OxygenOS 10.3.7 update for OnePlus 6/6T brings improvements to Game Space

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Nov 26, 2020

Aside from the Redmi Note 9 series that was unveiled by Xiaomi, the brand also launched the Redmi Watch in China today (Thursday). the smartwatch is the second wearable device that Redmi would be showcasing and indeed, the first Redmi-branded smartwatch.

The Redmi Watch features a square-shaped screen with a simple but elegant design. It weighs just 35g and the frame comes in three color options of black, ivory, blue ink. In addition, the strap color options include black, ivory, cherry pink, and pine needle green.

The minimalist design language includes a 2.5D curved glass panel, matte texture body, metal texture buttons, matching skin-friendly TPU material strap, manufactured using heat bending process in order for it to fit the curvature of the wrist. The watch also comes with a detachable buckle.

The Redmi Watch may as well be the same as the Mi Watch Lite that Xiaomi is expected to announce soon. Both smartwatches share a similar 1.4-inch square display with a pixel density of 323PPI. The watch also features more than 20 custom dials, including classic simplicity, cool IP, independent design, etc.

In terms of functions, the Redmi Watch supports heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and sedentary monitoring. It can record 24-hour heart rate changes, resting heart rate for the past 30 days, and also supports breathing training functions. The watch comes with 7 sports modes which include outdoor running, indoor running, outdoor cycling, indoor cycling, walking, swimming in the pool, and free activities.

Furthermore, there is a built-in high-precision six-axis sensor with a motion algorithm and supports 50 meters waterproof. Redmi didn’t disclose the battery capacity but claims the watch can last for a week on a single charge. The battery saver mode can extend the battery life for up to 12 days.

In addition, the smartwatch has a built-in microphone that supports XiaoAI voice assistant. At the same time, it has a multi-functional NFC, supports more than 270 city bus cards, can write access cards, linkage with Xiaomi door locks, etc., It also supports Alipay two-dimensional code offline payment via NFC. It comes with 5ATM waterproof protection.

The Redmi Watch carries a decent price tag of 299 yuan (~45). It is presently up for pre-orders across multiple channels in China. The pre-order comes with a 30 yuan discount, bringing down the price to 269 yuan (~$40). The watch will be officially launched at 0:00 am on December 1.

UP NEXT: Oppo X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

Microsoft may bring Xbox games to smart TVs as early as next year

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Nov 26, 2020

Xbox chief executive Phil Spencer recently gave an interview with The Verge where he outlined the future direction of the company. Possibly alluding to falling sales for the gaming console from Microsoft, Spencer voiced his disappointment that the expected launch title Halo Infinite was delayed to 2021, as this obviously could have negatively affected sales of the Xbox Series X/S. However, the decline in sales was an industry-wide phenomenon largely due to supply chain problems, and also affected Sony, Nvidia, and AMD.

According to Spencer, “From a business standpoint, I’m selling every console I can build. It’s hard for me to point out how I would be selling more consoles today. I wouldn’t be.”
Spencer had some good words for rival Sony, as he applauded what Sony has done with the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller that is bringing a lot of plaudits.

As game streaming becomes an integral part of the gaming industry, Spencer insists that Microsoft still has plans for another console after the Xbox Series. Spencer also had a few words on Microsoft’s spat with Apple over game streaming.

A major highlight of the interview was that Microsoft is already thinking of adding the Xbox console experience as an app for smart TVs, starting from next year.

When asked a question about the Xbox becoming a TV app, Spencer responded thus: “I think you’re going to see that in the next 12 months. I don’t think anything is going to stop us from doing that.” Going further, he said that TV sets have undergone a massive transformation from just beaming visuals to a device that can now easily take on the functions of many devices we used to have around the TV. The TV has been consolidated into one big screen serving several purposes.

Presently, xCloud is only currently available at 720p and is far from being TV-ready.
The idea that a smart TV could stream xCloud, similar to the way Google uses the Chromecast Ultra for Stadia sounds very appealing. There are however possible complications: Stadia controllers connect directly to WiFi to try and nullify the input lag.
Although Spencer was non-committal on the possibility, we are sure It’s going to happen sooner or later.

