Google is expected to roll out the first Developer Preview of the Android 12 operating system and after a few beta releases, the final version will come sometime later this year. It is expected to come with several new features and improvements but we will have to wait for a few months to know what is packs.
However, there’s something of the upcoming Android 12 that you can already have, regardless of the smartphone you are using — wallpaper. Yes, the first wallpaper of the Android 12 is now available for you to download.
The wallpaper of Android 12, coming from the Russian website Wylsa, is available in several different sizes so that it can fit any device, including smartphones, tablets, and PC, regardless of the platform or operating system that powers them.
Keeping up with the tradition, the company is continuing with the minimal design for the wallpaper. Also, do note that the image released is for the Developer Preview of Android 12 and there’s a possibility that the final version may not have this wallpaper and we will get something totally different from what is available right now.
The wallpaper has been made to work for both the light mode and the dark mode. You can download the wallpaper in high-quality for mobiles and PC resolution by clicking here.
Mi Talk application from Xiaomi, which is currently in the beta stage, has reportedly got a new feature that allows friends and family members of the user to operate the smartphone through remote assistance.
According to the information available so far from the Chinese media, the internal beta version of the new function for the Mi Talk application will be available from 8th February to 21st February and the official rollout will be from 22nd February.
As for the feature, the Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi says that the inspiration behind this remote assistance feature is the older-generation during the times of pandemic. It states that many people cannot visit their friends and family members because of the COVID-19 pandemic which makes it difficult for elderly people to learn and operate some of the functions on their smartphone.
With the new “Remote Assistance” function in the MIUI, the Xiaomi user can turn on the feature during a call and allow the contact to operate the smartphone who can solve the problem that is being faced by the user.
At the end of January, the upcoming ASUS ROG Phone 5 paid visit to China’s TENAA telecom authority. The variant that surfaced at TENAA had the ASUS_I005DA model number. A new variant of the ROG Phone 5 has now been spotted at TENAA with a slightly different design.
The new variant of the ROG Phone 5 that appeared at TENAA has the ASUS_I005DB model number. The new model has a very plain look as it does not seem to feature the RGB-lit LED ROG logo and Tencent Games logo. This suggests that the ASUS_I005DB could be a cheaper version.
ASUS ROG Phone 5 (ASUS_I005DB) images at TENAA
The rear shell of the ASUS_I005DB has curved edges. It has a horizontal camera module that tags along with an LED flash unit. It is likely that the cheaper ROG Phone 5 may rival the Black Shark 4 (PRS-A0) model, which had also appeared with a plain rear design recently.
ASUS ROG Phone 5 variants; I005DB (left) and I005DA (right)
The ASUS_I005DB handset measures 172.834 x 77.252 x 10.29mm. While the secondary screen, which was found on the I005DA model is not visible on the I005DB variant, the TENAA listing says that it is equipped with two displays.
TENAA incorrectly mentions the size of the main display as 1.95 inches. This size could belong to the secondary screen. It is expected to house a 6.78-inch OLED screen on the front. The listing further states that the device has a 6,000mAh dual-cell battery and it runs on Android 11 OS. It remains to be seen whether the smartphone features the Snapdragon 888 SoC or a slightly weaker chip.
Last year, in November, Huawei had launched the Smart Selection Camera Pro, the first camera to come powered by the company’s own HarmonyOS. Last month, the device went on sale in China for 299 yuan, which is about $46.
The device that went on sale in China last month for 299 yuan was the 32GB storage model and now, Huawei has officially started selling the 64GB storage version, which is priced at 399 yuan, approximately $62.
The Huawei Smart Choice Camera Pro is a surveillance camera that has four highlights — HarmonyOS, secure built-in storage, AI smart detection+, and 2K ultra-high-definition picture quality. The camera can be placed in the child’s room and can achieve a 360-degree portrait that automatically tracks the child’s movement. It can also be connected to a screen in the living room or in the parent’s bedroom.
