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Meizu 17 Series will feature mEngine 3.0 for better haptic feedback

Meizu has scheduled an event for May 8 to unveil Meizu 17 and Meizu 17 Pro in China. These upcoming smartphones will be the company’s first 5G-enabled handsets. The brand has been teasing the phones’ features on a daily basis. Today, the company revealed them to come with mEngine 3.0 horizontal linear motor.

Most value-flagship smartphones lack good haptics but thankfully, OEMs are now listening to the feedback from users. Almost all so-called flagship killers launched this year feature better vibration motors than their predecessors. Hence, the forthcoming Meizu 17 series will not be an exception according to the latest teaser by the company on Weibo.

Meizu 17 Pro mEngine 3.0 Horizontal Linear Motor

Meizu calls its haptic system as mEngine whose version 2.0 debuted on Meizu 15 in 2018. The Meizu 16 series had the same but this year, the Meizu 17 series will be featuring mEngine 3.0 horizontal linear motor. This latest version was introduced in the Meizu 16s series last year.

Unfortunately, the company does not go into details about mEngine 3.0 in the teaser. But assures it to offer peak performance by which we can expect it to offer better haptic feedback than the previous generation and on par with the Meizu 16s series.

The previous teasers from the brand have revealed some of the key features of the Meizu 17 series such as 90Hz refresh rate display, 30W fast charging, ceramic back (only Pro), 3D depth sensor (only Pro), stereo speakers, and even exclusive PANDAER cases.

Additionally, the company has officially discontinued the Meizu 16s Pro, the last-gen Meizu flagship smartphone with a special Commemorative Edition.

 

Redmi K30i gets spotted in MIUI Camera app with 48MP primary sensor

Redmi K30i, a cheaper lite variant of the Redmi K30 5G  has been rumoured for a while now. The phone was recently spotted on TENAA confirming most of its specifications. Now, a finding from MIUI Camera further affirms the existence of this handset.

Earlier this month, an internal document leak revealed Xiaomi’s plan to launch more affordable 5G phones than the Redmi K30 5G. The first device mentioned in it was the Redmi K30i 5G with a 48MP primary camera instead of 64MP from the standard variant. This handset was suggested to release in late April with 1799 Yuan ($255) price tag.

The device has been now spotted in MIUI Camera app by an XDA Developers’ member going by the name of kacskrz. A string from the app not only confirms the name of the phone but also its 48MP primary camera.

<string name="back_picasso_48m">4:REDMI K30i 5G:AI QUAD CAMERA:48MP QUAD CAMERA</string>

As you can see from the string, the device is codenamed ‘Picasso’ just like the regular Redmi K30 5G announced back in December 2019. This finding once again confirms the new Redmi K30i to feature identical specs and design except for a different primary camera sensor.

Anyway, the Redmi brand is yet to tease the launch of this upcoming handset and it is already May now. Since it’s just the same phone with a minor change, the company might simply announce it on Weibo anytime soon.

 

(Source)

Google Pixel 4a samples leak, go head-to-head with the Redmi Note 7’s

In what could be regarded as a “marriage of strange bedfellows”, a tech journalist has released samples of the upcoming Google Pixel 4a, comparing it with that of the Redmi Note 7. The samples were released by Julio Lusson (@julio_lusson), the same guy who had shared a video review of the Pixel 4a on his YouTube Channel, TechnoLike Plus in March.

Google Pixel 4a sample
Google Pixel 4a samples

Samples shot by the Redmi Note 7 from 2018 was compared with that of the Pixel 4a and obviously, the Google model was steps ahead of the Xiaomi model. But then, the Redmi Note 7 is powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset while the Pixel 4a is expected to pack a  Snapdragon 730 SoC.

Redmi Note 7 sample

The Redmi Note 7 packs a bigger 48MP main sensor which is expected to perform better but the 12MP sensor on the Google model outputs better samples. In terms of details, vivid clarity, dynamic range, colour and noise levels, the Pixel 4a’s samples are obviously better. The Redmi Note 7’s camera received rave reviews when it was launched so we won’t make further comments. We expect the Pixel 4a to be released soon and right then, we can get reviews from expert reviewers before we can conclude the Pixel 4a packs a stunning camera.

