Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 may arrive with a sliding keyboard

-

Oct 29, 2020

A few months back, Xiaomi announced the Mi Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition laptops in India. The former is powered by the 10^th generation Core i5 processor, whereas the latter is driven by the Core i7 processor from the same generation. Today, Xiaomi’s Global VP and Managing Director for India division, Manu Kumar Jain released a tweet to confirm that the company is gearing to launch a new Mi Notebook 13 powered by the 10^th gen Intel Core i3 processor.

The image shared by Jain shows that the Core i3 edition of the Mi Notebook 14 has 256 GB of SSD storage. It also features a built-in webcam. Due to the slim bezels available on the existing MI Notebook 14 and Mi Notebook 14 Horizon Edition, these devices could not feature a built-in webcam. To compensate, an HD webcam is made available in the retail package of these devices.

Editor’s Pick: Xiaomi purchases ~$79 million site in Shenzhen for its new global headquarters

The Mi Notebook 14 Core i3 edition is a light and sleek device that weighs only 1.5kg. The pricing of the laptop is yet to be disclosed. Currently, the Mi Notebook 14 Horizon models such as 8 GB RAM + 512 GB NVMe SSD storage and 8 GB RAM + 512 GB SSD storage are priced at Rs 59,999 (~$810) and Rs 51,999 (~$702).

The Mi Notebook 14 variant such as 8 GB RAM + 256 GB SSD storage and 8 GB RAM + 512 GB SSD storage are priced at Rs 41,999 (~$567) and Rs 43,999 (~$594). Both variants have UHD graphics. There is a 512 GB SSD storage variant with Nvidia MX250 GPU that is priced at Rs 48,999 (~$662).

The upcoming Mi Notebook 14 with Core i3 could be also available in multiple variants. Probably, it could be coming with a starting price of around Rs 34,999 (~$473).

OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition teased by Pete Lau

By

Sean

-

Oct 29, 2020

The OnePlus 8T has just been launched recently. It is the latest flagship handset from the company and it was said to arrive in a special Limited Edition Cyberpunk 2077 variant. Now, OnePlus CEO and Founder, Pete Lau, has teased the device, by sharing an image that offers us a first look at the device in question.

In a new post shared on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, the senior executive shared an image of the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition. Previously, when the company had first announced the new handset variant, it had refrained from revealing any information or the design of the device. However, Pete Lau has finally shared an image, which reveals a small part of the device.

Looking at the image, we can observe that a grayish-black is the primary color scheme for the special edition OnePlus 8T. Furthermore, the rear panel also sports the Cyberpunk 2077 branding, which is etched from the iconic yellow color. For those unaware, Cyberpunk 2077 is the latest game from renowned game studio CD Projekt Red and is currently one of the most anticipated video games of this year.

Unfortunately, the upcoming game title was recently delayed by 21 days, although, the smartphone maker will not be facing any delays, as per company officials. Thus, we can expect the OnePlus 8T Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition to launch on 4th November 2020. So, stay tuned for more updates, and its official launch.

Apple faces antitrust complaint over privacy changes in iPhone

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

Apple has been involved in a few controversies because of its policies and now the company is facing yet another antitrust complaint about recently made changes in the privacy policy on iPhones.

As per the report coming from WSJ, advertising companies and publishers have filed a complaint with Competition Authority in France, claiming that Apple’s changes in the privacy policy are anticompetitive.

From early 2021, Apple‘s operating software will require apps to get opt-in permission from the users to collect an advertising identifier. For those who are unaware, this unique identifier helps companies deliver targeted ads and check campaign performances.

The complaint argues that in such a case, very few users will agree to this and as a result, businesses won’t be able to offer personalized ads. It adds that the language will drive-away users and the advertising identifier will become useless for most ecosystems.

EDITOR’S PICK: USA allows companies to supply chips to Huawei as long as it’s not for 5G business

While apps will need to get permission from the users, Apple’s own apps won’t have to show prompt or get user permission. Apple is offering personalized ads in the App Store and on Apple News based on where users go and what users do in Apple’s apps. To opt-out of the default Apple tracking, users need to do that manually by finding the relevant options in the Settings app.

