Google has been fined $161.95 million (Rs. 1337 crores) by the competition commission of India (CCI) on Thursday for harming the competition with its present Android market strategy in India. The Commission also instructed Google to alter its behavior within a certain time frame.
The CCI said that “Google used its dominance in markets like online search and Android app stores to safeguard its programs like Chrome and YouTube in mobile Web browsers and online video hosting.”
The Commission examined Google’s licensing practices for Android and its own mobile apps in this case (like Play Store, Google Search, Google Chrome, YouTube, etc.) and prohibited Google from entering into revenue-sharing agreements with smartphone manufacturers since they aided in Google’s monopolization of the search service to the complete exclusion of competitors.
In 2019, an Android-related complaint was made by two young Indian antitrust research associates and a law student. The Indian action is comparable to the $5 billion fines Google paid to European regulators for pressuring manufacturers to pre-install their apps on android smartphones.
Google has faced similar lawsuits in the past where CCI had penalized Google Rs. 135.86 crores in 2018 for search bias. In addition, the Indian tech market is becoming more competitive, and the American company is being sued for antitrust violations. The competition watchdog is looking into Google’s in-app payments and smart TV business.
The Commission opined that the markets should be allowed to compete on merits and the onus is on the dominant players (in the present case, Google) that its conduct does not impinge this competition on merits. By virtue of the agreements discussed above, Google ensured that users continue to use its search services on mobile devices which facilitated un-interrupted growth of advertisement revenue for Google.
The Commission assessed Google a provisional fine of Rs. 1337.76 crores as a result of its violation of Section 4 of the Act. Google has 30 days to submit the necessary financial data and any supporting documentation.
Oppo had launched its Find N, which was its first ever foldable smartphone last year. Now, a new rumor has revealed some key specifications regarding the Find N’s possible successor. So let’s have a look.
Earlier this week, we had reported on a Digital Chat Station leak, which revealed some interesting details regarding the Chinese smartphone maker’s new foldable smartphone. The device in question is reportedly the Find N Flip which has a clamshell foldable display. Now, the same tipster has revealed details regarding the direct successor to the original Find N. The information was shared on Weibo (a Chinese microblogging website). Reportedly, the next gen Find N2 foldable phone will be equipped with Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC.
Furthermore, it will apparently also sport a 7.1 inch LTPO AMOLED display that offers a 120Hz high refresh rate for the foldable panel. The tipster also went on to share some design details as well. Oppo could be planning on launching the device with a faux leather back. Additionally, it is rumored to be powered by a 4,520mAh battery pack and will run on Android 13 OS based ColorOS 13 out of the box.
The Find N2 is believed to retain the same side mounted fingerprint scanner, which would be integrated to the power button like the previous generation. This model will reportedly be available in multiple color options, including black, white, and green colors. However, the tipster did not share any details regarding its availability outside of China or its possbile launch timeframe. So stick around for more updates regarding this foldable phone.
Today, Samsung will debut the Galaxy W23 foldable smartphones at 7 PM local time in China. Like the W22 from last year, the W23 5G is also expected to be a luxurious custom variant of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. This time around, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will also join the lineup as the W23 Flip.
Confirming this speculation, a new leak has emerged revealing live images of the Galaxy W23 ahead of launch.
The images reveal that there are no changes to the base design of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The color scheme is also the same as last year’s Samsung W22 with a polished grey back, a logo in the center that states “Heart to the world,” and gold-plated edges and hinge. One of the images shows a gold-plated back, which could be a variant of the W23.
Similar to the W-series phones from the past, the W23, and W23 Flip will be sold to raise money for charitable causes. Last year, the Samsung W22 5G was launched with a 16,999 Yuan ($2,372) price tag.
Specs-wise, no changes are expected to be made to the devices compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4. So we will likely have the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset powering the W23 and W23 Flip. While the W23 Flip will be a clamshell device with a 6.7-inch foldable screen, the W23 will be a foldable phone with a 7.6-inch folded display.
With a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, the W23 5G is anticipated to include a triple camera arrangement on the rear. There will be a 4-megapixel under-display camera and a 10-megapixel camera on the front.
The Samsung W23 Flip is anticipated to bring a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera.
Yesterday, iQOO launched a couple of new devices in China. There are the iQOO Neo 7 smartphone and the iQOO TWS Air gaming earbuds. Along with these new products, the brand also brought new special edition color options for its flagship iQOO 10. So, let’s take at the details.
iQOO 10 Isle of ManiQOO 10 Track
iQOO 10 new colors
There are two new color options available for the 10 in China. These are called the “Isle of Man” (green) and the “Track” special editions. These special edition colors have a silicone leather back which is environmentally friendly, stain-resistant, durable, skin-friendly, and elegant in texture.
iQOO 10 Isle of Man & Track pricing & availability
Both the new color options for the iQOO 10 are available in multiple configurations.
