Redmi Note 10 series sales cross 500 Crore INR ($68mn) within first two weeks

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Mar 31, 2021

The Redmi Note 10 series has seen great success in India. In just the first two weeks of the lineup beginning sales, the company managed to cross sales worth 500 Crore INR (roughly 68 million US Dollars).

The Chinese tech giant made the announcement regarding the explosive sales of its Note 10, Note 10 Pro, and Note 10 Pro Max. Sneha Tainwala, Business Head of the company’s Indian unit stated that “With each Redmi Note device, we have taken a step forward to bring innovation for everyone. As a result the Note Series continues to be a bonafide choice in the mid-premium segment, for the Indian consumer. We launched our 10th generation of Redmi Note series with an aim to bring a revolutionary change in the segment by taking every important piece of technology.”

The official further added that “With the launch of these devices, we have taken a quantum leap across all important aspects such as camera, display, and performance making this by far the most revolutionary and most demanded smartphones in the country. We are overwhelmed with the response we have received from our Mi fans within the first fifteen days of sale and would like to take this opportunity to thank our Mi Fans for the love they have showered on us. We hope to continue and deliver on our commitment of bringing high-end technologies at affordable price-points.”

The Note 10 series is part of the company’s popular mid range handset lineup. The lineup houses Qualcomm Snapdragon series processors and is an attractive buy for its lucrative pricing. So it arrives as no surprise that the smartphone maker saw great sales of the new devices.

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India to offer over $1 Billion to chip makers who manufacture locally: Report

By

Sean

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Mar 31, 2021

India is apparently planning on offering more than 1 billion US Dollars to each semiconductor based firm that sets up its manufacturing facility within the country. The news arrives as the government seeks to strengthen its electronics supply chain and build on its existing smartphone assembly industry.

According to a Reuters report, two officials close to the matter the move from the local government is a part of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. This drive has led to the region becoming the world’s second-largest smartphone manufacturer after China. Now, the government believes that the country needs to also seek a similar strategy to bring manufacturing sites from chip-making based firms.

As per a senior government official, “The government will give cash incentives of more than $1 billion to each company which will set up chip fabrication units. We’re assuring them that the government will be a buyer and there will also be mandates in the private market (for companies to buy locally made chips).” Although, it has yet to be decided how these cash incentives will be given out and the government has asked the industry for feedback as well, as per the second source from the government.

At the moment, governments across the globe have been subsidizing the semiconductor industry and the construction of chips making plants. This is especially important during this time when the world is facing a global shortage of semiconductors. The shortage also highlights that the reliance of various nations on Taiwanese suppliers. Notably, the official also added that the chips made locally will be designed as “trusted sources,” which will be used in various equipment ranging from security to networking.

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OPPO Reno Ace getting the ColorOS 11 (Android 11) update

By

Balaji S

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Mar 31, 2021

OPPO shared the Q1 2021 rollout plan for the ColorOS 11 update a few months ago. As per the plan, the OPPO Reno Ace was supposed to get it around March, and accordingly, it looks like the update is already rolling out.

A tweet shared by a user a few days ago shows that the device has already got the update in Japan. That is, an OTA update with firmware version PCLM10_11_F.04 brings the Android 11 based ColorOS 11.1 for the OPPO Reno Ace.

OPPO brought the Reno Ace towards the end of 2019 in China and it launched with ColoroS 6.1 based on Android 9 Pie. Later, the device also landed on other markets including Japan. The current ColorOS 11 update for the 2019 flagship smartphone is coming as a second major upgrade after it got the ColorOS 7.

That said, OPPO’s latest version of ColorOS is actually the ColorOS 11.2 and it is running on its top-of-the-line flagships like Find X3 series and its sister brand OnePlus in China. Although OPPO isn’t seeding the latest version to the Reno Ace, it has managed to stand the test of the time when it comes to updating its older devices.

As promised, it has been sharing monthly schedule plans for the update rollout and the latest one for March 2021 indicates how committed the company is. So far, it has rolled out the Android 11 update to devices like OPPO Find X2 Lite, Find X2 Neo, F15, Reno 2F, Reno 10x Zoom as of this month.

Coming back to the update, you can expect all the ColorOS 11 goodies and if you want to know more, do read our coverage on the same. Also, expect the wider rollout for the device to go live soon.

