Samsung is actively considering acquisitions within the next 3 years

By

-

Jan 29, 2021

Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics announced that it would actively be looking into making meaningful acquisitions within the next three year. The report arrives three years after the company’s last big acquisition of the auto component maker Harman.

According to TheElec report, the South Korean tech giant’s CFO Yoonho Choi stated that the company is actively considering acquisition through its cash reserve. These cash reserves will be for strategic facilities investments along with other mergers and buyouts. As per the senior official, Samsung has been looking for notable mergers and acquisitions candidates for the past three years, which have also gone through serious reviews. Unfortunately, the company refrained from mentioning any names of the potential candidates list.

Furthermore, it is also unknown when exactly these acquisitions will occur due to the global uncertainties, but Samsung stated that it plans on making these buyouts within the period of its latest shareholders return program, as per Choi. The company announced its 3 year shareholders return program as well. In this, Samsung announced that it will continue to return 50 percent of the free cash flow (FCF) that will be generated between the period of 2021 to 2023.

Additionally, the company will also increase regular dividends to an annual total of 9.8 trillion won, which as increase from the previous program (roughly 8.7 billion US Dollars). Back in 2020, Samsung’s cash reserve was 104 trillion won. So, even if the company returns 50 percent of its dividends free cash will continue to pile up without any major merger or acquisitions. The CFO also added that the firm has yet to finalize any plans for additional investments into its Austin chip plant.

RELATED:

Xiaomi Mi 10T price in India slashed massively through Flipkart and ICICI offer

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 29, 2021

Xiaomi announced the Snapdragon 865 SoC powered Xiaomi Mi 10T and Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro flagships back in India in October last year. These handsets were priced at Rs 35,999 (~$493) and Rs 39,999 (~$548) respectively, at launch. Flipkart is now running Mobiles Bonanza Sale to offer popular phones with exciting discounts. Through the new sale which ends today, the Xiaomi Mi 10T series is available with a starting price of Rs 32,999 (~$452). Moreover, customers can make most of the ICICI bank offer to get the MI 10T for as low as Rs 29,999 (~$411).

The Xiaomi Mi 10T’s two variants such as 6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage are listed for Rs 32,999 (~$452) and Rs 34,999 (~$479), respectively during the sale. On the other side, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro which comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage is priced at Rs 39,999 (~$548). This offer is only applicable until today.

Customers with ICICI Bank credit and debit cards can take advantage of an additional discount of Rs 3,000 (~$41) on the Mobiles Bonanza Sale prices of the Mi 10T. The 6 GB and 8 GB RAM editions can be bought for Rs 29,999 (~$411) and Rs 31,999 (~$439), respectively. The Mi 10T Pro can be purchased for Rs 36,999 (~$507). The prices of the Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro are likely to revert to their usual pricing after the end of the Mobiles Bonanza Sale. However, the Rs 3,000 discount offer will continue until Jan. 31.

Xiaomi Mi 10T and Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro specifications

The Xiaomi Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro have 144Hz 6.67-inch displays that support Full HD+ resolution. They are loaded with MIUI 12 based Android 1OS. The Snapdragon 865 SoC fuels the Mi 10T duo with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage.

Both smartphones have 20-megapixel front cameras and are powered with 5,000mAh batteries that support 33W fast charging. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro’s triple camera system features a 108-megapixel main camera with OIS, a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro shooter. The Mi 10T’s triple camera setup has a 64-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel superwide lens, and a 5-megapixel macro sensor. Both phones have side-facing fingerprint scanners.

RELATED:

Lenovo also showcases a true wireless charging tech called ‘Motorola One Hyper’

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jan 29, 2021

Earlier today, Xiaomi announced a new charging solution called ‘Mi Air Charge’. This technology is capable of charging smartphones and other gadgets wirelessly over the air. A couple of hours before this announcement, Lenovo also shared a demonstration video of its true wireless charging tech on Weibo.

Chen Jin, the General Manager of Lenovo China Mobile Phone Business Department posted a video on Weibo before Xiaomi’s big announcement. The video demonstrates the company’s true wireless charging tech.

Lenovo calls this over the air charging tech ‘Motorola One Hyper’. It is weird for the company to name its innovative solution after a budget smartphone from late 2019.

That said, the video showcases a black-colored device (true wireless charger) and two smartphones, which look like Motorola Edge/Edge+. These handsets start charging without any contact with the charger over the air when they are placed at 80cm and 100cm away respectively.

