Hyundai launches driverless ride-hailing service in Seoul, South Korea

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Jun 12, 2022

Automaker Hyundai has introduced its Level 4 autonomous RoboRide service in the Gangnam district of Seoul, South Korea. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is at the heart of the deployment and will see a safety driver present for now.

Seoul’s Mayor and another city official were the first passengers in the new ride-hailing service in the Gangnam district. They were taken along a route in the district which is the only location for the service in Korea. There are no details as of now on when Hyundai will discontinue the presence of a safety driver in the RoboRide in Korea. The Ioniq 5 autonomous vehicles can accommodate up to three passengers at a time.

The Hyundai-powered RoboRide service in Korea will only be available to company employees at the start. The hailing is achieved using the i.M app, similar to the ones used by Waymo or Cruise. The i.M app was developed by Jin Mobility and it will rely heavily on AI. The Ioniq 5 itself is based on Hyundai’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). There are no indications of how long this pilot RoboRide service will last in Korea. The company feels this milestone is an important inflection point as it continues to internalize autonomous driving technology.

There are twenty-five districts in Seoul and the RoboRide is only active in just one. This is because the traffic lights in the other districts are not yet capable of communicating with self-driving vehicles. The data that will be gathered from the pilot scheme will aid Hyundai in integrating several components in the production of autonomous vehicles.

MIT Discovers New Concerning Cybersecurity Flaw to Apple’s M1 Silicon – PACMAN

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

Jun 12, 2022

Apple’s M1 series of silicon processors not only exists in its Mac Minis and Macbooks but also resides on the company’s iPads as well. Thus, a cybersecurity vulnerability in the SoC could lead to many modern Apple products being affected if they were to be targeted by a malicious attack.

And after announcing the company’s new M2 silicon processors at Apple WWDC 2022, news broke out that the Apple M1 silicon has been compromised in the cybersecurity department. And as both MacWorld and 9to5Mac quoted MIT researchers, the newly discovered security flaw defeats the last line of security of the M1 SoC and cannot be patched via software updates.

The highly concerning security vulnerability in M1 is named “PACMAN” because it defeats the M1’s Pointer Authentication Code (PAC) system.

MacWorld explains that pointer authentication is a security feature that helps protect the CPU against an attacker that has gained memory access. Pointers store memory addresses, and pointer authentication code checks for unexpected pointer changes caused by an attack. In its research, MIT CSAIL created “PACMAN,” an attack that can find the correct value to successfully pass pointer authentication, so a hacker can continue with access to the computer.

Macworld quotes an MIT article with MIT CSAIL’s Joseph Ravichandran, who is the co-lead author of a paper explaining PACMAN, “When pointer authentication was introduced, a whole category of bugs suddenly became a lot harder to use for attacks. With PACMAN making these bugs more serious, the overall attack surface could be a lot larger.”

According to MIT CSAIL, since its PACMAN attack involves a hardware device, a software patch won’t fix the problem. The issue is a wider problem with ARM processors that use Pointer Authentication, not just Apple’s M1. “Future CPU designers should take care to consider this attack when building the secure systems of tomorrow,” Ravichandran wrote. “Developers should take care to not solely rely on pointer authentication to protect their software.”

MIT was able to perform the PACMAN attack remotely. The team mentions that they actually did all their experiments over the network on a machine in another room, as they described “PACMAN works just fine remotely if you have unprivileged code execution.”

Macworld reports that Apple is aware of MIT CSAIL’s findings and issued the following statement: “We want to thank the researchers for their collaboration as this proof of concept advances our understanding of these techniques. Based on our analysis as well as the details shared with us by the researchers, we have concluded this issue does not pose an immediate risk to our users and is insufficient to bypass operating system security protections on its own.”

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Edifier H180 Plus USB-C Wired Earphones Launched; Hi-Res Audio for only 69 RMB (11 USD)

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

Jun 11, 2022

Edifier is a Beijing-based electronics company in the industry, that is mostly known for their expertise in audio consumer electronics like speakers, headsets and also earphones. The brand is still growing in terms of gaining market share in the industry and it cannot be refuted that to quickly gain market share, your entry-level product must be affordable and high-quality for the masses.

This week, the brand announced the Edifier H180 Plus – a pair of new USB-C half-in-ear wired earphones, that are not only affordable but also decent from the specifications as well.

Like newer wired earphones, the Edifier H180 Plus connects to your device via USB-C, and as for the durability of the wire, the Edifier H180 Plus is claimed by the company to be durable with a highly flexible polycarbonate coating that allows it to be resistant to scratches, entanglement, and wear and tear. In turn, you can enjoy your music worry-free from harm.

However, what’s surprising about these earphones is the audio quality. These affordable pair of earphones have officially gotten the golden seal of Hi-Res Audio, meaning sound quality can definitely punch above its weight class.

Edifier’s marketing material mentions that this is achieved with the company’s clever audio engineering. The Edifier H180 Plus is equipped with a 14mm audio driver that allows for frequency ranges from 20Hz to 40kHz, and the bandwidth is 100% higher than competing wired earphones in the market.

