Grab $10 Off on Redmi Watch at Giztop till 15th Dec

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Dec 8, 2020

Lenovo still sits atop the chart of the highest-grossing laptop maker globally for a while now. That is definitely tied to the Chinese manufacturer’s penchant to release products that are topnotch and paired with decent pricing.

Lenovo has announced the ThinkPad X1 Nano notebook at the 2020 Black Fun ceremony held on Tuesday in China. The laptop is a 13-inch flagship business notebook, weighing only 907 grams and equipped with an 11th-generation Core processor. The price starts at 9999 yuan (~$1530). There is also a 5G version with 120GB of data.

As a new member of the ThinkPad X1 family, the ThinkPad X1 Nano notebook still uses the iconic aviation-grade carbon fiber material, and the internal structure is redesigned, bringing down the weight to only 907 grams. The laptop has a thickness of 13.83mm, which is very thin.

Editor’s Pick: More than 20 million Gionee phones secretly implanted with Trojan Horses to make money

In terms of the display, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is equipped with a 13-inch micro-edge screen with a 16:10 ratio, a resolution of 2160×1350 pixels, a brightness of 450 nits, and a 100% sRGB color gamut.

In terms of configuration, the ThinkPad X1 Nano uses the eleventh-generation Core processor. The three versions are Core i5-1130G7, Core i5-1160G7, Core i5-1160G7. The notebook models also pack 16GB of RAM and 512GB/1TB SSD.

In terms of battery life, the ThinkPad X1 Nano has a 48Whr high-capacity battery plugged into it, which lasts up to 13.6 hours and supports fast charging. The fast charging tech can deliver up to 80% of the battery capacity in just 1 hour.

In other aspects, the ThinkPad X1 Nano also has the classic Little Red Riding Hood keyboard, dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, push-type fingerprint recognition, face recognition, and more.

As for the price, the ThinkPad X1 Nano Intel Core i5-1130G7 version is priced at 9,999 yuan (~$1530), while the Core i7-1160G7 version is priced at 10,999 yuan (~$1683). Finally, the ThinkPad X1 Nano with Intel Core i7-1160G7 and 1TB hard disk is priced at 13,999 yuan (~$2142). You can find them on Jingdong (JD.com).

In addition, the ThinkPad X1 Nano is also available in a 5G version, with free 120GB of data monthly for the next 6 months after purchase. By the way, Nokia’s first laptop may meet with us pretty soon.

UP NEXT: Video shows Nokia 8.1 running Android 11 internal beta

Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G vs ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G vs Moto G 5G Plus: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Dec 8, 2020

Despite the U.S. ban and the lower amount of sales this year, ZTE does not give up. Next year it will unite all of its brands (ZTE, Nubia, and Red Magic), and a few days ago it released a new upper-midrange phone: the Blade 20 Pro 5G. The handset is offered at a very interesting price and, as its name suggests, it carries the support to 5G connectivity. In order to establish if it is among the best 5G alternatives of the moment for those who have a low budget, we decided to compare it to the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G and the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G vs ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G vs Motorola Moto G 5G Plus

	Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G	ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G	Motorola Moto G 5G Plus
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	165.4 x 76.8 x 9 mm, 215 g	159.2 x 73.4 x 7.9 mm, 168 grams	168 x 74 x 9 mm, 207 grams
DISPLAY	6.67 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), IPS LCD	6.47 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), 398 ppi, 19.5:9 ratio, AMOLED	6.7 inches, 1080 x 2520p (Full HD+), 409 ppi, 21:9 ratio, LCD
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G, octa-core 2.2 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765, octa-core 2.3 GHz
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – micro SD slot	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot	4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – micro SD slot
SOFTWARE	Android 10, MIUI	Android 10, MiFavor	Android 10
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 108 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.4 + f/2.4 16 MP front camera	Quad 64 + 8 MP + 2 + 2 MP f/1.9, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 20 MP f/2.0 front camera	Quad 48 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP f/1.7, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.2 Dual 16 + 8 MP f/2.0 and f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY	4820 mAh, fast charging 33W	4000 mAh Fast charging 18W	5000 mAh, Fast charging 20W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

A great affordable phone in terms of design is the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G. It is not the most compact phone of the trio, but it has a glass back protected by Gorilla Glass 5, so you actually get a better build quality. Further, it is one of the few budget phones with the IP53 certification which guarantees dust resistance and protection against splashes, besides a water-repellent coating. The Motorola Moto G 5G Plus is water-repellent too, but unfortunately, it does not offer premium materials. But the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G is my favorite one because of its curved display, compact body, thin and lightweight design.

