Man arrested for tracking girlfriend’s car with an Apple Watch attached to one of the wheels

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Mar 28, 2022

The use of electronic tracking devices to commit criminal offenses has been on the increase recently. Apple has had to update its AirTag to create additional layers of security and safety against being used as a snooping device or for criminal purposes. It seems there are other weird ways of achieving unauthorized tracking as a Nashville, Tennessee man has been arrested for tracking using an Apple Watch.

Lawrence Welch, a 29-year old resident of Nashville was arrested for tracking the location of his girlfriend by attaching an Apple Watch to the wheel of her car and using a tracking app. Welch was subsequently charged with attaching an electronic tracking device to a vehicle. Welch had turned up at a Family Safety Center while an order of protection was being sought for the unnamed girlfriend. The victim claimed that death threats were made by Welch against her multiple times before the Police arrived at the scene.

The victim also mentioned that she and Welch had used Life360 to track each other’s movement in the past, but she turned it off whenever she was going to any of the Family Safety Centers. Security officials at the Center found Welch crouching by the victim’s car wheel which aroused suspicion. Officers later discovered the Apple Watch on the wheel which Welch confirmed was his. The incident is the latest in several similar domestic assault issues since July 2021. He already has two domestic assaults to grapple with already. The incident will further expand the need for greater scrutiny of the Apple Watch as an unusual stalking device.

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(source)

Investigation launched after Ola S1 Pro e-scooter went up in flames in Pune

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 28, 2022

Ola Electric has launched an investigation into a fire incident involving one of its products. There had been a viral video of a Pune-registered Ola S1 Pro electric scooter that was seen burning by the side of a road where it was parked. It is unclear what triggered the fire on the electric scooter, but the official investigation by Ola Electric will reveal the details.

The particular vehicle was a blue-colored Ola S1 Pro with Pune registration and the video begins with footage of smoke emanating from under its bodywork. The scooter then burst into flames which quickly engulfed the entire vehicle. The owner of the vehicle is believed to be unhurt in the incident. An official statement from Ola Electric on the fire incident stated that the company was aware of the incident in Pune and it is investigating to understand the root cause of the fire incident. The company says it will update the public with the necessary information as to its investigation proceeds, and it is in constant touch with the owner of the vehicle.

The scooter was first engulfed in smoke before the fire

Ola Electric insists that vehicle safety is of paramount importance and the company is committed to the highest quality standards in its products. There are no details at this time on what caused the fire in the Ola S1 Pro e-scooter. However, an overheating battery could trigger a fire, although it is still speculative to pinpoint the cause without an investigation. This may just be a remote incident that does not affect the leading position of the Ola S1 Pro since it was released last year and actual deliveries commenced in December 2021.

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Realme Pad Mini to launch soon in Philippines

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 28, 2022

Realme’s Pad Mini has been subject to multiple leaks in the past. The tablet passed FCC certification a few weeks back and was said to be mass-produced for the European and Eurasian markets. Now, Realme has officially spilled beans on the upcoming tablet confirming its release in the Philippines.

Realme Philippines has revealed that the Realme Pad Mini will debut soon in the market. Some rumors have it that the tablet may debut on April 4 in the country, but we can’t confirm it as of now. Nonetheless, the tablet is releasing soon and the specs have been teased.

The Realme Pad Mini will come in two color variants, which we assume will be called Grey and Blue colors. As the name suggests, the tablet will have a compact design with an 8.7-inch screen. It will be super slim measuring 7.6mm in thickness.

The tablet will have an aluminum body and pack a 6,400mAh battery. In addition to the teaser, the FCC certification confirmed the support for 18W fast charging technology. The Realme Pad with model number RMP2105 will come with an 8MP single camera at the rear and a 5MP selfie camera on the front.

The tablet will be powered by the UNISOC T616 SoC paired with a base of 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. It will boot on Android 11 OS and have Realme UI on top.

