Mi 10 Youth Edition gets Android 11 update in China

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Dec 21, 2020

Although vivo is gearing up to launch the vivo X60 series of flagship smartphones in China on December 29, the company may also unveil a budget smartphone called vivo Y31 in other markets ahead of it. This device was recently spotted on multiple certification bureaus and has been now listed on Google Play Console revealing its key specs and front design.

The upcoming vivo Y31 will be yet another budget smartphone with model number V2036. According to the Google Play Console listing, it will run Android 11 out of the box. Thus, the latest Android version could be a key differentiator for this phone as most of the handsets in the segment still run Android 10.

However, its specifications aren’t out of the world as it will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, which has now become common. The newly launched Redmi 9 Power also features the same chip.

Further, the phone will come equipped with 4GB RAM and sport an FHD+ (1080 x 2408 pixels) display with a dew-drop notch at the top. But the type of the panel is a mystery as of now.

Nothing else is known about the vivo Y31 apart from the above-mentioned specs. That said, since it has been certified by India’s BIS, Thailand’s NBTC, Singapore’s IMDA, and Russia’s EEC. we can expect this handset to launch at least in these markets.

Huawei Mate40 Pro+ sets a new record in Photo category in DXOMARK Camera test

By

Balaji S

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Dec 21, 2020

Huawei’s flagships have always topped the charts when it comes to the Cameras. Precisely, DXOMARK, which is known for camera reviews, has time and again spotted the nitty-gritty that Huawei includes in every generation. After reviewing the Mate40 Pro, it has released the rear camera review of the Mate40 Pro+. Accordingly, the device tops the charts beating its sibling by 3 points.

Huawei Mate40 Pro+ gets an overall DXOMARK camera score of 139 points. With this, it sets new a record in the Camera department. It scores a whopping 144 points in the Photo category. As the report says, this is the highest ever for still photos. However, it is three points short(98 points) of beating Mi 10 Ultra in the zoom category.

If you recall, the latter, which previously had the best camera, scores 101 points in the Zoom category. Besides, Mate40 Pro+ also misses the top spot in the Video category to its sibling Mate40 Pro. It scores a point lesser(115 points) than the latter(116 points). That said, Huawei has now captured three of the top 5 spots on the DXOMARK camera rankings and this is impressive to say the least.

In comparison to Mate40 Pro, it has an additional dual-Telephoto lens and 3D ToF sensors. Before we talk about the Pros and cons, let’s briefly take a look at the rear-camera setup on the Mate40 Pro+ below:

50MP f/1.9 Primary
20MP f/2.4 ultra-wide
12MP f/2.4 Telephoto
8MP f/2.4 Telephoto
3D ToF sensor
Color Temperature Sensor
Video: supports 4K at 60fps
Features: OIS(Primary, Telephoto), EIS

The report says that Mate40 Pro+ takes still photos and videos with accurate Exposure, a wide dynamic range, and doesn’t miss out on the highlights. The images are almost similar to those on the Mate40 Pro. However, the extra Telephoto and wider lens(ultra-wide- 14mm FOV), and features like OIS helps take better pictures with wider range, noise reduction, and textures.

However, it has few minor cons like color quantization, ghosting artifacts, shallow depth of field, and less sharpness in video frames(low light). Strangely, the device’s autofocus fails at closer distance and its preview images seem to be different than captured ones.

9-year-old Galaxy S2 gets Android 11 update unofficially

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Dec 21, 2020

The Galaxy S2 (stylized as Galaxy S II) was the successor to the original Galaxy S. Samsung unveiled this smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in February 2011. The handset debuted with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and was updated up to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. Because of its popularity in the developer community, over 9 years after its release, interested owners can now try Android 11 on this device.

Android fragmentation is a known issue for years. It has reduced to a certain level with the introduction of Project Treble but the problem is yet to be solved fully. Recently, Google and Qualcomm announced that certain high-end Snapdragon SoCs starting with Snapdragon 888 will support up to four years of software updates (3 years of Android updates and 4 years of security patches).

Though the announcement sounded big, actually it wasn’t. Because Samsung had already promised three generations of Android updates for select devices earlier this year and Google has been providing the same for Pixels since their inception. Anyway, the improvement is better than nothing.

Hence, learning that Galaxy S2 from 2011 can run Android 11 after 9 years from its launch is big news. Owners of this phone can try the latest version of Android, which is yet to hit many flagship smartphones released this year.

