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Honor V40 likely to offer highest touch sampling rate

In January, Honor is likely to launch the Honor V40 smartphone.  It will be the first phone from the brand after its separation from its parent firm, Huawei. Leaked information on the charging capabilities of the Honor V40 had appeared in recent reports. A fresh leak by reliable tipster Digital Chat Station reveals that the V40 may offer the highest touch sampling rate seen on a smartphone.

The Xiaomi Black Shark 3 gaming smartphone and ASUS ROG Phone 3 offer the highest touch sampling rate of 270Hz on a smartphone. According to the new leak, the Honor V40’s touch sampling rate will exceed the 270Hz touch sampling rate. The tipster also mentioned the V40’s has an ultra-clear screen with curved edges and high refresh rate support. The leak has no information on the display size of the device.

Honor V40 highest touch sampling rate leak

Previous reports have claimed that it could be coming with a 6.72-inch display that will offer a refresh rate of 120Hz. The FHD+ resolution supporting screen is expected to feature a dual punch-hole cutout at the upper-left corner.

The Dimensity 1000+ SoC may most likely power the Honor V40 smartphone. There are contradictions regarding the rear design of the phone. A recent report claimed that it has a round-shaped camera module, whereas a previous leak had revealed that it has a rectangle-shaped camera housing. The handset is expected to feature the Sony IMX700 40-megapixel RYYB lens as the primary shooter.

The Honor V40 that has a model number of YOK-AN10 was recently seen at the 3C certification platform with a 66W fast charger. It is speculated that the device could be coming with support for 45W fast wireless charging. There is no word on the pricing of the Honor V40.

 

Samsung Galaxy S21 series detailed pricing leak for European markets appear

Samsung is reportedly going to launch the Galaxy S21 series by mid-January. The rumour mill already unearthed plenty of information on the specifications and design of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. Last week, 91mobiles had leaked the pricing of the 128 GB variant of the S21 trio for the European markets. A fresh report on Winfuture.de has revealed the pricing of the other storage variants of the S21 models for the European markets.

According to the report, Europe will receive the Galaxy S21 5G in 128 GB and 256 GB storage versions. Both models will be priced at 849 euros and 899 euros, respectively. The S21 is expected to arrive in black, white, pink, and purple colors. The report states that the company has reduced the pricing of the S21 by 50 euros as compared to the S20 series. As per recent leaks, the S21 series will not feature a microSD card slot.

The Galaxy S21+ 5G will be arriving in Europe in options like 128 GB and 256 GB. Both variants will be priced at 1,049 euros and 1,099 euros, respectively. It is expected to arrive in silver, black, and purple colors.

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G render-
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G render by Ishan Agarwal

Europe will receive the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G in storage choices like 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. These models will be priced at 1,349 euros, 1,399 euros, and 1,529 euros, respectively. It may sell in black and silver color options. Due to varying VAT rates across European countries, there is a possibility that the Galaxy S21 series may start trading at slightly higher or lower prices.

Previous reports have revealed that like India, the Galaxy S21 series for Europe will be equipped with the Exynos 2100 chipset. The sales of the S21 models are expected to begin by the end of January.

 

OPPO Reno5 series global launch nearing as CPH2145 gets spotted at NCC

The National Communications Commission (NCC) authority of Taiwan has approved a new OPPO phone with a CPH2145 model number. The CPH2145 has been previously spotted at other places like the Indonesia Telecom certification site, Indonesia’s TKDN regulatory body, and Bluetooth SIG authority. The NCC certification has revealed several live shots of the device. The images suggest that it could be a Reno5 series smartphone.

The front view of the OPPO CPH2145 reveals that it has a punch-hole display. The gradient-colored rear of the phone has a rectangle-shaped camera module at the top-left corner. It comprises four cameras and an LED flash unit.

The volume rocker is placed on the left side of the OPPO CPH2145. Its right edge features a power button. A loudspeaker grille, a USB-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack are available on the bottom side of the phone. One of the images shows the VCA7JBUH charger that supports up to 65W fast charging. It also supports USB-PD charging. It is likely that the CPH2145 OPPO phone may ship with this charger. Since the NCC listing of the phone has no information on its specs, it is difficult to say whether it is the Reno5 or Reno5 Pro smartphone.

It is speculated that the OPPO Reno5 will be arriving in 4G and 5G versions in global markets. The 4G model is said to have a CPH2159 model number and is powered by the Snapdragon 720G chipset. It could be coming with the 1st-gen 50W SuperVOOC charger.

