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MIUI 12 Global Stable Beta update now available for Mi 9/9T/9T Pro and Redmi K20/K20 Pro

Xiaomi announced MIUI 12 initially in China and even started rolling out beta builds to the eligible devices from the day of the conference itself. Later last month, the company held a separate global launch event and revealed supported internationally available devices. Now, as promised, the first batch of phones – Mi 9, Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro, Redmi K20, and Redmi K20 Pro are receiving MIUI 12 Global Stable Beta update.

For the unaware, Xiaomi has a unique type of MIUI build known as Stable Beta. These builds can be only installed on devices with beta-authorized Mi account signed in.

Which means these builds are meant for beta testers chosen by the company before rolling out the update to the public. However, users can bypass this limitation if their device has an unlocked bootloader with custom recovery like TWRP installed.

In most cases, Xiaomi rolls out the same build as a final stable update to the public by removing the beta Mi account authorization server side. But if the early birds happen to find critical bugs, the company would release another stable beta build and the same process would repeat.

In simpler words, the MIUI 12 Global Stable Beta update, which is currently being rolled out to Mi 9, Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro, Redmi K20, and Redmi K20 Pro cannot be installed by all users unless they have a custom recovery installed on their device.

Anyway, here’s the download link for the above-mentioned devices for interested users.

Xiaomi Mi 9 V12.0.0.8.QFAMIXM (Global) Download
V12.0.0.9.QFAEUXM (Europe) Download
Xiaomi Mi 9T / Redmi K20 V12.0.0.11.QFJMIXM (Global) Download
Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro / Redmi K20 Pro V12.0.0.8.QFKMIXM (Global) Download

 

(Via)

Realme X3 appears on Google Play Console revealing some specs

Realme is expected to launch the Realme X3, X3 Pro and X3 Super Zoom. The X3 SuperZoom made its official entry in Europe on May 26. However, there has been no word about the X3 and X3 Pro even though we already know they exist via leaks. The Realme X3 has just appeared once again on the Google Play Console, key specs in tow.

Realme X3 SuperZoom

The listing shows the device will be powered by the same Snapdragon 855+ at the heart of the SuperZoom. The X3 will come with 8GB of RAM but there is no indication if it will feature support for 5G.Realme X3

The X3 is also listed to pack a display resolution of 1,080 x 2,400px resolution. The phone may come with 90Hz display unlike the SuperZoom with 120Hz but that is not stated. It will run Android 10 operating system out of the box.

The Realme X3 recently appeared for certification on India’s BIS website with model numbers RMX2081L1, RMX2085L1, RMX2086L1 which are likely regional variants. There is information yet on the launch date.

 

(via)

 

OnePlus TV OTA4 for Q1/Q1 Pro adds support for third-party AirPlay service apps

OnePlus launched its first smart TVs, Q1 and Q1 Pro ahead of Diwali festive season last year in India. Unlike TVs from Xiaomi, the OnePlus’ offerings are premium models with QLED panel and come with a hefty price tag. But it still has issues with software just like any other brand. To fix it, the company has been seeding out updates since its launch. Currently, the brand’s TVs are receiving their fourth update called OnePlus TV OTA4.

OnePlus TV Q1

According to the announcement post for the new update on OnePlus Community, OnePlus TV OTA3, the last update for Q1/Q1 Pro introduced some bugs. So the latest update is all about fixing it and adding support for third-party AirPlay service apps.

OnePlus TV OTA4 Official Changelog

  • Match the setting value of Color Space, Brightness and MEMC with actual display effect more accurately.
  • Enhanced Ultra Smooth effect to make it more obvious in display.
  • Corrected the version rollback issues of certain downloaded apps after OTA upgrade.
  • Improved the experience around Netflix server connectivity.
  • Fixed the MX Player installation error.
  • Added support for third party AirPlay service apps.

Like any other OTA update, the new update for OnePlus TV Q1/Q1 Pro is being seeded out in batches. But interested users can share their unit’s serial number with Catherine W (OnePlus TV software engineer) on OnePlus community to receive the update early.

 

(Source, Via)

Google pulls down “Remove China Apps” from the Play Store for policy violation

On May 17, a new app was published on the Google Play Store known as Remove China Apps. The app basically scans Chinese apps on Android devices and uninstalls them. It soon gained widespread popularity, recording over 1 million downloads and positive reviews in a short period. Remove China apps

Google has now delisted the Remove China Apps from Google Play. According to Google’s Deceptive Behaviour rules, an app cannot encourage users to remove third-party apps. Since the app was designed to help users uninstall Chinese apps from their Android smartphones, Google had to remove it.

