OnePlus releases a short film shot on the OnePlus 8T showing its prowess

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Oct 31, 2020

OnePlus‘ latest flagship, the OnePlus 8T is one of the best smartphones in its price category. The device comes with a 120Hz Fluid AMOLED screen and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. The device is also complemented by a quad-camera set up and the 65W Warp Charge.

One aspect that OnePlus has repeatedly harped on is the camera capability of the device’s camera. OnePlus had teased the 8T camera sample on Twitter before it was launched, with the teaser bearing the caption: “When the stars come up, we bring our OnePlus 8T out!”

Indeed the camera has been nothing short of impressive and OnePlus is intent on flaunting the camera with its latest short film which was shot using the OP8T’s camera.

The film titled, ‘Stop at Nothing’ reiterates the need to use the technology around you productively and taking the time to disconnect, talking of digital wellbeing. The short film stares Kalki Koechlin and is produced by Lightstream. OnePlus 8T is capable of shooting videos up to 4K @60fps. Users can choose a more cinematic 21:9 crop as well.

Narrated through spoken-word poetry written by Kalki Koechlin, ‘Stop at Nothing’ underlines the downsides of being hyper-connected and highlights the need to disconnect while reiterating the use of technology and digital platforms for what they were originally intended — platforms to create, connect and collaborate.

Commenting on the campaign film, Siddhant Narayan, Head of Marketing at OnePlus India stated,

“We live in a time where our smartphones have become our one-stop destination for everything from work and news updates to entertainment and connecting with loved ones. As a technology brand, we understand how important it is to perceive our devices as an extension of the self, for helping us boost creativity and productivity and not something that we become dependent on. With this film, we hope to make people cognizant of using technology for the betterment of ourselves, emphasizing the importance of disconnecting from time to time”.

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Huawei Mate 40 series is the first of its kind to support hardware wallet for China’s Digital Currency

By

Balaji S

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Oct 30, 2020

Huawei announced the Mate 40 series in China today. A few days back, Huawei’s CEO hinted at a special feature coming to Chinese variants. Today, at the launch event, Richard Yu of Huawei announced that Mate 40 series will be the first smartphone to have a hardware wallet for China’s digital currency(DCEP).

Accordingly, the Huawei Mate 40 series supports(via Decrypt) an in-built hardware wallet for China’s DC/EP(Digital RMB). Here DC is Digital Currency, and EP is Electronic Payment. Besides, China’s Central Bank Digital Currency, the digital Yuan is reportedly under development since 2014. Further, Huawei CEO said that the device will offer hardware-level security along with anonymous protection, and dual-offline transactions.

Simply put, users can use the device as a digital wallet and shop at multiple outlets in the country. Interestingly, they can also initiate transactions when they are offline. As per Huawei’s Offical Weibo account, the Huawei Wallet is supported at 16 million+ PoS(Point of Sales) terminals, and 130+ banks(English translated). However, it is unclear if users can swap their bank savings to this wallet. That said, the announcement comes at a time when the Chinese Government is pushing digital currency to the public. And conducting trials of the same.

Besides, Huawei has also been actively involving with the government to promote digital currency in China. Earlier this year, it signed an agreement with Govt. of Nanshan District of Shenzhen, Southeast China. This was to strengthen the country’s Digital Currency economy. And collaborate with the People’s Bank of China to begin the testing of its own virtual currency in Shenzhen.

China’s rigorous push for DCEP

Reports say that Shenzhen‘s Luohu District stimulated around 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) to public citizens to pilot test the digital currency and promote DCEP. Accordingly, 50,000 initial recipients got the DCEP through a lottery system. And made to use it across 3,389 merchants including restaurants, gas stations, metro, and more.

As per the system, there will be a DCEP wallet developed by commercial banks like China’s Central Bank, People’s Bank of China. Users can avail these lotteries by downloading the DCEP wallet of the respective banks. Before this, nearly 2 million people signed up for the Digital yuan Experiment. And 50,000 of them reportedly got a 200 yuan gift envelope.

Apple will reportedly contribute half of total flexible OLED smartphones in 2021

By

Balaji S

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Oct 30, 2020

Apple introduced the expensive flexible OLED displays on its wearables before bringing it to iPhones. Now that it has familiarized the tech with the public, a report says Apple will reportedly account for about half of flexible OLED smartphones launching in 2021.

TheElec’s report says that according to a research firm Stone Partners, 2021 will record a total of 1.39 billion smartphone shipments while 2020 will reportedly account for 1.265 billion. Among them, LCD, and total OLED smartphone shipments will be 793, and 597 million respectively. Here, the total OLED consists of two- rigid OLED, and flexible OLED devices.