At the end of the video, the person demonstrating the tech places their hand in the line of sight of the charger and the phones. At that moment, the devices stop charging, which suggests that Lenovo has engineered this charging stand to terminate charging when a human or any foreign object is detected, for safety.

Unfortunately, Lenovo hasn’t shared any more details about this technology. But the video does confirm that this charging tech is based on Qi and it can be used to charge up to seven devices.

Honor to launch a foldable Magic series smartphone this year: Report

By

Sean

-

Jan 29, 2021

Honor is reportedly gearing up to launch a new foldable handset later this year. The folding device will be a part of the company’s Magic series of smartphones, as per a new report.

Earlier this week, known Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, tipster @长安数码君 shared a new post online. In this, the leakster stated that the company is planning on launching a new foldable smartphone within the Magic lineup. Reportedly, this device will be a premium grade flagship handset from the former Huawei sub brand. Previously, Zhao Ming, CEO of the company, had mentioned that the company will soon also launch flagship series like the ‘Mate’ and ‘P’ series from Huawei.

In other words, this smartphone could be one of the first ultra high end device from the known Chinese budget device maker. Notably, the company’s former parent company already has a foldable lineup with its Mate X series, so the upcoming foldable phone might be a counterpart of it. The company recently launched its first flagship handset, the V40, recently, which is one of its first launch after parting with Huawei.

Unfortunately, finer details regarding this device is currently unknown at the moment. Furthermore, this is still an unconfirmed report and we will have to wait for an official Honor announcement to know for sure. In other words, take this report with a pinch of salt for now and stay tuned as we will be providing more updates when additional information is available regarding this matter.

RELATED:

Facebook reportedly planning to file antitrust lawsuit against Apple

By

Jeet

-

Jan 29, 2021

Facebook, the social media giant, is reportedly preparing to file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. The company is alleging that the company is forcing developers to follow App Store rules that its own apps don’t have to abide by.

As per the reports, Facebook has been preparing the case for months alongside external legal experts. The complaint could also cover Apple‘s other practices, such as not allowing third-party messenger apps to become the default app.

It is also being reported that Facebook has discussed the possibility of inviting other companies to join the potential lawsuit. Do note that the company is preparing the complaint but hasn’t filed it yet.

The major reason behind this step of Facebook is the upcoming ad-tracking changes to the App Store which many developers believed gives an unfair advantage to Apple given that the policy doesn’t apply to Apple. However, the company says that it doesn’t share user data with third-party to protect user privacy.

If and when this lawsuit is filed, it will be the second major antitrust lawsuit against Apple in recent months. A few months ago, Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, filed a lawsuit against Apple seeking changes to the company’s business practices, mostly related to the in-app purchases and a whopping 30% cut the company takes.

Apple, along with Facebook, Google, and Amazon are currently under antitrust scrutiny in the United States. Apple and Facebook are under investigation related to online market competition, including for advertising business and App Store policies.

RELATED:

The 120W Mi Charger (second charge version) delivers 100% full charge in 23 minutes

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 29, 2021

In August last year, Xiaomi celebrated its 10th anniversary, and to mark the milestone, the company launched the Mi 10 Ultra and Redmi K30 Ultra. The Mi 10 Ultra is the star product and comes with 120W fast charge support. This happens to be the first and perhaps, the only smartphone with such massive charging power. Indeed, the Mi 10 Ultra shipped with a 120W charger inside the box.

Xiaomi has now launched the 120W Mi Charger for sale in China. The charger carries a decent price tag of 249 yuan (~$38) and is available on Xiaomi Mall.

Apart from this industry-leading tech, the company also introduced the industry-leading 80W wireless fast charging and 10W wireless reverse charging technologies. The Mi Charger 120W (second charging version) can be used to charge the Mi 10 Ultra which packs a 4500mAh battery. The charger can fill the smartphone up to 41% in only 5 minutes and 100% in 23 minutes.

The Mi Charger 120W (second charging version) is equipped with ten intelligent protection mechanisms, with short circuit protection, over current protection, over-voltage protection, extreme temperature protection, under-voltage protection, electrostatic protection, electromagnetic field protection, lightning protection, access Impedance abnormal protection, data line encryption protection, and other functions which ensure that the product works in the normal current range in real-time.