Display

If you want the best image quality, go for the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G without thinking twice. Unfortunately, it does not have a high refresh rate, but it is the only one offering an AMOLED panel. This curved display has very good colors and high visibility. Further, it has an in-display fingerprint scanner. If we exclude the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G, the best one is the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G providing a high 120 Hz refresh rate and the HDR10 certification. The Moto G 5G Plus has a 90 Hz IPS display with HDR10, still a good alternative. An important thing to consider is the fact that Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G has stereo speakers and provides a better audio experience.

Hardware/Software

The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G has the most powerful SoC: we are talking about the Snapdragon 765G running at a 2.4 GHz frequency and paired with 8 GB of RAM. Right after, we got the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus with the vanilla Snapdragon 765: it is almost identical to the Snapdragon 765G, but the GPU is weaker (the G stands for gaming). The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G is slightly inferior as it sports a Snapdragon 750G chipset, but it has a great UFS 2.2 internal storage which can actually be faster than UFS 2.1 found on its two rivals. The whole trio of phones is based on Android 10.

Camera

The most advanced camera phone here is the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G because it sports a better main camera. We are referring to a 108 MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture providing a better photo quality. The Moto G 5G Plus offers better front cameras: you get a dual snapper with a 16 MP main camera and an additional 8 MP ultrawide sensor. The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G has better rear cameras than Motorola Moto G 5G Plus, but it is inferior if compared to the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G.

Battery

The longest battery life is offered by the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus because it has a bigger 5000 mAh battery. But the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G is still an awesome battery phone since it sports a 4820 mAh battery. Further, it charges faster thanks to its 33W power. Unfortunately, you get just 4000 mAh and an average battery life with the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G: it is not the best option for you if you are looking for a battery phone.

Price

ZTE still did not reveal the price and the availability of the Blade 20 Pro 5G. Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G hitten the shelves in China with a €163/$197 starting price, while you can actually find the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus globally for less than €250/$300. If it was not for the smaller battery, the ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G would be a superior phone from almost every point of view. It has a better display and superior hardware, while the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G offers better cameras. The Motorola Moto G 5G Plus packs a bigger battery, but there is no reason to go for it instead of choosing the Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G if the prices are similar.

Read More: The €349 Moto G 5G Plus has a 90Hz display, 48MP quad cameras, and a 5000mAh battery

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G vs ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G vs Motorola Moto G 5G Plus: PRO and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G

PROS

120 Hz refresh rate
Wide display
Glass back
Great camera
IR blaster
Stereo speakers

CONS

Dimensions

Motorola Moto G 5G Plus

PROS

21:9 display
Bigger battery
Water-repellent
Ultrawide front camera

CONS

Inferior display

ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G

PROS

Great hardware
AMOLED display
Sleek design
Thin and lightweight

CONS

Smaller battery

The Galaxy A72 may actually have four rear cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 8, 2020

In late September, a leak revealed the camera specifications of the Galaxy A72. It mentioned that the phone will have a total of six cameras, with five of them on the back. Now another leak has surfaced and it says the phone may come with one less camera.

Vietnamese leaker, Chun, posted on Twitter that the final version of the Galaxy A72 will only have four cameras instead of five. Based on the phrasing, it appears that Samsung initially wanted four rear cameras before deciding to cut back on the number of sensors.

The A72 final version will only have 4 camera instead of 5

— Snapdrachun 888 5G (@chunvn8888) December 8, 2020

The new leak doesn’t say which sensor has been removed but the first leak from September says the phone has a 64MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide angle camera, an 8MP telephoto camera, a 5MP macro camera, and a 5MP depth sensor. If Samsung is removing a sensor, it is either the macro or depth camera. Our guess is that it is the former since the phone already has a telephoto camera, so a depth camera is redundant.

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple could use Samsung’s parts for camera module in iPhone launching in 2022

Its predecessor, the Galaxy A71 5G which launched in April has a similar camera that is a 64MP main camera, a 12MP ultrawide, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. So a telephoto camera for the Galaxy A72 is the perfect upgrade.

There is still a lot we do not know about the phone but we expect more details will surface in the weeks leading up to its launch. Nevertheless, we have a few guesses of our own.

THe Galaxy A72 should have an Exynos processor, most likely the Exynos 1080 since its predecessor is powered by the Exynos 980. We also expect it to run Android 11 out of the box with One UI 3.0 and a battery that supports 25W fast charging.

