Cool Smartphone Reboots: Retro Phones brought back to Life

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Apr 20, 2020

Xiaomi has launched the Mi Display 1A and it is now available on Xiaomi Mall. The display screen is similar to the Mi Display in many aspects including design and even has the same 699 yuan ($98) price tag. In case you are wondering the difference between the two, the original version is manufactured by Gaochuang, and 1A is manufactured by Shenzhen Zhaochi. Users can buy with confidence.

In fact, Xiaomi had already released two display products as early as the end of last year. The two products are the Xiaomi display equipped with a 23.8-inch IPS flat screen and the Xiaomi curved display equipped with a 34-inch curved screen. Compared with the old manufacturers’ monitors at the same price, Xiaomi’s monitors are really good in terms of cost performance. There are basically no competing products at the same price and specifications.

The Mi Display 1A is equipped with a 23.8-inch IPS flat screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The display uses the 16:9 aspect ratio and has a viewing angle of up to 178 °. The panel has a common design with three sides having narrow bezels and the bottom bezel coming in wider. The display isn’t a high-end one suitable for gaming as it only supports 60Hz refresh rate.

MIJIA Smart Socket 27W Fast Charge version

The MIJIA 27W Fast Charge Smart Socket was also launched on Mi Mall but under crowdfunding. The product carries a crowdfunding price of 69 yuan (~$9) but will retail for 79 yuan (~$11) after the exercise.

The smart socket comes with three USB-A ports with each having a maximum output power of 27W. However, when te three ports are put to use, the maximum output power drops slightly to 21W Max. The USB ports also support Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging protocol. The ports can be used to charge mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches and other gadgets. There is a built-in smart charging chip onboard which matches the output power according to different models but not more than 27W.

The MIJIA Plug-in board 27W Fast charge version also features three standard sockets and has 10A overload protection. If the electrical load exceeds the standard, the power will be automatically cut off, effectively avoiding the dangers caused by overload short circuit and accidental fire. After troubleshooting, you can turn it on again by simply pressing the power switch.

In addition, the internal copper strip adopts a higher-security one-piece non-breakpoint connection technology and high-quality tin-phosphor bronze structural materials. There is a safety door which shuts automatically when nothing is plugged into any of the sockets.

(source 1, 2)

Ulefone Note 7 and Note 7P Midnight-Green color variant goes live for $79.99 and $109.99

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Apr 20, 2020

Ulefone and its rugged smartphones are quite popular around the globe. The company last year launched Ulefone Note 7 series comprising entry-level smartphones with a compelling price tag. Both the Ulefone Note 7 and Note 7P models are well received by the users. However, to renew the Note 7 age and to give the users another option, the company has released a new Midnight-Green color variant for both the variants. The new color variant is now on sale for the same price.

Must See: Ulefone Note 7 first hands-on video shows up (video)

Surprisingly, the new Midnight-Green color option is available with two storage variants of 2GB RAM + 16GB Internal storage on Note 7 and 3GB RAM + 32 GB internal storage on Note 7P.

There are a few minor differences between both the Ulefone Note 7 and Note 7P devices. The Ulefone Note 7 runs on Android 8.1 Oreo whereas, the Note 7P comes with Android 9.0 Pie. Similarly, there’s a slight upgrade in CPU corner also, Ulefone Note 7P comes powered with Quad Core 2.0 GHz, and the Note 7 hosts Quad-COre 1.3Ghz processor. These are some other differences:

	Ulefone Note 7	Ulefone Note 7P
CPU	Mediatek MT6580	Mediatek Helio A22
Diagonal size	6.1 “	6.1 “
Resolution	1280×600	1280×600
Multi-touch (number of touches)	2	5
RAM	1 Gb	3 Gb
ROM	16 GB	32 GB
External memory	MicroSD (TF), supports cards up to 32Gb	MicroSD (TF), supports cards up to 128Gb
Rear camera	8 Mp	8 Mp
Camera	Triple Camera	Triple Camera
Front (selfie) camera	5 Mp	5 Mp
Battery	3500 mAh	3500 mAh
Network	3 G	4 G
Sim cards	nanoSIM + nanoSIM or microSD (TF)	nanoSIM + nanoSIM or microSD (TF)
Navigation (Positioning)	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS, GLONAS
Fingerprint’s scanner	Yes	Yes
Operating system (OS)	Android 8.1	Android 9.0
Material	Plastic	Plastic
Weight	177 g	177 g
Dimensions	156.1 x 73.7 x 9.7 mm	156.1 x 73.7 x 9.7 mm

Ulefone Note 7 is available for $79.99, but you can avail $5 off on Note 7 using the coupon code GREEN7. However, Ulefone Note 7P is available for $109.99 and you can get instant $10 off with coupon GREEN7P. Both the devices are available in three more colors – Black, Gold, and Twilight.

The interested users can grab the Ulefone Note 7 series smartphones from their official store.

Related: Giveaway – Enter to win 5 Ulefone Armor 7E units

CHUWI sheds some light on LarkBox – the smallest 4K Mini PC

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Apr 20, 2020

Chuwi is a Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer that is popular for laptops, tablets and convertible 2-in-1 laptops. However, from fully portable devices like laptops and tablets, the company is shifting towards Mini PCs. The company recently exposed the smallest 4K Mini PC like LarkBox and even revealed some of its specifications. It is so small that the user can easily hold it within the palm, or it is of the size of a regular apple.

Must See: Chuwi AeroBook Pro 15.6-inch hands-on video unfurls every nook and corner of the device

LarkBox’s size is small but it comprises some compelling specifications within that miniature box. The smallest Mini PC measures 61mm x 61 mm x 43 mm and weighs over 127grams. It houses an Intel N4100 processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB SSD. Its portability is another merit of the product and can be used with a display by simply connecting it to a power source.

Several more details about the device have been exposed by the company. LarkBox comes powered with Intel N4100 process coupled with UHD Graphics 600 Graphics card, 6GB RAM and 128GB SSSD. Moreover, you can expand the storage additionally up to 128GB via a MicroSD card. The hardware is efficient enough to decode 4K video smoothly. The processor is power efficient as it can remain on standby with only 5W power. The laptop’s aesthetic design keeps the processor cool even while performing power-intensive tasks.

Chuwi Larkbox offers compelling specification offering great performance and comprehensive design. It is a great option to have a small PC at your home for daily tasks. It tends to offer a high-quality experience for office work and entertainment. You can know more information about the device by heading to the official website.

Related: Grab hefty discounts on Chuwi laptops and tablets at Aliexpress activity

HiFiGo releases BLON BL-O5 IEM with improved clarity and flexible bass response for $42

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Apr 20, 2020

HiFiGo is finally here with a much improved Blon BL-O5 in-ear monitors after the magnanimous success of Blon BL-O3. The company has added various new functions and features to enhance the BLON BL-O5 IEM. The all-new shell design makes the new IEM better and optimized rather than its predecessor. HiFiGo Blon BL-O5 is available three new colors of gunmetal, silver and green. The company offers all new advancements for $42 without a mic cable. Whereas, if you’re interested in buying along with a mic cable then you can own it for $43 from here.

Must See: Buy Shanling UP4 Balanced Hi-Res Portable Bluetooth Amplifier for $99.99 from HiFiGo

HiFiGo Blon BL-O5 features a 10mm Carbon Nanotube Diaphgram Dynamic Driver Unit having an Impedance of 32 Ohms. It supports sensitivity of 108dB with a frequency response range of 20Hz-20kHz. There’s a 0.78mm Two-Pin Cable with 3.5mm Termination Plug encased within Metal Housing Shells.

Splendid Sound Output:

The presence of premium metals and other materials help the Blon BL-O5 IMT to produce a beautiful sound. Its 10mm CNT diaphgram dynamic driver on each side produces a clear, versatile and deep bass response. The deep thumps bring originality in the music and give the user experience of lifelike vocals. The wide range of treble also makes the sounds more vivid and realistic.

Aesthetic Design

The beautifully designed shells carved out of metal with the golden color plate makes it look exceptionally better than BL-O3. It is designed to fit the user easily and comfortably which won’t let it fall off your ears on its own.

Easy to Use

Like its predecessor, BL-O5 is quite easy to use with easily available players and amplifiers. The new IMT has an impedance rating of 32ohms and a sensitivity of 108db. There’s no need for any expensive player or equipment to enjoy the music on the new in-ear monitors.

Different Variants

Blon BL-O5 comes in two different variants i.e one with a 0.78mm 2-pin detachable cable and another without it. The cable allows the user to connect cable and the earpiece.

Price and Availability

It is available for the price of $42 without the mic cable, however, if you need the cable then you need to shell out $43. You can order it from here and will be delivered by April 27, 2020.

There’s quite a little difference between the BL-O3 and BL-O5 IMTs. The BL-O3 is available for $28, whereas the BL-O5 sells for $42. Both the units support a 10mm CNT Dynamic Driver Unit.

The BL-O5 features a dual-tone design featuring golden elevated plater, meanwhile its predecessor just houses a single color shell.

Related: 5 Best True Wireless Earbuds of 2020

Huawei caught again promoting its phones with DSLR samples, apologizes

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Apr 20, 2020

It is now turning into a yearly ritual that Huawei would be busted each year trying to promote its smartphone’s camera prowess with images shot on DSLR cameras. The Chinese tech giant recently promoted a photography contest with a video featuring impressive pictures that Huawei claimed were “taken with Huawei smartphones.” However, some of the pictures weren’t actually captured by a Huawei phone camera but were shot on a DSLR camera.

The controversial images were among image featured in a promotional video for Huawei’s photography contest in China. However, Weibo user Jamie-hua, aka Huapeng Zhao who won second place in the 2018 iPhone Photography Awards with a photo taken with an iPhone 6 thought some of the photos looked like what he had seen before and decided to fact check. He then discovered that two of the photos were shot by a Nikon D850 DSLR camera valued at $3,000.

Credit for the two contentious photos was given to photographer Su Tie. The photographer has worked in partnership with Huawei in the past. We recall a similar controversy in January 2019 when the company released some samples shot in the artic by Su Tie that was purportedly from the Mate 20X’s shutter. Some of the pictures were later discovered to have been shot by a Nikon DSLR camera.

Huawei has since apologized on Weibo, saying that the photos were “wrongly marked” due to “an oversight by the editor.” It said the images were intended to encourage people to share their works on Huawei’s online gallery. The company has now updated the original video to remove the line that says the photos came from Huawei phones. It still says they were drawn from Huawei’s Next-Image community, though. When asked, a Huawei representative referred us to the contest rules in Chinese, which state that “you can publish photos taken with any equipment in the Next-Image community.

However, this incident brings to memory, Huawei’s infamous DSLR deceitful camera sample used in promoting the Huawei P9. Sometime around July 2016 when Huawei was promoting its P9 flagship, the company shared a photo on its Google+ page which was purportedly captured by the P9’s dual rear shutters. The photo was indeed stunning just like these ones, with crisp clear details downright impressive for a smartphone camera. Unfortunately, it turned out the shot wasn’t taken by a smartphone camera but was actually from a $4,500 Canon EOS 5D Mark III shutter. Huawei may not have any phone camera on the same level with a DSLR camera, but the company is edging closer to that standard employing an innovative camera and AI technology. The company’s new P40 Pro flagship ranks as the best phone in terms of camera, according to DXOMark.

Oppo A52 launches in China with Snapdragon 665, Punch-Hole Display, Dual Stereo Speakers, and More

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Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 20, 2020

The Oppo A52 finally goes official in China with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset as leaked earlier on Google Play Console. The device’s entire specifications along with render and price leaked yesterday giving us a full picture. But now, the company launches it officially settling the dust once and for all. The handset only comes in an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration and is already up for sale on Oppo’s official website for 1599 Yuan ($226).

Oppo A52 Specifications

The newly launched Oppo A52 sports a 6.5-inches FHD+ IPS LCD panel with 20:9 aspect ratio and a punch-hole at the top left corner for an 8MP selfie camera. The phone also comes with dual linear stereo speakers, which are Hi-Res certified and also have support for Dirac.

The above mention features along with a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging makes the Oppo A52 a killer multimedia device under $250. The Snapdragon 665 underneath it is enough to handle day to day activities without any hiccups as the handset features 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB UFS 2.1 storage.

For optics, the new budget Oppo smartphone comes equipped with a rectangular camera array on the shimmering back panel. The setup consists of four cameras namely a 12MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, a 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth sensor.

As for software, the new Oppo A52 runs ColorOS 7.1 based on Android 10 out of the box. Being a budget smartphone, it has a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm headphone jack and even a side-mounted fingerprint sensor as a bonus.

Oppo A52 Pricing and Availability

The Oppo A52 comes in two colour variants – Blue and Black respectively. It is priced at 1599 Yuan ($226) and is already on sale in China with a free pair of standard Oppo earphones.

We are not sure when it will be announced in other markets. But as it was spotted on Google Play Console along with Oppo A92, which received a certification in Singapore and Indonesia. We can expect this phone to debut in these markets soon followed by India, another key market for Oppo.

Opinion: A refreshed Pixel 2 may be the perfect rival to take on the iPhone SE 2020

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 20, 2020

Apple announced a new iPhone SE last week and it sort of broke the internet. Practically everyone was talking about it and you may have come across a number of tweets saying “I am getting this” or something along that line.

It is not unusual for a new iPhone to trend but the iPhone SE 2020 is an extraordinary device. It is practically the iPhone 8 with an improved camera, the same chipset inside the iPhone 11 series, and more RAM. However, rather than a price tag of $699 as the iPhone 8 when it launched in 2017, the new iPhone SE starts at $399!!! With a price tag like that, this phone is going to sell millions of units.

So, is the key to winning – relaunching an old phone with modern specs?

One of the main advantages of relaunching a phone is that the production cost is reduced since you do not have to redesign the phone from scratch. You also get to make use of old components that you either have in stock or the component’s manufacturer is willing to sell at a lower price. In the case of the new iPhone SE, the only additions are a new RAM, the A13 Bionic chipset, and the wireless charging coil.

This got me thinking as to how Android (read Google) can launch a phone that rivals the iPhone SE 2020 and we arrived at the Pixel 2….or better still a Pixel 2 (2020).

Why the Pixel 2?

The Pixel 2 is the perfect choice for the following reasons. First, it launched the same year as the iPhone 8 which the new iPhone SE is based on. It also has that small form factor that practically all manufacturers have abandoned. The Pixel 2 also reinforced the “Pixel Camera is the best” when it launched, so you will be getting a phone with a very capable camera.

Another important point is the Pixel’s long software support which rivals that of several other manufacturers. The Pixel 2 launched with Android Oreo out of the box and still has one more OS upgrade in the pipeline. So, a new Pixel 2 should get software support for at least 3 years.

Last but not least is the Pixel brand itself. While there are other phones we could have come up with, a few are even mentioned at the end of this post, the Pixel is still the best option. Unlike other Android manufacturers that churn out several phones every year, there are only very few Pixel phones each year (three last year, two the year before) which helps the phones stay “relevant”, for lack of a better word.

Specifications of the Pixel 2 (2020)

The original Pixel 2 has a 5.0-inch FHD AMOLED screen with huge bezels and stereo front-facing speakers. It also has Gorilla Glass protection on both sides and a 3000mAh battery capacity. All these remain unchanged.

So what are the new additions? First, a newer and more powerful processor. For the SoC, we are throwing it open by making it a poll. So please, take the poll below and let us know which chipset should power the Pixel 2 (2020).

[yop_poll id=33]

Personally, the Snapdragon 855+ is my chipset of choice. It is a flagship chipset and should handle anything you throw at it and has a great ISP (Image Signal Processor). A phone featuring a chipset with a 5G modem will require a battery bigger than the 2700mAh battery inside the Pixel 2. However, support for 18W fast charging needs to be added as the 10.5W charging of the original won’t cut it in 2020.

The RAM and storage will also remain unchanged, so you get 4GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. The rear camera also stays the same at 12.2MP but the aperture can go from f/1.8 to f/1.7 just like that of the Pixel 4. The phone will benefit from the new camera software features Google has come up with after the launch of the 2017 Pixel 2 and the more powerful image signal processor of the Snapdragon 855+.

The new Pixel 2 (2020) should also use the same 8MP selfie camera as the original and rear-mounted fingerprint scanner too. The original Pixel 2 has an IP67 rating and also dual SIM support (nano-SIM + eSIM), it makes sense for these features to remain on the 2020 version. Of course, we want it to run Android 10 out of the box and get OS upgrades for 3 years.

Price

To take on the iPhone SE 2020, the Google Pixel 2 (2020) will have to go for $399 for the base model while the 128GB version will have to sell for $449 and should ship with an 18W charger in the box, unlike the iPhone SE 2020 that has a 5W charger. Colors can be Kinda Blue, Just Black, and maybe even a new color called Happy Yellow.

Conclusion

While the chances of Google relaunching the Pixel 2 with more recent specifications are pretty low, the above device with such a price tag will surely be a hit amongst buyers looking for a small but powerful phone with great software support.

Nevertheless, if Google is not jumping on the train, there are other manufacturers that have great phones that I believe should jump on this. A few examples are the Xiaomi Mi 5 and the OnePlus X. These two phones were really popular back when they launched and nostalgia coupled with modern specs and a pretty affordable price tag can help them succeed if and when they are reborn.

OnePlus rumoured to release ODM orders, including 4G & 5G phones this year

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Apr 20, 2020

OnePlus has gained a reputation over the years for launching premium smartphones at affordable prices. The brand emerged last year among the top 5 OEMs in the premium phone segment and also became the number one premium phone brand in India. However, OnePlus seems to have got other plans different from consolidating on the success of its sole high-end phone market. A recent rumour emanating from China’s Weibo tips the Chinese company of planning to effect major changes in its market strategy. The rumour quotes industry sources to have disclosed that OnePlus will release ODM orders this year (2020). The products are said to include 4G phones and 5G phones. This year’s OnePlus 8 series left some fans disappointed as a result of the high price tags of the models which many complained deviates from the brand’s cheap flagship strategy. Perhaps, to make up for this, the company will launch mid-range and low-end smartphones using an original design manufacturer.

An ODM is a company that designs and manufactures a product, as specified, that is eventually rebranded by another firm for sale. This business strategy is mainly used by Huawei and Xiaomi who deploy ODM companies such as Wentai, Huaqin, Longqi and Zhongnuo for the Honor brand. By 2018-2019, the ODM market had undergone great changes. Three of the most important mobile phone manufacturers have begun to invest heavily in ODM projects in China, that is, Samsung, Nokia and OPPO. In 2018, OPPO began to release ODM products while Samsung began ODM release in 2019 in China and other markets. This move is seen as a cost-saving strategy which enabled the Korean company to code down its factories in China.

OnePlus is yet to confirm this rumour so take it with a grain of salt.

Motorola One Fusion and Motorola Fusion+ coming this quarter

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 20, 2020

A new leak has revealed that Motorola has two new phones scheduled to launch this quarter. According to Evan Blass (@evleaks), the phones will arrive as the Motorola One Fusion and the Motorola One Fusion+.

The famed leaker also revealed in his tweet that the Motorola One Fusion and Motorola One Fusion+ are codenamed “Titan” and “Liberty” respectively. In a separate leak, the Indian blog, 91 Mobiles, mentioned a few key specifications of the Fusion+.

Coming from Moto, end of Q2: Motorola One Fusion (codename: Titan) and Motorola One Fusion+ (codename: Liberty).

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 19, 2020

The site reports that the Motorola One Fusion+ will have a Snapdragon 675 processor powering it along with 4GB of RAM or 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage.

They also mention it will have a 12MP camera but do not mention the number of sensors it has in total. The phone will have support for two SIM cards and be available in Light Blue and Light Brown colorways. Sadly, there is no info on the design of the two phones.

Motorola is expected to launch both before the end of the quarter in the USA and India. They should come with the latest version of Android which is Android 10. Motorola may also launch the two phones in Europe and Latin America but there is no info on that yet.

(Sources: 1, 2 )

Huawei P40 Series is receiving EMUI 10.1.0.122 update in China, Brings New 50MP AI High-Quality Mode

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 20, 2020

The recently launched Huawei P40 series is receiving a new software update in China. The update bumps up the phone’s build number to EMUI 10.1.0.122 and brings a number of new features including a new high megapixel mode in the camera app, new smart video playback option, and a new clock style for AOD.

The new EMUI 10.1.0.122 update for Huawei P40 series weighs 711MB in size. Although the update will nor erase anything, the company suggests creating a backup just in case. The official changelog for the update is as mentioned below (translated from Chinese).

Camera
- Optimize the high-pixel mode photography effect, improve imaging quality, optimize camera stability, improve shooting effect.
Off-screen display
- Added Condenser Clock Style.

Multi-device control center
- Collaboration between smart devices adds support for Huawei Smart Screen X65 to easily realize continuous video playback from mobile phones and smart screens.

Display
- Optimize the display effect of some interface elements.

As you can see from the changelog above, the new update brings a new 50MP AI high-quality mode, which you can have a look from the screenshot attached below. Further, the update adds a new AOD clock style and also brings support for smart video playback on Huawei’s new Vision Smart X65 OLED TV. Last but not least, the update also fixes some UI glitches.

As of now, the update is being currently rolled out to the Chinese version of the Huawei P40 series. It is uncertain when this update will hit the global editions of the handsets. Eligible devices are as below.

HUAWEI P40 5G ANA-AN00
HUAWEI P40 5G ANA-TN00
HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G ELS-AN00
HUAWEI P40 Pro 5G ELS-TN00

(Source)

OPPO Find X2 Neo listed on Dutch retail site; has a 44MP selfie camera

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 20, 2020

OPPO has been on an announcement spree for about a week. The manufacturer is also bringing some of its phones to Europe under new names. For example, the Find X2 Lite is actually a rebadged Reno3 Vitality Edition. Now, the Reno3 Pro 5G has been spotted on a Dutch website where it is listed as the Find X2 Neo.

The Find X2 Neo is listed on Belsimpel for €719. The phone has a 6.5-inch curved AMOLED display with a punch-hole at the top left corner of the screen and a 90Hz refresh rate. There is a Snapdragon 765G chipset inside along with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The phone has four rear cameras – a 48MP f/1.7 primary camera, a 13MP f/2.2 telephoto camera, an 8MP ultrawide angle camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera. The dedicated spec page says it has a 44MP selfie camera while the description page says it has a 32MP sensor

The Find X2 Neo has a 4025mAh battery capacity with support for VOOC 4.0 (30W). There is an in-display fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers, single SIM support, and Bluetooth 5.1.

According to the product page, the phone will ship in 3 weeks. It is available in Blue and Black and comes with a 2-year warranty.

(Sources: 1, 2 | Via: 1, 2)

Samsung releases Smartwatch App to remind users to Wash their Hands

By

Sudarshan Ravichandran

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Apr 20, 2020

Samsung released an app for its Galaxy smartwatches to help wearers wash their hands on a regular basis. The app called ‘Hand Wash’ can be downloaded from the Galaxy App store.

Since there’s no cure for COVID-19, the only way to safeguard ourselves from the novel coronavirus is through prevention. As WHO (World Health Organization) notes, it can be only done by maintaining social distance and washing hands for at least 20 seconds from time to time.

And that’s what the world has been doing for the past few months. However, as days pass by, we tend to forget washing hands properly for the suggested time duration, which is essential to wash away potential viruses from our hands.

Thus, a small group of designers and developers from Samsung Research Institute-Bangalore or SRI-B’s UX and wearable teams have come up with an app called ‘Hand Wash’ for Galaxy smartwatches. The team developed the app within two weeks of time by working at their respective homes.

The app not only prompts the users to wash their hands but also helps in tracking their handwashing trends to build into a habit. Once initiated, the ‘Hand Wash’ timer will run for 25 seconds, which includes 5 seconds for turning on the tap and applying soap and 20 seconds for actual hand wash.

The reminders on ‘Hand Wash’ app are customizable, which means users can set as many as number of hand wash cycles per day as per their wish. Lastly, the app also comes with an elegant watch face that shows the time along with the number of hand washes completed as well as when it was last carried out.

(Source)

Huawei MatePad officially confirmed to launch on April 23

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Apr 20, 2020

Huawei has released a poster on Weibo which confirmed the MatePad will be launched on April 23. The company had earlier fixed the Nova 7 series launch for that same date meaning more than one product will be unveiled on that day.

Huawei MatePad is projected to focus on basic education functions and will also be the first learning tablet in the Mate series just as the MatePad Pro was the first tablet in the Mate series. The official promotional posters and earlier leaks show the MatePad will feature three main selling points. The first is an exclusive education feature. It will also have a 2K eye protection full-screen and a Kirin 810 chipset onboard. The tablet will also feature support for the M-Pen stylus used on the MatePad Pro. There will also be a rear camera and LED flash.

The MatePad was recently listed on VMall and Jingdong (JD.com) for pre-order. The tablet is equipped with a 10.4-inch IPS LCD panel having a resolution of 1200 x 200 pixels. The Kirin 810 chipset onboard is paired with up to 6 GB of RAM and the slate comes with built-in storage of up to 128 GB. In addition, Huawei MatePad has a built-in self-developed dedicated education centre. This function is for student groups or will cover the required courses for students of different ages to help students efficiently complete their learning goals.

(via)

Samsung & LG’s Withdrawal from LCD market will bring opportunities for Chinese companies

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Apr 20, 2020

South Korea display giants LG and Samsung recently announced plans to halt production of LCD panels by the end of the year. The companies are poised to focus on OLED panels production from next year. This development is viewed as a good one in China as it is expected to open up more opportunities for domestic companies.

In a recent CCTV financial dialogue program, TCL founder and chairman Li Dongsheng aligned with this point of view. He stated that from a strategic perspective, Samsung and LG’s withdrawal from the LCD industry will bring opportunities to Chinese companies. He believes the reason for the withdrawal has to do with an adjustment to the global industry structure. In clear terms, the industry is moving away from LCD and rapidly toward the use of OLED panels. Both South Korea giants will focus more on flexible display products such as QLED and OLED technology.

Chinese companies have already established a dominant position in LCD manufacture, especially in large-screen displays. Chinese manufacturers, including BOE, Huaxing Optoelectronics (a subsidiary of TCL Holdings) and so on dominate the LCD market. Li expects this advantage to be further expanded with future development.

Despite their dominance in the large-display LCD industry, the Chinese firms are expected to face greater competitive pressure and challenges in small and medium screens. In the small and medium-sized field, including OLED and the next generation of new display technology, there will be stiff competition.

Samsung was once a leading force in the LCD panel market. The company established two LCD panel factories in China and two LCD production lines in South Korea. However, stiff competition in the LCD market in recent years and a drop in LCD panel prices may have prompted the tech giant’s decision to abandon the LCD panel market.

Apple may also launch the iPhone SE Plus, trusted tipster hints

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Apr 20, 2020

Jon Prosser was recently described by Macworld as “the Apple rumourmonger who hasn’t missed yet”. Sure thing, the tipster burst into the scene not too long ago and was accurate about so many things regarding the iPhone SE including the exact launch date. The tipster has now suggested that Apple may have got an iPhone SE Plus in the works and promises to deliver some information on the Plus size variant soon.

The iPhone SE was launched on April 15 featuring a design similar to the iPhone 8. The launch of the model which is powered by the latest A13 Bionic chipset resulted in the discontinuation o the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sales. This is another indication that a larger display variant of the iPhone SE may be launched as a replacement for the iPhone 8 Plus.

Should have some iPhone SE Plus news for you soon. 👀

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) April 18, 2020

It was previously reported that the “iPhone SE Plus” moniker was spotted in the iOS 14 program code. Thus, throwing up the possibility of its existence. The iPhone 8 Plus is equipped with a 5.5-inch display and we expect the upcoming model to feature the same screen size. The model is also expected to packs dual camera setup at the rear.

We should point out that nothing is confirmed at the moment so take this piece of information with a pinch of salt.

Xiaomi to soon revamp the Camera UI for its smartphones, shares two possible options

By

Sean

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Apr 20, 2020

The product director of the Xiaomi camera department has recently revealed that the company is working on an overhaul/revamp of its Camera UI for smartphones. The official shared two current options, which include sliding gestures alongside swipes to left or right for various functions.

Option A: The first option is a slide out function for the “More” function through a gesture. This allows users to bring up more panels at any time. However, its downside is that it’s a bit harder to get used to, so it can be useful once users are acclimatized to it.

Option B: The second is relatively simpler and will just have an additional tab named “More” added to the UI. This would basically require just a single tap an is a relatively common feature with no visible downfalls.

Notably, Lei Jun, the CEO of Xiaomi, has also reposted the original post through his official Weibo account as well, a Chinese microblogging website. The senior executive even commented on the development and added his own opinions as well. He chose Option B and asked people about their thoughts since it is originally meant to be a sort of an online poll. So let us also know in the comments section down below regarding which of the two options is more comfortable to have implemented.

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