Google to develop an entry-level smartphone in partnership with Reliance Jio

By

-

Jul 15, 2020

Reliance Jio, introduced as a telecom company, has now ventured into various businesses including e-commerce, cloud computing, and others. It is known for pushing 4G adoption in India. Earlier today, at the company’s Annual General Meet (AGM), Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of the group announced a partnership with Google to develop a new type of entry-level Android smartphone.

India’s largest carrier Jio is known for its cheap data rates and its own-branded entry-level JioPhones running KaiOS with support for various popular apps and services.

At the company’s annual meet, it revealed Google’s ₹33,737 crores ($4.5 billion) investment in Jio Platforms Ltd for a 7.73% equity stake. That’s about 45% of ₹75,000 crores ($10 billion) the internet giant announced for “India Digitization Fund” a couple of days back.

With this collaboration, Google will develop an entry-level smartphone for the Indian market, In a blog post, the company notes that this device will feature an optimized Android Operating System and Play Store.

At first look, this program seems to be similar to Android Go. According to the post, the same strategy will be also applied for entry-level 5G smartphone when Jio will deploy the services in the near future.

Xiaomi unveils the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 & Scooter 1S starting at €399

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jul 15, 2020

Since Xiaomi first launched the M365 Electric Scooter in 2017, the company has launched successive models which have all turned out to be highly successful even when buyers have to pay a premium to get it from third-party retailers. Xiaomi is now bringing its electric scooters closer to our doorstep with the launch of the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 and Mi Electric Scooter 1S during the ecosystem product launch.

Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2

The Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 arrives with several improvements, one of which is an extended range of 45km while the top speed can hit 25km/h. The scooter can climb 20% incline hills effortlessly making it ideal for daily commutes.

The scooter also features a built-in LCD screen which lets riders view and controls a wide range of parameters for convenient, hassle-free riding experience. The display helps users check the real-time speed, choose a riding mode, connect to Bluetooth, and even monitor headlight status with one quick glance.

Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 also features a 300W powerful motor, reliable double braking system, shock-absorbing pneumatic tires, and easy folding design for elevated urban mobility.

Designed with safety at its core, Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 sports front, rear, and side reflectors as well as an upgraded 2W headlight that illuminates up to 10 meters ahead, for improved visibility. First-time riders will also receive safety reminders and tips once connected through their mobile devices for an added layer of safety.

Xiaomi also announced a special edition of Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 in collaboration with the legendary Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. As stated by Chris Church, Vice President of Brand Partnerships APAC at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 team: “We are extremely excited to bring the Mercedes F1 experience closer to our fans. Like us, Xiaomi is committed to continuous innovation and we are delighted to work alongside them to bring to the market this new edition of their flagship Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2”. This edition will be released soon.

As for the pricing, the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 will become available from EUR 499.

Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S

The Mi Electric Scooter 1S is a renamed MIJIA Electric Scooter 1S which was launched in China a while back. The model has a slightly trimmed down feature compared to the Mi Scooter Pro 2. The range is reduced to 30km but it can still attain a peak speed of up to 25 km per hour. This suggests a powerful motor but slightly lesser battery pack.

Other features include a new interactive visual dashboard which notifies the users of a self-diagnosed problem with the scooter. The display also shows the speed, driving status, battery life and other important information in real-time.

The Mi Electric Scooter 1s retains the sturdy minimalist build of its predecessors, manufactured from aviation-grade aluminium alloy body and a total weight of just 12.5 kilograms. Notably, it is capable of carrying loads up to 100kg. There is a latch at the end of the handlebar which makes it foldable in just seconds.

It packs a DC motor rated for a service life of 3,000 hours with a 250W power rating and a maximum output of 500W. The scooter can reach speeds up to 25km/h and has a mileage of up to 30 kilometres in a single full charge. The mileage can extend depending on how careful you use the scooter. There are three modes; an energy-saving mode which is automatically activated when the battery goes below 40%. there is also a normal mode and an adjustable sports mode.

The scooter uses 8.5-inch pneumatic tires at the front and back. It also adopts a disc brake system on both ends with ABS system.

The Mi Electric Scooter 1S will be available for EUR 399.

Mi TV Stick, Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34”, and Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic announced

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 15, 2020

After months of waiting, Xiaomi’s first streaming stick, the Mi TV Stick, is now official and it launched along with the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34”, and the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic.

Mi TV Stick

The Mi TV Stick comes in only one version rather than two. It was originally expected to be available in both a 1080p version and a 4K version just like Amazon’s Fire TV streaming sticks, however, Xiaomi only launched a 1080p version today with no mention of a 4K version.

The Mi TV Stick is a pretty portable streaming stick that can fit into your pocket. This makes it easier to move around compared to the Mi TV Box series. So if you are going to your friend’s house, lodging at a hotel, or going to spend the holidays with your relatives, you can take it along with you and stream your favorite shows and movies.