Accordingly, the report says close to 315 million smartphones will use flexible OLED panels next year. And this is 52% higher than the current year’s predicted shipments of 207 million. Besides, Apple will reportedly ship 160 million OLED iPhones in 2021 which is an 80% jump from the already estimated 90 million. This is more than 50% of the total flexible OLED smartphone shipments.

Also, the report says the company’s use of flexible OLED for iPhones will make flexible OLED shipments surpass the rigid OLED for the first time in 2021. For the unware, OLED is an Organic- Light Emitting Diode. Flexible OLED has a flexible/soft substrate made of plastic to last more than Glass. They are resistant to impact as well as lighter, and thinner. Apple brought the flexible OLED displays to wearables with Apple Watch in 2015, and to the iPhone X in 2017.

Coming back, companies like Samsung, Huawei will ship 90 million, and 8 million flexible OLED smartphones next year. The reason for the sudden drop in Huawei’s outlook is reportedly due to the US ban. That said the gap of 50 to 60 million of Huawei’s flexible OLED shipments will now be filled by Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo says the report. Xiaomi and OPPO will reportedly churn out 18 million flexible OLED smartphones. And Vivo will ship about 12 million units in 2021.

Logitech G launches an array of Gaming Products in partnership with Riot Games

By

Balaji S

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Oct 30, 2020

Logitech’s brand Logitech G has teamed up with Riot Games to launch a set of officially licensed League of Legends(LoL) gaming products. Accordingly, the products include a gaming Headset, in-ear Earphones, Wireless Mouse, and a Mouse Pad.

Logitech has announced(via Businessswire) the partnership along with the product details on its official website. For the unware, League of Legends is a decade-old MOBA(Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game developed by Riot Games. Besides, this game is reportedly one of the most-played PC games in the world. Also, K/DA is an in-game term that refers to Kill, Death, and Assists. It is also a virtual girl K-pop group having five of the themed in-game characters. This includes Leader Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, Seraphine, and Kai’Sa.

Logitech G LoL K/DA edition Products: Pricing, and Availability

Initially, the LoL K/DA editions of the Headset, Earphones, Mouse, and Mouse Pad will be available at the Logitech G website in China. However, it is said to go on sale in the rest of the world by 2021. You can take a look at the prices below:

Logitech K/DA G733 Lightspeed Wireless RGB Gaming Headset- $129.99
Logitech K/DA G333 in-ear earphones-$49.99 USD
Logitech K/DA G304/G305 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Mouse- $59.99
Logitech K/DA G840 XL Gaming Mouse Pad- $49.99 USD

Logitech G733 headset LoL K/DA edition

Coming back, the first one is Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless RGB LoL Gaming Headset. This version has an Ahri theme with the K/DA logo on the earcups, white accents with bluish-green lighting, and dual-layer black earpads. Other than that, the specs remain the same as the standard version. Weighing at 278g, it reportedly gives 29Hr battery life, charges via USB-C, and has a 20metres wireless range. There is a 40mm PRO-G driver, 20Hz-20kHz response, and 6mm boom detachable microphone.

Logitech G333 in-ear earphones LoL K/DA edition

The G333 LoL in-ear earphones is reportedly the first of its kind from Logitech G. It has the same White, and Blue aesthetics as the K/DA model with an Akali theme. The ear tips are blue in color White the housing is Silver, and the cable is White. The media buttons are a mix of Black and Blue. It features dual audio drivers, 5.8mm, and 9.2mm. Other features include 3.5mm gold-plated port, bass-audio for powerful gaming.

Logitech G304/G305 Wireless Gaming Mouse LoL K/DA edition

The Logitech G304/5 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse’s LoL edition has K/DA logo on the right-click button, with black-blue accents. It weighs just 99 grams, supports USB Port, macOS, Windows, and Chrome OS. The rest of the mouse is White and Kai’Sa theme. It has features like HERO sensor with 12,000 DPI, 1ms report rate, 250hrs battery life, and more.

Logitech G840 XL Gaming Mouse Pad LoL K/DA edition

This huge 15.75×35.43-inch mouse pad covers the Keyboard, Mouse, and other accessories in a single surface with 3mm thickness. The K/DA edition has all five characters Ahri, Akali, Kai’Sa, Evelynn, and Seraphine. Besides, the outer material is rubber but has K/DA logo on the top left with the usual Black-Blue color scheme. The logo of Logitech G and LoL is also at the bottom right. Logitech says the pad provides great accuracy, quick hand, and mouse movements while gaming.