UP NEXT: Oppo X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

Nokia Smart TV range including a 75-inch 4K Ultra HD model launched in Europe

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Nov 26, 2020

Nokia recently penned a new brand licensing deal with StreamView to introduce new Nokia Smart TVs and Android Streaming Box into the European market. At the heels of the Nokia Streaming Box 8000 released in November 2020, the company has now introduced 7 new Smart LED TV models that include 32-inch Full HD, 43-inch, 50-inch, 55-inch, 58-inch, 65-inch, and 75-inch 4K Ultra HD models for the European market.

The 32-inch smart LED TV has a 1920 x 1080 pixels Full HD display with a 178-degree viewing angle. On the other hand, the 43″, 50″, 55″, 58″, 65″, and 75-inch models have a 4K resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels, with a 178-degree viewing angle and Dolby Vision.

The models are powered by an ARM CA55 Quad-Core processor while the graphics is fired up by a Mali 470 MP3 GPU. The smart TV comes with 1.5GB RAM on all models except the 32-inch model which packs 1GB of RAM. There is 8GB of internal storage across the board. Providing the interface is the Android TV 9.0operating system. The models come with support for Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, and all have four HDMI ports (1 HDMI port supports ARC). two USB 2.0 ports and an Ethernet port.

The smart TVs also come with Dolby Digital Plus and DTS sound support. The 32-inch model packs a 12W speaker, while the 43-inch, 50-inch, and 58-inch models are equipped with 20W stereo speakers. The high-end 65-inch and 75-inch models are equipped with 24W speakers. The smart TV models also come with a backlit remote control which is similar to that of the streaming box.

The new Nokia Smart TVs will sell for €399.90 (US$ 476) for the 32-inch Full HD model. The 43-inch model will retail for €549.90 (US$ 476), the 43-inch model for € 599.90 (US$ 714), the 50-inch model for € 699.90 (US$ 833). The 55-inch and 58-inch models are priced at €699.90 (US$833) and €799.90 (US$952) respectively. Finally, the 65-inch and 75-inch 4K models cost €899.90 (US$ 1071) and €1,399.90 (US$1,665) respectively. For now, the Nokia smart TVs are available in selected European countries.

UP NEXT: Oppo X 2021 unveiled as the world’s first smartphone concept with an extending display

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ devices are getting One UI 2.5 update in China

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Nov 26, 2020

Samsung brought the incremental One UI 2.5 with the Galaxy Note 20 series and Tab S7 series. Later, the company extended it to a list of devices including the Galaxy S9 series as it promised on the official post. Now, the company has started rolling out the update to the 2018’s flagship Galaxy S9, S9+ in China.

As reported by ITHome, Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ have reportedly started receiving the One UI 2.5 update in China. Accordingly, the firmware version is G9600ZCU7FTJ8/G9600CHC7FTJ8 and has a size of 754.03MB. As per the official changelog, the update has started rolling out from November 25, 2020. And Along with the One UI 2.5 update, it comes with the latest November 1, 2020 Security patch.

That said, we already know that One UI 2.5 update based on Android 10 brings features like navigation gestures for third-party launchers, Pro Video mode, changes in Single Take, Samsung DeX, Samsung Keyboard, Bitmoji stickers on AOD, and more. You can take a look at the official changelog(Google Translated) below:

Changelog for Galaxy S9/S9+ One UI 2.5 update

Samsung DeX– Support wireless DeX connection. Connect wirelessly with TV via Wlan direct connection (Miracast compatible). *Quick Panel One DeX – It is advisable to use Samsung Smart TVs released after 2019. Supports screen scaling and font size options, allowing users to customize various display sizes.
WLAN– While testing nearby WLAN signal strength, it will display as very fast, fast, normal, or slow. * You can turn this on or off in the “Network Quality Information Display” setting.
On-Screen Reminder– Support Bitmoji stickers on the screen reminder. (Clock style).
Samsung Keyboard– Support split screen keyboard in landscape mode. On the “Manage Input Languages” screen of the keyboard settings page, the search function has been updated to facilitate users. They can find keyboard input languages that they want to add or delete.
Camera– Enhanced professional video function.
Latest Security Patch – November 1, 2020.