It also supports one-click video calls and NFC tags which support one-touch fast network distribution. Thanks to the 32GB and 64GB eMMC flash memory, the device is capable of storing surveillance videos without an SD card. The read and write life is 5 times that of ordinary SD cards, and the speed is 10 times that of SD cards, claims the company.
The camera can be connected to a smartphone, providing live surveillance and other possibilities. For security, the HiLink SDK of Huawei Smart Camera Pro has obtained the highest security certification in the IoT field.
The unannounced Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has been revealed by a Filipino YouTuber (Tech Buff PH). The hands-on video shared by YouTuber is no longer accessible as it has been taken down. It is believed to be the M2102K1G handset that as recently certified by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) in Europe and India’s Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The handset is said to be codenamed as ‘star.’
The YouTuber shared the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra in black and white variants. A huge camera bump can be seen which almost occupies the top portion of the phone’s back. It consists of a triple camera system, which seems to include a periscope zoom lens. The camera housing also includes a ‘120X Ultra Pixel AI Camera’, a triple LED flash unit, and a secondary screen. The latter is capable of displaying any app present on the phone. It appears that it can be used for snapping topnotch selfies using the rear cameras. The black variant which seems to be a prototype unit has ’12-120mm, 1:1.95-4.1’ text instead of Ultra Pixel text.
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Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra specifications (Rumored)
When it comes to specifications, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra has a 6.8-inch OLED screen with curved edges. It offers a WQHD+ resolution and a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. The punch-hole positioned at the upper-left corner of the screen has a 20-megapixel selfie camera. The screen is reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus and the device offers IP68 rated dust and water resistance.
The Snapdragon 888 mobile platform fuels the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra with enhanced versions of LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. It is packed with a 5,000mAh battery that supports 67W fast wired charging, 67W fast wireless charging, and 10W reverse charging.
Coming to the rear optics, the Mi 11 Ultra has a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 48-megapixel wide-angle lens, and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. It seemingly supports 10x optical zoom. The Mi 11 Ultra is also equipped with Harman Kardon dual speakers and an in-screen fingerprint reader. It seems to be running on MIUI 12.5 global build, claims XDA Developers.
There is no word on the launch date and pricing of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. The EEC and BIS certifications suggest that it may launch in a month or two. Apart from the Xiaomi Mi 11 5G, the Mi 11 series includes other two upcoming phones such as the Mi 11 Lite mid-ranger and Mi 11 Pro high-end phone.
Since January this year, the tech industry globally has been plagued by an unprecedented chip shortage. There are claims that the shortage was due to former President Donald Trump’s clampdown on Chinese companies, especially those in the semiconductor value chain such as SMIC.
The automobile industry has been the worse-hit by the global chip shortage so much that some companies have had to shut down their assembly lines. Apart from the automobile sector, the gaming industry is also impacted as there is presently a shortage of gaming consoles such as the Sony PlayStation5.
In order to stem this tide, Joe Biden is reportedly planning several “aggressive steps” aimed at ameliorating the global semiconductor shortage. A report carried by Bloomberg says the US president “is expected to sign an executive order directing a government-wide supply chain review for critical goods in the coming weeks, with the chip shortage a central concern behind the probe.” The new administration is said to prioritize “identifying choke points in supply chains” to ease current shortages.
Another aspect the US administration is said to be eying is the creation of fresh incentives that will lure chip manufacturers to set up their foundries in the United States. To this end, the top brass in the chip industry, including Intel and Qualcomm, have all enjoined the US government to fund such initiatives. However, w can’t say for sure the exact from that the incentives could take.
The Nokia 6300 4G is a remake of the old Nokia 6300 classic phone with a stainless backplate. The new model looks nothing like the original with respect to design but it does pack specs that put the 2007 model to shame. Announced back in November, the new model has now made its way to the US.
If you want a phone to use as a backup to your smartphone, then you can pick up the Nokia 6300 4G for $69.99 on the Nokia Mobile website. The phone is available in Charcoal, Cyan Green, and White.