The Mi TV Streaming Stick runs Android Tv 9.0 and has Chromecast built-in so you can cast content from your phone on to the TV. It comes with a Bluetooth remote with dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, and Google Assistant. The spec sheet says it has just 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, and a quad-core CPU. There is also support for Dolby Audio and DTS surround sound.

The Mi TV Stick is priced at €39.99 and will come with a power adapter in the box. It weighs just 28.5 grams and measures 92.4 x 30. 2 x 15.2 millimeters.

Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34”

Xiaomi also announced the Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34” today. It has a WQHD resolution of 3440 x 1440, a refresh rate of 144Hz, and an aspect ratio of 21:9. Its color spectrum is 121% sRGB and its curve rating is 1500R. For connectivity, there are two HDMI ports and two display ports.

Xiaomi has put a price tag of €399 on the monitor and it will go on sale later this month.

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic

Xiaomi also announced a new pair of TWS earbuds called the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic. We first spotted the device in April when it was certified by the Bluetooth SIG.

The earbuds have a similar design to the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 but with a different type of case. The earbuds are only available in white and have pretty thick stems. Each one has a 14.2mm driver and supports touch controls.

Xiaomi says it also supports auto-pair and auto-connect and has smart in-ear detection which means playback will automatically pause when you remove the earbuds.

The Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic boasts a battery life of 5 hours that goes up to 20 hours with the case which has support for USB-C charging. It has a feature called Dual-mic Environmental Noise Cancellation for crystal clear calls. It connects via Bluetooth 5.0 and supports SBC and AAC audio codecs.

The TWS earbuds are priced at €39.99 but will sell for €34.99 for a limited time. The sale begins on July 20.

Redmi 9, Redmi 9A and Redmi 9C announced for the international market

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jul 15, 2020

Xiaomi‘s ecosystem product launch event was held today and it was indeed a thriller. The company launched up to nine products including three new smartphones, the Mi Smart Band 5, Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2, Mi Electric Scooter 1S, Mi TV Stick, Xiaomi Gaming monitor and Mi TWS earbuds. The smartphones are the Redmi 9 series models made up of the Redmi 9, Redmi 9A and Redmi 9C.

The three smartphones feature powerful chipsets and premium features while retaining the affordable pricing for which the budget series is known for. They indeed represent Xiaomi’s mission to make exceptional smartphone experiences accessible to everyone. We’ll take a quick look at their specifications.

Redmi 9

As the first entry-level Redmi smartphone to feature an all-purpose quad-camera set up, Redmi 9 helps capture life’s special moments. Whether you’re looking to take a quick snap, wide-angle group shot, close-up with stunning details, or beautiful portrait photos, Redmi 9 has you covered. The device also integrates fun and creativity into the photography experience with premium camera features, including Kaleidoscope and Palm Shutter.

The Redmi 9 features a humongous 6.53-inch FHD+ Dot Drop display which offers an optimal visual experience with crystal-clear detail at your fingertips. It also comes with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification and Corning Gorilla Glass covering for on-the-go protection.

On the performance front, Redmi 9 sports an optimized MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, delivering a 107% improved performance over its predecessor. Paired with a 5020mAh large capacity battery, Redmi 9 packs the power you need for everyday work and play. This performance beast even supports 18W fast charging technology to keep your sideline time to a minimum so you can get back in the game.

Redmi 9 features the stunning smartphone design you deserve. On the back cover, it leverages a chic gradient color design and an anti-fingerprint ripple texture. The rear fingerprint sensor is specially designed to sit beside the camera set, and surrounded by a trendy circle design featured on Redmi’s current smartphone lineup. Altogether, this makes Redmi 9 even more comfortable to hold and unlock.

To round it up, Redmi 9 also comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack, IR blaster, and multifunctional NFC, while supporting dual SIM usage and an additional microSD card slot.

Redmi 9 will be available in three color variants: Carbon Grey, Ocean Green, and Sunset Purple. The pricing starts at EUR 149 for the 3GB+32GB variant and EUR 169 for the 4GB+64GB variant.

Redmi 9C

This brand-new entry-level smartphone is equipped with a massive 6.53-inch Dot Drop display for an immersive viewing experience and a 5000mAh high-capacity battery that satisfies users who want to do more and enjoy more on their phone. Redmi 9C features MediaTek Helio G35, an octa-core gaming chipset which can go up to 2.3GHz. It also sports the AI optimized triple camera that can quickly and easily capture crisp and clear images in a variety of situations.

Redmi 9C will be available at a recommended retailing price of EUR 119 for 2GB + 32GB variant, and EUR 139 for 3GB + 64GB variant.

Redmi 9A

This brand-new entry-level smartphone is equipped with a massive 6.53” Dot Drop display for an immersive viewing experience and a 5000mAh high-capacity battery that satisfies users who want to do more and enjoy more on their phone. Redmi 9A features MediaTek Helio G25, an octa-core gaming chipset, which allows for a smooth day-to-day operating experience. It also sports the AI-optimized 13MP rear camera that can quickly and easily capture crisp and clear images in a variety of situations.