The Android 11 for Galaxy S2 comes as an unofficial port of LineageOS 18.1 by several XDA Senior Members such as rINanDO, ChronoMonochrome, and others. Since the ROM is compliant with Isolated Recovery (IsoRec), it can be directly flashed via Odin. However, users will have to re-partition and wipe the internal storage of their handset for the installation process.

Anyway, if you are still owning this phone, it may be mostly lying around somewhere without any use. Therefore, if you are interested in modding, flashing Android 11 on this smartphone is not a bad idea.

According to XDA Developers, this ROM port is only applicable for the Galaxy S2 with model number GT-I9100. As of now, the screen, Wi-Fi, camera, and audio are working properly. But RIL is still a work in progress as users can only receive calls and cannot make one. Similarly, GPS, FM Radio, screencasting, and other features don’t work yet.

You can find the steps to install Android 11 on the Samsung Galaxy S2 by visiting this link.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro’s dual SIM tray allegedly blocked with glue and plastic by Mexican carrier Telcel

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Dec 21, 2020

A Xiaomi user has accused the Mexican telecom operator Telcel of physically blocking the dual SIM tray on his Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro. The user bought the smartphone and had planned on using its dual SIM support, but found that the tray was blocked both physically and through software locks.

According to a Xiaomiadictos (via NoteBookCheck) article, the user has accused the carrier Telcel of physically blocking the dual SIM tray on his handset. For those unaware, Telcel is owned by América Móvil and has over 280 million wireless subscribers. However, it has also been accused of subpar business practices on multiple occasions. On its official website, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro listing is without its dual SIM feature, although, the Chinese tech giant has clarified that its dual SIM support availability “may vary between markets.”

Despite this, telecom operators should not be physically tampering with smartphone units without the knowledge of the end customers. The user named Foxhoundelta filed a complaint, the telecom operator has blocked the dual SIM tray port with plastic and glue. The Mi 10T Pro’s ROM also arrives with a software block that locks the feature even if one manages to use the SIM tray. Telcel has yet to respond to these accusations at the moment. Furthermore, it remains to be seen how the situation plays out. So stay tuned for more updates.

Honor V40 design leak reveals watch-like rear camera housing, dual punch-hole screen with curved edges

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 21, 2020

Last week, the Honor V40 had surfaced in the database of CMIIT certification with the YOK-AN10 model number. On Saturday, the device received 3C certification through which it was revealed that it may ship with a 66W fast charger. The handset was previously speculated to launch in December. However, a recent leak claimed that its arrival has been postponed to January 2021. A render and a schematic of the Honor V40 are now being circulated on social platforms. The images (via) show that the Honor V40’s rear camera setup could be inspired by a watch that has four sub-dials.

As it can be seen, the Honor 40 diagram shows that it has a dual punch-hole display. It seems that the size of the punch-hole has decreased by 20 percent as compared to the previous generation Honor V30 smartphone. The diagram states that the Honor V40’s display has 80-degree curved edges.

The back panel of the phone has a round-shaped camera module. The four cameras arranged like the four sub-dials of a watch. The new leaks contradict previous claims that it could be housing a rectangle-shaped camera module.

Editor’s Pick: Honor CEO Zhao Ming confirms to launch flagship smartphone in the future

The Honor branding can be seen towards the bottom of the rear shell. The bottom edge of the phone has an external speaker, a USB-C port, a microphone, and what appears to be a SIM slot.

Past reports have claimed that the Honor V40 is powered by the Dimensity 1000+ chipset and it has a 6.7-inch FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate support. The rear camera setup of the phone may feature the 40-megapixel Sony IMX700 RYYB lens as the main camera. It may arrive with 40W wireless charging apart from 66W wired charging. The other details of the smartphone are under wraps.

It could not be confirmed whether the Honor V40 will be coming with the above-shown design. Hence, it is advisable to digest the leak with a grain of salt.

Apple Car could launch in 2021, two years ahead of its schedule

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Dec 21, 2020

The Apple Car could be arriving soon, as a new report suggests that the company’s long rumored electric vehicle could possibly launch in the third quarter of 2021, two years ahead of its schedule.

According to EconomicDailyNews from Taiwan, Apple might be launching its first automobile next year. The report claims that manufacturers and suppliers of the company in Taiwan are preparing to ramp up production of “Apple Care” components as early as the second quarter of next year, as per a MacRumors report. Apparently, the company has already begun testing dozens of prototypes on the road in California, US.