Pixel 4a sample
Pixel 4a sample
Redmi Note 7 sample

 

(source)

 

Xiaomi Mi 6 Silver Edition & unreleased Mi 7 prototype on auction for staggering prices

You probably haven’t forgotten about the Mi 6, one of the most popular Mi series flagships till date. The Mi 6 released in 2017 was popular not just because of its sleek design but also for its compact build. Xiaomi added an icing by introducing a limited Silver edition. You may also recall that Xiaomi skipped the Mi 7 moniker, opting for Mi 8 instead. What you probably don’t know is that the Mi 7 Engineering machine indeed existed. Here comes the gist. The Mi 6 Silver Edition and Mi 7 prototype have been put up for sale on two different Chinese e-commerce websites. xiaomi mi 6 silver edition hero

The Mi 6 Silver edition is being offered by a seller for 19,999 yuan (around $2831). The offer is for a brand you model and since the Mi 6 Silver Edition was produced in limited numbers, there are possibly only a few dozens of units available. The Mi 6 Silver Edition comes with a special design which includes a stainless steel frame but the back is covered with a glass panel having a special ultra-reflective mirror finish.Xiaomi Mi 6 Silver Edition

Xiaomi disclosed that the glass is coated using a special electroplating process that was said to take place in a vacuum environment. The process is so sophisticated that it is claimed that just one speck of dust during the process renders the batch useless. That is likely why Xiaomi never attempted a silver variant manufactured using the same process on subsequent flagships. Xiaomi Mi 6 Silver Edition

If you think the Mi 6 Silver Edition is high, wait for that of the Mi 7 prototype which was spotted on China’s second-hand platform Xianyu. The prototype is actually on auction and the listed price is 1000,200 yuan (around $141,627). For a device that never made it to the market, this is definitely a collector’s item for anyone who thinks it’s worth such a crazy price.

The phone’s specs page shows the device which goes by the codename dipper_old is powered by a Snapdragon 845 chipset. It features a 6.02-inch OLED display. The rear design is similar to that of the Mi 6 including the curved back panel. Xiaomi perhaps jettisoned the design in favour of the Mi 8’s design due to Apple’s launch of the iPhone X having a notch design. The Mi 8 has the same wide notch and vertical rear camera design as the iPhone X. Xiaomi Mi 7 PrototypeThe prototype shows Xiaomi was working on a notch-less design but with reduced bezels at the chin and upper edge. Meizu 17 has definitely done a better job trimming the bezels than what is seen on this prototype. However, some fans may have found the idea of maintaining the symmetry of the display intriguing if it had made it to the market.Xiaomi Mi 7 prototype

Should Xiaomi launch a phone in the future with trimmed bezels the Meizu style? Tell us what you think in the comments section.

 

Xiaomi Mi7 Prototype

 

 

Galaxy Z Flip bags 105 points in DxOMark Camera Test

Samsung’s first clamshell foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Flip gets tested by the DxOMark Camera team. The handset bags an overall score of 105 points with 109 and 96 points in camera and video performances respectively. The phone ranks 27th in the list between 106 and 104 points of iPhone Xs Max and Zenfone 6.

The Galaxy Z Flip is not a camera beast in terms of hardware but still, it performs well. The higher price tag is for the phone’s unique form factor featuring a folding OLED screen. Hence, it should not be compared with standard smartphones in the first place. Anyway, according to DxOMark, the device nails down the basics with accurate exposures.

Galaxy Z Flip DxOMark Camera

The pictures taken from the phone in good lighting have accurate white balance and good dynamic range but with noticeable highlight and shadow clipping in contrasty scenarios. Color rendering is fine, however, the phone tends to sometimes desaturate pictures outdoors.

The handset controls the noise fairly well with good texture. Although the autofocus on the device is accurate and consistent, it is slower than other high-end devices. The images from the phone do have problems with softness and occasional flare, ghosting, and color fringing.

The Samsung Galaxy Flip’s ultra-wide-angle camera performs as good as other best phones in this department. But the bokeh performance is not as good as other flagships.

The phone does well with flash portraits in low-light scenarios. However, the cityscapes at night are not impressive but the detail and noise are similar to the pictures from iPhone 11 Pro Max.

The videos from the Galaxy Flip are vivid with pleasant colors and accurate exposure. The autofocus and stabilization remain consistently effective. But poor dynamic range as well as sharpness with strong luminance and chroma noise in low-light conditions.

Overall, the Galaxy Z Flip is good enough for most people but nothing extraordinary in terms of camera performance.

