Top 5 Alternatives for Apple Airpods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation

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Sep 30, 2020

Apple AirPods is one of the best earbuds in the market with Active Noise Cancellation. However, the AirPods Pro works best with Apple devices. Also, getting a pair of these would put a huge dent in your pockets. Considering the expensive pricing and the ecosystem constraints, you would often have to look for other options that are both compatible with Android (as well as Apple) devices and won’t cost as much as the Apple earbuds.

So here are some alternatives to Apple Airpods Pro with ANC.

Sony WF-1000XM3

Featuring active noise cancellation, these wireless earbuds offer an immersive experience. With DSEE HX, the user can experience an upscale in compressed music files and enjoy listening to high-resolution music. This unit’s touch-based form allows one to tap for controlling music and attending or disconnecting calls. The earbuds feature an optimized antenna design for wide BlueTooth coverage while the ergonomic shape offers a comfortable fit. The earbuds can be fully charged in 6 hours and provide 32 hours of playtime.

Huawei Freebuds Pro

The Huawei Freebuds Pro features three settings for noise control and 4 intensity settings for noise cancellation. With the Awareness feature, one can hear surrounding sounds like a car horn. The wireless settings for music and calls can be done with a pinch on the bud with two fingers. Housing a 580 mAh battery, the earbuds offer 4 hours of music playback with ANC enabled setting and 7 hours without it. The 11mm drivers deliver decent bass and crisp sound quality while the rubber tips offer a comfortable fit.

Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2

Featuring BlueTooth 5.0, this pair offers quick and ultra-stable connections. These buds have diamond drivers that increase the sound frequency bandwidth by 15% and deliver 2 times the base volume. Both the earbuds are equipped with two microphones and cVc 8.0 noise reduction technology that reduces the surrounding sound by 60% when making calls so that 95% of your voice is retained for crisp delivery. HearID technology maps one’s hearing sensitivity at multiple frequencies to provide a personalized listening experience.

Zeaplus Buds

The Zeaplus buds come with the active noise cancellation feature at the most budgeted price. The transparency mode makes noise from surroundings audible to the user, while the stereo sound quality offers a delightful listening experience. Functions like play/pause and answering calls can be controlled with a tap while the BlueTooth 5.0 offers seamless connectivity. These buds provide up to 20 hours of listening and 15 hours of talk time, making them ideal for their pocket-friendly price tag.

If you want earbuds in funky colors even without true noise cancellation, you can also check out the OnePlus Buds

Oneplus Buds

Equipped with a noise cancellation algorithm and three microphones to improve clarity, these earbuds ensure the user fully immerse in the world of music. The Dolby Atmos and Dirac Audio Tuner support offers crisp, 3D stereo sound quality. Tap controls of this pair are customizable according to the user comfort. The case allows one to enjoy 30 hours of listening time while a mere 10-minute charge allows 10 hours of power. Additionally, the earbuds come with an IPX4 rating to keep them protected from accidental splashes.

EMUI 11 Beta recruitment for P40 series & Mate30 Pro live in Germany, Russia, Turkey & the UK

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 30, 2020

Huawei officially announced EMUI 11 earlier this month at the HUAWEI DEVELOPER CONFERENCE 2020. Initially, the beta builds of the company’s latest mobile software were limited to certain devices in China. Now, the Chinese smartphone maker has begun to recruit beta testers in Germany, Russia, Turkey, and the UK.

EMUI 11 is the ninth iteration of Huawei’s mobile operating system. Unfortunately, it is based on Android 10 due to the US ban. However, the company has promised to bring select Android 11 features to its devices before updating them to HarmonyOS later next year.

That said, the company has rolled out beta builds of the new version of its Android skin to a plethora of devices in its home country China. Thankfully, it has now started beta recruitment for global markets as well.

Currently, the registrations for the EMUI 11 Beta program is live in Germany, Russia, Turkey, and the UK for the following four smartphones.

We expect Huawei to soon open global beta registrations for more handsets as well as tablets in the coming weeks.

Anyway, it is worth noting that this initiative is purely for beta builds that may contain severe bugs. So we would recommend you to stay away from it if you don’t know what you are getting into.

Further, although the Chinese telecom giant will begin to seed beta builds to selected users in a few days from now, the stable rollout may take time.