Flipkart teases the impending launch of the Nokia Purebook laptop in India

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Dec 8, 2020

Around this time last year, precisely in November, a report which was later confirmed by Nokia emerged that India’s largest online retailer Flipkart has partnered with Nokia to launch smart TVs that will carry the Nokia brand name. The smart TVs have no connection with HMD Global which only holds Nokia’s mobile phone license.

Apparently, Flipkart’s license extends beyond Nokia-branded smart TVs to non-phone products by the brand in India. The online retail giant has a shared couple of teaser posters which points to the imminent launch of Nokia-branded laptops in India. A rumor had emerged before now concerning the Nokia laptop but there have been absolutely no details on that until now.

Editor’s Pick: More than 20 million Gionee phones secretly implanted with Trojan Horses to make money

Since this confirmation is coming directly from Flipkart, we can expect it to be announced pretty soon, perhaps before the end of this month. Already, there is a landing page for the upcoming notebook on Flipkart’s website. The poster shows that the laptop will bear the name Nokia Purebook which bears semblance with the PureView lineup of Nokia smartphones. It is also teased to be ultralight in weight and offer an immersive user experience. It will also be a powerful laptop and we can predict that will be in terms of the processor.

Sadly, the landing page doesn’t say anything about an announcement or release date.

Despite being manufactured by Flipkart, the product is expected to meet the high expectations that consumers in India have for any product carrying the Nokia brand just as is done with HMD for their phones. The sad part is that the license is India-exclusive meaning the product may likely not be launched outside India. However, it is possible for it to emerge in Europe under a different ODM sometime in the near future.

UP NEXT: Video shows Nokia 8.1 running Android 11 internal beta

WhatsApp’s new ‘ADD TO CART’ feature will make shopping easier

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Dec 8, 2020

Recently, WhatsApp added a “Shopping Button” on the messaging platform. It directs the user straight to the list of items on sale. Now, the company has added an “ADD TO CART” feature.

A support page on the WhatsApp website(via Gadgets360) explains the ways to use the new feature. Accordingly, the new update will show a CART button when browsing through the catalog. Users can personally add many items of a seller to their Cart and make shopping on WhatsApp easier. As you browse through a business catalog, you can select a product and inside you will find two options- ADD TO CART and MESSAGE BUSINESS. On Selecting the first, the item will get added to your cart.

After adding the items, you can continue to browse and add more items to the cart. Now, if you visit the same item again, the ADD TO CART will now change as VIEW CART. You can press that or a CART BUTTON at the top right of a catalog to see your list of items. Once you are finished with your list, you can share the entire list with your seller in one message.

In case you have a doubt regarding the products, you can edit and send an inquiry message along with the added items. WhatsApp says that a product purchase isn’t complete unless confirmed by a seller. After the seller’s confirmation, you can pay via supported methods including WhatsApp Pay.

In case you don’t know, WhatsApp Pay is an in-chat payment feature that allows users to make transactions via WhatsApp to their contact list. It is a UPI-based payment service to send and receive money online. The company recently rolled out the feature in countries like India where it nearly has a 400 million user base.

Anyway, the CART feature, which is rolling out globally to enable businesses to process orders seamlessly, is just an icing on the cake for the business catalogs. For the unaware, WhatsApp rolled a new Catalog feature for WhatsApp business last year. It allows companies who run a business account to create a catalog of products with prices and information.

The Mi A3 among a leaked list of Xiaomi models said to get Android 11 upgrade soon

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Dec 8, 2020

The most advanced Android version yet, Android 11 will be in several devices from the stables of Chinese phone maker, Xiaomi. The models include the stock Android-running Mi A3, a recent report has shown. The Mi A3 is Xiaomi’s only Android One handset that is eligible for Android 11, as some others like the Mi A1, Mi A2, and Mi A2 Lite have already received two OS upgrades. Other devices on the scheduled lineup for Android 11 upgrade are the global Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.

The report by Xiaomi & MIUI News on Telegram (via), already cited by several industry watchers also published a list of Xiaomi devices that would receive Android 11, which was already being expected.

Editor’s Pick: More than 20 million Gionee phones secretly implanted with Trojan Horses to make money

The Mi A3 is obviously one of the smartphones that Xiaomi will be upgrading, as sources have confirmed that it has successfully completed internal testing of the new OS. It is highly improbable that there will be any further upgrade of the phone after this OS upgrade as Xiaomi released it on Android 9.0 Pie in 2019. The Mi A3 is a very unique smartphone and it is likely to be the only one to receive Android 11 on the Android One program. No more major updates are available for the Mi A1, Mi A2, and Mi A2 Lite, for example, and the company hasn’t released another Android One-branded phone after the berthing of the Mi A3.