The Cupertino-based tech giant had planned to introduce this new change in policy in September this year but decided to delay it to next year after criticism from high-profile companies like Facebook and others.

iPhone 12 is expected to beat Galaxy S20+ 5G as the best-selling 5G smartphone in H2 2020

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Oct 29, 2020

Android OEMs have been launching 5G smartphones for a while now. But Apple introduced its first 5G handsets in the form of the iPhone 12 series only a few days back. Even though the standard iPhone 12 is expected to become the world’s best-selling 5G smartphone in terms of revenue in the second half (H2) of 2020 beating the Galaxy S20+ 5G.

Strategy Analytics, one of the leading analytical firms has released a report on top-selling 5G smartphones in terms of revenue for the first half (H1) of 2020. Unsurprisingly, Samsung leads the chart with three devices, followed by Huawei.

As you can see from the picture, first place is occupied by the Galaxy S20+ 5G while the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and Galaxy S20 5G have acquired second and third positions respectively. Whereas, the fourth and fifth places are captured by HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI Mate30 5G.

According to the report, the Galaxy S20+ 5G was popular in Western Europe, South Korea, North America, other regions. On the other hand, the two Huawei smartphones were widely popular in the company’s home country China.

Though the list does not include a single iPhone right now since the iPhone 11 series sold in H1 2020 is limited to 4G, the chart for H2 2020 is expected to be led by the regular iPhone 12. And possibly, other iPhone 12 models could also make it to the list.

Samsung expects profit decline in Q4 2020 due to lower server chip demand

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

Samsung recently revealed its financial report for the third quarter of this year (Q3 2020). The company announced that for the duration of July-September, it’s profit grew by 59 percent to 12.35 trillion won or $11 billion.

It’s noteworthy that this is the South Korean giant’s highest quarterly smartphone profit in years. But the company has also added that it is expecting a decline in its profit in the next quarter, i.e. in Q4 2020.

The reason started by Samsung for expecting a decline in profit next quarter is the weak demand for server chips and increasing competition in the smartphone market. Although the market amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Korea-based company is still wary of the disruption caused and rising tensions because of the US-China trade war.

EDITOR’S PICK: USA allows companies to supply chips to Huawei as long as it’s not for 5G business

Reuters reports that in an earnings call, Ben Suh, Samsung’s executive vice president of investor relations, said that “Global demand is forecast to increase year on year, but uncertainties are unlikely to ease given the possibility of additional waves of the pandemic.”

However, Samsung is expecting a rise in demand for mobile chips as China-based customers have increased their orders after the United States government imposed more restrictions on Huawei.

Samsung has announced that the company’s profit in the chipset business rose 82 percent to 5.54 trillion won compared to last year. The company’s revenue increased by 8 percent to 66.96 trillion won while the net profit rose 49 percent to 9.36 trillion won.

Upcoming Micromax phones’ rear design reminds of Honor 9X series

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

Micromax will make a comeback on Nov. 3 in India to rival Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Vivo, and Realme. The brand is expected to announce two phones named Micromax In 1 and In 1A at 12PM on the said date. Ahead of the launch, Micromax released a tweet to showcase the rear design of its upcoming In-series phones.

India’s style makes heads turn. We’ve designed our new smartphones to do just that. #INMobiles unveiling on 3rd Nov, 12 noon. Are you #INForIndia? #MicromaxIsBack pic.twitter.com/LkMt3FGzjF

— Micromax India (@Micromax__India) October 28, 2020

As can be seen in the tweet, the upcoming Micromax phones will be sporting an attractive “X” shaped pattern on the rear. The glossy back panel can be seen flaunting a gradient finish. The rear appearance of the phone bears an uncanny resemblance to the Honor 9X from last year.

The “In” branding can be seen towards the bottom of the upcoming In-series phones. Take a look at the Honor 9X’s Emerald Green edition to see how closely the new In-series smartphones resemble it.