🚨US fans: Nokia 6300 4G, the smartest feature phone you’ll meet, now available in US! It’s got Whatsapp, Facebook, you can stream YouTube and stay on top of it all with Google Assistant. All that on 4G connectivity. Hurry! they're selling like hot cakes🥞https://t.co/4SzCZWMyUSpic.twitter.com/RvQjD9ilJs
For that price, you get a phone with a 2.4-inch display that sits above an alphanumeric keypad, a Snapdragon 210 processor, 512MB of RAM, and 4GB of expandable storage (32GB max).
There is a VGA camera on the back with an LED flash that doubles as a flashlight but don’t expect this to take decent shots. The phone runs KaiOS and comes pre-installed with WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, and Google Assistant. The model sold in the US has dual-SIM support (nano only), 4G, Wi-Fi Hotspot, and GPS. It also has an FM radio and an audio jack.
There is a removable 1500mAh battery that charges via a MicroUSB port inside the phone and HMD Global says it will last up to 27 days on standby.
A leak had appeared in September last year that Chinese tech giant Realme was planning to launch a wireless earbuds in India that would come with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Then came the Realme Buds Air Pro equipped with active noise cancellation. In recent times, we have seen that Realme will soon launch two new earbuds – Realme Buds Q2 and the Buds Air 2. Apparently there is a third model in the works and it will have ANC, if the latest leak is anything to go by.
According to the details contained in a leak by popular tipster Ishan Argawal, the Chinese company is bringing a model with active noise cancellation. The teaser poster shared shows that Realme is teaming up with popular American band The Chainsmokers (EDM duo).The poster is promoted with the caption “Noise off, Realme on”. It is this aption that is fuelling speculations that the earbuds will come with noise cancelling feature and that may not be wrong.
Looks like realme is partnering up with The Chainsmokers for their upcoming TWS Earphones! Interested to see what will happen with them on board.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) uses a noise-cancelling system to reduce unwanted background noise. The system is based on microphones that “listen” to the sounds outside and inside of the earphone, an ANC chipset inverting the soundwaves and a speaker inside the earphone cancelling the outside sound by the neutralising soundwaves. Bringing genuine ANC to earbuds is a challenge due to the in-ear design. .
On a side note, the partnership Realme has struck with The Chainsmokers is suggestive of a top-end product which may be a successor to the Buds Air Pro. There is no official word on that yet so we can’t reach a conclusion just yet. We await for more details to emerge.
Xiaomi just launched the Mi 11 in the global market, where it carries a very interesting price tag despite being the first handset with Snapdragon 888 inside. The listing price of the Mi 11 is actually closer to the street prices of the OPPO Find X2 Pro. The Find X2 Pro is actually a top-tier flagship but given that it was released one year ago, its price dropped at the same level as the Mi 11. But which one is worth buying right now? Mi 11 or OPPO Find X2 Pro? This comparison will clear your ideas in regards to this question and tell you the pro and cons of each of these flagships.
Triple 108 + 13 + 5 MP, f/1.9 + f/2.4 + f/2.4
20 MP front camera
Triple 48 + 13 + 48 MP, f/1.7 + f/3.0 + f/2.2
32 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY
4600 mAh, fast charging 50W, wireless charging 50W
4260 mAh, fast charging 65W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Dual SIM slot, 5G, reverse wireless charging 10W
Dual SIM slot, 5G, water resistant (IP68)
Design
Xiaomi Mi 11 and OPPO Find X2 Pro are two devices with a premium design. I personally prefer the OPPO Find X2 Pro due to its materials: it comes in a ceramic variant which is the best-selling one and a leather variant. The Mi 11 has a leather version as well, but the “normal” edition is made with a classic glass back and an aluminum frame. Further, the OPPO Find X2 Pro is waterproof with the IP68 certification, while the Mi 11 does not offer any certification against water and dust. That is why the OPPO Find X2 Pro is a superior device in terms of build quality. Both feature an in-display fingerprint reader and a curved punch-hole display.