RAM and Storage option
Price
Pre-order Price
8GB + 256GB
3,999 Yuan ($552)
3,599 Yuan ($497)
12GB + 256GB
4,299 Yuan ($593)
3,799 Yuan ($524)
16GB + 256GB
4,699 Yuan ($648)
4,199 Yuan ($579)
12GB + 512GB
4,699 Yuan ($648)
4,099 Yuan ($566)
The devices are available for pre-order and will go on open sale starting October 31.
iQOO 10 specs & features
The iQOO 10 features a 6.78-inch center-aligned AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and support for HDR10+. Under the hood, the handset is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 onboard storage. It runs Android 12 with OriginOS Ocean skin out of the box. It has a 4,700mAh battery with support for 120W wired charging.
For photography, the iQOO 10 features a 50MP Samsung GN5 primary sensor, a 13MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto unit. On the front, the device has a 16MP selfie snapper. The cameras are enhanced with Vivo’s V1+ image signal processing chip.
ZTE recently launched the Axon 40 SE smartphone in its home country China, and now the company is gearing up to launch a new smartphone in the Chinese market, dubbed ZTE Yuanhang 40 Pro+.
A teaser poster for the upcoming smartphone confirms that the ZTE Yuanhang 40 Pro+ will be officially launched on 26th October. Ahead of the official launch, the device is up for pre-sale in the Chinese market.
The 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage model of the upcoming smartphone has been priced at 2,198 yuan, which roughly converts to $303. The device is expected to start shipping from the day it gets launched, i.e., on 26th October.
While not much has been officially revealed about this new smartphone, ZTE says that the phone is equipped with a breathing light indication for incoming calls, a 64-megapixel triple-camera setup, and a 7.6mm thin body design.
As per the leaks and reports, the ZTE Yuanhang 40 Pro+ features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ OLED display and will come powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor. The camera department will consist of a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 5-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth-of-field sensor.
There will be a ring light for the incoming call notification. The device, running on the Android operating system with the company’s own custom user interface, will come powered by a 4,510mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging. The phone is expected to be offered in two color options — Azure Blue and Twilight Gray.
Apple recently unveiled its new 10th generation iPad and the new iPad Pro models powered by the M2 processor. While the devices are yet to go on sale, reports about new iPad models expected to go official next year have now started surfacing online.
According to the latest report coming from Ross Young, Apple could launch its first iPad Pro with an OLED display sometime next year. The company is expected to offer the OLED version in two screen sizes — 11-inch and 12.9-inch.
Apple iPad Pro 2022
Ross Young has also added that the new iPad Pro models with OLED displays are expected to go official in the first half of 2024. The current-generation iPad Pro doesn’t include any display-related changes compared to its predecessor.
When Apple upgraded the display of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro last year to feature a Mini-LED screen, it was expected that the company would also upgrade the screen of the 11-inch model this time, but that change didn’t happen. So, it’s good to know that Apple is planning to use OLED panels for both screen sizes for the next-generation models.
For the OLED displays, Apple is reportedly planning to include a two-stack tandem structure where there are two Red, Green, and Blue emission layers for increased brightness. We also expect the devices to offer better battery life given that OLED displays are more power efficient than other types of screens.
A few months ago, Apple was working on finalizing prototypes for the iPad Pro with OLED display by sourcing panels from LG and Samsung. It is said that the table will offer a lighter design and “unrivaled image quality,” partly facilitated by a dry etching process that significantly reduces the weight of the display. It may also come with a special coating to increase the display’s durability.
Apple started manufacturing the iPhone 14 in India in September of this year. Yesterday, some Chinese and Indian tipsters shared an image, which suggested that the iPhone 14 Pro Max is also being manufactured in India. GizmoChina has learnt from sources that Apple is not manufacturing the iPhone 14 Pro Max in India. Hence, the news is fake.
Yesterday, a retail box image of the iPhone 14 Pro Max started doing the rounds on social media platforms. The “Assembled in India” text, which was mentioned on the retail box, gave birth to rumors that Apple has started manufacturing the iPhone 14 Pro Max in India. We have learnt that Apple is not manufacturing the Pro models from the iPhone 14 series in India. So, the company is not selling iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max with “Assembled in India” text anywhere in the world.
Fake image states iPhone 14 Pro Max is being assembled in India
According to reports, Apple is reducing its reliance on China for product manufacturing. Last month, the company released an official statement that read, “The new iPhone 14 lineup introduces ground-breaking new technologies and important safety capabilities. We’re excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India.” The iPhone 14 models that are made in India at Foxconn’s plant located near Chennai are both for the Indian market as well as exports.
According to a recent JP Morgan report, India is expected to produce 5 percent of the total volume of iPhone 14. It also stated that by 2025, 25 percent of all Apple products would be manufactured outside of China. So, it looks like China will remain a key part of Apple’s production strategy for at least the next few years.
