Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is all set to launch its latest offering, the OnePlus Ace 2. The Ace 2 launch event is scheduled for February 7th. Along with the new smartphone, the company is also releasing a new and upgraded cooling accessory, the 27W freezing point cooling back clip, to ensure that the performance of the Ace 2 remains top-notch.
The design style of the new back clip is consistent with the previous 18W back clip cooling fan launched by OnePlus last year. Also, it comes in a pure white color scheme with OnePlus’ trademark classic red hue on the cooling fan. The new back clip has been designed with an aerospace-grade dual-TEC overclocking cooling solution, a custom-made “tornado” radiator, and dual independent control chips. With a maximum cooling capacity of 27W, the new back clip is expected to significantly improve heat dissipation and keep the phone cool, even during intensive usage.
OnePlus is also partnering with Yuanshen for the new product launch, and it is expected that a joint version of the color-matching back clip will be launched to cater to the needs of fans.
The previous 18W freezing point cooling back clip was priced at 199 yuan, and with the improved power of the new back clip, it is expected that the price will increase. However, the exact pricing details have not been revealed yet, and it will be interesting to see how the market reacts to the new product.
Geely is taking some bold moves as it continues to expand into the European EV market. The premium EV arm of Geely, Zeekr has unveiled the 2023 X urban EV. The model was previously teased as the 003 and is expected to go into production later this year.
The EV manufacturer says the concept behind the X EV is that it represents infinite inspiration, exploration, and imagination. It is a premium urban SUV with a length of 175.2 inches and a width of 72.3 inches. The Zeekr X is 61.9 inches high and has a 108.2 inches wheelbase. The X EV is based on Geely’s Sustainability Experience Architecture (SEA), as with the Smart #1 model. The X model is slightly longer, wider, and lower than Smart #1.
The X was conceptualized and designed at the company’s Global Design Center in Gothenburg, Sweden. The design team was led by Stefan Sielaff and the design sought to push the frontier of urban SUVs. The Zeekr has a frameless door design and exterior frameless mirrors for enhanced aerodynamic performance. The car has a nice exterior outlook and has some radical features like split headlights, an aggressive front bumper, and huge wheel arches. The car also has a sporty rear design.
The Zeekr X has a narrow rear window with small windshield wipers. It also has an extended roof spoiler and slim taillights. The taillights feature a horizontal light strip that helps to illuminate the Zeekr inscription in the middle. The production model of the Zeekr does not show any door handles but some push buttons are visible at the base of the B and C pillars. The powertrain specifications of the X EV are not yet known, but the car can go from 0 – 100km/h in 4 seconds.
The Zeekr X will enter the Chinese market within Q2, 2023 and it will subsequently berth in Europe. There are no price details for the model yet.
Tesla announced the Cybertruck back in 2019. Since the announcement, we haven’t seen much progress on this highly anticipated vehicle. However, the company has confirmed that it is not cancelling production and that it will begin in mid-2023. This was confirmed by CEO Elon Musk during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call. Recent sightings of the Tesla Cybertruck driving in California suggest that Musk is telling the truth. Here are the details…
After Elon Musk Gives Cybertruck Update, it’s Spotted Driving in California
Recently, a beta Cybertruck was spotted in Palo Alto, California, with a picture shared on Twitter. The picture showed a few small updates to the design, including a more stylish triangle-shaped mirror and a slightly shorter back tailgate compared to previous images.
Allthough official specs have not yet been revealed, Musk stated that the Tesla Cybertruck will feature a quad-motor all-wheel drive system, a towing capacity of up to 14,000 lbs, and a 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds. The Cybertruck is expected to have a range of up to 500 miles on a single charge.
According to the statements made by Tesla, the number of people who pre-order Cybertruck has reached over 1.5 million. However, it should be noted that this does not mean that Tesla has sold 1.5 million Cybertruck. The company currently takes a $100 deposit for each pre-order, waiting for the vehicle to be ready to receive its full price.
This means that anyone with enough money in their pocket can pre-order, even if they aren’t going to buy it. Although we do not know how many 1.5 million people will actually buy Cybertruck, but even now, the money entering the company is 150 million dollars.
