Cat S32 rugged smartphone with Helio A20 and 3GB RAM launched for €299

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Jan 10, 2020

Cat, a brand known for making heavy-duty machines and equipment, has also been making smartphones since past few years. Now, the company has added a new device to its portfolio of rugged smartphones, dubbed as Cat S32.

Instead of the on-going trend in smartphones such as high-powered processor, edge-to-edge or bezel-less display, the company’s focus lies on battery longevity and the phone’s durability in extreme weather conditions.

The Cat S32 smartphone comes with a 5.5-inch HD+ display with 1440 x 720 pixels screen resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. Further, the display is protected by DragonTrail Pro Glass and the company claims that the phone can also be operated with either wet fingers or while wearing gloves.

The smartphone’s body is rated IP68 for water resistance (1.5m up to 35 minutes) and is MIL SPEC 810G compliant for shocks and vibrations with the company claiming that it has been drop tested from 1.8m onto steel.

Also, the housing of the device is made of a rubberised material that offers excellent grip so that you don’t need to put the phone into a case. It also offers a customizable key on the left that can be useful for push-to-talk applications.

Under the hood, the device is powered by MediaTek Helio A20 quad-core chipset, coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Connectivity options on the device include CAT 6 LTE speeds VoLTE, and Wi-Fi calling along with Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The device features a 13-megapixel camera sensor on the back and comes with a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter for taking selfies and video calling. The phone is powered by a 4,200mAh battery which is claimed to offer two days of battery life.

The Cat S32 smartphone, which carries a suggested selling price of €299, will be available for purchase from the company’s official website CatPhones.com. If you want to opt for an established brand, then Samsung XCover rugged smartphone has also been made official.

Brazil says it will rebuff pressure from U.S. and allow Huawei join its 5G bid

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 10, 2020

It is an open secret that the US government has been lobbying several countries especially its allies against using Huawei‘s 5G infrastructure. Brazil has indicated that it won’t tolerate any pressure from the U.S. over whether to allow Huawei to participate in the bidding process for its 5G network.

This was stated by Marcos Pontes, the minister for science, technology, innovation and communications in a recent interview. Pontes is responsible for establishing the criteria for the construction of the latest generation of ultra-fast Internet. He added that he would not veto any company from the bidding process and that the final decision would be based purely on merit.

The Brazilian minister also disclosed that the country’s 5G auction could be delayed until 2021. The auction was initially planned for March this year and then postponed until the second half of 2020. Pontes attributes this delay to a technical problem which is that the new network would interfere with the transmission from the satellite dishes that currently relay TV signals in Brazil. According to the minister, the government is currently studying two alternatives: putting filters on the satellite dishes or changing the transmission frequency used by the country’s TV providers.

Not only that, the agency which regulates the telecommunications sector was slow to publish the official notice announcing the auction.

(source)

OPPO Reno3 Pro Classic Blue variant officially listed; will go on first flash sale today

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 10, 2020

OPPO went official with the Reno3 series towards the end of December 2019. One variant that stood out among the lot was the Reno3 Pro Classic Blue variant said to have been inspired by the Pantone Color of the Year. The new variant is now officially listed for reservation on Oppo’s China website.

Details on the listing show that the Reno3 Pro will retail for 4,199 yuan (~$600) and it will be available for its first flash sale tomorrow at 10 AM local time.

The Classic Blue Reno3 Pro features a unique design on its back panel makes the phone stand out in a crowd of gradients and other colourful paint jobs. The rear panel design also includes the name of the variant “Classic Blue” boldly written on the side just below the camera. The device comes with 12 GB RAM and 256GB storage as well as a second 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The variant equally comes in a fancy retail package.

As a reminder, the OPPO Reno3 Pro packs a Snapdragon 765G with built-in 5G modem. The phone gets its juice from a 4,025 mAh battery with support for VOOC 4.0. It also has as one of its highlight, a 48MP main camera in a vertically aligned quad-camera arrangement.

(source)

Xiaomi’s new ¥69 ($9.9) MIJIA Digital Thermometer supports underarm and oral usages

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 9, 2020

Xiaomi has just launched the MIJIA Digital Thermometer. This isn’t the first thermometer that is popping up under the MIJIA brand but the model can be used on two part of the body – the armpit and oral cavity. The device also offers fast and accurate temperature measurement.