The Reno5 5G for global markets may come with Snapdragon 765G and a 2nd generation 65W SuperVOOC charger. The Reno5 Pro 5G could also be powered by the Snapdragon 765G chipset. The Snapdragon 865 powered Reno5 Pro+ 5G is unlikely to arrive in global markets. The Reno5 series may hit the global markets in January.

 

Huawei Nova 8 full specifications leaked through China Telecom listing before announcement

Later today at 2:30 PM (local time) in China, Huawei will be announcing the Huawei Nova 8 and Nova 8 Pro smartphones in China. Since both phones were recently spotted in real at some retailer outlets in China, their specs and appearances have already been revealed. Before the official announcement, the Huawei Nova 8 has been listed in the product library of China Telecom. As usual, the listing has revealed key details of the Nova 8 smartphone.

The listing reveals that the model number of the Huawei Nova 8 is ANG-AN00. It will be available in two version such as 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. The pricing of these variants is not mentioned in the listing. Recent reports have claimed that its pricing may start at 3,000 Yuan (~$458).

Huawei Nova 8
Huawei Nova 8

Huawei Nova 8 specifications

The Huawei Nova 8 smartphone features a glass and polycarbonate chassis that measures 160.12 x 75.1 x 7.64mm and it weighs 169 grams. The handset has a 6.5-inch OLED screen with a centered punch-hole design and curved edges. The screen delivers a Full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It is equipped with an in-screen fingerprint reader.

The Nova 8 has a front camera of 32-megapixel. The unique camera housing on the backside of the device features a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad-camera system. The smartphone will come preinstalled with EMUI 11 based Android 10 OS. It lacks support for external storage.

The Huawei Nova 8 is powered by the Kirin 985 chipset. It draws power from a 3,800mAh battery. Previous reports have revealed that it will arrive with support for 66W fast charging.

 

The KFConsole is real and it will keep your chicken warm while gaming

Earlier this year, KFC, the fast-food restaurant chain with outlets across the globe teased a console back in June with a promise that it will be announced on November 12, but that didn’t happen. Today, the KFConsole is official and it is a real gaming console gaming PC.

KFConsole featured

The KFConsole is a joint product between the fast-food chain and Cooler Master, the Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. The console which is shaped like a chicken bucket has a black finish and an ejectable tray for your chicken. Below the tray is a power button that glows red and at the bottom is a ring that also glows red.

The KFConsole has been designed to redirect heat from the system to cool your chicken in the patented Chicken Chamber.

EDITOR’S PICK: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launch to bump TV shipments in 2021

There is an Intel NUC 9 inside the console that is housed inside a custom Cooler Master NC100 chassis. The KFConsole also has an unnamed ASUS mini-GPU that sits in a hot-swappable slot, thus ensuring that your console remains powerful for several years. For storage, you get two Seagate BarraCuda 1TB SSDs.

While KFC has not revealed a lot of key specs such as the RAM, specific GPU, and ports, the official website for the KFConsole says it is VR ready, has Ray Tracing, supports 240fps for all games, and 240Hz output on 4K monitors and 4K TVs.

There is also no news of the price and the release date for the KFConsole but seeing that the year is almost over, it most likely will not be available for purchase until next year.

What do you think of the KFConsole? The design is pretty unique as it stands out from the refrigerator-like Xbox Series X and the humongous white PlayStation 5.

 

X-Mas Deal: $30 off on GMK NucBox Palm-Sized Mini PC & Xpanel Portable Monitor

With Christmas just around the corner, GMK has decided to conduct their biggest promotion of the year for the current products- GMK NucBox and Xpanel Monitor, with limited quantity. Both of these products are available on GMK and Amazon, where the websites are offering free shipping apart from huge discounts.gmk nucbox monitor new 14-inch 2

GMK NucBox

NucBox is the world’s smallest high-performance unit with a powerful Intel 4-core processor. The company has focused on reducing the size significantly by trimming the extra millimeters, transforming it into a pocket-sized PC with 2.4 x 2.4-inch dimensions. NucBox features Intel Celeron J4125 CPU with 4-core and 4-thread and has a frequency of up to 2.7GHz. It has 8GB LPDDR4 bandwidth memory, and Intel UHD Graphics 600. It also enables a playback of 4k at 60Hz and supports H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP-9 video encoding, and decoding.