 

(Source)

Ninebot KickScooter ES2 Folding e-Scooter (White) launched on Indiegogo

Ninebot Segway, one of Xiaomi’s ecological chain companies, has launched the NineBot KickScooter ES2 for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. The crowdfunding exercise is for the White colour variant of the ES2, an upgraded of the NineBot ES1. The company had earlier launched a Black colour version but due to the yearnings of customers for a white version, it is introducing this model but exclusively for backers. NineBot KickScooter ES2

The Ninebot KickScooter ES2 – White retains the same specifications as the Black version. This includes a body made from a high-strength, lightweight aerospace-graded aluminium alloy. The e-scooter features a folding design and can be folded with just one-click, becoming compact enough to fit into a car’s trunk or to be carried on public transportation.

The Ninebot KickScooter by Segway ES2 features a customizable LED display, the white body of the ride makes a minimalistic yet sophisticated statement bringing fashion and technology to the fullest. There is also a high-power lithium battery which gives the bike a maximum speed of 15.5mph (25 km/h). The motor powers up to 700W, and you can travel effortlessly within a maximum range of 15.5 miles (25 km).

The ES2 – White is equipped with a cruise control option for even better rider comfort. There is a second button which is for braking. The design also includes a front-facing LED light with a 1.5w high-brightness to illuminate the path ahead of you and to increase your visibility to others around you.

The Ninebot KickScooter ES2 – White connects with Segway-Ninebot App allowing you to manage rides at your fingertips at any time and anywhere. The app connects via Bluetooth and you can access live riding stats and additional functions such as cruise control, security lock, riding mode changes, firmware updates, customize LED ambient light, and more.

The e-scooter is available on Indiegogo with a Super Early Bird offer of $469. Sadly, it ships only to the US and Canada.

 

 

(source)

 

New firmware update enables heart rate sharing on Mi Band 4

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is one of the best budget fitness trackers available in the market. The company updates it regularly to add new features and fix bugs. The last major update brought a native functionality to unlock Windows laptops. Now, the wearable is receiving a new firmware update with version 1.0.9.48, which allows the wearable to share heart rate data with other apps.

xiaomi mi band 4

 

As usual, the new firmware for Mi Band 4 is being pushed through an update of Mi Fit app via Google Play Store, Apple App Store and GetApps, the official app store of Xiaomi. The latest version of the app is 1.1.0 and it is essential for the installation of the fresh firmware.

Once the firmware is installed, any other app and smart devices can access heart rate data from the Mi Band 4 after the option is enabled. That means users can sync data with apps like Google Fit and Apple Health to name a few. 

This feature is known as ‘Activity heart rate sharing’ and was available for the Mi Band 3 until Mi Band 4 launched last year. But now, it is back again to offer more flexibility. 

Additionally, the new update for Mi Fit app also brings a redesigned ‘Band display settings’ section. The band faces are now categorized and users can even rate them.

 

(Via)

Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G Unboxing Pictures: An alluring Beauty!

Xiaomi has found a way and catering to the smartphone needs of its fans in all class strata. When the Mi 10 flagship was released a few months back, there were uproars in some quarters due to the price tags that were far from being pocket friendly. The tech gain t responded during the launch of the Mi 10 series in Europe with a premium mid-range Mi 10 Lite 5G having a Snapdragon 765G chipset onboard and affordable pricing. In China, the company launched the Mi 10 Youth Edition with the same specs as the Mi 10 Lite but with a telephoto camera capable of 50x zoom instead of a 2MP depth sensor on the Lite. Here, we take a look at the Mi 10 Youth unboxing images. Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G

The Mi 10 Youth is expected to launch as Mi 10 Lite Zoom Edition in the global market. When that happens, the device will ship in a retail box with a blind box design. The retail box is randomly designed with different avatars which make it attractive. This perhaps because the device is targeted at the youths. Inside the retail box, you get the smartphone, a TPU case, a charging adapter and data cable, SIM tray ejector, and two cartoon stickers. Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G

The phone itself is an alluring beauty especially the rear design. At the front, it adopts a 6.57-inch waterdrop AMOLED display. At the back, there is a rectangular camera housing with chamfered edges which makes it look unique. The protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G

The phone adopts a lightweight and compact build, having a thickness of 7.88mm and weighing just 192g. It packs a 4160mAh battery and supports 22.5W fast charging technology.Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G

The Mi 10 Youth 5G will come in five colors – White, Peach, Blue, Black, and Mint Green. There’s also a special Doraemon limited edition. We find the Mint Green colour variant extremely attractive. Find more pictures of the Mint Green variant below.

