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Samsung Galaxy S21+ Geekbench listing reveals Snapdragon 875 and Android 11 OS

By
Anvinraj Valiyathara
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Earlier in July, it was revealed the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra have SM-G991, SM-G996, and SM-G998 model numbers, respectively. The Samsung Galaxy S21+ phone has appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform. It suggests that the company could be internally testing the device’s performance before making it official. As it is known, the Galaxy S21 series is likely to go official in January.

Labeled as SM-G996U, the Galaxy S21 Plus can be seen with an 1120 single-core test score and a 3319 multi-core test score. The processor is mentioned with its “Lahaina” codename, which suggests that it is powered by the Snapdragon 875 mobile platform. The SoC is coupled with 8 GB of RAM and the device is preinstalled with Android 11 OS.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus Geekbench

In September, the 8 GB RAM variant of the Galaxy S21 driven by the forthcoming Exynos 2100 was spotted at Geekbench. It was recorded a 1040 single-core test score and a 3107 multi-core test score. The S21+ with SD875 has outscored the Exynos variant which suggests that the Qualcomm chip may offer better performance than Samsung’s homebrewed chip.

Editor’s Pick:  Samsung Galaxy M12 3D renders along with Display, Dimension specs leaked

Samsung Galaxy S21+ specifications

As far as specs are concerned, the Galaxy S21+ to arrive with a 6.7-inch OLED LTPS FHD+ flat display with 120Hz refresh rate support. The rear shell of the phone is expected to house a triple camera setup comprising of a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a 64-megapixel telephoto sensor. It is likely to house a 4,800mAh and it may support at least 25W fast charging. The Android 11 OS will be overlaid with the latest One UI 3.1 skin on the device. It is expected to arrive in paint jobs like Phantom Silver, Phantom Black, and Phantom Violet.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy Buds Beyond gets 3C certification revealing the battery capacity

 

 

Voice Remote for Chromecast with Google TV now available for $19.99

By
Habeeb Onawole
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The Chromecast with Google TV was announced about six weeks ago for a price tag of $49.99. The streaming device, which comes with a new interface different from that of Android TV, is bundled with a voice remote. Now, Google has put up a listing on the Google Store for those who want to pick up a replacement remote.

Voice Remote for Chromecast with Google TV

Yes, a replacement because there is no reason why anyone would want to buy an extra remote if the one that ships with the device still works. The Voice Remote for Chromecast with Google TV is priced at $19.99 and comes in the same three color options as the dongle. Google will also ship the remote with batteries included which also match the color of the remote.

Alongside the listing is a spec sheet that reveals an important feature of the remote we didn’t know before. First spotted by Android Police, the spec sheet says that the voice remote has an accelerometer inside.

Voice Remote for Chromecast with Google TV

This is quite surprising as Google never stated that the remote comes has an accelerometer sensor when the device was announced. An accelerometer detects the position of a device in space which is why phones with the sensor can tell if you are holding it in landscape or portrait mode. There are speculations that with the sensor, the remote will be able to tell when it is picked up and maybe wake up the TV if it’s in screensaver mode.

The remote also has an IR sensor so you can use it to control the TV, soundbar, or receiver. It connects via Bluetooth and weighs 63 grams. You can order yours from the US Google Store.

UP NEXT: Older Google Pixels are getting revamped Camera UI

 

Huawei sells Honor subsidiary to Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Honor is no longer a subsidiary of the Huawei Consumer Business Group. The consumer electronics company which was founded in 2011 as an online-only brand has now been sold to a new owner called Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd.

Honor logo

The new owner of the Honor brand was born from a consortium of over 30 agents and dealers of the Honor brand and the Shenzhen Smart City Development Group Co. Ltd according to a joint statement released confirming the acquisition.

It has been reported that Shenzhen Smart City Development Group which is a subsidiary of Shenzhen SASAC holds 98.6% of the shares while the Shenzhen state-owned Assets Cooperative Development Private Equity Partnership holds 1.4% of the shares.

Honor sale joint statement

The statement says Zhixin New Information Technology will “acquire all business assets related to the Honor Brand”, and “once the acquisition is complete, Huawei will not hold any shares in the new Honor company”. Details about how much the acquisition cost was not revealed but earlier reports put the figure at about $15 billion.

It is the best solution to protect the interests of Honor’s consumers, channel sellers, suppliers, partners, and employees.

The decision to sell the Honor brand comes as a necessary one to save the brand from the woes which have plagued its former parent company since it was placed on the US Commerce Department’s entity list.

The joint statement also revealed that the change in ownership will not affect Honor’s development direction or the stability of its executives and talent teams. The consortium also states that they will follow market rules and compete fairly for the same business opportunities as other agents and dealers.

UP NEXT: Honor to retain over 7000 employees post-independence; few Huawei executives to join the new company

 

Google’s Black Friday discount shaves $150 off the Google Home Max, $50 off the Pixel 5

By
Habeeb Onawole
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With Double 11 behind us, Black Friday is the next shopping festival on the horizon. Google has announced its Black Friday deals as well as the dates when you will be able to grab these amazing deals.