In terms of the appearance, the MIJIA digital thermometer uses a large LCD display, the size of a USB flash drive. The display has a backlight function which will make it easy to read the temperature value even at night.

The thermometer supports two temperature measurement modes. It can deliver a rapid body temperature reading in just 30-second. After the rapid temperature measurement is completed, the temperature measurement is continued for about 5 minutes until the buzzer sounds, indicating that the warm body temperature value has been gotten.

Further, the MIJIA digital thermometer can be paired with the MIJIA app via a smartphone in order to keep a record of every member of the family. The records of 9 members of the family can be uploaded. In addition, the app automatically changes colour to alert users of unusually high temperature.

The MIJIA digital thermometer is priced at 69 yuan ($9.9) will be launched simultaneously on January 10 at Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi Home, Xiaomi’s authorized store, Tmall, and Jingdong.

(via)

Realme X50 5G vs Oppo Reno3: Specs Comparison

By

Michele Ingelido

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Jan 9, 2020

A few days after Oppo unveiled its first 5G midrange smartphones, its brand Realme came up with its first 5G device as well: the Realme X50 5G. Both are among the first 5G mid-rangers hitting the shelves and, given that the prices are similar and they are both mid-rangers, it is not easy to make a choice. That is why we decided to compare the Realme X50 5G with the Oppo Reno3. While the Reno3 Pro is undoubtedly superior to the Realme X50 5G, we cannot tell you the same when it comes to the vanilla Reno3, or at least not for every aspect. After reading this comparison, you should be able to understand which one mostly fits your needs.

Oppo Realme X50 5G vs Oppo Reno3

	Oppo Realme X50 5G	Oppo Reno3
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT	163.8 x 75.8 x 8.9 mm, 202 grams	160.3 x 74.3 x 8 mm, 181 grams
DISPLAY	6.57 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 401 ppi, 20:9 ratio, IPS LCD	6.4 inches, 1080 x 2400p (Full HD+), 411 ppi, 20:9 ratio, AMOLED
PROCESSOR	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, octa-core 2.4 GHz	MediaTek Dimensity 1000L, octa-core
MEMORY	6 GB RAM, 64 GB – 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB	8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 12 GB RAM, 128 GB
SOFTWARE	Android 10, ColorOS	Android 10, ColorOS
CONNECTIVITY	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA	Quad 64 + 12 MP + 8 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/3.0, f/2.3 and f/2.4 Dual 16 + 8 MP f/2.0 and f/2.2 front camera	Quad 64 + 8 + 2 + 2 MP f/1.8, f/2.2, f/2.4 and f/2.4 32 MP f/2.4 front camera
BATTERY	4200 mAh Fast charging 30W	4025 mAh, Fast charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES	Dual SIM slot, 5G	Dual SIM slot, 5G

Design

The presence of a punch-hole display on the Realme X50 5G makes its front side more attractive, but the front panel is not everything. The Oppo Reno3 has a way thinner body and it is even a more compact device. When it comes to the rear side, it is all about tastes. I prefer the multiple gradient hues of the Oppo Reno3, but the reflective and minimal glass of the Realme X50 5G is beautiful as well. Both are made of premium materials with glass backs protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and aluminum frames.

Display

Here you have to choose between a very high refresh rate and a better image quality. The Realme X50 5G is one of the few devices boasting a high 120 Hz refresh rate which provides a smoother user experience as well as a better gaming experience. On the other hand, unlike the Realme X50 5G, the Oppo Reno3 has an AMOLED panel boasting a better color reproduction. While Realme X50 5G has a side-mounted fingerprint reader, the Oppo Reno3 has a more modern and comfortable in-display fingerprint scanner. Realme X50 5G has a slightly wider panel, while Oppo Reno3 is more compact.

Specs & Software

Despite Realme X50 5G has the same Snapdragon 765G found on the Oppo Reno3 Pro, the MediaTek Dimensity 1000L found on the vanilla Reno3 offers higher performance, at least according to the first benchmarks. We are yet to see how this new MediaTek high-end processor will behave in the long term, but it looks promising. Both the phones come with up to 12 GB of RAM, but Realme X50 5G offers up to 256 GB of internal storage, while Oppo Reno3 stops at 128 GB. Both the phones come with the support to 5G connectivity thanks to a 5G multi-mode modem integrated into the chipset. And you even get Android 10 out of the box. Realme X50 5G is the first smartphone with Realme UI: a customized version of ColorOS for Realme devices. The company is yet to fully reveal it.