Display
The displays of the Xiaomi Mi 11 and the OPPO Find X2 Pro are very close. Both are displays boasting a high Quad HD+ resolution and a high 120 Hz refresh rate, as well as the HDR10+ certification. And both are able to show up to one billion colors with their 10-bit panels. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a higher peak brightness (up to 1500 nits), but the Find X2 Pro seems like the device with the best color accuracy. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a slightly wider panel than the OPPO Find X2 Pro with its 6.81-inch diagonal.
Specs & Software
The king of hardware is the Xiaomi Mi 11 for a simple reason: it has a stronger chipset. We are talking about the Snapdragon 888 mobile platform, which is actually the best Qualcomm SoC for 2021. The OPPO Find X2 Pro is powered by the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform from 2019, built with an inferior production process (7 nm vs 5 nm) and with lower-end performance. But there is an important advantage with the OPPO Find X2 Pro: you get up to 512 GB of internal storage instead of the 256 GB offered by the Xiaomi Mi 11. On the other hand, the Mi 11 has a more recent Android version: Android 11, while the Find X2 Pro ships with Android 10 (already updated to Android 11 and ColorOS 11).
Camera
On the camera side, OPPO Find X2 Pro is the best and you should go for it without thinking twice. It has a triple camera with a 48 MP main sensor, a 13 MP periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, and a 48 MP ultrawide sensor. It even boasts laser autofocus and better optical stabilization. Unfortunately, the Xiaomi Mi 11 lacks optical zoom and it has an inferior ultrawide camera, that is the reason why it can not be considered a top camera phone. The OPPO Find X2 Pro beats the Xiaomi Mi 11 even when it comes to the front camera, with its 32 MP selfie snapper.
Due to its bigger 4600 mAh battery, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is able to provide a longer battery life in a lot of scenarios. The OPPO Find X2 Pro has a smaller 4260 mAh battery, but a higher charging power (65W). On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi 11 features wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, while Find X2 Pro does not.
Price
Xiaomi Mi 11 debuted in the global market with a €749/$908 starting price. Thanks to online street prices, you can actually find the OPPO Find X2 Pro for less than €700/$849. Due to the IP68 certification and its better cameras, we consider the OPPO Find X2 Pro as a smarter purchase. The Xiaomi Mi 11 has a better hardware department, wireless charging, and even a bigger battery, but do you really need all the power of the Snapdragon 888 in a world in which mid-rangers can already do everything without issues? It brings definitely more value to have a top camera phone in your hands, if you need a great camera, naturally. If you do not need a top camera phone, then Mi 11 starts making more sense.
Following India’s ban of a multitude of several Chinese apps, there have been some Indian developers that have launched local equivalents of the banned apps. An example is FAU-G which is supposed to be a sort of replacement for PUBG. Now, a new micro-blogging platform called Koo has been announced in the country and it shares several similarities to Twitter.
Twitter is currently at loggerheads with the India government following the latter’s request for the micro-blogging platform to block several accounts. Some of these accounts are said to have tweeted using certain hashtags associated with the ongoing farmers’ protest in the country. Twitter did ban some accounts but didn’t suspend others as it believed the orders given to ban these accounts were not consistent with Indian laws.
Koo is supposed to be the Indian alternative to Twitter and several government officials and politicians have joined the platform. It has a bird as its logo just like Twitter, has limited number of characters for its posts which it calls “koos” (you can also re-koo and re-koo with comment), and uses a similar four-tab interface when you check a user’s account. It does have its own differences too such as icons to quickly share to WhatsApp and Facebook.
As at the time of writing, Koo has over 68,000 installs on the Play Store and while it is far from the number of installs Twitter has, it is growing to become an alternative to Twitter for Indians. The app currently supports five Indian languages but the developers have confirmed that more languages are coming soon. There is also a web version for those who prefer a desktop experience.