That said, the device, being 2018 flagship devices, are unlikely to get the next major upgrade. This is because Samsung recently made the commitment of providing three-year upgrades to the flagships and the S9 series unfortunately didn’t make the cut. Anyway, if you are someone who is living in China, you can navigate to Settings->Software Updates->Download and Install to try out the new One UI 2.5 update.

Imported units of Sony PlayStation 5 won’t be eligible for Warranty in India: Report

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Nov 26, 2020

Sony’s PlayStation 5(PS5) officially went on sale on November 12 in countries like the US, Japan. In fact, retailers are stocking the units in more numbers due to a surge in demand in markets like Europe. However, the next-gen console is yet to officially go on sale in India. Ahead of this, people have started buying the imported units through unauthorized channels. And Sony India thinks it isn’t a good idea.

As reported by MensXP(via Gadgets360), a Sony PlayStation India representative has responded to the request regarding the warranty policies of imported units. He suggests customers to check for the Sony India Warranty Card while purchasing PlayStation products within India. Precisely, the company allows users to claim warranty benefits for Sony India products that are certified by BIS and have a valid Indian Warranty Card.

This suggests that the imported ones won’t be eligible for a warranty inside the country. This is because as quoted by the representative, the Indian retail units that come with a local warranty card are certified by BIS. However, the imported ones aren’t and this negates the policy of Sony PlayStation India. Hence, this sends a clear message to people who are buying non-Indian units as high as ₹90,000 without a warranty.

Plus, this is a no-brainer as Sony has been following this for earlier generations(PS4) as well. In any case, it is highly advisable to buy Sony PlayStation products from India with the official Indian Warranty card. It is understandable that the console is highly attractive especially after the price announcement. However, as Sony is trying its best to fulfill the user’s demand, decisions like these will only harm the users as they are left out to dry in case of any issue.

Anyway, it’s already been one month since the prices for India were announced but PlayStation 5 hasn’t got an official release date yet. But according to the report, it will be available on official retailers like Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, ShopatSC.com, and Games The Shop. Besides, the next-gen console comes with a revamped white and black design, upgraded performance, storage(SSD), and a DualSense Controller.

Redmi Note 9 5G, Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 4G launched in China

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Nov 26, 2020

After several leaks, teasers, and rumors, Xiaomi has officially launched three new redmi Note 9 series smartphones in China. The launch event which was held today saw the tech giant take the wraps off three amazing models – the Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi note 9 5G, and the Redmi Note 9 4G.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro is obviously the star product among the trio as it is equipped with several impressive hardware including the latest Samsung HM2 camera sensor. The premium device is equipped with double-sided Gorilla Glass 5 as well as a 3D four-curved arc design.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro sports a 6.67-inch LCD display with an FHD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The display also features support for 120Hz refresh rate and up to 240Hz touch sampling rate. The display utilizes the punch-hole design which has an aperture of only 3.8mm. The display which is certified by TUV Rheinland for low blue light level also has several software features such as eye protection mode 3.0, step-less color temperature adjustment, sunscreen 3.0, etc

In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is the first model to be launched in China powered by a Snapdragon 750G mobile processing platform, which uses Samsung’s 8nm LPU process. The process has an improved performance level of 7% over the 8nm LPP. The CPU adopts the Kryo 570 architecture of the same generation as the Snapdragon 865. Among them, two A77 large cores have a frequency of up to 2.2GHz, and six A55 high-efficiency core clocked at 1.8GHz. By the way, this is the first time that Qualcomm’s 7 series platform will utilize the flagship A77 architecture processor

Further, the premium Note 9 Pro uses a three-dimensional liquid cooling system. The second-generation ultra-thin heat pipe and multi-layer graphite at the front and rear ensure efficient two-way heat conduction on the XY axis of the mobile phone, which can reduce the CPU core temperature by up to 5°C.

In terms of photography, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is equipped with a Quad camera setup but what makes it stands out is that the main sensor is the world’s first third-generation 108-megapixel camera sensor Samsung HM2.

Samsung HM2 has the outsole and high pixels of a flagship camera, and the unique 9-in-1 pixel binning technology can achieve super-large pixel night scene photography. The sensor has a 1/1.52 inch ultra-outsole, which is larger than the 1/2 inch of the current mainstream flagship camera 48MP and 1/1.7 inch of the 64MP, thus resulting in a better imaging effect.