It also has a built-in smart identification chip and is compatible with mainstream smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices on the market. With the original Xiaomi data cable, it can safely charge most Type-C laptops on the market so you only have to carry just one charger for all your gadgets when embarking on a business trip.

In terms of design, the 120W second charging version of the Xiaomi charger uses a PC flame-retardant white shell. The overall design style is simple, the charger waist is designed with a shiny surface, and the input and output terminals are frosted.

RELATED;

Cosmo Communicator running Ubuntu Touch operating system surface online

By

Jeet

-

Jan 29, 2021

The smartphone market currently is divided between two different types, based on their software — Android and iOS. There have been a few other options in the market, such as Windows Phone and others, but none of them were successful.

There was a mobile operating system called Ubuntu Touch, based on the popular Linux distribution — Ubuntu. While Canonical, the company behind Ubunut, gave up its efforts on Ubuntu Touch, here is one of the best example of the device running it.

Planet Computers is the company behind Cosmo Communicator and it had promised to open up the device to more operating systems. It has been working to get Ubuntu Touch and now it seems that the outcome is finally here.

The device, named Cosmo Communicator, is basically a computer in the pocket which also supports calling functionality. The device is designed in such as a way that it works in landscape orientation and there’s a hardware keyboard for typing.

The operating system, Ubuntu Touch, was designed for smartphones but it also made flexible enough to be able to run on smartphones, tablets, and even PCs. And given that it is based on Linux, the software supports several functions.

A formal release of this is expected to happen later this year. The company is said to be working with the UBports community and the Linux community at large to bring support for other Linux distributions to its portable computers.

Meanwhile, Planet Computers has a new smartphone + PC device coming up — Astro Slide 5G, which is currently up for crowdfunding.

RELATED:

Richard Yu to head Huawei Cloud and AI units as company expands to newer markets

By

Sean

-

Jan 29, 2021

Huawei Technologies’ Consumer Business Group’s chief executive, Richard Yu, will be heading the company’s efforts into cloud services and artificial intelligence, as the firm expands to new and emerging markets.

According to an SCMP report, Richard Yu will take over as head of the two business units of the Chinese tech giant from the current lead Huo Jinlong. The news arrives via an internal memo being seen by SCMP. Furthermore, it was also reported that the senior executive will take on his new roles officially as of 7th February 2021. Furthermore, Huo will be transferred to the company’s digital power service, which is a unit under the telecom equipment maker’ carrier business group that deals in telecommunications network operators.

As per Kitty Fok, managing director of IDC China, “AI and cloud computing are the key growth areas in China over the next few years.Putting more focus and investments in AI and cloud computing is an important strategy for Huawei to capture future opportunities.” Unfortunately, Huawei has declined to comment on the matter of its internal management reshuffling at the moment. The report also arrives as the company is currently expanding and pushing towards newer growth market.

For those unaware, US sanctions have drastically impacts the Huawei’s primary business unit, its smartphone division, and has caused it to now focus on other core areas. A while back, the company’s Founder and CEO even called for decentralization as well, while Huawei also focuses more on its cloud computing services and other ventures, including cloud gaming, AI, virtual reality and augmented reality technologies. However, it remains to be seen what new hurdles awaits the company, especially now with the arrival of the new US president, Joe Biden.

RELATED:

Apple patents a Periscopic zoom camera lens for future iPhone

By

Sean

-

Jan 29, 2021

While Apple had previously been rumored to include a periscopic zoom lens in its iPhones last year, the company has yet to launch a smartphone with a dedicated camera with magnification capabilities. But, it seems that the technology is still in the works as the company patented a ‘Periscopic Camera Module’.

According to a PatentlyApple report, the US Patent and Trademark Office published a new patent application, earlier today (29th January 2021). In the documents, the Cupertino based giant’s invention is for a folding camera technology with a range of 85 to 165mm. This folded camera could perhaps be used in a small form factor camera module. The patented camera features two light folding elements and a lens system located between these two elements.

Furthermore, the lens system itself may be independent from the light folding elements and it may also include an aperture stop and lens element with a refractive power mounted in a lens barrel. In simpler terms, the camera system could essentially offer superior optical zoom capabilities paired with additional digital zoom functionality as well. We can expect this technology to arrive in future iPhones, although, it is currently unknown if the new camera lens would ship with the 2021 iPhone lineup.