Google confirmed to Gadgets 360 that it took the decision to pull the popular app for violating Google Play’s Deceptive Behaviour Policy that doesn’t allow apps that “encourage or incentivise users into removing or disabling third-party apps” and “mislead users into removing or disabling third-party apps”.

The app is riding on the back of recent anti-China sentiments fuelled by the COVID-19 outbreak, India-China border dispute, and other things which have led to the rise of boycott China movement in India. 

This happens to be the second of such app riding on the back of anti-China sentiments that have been pulled down from the Play Store in recent times. Just a few hours before Remove China Apps was pulled down, the Mitron app which seems to mirror TikTok was also removed from the store. The app is a free short video sharing app and a social platform for users to share content online. It was also removed, in this case, for violating spam and repetitive content policies.

 

(source)

 

OnePlus Jacket design contest announced for community members

OnePlus is known for smartphones and even smart TVs. But recently, the company announced to diversify its product portfolio. But who would have thought it will make jackets. Yes, you heard it right. OnePlus is running a contest for jacket designs on its community.

OnePlus Jacket Design Contest

OnePlus has a new contest for its fans in which the participants have to design community exclusive coach jacket. The registration for the same is already open and interested individuals can apply for it before June 5 from the source link provided at the end of this post.

Once registered, participants will have to submit their design entries (multiple entries allowed) in PNG file format before June 15 20:00 EST. The company’s review board will select the top 8 entries and announce them by June 25.

The final two winners of the top 8 will be decided by votes from the public on OnePlus Community and Twitter. Unfortunately, these jackets will not be made available for sale. Instead, it will be given away to members who are active in online and offline community activities.

All the participants who submit their design entries will be awarded 200 community points. Whereas, the shortlisted top 8 entries will be featured in OnePlus channels and will also be receiving 1000 community points.

Last but not least, the final two winners will be getting the special edition of community jacket (probably the one they designed) and a VIP ticket to next OnePlus offline launch event which will include return flight as well as one-night accommodation.

 

(Source)

Redmi 9 new leak reveals Helio G80 SoC and June 25 launch date

Recently, a tipster had shared leaked details of the upcoming Xiaomi Redmi 9 series. The leak revealed that the Redmi 9 lineup includes Redmi 9A, Redmi 9C with NFC, Redmi 9C (non-NFC), and Redmi 9. The leak revealed that the Redmi 9 is fueled by Helio G70. There have been contradictory reports that the Helio G80 could be powering the Redmi 9. A fresh tweet from another leakster claims that the Redmi 9 is driven by Helio G80. He also revealed the launch date of the Redmi 9 smartphone for the Vietnamese market.

Redmi 9 specifications (Rumored)

The new leaks state that the Redmi 9 has a 6.5-inch full HD+ LCD panel with a top-center positioned punch-hole. It has a plastic rear and frame. The phone is backed by a 5,000mAh battery. The retail package of the device will ship with an 18W charger.

It has a front camera of 8-megapixel. The device is blessed with a quad-camera setup on its rear. It has a 13-megapixel main lens, an 8-megapixel sensor, a 5-megapixel shooter, and a 2-megapixel lens.

Alleged Redmi 9

The Redmi 9 is expected to arrive in Vietnam in two models such as 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage and 4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage. The device is expected to be priced under $150 in Vietnam. The leak further states that the Redmi 9 is likely to arrive with cheaper pricing in India and China.

At present, Xiaomi is silent on the arrival of the Redmi 9 series. Hopefully, the Chinese firm will start its launch at some point this month.

 

(source)

Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds Is Now Available For Only $99 On Giztop

Vivo launched a new pair of TWS earbuds along with the much-awaited X50 series in China on Jun. 1. This premium pair of earbuds have the same 14.2mm large drivers as the Vivo TWS earbuds that were launched in 2019, but Vivo has upgraded the Bluetooth version to 5.2.

Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds Featured

Available in an eye-catching blue and an equally appealing white color option, the Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds has gone up for sale on Giztop. Regardless of the color option you chose, the newfangled earbuds from Vivo will set you back only $99.