The biggest problems that Tesla has experienced in the past have been on the production side. In previous models, many customers waited a very long for delivery after placing their orders. However, the company stepped up things by solving its problems after 2019. The company says the Cybertruck is on track to start production in mid-2023.
Another point of concern is the price. Elon Musk announced the cost of the vehicle at the event in 2019, but the pandemic and global inflation may cause these prices to change. If Tesla would deliver the Cybertruck at the price point and with the specs initially announced in 2019, it would probably beat the Model Y (the best-selling Tesla model).
Little-known Chinese audio products manufacturer, EarFun has launched a new flagship TWS earbuds. The product is named EarFun Air Pro 3 TWS earbuds and it offers high-quality audio and convenient features for an immersive listening experience. The product appeared on the FCC website last year and its most outstanding feature is the Bluetooth LE Audio support. This makes the device the first TWS earbuds to come with support for LE-Audio. The Air Pro 3 offers improved sound quality and low latency mode, thanks to the LE-Audio, making it ideal for watching videos and playing games.
One of the key features of the Air Pro 3 is its support for the LC3 audio codec and Bluetooth 5.3, which ensure stable transmission and ultra-low power consumption. The headset is also equipped with aptX adaptive audio technology, which provides even better sound quality compared to other codecs. The 11mm driver unit is capable of delivering clear and powerful audio, while the 6-microphone array with cVc 8.0 technology ensures clear voice transmission during calls.
In terms of battery life, the Air Pro 3 provides up to 9 hours of listening time on a single charge, and this can be extended to 36 hours with the charging box. It also supports fast charging, allowing you to play music for 2 hours after just 10 minutes of charging. The headset is also compatible with wireless charging, making it even more convenient to use.
The Air Pro 3 allows users to connect to two devices at the same time, making it ideal for multitasking. It is compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, smartwatch, tablet, or PC, and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as listening to music, taking calls, and watching videos.
The EarFun Air Pro 3 is priced at $79.99 and is presently up for grabs on EarFun’s website and Amazon.
The chip shortage that started during the pandemic is almost over. Chip producing factories are no longer operating at 100% capacity, and manufacturers no longer have supply chain issues. However, despite these positive developments, some products are still not readily available in the market. You may wonder why. It turns out that there wasn’t a serious supply problem after all. AMD CEO, Dr. Lisa Su, confirmed that the company has been “undershipping,” meaning it was shipping less than actual demand. Here are the details…
AMD is ‘undershipping’ chips to balance CPU, GPU supply
According to CEO Lisa Su, AMD “undershipping” its products to balance supply and demand. As you know, the PC industry has experienced a great rise during the pandemic. Consumption has reached an unbelievable level and technology companies in particular have experienced their golden age. Unfortunately, things changed a bit after the pandemic. Leading to a drop in sales for both AMD and Intel
However, AMD managed to maintain a small profit despite the 51% YoY drop in client PC sales. It turns out that is because AMD’s under-shipping strategy helps the company maintain higher prices for its products. The company, which deliberately puts few products on the market, has control over all stages from production to consumption.
Unfortunately, this method, while diabolical, is quite popular and is not unique to AMD. Nvidia, another major chip maker, has also been under-shipping its gaming products to correct the inventory that is in the market. Gross margin is a key metric for chip companies, and AMD’s market tricks helped it achieve a 51% non-GAAP gross margin last quarter.
The under-shipping practice is one of the reasons why GPU prices haven’t plummeted despite the decrease in demand. It is unknown how long this so-called sales strategy will last. However, as long as it continues, the price increase in PC parts does not seem to end.
OnePlus smartphones have been around for quite some time and now the brand is planning to foray into a new product category— tablets. The Chinese company is ready to bring its first-ever tablet, dubbed OnePlus Pad to the international market on February 7. Ahead of the launch, the brand has already revealed the slate’s design and today, thanks to a tipster, we get to learn its detailed specifications.
Tipster Digital Chat Station has shared the specifications of the OnePlus Pad on Chinese social media Weibo. As per the tipster, the upcoming tablet will have specifications similar to Oppo Pad 2. Based on this, the OnePlus tablet is expected to feature a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 SoC, paired with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. Do note that storage options may vary market-to-market.