OxygenOS Open Beta 19/9 out for OnePlus 7/7T series

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Oct 30, 2020

The OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7T series have already received two stable updates this month. Now, they are receiving OxygenOS Open Beta 19 and OxygenOS Open Beta 20 respectively. The latest public builds for these smartphones brings a camera-related fix and October 2020 security patch.

For those unaware, OnePlus has three channels for update namely Stable, Open Beta, and Closed Beta. The first and second ones are limited to single release per month but the company releases two builds in the last channel.

That said, currently OnePlus has released the second type of update with build number OxygenOS Open Beta 19/9 for OnePlus 7/7 Pro and OnePlus 7T/7T Pro respectively.

As mentioned in the beginning, the newest public beta update for these phones brings fix for flashback issue when switched to the front camera. The changelog also mentions the build to fix some general issues, in addition to bumping up the security patch level to October 2020

Oneplus 7/7 Pro & OnePlus 7T/7T Pro OxygenOS Open Beta 19/9 Official Changelog

System
- Improved system stability and fixed general issues
- Updated Android Security Patch to 2020.10
Camera
- Fixed the flashback issue when switched to the front camera in particular cases

The update is currently being rolled out in batches and should receive all the units running OxygenOS Open Beta 18/8 in the coming days.

Huawei Mate 30E Pro with Kirin 990E SoC starts at 5299 yuan (~$792) in China

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2020

Huawei today announced the Mate 40 series in China with the models adopting a price tag that is slightly lower than that of Europe. The Chinese tech giant has also taken the wraps off the Mate 30E Pro for its home market.

Just like the Mate 40 series, the Mate 30E Pro was equally announced last week for the first time. in Europe. The company didn’t announce the pricing and availability details. The Mate 30E Pro is available in 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. The pricing starts at 5299 yuan (~$792) for the 8GB+128GB version while the 8GB+256GB version comes in at 5799 yuan (~$867) in China.

As a reminder, the major difference between the Mate 30E Pro and the Mate 30 Pro released last year is the Kirin 990E chipset onboard this model. The Kirin 990E chipset adopts a 7nm+ EUV process and integrates about 10.3 billion transistors. It adopts Huawei’s Da Vinci architecture as well as an NPU large core + NPU micro core design. The chipset integrates a 14 core Mail-G76 GPU and supports NSA/SA dual-mode 5G connectivity and is equipped with 21 antennas in an Omni-directional layout, including 14 5G antennas.

In terms of cameras, Huawei Mate 30E Pro is equipped with dual 40MP high-definition main cameras, super-sensitive and telephoto cameras support OIS optical image stabilization, equipped with 1/1.54 inch and 1/1.7 inch sensors. For selfies, there is a 32MP 3D deep-sensing camera with professional-level portrait blur.

The device comes pre-installed with EMUI 11 OS based on Android 10. It also supports AOD art themes, smooth motion in one mirror, natural and comfortable gesture navigation, integrated sound and vibration, multi-sensing collaboration, smart multi-window, keyboard and mouse sharing and other features which EMUI 11 brings.

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OxygenOS 11.0.2.3 for OnePlus 8T brings a number of fixes

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Oct 30, 2020

Recently, OnePlus launched OnePlus 8T as an updated version of OnePlus 8 with a better display, faster-charging speed, and newer design. This handset can be also called the direct successor to the OnePlus 7T. Last week, the device received its first system update and now, the company is seeding another update to this smartphone.

The latest system update for the OnePlus 8T comes with build number OxygenOS 11.0.2.3. The exact build numbers for different regions are as follows.

IN: 11.0.2.3.KB05DA
EU: 11.0.2.3.KB05BA
NA: 11.0.2.3.KB05AA

The new update does not add any new features to the device, rather it brings fixes, improvements, and optimizations. They are related to power consumption, heat generation, icons not displaying, Bluetooth connection & latency, preview photo loading, and intelligent 5G function.

OnePlus 8T OxygenOS 11.0.2.3 Official Changelog

System
- Optimized system power consumption and reduce heat generation
- Fixed the issue that icons are not displayed on the desktop in a small probability
- Improved system stability and fixed known issues
Bluetooth
- Optimized Bluetooth connection to reduce latency
- Improved connection stability
Gallery
- Fixed the abnormal display issue with loading preview photo
Network
- Optimized the intelligent 5G function to extend battery endurance capacity

Like all OTA system updates, the latest build for the OnePlus 8T is being rolled out in batches worldwide.