The discount cuts across a variety of products from the Pixel 5 to Nest products and even the Google Home Max. Below are some of the major deals and the dates they will be live:

Google Pixel 5 Mint Green render

Pixel 5 for $649

The Pixel 5 launched on September 30 for $699. The Snapdragon 765G-powered phone packs a display with a hole punch, triple rear cameras, 5G support, and wireless and reverse wireless charging.

If you have got your eyes on the 5th gen Pixel phone, then you can grab it for $50 less ($649) on Sunday, November 22.

 

Nest Audio price

Nest Audio (2-pack) for $169.98

The Nest Audio is Google’s latest smart speaker. Technically, it is the successor to the original Google Home with better features and improved sound. Priced at $99, a pack of two should sell for $169.98 but Google will sell it for $169.98 ($30 off) on November 22.

 

google stadia xtadia

Google Stadia Premiere Edition for $69.99

Stadia is Google’s game streaming service and is available in a number of countries already. The Premiere Edition includes a Google Chromecast Ultra and a Stadia Controller, Currently priced at $99.99, you can get a 30% discount and pay $69.99 instead if you buy it on November 25 (7 PM PST).

 

Nest Mini

Google Nest Mini for $18.99

The Google Nest Mini is the second generation Google Home Mini smart speaker. It launched for $49 almost a year ago but can be picked up for just $18.99 on November 25 at 7 PM PST.

 

Google Home Max

Google Home Max for $149

Google is definitely trying to get its speakers into your home with the deals it is offering on its speakers. The 2017 Google Home Max which launched for $299 and is practically its most powerful speaker to date will be available for $149 on November 22. That is $150 off the launch price. Don’t forget that you can pair two of the speakers together for stereo sound. If you opt for that, it means you will be selling out the original $299 price but you get two speakers.

 

Nest Hub Max

Nest Hub Max for $179

Want a smart speaker with a display? Then the Nest Hub Max can be yours for $179 instead of $229 on November 22. The addition of a 10-inch touchscreen display means that you can ask the Google Assistant to play a YouTube video or a show on Netflix. You can also make video calls as it has a camera or join a Google Meet meeting. The Nest Hub Max can also double as a digital frame that pulls photos from your Google Photos account. It also doubles as a Nest Cam, so you do not need to pick up an additional security camera for whatever room you put it.

UP NEXT: Google Pixel 4a gets a new limited edition ‘Barely Blue’ color variant

 

iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: Specs Comparison

By
Michele Ingelido
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iPhone 12 Pro Max, aka the most advanced variant of the iPhone 12 lineup, is finally on sale. But is it worth the huge amount of money asked? It is not an easy question to answer. We believe one of the best ways to answer it is by comparing it to the most advanced flagships in the Android market. For this comparison, we chose two of the best Chinese flagships out there: the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and the Huawei Mate 40 Pro. In case you do not know, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is only available in China, so, in case you need to buy one of these flagships and you are not from China, only consider the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the Huawei Mate 40 Pro.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro

Huawei Mate 40 Pro Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 162.9 x 75.5 x 9.1 mm, 212 g 162.4 x 75.1 x 9.5 mm, 221 g 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm, 228 g
DISPLAY  6.76 inches, 1344 x 2772p (Full HD+), OLED  6.67 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), OLED 6.7 inches, 1284 x 2778p (Full HD+),  Super Retina XDR OLED
PROCESSOR Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 9000 5G, octa-core 3.13 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, octa-core 2.84 GHz Apple A14 Bionic, hexa-core
MEMORY 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 8 GB RAM, 512 GB 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 16 GB RAM, 512 GB 6 GB RAM, 128 GB – 6 GB RAM, 256 GB – 6 GB RAM, 512 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10, EMUI  Android 10, MIUI iOS 14
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5, GPS
CAMERA  Triple 50 + 12 + 20 MP, f/1.9 + f/3.4 + f/1.8
Dual 13 MP + TOF 3D f/2.4 front camera		 Quad 48 + 48 + 12 + 20 MP, f/1.9 + f/4.1 + f/2.0 + f/2.2
20 MP f/2.3 front camera		 Quad 12 + 12 + 12 MP + LiDAR scanner, f/1.6 + f/2.0 + f/2.4
Dual 12 MP + SL 3D f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY  4400 mAh, fast charging 66W, fast wireless charging 50W  4500 mAh, fast charging 120W Quick Charge 5, fast wireless charging 50W and reverse wireless charging 10W 3687 mAh, fast charging 20W, fast wireless charging 15W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot, 5G, waterproof IP68, reverse wireless charging, 3D facial recognition Dual SIM slot, 5G Dual SIM slot, 5G, waterproof IP68, optional eSIM, Face ID

Design

iPhone 12 Pro Max, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra, and Huawei Mate 40 Pro all come with an astonishing design. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is composed of a glass back with Ceramic Shield protection and a stainless steel frame. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra comes with a very attractive transparent glass back and an aluminum frame. The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is available in a classic glass sandwich version and in a leather variant making it my favorite phone of the trio. In terms of water resistance, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the best as it is waterproof up to 6 meters deep. Huawei Mate 40 Pro has the IP68 certification as well (but it is waterproof up to 1.5m), while Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra does not offer any kind of certification against water and dust.