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Huawei sees 3.2% rise in profits in 2020, while revenue declines outside of China

By

Sean

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Mar 31, 2021

Huawei Technologies recorded a slight annual profit growth last year. This modest growth arrived as the company saw a decline in its overseas revenue due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and affects of the US sanctions.

According to a Reuters report, the Chinese tech giant’s net profit for the year 2020 came in at 64.6 billion Yuan (roughly 9.83 billion US Dollars). This marks a rise of about 3.2 percent compared to the smartphone vendor’s 5.6 percent growth from a year prior. Back in 2019, Huawei was placed on the US export blacklist, the Entity List, which banned the company from acquiring crucial technology that originated from the US.

This affected the company’s ability to design its own chip or source components from outside vendors as well. Furthermore, the ban led to increasing pressure against the vendor’s smartphone business, with Huawei even selling off its budget smartphone unit to a Chinese consortium of agents and dealers back in November 2020. Despite the various obstacles, the company still managed to register a 3.3 percent year on year growth in consumer business, which accounted for over half of its revenue.

This growth was partly due to the company’s growth in other product ranges like smartwatches and laptops. Similarly, even its telecommunications unit, which includes its 5G networking equipment, saw a rise of 0.2 percent as well last year. Most of Huawei’s growth was primarily driven by its home market, with revenue from China rising up to 15.4 percent in 2020. Meanwhile, its revenue from Europe, the Middle East and Africa falling by 12.2 percent, while its revenue from Asia falling by 8.7 percent and down by 24.5 percent in the Americas.

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FCC aims to plug loophole allowing Huawei equipment in US 5G Network

By

Sean

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Mar 31, 2021

Brendan Carr, the FCC Commissioner, is looking to keep the restrictions tight against Chinese 5G equipment makers like Huawei and ZTE. Under the previous Trump administration, these firms were branded as national security threats due to alleged ties with the Chinese Communist government.

For those unaware, the US even went as far as to urge its allies to also ban the use of Huawei’s networking equipment when building their 5G networking. Back in 2020, the FCC even blocked the carriers from using money from the FCC managed USF (Universal Service Fund) to buy equipment from Huawei and ZTE made networking equipment. However, the networking equipment from the two Chinese manufacturers are still used by rural carriers if it is sourced by private funds.

Thus, Carr stated that the FCC needs to close these “glaring loophole … It makes no sense to allow that exact same equipment to get purchased and inserted into our communication network as long as federal dollars are not involved.” Similarly, the President Joe Biden appointed temporary FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel has also “long advocated for reforming the equipment authorization process to better ensure security in new network devices and is pleased to see growing support for this idea. The FCC is already working on addressing many of the issues Commissioner Carr spoke about,” as per an FCC spokesperson.

Commisioner Carr also stated that the organization should do more to publicize China’s abuse of ethnic and religious minorities. Furthermore, the FCC named five Chinese companies as threats the US national security under a law designed to protect the security of US networks earlier this month. Meanwhile, Huawei announced that “extending the FCC’s evaluation and approval process to prohibit equipment that is already accredited by the FCC is misguided and costly to American companies.”

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realme GT Neo launched with Dimensity 1200 SoC and 120Hz AMOLED display for $274

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 31, 2021

Chinese smartphone maker realme has officially launched the realme GT Neo smartphone in its home country. This handset is a more affordable version of the original realme GT that was released earlier this month. Let us take a look at this phone’s specs, features, price, and availability in this article.

realme GT Neo Specifications and Features

The realme GT Neo features a similar design as the standard realme GT. The only major differences between the design of these two devices are the finishes and pattern on the rear panel.

Unlike the realme GT that comes in glass and vegan leather options, the realme GT Neo seems to sport a plastic rear panel. The finish on the latter’s back resembles the one found on the realme 8 and the realme 8 Pro.

That said, the handset measures 158.5 x 73.3 x 8.4mm in dimensions, weighs 179g, and comes in three colors (Final Fantasy, Geek Silver, Hacker Black).

Talking about specs, the main highlight of this product is the presence of MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC. In fact, it is the world’s first smartphone to launch with this chipset. The said silicon is coupled with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage.

Further, to keep the thermals generated by the chip while performing heavy tasks, the device comes with a 3D tempered VC liquid cooling system. The brand claims that the cooling solution in this phone can reduce the core temperature by up to 15℃.

Another highlight of this handset is its 6.43-inch Samsung Super AMOLED display. This panel has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels (FHD+), 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, 91.7% screen-to-body ratio, in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a punch hole at the top left corner for the front-facing camera.