PUBG Mobile will finally stop working in India from October 30

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2020

In September, the Indian government slammed a ban on the popular gaming app PUBG Mobile, alongside 117 other apps that are of Chinese origin. The ban affected both the PUBG Mobile and Mobile Lite but has not been effective since then as both apps still continue to accommodate gamers from India. However, that may end soon as Tencent has officially announced that it would be pulling the plug off the gaming apps for Indian gamers.

The announcement posted on the PUBG Mobile official website reads thus,

“Dear Fans,

To comply with the interim order of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology dated September 2, 2020, Tencent Games will terminate all service and access for users in India to PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik and PUBG MOBILE Lite (together, “PUBG Mobile”) on October 30, 2020. The rights to publish PUBG MOBILE in India will be returned to the owner of the PUBG intellectual property.

Protecting user data has always been a top priority and we have always complied with applicable data protection laws and regulations in India. All users’ gameplay information is processed in a transparent manner as disclosed in our privacy policy.

We deeply regret this outcome, and sincerely thank you for your support and love for PUBG MOBILE in India“.

While the announcement is a heartbreaking one, considering the popularity of the app among Indian gamers, we must take a positive statement from it. Tencent will be handing over the rights to publish the game in India to the owner of the PUBG intellectual property which is Blue Hole Studio. Recall that BlueHole recently announced the revocation of the license given to Tencent to distribute the game in India.

The South Korean company was reportedly in talks with India telecom company Reliance Jio to get the game up and running in India once again. Later on, a LinkedIn job listing also suggested the company was returning to India as PUBG corporation. Thus, it safe to conclude that the app will be relaunched soon in India with a new licensee in the driving seat.

For now, we can’t identify the company BlueHole will be granting the publishing rights to but we expect that to be made known in no distant time. We’ll keep you update as more details emerge.

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Google Pixel 5 sits at 15th place in DXOMARK Camera with 120 points

By

Balaji S

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Oct 30, 2020

Google launched the Pixel 5 last month. Exactly a month later, DXOMARK has come out with a new Camera review. And unfortunately, it looks like the Pixel 5 has just improved around 6.2% in the overall score compared to the predecessor(Pixel 4).

Jumping right in, Pixel 5’s overall DXOMARK camera score is around 120 points. If you split that into Photo, Zoom, and Video test, it has 129, 49, and 107 points. Sadly, the score is just 7 points above the 113 points of Pixel 4. Also, Pixel 5 has fared worse in the Zoom category with just 49 points compared to 55 points for Pixel 4. It now sits at 15th place on the DXOMARK’S current rankings(as of October 30) slotting behind Huawei’s yesteryear Mate 30 Pro.

That said, the score closer to Pixel 4 is slightly understandable considering the Pixel 5 has a similar rear-camera setup as follows:

12.2MP 1/2.55-inch main sensor with dual-pixel PDAF, OIS.
16MP 1/3.09-inch ultrawide-sensor with a 107-degree Field Of View(FOV).
An LED Flash
Features: 4K video at 30/60fps, 1080p up to 240fps, and has gyro-EIS.

Pixel 5: Photo

Talking about performance, the report says the main strengths of the Pixel 5 cameras are exposure, color reproduction, and autofocus while they maintain the artifacts originally. For still photos, it seems to produce images with good details via main & ultra-wide lens but also accompanies noise with it.

As mentioned above, Pixel 5 struggles in Zoom as well as limited FOV. In fact, the report says the noise starts creeping in as you zoom just above 2x as the lack of a Telephoto lens is surely hurting Google here. Additionally, the device seemingly struggles in bokeh simulation when there are more than two heads in the frame.

Pixel 5: Video

For Video, the report says that Google sets a new record in the autofocus category trying to be on par with the flagships. It clocks a 105 points for Autofocus equalling flagships like Huawei Mate 40 Pro. In Normal lighting, its shots are reportedly good with details, exposure, and colors, especially the stabilization in 4K 30fps mode. However, issues like noise, color casting, and bad exposure in low light sets it back.

Pixel 5 Camera: Pros & Cons

To sum up, it has Pros like Accurate Autofocus & white balance, Vivid colors, and good stabilization. However, its cons include Noise in Photo & Video, Frame shifts, Bokeh effects, Zoom, less detail in low-light shots. Looks like Google still is relying on its software power while setting the nitty-gritty issues behind.

Samsung SmartThings Find app helps locate your devices even when they are offline

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2020

Most manufacturers usually include a Find device feature on their device’s companion apps for devices such as smartwatches and smartphones. For mobile;e phone, Google’s Find My Phone feature is super efficient in helping you tracing a device where your google account is logged on. However, in most cases, this feature is dependent on the device being online. Although Google‘s own “Find My Phone” feature can make the phone ring even when it is turned off, it can’t pinpoint the exact location when it is out of network coverage area or the data is turned off.