It could come with a large 11.6-inch LCD with a 2K resolution and support for a 144Hz refresh rate. In the camera department, the tablet could feature a 13MP sensor with an LED flash module on the rear and an 8MP front camera. OnePlus Pad will likely run Android 13 with ColorOS 13 skin in China and OxygenOS 13 globally. Fueled by a massive 9500mAh battery, the slate could support 67W fast charging. The device is expected to come with a Wi-Fi-only connectivity option.
As mentioned, the company has already revealed the design of the forthcoming OnePlus Pad. It will come with an aluminum alloy chassis with a cambered frame. Unlike other tablets in the market, the OnePlus slate will have its camera module placed in a central position on the back. It will feature a single camera placed in the top bezel above the screen.
Chinese automaker Xpeng had a rough year in 2022. The company’s sales failed to meet expectations and its share price plummeted by 81.34%. However, Chairman and CEO, He Xiaopeng, recently sent a letter to its employees promising to end the bad course. It seems that Xiaopeng is determined to keep that promise. Chinese electric vehicle startup launched its P7 sedan and G9 Sports SUV in Europe. Here are the details…
Xpeng launches flagship EVs in Europe in international push
Xpeng, has launched its P7 sedan and G9 sports SUV in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden, as part of its international expansion efforts. The P7 sedan is priced lower than Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range in the four countries. It has starting price of 49,990 euros ($54,917) for a range of 576 kilometers on a single charge.
Xpeng is pushing aggressively into international markets. The Chinese electric car start-up launched its P7 sedan and G9 SUV in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden.
The G9 SUV is priced higher than Tesla’s Model Y Long Range, with a range of 570 kilometers on a single charge and a starting price of 57,990 euros in the Netherlands. Xpeng faces tuff competition in Europe, not just from Tesla but also from other Chinese automakers and European giants like Volkswagen.
However, Xpeng isn’t the only Chinese manufacturer on the market.Chinese rival Nio has already started deliveries in Norway. Xpeng has accelerated its international push in recent years, with physical stores in Europe and the launch of its mass-market P5 sedan. However, supply chain issues have suspended the start of sales for the P5.
We’re all aware that webcams on laptops aren’t excellent. As a result, most individuals prefer to utilise an external webcam, and some even use their smartphone as a webcam for their computers via third-party apps. iPhones may also be used as webcams for MacBooks. Now, rumours are circulating that Google is developing a function that will allow you to utilise your smartphone as a webcam for your laptop. This will be offered as a native function on Android soon, eliminating the requirement for third-party software. This will undoubtedly be one of the best features Google has ever added.
Today, Android expert Mishaal Rahman revealed on Twitter that Google may add functionality for turning your Android phone into a USB webcam. Rahman discovered evidence indicating that Android is adding a “DeviceAsWebcam” service in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository. If you’re not familiar with AOSP, it’s Google’s open-source operating system development initiative for stock Android.
Your Android device's kernel may need to be compiled with CONFIG_USB_CONFIGFS_F_UVC=y for this new functionality to work. This is the case on GKI kernels since android12-5.10.https://t.co/R52BVvxcXa
It allows anyone to examine and contribute code and changes while being directed and overseen by Google. “DeviceAsWebcam” is defined as “a new service that transforms an Android device into a webcam.” According to Rahman, this would work on Android smartphones that support the standard UVC (USB video class) gadget mode, which allows video data to be sent.
Making your phone become a webcam isn’t necessarily innovative for Android. However, this would be the first time Android has permitted turning your phone into a UVC device without the use of a third-party app. It is unknown whether Google will integrate this capability in a future OS upgrade. However, in order to exploit the new capabilities right now, Rahman suggests that your device’s kernel be compiled with CONFIG USB CONFIGFS F UVC=y first. Technically, it would still require an app or service to function. You might call it an official app, but hey!
Last week Japan and Netherlands decided to join the US and agreed to abide by the additional sanctions on semiconductor export to China.
However, Semiconductor Equipments and Material International (SEMI), an industry association that includes the world’s top semiconductor designing, manufacturing, and selling companies, stated that the curbs laid on China were not strict enough.