As for photography and videography, the phone sports a triple camera setup consisting of a 64MP Sony IMX682 primary sensor, an 8MP sensor with a 119° ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP sensor with a macro lens. For selfies and video calls, the device features a 16MP shooter.

On the connectivity front, the handset supports dual-SIM 5G, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, GALILEO, QZSS), and NFC. It has all the essential sensors, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, compass, and proximity sensor.

Other features include stereo speakers, Dolby Sound, Hi-Res Audio certification, 3.5mm headphone jack, and USB Type-C port. Unfortunately, the phone lacks a MicroSD card slot.

Last but not least, the realme GT Neo runs realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 and is backed by a 4,500mAh battery with support for 50W charging. However, the device will ship with a 65W fast charger and a transparent case.

realme GT Neo Price and Availability

The newly launched realme GT Neo will retail for the following price tags in China.

6GB + 128GB – ¥1,799 ($274)
8GB + 128GB – ¥1,999 ($305)
12GB + 256GB – ¥2,399 ($366)

The top-end variant (12GB + 256GB) will be available at a discounted price tag of ¥2,299 ($351) during the first sale, which is scheduled to take place on April 8.

As of writing this story, there’s no official word on this smartphone’s international availability.

Xiaomi launches the MIJIA Smart Electric Pressure Cooker 5L for ¥399 (~$60)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 31, 2021

Xiaomi is building an ecosystem of smart home gadgets with an array of exciting and innovative products coming from its stable. In the last 48 hours, we have seen the launch of several products ranging from smartphones, PCs, smart wearables, home cleaning equipment, humidifier, to an innovative, next-generation air conditioner, among other exciting, smart home products. These products are part of the company’s broader objective in providing comfort and innovative solutions to primary home challenges.

The budding Chinese smartphone manufacturer has also launched a user-friendly smart electric cooker with a five-liter pot that can provide quick cooking for various foods. The product dubbed MIJIA Smart Electric Pressure Cooker 5L can cook 20 bowls of rice within a few minutes. It is in fact, an upgrade of the MIJIA Smart Electric Pressure Cooker 2.5L that was launched in December 2020, with the major difference being the size.

The MIJIA Smart Electric Pressure Cooker is an excellent addition to the home as more people embrace smart home appliances in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging the world. The pot of the pressure cooker has dimensions 296mm x 286mm x 288mm. The package comes with two 5-liter inner pots capable of providing cooking for large quantities of food.

The pressure cooker’s multiple inner pots also mean that you can easily switch between cooking two types of food without any hassles. The estimated cooking time using the pressure cooker is significantly reduced and could be as low as 40 minutes or less depending on what is being cooked.

Xiaomi’s Smart Electric Pressure Cooker 5L is capable of a varied array of temperature and pressure modes that cook the food exactly to your taste specifications. The smart pressure cooker has app support that enables the user to choose from hundreds of recipes and allow one-click cooking.

The pot has a power rating of 1000W and even though we don’t know the pressure rating, the 2.5L version is capable of hitting a peak pressure of 70kPa. Thus, this version should be higher due to the larger volume.

Like most MIJIA products, the smart electric pressure cooker can also be connected to the Mijia app via WiFi, allowing operations such as mobile phone remote start and appointment. You can also view several recipes from the app.

Xiaomi’s MIJIA Smart Electric Pressure Cooker 5L is now on pre-sale for 399 Yuan (~$60) in China via Jingdong (JD.com). The product will go on sale on April 1.

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Google receives 20 times more data from Android than Apple from iOS: Study

By

Sean

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Mar 31, 2021

Its been known for a while now that iPhones or Android smartphones send user data back to Google or Apple. But now, a new study has revealed that the former receives as much as 20 times more data from Android than the latter from its iOS platform.

According to a ArsTechnica report, researcher Douglas Leith from Trinity College in Ireland provided side by side comparisons that suggests that Google’s Android collects a lot more information than Apple’s iOS. As per Douglas, transmit telemetry data that are sent to the tech giants collect information like whether a user has logged in or has configured privacy settings to opt out of certain options regarding data collection. Both iOS and Android also send data to the companies when a user does simple tasks like inserting a SIM card or browsing the smartphones screen settings and more.

The study also found that even when the device is idle, these devices connects back to its end server on an average of every 4.5 minutes or so. Collecting data and sending it back to these companies are not strictly restricted to just the operating systems and are also a common occurrence from preinstalled apps and services in smartphones. These apps also made connections even when they hadn’t used or opened.