Camera

The Oppo Reno3 is equipped with a more interesting rear camera setup. It is a quad camera including a main 64 MP sensor with OIS for both photos and videos, a secondary ultrawide lens, a monochromatic sensor, and a depth sensor. Realme X50 5G does not have OIS, but unlike the Oppo Reno3, it has a telephoto lens with a 2x optical zoom. The front camera is definitely more interesting on the Realme X50 5G as it is a dual 16 + 8 MP camera including an ultrawide lens. But this does not mean that Oppo Reno3 does not click amazing selfies with its 32 MP snapper.

Read More: Realme X50 5G with 120Hz display, SD765G, 64MP quad cam, 16MP dual front cameras debuts for 2,499 Yuan (~$360)

Battery

Realme X50 5G is equipped with a bigger 4200 mAh battery, but this does not necessarily mean a longer battery life than Oppo Reno3. The display of the X50 5G is an LCD panel that consumes more energy (not only for the LCD technology, it is even a wider display and it has a higher 120 Hz refresh rate). And we still do not know the energy consumption of the Dimensity 1000L, especially with that 5G modem. Both the phones support 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0, but the Oppo Reno3 obviously charges faster since its battery is smaller.

Price

The 8/128 GB configuration of the Realme X50 5G requires about €322/$358, while the same configuration of the Oppo Reno3 costs €440/$489. On the paper, Oppo Reno3 offers something more with its nice display, potentially better rear cameras and an apparently amazing chipset. But we will have to test them both to confirm our impressions and that is still not possible since just a few days have passed since their announcements.

Oppo Realme X50 5G vs Oppo Reno3: PRO and CONS

Oppo Realme X50 5G

PRO

More interesting front camera setup
Bigger display
120 Hz refresh rate
Bigger battery

CONS

LCD display and no UD fingerprint scanner

Oppo Reno3

PRO

More interesting chipset
Better rear cameras
AMOLED display
More compact
Thinner

CONS

Higher price

DuckDuckGo beats Microsoft’s Bing as Android’s main Google alternative in Europe

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 9, 2020

Android users in Europe will see something unusual when setting up their new phones for the first time: the option to pick a default search engine that isn’t Google. Google will soon start offering Android users alternatives to its own search engine in the form of a choice screen that will appear on their phones.

The “choice screen” is being introduced by Google following an antitrust ruling from the European Union last March. Google was fined a record $5 billion by EU regulators, who said the company had to stop “illegally tying” its search engine and browser to its mobile OS. As a result, Google has done a blind auction for three alternative search engines in each market.

In this blind auction, search providers that met Google’s criteria provide “the price that they are willing to pay each time a user selects them from the choice screen in the given country.” A minimum bid was set for each country and the three highest bidders for each market will appear during setup on Android phones in that country.

As a result, DuckDuckGo will be one of three alternative search engines offered by Google during new Android phone setups in every European country, while Bing will be an option only in the U.K. However, given that this was a closed auction process, it’s difficult to know which search providers applied for inclusion in which markets. You can see the full list here.

This auction hasn’t gone without its fair share of critcism however. Search engine Ecosia, which uses its profits to plant trees in areas of deforestation, told BBC News it had boycotted the process altogether. Chief executive Christian Kroll said: “We believe this auction is at odds with the spirit of the July 2018 EU Commission ruling.

“Internet users deserve a free choice over which search engine they use and the response of Google with this auction is an affront to our right to a free, open and federated internet. Why is Google able to pick and choose who gets default status on Android?”

Ecosia is also already planning to raise its concerns with European regulators. “Now that this process has come to a conclusion, we’ll raise our broader concerns over Google’s monopolistic behaviour with European Union legislators — we’ll also look at other ways to work with regulators to challenge this result,” claimed Kroll.