It continues the ultra-high resolution of HMX, and the captured photos can still be clearly visible even if they are zoomed in several times, which is convenient for post-cutting and re-composition.

With hardware Remosaic technology, it can quickly produce 108MP ultra-clear photos, and the camera speed is 3.8 times faster than Xiaomi CC9 Pro, which greatly improves the filming rate of 100-megapixel photos. The device also comes with Super night Scene 2.0 which makes night time shot awesome.

In addition to the 108-megapixel main camera, Redmi Note 9 Pro is also equipped with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel portrait depth-of-field lens. The four lenses can cover a variety of shooting scenes.

REDMI NOTE 9 5G

The Redmi Note 9 5G adopts the same design language as the Redmi Note 9 Pro but has a side-mounted punch-hole located at the top left corner of the display. However, there are marked differences in the hardware. For one, the Note 9 5G is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor which is also equipped with a 5G modem.

REDMI NOTE 9 4G

The Redmi Note 9 4G has the same specifications as the POCO M3 which was launched for the global market recently. The device weighs 198 grams and is 9.6mm thick. The device packs a massive 6000mAh battery and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset. It is available in 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB and 8GB+ 256GB options.

The Redmi Note 9 4G packs a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and has IP52 splash resistance.

Redmi NOTE 9 Pro, Redmi NOTE 9 5G and Redmi NOTE 9 4G pricing & Availability

As for the pricing, the Redmi Note 9 Pro starts at 1599 yuan (~$243)

Redmi note 9 Pro 5G 6GB+128GB version – 1299 yuan ($197)
Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G 8GB+128GB version – 1499 yuan ($227)
Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G 8GB+256GB version – 1699 yuan ($258)

For the Redmi note 9 4G, the 4GB +128GB version is priced at 999 yuan (~$151).

6GB+128GB version -1099 yuan (~$167)
8GB+128GB version – 1299 yuan (~$197)
8GB+256GB version – 1499 yuan. (~$227)

Xiaomi Smartphones, Router, Vacuum up for Black Friday Sale on Gearbest

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Greeva Agnihotri

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Nov 26, 2020

Black Friday is almost here, and so are the best deals from the top brands. Xiaomi is one of the companies participating in this festival and is offering pretty decent discounts on various product categories on Gearbest. This is the ideal time for everyone to update their devices and accessories without burning a hole in their pockets.

And if this wasn’t enough to captivate the consumers, Gearbest too has jumped on the festive bus and is offering an additional $8 discount for the first 1500 consumers through PayPal payments. PayPal Discount Gearbest

For your convenience, we have compiled the best deals that Xiaomi is offering on Gearbest.

Xiaomi POCO X3

Xiaomi POCO X3 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G based on Kyro 470 Octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 Elite gaming series GPUs. With a 120Hz refresh rate, this device offers seamless operation. It has a 6.67-inch FHD+ DotDisplay and 5160mAh battery with 33W fast charging for versatility. Other features include a 64MP AI quad-camera, LiquidCool technology, dual stereo speakers, gaming turbo 3.0, and much more.

For Black Friday, Xiaomi POCO X3 is up for sale with a discount of $20, dropping its price down to just $229.00.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro boasts a 6.67-inch FHD+ DotDisplay for an enhanced viewing experience. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor. Note 9 Pro has a 5020mAh battery with a 30W fast charge and 64MP AI quad-camera with 16MP in-display front camera. Some of the other features include NFC payments and a side-mount fingerprint sensor.

Currently, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro (6GB RAM+ 128GB RAM) is being sold for a discounted price of just $219.99.

Xiaomi Redmi AX6 Wireless Router

Xiaomi Redmi AX6 Router features a dual-core 1.7GHz network acceleration engine (NPU) to process network data traffic and reduce CPU load, among other things. Its dual-band concurrent wireless rate is up to 2976Mbps. And with mesh networking, Redmi AX6 eliminates all signal blind spots. Its other attributes include real-time notification, online game accelerator, OFDMA efficient transmission, and more.

Xiaomi Redmi AX6 Router is up for Black Friday sale and can be brought at a discounted price for just $89.99 by adding the coupon code- XIAOMIAX6.