An absolute steal at this price, the Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds adopts an ultra-light semi-in-ear design that enables high-quality streaming. Weighing in at only 4.7 grams, each earbud is lighter than a coin. Moreover, it comes with a built-in 14.2mm large sound unit that supports apt X and AAC high-definition audio decoding technology.

The Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds has been integrated with a low latency mode of 88ms for enhanced gaming and video calling experience. To achieve a perfect sync between video and audio while you are watching movies or playing games, all you need to do is to switch to Super Low Latency Mode.Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds

The earbuds use a new aptX adaptive codec for CD-rated audio quality. Furthermore, they have three DeepX Stereo modes, meaning, you can fully customize your overall listening experience. You can choose between three modes including heavy mode, clear voice mode, and high pitch mode to match the audio playing on your earbuds.

The Vivo TWS Neo Earphone also uses the smart call noise reduction technology to eliminate ambient noise like running, riding, wind interference, and so on using its dual microphones. As if that weren’t enough, it employs the industry’s first dual-capacitance in-ear sensing technology which is not only more accurate but is also comparatively more power-efficient.

You can head straight to this link to check out more details about the Vivo TWS Neo Earbuds and place your order via Giztop.

The Gizmochina Coupons is a community that finds, reports, and evaluates deals and coupons of Chinese products from online shops. Please visit it here to find more coupons to save money on mobiles and smart gadgets.

Oppo Find X2 series India launch announced for June 17

Oppo Find X2 series initially debuted in China and was soon made available in Europe. Now, the company is all set to bring its flagship smartphones of 2020 to India on June 17. The Find X2 and Find X2 Pro feature high-end specifications but its pricing will matter in the world’s most price-conscious smartphone market.

Oppo Find X2 Series India Launch June 17

The Oppo Find series is known for its innovativeness. The last handset in the series, the Find X was one of a kind smartphone with futuristic design. But this year, the company took a safe route and launched a conventional flagship duo.

The Find X2 and Find X2 Pro have similar specs except for the rear panel, camera setup, battery capacity, and IP certification. That means both the phones sport 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with a punch hole, 120Hz refresh rate, Qualcomm Snapdragon 865, 5G connectivity, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, LPDDR4 RAM, UFS 3.0 storage, 32MP selfie camera, stereo speakers, ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10, and 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging.

Talking about dissimilarities, the regular Find X2 comes in glass and ceramic finishes. Whereas, the Find X2 Pro is available in ceramic and vegan leather finishes. Further, the former has a 4,200 mAh battery and is only IP54 certified. But the latter is IP68 certified and features a 4,260 mAh battery. Weirdly, both of them lack wireless charging albeit being a premium smartphone.

Lastly, talking about cameras, the Find X2 Pro comes equipped with a 48MP primary sensor with OIS, a 13MP periscope 5x optical zoom camera with OIS, and another 48MP sensor with an ultra-wide lens. The regular Find X2, on the other hand, features a 48MP primary snapper with OIS, a 12MP telephoto shooter with OIS, and a 12MP ultra-wide angle camera.

 

(Source)

Honor Play4 and Play4 Pro Launched, features IR Temperature sensor and liquid cooling

Earlier today (3rd June 2020), Honor finally launched its Play4 series of smartphones in China. The lineup consists of the base Play4 and the Play4 Pro variant. Both smartphone are 5G enabled and feature an Infrared Temperature sensor.

Honor Play4

The Honor Play4 was unveiled today and features MediaTek’s Dimensity 800 5G chipset. It sports a 6.81-inch FHD display with a single punch hole selfie camera on the front. On the rear, a quad camera setup can be found, which consists of a 64-megapixel primary camera, 8-megapixel wide angle lens, 2 megapixel macro shooter, and a 2 megapixel depth of field sensor.

Honor
Honor Play4

The Honor Play4 targets the mid range segment and also offers VC liquid cooling technology and a 12 layer heat dissipation structure. The device is powered by a large 4,300mAh battery pack that supports fast charging up to 22.5W. It is offered in three color variants, namely Iceland Phantom, Phantom Blue, and Phantom Night Black.

Honor Play4 Pro

The Honor Play4 Pro is the high-end model from the series and targets the upper mid-range segment in the market. It sports a smaller 6.57-inch display with a dual punch-hole selfie camera cut out on the front (32 megapixels + 8 megapixel). On the rear, the device houses a dual-camera setup, unlike the base variant. Its primary sensor is a 40 megapixel Sony IMX600 RYYB sensor alongside an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

The smartphone features Huawei HiSilicon’s Kirin 990 5G SoC, which supports dual mode 5G. It supports up to 40W fast charging and runs Magic UI 3.0, which is also found on the base Play4 variant. The device is also available in three color variants, including Mecha Blue, Icelandic Illusion and Fantasy Night Black. A notable inclusion in the Pro variant is also the special IR temperature sensor that is housed in a separate Honor Play4 Pro version.