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Redmi 10A with Helio G25 SoC and 5,000mAh battery launched in China

By

Pranav Sawant

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Mar 28, 2022

After launching the Redmi 10 and Redmi 10C in markets like India, Nigeria, and Malaysia, the company is back with the new Redmi 10A. The brand launched the Redmi 10A today(March 28) in China. The smartphone has a similar design to the other Redmi 10 siblings but has different internals.

The Redmi 10A comes at a starting price of CNY 649(~$102) for the 4GB + 64GB variant, CNY 799(~$15) for the 4GB + 128GB variant, and CNY 899(~$141) for the 6GB + 128GB variant.

The smartphone has three color variants Moonlight Silver, Smoke Blue, and Shadow Black. The device will go on sale on March 31 on Xiaomi’s official website, JD.com, and other authorized stores in the country.

Redmi 10A Specifications

The Redmi 10A sports a 6.53-inch water-drop notch display with an HD+(1600 x 720 pixels) resolution. The screen has 400 nits of maximum brightness and an aspect ratio of 20:9. It has a single 5MP front camera for selfies and equips a single 13MP camera at the rear.

The dual-SIM phone is powered by the MediaTek Helio G25 SoC, paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage. It comes with a microSD card slot for storage expandability up to 512GB.

It houses a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging. It has a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio and a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer. For security, it has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and boots on MIUI 12.5 based on Android OS.

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Samsung Smart Monitor M8 with 32-inch 4K UHD display goes on pre-order globally

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 28, 2022

Earlier this year, Samsung unveiled the Smart Monitor M8 which boasts a slim design and features for home and office usage. The monitor was officially released for sale earlier this month in South Korea, and now, it is available for pre-order globally.

The Samsung Smart Monitor M8 is just 11.4mm thick, making it significantly thinner than the previous models. It features a 32-inch 4K Ultra HD display with a 60Hz refresh rate that supports 99% sRGB color, 400 nits of brightness, and 1.07 billion colors.

Unlike other monitors, this one is a hybrid that can double up as a Smart TV. It is powered by the same Tizen platform and ships with an IR remote. Running the Tizen OS, it also doubles as a SmartThings Hub, providing full compatibility with Samsung’s IoT ecosystem.

It has a magnetic and moveable SlimFit camera that can be attached to the monitor and supports video chat apps like Google Duo. There’s also a Workspace feature that acts as a hub for work-related things and supports apps like Microsoft 365.

There’s a USB Type-C port with support for video and power delivery, and it supports 65W fast charging. The South Korean giant has also said that the users will be able to the Smart Monitor M8 to stream games and connect wireless controllers to it. For connectivity, it comes with WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2. The smart monitor also has two 5W speakers with tweeters built into featuring a 2.2-channel setup giving users an experience that’s closer to that of surround sound.

The monitor weighs in at 9.4KG and comes in Warm White, Sunset Pink, Daylight Blue, and Spring Green colors. Samsung Smart Monitor M8 will retail for $729 with the SlimFit Camera bundled.

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(Source)

Get DOOGEE S98 for $239.99 only at AliExpress (Retail Price $339)

By

Daily Deals

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Mar 28, 2022

DOOGEE S98 is now available for a heavily discounted price of $239.99 only at AliExpress. The smartphone which retails for $339 will be available at a heavily discounted price of $239.99 only under the global launch sale. This sale starts today and ends on 1 April 2022. You can also buy the smartphone from the official website doogeemall.com.

DOOGEE S98 comes with an eye-catching dual-screen design with a round customizable display at the rear, with which you can easily check the time, control your music, check battery levels, and much more. In the front, you have a 6.3” LCD FHD+ main display which comes with Corning Gorilla glass protection. The rugged smartphone is powered by the MediaTek G96 octa-core processor and comes with a clocking speed of 2.05GHz. It features 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM expandable using a microSD card.