According to SEMI, if US allies like Japan and Netherlands did not levy tougher curbs, then the sanctions would be ineffective. The industry group has openly sided with the US in the US-China Tech war and said that it had a vested interest in the US and welcomed the additional sanction agreement on China.
Though the exact details of the agreement are undisclosed, SEMI believes that China will keep on growing in the semiconductor industry unless the allies come together and agree to wider control and restrictions on Chinese fabrication facilities.
source: SEMI
Semiconductor Fabrication facilities or fabs are factories that make integrated circuits. Semi said that as long as Chinese fabs are running, the country has a strong chance to manufacture advanced chips. It further added that allies need to restrict their engineers and others from supporting China’s high-end fabs.
The current sanctions levied by the Biden administration ban the export of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, technology, and personnel to China. American nationals are not allowed to partner with or work at Chinese semiconductor companies.
Japan and Netherlands have agreed to restrictions on semiconductor export to China. Essentially, these two countries have agreed not to export advanced chip-making equipment and cutting-edge technology to China. However, older technologies and equipment are still exported to China.
China is the largest semiconductor market in the world and aims to be a global leader in advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence. With its current technology, China can make chips that can be used in low to mid-level industries like washing machines, air conditioners, automobiles, and smart home appliances. However, it still relies on the US and its allies to make advanced chips used in weaponry, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud computing.
Though Japan and Netherlands have agreed to additional restrictions on China, the allies are not in favor of a complete ban as it will adversely affect their economies which are largely dependent on technology exports to countries like China.
OnePlus Buds Pro 2 will be unveiled globally on February 7. Ahead of the launch, the company has revealed an interesting detail about the upcoming earbuds. OnePlus has confirmed that the Buds Pro 2’s Master EQ will be tuned by veteran Hollywood music composer Hans Zimmer. You might know him from his work on popular movies such as Dune, Top Gun: Maverick, and The Dark Knight trilogy.
The Master EQ tuned by the legendary music composer is named “Soundscape” and is claimed to have fewer low frequencies than the default setting as well as a brighter and wider sound field. OnePlus says the Master EQ will let the users enjoy the full orchestral sound of classical and the multidimensional score of an action film.
For the unaware, an EQ, short for equalizer, is a tool that lets you adjust the sound signature of your earphones or speakers according to your wish. It can be used to adjust the gain of various frequency ranges in the complete frequency range of a given output device.
As part of the collaboration, Zimmer has rearranged “Lost but Won”— a part of the original soundtrack for the movie Rush, to integrate spatial audio components into the music. This soundtrack will enable customers to test their OnePlus Buds Pro 2’s spatial audio feature and to ensure it is set at an optimal level.
The company had already confirmed that Buds Pro is one of the first TWS earbuds to adopt Google’s signature spatial audio function. The earbuds should be able to offer a customized spatial audio experience through a wide sound field and clear vocals.
OnePlus says it is planning to collaborate with other world-famous music composers to develop more customized EQs for users to choose from. Let’s see which big name is next!
DIZO has launched a new smartwatch in India. The latest offering is the DIZO Watch D2. The Realme TechLife brand has expanded its range of smartwatches in the country. The Watch D2 falls under the Rs 2,000 price segment and competes against other devices offered by brands like Noise, boAt, Xiaomi, and more in the market. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.
The DIZO Watch D2 features a large 1.91-inch display in a square dial. It has 500 nits peak brightness and more than 150 customisable watch faces. The device comes with a hybrid aluminium frame and a skin-friendly soft silicone strap. There is a button on the right side of the device.
On the health-centric front, the DIZO Watch D2 is equipped with a heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, sleep tracker, and menstrual period monitor. The wearable device offers hydration and sedentary reminders. It packs support for more than 120 indoor and outdoor sports modes.
The DIZO Watch D2 comes with a Bluetooth calling feature. Users can call, answer, and reject incoming calls directly from the wrist. There is a silent mode as well as noise cancellation on calls. The smartwatch packs convenient features like built-in mini-games, camera and music control, smart notifications, weather updates, find my phone, and more. The DIZO Watch D2 is powered by a 260mAh battery unit that is claimed to deliver 7 days of usage under normal mode and 3 days with Bluetooth calling.