In addition, the software on the Edifier H180 Plus is also pretty varied. It is equipped with 4 in-built EQ sound profiles for your music needs, which are respectively: Standard, Pop, Classical and Rock. The in-built microphone is also said to provide high-quality audio recording capabilities.

The microphone is housed within the control panel that is located on the bottom side of the right earbud. And the controls are physical, as you can easily click on the power button, volume up or volume down button for immediate feedback and control.

The Edifier H180 Plus comes in two colours – Black and White and goes on sale in China today for an official retail price of 69 RMB (11 USD).

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Realme 9 Pro vs Reno8 Lite 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jun 11, 2022

The OPPO Reno8 Series just debuted in the global market with the launch of the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G: the most affordable variant from the lineup. While we are waiting for the launch of the remaining devices from the series globally, it is worth comparing the new mid-ranger with the other handsets sold in the global market with similar price tags. Remaining under the BBK umbrella, there are two handsets sold globally with similar specifications: the Realme 9 Pro and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. Here is a comparison between the specifications of the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G, the Realme 9 Pro, and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G.

Realme 9 Pro vs OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

	Realme 9 Pro	OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G	OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm, 195 g	159.8 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm, 173 g	164.3 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm, 195 g
DISPLAY	6.6 inches, 1080 x 2412 pixels (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.43 inches, 1080 x 2400 pixels (Full HD+), AMOLED	6.59 inches, 1080 x 2412 pixels (Full HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G, octa-core 2.2 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 12, Realme UI	Android 11, ColorOS	Android 12, OxygenOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.1 front camera	Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.4 front camera	Triple 64 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY	5000 mAh, fast charging 33W	4500 mAh, fast charging 33W	5000 mAh, fast charging 33W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	dual SIM slot, 5G	dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse charging	dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

The most beautiful phone in this comparison is the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G. It has a better look, but that is not all: it comes with a thinner and lighter design, as well as amazing RGB rings around the cameras which can be used as notifications LEDs. Last but not least, it is the only one to offer certification against water: thanks to the IPX4 certification, it is a splashproof phone. Unfortunately, all of these handsets are not built with premium materials, and they are made of polycarbonate. The Realme 9 Pro and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G are thicker and bigger devices, so less attractive than the Reno.

Display

Are you looking for the best image quality? If so, then you should opt for the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G. It is the only device from this trio to sport an AMOLED display: it is a panel with a 6.43-inch diagonal and a Full HD+ resolution which shows more brilliant colors and deeper blacks. It even sports an in-display fingerprint reader. On the other hand, the Realme 9 Pro and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G are better devices for gaming: they have two IPS LCD panels, but they come with a high 120 Hz refresh rate. All of these handsets feature a mono speaker and a 3.5 mm audio jack allowing you to use classic wired earphones.

Specs & Software

These three handsets come with exactly the same hardware setup. They are all powered by the octa-core Snapdragon 695 5G mobile platform by Qualcomm built at 6 nm and running at a max frequency of 2.2 GHz. The chipset is paired with up to 8 GB of RAM and up to 128 GB of internal storage that you can furtherly expand with a micro SD. Note that, while Realme 9 Pro and OnePlus CE 2 Lite 5G come in a 6/128 GB memory configuration and run Android 12 out of the box, the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G only provides 8 GB of RAM and it still runs Android 11, even though it is based on ColorOS 12. This means that Reno8 Lite will get fewer Android updates.

Camera

These three handsets come with exactly the same camera departments, with the exception of the Realme 9 Pro. All of them sport a 64 MP main sensor and a 2 MP macro camera, but the Realme 9 Pro replaces the useless depth sensor of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G and the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G with a useful ultrawide sensor. That is why the Realme mid-ranger wins the camera comparison.

Read More: realme 9 Pro Plus Full Review: Color Changing Phone with an Amazing Camera! [Bonus Giveaway]

Battery

The weak point of the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G is the battery life if we compare it to its opponents. In order to provide a thinner, lighter, and more compact design, OPPO equipped the device with a smaller battery: the capacity is 4500 mAh. With the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G and the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, you get bigger 5000 mAh batteries. So, even though the Reno8 Lite 5G has a more efficient AMOLED display, its two rivals have longer battery life. All of these phones feature 33W fast charging.

Price

The starting price of the Realme 9 Pro is €259/$272, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G starts from €299/$315, and the OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G sells for €399/$420. Note that the price of the first two is referred to the memory configuration with 6 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, while the Reno8 Lite only comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Overall, the Reno8 Lite 5G is a more interesting phone because of its AMOLED display and better design, but the other two come with big batteries, more affordable prices, and a 120 Hz refresh rate which may attract a lot of customers.

Realme 9 Pro vs OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G vs OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G: PRO and CONS

Realme 9 Pro

PRO

120 Hz refresh rate
Big battery
Android 12
More affordable

CONS

IPS display

OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G

PRO

AMOLED display
Thinner and lighter
IPX4 certification
RGB rings
Best design
Reverse charging

CONS

Smaller battery
Android 11
Price

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

PRO

Big battery
120 Hz refresh rate
Android 12
Decent price

CONS

IPS display

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Oppo Reno8 Pro Goes On Sale in China Today; Prices Start From 2999 RMB ($447)

By

Leo Wong De Quan

-

Jun 11, 2022

Oppo has officially taken the curtains off its latest Reno 8 series of mid-range smartphones in late May this year, and it consists of the standard Oppo Reno 8, Oppo Reno 8 Pro and Oppo Reno 8 Pro Plus.