Korean tech giant Samsung is releasing a new app known as SmartThings Find which will let users find their Galaxy devices easily. The app will allow you to find the Galaxy phone, Galaxy Watch, tablet and even earbuds. The company has now pushed the app for the global audience.

Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets running Android 8 or later as well as Galaxy Watches running Tizen 5.5 or later as well as the Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Buds Live are now receiving a software update that will enable the service on the models.

According to details released by the company (via), the SmartThings Find app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband technologies in order to locate the Galaxy device you are attempting to find. After the device is located, it deploys Maps and sounds to lead you to where the device is located.

Samsung expatiated further that a device produces a BLE signal that can be received by other devices once it has been offline for 30 minutes. The SmartThings Find app can then be used to signal that you are searching for the missing device and any nearby Galaxy smartphones or tablets that had the service running can alert the Samsung server about its location. Then, Samsung’s server will notify you.

Once you get close to the device, you can choose for it to “ring” or you can use the AR-based search nearby option, which shows you color graphics that get more intense when you’re getting nearer the device you’re searching for. Additionally, user data is encrypted and protected, so your device’s whereabouts are known only to you.

Samsung plans to expand the features with the inclusion of solutions such as tracking tags, so that you can find other belongings as well, not only locate your Galaxy devices.

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Huawei Mate 40 series launched in China: Pricing & Availability details

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 30, 2020

Huawei today held the Mate 40 series China launch conference and as you can guess, the Mate 40 series was launched for the Chinese market. the company took the wraps off all the models in the series including the Mate 40, Mate 40 Pro, Mate 40 Pro+ and the Mate 40 RS Porsche Design Edition.

The Mate 40 series has already been launched in Europe last week so, the entire specs and Europe prices are already known. Here are the prices of the models in China.

Huawei Mate 40 8GB+128GB version – 4999 yuan (~$748)
Huawei Mate 40 8GB+256GB version – 5499 yuan (~$822)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro Price

Huawei Mate 40 Pro 8GB+128GB version – 6499 yuan (~$972)
Huawei Mate 40 Pro 8GB+256GB version – 6999 yuan (~$1047)
Huawei Mate 40 Pro 8GB+512GB version – 7999 yuan (~$1196)

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ Price

Huawei Mate 40 Pro+ 12GB+256GB version – 8999 yuan (~$1346)

Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design

Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design 12GB+256GB version – 11999 yuan (~$1795)
Huawei Mate 40 RS Porsche Design 12GB+512GB version – 12999 yuan (~$1945)

Huawei also unveiled a Mate 40 RS Porsche Design Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition models have an additional infrared temperature measurement function. At the same time, the Collector Edition model comes with a leather smart window protective cover and Huawei super-fast charging car charger (Max 66W). It is available in 12GB+512GB option and will be sold for 13,999 yuan (~$2094).

Availability

Huawei Mate 40 will officially go on sale on December 21 while the Mate 40 Pro has already gone on sale for the first time today. The Mate 40 Pro+ also went on sale today (October 30) for the first time. The Mate 40 RS Porsche Design sales also commenced today but there is no indication when the Collector’s edition will go on sale.

We must note that the price in China is way lower than that of Europe but then if you are a hardcore Huawei fan or have interest in any of the models, you should be more worried about being able to lay your hands on the device than the price. Huawei is likely to have issues with availability for the models considering the inability to get chip supply from TSMC a wanted due to the US ban.

You can check out our launch article for details of the Mate 40 series’ specifications including the Porsche Design Edition.

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Xiaomi is working on a foldable smartphone codenamed ‘Cetus’

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Oct 30, 2020

Foldables are said to be the next big thing in the smartphone market. Samsung is leading in this segment and the company has revealed its plans to launch this kind of phones across various price segments in 2021. Apart from the South Korean Electronics giant, Motorola is the only brand to sell foldables globally. Whereas, Royole is limited to China and even Huawei has less presence internationally. Now, according to a report, Xiaomi could be the next company to launch a foldable smartphone.

Xiaomi is one of the many popular smartphone makers yet to launch a foldable phone. The company officially teased a trifold foldable smartphone in early 2019. This very same device also appeared in two different short videos.

However, the Chinese tech giant neither revealed the specifications of that device nor cleared the air on when it will release. Instead, the company unveiled Mi Mix Alpha later that year, which itself did not make it to the shelves even after a year.