Honor
Honor Play4 Pro

This Infrared sensor can measure temperatures from -20 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. The smartphone itself does not emit infrared, but rather it absorbs infrared energy from a person or an object to calculate the exact temperature. During this time of crisis, avoiding the Coronavirus infection and keeping regular tabs on one’s health is a necessary step.

Price and Availability

The Honor Play4 series is currently available for pre-order in China. The base variant starts from 1,799 Yuan (roughly 253 US Dollars) for the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant and 1,999 Yuan (roughly 281 US Dollars) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage version. On the other hand, the Honor Play4 Pro retails for 2,899 Yuan (roughly 407 US Dollars) for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, while the special version with the IR temperature sensor is sold for 2,999 Yuan (roughly 421 US Dollars).

 

Buy Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger For Just $59.99 From Giztop

Best known for manufacturing top-end smartphone accessories, Baseus took the wraps off about a hundred new products during a recently concluded conference.

Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger

The Chinese tech firm launched products designed to provide reliable safety to mobile phones, car accessories, consumer electronics, chargers, lighting, and so on. The Baseus 2C1A GaN Fast Charger was without an iota of doubt the most impressive product launched by the company during the conference.

The burning question popping inside your mind at the moment would be what makes the fast charger the most impressive product launched by Baseus. It is not only the first GaN charger but also the world’s first 2C1A USB PD GaN charger that comes in 65W, as well as 120W variants.

The Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger is currently available on Giztop bearing a $59.99 price tag. Moreover, you can choose between black, as well as white color options. The 2C1A GaN Charger features a 100W 5A fast charging cable that comes with Emark chip.

baseus 120w GaN charger

It is extremely lightweight and has a 90-degree folding plug. Moreover, it comes with a built-in GaN and SiC third-generation semiconductor materials and features two USB Type-C ports along with a USB Type-A port. The Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger allows you to simultaneously charge two laptops or three devices.

The maximum output power of Type-C port is 120 Wattm which is compatible with the PD charging for notebook computers. Aside from that, Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger can be touted as best-in-class power electronics as it features controller and protection circuitry.

More importantly, the Baseus 120W 2C1A GaN Charger works with most Type-C phones, laptops, MacBooks, switch game console, tablets, and various other devices. You can follow this link to check out more details about the 2C1A GaN Charger and place your order via Giztop.

The Gizmochina Coupons is a community that finds, reports, and evaluates deals and coupons of Chinese products from online shops. Please visit it here to find more coupons to save money on mobiles and smart gadgets.

ASUS ROG Phone 3’s 12GB RAM variant emerge on Geekbench

Recent reports have revealed that ASUS is working on the launch of the ROG Phone 3 gaming-focused flagship phone. It is expected to break cover in the ongoing quarter of the year. Last month, the 8 GB RAM variant of the ROG Phone 3 had appeared on the Geekbench benchmarking platform. Today, a higher RAM edition of the same phone has appeared on the same benchmarking site.

The 8 GB RAM variant of the ROG Phone 3 was spotted with model number ASUS_I003DD model number on Geekbench 5. The 12 GB variant of the same phone seems to have appeared as ASUS_I003D. Like 8 GB edition, the higher RAM version is seemingly powered by the Snapdragon 865 SoC. The smartphone is loaded with Android 10 OS. In the single-core and multi-core tests, the ROG Phone 3 has scored 910 and 3229, respectively.

ASUS ROG Phone 3 GeekbenchASUS ROG Phone 3 Geekbench

Last month, the ROG Phone 3 was spotted at the database of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The listing had revealed the support for features like Android 10 OS, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast.

The ASUS ROG Phone 2 that debuted in July 2019 had arrived in 8 GB RAM and 12 GB RAM editions. It was made available in options like 8 GB RAM + 128 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage, 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage and 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage. There is a possibility that the ROG Phone 3 could be also available in multiple variants. Like its predecessor, the ROG Phone 3 may break cover in July.

