OxygenOS 11 Beta 2 for OnePlus 8 series brings a cool new feature called Canvas

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Sep 24, 2020

OnePlus has rolled out a new OxygenOS 11 Beta update based on Android 11 for the OnePlus 8 series. The new update not only brings fixes and optimizations but also comes with a cool feature we can’t wait to arrive for those of us missing out on trying out OxygenOS 11 beta.

The new feature is called “Canvas” and what it does is to draw a wireframe image of your lockscreen wallpaper for use as an Always-On Display photo. It is actually a pretty neat feature and should work best with images of people and pets.

OnePlus Canvas | Image source: XDA-Developers

You can access Canvas by going to Settings > Customizations > Wallpaper > Canvas. You can also see a photo preview under the menu.

The fixes and optimizations are listed in the changelog below:

System

Optimized some UI display in Settings.
Fixed the low probability issue that widgets did not respond.
Fixed the failure to wake up Google Assistant in some cases.
Fixed the issue that the HD icon on the call log interface was not centered.
Fixed the black screen issue when the user entered “Tips & Support” interface.
Improved system stability.

Clock

Fixed the issue that numbers disappeared in Timer under some special circumstances.

Ambient display

Newly added Canvas feature that can automatically draw a wireframe picture based on a lock screen photo on your phone. You can view it anytime without waking up the screen（Path: Settings-Customization-Wallpaper-Canvas-Choose photo preview and it can be generated automatically).

Network

Optimize the power consumption of the Smart 5G.

The forum post for the release says that users in India who update to the new Open Beta 2 may be missing some functions.

OnePlus officially announces Warp Charge 65 to debut on the OnePlus 8T 5G

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2020

The internet has been buzzing with news that OnePlus will soon announce the OnePlus 8T smartphone after initial rumours that the 8T would be skipped this year. More interesting is the rumour that the OnePlus 8T will come with support for 65W Warp charge support. OnePlus has officially announced that the OP8T will indeed bring support for the 65W Warp charge just as rumoured. This was disclosed by the company in a press release today.

The 65W Warp Charge dubbed Warp Charge 65 will debut as OnePlus’ fastest charging solution yet. The solution more than double the charging speed of its predecessor, Warp Charge 30T and is capable of charging the OnePlus 8T 5G’s 4500mAh battery fully in 39 minutes and deliver up to 58% charge in just 15 minutes.

According to OnePlus’ CEO Pete Lau, “Charging should be quick and simple to help make your digital life as burdenless as possible.” He added, “With OnePlus’ focus on delivering a fast and smooth flagship experience, we changed our approach to fast charging with the OnePlus 8T 5G. Our new Warp Charge 65 technology will continue to transform the way people think about charging.”

OnePlus says the OnePlus 8T will have a twin-battery design which is similar to the battery setup utilised on the Find X2 series by OPPO, a fellow BBK subsidiary. The Find X2 features a pair of 2,130mAh cells and has onboard OPPO’s 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging technology charges both cells simultaneously.

The new twin-battery configuration allows the OnePlus 8T 5G to charge more than twice as fast as Warp Charge 30T. With this new setup, both batteries can charge at more than 30W simultaneously while staying cool even when using the phone.

OnePlus will also ship the OP 8T with the Warp Charge 65 power adapter which is designed to offer high compatibility with other devices. It features a dual-end USB-C port design and supports all previous OnePlus charging protocols. It also supports up to 45W PD charging, providing users with the ability to juice up multiple supporting devices such as laptops or tablets.

On top of the already secure chip framework, OnePlus added an additional encryption chip to the charger and cable and 12 temperature sensors in the phone to allow OnePlus devices to charge intelligently and efficiently in different situations. Furthermore, a new heat dissipation system has been included in the OnePlus 8T 5G to keep the charging temperature at a comfortable level. All of these features have been added to ensure that Warp Charge 65 is not only lightning fast but also safe to use at any time.