Back in 2017, Apple received a permit from California’s DMV to test its self driving cars. This was first spotted on SUV from another brand that was equipped with its LiDAR technology. While various reports had pinned the Apple Car launch date around 2023 and 2025, the latest report arrives a whole two years earlier than previous expectations. The Taiwanese agency cited an unnamed director from a major Taiwanese manufacturer as its source.

This director stated that Apple is targetting a September 2021 launch, although, this is still an unconfirmed report so take it with a pinch of salt for now. Notably, the schedule shifting earlier is highly unlikely considering the company faced delays due to the Coronavirus pandemic. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing more updates on the matter.

iQOO 7 tipped to launch by mid-January

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 21, 2020

Last week, iQOO revealed the rear design of the upcoming iQOO 7 flagship smartphone. It showcased a special BMW edition of the phone featuring a white leather-like rear with blue and red stripes on the right. The handset was also seen sporting a triangle-patterned triple camera setup housed inside a rectangle module. A reliable tipster from China claimed that the iQOO 7 may launch by mid-January.

The tipster claimed that at least four Snapdragon 888 powered flagship phones will debut in China before the Spring Festival that will fall on Feb. 12. It can be said based on the recent reports that China may receive SD88 powered phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 series, Xiaomi Mi 11 series, Vivo X50 Pro+, and iQOO 7 before the Spring Festival.

Editor’s Pick: iQOO U3 with 90Hz display, Dimensity 800U, and 5,000mAh battery launched in China for 1,498 Yuan (~$229)

It is speculated that an iQOO phone with a V2049A model number that was recently approved by the 3C authority of China could be the forthcoming iQOO 7 phone. The listing had revealed that it may ship with a 120W fast charger.

The tipster who tipped the mid-January launch for the iQOO 7 had previously claimed that it will be arriving with a flat display and a battery that is slightly bigger than the iQOO 5 Pro It is likely that the iQOO 7 may feature a display with a top-centered selfie camera cutout like the upcoming Vivo X60 series.

At present, there is no concrete information on the camera specs of the iQOO 7. The iQOO 5 Pro came with a 50-megapixel Samsung GN1. The leakster claimed that the iQOO 7 may feature a different main camera.

United States to spend $1.9 billion for replacing Huawei and ZTE equipment

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Dec 21, 2020

United States has banned Huawei from participating in its 5G infrastructure development and has pressured other countries to do the same, and many have complied. Now, the country is set to replace the existing infrastructure.

The lawmakers in the United States are set to back a $1.9 billion program that will provide funding to remove telecom network equipment which the government has classified as posing a national security risk.

Huawei and a few other Chinese companies, including ZTE, have been classified as a national security risk. The funding for this new program has been added as a part of a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill, reports Reuters citing people aware of the development.

Earlier this month, Huawei had said that it was disappointed in the FCC’s decision “to force the removal of our products from telecommunications networks. This overreach puts U.S. citizens at risk in the largely underserved rural areas – during a pandemic – when reliable communication is essential.”

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei allowed to build 5G in Germany, but with strict conditions

Recently, the United Kingdom also banned Huawei and asked telecom network carriers to remove the Chinese company’s infrastructure by 2027. It recently banned the installation of new 5G equipment from Huawei after September 2021.

The government is also working to create a new law, which once approved, will enable them to plan fines on telecom operators and can have them pay 10 percent of turnover or 100,000 Pounds per day if they fail to comply with the new regulations.

OnePlus TV 32Y1/43Y1 OTA3 update brings new Alexa skills and OnePlus Connect features

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Dec 21, 2020

Apart from entering the budget smartphone segment, OnePlus also introduced budget smart TVs this year. The company’s first affordable televisions go by the names of OnePlus TV 32Y1 and OnePlus TV 43Y1 respectively. These TVs received their first system update in their launch month itself, whereas the second update was rolled out a month later. Now, the brand has started seeding out the third update.

The two models in the OnePlus TV Y series have identical hardware except for the display size and resolution. Hence, both of them run the same software build and receive updates together.

That said, the new update called OTA3 brings new OnePlus Connect features, new Amazon Alexa skills, and most importantly, the latest build also claims to improve Google Chromecast stability. The update is currently being rolled out in batches and should reach every unit in the coming days.

Talking about the new OnePlus Connect features, the changelog mentions the addition of screen time and data statistics, an option to clear background apps in one click, and connection stability improvements. Similarly, new Alexa skills include search content, brightness control, open applications, and keypad control.