The Redmi 9A is the cheapest model among the three. Pricing starts at EUR 99 for the 2GB+32GB variant.

You can read more about the Redmi 9C and 9A from here.

EMUI 10.1.0.145 for Huawei P40 Pro Plus optimizes call audio quality, improves multi-window, and more

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jul 15, 2020

Huawei P40 Pro Plus is the company’s flagship smartphone for the first half of 2020. It is one of the first three devices (P40, P40 Pro) to launch with EMUI 10.1 based on Android 10 out of the box. Now, this handset is receiving EMUI 10.1.0.145 global update with optimizations for calls and multi-window.

Small update for P40 pro+ #HUAWEIP40ProPlus pic.twitter.com/dgD6Mvh7AW

— Teme (特米)😷 (@RODENT950) July 15, 2020

The new update for Huawei P40 Pro Plus weighs 546MB in size and brings three new changes, in addition to optimization for compatibility for third-party apps.

According to the changelog, the update optimizes call audio quality and improves multi-window user experience. Further, it also removes MeeTime tab from the Phone and the Contacts apps.

Removing the tab of the company’s video calling service from Phone and Contacts apps is a welcome move as MeeTime is only limited to Huawei/Honor devices. Above all, it is only available on certain devices as part of EMUI 10.1 and thus, the adoption rate is quite low.

Google recently added Duo calling option inside Google Phone app so that users can easily make a video call. But Duo is a cross-platform service used by many people.

However, it is worth noting that this app became quite popular as the search giant pushed it rigorously by bundling with other Google apps on Android smartphones from different OEMs. Huawei might have thought to do something similar, however, that did not work due to various reasons.

That said, if you have a Huawei P40 Pro Plus, then make sure to update it to the latest version for the new improvements.

Xiaomi announces Mi Smart Band 5 for €39.99

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jul 15, 2020

The first product announced today at Xiaomi’s Ecosystem Product launch event is the Mi Smart Band 5. The fitness tracker is the global version of the Mi Band 5 sold in China.

The new fitness tracker comes with significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Mi Smart Band 4. The new features include a larger display, more sports modes, better heart rate measurement, and more.

The smart band has a 1.1-inch AMOLED display which is 20% bigger than that of its predecessor. There are several watch faces to choose from, and what makes it better is the ability to customize what will be displayed on the screen.

The fitness tracker now supports 11 sports modes including home workouts such as indoor cycling, elliptical, yoga, rowing machine, and jump rope. Xiaomi says the Mi Smart Band 5 will automatically track your jumps and will display the duration, the number of jumps, and the total calories burnt while using a skipping rope.

1 of 4

Xiaomi says the PPG heart rate sensor is now up to 50% more accurate than that of the last generation. Sleep tracking has also been upgraded as the Mi Smart Band 5 supports 24-hour sleep tracking including REM sleep and afternoon naps. The latter just rolled out to a few Amazfit smartwatches a few weeks ago.

Other features of the smart band are stress management, deep breathing, and the much-awaited menstrual cycle tracking which tracks the monthly cycle of the user. Another key feature added to the device is “camera remote” which allows you to use the Mi Smart Band 5 to serve as a remote shutter button for the camera on your phone. The battery life is 14 days and there is a new magnetic charger that doesn’t require you to remove the strap before charging.

The Mi Smart Band 5 will sell for €39.99 and its straps are available in six colors. There is also an early bird price of €34.99. Xiaomi didn’t say when it will be available for purchase, so you will have to check your local Mi.com or Mi Home store.

Google Maps now lets users calibrate GPS with Live View

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jul 15, 2020

Google Maps is arguably the best maps service for navigation. Last year, the Mountain View-based tech giant rolled out “Live View”, an AR directions mode to both Android and iOS. Earlier, it was only exclusive to Pixels. Now, the company has added an option to calibrate location using this mode.

GPS on smartphones does not work properly in dense urban areas. Hence, Google is introducing a new feature to lock user’s location properly via Live View.

Normally, to calibrate GPS on handsets, users will have to twist them in a certain pattern. It works most of the times, however, it may not function when the user is in a jam-packed area.

In such a situation, users can open Live View inside Google Maps and then point their phone’s camera to nearby buildings, street signs or other things to lock their location. This feature will use Google’s years worth of Street View data to recognize the current location of users.

The feature is currently live on both stable and beta versions of Google Maps Android app. It is not available for iOS for now. Also, it is worth noting that this feature will work on Android smartphones that are compatible with Google ARCore.

