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WhatsApp postpones new Privacy Policy cut-off date to May 15; Explains the changes in Detail

By
Balaji S
-

Right from the day WhatsApp announced its changes in Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, it has been facing a lot of backlash. Users on Social media have been expressing their disapproval and some are even recommending alternatives. As a result, rivals like Telegram and Signal have witnessed millions of downloads recently. To end this, WhatsApp has now given an explanation and postponed the cut-off date.

WhatsApp Logo

WhatsApp tweeted that it’s working constantly to counter the confusion on the privacy of users’ messages and Account suspension. Through a blog post, it has now announced the extension of the cut-off date to May 15, 2021. Also, WhatsApp clearly says that it won’t delete anyone’s account on February 8 which was earlier the last date for users to accept the new update changes.

Speaking of which, in case you are unaware, WhatsApp recently updated its privacy policy and terms of service. Accordingly, it added new sections about business chats and sharing of data with other Facebook companies.

However, People started spreading the news that WhatsApp gets access to Private messages and locations. To this, WhatsApp now says that they are protected by end-to-end encryption and neither Facebook/WhatsApp can access it.

EDITOR’S PICK: Facebook under antitrust probe in Turkey over updated WhatsApp terms

 

Through the blog post, WhatsApp also says that it will continue to follow the things that it did before as shown below:

  • No access to users’ private messages by WhatsApp/Facebook
  • WhatsApp doesn’t store logs of Messages/call info.
  • WhatsApp/Facebook can’t see your Shared Location.
  • WhatsApp doesn’t share your contacts with Facebook.
  • WhatsApp Groups are Private.
  • You can make your messages disappear(via Disappearing Messages)
  • Locally Download your data anytime.

That said, WhatsApp still stands by the update changes regarding Businesses, Payments, and concurrently Facebook’s help. Precisely, some businesses that use Facebook’s hosting services might run on WhatsApp too. WhatsApp will label them separately so you can make your choice as to whether chat with them/not.

It further mentions clauses about Discovering businesses from Facebook/Instagram Ads and using their shopping experiences on WhatsApp. Simply put, the update excludes sharing info like personal messages, contacts & location to Facebook.

Nevertheless, WhatsApp is now moving back the date for accepting the terms. During this period, we can expect more explanation about privacy in future before the business options go live on May 15.

UP NEXT: WhatsApp faces first legal complaint in India over its recent Privacy policy changes

 

POCO M3 Indonesia launch date is January 21

By
Balaji S
-

Xiaomi launched the Redmi Note9 4G in China back in November. However, POCO was the first to launch this as the POCO M3 in Europe a couple of days earlier. Although the specs are similar we have differences in design and Cameras. A tweaked version of the Redmi Note9 4G has also landed in India as the Redmi 9 Power. Now, POCO has finally revealed that POCO M3 will make it to Indonesia.

Poco M3 Price

POCO Indonesia, via a Tweet, confirms that POCO M3 will launch in Indonesia on January 21. The company is marketing it as an entry-level killer smartphone in the country. The launch event is scheduled to happen at 19:30 WIB(Western Indonesian Time – UTC+7). A poster image shared in the tweet shows the device in Yellow Color in the Faux Leather Finish on rear.

Recently, some leaked videos said that the POCO M3 could be rebranded as Redmi 9T in some markets. However, the latter is just a rebrand of Redmi 9 Power as its images showed quad-cameras and not Triple-cameras like POCO M3 above. Anyway, it’s refreshing that POCO is expanding the horizons of POCO M3 which in my opinion is a beautiful looking device.

POCO M3 Specifications

Assuming that POCO doesn’t do a last-minute dive on change in specs, POCO M3 should carry over the same features from Europe. In that case, it will feature a 6.53-inch IPS LCD display with a water-drop notch. It will have an FHD+ resolution, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, TUV Rheinland certification for Low Blue-Light.

Under the hood, Snapdragon 662 SoC will power the device paired with 4GB RAM, and 64/128GB UFS 2.1/2.2 storage. That said, we will have to wait and see if POCO brings any other variants to Indonesia. For Cameras, it will likely get a 48MP f/1.79 main lens, and a pair of 2MP sensors.

Othe features will include an 8MP selfie camera, 6,000mAh battery with 18W charging, dual speakers, IR blaster, 3.5mm jack, and run MIUI 12(Android 10).

UP NEXT: POCO was India’s third-largest smartphone brand online in November 2020

Thomson Path series smart TVs launched in India with Apple AirPlay support

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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Super Plastronics, the brand licensee of Thomson televisions in India, has launched two new models under the Thomson Path series of smart TVs. These televisions run the Android TV operating system but also support AirPlay to stream content from Apple devices. Let us take a look a the specs, features, and price of these TVs in this article.