Honor has officially launched the Honor X6 budget smartphone in the United Kingdom. This is coming barely a month after the smartphone was quietly launched in Saudi Arabia. The smartphone packs a 6.5-inch LCD screen with a 20:9 aspect ratio, an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels, and a 60Hz refresh rate. The phone weighs about 194 grams and has dimensions of 163.66 x 75.13 x 8.68mm.
The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G25 processor paired with 4GB RAM. It is available in 64GB and 128GB storage options. The device runs on the Magic UI 6.1-based Android 12 OS out-of-the-box.
For optics, the Honor X6 packs a 5MP front-facing camera and supports 1080p video recording. At the rear aspect, there is a 50MP main camera paired with a 2MP macro camera and an LED flash. The rear camera supports Portrait mode, panorama, time-lapse photography, and 1080p video recording.
Under the hood, the Honor X6 crams a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging. Other features onboard the budget smartphone include Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFC, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. For biometrics, the X6 comes with support for face unlock and a side-facing fingerprint scanner.
As for the price, the Honor X6 starts at £149.99 in the UK. It comes in Midnight Black and Ocean Blue colors. The phone will be sold on Hihonor and other retail stores including Argos, Amazon, Three, and Very.
Vivo is reportedly working on the Vivo S16 series of smartphones. As the moniker indicates, it will arrive as a successor to the Vivo S15 lineup, which debuted earlier this year. Details on the processor and color variants of the Vivo S16 series.
A Chinese tipster recently claimed that the Vivo X90 series launch would be the next major event from Vivo. It is expected to go official in December this year. The tipster also said that the Vivo S16 lineup will not be released this year, which indicates that it may debut in Q1 2023.
The same tipster has now speculated that the next S-series lineup will include three models, such as the Vivo S16e, S16, and S16 Pro. The tipster speculated that these devices may come equipped with the Dimensity 1080, Snapdragon 870, and the upcoming Dimensity 8200v chipset. The Pro model is also expected to arrive with the Vivo V1+ ISP.
Vivo S15 Pro
According to tipster Panda is Bald, the Vivo S6 will come in black, blue, and purple colors. The Vivo S16 Pro, on the other hand, will be made available in black, green, and orange gold shades. Unfortunately, there is no information on the other specifications of the Vivo S16 trio.
To recall, the Vivo S15 came with a 6.62-inch display, while the S15 Pro featured a 6.56-inch screen. Both support an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Both phones have a 32-megapixel front camera and pack a 4,500mAh battery. The S15 supports 66W charging, while the S15 Pro offers 80W charging.
The S15 and S15 Pro are powered by the Snapdragon 870 and Dimensity 8100 SoCs, respectively. The S15 has a 64-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 8-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel (macro) triple camera unit. On the other hand, the S15 Pro has a 50-megapixel (main, with OIS) + 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) + 2-megapixel depth sensor.
70mai is a Mi Ecosystem company that focuses on creating smart vehicle electronics and accessories. Designed to create intelligent and innovative smart car products, 70mai combines creative expertise with advanced tech to give you an intelligent and safe driving environment. 70mai has now launched its latest project the Omni Dash Cam on Kickstarter.
70mai Omni is an advanced 360-degree rotating dash cam that is perfect for the security of your vehicle. The latest dash cam comes with new and better features and upgrades as compared to its predecessors. The highlight feature of the Omni Dash cam lies in its 2-phase stepping motors that provide a smooth and stable 340-degree movement. Combined with the 140-degree FOV camera that greatly reduces distortion, it gives you the industry’s first perfect 360-degree full-view dash cam with zero blind spots. This means your dash cam is constantly monitoring everything that’s happening in and around your vehicle, adding to the safety and security of your travel.
Another advanced feature of Omni is AI motion detection. With this feature, the camera is able to detect humans near your vehicle and precisely follow and target their location. If people who approach the vehicle remain nearby, then it tracks, follows, and records their movement with the 360 degrees rotating camera. Omni Dash Cam comes with an Enhanced Collision Detection function wherein, the camera shoots emergency video 2 seconds prior to a collision, which guarantees that all important details are captured. Also, the camera comes with a superb night vision function that is empowered by PureCel®Plus-S HDR technology that can adjust exposure balance and reduce image noise with ease in low-light or high-contrast environments. This means you dont need to worry about driving at night since Omni has got your back 24 x 7.
Other interesting features include Time-lapse recording, Dynamic vision, Smart Driving assistant, Voice control, built-in GPS, etc. Also by adding the 4G hardwire kit, you can operate your Omni Dash Cam remotely and get 360-degree surveillance in and around your vehicle right from your smartphone.
70mai Omni 360-degree rotating dash cam is priced at $169.99 for the 32GB variant. The 64GB and 128GB variants can be bought for $184.99 and $199.99 respectively. To know more about the dash cam and back the project check out its details on Kickstarter here.