The OnePlus 8T 5G, along with the new Warp Charge 65 technology, will officially launch on October 14, 2020. The flagship phone OnePlus 8T 5G available for pre-book starting 25 September to 16 October 2020 at all OnePlus exclusive stores. Pre-booking for the device starts at INR 2000 giving them first preference once open sales are live for the OnePlus 8T 5G.

realme announces realme UI 2.0 Early Access Roadmap

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 24, 2020

Earlier this week at the realme narzo 20 series launch event for India, the brand officially unveiled realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11. The second iteration of the company’s Android skin is (as expected) a tweaked version of OPPO ColorOS 11. While announcing it, the firm only revealed the update plans for realme X50 Pro. But now, the brand has finally shared the early access roadmap for all the eligible devices in realme Community.

Before listing the devices, we would like to inform you that realme calls it “early access roadmap” for a reason. The schedule mentioned below only denotes when these eligible smartphones will begin to receive limited rollout.

That means the final release to the public may commence after weeks or even a month after the period described in the timeline. In a nutshell, it is a rough update schedule and therefore, the rollout may vary based on bugs and other related factors.

With doubts out of the way, let us take a look at all the eligible devices for realme UI 2.0 and their update timeline.

realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Early Access Roadmap

September 2020
- realme X50 Pro
November 2020
- realme 7 Pro
- realme narzo 20
December 2020
- realme 6 Pro
- realme 7
- realme narzo 20 Pro
- realme X2 Pro
January 2021
- realme X3
- realme X3 SuperZoom
- realme X2
- realme 6
- realme C12
- realme C15
February 2021
- realme 6i
- realme narzo 10
March 2021
- realme C3
- realme narzo 10A
Q2 2021
- realme X
- realme XT
- realme 3 Pro
- realme 5 Pro
- realme narzo 20A

Lastly, we would like to inform you that when the company will start to roll out the final release to the public, it will be seeded out in batches. Hence, do not worry if you don’t get the update the same time as other users.

High-quality images of Pixel 4a 5G appear on UK retailer website ahead of launch

By

Balaji S

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Sep 24, 2020

We are just 5 days away from the official launch of the new 5G Pixel phones. The company will launch smart speakers along with a 5G version of Pixel 4a, and Pixel 5 at the event. Google had announced the new pixels briefly during the 4a launch. However, thanks to various leaks we already know the entire specifications of the Pixel 4a 5G and 5 ahead of launch. And now, high-quality images of the Pixel 4a have appeared on a UK retailer website giving us a good look at the device.

First spotted by 9to5Google, the images appear on a UK retailer named John Lewis. Although it appears under the regular 4a listing, it has a “5G” icon on one of the product images. That said, the images have the same look with ports and buttons placed similar to the 4G version. There is even a cut-out for the headphone jack at the top. While the color variants of the 4a 5G could be Black and White, the product image shows only the Black version.

Resembling the 4G version

The display also has a cut-out at the top left and thick bottom bezels like the 4a. That said, the other info on the page is about the 4G version and we couldn’t spot any details regarding the 4a 5G. Hence, this could be just an incorrect listing for the 4G version displayed accidentally. Also, the images corroborate with the early renders which showed almost a design identical to its 4G sibling.

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Besides, the rear fuselage of the 5G has a matte finish with a similarly placed fingerprint sensor. There are two cameras inside the layout instead of one. Also, it could be a polycarbonate panel as the rumors say but we can’t confirm it by just looking at the images.

Editor’s Pick: Google Meet gets background blur while Duo gets support for screen sharing

Pixel 4a 5G Specifications, Price and Availability

Pixel 4a 5G will have a slightly larger 6.2-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 413 PPI, and a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels. Snapdragon 765G SoC will likely power the device paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage.

As for the rear optics, it will have a 12MP main and 16MP ultra-wide with 107° FOV and an 8MP selfie shooter at the front. Other features include a 3,800mAh battery with 18W charging, Dual SIM with an e-SIM, 5G, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou), USB Type-C 3.1 (Gen 1), and Android 11.

Google has already confirmed that Pixel 4a 5G will start at $499. It will be available in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan.