The phone comes with a 64MP main camera, a 20MP night vision camera, and an 8MP wide-angle camera. A primary LED flashlight and infrared light complete the setup on the back. For your selfies, you have a 16MP sensor in the front. DOOGEE S98 rugged smartphone is IP68 / IP69K and MIL-STD-810G certified. This means it’s waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof and can work in extreme and hazardous conditions making it perfect for outdoor adventures and long-term travels.

The smartphone is fueled by a massive 6000mAh battery and supports 33W fast wired charging and 15W wireless charging. It runs Android 12 out of the box with the company confirming at least 3 years of security and Android version updates. Other interesting features like NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, etc are also available on the smartphone.

DOOGEE S98 rugged smartphone is now available with heavy discounts on AliExpress. The smartphone is set to retail at $339 but as a part of the global launch sale, you can buy the smartphone at a heavily discounted price of $239.99 only. This deal starts on 28 March and ends on 1 April 2022. So make sure to place your orders before the deal expires. Please note that this is a pre-order and the actual shipping will start at the end of April.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

OnePlus Buds Pro Radiant Silver teased, likely to launch on March 31 in India

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 28, 2022

Earlier this year, OnePlus launched the special edition OnePlus Buds Pro in China. The special edition Buds Pro came with a silver color paint job, which is officially called ‘Mithril’. Now, The company has teased the same color variant of the OnePlus Buds Pro calling it “Radiant Silver” for the Indian market.

The upcoming color variant has been listed on the OnePlus India website and Amazon India. The listings do not reveal a launch date or price, however, similar to its Chinese release, it will most likely debut on 31 March in India along with the launch of the OnePlus 10 Pro in the country. As for the pricing, it will likely be priced similar to the other color options at Rs 9,990.

The new color option comes with a unique lustrous silver metal texture. Even the charging case has the same finish. It will retain all the specs and features currently available on the OnePlus Buds Pro.

Talking about features, the OnePlus Buds Pro has 11mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and 3 microphones for ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). The buds are IP55-rated for splash resistance and house a 37mAh battery each for up to 7 hours of music playback without ANC.

The charging case with USB Type-C wired charging and Qi wireless charging includes a 520mAh battery. All three batteries together are rated to last for up to 38 hours with ANC disabled.

OnePlus also recently added a new feature to the Buds Pro called “Dual Connection” that lets users seamlessly switch between two connected devices.

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Realme 9 4G surfaces on company website, may feature a 108MP camera

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 28, 2022

Realme has launched multiple devices in their 9 series lineup including the Realme 9i, the 9 5G, the 9 Pro, and the 9 Pro+. Now, news has emerged that the Brand may soon launch the Realme 9 4G as the device has been spotted on the company’s website.

According to a MySmartPrice report, tipster Yogesh Brar has informed that the Realme 9 4G moniker has been spotted on the Realme India website under the spare parts price section. The tipster adds that the phone could come with a 108MP primary camera. Last week, we reported that Realme’s upcoming 9 series device will come with a 108MP primary camera. And going by the latest revelation by Brar, the Realme 9 4G could indeed be the rumored device.

This leak contradicts the previous rumors and specs listed on multiple certification sites which state that the Realme 9 4G will come with a 48MP camera system. So we suggest you take it with a pinch of salt.

Other than the primary camera, the device so far is rumored to have a 16MP selfie shooter. It will pack a 5,000mAh battery with support for a 33W fast charging solution. It is expected to have dual-SIM support and may also have NFC. There’s no detail regarding its chipset or the Android version it will run.

The Realme 9 4G will come in two variants – 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage. The smartphone will have three color variants namely Sunburst Gold, Meteor Black, and Stargaze White.

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Samsung Galaxy A73 5G, Galaxy A33 5G will likely launch tomorrow in India

By

Sudhanshu

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Mar 28, 2022

Last week, Samsung launched multiple Galaxy A series devices in India like the Galaxy A53 5G, the Galaxy A23 4G, and the Galaxy A13 4G. Now, news has emerged that the company has started sending out media invites for a Galaxy A series launch event for the Indian market.