OnePlus TV 32Y1/43Y1 OTA3 Update Official Changelog

Update OnePlus Connect:
- Check Screen time and Data statistics
- Clear background apps in one click
- Improve connection stability with TV

New skills of Alexa:
- Search content: “Alexa, show me the movie The Lord of the Rings.”
- Brightness control: “Alexa, dim OnePlus TV.”
- Open apps: “Alexa, open YouTube on OnePlus TV”
- Keypad Controller: “Alexa, go left.” “Alexa, choose this.”

Improve Chromecast stability while casting from phone to TV

Microsoft is reportedly working on its own ARM-based chipset

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Dec 21, 2020

Earlier this year, Apple announced that the company will be launching its ARM-based Apple Silicon. Recently, with the launch of new Apple M1-chipset powered Mac devices, the company officially started the transition process from Intel to Apple Silicon.

Now, as per the report from Bloomberg News, Microsoft is also following the lead of Apple and is reportedly working on its own ARM-based chipset. The company is developing the new chip with Windows 10 support and is mainly for the data centers but is also expected to power Surface devices.

Microsoft Surface Pro X SQ2 Featured — Microsoft Surface Pro X powered by Qualcomm SQ2

The Redmond-based tech giant is currently using Intel-based processors for the majority of its Azure cloud services. Also, the company’s Surface devices lineup is powered by Intel processors. But now, it seems that Microsoft is ready to move on.

The company recently worked with AMD and Qualcomm for designing custom chips for the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro X, underlining the fact that Intel could get replaced soon. But similar to the process of Apple, it is likely to happen in a phased manner.

Microsoft is reportedly working on offering devices with ARM-based chipset for quite some time now and is also improving its support for Windows 10 operating system. However, unlike Apple, the company has a much wider footprint of technology.

EDITOR’S PICK: Chinese chipset maker SMIC says ban by the U.S. will affect advanced chip development

Its product is used by different manufacturers and is powered by different chipsets. Thus, whatever Microsoft creates need to have wider compatibility and be universal. It will be interesting to see the development in this area.

Apart from Apple and Microsoft, Amazon also possesses a threat to Intel as well as AMD. The eCommerce giant, which is also the leading cloud infrastructure provider with AWS, has its own ARM-based Graviton2 processors.

Although the new chipsets based on ARM architecture offer better performance, longer battery life, and are cheaper, they still have a smaller market share and the majority of the market is dominated by Intel and AMD.

Xiaomi patents a smartphone design with surround display and pop-up cameras

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Dec 21, 2020

Last year, Xiaomi shocked the world by unveiling Mi MIX Alpha, a concept smartphone with a surround display. This device never made into mas-production and therefore, it did not hit the shelves although the company had plans to sell this phone in a limited quantity in China. Now, more than a year later, a Xiaomi smartphone design patent with similar looks has emerged.

This new Xiaomi patent was unearthed by LetsGoDigital. According to the publication, the company applied it with The Hague Bulletin, part of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office). The documentation for the same got published on December 18, 2020.

These documents include 16 sketches detailing the design of a smartphone with a 360° surround display. But unlike the Mi MIX Alpha, this design does not include a vertical frame on the rear. Instead, it features a wide pop-up module at the top housing a triple camera setup accompanied by a dual-LED flash.

The top of the handset also includes the power key and a hole for the secondary microphone. Whereas, the bottom part of the device features a USB Type-C port, a speaker grille, a primary microphone hole, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Having said that, we don’t see Xiaomi releasing a consumer phone with a such design in near future. Because the firm did not even sell the first generation product and this model comes with pop-up cameras, which all the OEMs have been avoiding now.

Redmi K30S Extreme Edition gets new software update with major improvements

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Dec 21, 2020

A couple of months ago, Xiaomi had launched the Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition. The smartphone has been very well received in the company’s home market and the device is still in high demand, causing supply issues.

Given the popularity of the smartphone, it seems that the company isn’t wasting time on improving the user experience. As per the report, just weeks after the official launch, the device is now getting a new MIUI 12 update.

The new update for the Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition mainly focuses on the software algorithm and has optimized the phone’s vibration effect. Apart from this, there are also new security patches from Google and further improvements to optimize gaming performance and power consumption when using Wi-Fi.

As for the device, it doesn’t differ much from the Mi 10T smartphone that was launched by the company earlier this year. However, in the Chinese market, the Redmi K30S Extreme Commemorative Edition is a bit cheaper compared to Mi 10T.

