OnePlus confirms throttling popular apps to save battery on OnePlus 9 series

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Jul 8, 2021

OnePlus has confirmed that it intentionally throttles its smartphone performance in “many of the most popular apps.” The company stated that this is done to improve battery life on the newly launched flagship OnePlus 9 series.

The news arrives after a series of tests from Anandtech‘s Andrei Frumusanu. After discovering this issue, he called it “rather baffling” that the latest flagship handsets saw a slowdown in a wide range of prominent applications from the Google Play Store. The tests came to the conclusion that the company is “blacklisting popular applications away from its fastest cores, causing slowdown in typical workloads such as web browsing.”

The test included applications like Google Chrome and Twitter among other popular apps and found that the slowed performance “applies to pretty much everything that has any level of popularity in the Play Store.” This intentional throttling has apparently affected all Google apps, all Microsoft Office apps, and all notable social media apps and web browsers, although, certain demanding mobile game titles like Genshin Impact remain unaffected by this slowdown. Recently, the OnePlus 9 Pro was also removed from Geekbench, a popular benchmarking platform, over claims of performance throttling.

As of right now, the brand confirmed this throttling issue and stated that “Following the launch of the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro in March, some users told us about some areas where we could improve the devices’ battery life and heat management. As a result of this feedback, our R&D team has been working over the past few months to optimize the devices’ performance when using many of the most popular apps, including Chrome, by matching the app’s processor requirements with the most appropriate power. This has helped to provide a smooth experience while reducing power consumption.”

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OnePlus Nord 2 5G officially confirmed to launch on July 22

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 8, 2021

Last year, OnePlus launched the Nord smartphone, its first offering in the mid-range segment in a long while. The premium mid-range smartphone enjoyed a massive reception and so it is no surprise the Chinese company was planning to replicate the success with the launch of a successor this year. The OnePlus Nord 2 will be the Nord’s successor and it has featured in several leaks and teasers but no official word about its launch. Well, until now. OnePlus has now confirmed that the flagship killer OnePlus Nord 2 will be launched on July 22.

This information was released via the company’s official Twitter handles. The launch event is slated to commence at 3 PM UK time on the said date. The tech giant has even created a landing page for the Nord 2 on its website. Fans can register to get notified when the device goes live and also stand a chance to win a Nord 2 5G smartphone.

Our new Flagship Killer, OnePlus Nord 2, launches 22 July at 3PM UK time. Sign up to get notified about the launch and join our Lucky Draw to win cool prizes.

— OnePlus UK (@OnePlus_UK) July 8, 2021

The landing page also contains a couple of teasers of the Nord 2. The most prominent one is the MediaTek chipset that the device will pack. OnePlus describes the chipset as one-of-a-kind and touts the device as having “Two brains, one chipset”. This is obviously in reference to the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI chipset that will fire up the smartphone. OnePlus had earlier confirmed the SoC will power the Nord 2. The new chipset is a customized chip from MediaTek in collaboration with OnePlus as a part of its Dimensity 5G Open Resource Architecture. Benchmark listing for the Nord 2 had confirmed the Dimensity 1200-AI has an improved AI performance over the Dimensity 1200. The entire specifications of the device are still unknown but the Nord 2 5G is said to sport a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a punch-hole, and an in-screen fingerprint reader. The device will also come with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.

For photography, the device is rumored to pack a triple rear camera setup comprised of a 50MP (wide) + 8MP (ultra-wide) + 2MP (unknown) combo. For selfies, a 32MP front camera is said to be embedded under the hole punch. Interestingly, the placeholder image on the Nord 2 landing page doesn’t seem to have a punch-hole or notch at the top. Perhaps, OnePlus just wants to keep it secret.

The premium smartphone will also pack a 4500mAh battery and will have support for Warp Charge 30T Plus fast charging protocol, among other features.