(Source)

Tecno Spark Go Plus launched in India at Rs. 6,299 (~$88)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 9, 2020

Budget smartphone manufacturer Tecno Mobile launched the Spark Go Plus in India today. The device is a rebranded Spark 4 Lite that was unveiled a few months back. The key highlights of the smartphone include the massive battery and sub Rs. 8,000 (~$110) price tag.

The Tecno Spark Go Plus flaunts a screen-to-body-ratio of 89.5 percent. The smartphone features thin bezels on both sides, a slightly wider top bezel with a waterdrop notch, and an even wider chin. As part of its launch benefit, Tecno is offering a one-time screen replacement along with 3-months of Premium Gaana subscription worth Rs. 287 for free with every purchase. Initial buyers will also receive a complimentary Bluetooth headset worth Rs. 799 with every purchase.

Tecno Spark Go Plus specifications and features

The Tecno Spark Go Plus flaunts a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. The smartphone is powered by a 1.8GHz MediaTek Helio A22 SoC with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of native storage, expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card. In terms of optics, the device features a single an 8-megapixel camera on the rear with an aperture ratio of f/2.0 along with an LED flash. It also gets an 8-megapixel camera on the front with an LED flash for capturing flawless selfies.

Editor’s Pick: Realme 5i launched in India for Rs. 8,999 (~$126) and Realme fitness band teased

AI camera aids include beauty mode, bokeh effect, and portrait mode with adjustable flashlight brightness on the front. The Tecno Spark Go Plus draws power from a 4,000 mAh battery with AI Power Saving and Safe Charging modes.

The smartphone runs on Android 9.0-based HiOS 5.5.2. Connectivity options include dual SIM VoLTE, Bluetooth v5.0, non-hybrid SIM slot, Micro USB port, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, and GPS. There is a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner along with Face Unlock 2.0 for additional security. The device measures 166.7 x 75.8 x 8.4 mm.

Tecno Spark Go Plus price and availability

The Spark Go Plus is available at Rs. 6,299 (~$88) in India. The device is available in two color options including Hillier Purple and Vacation Blue.

Samsung secretly demoed prototype 13.3-inch notebook with sliding screen at private CES 2020 booth

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Jan 9, 2020

While CES 2020 has been an absolute hotbed for interesting new tech these past few days, it seems Samsung has something that they don’t want to reveal to the public just yet. According to Korean media reports, Samsung had a private booth at the expo and invited a few officials to demonstrate a secret prototype sliding notebook.

Unfortunately, it seems images were not allowed, so all we have to go off of are claims by people who were invited to the booth. From what we can gather, the product revealed was a 13.3-inch notebook, but sliding the display to the right apparently makes it twice as big. We’ve seen a patent by the company that seems to lineup with this, though no specifics.

Reception seems to be very positive. According to people who officially got to witness and experience the device, it’s a very innovative change to the standard laptop form factor. We heard previous rumors that Samsung were going to show off a sliding smartphone, but we definitely didn’t expect them to one up the idea with a brand new concept device instead.

Samsung has done surprise launches at CES before to gauge interest like with the Galaxy Fold, but this is the first time they’ve really done something so secretive like this. It’s also not all that surprising as to why they’re doing like this. This is a brand new concept, and though the idea is simple enough to imagine, it’s understandable that Samsung wouldn’t want to reveal their method or design in fear of copycats.

What’s going to be interesting from this point on is how exactly this tech pans out. We can probably expect to see the device go official soon enough, especially since it already sounds like it’s passable for a final product. We’ll be keeping tabs on any updates regarding Samsung’s secret sliding notebook, so stay tuned on Gizmochina as the story develops.

You can find more CES2020 coverage from here.

(Source)

Xiaomi Mi A3 owners sign petition over Android 10 update delay

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 9, 2020

Android One devices are supposed to get regular and faster updates compared to other devices running a custom version of Android. However, that is not the case for a number of Android One devices such as the Xiaomi Mi A3.

The Mi A3 was released in July 2019 before Android 10 was officially available for devices. It has been four months now since phones such as the Essential PH-1, which runs stock Android like the Xiaomi Mi A3, received the Android 10 update but the Mi A3 is yet to get the update.

The update was expected to roll out in October but it didn’t. It was the same story in November and December too. Owners of the Mi A3 are displeased following the way things have turned and have opened a petition on Change.org, hoping to force Xiaomi to release the Android 10 update.