EDITOR’S PICK: Chinese chipset maker SMIC says that the recent ban by the U.S. will affect advanced chip development

The smartphone features a 6.67-inch display that supports a Full HD+ screen resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, HDR10+, MEMC, 650nits brightness, and up to 144Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC, which is coupled with up to 8GB of LPPDR5 RAM and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

Taking care of the camera department is a 64MP Sony IMX682 primary sensor, which is paid with a 13MP ultra-wide lens with 123-degree FOV, and a 5MP macro sensor. On the front side, there’s a 20MP snapper for taking selfies.

The device, which supports 5G connectivity, is running MIUI 12 based on the Android 10 operating system out-of-the-box. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery which supports 33W fast charging technology.

OnePlus 9 new leak reveals 50MP triple camera setup

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 21, 2020

The OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9E, and OnePlus 9 Pro smartphones are expected to go official by mid-March 2021. It was revealed in the previous week by a reliable tipster that OnePlus may collaborate with a Germany-based camera firm named Leica for the upcoming OnePlus 9 series. If the collaboration turns out to be true, the OnePlus 9 lineup may arrive with significant improvement in the camera department. A new leak that appeared on SlashLeaks has revealed the camera configurations of the OnePlus 9 smartphone.

The leak states that the triple camera system of the OnePlus 9 will be led by a 50-megapixel Ultra Vision wide-angle camera with f/1.9 aperture. It will be coupled with a 20-megapixel Cine Camera, an ultrawide lens with f/1.8 aperture. The third lens in the setup will be an OIS assisted 12-megapixel telephoto camera with autofocus and an f/3.4 aperture.

Editor’s Pick: New OnePlus 33W Charger passes through TUV Rheinland certification

The authenticity of the leaked information could not be confirmed. Hence, it is advisable for OnePlus fans to wait for further reports to know about the camera capabilities of the OnePlus 9 series.

Last week, PhoneArena had shared the leaked specs of the OnePlus 9. The leak revealed that the smartphone could be coming with a 6.55-inch FHD+ flat screen with HDR, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and 120Hz refresh rate support. The Snapdragon 888 5G mobile platform will be fueling the smartphone. The handset may ship with 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, and OxygenOS based Android 11 OS.

The publication had also claimed that the OnePlus 9 could be featuring a selfie camera of 16-megapixel and a 48-megapixel main camera on the rear. Live shots shared by the publication revealed that the OnePlus 9 has a punch-hole screen and a rectangle-shaped camera module on its rear.

New OnePlus 33W Charger passes through TUV Rheinland certification

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Dec 21, 2020

OnePlus, the company known for making “flagship killer” phones, revived its mid-range offering with the launch of the OnePlus Nord smartphone earlier this year, followed by two more models. Now, the company is getting up to launch several new mid-range phones.

As per the report, the company could soon launch OnePlus Nord 2 and the OnePlus Nord SE. In line with that, a new Power Supply Unit from the company has been spotted on the TUV Rheinland certification website.

EDITOR’S PICK: Xiaomi Mi 11 Series — Expected Specifications, Features, and Price information ahead of launch

The product is a 33W charger, which is likely to have a USB Type-C port for charging, with a rating of 11VDC, 3.0A Max. The brand has been using 33W fast chargers for its smartphones and is expected to continue doing the same for mid-range phones.

But do note that it is not yet confirmed that the 33W charger is indeed for the upcoming mid-range smartphones, but it’s likely to be the case given that the company should be using a faster-charging technology, such as 65W, for its upcoming premium smartphones.

Meanwhile, OnePlus is also gearing up to launch its next-generation flagship smartphone — the OnePlus 9 series which is likely to include three models — the OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, and 9 SE. The company has partnered with Leica for the camera lenses of the upcoming premium devices, which are expected to launch in Q1 2021.

Apple has shut around 100 stores across the US

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Dec 21, 2020

During this weekend, Apple decided to shut down all of its stores in California, including ones in the San Francisco Bay area. This arrives after the company began shutting stores in Los Angeles last week, bringing the number almost up to 100.

At the moment, the Cupertino giant has shuttered all of its retail stores in California, with notice being put up to inform customers that its stores are temporarily closed. However, some of the pending orders are still being allowed for pickups and other genius bar appointments through 22nd December 2020. Unfortunately, it is currently unknown when these stores will reopen, however, it is confirmed that the locations will remain closed through the holidays, as per a MacRumors report.

Similarly, Apple has also shut stores in Tennessee on the weekend, and other stores, which are located in the Tier 4 restriction areas in the UK as well. Furthermore, the company has closed 18 stores in Germany and the Netherlands last week, with additional store also being shut in Mexico and Brazil within this week. Apple stores still open in the US are now operating in a limited “Express” capacity only.