Thomson Path Series Smart TV Featured

Thomson Path Series (PATH2121, PATH0009BL) Smart TVs Specifications and Features

The new Thomson Path series smart televisions come with model numbers PATH2121 and PATH0009BL respectively. The former TV sports a 42-inch panel, whereas the latter flaunts a 43-inch panel.

Though both of them have different sized screens, these DLED IPS panels include identical features, such as FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels) resolution, 178° viewing angle, 500 nits peak brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, and 500000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.

EDITOR’S PICK: AmazonBasics 32/43-inch Fire TV Edition televisions launched in India

 

Further, they are powered by an Amlogic chipset consisting of a quad-core CPU ( 4 x 1.4GHz ARM Cortex-A53) and an ARM Mali-450MP3 GPU. This SoC is paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage.

For connectivity and I/O, these televisions come with single-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x AV ports, optical port, line port, RF port, ethernet port, and 3.5mm audio jack. Talking about audio, the 42-inch and 43-inch models include 30W and 40W speakers respectively.

Last but not least, they run the Android TV Pie operating system with support for Google Assistant (via voice-enabled remote control) and all the leading streaming services except Netflix. Also, interestingly, they support Apple AirPlay, in addition to Google Chromecast.

Thomson Path Series (PATH2121, PATH0009BL) Smart TVs Pricing and Availability

The Thomson Path Series smart televisions will retail for the following prices starting January 20 on Flipkart.

  • Thomson Path Series 42-inch Smart TV (PATH2121) – ₹19,999 ($273)
  • Thomson Path Series 43-inch Smart TV (PATH0009BL) – ₹22,499 ($308)
UP NEXT: Infinix X1 Android TV and Snokor soundbar launched in India for Rs 11,999 (~$163) and Rs 4,499 (~$61)

 

(Via)

Nexstgo launches VAIO E15 and VAIO SE14 laptops in India

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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Nexstgo Company Limited, the official brand licensee for VAIO laptops in Asia, has launched two models in India in the form of VAIO E15 and VAIO SE14. These notebooks mark the return of VAIO-branded notebooks in the country after a very long time. For those unaware, Nexstgo, a Hong Kong-based firm, is known for its Avita-branded laptops in India.

The new VAIO laptops are exclusive to Flipkart in the country and come with a 2-year onsite warranty. They are currently up for pre-order up until January 24. As part of the launch offer, the company is providing a discount of ₹3,000 for prepaid customers.

VAIO E15 Specifications, Features, and Price

The VAIO E15 is the cheapest of the two laptops launched by Nexstgo in India. It is priced at ₹49,990 for the variant powered by AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor and ₹56,990 for the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U version.

VAIO E15 Laptop Featured 01

This notebook flaunts a 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (FHD) and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Weighing approximately 1.77Kg, it comes with a full-size backlit keyboard (numpad included) and measures 358.7 × 239.2 × 19.9mm in dimensions.

Further, the laptop features 8GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM and 512GB SSD. For GPU, the Ryzen 5 version comes with Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, whereas the Ryzen 7 variant features Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics.

Talking about connectivity and ports, it comes with dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, 1 x LAN, 1 x USB Type-C (charging), 2 x USB Type-A 3.1, 1 x HDMI, and 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack, and 1 x SD card reader.

Other features include a 1MP webcam, dual-speaker, dual-microphone, Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system, and two colors (Graphite Black, Tin Silver).

EDITOR’S PICK: Global PC Market witnessed highest annual growth since 2010 in Q4 2020

 

VAIO SE14 Specifications, Features, and Price

Unlike the former model, this notebook comes in a single variant powered by 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U processor with Intel UHD Graphics 620. It features 8GB DDR4 2400MHz RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD.

VAIO SE14 Laptop Featured 01

It is also smaller and lighter than the previous laptop as it sports a 16:9 14-inch IPS LCD screen with FHD (1920 x 1080 pixels resolution, weighs approximately 1.35kg, and measures 324.4 x 229.6 x 19.55mm in dimensions.

For connectivity and ports, it comes with dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, 2 x USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 1 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort), 2 x USB Type-A 3.1, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x 3.5mm combo audio jack, and 1 x MicroSD card reader.

Other features include a 1MP webcam, quad-speaker (dual-top firing, dual down-firing), dual-microphone, TPM2.0 HW solution, fingerprint sensor, lock slot, full-size backlit keyboard (without numpad), Microsoft Windows 10 Home operating system, up to 13-hour battery life, and two colors (Red Copper, Dark Gray).