Mijia G1 Robot Vacuum- EU Version

Mijia G1 Robot Vacuum has 4 different suction powers, and 200ml electronically controlled water tank with 3 gears of water outlet regulation and care. It features a 3 filter system that effectively filters 3-micron dust to prevent pollution. G1 Robot can be controlled with a Mijia app for added convenience.

Currently, Mijia G1 Robot Vacuum is up for sale and can currently be purchased at a discounted rate of just $179.99.

With various devices on sale, Black Friday brings a wave of deals to suit everyone’s needs. The above Xiaomi deals are up for sale from November 26th at 3 p.m. CST on Gearbest. Part of the Black Friday festival, these deals and discounts are up only for a limited time. So, hurry and make the most of it.

Users can get a bonus of $8 discount on products above $80 through PayPal payments on Gearbest.

First sale of Micromax IN 1b reportedly postponed due to logistic issues

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Nov 26, 2020

Micromax made a great comeback with the launch of IN Note 1 and IN 1b smartphones in India. In fact, the company received a great response in the first pre-orders that went live on November 10. However, the first sale of IN 1b didn’t go as planned today.

The company’s Co-Founder, Rahul Sharma, took to Twitter to announce the delay. According to the company, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Micromax IN 1b won’t be available for purchase right away. In fact, reports say that the delay is due to logistic issues. Now, this is very disappointing considering all the units were booked in the first pre-orders according to an earlier report.

If we recall, the Micromax IN 1b device was supposed to go on sale today(November 26) at 12:00 PM IST on both Flipkart and Micromax website. The device is priced at ₹6,999 and ₹7,999 for 2/32GB and 4/64GB variants respectively. Anyway, the company hasn’t shared an official update regarding the new sale date yet. But we really hope that Micromax sorts out the issues soon to clear the sales for the IN 1b in the coming days.

Mujhe abhi khabar mili hai ki due to unforeseen circumstances hum aaj sale par nahin ja payenge! We regret the delay. Hum jaldi hi IN 1b aapke paas layenge. Apna pyaar banaye rakheyga. 🙏 https://t.co/9tYJs77IER

— Rahul Sharma (@rahulsharma) November 26, 2020

Micromax IN 1b Specifications

Micromax IN 1b is a budget offering from the company. It features a 6.52-inch IPS LCD HD+ display. The display has a resolution of 1600×720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 20:9. Although it shares a similar rear camera layout and fingerprint sensor to the IN Note 1, it’s display has a notch instead of a punch-hole.

Under the hood, the IN 1b is powered by MediaTek Helio G35 SoC. This is paired with either 2/4GB RAM and 32/64GB storage. For cameras, you get a 13MP main lens and a 2MP sensor on the rear. Upfront, there is an 8MP selfie shooter tucked under the mini-drop notch.

All this is backed up by a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging. Other features include a microSD slot, 4G, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm audio jack, GPS, Google Assistant button, Face Unlock for connectivity. The device runs pure Android 10 OS without any bloatware. Micromax has also guaranteed upgrades for 2 years.

Redmi Note 9 Pro available at a massive discount price of $219

By

Simranpal Singh

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Nov 26, 2020

The Chinese smartphone maker is offering a good discount on Redmi Note 9 Pro smartphone via Gearbest. The interested users can grab the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant for the discount price of $219 until Black Friday. The European version device is available in three different colors of Green, White, and Gray. If you’re interested, then grab the device now as stocks are limited.

Must See: Black Friday Deals portal for extensive discounts

Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 6.67-inch FHD+ DotDisplay with a screen resolution of 2400 x 1800 pixels. It is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. There’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC on board with an octa-core processor and Adreno 618 GPU. A quad-rear camera module is present with a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 16MP camera sits on the front for quality selfies.

Its 5020 mAh battery is sufficient enough to withstand a couple of days on normal use. Moreover, you will be delighted to charge it with 30W fast charging technology.

Gearbest is offering Redmi Note 9 with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage for the price of $219. However, the 64GB variant is selling at the same price.