 

(source|via)

Facebook signs global licensing deal with Indian music label Saregama

Earlier today (3rd June 2020), Facebook announced that it has entered into a global deal with Saregama. The social media giant will be licensing one of India’s oldest and largest music label’s music for videos and other social experiences across its other services like Instagram.

Facebook

In simpler terms, Facebook is bringing songs from the music label to its global social media platform. This arrives after Saregama entered into a partnership with the Swedish music giant Spotify just a few weeks prior. Now, users will be able to choose a wide variety of music to add to their videos, stories, and more via music stickers that are owned by the Indian label. These songs can now be accessed on Facebook and Instagram.

For those unaware, Saregama is one of the largest record labels from the Southeast Asian country, with tracks from various iconic Indian musicians like Lata Mangeshkar, R.D. Burman, Mohammed Rafi, Talat Mahmood, Manna Dey, Kalyanji-Anandji, and Hemant Kumar. It has over 100,000 songs under its belt, which include Bollywood songs, ghazals, and others in more than 25 different languages.

Facebook
The partnership will bring music under the Indian record label to Instagram as well

The deal with an Indian music label isn’t exactly a new beginning for Facebook as it has already partnered with other giants in the industry. This includes Yash Raj Films, Zee Music Company, and T-Series, which is the top YouTube channel in the world. Back in 2019, reports had surfaced regarding the Facebook testing out Indian music labels for its videos and other features in India and Indonesia and now it seems that these trials were a success with Indian music being available on a global social platform.

 

(Via)

Xiaomi to launch Mi Band 4 NFC version in Europe with Mastercard support

Xiaomi will be launching the NFC enabled variant of the Mi Band 4 in Europe within the next couple of weeks. This version has only been available in China exclusively so far, but it will soon launch in Russia with a European launch arriving soon after.

Xiaomi Mi Band 4

During the initial launch, only Mastercard will be supported and users will have to add their cards in the Mi Fit app and select their region as well. The Mi Band 4 will eventually support Visa, Google Pay, and even PayPal. However, the Chinese tech giant has yet to reveal an official launch date for the update for these formats.

Furthermore, users of the Mi Band 4 will also be able to use NFC for public transports apart from just contactless payments. Mastercard’s PayPass is currently supported in Russia as well as a few countries in Europe, including Italy, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, France, and the United Kingdom.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4

For those interested, look out for the model number MGW4059RU for the NFC version of the Xiaomi Mi Band 4. The wearables will launch in Russia on 16th June 2020 and will cost 4,000 RUB (roughly 58 US Dollars), which is about 30 percent higher than the previous version. Notably, Xiaomi is also expected to launch the Mi Band 5 on 11th June 2020, with global NFC support and a larger display, so stay tuned for the launch.

 

(Via)

SMIC plans to raise $2.8 billion as the US tries to hamper China’s Semiconductor growth

China’s top chipmaker, SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International), plans to raise 20 billion Yuan or roughly 2.8 billion US Dollars in Shanghai’s Star Market. The move arrives after the US attempts to hamper the growth of its rival tech companies.

SMIC

Previously, SMIC had withdrawn its American depositary receipts or ADRs from the New York stock exchange back in 2019. Now, the company is planning on using the large proceedings raised for the Star Market to develop its latest 12 inch SN1 chip and bump its capital. For those unaware, the Star Market is China’s response to America’s Nasdaq, which was the birthplace of many tech giants.

According to Zhou Ling, a fund manager with Shanghai Shiva Investment, “The Star Market is now playing its role as a strategic fundraising platform to bolster the country’s own technology companies as the US-China relationship worsens.” SMIC is Mainland China’s largest semiconductor foundry and a key chipmaker, raising the large sum to support itself better against US sanctions that aim to prevent China’s rise in the tech industry.

SMIC

The semiconductor based company previously received major funding of 2.25 billion US Dollars back in May through Chinese state investors to help fund the expansion of its facility in Shanghai. It plans on raising its 14nm wafers production capacity from 6,000 to 35,000. This sizeable growth led the US Commerce Department to take drastic actions to stifle such growth, with an example being the cutting off of supply for chips from TSMC to Huawei. So, US sanctions could potentially still hamper operations for SMIC, but only time will tell how the US-China tech wars play out.

 

(Via)

Amazfit Bip S smartwatch debuts in India; Price and specifications

Huami’s Amazfit Bip S smartwatch has gone official in India. It is an entry-level smartwatch from the brand that promises an amazing battery life of 40 days. Some of the other exciting features of the Amazfit Bip S are color display, built-in GPS, and health/sports tracking capabilities.