 

Display

The most interesting display belongs to the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra which can show one billion colors and features a 120 Hz refresh rate. But this does not mean that Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra guarantees the highest image quality. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is actually better in terms of image quality and it even features a higher brightness, but unfortunately, it lacks a high refresh rate. The display found on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro is inferior as it provides lower image quality, but it has a 90 Hz refresh rate. Note that Huawei Mate 40 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max can rely on 3D facial recognition for authentication, while on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra you only get an in-display fingerprint reader.

 

Hardware/Software

The Kirin 9000 5G chipset found on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro is the most powerful of the trio, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max provides very fast and smooth performance thanks to iOS 14. Despite having a weaker chipset (the Snapdragon 865), the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra looks more interesting than Huawei Mate 40 Pro because it packs up to 16 GB of RAM (instead of just 8 GB found on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro) and up to 512 GB of UFS 3.1 native storage. Further, note that Huawei Mate 40 Pro does not include Google services in the global market (but the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is not even available globally).

 

Camera

The cameras of these three devices are very close, but according to tests, it looks like Huawei Mate 40 Pro is slightly better. It packs a triple camera composed of a 50 MP main sensor with omnidirectional autofocus and laser autofocus, a 12 MP periscope sensor with 5x optical zoom, and a 20 MP ultrawide sensor. While the Huawei Mate 40 Pro provides better photo quality, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra has better zoom capabilities.

 

Battery

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra has the biggest battery, but the Huawei Mate 40 Pro can last more on a single charge in several scenarios because it features a lower refresh rate and a more efficient chipset (the Kirin 9000 is built at 5 nm). Despite its smaller battery, do not underestimate the iPhone 12 Pro Max. When it comes to fast charging, Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra wins the comparison thanks to its 120W technology.

 

Price

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra is only available in China where it is priced at €840/$1000, iPhone 12 Pro Max costs €1289/$10999 globally and Huawei Mate 40 Pro starts from €1199/$1012. There is not a definitive winner in this comparison and it mostly depends on the users’ needs. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has great performances and excellent build quality, the Huawei Mate 40 Pro has an amazing camera, and Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra has a great 120 Hz display. It is essentially a draw if we do not specifically know what the specific user is searching for.

 

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max vs Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra vs Huawei Mate 40 Pro: PRO and CONS

Huawei Mate 40 Pro

PROS

  • Leather variant
  • Amazing cameras
  • 3D facial recognition
  • Reverse wireless charging
  • Waterproof

CONS

  • No Google services

 

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

PROS

  • Waterproof up to 6 meters
  • Great build quality
  • LiDAR scanner
  • 3D face recognition
  • Amazing performance
  • MagSafe

CONS

  • Price

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra

PROS

  • Fastest charging tech
  • Very nice cameras
  • Amazing 120 Hz display
  • Good price

CONS

  • No water resistance
  • Limited availability

The Zepp Z may be a hybrid smartwatch with an SpO2 monitor and more

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Tomorrow, Huami-owned Zepp will announce a new smartwatch that will launch as the Zepp Z. This will be the second watch, the first being the Zepp E, from the acquired company. Teasers shared on the official Zepp Twitter account point at the Zepp Z being a hybrid watch.

First, a video posted a few days ago shows the Zepp Z will have a stainless steel case with tachymeter markings and a brushed metal finish. The right side of the watch is home to two buttons and a crown, and attached to the case are leather straps with a stitched design.

The caption for the tweet above reads “Classic design meets contemporary technology” which we believe is a hint that the Zepp Z is a combination of a classic (read as regular) watch with modern smartwatch features.

The design is also another nod to it being a hybrid watch. As you can see, there are two buttons and a crown, unlike most other smartwatches that have either a single button or two at most. This three-button style design is one we have seen on other hybrid smartwatches such as the NoiseFit Fusion Hybrid and the Fossil Hybrid HR.

Zepp Z design

The image above also shows that the Zepp Z will have small displays within the dial that show info such as battery life, steps, and PAI score. This display-within-the dial design is one we have seen on quite a lot of hybrid watches such as the Withings ScanWatch and Withings Steel HR.

Zepp has also teased some features of the upcoming watch. One teaser image shows the watch will be to measure blood oxygen level and heart rate while another shows the Zepp Z will also have Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

The Zepp Z launches tomorrow at 5 PM GMT and the event will be live-streamed on YouTube. With the aforementioned features, we expect it to have a price tag no less than $250.