(Via)

Foxconn’s AR Smart Glasses will reportedly feature micro-LED displays

By

Balaji S

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Sep 30, 2020

Foxconn is one of the contract manufacturers of Apple and Xiaomi devices. Apart from assembling Smartphones, it looks like the company is now developing AR Smart Glasses. And, the new Glasses will reportedly have micro-LED displays according to Digitimes.

The report says that Electronics and Optoelectronic System Research Laboratories(EOSRL) has made the micro-LED displays of these AR Smart Glasses. Also, this is reportedly happening under the government-sponsorship of the Industrial Technology Research Institute(ITRI), Taiwan.

As per the report, Foxconn invested in US-based eLux displays in May 2017. And it has been developing the microLED since then. Previously, the company’s efforts to get future Apple’s iPhone orders involved investments in micro-LED technology. While the latter currently adopts OLED displays, it’s craving for micro-LED hasn’t died as well.

Coming back, Foxconn has reportedly struck a three-year deal for obtaining a license from EOSRL and use its micro-LED technology. For the unware, micro-LED displays have inorganic Gallium Nitride(GaN) which gives more life expectancy than OLED panels. Further, it has advantages like improved complexity proportion, quick reaction time, less luminance decay, genuine blacks, and more.

That said, EOSRL’s micro-LED is 5 micron in size and the report says the lab will match quantum-dot(QD) technology to make panchromatic displays having PPI greater than 2000. Also, EOSRL is reportedly working on changing the optical architecture to improve display effect, eye-tracking sensors, ICs etc. However, the displays will be available only by Q1 2021 as per the report.

Besides, Foxconn is hoping to complete the development of AR Glasses by 2022 and try them in smart retail, smart factories, and smart medical care sectors. While the reason for the delay could be a number of factors, the report says that using micro-LED in AR Glasses involves complex processes and will take three years to complete.

Apart from iPhones, Foxconn recently started the trial production of Apple’s AR Glasses as well. It is believed to have developed semi-transparent lenses for the AR Glass. However, we aren’t sure about the exact specifications of these Glasses and it is best to wait for future updates as we advance ahead.

Up Next: Foxconn denies reports about factory canceling holidays and running 24*7 for iPhone productions

Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite with 120Hz display launched as the first Snapdragon 750G phone

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 30, 2020

Xiaomi today took the veil off its latest Mi 10T series with the launch of three smartphones – the Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T and Mi 10T Lite. While the duo of Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro are flagship models packing a Snapdragon 865 chipset, the Mi 10T Lite emerges as a mid-range model. Let’s take a look at the specifications and features of this premium mid-ranger.

The Mi 10T Lite is a budget-friendly smartphone which happens to be the first Snapdragon 750G chipset. The device features a 6.67-inch LCD with an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz which can also be reduced down to 30Hz. The display comes with an FHD+ resolution of 1080p+, an aspect ratio of 20:9 and is covered with a layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5.

The display is HDR10-certified and has 450 nits of brightness and equally promises 84% NTSC colour coverage. The phone is also armed with dual speakers and a Hi-Res Audio certification.

For photography, the Mi 10T Lite packs a Quad-camera setup at the rear comprising a 64MP main camera with a 1/1.7-inch sensor. There is also an 8MP ultrawide camera as well as a 2MP macro cam and 2MP depth sensor. At the front, the phone packs a 16MP selfie camera is inside a centrally placed punch hole.

As stated earlier, the Mi 10T Lite is the first phone to be powered by the new Snapdragon 750G chipset. The chipset is built on the 8nm silicon wafer and has a built-in 5G modem. It offers sub-6 connectivity along with a slight performance boost over the S730G (+20% CPU performance, +10% GPU). The processor is paired with 6GB of RAM while there is the option of 64GB storage and 128GB storage.

Under the hood, there is a 4,820mAh battery with 33W fast charger just like the flagship Mi10T models. capacity, 4,820 mAh. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack on this model.

As for the pricing and availability, the Mi 10T Lite with 6GB RAM and 64GB storage is priced at €280. On the other hand, the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage are priced for €330. Xiaomi is even offering an early bird deal for the 6GB RAM + 64GB storage on Amazon and Mi.com. The device will be sold for just €250 on October 13.

Mi 10T series arrives with impressive displays, 5G, big batteries, and competitive price tags

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 30, 2020

Today, Xiaomi had a global event during which it announced the Mi 10T series. The series includes the Mi 10T Pro, Mi 10T, and the Mi 10T Lite. All three devices pack displays with high refresh rates, Snapdragon processors, 5G, big batteries, and a ton of other features at affordable prices. This post is for the Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro as we have a separate post for the Mi 10T Lite.