While, the iOS automatically sent Apple data from Siri, Safari, and iCloud, Android collected data from Chrome, YouTube, Google Docs, Safetyhub, Google Messenger, the device clock, and the Google search bar. Notably, a Google spokesperson has contested these findings and stated that the study was based on faulty methods for measuring the data that’s collected by each OS. The spokesperson added that data collection is a core part of any internet connected device.

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Xiaomi’s MIJIA Portable Juicer can extract 12 cups of juice on a single charge

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 31, 2021

Xiaomi recently launched a series of MIJIA-branded portable home appliances on Jingdong Mall in China. One of the products is the MIJIA Portable Juicer and it carries a decent 99 yuan (~$15) price tag.

The juicer cup has a volume of 300mL and is manufactured using a food-contact grade Tritan thickened body. There is also a built-in 1300mAh lithium battery onboard which is said to be capable of extracting 12 cups of juice on a single charge. The rotors can reach a maximum speed of 18,000 rpm. It works for 35 seconds and automatically turns off during which period all the fruits in the container must have been blended. It also comes with multiple safety protection functions.

The Mijia Portable Juicer has a 45W power that can quickly crush the fruits with the 18,000 rpm oscillation helping to separate the juice from the residue. The blend should have less than 6% residue. Further, the juicer utilizes four 304 stainless-steel blades. It also charges via a USB-C interface that can be plugged anywhere.

In addition, the MIJIA Portable Juicer machine is equipped with an IPX6 waterproof rating which ensures that all the parts can be washed under running water. The device also has a self-cleaning capability. This can be activated by adding water and pressing the power button just twice.

Finally, the juicer adopts a 3C digital level charge/discharge and thermal management design. The blender also features the industry’s first double-lock safety switch with triple protection.

The product is presently on pre-sale on Jingdong for 99 yuan ((~$15). It is expected to go on sale on April 2.

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Realme V13 5G with 90Hz screen, Dimensity 700, 48MP triple cameras, 5,000mAh battery launched for 1,599 Yuan (~$244)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 31, 2021

The Realme V13 5G mid-range phone has gone official with the Realme GT Neo upper mid-range phone in China. After the Realme V11 5G that debuted earlier this year, the V13 5G is the second phone from the brand with Dimensity 700 chipset. The V13 offers users specs like a 90Hz display, up to 256GB of storage, dual SIM 5G support, and a big battery with rapid charging support.

Realme V13 5G specifications and features

The Realme V13 5G has a 6.5-inch IPS LCD punch-hole display that offers an FHD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, a 180Hz touch sampling rate, and 600nits brightness. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The handset measures 8.5mm in thickness and weighs only 185 grams. It offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90.5 percent.

The camera module placed on the backside of the Realme V13 5G features a 48-megapixel main snapper, a 2-megapixel depth assist lens, and a 2-megapixel macro camera with a 4cm focal length. It has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Dimensity 700 chipset is present under the hood of the Realme V13 5G. The SoC is coupled with 8GB of RAM and the phone comes in two storage choices like 128 GB and 256 GB. There is a dedicated microSD card slot onboard for additional storage. It runs on Realme UI 2.0 based Android 11 OS.

Realme V13 5G pricing and availability

The Realme V13 5G is priced at 1,599 Yuan (~$244) for the 128 GB variant and 1,799 Yuan (~$279) for the 256 GB model. It comes in Ash and Azure colors. The first sale of the handset will be carried out on April 2 in China.

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Amazon is developing its own networking chip: Report

By

Sean

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Mar 31, 2021

Amazon is apparently working on a custom silicon chip for its hardware networking switches. These chips will help make the company’s internal infrastructure as well as its AWS (Amazon Web Services).

According to TheInformation (Via TheVerge), the chip that the e-commerce giant is reportedly working on, which is the result of its 350 million US Dollar acquisition of Israeli chip making firm, Annapurna Labs, back in 2015. Furthermore, the company working on building the chips for its switches could help it solve bottlenecks and issues in its infrastructure. This would be even more useful if it also makes a custom built software for further optimization.

At the moment, Amazon has been building its own switches, although, it relies on Broadcom for the silicon that powers these chips. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the company seeks to completely control and build its own silicons, especially considering the scale and importance of its web services. Notably, the move from the company might also enable it to offer services that it was previously unable to offer, thanks to the new switches.