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Samsung Galaxy A20s begins receiving Android 11 (One UI 3.1) update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 8, 2021

Google is expected to release Android 12 stable in a couple of months. However, OEMs are yet to deliver Android 11 stable update for their older and budget devices. Even Samsung with its resources is yet to complete last year’s Android rollout for some of its products. The latest handset from the South Korean tech giant to receive the Android 11 update is Galaxy A20s.

Samsung launched the Galaxy A20s in October 2019. The smartphone debuted with One UI based on Android 9.0 Pie. It was updated to Android 10-based One UI 2.x last year.

Now, the phone has started receiving the Android 11 (One UI 3.1) update. According to SamMobile, the update is currently live in Malaysia with build number A207FXXU2CUFA.

The latest system update for the handset brings all the new One UI features that are supported by its hardware. Additionally, it also bumps up the security patch level to June 2021.

The update should be available in all regions in the coming days. Users of the device can navigate to Settings > Software update > Download and install to check whether their unit has got the One UI 3.1 (Android 11) update.

The Samsung Galaxy A20s is neither eligible for three generations of Android updates nor four years of security updates. Hence, One UI 3.1 is the last major software update for this smartphone. But will likely receive security patches for a while.

Deal: Get Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Global version for $242

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Daily Deals

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Jul 8, 2021

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Global Version is now available for $242.56 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Global Version at $242.56 @AliExpress

Redmi Note 10S features a rear quad-camera setup with 64MP main camera, and 8MP + 2MP + 2MP secondary cameras. The selfie cam is a 13MP front-facing camera. Powered by the MTK Helio G95 Octa-Core processor, Redmi Note 10S comes with 6GB RAM and 64GB ROM. A massive 5000mAh battery fuels this 6.43 inches large smartphone which also supports 33W fast charging.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Global version is now available at AliExpress for $242.56 only. Please note that this price is applicable only on the 6GB + 64GB NFC, Gray, White, and Blue color variants ordered from the Spain warehouse. This is a limited stock offer. So place your order asap.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Deal: Get Nubia RedMagic TWS Earphone for $39 ( Retail Price $50)

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Daily Deals

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Jul 8, 2021

Nubia RedMagic TWS Earphone which generally retails for $50 is now available at a discounted price of $39.19 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

Nubia RedMagic TWS Earphone at $39.19 @AliExpress

Nubia RedMagic TWS Earphone

Key Features:

TWS Earphone
Dual Mode: Game and Music
PixArt Bluetooth 5.0 dual host smart chip
8mm Advanced custom gaming-grade dynamic speaker unit
Immersive Audio Experience
Uniquely designed battery case
Long-lasting battery life: 16 hours
Lightweight and ergonomic design
39ms Low latency perfect for gaming

Generally retailing for $50, you can now buy Nubia RedMagic TWS Earphone for a discounted price of $39.19 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal comes with a new user coupon and free shipping. This is a limited-time offer. So place your order asap.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Deal: Get BlitzWolf BW-BS10 Selfie Stick and Tripod for $19 ( Retail Price $27)

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Daily Deals

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Jul 8, 2021

BlitzWolf BW-BS10 Selfie Stick with Tripod which generally retails for $27 is now available at a discounted price of $19.73 only at AliExpress.

WHERE TO BUY

BlitzWolf BW-BS10 Selfie Stick with Tripod at $19.73 @AliExpress

BlitzWolf BW-BS10 Selfie Stick with Tripod

Key Features:

All in One portable selfie stick
Retractable Tripod
Hidden phone clamp
Length : 720mm
Removable and Rechargeable Mini Remote
Compatible with Android 5.0 and above or iOS 7.0 and above
Integrated Hidden Design
Bluetooth v3.0
Battery: 50mAh – 40 working hours and 20000 consecutive photos per charge
12-month warranty

Generally retailing for $27, you can now buy BlitzWolf BW-BS10 Selfie Stick with Tripod for a discounted price of $19.73 only at AliExpress. Please note that this deal is applicable to the black and white color variant ordered from the China warehouse. This is a limited-period offer, so place your order asap.