The 12 handsets that are next in line for Android 11 OS include the Mi 10 Lite Zoom, Mi 10 Youth, Mi A3, Mi CC9 Pro, Mi Note 10, and Mi Note 10 Pro. Others are the Poco M2 Pro, Poco X2, Redmi K30, Redmi K30i 5G, Redmi Note 9 Pro Global, and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.

The exact date for the planned upgrade is not yet clear, but following recent trends of upgrades by Xiaomi, it is suggested that it is most likely to be within a month or thereabout.

UP NEXT: Chip Battle: Snapdragon 888 versus Kirin 9000

Google Photos hits 5 billion downloads on the Play Store; Google Keep reaches 1 billion

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Dec 8, 2020

Google apps are one of the most used applications on any smartphone. Some of these apps come pre-installed on Android devices as part of GMS (Google Mobile Services) package. As a result, Google Photos has managed to hit 5 billion downloads on the Play Store. Similarly, Google Keep reached 1 billion downloads.

Google Photos is arguably the best cloud-based gallery service in the market. Unfortunately, it will no longer be free from June 2021. But that does not make it bad as there’s not a single service as good as it is.

That said, although the Google Photos Android app reached 5 billion downloads, its user base should be way more less. That’s because the service was reported to have only over a billion active users in July 2019.

The application reached this milestone solely because it comes pre-installed on most Android smartphones and tablets. But since not everyone uses it, active users are way more less compared to downloads.

On the other hand, Google Keep is one of the best free note-taking applications. Unlike the former app, this one does not come pre-installed on any Android. Therefore, hitting 1 billion downloads on the Play Store is a big achievement for this app.

Google Keep managed to double its download count from 500 million within 18 months. This clearly suggests that the pandemic played a key role for its success as people are continuing their education and work from home.

(Via 1, 2)

Video shows Nokia 8.1 running Android 11 internal beta

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 8, 2020

HMD Global announced the Android 11 roadmap for Nokia phones back in October but none of the devices scheduled to get the update this quarter is yet to do so. Among these devices is the Nokia 8.1 a.k.a. Nokia X7, and a video has surfaced showing the phone running a beta version of Android 11.

The video was shared on YouTube by an XDA Senior Member that goes by “hikari_calyx”. Not only does he show us the new version of Android on the 2018 device but he has also provided instructions on how users can flash the closed beta build.

The video shows that the update has December’s security patch which means that when it begins rolling out, it should come with the latest security patch. Yes, we still believe HMD Global will keep to its promise of releasing the Android 11 update this year even if it will roll it out with just a few days left before the end of December.

Android 11 brings a number of new features such as Chat Bubbles for messaging apps; a native screen-recorder; a power menu that allows you to easily access and control connected smart devices such as cameras, locks, and lights; new media controls; new permission settings; support for security and privacy fixes via the Google Play Store.

EDITOR’S PICK: India’s Lava Mobiles starts manufacturing phones for Nokia and other brands

Other devices that are scheduled to get the update this year are the Nokia 8.3 5G, Nokia 5.3, and Nokia 2.2.

The Nokia 8.1 was announced in 2018. It has a 6.18-inch FHD+ screen with a wide notch at the top. It comes with a Snapdragon 710 processor with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of expandable storage, has 12MP+13MP dual rear cameras and a 20MP selfie camera, and packs a 3500mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. The phone also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and NFC.

When it launched, it ran Android 9 Pie out of the box. It received an update to Android 10 which makes the Android 11 update its second major OS upgrade. It should receive one more year of security updates after the update arrives.

Xiaomi launches the 8H Air Pro Natural Latex Massage Pillow

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Dec 8, 2020

Xiaomi‘s eco-chain company Fun Sleep Technology has launched the 8H Air Pro Natural Latex Massage Pillow. The massage pillow is available in two versions – a Lite version which is 10cn high and is priced at 179 yuan (~$27), and a standard version that is 12 cm high and carries a price tag of 229 yuan (~$35). $8H Air Pro Natural Latex Massage Pillow$

The brand already has the 8H Z3 latex pillow and it has been a hot-selling product. The new 8H Air Pro is an upgraded version and is further optimized to help get rid of pillow height adaptation problems and sultry sweat accumulation, bringing a comfortable sleeping feeling, breathable, and dry new experience.