Mi 10T Pro and Mi 10T

The Mi 10T Pro is the top model of the series but it shares most of its features with the Mi 10T save for the main rear camera and configuration.

The two phones have a 6.67-inch FHD+ display with a hole punch and a 144Hz refresh rate. While they are LCD panels, Xiaomi says they are one of the best in the industry. The panels have a Delta E value of 0.63 and a JNCD (Just Noticeable Color Difference) value of 0.39.

There are also a bunch of other features such as Adaptive Sync, MEMC, Sunlight Mode 3.0, Reading Mode 3.0, and there is also a light sensor on the front and back of the phone for up to 4096 levels of brightness adjustment.

Powering the Mi 10T Pro and Mi 10T is a Snapdragon 865 processor with 6GB/8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage for the Mi 10T and 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage for the Mi 10T Pro.

The camera department is another selling point of the Mi 10T series. The pro model has a 108MP primary rear camera with optical image stabilization, 8K video recording. The standard model has a 64MP primary camera. They both have the same 13MP ultra-wide-angle and 5MP macro camera for a triple rear camera setup. Their 20MP selfie camera is also the same.

Xiaomi has pre-loaded the two phones with some amazing camera features such as Dual Video which allows you to record at the same time from both the front and rear cameras; Video Clones that allows users to capture “two selves” in the same video; and Time Lapse which is available on both the rear and selfie cameras. There are also new color filters, long exposure, and a timed burst mode for still photos.

The Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro have side-mounted fingerprint scanners, stereo speakers, 3D audio recording, an x-axis linear motor, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, an IR blaster, Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides including the camera housing. They also have the same 5000mAh battery capacity with support for 33W wired fast charging and run Android 10 out of the box.

Mi 10T and Mi 10T Pro Price and Availability

The Mi 10T is €499 for the 6+128GB version while the 8+128GB version will sell for €549. The Mi 10T Pro will sell for €599 for the 8+128GB version and the 8+256GB version will be sold for €649. The two phones will go on sale tomorrow on Mi.com and a host of other partner stores including AliExpress for international buyers.

Redmi S2/Y2 global variant starts receiving MIUI 12 update

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 30, 2020

In early August, Xiaomi rolled out MIUI 12 update to Redmi S2 in China. This smartphone is also known as Redmi Y2 in India. It was the second device in the now-defunct selfie-focused Redmi Y series lineup of phones. Now, almost two months later, this variant of the handset, as well as the global variant of Redmi S2 that was sold in countries like Indonesia, has begun to receive the update to the latest version of Xiaomi’s mobile operating system.

The Xiaomi Redmi S2/Y2 launched in the first half of 2018 with MIUI 9.5 based on Android Oreo out of the box. The device was later updated to MIUI 10 and MIUI 11 subsequently. However, it only got a single Android update (Android Pie). Now, the company has started seeding out MIUI 12 to this phone.

The MIUI 12 global update for Redmi S2/Y2 is currently being rolled out to random users with build number V12.0.2.0.PEFMIXM. If these users don’t face any serious issues, this very same build be seeded out to more users and maybe even ever unit in the coming days.

Having said that, MIUI 12 is the last major update for Xiaomi Redmi S2/Y2. Anyway, it is worth noting that this smartphone may receive some bug fix builds and security patches if needed.

Redmi to launch two audio products on October 7, one of them could be SonicBass bluetooth earphones

By

Balaji S

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Sep 30, 2020

Redmi has finally set the date for the launch of its new audio products in India. On October 7, at 12 PM IST, it will unveil two products. And in our guess, one of them could be the Redmi SonicBass wireless earphones that recently launched in Nepal.

The company confirmed the event via a twitter post. The image shared teases two products where one is clearly a Truly Wireless earbuds while the other seems like a wired product. However, Redmi has opened an event page where there are more details. The page opens with a lot of slogans under each product. Under the wired earphone, we can see keywords like, pair, all-day long, sweat, press&play, high-five connection. All these points that it could be a Bluetooth wireless earphone.