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

* Please Note: When you buy something using the links in our articles, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra’s Super Power Saver mode can offer up to 14-day battery life

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 8, 2021

The Mi 11 Ultra is the most expensive normal smartphone launched by Xiaomi to date. Unlike the older Mi series flagship models, this one competes directly with the premium offerings from Samsung and Apple. One of the main highlights of this handset is its secondary rear display. With the latest system update, this tiny screen has now become even more useful.

Recently, Xiaomi rolled out a new software update for the Mi 11 Ultra in China. The update comes with build number V12.5.10.0.RKACNXM.

According to MIUI Beta Info (via PiunikaWeb), the latest update adds a new feature called Super Power Saver mode. As the name suggests, this option helps users make use of the phone’s battery efficiently when they cannot charge their device.

As per the official description, ‘Super Power Saver’ mode disables the handset’s primary display. It only lets users access the tiny display located on the backside. Even on that screen, users will be only able to check the time, accept calls, and call previously set emergency contact.

Xiaomi claims that this mode can offer up to a whopping 14 days of battery life. However, the company does mention that the battery performance may differ due to various factors. Anyway, the feature can be really useful during electricity shutdowns caused by disasters.

Unfortunately, it’s not known when this feature will be made available on the international variants of Mi 11 Ultra. We hope Xiaomi to not limit this mode to the Chinese version of the smartphone.

What are your thoughts on Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra’s Super Power Saver Mode? Do let us know in the comment section below.

Apple to drop the Touch Bar on the upcoming MacBook Pro: Analysts

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

Apple is expected to launch its latest MacBook Pro model later this summer. The new high end notebook from the company was rumored to sport an upgraded M1 processor and arrive with a new design that drops the Touch Bar feature. Now, DSSC analysts have backed the claims of the brand might be dropping the Touch Bar from the new 2021 MacBook Pros.

The news from Display Supply Chain Consultants (Via 9To5Mac) also added that the Cupertino based giant will launch an iPad with a 10.9 inch OLED display panel next year. Furthermore, DSSC stated that the Touch Bar will be dropped for a traditional function row. It explained that the Touch Bar is the third largest use of OLED displays from the company but sources have indicated that the iPhone maker will “cancel the Touch Bar” in a future MacBook Pro model.

DSSC added that the “Touch Bars continue to be the #3 application with a 18% unit share and 1.2% revenue share in Q1 2021. We expect Touch Bars to be exceeded by tablets when Apple starts the adoption of the 10.9 inch AMOLED iPad. Further, our sources suggest that Apple may cancel the Touch Bar in the future.” For those unaware, the controversial Touch Bar feature was first introduced back in 2016.

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Apple to launch an iPad with a 10.9 inch OLED display in 2022: Report

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

A new report has revealed interesting information regarding the upcoming Apple iPad lineup. Apparently, the company will be launching an iPad model that will sport a 10.9 inch OLED display panel in 2022.

According to a Display Supply Chain Consultants report (Via iMore), the Cupertino based giant will launch an iPad that sports a 10.9 inch AMOLED display panel next year. This report is also in line with some recent reports that claimed that Apple would bring an OLED panel on an iPad model. Furthermore, it is also reported that the iPhone maker would also include OLED panels in the upcoming 11 inch and 12.9 inch iPad Pro models as well in 2023.

DSSC added that the brand would launch two iPads with OLEDs in 2023, while in 2022, it would be releasing its first OLED iPad that will sport a 10.86 inch panel. These display panels will be solely supplied by Samsung Display, the South Korean company’s display unit. At the moment, the only iPad with a 10.9 inch panel is the iPad Air. So, the OLED iPad in question might be the upcoming 2022 iPad Air model. So, the Air versions might be seeing a major upgrade.

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LG sees double digit growth in profits in Q2 2021 after shutting smartphone business

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

LG Electronics has recorded a double digit growth in operating profits for the second quarter of this year. The company shared this news in a new financial report, which arrives after the company shut down its smartphone operations.