Amazfit Bip S price in India

The Amazfit Bip S is priced at Rs. 4,999 (~$66) in India. It can be bought in four colors like Red Orange, Warm Pink, White Rock, and Carbon Black. Starting from today afternoon, the budget-friendly smartwatch will be available through online retailers like Amazon India, Flipkart, Myntra, and the official online store of Amazfit. Offline retailers that will be selling the Bip S include Croma, Reliance Digital, and Poorvika Mobiles.

Amazfit Bip S

Amazfit Bip S specifications

The Amazfit Bip S features a 1.28-inch transflective color display. The TFT screen offers a resolution of 176 x 176 pixels and it is equipped with Always-On feature. The display is shielded by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and it has an anti-fingerprint coating.

The Amazfit Bip S smartwatch boots to Amazfit OS and it is compatible with devices loaded with Android 5.0 Lollipop and iOS 10.0 or higher. Once paired, the Bip S brings support for features like call notifications, music control, weather forecast, reminders, sleep tracking, and more. The smartwatch provides users with two editable watch faces. Users can download more than 40 watch faces through its dedicated watch face store.

The Bip S offers users with 10 sports modes such as treadmill, walking, outdoor running, outdoor cycling, swimming, and more. It comes with Huami-PAI Health Assessment System that assists in understanding the physical state of the user. The Amazfit Bip S has a Sony 28nm GPS which makes it possible to track outdoor health activities without carrying a smartphone.

 

 

Looted Apple Store products are getting blocked and tracked by the company

Amid the on-going protests in the United States, incidents related to looting and vandalism have also increased in the country. Some took advantage of the situation and looted products from the Apple Store.

The company warned the looters that they will be tracked down. Apple is also using software on demo products that basically makes the looted products useful and prevents it from being reset to factory settings.

Apple iPhone 6S Plus

So, the products are totally useless apart from being used as a paperweight. As someone recently tweeted the phone, the looted Apple iPhone shows a message that reads: “This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.”

This is the first time we are seeing Apple’s device tracking software for the demo devices in works. While Apple has clearly stated that it is tracking the device, it has not yet clarified if the company or the law enforcement plans to do anything with the collected data.

Amid all this, the company’s CEO Tim Cook has sent out a memo to the staff in these trying times. The memo reads: “I have heard from so many of you that you feel afraid – afraid in your communities, afraid in your daily lives, and, most cruelly of all, afraid in your own skin. We can have no society worth celebrating unless we can guarantee freedom from fear for every person who gives this country their love, labor, and life.”

 

Motorola Edge+ receives a higher DxOMark camera score than the Pixel 4 and iPhone 11

Motorola‘s return to premium smartphone segments arrives with the new Motorola Edge+. It was the company’s first flagship handset in years and the company has put a lot of effort into it, which shows since its DxOMark camera ratings are even higher than the Google Pixel 4 and Apple iPhone 11 with a total score of 113 points.

Motorola

The Motorola Edge+ sports a triple camera setup on the rear. The primary lens is a 108 megapixel sensor that captures images through quad bins and outputs at 27 megapixels. Taking advantage of the high pixel count, the device also offers short zoom as well. The handset also sports an 8 megapixel telephoto lens that delivers 3x optical zoom and its last sensor is the 16 megapixel ultra wide angle lens.

In the camera testing, the Motorola Edge+ scored 119 points in photography and 101 points in videography. The flagship device was praised for its image sensors exposure, color accuracy, fast and accurate autofocus, and overall noise reduction in images. With the handset being able to capture videos in 6K at 30fps, its exposure in this regard was again commended.

Motorola

The stabilization on the Motorola Edge+ received a great score, with color accuracy and accurate autofocus being well received as well. With such a high score, the device is undoubtedly a true flagship from the company. DxOMark did notice a few flaws here and there but offered a decent review of the Motorola handset.

 

(Source)

Xiaomi is crowdfunding Qifeng Electric Sofa for 1,599 yuan ($225) in China

Xiaomi is no longer just a tech company as the company has entered almost all of the product categories that are possible or are required in a household. The company has already launched sofa sets and is now crowdfunding a new electric sofa.

The company has launched a new crowdfunding campaign for Qifeng Electric Sofa which starts at 1,599 yuan that roughly converts to $225. Similar to other such products, this one too is limited to the Chinese market only.