Redmi SonicBass Bluetooth earphones

Also, the teaser image has a thicker band behind on one side and the ear-canal has thinner wires. To sum up, the images look a lot similar to the recently launched Redmi SonicBass Wireless Earphones. Redmi announced the earphones on September 8 in Nepal. The earphones have a neckband style like the Mi neckband earphones. It comes in Black color variant and has features like 12-hours playback, IPX4 rating. That said, it will likely have Bluetooth 5.0 too but we aren’t sure about the entire specifications yet. The earphones are also priced at NPR 2,099($18) in Nepal.

Editor’s Pick: POCO M2 Pro & Redmi Note 9 Pro Max have started receiving MIUI 12 update in India

New TWS with upgraded features?

As for the Truly Wireless Earbuds, it remains a mystery. If we recall, Redmi unveiled the Earbuds S in India back in April. It came with upgraded Bluetooth 5.0 albeit having the same design and price as the original Air Dots. That said, it launched the Air Dots 2 in China recently with a lot of similarities to the Earbuds S.

Coming back, the new TWS on the teaser has a similar design to the Earbuds S. The keywords also have terms like style, voice commands, forget spills, etc. These suggest features like light-weight, Google assistant integration, IPX4 rating that are already present on Earbuds S. Hence, it is difficult to guess the product but one of the keyword “enjoy 3X lives” and this could mean improved battery life. However, nothing is certain yet and these are early speculations. Let’s wait for more teasers to confirm the same.

Up Next: Redmi Note 10 5G with Snapdragon 750G could be launching soon in China

HUAWEI 12000 66W SuperCharge Power Bank gets certified by 3C

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 30, 2020

Huawei is expected to launch Mate40 series of premium smartphones in October. It is reported to be powered by 5nm HiSilicon Kirin chipset. Also, it could be the last handset from the company to feature its in-house silicon apart from Mate X2. Now, according to a new report, the Mate series may be also accompanied by a power bank with support for 66W fast charging.

An upcoming Huawei power bank was recently certified by China’s 3C certification bureau. It was shared first by none other than Digital Chat Station on Weibo. According to him, this product will also launch with HONOR branding.

As per the certification, it will come with model number V035920 and will be called HUAWEI 12000 66W SuperCharge Power Bank. The listing also confirms it to feature two output ports and support older HUAWEI SuperCharge 40 and HUAWEI SuperCharge 22.5 charging standards.

The 3C certification of this power bank also reveals its manufacturer, which happens to be Sunwoda Huizhou New Energy Co., LTD., a company based out of Guangdong province known for lithium-ion cells.

That said, since this power bank supports the two popular Huawei fast charging standards as well as the upcoming HUAWEI SuperCharge 66W, it can be used to charge any HUAWEI and HONOR smartphones/tablets at maximum speed.

Anyway, the company also sells HUAWEI 12000 40W SuperCharge Power Bank. So it’s better to invest in it if you are not going to buy any of the HUAWEI Mate40 series devices.

Chuwi CoreBox Pro with 10th Gen Intel Core chip Will Be Up for Sale on Their Website for Just $399

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Sep 30, 2020

CPU has a significant effect on overall performance and is often considered as a computer’s most important component. Rightfully so, people prefer to work, stream content, and play games in an uninterrupted and seamless way. Taking these factors into account, Chuwi is launching one such product- Chuwi CoreBox Pro, at a pocket-friendly rate of $399. It boasts features like 10th generation Intel Core, Thunderbolt 3, and wireless mode of WiFi 6 to offer a range of versatile functions to the end-user. The product will be up for sale within a few days on Chuwi’s official website.

The CoreBox Pro features the latest 10th Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor made from 10nm craft that allows the user to control large software or decode 4K videos without experiencing significant lag. Additionally, it also allows an individual to load more software on the backend to offer added efficiency. With 12GB Low-Power Double Data Rate 4 (LPDDR), the Chuwi CoreBox Pro enables the simultaneous running of apps like Word, PPT, and Ps in a seamless manner. The 256GB NVMe SSD helps increase the write speed to up to 2000MB/s, allowing the daily software to open within seconds even when dealing with large project files and materials.

The Thunderbolt 3 port of this unit supports data, video signal, and power transmission connections for added versatility. The Chuwi CoreBox Pro offers a transmission speed of 40GB/s and output of 4K video signal to two displays at 60Hz. Furthermore, if the user wants to turn this unit into a high performing beast, they can connect the CoreBox Pro’s external eGPU to the graphics dock. Featuring a high-speed WiFi 6 with AX200 wireless mode, this unit allows one to enjoy the flash connection with a maximum speed of up to 2400Mbps.