For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.
A Xiaomi phone with model number 2210129SG was certified by the FCC authority in September. Later, it was also spotted at Singapore’s IMDA and Europe’s EEC certification platforms. Now the same device has appeared in the IMEI database with the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE moniker.
It seems that the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE heading to the global market will be a rebranded or tweaked version of the China-exclusive Xiaomi CIVI 2, which has a 2209129SC model number. Since the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE has bagged some important certifications, it appears that the device may go official by the end of this month.
Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE IMEI database listing
The FCC certification of the Xiaomi 12 Lite 5G NE revealed that it will arrive in three configurations: 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM = 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. It offers connectivity features like 5G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GNSS, and NFC. The device will most likely come preloaded with the MIUI 13-flavored Android 13 operating system. The IMDA and EEC listings did not reveal any major information on the specs of the device.
Xiaomi CIVI 2 specifications
The Xiaomi CIVI 2 has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with curved edges. It offers an FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. On the front, it features a 32-megapixel + 32-megapixel dual front-facing camera setup. On the back, it has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 20-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.
Xiaomi CIVI 2
The CIVI 2 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset. It comes with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of storage. The device features a 4,500mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging.
Upcoming Realme handsets with model numbers RMX3663 and RMX3687 have appeared in the database of China’s TENAA certification platform. The RMX3687 model has also bagged 3C certification. According to a report by TechGoing, the Realme RMX3687 may break cover as the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G in China.
Realme RMX3687 – Realme 10 Pro+ 5G
RMX3687
The Realme RMX3687 model has curved edges on the front and back. It seems to be fitted with an OLED panel, which is integrated with a fingerprint scanner. The camera rings available on the rear shell of the device seem to be fitted with a triple camera unit. The device’s 3C certification showed that it may come with a 67W charger.
RMX3687 3C
Rumors have it that the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G will arrive with a 120Hz AMOLED display. It is likely to draw power from the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset. It is expected to arrive in variants like 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage.
The Realme 10 Pro+ 5G will feature a 50-megapixel main camera with OIS support. It will be backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast charging. The handset is likely to arrive in colors like Hyperspace, Dark Matter, and Nebula Blue.
Realme RMX3663 – Could be Realme 10 5G
RMX3663
The Realme RMX3663 has a punch-hole screen with a flat design. The flat back of the phone has a dual-camera setup. While it is not clear, the device seems to be fitted with a side-facing fingerprint scanner. There is no information on the final marketing name of this device. However, it seems to belong to the Realme 10 family.
Samsung has quietly launched the Galaxy A04e entry-level smartphone. In August, the company unveiled the Galaxy A04, which was followed by the Galaxy A04s in September. It has now unveiled the Galaxy A04e, which offers key features like an HD+ display and a big battery.
Samsung Galaxy A04e specifications and features
The Galaxy A04e has a 6.5-inch PLS LCD panel that offers an HD+ resolution. The screen has a waterdrop notch that houses a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Samsung Galaxy A04e
Its back panel has a 13-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The device comes preloaded with Android 12 OS, which is overlaid with One UI Core 4.1, which is nothing but a toned-down version of One UI for low-end models.
Under the hood, the Galaxy A04e has an unnamed octa-core chipset. Rumors surrounding the device has claimed that it is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G35 chipset. The SoC is coupled with 3 GB / 4 GB of RAM.
The Galaxy A04e is backed by a 5,000mAh that supports only 10W charging. On the connectivity front, the device offers options like a dual SIM slot, 4G VoLTE, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The A04e has a plastic body that measures 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1mm and weighs 188 grams.
Samsung is expected to soon confirm the price and availability of the Galaxy A04e. When available, it can be bought in colors like blue, copper, and light blue.
Earlier this month, main Xiaomi’s sub-brand released its first tablet ever: the Redmi Pad. As a lot of people expected, it is an affordable tablet. But it is not a low-end device: you can consider it a good mid-ranger. So, it is positioned in the most competitive segment of the tablet market. In this segment, it has several rivals and among the latest ones, there is OPPO Pad Air. While the Redmi Pad is Redmi’s first tablet, this device is the second OPPO tablet but also the first to hit the global market. And they belong to the same price range. So which one should you choose in order to get the highest value for money? This is a comparison between the main specifications of the Redmi Pad and the OPPO Pad Air which will hopefully let you find out.
Having a beautiful and compact tablet is very important for those who want to bring it everywhere and show it to their friends or at work. Of these two tablets, the OPPO Pad Air is definitely the most beautiful one. Not only that: it is one of the most beautiful tablets you can find in the whole market. It comes with a very thin body: the thickness is just 6.9 mm. The bezels around the display are very narrow and the rear cover is made of two different textures and which is very attractive. The Redmi Pad is definitely uglier, even though it is built with an aluminum frame. It is still a thin tablet, but it is bigger and it has thicker bezels around the display. There is no way for it to compete with OPPO. Unfortunately, these tablets can only be unlocked with a password and they do not feature biometric sensors.