Unfortunately, this is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt, however, this is not the first time the company made its own custom silicon product. The company has previously partnered with MediaTek to create a chip for its Echo smart speakers, which were to make its Alexa voice assistant respond faster. Hence, it makes sense that the company seek to build its own silicon that powers the backbone of its networking infrastructure.

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Apple iPhone production could face issues due to global chip shortage

By

Jeet

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Mar 31, 2021

Apple iPhone 12 series has become quite popular and the device is in huge demand. This helped the Cupertino-based giant taken on Samsung to become the world’s leading smartphone vendor last year. However, the South Korean giant has now regained the top spot globally, pushing Apple to the second position.

Now, a new report claims that Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn has said that the shipments for the devices may be decreased by 10 percent due to the on-going global shortage of chipsets. But Foxconn Chairman Liu Yangwei has said that the company is “cautiously optimistic” about the outlook for the rest of the year.

For those who are unaware, Foxconn is responsible for assembling iPhone models for Apple. In the statement, the company has not mentioned Apple but it is the company’s biggest client. The company has stated that it “has a rather limited impact on orders received a long time ago.”

Foxconn expects the shortage to continue into the second quarter of 2022. While Apple’s resources are better than other companies plagued by chip shortages, the company may face troubles if the chip problems continue.

In related news, Apple supplier Wistron has resumed iPhone production in its factory located in India. A few months ago, the company was placed on probation by the iPhone maker, after violence had struck its facility in India.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch Active4 could come in two sizes and cellular variant

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Mar 31, 2021

Last month, news broke out that Samsung could ditch its homegrown Tizen operating system for Google Wear OS on its upcoming smartwatches called Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch Active4. A few weeks later, another report said that these wearables could go official in Q2 2021 itself. Now, even more information about these watches emerges on the web.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 Titanium Featured — Samsung Galaxy Watch3

A couple of days back, Max Weinbach of Android Police found references to Samsung’s next TWS called Galaxy Buds2 in the latest version of the Galaxy Wearable application. At the same time, he had even spotted a few details regarding the forthcoming Galaxy Watches, which he shared on Twitter (via SamMobile) on that day itself.

According to Max’s findings, the Galaxy Watch4 and the Galaxy Watch Active4 are codenamed Fresh and Wise respectively. Both of these wearables will be available in two sizes and in Bluetooth as well as cellular variants.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 (Fresh)
- Sizes: 41mm, 45mm
- Variants: Bluetooth, Cellular
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active4 (Wise)
- Sizes: 40mm, 44mm
- Variants: Bluetooth, Cellular

Lastly, he also found that Samsung is referring Wear OS compatibility layer as ‘Water’ and the chipsets powering these smartwatches as ‘Merlot’.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about these wearables except for the fact that they could arrive with blood sugar monitoring feature, as per a report from January.

Boston Dynamics unveils Stretch, a warehouse logistics robot that can lift boxes

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Mar 31, 2021

US-based robotics manufacturer Boston Dynamics has released yet another robot to enhance logistics in the warehouse. The company claims its new robot called Stretch is very efficient and versatile, making it possible to deploy it to warehouses without installing additional automation infrastructure. According to Boston Dynamics, the Stretch robot can move boxes in the warehouse at an estimated throughput rate of 800 packages per hour.

The design of Stretch is a bit different from several of the previous logistics robots produced by Boston Dynamics since 2019 when it acquired Kinema Systems. It has a square mobile base, a set of wheels for navigation around its environment, a perception mast fitted with cameras and sensors to aid the robot’s intelligent movement. The Stretch robot also has massive robotic arms with seven degrees of freedom and a suction pad system that enables it to lift loads up to 23kg securely. The carrying capacity of the Stretch looks minimal, as it cannot deal with heavy loads, which are common.

Boston Dynamics is bringing mobility to warehouse automation. Watch Stretch – our new case handling robot – move, groove and unload trucks.

Read the announcement. https://t.co/5B7wDDKC38 pic.twitter.com/i3Dsoz9Tq8

— Boston Dynamics (@BostonDynamics) March 29, 2021

According to Michael Perry, VP of Business Development at Boston Dynamics, the robot can provide automation in environments that do not have automation infrastructure. It does not need additional tracks or other infrastructure for it to navigate seamlessly across the warehouse. The Stretch comes with a battery system that can power the robot for eight hours on a full charge. The robot can also be tethered to the mains electricity supply with ease.

