“Pig-Butchering” Crypto Scam Applications Infiltrate App Stores

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Feb 2, 2023

The dark world of “pig butchering” investment scams has found a new frontier – the official app stores of Google and Apple. These high-yielding scams have been using fake websites, advertisements, and social engineering schemes to trick victims into downloading fraudulent apps and investing large amounts of money into fake assets.

Cybersecurity firm Sophos has uncovered a campaign by China-based threat group “ShaZhuPan,” which appears to be highly organized with various teams handling victim interaction, finance, franchise, and money laundering. The group is said to be targeting male users over Facebook and Tinder using fake profiles of women, laden with images of a lavish lifestyle, to win over the victims’ trust.

The malicious apps, which are named “Ace Pro” and “MBM_BitScan” on the Apple App Store and “BitScan” on the Google Play Store, initially allow victims to withdraw small amounts of cryptocurrency, building trust in the scheme. But once larger amounts are in the equation, the accounts are locked, and the victims are left with nothing.

The method used by the ShaZhuPan gang to bypass the app store security checks is as follows – they submit an app signed with a valid certificate issued by Apple or Google, which is the most important requirement for getting into the app stores. Once the app is approved, the developer changes the domain to a malicious server, and the victim is presented with a fake cryptocurrency trading interface.

The BitScan apps for Android and iOS have different vendor names but communicate with the same command and control server, which appears to impersonate a legitimate cryptocurrency exchange company in Japan. Since these apps are only downloaded by a small number of targeted users, they are not widely reported, making it difficult for app store security reviewers to identify and remove them.

Sophos highlights that the rise of “FinTech” has normalized people’s trust in software tools, and when the apps are sourced from official Apple and Google stores, the sense of legitimacy is even higher. The best way to protect yourself is to research the app before downloading, check reviews from other users, read the privacy policy, and verify the developer/publisher details and the company information.

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Realme GT Neo 5 Purple Edition Teased Ahead of Feb 9 Launch, More Details Confirmed

By

Sudhanshu

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Feb 2, 2023

Realme has confirmed that its upcoming GT Neo 5 smartphone will be launching on February 9 in China. The global launch of the device could happen at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 tech trade show, which will be held by the end of February.

Ahead of the launch, the brand has confirmed many details regarding the device like its chipset details, fast charging capabilities, and design. Now, a new teaser from the brand has revealed the special Purple Edition of the upcoming Realme GT Neo 5.

The teaser informs that the device will have an AG glass back with a matte texture and the signature double stripes that we are used to seeing on the GT series devices from Realme. The color scheme itself is quite pretty and perfectly complements the black color camera module of the smartphone.

On the topic of cameras, the teaser informs that the camera lenses on the Realme GT Neo 5 have the “Transparent double film zero noise technology,” which essentially means that the coating will not leave any residue behind and won’t create any noise particles in images clicked from the device.

Spec-wise, the phone has a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 underclocked CPU that is combined with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 3.1 storage. A 6.74-inch OLED display with a punch hole cutout, 1.5K resolution, and 144Hz refresh rate will also be present on the device.

The Realme GT Neo 5 might have a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. It will sport a 50-megapixel Sony IMX890 main camera on the rear, along with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. Additionally, an IR blaster and RGB lights are rumored to be included.

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Tecno Phantom X2 Pro Teardown Reveals Retracting Portrait Lens & Copper Vapor Chamber

By

Anubhav

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Feb 2, 2023

Tecno unveiled the Phantom X2 Pro smartphone in January 2022. PBKreviews takes us on a journey inside the Tecno Phantom X2 Pro with their latest teardown video. This unique smartphone is known for its retractable telephoto/portrait lens, and now we can get a closer look at its inner workings.

The video starts by removing the plastic back cover and 17 screws, giving us a glimpse of the cameras and telephoto module. The recycled fiber-plastic back cover is flexible, as shown in the video. As we continue, the mainboard is freed up, revealing the three rear cameras, proximity sensor, LED flash, chipset, RAM, and storage. The NFC antenna surrounds the camera system and the quad-LED flash. The video showcases the protruding portrait lens, which is quite an interesting mechanism.

The graphite film is then peeled off, which is used to dissipate the heat inside the device. The battery doesn’t come with pull tabs, so a few drops of isopropyl alcohol are used in the video to remove it from the device. The speaker assembly at the bottom is also shown. The video reveals a thin copper vapor chamber below the battery section, which is used to regulate the temperature of the device. The Tecno Phantom X2 Pro earns a combined 4.5/10 repairability score by PBKreviews.