(Via)

Huawei ban will cost UK Telecom Operators £2 Billion and delay 5G by 2-3 years

By

Sean

-

Jul 15, 2020

Huawei Technologies was banned from working on 5G infrastructure by the UK government earlier this week. The move will have the UK telecom operators bear a heavy cost while also delaying the adoption of the newer and faster bandwidth by a couple of years.

The recent announcement made by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid out the plan to remove Huawei from the country’s networking infrastructure by the end of 2027. Furthermore, even the purchase of telecommunications equipment from the Chinese tech giant will be banned post 31st December 2020. In other words, carriers can only purchase Huawei technology until the end of this year.

This move from the UK Government will reportedly cost telecom operators in the country around 2 billion Pounds (roughly 2.52 billion US Dollars). Furthermore, the removal of Huawei will also delay the adoption of 5G by at least 2 to 3 years, according to reports. The decision to ban Huawei may also have far reaching effects on the geopolitical situation between China and western nations like the US and UK.

Huawei is one of the pioneering figures in the 5G field. The company provides top notch equipment to various carries across the globe. The brand has also been in the UK for the past 20 years and has urged the UK Government to reconsider its decision. Although, we will have to wait and see how this decision plays out in the near future.

(Via)

Official: Nubia Red Magic 5S incoming with Snapdragon 865 Plus

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jul 15, 2020

Nubia launched Red Magic 5G gaming smartphone earlier this year with 144Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 865, and a cooling fan. Now, after 5 months after its release, the brand’s president Ni Fei teases the arrival of Red Magic 5S powered by the recently announced Snapdragon 865 Plus chipset.

This is the first time we are hearing about Red Magic 5S and the information comes from Nubia itself. Hence, nothing else is known about this handset except for the fact that it will launch soon with the slogan “Beyond Plus”.

Going by last year’s Red Magic 3S, which was a minor update to Red Magic 3 from earlier that year, we can expect the same trend with the upcoming Red Magic 5S. That means apart from the new 3.1GHz Qualcomm SoC, other features will be identical to Red Magic 5G.

So we can expect the forthcoming Nubia gaming smartphone to feature 144Hz AMOLED display, in-screen fingerprint sensor, shoulder buttons, cooling fan, liquid cooling system, at least triple camera setup, 4,500mAh or larger battery, fast charging, WiFi 6, 5G connectivity, and an affordable price tag compared to competitors.

The Nubia Red Magic 5G will go against the likes of Asus ROG Phone 3 and Lenovo Legion Gaming Phone, both of which are much popular gaming brands.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 again tipped to launch on August 5

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jul 15, 2020

Last week, reliable tipster Max Weinbach had claimed that Samsung will not be launching the Galaxy Z Fold 2 through its Galaxy Unpacked event on Aug. 5. He had claimed that the device is not ready to launch at the event. However, fresh information that has surfaced today reveals that the South Korean company will indeed announce the Galaxy Z Fold 2 on Aug. 5.

Ross Young, the Founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) who had previously leaked the display configurations of the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has claimed today that the foldable phone will go official on Aug. 5. He further said that the shipments of the device will begin in early October.

Fold 2 fans, confirmed with my sources that it will be announced at Unpacked, although may not ship till as late as early October. Assembly starts in September. Also, why are leakers/media saying 7.7". As we said on 4/20, it is 7.59"…No change. pic.twitter.com/CBJ380tYnb

— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) July 15, 2020

Recent reports have been claiming that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has an internal display of 7.7 inches. Young said that it is incorrect, and its actual size is 7.59 inches.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra may feature dynamic refresh rate switching between 60Hz and 120Hz

The news I got is that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is still released on August 5th and will be sold on September 20th (China)

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 15, 2020

Even tipster @IceUniverse claimed that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 will debut on Aug. 5 and it will sales will begin on Sept. 20 in China. The Aug. 5 Unpacked event will also the arrival of the Galaxy Note20 series, Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and Galaxy Buds Live.

On July 22, the South Korean company may announce the Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Tab S7 series. It is speculated that these devices could be made official through a press release.

Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra may feature dynamic refresh rate switching between 60Hz and 120Hz

By

Sean

-

Jul 15, 2020

With the Samsung Galaxy Note20 series launch being just around the corner, more rumors and leaks have started surfacing. A recent one reveals that the flagship Galaxy Note20 Ultra will feature a dynamic refresh rate switching.

The latest firmware Galaxy Note20 Ultra has added an adaptive 120Hz option. But there is still no QHD+120Hz option. pic.twitter.com/VOf9Y5LoJW

— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 15, 2020

The known leakster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce) shared the leak on Twitter. Similar to the Galaxy S20 series, the Galaxy Note20 Ultra will not have an option to use 120Hz high refresh rate at QHD+ resolution. For those unaware, Samsung offered users a manual option to toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz refresh rate at the FHD+ resolution in the flagship handset that was launched earlier this year.

Although, Samsung might be able to offer a balance between decent battery life and performance with Galaxy Note 20Ultra through its dynamic switching feature. This feature would be welcomed considering the 120Hz high refresh rate panel is only beneficial in quite a few scenarios or applications.