Last but not least, the VAIO SE14 thin and light laptop is priced at ₹62,990.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi Mi Notebook 14 e-learning Edition launched in India with Intel Core i3-10110U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD & more

 

Galaxy M62’s FCC listing confirms the device to be a phablet

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

The existence of a Samsung smartphone called Galaxy M62 was first reported in November 2020. The handset was later said to be a tablet instead. Then, its alleged images appeared on the internet last week. They suggested it to be a giant phone aka phablet. Now, the device’s FCC certification also confirms the same.

Samsung Galaxy M62 Live Image Leak Featured
Alleged Galaxy M62 Chassis (Source: 91Mobiles)

The upcoming Galaxy M62 has been spotted on FCC with ID A3LSMM625F. The listing confirms the phone’s two model numbers – SM-M625F/DS and SM-E62F/DS (DS stands for dual-SIM). 

A device with the latter model number leaked in live images in December as Galaxy E62. But now, we can confirm that it will be not the case, however, there’s still a chance of Samsung releasing the Galaxy M62 as Galaxy E62 in some markets.

Further, the listing reveals this device to come with 4G LTE, dual-band WiFi, NFC, and a 7,000mAh battery. As far as other specs are concerned, it is expected to feature Exynos 9825 SoC, at least 6GB RAM and, Android 11 (One UI 3.0) operating system, as per a Geekbnech listing.

For those unaware, this is the same chipset that powers the older Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy Note10+ flagship smartphones. Lastly, according to the first-ever report of this phone, it will come with 256GB internal storage but there could be a lower storage option as well.

Unfortunately, nothing else is known about the display and camera of the upcoming Galaxy M62 phablet. But we do expect to learn about them before the product’s official launch in the coming days.

UP NEXT: Samsung may eventually stop shipping chargers with its smartphones

 

Xiaomi releases the first batch of 28 models scheduled to receive MIUI 12.5

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Back in December 2020, Xiaomi announced the MIUI 12.5, a successor to the MIUI 12, which it describes as lighter, faster, and more efficient than before. The update brings a refined package with lower power and memory consumption by the core apps.

MIUI 12.5

When it was released, Xiaomi disclosed that a number of models will get the update in batches. Xiaomi has now officially posted the full list of eligible devices that would get upgraded to MIUI 12.5. The list spreads across flagship and mid-range models from Xiaomi and the Redmi brand.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi Mi Watch global variant on sale with $20 discount coupon via Giztop

The models include Xiaomi  Mi 11, Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Mi 9, Mi 9 Pro, Mi 9 Transparent Exclusive Edition, Mi 9SE, Mi CC9 Pro, Mi CC9, Mi CC9e, Mi CC9 Meitu Custom Edition, Redmi 10X, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi K30, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30i 5G, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K30 Extreme Commemorative Edition, Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 8, Redmi Note 7, and Redmi Note 7 Pro.

As expected, the update will be pushed to the models in China first but Xiaomi has promised to deliver MIUI 12.5 Beta for global units . There no word yet on the roll out timeline.

As a reminder, the MIUI 12.5 has an improved “MIUI Light Cone Motion Effect Architecture” than MIUI 12. It includes a dedicated thread for gestures, priority scheduling with the improved response time. It’s computing power has also been upgraded to 20-times the Rendering Engine than before. Further, the UI animations have also been improved. You can read more about the new ROM from our launch article here.

UP NEXT: Huawei plans to open its biggest Flagship Store outside China: Report

OPPO A94 could be coming soon as it bags IMDA certification

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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OPPO is working on a new smartphone called the OPPO A94. The handset has bagged approval from Singapore’s IMDA authority.

The IMDA listing of the OPPO A94 (via) reveals that its model number is CPH2203. Unfortunately, apart from revealing that its an LTE phone with support for GPS and Bluetooth, the IMDA listing has no information on its specs.

There is a possibility that it could be a country variant of the OPPO CPH2205 phone that was spotted at the Federal Communications Commissions’ (FCC) database recently.  The assumption is only based on the similarity of the model numbers of the two phones. Hopefully, upcoming reports will reveal more details on the CPH2203 and CPH2205 phones.

OPPO CPH2205 FCC
A schematic of the OPPO CPH2205 spotted at FCC

Editor’s Pick: OPPO A93 5G with 90Hz display, Snapdragon 480, 48MP triple cameras launched in China

The OPPO CPH2205 smartphone has 160.1 x 73.32mm dimensions. It is expected to arrive with a 6.2-inch display, but it is not clear whether the device supports Full HD+ or HD+ resolution.