Now, almost two years after Xiaomi showcased its foldable, XDA senior member kacskrz has found code in the latest build of MIUI 12 Beta for Mi 10 Pro suggesting the company to be working on a foldable.

According to him, this device is codenamed ‘Cetus’ and will MIUI based on Android 11. As for hardware, it will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset and will come with a 108MP camera. Other than these parameters, this handset is a complete mystery.

Having said that, since Xiaomi is known for offering bang for buck products, this foldable smartphone if ever launches, it could be the most affordable foldable in the market. But it will be probably limited to China like most of the company’s premium offerings.

Samsung’s next TWS Earbuds might be named ‘Buds Beyond’ as per an EU Trademark

By

Balaji S

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Oct 30, 2020

Samsung is probably tightening the saddle for another race with it’s Galaxy S21/S30 series in 2021. After trademarking names like ‘Samsung Blade‘, and ‘Galaxy Space‘, it is back with yet another trademark, this time at EUIPO.

Samsung’s trademark, as spotted by GalaxyClub(via Sammobile), is ‘Buds Beyond’. Now, as per the report, the description on EUIPO is pretty generic under Class 9. In the list, we can spot a few keywords like “Wireless headset for Smartphones”, “earphones” etc. That said, the naming does have a keyword “Buds” which has been widely used on earlier models. But we will have to wait a bit more to confirm if it’s the next TWS Earbuds from Samsung.

Anyway, the trademark, as of October 29, is still waiting for an examination at European Intellectual Property Office(EUIPO). Besides, we don’t have any other information apart from a simple name. Now before you get clunky, we do have few tidbits about the next alleged Earbuds from the company. Reports from Korea says mentions ‘Galaxy Buds 2’ from Samsung will debut alongside the Galaxy S21/S30 series. Not only the report’s naming is contrary to the current trademark, but also says it will have upgraded water resistance.

It is reportedly codenamed “Attic” and attire Black, Silver, and Violet colors. Before you take a breather, Samsung also has a trademark that has a naming [Galaxy] Buds Sound. That said, you must know that these are just trademarks, and may/may not corroborate with each other. Meaning, all the naming above could either turn out to be separate products or get stuck as trademarks forever.

Nonetheless, Samsung is likely to begin the production of its Galaxy S21/S30 series devices soon. And if a new TWS earbuds indeed launches alongside the smartphones in Jan 2021, we will have to wait and see if Samsung brings any design improvements over Buds Live. And features like ANC(Active Noise Cancellation), improved battery life, and Audio to the table. Also, if you are lucky, you might also get it for free while pre-ordering the new flagships as Samsung is usually known for its pre-order gifts.

Apple iPhone 12’s late launch had temporarily cleared $100 billion off its stock value

By

Sean

-

Oct 30, 2020

The Apple iPhone 12 series was just recently launched. However, its announcement arrived later than when the company traditionally launches its annual flagship, which caused it to see the sharpest quarterly decline in iPhone sales in two years.

According to a Reuters report, the Cupertino based giant fell by over 5 percent during a point in after hours trade. This had the company’s stock market value fall by a sizeable 100 billion US Dollars. For those unaware, Apple annually launches its iPhone series every September. But due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the company had to delay the announcement by an entire month.

Despite Macs and AirPods seeing an increase in sales during this period with the overall revenue and profit surpassing expectations, iPhone sales had plummeted by 20.7 percent down to 26.4 billion US Dollars. While lower sales had been anticipated, the holdback from consumers right before the launch of the new iPhones turned out to be a lot worse than what was initially projected, especially in China, where smartphone users already have access to 5G networking.

But apart from the initial shock, the company has outperformed its own expectations. In 2020, its product launches and services were also received fairly well. Tim Cook, Apple Chief Executive stated that, “5G is a once-in-a-decade kind of opportunity. And we could not be more excited to hit the market exactly when we did.” He further added that, “What we’re seeing in the early going in the first five days gives us a lot of confidence that China will return to growth in our fiscal Q1.”

Yahoo teams up with ZTE to launch the $50 Yahoo Mobile ZTE Blade A3Y

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 30, 2020

Yahoo mobile is currently owned by US carrier Verizon. Well, the carrier has launched a smartphone under the Yahoo brand. The device is the product of a partnership with Chinese phone maker ZTE and it is dubbed Blade Z3Y.

The phone listed on Yahoo’s official store as Yahoo Mobile ZTE Blade A3Y packs a 5.45-inch display with an HD resolution of 720 pixels and 18:9 aspect ratio. The display has a considerable bezel size on the top and bottom edges. There is no notch design.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek quad-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM and there is 32GB storage option which is expandable up to 2TB. The phone packs a capacitive fingerprint sensor at the back. It also comes with Face Unlock.