Display
The displays of these two devices are very close to each other in terms of image quality. indeed, the most important differences between them are the size and the refresh rate. The Redmi Pad has a bigger panel with a diagonal of 10.61 inches instead of just 10.36 inches. Further, it has a high 90 Hz refresh rate instead of just 60 Hz, so you can have a smoother experience during gaming sessions and while browsing the user interface. These displays are IPS LCD panels, so do not expect amazing color reproduction. But they are still very nice because they are able to show one billion colors. They also provide a good level of detail thanks to a resolution of 1200 x 2000 pixels. Even the brightness is not bad with 360 or 400 nits. These tablets feature stereo speakers so that you can have a great audio experience. But, unfortunately, they do not come with a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Specs & Software
These tablets are both mid-rangers, but they are powered by different chipsets. And if you are looking for the best performance, then the Redmi Pad by Xiaomi should be your choice. It is the world’s first tablet with the Helio G99 mobile platform by MediaTek. It is a midrange chipset built with a 6 nm production process and sporting an octa-core architecture composed of two Cortex A76 CPUs running at a max frequency of 2.2 GHz, six Cortex A55 CPUs running at a max frequency of 2 GHz, and a Mali G57 MC2 GPU. Alongside this processor, there are up to 6 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. The OPPO Pad Air is powered by the Snapdragon 680 chipset built with a 6 nm production process and with an octa-core architecture composed of four Kryo 265 Gold CPUs running at a max frequency of 2.4 GHz, four Kryo 265 Silver CPUs running at 1.9 GHz, and an Adreno 610 GPU. The highest-end memory configuration of this device is the same, with up to 6 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of native storage. The Helio G99 chipset is superior to the Snapdragon 680. These two tablets run Android 12 out of the box with highly customized user interfaces on top, and the OPPO has special features designed for tablets.
Camera
While the main cameras of these tablets are the same 8 MP sensors and provide similar photo quality, the Redmi Pad is equipped with a better front camera, sporting an 8 MP resolution and an ultrawide lens with a FOV of up to 105 degrees.
The Redmi Pad is able to provide a longer battery life thanks to the presence of a bigger 8000 mAh, while the charging speeds are the same.
Price
The Redmi Pad carries a starting price of €250 or $250 in China, while the OPPO Pad Air starts from €300 or $300. Now that you know all the differences, which one would you pick?
Hohem tech is a global technology company that specializes in designing, manufacturing, and selling gimbals and stabilizers for smartphones, DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, action cameras, etc.
The company which was established in 2014, engages in R&D, design, manufacture, production, and distribution of hand-held PTZ stabilizers. The company offers advanced tech solutions and accessories for content creators and movie makers. Some of their achievements include making the first gimbal with crowdfunding of over one million dollars on Indiegogo, the world’s lightest 3-axis smartphone gimbal, the world’s first built-in AI vision sensor smartphone gimbal, etc.
Known for its quality products, affordable pricing, fast delivery, and great after-sale services, Hohem technology exports its products to more than 50 countries across the globe.
Hohem Tech is giving discounts of up to $50 on various products under the Halloween Day Sale. Moreover, you can get an additional 10% discount on almost all of its products by using the code: HALLO. With a varied product line that includes Gimbals, Stabilizers, Smartphone heads, Action Camera heads, professional SLR heads, etc, you are sure to find something that suits your creative needs. Some of their most interesting products include the iSteady V2 3-Axis Gimbal, iSteady Mobile+, iSteady Pro 4, etc.
You can check out other interesting deals and discounts given by Hohem under its Halloween Day Sale here. Please note that this deal ends on November 1, 2022.
For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.
Doogee has launched its latest rugged smartphone the S96 GT. The smartphone which is a better and upgraded version of the famous S96 Pro retains all the best features of its predecessor and compliments it with better upgrades and functions and a new and special Gold edition. Generally retailing for $349, you can now buy Doogee S96GT for a heavily discounted price of $219 only on AliExpress. This deal will end on October 21, 2022. Also, a special early bird offer is available under which you stand a chance to get the phone for $199.99 only.
Doogee S96GT features the MediaTek Helio G95 octa-core processor which is a better and faster chipset than the Helio G90 available with the S96 Pro variant. It also comes with the latest Android 12 OS which is more customizable and personalized than the previous version. Another exciting upgrade is the selfie camera. While the S96 Pro features a 16MP selfie camera, the S96 GT comes with a bigger and better 32MP front-facing camera. This means you can now take better and more high-quality selfies with your S96 GT.