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WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.20.201.4 adds Catalogue shortcut and revamped Call button for Business chats

By

Balaji S

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Sep 24, 2020

Besides rigorous testing to include features like multi-device support, WhatsApp is also working to make the UI intuitive and simple. The company is rolling out a new Beta version where it has merged the voice and video call button in business chats. This will accommodate the catalog shortcut beside it and make the UI simpler.

As spotted by WhatsAppBetaInfo, the feature appears on the new 2.20.201.4 beta version of Android. The company was spotted working on the feature early this month. That said, the new Call button will integrate both the voice and video call option inside it. To make a call, the user has to tap on the single call button to bring a pop-up sub-menu. It will have options to make a voice/video call. This way the space above the chat can be utilized well.

Catalog shortcut

Accordingly, the catalog shortcut now appears left of the call button inside a business chat. For starters, a catalog in a WhatsApp is a simplified version of a mobile storefront for businesses. Through this, people can browse products of their liking. Introduced last year, the feature helped many businesses from the hassle of sending info repeatedly. However, the new update adds a proper shortcut which makes it more accessible than ever.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung India introduces customer care via WhatsApp amid COVID-19

That said, the catalog shortcut will appear only if a business has listed at least a product in its catalog. Also, the new call button change is present only on the business chats as of now. However, there is a possibility that this could land in a regular version as well.

That’s not all, as the company is working on a number of features like Expiring media, doodles, Wallapaper customizations. It is also working on improving the web version by introducing fingerprint authentication.

Android users can either join the beta program/update the app on the Play Store to test it. That being said, the latest update is limited to Android users and there is no word on iOS yet.

Up Next: WhatsApp finally brings animated stickers, Available on Android, iOS & Desktop

Huami announces Walmart stores will now sell Amazfit smartwatches

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 24, 2020

Huami is trying to expand its reach and its latest announcement may help it increase its share of the wearable market by bringing its Amazfit smartwatches to more people in the US.

Amazfit GTS all colors — The Amazfit GTS will be sold in Walmart stores across the US

An official statement released by Huami today says they have partnered with retail giant, Walmart, to offer its Amazfit line of smartwatches across its stores in America. Prior to the announcement, Amazfit watches could only be purchased online in the US.

Walmart has about 2780 stores across the United States and this should greatly help Huami sell more watches as folks can simply walk into a Walmart store near them and purchase any watch of their choice. The press statement says Walmart will offer just two watches for now – the Amazfit GTS and the Amazfit Bip S.

The Amazfit GTS was announced last year and it shares a resemblance to Apple’s own smartwatches but sells for much less. The watch, which has a retina AMOLED display, a heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, and support for tracking up to 12 sports modes, will be available in black and gold at Walmart stores.

The Amazfit Bip S is an improved version of the Amazfit Bip. It was announced in January and boasts features such as support for 10 sports modes including elliptical, yoga, and swimming (stroke rate, stroke times, and SWOLF Index). It also has a heart rate monitor, a GPS chip, sleep tracking, and a battery life that lasts up to 40 days.

There is no info on when other products will be available but we expect Huami will announce when it happens.

Vivo Watch is available for Purchase on Giztop in Brown & Orange straps

By

Staff

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Sep 24, 2020

The wait is finally over as Vivo enters the wearable segment category with its cutting-edge Vivo Watch. Featuring 46mm and 42mm versions, the smartwatch boasts a stainless steel body with an etched ceramic bezel and features two buttons on its flank to offer user-convenience. Additionally, you can schedule reminders to stay organized, view upcoming tasks, prioritize your work, and monitor current notifications in a hassle-free way with this cutting-edge watch. Doubling as a remote control, the Vivo Watch allows you to conveniently snap images on your smartphone too!

The new smartwatch is loaded with top-notch features like sensors to track heart rates and blood oxygen levels. One can also track sleep and stress levels and other activity metrics like daily steps, floors climbed, and calories burned for added versatility. It also features up to 5ATM water resistance and an 18-day battery life.