For photography, the phone packs a single 8MP sensor at the back, as well as two LED flashlights. The rear camera and flash are stacked vertically at the top left corner of the back panel just like a dual or triple camera setup. For selfies, there is a 5MP sensor on the front with an LED flash as well.

The phone is powered by a disappointing 2,660mAh battery but Yahoo says it features Smart Power efficiency that can go all day. On the flip side, it runs on Android 10 OS out-of-the-box which is quite impressive. The Android isn’t entirely pure Android though, as the phone comes pre-installed with Yahoo apps such as Yahoo Mail, Yahoo News, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Finance, and Yahoo Weather.

As for the price, the Yahoo Mobile ZTE Blade A3Y is available to grab for free if you are willing to trade your current smartphone. It is available for an introductory price of $50 even though the phone is worth up to $100.

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Huawei unveils AR Map 2.0, arrives with the Mate 40 series alongside various improvements

By

Sean

-

Oct 30, 2020

Earlier today (30th October 2020), the Huawei Mate 40 series was finally launched in China. The company’s Consumer Business CEO and Executive Director Yu Chengdong launched the latest flagship, along with Huawei AR Map 2.0.

For those unaware, Huawei AR Map was originally launched with the P40 series earlier this year. Now, the next iteration has been unveiled for the Mate 40 series. The latest version arrives with various improvements in areas like speed, accuracy, AI recognition through visual positioning that works with coordinated optimization of software and hardware. It supports various new locations as well alongside the ones that were previously available.

The new Huawei AR Map 2.0 is said to be based on the Hetu technology, which should make mapping more accurate and quicker. Furthermore, this system also relies on an improved AI recognition solution. AR Maps is essentially an augmented reality feature that lets users experience notable landmarks and areas with a 1:1 ratio with the real world through their smartphones. Fun activities such as mythical creatures and virtual characters can be found when using the map in the real world as well.

Moto E7 bags multiple certifications, Launch seems imminent

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 30, 2020

Earlier this month, a retailer listing had revealed the entire specifications of the unannounced Motorola Moto E7 smartphone. The listing had also carried the renders of the device. It appears that the announcement of the device is close at hand as the Moto E7 has bagged approval from bodies like (Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S., National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in Thailand, and TUV. These certifications show that the Moto E7 will break cover soon.

The NBTC certification revealed that the upcoming Moto E7 has the X2095-3 model number. A variant of the phone with model number X2095-1 appeared in the database of FCC to reveal some of its accessories such as AC adapter, battery, earphones, and USB cable.

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The battery of the Moto E7 has a KG40 model number. This battery appeared in TUV certification to reveal 4,000mAh capacity. The listing also suggests that the device will arrive with a 5W charger. Only these details were revealed through the certifications.

Editor’s Pick: Motorola Kiev live shot and key specs appear, Expected to launch as Moto G 5G

Moto E7 specifications and price (Rumored)

The Moto E7 has a 6.2-inch LCD display with a waterdrop notch that offers HD+ resolution. It could be powered by the Snapdragon 632 chipset and 2 GB of RAM. The phone may come with an internal storage of 32 GB. The retailer listing had revealed that it has a 3,550mAh battery, but the TUV appearance tells a different story.

The Moto E has a selfie camera of 5-megapixel and it has a dual-camera setup that includes a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megpaixel depth sensor. Its other feature includes a microSD card slot, Android 10 OS, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

(via)

BL6000 Pro – World’s First 5G Rugged Phone Will Soon be Launched via Indiegogo

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Oct 30, 2020

4G is soon becoming a thing of the past as many new smartphones are launching with 5G network connection. Taking this into consideration, Blackview, recently introduced the much anticipated Blackview BL6000 Pro 5G- the world’s first 5G powered rugged phone. Along with outstanding durability, this smartphone will also provide ultra-fast connectivity.

5G Connectivity

5G network promises high-speed data connection and is expected to be almost 10 times faster than the current 4G network carrier. With its ultra-speed internet connection, BL6000 Pro will expand its horizons and deliver a foreign experience of using rugged smartphones. Along with internet browsing and downloading, the user can conduct uninterrupted, high-quality video conferencing, watch live and 4K video streams, and play online VR games, among other things. Additionally, its 5G NR modem provides full 2G-5G compatibility for added versatility.