The Chuwi CoreBox Pro offers a memory space of up to 16GB to help the user store various media and other files. Similar to the old generation CoreBox, the Pro, too, features a compact and sleek form for convenient placement and storage.

Readers can order the new Chuwi CoreBox Pro from their official website when it goes on sale within a few days.

You can also subscribe to their emails for a surprise discount coupon.

Segway eMoped C80 with a 52.8mi range, 20mph top speed launched on Indiegogo

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 30, 2020

In December last year, Segway-Ninebot unveiled its first electric bike series dubbed Ninebot C-series and made up of the C40, C60 and C80. Segway has now unveiled the topmost variant with a 24h power pack, a 20 mph top speed and 52.8 miles range for the global market on Indiegogo. The model is launched as Segway eMoped C80 and starts at $1,899.

The Segway eMoped C80 is a moped-style electric bike and will be available in two attractive colours. The body is made of plastic but is said to be durable and won’t scratch easily. The e-Bike also adopts the Ninebot AirLock + NFC unlocking method which means it can be unlocked using an NFC-enabled smartphone or an NFC card. The car lock is also directly integrated into the rear wheel of the electric bike.

In addition, the C80 also features a simplified instrument control cluster. There is a light ring at the left and right sides of the handlebar with three different colour codes; yellow, red and green, all indicating the different state of the e-bike. The ring lights flash yellow when the bike is on standby. It lights up green while driving and red shows the bike has a fault. There is also an instrument cluster in the middle which shows the speed and battery power.

Further, the control buttons on the handlebar have also been simplified. The left side is the horn control button, and the right side is the start/fixed cruise/battery cover button.

In terms of safety, the entire vehicle weighs less than 50kg, the body is equipped with separate infant and child seats and it has a centre-mounted two-stage shock absorber. For braking, the Segway eMoped C80 adopts a front disc brake system while the rear has a drum design. It also comes with IPX7 water resistance.

The newly designed 1152 Wh lithium-ion battery can take you on a long journey of up to 52.8 miles range on a single charge. The detachable battery can also be removed in a snap with a weight of just 13.2 lbs. The bike also comes with auto cruise which can be activated by simply pressing the multi-functional button located on the right side of the vehicle and select your desired speed.

You can find out more about the Segway eMoped C80 from the Indiegogo crowdfunding page.

UleFone Armor X5 Pro launched with IP69K Certification & 5000mAh battery

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Sep 30, 2020

Ulefofone, a Chinese company, is known for its rugged phones that can withstand an individual’s daily adventures while also offering utility. They have recently launched the UleFone Armor X5 Pro Smartphone, an upgrade for Armor X5, to fulfill all these needs. The smartphone has two variants- for European consumers and global users with just the software difference.

Featuring the MediaTek Helio A25 octa-core processor and up to 1.8GHz central frequency, the UleFone Armor X5 Pro offers advanced connectivity and global location services to the users. It comes with the Android 10 operating system to let one enjoy all the latest features and functions. Packed with 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage, this smartphone allows the user to store more videos, music, images, important files compared to its predecessor. The storage can be extended to up to 256GB by inserting an external memory card.

The UleFone Armor X5 Pro has a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 720p present in the 293ppi and 18:9 aspect ratio to offer an HD viewing experience. With an average size, this smartphone allows seamless single-handed operation. For durability, this phone features high-rigidity glass that is shatter- and scratch-proof while the IP68/IP69K keeps the phone safe from dust, high temperature, and high-pressure water. Additionally, this smartphone has a 13MP+2MP dual camera with a flash on the back and a 5-megapixel snapper on the front for taking selfies. The front camera is also ideal for video calling and face unlocking. Armor X5 Pro supports NFC & Google Pay to let one enjoy cardless payments.

Housing a battery of 5000mAh, this smartphone boasts enough energy to last an entire day without discharging. It features a charger interface of Micro USB and 5V/2A output for fast charging. The UleFone Armor X5 Pro supports connections like 4G dual VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4G/5G and BlueTooth 5.0. Its additional features include a gravity sensor, P-sensor, L-sensor, E-compass. With 2 card slots and an audio jack, the user can add 2 nano-SIM or TF cards and enjoy listening to music on headphones. One can choose from orange, black, and red colors to suit their preferences.