Launched on 22nd September, the watch is already on sale on the Giztop website. The Vivo smartwatch is priced at $239 offering good value for a premium round watch. On Giztop, you can choose between orange and brown straps.

Samsung Wireless Charging Trio & 20000mAh PD Power bank launched in Korea

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2020

Samsung has launched two new charging devices in South Korea. The devices are the Wireless Charging Trio which was first unveiled last month and a 20000mAh PD power bank.

Samsung Wireless Charging Trio is a successor to the Wireless Charing Duo which was launched way back in 2018. As we can grab from the name, the Wireless Charging Trio can fire up a maximum of three different devices at the same time. The pad has a rectangular shape and has a round cutout on one side where a Galaxy Watch3 will fit perfectly. The charging pad utilises the Qi charging standard.

With the help of six charging coils, Samsung’s new wireless charging board can charge up to three devices at the same time. It supports 9W fast wireless charging and 5W normal wireless charging. You can also use the 7.5W Qi wireless charging function to quickly charge a compatible iPhone. The charging board has three status LED lights and a special magnetic stand, which can charge the Galaxy smartwatch. It is available in black and white colors. The device comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable.

On the other hand, the PD power bank has a capacity of 20000mAh and packs three USB ports. The ports include a USB Type-A and two USB Type-C ports. Thus, it can charge three devices at the same time and can quickly charge compatible smartphones, tablets and other products. The power bank supports 25W fast charging and comes in dark gray colour only. The power bank also comes with a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable inside the box.

As for the prices, the Samsung Wireless Charging Trio is priced at 99,000 won (approximately $84) in South Korea while the 20,000mAh PD power bank is priced at 77,000 won (approximately $65).

Get the Elephone R8 Smartwatch at just $39.99

By

Staff

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Sep 24, 2020

If you are a fan of smartwatches with sleek and practical design, the new Elephone R8 SmartWatch is just the right device for you. Featuring an HD resolution of 360*360p and full-circle touch display with drag-feeling interaction, this Elephone smartwatch brings a simple round yet refined design. Its stylish yet straightforward UI has well-spaced fonts for convenient visual adjustment and reading.

Features like heart rate and sleep monitor, brightness customization, blood pressure management, and calorie calculation further enhance the utility value of the Elephone smartwatch.

Packed with a host of useful features, the Elephone R8 is now on sale and available for just $39.99 on the official store. This offer is for the first 500 pieces and can be availed before October 2020. Note that it comes with a metal body and comfortable straps offering convenience and safety from minor bumps.

You can grab the new Elephone R8 smartwatch from the Elephone store at $39.99.

MIUI for TV 3.0 goes live and here are the new key features

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 24, 2020

Xiaomi announced MIUI for TV 3.0 in July and now the update is already live and hitting devices. While the launch post did cover some of the new features, more details have now surfaced after the update went live for users in China.

MIUI for TV 3.0 brings a revamped user interface that drops the asymmetry of the previous version for a symmetrical one. This change greatly improves the appearance and increases clarity.

Another visual change is the information page for a show or movie. It has now been redesigned to show the most important details of the movie/show and also three relevant recommendations at the bottom of the screen.

Xiaomi has also added new animations to movie tabs making them dynamic. The animations include burning embers, falling snowflakes, and ripples. It has been reported that this new animation is currently only available for the Master series but will be made available for other devices soon reports Chinese tech blog MyDrivers.

Another new feature that MIUI for TV 3.0 brings is the support for modes including Adult Mode, Kids Mode, and Office Mode. This makes it easy for each member of the household to find content that interests them.

MIUI for TV 3.0 is available for all Xiaomi TVs and TV boxes save for the 1st-generation Mi TV Box and 1st-gen Mi TV.

Mi Band 4 NFC Europe availability expands as it is launched in Ukraine & Belarus

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 24, 2020

Xiaomi launched the Mi Band 4 last year in Cian and later on rolled out the smart band for the international market as Mi Smart Ban 4. The wearable device has already gotten a successor in the i Band 5 launched earlier this year but the compay hinted that it will launch an NFC version of the Mi Band 4 back in June. The new version was later rolled out in Russia. The Mi Band 4 NFC is now spreading to other European markets as the product has now been unveiled in Belarus and Ukraine.