According to a Xinhuanet report, the initial figures for the operating figures had reached 1.11 trillion Won (roughly 975 million US Dollars) during the period between April and June. This marks a sizeable rise of 65.6 percent over the same quarter from last year. Notably, this was also the highest second quarter profit figures that the South Korean tech giant recorded in the last 12 years, topping 1 trillion Won (878.7 million US Dollars) for the second consecutive quarter.

Furthermore, the company’s revenue reached 48.4 percent over the year, reaching 17.1 trillion Won (roughly 15 billion US Dollars) in the second quarter of this year. This marked the highest ever second quarter reading in the company’s history. Although, the brand has yet to reveal the net income and detailed earnings of each business unit, but the report should arrive later this month.

The consumer electronics maker added that the double digits increase in its earnings was thanks to strong demand for its TVs and air conditioner in the summer season. For those unaware, LG shut down its smartphone business earlier this year as it was a loss making unit for the company.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 series tipped to launch in early 2022

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 8, 2021

At the end of May, a report exposed almost everything about the upcoming Galaxy Tab S8 series. The lineup is said to include three models, namely Galaxy Tab S8, Galaxy Tab S8+, and Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Now, over a month later, a tipster reveals when these premium tablets will hit the market.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Plus In-Hands Featured — Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

According to a leaker with username yeux1122 on Naver (via SamMobile), Samsung will not be launching the Galaxy Tab S8 series in 2021. As per him, the company’s next-gen premium tablets will be released in early 2022. He also reiterates the existence of an Ultra model, which will be a first for the Galaxy Tab S lineup.

Talking about features, the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is said to come with a 14.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, in-screen fingerprint sensor, up to 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage, 8MP (wide) + 5MP (ultra-wide) dual front-facing cameras, 12,000mAh battery, 45W fast charging, 5.5mm thickness, and 650g weight.

Further, the Galaxy Tab S8+ is reported to feature a 12.4-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, in-screen fingerprint sensor, 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage 8MP front-facing camera, 10,090mAh battery, 45W fast charging, 5.7mm thickness, and 575g weight.

On the other hand, the vanilla Galaxy Tab S8 is expected to arrive with an 11-inch LTPS TFT LCD panel with a 120HZ refresh rate, 8MP front camera, 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage, 8,000mAh battery, 45W fast charging, 6.3mm thickness, and 502g.

Lastly, common features on all these three high-end Samsung Android tablets will include a 13MP + 5MP dual-camera setup on the back, quad speakers, support for Bluetooth-enabled S Pen stylus, and an optional keyboard accessory.

Xiaomi seeks over $1 billion in Dollar Bond Sale amid pressure from China

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

Xiaomi has sold 1.2 billion US Dollars worth of debt through a dollar bond deal that was offered to global investors. The news arrives as the company faces scrutiny amid increasing pressure from China.

According to a Bloomberg report, the Chinese tech giant’s sales included 400 million uS Dollars worth of 30 year green bond. The other 800 million US Dollars were for 10 year bonds. As per sources close to the matter, the borrower had also received a sales quota of 1.2 billion US Dollars from China’s National Development and Reform Commission. For those unaware, the move from the brand arrives as China tightens the reins around its major domestic tech firms.

Back in 2020, the company had raised nearly 5 billion US Dollars from the sale of various securities. It also reported strong growth in its core smartphone business as well at the start of this year. But now, it seems like the firm is aiming on expanding beyond consumer electronics products, with the reports surfacing of the company working on building its own electric vehicle as well. Xiaomi recently stated that new projects for its green bond proceeds include clean transportation and renewable energy.

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Redmi Official hints at an upcoming Xiaomi tablet, could be the Mi Pad 5

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

Earlier today (8th July 2021), a Redmi officially shared a post on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, using an unknown Xiaomi product. While a few Weibo users speculated that it might be a new smartphone, but the official claimed that this is not the case.