As the company has already launched three Galaxy A series devices in India, it will most likely debut the remaining Galaxy A33 5G and A73 5G smartphones at this launch event. As Samsung has already unveiled these smartphones via press releases, we know almost all of their specifications.

Samsung Galaxy A73 5G specifications

The Galaxy A73 5G gets a nearly edge-to-edge screen with super-thin bezels. It features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 120Hz Infinity-O panel with a punch-hole cutout in the top center.

The Galaxy A73 5G comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G chipset with 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. The device gets a microSD card slot that supports up to 1TB of memory expansion. It runs Android 12 based OneUI 4.1 out of the box and comes with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. The smartphone does not come with a charger included in the box so buyers will likely have to shell out some extra cash for a charger.

For photography, the Galaxy A73 5G is equipped with a 108MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS support. The device also gets an ultrawide camera with a 12MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture, a 5MP macro camera with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 5MP depth sensor.

Samsung Galaxy A33 5G specifications

The screen of the device measures 6.4 inches. It is an FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The display also features a waterdrop notch for the selfie camera.

The Galaxy A33 is powered by Samsung’s latest 5 nm-based Exynos 1280 SoC and gets up to 8GB of RAM. The device will likely come with 128GB of internal storage in India, which can be expanded via a microSD card. It comes with the Android 12 based OneUI 4.1 out of the box and gets IP67 water and dust resistant certification. The device houses a 5000mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging and incorporated a fingerprint sensor for security.

For photography, the smartphone has a 48MP primary camera with optical image stabilization, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 5MP macro camera. On the front, it houses a 13MP camera in the notch.

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(Via Techradar)

Apple may face over €50 million in fines over Dutch antitrust case

By

Sean

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Mar 28, 2022

Apple has just been hit with another 5 million EUR (roughly 5.5 million US Dollars) in fines in the Netherlands. The fine arrives after the company failed to comply with the recently mandated alternative payment system for dating apps.

For those unaware, we had previously reported on the Dutch government mandating the Cupertino based giant to offer other forms of payment that bypassed its App Store. However, it seems like the brand failed to comply in time as it was again hit with the 5 million EUR fine like last time. So far, the iPhone maker has been fined for around 45 million EUR (roughly 49.5 million US Dollars) by the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM).

These fines have been stacking up week after week, as Apple continues to delay the changes on its App Store. Previously, the ACM had stated that it would fine the company for 5 million EUR each week, with a maximum fine of up to 50 million EUR. So apparently, it seems like Apple might just exceed the initially stated total fine soon. As per a Reuters report, the fines following the 50 million EUR threshold might be even higher than the original ones.

In other words, we will have to wait and see how the situation pans out for Apple. Notably, the ACM is not happy with Apple’s decision on forcing dating apps to choose between the standard in app purchase system or the new alternative payment platform. It has even stated that the dating apps might be able to offer both option in the future, which has caused these fines.

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DJI Drones removed from top German electronics retailer’s stores

By

Sean

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Mar 28, 2022

While DJI is known to be one of the most popular brands that makes drones, the company’s drones has recently been taken off the shelves from Germany’s top consumer electronics retailer, MediaMarkt.

According to a Pandaily report, local media reports found that MediaMarkt has removed the Chinese drone maker’s products from its stores. However, DJI did address the issue and stated that this occurred after the company and many of its partners were attacked by spammers earlier this month. Similarly, the German based MediaMarkt Saturn Retail Group has also faced a situation like this in the past. Last Driday, the German had to suspend sales of the company’s drones over security concerns.