Notably, the patent document also added that this camera lens is not just limited to the iPhone and we could even see it debut in a “a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, tablet or pad device, slate, or netbook computer, mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation,” and many other such devices. Meaning, this could just be Apple covering all bases at the moment. So stay tuned for more updates.

RELATED:

Itel A47 smartphone to launch on February 1 in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 29, 2021

Transsion India’s phone brand named itel will be launching a new smartphone named itel A47 in India on Feb. 1. The microsite of the upcoming smartphone is now live on Amazon India. According to 91mobiles, the itel A47 will be priced under Rs 6,000 (~$82) in India.

The microsite states that the itel A47 will offer users a big display, better storage, and the best security. The silhouette of the phone suggests that it could be sporting an 18:9 aspect ratio supporting display with thick bezels.

The phone will offer users 32 GB of native storage and its rear shell seems to feature a dual-camera setup. For security, the handset will come equipped with a fingerprint scanner.

91mobiles has learned through industry insiders that it will be priced under Rs 6,000. The publication has also shared a leaked image of the device. The handset can be seen in two gradient color variants in the leaked render.

The image reveals that the itel A47 has a textured back panel. Apart from the fingerprint scanner and a camera module, the rear shell also features a speaker grille. Its bottom edge has a microUSB port and a volume rocker can be seen on its right spine. At the front, the handset has an earpiece and a selfie camera placed in the top bezel.

The publication also shared some of the leaked specs of the itel A47. The device will come with a 5.5-inch HD+ display and 2 GB of RAM. For photography, the handset will have a primary camera of 8-megapixel on its back and a selfie snapper of 5-megapixel. It will run on Android 10 (Go Edition) and it will carry support for LTE connectivity.

RELATED:

Realme 7i debuts in Europe as rebranded Narzo 20

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 29, 2021

In Europe, Realme has been three Realme 7 series of smartphones such as Realme 7, Realme 7 Pro, and Realme 7 5G. The Realme 7i is the latest phone from the company to go official in Europe. It is not the same Snapdragon 662 powered Realme 7i that is available in India and other Asian markets. The Realme 7i for Europe is a rebadged version of the Narzo 20.

Realme 7i specifications

The Realme 7i has a 6.5-inch HD+ resolution supporting LCD screen. The teardrop notch display offers a screen space of 88.7 percent. The Helio G85 chipset by MediaTek is present under the hood of the Realme 7i along with 4 GB of RAM.

The smartphone ships with a native storage of 64 GB and it has a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage. The Realme UI based Android 10 OS comes preloaded on the smartphone.

The Realme 7i has a 6,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. The handset supports the reverse charging function. Placed on the front is an 8-megapixel AI selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture. The back panel of the device has a triple camera system that includes a 48-megapixel main lens with f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter, and a 2-megapixel camera with a 4cm focal length.

A rear-mounted fingerprint scanner is available on the Realme 7i. It is packed with other features such as dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Realme 7i pricing and availability

The Realme 7i is priced at 159 euros (~$192) in Europe and its color variants are Glory Silver and Victory Blue. The official listing states that the Realme 7i is heading to markets like Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Portugal.

RELATED:

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro leak reveals 5,000mAh dual-cell battery configuration

By

Jeet

-

Jan 29, 2021

Xiaomi recently launched its Mi 11 flagship smartphone, powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC. Now, the company is gearing up to launch an upgraded variant of the same, dubbed Mi 11 Pro.

The smartphone is expected to get launched after the Spring Festival in China, most likely in the last week of February. Now, ahead of the launch, details about the device are surfacing online, the latest being information about its battery.

As per the report, the upcoming Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will come powered by a 5,000mAh battery. It is also said that the company has opted for a dual-call battery configuration, enabling a more effective faster-charging solution.

It is said that the company could be offering a monstrous 200W fast charging support on the Mi 11 Pro along with 67W wireless charging. There’s a possibility that the phone may come with 120W fast charging and 80W wireless charging.

As for the other specifications, the device is expected to feature a 6.81-inch AMOLED panel — the same screen that is available on the Xiaomi Mi 11. However, it is expected to have a Quad HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate support, and a 480Hz touch sampling rate.

Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. In the camera department, there will be a quad-camera setup on the back, likely with Sony IMX766 as the main sensor and 120x zoom support.

In the software department, the phone is likely to be running the latest Android 11 operating system along with the company’s own MIUI custom user interface on top. With just a few weeks to go before it gets launched officially, we expect to know more about the smartphone in the coming days.

