVB) yesterday.

Sellers on the Etsy platforms reported on Reddit and Twitter today that payments that were due to be credited to their bank accounts yesterday have not been credited by Etsy. In turn, Etsy has sent out an immediate email informing affected sellers, there is a delay in issuing payments to its sellers of the platforms, and the company is currently working with its other payment partners to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

No concrete day or date was mentioned for how long the delay would last, so it is assumed that Etsy sellers’ funds they earned from selling their products on the website have been withheld by Etsy indefinitely. Thus, this is the first major effect of the SVB bank collapse that has impacted the general American consumer market.

Upon receiving the email, sellers were expressing their concern and anger on social media. Some sellers also went out to report the Etsy payment delays to news outlets such as NBC News, claiming that the Etsy delays will have a “catastrophic effect” on their business.

NBC quotes American small business owner, Owen McKinney, who runs Kentucky Country Home laser engraving business, that he relies on Etsy’s deposits to pay for items like shipping costs and materials. Because of the Etsy delay, he had already reached out to one of his suppliers to delay an order for materials that he needed for next week.

As per official info online until 31 December 2022, Etsy had over 100 million items in its marketplace and the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods connected 7.5 million sellers with 95.1 million buyers. In the fiscal year of 2022, Etsy garnered revenue of US$2.6 billion and registered a net loss of US$694 million, as a blitz scaled tech startup.

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Samsung Galaxy A34 Roundup: Everything From Specs To Expected Pricing

By

Anurag

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Mar 11, 2023

Sure, the Galaxy S series comes with all the bleeding-edge hardware and premium features but not everyone is looking for top-of-the-line stuff. Some just want a balanced smartphone without having to spend a fortune on it. That’s where the Samsung Galaxy A series comes into play. The lineup already includes some of the best affordable well-rounded phones on the market. And soon, the series will be further enhanced with the addition of the Galaxy A34, promising to be yet another impressive and affordable device.

Samsung is confirmed to unveil the Galaxy A34 in the Indian market on March 16 along with the Galaxy A54. But before the launch, we have gathered everything about the handset here in this post. Let’s dive in.

Design & Display

Samsung made significant changes to the design of the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus this year, bringing the camera module in line with that of the Ultra model. The Galaxy A34 is also expected to get a similar treatment but it may not look as premium as the two flagships because of obvious reasons. Renders suggest the handset will get individual camera cutouts for each of the three rear-facing sensors.

Galaxy A34 image — Image via @ishanagarwal24

The handset will have a slightly curved side frame with the right edge housing the power and volume buttons. Galaxy A34 will have a front display with a U-shaped notch. A waterdrop notch would have been better but it is what it is now. The bezels around the display appear to be quite thick, especially on the chin. The handset is said to be offered in four color options — Awesome Silver, Awesome Violet, Awesome Lime, and Awesome Graphite.

Reports suggest the Galaxy A34 will arrive with a 6.6-inch AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. The panel could support a refresh rate of 120Hz, however, it may not be adaptive. The display should be sufficiently bright and users will likely not have a problem viewing content in sunlight.

Specs & Features

The Samsung Galaxy A34 will debut as a mid-range smartphone and sit right below the Galaxy A54. The handset will not exactly be performance oriented and feature a processor good enough to get things done. As per several reports, it could be powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, which has a tried and tested dual-cluster configuration with two ARM Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz.

The chipset could be paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. On the software front, the phone will boot One UI 5 based on Android 13. Notably, it has been reported that the handset will get 4 years of major OS and 5 years of security updates. Previous A series phones arrived with only 3 years of major updates, so this is definitely good news (if true).

Fueling the smartphone will be a 5,000mAh battery with support for 25W charging. This might help you feel good if you think 25W is too slow— even the flagship Samsung phones don’t support more than 45W charging.

For photography, the Galaxy A34 will feature a triple camera unit, headlined by a 48-megapixel primary camera with support for optical image stabilization (OIS). It will also get an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 5MP macro shooter on the back. The handset may flaunt a 13MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

Expected Pricing

The pricing of the Galaxy A34 will vary depending on the country you live in. Reports suggest Samsung might price the handset a lot cheaper in select markets. Folks in regions like India and Indonesia may be able to pick up the base 8GB+ 128GB version of the A34 for around $323 (Rs. 26,400). The 256GB version could be priced at $382 (31,000). The handset’s pricing in Europe could be slightly higher, with the base variant starting at around $430.

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Twitter CEO Elon Musk Says He’s Open To Buying Silicon Valley Bank

By

Soumyakanti

-

Mar 11, 2023

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), one of the largest banks in the US, has been shut down by regulators, and its assets were seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The bank primarily serviced customers in the technology industry, including tech workers, startups, and venture capital-backed companies. Its closure marks the largest US bank failure since the 2008 global financial crisis.

The FDIC has created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Santa Clara to hold the insured deposits from SVB, which will continue to clear checks. The main office and all branches of SVB will reopen on March 13, and insured depositors will have full access to their deposits no later than Monday morning. However, it is unclear how larger accounts or credit lines for companies will be impacted by the closure as FDIC’s standard insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor.

Amidst the turmoil, Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan suggested that Twitter should consider buying SVB and turning it into a digital bank. This suggestion caught the attention of Twitter chief Elon Musk, who responded positively, saying that he is open to the idea.

I’m open to the idea
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2023

This potential acquisition could mark Twitter’s entry into the fintech space, as the company has been exploring ways to expand its business. By acquiring SVB, Twitter could leverage its large user base and strong brand to establish itself as a major player in the digital banking industry. As of writing this story, there’s no official confirmation or further information regarding this comment from the billionaire.