 

Xiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5GXiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5GXiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5GXiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5GXiaomi Mi 10 Youth 5G

 

 

Vivo files a design patent for a phone with slider mechanism

Vivo is known for bold design and innovation. The company was the first to launch smartphones with in-display fingerprint sensor and pop-up camera. But it is yet to release a phone with a slider mechanism, which might become a reality according to a patent filed by the brand.

The Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has recently filed a design patent. The sketches show a smartphone with a slider mechanism. This is not the first time we are seeing such a handset. The world has already witnessed devices like Oppo Find X, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, Honor Magic 2 3D, and Lenovo Z5 Pro with a similar design.

This smartphone design became obsolete within a year or so, possibly because of durability issue. But the pop-up camera design is still relevant today to achieve full-screen experience without any obstruction. So why did Vivo file such design patent now?

The Nex lineup of devices by Vivo comes with groundbreaking modern design. But before debuting as a consumer product, the company showcases it in the form of Apex concept smartphone. Hence, this patent could end up being one of the models under either of the two series.

Talking about the design, the slider part houses the primary camera as well as flash module hidden underneath. Sliding it up should technically expose the front camera, however, the sketch shows a blank space. Perhaps, the design is simply a placeholder. Other than that, we can see the phone to sport a quad-camera setup and curved corners. It also looks to have a display with a longer 21:9 screen ratio. 

A Vivo smartphone with this design may never see the light of the day as companies file patents frequently but not all come into fruition.

 

(Source)

Leak reveals the OnePlus Z has a…..Snapdragon processor

Out goes MediaTek and in comes Qualcomm! A fresh leak has revealed that OnePlus has decided to go with a Qualcomm processor for its upcoming OnePlus Z smartphone and not a MediaTek processor as earlier reports have said.

The info was revealed by Max J. (@MaxJmb), the same leaker that reconfirmed that the OnePlus Z will launch in July. According to a tweet he shared today, the OnePlus Z is powered by a Snapdragon 765 processor with support for 5G.

Earlier leaks had said the OnePlus Z will have MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000/1000L processor under the hood but that seems to have changed. Could it have been that the info was incorrect? Maybe, maybe not.

It is possible that OnePlus originally decided to use one of MediaTek’s new 5G processors but changed its mind. Since the launch is still two months away, there is still enough time for such a major change to happen as long as mass production is yet to commence. However, the reason for changing from MediaTek to Qualcomm can be for a myriad of reasons.

Did Qualcomm offer OnePlus a better deal on the price of its Snapdragon 765 chipset? Did OnePlus, itself, decide to switch to a Snapdragon processor for reasons unknown to us? Is the Dimensity 1000 towing the same line as the ill-fated Helio X30 from a few years ago? We can come up with a lot more questions.

The Snapdragon 765 is a powerful mid-range processor but it still doesn’t match the Dimensity 1000L in terms of performance talk less of the Dimensity 1000. Nevertheless, we are sure there are lots of folks out there that are happy at the news that the OnePlus Z has a Snapdragon processor. Are you one of them? Let us know in the comment box.

 

(Source)

New Mi Laptops, Mi Notebook & RedmiBook Ryzen Editions Bluetooth SIG certified

Xiaomi may have got plans to expands its laptop portfolio with up to side new models which have just received Bluetooth SIG certification. The mobile PCs belong to the Mi and Redmi brands with some powered by AMD’s latest Ryzen chipset.Xiaomi Notebook

The models recently certified are listed as RedmiBook 14 and 16 and are expected to be powered by AMD’s new Ryzen 4000 mobility APUs. Also listed is a new Mi Laptop 13.3 as well as a 14-inch and 16.1-inch versions. There is also a Mi Notebook 14 variant and all fur models are likely to be equipped only with Intel’s Comet Lake-H processors.Mi Laptop

The RedmiBook 14 Ryzen Edition 2nd Generation is an upgraded version of the RedmiBook 14 which was launched last year. The RedmiBook 16 is a new 16-inch version dubbed RedmiBook 16 Ryzen Edition. The other four models include the Mi Laptop 13.3 / 14 / 16.1 and a Mi Notebook 14, which are brand new additions to the Xiaomi mobile PC portfolio. It is not yet clear if these four devices will be getting Ryzen CPUs, as well, but seeing how many OEMs are jumping on AMD’s bandwagon as of late, chances are in favour of such a move.