Grab Now

Related: Xiaomi India brings Black Friday deals for Redmi smartphones & Accessories

BOE is one of two non-Samsung companies to hold double-digit display revenue in Q3 2020: DSCC

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Nov 26, 2020

Display revenues have hit a new high due to LCD panels according to the latest DSCC report. China’s BOE trails behind Samsung Display in the second spot in overall sales for Q3 2020. Similarly, CPT China reported a Net Profit despite an operating loss for the said quarter.

According to the report(via TheElec), the industry revenues for Display sit at $30.5 billion for Q3 2020. This is reportedly a 21% QoQ, and 11% YoY increase. Apparently, this is an all-time high since Q4 2017, and DSCC believes that an increase in LCD TV panel prices is the reason. In terms of revenue share, Samsung leads the pack yet again but Chinese companies like BOE and CSOT managed to grab a place in the top 10. This development comes at a time when China’s display panel sales are expected to reach $42.5 million in 2020.

In fact, BOE outperforms LG display in the overall revenue share to take the second spot. These two are the only non-Samsung companies to have double-digit shares. That said, the list has others like AUO, Innolux, CSOT, and Sharp who’s share percentages are between 5-8%. Besides, the Gross profits of display panels, as per the report, has grown 106% QoQ(Quarter over Quarter) from Q2.

Q3 2020 Display Panel Revenue — Credit: DSCC

Precisely, the Gross profits(profit-making & selling costs) of Q3 2020 are at $2.7 billion which is a 182% YoY(Year on Year) growth compared to 2019. Accordingly, every panel maker except CPT China reports positive gross margins in Q3. However, as mentioned earlier, CPT China reported a net profit albeit having operating loss.

That is, it gained close to $211 million by selling long term assets. This meant that the entire industry(except Samsung, CSOT, Sharp) posted a net profit of $545 million in Q3 2020. As per the report, this is a first after losses for seven consecutive quarters in the industry. Also in terms of area shipments, BOE is very close to LG with a shipment of 8.1 million square meters followed by Innolux, and CSOT.

In any case, China is trying hard to overpower the South Korean counterpart at least in the LCD segment. The recent acquisition of fabs by BOE, and CSOT from CEC-Panda and Samsung respectively in China means it will likely have 28% of the World’s Large-sized panel capacity. As a result, it will probably hold 70% of Global LCD panels production capacity soon.

Xiaomi and other Chinese brands build up inventory to bite into Huawei’s market share

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Nov 26, 2020

With Huawei in dire straits, rival Chinese smartphone makers have been eyeing to grab the void in the market share. These companies, including Xiaomi, are also building up momentum in their orders for the coming quarter.

According to a DigiTimes report, sources from Taiwan’s PCB supply chain have revealed that Chinese smartphone manufacturers are more aggressively stocking up and placing orders than compared to the first half of 2020. Furthermore, the sources believe that this trend will last till the first quarter of 2021. At the moment, Xiaomi has been particularly pulling in the highest volume of PCB shipments among other brands like Vivo and Oppo.

These three brands are the major rivals of Huawei in their home country, China. Previously, we had reported on Xiaomi reporting a major growth of nearly 35 percent in revenue in the third quarter of this year, with a bump in smartphone shipments as well. This also includes in overseas market and is expecting the positive growth to continue for a bit as it is building up its inventory.

Additionally, it is estimated that Xiaomi handset orders will exceed 100 million units during the second half of 2020 to first quarter of 2021. Similarly, Oppo and Vivo will also reach around 90 million and 70 million handset shipments respectively during the same period. On the other hand, Huawei is expected to have its market share drop to a third of its current standing in 2021. Although, these are still projections based on current situation and it is still too early to make any solid statements at the moment. So stay tuned for more updates regarding the matter.

Lamborghini partners with Master & Dynamic to launch Luxury Range Of Headphones

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Nov 26, 2020

Lamborghini, the known luxury sports car brand, is also joining the ranks of other sports car makers that are teaming up with electronics brand to launch their branded luxury range of hearable products.

The new exclusive range of Lamborghini collection includes the Master & Dynamic MW65 active noise-canceling wireless headphones along with the MW07 PLUS true wireless earbuds. Both hearables arrive with the iconic designs and branding of the Italian sports car maker. The headphones and the earbuds also incorporate luxury materials and build quality to offer a stylish feel and finish like using tan leather on the MW65.