UP NEXT: FCC certifies Amazfit GTS 2e and Amazfit GTR 2e smartwatches

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 finally gets MIUI 12.2.2.0 stable update based on Android 11

By
Jed John Ikoba
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It’s been a week already since some users of Xiaomi‘s Mi 10 flagship reported the rollout of the update to MIUI V12.2.2.0.RJBCNXM stable version based on Android 11 OS. But then,  Xiaomi rolled back the package, perhaps due to bugs. However, the update has now started rolling out again to the Mi 10 which happens to be Xiaomi’s first flagship model for the year.

The update package has a file size of 3.6GB. Apart from the latest Android version which it brings, the update brings a number of functions such as super document, camera VLOG and AI watermark.

Xiaomi warns that since this update upgrades the Android version, it is recommended to back up personal data in advance. The update also takes a relatively long time to start and load. Thus, performance and power consumption problems such as heating may occur within a short time after startup. In addition, some third-party applications may not work well.

Here is the full changelog (via);

Super document

  • Newly added floating function panel, support quick collapse and expand. Rich viewing functions in portrait mode, best reading experience in landscape mode.
  • Added one-click [Import PDF] function for documents/forms/PDFs
  • Added document/form/PDF [Screencasting] function
  • Added PPT/PDF [Thumbnail] function, faster to jump to pages
  • Added rotating screen prompt switching function
  • Optimized version APK size and runtime storage space

System

  • Update Google security patch (October 2020) to improve system security
  • MIUI stable version based on Android 11 ​​deep customization is released

Camera

  • Added VLOG mode. Added two templates “Story and Rhythm”
  • Added VLOG mode to support the draft box function, you can save the current shooting progress to the draft box
  • Added AI watermarksAdd 3 location watermarks and latitude and longitude watermarks
  • Optimized recording mode 8K video function entrance integrated into the top menu bar
  • Optimize the VLOG mode and upgrade to the cloud download runtime and template resources. The new VLOG template will be pushed through the cloud in the future
  • Optimize the watermark for new models
  • After optimizing the user to adjust the zoom ratio of each function in the camera, within 30 seconds, turn on the camera again, switch back to the camera from the album, and turn on the camera on the lock screen, keep the zoom ratio unchanged

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

Google Pixel 4a gets a new limited edition ‘Barely Blue’ color variant

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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The Google Pixel 4a debuted in August after a long delay due to the global pandemic. It is Google’s most affordable smartphone of 2020. The handset is the direct successor to last year’s Pixel 3a. But unlike its predecessor, the new phone only launched in a single ‘Just Black’ color option. But now, after months from its release, the Pixel 4a gets a new colorway called ‘Barely Blue’.

Google Pixel 4a Barely Blue Featured

Like any other Pixel smartphone, the Pixel 4a is also one of the most leaked products. Before its official launch, the phone was rumored to debut in two colors namely ‘Just Black’ and “Barely Blue’. 

Instead, the company only unveiled it in the former color because of supply chain issue. Hence, it has brought the latter version of the handset in the form of ‘limited edition’ as the search giant does not have enough capacity to produce its cheapest 2020 smartphone in two colors.

That said, talking about the new variant of the handset, this version of the phone sports a light blue color paint job with an orange-colored power button. It is already up for sale in the US for the same $349 asking price like the ‘Just Black’ variant.

Going by the demand for 2019’s Oh So Orange Pixel 4, the 2020 Barely Blue Pixel 4a may also get sold out within a short period of time. Hence, if you are interested in this unique hue, order it as soon as possible.

Last but not least, there’s no word on this edition’s availability in other markets and therefore, we can conclude it to be exclusive to the US, at least for now.

UP NEXT: Future Pixel devices would be devoid of unlimited Google Photos backup

 

Five Amazon workers caught with over half a million dollars worth of stolen iPhones

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Apple‘s latest smartphones, the iPhone 12 series are on the high end of the spectrum and highly desirable among consumers globally.  These beautiful, and expensive tech marvels are now at the centre of various dubious schemes to trick buyers at this period when the device is still enjoying rave reviews.iPhone 12 2020

A report today by Spanish tech site iPadizate, says five Amazon employees were arrested for stealing €500,000 (about $591,155) worth of iPhones from a logistics centre in the capital, Madrid. Among several incriminating items found on the five suspects were ten iPhones and a large cache of IMEI numbers (possibly stolen from phone boxes).

The suspects were uncovered by Amazon after launching an internal and covert operation after significant disparities were observed in the weights of several phone boxes. Hidden cameras at the logistics centre subsequently unmasked the culprits, who had replaced the phones in the boxes with other things. 

One of the suspects voluntarily reported himself to police and another was arrested while still at work. The remaining three suspects were apprehended after leaving the logistics centre at the close of work. All five men have been relieved of their jobs by Amazon and would be put on trial shortly. Amazon’s internal investigation is still ongoing to determine whether there were collaborators still within and to also determine the full extent of items stolen.

The news was just a dent on Amazon who recently launched GameOn,  a video-sharing platform for mobile Android gamers. The GameOn platform allows players to record and share exciting clips of their favourite games while also simultaneously recording their reactions via “Facecam” from the Android app.