After the standard Reno 8 and Reno 8 Pro Plus went on sale last week, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro has now officially gone on sale in China for only 2999 RMB (US$ 447)!

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro will be officially available with 3 memory and storage configurations that go up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The official pricing in the country for the Oppo Reno 8 Pro is as follows:

8 GB + 128 GB – 2999 RMB (US$ 447)
8 GB + 256 GB – 3199 RMB (US$ 477)
12 GB + 256GB – 3499 RMB (US$ 522)

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro is the world’s first smartphone equipped with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, built on Samsung’s 4nm manufacturing process. The SoC is claimed to feature higher performance than its predecessors, the Snapdragon 778G and 780G processors, on the more advanced node.

However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 isn’t the only silicon processor under the Oppo Reno 8 Pro as the device also features the company’s in-house self-developed MariSilicon X ISP imaging chip, which debuted earlier in the year on the brand’s flagship offering – the Oppo Find X5 Pro. With a dedicated ISP, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro aims to outperform videography and photographing capabilities in its segment.

The cameras on the Oppo Reno 8 Pro are also stacked as it features the same flagship Sony IMX766 primary sensor as the Oppo Find X5 Pro, with an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro sensor to round up the triple camera island on the back. The selfie camera is also using a flagship-grade sensor as well from Sony which is the Sony IMX709.

Coming to the display, the Oppo Reno 8 Pro has a 6.62-inch Full HD+ Samsung E4 flat AMOLED display with 2,400 x 1,080 pixels of resolution, reaching up to 1300 nits of peak brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Powering the device is a generous 4,500mAh battery with Oppo’s signature 80W SuperVOOC fast wired charging.

Other features of the Oppo Reno 8 Pro include its Linear X-axis vibration motor, support for NFC and a single bottom-firing speaker. The device is equipped with flat aluminium edges and is available in 3 colour options: Champagne Gold, Laidback Blue and Midnight Black.

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OnePlus will offer Alert Slider only on flagship Pro models in the future

By

Sudhanshu

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Jun 11, 2022

Ever since the launch of the OnePlus 2 back in 2015, the brand has provided the iconic alert slider on its devices. Although, after the merger of OnePlus and OPPO, many of the devices from the brand have come out lacking the slider.

This was mainly due to most of the mid and lower-end devices that OnePlus has launched in recent times being rebranded OPPO devices. However, with the launch of the OnePlus Ace/ OnePlus 10R, many customers were left confused as that being a premium mid-range device also lacked an alert slider.

OnePlus 7T Hands on alert slider featured — OnePlus 7T

Now, tipster Yogesh Brar’s recent tweet has revealed that there might be very few devices that come with an alert slider from now on. According to the tipster, the recently launched OnePlus Nord 2T was the last mid-range device to carry an alert slider. Going forward, the alert slider will only be offered in the Pro models along with some OPPO flagships.

This means that customers will have to shell out some serious cash to enjoy the physical alert slider in the future. Currently, there is no clarification as to why this decision was made. But it might be to keep the feature more exclusive or it could be due to OnePlus using rebranded OPPO devices as their mid-range offerings.

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POCO F4 5G flexes its cooling against OnePlus 10 Pro and iQOO 9 SE

By

Sudhanshu

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Jun 11, 2022

POCO will soon be launching the POCO F4 5G smartphone globally. The brand has already confirmed that it comes with a Snapdragon 870 chipset. And now, the company has teased its thermal management system showcasing its performance.

According to POCO, the F4 5G will use a cooling system dubbed Liquidcool 2.0. This is a seven-layer 3,112mm2 vapor chamber with graphite sheets. POCO also demonstrated the thermal performance of the F4 5G by pitting it against devices like the iQOO 9 SE and the OnePlus 10 Pro. The POCO F4 was on average a few degrees cooler than the competition during the thermal test and throttled just 5% compared to the 18% of the iQOO 9 SE and the 29% of the OnePlus 10 Pro.

pic.twitter.com/vie7ZX1bhb

— POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) June 9, 2022

This test, however, feels a bit unfair as the competition is running the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Both of these chipsets are notorious for overheating.

POCO F4 5G specs (rumored)

The device is expected to come with a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Dolby Vision support.

The Snapdragon 870 chipset will be paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The device will operate on Android 12-based MIUI 13 and is expected to have a 4500mAh battery with 67W fast charging support.

For optics, the smartphone is expected to bring a triple camera setup on the back with a 64-megapixel primary sensor paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit and a 2-megapixel macro camera. On the front, it will likely have a 20-megapixel selfie snapper. Other than that, the device will come with dual stereo speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and an IR blaster.