Keep in mind, the dynamic refresh rate is different from the variable refresh rate, which requires necessary hardware support. Dynamic switching will have the Samsung device automatically switching between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on usage and the situation. On the other hand, the variable refresh rate adjusts the displays refresh rate in real time depending on the content on the screen.

ASUS ZenFone 7 NCC, TUV listings reveal 6.7-inch display, 512GB storage, 5,000mAh battery, 30W charging and more

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jul 15, 2020

On July 22, ASUS will take off covers from the ROG Phone 3 gaming smartphone. It is speculated that the company may announce the ZenFone 7 series in the coming month. A recent leak had revealed that the lineup includes ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro smartphones. A new ASUS phone ID number ASUS_I002D has been spotted at certification platforms like the National Communications Commission (NCC) in Taiwan and TUV Rheinland Japan. These listings have revealed its model number and several other vital information.

The NCC certification has revealed that ASUS ZenFone 7 (ASUS_I002D) has a ZS670KS model number. From the model number, it can be speculated that the phone has a 6.7-inch size. The NCC listing also shows that the phone is equipped with a massive internal storage of 512 GB. The device has support for NFC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0.

The model number of the ZenFone 7’s battery is C11P1904. It’s TUV Rheinland certification reveals that it has a typical value of 5,000mAh. The certification platform also reveals that the ASUS phone supports up to 30W fast charging.

1 of 7

Editor’s Pick: Asus ROG Phone 3 clears Taiwan’s NCC certification

While the ROG Phone 3 will be fueled by the Snapdragon 865 Plus mobile platform, the ZenFone 7 and ZenFone 7 Pro are rumored to be fueled by Snapdragon 865. The ZenFone 7 duo will retain the flip camera system that was introduced on the predecessor ZenFone 6. The last year’s model number had two cameras in the flip camera setup. ASUS is expected to increase the number of cameras on the ZenFone 7 series. The ZenFone 7 series is expected to arrive with a notch-less design, 5G support, and up to 16 GB of RAM. It is expected to arrive in black and white color editions.

(source|via 1, 2)

Reliance Jio announces self developed ‘Made In India’ 5G solution, to launch in 2021

By

Sean

-

Jul 15, 2020

Reliance Jio, a major telecom operator in India, has developed its own completely ‘Made In India’ 5G technology. The company has built the technology as well as supported IoT to reduce dependence on foreign equipment and for other cost related benefits.

Notably, the telecom operator has already replaced 4G technology from Nokia and Oracle with its own technology, and this seems to also be extending to 5G networking. According to analysts, this development is perhaps the world’s first, where a mobile phone company has developed proprietary 5G technology to replace 3rd party equipment providers, like Huawei, ZTE, Ericsson, and others.

A source close to the matter said that “We have now developed everything end-to-end around 5G technology. We are more scalable than these vendors and are fully automated since we have our own cloud-native platform. In 5G, we will totally be self-sufficient. Furthermore, apart from designing its own infrastructure for 5G networking, the company has also readied other IoT gear.

Previously, we had reported on 5G trials in India being possibly delayed due to the country passing new data security laws that might have Huawei and other 5G vendors pull out of the region. However, with this development, the 5G trials can still be held later this year. The source also said that “We can give the design, layouts, and board support packages to third-party manufacturers to have our gear made.”

The applications of this news are huge and can include a new age for both the commercial and industrial sectors of India. Through end to end 5G technology, the Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio will be able to provide security through multiple interconnected surveillance drones, industrial IoT, and digitalization in the agricultural fields as well. The company will be launching its 5G service in 2021, due to the current situation of the Indian telecom industry, so stay tuned for more updates.

(Via)

OPPO announces 50W mini SuperVOOC and 110W mini flash chargers

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

-

Jul 15, 2020

Apart from introducing 125W flash Charge and 65W AirVOOC, Oppo also announced 50W mini SuprVOOC and 110W mini flash chargers. As their names suggest, these two charging heads are smaller than the conventional models and thus, they can be carried easily while commuting.

Like other small chargers from different brands, Oppo’s mini fast chargers also use GaN (Gallium Nitride) instead of silicon.

The 50W mini SuprVOOC charger is slimmer than other similar models in the market measuring at only 1.05cm in thickness. This charger supports popular fast-charging protocols like Oppo’s own SuperVOOC, 27W PD (Power Delivery), 50W PPS (Programmable Power Supply), and others.

Oppo advertises this charger to be as small as a biscuit. It can be carried in all sorts of pockets include those of pants, shirts, and coats, thanks to a foldable/retractable pin as well as its size.

1 of 2

The second charger called 110W mini flash charger is larger than the other model. However, it is smaller compared to other similarly spec’d models from competitors. The company claims it to be only 35.76 cm³ in size with a thickness of 1.2cm similar to a standard 18W adapter

Having said that, Oppo neither revealed the price of these chargers nor their availability. In fact, the company did not even reveal their complete specifications.