The official in question is Wang Teng, the Product Director of the Chinese tech giant, who shared a post on Weibo using the unidentified Xiaomi device. When replying to one of the comments for this post that thought this was a “new smartphone”, the executive hinted at the new device not being a handset. In other words, this unknown product from Xiaomi could be a new tablet.

Unfortunately, the name of this tablet is currently unknown as of right now. Although, we had recently reported on Xiaomi’s Mi Pad 5, which was also recently spotted on China’s MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). This tablet has been rumored to launch for a while now. It will reportedly feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, while a lower variant is expected to sport the Snapdragon 860 SoC.

The Mi Pad 5 s expected to feature an 11 inch FHD LCD display panel with a 2560 x 1600px resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 240hz touch sampling rate. However, this is just speculation at the moment so take this report with a pinch of salt and stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when additional information is available.

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Vivo S10, S10 Pro design revealed in official renders

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 8, 2021

Vivo is all set to launch the Vivo S10 and S10 Pro smartphones on July 15 in China. Ahead of the launch, the official renders of both models have appeared to reveal their design. The images are available through popular Chinese retailer sites like JD.com and Suning.

As can be seen in the image (via) below, the Vivo S10 and S10 Pro have an identical rear design. The S10’s triple camera setup is headlined by a 64-megapixel camera, whereas the S10’s triple camera system has a 108-megapixel primary camera. The display of both phones seems to feature a wider notch that houses a pair of selfie cameras.

Vivo S10 and S10 Pro official renders leaked — Vivo S10 and Vivo S10 Pro

The Vivo S10 Pro is speculated to feature a 6.44-inch S-AMOLED FHD+ 90Hz display, Dimensity 1100 chipset, 8 GB / 12 GB of LPDDR4x RAM, 128 GB / 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage, a 44-megapixel dual selfie camera system, and support for 44W rapid charging.

At present, there is no concrete information on the specifications of the Vivo S10. Probably, it may borrow most of its specs from the S10 Pro and mainly differ in the camera department.

In related news, Vivo is also working on the Vivo X70 series of smartphones. Rumors have it that it may go official in September in China. A recent leak revealed that it may feature a 6.56-inch FHD+ display and its main camera may offer an f/1.15 aperture and 5-axis image stabilization.

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Samsung targets prominent leakers similar to Apple, with copyright claims

By

Sean

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Jul 8, 2021

Back in June 2021, we had reported on Apple chasing after certain prominent industry leakers. Now, Samsung is also following suit on this practice and is targeting leakers as well, with copyright claim strikes.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Green Render Leak — Galaxy S21 FE Green Render Leak

According to an AndroidAuthority report, the move from the South Korea tech giant was first noticed on Reddit. Apparently, the company has started copyright claim strikes to take down images and videos from the leaks provided by AllAboutSamsung‘s Max Jambor, who added that this is “just the beginning” and that some of the images will disappear within days. Similarly, another known tipster Evan Blass has also suggested that he would be deleting posts related to Samsung.

The tipster also stated that the brand is going after the original leaker, and no the media outlets and other portal that are reporting on these leaks. Notably, even Xiaomi has also recently been chasing after leaks in recent times. For those unaware, leaks are technically breaches of company confidentiality. So the move from major tech giants on leakers arrives as no surprise.

Samsung today started copyright striking images and videos of their unreleased products. Some of the leaked images will dissappear within the next few days

This is just the beginning ©️🚔😄 https://t.co/MMpdXdJFQq

— Max Jambor (@MaxJmb) July 7, 2021

While Samsung has copyright claimed various images, leaks usually spread quickly so it might not actually have an effect on them overall. Furthermore, these also do not include text based leaks either. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates if notable information surfaces regarding this matter.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds2 may support ANC after all

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 8, 2021

The Galaxy Buds2 are Samsung’s upcoming TWS. They are in the news for a while now. As a result, we know almost everything about it, including their price. But now, out of the blue, the new pair of earphones are said to come with a feature that was initially said to be missing.