Editor’s Pick: Redmi Watch hands-on: A solid Budget smartwatch with NFC

The 8H Air Pro adopts a hyperbolic design, which simulates the natural curve of the human cervical spine, with a depression in the middle and heightening at both ends, so that it can be wrapped adaptively without being sunken. With 220 finger-like contours, the pillow is known as a massage pillow that can do spa. It contains 93% Thai latex and is also a jelly pillow that is elastic. $8H Air Pro Natural Latex Massage Pillow$

For the first time, 8H adopts CoolMax technology fiber, which is combined with natural eucalyptus fiber in a certain proportion to make a latex pillow outer pillowcase. The fabric is softer, double breathable, moisture-wicking, and will not feel hot and sticky even if you sweat for a long time.

The pillow core adopts a double-sided punching design. The upper and lower pillow surfaces are evenly distributed with vents and grooves. There are also hundreds of millions of honeycomb pores inside the latex. The two work together to form a “natural air conditioning system” that can dissipate the waste heat and help the user fall asleep easily. $8H Air Pro Natural Latex Massage Pillow$

The two sides of the pillowcase are made of X-903D breathable technology fabric. Its double-sided mesh and internal three-dimensional hollow structure form communication with the latex vent groove to accelerate the expiration of pillow heat and moisture.

This product will no doubt compliment the 8H Milan Smart Electric Bed Pro with voice control that was launched recently. The availability details are not known at the moment but we don’t expect this product to become available outside China except via third-party retailers like GearBest.

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(source)

E Ink and Plastic Logic team up to launch world’s first flexible colored ePaper Displays

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Dec 8, 2020

E Ink and Plastic Logic have teamed up to launch new Legio™-brand flexible color displays. They say that the display is flexible, designed on the Advanced Color e-Paper (ACeP) technology, and can be used on wearable products.

As reported by Business Wire(via Digitimes), the displays use an organic Thin Film Transistor(oTFT) that is lighter and thinner than traditional glass-TFT displays. Precisely, this is a technology of Germany’s Plastic Logic that generally makes flexible glass-free electrophoretic displays. For the unaware, these displays are thin, low-power, paper-like displays.

It works on the scattering and absorption of the light-like Ink process. An eg. would be Amazon’s Kindle. Coming back, E Ink, on the other hand, is a Taiwan-based E Ink Holding’s brand. It has developed an Advanced Color e-Paper (ACeP) technology that brings colors to ePaper Displays(EPD). Basically, it is a color-reflective electronic paper that displays full color at every pixel without the use of a filter array.

Hence, by combining their tech, the partnership now claims that it has the world’s first flexible active-matrix EPD. First of a supposedly lot list is a Legio 2.1-inch color display. This first flexible color EPD Legio panel has a resolution of 240 x 146-pixels. Powered by an Ultra chip UC8156 controller, it supports red, green, blue, yellow colors along with black and white(grayscale).

That said, the ACeP which we have so far seen only on signboards can now trickle down to wearables thanks to Plastic Logic’s flexible display tech. Tim Burne, CEO, Plastic Logic says, it can now appear in a host of wearables, including smart jewelry and smart clothing. Nevertheless, the evaluation kits of the first Legio™ flexible color displays will be available Later in 2020 for designers to try it out.

Retro Cyberpunk Style Gaming Set with Mechanical Keyboard, Mouse and Headphone on Sale for $69.99

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 8, 2020

After bringing the Cyberpunk badges, the Gizbot is offering Cyberpunk style Gaming kit for the fans. The set consists a beautiful mechanical keyboard, gaming mouse and a headphone. The interested users can grab the kit for the price of $69.99 with global shipping.

Must See: OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition’s wallpaper, icon packs available for download

Cyberpunk Retro styled keyboard looks quite artful with RGB LED Backlit and round keys. The keys are arranged in low to high layout for better and comfortable typing. The keyboard has 104 mechanical shafts. Retro Cyberpunl Mechanical keyboard also features 30 different backlight effet adjustment, 5 levels brightness control, toggle light control and switch between different light frequency.

Apart from the beautiful keyboard, the user will also get a mouse featuring beautiful LED and better design. A headphone with a mic is also a part of the package. It consists an blue LED light with two different ports.

Such a useful Retro Cyberpunk bundle is on sale via Gizbot for $69.99. The retailer is offering 2 years of warranty along with worldwide shipping at no extra cost. You can avail the deal by heading to the button below.