Readers can buy the UleFone Armor X5 Pro Smartphone on websites like Banggood and AliExpress.

To know more about the Armor X5 Pro smartphone, click here.

Amazfit Neo with retro design launched in India for ₹2,499 ($34)

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 30, 2020

In late August, Huami Amazfit Neo, a retro-style smartwatch was listed for pre-order on AliExpress. A few days later in September, this wearable officially debuted in China for 299 yuan ($44). Now, the company launches it in India for ₹2,499 ($34).

It will be available for purchase in Black, Green, and Red color options starting tomorrow (October 1) on Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Tata Cliq, and Amazfit online store (in.amazfit.com).

Tha all-new Amazfit Neo is unlike any other wearable from Huami. It features a retro design with CASIO vibes all over it. This smartwatch sports a 1.2-inch always-on STN LCD panel with a lift to wake backlight.

It comes equipped with an accelerometer and BioTracker PPG sensor to track fitness activities, monitor heart rate, and track sleep (including REM). Additionally, It also supports PAI health assessment system, call & message alerts and is water-resistant up to 5ATM.

The body of the watch is made of plastic, whereas its wristband features a material called PUR, which is nothing but polyurethane. It has four buttons namely select, back, up and down.

The Amazfit Neo pairs with Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth 5.0 with the help of new Zepp app. Last but not least, it is backed by a 160mAh battery, which the company claims to offer up to 28 days of battery life on regular usage and 37 days with power-saving mode.

Giztop is Offering $100 Off on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Smartphone

By

Greeva Agnihotri

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Sep 30, 2020

Launched on 11th August, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra Smartphone is packed with a host of features like a punch-hole screen, Android 10 OS, and 128GB storage to provide versatility. The device is currently on sale on Giztop, where the website is offering a $100 discount for all interested users.

Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra features a 6.67-inch screen with a resolution of 1080×2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 for HD viewing experience. With an AMOLED punch-hole FHD+ display and 120Hz refresh rate, this smartphone allows seamless streaming of 4K videos. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra smartphone boasts an Android 10 operating system to let the user enjoy the latest UI and features. Powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 and Adreno 650 GPU, the phone provides a quick response to various functions. The 8GB of RAM allows uninterrupted multitasking while the 128GB of inbuilt storage enables the user to store all important files and media.

The Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra packs a quad-camera setup of 108MP+8MP+12MP+20MP on the rear. Wherein an 8MP super-telephoto lens, 12MP portrait lens, and a 20MP ultra-wide-angle lens helps the user capture quality photos. The 20MP punch hole camera on the front is ideal for taking selfies and videos. With an in-display fingerprint reader, one can easily unlock the phone with a simple touch.

This Xiaomi Mi smartphone boasts a 4500mAh battery that is supported by 120W super-fast wired charging for efficiency. The 50W fast wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging further add to the versatility. Featuring a Vapour Chamber liquid-cooling system, this phone prevents overheating for seamless function.

The users can enjoy a whopping $100 discount on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra on Giztop.

Google is being sued by Sonos again, this time over wireless audio tech

By

Sean

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Sep 30, 2020

Sonos has filed another lawsuit against Google. The company is now alleging that the search engine giant has copied its speaker technology and is suing the company for violating five wireless audio patents.

According to an AndroidAuthority report, Sonos is claiming that the entire lineup of Google Nest and Chromecast products are using Sonos technology that includes smartphone based music streaming controls, speaker groups, and automatic EQ. Legal chief Eddie Lazarus stated that the audio based firm is suing the tech giant since it wants to highlight the “depth and breadth of Google’s copying.”

Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson has said that the company will be fighting the new lawsuit. He further added that the company has built the products mentioned in the lawsuit filing had been “designed independently” and that the company would deny such claims “vigorously.” Additionally, Google has also countersued Sonos over the previous case, which was filed back in June, which is a known tactic to promptly end a legal battle.

Sonos has frequently complained about the power major companies like Google and Amazon abuse, especially in regards to technology and their one sided terms. The firm also accused the major brand of knowingly violating the patents since the cost of any legal actions would be trivial compared to the profits the large corporation would make from selling the smart speakers. Apparently, suing Google was the last resort after discussions had failed between both sides and, regardless of the lawsuit, Sonos still aims to maintain a “positive relationship” with Google.