The Bluetooth SIG certification page shows all the models except the Mi Laptop 13.3 will feature support for Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The Mi Laptop 13.3 will come with Bluetooth 5.1 certification. This is an indication that it could also be integrating an advanced Wi-Fi module.

We await additional information to pop-up about the upcoming Xiaomi mobile PCs.

 

(via)

 

Huawei seems to have begun development for EMUI 11

Huawei just recently debuted EMUI 10.1 with the P40 series in March. The company has also started rolling out the closed beta update for the same to eligible devices in China. Sadly, some of the global devices are yet to even receive EMUI 10, which was announced alongside Mate 30 series in September 2019. Nevertheless, the firm seems to have started working on EMUI 11, the next iteration of its mobile software.

Similar to Xiaomi, which has begun to work on MIUI 13, albeit MIUI 12 was only announced earlier this week, Huawei is also suggested to have started development for EMUI 11.

Huawei Member Center App Changelog EMUI 11

The existence of the next version of EMUI was spotted in the changelog for the new update of Huawei Member Center app on AppGallery in China. It clearly reads the app has been ‘optimized for EMUI 11’.

This is the first time we are hearing about EMUI 11, which is expected to be based on the next version of Android. We believe the development might have sort of begun since we will see the release of Android 11 Beta from different OEMs alongside Developer Preview 4 this month.

In case you do not know, Google’s partners get access to the latest version of Android earlier so that they can start implementing their UI and features. But since Huawei cannot do business with American companies, we are not sure how they got this privilege.

Since Android is an open-source platform, Huawei can use it but the final release of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) Android 11 will be out for the public only in the second half of the year. So ideally, the development of EMUI 11 should begin at that time. But at the moment, the company could be using Android 10 base in initial stages and might shift to the next version later this year. 

It is not known what features the next version of EMUI will bring. But we can expect deeper integration of HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) than ever before since it doesn’t look like the US government will lift the ban anytime soon.

 

(Via)

OPPO A92 listed on Lazada Indonesia revealing official renders, specs and price

OPPO A92 has been spinning in the rumour mills for quite a while now, right after the silent launch of the A92s. Twitter tipster Evan Blass recently leaked some official renders of the Aurora Purple variant. Today, the A92 has officially been listed by popular e-retailer Lazada in Indonesia. OPPO A92

There two conflicting store listings for the model which comes in 8GB RAM and 128GB storage only. One of the product pages lists it with a price tag of IDR 3,999,000($267). The second store offers the product for IDR 4,499,000 ($301). Both listings are for the Shining White colour variant and it is bundled with a pair of wireless earphones.. Since these are pre-order pages, we expect the actual price to vary when it is launched. The listing is an indication the model will be launched soon. OPPO A92

The product page is also a rich source of specs details of the A92 and also contains a few official renders. The listing confirms the presence of a tall 6.5-inch IPS display with 1080 x 2400pixels resolution. The phone is powered by a Snapdragon 665 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.OPPO A92 colours

In terms of the design, the A92 packs a front punch-hole located in the upper-left corner of the screen, which houses a16MP selfie camera. At the rear, there is a quad-camera setup housed in a rectangular module alongside the LED flash.  The rear setup consists of a 48MP main camera with f/1.7 aperture joined by an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, 2MP macro and 2MP depth sensor.

Further, there is a 5,000 mAh battery onboard with support for 18W fast charging over USB-C. Providing the interface is an Android 10-based ColorOS 7.1. The OPPO A92 will also be available in Shining White, Aurora Purple and Twilight Black colours.

 

 

(source 1, 2)

 

ARM offers zero cost access to its chip designs to silicon startups

ARM has recently announced that it will be providing various silicon startups with zero cost access to its most widely used chip designs. The known semiconductor based company is offering this to advance innovation among chip startups that are facing the high barrier of entry through costs.

ARM

While the generous move from ARM is a great positive for the industry, it is also a method for the company to better compete with its rival RISC-V. The latter is an open sourced architecture that has become increasingly more popular in recent times and has begun affecting the market ARM had a hold on. In other words, a relatively new player in the chip design industry.

The ARM Flexible Access for Startups will be grant nascent firms access to the company’s intellectual property portfolio, tools, training, and more. Furthermore, ARM will offer full support in early experimentation, design, and even help in prototype silicons. Previously, ARM’s customers had to pay license fees or royalty for using designs that used by them on their own chips.