Autonomous vehicles are gradually gaining ground all over the world, propelled by the increasing deployment of the 5G technology. As 5G connectivity continues to grow, we also expect to see more startups and carmakers with commercial-ready autonomous vehicles like AutoX’s.
Tech giant and Cloud computing powerhouse Microsoft has announced a partnership with German carmaker Volkswagen to produce autonomous vehicles. The partnership will utilize Microsoft’s expertise in cloud technology to fast-track the development of Volkswagen’s self-driving model.
Volkswagen and Microsoft had already established a partnership which saw the carmaker deploy Microsoft’s cloud technology for connected cars. Volkswagen is merely expanding Microsoft’s cloud technology deployment to fully autonomous vehicles. Using Microsoft’s Azure Cloud computing platform, the carmaker hopes to develop an Automated Driving Platform (ADP) that would be the fulcrum of further development in the area of autonomous driving systems.
Microsoft Azure is the well-developed and powerful cloud computing arm of Microsoft. The arm offers an array of services and solutions that are increasingly becoming more effective as many organizations and businesses migrate their critical resources to the cloud for greater security, speed, and overall versatility.
Volkswagen had realized the huge data requirements needed for the development of its autonomous vehicle systems under the framework of the Autonomous Driving Platform, and with this partnership with Microsoft, the company would be able to speed up the development cycle of the autonomous driving systems from months to weeks, deploying the huge computing and data capabilities of Microsoft’s cloud technology.
An increasing number of carmakers who are now adding connected and autonomous vehicles into their production profile have realized the important role of tech companies in developing autonomous systems. The technologies available via cloud services could indeed mark a turning point in fast-tracking the development of autonomous driving and its subsequent deployment on public roads in the years to come.
Volkswagen, therefore, joins General Motors and Cruise as automakers who have tapped from the cloud technologies available through Microsoft Azure in developing self-driving systems.
Google has introduced Dark Modes for various apps in the past. Right from Google Play Store to the features like Google Assistant, it has brought it to all of them. Now as per a Windowslatest report, this Dark Mode feature is rolling out for Google Search on Desktop.
Courtesy of the report(via XDA), the Dark Mode feature is slowly rolling out to Desktop users running Windows 10 and macOS. Apparently, this is also a part of the A/B testing so it might take a while to reach everyone.
For the unware, the A/B test is a randomized experiment using two or more variants of the same web page. Accordingly, a small percentage of users are able to activate the Dark Mode on the Google Search page currently. As for the browser support, the report says that users need to be on Chrome 76+ on Windows 10.
This browser, which is based on Chromium Project, should be on the version 1809 or newer. Users will first get a notification at the corner on the page saying “Dark theme is now available”. Enabling it by clicking on ‘Turn on’ will switch the search page to Dark. Once enabled, you will have the option to set it either to Light, Dark, or System Default.
That said, this has been enabled on Google App and its search already. Anyway, the report says that Google is enabling the features to other browsers based on Chromium(like New Microsoft Edge) randomly.
If you haven’t got this feature yet, you can always try the Force Dark Mode option on Chrome. To do this enter Chrome://flags on the address bar. Type ‘Dark Mode’. Enable the Force Dark Mode for Web Contents and relaunch Chrome.
This is our third article on Samsung Galaxy A52 today(Feb. 11). Ahead of a March 2021 launch i.e., next month, leaks are pouring in for Samsung’s A5x series’s 2021 device. The latest info comes from Tipster Abhishek Yadav who says that the 5G variant will feature an IP rating like the flagships.
Galaxy A52 Official Leaked Image Credit: Evan Blass
Just a few hours ago, Sammobile had exclusively reported that Samsung Galaxy A52 5G‘s display will support a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Now, Abhishek says that the device will come with an IP67 rating for Water and Dust resistance.