According to Jonathan Levine, founder and CEO of Master & Dynamic, the designs were his obsession and that he was inspired him to approach Lamborghini to create the new collection. Levine further added that “As a young boy I was obsessed with cars. I remember being mesmerized the first time I saw a Lamborghini Miura. Those feelings of excitement are still with me today whenever I see a Lamborghini. To create something that initiates such a visceral response has always been my intention at Master & Dynamic.”

The MW65 headphones will be available in multiple variants including silver metal/light grey/yellow Alcantara, black metal black/yellow Alcantara, and black metal/black/grey Alcantara color schemes. For those unaware, Alcantara is an Italian technical material that is widely used in the cars from Lamborghini. Similarly, the MW07 PLUS TWS is also inspired by Lamborghini sports cars’ striking finish. Even the charging case features matte paint. The MW07 PLUS TWS will also arrive in three color variants, namely polished white/matte silver case, polished black/matte black case, matte black/matte black case, as per the Forbes report.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 features two modes of active noise cancellation and offers up to 24 hours of play time on a single full charge. On the other hand the MW07 PLUS earbuds offers 10mm Beryllium drivers for improved audio quality and offers a total of 40 hours of playback when paired with its stainless steel charging case. The former will be available for $549 / €549 / £489 while the MW07 PLUS TWS will retail for $349 / €349 / £299.

Moto G 5G launch date revealed, arrives on November 30th on Flipkart

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Nov 26, 2020

Motorola India has just confirmed the launch date of its upcoming 5G smartphone in India. The Moto G 5G is a mid range handset that supports the newer and faster bandwidth and will launch of 30th November 2020.

Earlier today (26th November 2020), the company shared a tweet on Twitter, which revealed the launch date of the smartphone and more. The device will be available from 12pm IST and will be available from Flipkart, a popular Indian e-retailing website that operates similar to Amazon. For those unaware, India has yet to adopt 5G networking at the moment and is planning to hold trials in certain regions soon. Despite this, a few 5G enabled devices have already been launched in the country, but the OnePlus Nord is one of the few in the mid range segment so far.

Now, the Moto G 5G will arrive in similar price tag and will compete with the Chinese brand with its own mid range 5G enabled smartphone. At present the OnePlus Nord is the cheapest 5G smartphone in India, but the Moto G 5G could undercut it by a slight margin. While the exact pricing details are currently unknown, it is being speculated that the device will be priced around 24,999 INR (roughly 338 US Dollars). Notably, the device sports a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor over the Snapdragon 765G on the Nord.

Get ready to experience the new level of speed with India’s most affordable 5G smartphone #motog5G on 30th November, 12 PM on @Flipkart! Stay tuned. https://t.co/3HD1jvKWYo pic.twitter.com/kCcjDepMDr

— Motorola India (@motorolaindia) November 26, 2020

Other specifications include a quad camera setup on the rear, comprising of a 48 megapixel primary lens paired with an 8 megapixel secondary sensor and two additional 2 megapixel lenses as well. The selfie shooter is a 16 megapixel camera that is housed in a punch hole format in the top middle of the 6.7 inch FHD+ IPS LCD display. The device is powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack that even supports fast charging up to 20W. So stay tuned for more updates, as we will be covering the launch as well.

Microsoft to launch Xbox Series X in China in 2021 after getting certified

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Nov 26, 2020

Microsoft recently launched its latest generation of gaming console, the Xbox Series X. While the console is available in most regions across the globe, analysts believe that the new Xbox will only arrive in China next year.

According to a SCMP report, the Xbox Series X will only arrive in China by 2021 due to a recent decision by mainland regulators to grant the company a certification for an unnamed gaming console, as per the analysts. At the moment, Microsoft has already received China Compulsory, or 3C, from the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China. For those unaware, 3C is the official safety authorization for products that are imported, sold or used on the mainland.

Analysts believe that these certifications are also indicative of an imminent launch of the Xbox Series X within the country. This would likely also include the arrival of the lower variant within the series, dubbed the Xbox Series S. China is the world’s largest video game market in the world, so the US tech giant would focus on the region despite it not being among the first launch countries.

Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at game consultancy Niko Partners stated that “We currently expect the Xbox Series X to launch in the first half of 2021.” Although, Microsoft still needs to secure a separate certification from the Ministry of Culture before its flagship console is released in China. The market would also be a point of tension between the company and Sony, who also recently launched its latest game console, the PlayStation 5.

Nokia 2.4 launched in India, features a 6.4 inch display and 4,500mAh battery

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Nov 26, 2020

Nokia 2.4 has finally been launched in India. The device arrives as an entry level budget handset that runs the latest stock Android 10 OS and is the latest launch from the HMD Global owned brand.

Nokia 2.4 is an affordable device and its specifications reflect the same. It features a 6.5 inch HD+ display (720x1600px resolution) with a water drop notch in the front. The device sports a MediaTek Helio P22 SoC and is powered by a large 4,500mAh battery pack with a standard 5W charging support. For memory, it houses 3GB of RAM along with either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded via a microSD card slot.

Since the device runs Android One, it runs on the stock Android 10 OS and will likely soon receive the Android 11 update as well. On the rear, Nokia 2.4 is equipped with a dual camera setup, with a 13 megapixel primary sensor and a 2 megapixel depth lens for portrait shots. The selfie shooter is a 5 megapixel camera and the device sports the usual connectivity features like 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS/GLONASS, and micro USB port for charging.

The rear also sports a fingerprint sensor for security and even has a dedicated Google Assistant button with IPX2 Ingress resistance. It measures 165.85 x 76.30 x 8.69mm and weighs 189 grams. Arriving at the price and availability, the Nokia 2.4 will launch in India for 10,399 INR (roughly 140 US Dollars). and will be available in multiple color variants including, Dusk, Fjord, and Charcoal. It is currently available for pre booking across India, although, no official date for sale has been announced at the moment. So stay tuned for more updates.

Google to turn ART into Mainline module with Android 12 for quicker system updates

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Jeet

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Nov 26, 2020

Android is the most popular smartphone operating system out there, dominating the smartphone market worldwide. However, one of the major complaints about the OS is the slower rollout of updates.

To address those issues, Google had introduced Project Mainline and with the upcoming Android 12, Google is working on giving a big boost to the OS upgrades. It is being reported that the company is turning Android Runtime (ART) into a Mainline module, which could allow pushing updates to key system components through the Play Store.

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Android Runtime translates an Android app’s bytecode into native machine instructions. With the said change, if Google wanted to change how the OS translated code, it could just send the tweaks through Play Store instead of waiting for a newer version of Android update, thus helping users get functionality improvement or a security fix much quicker.

While this new change won’t fix most of the issues with the Android update rollout, it could make a big difference when it comes to addressing zero-day exploits with fixes much faster than the conventionally scheduled security patches.

Earlier, Google had outlined that it is making changes in the developer policies which will make it easier to use third-party app stores on Android 12. So far, details about how the company plans to achieve this haven’t been revealed.

ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G teaser video reveals back panel design of the phone

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Jeet

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Nov 26, 2020

ZTE has confirmed that the company will be launching its latest smartphone — ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G in its home country on 30th November. Ahead of the official launch, the company has revealed some of the features of the phone through teaser posters.

In the latest teaser, the company has shared a 360-degree video of the phone, shedding light on the phone’s back panel and confirming that the device will feature a quad-camera setup where the sensors will be placed inside a rectangular module in the top-left corner.

Also, “64” is written under the camera, which hints that the primary camera sensor on this quad-camera setup will be 64-megapixel. The images also reveal that the volume rocker keys and the power button are on the right side.

An earlier teaser of the phone from the company had confirmed that the device will feature a waterdrop display and thin bezels on the left and right side but a bit thicker bezels on the top and bottom of the screen.

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The ZTE Blade 20 Pro 5G is expected to have a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS LCD display and come powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset. It is also said to have a 20MP snapper housed inside the notch on top of the display.

The device will be packing 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It seems that the phone will have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The handset is powered by a 4,000mAh battery but the fast charging capability remains unknown.

For those who are unaware, the smartphone will be launching as the higher variant of the Blade 20 5G that was launched in China earlier this month.

Apple and Xiaomi take a hit as India tightens import rules for electronics

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