The DIZO Watch D2 carries a price tag of Rs 1,799. It will be available for purchase from the brand’s official website and Flipkart starting February 10th.
Samsung is done with its big 2023 unveil and now it’s OnePlus’ turn to show its cards. The Chinese brand will be introducing the OnePlus 11 flagship to global consumers on February 7 at the Cloud 11 event. The company has been teasing its latest smartphone intensively, revealing information in bits and pieces. In the latest development, it has been confirmed that the OnePlus 11 will be available for pre-order in India on the launch day itself.
OnePlus 11 will go on sale in India through Amazon. And today, a microsite on the e-commerce platform revealed the premium smartphone’s pre-orders in India will open on February 7, the same day as the launch event. The sale date and official pricing of the handset will be announced during the launch.
Unofficially, a tipster has claimed that the higher-end 16GB RAM+ 256GB storage version of the OnePlus 11 will cost Indian consumers around Rs 61,999. There will also be an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version but its pricing is still a mystery. Given OnePlus’ popularity in India, we expect the upcoming smartphone to attract many buyers. The prices also seem fair this time.
The OnePlus 11 got sold like hotcakes in China. According to the company’s executive, the smartphone broke pre-sales records for the brand after just two hours. It remains to be seen whether the same response will be reciprocated in the global market.
This year, OnePlus will not be launching a pro model but instead, we’ll be getting a more affordable OnePlus 11R with an older Snapdragon 8+ gen 1 processor and decent cameras. The 11R will be unveiled at the same event alongside several other products, including the OnePlus Buds 2 Pro, OnePlus TV Q2 Pro, and a new Keyboard.
Stuffcool has expanded its range of wireless chargers. The homegrown brand has launched a new 3-in-1 foldable magnetic wireless charger called Stuffcool Stack. The striking feature is that it can be folded when not in use. Read on to know what it offers out of the box.
The Stuffcool Stack is a wireless charger that can top up three devices simultaneously. The wireless charging station features three magnetic chargers. It is compact and can be folded making it ideal for travel and carrying in the bag easily. The device also doubles up as a foldable stand and a phone can be placed in portrait as well as landscape orientation. The charging accessory measures 10cm in diameter and 2.6cm in height.
The Stuffcool Stack is compatible with Qi-certified smartphones and TWS earphones. It supports the iPhone 12, 13, and 14 series along with devices from Samsung, Pixel, and more. The TWS module is capable of outputting power to AirPods, Samsung Buds, Pixel Buds, and Nothing Buds. Meanwhile, the watch module is only compatible with all versions of the Apple Watch.
In terms of delivering power, the Stuffcool Stack offers up to 10W speed for smartphones, 3W for TWS earphones, and 2.5W for Apple Watch. It features an 18W QC3.0 adapter and a fast-charging Type-C cable for plug-and-charge convenience. The wireless charger is capable of detecting any foreign object placed on the stack.
The Stuffcool Stack wireless charger carries a price tag of Rs 4,990. It is offered in Black and White colour options and comes with a 6-month warranty. It can be purchased from the brand’s website, Amazon, and various offline stores across the country.
Vivo X90 series has debuted in the global markets. The brand has also announced the availability of the smartphones in various regions. The Vivo X90 smartphones were launched in China last November and the lineup includes the standard (review), Pro, and Pro+ models in China. Only the former two have arrived in the international markets while the Pro+ variant remains exclusive to China.
The Vivo X90 and X90 Pro are vastly the same phones except for differences in the camera department. The global variants also have the same specifications as their Chinese counterparts.
The Vivo X90 and X90 Pro come with a 6.78-inch OLED display with curved edges and a centre-aligned punch-hole cutout. Both devices offer an FHD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, 1,300 nits peak brightness, and HDR10+ support. The phones are equipped with an in-screen fingerprint scanner. Design-wise, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro a circular protruding camera module and a horizontal metal bridge below it with text revealing ‘Xtreme Imagination’ and the camera co-engineered by Vivo and Zeiss. The standard and Pro models are IP64 and IP68-certified water-resistant.