Grab Now

Related: Samsung W21 was the fastest, OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 the smoothest in Nov. 2020: Master Lu

Lenovo TB-7306F spotted on Geekbench with MediaTek Helio A22 and Android 11

By

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Dec 8, 2020

The sales of tablets improved after a very long time due to the demand created by the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, these affordable devices became the first choice for studies and work. Making use of the situation, OEMs launched a number of models this year. Looks like Lenovo is still not done with it as a new tablet from the company appears on Geekbench.

According to the Geekbench listing, the upcoming Lenovo tablet will bear the model number ‘Lenovo TB-7306F’. It will be powered by MediaTek helio A22 chipset paired with 2GB RAM. As a result, the device only scores 144 points and 498 points in single core and multi core tests respectively.However, despite older entry-level silicon, it will run the newer Android 11 operating system.

That said, all of these specs suggest it to be an entry-level tablet. As per GSMArena, it could be the successor to the Lenovo Tab M8 (2nd Gen). If that is the case, then it will probably go official as Lenovo Tab M8 (3rd Gen).

Going by its predecessor, we can expect it to sport an 8-inch IPS LCD panel. Also, it should come in two variants – HD and FHD with different memory configurations. Finally, we believe that these tablets will be cheaper than the recently launched Lenovo Tab M10 Gen 2.

China bans more than 100 apps including popular travel app Tripadvisor

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Dec 8, 2020

Chinese authorities have removed Tripadvisor (TRIP) from mobile app stores in the country. In a statement Tuesday, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced the removal of 105 apps that are considered as being “illegal,” including TripAdvisor, the US travel firm.

China Flag — Picture by Martin BOULANGER

Most of the platforms shut down belonged to local Chinese firms, and it is yet unclear why Tripadvisor was caught in the crackdown. The Massachusetts-based company has not released any statement yet on the matter.

Editor’s Pick: More than 20 million Gionee phones secretly implanted with Trojan Horses to make money

The industry regulator said (via) the apps that were removed were the first of many that would be taken down in a wide-ranging “clean-up” of online content that started in November 2020.

The campaign is aimed at wiping out content related to illegal activity, like obscenity, pornography, prostitution, violence, fraud or gambling. The regulator said it will continue to strengthen its supervisory and monitoring processes on mobile apps’ information services, promptly clean up and dispose of illegal mobile applications and application stores, and strive to create clear cyberspace.

Chinese internet users have been behind the so-called “Great Firewall” for several years. Facebook and Twitter have long been blocked in the country, while the United States and China have had several skirmishes over technology and commerce from both sides.
Recently, for example, the outgoing US government of Donald Trump had threatened to ban TikTok if it is not sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance.

China is known for taking a hard line on the restriction of online content that may be damaging to the populace, even if such content is found in homegrown and popular platforms. In 2018, cyberspace regulators shut Toutiao – a news aggregation app that was ByteDance’s biggest hit at the time, because of obscene and vulgar content on its feeds.
That same year, China also blocked popular hotel group Marriott’s app and website for a week after the company was found to have listed Hong Kong and Macao as individual “countries” on its platforms, at variance with the one-China policy.

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Samsung Galaxy A52 5G renders along with key specs leaked

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Dec 8, 2020

Samsung trademarked the Galaxy A52 along with other names back in January. After a while, the device, which will succeed the best-selling Galaxy A51, started slowly appearing on leaks. Today, Steve Hemmerstoffer(@onleaks) has shared some details of the upcoming smartphone.

According to Steve, Galaxy A52 5G‘s design will be a lot similar to the predecessor, Galaxy A51. Precisely, he says the device will have a 6.5-inch display with a centered punch-hole(Infinity-O). If you recall, both the Galaxy A51/A51 5G’s displays had the same size.

On the back, it will likely have the same rectangular camera layout with four sensors. A small difference here is the renders swaps the position of the fourth sensor and LED flashlight. For design, he says the company will retain the Glasstic(Plastic with Glass-like finish) rear panel and metallic frame. Besides, the concept render also shows a similar gradient Green color with a two-tone design(vertical stripes at the bottom).

However, if Steve were true, the Galaxy A52 5G will have a bit lesser thickness than the Galaxy A51. He says the device will measure 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4mm where the thickness would be 10mm if you count the camera bump. To compare, Galaxy A51(4G) had 7.9mm, but the A51(5G) has about 8.9mm thickness.

Further, the device will likely retain the 3.5mm headphone jack and in-display fingerprint sensor as well. This suggests that the display will indeed be an AMOLED panel which was expected anyway. That said, he hasn’t given details on what SoC will power the device. But thanks to an early benchmark that hints at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G SoC.