Following are the offers for NucBox Plam-Sized PC

GMK website

Amazon

Xpanel Monitor

Xpanel Monitor features a 14-inch display, having a 4k resolution with 3840 x 2160p and 10 point touchscreen. It has a high refresh rate that offers a seamless gaming experience. This GMK monitor is made from aluminum for durability while the folding bracket offers versatile use. It provides various multi- and one-line direct connections and supports all functions one expects from a tablet-like device. With just about 740g weight and 5mm thickness, this unit is perfect for light travelers as it is designed for on-the-go productivity and 4K entertainment.

Following are the offers for Xpanel Monitor

GMK website

Amazon

Packed with a host of features, the GMK NucBox and Xpanel Monitor can become an ideal addition to one’s gadget collections. Moreover, they can act as a combo for your new set-up or can be used individually by combining them with your current equipment. The existing discounts on these products will help you save huge bucks and can become a perfect gifting option for loved ones during festivities.

Other helpful links-

NucBox + Xpanel Review: https://youtu.be/iOwuKd5OXNo

Linux/ Ubuntu-related Review: https://youtu.be/kXSVIC3nC1I

4K video testing Review: https://youtu.be/4pkm9l3hj70

Pete Lau: OnePlus Watch is coming early next year

The OnePlus Watch has been in development for a few years but was reportedly shelved. Then this year, details of the watch began to surface in leaks alongside a planned release for Q4 2020. We even got to see the straps of a Cyberpunk 2077 limited edition of the watch. Unfortunately, OnePlus decided to postpone the launch. Now, Pete Lau, the CEO of OnePlus has revealed when the watch will arrive.

The top executive and co-founder had revealed in an interview with InputMag that they are indeed working on a smartwatch. Today, he took to Twitter to announce that the OnePlus Watch will be released early next year.

While there is no specific date, our guess is that the smartwatch will be unveiled alongside the OnePlus 9 series.

EDITOR’S PICK: realme Watch S Pro Specifications and Features revealed ahead of December 23 launch

So far we know that the OnePlus Watch will have a round dial which makes sense as OnePlus will not want its first smartwatch to be called an Apple Watch clone (seriously, not every square-faced watch is an Apple Watch clone). Though, that will eventually happen if and when OnePlus decides to make a square-faced watch.

There are reports that the smartwatch will run Wear OS but it has not been confirmed. Pete Lau did reveal that they are working with Google to improve Wear OS but said it is not a confirmation that the smartwatch will ship with the operating system. That is all the info we have but we expect more details will surface in the weeks leading to the launch of the wearable.

OnePlus will join its sister companies in the wearable business, OPPO and realme, who both announced their first smartwatches this year.

 

Samsung begins rollout of One UI 3.0(Android 11) update for Galaxy S10 Lite

Yesterday, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5G became the first foldable to get a stable One UI 3.0 update. Today, Samsung has gone a step further to bring the update for the Galaxy S10 Lite variant when the rest of the S10 family is yet to get it.

Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite Flipkart
Galaxy S10 Lite

 

According to the reports(via 1,2), Galaxy S10 Lite is getting the latest One UI 3.0 based on Android 11 update via OTA. The update with firmware G770FXXU3DTL1(Global), and G770U1UEU2CTL3 (US) is rolling out to the users. Precisely, the USA, Russia, Spain, UAE, Panama, and India are the countries to get it (as of writing this).

Although it doesn’t mean a worldwide rollout(all countries), we can say that it isn’t that far away now. Anyway, the update weighs about 2.4GB in size and brings the latest features of the new UI. Additionally, you can also expect Google’s Android 11 features like chat bubbles(conversations), media controls, improved permission management, and organized notifications.

Additionally, the XDA report says that Samsung hasn’t incremented the Bootloader version which means you can manually revert back to Android 10. However, we wouldn’t recommend you do that unless you know the exact procedure for it. Some of the other improvements include:

  • Digital Wellbeing
  • Parental controls
  • Improvements to Samsung Internet, Samsung Keyboard
  • Bixby Routines
  • Revamped Settings, Quick Settings.

Having said that, the device reportedly lacks Samsung DeX even after the update. In any case, the Galaxy S10 Lite users must feel lucky as it’s official timeline for Europe and India indicated a January rollout.

And if you are someone who is living in either of the regions mentioned above, you can check the OTA update by navigating to Settings->Software Updates-> Download and Install. That said, Apart from refreshing the UI and Android, the update also brings December 2020 security patch.

Nevertheless, this could be a signal for an imminent rollout to the rest of the Galaxy S10 series(S10, S10+, S10e) going forward.