DJI stated that “We have reiterated many times that all products of DJI are designed for civilian purposes and cannot meet the requirements of military use. At present, it is totally wrong to accuse DJI of supporting war on overseas social platforms. In addition, DJI’s internal compliance team is composed of experienced professionals to ensure that DJI’s business fully complies with international regulations.”

As of right now, the two firms are still discussing the spamming incident. Although, the drone maker has been facing scrutiny in the west, especially the US. The brand has been called out on the basis on national security in America, with certain US based firms even cutting ties due to compliance with sanctions.

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Get $200 OFF on Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra at Giztop

By

Daily Deals

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Mar 28, 2022

Giztop is giving $200 OFF on the 2021 flagship phone Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. You can now buy the 8GB + 256GB variant which generally retails for $999 at a discounted price of $799. The 12GB + 512GB variant which retails for $1199 is available at a discounted price of $999 only.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra at $799 (after discount)@Giztop

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra comes with a 6.81” 2K E4 AMOLED display and supports 120Hz refresh rate. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G processor and comes with multiple memory variants viz. 8GB / 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB / 512GB UFS 3.1 storage options.

The smartphone comes with a triple rear camera setup with a 50MP main camera and 48MP + 48MP secondary sensors. You have a 20MP AI front camera for selfies. Fueled by a massive 5000mAh battery the smartphone supports 67W wired and wireless charging. Available in Ceramic White and Black colors the smartphone runs Android 11 based MIUI 12.5.

For a limited period, Giztop is giving a massive discount of $200 on Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. So hurry up and place your orders before the deal expires.

For more information on such exciting deals and offers check out our deals hub.

iQOO U5x, TD Tech M40, Infinix SMART 6 Plus, and other low profile launches from last week

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 28, 2022

A couple of weeks back, we published our inaugural story in the ‘low profile launches from last week’s series. We are now back with the second post as there were multiple low-profile launches last week just like three weeks back.

Once again, we have included 7 launches. All of them are from different brands, namely TD Tech, OPPO, Hisense, HUAWEI, Infinix, iQOO, and itel. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at these products one by one.

Low Profile Launches from Last Week

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1. TD Tech M40

TD Tech is a licensee of Huawei hardware products. The company has planned to release almost all the popular consumer electronics from once world’s largest smartphone brand.

Last week, TD Tech finally announced the long-rumored HUAWEI Mate40 with MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC. This version of the handset is officially called TD Tech M40.

Apart from a different chipset, the phone comes with a 64MP primary camera instead of a 50MP sensor found on the original model. The China-exclusive smartphone is priced at ¥4,599 and ¥5,099 for 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB memory configurations respectively.

2. OPPO A16e

OPPO A16e

The OPPO A16e went official in India last week as an entry-level smartphone. Priced at ₹9,990 (3GB + 32GB) and ₹11,990 (4GB + 64GB), the device offers an inferior set of specs when compared to the competitors.

It comes with a 6.52-inch HD+ display (LCD), MediaTek Helio P22 chip, LPDDR4x RAM, eMMC 5.1 storage, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, ColorOS 11.1 based on Android 11, and 4,230mAh battery.

The handset lacks a fingerprint sensor and uses the outdated MicroUSB port for charging as well as data transfer.

3. Hisense Hi Reader

Unlike other products in the list, the Hisense Hi Reader is one of the two that aren’t smartphones. Though it looks like one, it is actually an e-book reader and it is not the first one from the brand.

The latest e-book reader from Hisense sports a 6.7-inch e-ink display with a pixel density of 300ppi and supports 36-level DC dimming. It is powered by a UNISOC T610 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage.

The device boots Android 10 with a customized interface and gets its juice from a 3,000mAh battery. It carries a price tag of ¥1,799 ($282).

4. HUAWEI Vision S

Huawei finally unveiled its Vision S lineup of smart televisions in Europe last week. Officially called HUAWEI Vision S, the TV comes in 55-inch and 65-inch variants in the region priced at €800 and €1,000 respectively.