The large camera housing on the rear shell of the phone seems to house three cameras and an LED flash. It could b be equipped with a 48-megapixel primary camera. The smartphone seems to be fitted with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which indicates that it could be equipped with an LCD screen.

The CPH2205 is expected to arrive with ColorOS 11.1 based Android 11 OS preinstalled. It may draw power from a 4,310mAh battery. It is yet to be confirmed whether the device carries support for fast charging.

In related news, OPPO’s recent teaser revealed that the Find X3 series of flagship phones will be debuting in March. The series also includes two other phones such as Find X3 Lite and Find X3 Neo. Recently, popular tipster Evan Blass claimed that these phones will be debuting in early March and they will be available for purchase from April.

UP NEXT: [UPDATED] OPPO Reno5 Pro 5G pre-order poster, pricing and specifications leaked for India

 

itel Vision 1 Pro with HD+ display, Android 10 Go, and 4,000mAh battery launched in India

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

The itel Vision 1 Pro smartphone has gone official in India. It is an entry-level smartphone that has arrived in the Indian market to compete with similarly placed phones such as Micromax In 1B and Lava Z2. As the name suggests, it is an upgraded version of the itel Vision 1 handset that debuted in 2020.

Itel Vision 1 Pro specifications and features

The itel Vision 1 Pro is fitted with a 6.52-inch IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop notch. The screen produces an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels and it is overlaid with 2.5D curved glass. It offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90 percent, claims the company.

For capturing selfies, the itel Vision 1 Pro features a front camera of 5-megapixel. The back panel houses a triple camera system that includes an 8-megapixel main camera and a pair of VGA lenses. The company claims that the itel Vision 1 Pro can capture enhanced, brighter, and crystal clear HDR quality shots with amazing clarity even in low light. A fingerprint sensor is also available on the plastic rear of the phone. It also supports face unlock.

itel Vision 1 Pro
itel Vision 1 Pro

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It is powered by an unspecified 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. The phone is packed with a 4,000mAh battery that promises 800 hours of standby time, 35 hours of music playback, and 7 hours of video playback. It has an internal storage of 32 GB and a microSD card slot for more storage. Lastly, it runs on Android 10 (Go edition).

Itel Vision 1 Pro price in India

The itel Vision 1 Pro is priced at Rs 6,599 (~$90) and it comes in colors like Aurora Blue and Ocean Blue. As a limited period offer, the phone comes with a free mono BT headset. It is available for purchase through Flipkart.

UP NEXT: [UPDATED] Indian company starts making Smart TVs for realme, OnePlus, Infinix and TCL: Report

 

Honor V40’s launch date postponed to January 22

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
-

On Jan. 8, Honor confirmed that it will be launching the Honor V40 smartphone on Jan. 18. However, the company took to Weibo yesterday to reveal that it has postponed the launch event to Jan. 22.

The machine-translation of Honor’s Weibo post states that it is due to an issue related to the “conference venue and equipment,” it has pushed back the launch date on Jan. 22. The launch event will be held at 10 (local time) on the said date and the Honor V40 will go on sale on the same day starting at 12 PM (local time).

Honor V40 launch date postponed

Editor’s Pick: [UPDATE: Response] US government blacklists Xiaomi and 8 other Chinese companies

The company has officially shared the same poster that appeared on Weibo earlier this week. It shows the handset in three colors like black, blue, and peach. The front side of the device features a curved edge display with a pill-shaped cutout at the upper-left corner.

The rear-facing camera module of the Honor V40 is said to be equipped with a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide shooter, a 2-megapixel macro lens, a laser autofocus unit, and an LED flash. It could be equipped with a 1/1.5x-inch Sony IMX7XX lens.

There is no concrete evidence on the configurations of the dual selfie camera setup of the Honor V40. It is said to be equipped with a 6.72-inch OLED panel, which was seen on the Huawei Nova 8 Pro handset. The FHD+ display is said to deliver a 120Hz refresh rate and a 300Hz touch sampling rate. Recently, Honor revealed that the V40’s has a retina-level super-sensing screen for better color reproduction.

The Dimensity 1000+ SoC is expected to fuel the Honor V40. It may house a 4,000mAh battery with 66W fast charging support. The handset is also rumored to support wireless charging.