The product is released in the two Europen countries in collaboration with Mastercard who powers the contactless payment service using the NFC chips onboard the device. The arrangement also has a number of Belarusian and Ukrainian banks as partners but is only for Mastercard holders.

Xiaomi is yet to announce an elaborate roll out outside the countries where it has already been rolled out. But since this is a partnership with Mastercard, we may likely see a wider roll out in the coming weeks.

Apart from contactless payment, the Mi Band 4 NFC packs all the fitness and sports features onboard the regular Band 4 such as heart rate sensor, sleep tracker, waterproof build and other sports-centric features.

HUAWEI nova8 series & HUAWEI Mate X2 certified by TENAA

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Sep 24, 2020

Huawei may no longer produce smartphones if the US ban continues to exist. Nevertheless, the Chinese telecom giant is still working on to launch new devices. These upcoming handsets are HUAWEI nova8 series and HUAWEI Mate X2. Both of them have been now certified by TENAA exposing their model numbers. Additionally, their codenames have also been revealed.

The TENAA listings of the forthcoming nova8 series and Mate X2 were first shared by popular leakster Digital Chat Station on Weibo. He also exposed the codenames of these smartphones.

According to the tipster, the devices in the HUAWEI nova8 series are codenamed “Jessica” and “JessicaH”. Though he did not mention the marketing name of these products, they should probably retail as HUAWEI nova8 and HUAWEI nova8 Pro respectively. Further, they will come with two model numbers each – JSC-AN00 / JSC-TN00 and HJC-AN00 / HJC-TN00.

Having said that, this is not the first time we are hearing about the codenames of nova8 series. Back in August, reputed leaker Evan Blass revealed the devices in the series to be called “Jessica” as well as “Barbie”. Anyway, he did not straight up mention these codenames to be of nova8 series as he simply called them to be for next-gen nova series. That said, the smartphone associated with the latter codename is still a mystery.

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Other than the nova8 series, Digital Chat Station also revealed the model number of HUAWEI Mate X2 to be TET-AN00. Unfortunately, he neither shared the screenshot of its TENAA listing nor we could it find like the above four. Thus, we think it is either yet to be listed or removed.

As for its codename, it is called “Teton” just like Evan mentioned last month. According to a report, the third foldable from Huawei will continue to feature the same 8.03-inch foldable display with a resolution of 2480 x 2220 pixels. However, unlike its predecessors, the screen will be of inward folding type like the Galaxy Z Fold2.

It is worth noting that though Huawei is gearing up to release these smartphones, there’s a chance that they may be only limited to China and certain global markets as the company currently cannot place new orders for chips and other supplies.

HP launches new AIO PCs in India, features Intel 10th Gen chips

By

Sean

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Sep 24, 2020

HP has just launched its latest range of AIO PCs in India. This boosts its existing AIO portfolio and brings the new AIO 24 and Pavilion AIO 27 into the PC market.

According to Vickram Bedi, HP Senior Director, “Consumers today are now looking for devices that can perform multiple roles – something that can handle office tasks with ease, be comfortable for a child to learn, or turn into a device for binge watching movies on the weekend. With big screens and ergonomic controls, the new HP All in One PCs are the perfect tools for a family. We have designed the devices to offer users maximum functionality while keeping their footprint to a minimum, along with several upgrade options.”

HP AIO 24

The HP AIO 24 is a slim form factor AIO PC that aims to deliver a full desktop level experience despite its size. It boasts notable specs like Intel 10th Gen i5 processors that are paired with NVIDIA‘s MX330 mobile graphics. The company is aiming this product for professionals like those that handle heavy work like editing with it also being capable of some light gaming.

HP has even mentioned that it has offered a simple three step method for the removal of the panel on the AIO 24. It even sports a WideVision Full-HD IR Pop-Up privacy camera that has a wide field of view of 88 degrees. The new PC is priced at 64,999 INR (roughly 880 US Dollars) for the base models.