Amazon has shown that it will continue to root out criminal elements while expecting continued patronage from consumers. 

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 India launch teased for November 26

By
Sudarshan Ravichandran
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A few days out, news broke out that HMD Global will be launching Nokia 2.4 at the end of November in India. Now, the company itself officially teases to launch this smartphone along with Nokia 3.4 on November 26.

Earlier today, the official Twitter account of Nokia Mobile India tweeted a launch teaser video for Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4 with a caption ‘only 10 days to go’. The tweet clearly suggests the brand’s latest budget smartphones will be officially announced in the country on November 26. 

Also, this goes in line with the report from last week. However, the report only mentioned the arrival of Nokia 2.4 to India and not Nokia 3.4. So that means that the former should go on sale soon after the announcement, whereas the latter could be made available later.

Having said that, it is weird for HMD Global to launch smartphones targeted at India’s hottest price segment after the Diwali festive season, the period in which the most sales occur. All the major brands had already released their devices a month earlier to capture the market.

If HMD Global really wants to break into the Indian phone market, they should first work on their launch cycle and supply chain. Even after nearly one month from the announcement of Nokia 215 4G and Nokia 225 4G, the latter is only available in Black color and the former is yet to go on sale.

Everything you need to know about Nokia 2.4 and Nokia 3.4

UP NEXT: Nokia 9.3 PureView may not feature Snapdragon 865

 

Several MIUI 12 devices in India are facing boot loop issues; Xiaomi vows to fix soon

By
Balaji S
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Users of Xiaomi, Redmi, Poco(MIUI 12 devices) are facing boot loop issues in India after a recent update. Although the company is working on a fix, it looks like users will have to wait for a few days down the line. MIUI 12 Logo Mars

As reported on Twitter(via XDADevelopers) several users took to Social Media to point out the issue. Accordingly, after the recent MIUI 12 update, users get an error message that reads, “Find Device Closed Unexpectedly”. Before you could do anything, the device reboots on its own, and the process repeats(boot loop). The issue seems to be due to a squabble between an App and the UI’s “Find My Device Settings”.

For the unware, boot loop generally occurs when there is a miscommunication while the device boots. It might be due to corrupt app files, faulty installs, malware, broken system files etc. Now, before you start speculating, Xiaomi has reportedly clarified the issue with a statement. It says that certain lines of codes are misbehaving during an App update.

While the company is already working with the App developer for a permanent fix, it mentions that the fix may require users to visit service centers. This is probably for the guys who can’t bear the issue. That said, the company says it has already taken “containment measures” over the last 36 hours to prevent further damage. And will likely roll out an update early next week to fix it.

In any case, this is basically a big oversight either from the company or the App side. Although Xiaomi hasn’t named the developer in its statement, reports say that Airtel Thanks App could be the cause. This is because the company’s Global CIO and Head of Digital, Harmeen Mehta, has tweeted that certain Airtel users are experiencing crashes on MI phones and a fix is coming soon.

That said, users can try opening the Airtel Thanks App once before the device goes into the boot loop again. If that doesn’t work, according to the Twitter user above, you can try uninstalling the Airtel Thanks App quickly first and try disabling Find My Device, ultra battery saver in settings. However, we aren’t sure if this method would be widely successful.

Nevertheless, we really hope that Xiaomi responds to the issue quickly and gives a permanent solution as many don’t have the awareness to try either a “safe mode” or other methods to avert the boot loop.

UP NEXT: For winter, Xiaomi crowdfunds the Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket

For winter, Xiaomi crowdfunds the Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Xiaomi Youpin has played host to a countless number of third-party products since Xiaomi carved it out of the MIJIA brand. One thing that makes the platform stand out is the array of products it houses, including non-tech gadgets as long as it is an innovative one. During the summer period, there were several clothes and apparels including breathable jackets manufactured to meet the various needs of users. As winter is approaching, Xiaomi Youpin has launched a heated jacket under crowdfunding. The jacket carries a crowdfunding price of 499 yuan (~$75) for the regular model and 599 yuan (~$90) for the mid-length model.Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket

The Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket uses S.Kistler aerogel thermal insulation layer, which is light and warm, breathable and not stuffy. According to the manufacturer, the 3mm-thick S.Kistler aerogel composite thermal insulation material can resist the liquid nitrogen jet at -196℃, and the thermal insulation effect can be as good as 40mm thick goosedown jacket. The material is ultra-thin, extremely cold-resistant, damp and mildew-inhibited as well as easy to clean.

The Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket has a stable structure. It stores air through its small aerogel particles. It is naturally hydrophobic, and its warmth retention performance remains even after repeated washing.

In addition, it a has a built-in heating device, rapid heating in 10 seconds, 5V safety voltage, equipped with intelligent temperature control heating technology, and supports 3 levels of temperature control at 30℃, 35℃ and 40℃.