Xiaomi Electric Sofa

As for the design, the new Qifeng Electric Sofa from Xiaomi comes in a Nordic minimalistic style and is being made available in Black and White and Gray colors so that it can be matched with any household decoration.

It appears to have used Thai latex and high-elastic cotton materials for making this sofa to ensure good wrapping and comfort for the users. It supports the recliner adjustment of 103-degree to 160-degree and also has a one-switch function to switch between sitting mode and lying mode.

Xiaomi Electric Sofa

A few years ago, the company had crowdfunded the 8H American Spring Fabric Sofa that was manufactured by Chengdu Fun Sleep Technology Co. It was available as a single sitter, double sitter, and three-sitter form, each with a different price tag but the sofa had a starting price of 1,599 yuan.

Later, the company crowdfunded another sofa set — Yang Zi Leather Sofa, which the company claimed had won iF and Good Design awards. Claimed to last for about a decade, the pricing of the sofa started at 2,999 yuan.

 

Apple cuts iPhone prices to boost sales in China during shopping festival

In an effort to boost sales, Apple has officially slashed the prices in China as the country is on the step to slowly reopens during the Coronavirus pandemic. The lowered prices will be seen during JD.com’s 618 shopping festival where customers can find cut down prices of available iPhone models.

Apple hasn’t officially discounted the actual prices for iPhones on its website but other third party retailers will offer the current generation of iPhones at lowered prices. China’s Tmall is offering the 64GB iPhone 11 variant for 4,779 Yuan (roughly 670 US Dollars), which is about a 13 percent discount from the original 5,499 Yuan (roughly 774 US Dollars) price tag of the device.

Apple
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

Similarly, the iPhone 11 Pro is being offered at a 13 percent discount as well, with prices falling from 8,699 Yuan to 7,579 Yuan (roughly 1,066 US Dollars). The iPhone 11 Pro Max is also available for 8,359 Yuan (roughly 1,177 US Dollars), down from 9,599 Yuan. Apple is also slashing prices of its newly launched iPhone SE as well, dropping to 3,099 Yuan (roughly 436 US Dollars) from 3,299 Yuan.

On JD.com, Apple iPhone sees an even sharper price cut, with the 64GB iPhone 11 dropping to 4,599 Yuan (roughly 646 US Dollars), which is 180 Yuan cheaper than Tmall’s prices. The lowered prices are reflected with other models as well, with the iPhone 11 Pro arriving at 6,999 Yuan (roughly 984 US Dollars) and iPhone 11 Pro Max being sold for 7,499 Yuan (roughly 1054 US Dollars). The iPhone SE 2020 is also priced at 3,069 Yuan (roughly 431 US Dollars) on JD.com, which is also the official Apple reseller in China.

Apple
iPhone SE 2020

According to a JD.com spokesperson, the massive Apple discounts are having the “desired effect” as sales of Apple products during the sales have nearly tripled. The 618 shopping festival will run for a couple of days and while Apple doesn’t usually take part in it, the declining performance during the first quarter of 2020 has made the company act proactively to urge people to upgrade their handsets.

 

(Via)

POCO teases a new smartphone launch for the Indian market

POCO, the so-called independent smartphone brand backed by Xiaomi, is all set to launch a new smartphone in the Indian market. The company has shared a new teaser video confirming the same.

The teaser video, shared by POCO India on its Twitter account, highlights the company’s dedication towards the Indian market. It also reiterates the fact the company was formed in India about two years ago and is making phones in India under the Indian government’s “Make in India” initiative.

The new marketing campaign from the company is #POCOForIndia, which as the hashtag clearly indicates, highlights how the brand is dedicated to the Indian market. The campaign comes at a time when certain sections of people are calling for the boycott of Chinese products because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As for the new smartphone teased by the company, it has not yet revealed which model will get launched in the country, nor has the brand provided any timeline for the same. We expect POCO to share more information about this in the coming days or weeks.

The company recently launched the POCO F2 Pro smartphone which is currently available for purchase in the United States and Europe and recently got launched in Malaysia. So, the company could bring out this model in the Indian market.

Another smartphone that could get launched in India is the POCO M2. It has been leaked a few times in the past and recently, the device passed through the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi certification process.

Along with this new smartphone, we expect the company to launch its first truly wireless earphones. POCO had recently crowdsourced the naming of its TWS earphones and the majority of people voted for POCO Pop Buds.