ARM

According to ARM, the new program could potentially lower risks and accelarate the time to market by 6 to even 12 months. The company is also partnering up with Silicon Catalyst, who is a specialist in silicon startups, to offer members free access to all of ARM’s IPs, design tools, and other prototypes. Again, this move is likely a response to RISC-V, which is growing it’s open royalty free support regarding chip architecture.

 

(Via)

Meizu 17 series confirmed to feature a 90Hz display across the lineup

Earlier today (1st May 2020), it was officially confirmed that the latest flagship series, the Meizu 17, will arrive with 90Hz high refresh rate display panels across the lineup. In other words, the fast and smoother display will be a standard across the premium flagship series.

Meizu

The Meizu 17 and Meizu 17 Pro will feature a Samsung AMOLED display, with an expected FHD+ resolution and a punch hole camera on the front. The news regarding the refresh rate being standard was shared on Weibo, the Chinese microblogging website, which also hinted at its advantages in mobile gaming. The faster refresh rate is not only limited to a smoother UI, but also to an overall enjoyable gameplay experience as well.

The Meizu 17 series is the Chinese company’s flagship and will arrive with top notch specs. This includes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 SoC alongside LPDDR5 memory. It will also support 5G networking (SA and NSA Dual mode 5G) and feature unique camera module on the rear. The series will arrive on 8th May 2020 and will likely be revealed through a live stream online. So stay tuned.

 

Huawei patents an 8-inch budget MatePad tablet with Dual Speakers

The tablet market had been on a steady decline so far. However, the trend recently shifted towards a healthier growth thanks in large due to the demand brought by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Now, a Huawei design patent has been spotted online for an 8 inch MatePad with dual speakers, which is possible to capitalize in the unexpectedly well performing market.

Huawei

Huawei had filed a new design patent with the CNIPA back in 2019. This was finally published earlier this month and reveal 15 colored renders of the yet to be announced tablet. Looking at the images, the device may be the Huawei MatePad T, which is an affordable tablet under the 5G tablet the Chinese tech giant had launched previously. Although this is still unconfirmed.

However, the MatePad T was spotted receiving a WiFi certification in early April 2020. This certification revealed that 6 models are in the making, with the differences likely being in the memory and networking versions. In other words, WiFi only models, 4G LTE support and even 5G enabled MatePad T models being launched. Furthermore, the tablet is expected to run Android 10 out of the box with EMUI 10 custom skin, and again without the official Google services support.

Huawei

Unfortunately, finer details like internal specifications are currently unknown regarding the MatePad tab. Although, recently launched Kirin 810 or 820 SoC might be planned for the device. The tablet is meant to be a budget option so it might go for the former, with a single camera on the rear, and front, according to the design patent. A notable inclusion is the dual speaker system, with one speaker grill at the bottom, and one on the top. More information or official teasers from the company should arrive soon, so stay tuned.

 

(Source)

 

Realme X50 Pro 5G can now capture videos at 4K 60FPS after April Patch update

Realme has recently rolled out a new software update for its flagship smartphone, the X50 Pro 5G. The new update brings 4K 60FPS video recording to the premium device through the April patch software update.

Realme

The new software update brings the camera upgrade alongside the new Android security patch level. As of right now, the Realme X50 Pro 5G now runs the April 2020 security patch version and features a new charging icon as well, amongst other small changes. Furthermore, the update also brought Vivid Mode to the Screen Color Mode, for the display, alongside optimizations for better network stability.

For a detailed changelog, you can check the list down below:

  • Security
    • Android security patch: April 2020
  • Desktop
    • Changed the charging icon
  • Settings
    • Added Vivid Mode to Screen Color Mode
  • Camera
    • Added function of recording 60FPS 4K videos
    • Optimized the quality of photos
  • Optimization
    • Optimized the screen redness at the low brightness in some scenes
    • Optimized network stability
  • Known issue fixed
    • Fixed screen rounded corner problem

The update carried the version number RMX2076PU_11_A.19 and is currently rolling out in India in a staggered manner. In other words, it will only be available to a few Realme X50 Pro 5G users before being more widely available soon after. This is done to ensure no major bugs affect the smartphone, with the stable build being launch a few days after the initial one. Although for those that do not wish to wait, can choose to download and install it manually through here.