 

OxygenOS 10.5.8 for OnePlus Nord N10 5G brings December 2020 security patch and more

OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the company’s cheapest 5G smartphone. Unlike the brand’s flagship handsets, this device is only available in select markets just like the OnePlus Nord N100. That said, this phone is now receiving its third system update in the form of OxygenOS 10.5.8.

The new software update for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G comes after OxygenOS 10.5.5 and OxygenOS 10.5.7 respectively. The latest build not only bumps up the security patch level to December 2020 but also comes with an updated GMS package (September 2020).

Further, the new update brings optimization for power consumption, improvements for camera shooting experience, and mobile network connection stability improvements. In other words, the currently rolling out update is similar to the first two updates.

 

Having said that, the update comes with the following build numbers for North America and Europe respectively.

  • NA: 10.5.8.BE86AA​
  • EU: 10.5.8.BE89BA

OnePlus Nord N10 5G OxygenOS 10.5.8 Official Changelog

  • System
    • Optimized power consumption of the system
    • Updated Android Security Patch to 2020.12
    • Updated GMS package to 2020.09
    • Improved system stability
  • Camera
    • Improved the shooting experience with the camera
  • Network
    • Improved connection stability of mobile network to improve the experience

Like any other OTA update, the latest system update for the OnePlus Nord N10 5G is being seeded out in batches, and therefore, it may take time to reach every unit.

 

Vivo X60 Series China: Expected Specs, Features, & Price ahead of December 29 launch

Vivo has finally confirmed that it’s bringing the X60 series of Smartphones in China on December 29. The event will begin at 7:30 AM Beijing Time(UTC+08:00). The smartphone series is expected to bring improvements in display, Camera, Performance, and more, over the predecessor. Ahead of the launch, let’s delve into the possible specs and price of the Vivo X60 devices.

Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro renders-

Vivo X60 Series- The Basics

The Vivo X60 series is currently speculated to have three devices- Two of them(X60, X60 Pro) are almost confirmed with specs and renders while the third one is rumored(X60 Pro+). As usual, they will succeed Vivo’s X50 series of smartphones.

Precisely, the new year’s X series from Vivo will have three significant changes from the predecessor. First, and foremost is the punch-hole display. Although Vivo X50 also has a punch-hole screen, the X60 series will bring it over to the center. With this, it’s nearly the first non-Samsung device to launch with a centered punch-hole AMOLED display.

This is because Fujitsu, a month ago, prematurely announced the Fujitsu Arrows NX9 F-52A with a centered punch-hole AMOLED display. Technically, it should be the first one but since its launch is way far ahead on January 31, 2021, Vivo has a chance here. The next big thing in the X60 series is the strategic partnership with ZEISS.

Accordingly, the X60 series will be the first product of this partnership and is likely a headstart to take on the likes of rivals like HuaweiLeica‘s tie-up. Beyond software algorithms like ZEISS 3D PoP(bokeh render), the devices will have Vario-Tessar lenses with  T*Anti-reflective coating.

It will probably retain the Sony sensor, get a wider aperture wide-angle lens, and Samsung‘s Flexible E3 OLED screen. The third most significant change is the use of Samsung Exynos chipset on the X60 unlike the Qualcomm SoC on the X50 series.

That said, other expected features are a Glass build, SA/NSA 5G, Wi-Fi, dual-SIM, Type-C port, LPDDR4x/5x RAM, UFS 2.1/3 storage, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, BeiDou, camera features like OIS, EIS 4K video recording, optical zoom(Periscope-X60 Pro), bokeh, OriginOS(Android 11)and more.

Specs and Features(Expected)

Vivo X60

Display – First of the series, the Vivo X60 is expected to sport a 6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED centered punch-hole display. It will support a 120Hz refresh rate and resolution up to 2376×1080 pixels. Also, this time, Vivo is said to experiment with two versions of X60- one with a flat and another with a curved display.

Dimensions– Although this is yet to be known, we can expect similarities to Vivo X50, considering it has a similar-sized display. Hence the dimensions would be somewhere around 159.54 × 75.39mm. Further, the device is also expected to be the thinnest 5G smartphone with a 7.3xmm thickness

Processor, Memory- Under the hood, the device will sport Samsung’s Exynos 1080 SoC paired with 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage. With this, Vivo is making a transition back to the Exynos as the X50 had Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G SoC chipset.

Camera – For cameras, the rear triple-camera setup will host a 48MP f/1.6 main lens(IMX598), 13MP ultra-wide, and 8MP portrait sensor. Upfront it will likely have a 32MP selfie shooter.