Boston Dynamics is yet to put a price tag on the new robot. Its affordability may be a driving force that could encourage customers seeking an inexpensive and straightforward automation solution to their logistics problems. It remains to be seen how the robot will perform in the planned pilot scheme by Boston Dynamics to test the robot. The pilot run will precede the eventual commercial deployment of the Stretch robot in 2022.

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Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G launched in India; Specifications, features, and price

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 31, 2021

Last year in September, Samsung launched the Galaxy S20 FE smartphone in India. It was a 4G version powered by the Exynos 990 chipset. Today, the company unveiled the Galaxy S20 FE 5G powered by the Snapdragon 865 in India.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G price in India

The Galaxy S20 FE 5G has arrived in India with a price tag of Rs 55,999 (~$763) for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. People who are looking forward to purchasing it early with an introductory price of Rs 47,999 (~$654). The sale of the S20 FE 5G begins today through Samsung India’s online shop, Amazon India, and offline retailers from today.

The S20 FE 5G comes in colors like Cloud Navy, Cloud Lavender, and Cloud Mint. At present, the Galaxy S20 FE is selling in India with a price tag of Rs 44,999 (~$613).

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G specifications and features

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has a 6.5-inch flat AMOLED screen with an Infinity-O display design. The 120Hz display panel supports a Full HD+ resolution and it features an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

For selfies and video calls, the Galaxy S20 FE offers users a 32-megapixel front-facing camera. The back panel of the phone features a triple camera system that consists of an OIS-assisted 12-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with OIS and 3x optical zoom support, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens with a 123-degree FOV.

The Snapdragon 865 chipset powers the Galaxy S20 FE with 8 GB of RAM. The phone offers users 128 GB / 256 GB of UFS 3.1 storage and a shared SIM slot for adding a microSD card. It comes preloaded with Android 11 OS and One UI 3.1. It is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that carries support for 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.

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Google Maps gets a new Live View AR feature that guides through indoor spaces

By

Jeet

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Mar 31, 2021

Google has announced several new features coming to the Google Maps application. One of the interesting features coming to the app is the ability to help you find your way through indoor spaces like airports, malls, and train stations using augmented reality.

The new Google Maps feature, called Live View AR, overlays digital guides on top of the real world to provide directions as you look through your phone’s display. So, if you are in an airport, just search for what you’re looking for in Google Maps, and the markers will guide you with arrows and other digital indicators.

The Live View feature was first launched for Android and iPhone in 2019 but was initially limited outdoors directions. The feature can be accessed by searching for something in Google maps on your phone, tapping “Directions” and then, when available, tapping the “Live View” option next to “Start.”

This new feature called Live View AR is first rolling out in some malls in Chicago, Long Island, New York, Los Angeles, Newark, New Jersey, San Francisco, San Jose, California, and Seattle. In the coming months, it will also launch in airports, malls, and transit stations in Tokyo and Zurich. Other cities and locations will also eventually support the feature.

The company says that it will roll out other features in an update to Google Maps in the coming months, which includes air quality information, integration with grocery stores for curbside pickup, and an option to select the most eco-friendly route when driving.

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Alleged OPPO Reno6 spotted with 65W charger at 3C certification

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 31, 2021

A couple of weeks back, a tipster had shared a few key pieces of information about an upcoming OPPO phone with a PEPM00 model number. The handset has now received certification from the 3C authority of China. It is speculated that this device will break cover as the OPPO Reno6 in China.

The 3C appearance of the smartphone has only revealed two things about the OPPO PEPM00 smartphone. First, it is a 5G phone and the second thing is that it may ship with a 65W fast charger.

According to a previous leak by a tipster, the OPPP PEPM00 will feature an OLED screen with a punch-hole positioned at the top-left corner. The screen will carry support for up to 90Hz refresh rate.

The Reno6 is speculated to feature the Dimensity 1200 chipset and 8 GB of RAM. It may offer users built-in storage of 128 GB. The handset will come loaded with ColorOS 11.1 based Android 11 OS. There is no word on the battery capacity of the Reno6. A recent report claimed that OPPO may add support for 30W wireless charging to the Reno6 series of smartphones.

OPPO is also working on another phone with a PENM00 model number. It is expected to arrive with Snapdragon 870 SoC. This handset may break cover as the OPPO Reno6 Pro. However, contradictory reports also claimed that it could be an Ace series smartphone.