Since the beginning, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 have been reported to lack ANC (Active Noise Cancellation). However, a picture shared by @UniverseIce says something else.

According to a screenshot of the Galaxy Wearable app tweeted by Ice Universe, the forthcoming Galaxy Buds2 may support ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) after all. Max Jambor and @FrontTron also confirm the same by replying to this tweet.

The Galaxy Buds2 are said to retail for around €180-€200 in Europe and $149-$169 in the US. In other words, they will be cheaper than the launch price of Galaxy Buds Pro. Hence, even if they come with ANC, it may not be as good as on the Pro model.

As per previous reports, the Galaxy Buds2 will feature a similar design as the Galaxy Buds Pro. They will be available in four colors, namely black, white, violet, and green. The earbuds are codenamed ‘berry’ and bear model number SM-R177.

Last but not least, the Galaxy Buds2 with a 120mAh built-in battery and a charging with an additional 500mAh battery are expected to go official at the next Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event in August.

Pokémon GO has raked in $5 Billion in revenue since its release in July 2016 -Sensor Tower

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 8, 2021

This week makes it five years since Niantic launched its most popular game Pokemon Go. Although the frenzy surrounding the highly popular gaming isn’t as it was in 2016, the game is still extremely popular and is still generating revenue in billions for the company. Data released by research firm Sensor Tower shows that Niantic has grossed over $5 billion since it was first launched in July 2016. That’s an average of a billion yearly Sensor Tower analytics shows.

The COVID 19 induced lockdown which enveloped the entire world in 2020 has been shown to have favoured the gaming industry and Niantic’s Pokemon Go isn’t left behind. The data by sensor Tower shows that the company raked in an estimated $1.3 billion USD in 2020. This is the company’s best record year yet, far eclipsing te previous record set in 2019 when the company grossed around $400 million from Pokémon Go players.

Sensor Tower attributes the game’s success in 2020 to Niantic’s updates to the game. The company, leveraging on the lockdown, made the virtual reality game more suited to a world where it isn’t feasible for people to assemble in large crowds or go out for walks. This seems to have resonated well with fans considering the record-setting revenue.

Niantic has already hinted that it plans to revert some of the changes which were triggered by the pandemic. However, some of the changes will still be retained while a couple of new tweaks will be added. While we don’t have the data for Pokemon Go’s revenue for this year so far, the game still seems to enjoy some popularity as the company is set to host its online Pokémon Go Fest on July 17 and 18. In-person events will be hosted in some cities on July 17 with admission set at $5, down from $14.99 in previous years, as a result of the game’s five-year anniversary.

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(source)

Samsung may soon release a new variant of Galaxy A52

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Jul 8, 2021

The Galaxy A52 is one of the best Samsung smartphones released in 2021. The handset comes in two variants – 4G and 5G. Now, according to new findings, the South Korean tech giant may launch yet another version of this phone.

As per @_the_tech_guy on Twitter, Samsung has started firmware development for a device with model number SM-A528B. He says that this smartphone will go official as Galaxy A52s 5G in India. The phone has been also certified by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards).

Similarly, according to Twitter user @FrontTron, Samsung will be also releasing the so-called Galaxy A52s 5G in South Korea with three model numbers, namely SM-A528N, SM-A528N-00, and SM-A528NK.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about this handset apart from its model numbers. But we expect to learn more about it via leaks, certifications, and teasers before its official announcement in the near future.

As far as specs are concerned, we can anticipate the so-called Galaxy A52s 5G to have the exact same features as the original Galaxy A52 5G with minor changes. The new model could come with a different camera setup, larger battery, or maybe even a faster processor.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming Samsung SM-A528? Do you think there’s a need for a Galaxy A51s 5G within months as the Galaxy A52 5G is already good enough for most people? Do let us know in the comment section below.