Meaning, they are just allowing pickups and genius bar appointments and not in store shopping and browsing. Apple has been shutting stores since earlier this year, with many locations being closed for months on end all throughout spring, due to the ongoing pandemic. Since June, the company started reopening stores but stated that these might shut again, as per local conditions and guidelines. At the moment, 400 stores are still operating, all of which require a face mark, with only a limited store occupancy, temperature checks, and practicing proper social distancing with regular cleaning.

SMIC ban by the U.S. will affect advanced chip development

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Dec 21, 2020

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., known as SMIC, was recently put on Entity List or U.S. export control blacklist. Now, the company has said that the move will hamper the development of its cutting-edge technologies.

The company has released a statement after doing an initial assessment and said that “the U.S. move will badly affect the company’s Research & Development and the production capacity construction of advanced technologies of 10 nanometers and below.” It added that there’s no significant impact on the operation and finances in the short-term as the company isn’t mass-producing the chips using the 10nm technology.

SMIC getting banned by the United States is a major blow for the Chinese government which is working towards making the country self-sufficient when it comes to manufacturing semiconductors and the company is leading the campaign.

From the development, it appears that the United States is determined to thwart every effort of China or Chinese companies to procure components for advanced technologies. To provide components to the companies in the Entity List, the U.S.-based firms will have to apply for a special license.

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus and Google are working together to improve Wear OS

This is similar to the situation Huawei is facing right now, which was put on Entity List by the Trump administration in its ongoing US-China trade war. While the Executive Order from Trump cited national security risk, no evidence to back that claim has been produced. Huawei has time and again denied any such allegations against the company.

SMIC has said that the company will continue to cooperate with relevant U.S. government bodies and will be taking all feasible measures to minimize adverse effects and work out a solution to continue its development.

OnePlus and Google are working together to improve Wear OS

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Dec 21, 2020

OnePlus is working with Google to improve Wear OS. Pete Lau, the CEO of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, revealed the collaboration with the search engine giant in a recent interview.

According to a 9To5Google report, Pete Lau stated that OnePlus is directly working with Google on Wear OS. At the moment, both companies have joined hands to improve the system and how it talks to Android smartphones and Android TVs. This improvement in communication between devices will boost the interoperability between the different platforms. Although, it is unclear just how the companies aim on achieving this at the moment.

As per Pete Lau, “Wear OS definitely has room to improve. What we’re trying to do is work with Google to try to improve the connectivity between the Wear OS ecosystem, Android TV, and Android smartphones to create this ability for better device interoperability across the ecosystems. This has been something looked at very positively from Google’s side as well, so this is the direction that we’re trying to develop, but we don’t have more than we can share on that right now.”

Unfortunately, this news doesn’t imply that future OnePlus smartwatches will support Wear OS, as was previously believed after the interview, but the CEO has since clarified that this is not yet confirmed. However, we might still see a collaboration in the near future as both companies are closely working on improving a platform. We can also expect to see some notable improvements on the Wear OS soon, so stay tuned for more updates.

Redmi 8 global variant gets MIUI 12 update

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Dec 21, 2020

The Redmi 8, like most of its predecessors, was one of the best-selling smartphones globally during its time. The budget smartphone by Xiaomi launched with MIUI 10 based on Android Pie out of the box. The phone was updated to MIUI 11 a few weeks after its launch and it even got the Android 10 update earlier this year. Now, more than a year after its release, the global variant of this device has started receiving the MIUI 12 update.

Xiaomi’s Redmi number series of phones have been global best-sellers for years now just like the Redmi Note series. These handsets offer almost everything one needs in a smartphone at an affordable price.

Unlike most OEMs, Xiaomi also provides two MIUI updates and a single Android update to these devices. Hence, the firm has now begun to seed MIUI 12 as the second and the last MIUI update for the Redmi 8.

The update is currently only live for the global variant. It comes with build number V12.0.1.0.QCNMIXM and is in the ‘Stable Beta’ form as of now. That means it is only available for select users. If the early adopters don’t face any major issues, the availability of this build will be extended for more users.

We also expect other regional variants of the Redmi 8 such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and EEA to start receiving the update in the coming days.

Having said that, Xiaomi usually releases any new update for the Chinese variant of its smartphones first. Interestingly, in the case of Redmi 8, the MIUI 12 has been initially made available for the global variant. Whereas, the Android 10 update first arrived on the Chinese variant.

Indian govt invites proposals and seeks investment to set up semiconductor FABs

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