A few days ago, a user asked the official Mi India Support when the update will be available and the response he got is that they are working on it and “it will be rolled out soon!”

Hi Aswin, Our team is working on Android 10 for Mi A3 and it will be rolled out soon! Stay tuned to our social media handles for the latest updates on the same.

— Mi India Support (@MiIndiaSupport) January 6, 2020

Xiaomi’s attitude to updating its Android One devices will result in a lot of people losing trust in the series. The Mi A1 was plagued by several issues when it was updated to Android Pie.

Since the Mi A3 is yet to get updated to Android 10, owners of the Mi A2 even have a longer waiting to do.

(Source)

Bluetooth SIG introduces LE Audio with support for hearing aids, audio sharing and more

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 9, 2020

The two popular versions of Bluetooth are – Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) and Bluetooth Classic. The former uses less power consumption, as much as 100x lower than Bluetooth Classic which is why it is the mode of connection for a number of IoT products, fitness trackers, and beacons. Bluetooth Classic, on the other hand, uses more power and has a higher throughput which is why it is used for streaming audio. At CES 2020, Bluetooth SIG announced LE Audio which will allow for audio streaming over Low Energy.

You may be concerned about quality taking a hit since Bluetooth Low Energy has a low throughput. It has been reported that LE Audio will use a new compression algorithm called LC3 (Low Complexity Communication Codec) that will keep the audio quality at the same high level you get when using Bluetooth Classic. The main advantage LE Audio brings is the increase in playtime which can be nearly double.

Extensive listening tests have shown than LC3 will provide improvements in audio quality over the SBC codec included with Classic Audio, even at a 50% lower bit rate.

– Manfred LUtZKY, Head of Audio for communications at Fraunhofer IIS

For products where an increase in battery life is not the focus, they can become smaller since the battery size can be reduced.

Low Energy Audio will also support hearing aids; allow for the transmission of multiple and independent audio streams from one device to one or more devices with benefits such as smoother switching between devices and better stereo experience, and support broadcast audio for audio sharing which will allow you to broadcast one or more streams to an unlimited number of devices.

Audio sharing can be personal or location-based. Personal is when you share what you are listening to on your smartphone with those around you. In the case of location-based audio sharing, which is even more interesting, you can select the audio being broadcast by silent TVs in a public place. Location-based audio sharing can also be used in places such as airports, cinemas, theaters, or lecture halls to help visitors with hearing loss or to provide audio in several languages.

The Bluetooth SIG says the specifications for Bluetooth LE Audio will be released in the first half of the year. We should expect the technology to start appearing in devices after then.

You can find more CES 2020 coverage here.

(Sources: 1, 2 | Via)

Grab Great Discounts on Top-End Products on GeekBuying [Up to $240 OFF Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 9, 2020

It looks like coupon chasers are in for a treat! GeekBuying has kicked off a new promo dubbed ‘2020 New Year Top Coupons,’ wherein the Chinese e-tailer is not only offering its loyal users a chance to grab great discounts on a wide range of products but is also allowing them to use big coupons and save more money.

If you have never placed an order through Geekbuying before, this is the best to do it. New GeekBuying customers who spend more than $50 will be eligible for a $5 off, while those shelling out more than $200 can save $15. Likewise, if your cart value exceeds $500, you can get a $30 off.

Regular customers, on the other hand, can take advantage of $6 OFF Coupon provided they spend more than $50. Similarly, there’s a $13 OFF Coupon for those who spend more than $130, and a $15 OFF Coupon for those loyal customers who pay out $200.

Similarly, you can get $20 off for spending more than $300 and $30 off if your total is over $500. Aside from these big coupons, the promo page is teeming with heavily discounted products that have been carefully placed under specific categories to simplify the search process.

Following the Flash Deals and New Arrivals sections, the promo page features the Consumer Electronics category which comprises amazing products. More importantly, you can get these items for lowered prices during the activity period.

For instance, the Sabbat E12 Ultra TWS Earbuds that usually retails for $81.99 can now be yours for a reduced price of only $49.99. On top of that, new customers can use the 2% OFF New User Coupon and save more money.