In related news, OPPO is gearing up to launch the OPPO F19 smartphone in Asian markets like Sri Lanka and India. So far, reports have revealed that it has a sleek body, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 48-megapixel triple camera system. It could be priced under Rs 20,000 (~$272).

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TSMC rumored to increase price by 25 percent; could lead to increased smartphone pricing

By

Jeet

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Mar 31, 2021

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s leading contract chipset manufacturer, was recently rumored to increase its pricing by 15 percent because of the on-going chip shortage.

However, the first quarter of the year is about the end and the company has not yet raised the pricing. But a new report coming from United News claims that TSMC could raise the price of its 12-inch wafers by $400.

This could result in a 25 percent price hike which will be an all-time high record. It’s noteworthy that the company has shifted to 5nm process nodes for the chipsets, making them more powerful and energy-efficient.

During the second half of next year, a Taiwan-based company is expected to start shipping 3nm chips. The next-generation process node is forecast to deliver 25%-30% more power and 10% to 15% more performance at the same power levels.

Because of the strong demand for the chips and low supply, TSMC has walked back the discounts that it offered to its customers. But the company is facing other situations that are beyond its control and adds to the company’s expenses.

A lack of rain has created a serious water shortage and the city where TSMC is based received only half the amount of rain in 2020 compared to the previous year. This has forced the company to arrange for water tankers at its facilities.

If TSMC decides to hike wafer prices by 25 percent and cancel the previously negotiated deals with the companies, the smartphone makers could end up shelling more money than they budgeted for and that cost can be passed to the customers.

RELATED:

Realme 8 5G emerges at FCC with key details, likely to launch soon

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Mar 31, 2021

After building hype for a couple of weeks, the Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro smartphones went official in India last week. The company has already confirmed that it will be soon announcing a 5G version of the Realme 8 5G. It appears that the smartphone may launch as early as next month as it has bagged approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S.

The Realme RMX3241 was recently seen with Realme 8 5G moniker at Thailand’s NBTC certification. It has also appeared at the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in India. Both certifications did not reveal any information on its specifications. However, the FCC appearance has spilled some of its key details.

#Realme85G bags FCC certification.
✌️✌️✌️
-5000mAh battery
-8.5mm thickness
-Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
-185gram weight
-Realme UI 2.0
Launching in April pic.twitter.com/GCiwfqvqOq

— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) March 31, 2021

The FCC listing reveals that Realme RMX3241 measures 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.5mm and it weighs 185 grams. The phone runs on Realme UI V2.0 and it is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. Some of the connectivity features supported by the handset include Wi-fi 802.11ac, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, NFC, and 5G.

A rear schematic of the Realme 8 5G, which was found in the FCC documents revealed that it has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The left edge of the phone features volume up and down buttons.

Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth had said in the past week, “We will have a Realme 8 5G version soon (but not so early). We have to understand that adding 5G with these features will incur additional costs.” This indicates that the handset may break cover by the end of April. It is speculated that the handset will be priced between Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro that is priced at Rs 14,999 (~$204) and Rs 17,999 (~$285), respectively.

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A new version of the Mi Box S has been certified by the FCC

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Mar 30, 2021

It appears Xiaomi has a new Android TV-powered Mi Box coming soon according to a listing published by the FCC today. The new streaming device is believed to be the successor to the Mi Box S that was announced in October 2018 but there is a chance it isn’t.

First reported by 9to5Google, this newly certified Mi Box has the model number MDZ-22-AG which is nearly identical to the MDZ-22-AB model number of the 2018 version. The images attached to the FCC documents also revealed that it has the same design as the Mi Box S but comes with a slightly different remote.

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In addition, the images of the internals show that this new Mi Box has the same old Amlogic S905-H quad-core processor that powers the original Mi Box and the Mi Box S. There is also a copy of the user manual that says that the device is called Mi Box S. Based on these, we do not think this is a successor to the Mi Box S.

The photos show the same old black box design with the ports at the back. You get an audio output port, an HDMI port, a full-sized USB port, and a power input jack. The remote has the same button arrangement, save for the Netflix Button which is now white, and a button for Prime Video that replaces the Live TV button from the previous version.

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According to the user manual, the remote will be powered by two AAA batteries that will be included in the box along with the HDMI cable and a power adapter.

At the moment, we do not know if there will be an official announcement for this new Mi Box S or if it will silently replace the old model. Once we have more details, we will let you know.

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