Supai aerogel temperature-controlled heating cold-resistant clothing adopts nano-grade carbon fibre heating wire, and the whole clothing can be washed directly with no risk of leakage or short circuit.Supield+ Cold-resistant Aerogel Heated Jacket

It also uses silver nest reflective fabric as the lining, and its silver surface can effectively reflect the infrared heat emitted by the human body, so as to better preserve the heat.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

Realme seals deal with Dutch retailer Belsimpel to sell its products in the Netherlands

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Tech retail giant Belsimpel has sealed a deal with tech brand Realme to bring its array of products into the Netherlands. With this new deal, Belsimpel will now be the official seller of Realme smartphones in the Netherlands. The largest phone retailer in the country will deploy its wide outreach to market the Realme brand of smartphones with or without subscriptions to network carriers.realme

This exclusive partnership holds great promise for both Belsimpel and Realme, as sales volume of the Realme smartphones in the Dutch market is expected to rise significantly. The deal will lead to cost savings, as middlemen would be eliminated, thus providing the opportunity for Belsimpel to offer mouth-watering and aggressive pricing strategies to drive greater patronage of the Realme brand in its stored scattered across the Netherlands. The first Realme smartphones to make inroads into the lucrative Dutch market are the Realme 7 going for €199 and Realme 7 Pro at a price of €299, as well as the Realme X50 5G for €379.99 on an off-contract basis.

A statement released by Belsimpel expresses their joy in the new partnership of being the exclusive distributor of the Realme brand in the Netherlands. The statement went further to affirm that this exclusive collaboration fits perfectly with their mission to offer the Dutch consumer a wide array of top-notch products. Stressing that the two companies were budding and digital-oriented, the statement noted that both brands will work together to provide value to their teeming customers in their search for a smartphone tailor-made for different lifestyles.

The Dutch market is also open to the fast-rising list of Realme smart accessories like the Realme Buds Air Neo TWS earphones (€39.99), Realme Watch (€54.95) and Realme Band (€24.95) already available in Belsimpel’s stores nationwide.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

PUBG MOBILE Indian version could allow users to retain old skins, in-app purchases & more

By
Balaji S
-

PUBG Mobile India is the talk of the town lately. Ever since PUBG Corporation officially announced the comeback, expectations are rife regarding the game in India. After a round of teasers, the latest report says that PUBG users can most likely migrate the data from the global version.

A post on Instagram by Liquipediamemphiz(via Sportskeeda) says that users will likely be able to migrate their skins, in-app purchases to the Indian version. This is great news for the users who have spent a bucket load of money on the earlier version. If we recall, PUBG Corp.,‘s parent company KRAFTON Inc., recently partnered with Microsoft’s Azure Cloud Platform to host the game on PC/Console/Mobile.

Hence, it wouldn’t be a surprise if it migrates the data of Indian users to local servers. Besides, do note that as per official news, the new “PUBG MOBILE India” will have characters clothed up by default. Hence, don’t expect the old half-exposed characters to return to the game.

Anyway, the post has shared a video. Accordingly, on searching a user named “user41264” using Advanced search In-game, the profile link inside displays a message. It says, “The Player you are viewing has migrated to PUBG MOBILE India”.

PUBG MOBILE India – What to expect?

That said, Liquipediamemphiz in one of his stories says that the user in the video could have early access to the game(beta). And hence, he was able to capture the video. While there isn’t an official confirmation regarding the migration of in-app perks, we feel that PUBG Corp. might bring this to attract the audience and further gain loyalty.

Precisely, reports say that the Indian version will carry forward the rewards, achievements, frames, Pubg Mobile India UCs(unknown cash), tier resets, skins, and more. However, the return of IDs that got banned “for 10 years” before is unlikely. Anyway, the PUBG Mobile Indian version will be specifically designed for India.

It will have features like Virtual Simulation Training Ground, Green hit effects, play-time restrictions. KRAFTON Inc. has also announced that it will hire 100 employees, invest $100 million(~₹746 crores) locally and encourage e-sports, local business, and the IT industry.

UP NEXT: Lenovo G27q-20 and G27-20 gaming monitors announced for budget-conscious gamers

Netflix’ Fast Laughs are funny short videos with a TikTok vibe

By
Habeeb Onawole
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Short-form videos seem to be the in-thing these days. With apps like TikTok gaining huge popularity, other apps have also incorporated a similar feature. The latest to do so is Netflix and it has dubbed its feature Fast Laughs.

Fast Laughs are short videos that are displayed vertically and in full-screen, but unlike TikTok videos that are created by users, these are excerpts from popular shows such as the animated series, Big Mouth, and the popular TV series, Friends.

The interface is similar to that of TikTok, so users who are familiar with the latter should find it easy to use. Swiping vertically will take you to the next video or the previous one. There are also engagement buttons on the right side of the screen.

The aim of Fast Laughs is to help users find new shows they can watch. However, those who have also watched these shows will appreciate a good laugh or scene from a favorite show.