Editor’s Pick: Realme C15 Qualcomm Edition with Snapdragon 460 processor launched in India

Micromax revealed that the new phones are designed in-house. It also confirmed that it has partnered with MediaTek to design and develop its smartphones at the R&D center placed in Bangalore, India. It is known that Micromax’s upcoming phones will be driven by the Helio G35 and Helio G85 chipsets. These phones will be running on stock Android OS and they are going to be priced between Rs 7,000 (~$95) and Rs 15,000 (~$203).

There is no information on the specs of the Helio G85 powered Micromax phones. The Helio G35 powered phone will be sporting a 6.5-inch HD+ display and a 5,000mAh battery. The base edition of the phone has 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of built-in storage, and a 13-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual-camera system. The higher version of the phone will have 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, and a 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel + 2-megapixel triple camera setup.

Apple supplier Unimicron Technology’s plant catches fire in Taiwan

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

A plant owned by Unimicron Technology, which makes printed circuit boards (PCBs) caught fire on Wednesday in which one person has suffered minor injuries while two others have been rescued by the firefights.

As per the report coming from Taiwanese media, after an emergency call, Taoyuan City Fire Department sent 67 firefighters, 19 fire engines, and three ambulances to the site to battle the fire and support rescue efforts.

EDITOR’S PICK: USA is allowing companies to supply chips to Huawei as long as it’s not for 5G business

While the cause for the fire is being investigated by the fire department, firefighter squad chief Lai Chih-Chung has said that the preliminary findings indicate that the fire might have started in the central air-conditioner room which is located on the first floor of the building.

The company has said that it is still evaluating its losses from the incident. While Unimicron has not revealed many details yet, it is being said in the market that the fire could disrupt the company’s supply chain.

Unimicron Technology is also a supplier for Apple and is reportedly one of the major suppliers for the substrate-like PCB for iPhone 12 models. Currently, it is not known how if this fire will affect supply for the iPhone, for which Apple is reportedly increasing production because of market demand.

US allows companies to supply chips to Huawei as long as it’s not for 5G business

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

In a major relief to the Chinese tech giant Huawei, the United States is now allowing more and more chipset makers to supply components to the China-based company as long as they are not used for the 5G business.

A new report coming from Financial Times indicates that this could offer a potential lifeline to Huawei as the sanctions imposed against the companies were more and less threatening the survival of the giant.

The smartphone business of Huawei, which is the most hit area for the company, now has a chance to make recovery. The report indicates that the application for a license to supply components to Huawei gets approved if the company demonstrates that the technology does not support 5G.

One of the executives of an Asian semiconductor company has said to FT that chips for mobile devices are not a problem and added that the company is optimistic to get a license to continue doing business with Huawei.

In an apparent US-China trade war, the United States put Huawei on Entity List in May last year, effectively banning the company from doing business with US-based companies or companies dealing with American technology, without a special license from the U.S.

EDITOR’S PICK: Huawei leads Chinese smartphone market in Q3 2020 with 36% market share, reveals CINNO Research

A couple of months, the restrictions were tightened as the United States banned the supply of chipset and technology to Huawei. While it stopped the supply of chips to Huawei, the ban has also been proven damaging for the overall semiconductor industry as suppliers anticipate loss of billions of dollars.

However, in recent times, more and more companies are getting a license to deal with the Chinese giant. Samsung Display recently got a green signal to provide OLED panels to Huawei and prior to that, Intel had confirmed that it received approval to supply chips.

It is being said that Japan-based Sony and China-owned OmniVision, which has its headquarters in California, have also received approval to supply CMOS image sensors that are used in smartphone cameras.

As per the report, more than 300 companies, including the likes of Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm, MediaTek, among others have applied for a license to do business with Huawei and they are expected to get approval in the coming weeks or months.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 will reportedly launch in Spring 2021

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

Samsung has already launched a couple of foldable smartphones in the market, a new category that the company entered last year with Samsung Galaxy Fold. Now, the company is reportedly gearing up for a new foldable device — Galaxy Z Flip 2.

The smartphone in question was recently reported to have been delayed by the company until late 2021. However, the latest report indicates the company could launch the phone sometime during Spring in 2021 but no specific timeline is known.

The Z Flip 2 will not be launched with the S21, but it will be launched in the spring. I am impressed with the upgrades it will get.