On the imaging front, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro have Zeiss-branded triple rear cameras. The setup on the former comprises an OIS-enabled 50MP Sony IMX866 main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide unit, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The Pro variant has a 1-inch Sony IMX989 50MP primary sensor with the industry’s only f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 50MP portrait unit and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The Vivo X90 duo pack the brand’s V2 ISP enabling superior photography performance. Up front, both Vivo smartphones feature a 32MP selfie snapper. There are also various camera-related features on the devices.
Under the hood, the Vivo X90 and X90 Pro are equipped with a Dimensity 9200 processor. It packs up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage. There is a vapour cooling chamber onboard for heat dissipation. The X90 draws its power from a 4,810mAh battery whereas the X90 Pro is backed by a 4,870mAh unit with both supporting 120W fast charging. The later is also compatible with 50W wireless charging.
In Malaysia, the Vivo X90 costs MYR 3,699 (~$868) for the 12GB + 256GB variant whereas the X90 Pro carries a price tag of MYR 4,999 (~$1,175) for the same configuration. The standard model will be available in Black and Blue colour and in Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Thailand, and Malaysia markets. The Pro variant will be sold in only Black colour and in the same countries as the regular X90 but along with some European markets like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, and Serbia. The pricing and availability details will vary from region to region.
When it comes to PC accessories, the first brand that comes to mind is Razer. The company manages to attract the attention of gamers, especially with its interesting designs and products. Finally, a new one has been added to these products. Razer introduced its new $280 mouse, the Viper Mini Signature Edition, today. Here are the details…
Razer’s $280 mouse is covered in gaping holes
The Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition (SE), priced at $280. This mouse is unique in design with its magnesium alloy chassis exoskeleton and large holes. While the honeycomb design is meant to reduce weight, the Viper Mini SE’s holes are significantly larger. Therefore, this design raises questions about the mouse’s durability.
To address these concerns, Razer has added a three-year warranty to the Viper Mini SE. Thats a year longer than the company’s usual warranty for mouse. The large holes in the mouse’s design could also help keep hands cool during intense use by allowing for more airflow but I don’t know how important this feature is for gamers.
However, despite the unique design, the Viper Mini SE is not the lightest mouse on the market. It weighs almost 50 grams. It also lacks buttons on its right side, making it less versatile for competitive use. The mouse targets gamers seeking a mouse that is easy to flick around their desk, with a high dots-per-inch (DPI) spec of up to 30,000 DPI.
Unfortunately, the price is also quite high. As we mentioned above, the wireless model is $ 280. However, if you’re interested in expensive and “with-holel” PC accessories, you can order the Razer Viper Mini Signature Edition starting February 11.
Samsung has just finished off the launch of the flagship Galaxy S23 lineup and the Galaxy Book 5 series. The brand is now probably preparing for the launch of a Samsung 77-inch OLED TV and a 49-inch OLED Monitor. Anyway, going back to the main headline, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 has now got the support of Android 13. Well, you should not get too much happy as it is not an official ROM. The Noble ROM 3.0 brings OneUI 5.0 based on Android 13 to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 devices.
Noble ROM, developed by XDA Recognized Developer AlexisXDA, is a project aimed at giving the latest edition of Samsung’s custom skin to the Galaxy S9/S9+ and Note 9. It has now reached the 3.0 milestone, which means that the fifth major version of One UI is now available for anyone who is willing to flash the modified firmware on their devices. The build was moved over by the developer using a modified Galaxy Note 10 Lite and the Galaxy S20’s Android 13 version, which has been adjusted to make use of the 2018 flagships. In this way, they have enabled the support of the latest ROM to these galaxy devices.
The developer was able to adapt One UI 5.0 with Android 13 to the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 in the form of Noble ROM, an aftermarket firmware. Noble ROM can provide some comfort for long-term owners, especially those who don’t want to migrate to a conventional AOSP-derived Android 13 custom ROM because Samsung ended the monthly security patch release for the Galaxy Note 9 and S9 family a long time ago. Of course, it isn’t flawless, with a few flaws here and there. But what’s better than getting the latest operating system for outdated devices?