Sturdy Built

Living up to its MO, Blackview BL6000 Pro is made from a robust metal frame and meets IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810G certification. In other words, this rugged phone can withstand water immersion, drops, bumps, and shocks, making it an ideal companion to all adventures and beach trips. This device is also enhanced with one of a kind feature- IceMode that can withstand extreme cold conditions for up to -30℃. This attribute is a major plus point, given that winter is just around the corner.

Camera

BL6000 Pro packs a Sony IMX582 triple rear camera and Samsung S5K3P9-SP 16MP front camera, coupled with advanced software and processing features like PortraitColor, HDR, Night Mode, Underwater, Ultra-Wide, 4K 30fps, 1080P 60fps. Its optimized camera will let the users capture all their adventurous moments in decent quality pictures and videos.

Configurations and Additional Functions

BL6000 Pro features an FHD+ punch-hole display and runs on the Android 10 OS. It hosts a MediaTek Dimensity 800 processor with a 7mn chip to support the 5G network connection. The full-screen format will offer users an immersive experience while viewing content. This Blackview phone boasts a powerful 5280mAh battery that can last almost a day in a single charge. Other functions like GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo come in handy during camping and hiking trips. NFC, fingerprint, and air pressure sensor further adds to its versatility.

BL6000 Pro is an ideal accessory for almost everyone; more so for people leading active lifestyles or people who work in harsh environments where water and rough grounds could cause harm to their device. Its price and availability time are not yet announced by the company; however, we do know that it will first be up for purchase on Indiegogo. Interested readers can subscribe to their newsletter to be updated about it.

For more information about the product, readers can click here.

Samsung to expand its foldable smartphone portfolio in 2021

By

Sean

-

Oct 30, 2020

Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics revealed its operating profit and other details with its latest financial report. The South Korean tech giant accredited its growth and profits to various different factors and also stated its plans on expanding its foldable smartphone portfolio in 2021.

According to TheElec report, the operating profits of Samsung were the highest in two years, with sales also reaching an all time high for a quarter. From its overall profits of 12.35 trillion won (roughly 10.9 billion US Dollars), its smartphone business accounted for nearly a third or 4.45 trillion won (roughly 3.9 billion US Dollars), which is also a rise of 1.54 trillion won (roughly 1.35 billion US Dollars) from the same period back in 2019. The company stated that efficient management of costs and marketing is what helps in its profitability.

At the conference call, Samsung revealed that it plans to expand the price range of foldable smartphones as well. In other words, we would likely see foldable handsets with a bit more affordable price tag. At the moment, foldable devices only account for a small fraction of the company’s total smartphone sales, but it is projected to grow every year. Despite seeing a strong third quarter, Samsung is expecting profits and sales to drop by the final quarter due to increased competition from its rivals during year end sales.

The company stated that the pent up demand caused by the Coronavirus pandemic for smartphones also helped boost sales during the third quarter of 2020. This wasn’t limited to just smartphone sales, but also the company’s other consumer electronics product lineup as well. Larger screen devices also rose in popularity as the work from home scenarios have become the norm in 2020.

Motorola Kiev live shot and key specs appear, Expected to launch as Moto G 5G

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 30, 2020

Last month, a German publication (TecknikNews) broke news about the existence of a Motorola phone codenamed as Kiev. The same publication revealed yesterday that this phone will break cover as the Motorola Moto G 5G. The name suggests that it will be an inferior version of the Moto G 5G Plus (available as Motorola One 5G in the U.S.) that debuted in July. Equal Leaks telegram channel has shared a live shot of the smartphone to reveal its front design.

The live shot shows that the Moto G 5G aka Kiev has a tall aspect ratio display with top-center selfie camera cutout. The leak claims that the smartphone features an AMOLED HDR display that supports 1080 x 2400 pixels. Previous leaks have claimed that the Kiev is powered by the Snapdragon 690 5G chipset. Strangely, the new leak tells it has Snapdragon 765Gv, which seems to be incorrect.

The leak further states that the device has 128 GB of UFS 2.1 storage, and it is packed with a 5,000mAh battery. It has a quad-camera setup that is lead by a 48-megapixel primary lens. The camera leak also contradicts with previous that said that the Kiev phone has a 48-megapixel triple camera system. The leak concludes by saying that the phone will launch globally.

Editor’s Pick: Motorola XT2091 will be also launching as a Lenovo smartphone

Previous reports have said that the Motorola Kiev’s support screen supports a 90Hz OLED refresh rate, and it has a 16-megapixel front camera. Its rear has a 48-megapixel Samsung GM1 main camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. It has other features like 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, Android 10 OS, microSD card slot, and NFC. It is said that the XT2113-2 and XT2113-3 are the two variants of the phone.

(source|via)

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