The feature was first in testing earlier this year according to information provided to TechCrunch by Netflix. Now, it has begun rolling it out to a wider audience with an adult profile or a profile without parental control. Sadly, it is still exclusive to iOS users only in the UK, US, and some other regions.

UP NEXT: Indian Govt’s new amendment will regulate OTT platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime

 

Apple reportedly gets foldable iPhone testing samples from Taiwanese factory

By
Jeet
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Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone has been in the news for the fast few months and now it seems that the company is actively working on it. As per the latest information coming through the supply chain, Apple has now received samples for testing.

The company has reportedly partnered with companies like Hon Hai and Shin Nikko for the supply chain for the upcoming foldable iPhone. Through the testing, the Cupertino-based giant is evaluating the use of OLED or Micro LED for the display panel.

Foldable iPhone Prototype

Depending on the display panel opted for the device, it will significantly affect the assembly method. While the company has already acquired patents for the foldable iPhone design and is working on the development, it is not expected to go official for two more years.

Earlier, it was reported that Apple had placed a larger order with Samsung Display for providing samples for at least one year. The development came after it was reported that the foldable iPhone is now in the prototype stage.

EDITOR’S PICK: Apple suppliers Foxconn and Pegatron reportedly expand production outside China

As per the latest report, Apple is testing key components, including the display and bearings for the foldable design. While Taiwan-based Shin Nikko is the primary supplier for the company, the assemble is expected to be handled by Hon Hai.

The upcoming foldable iPhone is designed in such a way that when opened, it has a single continuous display and doesn’t appear to have two separate display panels, even though that is the case.

A recent report revealed that Apple will be discontinuing the iPad Mini once the foldable iPhone gets launched in the market. The reason is that the product will be a cross between iPad Mini and iPhone and when unfolded, it will be similar to the iPad Mini.

UP NEXT: Apple and Google join 6G industry group despite both only recently launching 5G phones in the market

 

iFixit’s teardown of the iPhone 12 mini shows how the components fit into the compact device

By
Jed John Ikoba
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A growing number of customers have placed orders for the new iPhone 12 mini and the team at do-it-yourself tech platform, iFixit did a complete teardown of both the European and US models to figure out how Apple managed to include 5G hardware and the conventional iPhone components into such a little beauty.iPhone 12 mini

The battery is the first thing you will notice when taking a look at the visuals from iFixit. The battery of the mini measures up very well, performance-wise to other iPhone models, with 8.57 Wh.

The mini’s battery performance score even surpasses that of the bigger iPhone SE 2020‘s 6.96 Wh, but falls below the 10.78 Wh of the iPhone 12 series, iFixit stat

The Taptic Engine, speakers, and MagSafe ring are all included in the mini in smaller versions to save space. But Apple managed to fit the same-sized camera as its other iPhone models into the mini, which iFixit suggests may have come at the expense of battery life. The phone’s camera has the same ƒ/1.6 wide-angle and ƒ/2.4 ultra-wide-angle cameras found in the iPhone 12, the teardown shows.

Overall, iFixit found the iPhone 12 mini to be quite similar to its larger counterparts: “The iPhone 12 mini is a small phone with big ambitions. We’re surprised by how familiar the internals look compared to other iPhones this year, given the differences in size among them.”

Check out iFixit’s full iPhone 12 mini teardown here.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

Samsung Galaxy M12 3D renders along with Display, Dimension specs leaked

By
Balaji S
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A few days ago, we got to see the live shots of the alleged Galaxy M12 smartphone. Today, Steve(@Onleaks) has shared the first 3D renders of the device, along with dimensions, and display specs.

Samsung Galaxy M12
Credit: Steve/Voice

First off, Steve says that Samsung will likely launch the device in early 2021 with Galaxy M12‘ naming. However, he isn’t sure about the naming and says it might vary according to regions. Further, the renders shared by him show the display and a similar rear panel as the earlier leak. It has the same squircle camera layout with four sensors and an LED flash beneath the camera bump.

Plus, the rear shell has a unique dual-textured design with a striped top, and glossy bottom finish resembling Google’s Pixel design but in reverse. The new renders also show the power button with a built-in fingerprint sensor and volume buttons to the right. And a SIM card tray to the left confirming the earlier leak. Additionally, the bottom of the device seems to have USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, speaker ports.

Galaxy M12 Specifications- Display, Dimensions

Further, according to Steve, the Samsung Galaxy M12 will have a 6.5-inch flat display with an Infinity-V notch. This is different from the earlier rumor of a 6.7-inch display. Steve adds that the device will measure 163.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm. This suggests the device could have a lesser 8.9mm thickness compared to its predecessor Galaxy M11(9.0mm).

Also, he says that the thickness will increase to 10mm if you count the camera bump. That said, the side fingerprint sensors suggests that the device might have an LCD display to keep the costs low. Besides, considering the track record of Steve, the information above should most likely be true. However, we don’t have any other information about the specs and will only have to play the waiting game.