Moving ahead, there are equally amazing products under the Outdoor section, carrying lowered prices. You can find everything from electronic scooters, electric skateboards, to car DVR cameras for unbeatable prices.

The Drones & Toys is a must check-out category for drone and RC toy lovers. If you have restlessly been waiting for smartphone prices to drop, now’s the time. We recommend you to take a gander at the Smartphones section on the promo page as it features top-branded handsets that you can buy without emptying your pockets.

For example, there’s a 63 percent off on the HUAWEI Honor Note 10 smartphone that normally retails for $699.99. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now get your hands on it for just $258.99. On top of that, there’s a 2% OFF New User Coupon as well.

The promotion page also features a Laptops & Tablets category. As the name suggests, it is crammed with all sorts of laptops and tablets that have gone up for sale bearing reduced prices. If you are looking for an inexpensive smartwatch, you might want to head straight to the Wearables section.

In addition to these categories, the activity page includes Smart Home, TV Boxes, More Discounts sections that are a must check-out. You can visit the promotion page by following this link and grab a chance to save up to $240.

Deals and Coupons

GeekBuying 2020 New Year Top Coupons

CARD20: Paper-Thin TWS Headphones, paper-thin price (video)

By

Dimitris Economou

-

Jan 9, 2020

Since the Apple AirPods’ release back in 2016, dozens of similar earbuds have flooded the market. Most of them are clones of the AirPods while others from big companies like Sony and Bose follow their own design pattern. But there’s something that no manufacturer has achieved until now and that is the total size of the earbuds with their charging case.

This is where CARD20 step in becoming the world’s slimmest TWS Bluetooth headphones combining classy look, sublime comfort and great audio performance. The patented layout of the built-in antenna and the pioneering cutout design of the charging case squeeze the total thickness of the earbuds and the case to a mindblowing 0.5″ whereas the rest of the market comes at around 1″ thick.

On the inside, YOBYBO, the company behind CARD20, went with Qualcomm’s QCC3020 chip that supports Bluetooth 5.0 and features extremely low power consumption. Thanks to this chip, you can connect both earbuds to your device simultaneously for stereo mode, or use either one separately for mono mode. The switch between the two is seamless without any delay or interruption. CARD20 auto-pairs to your formerly connected device the second you open the charging case with no hassle.

In addition, it supports both Siri and Google Assistant and you can either summon them via voice command or just use the force sensor 3 times to bring them up. The force sensor is also used to control music playback or answer/end a phone call. The CARD20 is IPX4 certified which means you can use it to exercise and its battery lasts for up to 4 hours on a charge while it extends to 16 hours with the use of its charging case.

The CARD20 TWS is currently crowdfunded on Kickstarter and has already surpassed the set goal. If you want to catch an Early Bird discount while they still last, visit the campaign page.

Samsung says the Galaxy Home Mini will finally be released in early 2020

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 9, 2020

Samsung first announced its Galaxy Home smart speaker in 2018, including the Galaxy Home and Galaxy Home Mini. The company was also expected to release the smart speaker last year but that didn’t happen. Some were already tagging the product vaporware but Samsung did assure that the device was being optimized. The Korean tech giant has now finally revealed that the Home Mini smart speaker will be released in 2020.

This was disclosed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES)in Las Vegas. The tech giant did specify that the Home Mini will be released in early 2020 but was silent about the Galaxy Home speaker which seems to have been discontinued.

The Galaxy Hom Mini smart speaker will attempt to enter a market that is a bit saturated, dominated by the likes of the Google Home and Amazon Echo speakers. However, Samsung believes they will be able to have their own niche within the whole Samsung ecosystem of smart home devices. There are a couple of factors that should work in Samsung’s favour such as the Bixby smart assistant which powers the speaker.

Samsung says the smart speaker will be different from others in that it will focus on voice commands rather than a seemingly ongoing conversation between you and the smart speaker. They also want to be able to focus more on the hardware itself rather than the user information that they can gather from your interaction with the smart speaker. The speaker will also be able to connect all the Samsung devices connected through SmartThings and be a central hub for all your smart home devices.