Samsung usually limits the Exynos SoC to regions like India, Korea, China while it brings the Qualcomm variants to the US. Hence, we can expect the same to be the case for Galaxy A52 as well. Anyway, earlier leaks say that the device will have a 64MP main camera supplied by its sister Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

Finally, Steve predicts a similar $499 price for the Galaxy A52 5G which we can agree with. This is because Samsung crawled back with the Galaxy A series and its mid-range pricing after a dismal Q1 sales of its Galaxy S20 series. And it looks like the company doesn’t want to change the winning formula going forward.

OPPO patents a smartphone design with detachable camera module

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Dec 8, 2020

Lately, OPPO has been filing patents for a wide variety of smartphone designs. It even showcased the world’s first rollable concept smartphone last month in the form of OPPO X 2021. Now, a new design patent by the company imagines a smartphone with a detachable camera module.

This patent was filed by Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization). We are not sure who found it first but 91Mobiles did not mention the filing and publication times of this patent.

Talking about the design, the phone used in the sketches seem to be generic with no notch or punch-hole on the front. Perhaps, it may have an under-display camera. But then again, there are no physical buttons or ports as well. Hence, we believe that it is indeed for illustration only.

Anyway, the main aspect of this patent is the detachable camera module located at the back. This module houses a dual-camera setup along with an LED flash and it connects with the phone via USB Type-C.

The connector port on this module can be adjusted up to 90° and therefore, the rear camera setup can also be used for selfies and video calls. In other words, it is similar to ASUS Zenfone 6 and Zenfone 7/7Pro but the camera module can be detached as well as replaced with a different supported module with another set of cameras.

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Having said that, we don’t expect OPPO to release a commercial smartphone with this design. Because many others have tried modularity on mobile phones and have failed terribly.

Apple launches its first-ever wireless headphones AirPods Max with ANC, 20hrs battery life

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Dec 8, 2020

Apple has finally launched it’s first over-the-ear wireless headphones today. Named AirPods Max, the headphones come with a premium price tag and features like (Active Noise Cancellation)ANC, high-fidelity audio, and more.

AirPods Max – Price, Availability

Addressing the elephant in the room, Apple’s AirPods Max comes in five colors- space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink. It will be available in the US and 25 other countries(incl. India, China). You can look at the US, China, India Pricing below:

China- 4,399 yuan
India-₹59,900
USA-$549

The AirPods Max is available for pre-order starting today(December 8) and will go on sale from December 15.

Design

The AirPods Max takes a slightly different approach to the wireless headphones category. It has a breathable knit mesh on the top that rests on the head of the users. Apple says the canopy(ornamental cloth) will reduce the pressure and distribute the weight of headphones well. Additionally, the frame of the headphone is made of stainless steel for strength and comfort.

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Besides, the telescoping arms are meant for flexibility and fitting across different sizes. The headphones also have memory foam cushions, a Digital crown for volume control, play/pause music, answer/skip calls, activate Siri. There is also a button for switching between ANC and Transparency mode.

Audio

Apple says the AirPods Max has a 40mm dynamic driver designed by the company for high-fidelity audio. There is also a dual neodymium ring magnet motor for THD<1(Total Harmonic Distortion). To control them optimally, Apple has used an H1 chip (which is also present on the AirPods 2) in each earcup. The company says that AirPods Max is capable of computational audio with an H1 chip, acoustic design, and software.

Accordingly, the audio features include an Adaptive EQ, ANC, Transparency Mode, and spatial audio. Adaptive EQ measures sound signals and adjust it according to the earbuds in real-time. ANC, as you all know is for canceling out the background noise. There are 3xmicrophones outside and 1xmicrophone inside the earcup for managing environmental noise.

Further, the Transparency mode is just like an ambient mode that allows users to know what’s happening around. Apple says it uses Gyroscope and Accelerometer to track the user’s head movement and map audio for a theatre-like experience(for 5.1, 7.1, Dolby Atmos content) with Spatial audio.

Features

Just like the AirPods earphones, AirPods Max headphones also support a one-tap setup, automatic pairing with Apple devices. Plus, it has wear detection where it can play/pause music when the user lifts an ear cup. Regarding battery life, AirPods Max is claimed to give 20hrs of audio/call/movie playback in one charge.

Other features include automatic switching to seamlessly switch between Apple devices, Audio Sharing to share audio stream between two sets of AirPods on iPhone/iPad/Mac, and accessing Siri for music, calls, navigations, and more. Not to mention the AirPods Max also comes with a Smart Case in the box to save battery when not in use.