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Telegram Premium Sub is Coming Later this Month with Extra Features

By

Anurag

-

Jun 11, 2022

Earlier, there were rumors that Telegram is working on a paid subscription plan. Today, Pavel Durov, the messaging app’s founder and CEO, confirmed that the Telegram Premium plan is indeed in development and will be launched by the end of this month.

Telegram Premium will be launching later in June and it will bring some extra features for the more demanding users. Premium users will have a higher limit for chats, media, and file uploads, Durov said in a blog post.

Durov claimed that the existing features in the free version will not be degraded and in fact, plenty of new features will soon be added to it. Furthermore, he stated that even users who do not subscribe to Telegram Premium will be able to take advantage of some of its features, such as viewing extra-large documents, media, and stickers sent by Premium users, or tapping to add Premium reactions already pinned to a message to react in the same way.

Durov stated that the Premium service is meant to respond to user demand for more storage/bandwidth without destroying Telegram’s ability to provide a free service to everyone else.

“After giving it some thought, we realized that the only way to let our most demanding fans get more while keeping our existing features free is to make those raised limits a paid option,” says Durav.

The exact details of the Premium plan are not known yet. However, previous reports have suggested that paid tier will cost $4.99 per month. The prices may vary for different regions.

Following privacy concerns with rival messaging app WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, Telegram has seen an increase in users. According to its website, Telegram currently has 500 million monthly active users and is one of the top ten most downloaded apps in the world.

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Nothing Phone (1) Pre-Booking Details Leaked Ahead of the Launch

By

Anurag

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Jun 11, 2022

There’s still a month to the launch of the long-awaited Nothing Phone (1), however, the rumor mill has already started grinding its specifications into very fine pieces. We recently got to know the charging speed and the display specs of the smartphone. Now, tipster, Mukul Sharma, is here to reveal some details about the Pre-booking of the Nothing Phone (1).

Apparently, the tipster has shared a screenshot of what appears to be the Flipkart Product page of a Pre-booking coupon. The description of the coupon says “This Coupon Code is your pass for the pre-booking for Nothing Phone (1)”. It further reveals that interested buyers will be able to Pre-book the Nothing phone (1) by paying 2000 Rs which will automatically be adjusted during the time of the checkout.

The Pre-booking of the smartphone is not open yet. It can be seen that the coupon is only valid till July 18 so the pre-booking is likely to start before that. For those living under the proverbial rock, Nothing has confirmed that it will be unveiling the Nothing Phone (1) at an event on July 12.

Specifications of the smartphone have started to surface online. We know that the handset will come with a transparent back, fast wired and wireless charging, and super slim bezels. It is rumored to draw power from a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Soc paired with up to 8 GB of RAM, and up to 128 GB of storage.

Nothing Phone (1) Representative picture

It is expected to have a 6.55-inch full HD+ OLED display offering a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The smartphone is likely to feature a 4500mAh battery and support 45W fast charging. These are all the details we have about the smartphone. We hope to learn more in the days to come.

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Bluetti EP500Pro Power Station with 5.1kWh capacity, solar charging launched in Europe

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 11, 2022

Bluetti has introduced its latest power station in Europe. It is the EP500Pro Power Station which has a battery capacity of 5,100Wh for long-lasting performance. You can charge the Bluetti EP500Pro at speeds of 4,000W via an AC outlet or through a solar panel.

The Bluetti EP500Pro Power Station was first available through a Kickstarter campaign in 2021. It has multiple ports to cater to many gadgets. The outlets include AC (2,000W), USB-A (100W), USB-C (100W), and wireless charging pads. There are three AC outlets, four USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and two wireless charging pads on the generator. Power conversion is achieved through its 3,000W sine wave AC inverter and the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery offers thermal stability.

The EP500Pro is housed inside an airtight aluminum case capable of withstanding pressure changes, punctures, and heavy impact. The battery capacity can be sustained for up to 6,000 charging cycles before its capacity reduces by 20%. The Bluetti EP500 weighs just 76kg and it comes with four wheels for easy mobility. The dimensions of the power generator are about 23 x 1 x 30 inches and it can operate in a range of about 60 degrees Celsius (-20 to 40 Celsius).

The Bluetti EP500Pro is already available in Germany at a discounted price of €4,999 ($5,258). Availability of the gadget in other European markets is expected to follow within the summer. The Bluetti EP500Pro Power Station is originally priced at €5,299 ($5,573). There are no indications at this time of global availability of the product.

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Redmi Note 11T Pro vs OnePlus Ace Racing: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Jun 10, 2022

If you are a gamer or a power user and you are searching for a phone offering you the highest performance at the most affordable price, you have several choices in 2022. Among these, if you live in China, there is Redmi Note 11T Pro. It is very affordable but its performance is comparable to the ones found on flagships. Another amazing handset in the same price range with an amazing hardware department is the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition, which is the second device from the brand new Ace series from OnePlus (borrowed from OPPO which killed this series years ago). These two devices are very similar and it may be hard to understand which one to choose, especially with similar prices. This is a comparison between the specifications of the Redmi Note 11T Pro and the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11T Pro vs OnePlus Ace Racing Edition

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 11T Pro	OnePlus Ace Racing Edition
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163.6 x 74.3 x 8.9 mm, 200 g	164.3 x 75.8 x 8.7 mm, 205 g
DISPLAY	6.6 inches, 1080 x 2460 pixels (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.59 inches, 1080 x 2412 pixels (Full HD+), IPS LCD
PROCESSOR	Mediatek Dimensity 8100, octa-core 2.85 GHz	Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Max, octa-core 2.85 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 12, MIUI	Android 12, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS
CAMERA	Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP 16 MP front camera	Triple 64 + 8 + 2 MP, f/1.7 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 16 MP f/2.1 front camera
BATTERY	5080 mAh, fast charging 67W	5000 mAh, Fast Charging 67W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	5G, dual SIM, IP53 certification	5G, dual SIM

Design

Even though it is a pretty elegant phone, the Redmi Note 11T Pro does not come with an original design. It looks like the handsets from the Xiaomi 12 series with a camera module sporting the same color as the rest of the body. Unfortunately, it is not made with premium materials: it is entirely made of polycarbonate (with the exception of the display, obviously) but it is protected against dust and water thanks to the IP53 certification making it dust resistant and splash resistant. The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has a more original design, even though not everyone may like it. It comes with a thinner body but slightly bigger dimensions because of its thicker bezels around the display. It is made of polycarbonate too and it does not offer any certification against water and dust.

Display

The Redmi Note 11T Pro has a display with a diagonal of 6.6 inches, a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels, the HDR10 certification, Dolby Vision support, and a refresh rate of 144 Hz. Unfortunately, it is an IPS LCD panel and not an AMOLED one, but it still provides great image quality. Further, it even provides the smoothest viewing experience thanks to its very high refresh rate. It is definitely the best display of this comparison. The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition has an IPS display too, with a diagonal of 6.59 inches, a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2412 pixels, and a 120 Hz refresh rate. In both cases, the displays are good for gamers thanks to the high refresh rate. Both the handsets are equipped with stereo speakers and side-mounted fingerprint readers for authentication.

Specs & Software

The OnePlus Ace Racing Edition comes with the most advanced hardware setup. It is powered by an octa-core Mediatek Dimensity 8100 Max mobile platform paired with up to 12 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 internal storage. This hardware department has nothing to envy to the most expensive flasghips out there, even though its processor can actually be compared to the Snadpragon 888 and not to the latest Qualcomm and MediaTek flagship chipsets. The Redmi Note 11T Pro is fueled by the Dimensity 8100 chipset by MediaTek: it is the same as the Dimensity 8100 Max, but with inferior AI performance. But the Redmi device has just 8 GB of RAM in its most advanced configuration. These devices run Android 12 out of the box with highly customized user interfaces on top.

Camera

On the camera side, these handsets are almost identical. They come with a 64 MP main camera (a midrange-class sensor), an 8 MP ultrawide lens, and a 2 MP macro camera. The main camera is able to record 4K videos at 30 fps and the front camera has a resolution of 16 MP and supports 1080p video recording. The camera departments do not differ, but the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition should be able to shoot better photos in several scenarios thanks to better algorithm, as well as a brighter focal aperture for the main camera.

Read More: Snapdragon 8 Gen1 Speed Test: Xiaomi 12 Pro vs OnePlus 10 Pro vs Realme GT 2 Pro vs iQOO 9 Pro vs Moto Edge X30

Battery

There is not much difference between the battery capacities of these two handsets, but the battery of the Redmi Note 11T Pro is slightly bigger with a capacity of 5080 mAh. However, the software will play an important role when it comes to battery life. Both the phones support 67W fast charging.

Price

Currently, the Redmi Note 11T Pro and the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition are only available in the Chinese market. We still do not know when the former will hit the global shelves, but it will be soon. OnePlus still did not announce anything about the global launch of its flagship killer. The Redmi Note 11T Pro has a starting price which roughly translates into €250/$263, while the OnePlus Ace Racing Edition starts from €280/$295. Which one would you pick?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11T Pro vs OnePlus Ace Racing Edition: PRO and CONS

OPPO Reno8

PRO

144 Hz refresh rate
Better display
IP53 certification
Bigger battery

CONS

IPS display

OnePlus Ace Racing Edition

PRO

Better processor
More RAM
Better camera performance
Thinner

CONS

IPS display

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BattRE Storie electric scooter with 132km range launched in India for Rs. 89,600 ($1,151)

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 10, 2022

The new BattRE Storie electric scooter has been unveiled in India. The BattRE Storie offers a range of 132km on a single charge and is priced at Rs. 89,600 ($1,151) (ex-showroom price, excluding state subsidies nationally).

The BattRE Storie e-scooter boasts several impressive features as it pursues a greener environment. The BattRE Storie is a modern-day e-scooter with metal panels, and a connected drive, and is well-suited for daily urban commutes. The e-scooter is powered by a Lucas TVS electric motor and controller. It also comes with a 3.1kWh battery pack that delivers a range of 132km.

The Storie is fitted with a smart instrument cluster that provides information on the go. Its speedometer is integrated with Bluetooth connectivity and call alerts can be received promptly on the dashboard.