This 5G smartphone boasts a 6.8-inch curved-edge FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, in-screen fingerprint sensor, and is powered by the Dimensity 9000. It features a 32-megapixel selfie camera, 50-megapixel primary camera, 50-megapixel portrait camera with retractable lens, and 13-megapixel ultra-wide lens on the back. The device comes with 256GB UFS 3.1 storage and 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, and is pre-installed with HiOS 12, based on the Android 12 operating system.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Series India Price Out, Costlier Than What Leaks Suggested

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Feb 2, 2023

A few hours back, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S23 series at the first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023 in San Francisco. It was also the first in-person Samsung conference in three years.

Now, the company has announced the pricing and availability details of its latest premium smartphones for India. As the leaks hinted, the phones are more expensive than their predecessors.

The official price tags of the Samsung Galaxy S23 series are even costlier than the leaked prices from a few days back. The devices will retail at the following prices in the country.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Series India Price

Galaxy S23

8GB + 128GB – ₹74,999
8GB + 256GB – ₹79,999

Galaxy S23 Plus

8GB + 256GB – ₹94,999
8GB + 512GB – ₹1,04,999

Galaxy S23 Ultra

12GB + 256GB – ₹1,24,999
12GB + 512GB – ₹1,34,999
12GB + 1TB – ₹1,54,999

Interestingly, the Galaxy S23 Plus will be only available in Phantom Black and Cream color options. On the other hand, the Galaxy S23 will come in Green and Lavender, in addition to the above two colors.

Further, the Galaxy S23 Ultra will not be available in Lavender. However, apart from the standard three colors, it will also be offered in Samsung.com exclusive colors (Red, Graphite, Lime, and Sky Blue).

All three handsets are up for pre-booking starting today (February 2) across all the leading offline and online channels in the country.

Last but not least, below-listed are the pre-booking offers for all three phones.

Galaxy S23 – Free Storage Upgrade Worth ₹5,000
Galaxy S23 Plus – Galaxy Watch 4 Bluetooth at ₹4,999
Galaxy S23 Ultra – Galaxy Watch 4 Classic LTE and Galaxy Buds 2 at ₹4,999

Customers pre-booking the Galaxy S23 series today (February 2) via Samsung Live will get additional gifts of a wireless charger and a travel adapter. All buyers can also avail ₹8,000 cashback by making transactions via cards issued by leading banks and an extra referral discount.

Tecno Phantom V Fold Live Images Leak, Could Launch by Feb End

By

Sudhanshu

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Feb 2, 2023

Tecno recently debuted the Phantom Vision V concept foldable smartphone which has a rollable sliding screen. Although there is still quite some time before rollable display smartphones become mainstream, Tecno is working on a traditional foldable smartphone that employs some of the design aspects of the Tecno Phantom Vision V concept.

MySmartPrice has leaked live images of the upcoming foldable smartphone from the brand dubbed the Tecno Phantom V Fold. Additionally, tipster Paras Guglani has informed that the foldable device will launch globally on February 28. The device is also expected to launch in India. Let’s take a look at its design.

The foldable phone is shown to be encased in a protective case in the leaked live images. Although the prototype case conceals the phone’s design, the camera sensor placement is visible.

The back of the Phantom V Fold is equipped with three cameras. The Phantom Vision V foldable phone, which was recently shown off as a concept, shares the same camera sensor design. There is an LED flash module beside the camera lenses.

The Tecno Phantom V Fold features an external display with a hole-punch cutout at the top center, but the size of the display is yet to be disclosed. It is clear that the device is going the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold route, as the display appears to be rather tall, but not that wide.

The image shows the beige-colored hinge of the foldable phone. We can also observe that the device is quite thick, however, it is worth noting that this could be due to the fact that the device has a protective cover on it. Lastly, we can see a speaker grille on the top of the device.

Unfortunately, no further information is available on the smartphone. However, considering that the device is likely to launch on February 28, we could see more details about its specs emerge soon.

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OnePlus Withdraws OxygenOS 13 Update Due To Bricking Issues on OnePlus 9 Series Devices

By

Anubhav

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Feb 2, 2023

Where OnePlus was once a benchmark for the fastest Android rollouts, its reputation has been slightly hurt by its recent updates. When the company released the OxygenOS 13 firmware upgrade based on Android 13, some OnePlus 9 devices refused to boot after the update. Hence, OnePlus had to pause the rollout of the update. As a part of reparations, OnePlus has now pulled the OxygenOS 13 upgrade that was bricking OnePlus 9 smartphones.

The latest version of OxygenOS 13 caused some trouble for OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro users when it was rolled out in December 2022. The firmware patches, labeled LE2111_11.F.19 for the 9 and LE2121_11.F.19 for the 9 Pro, prevented some phones from booting properly. A member of the OnePlus software team on the community forum had advised users not to install these updates.

OnePlus attributes the delayed announcement of the issue to last week’s Chinese New Year celebrations. The company has halted the rollout to minimize the damage, and users who are affected can reach out to a service center or use the OnePlus mail order repair service. The company promises to reverse the changes without any data loss.