Amazon One announced, allows payment through palms in Amazon Go stores

By

Sean

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Sep 30, 2020

With the world battling the coronavirus pandemic, various methods have been adopted across the globe to limit human contact in public spaces. Amazon One from the e-commerce giant is one such method that lets users pay with their palms in Amazon Go stores.

Amazon is bringing a new biometric device to its Go stores as a form of “contactless” payment system. To put it simply, it is a scanning device in which one would insert their credit cards, then proceed to hover their palms over the sensor area on top. This will associate the user’s biometric palm signature to the card. In other words, once your palm is setup linked with your credit card, one can simply make payments through their palms and not require a credit card again.

Keep in mind, you are not supposed to press down on the device as is the case with fingerprint scanners or palm scanners that require physical contact with the surface area. Amazon One is aimed at helping reduce points of contact in areas where people frequent, like stores. Thus, the Go stores are taking steps to eliminate any steps that require one to touch an area that might commonly be used by others as well.

According to a TechCrunch report, the system might require people to get used to it at the start, and user education is key here. But the tech giant would likely have employees staff demonstrate the process to new customers at the entry point to its Go stores. This is another indication of how lives have drastically changed during this time of crisis and how technology is a blessing in this regard.

HONOR Watch GS Pro to launch in India on October 8; HONOR CHOICE TWS will tag along

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 30, 2020

Earlier this month at IFA 2020, HONOR launched HONOR Watch GS Pro as its first-ever rugged smartwatch priced at €249.99. Now, this wearable is making its way to India on October 8. According to a separate report, it will be accompanied by HONOR CHOICE True Wireless Earbuds.

HONOR, the sub-brand of HUAWEI officially confirmed to debut HONOR Watch GS Pro in India on Twitter. The smartwatch will be an exclusive product launch on Flipkart as part of the eCommerce platform’s popular The Big Billion Days sale.

This wearable, after launching in Europe, was also made available in the brand’s home country China. That means India will be the third region to get it if the company does not launch it anywhere else before the scheduled date for India.

Some of the notable features of HONOR Watch GS Pro include 1.39-inch circular AMOLED display, MIL-STD-810G certification, HiSilicon Kirin A1 chipset, GPS, built-in speaker and mic for calls, 100+ workout modes, and up to 25-day battery life.

We expect it to sell around ₹20,000 ($271) making it the costliest HONOR smartwatch ever launched in India.

On the other hand, according to an exclusive leak by 91Mobiles, HONOR CHOICE True Wireless Earbuds will also launch alongside the above-mentioned smartwatch. The publication also mentions it to be priced under ₹5,000 ($68).

In case you are not aware of, HONOR CHOICE brand offers a plethora of devices from a number of HONOR ecological chain companies similar to Xiaomi. This TWS debuted in Europe for €34.99 in July. If this report happens to be true, then it will be the first CHOICE-branded product for India.

Samsung slashes Galaxy M01, Galaxy M11, and Galaxy M31s prices in India

By

Sean

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Sep 30, 2020

Samsung has just slashed the prices of three of its affordable and mid range smartphones in India. This includes the Galaxy M01, Galaxy M11, and the Galaxy M31s, which are now available for slightly lowered prices in the region.

The price drop is the first for the Galaxy M11 since its launch, while this marks the second price slashing for the Galaxy M01. As of today (30th September 2020), the Samsung Galaxy M01 is now available for 7,999 INR (roughly $108) instead of the previous 8,999 INR (roughly $122) price tag. Similarly The 3GB + 32GB variant of the Galaxy M11 is now available for 10,499 INR (roughly $142), originally 10,999 INR (roughly $149), while 4GB + 64GB variant has its price dropped to 11,999 INR (roughly $162) from its previous 12,999 INR (roughly $176) price tag. Both smartphone models are available for purchase through Amazon.in and Samsung’s official Indian website.

Lastly, the Galaxy M31s, which was launched in India just 4 months ago, has also had its prices lowered down to 19,499 INR (roughly $264) for its 6GB + 128GB variant and 21,499 INR (roughly $291) from its original 20,499 INR (roughly $278) and 22,499 INR (roughly $305) price tag respectively. The Samsung Galaxy M series of smartphones from the company targets the budget to mid range segments of the market. So for those looking to buy an affordable new device, they might want to consider one of these handsets as well.