HP Pavilion AIO 27

The Pavilion AIO 27 is the more high end product between the two new launches. Its display is surrounded by a micro-edge display on three sides with a pop-up IR wide-vision privacy camera as well that pairs with a quad microphone on top. Similar to the AIO 24, it also offers a 65W desktop grade processor, namely the Intel 10th Gen i7 chip in a thin and light all in one form factor.

The Intel CPU is paired with either a mobile MX series graphics or a full sized dedicated discrete GeForce GTX GPU. This makes the machine more capable in terms of editing, and even gaming. Its display has an 86.2 percent screen to body ratio and it even supports touch gestures, which adds on to its productivity related capabilities. Furthermore, it boasts dual 46mm 5W Bang & Olufsen speakers as well and arrives with a wireless Qi certified charging pad at its base that works with both Android and iOS devices. The new AIO PC starts from 99,999 INR (roughly 1,354 US Dollars) for its base model.

Vivo V20 SE with 6.44-inch display, 32MP selfie camera, 48MP triple cameras, and 33W charging launched

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 24, 2020

Earlier this week, Vivo announced the Vivo V20 and Vivo V20 Pro smartphones in Thailand. Today, the Chinese manufacturer unveiled the Vivo V20 SE handset in Malaysia. Some of the major highlights of the V20 SE include 48-megapixel triple cameras, a 32-megapixel front camera, and support for fast charging.

Vivo V20 SE specifications and features

The Vivo V20 SE smartphone measures 161 x 7.48 x 7.83mm and it weighs 171 grams. The device flaunts a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a waterdrop notch. The HDR10 compliant screen supports 1080 x 2400 pixels full HD+ resolution, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Also, the display is embedded with an optical fingerprint scanner and it comes with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The handset offers a screen-to-body ratio of 90.12 percent.

The Snapdragon 665 is present under the hood of the Vivo V20 SE along with 8 GB of LPPDR4x RAM. The phone is equipped with a native storage of 128 GB and it offers a dedicated storage slot for adding a microSD card. The Android 10 OS overlaid with the latest FunTouchOS 11 comes preinstalled on the Vivo V20 SE.

Editor’s Pick: Vivo Watch with a premium design, 18 days battery life launched for ¥1299 (~$191)

The Vivo V20 SE has a 32-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture that offers features like super night selfie, AI face beauty, Pose Master, Softlight Band, and more. The rear side of the phone features a vertical triple camera system that comprises of a 48-megapixel primary shooter with f/1.8 aperture, an 8-megapixel ultrawide sensor with f/2.2 aperture, and a 2-megapixel bokeh lens with f/2.4 aperture. The Vivo V20 SE supports up to 30fps 4K video recording.

The Vivo V20 SE is driven by a 4,100mAh battery that supports 33W FlashCharge technology. The smartphone comes with other features like dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, USB-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Vivo V20 SE pricing and availability

The Vivo V20 SE comes in two colors such as Oxygen Blue and Gravity Black in Malaysia. The handset is listed with a price tag of RM 1,199 (~$288) at Lazada Malaysia.

Smartisan to launch smartphone with a 108MP sensor, Sample shots revealed

By

Sean

-

Sep 24, 2020

Smartisan, the Chinese smartphone maker, is apparently working on a new smartphone, which will feature a large 108 megapixel primary sensor. A company official even shared sample shots from this smartphone on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website.

Previously, Zhu Haizhou, Product Manager of Smartisan, took to the Chinese social media platform to confirm the existence of a smartphone with a white rear panel. Now, the senior official shared another post online, this time showcasing the photographic prowess of the upcoming handset. It is also likely that the smartphone with the white rear panel and the device which features the 108 megapixels are the one and the same. Although, this is still speculation so take it with a pinch of salt.