SVB specialized in financing start-ups and had become the 16th largest US bank by assets, with $209 billion in assets and approximately $175.4 billion in deposits. The bank’s problems were sparked by customer withdrawals that led the company to liquidate securities positions whose values had plummeted due to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes. Its rapid collapse has left markets rattled, and the FDIC will seek to liquidate its assets while insured depositors will receive an advanced dividend and potential additional dividend payments as the regulator gradually sell SVB’s assets.

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Alleged Coolpad Cool 30 Spotted on TENAA with LCD Water Drop Notch Display

By

Chandan

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Mar 11, 2023

Coolpad, a known Chinese smartphone manufacturer, is reportedly working on the upcoming Coolpad Cool 30 smartphone. The Cool 30 is going to be a budget-oriented device offering a decent set of specifications. It has been now listed on the TENAA authority ahead of the official launch. The listing also gives us a quick glimpse of the key specifications of the smartphone.

The Coolpad Cool 30 with the model number CP16t has been listed on TENAA. The website also reveals the complete look and design of the smartphone. The device can be seen in the Black colour variant with an appearance similar to the Coolpad Cool 30 Pro. However, there are some changes in the camera alignment inside the camera bump. Dual camera lenses along with an LED light are housed inside the camera bump in a vertical position.

Further, the listing reveals that the gadget will pack a 4400mAh battery. It would have an LCD panel on the front with a classic waterdrop notch cutout for the selfie camera. So that was all we had to cover up regarding the TENAA listing of the device. The key specifications reveal that it is going to be launched as a very basic entry-level smartphone.

It is worth mentioning that the Pro variant of the smartphone was also spotted on TENAA long ago. The 6.7-inch TFT LCD screen on the Pro model has a resolution of 2388 x 1080 pixels. The phone will have an unidentified chipset with an octa-core CPU running at 2.4GHz inside. This processor will include 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The smartphone will also include a triple camera setup on the back. A 64MP sensor, an 8MP sensor, and a 2MP sensor will be part of this arrangement. It will have a 16MP front-facing camera for selfies and video calls.

So that’s it for the post. Do you think Coolpad Cool 30 will be able to compete with other devices in the market? Do let us know by dropping a comment down below.

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Mysterious Lenovo Tablet Spotted on FCC Revealing Some Key Specifications

By

Chandan

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Mar 11, 2023

Lenovo, the Chinese electronics behemoth, is said to be working on a tablet. Lenovo tablets are usually good and come with some unique specifications and features. Yet, a mysterious Lenovo tablet has been discovered in the FCC database before its official release. There have been rumours that Lenovo is working on a tablet, which has now been confirmed by the FCC listing.

A new Lenovo tablet with the model number TB-X6E6F has been spotted on the FCC certification page. A few specifications of this future product have also been revealed, according to the listing. This device is confirmed to support a 5G Wi-Fi network, and the bands that this tablet supports are also revealed on the website.

The radio spectrum of the Lenovo TB-X6E6F ranges from 30Hz to 300Hz. The gadget most likely follows the rule of lower frequency and longer range, however, if the frequency is lower, it will support a lower data rate. As a result, choosing a radio spectrum requires balancing range and data rate. The certification website also revealed the dimensions and front design of this future tablet, showing that its diagonal length will be greater than 200 mm. Wi-Fi Ant is positioned 71.2mm from the left and has dimensions of 158.8mmX251.2mmX9.2mm, according to the listing.

The 2.4 GHz ISM radio band (2400 to 2483.5 MHz) is used by Bluetooth technology in this upcoming tablet, which undoubtedly offers a decent balance between range and connectivity. A true standard for low-power wireless communication, the 2.4 GHz band is also accessible everywhere.

So that was all about the upcoming Lenovo tablet and its FCC listing details. What are your thoughts on this? Do let us know by dropping a comment in your words down below.

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Huawei Expected to Rollout HarmonyOS 3.1 Publicly in April

By

Soumyakanti

-

Mar 11, 2023

Huawei is preparing to release its highly anticipated HarmonyOS 3.1 software update, following a successful developer beta test in the P50 and Mate 50 series. Reports suggest that the progress of HarmonyOS 3.1 development has been rapid, and the company is on track to launch the software as early as April.

HarmonyOS 3.1 is set to bring major improvements to the overall fluency of the software, with new animations and fluid movements in the control panel and notification panel. Additionally, Huawei has added new options for media management and has enhanced the shape selection of its widgets.

The software promises to deliver faster task execution and application launches, thanks in part to the inclusion of a new design framework called HarmonyOS Design. This framework enables developers to build better animations based on gravity-based physics systems.

HarmonyOS 3.1 features the ArkTS development language, which is based on TypeScript (TS) and matches the ArkUI framework. This framework is used for building distributed app interfaces that can be adapted to different platforms and devices. Furthermore, the Ark compiler has been improved to enable faster and more efficient app development.

Huawei is expected to launch the P60 series as the first recipient of the HarmonyOS 3.1 software, with a flagship launch later this month. This will be followed by the public release of the software for older devices, starting with the Mate 50 and P50 series, before rolling out to other models.

Overall, HarmonyOS 3.1 is expected to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor, promising faster and more fluid performance, better app development tools, and an improved user experience. Huawei’s continued investment in software development is likely to further cement its position as a major player in the smartphone market.

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(Via)