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) October 28, 2020

This confirms that the device won’t be launched along with the next-generation S-series flagship lineup — Samsung Galaxy S21, which is now expected to launch in January 2021, earlier than its usual release in February or March.

For those who are unaware, the original Galaxy Flip was launched in February earlier this year and then in the month of August, the South Korean giant introduced a 5G compatible variant of the same.

EDITOR’S PICK: Morgan Stanley claims that the recent decline in air quality in Chinese cities is due to iPhone 12 production

As of now, not much is known about this upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 smartphone but we expect the device to have 4G and 5G connectivity support given that 5G is now become mainstream, at least for the devices if not for the network carriers.

The report also indicates that the smartphone will come with several interesting upgrades compared to the original model but there’s no information about what these upgrades are. However, we expect to get more information about the device in the coming months.

A few days ago, it was reported that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 2 will feature a larger outer display, a new UTG display, upgraded hinges, and a bigger capacity battery. But do note that these are just rumors and leaks so take the information with a pinch of salt.

Honor Band 6 to launch on November 3 with full-screen design

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

In July 2019, Honor announced the Honor Band 5. The company was expected to launch its successor i.e. the Honor Band 6 by mid-2020, but its arrival was delayed for reasons best known to itself. Today, Honor took to Weibo to confirm that the Honor Band 6 will be debuting in China on Nov. 3. A tipster had recently claimed the device will be arriving with a full-screen display. The teaser released by Honor today reveals that its upcoming fitness tracker will indeed offer a full-screen experience.

The machine translation of the Chinese text placed below the silhouette of the Honor Band 6 reads, “open the era of full-screen bracelets.” There is no information available on the specifications of the Band 6. With the launch date drawing near, the company is expected to reveal some of its key features in the next few days.

Last year, the Honor Band 5 was made official alongside the Honor 9X series of smartphones. It is unclear whether the Huawei sub-brand has plans to announce any other device alongside the Band 6 on Nov. 3. There is a possibility that the device could be rebranded as the Huawei Band 6 in some markets.

Editor’s Pick: [Update: Render] Huawei Nova 8 SE full specs leaked; Nova 8 series and Honor V40 tipped to launch in November

Honor Band 5 specifications

The Honor Band 5 came with a 0.95-inch touchscreen AMOLED display with 2.5D curved glass. It featured a 50ATM water-resistant chassis and it houses a 100mAh battery. The fitness tracker came with a heart rate sensor, 6-axis accelerometer, and a gyro sensor. For connectivity, it came with support for Bluetooth 4.2.

OPPO K7x to debut on November 4 in China, design teased

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

The Double Eleven (Nov. 11) shopping festival of China is fast approaching. As usual, smartphone brands are expected to announce new phones for the upcoming sale. Today, OPPO confirmed that it will be announcing the OPPO K7x on Nov. 4 and it will be timed for the Double Eleven sale.

Apart from confirming the OPPO K7x launch date, the company also shared a teaser image to give a glimpse of its design. The silhouette shows that the OPPO K7x has a rectangle camera housing. Also, the Weibo post that carries the teaser images suggests that the phone will be housing a large-sized battery.

The K7x is now listed for reservations across popular retailer sites of China. The handset could be positioned lower than the OPPO K7 that went official in August.

Editor’s Pick: OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme focusing on large IoT, to launch smart TVs in India

OPPO K7x specifications (Unconfirmed)

There is an unannounced OPPO PERM00 smartphone listed in the database of China’s TENAA authority. The rear design of the phone seems to match with the teased image of the OPPO K7x.

The PERM00 has a 6.5-inch punch-hole screen with support for a 1080 x 2400 pixels Full HD+ resolution. It has a rated battery of 4,900mAh capacity. The phone is loaded with Android 10 OS and it has a side-positioned fingerprint reader. The volume buttons can be found on the left side of the device.

The OPPO PERM00 is driven by an unknown 2GHz octa-core processor and up to 8 GB of RAM. The device will come with up to 256 GB of storage. There is a microSD card slot for more storage. It has a front camera of 16-megapixel and a 48-megapixel + 8-megapixel + 2-megapixel + 2-megapixel quad camera setup. It measures 162.2 x 75.1 x 9.1mm and it weighs 194 grams. It is likely to arrive in colors like green, gray, and blue.