For the unware, IP is an Ingress Protection rating as per IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission)’s EN 60529 standard. It is the degree of protection given to a mechanical/electrical enclosure and based on the type & intensity of intrusion, the rating varies.
Samsung isn’t new to the IP-rating either. Its Galaxy-S series flagships including the recently launched Galaxy S21 have had it. In fact, the older Galaxy-A devices like the Galaxy A8(2018) have had IP68-rating to protect the device against dust/water splashes.
Anyway, we just hope that Samsung brings this IP-rating to the 4G variant too. Speaking of which, the Galaxy A52 is expected to come in 4G and 5G variants. They are likely to share similar specs except for the chipset inside.
The 5G variant will feature a 6.5-inch S-AMOLED FHD+ Infinity-O display, Snapdragon 750G chipset, 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast charging.
For cameras, it will have a Quad rear camera mostly with 64MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, two 5MP Macro&Depth sensors, and a 32MP selfie shooter upfront. The device is also expected to run Android 11 with One UI 3.1 on top.
The Surface Duo launched back in August 2020 but it has been exclusive to the USA. That changes next week as Microsoft plans to announce it in a handful of new markets. Ahead of this wider release, Microsoft has also slashed the price of the device by a significant amount in the US.
Microsoft will launch the dual-screen device in Canada, France, Germany, and the UK on February 18 reports The Verge. The Surface Duo will be sold for €1,549 in Germany and £1,349 in the UK. Buyers in the UK will be able to grab it at the official Microsoft Store and Currys PC World.
Looking at the above prices, one can’t help but feel sad knowing that the Surface Duo has gotten a $400 price cut in the US. So it sells for $999 instead of $1,399 for the base model with 128GB of storage and $1,099 instead of $1,499 for the 256GB version.
The Surface Duo is a dual-screen device that opens like a small notebook. It has a 360-degree hinge that allows it to be opened completely backward, allowing the user to use one of the two screens. When opened, the two AMOLED displays have a combined size of 8.1-inches with a resolution of 2700 x 1080. Each display measures 5.6-inches and has a resolution of 1800 x 1350.
There is a Snapdragon 855 processor inside the device with 6GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of non-expandable storage. There is a single 11MP camera on the device, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a nano-SIM slot, and an eSIM. Its battery capacity is 3577mAh and it supports 18W fast charging.
OPPO is expected to launch the OPPO Find X3 Pro flagship smartphone in March. Ahead of its official announcement, this handset is in the news for the past few days, thanks to multiple leaks and certifications. Now, it has been spotted on one more organization and testing platform.
The upcoming OPPO Find X3 Pro with model number CPH2173 has been now certified by IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority). Hence, this smartphone could launch in Singapore like most OPPO phones.
This certification does not reveal much except that the handset will come with 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, and WPT (Wireless Power Transfer).
Additionally, the phone has been spotted on HTML5test as well. It reveals the device to run Android 11 (ColorOS 11.x), which is obvious for a high-end smartphone releasing in the first half of 2021.
According to previous reports, the forthcoming OPPO Find X3 Pro will flaunt a 6.7-inch curved OLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 3216 pixels and a 10Hz to 120Hz refresh rate. Other aspects of this screen include 10-bit color depth and 525 ppi.
As for optics, this handset will come equipped with a quad-camera setup consisting of a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor with a wide-angle lens, another 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, a 13MP sensor with a 2x optical lens, and a 3MP sensor with a macro sensor that supports up to 25x zoom.
In May last year, Xiaomi crowdfunded the Midian Zero Blue Light Bedside Lamp which was touted to be the “world’s first zero blue light bedside lamp”. The lamp is the product of research by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences of Nanchang University.
Since then, the team has manufactured a couple of more lamps that are on sale on the Youpin platform. The bar has now been taken higher with the launch under crowdfunding of a “zero-blu-ray” bedside lamp integrated with a Bluetooth speaker.
Just like successive Midian products, the lamp uses a high-efficiency yellow LED as the core and red LED to achieve a phosphor-free, low color temperature pure LED light source. The light doesn’t hurt the eyes and aid users to sleep well.