RELATED:

Vivo S7t 5G pricing and specs appear on Chinese retailer site

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 29, 2021

Last year, Vivo unveiled two selfie-centric S-series phones in China such as Vivo S7 5G and Vivo S7e 5G. New reports have revealed that the company is gearing up to launch another S7 model named the Vivo S7t 5G in China. While Vivo is yet to confirm its existence, the handset has appeared on Suning (a Chinese retailer site) with full specs and pricing.

Vivo S7t 5G pricing (Unconfirmed)

At Suning, the Vivo S7t 5G is listed with a pricing of 2,598 Yuan (~$402) for its sole version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage. Its three color variants are Moonlight Silver, Jazz Black, and Monet. The handset can be seen sporting a wide notch display and a rear design like the Vivo VS7 5G. Speaking of S7 5G, its 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB editions are selling for 2,698 Yuan (~$418) and 2,898 Yuan (~$448), respectively.

Vivo S7t 5G specifications (Unconfirmed)

The Vivo S7t 5G’s listing at Suning states that it has a 6.44-inch AMOLED display that offers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. As past reports have claimed, the retailer site mentions that the Vivo S7t 5G is driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 820 chipset.

The dual selfie camera setup of the Vivo S7t 5G has a 44-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel superwide lens. Its back panel has a 64-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel superwide sensor, and the third camera of 2-megapixel.

The Vivo S7t 5G draws power from a 4,000mAh battery. Its 3C appearance had revealed that it could be shipping with a 33W fast charger. Other specs that are mentioned in the listing include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, USB Type-C, and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

The alleged Vivo S7t 5G was seen at Google Play Console yesterday. An image present in the listing revealed that it has a teardrop notch screen. Probably, it could be a placeholder image. Since there are conflicting reports about the smartphone, it is recommended to digest the information that has appeared through its retailer listing with a pinch of salt.

RELATED:

Honor CEO confirms to be in talks with Google to get GMS support

By

Jeet

-

Jan 29, 2021

Huawei Technologies, the Chinese giant which was once the leading smartphone brand in the world (in Q2 2020), is now practically out of the smartphone business because of the trade restrictions imposed by the United States.

To ensure that its sub-brand Honor survives, the company sold it off to Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd. After its split, it retained almost all of its employees, which are over 8,000, including some of the company’s executives.

The company is now in talks with several companies to streamline its supply chain and production. Now, Honor CEO George Zhao Ming has confirmed that it is in talks with Google and will soon have Google Mobile Services (GMS) support for its devices.

Given that Honor is no longer a part of Huawei, the company will be able to get access to Google’s software and services. For those who are unaware, Huawei was banned from using Google’s services because of the sanctions imposed by the United and since Honor was a sub-brand of Huawei, it too wasn’t permitted to use Google‘s offerings.

Honor’s CEO has also reiterated what he said when the company was becoming independent — to become a leader in the market. Honor is looking to compete against its former parent company Huawei as well as Apple, as it is eying for the pole position in the Chinese smartphone market.

Apart from Google, the company is also in talks with other companies for the needed components, including Qualcomm for chipsets. It recently launched its own online storage named Honor Mall and is in the process of setting up several new offline stores.

RELATED:

Apple iPhone 13 Pro to reportedly have 1TB internal storage variant

By

Jeet

-

Jan 29, 2021

Apple recently launched its iPhone 12 series models in the market and the lineup has been so successful that the company managed to break all the records, shipping 90 million units of iPhones in Q4 2020.

The iPhone 12 series is the first from the company to come with support for 5G communication and now the company is gearing up for the iPhone 13 models. While details about this upcoming lineup have been making rounds for some time, the latest information hints about the massive storage upgrade.

As per the latest report, Apple could launch a 1TB storage variant of the iPhone 13 Pro next year. This is twice the storage capacity when compared to the highest capacity model in the current iPhone 12 lineup.

The Apple iPhone XS was the first smartphone from the Cupertino-based giant to come with 512GB internal storage and since then, the company has not added more storage options in its successors, which include iPhone 11 and iPhone 12.

It is being reported that only the Pro models could have a 1TB storage capacity. It is also not confirmed if the company plans to increase the storage capacity in the base model, which is currently at 128GB.

If the previous reports are to be believed, then the upcoming iPhone 13 models will come with a smaller notch on top of the display. The company is also rumored to include an in-display fingerprint in the iPhone 13 models, along with support for Wi-Fi 6E.