OPPO unveils 125W Flash Wired Charging and 65W AirVOOC Wireless Charging Technologies

By

Joel Joseph

-

Jul 15, 2020

Over the past few years, OPPO has taken the lead in the industry with its VOOC fast charging technology. Today marks an important achievement for the company. OPPO has officially announced 125W Flash Charging technology for its smartphones, evolved from its 65W SuperVOOC technology announced last year. This makes it the world’s fastest wired charging technology in the industry. But the company doesn’t stop here, it has also announced the World’s Fastest Wireless Charging technology – the 65W AirVOOC.

125W Flash Charge comes with double-6C cells

OPPO’s new flash charging technology can charge a 4000mAh battery up to 41% in just 5 minutes and 100% in 20 minutes!

The 125W flash charging technology is built on the existing 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging protocol. The VOOC charging protocol has always focused on increasing the current (instead of the voltage) to increase the total wattage. The 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 supported up to 10V / 6.5A. But now, with the 125W Flash Charge technology, OPPO has doubled the voltage with the current remaining more or less the same.

Here’s a first look at 125W Flash Charge technology in action. It can fully charge a 4,000mAh battery in 20 minutes. 🤯 #FlashForward pic.twitter.com/EWtfGcsL4m

— OPPO (@oppo) July 15, 2020

In order to achieve an incredible 125W, the OPPO Flash Charge increases the voltage to 20V while the maximum current drops a little to 6.25A. This is further made possible by significantly improving power density properties. Instead of two 3C cells found on the SuperVOOC 2.0 tech, the new Flash Charge protocol utilizes two 6C cells. This marks a breakthrough in the battery ratio (this ratio is defined as the charge and discharge ratio of the cell). The new technology further comes with industry-leading multiple battery tab structures, three parallel charge pumps, and an integrated MCU (Microcontroller unit) for improving charging efficiency.

The 125W flash charge technology is compatible with the previous versions like SuperVOOC and VOOC protocols. It even supports mainstream charging technologies like 65W PD (Power Delivery) and 125W PPS (Programmable Power Supply).

Given the extremely high wattage being thrust into the smartphone, OPPO has also worked on its safety protection features by adding 10 more temperature sensors to monitor the charging status. Other safety measures include fuse overvoltage protection, Type-C to Type-C wire as well as 128-bit high-strength encryption algorithm.

Editor’s Pick: World’s First 120W fast charging unveiled by iQOO; First 120W iQOO phone could be coming in August

65W AirVOOC Wireless Charging makes Wired Charging Obsolete

In a surprise announcement, OPPO also announced the world’s fastest wireless charging technology. The new wireless charging protocol can fully charge a 4000mAh battery in just 30 minutes! This makes it faster than most current wired charging solutions in the market and has the potential to make wired charging obsolete.

Today we’re not just announcing one flash charge innovation breakthrough. 😮

This is 65W AirVOOC wireless charging. 💨 #FlashForward pic.twitter.com/ocWJssYqKH

— OPPO (@oppo) July 15, 2020

In fact, in a graph, OPPO revealed that the 65W AirVOOC charges a phone in the same time as its 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 wired charging technology.

The OPPO AirVOOC 65W wireless charging technology uses a self-developed isolated charging pump technology and parallel dual-coil design to improve the wireless charging efficiency. It has also reduced the interference in the charging frequency and comes with five-fold safety protection measures in addition to the standard foreign object detection feature. Like its 40W wireless charging tech, the 65W AirVOOC charging is compatible with the Qi standard.

OPPO also revealed a conceptual wireless charger based on its 65W AirVOOC wireless flash charging technology. The charger comes with a sculpted-glass body which is made of moldless rapid prototyping technology. OPPO reveals that this is the first application of this type of technology in the consumer electronics market.

At the bottom of the charger, there’s a semiconductor cooler for better heat management. This allows the temperature of the phone to be 2°C lower than using a traditional fan for heat dissipation.

Unfortunately, we have no word on the release date or pricing of this 65W AirVOOC wireless charger. We also don’t know when we’ll see a smartphone with this 125W Flash Charge technology.

Nevertheless, this is a big leap in smartphone charging technology. And it’s becoming evident that charging a smartphone won’t be a pain point for users in the near future.

Realme RMX2121 with 65W fast charger spotted at 3C

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jul 15, 2020

Realme launched the year 2020 in China with the launch of the Realme X50 5G phone. It later unveiled the Realme X50 Pro 5G and Realme X50m 5G smartphones. A gaming-friendly version called Realme X50 Pro Player Edition went official in May. Since then, the company has not launched a new smartphone in China. It appears that the company has plans to launch a couple of new phones in the homeland as three new devices such as Realme RMX2121, Realme RMX2111, and Realme RMX2112 have received approval from the 3C authority of China.