Looking at the images shared, we can observe that the color reproduction of the images taken is quite natural with plenty of details being retained in close up shots. Furthermore, the senior official also noted that the blur wasn’t artificially induced through software, rather, it is a true blur that is made possible with a large aperture of the sensor. The resolution images of the sample shots are 5792 x 4344px, which translates to about 25 megapixels.

In other words, the camera is utilizing some form of quad binning with a separate 100 megapixels shooting mode that will allow users to completely utilize their device’s sensor. Unfortunately, finer details regarding the upcoming smartphone or even its name and specifications are currently unknown. However, with the recent teasers and sample shots being revealed, an announcement from the company shouldn’t be too far off, so stay tuned for more updates that are expected to arrive by October.

BOE seeks to surpass Samsung in OLED by 2024

By

Sean

-

Sep 24, 2020

BOE, a known Chinese electronics giant and display maker, recently stated that it is seeking to secure 40 percent of the market share for flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) panels by 2024.

The company revealed its plans at a local display event in the Sichuan Province and also said that it currently holds about 20.3 percent of the flexible OLED panel market share this year. The total estimated value of the flexible OLED panel market is said to be around 49.7 billion US Dollars, according to BOE, and the company wants to further grow in this area, as per TheElec report.

BOE mentioned that a third of the world’s entire output for these bendable OLED panels will be from its factories in Sichuan and Chongqing within the next three to five years. While the company didn’t explicitly state that it wishes to surpass the Samsung, the South Korean tech giant is also one of the major players in this market, and aiming for a 40 percent market share implies competition for such a dominance in the market.

At the moment, BOE is capable of manufacturing about 144,000 substrates for its display panels each month, when all three production lines are operating. The company even plans to produce over 40 million flexible OLEDs by the end of this year, which is about a fourth of what Samsung aims at producing by 2020 end. BOE is also facing issues with its orders from Huawei, which declined in recent times. Although, Apple might be a potential customer for the display maker in 2021 if it manages to get approval during its review.

Samsung to launch more flagship Galaxy Fan Edition smartphones

By

Sean

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Sep 24, 2020

Back in 2017, Samsung launched its very first Fan Edition of a flagship smartphone, which was essentially a relaunch of its infamous Galaxy Note 7. This was thought to be a unique case but just recently the company launched the Galaxy S20 FE. Now, it seems that the South Korean tech giant will be launching Fan Editions for other Galaxy flagships as well.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE — Samsung Galaxy S20 Fan Edition

According to an XDADevelopers report, Samsung is considering to drop the Lite variants altogether and offer Fan Edition. These variants will offer flagship grade smartphones at relatively affordable prices, which is where the Lite variants were positioned. In other words, existing flagships series like the Galaxy Note 20 Fan Edition might be launched sometime in the near future.

In its recent Galaxy Unpacked event, the company confirmed this news where Clare Hunter, Global Strategy at Samsung Electronics said that “As a tribute to our Galaxy fans, we’re setting a new standard of making uncompromising flagship innovations accessible to as many people as possible. And we’ll continue to launch Fan Editions of our flagship devices in the years to come.”

A wider implication of this statement is that Fan Editions will be a lot more common and will follow flagship launches every year from 2020 onwards. These iterations would better cater to a larger audience with their pricing. At the moment, the Galaxy Note 20 is the company’s current flagship, so we can expect an FE edition to arrive in the months that lead up to the next flagship launch, with top notch specs like the Snapdragon 865 SoC or an Exynos 990 chipset.

Lenovo HE05 Neckband Bluetooth Headset available for 29 yuan ($4) in China

By

Jeet

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Sep 24, 2020

Lenovo HE05 Bluetooth Headsets, which are priced at 69 yuan (~$10) in China, are currently available at a discount of 40 yuan (~$6) which brings down the actual cost of the product to just 29 yuan (~$4) using a coupon. The wireless earphones are being offered in three color options — Red, Black, and White.

The earphones are lightweight and are made up of skin-friendly material, claims the company. Further, they are sweatproof and waterproof with IPX5 ratings, making it an idea to wear during workout orany sport-related activity.