Other expected features include a 4,300mAh battery with 33W fast charging, three color variants- Blue Gradient, Black, and Shimmer.

Vivo X60 Pro

Display– Unlike the X60, the Pro variant will only have a curved display variant. It will likely be the same 6.56-inch FHD+ Flexible AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2376×1080 pixel resolution.

Dimensions– Just like the sibling, the Vivo X60 Pro will mostly have dimensions similar to 158.46 × 72.80mm and a comparable thickness if not higher.

Processor, Memory– Same as the X60, the Pro is likely to get the Exynos 1080 SoC. However, unlike the sibling, reports say this will only have a 12GB RAM, 256GB storage.

Cameras-  An unboxing video shows that Vivo X60 Pro will crank it up a notch and include a Periscope lens. The expected lineup of sensors include 48MP f/1.6 main lens(IMX598), 13MP ultra-wide, 13MP portrait sensor, 8MP Periscope(likely with a 5x Optical, 60x Digital Zoom), and a 32MP selfie snapper.

Other expected specs include a 4,200mAh battery with 33W fast charging, two colorways- Blue Gradient and Black.

Mysterious X60 Pro+

Last year, the X50 series included a premium Vivo X50 Pro+ variant with an exclusive Primary camera and flagship processor. Similarly, reports say that Vivo will do it once again by launching a device with a similar design as the Pro, but few tweaks in specs.

The Vivo X60 Pro+ is expected to feature a Snapdragon 888 SoC paired with faster LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1 storage, a Samsung GN1 50MP 1/1.3-inch CIS(CMOS Image Sensor) along with ZEISS goodies, Hi-Fi DAC, and more.

Price

The Vivo X50 series consisting of X50, X50 Pro, X50 Pro+ began from 3,498($534), 4,298($656), and 4,998 yuan($763) respectively at launch. Hence, we can expect somewhat similar pricing to the successors. However, we would advise you to take it with a pinch of salt and wait for the official price on December 29.

 

Honor Mall will launch in January 2021; Will offer HONOR-branded products and services

Last month, a consortium of 30 agents in a joint statement said that it acquired Honor from Huawei. Accordingly, the new owner of the Honor brand is Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd. After this, the revamped company has been setting new targets, strengthening the supply chain etc. Now, it has officially said that a new HONOR Mall will go live early next year.

Despite being a separate brand, Honor‘s products were sold through Huawei’s channels. In fact, its official accounts previously redirected to Huawei’s Vmall which is the latter’s official store. However, that’s about to change now as the new HONOR Mall will launch on January 2021.

A poster depicting the same shows a range of products including smartphones, tablets, laptops, suggesting that the store will be a wholesome replacement of Vmall. In fact, it is sending signals that future products of HONOR Mall will be exclusive(via) and independent of its ex-sister.

To assert this, the poster says that the new Mall will provide shopping and services related to the HONOR brand. It says that users can do this via a new HONOR Mall App. Reports say that the company will launch this App prior to the availability of the service. And then, migrate the user contents(data) from the Huawei Club.

Recently, Zhao Ming, CEO of new Honor, in a meeting with fans said that the company will soon launch a flagship smartphone. On the occasion of the 7th anniversary, Zhao also said that HONOR-branded Mate and P series devices will join the portfolio. Also, it’s new Honor V40, which is mostly the first smartphone after the structural revamp, is poised to launch in mid-January of 2021.

This indicates that the device would arrive sometime around the HONOR Mall’s official launch. In any case, the Honor 2.0, as we can call it, is in talks with Qualcomm, MediaTek to procure the chipsets and has already said that there won’t be any impact in current operations, and after-sales support for its older devices.

OnePlus Nord SE is just a Special Edition of the original Nord- Report

OnePlus introduced the budget-friendly OnePlus Nord back in July. A recent interview of OnePlus founder Pete Lau also indicated that more Nord smartphones will launch in the future with powerful cameras. Accordingly, there were leaks about an alleged OnePlus Nord SE mid-range smartphone. However, contrary to early leaks, a Phonearena report now says that it’s more of an artistic change.

OnePlus Nord Featured - Gray Onyx

According to the report, Nord SE is just a Special Edition of the OG OnePlus Nord. Precisely, OnePlus will design it in partnership with designer Joshua Vides. For the unaware, he is a graphic artist popular for creating everyday objects in monochromatic hand-drawn illustrations.