UP NEXT: Samsung announces M5 and M7 Lifestyle Smart Monitors with DeX, Office 365, & more

Samsung Galaxy Buds Beyond gets 3C certification revealing the battery capacity

By
Jed John Ikoba
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South-Korea based tech giant, Samsung will release shortly, its new pair of true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones uniquely named the Galaxy Buds Beyond. The launch of the new earphones is expected to come in heels of the Galaxy Buds Live and might be available to consumers as early as mid-January of 2021 simultaneously as the Galaxy S21 series.Samsung Galaxy Buds

Samsung has established a growing tradition for some years now of releasing a fresh set of true wireless-enabled earphones to go with its release of the Galaxy smartphone series. The parent Galaxy buds, released in 2019, came with the release of the Galaxy S10, while this year saw the berthing of a couple of Galaxy buds including the latest Buds Live which was released together with the Samsung Galaxy Note 20.

The new TWS product has just recently gotten the China Compulsory Certification (CCC, also called 3C) certification. Having passed this important hurdle, the product is set for full release and it was also shown that the battery capacity of the earphones is 472 mAh.

The battery has the same capacity as the earlier Galaxy Buds Live earphones, justifying the claims that the new product is just a possible update over the Live. The model number also points remarkably to the same conclusion about the two earphones. This is because the new Galaxy Bud’s model number is EB-BR190ABY, while the previous model has number EB-BR170ABU. 

The Buds Beyond is expected to be released with the Galaxy S21 smartphone in January 2021. Samsung had already gotten trademark and intellectual property control of the brand name “Galaxy Buds Beyond”, having filed a new trademark application with EUIPO and USPTO – regulatory agencies in the European Union and the United States respectively. 

Although the Samsung Galaxy Buds Beyond has a strong resemblance to the Galaxy Buds Live, the paucity of information on the product leads us to conclude that there might be an entirely new design on the offing, for example, a TWS earphone with several different characteristics and components from the precursor Buds Live.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi XiaoAI Speaker Art Battery Edition launched for 399 yuan ($59)

 

Samsung announces M5 and M7 Lifestyle Smart Monitors with DeX, Office 365, & more

By
Balaji S
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Samsung Electronics has announced two new Lifestyle Smart Monitors(M5, M7) today. Both of them have Mobile and PC connectivity, remote home office, and run Tizen OS. Samsung, which calls them the ‘do-it-all screen’, has launched it globally in countries like the USA, Canada, China.

samsung M5 M7 Smart Monitor
Samsung Smart Monitors Left: M5 Right: M7

Samsung Smart Monitors M5, M7- Pricing, Availability

Samsung’s new Smart Monitor includes two models- M5, and M7. M5 is available in two size variants- 27-inch(27M50A), 32-inch(32M50A). However, the M7 has only one variant- 32-inch(32M70A). All the Smart Monitors will be available starting November 16 in China, the USA, and Canada as of now.

However, Samsung plans to expand to other countries by the end of November. For now, you can take a look at the US pricing(via The Verge) below:

  • M5(27-inch)-$230(₹17,100)
  • M5(32-inch)-$280(₹20,990)
  • M7(32-inch)-$400(₹29,800)

To capitalize on the pandemic situation, Samsung‘s New Smart Monitors offer work-from-home features like Tap View connectivity, App casting/Apple AirPlay 2, and Samsung DeX. Additionally, the monitors also support home office features like Microsoft Office 365 applications, Remote access.

It also has entertainment features like Smart Hub(VOD), Mobile casting/mirroring, Bixby 2.0 integration, and more. Further, all the models run Samsung’s Tizen OS v5.5, have a speaker of 5W, and support VESA (100mmx100mm) wall mounts.

*VOD is video-on-demand and allows users to stream content on OTT apps like Netflix, YouTube without accessing PC/Mobile.

Samsung Smart Monitor M5- Specifications

The Samsung M5 models come in two sizes- M5(27-inch), and M5(32-inch). Both of them feature a 1,920×1,080(FHD) VA(Vertical Alignment) panel. Weighing in at 5.0kg(27″), and 6.2kg(32″) with a vertical stand, the monitors measure 615.5×455.4×193.5mm, and 716.1x517x193.5mm respectively.

Both the models have a flat display with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and 178° viewing angles. Brightness is up to 250cd/m2(nits), and support HDR10. For connectivity, you get 2xHDMI 2.0, 2xUSB 2.0, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and Bixby 2.0.

Samsung Smart Monitor M7- Specifications

Samsung’s M7 has a single variant- M7(32-inch). However, unlike the M5 models, this monitor supports resolution up to 4K(3840×2160 pixels). The display(VA panel) has 16.1M colors, 60Hz refresh rate, HDR10, 178° viewing angles, 16:9 aspect ratio, 250cd/m2(nits), and 3000:1 static contrast ratio.

As for connectivity, unlike the M5, this Monitor supports USB-C charging of up to 65W. You get a 1xUSB-C, 3xUSB 2.0, 2xHDMI 2.0, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, and Bixby 2.0.

UP NEXT: Samsung Display improves its QNED tech, production to start soon
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