Doogee S96 GT retains the famous 20MP night vision camera which operates up to a range of 15m. It also keeps the 8GB RAM but has upgraded the internal storage from 128GB to 256GB. This means more space for your music, images, and videos. The smartphone is designed to work in the harsh and extreme outdoors and as such comes with IP68/69 K and the latest MIL-STD-810H certifications. Also with the support of four global navigational satellite systems, you can travel with your rugged phone almost anywhere across the globe.
Doogee S96 GT features a 6.22-inch display that is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. Fueled with a massive 6350mAh battery it comes with a 24W fast charger. Other interesting features include a 48MP primary camera, NFC function, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, custom button, etc.
Doogee S96 GT is launched at a retail price of $349. However, under its world premiere deal, you can buy the phone for a heavily discounted price of $219 only. Please note that this offer ends on October 21, 2022. The rugged phone is available for purchase on AliExpress, and Doogeemall.
For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.
At today’s launch event in China, iQOO unveiled the iQOO Neo 7 premium midrange smartphone. The device came with highlight features like a Full HD+ E5 AMOLED display, a 50MP triple camera setup, the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, and 120W fast charging. Along with this device, iQOO also debuted its first “gaming” true wireless headset in the market called the iQOO TWS Air. Let’s take a look at its specs & features.
iQOO TWS Air specs & features
The iQOO TWS Air has a semi-in-ear design. The earbuds feature a polished finish while the charging case has a matte finish. The brand has launched the earbuds in a black and yellow color scheme which looks quite appealing & sporty.
The headphones’ 14.2mm bio-carbon fiber moving coil composite diaphragm drivers and high-magnet NdFeB magnetic circuit system produce high-quality audio. For audio clarity and noise reduction, the earbuds are built with fluid mechanics vents, allowing air to flow into and out of the sound cavity freely. The gadget is also dust and water-resistant to IP54 standards.
The TWS Air features Vivo’s Golden Ear Acoustics Lab Tuning, which incorporates DeepX 2.0 Stereo Effect resulting in strong bass, with clear vocals and treble. The earbuds have two mics that provide a crisp calling experience thanks to an AI call noise reduction algorithm. The earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.2 technology, and a 94ms low latency gaming mode.
Each earbud has a 29mAh battery that can last 4.8 hours on a single charge. The case comes with a 430mAh battery, which combined with the earbuds provides a maximum playback time of 25 hours. The case has a USB Type-C port that can fill it up in 140 minutes. the buds take 60 minutes to charge completely, while 10 minutes inside the case grants 1.5 hours of playtime.
Pricing and availability
Pre-orders for the iQOO TWS Air Gaming earphones, which cost 199 yuan (about $28), are now open in China. The general sale will commence on October 31st, 2022. As an introductory deal, pre-ordering consumers can obtain the earphones for 169 yuan (about $23), while those who purchase the iQOO Neo7 can do so for 119 yuan (about $16).
OnePlus entered the wearable category in early 2021 with the launch of the OnePlus Band. The brand’s first fitness tracker was soon followed by OnePlus Watch a few months later.
It has been more than a year since their release, but they are yet to get successors. Instead, OnePlus recently released OnePlus Nord Watch. It is the first wearable product under the Nord brand.
The OnePlus Nord Watch sits between the OnePlus Band and the OnePlus Watch. It is priced at ₹4,999 in India. As of now, it is not known if and when the device will be made available in other markets.
OnePlus India loaned me a unit of the OnePlus Nord Watch to try it out. After using it for a week paired with a loaner OnePlus Nord 2T (Review), here are my thoughts on it.
Before we go through my experience with the product, I would like to say that the opinions stated here are mine alone. The brand had neither editorial input nor an early look.
OnePlus Nord Watch Review
A Rebranded Product
Before I share my actual experience with the wearable, I would like to reveal that the OnePlus Nord watch is nothing but a rebranded Haylou RS4 Plus.
The smartphone maker made little to no changes. The only difference I could find is the strap.
In fact, the companion app N Health is the same as Haylou Fun. I tore down the APKs of the two applications to find differences. The sole difference is that the original Haylou app offers support for Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), in addition to Google Mobile Services (GMS).
Haylou RS4 Plus: The Original OnePlus Nord Watch
For the uninitiated, the original OnePlus Watch was developed in-house by the brand. Whereas, the OnePlus Band is a rebranded Oppo Band (Oppo is the parent company of OnePlus).
In order to cut costs, OnePlus may have decided to go with a rebranded device for the OnePlus Nord Watch. Additionally, the original Haylou RS4 Plus is not sold in India. Hence, there’s no direct competition either.
I reached out to both OnePlus and Haylou regarding this matter. But unfortunately, neither of them got back to me as of writing this article.
Performance
The OnePlus Nord Watch is one of the smoothest smartwatches in this price segment. This is due to the fact that it runs on RTOS. It is as fast and smooth as a OnePlus smartphone.