The F.19 update included the January 2023 security patch, stability improvements in system apps, and bug fixes for Quick Glance, automatic brightness, and cellular connectivity. While this software issue is a concern for some OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro owners, the company is gearing up for its highly anticipated OnePlus 11 launch on February 7. The event will also reveal a range of new products, including the 11R, the long-awaited OnePlus Pad tablet, a mechanical keyboard with Keychron, and the Buds Pro 2. Despite any current challenges, the upcoming weekend holds exciting promise for OnePlus.

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Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, S23 Ultra Have LPDDR5x RAM, UFS 4.0 Storage

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 2, 2023

Samsung has finally unveiled the Galaxy S23 series globally. All the recently released Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagship phones from other brands have the latest RAM and storage technologies. However, some reports that surfaced before the launch claimed that it has the LPDDR5 RAM, that Samsung has offered on the Galaxy S21 and S22 series. In a new tweet sharing the official specs sheet of the S23 series, reliable tipster Ice Universe said that the S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra are indeed equipped with LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage.

Please always believe in the ice universe (even Samsung's training materials can't be completely trusted) pic.twitter.com/j8veDKKuUR
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 2, 2023

To those who don’t know, the LPDDR5x, which offers 8,533 Mbps data transfer speeds, is 33 percent faster than the LPDDR5 RAM. The older UFS 3.1 offers up to 2100 MB/s and up to 1,200 MB/s sequential read and write speeds, respectively. The newer UFS 4.0 storage offers up to 4,200 MB/s and up to 1,200 MB/s sequential read and write speeds, respectively.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus colors — Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus

The Galaxy S23’s base variant has 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Its higher version offers 8 GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 256 GB of UFS 4.0 storage. In the US, these variants are priced at $799 and $859, respectively.

The Galaxy S23 Plus comes in LPDDR5x and UFS 4.0 storage combinations, including 8GB + 256GB and 8GB + 512GB. In the US, these are priced at $999 and $1,199, respectively.

The S23 Ultra has arrived in LPDDR5x and UFS 4.0 storage configurations, such as 8GB + 256GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB, and 12GB + 1TB. Its top two variants are priced at $1,199 and $1,379, respectively. The Galaxy S23 trio comes in colors like Cream, Green, Lavender, and Phantom Black. On Samsung’s official website, buyers can avail few more color options, like Sky Blue, Lime, Red, and Graphite.

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Samsung Galaxy S22 price cut in India; is it a good deal?

By

Sudhanshu

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Feb 2, 2023

Samsung just debuted the Galaxy S23 series of flagship smartphones in India and around the world. The series has the usual three models – Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus & Galaxy S23 Ultra. Pre-reservation for these devices will kick off later today, while the open sale is expected to commence on February 17.

Before the Galaxy S23 series goes on sale, the brand has slashed the prices of the Galaxy S22 from last year to make it a more affordable option. This is the second price cut of the Galaxy S22 in the last three months. In November 2022, the brand slashed the price of this device by Rs 10,000, bringing its starting price (for the 128GB storage variant) down to 62,999. Now, another Rs 5,000 have been slashed from the price tag.

amsung Galaxy S22 Plus Phantom White Pink Gold Phantom Black

After the latest price cuts, the Galaxy S22 128GB storage model starts at Rs 57,999, while the 256GB model costs Rs 61,999. The price cut applies to all of the color options of the device. To make the deal even sweeter, customers purchasing the smartphone using the Samsung shop app will get a discount of Rs 2,000. Additionally, 100GB of free cloud storage from OneDrive will also come bundled with the purchase.

Considering that not much has changed on the new Galaxy S23 other than the chipset and design, the Galaxy S22 at these prices is quite a good deal. As we know, the Galaxy S22 launched with Android 12 and has since been updated to Android 13. Samsung has promised 4 years of Android updates for the device and 5 years of security updates, so it’s safe to assume that the device will receive major updates till Android 16.

Samsung Galaxy S22 specs

As you might remember, the Samsung Galaxy S22 has a 6.1-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display with a variable refresh rate of 48-120Hz. A Gorilla Glass Victus+ panel shields the screen. A 4nm octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC and 8GB of RAM power the phone.

It has three rear cameras with optical image stabilization, including a 50-megapixel primary sensor with a wide-angle lens (OIS). A 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 10-megapixel telephoto sensor are also included in the camera configuration. The Galaxy S22 has a front-facing 10-megapixel selfie camera sensor for selfies and video calls. A 3,700mAh battery that supports up to 25W conventional and 15W wireless charging powers the device.

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Microsoft Integrates ChatGPT with Teams Premium to Make Meetings AI-Powered

By

Anubhav

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Feb 2, 2023

As the world navigates through economic turbulence and changes in work patterns, companies are looking for ways to optimize their IT investments and rekindle their employees’ motivation to achieve their business objectives. To keep up with the fast pace of change, companies require solutions that can improve their productivity, cut costs, and allow them to be more adaptive.