The Realme RMX2121 is a 5G phone and its 3C certification that it may ship with a VCA7JACH charger. The VCA7JACH belongs to the SuperVOOC 2.0 charger that supports up to 65W charging speeds. While the identity of the Realme RMX2121 is not known, it could be a flagship smartphone.

The Realme RMX2121 had appeared at the TENAA certification platform in June. The handset has a punch-hole display which appears to be an AMOLED panel with an in-screen fingerprint reader. Its rear has a rectangle-shaped camera module with four lenses inside it. The size of the screen is 6.55 inches and it has a dual-party battery. One of its battery has a 2,200mAh rated capacity. It has 160.8 x 75.2 x 8.5mm dimensions.

Editor’s Pick: Realme C11 with Helio G35 launches in India for ₹7,499 ($100)

Some speculations suggest that it could be the Realme X50 Pro 5G smartphone. However, there is a possibility that it could be a flagship phone from the company’s new series. A leaked image of the unidentified phone that appeared in the previous week revealed that it has a punch-hole screen with curved edges. The leakster who revealed it claimed that it supports a high refresh rate. Today, the same tipster revealed that it is packed with a 4,500mAh battery.

The Realme RMX2111 and Realme RMX2112 that were certified by 3C authority in the previous week could be network variants of the same smartphone. The RMX2111 / RMX2112 3C appearance reveals support for 5G connectivity.

The listing also shows that the smartphone will be shipping with a VC56HACH charger that supports up to 30W fast charging. The VC56HACH model number belongs to the VOOC 4.0 Flash Charger that was made available with phones like OPPO K5 and Reno3 series. The identity of the RMX2111 / RMX2112 is under wraps.

TikTok faces $155,000 fine for mishandling child data in South Korea

By

Sean

-

Jul 15, 2020

TikTok, the popular video sharing platform, has come under fire again. This time in South Korea as regulators are fining social media giant for the mishandling of child data.

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) has fined the company for 186 million won or roughly 155,000 US Dollars. For those unaware, the KCC acts as the regulator and overwatches the country’s telecommunications and data related sectors. The fine it has imposed on TikTok is due to the company failing to protect users’ private data, especially regarding its younger user demographic.

Notably, the fine is equivalent to 3 percent of the company’s annual sales within the country, which is the amount designated for such violations under local privacy laws. KCC began the investigation into this matter back in October 2019 and found that TikTok collected that data of children under the age of 14 without consent from their legal guardians.

According to KCC, a minimum of 6,0007 pieces of child data were collected between 31st May 2017 and 6th December 2019. Furthermore, TikTok had also failed in notifying its users of the transfer of personal data overseas. The investigation also revealed that the company uses four cloud service providing companies, namely Alibaba Cloud, Fastly, Edgecast, and Firebase.

The news arrives just a few weeks after recent negative events for the company. India, where one of its highest userbases resides, has banned the app over security concern, similar to the US Army back in January. The company also recently announced that it would be exiting the Hong Kong market, due to China’s new security laws.

(Via)

5G smartphone shipments witnesses growth in China in June with 61.2% market share

By

Jeet

-

Jul 15, 2020

According to the latest data released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), shipments of 5G smartphones have reached 17.51 million units in the month of June 2020.

With this, the 5G smartphone shipments account for 61.2 percent of China’s total mobile phone shipments for the month of June. This also represents an increase from 46.3 percent market share in May.

The report from CAICT, which is a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), claims that companies have launched about 105 5G smartphones in the market in the first half of this year, with total shipments crossing the 63.6 million mark.

Huawei is the leading smartphone company in China which has capture more than half of the market with its two brands — Huawei and Honor. In Q1 2020, the company shipped 15 million 5G smartphones, capturing 55.4 percent market share.

China’s 5G smartphone market is expected to grow further given that the pricing of 5G devices could soon drop as the next-generation communication technology goes on to become mainstream.

The country is among the first in the world to commercially launch 5G services and now China is rapidly developing 5G infrastructure, with more than 600,000 5G base stations expected to be built nationwide by the end of this year. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom are expected to spend more than 180 billion yuan for 5G technology.

(Via)

Huawei 5G unmanned vehicles are helping in the fight against COVID-19 in Thailand

By

Sean

-

Jul 15, 2020

The Coronavirus pandemic has been caused for major concerns across the globe and especially in Asia. The Southeast Asian region has one of the higher human population density, which has made combatting the viral outbreak difficult. However, Thailand has successfully managed to keep the virus at bay, with the help of Huawei as well.

Despite being one of the first countries to be affected by the COVID-19 back in January, the region only has 3,200 confirmed cases of infection with only 58 deaths. Although, the country is still remaining vigilant and is prepared for the second wave of infections. One entity that it is relying on is Huawei Technologies, which is supporting the nation with its 5G technology.