HarmonyOS 2 user base clocks 25 million barely a month after launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 8, 2021

Huawei officially unveiled the latest version of its proprietary operating system HarmonyOS 2 on June 2. This iteration comes with several interesting features including cross-platform usage. At the unveiling, the company announced the upgrade plan for HarmonyOS 2 and not only supports the latest flagship models such as the Huawei Mate 40 series but also covers a large number of mid-to-high-end models and entry-level models. Even the Mate 9 that was released five years ago did not miss out on this upgrade.

Thus, it wasn’t surprising when the company disclosed just days after the launch that the OS has been installed in over 10 million devices. Huawei has now given an update of that information, disclosing that the HarmonyOS 2 has been installed in over 25 million devices globally. We expect the figure to increase exponentially as Huawei pushes the update to more models. The company plans to upgrade up to 100 models but at present, the new HarmonyOS 2 has only been pushed to 69 models since released.

According to Huawei’s official plan, the Mate Xs, Mate 20 series, Nova 6/7/8 series, and Huawei MatePad will be updated in the third quarter of 2021. In the fourth quarter, the upgrade will be extended to Huawei Smart Screen V series 2021, Smart Screen S series, Smart Screen X65, Mate 20 X series, P30 series, Mate X, Huawei Enjoy 20 series, Huawei Maimang 9, Huawei Tab M6, Enjoy Tablet 2 and so on.

Furthermore, Huawei’s upgrade schedule shows that by the first half of 2022, Huawei Mate 10 series, P20 series, nova5 series, Mate 9 series, P10 series, Huawei Smart Screen V series, Huawei Tab M5, Enjoy Tablet and others will equally receive the HarmonyOS 2 push.

With this schedule, the Chinese company projects that the new OS will be installed on up to 100 devices ranging from smartphones, tablets, smart screens, to other smart terminals. The company had in January this year projected that the user base of HarmonyOS would have reached 300 million by December 2021. If that isn’t achieved this year, it will be a sure thing next year. Apart from its own devices, HoarmonyOS is open for use by other OEMs. We have already seen Mideo launch a couple of HarmonyOS 2-running smart gadgets.

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(via)

Xiaomi Mi MIX 4 with an invisible in-display selfie camera may offer truly full-screen experience

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 8, 2021

Xiaomi is reportedly working on the next Mi MIX series flagship phone. While its official moniker is not known yet, the rumor mill is calling it Mi MIX 4 tentatively. It is speculated that it could be Xiaomi’s first smartphone to feature an in-display selfie camera. A new leak courtesy of the tipster Ice Universe reveals that the Mi MIX 4’s in-display camera will not be visible to the naked eye. This will allow the device the next generation Mi MIX smartphone to offer a truly full-screen experience.

The same tipster had previously claimed that the Mi MIX 4 is very likely to sport a curved screen design. Another leak claimed that the Mi MIX 4 will be flaunting a custom-made display that may offer a unique viewing experience.

In terms of the appearance of UPC, the upcoming MIX4 will be better, and traces of UPC will not be visible to the naked eye. pic.twitter.com/2d3nihemGR

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 7, 2021

The Mi 11 Ultra that debuted earlier is the most powerful flagship phone from Xiaomi. It features a 6.81-inch OLED curved edge display that offers a Quad HD+ resolution. A recent report had claimed that the Mi MIX 4 will be costlier than the Mi 11 Ultra, but its resolution will be limited to FHD+ resolution. Probably, it may cost more than 6,000 Yuan (~$926).

Speculations are rife that the Mi MIX 4 will be driven by the Snapdragon 888 or the newly unveiled Snapdragon 888 Plus chip and it may draw power from a 4,500mAh battery. It is expected to support 120W fast charging and 80W wireless charging.

The Mi MIX 4 is highly likely to come preinstalled with the upcoming MIUI 13 custom UI. A recent report claimed that the company may hold a launch event in mid or late August to announce multiple products such as Mi MIX 4, Mi Pad 5 series, Mi CC1, and MIUI 13.

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