 

(Source)

US Republicans plan to introduce a bill banning government officials from using Huawei and ZTE products

The Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley had recently announced their plans on introducing a new bill, which will ban US government employees from using products made by Chinese companies that are deemed as security threats. This includes telecom and electronics product makers like Huawei and ZTE in particular.

Huawei building featured logo

The political leaders are seeking to pass the Countering Chinese Attempts at Snooping Act, which will essentially prohibit federal officials from conducting any official business through the use of technology from companies that are deemed as a risk. The State Department will be responsible for judgment regarding whether or not a company is under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The bill will have the State Department creating a list of companies that are backed by the Chinese government, which could pose a threat to national security, especially in regards to espionage and data leaks. The Republican Senators also particularly pointed out Huawei and ZTE platforms as major risks alongside Tencent in regards to other media based platforms.

Huawei

According to Ted Cruz, “Companies like Tencent and Huawei are espionage operations for the Chinese Communist Party, masquerading as telecom companies for the 21st century.” The Senator further added that “these are just some of the measures we will have to take as the United States reevaluates its relationship with China and the CCP.” Josh Hawley also called the Tencent group as a “glorified surveillance arm” for the Chinese government.

 

(Via)

OnePlus Gallery v3.11.2 update integrates Google Lens button

OxygenOS is one of the most loved Android skins in the market right now. With design close to stock Android, the software also features additional useful features that are not found on AOSP. Also, the first party OnePlus apps are much better than competitors’ with minimal design and rich favourable features. The OnePlus Gallery is one such app and with v3.11.2, which is currently rolling out to users, the app integrates Google Lens functionality.

Google Lens Featured

Google Lens is one of the best tools out there. It can help identify objects, text, and can even translate from images. It is a byproduct of Google’s image search functionality, which was introduced years ago. The tool is available as a separate app as well as it is in-built in Google App, Google Photos, and Google Assistant, which some consider (including me) as the best gallery app one can ask for.

But not all people use Google Photos and most of them prefer offline gallery app like their phone’s default solution. The OnePlus Gallery is such an app for OnePlus smartphones, which the brand regularly updates it with new features and bug fixes.

The latest update to this app brings Google Lens button, which nobody ever thought would be added. But now, it is here and does the job as expected. Clicking on the button will send the image to Google Lens activity as part of an intent to the Google App. For the unware, although Google Lens is available as an individual app, it depends on Google App similar to Google Podcasts and Google Assistant.

OnePlus users can experience this new feature by updating the OnePlus Gallery app from the Google Play Store. Last but not least, here’s the official changelog provided by the company.

OnePlus Gallery v3.11.2 Official Changelog

  • Integrate the identification function of Google Lens
  • Fixed some issues
  • Optimize the performance

 

(Via)

Google Stadia adds support for OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro

Google Stadia is the search giant’s cloud gaming service that debuted in November of 2019. Although the company is adding more games and features, the service’s availability and supported devices are still limited. Thankfully, the list is growing as the recently launched OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are now compatible with the service according to the latest blog post by the Stadia team.

google stadia xtadia

Google Stadia has been out for the public for about five months now. But it is still only compatible with a handful of Android smartphones. However, users can access it on any TV using Chromecast Ultra and any computer or laptop via Google Chrome browser. Additionally, it also supports almost all the popular gamepads available in the market.

But it is restricted to certain regions just like few Android smartphones. When Stadia launched last year, initially it was only compatible with Google’s Pixel lineup of smartphones (excluding the OG Pixel and Pixel XL). Later on, the service became compatible with handsets from OEMs like Samsung, Asus, and Razer. Now, OnePlus becomes the new member of this elite squad with its OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro.

Anyway, here’s the complete list of Android smartphones compatible with Google Stadia as of May 1, 2020.

OEM

Model

Google

Pixel 2

Pixel 2 XL

Pixel 3

Pixel 3 XL

Pixel 3A

Pixel 3A XL

Pixel 4

Pixel 4 XL

Samsung

Galaxy S8

Galaxy S8 Plus

Galaxy S8 Active

Galaxy Note 8

Galaxy S9

Galaxy S9 Plus

Galaxy Note 9

Galaxy S10

Galaxy S10 Plus

Galaxy Note 10

Galaxy Note 10 Plus

Galaxy S20

Galaxy S20 Plus

Galaxy S20 Ultra

Asus

ROG Phone

ROG Phone II

Razer

Razer Phone

Razer Phone 2

OnePlus

OnePlus 8

OnePlus 8 Pro

 

(Source 1, 2)