Further, he is also known for collaborations with Italy’s Luxury Fashion brand Fendi. Anyway, the Nord SE will only have aesthetic changes like a revamped rear panel and custom wallpapers as per the report. This primarily means that Nord SE will share most of the specs from the predecessor.

That said, this is contradictory to the earlier report that said Nord SE will have improvements in specs like a 4,500mAh battery, 65W Warp Charging. Besides, the previous report also mentioned that SE will be available in India and Europe. But we aren’t sure how OnePlus would position the Special Edition device in markets like India given that Nord has already occupied the ₹25-30K segment.

Coming back, tipster Max Jambor has additionally supported this claim. In fact, he has tweeted a picture of an OnePlus logo. It has monochrome textures similar to Joshua Vides’ designs and the text says “Nord SE- Same but looks different”.

In any case, if these reports are true, Nord SE will feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, Snapdragon 765G SoC, quad rear-camera setup, 4,115mAh battery with 30W fast charging.

Having said that, OnePlus hasn’t confirmed anything yet, and let’s wait for official news to assert this. Nevertheless, the special edition Nord is rumored to launch in March of 2021 alongside the OnePlus 9 series’ event.

 

Xiaomi rolls out Android 10 update for Redmi 7 global variant

The Redmi 7 debuted in early 2019 with MIUI 10 based on Android Pie. The handset was later updated to MIUI 11 in the same year itself. Now, as 2020 is about to end, the company has started rolling out the much-awaited Android 10 update for the global variant of this device.

Redmi 7 Lunar Red Featured

Xiaomi began the Android 10 rollout for the Redmi 7 in China in the month of June itself. But it took the company 6 months to deliver the same update for the global variant.

The latest update for the global variant of Redmi 7 comes with build number V11.0.1.0 QFLMIXM. Since it is being rolled out in batches, it is only available for select users as of now.

The new software build for Xiaomi’s former bestseller brings new notification shade and control center gestures along with optimizations for dark mode. Further, it also brings color gradient animation for the status bar, lightning up of screen with animation, and fix for home screen going black as well as flashing after unlocking the screen.

Having said that, we expect Xiaomi to start seeding out the Android 10 update to the other regional variants of the Redmi 7 in the coming days. Unfortunately, this could be the last major update for this smartphone since the company had recently canceled its MIUI 12 update and it is not eligible for Android 11.

 

Flipkart announces Nokia-branded Air Conditioners in India starting at ₹30,990($420)

Flipkart has announced new Nokia-branded Air conditioners(AC) in India. The new ACs support inverter technology, have in-built Wi-Fi, intelligent motion sensors, and more.

Back in 2019, India’s eCommerce giant Flipkart partnered with Nokia to launch Smart TVs in India. Since then, the company has been launching Nokia-branded products including Smart TVs in the country. Recently, it expanded the portfolio by launching the Nokia PureBook X14 laptop. Now, the series of products gets new Air Conditioners.

A Flipkart teaser page accordingly describes(via) the features of the new ACs. However, it is yet to reveal the details of the five different models that are launching in India. Anyway, the ACs will start at ₹30,999($420) and will be available for purchase from December 29 via Flipkart.

As with every ACs, we can expect the 5 variants to differ in capacity(in Tons) and Energy efficiency(star-rating). In a press release, Dev Iyer, Vice President  Private Brands, Flipkart says the ACs will be “Made in India”, multi-functional and environment-friendly. The Air Conditioners will also boast a minimalist design, have dual-rotatory compressors with brushless DC motors, eco-friendly R-32 refrigerant for cooling.

Some of the notable features of the Nokia-branded Air Conditioners are as follows:

  • Stabilizer free, Range of Voltage: 165V to 265V
  • Rapid room cooling, 4-way swing, Turbo cross flow fan.
  • Triple Inverter Technology with four-in-one Adjustable Mode(Inverter)
  • Anti-corrosive 100% copper materials with Bluefin and Self-cleaning technology.
  • six-in-one filters, Negative ionizer for Air purification.

In addition to the above features, the ACs also support smart home controls like customizable user profiles, multiple schedulers, smart-filter change reminders, and more. Users can also control the AC remotely via smartphone. The ACs also have intelligent motion sensors, ifeel technology for smart cooling.

 

Galaxy Chromebook2 press render leak confirms two colors

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Chromebook earlier this year ahead of CES 2020. The South Korean tech giant is reported to release its successor – Galaxy Chromebook2 very soon. Ahead of its official announcement, the laptop has now leaked in a press render confirming two color variants.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Render Leak Featured

In early December, Evan Blass aka @evleaks revealed that Samsung will be launching the Galaxy Chromebook2 in the coming days. More than two weeks later, the leakster has shared a render of this notebook. This picture showcases the upcoming laptop in two colors – Gray and Red.