This port is only available for the Exynos 9810-powered Galaxy S9 and Note 9 global and Korean models. This indicates that consumers in the United States and Canada who own Qualcomm models will be unable to use One UI 5 on their Galaxy S9/S9+ or Note 9. That was all for the unofficial Android 13 ROM for the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 devices. What are your thoughts on the post? Please let us know by leaving a remark in your own words down below. Thank you for sticking with me until the end.
Sony has just revealed its sales figures for its popular PlayStation 5 console in the fourth and final quarter of 2022. This period is also seen as the holiday season or holiday quarter, and it appears that the company has managed to achieve some robust shipments.
During Q4 2022, the Japanese tech giant sold around 7.1 million units of its PS5s between the months of October to December. This marked a sizeable 82 percent rise year on year when compared to the 3.9 million units sold in 2021. Thanks to this high figure, the company also managed to reach more than 32 million units in sales for the PlayStation 5 since the launch of the current gen gaming console.
The rise in sales is likely due to better inventory thanks to stabilizing supply chains that would enable little to no delay in shipments. Furthermore, its Game & Network Services segment overall saw a jump to 9.7 billion US Dollars last year, marking a year on year rise of 53 percent. So now, Sony has sold over 32.1 million PS5s compared to the 25 million shipped by November 2022. In other words, this also means that the brand has sold around 28 percent of all PS5s in just this single quarter alone.
If the company manages to ship around another 5.2 million units of the PlayStation 5 console, it can end its fiscal year with a total of 37 million shipments. This could mark a significant boost in sales compared to last year. Such high sales figures initially seemed like optimistic numbers considering the various sourcing issues like component shortages and rising cost of raw materials. But with this trend, Sony might be able to achieve this goal as well.
Huawei has just announced a new project, in which it employs its expertise in telecommunications. The company is installing 5G networking gear on fishing boats to improve connectivity for people working in the sea. So here are all the details.
The Chinese tech giant worked with China Unicom for the ‘Digital Fishing Boat’ project, which also won the 2023 GSMA ‘5G Productivity Challenge Award’. Both companies worked together since Huawei required China Unicom’s private 5G network and product systems. Although, the brand jointly developed the 5G tech for the system on the fishing boats. Thanks to 5G, the people at sea gain access to cloud computing, IoT (Internet of Things) Beidou positioning technology, and improved connectivity.
This would enable the fishing boats to monitor the dynamic weather at sea. The boats will come with the 5G MetaAAU ultra large scale antenna array that offers various advantage from its large bandwidth of the 3.5G frequency band. Furthermore, this can also maintain a stable 60Mbps download speeds and 2Mbps upload speeds within the range of 61 kilometers in the sea.
These new Digital Fishing Boats would also allow fishermen to also keep up to date by watching the news, get up to date weather information, and even make high definition video calls to their families. Although one of its highlighting aspects is the ability to let fishermen call for help through a one click app to get emergency assistance while in the waters.
The Reno 8T 5G is the latest Reno-series phone to launch in India. Apart from launching the 8T today, Oppo also announced the Enco Air 3 TWS earbuds. I will be reviewing both products in the coming week. Before I release the review, here is my first impressions post on the Reno 8T 5G and Enco Air 3.
Oppo Reno 8T 5G
The Reno 8T 5G is available in 128 GB and 256 GB variants in other markets. In India, however, the device is only available with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is priced at Rs 29,999 (~$366). Readers can checkout our launch story to learn more about the bank offers that are available for online and offline buyers in India.
The Reno 8T 5G looks very impressive from the front as well as the back. It has a premium feel as the display and the back panel of the phone taper towards the edges. The top and bottom bezels (2.32mm chin) are slim and appear symmetrical, and the polycarbonate back panel shows off different colours when viewed from different angles.
OPPO Reno 8T 5G
The 8T has a thickness of 7.7mm and weighs only 171 grams, which makes it a few grams lighter than the Reno 8 5G, which weighs 179 grams. While I received the Sunrise Gold variant, the 8T also comes in Midnight Black. Like the other Reno 8 5G and Reno 8 Pro 5G, the Reno 8T does not have an IP rating.
The Reno 8T 5G has a flagship-level 6.7-inch AMOLED screen, which produces an FHD+ resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and 10-bit colors. It offers a screen-to-body ratio of 93 percent. One of the drawbacks of the Reno 5G (review) was that it had a single speaker. The Reno 8T 5G is blessed with dual stereo speakers.
OPPO Reno 8T 5G
Under the hood, the Reno 8T 5G features the Snapdragon 695, a reliable chip for mid-range performance. It has LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, up to 8GB of virtual RAM, and a 4,800mAh battery. The retail package includes an 80W charger, but the phone supports 67W charging. The company claims a full charge in just 44 minutes.
Cameras are one of the major highlights of the Reno series. For selfies, the Reno 8T inherits the reliable 32-megapixel Sony IMX709 sensor from the Reno 8 and Reno 7 series. It is the first Oppo phone to feature a 108-megapixel Samsung HM6 camera. It is assisted by a 2-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel microlens with support for 40x magnification. The handset runs on the Android 13 OS with the ColorOS 13 on top. Also, it features a microSD card slot for more storage.
Oppo Enco Air 3 TWS earbuds
The Enco Air 3 has a distinct dual-tone design and retails for Rs 2,999 ($37). It comes in a “Glaze White” colour only and has a translucent lid. While it looks beautiful, I feel that its lid is a bit delicate. The compact case houses the earbuds, which have a half-in-ear design like the AirPods. Hence, it does not come with silicon ear tips. The charging case has an LED indicator, which glows green when the lid is opened or closed or when the earbuds are taken out or placed in their grooves.
OPPO Enco AIr 3
The earbuds have 13.4mm audio drivers that promise rich bass and clear vocals. For better speech recognition, it has the Cadence HiFi 5 DSP onboard. There is Oppo Alive Audio support for an enhanced surround-sound experience. The usual touch controls are available on the earbuds.
The Enco Air 3 supports the latest Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. One of the good things about it is that users can pair it with up to two devices simultaneously. However, there is no physical button on the case for Bluetooth pairing. It is not a big problem as it pairs quickly with new devices.
OPPO Enco AIr 3
There is a gaming mode that offers 47ms low latency. Oppo claims that the Enco Air 3 offers up to 25 hours of playback time with the charging case. A USB-C port is available for charging. Lastly, the device weighs only 50 grams.
The Reno 8T 5G is an enticing package that offers an attractive design, an impressive display, a smooth experience, and decent cameras. The 8T faces other similarly priced devices, such as the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Nothing Phone (1), and iQOO 9 SE.
I will be thoroughly testing the Reno 8T 5G and Enco Air 3 over the following few days to evaluate their performance and claims. The Reno 8T review will arrive in the coming week, while the Air 3’s review will be up a bit later. Meanwhile, those who are interested can head to Oppo India’s website, Flipkart, or offline stores in India to pre-order them. Both devices are scheduled to go on sale starting Feb. 10.
If you wish to know anything these products, you can drop in your questions in the comments section.
Noise had just recently announced a new rugged smartwatch for the Indian market. Now, the NoiseFit Force has finally gone on sale in the region. So here are all the details regarding the new wearable product.
The NoiseFit Force arrives with a circular display that has a 1.32 inch IPS panel that has a 360 x 360 pixel resolution. The company is also offering 150 customizable watch faces. It also comes with two physical buttons on the right side and a fully functioning rotating crown. Bring a rugged smartwatch, it also comes with water, dust, and scratch resistance along with a sporty look. The body is built with a combination of zinc alloy and polycarbonate.
The device also comes with various health related sensors like heart rate tracking, SpO2 blood oxygen mapping, sleep tracking, step counter, and more. It also comes with support for multiple sports related modes as well like running, cycling, cricket, hockey, trekking, and more. One of the device’s highlighting functions include Bluetooth Calling, which allows users to manage and receive phone calls directly from the smartwatch.
Other notable features include, 7 day battery life, IP67 water resistance, voice assistant support, and more. It also arrives in multiple color options, namely Teal Green, Misty Grey, and Lunar Black colors. The NoiseFit Force is currently available for purchase for a special price tag of 2,999 INR from the company’s official website and Amazon India website.
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