Future smartphones may use new 3D biometric authentication that maps finger veins with light and sound

By

Sean

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Sep 30, 2020

Biometric authentication has been in practical and commercial use for years now, with it most commonly appearing in the form of fingerprint or facial features based scanning. Although now, a new method has been discovered that involves mapping the veins in one’s fingers using light and sound, which might even make its way to smartphones.

According to the research team leader Jun Xia, from University at Buffalo, “The 3D finger vein biometric authentication method we developed enables levels of specificity and anti-spoofing that were not possible before. Since no two people have exactly the same 3D vein pattern, faking a vein biometric authentication would require creating an exact 3D replica of a person’s finger veins, which is basically not possible.” In other words, it seems to be practically impossible for any hacker to fake a person’s veins and to pass through this new biometric authentication method.

This development also implies a myriad of possible applications in various consumer grade products as well, like smartphones that have been pushing boundaries with new biometric authentication techniques in recent generations. While the system is currently in development, with a few passing years a miniaturized version might be a possibility, bringing a new form of security to handsets that are practically foolproof. It may even be housed similarly to where current gen in display fingerprint scanners is mounted.

The technique essentially detects invisible features in 3D and can be used to offer better security to offer protection over personal data and other sensitive documents as well. Biometric authentication techniques based on finger veins aren’t exactly new, but these are generally based on 2D images. The new techniques add another layer of depth with 3D images that significantly increases security, making it a lot harder to fake and makes the possibility of a false positive less likely. So, if a smartphone with this feature launches, its security authentication would be one of the greatest amongst the current generation of smartphones.

The system uses a photoacoustic tomography, an imaging technique that combines light and sound, which was first reported by ScienceDaily. Light from a laser is first used to illuminate the finger, and when hitting this hits the veins, a sound is created which is then detected by an ultrasound detector that uses the information to reconstruct a 3D image of the veins. This solution may change the way OEMs approach security in smartphones in the future and might even be the next generation of the standards that are currently in place.

United States pressures Europe to ditch Huawei from new 5G networks

By

Jeet

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Sep 30, 2020

After the United Kingdom ditched Huawei from its 5G infrastructure and ordered companies to get rid of Huawei hardware from their existing network by 2027, the United States has now renewed its efforts to pressure Europe to ditch Huawei.

Keith Krach, the undersecretary of state for economic affairs, has warned Germany and Italy that Huawei is “an arm of the CCP surveillance state and a tool for human rights abuse.” However, neither Keith Krach nor the United States has provided any evidence regarding their claims.

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He has also recommended Finland-based Nokia and Sweden-based Ericsson for the 5G infrastructure development in Europe, adding that these two were the only companies that European governments should choose. He said that the company’s involvement in European 5G mobile networks would put the NATO alliance at risk.

Germany and Italy are in the discussion about whether to allow the telecom giant to participate in building the nation’s 5G network. The development comes after the U.K. and France have banned Huawei, bowing down to the pressure from the U.S.

The United States has already put several sanctions on the Chinese giant, making it practically impossible for the world’s largest smartphone company to survive in the premium smartphone market. The U.S. is also attempting to shut it out from the 5G market by forcing suppliers to seek a license for doing business with Huawei.

MIJIA Braun Electric Shaver is now up for crowdfunding at 199 yuan ($29)

By

Jeet

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Sep 30, 2020

A couple of days ago, Xiaomi had unveiled the new Mijia Braun Electric Shaver for its home market China. Today, the product is officially available for purchase through crowdfunding at a price of 199 yuan (~$29).

The crowdfunding campaign starts from today, i.e. 30th September while the company says that the shipment will begin from 14th October. Once the campaign gets over, the Mijia Braun Electric Shaver will be available at a retail price of 249 yuan (~$37).

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The company says that the newly launched electric shaver comes in a compact body, making it easier to carry around. Further, it adds that the knife net is made of high-quality German stainless steel and is inspired by dragonfly wings. The product is water-proof, making it easier to clean or rinse in water.

It features 899 different sizes of meshes that the company claims are carefully designed with reference to the pressure distribution during shaving for a more comfortable shave. As for the power, the Mijia Braun Electric Shaver has a motor that rotates 7200 times a minute and has independent floating double cutter heads that adapt to facial contours.

Coming to the battery life, the company adds that the device can offer up to 40 minutes of usage, which is equivalent to using it for 21 days when used for three minutes each day. There’s also support for Quick Charge technology so that the product can be fully charged in one hour. The company adds that charging it for five minutes provides enough power for a single shaving session.

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