The light source of the Midian Zero Blue Music Atmosphere Light belongs to the long-wavelength band in the spectrum. The color temperature ranges from 1700K-1900K, without short-wave blue light, and the light color is soft and comfortable, improving sleep quality.
In recent times anti-blu-ray displays and light have gained prominence. This is due to the effect of blue light on the eyes. The blue light component affects the activity of retinal cells, inhibits the secretion of human gun melanin.
In terms of design, this model is more compact than the previous version, with a design that looks like a lantern. There is a light gauze covering the yellow halo and soft light to create a comfortable bedroom atmosphere.
The Bluetooth speaker can be turned on and off via a single button on the body making it possible to listen to soft music which will help users drift to sleep. Further, the lamp can be connected to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. It also supports the MIJIA app and has four different modes that can be selected via the app. Users can also set the daily wake-up time and even choose to have a piece of soft music played in the background right from the app.
The Midian Zero Blue Music Atmosphere Light is presently up for crowdfunding on the Youpin platform and carries a price tag of 249 yuan (~$38). It is available in Smoky gray and amber colors.
DXOMARK, famous for camera reviews, has also been testing Displays of Smartphones lately. Currently, the crown of their rankings is held by Galaxy Note 20 Ultra of Samsung. The latest entrant into the list is the Google Pixel 5 but it is nowhere near the 2020 flagship rivals and even devices like the Vivo X51 5G.
According to the report, Google Pixel 5 gets an overall score of 74 on the DXOMARK Display test. To compare, the Exynos version of Galaxy Note 20 Ultra of 2020 had scored about 89 points back in August. Later, the Snapdragon Version scored a point more and is currently at the top with 90 points.
If this isn’t enough, it scores even lesser than the Vivo X51 5G that launched around the same time in Europe. This device also has an FHD+ AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate like the Pixel 5.
Google made a transition in the Pixel lineup of smartphones with the launch of Pixel 5. The device came with a mid-range Snapdragon 765G 5G chipset while its predecessor featured the flagship Snapdragon 855 chipset.
However, DisplayMate had rated the Google Pixel 4XL as a phone with the best display and an A+ rating. Hence, naturally, one would expect that a successor, with a 90Hz OLED and a premium $699 price, should have similar quality.
That said, as mentioned above, its display performs lower when compared to Vivo X51 5G(87 points) with a similar display and the Same Snapdragon 765G chipset. The Pixel 5 is 13 points behind the Vivo’s counterpart.
Coming back, DXOMARK says that Google Pixel 5 performs poorly in the readability and video department. Although it has Pros like Ambient Light adoption, Good Touch accuracy, videos without frame drops/judders, the Cons are quite a bit more.
First, in low light scenarios, the display’s light levels seem to be lower. Also, the readability quotient to enhance lighting under sunlight seems to alter the color of images too much. Some other cons include low luminance and contrast while watching videos, stutters during Games, Slower light transitions.
The Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus launched in Mystic Black, Mystic Bronze, and Mystic Silver. Now, Samsung has added a fourth colorway called Mystic Navy and you can pre-order it right now before it launches next week. The two tablets can also now be purchased in a new configuration with 512GB storage.
The new color variant is similar to the Galaxy S20 FE‘s Cloud Navy variant and it is available for both the Galaxy Tab S7 and Galaxy Tab S7 Plus. However, you can’t get it in all the configurations. Below are the available configurations you can pick up the new colorway:
Galaxy Tab S7
128GB
256GB
Galaxy Tab S7 Plus
128GB
256GB
Samsung is offering up to $130 in discounts and $30 in Samsung Credit when you pre-order the new color from its US website. The 512GB version of the two tablets is also available for pre-order but it can only be purchased in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze.