UP NEXT: Honor MagicBook laptops powered by Intel 11th-Gen processors to launch next week

 

Samsung launches the Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant, pushes software update

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event has come and gone, and the tech giant didn’t launch a smartwatch as expected. Yet, there were rumors that the Korean giant will launch a Rose Gold variant of the Galaxy watch Active2.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant

Indeed, Samsung has announced the Galaxy Watch Active2 Rose Gold variant. The new colorway is only available in the 40mm Bluetooth variant of the Galaxy Watch Active2. In addition to the new Rose Gold variant, Samsung has begun seeding a big new software update for all the Galaxy Watch Active2.

Editor’s Pick: Zeaplus Studio Review: ANC Headphones for just $39!

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 features a stainless-steel case and comes with a 1.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. The full-color Always-On display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass DX+ on top.Galaxy Watch Active2

Under the hood, the device is powered by a Samsung’s Exynos 9110 dual-core processor clocked at 1.15GHz and is paired with 1.5GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. The device is running Tizen-based Wearable OS, making it compatible with Android 5.0 or above on Android devices with more than 1.5GB RAM (Samsung/Non-Samsung), and iPhone 5 and above running iOS 9.0 or above.

Galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 straps options

The new firmware ushers in the Samsung Health app, faster automatic workout detection, and home training fitness programs among others. Another new addition is SmartThings Find which helps you locate the watch if it’s ever misplaced.

Samsung galaxy Watch Active2
Samsung galaxy Watch Active2 Changelog

The new update which brings the R820XXU1DUA3/R820GFC1DUA3 builds has a file size of nearly 85MB and is presently being seeded in Canada and South Korea for now though it will soon make its way to more regions around the globe.

UP NEXT: F150 B2021’s software innovations are like an icing on the cake!

 

 

F150 B2021’s software innovations are like an icing on the cake!

By
Simranpal Singh
-

We all would’ve at some point, thought of buying a rugged phone and for most (or all) cases the price/specs would be a discouraging factor. Well F150 is one company that heard the fan by launching a compelling rugged device – the F150 B2021.

Must See :[Deal] Grab Umidigi Bison Rugged Phone for a limited-time discount price of $145.00

A day or so ago, we’ve covered the B2021 highlighting its design. In case if you missed, go check that out to know more about the device in general as now, we’ll go through the software side of the device.

Dedicated F150 Key

The B2021 is backed with an optimized Android 10 operating system. It’s a rugged phone, so the least we could expect is an option to switch between normal and outdoor mode. With the dedicated F150 key, the user can do the very thing. All you have to do is to long-press the F150 key to switch between these modes. Repeatedly pressing this button will activate the emergency sequence, which will play a loud SOS alarm while continuously flashing the flashlight.

Real-Time Dynamic Measurement

While in the F150 mode the contents of the “toolbag” will be displayed on the home screen. This includes the following.

  • The Compass points towards the destination instead of the North. It will also display the instantaneous latitude and longitude.
  • The Power Manager widget frequently updates you with the power consumption rate. You can switch to either power-saving mode or extreme mode depending on your battery level.

Essential Tools in the ToolBag

The tools in the toolbag of the B2021 is what makes it stand apart from the other rugged phones. All the apps in the toolbag prove to be functional in one way or other. The phone is equipped with 4 kinds of sounds effects: Alarm, Dog bark sound effect, Engine sound simulator, and the SOS alarm. We don’t know why these sounds are there in the phone, but we hope it might have something to do with security. Also, we hope these sounds might come in handy when you’re roaming the wild.

Additionally, the toolbag provides you with some useful tools which will work flawlessly even while offline. The tools include a Torch, Compass, Protractor, Plumb, Fs-Clock, Timer, Voice Simulation, Step-Counter, and Magnifier.

UI design that perfectly blends with the hardware

A lot of attention has been put in while designing the UI. As you can see the octagon element is persistent everywhere in the B2021. Even the app icons are in the shape of an octagon. Most of the widgets, apps, and texts are all in yellow outdoor colour. The shape is also integrated into the boot animation, UI design etc.

That being said, on the software side, the device is equally “rugged” as it’s outside with stong features and customized UI blending well with the external rugged design.

The original price of B2021 is $199.99 on Aliexpress and Bangood. But, we could expect 55% off as an introductory offer from these retailers bringing down the rate to $109.99 in initial days. If interested, you may register on its official website.