Xiaomi crowdfunds the Xiangci AI Smart Calligraphy Pen Set priced at ¥199 (~$30)

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Dec 8, 2020

Xiaomi has launched the Xiangci AI smart calligraphy pen set on the Youpin crowdfunding platform. The product carries a price tag of 459 yuan (~$70) but will be available for 199 yuan (~$30) during the crowdfunding exercise, which is only 44% off.

The suit is composed of a calligraphy pen, a calligraphy book, and a calligraphy app, which integrates teaching-practice, evaluation feedback, consolidation and expansion into one, forming a closed-loop calligraphy practice. Xiangci AI smart calligraphy pen set can support video teaching, AI real-time scoring, synchronized syllabus, handwriting review and other functions. It claims 20 minutes a day, allowing you to easily use AI technology to improve your writing skills.

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Among them, the calligraphy pen can feel the pressure signal through the pressure sensor when writing, mark the invisible code point passed by the pen tip through the optical lens, recognize the movement track, pressure value and other data at a speed of up to 200FPS, and transmit and process synchronously.

Users who use this writing pen can follow the animated literacy video courses to watch and learn, making writing fun. There is also a dedicated calligraphy teacher who explains the main points of strokes verbatim, allowing you to quickly grasp the rules of writing.

What’s more worth mentioning is that the app that comes with the calligraphy pen set can gamify each character from the four dimensions of the number of strokes, the sequence of the strokes, the structure of the frame, and the length of the strokes, with AI real-time evaluation and scoring, and gamification of the calligraphy process.

The Xiangci AI Smart Calligraphy Pen Set is synchronized with the national unified People’s Education version of the Chinese syllabus, suitable for the age group of 3 to 12 years old. The 16-volume “Xiang Ci Handwriting Course Complementary Miaohong Book” covers a total of 800 words in the first and second grades and an expanded word recognition table of 121 words.

According to the official, new functions will continue to be added to the app in the future, adding content for higher grades, expanding coverage and ways of practising calligraphy.

UP NEXT: Apple TV(2020) with iPad Pro’s SoC will reportedly launch on December 8

Tipster says OnePlus 9 Pro will come with same water and dust resistance as the predecessor

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Dec 8, 2020

Days before the OnePlus 8 series launch, a leak surfaced on OnePlus 8 Pro’s water resistance. At the launch, OnePlus made it true by launching the first-device with IP68 Water and Dust resistance. Although the OnePlus 8 Pro has it, the non-Pro doesn’t come with an official IP rating. Now, tipster Max Jambor says that the OnePlus 9 series will continue the same trend.

According to Max, the OnePlus 9 Pro will have the same IP68 Water and Dust resistance as the predecessor. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering its a feature that companies don’t generally downgrade with iterations. Anyway, Max also says that the OnePlus 9 and 9E will mostly not have an official IP rating.

In case you aren’t aware, IP-rating is an Ingress Protection Code according to IEC(International Electrotechnical Commission)’s EN 60529 standard. It basically awards the degree of protection given to a mechanical/electrical enclosure. Based on the type and intensity of intrusion, the rating varies.

For instance, IP68 means devices can withstand dust, dirt, and sand. They are also resistant to submersion up to a maximum depth of 1.5m underwater for up to thirty minutes. Anyway, if the leak turns out to be true, the OnePlus 9 series will once again have only a device with an IP rating.

Besides, as mentioned above, OnePlus phones have had water resistance in the past. But the company didn’t really get an official IP rating. In fact, it stated the additional cost burden as the reason for the OnePlus 7 Pro. Not to mention the carriers like Verizon getting the official rating for the non-Pro(eg. OnePlus 8 Verizon-exclusive) shows that even the watered-down models have the necessary build.

Anyway, we hope that the OnePlus 9, 9E models don’t compromise on the build quality too much to match the price-performance ratio. Talking about models, reports say that the OnePlus 9 series will have three models this time. While OnePlus has already confirmed its flagship series with Snapdragon 888 for H1 2021, leaks say that launch is around mi-March.

Regarding the specs, the OnePlus 9 will probably have a flatter display(like the 8T) and the 9 pro a curved display. Rumors say that the former will be a 6.65-inch while the latter will be a 6.72-inch AMOLED 120Hz displays. Other expected features are 65W Warp Charging, OxygenOS 11, dual-48MP cameras(OnePlus 9), and more.

Samsung reveals One UI 3.0 (Android 11) update timeline for India

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