From meme to real life: Microsoft announces Xbox Series X Fridge

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

When Microsoft gave us a first look at the Xbox Series X, there were numerous comments on how the new console looks like a refrigerator. This joke became a meme, one that Microsoft took seriously and made into a real product. Yesterday, Microsoft officially announced the Xbox Series X Fridge and one lucky winner can get to own it.

Fridge for scale. #PowerYourDreams pic.twitter.com/2n4OEUKXUz

— Xbox (@Xbox) March 16, 2020

The Xbox Series X Fridge is a replica of the Xbox Series X console. There is an Xbox logo at the top left corner of the door that lights up and when you open the fridge, the console’s boot-up sound can be heard. It even has the grille at the top of the console. Unlike most fridges that have a yellow light or white light when you open them, the Xbox Series X Fridge emits a one-of-a-kind green light.

The one.

The only.

Xbox Series X Fridge giveaway.

Follow and retweet with #XSXFridgeSweeps for a chance to win the Xbox Series X Fridge.

Ends 11/04/20. Rules: https://t.co/4P5hCSBPcy pic.twitter.com/MAt7xcTTQ4

— Xbox (@Xbox) October 28, 2020

Microsoft says the fridge costs $499 but you can’t buy one, however, if you are lucky, you can win one.

Microsoft seems to have made just three units of this limited edition refrigerator, one of which was sent to Snoop Dogg while the other was sent to the popular YouTuber, iJustine.

Xiaomi purchases ~$79 million site in Shenzhen for its new global headquarters

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

A report from China says Xiaomi is planning to construct a new global headquarters and just acquired a site in Shenzhen for it. The plot of land is reported to have cost ¥531 million.

A couple of months ago, Xiaomi signed an agreement with the government of Shenzhen for the construction of its global headquarters. The Xiaomi Group will invest ¥7.76 billion for the construction of the new headquarters which is expected to realize a combined operating revenue of ¥51 billion between 2020 and 2024.

The headquarters will include a smartphone and artificial intelligence center, a business development center, and an internet service center.

Xiaomi is not the only Chinese company building a new headquarters in the city of Shenzhen. Just about the same period Xiaomi announced its plans for its headquarters, Vivo also acquired a site in Shenzhen that cost its $182 million. This is more than double the amount Xiaomi paid for its own headquarters.

Morgan Stanley: Recent decline in air quality in Chinese cities is due to iPhone 12 production

By

-

Oct 29, 2020

Apple’s new iPhone 12 series does not ship with a power adapter and a pair of wired earphones. The decision was made to reduce e-waste and protect the environment. However, it appears that while Apple is trying to save the environment in one way, it is negatively impacting it in another.

According to a report by Morgan Stanley, air quality data in some key cities in China show a decline in air quality that is linked to the production of the iPhone 12 series.

A report released by analysts of the financial institution revealed that there has been a sharp increase in industrial production in some cities such as Zhengzhou, and this increase has led to a corresponding decrease in air quality. The city of Zhengzhou is also known as “iPhone City” and is a key site in the production of iPhones. The factory in the city is run by Foxconn and has been in the news in recent years for poor working conditions.

The report says that air-quality data was gotten from a non-profit platform that collects and publishes air-quality data in China. They then tracked nitrogen dioxide levels, which is a “first-level indicator of industrial activity” according to the European Space Agency, in four cities.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the gaseous pollutants that contribute to the formation of other air pollutants such as ozone and particulate matter. It is also harmful to the lungs and can increase asthma attacks.

Other cities where the air-quality has tanked are Shenzhen and Chengdu. Production increased in the former in early September while Chengdu’s industrial activity has increased in recent days.

The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are already on sale while the iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max are scheduled to follow suit in November. There are projections that Apple will ship between 230 – 240 million units of the new phones in 2021 which may earn it the title of the best-selling iPhone series ever.

The Logitech Ergo M575 has a trackball so you don’t need to move it around

By