Related: UMIDIGI Urun- GPS Sports Smartwatch Launched for Just $40

Xiaomi Mi Watch global variant on sale with $20 discount coupon via Giztop

By
Simranpal Singh
-

Some Xiaomi devices get quite popular due to their stunning features and compelling pricing. Xiaomi Mi Watch is such a useful device featuring 1.39-inch AMOLED display, six high-precision sensors, 420 mAh battery for $139.99. It is limited to the Chinese shores and the international users have to wait for their official hands-on experience. However, the interested users can head over to Giztop to grab Mi Watch global variant for the effective price of $119 upon using  $20 discount coupon code – MWG20.

mi watch global

Must See: Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite pre-order starts on December 17 in Malaysia for RM199 ($49)

Xiaomi Mi Watch global variant is available only in black colour via Giztop. The retailer ships internationally to any country without any premium shipping costs.

On the other hand, Xiaomi Mi Watch global version ships with support for English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Indonesian, Portuguese, Czech, and other popular languages. There’s a 1.39-inch AMOLED circular display with 454 x 454 pixels resolution. The watch supports 24/7 all-day heart rate monitoring.

In total, there are six high-precision sensors which accurately map, steps count, tracks calorie, monitor stress level, breath training, sleep monitor and heart rate, monitor. It can distinguish between 17 different sports modes including indoor and outdoor activities. The Xiaomi Mi Watch global version houses first beat motion algorithms to better analyze different sports and activities. It is 5ATM waterproof smartwatch featuring built-in GPS, geomagnetic compass and air pressure.

It is a golden opportunity to buy the Mi Watch at a discount price of $119.

Grab Now

Related: Gearbest Sale: Redmi Watch at Discounted Price with Free Shipping (Coupon)

 

Zeaplus Studio headphone up for grab at just $29.9 on Giztop

By
Simranpal Singh
-

You can save up to $10 on Zeaplus Studio headphone from GizTop. Wondering how? Then, all you’ve to do is apply a Coupon Code on the checkout page. The headphone is listed for $39.9 in the website, upon the application of the $10 off coupon code which we’ve given below, you’ll be able to purchase the gadget for $29.9.

Coupon Code: ZS10, $10 Off

Grab Now

Still on the turf thinking whether the headphone is of good quality and worth the discounted price. Let us tell you then, the Zeaplus Studio is a headband style headphone offering hands-free calling for convenience. It offers high-resolution audio with active noise cancellation feature. Zeaplus claims up to 20 hours of battery life in a single charge. It comes with quick charge support so you can quickly return to enjoy what you’d been doing before the battery drained. You can know more about the device in our hands-on experience guide.

The headphone has a good build-quality with Memory foam cushions which will ergonomically fit around your ears. Other specs are given below for your reference.

Other Specs

  • Colour: Black
  • Model: BT30NC
  • Batteries: 500mAh/3.7V Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included)
  • Working time: 16 hours(ANC Wireless) / 25 hours(Wireless only) / 40 hours(ANC Wire)
  • Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Working Distance: up to 10m
  • Impedence: 32Ω +/-15%
  • Driver: Φ40mm

Now interested? If yes, then go grab from GizTop, don’t forget to make use of the $10 Off code – ZS10.

Related: Zeaplus Studio Review: ANC Headphones for just $39!

 

Xiaomi Mi 6X receives MIUI 12 update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Xiaomi launched the Mi 6X in the first half of 2018 in China. This smartphone later debuted as Mi A2, an Android One device in global markets. In the company’s home country, this handset was released with MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 (Oreo). But was updated to MUI 10 and MIUI 11 along with Android 9.0 (Pie). Now, the phone has started receiving the MIUI 12 update.

Xiaomi Mi 6X

Just as we reported in late April 2020, MIUI 12 is the last major update for the Xiaomi Mi 6X smartphone. This update comes with build number V12.0.1.0.PDCCNXM and is currently in the Stable Beta phase. Therefore, it is only available for select users. But since Mi 6X was only sold in China, the final rollout should begin shortly.

On the other hand, the global version of this device, Mi A2, received its last major update in the form of Android 10 last year. But it should continue to receive monthly security patches up until July 2021.

However, if you are a power user, you can install Android 11 custom ROMs on this phone to experience the latest version of Android from Google. Or else, stick with Android 10 till the end of its lifetime.

UP NEXT: Redmi Note 5/5 Pro has begun to receive MIUI 12 update

 

Motorola Nio live hands-on images appears online

By
Balaji S
-

Motorola “Nio” is a smartphone that’s widely rumored to be Motorola’s upcoming flagship device. Ahead of the official launch, alleged live images of the device have now appeared.

First spotted and reported by Nils Ahrensmeier(@NilsAhrDE), the live images of a Motorola device has appeared on Weibo a few days ago. This device has a dual punch-hole screen at the front, and a Moto G 5G Plus-like quad-camera layout on the back. However, the position of Flash is below the cameras here.