I did not face stutter of any kind during my time with the watch. It responded to my touches as it should without any hiccups.
The chipset used in the device is a mystery but OnePlus says that it comes with 256 MB of storage. Anyway, you don’t get access to storage as it is limited to the system software.
Display
The best thing about the OnePlus Nord Watch is its display. It sports a 1.78-inch rectangular AMOLED display with a 70.7% screen-to-body ratio. The panel offers a resolution of 448 x 368 pixels, a 60Hz refresh rate, and up to 500 nits peak brightness.
The display feels premium for the asking price. It is colorful and is able to render content sharply. The 2.5D curved glass elevates the gesture experience and the lift to wake function works every time
The screen is bright enough for outdoor usage under direct sunlight. But unfortunately, you have to manually increase the brightness as there’s no ambient light sensor. Also, you are limited to 100+ default watch faces.
The absence of auto-brightness hampers the overall good display experience. This is the only letdown of the watch’s display as most users can let go of the lack of tap to wake feature and AOD (Always-on Display).
Build & Design
The design of any product is subjective. I am not a square-dial watch guy, so it took me time to get used to it.
Whereas, I am impressed with the build, which is IP68-rated for dust and water resistance. The rear side of the wearable is plastic, nonetheless, the casing is metal (zinc alloy). It comes in two colors, such as Deep Blue and Midnight Black. I have the former and both offer a glossy finish.
The build quality is better than most smartwatches in the price segment. Its universal 20 mm silicon strap with stainless steel buckle is comfortable for all-day use (even while sleeping). I had no skin irritation during my usage.
There’s only a single physical button on the right side, which seems like a crown but isn’t. It only registers press though you can spin it.
Pressing it on the watch face opens the apps view and on any other screen, it gets you back to the watch face. Unfortunately, it cannot be mapped to an action of your choice.
Fitness and Health
I am not more of a fitness guy. But still, I tried outdoor walking for the sake of testing the fitness aspect of the wearable. I also used a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 for reference.
As per Nord Watch, I walked 0.79 km with 1200 steps. Whereas, the Galaxy Watch says that I walked 0.85 km with 1172 steps and it even shows GPS data to prove it. Though the Nord Watch is capable of using GPS data from the paired smartphone, it doesn’t seem to be working as of now.
Though I don’t work out with smartwatches and fitness trackers, I do use them for sleep tracking. This feature works perfectly on the OnePlus Nord Watch. But sadly, it does not identify REM sleep currently.
Other health-related features like heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen level monitoring, and stress monitoring work well. There’s also support for menstrual cycle tracking.
The one thing that did not work well for me is idle alert. At times, the watch would notify me that I am idle even though I am moving.
Software
I have mixed feelings about the software on the OnePlus Nord Watch. OnePlus made no changes to it. It is the same as on the Haylou RS 4 Plus.
The UI doesn’t look like what you find on the brand’s smartphones. Thus, it does not feel like a OnePlus product to me. The same goes for the companion app N Health.
Though the UI is smooth across the board, the notification system is unpolished. I don’t receive notifications on time properly. For some reason, I receive notifications in bulk.
The watch can only show the recent 8 notifications from the smartphone and you cannot respond to them. There’s no support for icons for most apps, ergo it is difficult to grasp from which applications the notifications are from.
Further, you only get an option to decline calls. An option to silence should have been there. Above all, the vibration motor on the watch is not good enough to let you know of any incoming calls and notifications in the first place.
The worst thing about the software is that you cannot access quick controls from anywhere in the UI. You should be on the watch face to do it.
Since the wearable does not support auto-brightness, I frequently had to change the brightness level manually. During such instances, I had to return to the watch face from what I was doing earlier to just change the brightness.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord Watch is backed by a 230mAh battery. The brand claims that the device can last up to 10 days on a full charge.
I have been continuously using the wearable for 8 days now after charging it to 100%. I have enabled sleep tracking, notifications, and call alerts. It has been constantly paired with a OnePlus Nord 2T for the whole time with a couple of short-duration workouts. The battery is currently at 30%.
Therefore, if your usage is like mine, you should easily get 10 or more days of endurance out of the product. However, if you work out regularly, the battery life should be definitely less than 10 days.
Conclusion
The OnePlus Nord Watch is a good product if you consider it standalone. But when you compare it with the competition, it falls behind.
Its biggest competitor is Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version. This wearable is priced at ₹5,999. But it is being sold at ₹4,999 for a very long time as part of ongoing festive season sales. It was even available at ₹4,499 for some time.
The Amazfit model may not be as fancy as the OnePlus model in terms of looks, however, it offers better software, accurate fitness tracking, third-party support (watch faces & additional features), Alexa, and more.
With all that being said, a watch is something you would love to flaunt. In this regard, the OnePlus Nord Watch does better with a bigger sharper display, a better build quality, and a premium look.