The television features an LED-backlit LCD panel with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate and 4K resolution, quad speakers, six microphones, 13MP camera, 3 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x USB Type-A, and HarmonyOS.

The TV was selling at insanely discounted price tags of €400 and €600 until March 27.

5. Infinix SMART 6 Plus

Infinix SMART 6 Plus debuted in Nigeria last week. The entry-level smartphone comes in a single 2GB + 32GB version priced at ₦58,400 ($141) for a limited time.

The phone offers a 6.6-inch HD+ display (LCD), MediaTek Helio A22 SoC, 8MP + QVGA dual-camera setup, and a 5MP selfie camera. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery and boots Android 11 Go Edition.

6. iQOO U5x

iQOO U5x was announced last week in China as the latest budget smartphone from the company. It arrives in two memory variants, such as 4GB + 128GB and 8GB + 128GB. They are priced at ¥849 ($133) and ¥1,049 ($165) respectively.

The handset is built around a 6.51-inch HD+ display (LCD). It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 chip, LPDDR4x RAM, UFS 2.2 storage, 13MP + 2MP dual-camera system, and 8MP front-facing camera.

It runs OriginOS based on Android 11 and is fueled by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging via the outdated MicroUSB port.

7. itel Vision 3

The itel Vision 3 is yet another entry-level smartphone that launched last week. It debuted in India priced at ₹7,999 ($105) for the sole 3GB + 64GB version.

The phone arrives with a 6.6-inch HD+ display (LCD), an unknown chipset comprising of an octa-core CPU, 8MP rear camera, and a 5MP front camera. Finally, it houses a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging and runs Android 11 out of the box.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro to have a larger camera sensor resulting in thicker camera bump

By

Jeet

-

Mar 28, 2022

Apple‘s upcoming iPhone 14 series smartphones have been making rounds for the past few weeks as more and more leaks and rumors related to the device keep surfacing online.

In the latest development, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models will have a bigger 48-megapixel camera sensor.

To house this bigger camera sensor, the camera bump on the devices has also become a bit thicker, as revealed in the previously leaked schematics for the design of the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

If the reports about the sensor turn out to be true, then it is a significant change given that the Cupertino-based technology giant will shift from a 12-megapixel camera sensor to a 48-megapixel primary sensor.

It is being claimed that the diagonal length of the high-resolution image sensor will be bigger than the 12-megapixel version by between 25 percent and 35 percent. Along with the diagonal width change, the 7-piece (7P) lens for the sensor will also grow by between 5 percent and 10 percent.

This time, Apple is expected to make the non-Pro and Pro models of the iPhone 14 series significantly different from the devices, ranging from design to internal specifications. It is also said that the iPhone 14 and 14 Max to be powered by the Apple A16 SoC while the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max will be powered by the A16 Pro processor.

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Apple cuts iPhones & AirPods production amid Ukraine crisis & inflation

By

Sean

-

Mar 28, 2022

Apple is apparently planning on cutting down production of its iPhones and AirPods series of products. The news amid uncertainties caused by the Ukrainian crisis and inflations that may impact demand for its consumer electronic products.

As per a NikkeiAsia report, the Cupertino based giant is now planning on making around 20 percent lesser iPhone SE in the next quarter of this year. The brand might also lower production by around 2 million to 3 million units over its initial plans. This is in line with our previous report. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had also stated that Apple might lower iPhone SE 2022 production due to lower than expected demand for the smartphone.

For those unaware, the iPhone SE 3 is the latest smartphone from the company, and is the first within its affordable SE series to feature 5G connectivity. Furthermore, the iPhone maker isn’t stopping just there, as it might also be planning on reducing its orders for its AirPods truly wireless earbuds as well. Reportedly, orders to its supply chain might fall by more than 10 million units for this year.