Further, the rear of the device seems to have a color that the tipster says is the ‘Sky’ variant. Apart from this, the device will also have a “Beryl” which could be a Green/Blue color. On the back, there is a “64MP camera” and “Audio Zoom” keywords. On the right, there are volume buttons and power-cum-fingerprint senor button.

The settings on the front image shows it as “Motorola Edge Plus” which means this could just be a prototype. That said, the display on this live image is also similar to a front render of Motorola “Nio” with a dual punch-hole screen leaked a few days ago.

For those who don’t know, a Motorola smartphone codenamed “Nio” and Model number XT2125 has already cleared multiple certifications. So far, we know that a Wi-Fi alliance certification revealing support for Wi-Fi (2.4, 5GHz), and run Android 11.

Similarly, FCC and TUV showed that the device will have 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, NFC, and GNSS, and a 5,000mAh battery with 20W charging. Previous reports said that the device is a flagship running older Snapdragon 865 SoC and a 64MP triple-cameras. However, the latest image contradicts it with a quad-camera image.

Either way, the device will likely have a FHD+ display with a 2520×1080 resolution and a possible 105Hz refresh rate, come with 8/12GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. For cameras, you can expect a 64MP main, 16MP ultra-wide sensors on the back, and a 16MP+8MP(ultra-wide) set up in the front for selfies.

Nevertheless, the Motorola “Nio” is expected to launch as Motorola Edge S in China and a flagship under Moto-G branding elsewhere.

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Apple maintains its dominant position in the wearable device market in 2020

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Apple continued its dominance of the true wireless headset market in 2020, a report by Counterpoint Research has shown. The report shows the AirPods accounts for more than a quarter of all TWS shipments.Apple TWS shipment

Specifically, in Q3 2020, Apple products accounted for 29% of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headset shipments, while its Apple Watch accounted for 28% of all smartwatch shipments.

The wearable device market can be divided into five market segments, of which ear-worn and wrist-worn devices account for the majority. Apple’s performance has always been better than its competitors, although the purchase cost of its products is usually higher than that of products by other competitors.

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“Apple’s powerful iOS ecosystem, typically comprised of consumers with larger disposable incomes, has been the main driver for growth – especially in terms of revenues. High-end stalwart Samsung has also performed consistently,” said Sujeong Lim, a senior analyst at Counterpoint.

Despite this, budget-level products still show great potential. Xiaomi has consolidated its second position with a market share of 13%. Half of the top ten are budget-level brands, and their products are generally priced below $50 or even below $20.

Counterpoint Research expects the wireless headset industry to grow by 83 percent, reaching 238 million units, due in part to smartphones lack the headphone jack. Also, the removal of earphones from the retail box is yet another driving force.

“The trend around removing jacks and earphones from devices and boxes is becoming a big driver for TWS segment growth,” Counterpoint Research senior analyst Liz Lee noted. “It also helps that mobile media consumption continues to grow, making TWS the next must-have accessory,” she added.

Counterpoint believes that the global health crisis has prompted consumers to increase their interest in health and fitness, which may help the smartwatch market to grow further. “We expect double-digit low-speed growth in the medium term-if the average selling price drops rapidly, it may be even higher,” Lim stated.

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(source)

 

The original Sony Xperia 5 and Xperia 1 have begun to receive Android 11 update

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
-

Back in late November 2020, Sony revealed the Android 11 update rollout plan for its Xperia smartphones. Unsurprisingly, only four Sony phones are eligible for the update. That said, according to the timeline, the current-gen Xperia 1 II and Xperia 5 II are supposed to get the update at the end of January, however, the former has already started receiving the update last month itself. Now, the company has begun to roll out the Android 11 update for the original Xperia 5 and Xperia 1 as well.

Sony Xperia 1 Featured

According to several users, the Android 11 update for the 2019 Xperia 5 and Xperia 1 come with build number 55.2.A.0.630 and weighs about 1GB. Interestingly, the changelog does not mention anything except for the fact that the data will be unaffected, and once updated, users will not be able to revert to the previous version of the software.

Users who have successfully updated their device, found the Android security level to be December 2020. Also, they were sad to know that Sony hasn’t provided the new Photography Pro features from the new Xperia II models.

Anyway, the update is currently live in European regions only. It is not sure when units in the other markets will begin to get the update but you can check for it manually by heading over to the software update screen in your handset’s Settings app.

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(Via)

Huawei plans to open its biggest Flagship Store outside China: Report

By
Balaji S
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It seems like the Chinese smartphone giant Huawei wants to cement its global presence stronger amidst a tussle with the US. A report by Reuters says that it is planning to build its largest store outside of China in Saudi Arabia.