The BattRE Storie features the Connective Drive feature which helps to locate the nearest charging facility. Access to this feature is through a convenient pay and charge system. The bigger seats on the e-scooter also assure greater comfort for riders, as well as sufficient leg room.

The BattRE Storie will enjoy FAME II subsidy in India. This means that its stated price of Rs. 89,600 ($1,151) could be reduced further. It is a pretty safe e-scooter as it can deliver a quick diagnostic appraisal at any time. Thermal runway safety tests have also been comprehensive for the BattRE Storie. It will thus come out as a very reliable model and the incidents of scooter fires will not happen on it.

There are no specifics yet on the actual release date for the BattRE Stories. The company, however, says that this could happen soon. The BattRE Storie will be available in hundreds of dealerships across over 300 cities in India.

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Marshall unveils three new Bluetooth speakers offering great sound & cool designs

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 10, 2022

Marshall has unveiled a trio of powerful Homeline wireless speakers with a new sound connection technology. Marshall Acton III, Stanmore III, and Woburn III wireless speakers offer significant improvements from their predecessors. The three new Marshall wireless speakers will go on sale on June 23.

All three speakers offer Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, an improved soundstage, and a design that factored fully eco-consciousness. While Acton III, Stanmore III, and Woburn III bear external semblance to their predecessors, they come with significant upgrades. They are equipped with tweeters and waveguides that deliver a more expansive sound experience. They sport some of the best technologies that could make them challenge the best Bluetooth speakers in the market.

The innovative Placement Compensation technology makes the new speakers stand out. With this technology, the speakers optimize the EQ profile by measuring for nearby reflective surfaces which could affect the sound. It then automatically adjusts the equalization as appropriate. Apart from Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, the new Marshall speakers can be connected via a 3.5mm audio jack. The speakers also have a built-in Dynamic Loudness feature that provides a more balanced output.

The Marshall Bluetooth speaker lineup is manufactured from about 70% recycled plastic and fully vegan material. This is a huge departure from the massive reliance on PVC materials in older models. The Acton II comes with a 30W amplifier for the woofer and two 15W amps for the tweeters. The Stanmore III is slightly larger than the Anton III and features a 50W amp for its woofer. The Marshall Woburn III is the pick of the pack. It comes with HDMI connectivity and is pricier than the rest at $579. The Acton III is priced at $279 while the Stanmore III costs $379.

The models will all have three color options – brown, black, and white and will be available from June 23. Details are still fuzzy at this time on global availability details for the three new Marshall speakers.

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Check out the Microlino, a petit four-wheeled EV that has raked in 30,000 reservations

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jun 10, 2022

The Microlino is a pint-sized Swiss-designed electric vehicle that is drawing massive attention on several fronts. The Microlino is still to get to the full-scale production stage but has already chalked up a 30,000-strong list of reservation holders. The company says it has opened its configurator for custom adaptation of the petit EV.

The Microlino has a single front door opening style similar to BMW’s Isetta. The Microlino is classed between a car and a motorbike in several exciting ways. It takes up less space than a conventional car but retains the enclosed feature of cars, as well as increased storage options. The Microlino has seating for two people and 230-liter trunk space. It is a compact four-wheeled EV that is also high on maneuverability.

The Microlino weighs just about 535kg and delivers a driving range of about 230km. It can reach a top speed of 90km/h which is quite impressive. Its range implies that the Microlino is well suited for daily city commutes, as well as inter-city rides. The base model of the petit Microlino offers a range of about 115km, which is also convenient for daily city driving. A typical city driver could use the EV for up to a week without recharging.

The Microlino is a Class L7e vehicle in Europe. This means that it is technically a quadricycle, but it is designed as a compact car. It comes with an automotive design including an efficient unibody chassis, a smaller battery, and a minimal carbon footprint. About 90% of its components are produced in Europe, which provides an uncluttered supply chain. Microlino’s founder is projecting it as the most sustainable weather-protected vehicle in existence.

There are already over 30,000 reservations for the Microlino currently. It could be available first in Switzerland at around $15,340, although it has been listed in Europe to cost around $13,400. Deliveries will begin in the summer for Swiss customers, while other parts of Europe will follow subsequently.

The portable EV is being produced at the company’s facility in Turin, Italy. The plant is expected to scale up its capacity from 1,500 vehicles per year to about 10,000 cars per year. The backlog means that the company will have to seek ways of massively scaling up production.

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Techno Spark 9 Series is designed specially for Selfie lovers

By

Staff

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Jun 10, 2022

Techno recently launched its Spark 9 Series with premium features and better upgrades, aimed to cater to the needs of the creative Gen Z. To that end, the Spark 9 series features a 32MP selfie camera, a right-angled edged lightweight, and slim body, advanced filters and editing software, a high performing processor and long-lasting battery.

Techno Spark 9 series has updated its selfie camera from 8MP sensor to a 32MP HD camera. The 32MP front camera gives you clear, crisp, detailed and textured selfies even when zoomed in. Moreover, with an Ultra HD mode, the 4-in-1 sensor chip with intelligent pixel alignment, and the F/2.45 front camera aperture with widened fixed focus, the camera is capable of capturing good-quality images and videos.

The Techno Spark 9 Pro comes with an optimized Super Night Mode 3.0 with advanced features like AI Scene Light Detection, Multi-frame Fusion Optimization Algorithm, and cutting-edge Touch-up Restoration Technology. The combination of these features helps you to appropriately brighten your image to make it both clear and natural even while shooting in dark and dull lighting. Also, to click the best selfies at night, the phone comes with the Ring Screen Fill-in Light, which provides an even three-dimensional fill-in light for the face even in low light conditions.

Finally, the Techno Spark 9 Pro comes with additional features like AI portrait restoration, Face Beauty (5.0) Mode, Intelligent Noise Reduction in the RAW domain, and the Intelligent All-Scene AF that brightens and adds beauty to your face in different scenarios and setups.

Apart from selfies, Techno Spark 9 series also focuses on the rear camera. The phone comes with a triple rear camera setup with a 50 MP main camera with F/1.6 Aperture, a 2 MP in-depth sensor, and an 8W AI Lens.

As smartphones have become an extension of your self-image, the Techno Spark 9 series has focused on the design and look of the phone to make it not just a high-performing gadget, but also a trendy fashion accessory. Hence, this time the new TECNO SPARK 9 series comes with a fresh look, with the industry-popular right-angled edge and the 8.42mm lightly slim body. The brand has given the phone a unique shiny textured mosaic finish at the back that stands out when you hold it in your palm. Available in four colors viz. Quantum Black, Burano Blue, Holy White, and Hacker Storm the phone comes with its signature TECNO Galaxy futuristic dual-ring triple camera design.

The phone features a 6.6” Ultra HD large-screen display and supports a 90Hz refresh rate. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, it comes with an Arm Mali-G52 GPU, and octa-core CPU featuring two powerful Arm Cortex-A75 CPUs to deliver a smooth experience.

The phone is fueled by a large 5000mAh battery and supports 18W flash charging. As for the software and user experience, Techno Spark 9 series runs on the Android 12-based HiOS 8.6. Other interesting features include Super Boost 2.0 which helps to clean high-frequency apps through data capture, the Language Master which delivers excellent translation to enable smooth communications across different languages, fresh and customized themes, etc.

Detailed specs and images of Facebook Meta’s canceled smartwatch leaked

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jun 10, 2022

Key details of the canceled Meta smartwatch have been leaked online. It is unclear why the development of the smartwatch was discontinued but the new details are quite illuminating. Meta Milan (as it was codenamed internally) was in development for two years. However, Meta, earlier this week announced a discontinuation of its development.

Rumors had been on the air since last year of an impending Meta smartwatch. It was also projected to be launched in 2023 before it was canceled. No reasons were provided by Meta for the decision to pull the plug on Milan. A prototype of the Meta smartwatch has now surfaced showing its design and dual camera setup.

The Meta watch prototype is designed with a removable body and has two buttons on the case. The Meta watch also features two cameras (5MP and 12MP), which is quite remarkable. The 5MP front camera is seen as a water drop notch, while the 12MP camera is located at the back together with several sensors. The Meta watch is detachable because its cameras can be used to take photos and record videos. This can be a very useful feature in certain circumstances.

The canceled Meta watch also was projected to offer several standalone features like WhatsApp, Spotify One, and Instagram Stories. It also offers GPS, cellular, and Wi-Fi connectivity essentially transforming it into a pint-sized phone, sort of. The basic health and fitness features would also have been on offer with the Meta watch. The device is reported to be capable of delivering up to 18 hours of battery life on a single charge.

There are indications that another smartwatch is already in the works. The canceled Meta smartwatch was rumored to cost around $349. It is unclear at this time when the new Meta smart wearable will enter the market.

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TECNO Camon 19 series launch will be held in New York City’s Rockefeller Center

By

Sudhanshu

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Jun 10, 2022

TECNO is set to launch its Camon 19 smartphone series at a spectacular global event on June 14, which will be hosted atop the iconic Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The premium smartphone maker is taking the company to new heights as it aims to increase its global reach with this launch event. TECNO is also focusing on premium offerings by integrating fashion with innovative technology.

This will be the first time the company has held a global launch event in New York City or the United States. The selection of this city and the launch venue is in line with the brand’s focus on the coming together of art, fashion, and technology in its latest Camon 19 smartphone series.

“New York is a global trendsetter in many dimensions, including fashion, art, and design, which appeals to TECNO customers. The selection of New York City shows TECNO’s strength in fashion and technology innovation and its brand vision to bring the perfect fusion of stylish design and the state-of-the-art technology to our users,” said Lucia Liu, TECNO’s Chief Brand Director.

This announcement has driven great anticipation around the arrival of the new Camon series. Although the details of the launch and features of the Camon19 series are still unconfirmed, however, one thing is for sure that it’s not just a premium device but also a work of art with its IF award-winning design. For those unaware, the Camon series recently won the world-renowned iF Design Award, where it was praised for its incredibly slim bezel and dual-ring, triple-camera layout.