This is where the cutting-edge technology of AI comes in. Microsoft, for instance, is using AI to transform its consumer and enterprise products, including Microsoft Teams, to help individuals and teams work more efficiently. Previously, Microsoft integrated OpenAI tools with their workplace emails and spreadsheets. Now, Teams Premium will leverage state-of-the-art technology, including OpenAI‘s GPT-3.5-powered Large Language Models, to elevate meetings to new heights of intelligence, personalization, and security. It’s worth noting that GPT 3.5 is developed by OpenAI, a research institute focused on the advancement of artificial intelligence, while ChatGPT is designed by the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2), a non-profit research institute. Since GPT 3.5 has far more parameters than ChatGPT, it’s significantly more capable of handling complex language processing tasks and translations in real time.

With the pandemic forcing an increase of 252% in weekly meeting time over the last two years, Teams is taking action to ease the strain. It is incorporating AI throughout the meeting experience, enabling users to get more done in less time. There are a lot of tasks that require attention during the meeting, and Microsoft states that the integration of AI with Teams will eliminate the extra time that needs to be allotted to those tasks.

Teams Premium will offer intelligent recap, which generates automatically created meeting notes, suggested tasks, and personalized highlights. Team members can easily keep track of the most critical information even if they miss the meeting.

In the future, Teams will add speaker timeline markers that show who spoke, when they spoke, and allow users to jump straight to that moment in the meeting recording. This feature is intelligently organized based on who the team member works with most closely, so they never miss important feedback from their manager.

With AI-generated notes powered by GPT-3.5, members can focus on the meeting itself and not on taking notes. In the near future, key points and takeaways will be displayed after the meeting. AI-generated tasks and action items will also be automatically suggested for follow-up.

Lastly, Teams Premium will also offer live translations for captions in 40 languages, making meetings more productive and effortless for everyone. Only the meeting organizer needs to have Teams Premium for all attendees to enjoy the benefits of real-time translations.

Additionally, team meetings will be more personalized and branded for its members. IT admins will be able to create customized meeting templates to greatly reduce the time and effort required to plan a meeting. Using advanced meeting protection, admins can easily upgrade safeguards to ensure confidential meetings without interfering with the meeting experience.

Microsoft Teams Premium is expected to greatly reduce costs and enhance productivity for its users. The company is offering a free trial of Teams Premium for 30 days. If organizations buy Teams Premium before July 1, 2023, they will be charged $7 per user per month, which is 30 percent off the standard $10 pricing. The integration of AI with Teams is bound to redefine the way meetings are conducted within organizations.

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Realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition Set to Launch Next Week, Design Revealed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 2, 2023

Realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition will be unveiled at 12:30 pm (local time) on Feb. 10 in India. As the name of the phone suggests, it will be a special edition of the Realme 10 Pro 5G that is already on the market. A Twitter user has shared some images to reveal the design of the Realme 10 Pro 5G Coca-Cola Edition.

The Realme 10 Pro Coca-Cola edition’s launch date has appeared on its landing page on Realme India’s website. However, it does not have any other information about the device. Here is the first look at the device.

Exclusive First look at the Coco Cola phone lauching on 10th Feb 12:30 PM @stufflistings @Sudhanshu1414 @yabhishekhd @Gadgetsdata @heyitsyogesh @TrakinTech @AmreliaRuhez pic.twitter.com/Kf0ft9v9wR
— Sumit Patwa (@SumitPatwa2034) February 1, 2023

As can be seen, it will sport a dual-tone design that features a black portion housing the camera module and the Realme logo on the left. The Coca-Cola branding with the red background is available towards the right. It is likely that the device may pack the same specs that are available on its regular version.

Realme 10 Pro 5G specifications

The Realme 10 Pro 5G will arrive with a 6.72-inch IPS LCD display that offers a Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The device features the Snapdragon 695, 6GB / 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM, and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. For additional storage, it has a microSD card slot. It runs on Android 13 OS and Realme UI 4.0. For security, it has a side-facing fingerprint scanner.

The Realme 10 Pro has a 16-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. Its back panel features a 108-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage edition variants of the Realme 10 Pro are priced at Rs 18,999 (~$232) and Rs 19,999 (~$244), respectively.

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OnePlus Buds Pro price slashed in India – Checkout new pricing & offers

By

Sudhanshu

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Feb 2, 2023

On February 7, OnePlus will host the Cloud 11 global launch event. At this event, the brand will debut the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R, and OnePlus Buds Pro 2. The OnePlus 11 and OnePlus Buds 2 are already available in China for about a month.

The OnePlus Buds 2 is rumored to cost around Rs 10,900 ($133) for Indian buyers. Ahead of the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 launch, the brand has slashed the prices of the OnePlus Buds Pro.