New Huawei Flagship Store in China
Representative Image, Courtesy: Reuters

The Saudi government says that Huawei has signed a leasing contract with Saudi Arabia’s Kaden Investment. Apparently, this contract is for the new flagship store that the company plans to open in Riyadh. On successful implementation, this could be the largest store of Huawei outside China.

Back in June 2020, the company opened its world’s largest Huawei flagship store in Shanghai, China. This store is located in Nanjing Building with a business area of nearly 5000 square meters. Prior to that, the company also opened its “first Global flagship store” in Shenzhen, China in 2019.

Anyway, the latest report doesn’t specify any data on how large the store is going to be or its launch date. Either way, this development comes at a time when there is a grave demand for digital products and services in the Arabian Kingdom. Saudi’s internet usage will reportedly be accessible to 82.6% of the population by 2022 which is a 9.4% up from 2017.

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Hence, Huawei’s store could serve as a bridge for selling products directly to customers. This is not the first time Saudi is welcoming Huawei’s investments in the region. After saying that it’s open to use Huawei’s technology, Saudi Arabia signed an MOU with Huawei in October 2020. This was a joint effort to recognize Arabic language and characters using AI technology.

Huawei is facing a lot of challenges in retaining the sales figures outside of China thanks to the US’ pressure. The company has already lost its position as the world’s largest smartphone brand to Samsung after briefly capturing it in Q2. It is also facing a lot of stress in providing its 5G technology to other countries as the US is pressuring them not to encourage Huawei.

That said, it is really appreciative of the Saudi Arabian government to act against the will and strengthen ties with the Chinese giant. To ascertain this, the Gulf countries, including Zain’s Saudi unit Zain KSA, have reportedly signed deals to use Huawei’s 5G tech.

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NBTC: realme RMX3201 will launch as realme C21

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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Last week, a realme smartphone with model number RMX3201 was spotted on India’s BIS certification bureau. It was the first appearance of this handset online. Now, this device’s branding has been confirmed to be ‘realme C21’, thanks to its NBTC certification.

realme C11 Rich Green Featured
realme C11

The upcoming realme C21 has not only cleared Thailand’s NBTC certification but also others, like Wi-Fi Alliance, TKDN, EEC, and China Quality Certification (CQC), in addition to BIS. Despite being listed on these many portals, we do not know much about this phone.

The only specs that are known (as of now) are 2.4GHz single-band WiFi, Android 10 (should be running realme UI), and 10W fast charging. Going by these features, we can expect it to be the successor of last year’s realme C11.

For those unaware, in 2020, realme went double down on the realme C series with a launch of multiple devices in a short period of time. The realme C11 was the cheapest phone in the series last year. Since the forthcoming realme C21 is expected to be its successor, we think it will take the crown of the most affordable realme C series phone this year.

Hence, we believe that it will arrive with a similar set of specifications. That said, just like any other smartphone, we expect its specs to leak in the coming days ahead of its official launch.

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Samsung partners Audi, BMW, Ford & Genesis to unlock car doors with the Galaxy S21

By
Jed John Ikoba
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The versatility of our smartphone has grown over the years and it is still growing. It has all but replaced your physical wallet, and it seems it will soon replace your car keys. Samsung yesterday announced plans to partner with some car manufacturers to enable the Galaxy S flagship products to double as a digital key for the selected cars.Samsung

Samsung said it has begun a partnership with some carmakers namely Audi, BMW, Ford, and Genesis to allow Galaxy S21 series owners to unlock their car door with their phone when they approach the vehicle.

Samsung said that, with precise distance calculation, its UWB-enabled digital key sends short pulses between the smartphone and the paired car, unlocking the door once you reach it. Samsung also said that NFC technology also provides another option for use of digital keys, although less precise.

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Samsung’s products that presently have UWB technology are the Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Galaxy Note 20. The Galaxy S21 does not have UWB but can also serve as a key via NFC technology.

Samsung is presently working with a number of industry-wide consortia to standardize UWB and digital key technology that could be used across several smartphone brands. Thus this technology won’t be exclusive to Samsung devices alone.

Apple had previously chosen a digital key feature in partnership with BMW that operated on the NFC technology, but it was based on only one BMW car model. BMW today announced a new Digital Key Plus feature that will support UWB on the BMW iX, which is an electric car.
Once UWB becomes commercially more available, then we could have more smartphones and vehicles to support digital keys, and providing an additional layer of protection when the traditional key is lost.

UP NEXT: Motorola Nio clears WiFi certification ahead of launch

 

(via)

 

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