Hence, I would recommend OnePlus Nord Watch to only those who want an affordable smartwatch with good looks. While others should consider the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version instead.
Today I want to share with you a very interesting smart gadget, the Hohem Go tracking holder for mobile devices. If you are keen on TikTok live streaming or sharing your life via video filming, the Hohem Go will be very helpful for you to free your hands, now let’s get to the point.
Unboxing & Design
Not many accessories we got here. There’s a user manual, and you only need to read the first page to learn how to use it. Other than that, just keep another important note in mind here: The device is suitable for phones less than 13 mm thick and tablets less than 11-inch. So make sure you are attaching the right device to get it working properly. But this is already good enough for most phones and tablets.
The Hohem Go tracking holder has a very compact and cute design, which is hard to believe that it’s actually a smartphone holder. We can see a camera on the front, which makes it look like a security camera.
But it’s not available to access the images or videos it shoots. It’s neither for video filming nor file saving. It’s only job is to keep you always in the shooting frame of the fixed device’s camera.
Underneath the rear knob, there is a USB port for charging. although its battery capacity is only 2000 mAh, surprisingly the Hohem Go can work continuously for up to ten hours. So basically you only need to charge it once a week. There is also a screw hole at the bottom so you can mount it onto a tripod or other stands.
Easy to use
As the manual tells us, you don’t need to complete any initial setup or download any app. All you need to do is to place the phone on top of the Holder, tighten the knob to make sure your phone doesn’t fall out while it automatically does the tracking work, and then turn on the phone camera.
You can long press the power button to turn it on. The blue indicator means it is in standby mode. Then I only need to stand in front of the camera and make an OK gesture. We can see now the light turns green and then the Hohem Go will start tracking.
Tracking
It will continuously track my position by tilting and panning, and always face toward me. it means that I don’t have to run to the camera all the time and adjust the direction of the camera with my hands when I’m shooting a film alone.
The best gesture control distance is between 0.5 and 1.5 meters, and the best tracking distance is suggested within 3 meters. But in fact the holder was able to stay tracking when I was standing around 5 meters away.
When farther than this distance, the holder is less likely to keep continuous tracking and the indicator reminds us with a blue light on.
To stop tracking, you can just hold up your hand and make a stop gesture to it.
It can follow the user in full-angle panning and 60° tilting. This is already perfect for most movements of live streaming. For example, I can take it to the basketball court, place it on the ground or wherever gives a good angle, and easily record personal plays during the games.
If they’re more than one person in the picture, the Hohem Go still can remember and track the person who made the OK gesture to it. So it won’t lose track even if others walk by.
As mentioned, it can maintain tracking at a distance of up to five meters. Even if the tracking is lost for any reason, there’s no need to restart it. All you need to do is to approach it slightly, the Hohem Go will re-identify the target and recover tracking you again.
Remember the screw hole? You can mount the Hohem Go to a simple tripod, and turn it into a smart stabilizer fixated to a certain point. Then you will get much smoother camera movement in panning and tilting.
In addition to the basic uses we have described above, I believe that in the hands of creative shooters, it can also have more possibilities. So how to turn it into a good companion for your creation, actually depends on your own.
Conclusion
This is the Hohem Go, an AI Auto-tracking Holder. I am very impressed by its smooth and stable tracking. More importantly, as a smart digital device, it is very easy to use. It also simplifies operations and allows users to focus on content creation. There’s no cumbersome Bluetooth connection, No APP Downloading. And it has a long battery life and good expandability.
It’s a lot less expensive compared to a phone gimbal, so if you just want to do a better job of using your phone for live-streaming or recording life moments, I think this is a good alternative. If you are interested in the helpful tracking holder, click here to learn more about it.
Apple products are among the best in the world presently. That is why the iPhone and other products are well sought after. The company is also a benchmark for other brands who are quick to compare their flagship products with Apple’s. That was apparently what a Google Pixel social media handler was trying to do when he hopped into a post by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook.
Tim Cook had teased the M2 iPad Pro launch in his post but the handler didn’t realize that he was still logged into Twitter from an iPhone. He then posted a comment promoting the Pixel phone.
The post was quickly deleted but not before it was spotted by some eagle-eyed netizens. 3D artist Ian Zelbo, who is well-known on Twitter for his highly-detailed iPad and iPhone renders shared a screenshot of the post before it was deleted. Obviously, a lot of other people had seen it.
This is not the first time a rival brand has been spotted promoting their gadget on social media using an iPhone. In 2018, Samsung promoted the display of its then-newest flagship, the Galaxy Note 9, using Twitter for iPhone. The company’s social media team made a similar error early last year when they used an iPhone to announce a Galaxy Unpacked event. Huawei has also been caught in this web in the past.
This is coming not too long after HP published an advertisement for “The perfect laptop” but the ad mistakenly carries a macOS screenshot.
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