The Galaxy Tab S7 has an 11.0-inch 2560 x 1600 display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy Tab S7+ has a bigger 12.4-inch screen with a higher resolution at 2800 x 1752 and a 120Hz refresh rate. Its display is also Super AMOLED and not LCD as you have on the standard version.
Both tablets are powered by the Snapdragon 865+ processor with up to 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. On the back of the two tablets is a 13MP + 5MP dual-camera setup while the front-facing camera is an 8MP sensor. You get a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and an 8000mAh battery on the standard version while the plus model has an in-display fingerprint scanner and a 100090mAh battery capacity. Both support 45W fast wired charging, have quad speakers, and come with a stylus.
Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Viomi has launched a new IoT product. This time around, it is a robot vacuum cleaner with mopping and dust collection functions. The product dubbed Viomi Alpha 1C Robot Vacuum cleaner is a three-in-one product whose functions encompass sweeping, mopping, and dust collection.
The Viomi Alpha 1C Robot Vacuum cleaner adopts the automatic dust collection 2.0 system. When the sweeper completes the cleaning work, it will automatically return to the dust collection base to charge. Apart from charging the device, the dust collection base is where the vacuum cleaner empty the dust collected via an airport where both are connected seamlessly. After connecting, the dust collector will suck the garbage collected in the sweeper into the dust bag.
The dust bag has a large capacity of 3L, which can meet a one-month service cycle. The dust bag is disposable so you just need to throw it away when it is full.
Further, the robot vacuum’s mopping function can help destroy bacterial DNA molecules and effectively kill bacteria. Its UV sterilization rate is 99.99%, with the ability to kill germs such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other bacteria.
The Viomi dust collecting robot vacuum supports AI smart eye laser mapping, can set sweeping restricted areas, naming rooms, sweeping and dragging designated rooms on time, and so on.
In terms of performance, the Alpha 1C uses a Japanese silent brushless motor and has 2500Pa high suction power, capable of sucking in steel balls. The robot vacuum cleaner packs a mammoth 5200mAh battery, with a battery life of up to 3.6 hours, and a clean area of 320 square meters at a time.
The vacuum’s water tank uses a micro-electrically controlled water pump, which can precisely control the water speed and water volume so as not to damage the floor. There are 3 levels of water volume and 3 modes for users to choose from. As a smart device, it also supports voice control of XiaoAI speakers.
The Viomi Alpha 1C Robot Vacuum carries a price tag of 3299 yuan ($510) and is presently on sale on Jingdong (JD.com).
Despite the rampaging COVID-19 pandemic, NASA still intends to continue its space missions. Fitbit has announced a pilot scheme with the US space agency that involves the distribution of 1,000 Fitbit smart wearable devices to the staff of the agency including about 150 astronauts. The goal of the program is to establish whether indeed these devices significantly contribute to keeping personnel safe and healthy in the face of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
It is very important that the team who make up the agency are kept safe and healthy, especially mission-critical personnel. The selected crew members will have a Fitbit smart wearable device on them, while a daily check-in app will assist them to record vital data that could indicate potential symptoms of COVID-19, as well as several other health and fitness metrics. The trajectory of these vital daily readings could help to identify a potential coronavirus case and mitigate the impact through isolation and rapid treatment.
The data generated from the device, in addition to data logged by users will help the app to identify minute changes in your body system that could be an early warning sign of COVID-19. Under such circumstances, users will be notified by the app to either isolate or go to work. It can also advise on getting tested to have a definitive status of the virus.
It is expected that the Fitbit pilot program will further enhance safety protocols already put in place to ensure that employees are kept safe and healthy and astronauts are guaranteed as healthy prior to any space mission, so as not to jeopardize the mission.
In the height of the pandemic, smartwatches are increasingly becoming important devices that could help to identify a potential case of Covid-19 even several days before observable symptoms become visible. A recent study using Apple smartwatches revealed an ability to identify a patient who is likely to develop. Fitbit has also done similar work, in collaboration with others and hopes the results from the pilot program will help in fighting and preventing covid-19.
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