The move follows as the brand is scaling back its inventory levels, again due to weaker than expected demand in the market. In the past, the company had also asked suppliers to make a few million lesser iPhone 13 series models to better adjust for the seasonal demands. So, this news isn’t really a big surprise. But unfortunately, Apple has yet to offer an official statement regarding this matter. So stick around for more updates.

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Xiaomi 11T Pro gets MIUI 13 update based on Android 12 in India

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Mar 28, 2022

The Xiaomi 11T Pro was launched in January this year but booted into Android 11-based MIUI 12.5 out of the box. The phone even bagged Android 12-based MIUI 13 in February in multiple regions across the world but the Indian variant was left behind. After much delay, the Indian variant has now been updated to the same as well.

The official changelog for the update doesn’t mention much aside from improved system security and some optimizations for system apps and features. The MIUI 13 launch event for India hadn’t introduced any new features either aside from new wallpapers, so don’t expect too much from the build.

The complete changelog has been given below:

System

Stable MIUI based on Android 12
Updated Android Security Patch to February 2022. Increased system security

More features and improvements

New: Apps can be opened as floating windows directly from the sidebar
Optimization: Enhanced accessibility support for Phone, Clock, and Weather
Optimization: Mind map nodes are more convenient and intuitive now

As clear from above, the update also brings the February security patch, which while isn’t the latest, isn’t too far behind either. The recovery ROM is sized 3.4GB and you can download it through this link. A manual installation is possible through Settings > About phone > System update.

It is highly likely that the rollout is being done in batches so it may take a while for MIUI 13 stable to reach your Xiaomi 11T Pro in India.

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BYD will supply batteries to Xiaomi Auto and NIO for New Energy Vehicle

By

Sean

-

Mar 28, 2022

FinDreams Battery, the power battery division of BYD will be the supplier of batteries to companies in the Chinese new energy vehicle market. The company will apparently supply the likes of both NIO and even Xiaomi Auto.

The news arrives from several sources (Via 36Kr) in China. Although, all three of the companies have yet to comment on the matter as of right now. One source added that “the designated cooperation between NIO and FinDreams Battery had been finalized before the Spring Festival, using BYD’s ferrous lithium phosphate battery.” Furthermore, it was also revealed that in the second half of last year, various NIO employees had visited BYD company location in Shenzhen often.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Auto is a relatively new automobile manufacturing brand. It has also signed a partnership deal with FinDreams Battery. As per the report, its first EV will have two sets of configurations. The low end model arrives with a voltage platform of 400V BYD blade batteries while the high end model will come with a voltage platform of 800V. The top end model might also use products from a leading Chinese battery maker, CATL. Although, the details for this deal is currently unknown.

Previously, CATL was also the exclusive supplier of power batteries for NIO. However, the company’s head, Li Bin had publicly stated that the battery had become a limiting factor for its production capacity. Notably, BYD is also a known automobile brand in China, but it even produces its own power batteries as well. Thus, it has been pushing in promoting new energy vehicles in the local market.

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Chinese smartphone OEMs struggle to snatch premium smartphone market from Apple

By

Zohaib Ahmed

-

Mar 28, 2022

Chinese smartphone OEMs have continued to try to profit off the gaping hole left by Huawei following its US ban, but have achieved only limited success. It’s true that average selling prices have risen in China as a result of companies targeting more premium segments. However, last year the market share of Android phones in the >$600 price band in the country was only 36.5% — down from the 44.6% share from 2020.

It’s clear that domestic companies are struggling to compete with Apple in the premium space despite various strategies like “dual premium.” This new strategy involves Android OEMs stretching their flagship lineup to span across a wider price spectrum by offering more models (via Counterpoint). For example, the Xiaomi 12 series comprises the Xiaomi 12 Pro, 12, and 12X, with a 12 Ultra on the way.

It’s possible that Android smartphones will recover some of the lost ground from Apple this year but the task isn’t going to be easy.

Counterpoint suggests that aside from getting the supply chain right, OEMs also need to focus on fundamentals — display, photography, and gaming experience.