For those unaware, the original Galaxy Chromebook also comes in these two identical colors. The company calls them Mercury Gray and Fiesta Red respectively. But since Samsung has a habit of changing the color names, the exact name for the new model is a mystery as of now.

That said, according to Evan, the Galaxy Chromebook2 will feature a similar design as its predecessor. But the sides will also have the same color as the entire body, unlike the older model. Further, he hints that it will be coming with a new Intel chip and could even feature a built-in fan, which is missing in the original.

In other words, the forthcoming flagship Google Chrome OS laptop by Samsung will be identical to the original in terms of design but with updated internals. Hence, we can expect it to start at the same $999 price tag.

 

Drone user in the US accidentally discovers and rescues woman during aerial photography

Josh Hug, a UC Berkeley professor, was out with his children using his DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, when he accidentally discovered a woman who seemed incapacitated by the waves and even managed to rescue her.

Drone

Hugs stated that “We were just finding things to do with the kids. Brought the drone, kind of a lark.” He further added that “I’ve always been fascinated by gigantic waves” and had headed to the coast after he heard of a high surf warning. When Josh reached the Pacifica State Beach, he launched his drone high above and was admiring the view of the waves crashing into the rocks. However, he soon saw something amiss in the waters, as per an NBC report.

Hugs said that “I noticed there was somebody who looked like they just gotten owned by a wave, knocked over. Someone with a dog and seemed to be rolling with the wave and I was like, ‘That’s not good.” He rushed over to her location and found that a woman was lying face down in the sand as waves came crashing into her. “As I tried to help her up she just couldn’t move. She was incapacitated in some way. At this point, it became very clear this was a life or death situation.”

Drone

Josh managed to eventually get help in dragging the woman out of harm’s way and even managed to get medical professionals to arrive on the scene soon after. His drone managed to capture some scenes of him dragging the woman off of the shore. Jeff Huntze, Battalion Chief with North County Fire Authority, called Josh a hero and said that “If nobody had come that day she would have succumbed to the water.”

 

Alleged Honor 45W Wireless Charger Design leaked; could launch alongside the V40

After becoming independent from Huawei, Honor is planning to make 100 million smartphones next year. It has already started negotiations with Qualcomm, MediaTek to procure their chips. As a head start, the company is likely to unveil a product very soon and it could be Honor V40. Amidst a lot of leaks about the device, a leak now says it will support 45W wireless charging.

A user on Weibo(@鹏鹏君驾到) has leaked an alleged rear design of Honor’s wireless charger that could launch alongside Honor V40. The design shows a hemisphere design with an ‘Honor’ Logo at the bottom. There are a vertical array of slots and two arched cutouts possibly for the heat dissipation grille and rubber bush respectively.

There is a dot above the design and it could be an LED indicator. The rear of the design also has specifications. Accordingly, it is registered under Honor Terminal Co Ltd.,(English Translated). Interestingly, the specs have the name ‘Vertical Wireless Charger’ with a max output of 45W. The charger supports a USB-C port and draws input in the range of 5V-20V at 6A(max).

Further, the user says(via ITHome) that this charger will support the 45W which should also be the designation of the upcoming Honor V40. If we call, a recent report suggests that Honor V40 will have charging support(HW-110600C0x) of up to 66W. The rated speed configs are 5V at 2A, 10V at 4A, and 11V at 6A out of which the 10V at 4A(40W) could be the wireless charging designation.

In any case, if this is true, Honor should launch a new Wireless charger alongside the Honor V40 in mid-January of 2021. The device with codename(YOK-AN10) has already appeared on China’s MIIT and 3C certifications. Further, a design leak reveals that it sports a dual punch-hole curved display and circular camera layout inspired by a Watch.

The Honor V40 is expected to feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000+ SoC, 50MP Sony IMX700 RYYB sensor, and more. Either way, Honor hasn’t confirmed anything yet, and hence, let’s wait for more leaks in the coming days.

Samsung showcases its NEON artificial humans’ role in banking in the future

Earlier this year, Samsung had unveiled its NEON artificial human during CES 2020. This reveal had garnered a lot of attention due to its vast applications in multiple fields like healthcare, finance, retail, and more. Now, the company has offered us a glimpse into banking in the future with its recent collaboration with South Korean financial firm Shinhan Bank.