The Chinese tech giant had recently worked with Thailand National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC). In the collaboration, unmanned vehicles were used at the Siriraj Hospital. These driverless vehicles had the primary task of offering contactless delivery of medical supplies around one of the country’s oldest and largest hospitals.

Siriraj Hospital stated that the pilot project’s goal is to enhance the logistics system within the hospital. The infrastructure in terms of transportation and medical supply distribution also helps reduce workloads and helps lower the risk of infection for frontline workers considerably. At the moment Thailand is the first country in the ASEAN to deploy commercial 5G services.

(Via)

Xiaomi Youpin crowdfunds new Qin AI Phone for kids that looks like a GameBoy

By

Jeet

-

Jul 15, 2020

Xiaomi has lately been launching a lot of new products for crowdfunding and continuing the spree, the company has today started crowdfunding for a new Qin AI Phone, aimed towards kids in China.

The device is now available for purchase in the company’s home market, through the Xiaomi Youpin platform, for a price of 399 yuan which roughly converts to $57. It is being offered in two color options — Pink and White.

In terms of design, the device doesn’t look like a traditional phone but looks similar to the handheld gaming console GameBoy. But that doesn’t mean the device doesn’t come with the latest smartphone features.

The device features display with 240 x 240 pixels screen resolution. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 support. The phone is likely running a customized skin on the Android operating system and is powered by a 1,150mAh battery.

The new QIN AI Phone has support for 4G eSIM connectivity for calling as well as data. Along with that, it also comes with GPS support for precise positioning, which is quite a useful feature for tracking the location of the kids.

It also has Xioami’s own XiaoAI smart assistant which supports tons of functionality, enhancing the overall user experience. There’s also support for some basic phone features such as messaging, alarm, and others.

UP NEXT: Google’s Android graph shows Android 10 has the fastest adoption rate yet

Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2

Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S

UP NEXT: The mid-range OnePlus Nord was inevitable and Here’s Why!

Mi TV Stick

Mi Curved Gaming Monitor 34”

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic

UP NEXT: Xiaomi crowdfunds the Mi Portable Electric Air Compressor in India

Redmi 9

Redmi 9C

Redmi 9A

UP NEXT: The mid-range OnePlus Nord was inevitable and Here’s Why!

UP NEXT: Huawei P40 Pro Plus Camera Review: Expanding the limits of Mobile Photography

UP NEXT: Amazfit Band 5 coming soon; key features revealed by FCC listing

UP NEXT: How to block Google location tracking?

Editor’s Pick: Reliance Jio announces self developed ‘Made In India’ 5G solution, to launch in 2021

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra may feature dynamic refresh rate switching between 60Hz and 120Hz

UP NEXT: Ni Fei becomes the President of ZTE Mobile Devices, Will Continue to lead Nubia

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra may feature dynamic refresh rate switching between 60Hz and 120Hz

UP NEXT: Samsung and Microsoft expand partnership for smart buildings and property management

Editor’s Pick: Reliance Jio announces self developed ‘Made In India’ 5G solution, to launch in 2021

UP NEXT: ASUS ZenFone 7 NCC, TUV listings reveal 6.7-inch display, 512GB storage, 5,000mAh battery, 30W charging and more

Editor’s Pick: Asus ROG Phone 3 clears Taiwan’s NCC certification

UP NEXT: Lenovo Legion gaming phone pre-order registrations at JD.com reveals key features

Editor’s Pic: OPPO unveils 125W Flash Wired Charging and 65W AirVOOC Wireless Charging Technologies

UP NEXT: 5G smartphone shipments witnesses growth in China in June with 61.2% market share

UP NEXT: Oppo helped the UK in deploying the first 5G Standalone Network

125W Flash Charge comes with double-6C cells

65W AirVOOC Wireless Charging makes Wired Charging Obsolete

UP NEXT: Huawei is facing a lawsuit regarding Image Processing patents

UP NEXT: Realme 30W Dart Charge 10000mAh Power Bank unveiled in India

Editor’s Pick: Huawei 5G unmanned vehicles are helping in the fight against COVID-19 in Thailand

UP NEXT: 5G smartphone shipments witnesses growth in China in June with 61.2% market share

EDITOR’S PICK: OnePlus Nord upcoming mid-range smartphone opens for pre-order in India today through Amazon

UP NEXT: Lenovo Legion gaming phone pre-order registrations at JD.com reveals key features

Editor’s Pick: Lenovo Legion gaming phone pre-order registrations at JD.com reveals key features

UP NEXT: Xiaomi crowdfunds 8H Smart Mattress in China for a starting price of 4,599 yuan ($657)

EDITOR’S PICK: Lenovo Legion gaming smartphone pre-order registrations at JD.com reveals key features

UP NEXT: Xiaomi crowdfunds 8H Smart Mattress in China for 4,599 yuan ($657)