LTPO screens need to be the staple for this year in order to offer better battery life in the wake of high refresh rate displays. The iPhone 13 Pro Max has continued to be the battery king and few Android phones have managed to beat it, let alone come close to it.

Photography is another important factor. While computational photography continues to be an extremely important component of mobile photography, OEMs are also realizing the importance of having better auxiliary cameras. Take the realme GT 2 Pro for example which comes with dual-50MP shooters.

The third factor is gaming experience and OEMs need to focus more on cooling to sustain gaming performance over longer periods.

Aside from this, strides also need to be made in developing an ecosystem — something where only Samsung has seen some success in the Android camp.

RELATED:

Motorola Frontier live shot appears, reveals 200MP camera and familiar design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 28, 2022

Qualcomm is expected to announce the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus (SM8475 part number) by early June 2022. It could be an overclocked version of the existing Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip. Rumors have it that an upcoming Motorola flagship, with ‘Frontier’ codename, could be the world’s first phone to feature the SD8G1. Today, a Weibo user (via) shared a live image of the Motorola Frontier flagship to reveal the appearance of its camera module.

The leaked image shows the Motorola Frontier’s rear shell has curved edges. The camera module of the device appears similar to the Xiaomi 12 series. As can be seen, the camera module has a main camera on top, and below it are the two other camera sensors.

Motorola Frontier leaked shot — Motorola Frontier live image

The edge of the camera module has an LED flash strip and ‘200MP HP1 OS f/2.2″ text imprinted. Motorola’s batwing logo can also be seen on the backside of the device. Its right side has a volume rocker and a power key. The authenticity of the leaked image is doubtful. Hence, it is advisable to digest the leak with a pinch of salt.

Initial reports of the Motorola Frontier flagship claimed that it had a 200MP main camera. In February, reliable tipster Evan Blass released a render of the Motorola Frontier, which revealed a 194MP primary camera. The leaked image that appeared to surface today matches with Blass’ leaked render. However, the only noticeable difference is that it has the 194MP | OIS 1/15″ text imprinted in the camera module.

Motorola Frontier specifications (rumored)

The Motorola Frontier will feature a 6.73-inch P-OLED FHD+ 144Hz display. It will be powered by the SD8G1+ chip, up to 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, and a 4,500mAh battery with 125W fast charging support. It will also carry support for 50W wireless charging. For photography, it will feature a 60-megapixel front camera and a 194-megapixel (main) + 50-megapixel (ultrawide) + 12-megapixel (telephoto) triple camera unit. The Frontier handset is likely to launch as an Edge series device.

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Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 to come with a significantly improved crease, tipster says

By

Zohaib Ahmed

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Mar 28, 2022

Multiple specifications concerning the display of the upcoming Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 have been revealed by tipster Digital Chat Station through a post on Weibo. Just like the original MIX Fold, the MIX Fold 2 will once again come with a book-style folding solution, with an internal screen size of 8-inches and a cover display size of 6.5-inches.

The crease of the upcoming foldable device has been improved significantly compared to one of the previous generation, and both internal and external displays now support high refresh rates (120Hz), unlike the older model whose cover display was restricted to 60Hz. There’s DC dimming for eye protection onboard too. LTPO was also mentioned, although it looks limited to the inner panel.

The tipster also revealed that the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 was last year planned to ship with the Samsung-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but could now opt for the TSMC-made Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus. The latter is expected to address the shortcomings of the former, which has been losing out to the likes of the Dimensity 9000, at least in terms of benchmarks.

Both chips will have a very similar configuration though, with a “1+3+4” arrangement comprising 1x super-large Cortex-X2 core, 3x large Cortex-A710 cores, and 4x small Cortex-A510 cores.

The Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 is expected to be launched around the middle of 2022. Its price is expected to be about 9,999 Yuan based on the fact that its predecessor was launched for the same price.

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