According to a SamMobile report, the South Korean tech giant has just announced its partnership with Shinhan Bank to offer NEON artificial humans as its customer’s personal tellers and financial advisors. In a newly shared video on YouTube, the company showcases its Samsung NEON Frame at the opening of Shinhan Bank’s newly dedicated innovation center. For those unaware, NEON Frame is a device, which features NEON artificial humans, a large portrait screen, a 4K vision sensor, RGB status indicator, Hi-Fi speakers, and microphones.

The device also houses a fingerprint scanner to offer a next generation banking experience to the customers. Furthermore, it can also be outfitted with additional features along with security measures such as card readers, contactless payments,  and other features as well. With Samsung NEON, Shinhan Bank is seeking to digitalize its transactional banking structure through the use of cutting edge technology.

Samsung

Samsung had also placed an emphasis on the human part of the technology, by giving the AI a face. Banking and finances are but one of the industries in the company that aims to deploy this technology. As the company put it, the technology is designed to aid and assist human beings and not to replace their jobs entirely, with an example being NEON being used as a backup news anchor for breaking news at odd hours in the day.

 

Hisense A7 5G launched as the world’s first E-ink display smartphone with 5G connectivity

Hisense is commonly known for its televisions. But the company also sells phones in its home country. It has now launched the Hisense A7 5G as the world’s first E-ink display smartphone with 5G connectivity. This handset is priced at ¥1,999 ($305) and is exclusive to China.

Hisense A7 5G Featured

The Hisense A series of smartphones are known for E-ink display. Earlier this year, the firm launched the world’s first color E-ink display smartphones in the form of Hisense A5C, Hisense A5 Pro, Hisense A5 Pro CC. 

Although these handsets come with a new type of display, they lack 5G connectivity. To solve this issue, the firm has released a new phone called Hisense A7 5G. But the latest model comes with a 6.7-inch standard black and white E-ink display with 300 ppi.

 

The device is powered by UNISOC Tiger T7510 chipset, which is the same chip that’s found inside the Hisense F50 5G smartphone. This silicon is further paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Unlike most phones in the market, this one also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack along with AK4377AECB audio DAC with support for Hi-Res Audio.

Further, the back of the handset sports an AG (anti-glare) matte panel housing a single camera accompanied by an LED flash. The rear also houses a capacitive fingerprint sensor.  Whereas, the right side of the device includes power as well as volume keys, and left side features an AI key, which can be mapped to perform one of the several actions.

Other features include a front-facing camera with support for AI face unlock, super-linear speaker, dynamic as well as constant (688ms, 364ms, 174ms, 136ms) refresh rates, different lockscreens (poetry, motto, word, wallpaper), new refined UI based on Android 10, and several other tweaks related to the E-ink display.

Last but not least, the Hisense A7 5G is backed by a 4,770mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

 

Apple first to contract TSMC’s initial 3nm production capacity: Report

With TSMC rushing to develop its 3nm process, Apple is apparently going to be the first to contract the company’s initial production capacity. This arrives as the iPhone maker is shifting towards its proprietary chip designs for its Mac series of laptops as well.

For those unaware, TSMC has been working on its 3nm process for a while now, with trial production expected to start sometime during the latter half of 2021. Furthermore, the world’s largest contract chipmaker is expected to begin mass production in the year 2022. The 3nm process is the successor to the latest 5nm process, which is used for most flagship chips on smartphones at the moment, including the Apple A14 Bionic chipset found within the latest iPhone 12 series.

TSMC

According to the UDN report, the Cupertino based giant is the first to contract TSMC’s advanced manufacturing 3nm process. While the news hasn’t been confirmed by TSMC right now, sources from the chipmaker’s supply chain stated that the 3nm and 4nm trial production preparations are already progressing smoothly. Furthermore, the 3nm process is on schedule and moving toward its 600,000 annual production capacity and a monthly capacity of over 50,000 units.

TSMC moving towards the 3nm process is highly beneficial to Apple as well, considering it is moving to include its entire electronic product portfolio to self designed chips. The iPhone maker will be the first customer of the initial 3nm process batch, while it will also move its Mac and iPad lineup towards its newly released M series chips. The new process will also be used for the company’s A series chips as well.

Apple

Similar to TSMC, Samsung is also working to develop its 3nm process. Unlike TSMC with its FinFET structure, Samsung uses the GAA structure. However, with the current pace, it seems that the Taiwanese chipmaker is currently in the lead, especially after securing Apple as an early customer. That’s all we know, for now, so stay tuned for more updates.