It is still early to get confirmation about all these reports but there’s a high possibility of them turning out to be true. We expect to know more about these upcoming phones in the coming months, ahead of their launch in September this year.

RELATED:

Xiaomi’s Mi Air Charge Technology brings a true wire-free charging experience

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 29, 2021

In the past few years, Xiaomi has been one of the few phone companies setting the pace in terms of new technologies. For example, the Mi MIX was the phone that ignited the bezel-less craze. Xiaomi has also proved that it is one of the pioneers in charging technology with announcements such as its 80W wireless charging technology. Today, it has taken it to another level with its Mi Air Charge Technology which allows you to charge multiple devices simultaneously without the need for cables or a wireless charging stand.

Xiaomi says that its patented Mi Air Charge Technology makes use of a special self-developed tower/box-like device that uses beamforming technology to send millimeter waves directly to a device. These waves are converted to electric power that charges the device.

The tower is said to have 5 phase-detection antennas that help it locate the position of a smartphone (or compatible device) in a room in milliseconds. It also has 144 beamforming antennas that transfer millimeter waves.

The phone itself is fitted with two antenna arrays similar to the ones in the charging device but much smaller in size. The first is the beacon array that communicates with the charging tower and the other is the receiving antenna array made up of 14 antennas that receive the millimeter waves which are then converted into electric power via a special circuit and used to charge the device.

Xiaomi has released a short video that shows the new technology in action. The video also gives us a better look at the box-like device behind the technology.

Xiaomi says that at the moment, Mi Air Charge Technology supports the charging of multiple devices simultaneously at long-range at a maximum power of 5W (per device). While that is so much slower than its 80W wireless technology for phones, Xiaomi’s main goal doesn’t seem to be phones but smaller devices and home appliances.

According to a Weibo post by Adam Zeng Xuezhong, the new head of Xiaomi’s mobile division who took over from Lin Bin last year, the plan is to have Mi Air Charge Technology charge wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers in the future. It is also expected that it will be able to power other small devices in the homes such as speakers and desk lamps. The ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for wires which have become a menace in most households.

RELATED:

One UI 3.0 with Android 11 arrives for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 29, 2021

Samsung is continuing its streak of updating its devices to Android 11 faster than most manufacturers. The latest device to get the update is the 2020 Galaxy Note 10 Lite.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note10-Lite-SM-N770F — Galaxy Note 10 Lite

The update is rolling out to users in France already as software version N770FXXU7DUA8. It has been reported by SamMobile that the update also comes with January 2021’s security patch. It is expected to arrive in the coming weeks in more regions.

Android 11 is the first major OS upgrade for the phone which launched in January 2020 with Android 10 pre-installed. The update includes the new One UI 3.0 which brings a new user interface, new camera features, and a redesigned Quick Settings among others.

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite is one of the devices that Samsung said will get three Android OS upgrades, so owners of this phone should expect it to get updated to Android 12 and Android 13 in the future.

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite has a 6.7-inch 2400 x 1080 display with a centered punch hole for a 32MP camera. Inside the phone is the 10nm Exynos 9810 processor and it is paired with 6GB of 8GB of RAM. The storage capacity for both variants is 128GB but a MicroSDXC card slot allows for storage expansion.

Samsung has put three 12MP cameras on the back of the phone. One is the main sensor, another is a telephoto camera that has OIS and 2x optical zoom, and the third is the ultrawide camera.

The Galaxy Note 10 Lite packs a 4500mAh battery with support for 25W fast wired charging. Samsung has skipped wireless charging and reverse wireless charging support which is available on its siblings, the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus. You do get an audio jack, NFC, and an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Unfortunately, those looking forward to a successor will most likely not get one as there are multiple reports that Samsung has terminated the Galaxy Note series.

RELATED:

First look at Sony Xperia 1 III shows an unchanged design and a new periscope lens

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 29, 2021

The Xperia 1 II was one of two flagships that Sony launched last year; the other being the Xperia 5 II. Now, a new leak has given us our first look at the upcoming Xperia 1 III and it looks like Sony is sticking to the same design as its predecessor.

The renders were first posted on the web by the reliable leaker, Steve Hemmerstoffer, who is popularly known as OnLeaks. According to him, the phone’s overall size has shrunk but the size of the display has remained unchanged. This should make the phone even more comfortable to hold.