The OnePlus Buds Pro originally retailed for Rs 9,990 but has since undergone a Rs 1,000 price reduction. After a price reduction, customers can now buy the premium TWS earphones for Rs 8,990. The price cut is available on all three color options of the OnePlus 11 including Radiant Silver, Matte Black, and Glossy White.

Additionally, the brand is also giving offers to customers looking to buy the OnePlus Buds Pro. Buyers of the earbuds will get an instant discount of Rs 1,000 if they use an ICICI bank credit card for the purchase. Similarly, a cashback of Rs 500 can be claimed on purchases made by a MobiKwik wallet.

OnePlus Buds Pro Special Edition Mithril Silver

In terms of features, the OnePlus Buds Pro has 11mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and 3 microphones for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). The 37mAh batteries inside the earbuds, which are IP55-rated for splash resistance, allow for up to 7 hours of music listening without ANC.

A 520mAh battery is included in the charging case with USB Type-C cable charging and Qi wireless charging. With no ANC, the combined life of the three batteries is up to 38 hours.

Other than that, the OnePlus Buds Pro has access to the “Dual Connection” feature that enables easy swapping between two connected devices. It also has an Audio ID, which calibrates sounds according to the user’s preferences. There is also a Zen mode feature that lets users choose from a list of white noises to reduce stress and help in meditation, yoga, and sleeping. You can check out our OnePlus Buds Pro review if you want to know more about these earbuds.

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OnePlus Ace 2 Display Specifications Officially Confirmed

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Feb 2, 2023

OnePlus Ace 2 will be unveiled on Feb. 7 in China. It is said to be a rebranded or tweaked version of the OnePlus 11R 5G, which is set to launch in India on the same day. Today, OnePlus China released a poster to confirm the display specifications of the OnePlus Ace 2.

The poster released by the brand reveals that the OnePlus Ace 2 has a curved-edge display with a centrally aligned punch-hole. It is a 6.74-inch OLED panel that produces a 1.5K resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz.

The company also confirmed that the Ace 2 is the world’s first smartphone to offer Consonance Touch, which means it will offer the best touch experience in the industry. The screen offers 450 ppi pixel density and a maximum brightness of up to 1,450 nits.

The Ace 2’s display supports a 100 precent DCI-P3 color gamut. It will support high-frequency PWM dimming. In all likelihood, it will come equipped with an under-display fingerprint scanner.

Other reports have revealed that the OnePlus Ace 2 will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset and up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. The device will arrive with up to 512 GB of UFS 3.1 storage. It will pack a 5,000mAh battery with 100W charging.

For photography, the Ace 2 may feature a 16-megapixel front-facing camera and an OIS-ready 50-megapixel primary camera on the back. The main snapper is likely to be coupled with an 8-megapixel or 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro camera. The handset will also come with other features such as ColorOS 13.1-based Android 13 OS, an IR blaster, and an alert slider.

Apart from launching the Ace 2, the company will also announce the OnePlus Ace Buds on Feb. 9. The earbuds are likely to be rebranded as Nord Buds in the Indian market.

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 For Galaxy Announced Aboard the Galaxy S23 Series: Here’s How it Differs

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 1, 2023

Recently, it was revealed that the Galaxy S23 series would feature an enhanced version of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The chipset dubbed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy has been announced as powering the Samsung Galaxy S23 models. The chipset is manufactured by the Taiwanese semiconductor company TSMC, which is also responsible for manufacturing Apple’s A Bionic chips, known for their power efficiency.

Samsung flaunts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy as the World’s fastest Snapdragon chipset around. Rightly so, the chipset comes with a higher clock frequency than the current model giving it a faster and more powerful performance. For clarity, the chipset features an overclocked prime Kryo CPU core running at 3.36GHz which is higher than the 3.2GHz clock frequency onboard the vanilla Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Adreno GPU onboard this model is also running at a higher 719MHz frequency. For reference, the GPU onboard the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is clocked at 680MHz.

The implication of the overclocked CPU and GPU is that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy comes with improved graphics and faster processing. The chipset is capable of real-time ray-tracing and more efficient handling of effects like bloom, depth of field, and motion blur, making the Galaxy S23 an ideal device for mobile gaming.

The overclocked CPU throws up concerns about the device overheating. Samsung is dispelling such concerns with the company revealing that the NPU on the Galaxy S23 is optimized by 40% to balance performance and power. This will in turn lead to improved battery performance. We’ll have to wait for reviews of the Galaxy S23 series to emerge to find out if this claim is factual.

In addition, the new chipset also introduces the Snapdragon Cognitive ISP. This feature enables real-time processing technology called Semantic Segmentation. The technology allows the camera to distinguish various elements in an image and optimize them in real-time. As such, the camera can automatically remove glare from glasses in a photo.

Samsung fans all over the world don’t have to worry this time around as all models of the Galaxy S23 that’ll be sold globally, including in Europe, will pack the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset.

Samsung’s New Galaxy Book 3 Pro & Book 3 Pro 360 Laptops Announced

By

Anurag

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Feb 1, 2023

Samsung unveiled its latest Galaxy S23 series of smartphones at the Galaxy Unpacked event held later today. Alongside the premium flagships, the Korean company also introduced the new Galaxy Book 3 series of laptops. The new lineup includes multiple devices but, in this post, we’ll be sticking to the Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Book 3 Pro 360. Read on to find out their specs and pricing.

Galaxy Book 3 Pro & Book 3 Pro 360 Specifications

The new Galaxy Book 3 Pro and Pro 360 come with various improvements over their predecessors. Design-wise, the laptops offer a premium feel with a solid aluminum chassis. The Galaxy Book3 Pro is offered in two sizes – 14-inch and 16-inch, whereas the Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 gets a 16-inch display.

Both share the same Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with 2880x1800px resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The ports are the same as well: 3.5mm jack, microSD slot, one USB-A, 2 USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a sole full-sized HDMI. The laptops feature two 5W woofers and two 2W tweeters with AKG and Dolby Atmos certification along with studio-quality dual microphones. There’s a 1080p webcam on both Galaxy laptops. The Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360 also comes with a bundled S Pen.

The Galaxy Book3 Pro and Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 arrive with an option for Intel 13th-gen Core i5-1340P or Core i7-1360P. You can pair these processors with 8/12/16GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or up to 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSDs. The Galaxy Book3 Pro 14-inch version packs a 63Wh battery. The 16-inch version of the device and Book3 Pro 360 come with a 76Wh battery unit.

Galaxy Book 3 Pro & Book 3 Pro 360 Price

The Galaxy Book3 Pro 360’s i5 Wi-Fi-only version with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD will cost you around $1,962. The top-end 5G i7 variant with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD has a price tag of $2,940. You can get a 14-inch Galaxy Book3 Pro with i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for €1,699 and the 16-inch Intel i7 variant with 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD for $2,390.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra With a 16” Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display, 120Hz Refresh Rate Launched

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 1, 2023

Samsung Electronics, Wednesday, held a launch event where the Galaxy S23 series was the star of the night. The tech giant equally announced new Galaxy Book notebook models. The Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra emerges as the top model among the laptops announced. The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra was launched alongside the Galaxy Book 3 Pro 360, and Book 3 Pro. It is the premium model among the trio and it offers ultra-high-performance computing.

The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra packs a 16-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU while the graphics are powered by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. The laptop also comes with 32GB LPDDR5 RAM.

The premium laptop also features a full-sized backlit keyboard and a Windows Precision trackpad. There is a full HD webcam onboard which makes the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra suitable for video conferencing. The notebook also features various connectivity options such as a Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) port, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, an HDMI 1.4 port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Book 3 Ultra gets its juice from a 76Wh battery that should deliver an extended battery life. The device equally supports 100W fast charging, making it possible to quickly recharge the battery when it goes flat.

In terms of the software, the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra comes pre-installed with the latest Windows 11 operating system. The laptop also comes with some features such as Expert RAW Auto Share which allows users to transfer RAW images from a Galaxy smartphone to the laptop automatically. Other features include Galaxy Book Smart Switch, Private Share, Quick Share, Samsung Multi Control, Samsung Pass, Second Screen, and Studio Mode. The Galaxy Book Smart Switch makes it possible to easily transfer data from an old PC to the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra. On its part, the Samsung Multi Control gives users the leverage to control their Galaxy smartphone using the laptop’s keyboard and trackpad.

Samsung is yet to reveal the pricing details of the Galaxy Book3 Ultra. However, the laptop is expected to go on sale in selected markets soon. The Book 3 Ultra will be available in a sole 16-inch Graphite model.

Samsung Galaxy S23, S23 Plus Launched With New Design and Upgraded Internals

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Feb 1, 2023

As scheduled, Samsung took wraps off the Galaxy S23 series today at the first Galaxy Unpacked event of 2023. Just like the last few years, the latest-gen Galaxy S family consists of three smartphones, such as Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus arrive with a new design. However, the specs are somewhat the same as the last generation phones (Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Plus).

Both models are almost identical to each with a few differences like screen and battery capacity. They are also comparatively cheaper than the Ultra.

Let’s take a look at everything they have to offer.

Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus Specifications

The Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus flaunt a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), a 48-120Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The centered punch-hole screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and can play HDR10+ content.

The panel on both devices can reach a peak brightness of up to 1,750 nits. The only difference is that the display on the S23 measures 6.1 inches compared to 6.6 inches on the S23 Plus.

The handsets are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset. This silicon is paired with LPDDR5x RAM and UFS 4.0 storage (UFS 3.1 for the 128GB variant).

On the software front, they boot One UI 5.1 based on Android 13. They come with multiple connectivity options, such as 5G, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GNSS, NFC, UWB (only Plus version), and USB 3.2 (Type-C).

The smartphones arrive with a triple camera system on the back and a 12MP front-facing camera. The rear camera setup comprises an OIS-assisted 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide unit with auto-focus support, and a 12MP telephoto shooter with a 3x optical zoom lens and OIS.

The phones are IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. They feature Dolby Atmos-supported dual stereo speakers and an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

The Galaxy S23 is backed by a 3,900mAh battery, whereas the Galaxy S23 Plus gets its energy from a 4,700mAh battery. The vanilla model is limited to 25W wired charging but the Plus variant supports up to 45W wired charging. Anyway, both support 15W wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus Price and Availability

In the US, the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23 Plus start at $799.99 and $999.99, respectively. They come in 8GB + 256GB and 8GB + 512GB memory configurations. The vanilla version also comes in 8GB + 128GB.

The handsets can be availed in either Phantom Black, Green, Cream, or Lavender color options. They are up for pre-order and will be available for purchase from February 17.

Samsung Launches Galaxy S23 Ultra With Improved Cameras & a Powerful Processor

By

Anurag

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Feb 1, 2023

The wait is over and the Galaxy S23 series smartphones, probably the most-awaited Android flagships, are finally here. Samsung today held its first in-person smartphone launch since February 2020 and announced the three-strong Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra. The star of the show and the subject of this post is the Ultra model, which debuts with a high-resolution 200MP main camera and Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. Continue reading to learn the price, specifications, and features of the new Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Design

If you are expecting major changes in the design, you’d be disappointed. The Galaxy S23 Ultra looks so similar to the S22 Ultra that most people won’t be able to tell the two apart. The handset measures almost the same as its predecessor and has sharp corners with an S pen housed on the top. The camera island, where most aesthetic changes usually occur, is also the same. There are three camera rings placed individually. One notable difference is that the device has flatter sides, making it easier to grip.

Specifications

Being Samsung’s most premium smartphone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra brings cutting-edge hardware. It has the brand’s best display, best cameras, and fastest chip. In other words, there’s a tall 6.8-inch AMOLED display with a QHD+ (3,088 x 1,440) resolution and a dynamic refresh rate that can go from high 120Hz to as low as 1Hz with the help of LTPO technology.

The display of the smartphone can attain a peak brightness of up to 2,000 nits. This is much higher than Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 1,750nits brightness. The panel comes with Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection.

Powering the smartphone is Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which is paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of internal storage. Unlike last year, Samsung didn’t launch the Exynos chipset variant of the device. The S23 Ultra is fueled by a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired and 10W wireless charging. There’s support for reverse charging as well. Lastly, the smartphone runs Android 13-based One UI 5 out of the box.

Cameras

The S23 Ultra arrives as Samsung’s best camera phone. The smartphone flaunts a quad-camera setup, highlighted by a large 200MP ISOCELL HP2 sensor capable of recording up to 8K resolutions at 30fps. The primary sensor has optical image stabilization (OIS) as well.

The main sensor is accompanied by a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens that has an f/1.4 aperture and 120-degree FOV and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, f/2.4 aperture, and OIS support. There’s also a 10MP periscope telephoto camera with up to 10x optical zoom and f/4.9 aperture. For selfies, the handset gets a 12MP camera up front.

Price and Availability

The Galaxy S23 Ultra will be offered in four colors: Phantom Black, Cream, Green and Lavender. It will be available for purchase through various channels starting February 17. The base 8/256GB version of the smartphone starts from $1,200 in the US and ₹115,000 in India.

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Xiaomi Forms Two New Governance Committees to Make Better Decisions and Revive the Company

By

Joane

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Feb 1, 2023

On January 30, Lei Jun, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi group announced the establishment of two new governance bodies, the Operations Management Committee, and the Human Resources committee. CEO Lei Jun will be personally heading both committees and overseeing their operations.

Calling the new committee “a far-reaching change in the history of corporate governance” and “the first major event at the beginning of the year” Lei Jun explained its need, importance, and functions in his letter.

The Operations Management Committee will have officials and experts from various departments like marketing, business strategies, coordination, planning, budgeting, execution, and daily operations. The committee will have 12 members including Lei Jun along with Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing who was previously the head of the sub-brand Redmi and Zeng Xuezhong the current SVP and President of the Smartphone division, who previously headed the smartphone division of ZTE.

The Human Resource Committee will have 7 people including Lei Jun, Lu Wiebing, and Liu De the co-founder and Vice-President of Xiaomi, and other Human Resources and General affairs departmental heads.

It seems like the new committees will play a vital role in shaping the future of the Xiaomi group as they involve leaders from its three major businesses: Smartphones, IoT and Consumer goods, and Internet services.

Internal reconstruction and organizational changes are not new to Xiaomi. Recently, Xiaomi re-assigned many of its officials and revamped and established different internal organizations to tackle different needs.

The company made more than 35 internal structural changes that included major events like the resignation of founder Lei Jun from many of Xiaomi’s affiliate businesses. In September 2022, Lei Jun also stepped down from his position as Chairman of Xiaomi Electronic Software Technology Ltd. and quit the director position of some of the sub-brands.

Why is Xiaomi Changing its Management Structure?

Xiaomi is rapidly changing its management structure to combat the pressure of losing its top positions in both China and India. The plunging sales along with the diminishing global demand for smartphones have also added to its worries.

Last year, for the first time in a decade, China’s smartphone sales hit a record low. According to an IDC report, in 2022, smartphone shipments in China were around 286 million units, a 13% fall from the previous year.

In India, which is the world’s second-largest smartphone market, Xiaomi held the top position for 5 consecutive years. However, in the fourth quarter of 2022, as Xiaomi’s sales dropped by 6% YoY, Samsung dethroned the company by becoming the new market leader.

The exit of former Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain, along with Chief Business Officer Raghu Reddy and Marketing Head Sumit Sunal shows a major change in the internal management of Xiaomi India.

Rajeev Nair, Senior Analyst of Tech Insights said that though their exits do not directly affect the revenue and sales, the multiple resignations have definitely affected the company adversely, as seen by Xiaomi’s dwindling performance in the Indian market.

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Walmart’s Second-gen Android TV Streaming Box in the Works, FCC Filing Reveals

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 1, 2023

Walmart may be planning to release a sequel to its 2020 ultra-cheap Android TV streaming box. The new Android TV streaming box will come with improvements from the original Onn streaming devices. An FCC listing picked up by a tipster gives the first views of the upcoming Walmart Android TV dongle.

The Walmart Android TV dongle is a 4K streaming device based on the SDMCTECH design. It was submitted for FCC certification by Luxshare Precision Industry Co. The FCC listing actually indicated that the device is an Onn 4K streaming Box. There are several details lacking from the FCC listing outside its basic specifications. The streaming box will also support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bands.

The rumored Walmart Android TV dongle will be running on the Amlogic S905Y4 chipset with AV1 support. It is an upgraded version of the S905Y2 used in the previous dongle. The device is rumored to come with Google TV support from the previous Android TV. This is a strategic marketing decision, as many brands have switched to Google TV. The original Onn Android TV dongles were impressive in their own rights. They came with an affordable price tag which was something that attracted demand for the products.

Walmart discontinued the production of the Onn streamers last year and stocks have quickly been exhausted. The FCC listing of the upcoming Onn Android TV streamer could indicate an imminent release. Pricing information and release details are however lacking at this time.

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2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 Series Impressive EPA Ratings Announced

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Feb 1, 2023

Hyundai has announced the IONIQ 6 series EPA ranges with some impressive numbers. The IONIQ 5 was a huge hit and sold out within 24 hours. The IONIQ 6 seems to have even upped the stakes with some impressive EPA numbers. The longest-range model in the lineup can deliver 361 miles on a single charge.

The official EPA ratings of the Hyundai IONIQ 6 lineup blew away expectations. The new electrified streamliner was unveiled last June with a sportier design than the IONIQ 5 SUV. It retained the same 800V E-GMP platform as its predecessor but with advanced capabilities. The Hyundai IONIQ 6 features vehicle-to-load (V2L), ultra-fast charging, and the latest innovations in the industry.

At the LA Motor Show, the IONIQ 6 was estimated to deliver an estimated range of 340 miles. It was projected as one of the most efficient EVs with an ultra-low drag coefficient of 0.22. The IONIQ 6 also has active air flaps, wheel gap reducers, a spoiler with a winglet, flow separation straps, and an efficient aerodynamic design. It was launched in Germany, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Norway.

The 2023 Hyundai IONIQ 6 will arrive in the United States soon. The final EPA testing shows that the EV exceeded the initial expectations. Hyundai expects the 2023 IONIQ 6 to enter the US market with a bang. The IONIQ 6 SE RWD comes with a final EPA estimated range of 361 miles, followed by the IONIQ 6 SE AWD at 316 miles. The SEL RWD and SEL AWD both with 20-inch wheels have an EPA range of 305 miles and 270 miles respectively. The remaining models in the lineup are the Limited RWD and Limited AWD models with 305 miles and 270 miles respectively.

The IONIQ 6 series benefited greatly from its aerodynamic design which provided improved ranges. They also come with impressive MPGe ratings, especially for the top model the IONIQ 6 SE RWD. The series will enter the US market this spring and pricing information is lacking at this time.

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