EDITOR’S PICK: TikTok asks judge to block US from banning new app downloads

Internally, it comes with a dual-unit acoustic structure and has 10mm driver. The company is offering three different size of earbuds — Small, Medium, and Large, ensuring proper fit for any user. When not in use, the earplugs gets magnetically attached to each other.

Providing wireless connectivity support on the earphones is Bluetooth 5.0 which consumes less power and offers more stable connections. The company has also claimed that it offers eight hours of battery life on a single charge. The company also claims 120 hours of stand-by time and adds that it takes on 2.5 hours to get fully charged.

To get a coupon for purchasing the Lenovo HE05 Neckband Bluetooth Headsets, click here.

8848 M6 Private Customized Dragon Limited Edition Luxury Smartphone launches for a whopping $4400

By

Sean

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Sep 24, 2020

8848, the Chinese luxury smartphone brand, has just launched a new and very expensive version of its existing M6 Luxury smartphone. The 8848 M6 Private Customized Dragon Limited Edition is the company’s latest ultra premium grade flagship that is being offered from a starting price of 4,400 US Dollars.

Design

The design of the newly launched luxury handset is probably its most striking aspect. Just from the first look, one can tell that the smartphone is built with premium materials that are expensive. The 8848 M6 Private Customized Dragon Limited Edition is essentially the 8848 Titanium M6 that went on sale earlier this year, with an identical form factor. However, what sets the device apart is the level of detail in the design that can be seen on the rear. The company has called on experts to design its unique rear panel that resembles more of an art piece than just an attractive rear panel.

Specifications

Under the hood, A Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC runs the device, which sports a 6.01 inch AMOLED display. It supports dual mode 5G SA/NSA and has a 64 megapixel triple camera setup on the rear and a 16 megapixel dual cameras on the front. The device is powered by a 4,380mAh battery and can be fast charged by up to 27W when wired and up to 10W wirelessly. The M6 Private Customized Dragon Limited Edition also runs Android 10 out of the box.

Price

The device arrives in multiple variants that feature different, materials, configuration, and even cost. This includes:

The Vermilion Cowhide or Azurite Leather is the first variant that arrives with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This version sports designs made from a titanium alloy that is gold plated and also features natural diamond and yellow sapphire synthetic ruby. It is priced at 29,999 Yuan (roughly $4,400).
The Blue Dragon Lizard Skin variant is more expensive than the previous one, with a price tag of 35,999 Yuan (roughly $5274). It also features the same design and is built with the gold plated titanium alloy and precious stones as well. However, it offers a larger 1 TB worth of storage.
The Basalt Crocodile Leather version is the last and most expensive variant of the series with 12GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It is priced at 44,999 Yuan (roughly $6600) and is by far one of the most expensive smartphones from the company.

Large screen-size tablets in demand for the first time, claims Strategy Analytics

By

Jeet

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Sep 24, 2020

Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, many people are spending the majority of their time staying inside the house. This has led to a rise in demand for consumer electronics, especially laptops and tablets.

Now, the latest report from Strategy Analytics claims that the global sales rate for the tablets is expected to increase by 1 percent year-on-year to 160.8 million units this year. It adds that people are buying tablets at the fastest rate in six years.

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The report sheds light on the fact that people are buying tablets with a larger display, the majority of which measure larger than 10-inch. There’s also a demand for 2-in-1 models such as Galaxy Tab S7, Surface Pro 7, among others.

Thanks to the high demand, detachable tablet shipments have more than doubled from 17 percent tablet share in 2017 to 40 percent this year. As per the report, tablet sales are likely to remain plateaued over the coming years, the trend towards devices which compete more seriously as notebook PC alternatives is likely to continue.

Recently, a report from Strategy Analytics had revealed that notebook devices registered a 27 percent year-on-year growth in the second quarter of this year. Two leading companies in this segment — Lenovo and HP controlled almost 50 percent of the market share in Q2 2020. Lenovo accounted for 25 percent of the share, taking the pole position, while HP managed to grab a 24.8 percent market share in the second quarter.

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