Photography and performance also continue to be a key focus for TECNO. Thanks to the brand’s joint development with Samsung, Camon 19’s RGBW lens technology will bring a better low-light shooting experience with advanced light sensitivity and reduced light crosstalk.

TECNO has also announced that it is among the first to make Android 13 beta available on its latest Camon 19 Pro 5G and shared plans to update to Android 12 on its Camon 18 series, which will provide a more secure and technologically advanced experience for Camon users.

According to TECNO, the brand will continue to focus on the fusion of technology and fashion. The company has teased that this new series will exceed expectations regarding its appearance, which will be officially unveiled at the upcoming launch event in NYC.

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China’s wearable market declines 7.5 percent YoY in Q1, 2022, ships 25.84 million units: IDC

By

Viraj Gawde

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Jun 10, 2022

Wearable device market in China was down 7.5 percent year-on-year basis as per International Data Corporation (IDC) report. The wearable device market shipped 25.85 million units in the first quarter of this year i.e. the period from January to March. Wearable devices mainly include audio products like headphones and TWS, smartwatches and wristbands.

IDC says that the decline the China’s wearables market is due to the cooling demand as consumers start spending on other electronics categories.

As per the report, the audio category recorded 15.96 million shipments in Q1, 2022 and clocked a 3.5 percent year-on-year increase. Only TWS earphones maintained a YoY growth of 3.2 percent. The smartwatch market shipped 7.16 million units in the first quarter, down 15.3 percent on a year-on-year basis. 3.86 million units out of the total shipments were adult watches while the rest of 3.3 million units were children’s watches. Restrictions on outdoor activities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic are said to be the reason for the decrease in smartwatch shipments in Q1, 2022.

Lastly, the wristband market recorded 2.63 million shipments in the first quarter of 2022 and it declined 33.6 percent year-on-year basis. The segment is said to be affected by the competition of product forms, pandemic situation, and the launch of new upcoming products.

IDC says that the growth rate of the wearable market has slowed down. In the past three years, smartwatches and truly wireless earphones have achieved a period of rapid growth.

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Samsung smart TVs will get access to Xbox app and cloud gaming

By

Sudhanshu

-

Jun 10, 2022

Tech giants Microsoft and Samsung have always had a close relationship as they have previously offered multiple features exclusive to each other’s operating systems. One good example would be that the Galaxy devices are the only smartphones other that Microsoft Surface Duo devices capable of opening mobile apps on Windows using the My Phone app.

Now, the two brand’s collaboration is about to expand to Samsung’s smart TVs as Microsoft has announced that some of the upcoming Samsung TVs bring along the Xbox App and Game Pass. The new features will be included in the Samsung Gaming Hub, which will be the first Smart TV platform to include the Xbox app on Smart TVs.

The brand has revealed that the TVs launching with Xbox App and Game Pass will be the Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, QLEDs, and 2022 Smart Monitor Series. This new feature will essentially make these TVs into gaming machines as they will get access to cloud gaming via the Xbox App and will be able to stream over 100 high-quality games like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. This will also allow users to play new games released by Xbox Game Studios on Day one.

But if you don’t plan on buying a new Samsung television, don’t worry, because Microsoft is also working on a dongle device codenamed “Keystone,” which will enable users to stream Xbox Game pass games directly to their televisions without the need for any additional hardware other than the Keystone dongle.

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POCO F4 5G confirmed to be powered by Snapdragon 870, spotted on Geekbench with key specifcations

By

Viraj Gawde

-

Jun 10, 2022

POCO F4 5G processor has been confirmed by the company. The Xiaomi sub-brand’s India Twitter handle has started teasing features of the upcoming offering. Additionally, the smartphone has also been spotted on the Geekbench benchmarking platform with model number 22021211RI revealing additional specifications.

PerFormance that will tempt you to keep doing more! Get ready to experience the most optimized processor from the Snapdragon 800 series.

POCO F4 5G with Snapdragon 870 is debuting global very soon!#EverythingYouNeed #MadeOfMAD pic.twitter.com/f3h1dIOQHz

— POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) June 9, 2022

As per POCO India, the POCO F4 5G is confirmed to be powered by Snapdragon 870 which is said to be one of the most optimised Snapdragon 800 series chipset out there. The device will also be equipped with LiquidCool 2.0 technology consisting of a vapour chamber and 7-layer graphite sheets for heat dissipation. We can expect POCO to tease more features of the upcoming F4 5G in the coming days.

As per the Geekbench listing, the POCO F4 5G is also said to be equipped with Snapdragon 870. It reveals that the phone will pack 12GB RAM and run on Android 12 OS with MIUI 13 skinned on the top. The device scores 978 and 3,254 points in Geekbench’s single-core and multi-core tests.

The POCO F4 5G is rumoured to launch as the rebranded Redmi K40S in China. If this turns out to be true, then we can expect the smartphone to feature a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It may have a triple rear camera setup of 48MP + 8MP + 2MP sensors and a 20MP front-facing snapper. The smartphone will reportedly be backed by a 4,500mAh battery with 67W charging.

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