The 6.5-inch display is a 4K HDR OLED panel with a 21:9 asect ratio. While we expect the resolution should remain 3840 x 1644, we can’t say if the refresh rate is still 60Hz. Last year, Sony said that the Motion Blur Reduction feature produces the same experience you will get from a 90Hz screen. That is why the Xperia 1 II doesn’t have a higher refresh rate. There is a chance that will be the case again with the .

The bezels are slim but the forehead still houses the selfie camera and one of the stereo speakers while the chin has the second speaker. The screen should be covered with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 6 just like its predecessor or the new Gorilla Glass Victus. The back is also covered in glass and the camera housing is at the same spot as that of the Xperia 1 II.

There are four cameras on the back of the phone but this is not the exact setup as last year’s model. Sony has swapped the regular telephoto camera for one with a periscope lens. This should give the Xperia 1 III a fighting chance with respect to zoom against phones like the Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The phone still has a 3D iTOF sensor and the other two cameras should be the main sensor and ultrawide camera. Of course, there is ZEISS T coating.

The phone has its volume rocker on the right side along with the power button which doubles as a fingerprint scanner. However, alongside the textured shutter button at the bottom, the Xperia 1 III gets an extra button just like the Xperia 5 II. This should be a dedicated Google Assistant button.

The bottom of the phone is home to the USB-C charging port and microphone. The top of the phone has an audio jack and another microphone while the left side of the phone should be where the SIM tray/MicroSD card sits. The Xperia 1 III measures 161.6 x 67.3 x 8.4mm (9.6mm with the camera bump).

Going by last year’s model, the Xperia 1 III should launch next month but we hope folks don’t have to wait until May before they get their hands on it.

RELATED:

Amazon launches the Ring Video Doorbell Wired priced at $60

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 28, 2021

Amazon‘s video doorbell arm, Ring has launched its latest video doorbell dubbed Ring Video Doorbell Wired. The doorbell happens to be the brand’s smallest and cheapest video doorbell, priced at $59.99.The affordable Ring Video Doorbell is available now for preorder and will begin shipping from February 24, 2021.

The Ring Video Doorbell Wired features several new features but also misses out on a couple of others. First, it can only be used as a hard-wired doorbell. The device doesn’t feature the basic option of using a battery.

The new video doorbell comes at a compact form factor and is the first security device from Ring that is priced below the $100 mark. It comes with two-way audio, live streaming, advanced motion detection, motion and privacy zones, night vision, etc.

Further, users can also opt for a $3 /month subscription service. This subscription service offers a better notification system and also different video storage options. The Ring Video Doorbell wired also works with other smart home devices such as Alexa supported Amazon Echo speakers and displays, lights, and alarms.

The product is already up for pre-order on Ring’s official website, and also on Amazon’s website. It costs only $60 online, and the price is the same at Home Depot stores as well. It is expected to start shipping from February 24, 2021, whereas it will arrive at other stores starting March 26.

RELATED;

Amazon Echo Show 10 now available to pre-order for the first time

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 28, 2021

Amazon announced the Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) alongside the Echo and Echo Plus in September last year. While the two models have been on sale, the Echo Show 10 has been missing in action. Although the feature-rich smart display is still not ready to ship right away, it is now up for pre-order in the U.S on Amazon for $249.99. the product is expected to start shipping from February 25.

Also, Amazon is offering a discount of $100 if two units are ordered. You can access this offer using the coupon code “SHOW102PACK” at checkout. Alternatively, you can order the third-gen Echo Show 10 alongside a $35-worth Blink Mini indoor smart security camera at only a $5 extra charge.

The Amazon Echo Show 10 features an improved design. The device packs a unique rotating display that automatically turns to face you when you speak to it. The display can also track your movements and keep the screen facing towards you during video calls, recipes, or watching videos.

The smart gadget packs a 10.1-inch display and triple speaker assembly which is placed on a rotating body that can spin 360-degrees using a brushless motor. There is a 13MP camera on the front to keep track of your movement and moves the display to face your direction. This feature is only active when the user is performing an activity on the device that requires your attention. Also, when a voice command is given, the device will recognize the direction the voice command came from and turn the display in that direction.

You also get a built-in smart home hub for connecting your devices on the Echo Show 10. The smart display comes with support for Spotify, Hulu, Apple Music, Prime Video and Music, and more based on the region. Amazon has also announced that support for Netflix and Zoom is coming later this year.

RELATED: