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Jio 5G Won’t Work on These Two Xiaomi Smartphones, Says Report

5G connectivity was made available only recently in India, and most eligible Xiaomi smartphones now support it. The Chinese OEM partnered with Reliance Jio to bring 5G support to a majority of its eligible devices. And while most devices can now enjoy high-speed connectivity, there are some who aren’t so lucky.

According to a report by Telecom Talk, two Xiaomi phones will not support Jio 5G. These handsets are Xiaomi Mi 10 and Mi 10i. Apparently, this is because both of these devices do not offer support for 5G Standalone or 5G SA.

5G SA allows communication service providers like Jio to deliver services such as low-latency connectivity, massive machine-to-machine communication, 5G voice, edge computing, and network slicing. 5G SA has zero dependency on the 4G network and uses a brand-new 5G network core.

Xiaomi MI 10

Notably, Airtel 5G will work on both of these phones because the telco is deploying a non-standalone version of 5G. However, the standalone version of 5G, in comparison to the non-standalone version, is said to deliver faster and more reliable telecommunications.

To recall, Xiaomi launched Mi 10 and MI 10i a few years back as flagship smartphones. The Mi 10 comes powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and is currently available with a price tag of ₹31,999. Mi 10i is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 chipset and is available at ₹21,999 in the country.

As mentioned, a number of Xiaomi smartphones already support Jio True 5G, including Mi 11 Ultra 5G, Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G, Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G, Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G, Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G, Redmi Note 11T 5G, Redmi 11 Prime 5G, Mi 11X 5G, Mi 11X Pro 5G, Redmi K50i 5G, Xiaomi 11i 5G, Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G, and Redmi Note 10T 5G.


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Icoma’s Tatamel Briefcase Bike is a Honda Motocompo Lookalike e-Bike Shipping Later This Year

Japanese manufacturer Icoma’s Tatamel e-scooter will go into production later this year. The petite foldable bike is a 21st-century version of the iconic Honda Motocompo of the 1980s. It has a top speed of 40km/h and a range of 36km on a full charge.

Icoma’s Tatamel Briefcase Bike

The Tatamel was showcased during the just-concluded CES 2023 and it stole the show at that event. It feeds from the original Honda idea of the 1980s called the Motocompo. It has a compact and light design with a focus on short, last-mile trips and inner-city use. It is, as expected, low on speed and mileage but its compactness is a huge advantage.

The Icoma Tatamel has a 512V 12Ah Lithium iron phosphate battery that can be fully charged via a wall socket in three hours. The e-scooter has a 600W electric motor with a maximum output of 2kW. The bike has a length of 48.4 inches and a height of 39.4 inches. The wheels and other components are foldable into a briefcase shape that is 27.2 inches long and 10.2 inches wide.

The Tatamel can easily be tucked under your table at the workplace or fit on the trunk of your car. It has wheels when folded which makes it easy to move without lifting it. The bike can be fully recharged in three hours which means it can serve your daily commute problems fairly. In the future, the company will release bigger battery packs that will double the bike’s range.

The bike has a 10-inch front wheel and a 6.5-inch rear wheel. The front wheel is suspended on a fork while a mono-shock is at the rear. The bike has an aluminum main structure with swappable 3D-printed panels. The bike weighs 110 pounds and has a maximum load capacity of 220 pounds.

Icoma’s Tatamel Briefcase Bike

The Tatamel can also function as a mobile power pack for USB charging+ and an optional AC charging slot. The Icoma Tatamel will arrive in the US market expectedly by April 2023. The current price of the bike is $3,999. There are no global availability details yet for the Tatamel.

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Topton & Kingdel Fanless mini PCs With Alder Lake-U Processors and Six 2.5GbE Slots Announced

Chinese brand Topton & Kingdel has announced its improved fanless mini PCs powered by Alder Lake-U CPUs. The new Topton & Kingdel fanless mini-PCs have up to six 2.5GbE ports and can operate as a multiple network router, as well as a multimedia device. The mini PCs come with improved performance in several domains.

Topton & Kingdel Fanless mini PCs

The new mini PCs can be configured to act as a firewall or router and also provide power for multimedia tasks. It offers a sprinkling of ports and options for video output for an immersive experience. The Alder Lake-U CPUs come in three variants – i3, i5, and i7. They offer significant improvements above the Celeron processors. The RAM/ storage configuration of the mini PCs could be as high as 64GB/ 2 TB, which is impressive.

Topton & Kingdel Fanless mini PCs

The Topton & Kingdel mini PCs have aluminum alloy fins on top of the chassis, while the CPU is connected to a copper heat sink with two copper heat pipes. An additional fan can be connected to the lower side to cool the RAM. The main board of the gadget has 6 Intel i-225V 2.5Gb cards and jacks. The M.2232 slot allows for the use of a WiFi card there are up to five USB ports. It also has one HDMI 2.1, a DP 1.4 video out, and a TF card slot.

Topton & Kingdel Fanless mini PCs

The Topton & Kingdel fanless mini PC can be mounted on a VESA socket and is priced from $370 for the barebones i3 model. The top model in the series is the i7-powered device which is priced at $1,196. The Topton & Kingdel wireless is available from Amazon.

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Blackview W10 & W10E “Apple Watch-Lookalike” Smartwatches Launched Starting at $25.99

The Blackview W10 smartwatch is a new addition to the Blackview family of smart devices. This watch boasts a sleek and stylish design, with a 1.69-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display that offers clear and vivid visuals. It also has a durable IP 68-level waterproof build, making it suitable for use in various activities such as swimming and sports.

 Blackview W10 smartwatch

One of the standout features of the Blackview W10 is its impressive battery life. The watch is equipped with a 290mAh battery that can last for up to 7 days on a single charge and p to 22 days on standby, making it a great option for users who are always on the go.

The watch also comes with a variety of fitness-tracking features, including a heart rate monitor, pedometer, and sleep tracker. These features allow users to track their activity levels and monitor their health and fitness progress.

In addition to fitness tracking, the Blackview W10 also offers a range of smartwatch features such as notifications, music control, and camera control.

Blackview W10 smartwatch

The Blackview W10 smartwatch is available in two different colors: black, and pink. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and can be connected via Bluetooth.

On the other hand, the Blackview W10E smartwatch launch article is designed for consumers looking for an affordable smartwatch with basic features and functionality.

The W10E features a 1.52-inch color display with a resolution of 240 x 280 pixels. It supports Bluetooth 5.0 and is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

 Blackview W10 smartwatch

The watch offers various fitness-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and step counting. It also has a sedentary reminder, which reminds you to move if you’ve been sitting for too long. Additionally, it has a 10ATM rating water resistance.

 Blackview W10 smartwatch

The W10E smartwatch is powered by a 205 mAh battery that can last up to 7 days on a single charge. It also offers basic smartwatch features, such as notifications for incoming calls and messages.

The Blackview W10E smartwatch is available for purchase at a price point of around $25.99.It is aso available in Black and Pink color options.

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OnePlus, Oppo, & Realme Phones Get a New Dialer App, Supports Call Recording Without Announcement

Android manufacturers used to ship their smartphones with their own default dialer apps. But now, for some reason, most major brands have started shipping their phones with Google Phone app as the default dialer. Oppo is no exception to this, but it looks like things are about to change as the brand has released a new ColorOS dialer for its phones. The app is currently listed on the Play Store and can be downloaded by OnePlus and Realme smartphone users as well. Here are the details.

Odialer oppo

There’s a new dialer app listed on Google Play Store called ODialer. The app’s developer is ColorOS, which suggests Oppo is behind it. The app is only compatible with Oppo, OnePlus, and Realme smartphones and cannot be downloaded on any other brand’s phone. Also, it can be installed only on Android 12 or above devices.

The about section of the app says it comes with a call management feature which organizes recent calls in groups for your convenience. It also supports call recording without announcement, meaning the other person on the call will not know that the call is being recorded.

The user interface of the app looks clean and easy to use. It allows users to easily access their contacts and recent calls. Also, there’s a speed dial feature to quickly make a phone call. Oppo’s ODialer supports dark mode as well.

Judging from the reviews and the number of downloads, the app looks like a new release, and it seems there are plenty of bugs as well. One user writes that the incoming calls don’t show up on the screen unless the power button is pressed. Another says that the hold feature doesn’t work.

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Apple Launches a Nylon Loopback Sports Strap to Mark Black History Month

Apple has released a new Black Unity strap for the Apple Watch, which is offered in 41mm and 45mm sizes and made of fine-woven nylon. The strap features a red, green, and black color scheme, with the abstract word “Unity” woven into the strap in tribute to the pan-African flag. The unique design is meant to pay homage to the black community, highlighting the vitality and unity of the community.

Apple Black Unity strap

The new Black Unity strap was jointly developed by members of Apple’s black creative community and allies. The design of the strap was inspired by the production process of mosaics and it is meant to be a new expression of the traditional style. The process of weaving the strap is a nod to the traditional style of mosaics, which is a type of art that is often associated with the black community.

In addition to the new strap, Apple has also released a matching Unity mosaic dial for the Apple Watch. The dial is composed of green, black, red, and yellow geometric figures. As time changes, each number will borrow the graphics of other numbers and become a new form. The matching Unity 2023 dial will be launched next week and will be compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 and later models running watchOS 9.3, and iPhone SE (second generation) or subsequent models running iOS 16.3.

Apple has a tradition of releasing a Black Unity strap at the beginning of each year in honor of Black History Month, and this year is no exception. This is not the first time that Apple has paid tribute to the black community through its products. In the past, the company has released a range of products, such as the Black Unity Collection, which was a collection of black and white photographs and videos that celebrated the beauty and diversity of the black community.

Apple Black Unity strap

The release of the Black Unity strap and matching Unity mosaic dial is part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to support and celebrate the black community. The company has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and it has a range of initiatives and programs aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in the wider community.

The new Apple Watch Black Unity strap will be available for purchase on January 24th at some Apple Store retail stores, and it is priced at 379 yuan ($56).

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China added more than 2.5 million EV Charging Points in 2022

The latest data from the State Council of the People’s Republic of China shows that the country is on an expansion spree as it adds a large number of charging ports for Electric Vehicles (EVs). 

When it comes to Electric Vehicles, China is the global leader, with experts believing it to become even more dominant in the coming years. China has shown a staggering 113% increase in its EV sale in just the first half of 2022. Compared to this, North America has reported a 49% increase and the EU showed a paltry 9% increase in EV sales.

China’s BYD leads the Global EV sales followed by Tesla and Volkswagen. This unprecedented increase in the sales of EVs has led to the rapid expansion of EV charging points across the country. Also, since economic stability is a top priority for the nation, massive investments are being made in infrastructure, which has also led to accelerated growth in the number of charging stations.  

In 2022 alone, China added 2.59 million new points which take the total number of charging points in the country to a whopping 5.21 million. It also built 1973 battery swapping stations and has more than 10000 power battery recycling service outlets. As compared to China, Europe, the second largest EV market, has only 400,000 public charging stations. 

China is aiming to create a rapidly advancing New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Sector, and the increasing number of charging ports is in line with this goal. In 2022, NEVs hold a 25.6% share of the Chinese automobile market and by 2025 we can expect an astronomical increase in this number.  

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China’s Hyperloop Technology Advances with Successful Test Runs of Full-Sized Passenger Capsule

China’s hyperloop project, which aims to develop ultra-fast land transport technology, has successfully completed its first test runs using a full-sized passenger capsule. The test runs took place at a superconducting maglev test line in Datong, Shanxi province, and the capsule reached speeds of up to 50km/h, travelling a distance of 210 metres each time.

The project aims to eventually carry passengers and cargo at a speed of 1,000km/h or faster in a near-vacuum tube, which would make it the fastest ground-based transport technology in the world. The test runs were conducted by defence contractor China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), which built and operates the facility.

China hyperloop

CASIC reported that critical components, including superconducting magnets, high-power electric systems, AI safety controls, wireless communication devices, and sensors all worked as planned during the tests, paving the way for future experiments at higher speeds. The idea of a “hyperloop” tube train was first proposed by SpaceX founder Elon Musk in 2012, and he established The Boring Company to bring the idea to life.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson also joined the race with a similar venture, Hyperloop One, in Los Angeles. However, both projects have faced financial and technical challenges, with Hyperloop One reportedly laying off more than 100 employees and abandoning the idea of transporting humans, and The Boring Company dismantling its test tunnel last year. China was late to the hyperloop game, as CASIC did not break ground on the Datong facility until April of last year.

China hyperloop

However, it took less than a year for the project team to complete its first test run after the start of construction, which China Space News attributed to innovation and strong government support. The test facility’s tube currently measures 2km in length and is expected to be extended to 60km over the next few years to achieve a top speed of 1,000km/h.

CASIC has been involved in the development of advanced weapons systems, including rail guns and the DF-17, China’s first hypersonic missile to enter service. Some military experts believe that new technologies developed at the Datong hyperloop facility, such as electromagnetic propulsion and power management systems, could be used for defence.

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Apple Online Store Offer In Partnership With HDFC Bank: Up to Rs 12,000 Discount on iPhone 14 series, MacBooks, and More

Apple has announced discounts on its products in partnership with HDFC Bank in India. The discounts are only valid on the Cupertino-based tech giant’s online store in the country. Apart from the flat instant bank discounts, Apple is also providing additional trade-in benefits on the purchase of the iPhone 14 series and 3 or 6 months of no-cost EMI on all devices. It’s unclear how long Apple is running the bank offer on its official website. 

The list of devices that are eligible for HDFC Bank discounts include the iPhone 14 series, iPad Air, iPad 10th generation, iPad Pro, MacBook Air M2 chip, MacBook Pro, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and AirPods Pro (2nd Generation). It’s worth noting that customers need to have HDFC Bank credit cards in order to avail the discounts.

The entire iPhone 14 series comprising the regular, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max variants are eligible for a flat Rs 7,000 instant discount. Apple is also offering an additional Rs 5,000 exchange bonus when buyers trade in their old phone for the new iPhone. However, the exchange value is indicative and depends on the condition of the phone. The total discount after the bank offer and exchange bonus amounts to Rs 12,000. 

The MacBook Air with M2 chip and MacBook Pro 13, 14, and 16-inch get a flat discount of Rs 10,000. The iMac 24-inch receives Rs 5,000 instant discount. Coming to the tablets, customers purchasing the iPad Pro 12.9-inch, iPad Air, and iPad (10th gen) can avail discounts of Rs 5,000, Rs 4,000, and Rs 3,000 respectively. 

Apple Watch Ultra and Watch Series 8 are eligible for Rs 5,000 and Rs 4,000 instant discounts. Meanwhile, those interested in the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) will be eligible for Rs 2,000 in instant savings. 

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PLAYFIT Flaunt Smartwatch Launched With 1.78″ Amoled Display, Bluetooth Calling

Following the release of the PLAYFIT Dial 3, the brand has now introduced the PLAYFIT Flaunt in India. The watch features a sizable AMOLED display and has good dust and water resistance.

PLAYFIT

The PLAYFIT Flaunt, an Indian-made smartwatch, features a 1.78-inch Super-AMOLED, Always-on Display (AOD) with 550 nits of brightness and an IPS display. Additionally, the watch has a 2.5D Glass design.

It is designed to interact with the PLAYFIT companion app for easy connection and fitness monitoring and is powered by the latest recent Realtek chipset. The battery life of the device is 5 days, and it may run in standby mode for more than 20 days on a single charge.

The PLAYFIT Flaunt is the ideal exercise companion because it can track a variety of user fitness activities thanks to its 100+ pre-integrated sports functions. It also has a heart rate monitor, SpO2 tracker, sleep cycle tracker, sedentary alert, and even a female health tracker.

The watch is also dust- and water-resistant thanks to its IP67 grade. In order to meet the demands of tech-savvy people, the wristwatch also includes voice assistance that is pre-integrated with both Apple Siri and Google Assistant.

Pricing and availability

Priced at Rs. 3,999, the PLAYFIT Flaunt is available through a number of e-commerce sites, including Amazon, Flipkart, and the official PLAYFIT website.

The smartwatch comes with a one-year warranty and is offered in two striking colour combinations: Champagne with Black and Black.

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POCO X5 Pro Spotted in the Hands of Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya

POCO has began teasing its upcoming X5 series of smartphones in India. But ahead of its official announcement, the company’s POCO X5 lineup model was spotted in the hands of a known Indian athlete.

POCO

The Chinese smartphone maker’s next gen X series of devices are set to launch sometime soon and prior to any official announcement, it was spotted being used by Indian Cricketer Hardik Pandya. This model appears to be the POCO X5 Pro in the yellow variant. The Indian T20 Cricket team captain can be seen using the phone and also making a call from the X5 Pro. Furthermore, the brand has also announced a fan meetup for the launch of its new X series of handsets in Delhi.

This fan meetup will take place on 22nd January 2023. So we can expect the official unveiling of the device to follow soon after in the coming weeks. Looking at the images, we can see the rear panel of the POCO X5 Pro, with its rear camera module being in clear view. As of right now, the new smartphone is already being teased on major e-retailer platform like Flipkart and even AliExpress that has started teasing the phone for the global markets.

POCO

From what we know so far, the X5 Pro 5G model is expected to be a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 12 Speed Edition, which is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. On the rear, the smartphone is also expected to feature a 108 megapixel primary camera. So stick around for more, as we will be covering additional teasers or any announcements that surface ahead of the launch.

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Elon Musk Begins Auction of Iconic Assets from San Francisco Twitter Headquarters

Twitter has put hundreds of items from its San Francisco headquarters up for sale via an online auction. The move follows CEO Elon Musk’s efforts to cut back on company expenses and after firing nearly two-thirds of the company’s 7,500-person workforce in 2022. The sale includes various artwork of the Twitter bird logo, designer office furniture, and a full range of expensive kitchen equipment. Here are the details…

Twitter starts auctioning off assets from its San Francisco headquarters

The items are being sold through auction liquidation and advisory firm Heritage Global Partners. A total of 631 lots will first be listed in early December 2022, then go on sale January 17 at 7 a.m. PT, with bidding closing at 10 a.m. PT later today. Some notable items include “Neon Twitter Bird Light” with the highest bid currently set at $22,500, a three-foot-tall bird statue (currently $21,000,) and a floral “@” sculpture for $8,000. Office equipment is also available to buy, including standing desks, conferencing equipment like Google Jamboards, and designer furniture from the likes of Andreu World and Knoll.

Neon Twitter Bird Light
Neon Twitter Bird Light

The sale has drawn mixed reactions, with some seeing it as a sign of Twitter’s financial troubles and others see it as a way for the company to offload surplus assets. However, when the Twitter auction was first announced last month, Nick Dove, a representative of Heritage Global Partners, stated that the sale had nothing to do with Twitter’s current financial situation. “They’ve sold for $44 billion, and we’re selling a couple of chairs and desks and computers,” he said. “So if anyone genuinely thinks that the revenue from selling a couple computers and chairs will pay for the mountain there, then they’re a moron.”

Whatever the reasoning behind the sale, it’s an opportunity for those looking to form a start-up to snag some deals, as well as some bird-themed memorabilia. A full listing of all items can be found in the Heritage Global Partners online auction.

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Garmin Instinct Crossover Series With Rugged Design Launched In India

Garmin has launched two new smartwatches in India. The new devices are a part of the wearable maker’s Instinct Crossover series. The two models are dubbed the Instinct Crossover and Crossover Solar. Both variants are rugged smartwatches and pack the same specifications except that the Solar variant supports solar charging. Read on to know more about the wearable device below. 

The Garmin Instinct Crossover series sports a circular dial with a monochrome display of 176 x 176 pixels. It features analog hands with Super LumiNova coating that displays time even in dark conditions. The analog hands can also automatically calibrate if they go out of alignment if the watch suffers a heavy shock. There is RevoDrive technology for the watches to show accurate time under any condition. The smartwatches are MIL-STD-810 compliant and are heat and shock-resistant. The wearable device is water-resistant up to 10 meters. 

The Garmin Instinct Crossover series comes with common health-tracking features. These include a heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, advanced sleep monitoring, stress tracker, and body battery. The smartwatch is also capable of getting information about the user’s VO2 Max, Pulse Oxide, fitness age, training status, load and effect, HRV status, and recovery time. The wearable device packs built-in sports apps, HIIT workouts, and mountain biking metrics. There is a multi-GNSS tracking system for better accuracy. The smartwatch is equipped with built-in incident detection for safety features. 

The Garmin Instinct Crossover supports contactless payments and Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity. It packs convenient features like smart notifications, including incoming emails, texts, weather updates, and more. The Garmin Instinct Crossover is claimed to last up to 60 days whereas the Solar is capable of lasting up to 70 days. The GPS tracking time is up to 31 hours. 

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Xiaomi 12 Pro currently selling on Amazon India for Rs 44,999

The company’s current flagship device, the Xiaomi 12 Pro, featuring the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 SoC, a 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 120W fast charging, and much more,  is currently on sale at Amazon Republic Day for a significant discount compared to its original pricing. So those who are looking to buy a flagship at a reasonable price, the Xiaomi 12 Pro should be an excellent option. 

Xiaomi 12 Pro

The price for the 8GB/256GB version of the Xiaomi 12 Pro was Rs 62,999 and the price for the 12GB/256GB model was Rs 66,999. The price has been reduced for both models to Rs 54,999 and Rs 58,999 as part of the ongoing Amazon Republic Day deal. A Rs 10,000 discount is also available when using an SBI Bank card. As a result, the price is now Rs. 44,999 and Rs. 48,999.

As we’ve already mentioned, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is unquestionably an excellent flagship, especially considering the discounted price. The device includes a 50MP primary camera sensor on the back, a 2K AMOLED display, and a lightning-fast 120W charging support with a 4600mAh battery. The phone’s issue is that the chipset throttles a bit, which ultimately degrades the user experience. The phone has a heating problem as well. If you don’t mind dealing with these drawbacks, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is a decent option.

Xiaomi

The Xiaomi 12 Pro features a sizable 6.73-inch 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 3200 x 1440-pixel resolution, a 480Hz touch sampling rate, 1500nits of peak brightness, Dolby Vision, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus, and HDR10+. The flagship is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen1 Chipset with an Adreno GPU, up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The phone comes pre-installed with the MIUI 13 custom skin and runs on Android 12 OS.

With three cameras on the back, a 50MP Sony IMX707 primary sensor with f/1.9 aperture, OIS, LED flash, a 50MP Samsung JN1 ultra-wide-angle camera with 115-degree FoV, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom—the Xiaomi 12 Pro has different types of imaging capabilities. For selfies and video calls, there is also a 32MP front-facing camera.

The phone has a 4,600mAh battery and supports reverse wireless charging at 10W, wireless second charging at 50W, and 120W fast charging.  5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, and a USB Type-C port are among the connectivity options. The phone has three sizable heat-dissipating graphite sheets, a big in-display fingerprint sensor, and  Harmon Kardon speakers of 2900 mm2 VC.

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Samsung Wallet Coming to India, Brazil, Malaysia, and More

Last June, Samsung introduced a new first-party smartphone app called Samsung Wallet. This application unifies Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass into a single app with some additional features.

It was made available in 21 countries in 2022. Now, with the start of the new year, the company has made an announcement regarding extending the availability of the application to 8 new markets.

Samsung Wallet

In an official press release, Samsung notes that the Samsung Wallet app will be available in the following  8 countries starting at the end of January.

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan

Apart from the aforementioned regions, the Samsung Wallet application is already available in the following 21 markets.

  • Bahrain
  • China
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Taly
  • Kazakhstan
  • Korea
  • Kuwait
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Vietnam
  • UAE
  • UK
  • USA

Therefore, the app will be soon available in 29 regions in the coming days.

The new Samsung Wallet application can do much more. It allows users to store credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, vaccine certifications, membership cards, loyalty cards, boarding passes, and ID cards. Users can also store passwords, NFT collections, and digital keys for cars.

Anyway, it is worth noting that not all features are available in all the markets. At the same time, Samsung is promising more features down the line.

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Shanghai Plans to Become an Industrial Robotic Hub by 2025

Shanghai, traditionally known for its advancements in finance, business, and technology, is now adding another feather to its hat by aiming to become an Industrial Robotic Leader. 

The city has seen a 6% increase in the YoY output of robots used in the intelligent manufacturing sector. In 2022, more than 75000 new robotic units were installed in Shanghai making it the number one city in China for Industrial Robotics. The local authorities of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization have hinted that the Robot Density in the city will increase by 100 in the next three years. 

Robot density is measured by the number of installations per 10000 employees. According to the latest IFR (International Federation of Robotics) report on Robot Density, South Korea is the undisputed leader, with a Robot Density of 1000 followed by Singapore, Japan, and Germany. However, China is also leading up to the race by surpassing the USA and reaching the fifth position with a density of 322.

To support the intelligent manufacturing and robotics sector, the Shanghai Metropolis is planning to build 10 industry-leading robot brands, 20 city-level smart factories, and more than 100 benchmark robot applications that will expand the industrial output to 100 billion yuan ($14.76 billion). By 2025, the local authorities are planning to build 20 City Level lead factories and 200 smart factories that will place the city on the global map of advanced industrial robotics.

Shanghai is the first city in China to include Robot Density statistics. According to the city-wide data, Shanghai has already surpassed twice the global average of Robot Density with the key industries accounting for a density of 383 and major enterprises showing a density of 260. According to Tang Enkan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Robots have become a part of the urban digital transformation of the city by becoming work assistants and life partners for the residents. 

The 14th Five-Year Plan of China focuses on the development of the Robotic Industry and states that the country aims to become a global hub for robotics and innovation by 2025. China is mobilizing massive resources and investments to develop the Robotic industry and has become the fastest growing Robot market in the world. By 2025 China wants to be considered a Global Leader in Robotics and Shanghai is making a major contribution to achieve this goal.

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Vivo Republic Day Sale: Offers On V25 Series, Y75, and More

Vivo has announced a Republic Day Sale in India on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26th in India. The brand is offering great deals and discounts on various devices. The offers are currently live from now till January 31st and are valid across all mainline channels. 

During the sale period, Vivo is offering discounts on the brand’s Y-series and V-series smartphones. Interested customers can claim a cashback of up to Rs 2,500 on the Vivo V25 Pro via ICICI Bank, SBI Bank, Kotak Bank, and other bank cards. All RAM and storage configurations of the smartphone are eligible for the offer. The V25 Pro was launched in August last year. It features a 120Hz AMOLED display, a 108MP triple rear camera, 50MP dual front camera, and a colour-changing back panel. Internally, it is powered by a Dimensity 1300 processor. 

Meanwhile, credit cardholders of ICICI, SBI and other banks are eligible for up to Rs 2,000 cashback on Vivo V25 and Y75 4G. The former also features a colour-changing back panel and a 90Hz AMOLED screen. It is equipped with a Dimensity 900 SoC and backed by a 4,500mAh cell with 44W fast charging. On the other hand, the Vivo Y75 is powered by a Helio G96 processor and features 50MP triple rear cameras and a 44MP selfie snapper. 

The Vivo Y75 5G also gets a cashback of Rs 1,500 on credit cards. Compared to the 4G variant, this one comes with a Dimensity 700, LCD display, and a 16MP front camera. 

Lastly, customers interested in the Vivo Y35 can avail of a cashback of Rs 1,000 through various bank cards. 

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WeRide L4 Self Driving Minibus Receives Beijing’s First Road Test License

Earlier this week, WeRide announced that its autonomous technology enabled minibus was the first to officially obtain the road test license in Beijing. The bus is equipped with L4 self driving technology and is a major milestone for the brand.

WeRide

As per official notes, the company’s unmanned minibus can be driven on public roads with autonomously in Beijing. The region of its license specifies a total area of 60 square kilometers. Unlike certain minibuses that still feature a steering wheel, the WeRide is a completely unmanned shuttle bus that has no built in steering wheel, no brakes, and no driver’s cockpit. In other words, the license signifies that the minibus’ autonomous technology is capable of safely operating on actual roads in Beijing.

Furthermore, the company has also reached the mass production levels for this design of its minibus. Notably, this is the first time that a high level autonomous vehicle was approved for the road test license in Beijing. In other words, this is also the first time that an unmanned L4 grade self driving behicle will be legally driven on the road in the city. WeRide’s shuttle bus will be run purely on electric power.

WeRide

The WeRide minibus offers a maximum speed of 40 km/h and can be flexibly deployed in various kinds of public or closed traffic scenarios. These EVs can also operate on urban open roads around the clock. So now, the minibusses will follow the company’s existing fleet of self driving taxis and is currently available in Guangzhou, Beijing , Shenzhen, Nanjing, Wuxi, Boao, Riyadh and other cities.

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Siri Causes Unnecessary Police Raid at Gym, 15 Armed Officers Respond

A pair of unlikely circumstances led to false alarms at a gym in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday. A personal trainer at PTJ Gladesville was teaching a client when his Apple Watch accidentally activated Siri and called emergency services and caused 15 armed police officers to show up. Here are the details…

Siri pulled a false alarm at the gym and caused 15 armed police officers to show

According to a report from news.com.au, a personal trainer at PTJ Gladesville was teaching a client when his Apple Watch accidentally activated Siri and called emergency services. When the emergency services received the call, they believed there was an emergency involving gun shots, possibly a suicide, had occurred at the gym. As a result, around 15 armed police officers arrived at the gym, leaving the trainer and his client in shock. Since the false alarm was an honest mistake, it wasn’t immediately clear what actually happened.

Source: news.com.au

The trainer describes what happened next: “The next minute about 15 officers including undercovers showed up, with several ambulances parked out the front, and that’s when I started bricking myself. “All of them came in and I was like, ‘What is going on?’ One of them asked who Jamie Avery-or something was and I said, ‘I am Jamie Alleyne.’ “He told me I was the one who made the call which was impossible because I didn’t even have my phone on me.”

Upon realizing the mistake, the trainer explained to the police that he had not made the call and that it was a false alarm caused by his Apple Watch. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the incident. This incident serves as a reminder to be cautious of the words we say when Siri or any other voice assistive device is turned on.

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NIO Applies for NIO Phone Trademark, Hinting at Its Upcoming Launch

Earlier today (19th January 2023), a trademark application from NIO was spotted. This application was for the NIO Phone, which basically hints at its upcoming launch. So here are all the details regarding the smartphone.

For those unaware, NIO is a known electric vehicle maker that is popular in the Chinese market and has also expanded to overseas markets as well. However, it was previously reported that the automobile manufacturer was working on a smartphone model of its own. Following rumors, it was officially confirmed that the company was venturing into the smartphone business. Furthermore, NIO’s CEO Li Bin revealed that the brand aims on developing a new smartphone every year.

NIO

In other words, it was planning on launching a single lineup every year similar to Apple’s flagship iPhone series. Although, the senior official also added that the company won’t be comparable to other smartphone makers that sell more than 100 million units in a single year. He believes that building a smartphone isn’t too difficult but the real challenge is to make a handset easily accepted and convenient to use for its customers.

As of right now, reports have hinted that the company is already developing the NIO Phone, and it is believed that the device could launch sometime later this year. Finer details regarding this phone is still unclear, but it is expected to offer over 100W fast charging and a flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. Lastly, it is also believed to launch for a sub 1,000 US Dollars price tag. This is all we know about this device, so stick around for more updates.

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