Samsung also says consumer privacy will be at the fore so that all your user information will not have to leave your device and go to a cloud somewhere. They are going for a more hands-off approach when it comes to consumer data, unlike Google and Amazon that both depend a lot on gathering data on how their consumers use the smart speaker and the digital assistant, to be able to bring better services. Being a hardware company, Samsung believes it can minimize data sharing.

The company failed to announce a specific date yet as to when it will be finally introduced to the market.

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to sport a 1.2 inch display and Google Pay support via NFC

By

Sean

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Jan 9, 2020

According to a new report, Xiaomi‘s upcoming Mi Band 5 is expected to arrive with a 1.2 inch display alongside NFC support for its global variant. The smart wearable is a popular series from the Chinese tech giant.

Previously, Xiaomi had launched the Mi Band 4 at a lucrative price range with relatively decent features. However, unlike the model sold in China, the global variant had skipped on the NFC feature for certain regions. Although a separate version supporting NFC was made available as well.

Mi Band 4 press renders — Xiaomi Mi Band 4

With the Mi Band 5, Xiaomi plans on riding on the success of its popular smart band lineup. From the report, it was discerned that the fifth and latest entry in the series will feature a larger 1.2 inch display. The screen will be an AMOLED panel which is reportedly brighter and displays more contrast.

Furthermore, NFC support will be a big inclusion this time around as it will also support other payment options, like Google Pay. Previously, the Mi Band 4 only shipped with Xiaomi’s Mi Pay. Currently, the Mi Band 3 and Mi Band 4 in China are one of the few NFC enabled wearables from Xiaomi. Since the technology is seeing an increase in use with better infrastructure, NFC will become more crucial in modern lives.

xiaomi mi band 4 — AMOLED Display on the Mi Band 4

Xiaomi’s Mi Band 5 will carry a price tag of 179 Yuan in China or roughly 26 US Dollars. Notably, the prices may vary according to different regions and countries. Huami, a smart wearables manufacturer, is partnering up with the smartphone OEM to make the Mi Band 5. But, no deal has been signed between the two regarding an exclusivity deal.

(Source)

Buy Xiaomi Mi Note 10 (CC9 Pro) Smartphone for Just $449.99 from Gearbest [Coupon]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 9, 2020

Towards the end of 2019, Xiaomi unveiled a new smartphone dubbed Mi Note 10 which had all ingredients to become an instant hit among Xiaomi’s huge fanbase.

Ahead of the phone’s launch, multiple reports indicated that the Mi Note 10 would boast similar features as the Mi CC9 Pro, which was also launched in China last year. Fast forward to January 2020, the Mi Note 10 continues to garner huge popularity among smartphone lovers.

Taking the phone’s skyrocketing popularity and its undying demand into consideration, the Chinese electronics giant is now offering the Mi Note 10 for a lowered price through Gearbest -one of China’s most popular e-tailers.

As part of its latest flash sale, Gearbest is offering the 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM Xiaomi Mi Note 10 (CC9 Pro) variant for a lowered price of just $599.99. This translates to a 1 percent reduction in the phone’s original asking price of $606.02.Furthermore, you can use the $150 OFF Coupon if your cart value exceeds $599. Aside from that, you can apply coupon code GBXMNTFR01 for an extra $150 off. In other words, you can reduce the retail price of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 smartphone to just $449.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon at checkout.

Available in three appealing color options including black, white and green, the Mi Note 10 sports a 6.47-inch 3D curved AMOLED screen that offers vibrant colors and a comfortable grip. It packs the Snapdragon 730G processor along with Adreno 618 GPU for superior AI computing power.

In the photography department, the Mi Note 10 houses an impressive Penta camera module comprising a 108MP primary camera, 20MP ultra wide-angle camera, long telephoto lens, 12MP short telephoto lens, and macro lens. Upfront, it accommodates a 32MP selfie camera. The phone runs MIUI 11 OS and is backed by a robust 5260mAh battery that is compatible with PD protocol and comes with a wired 30W charger. As mentioned earlier, it ships with 6GB of RAM and offers 128GB of native storage.

You can head straight to this link and check out more details about the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 smartphone. With over 300 pieces sold at the time of writing, the flash sale is slated to end in fourteen days.

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Xiaomi Mi Note 10 (CC9 Pro) Smartphone

Year 2019 in review for Blackview (video)

By

Dimitris Economou

-

Jan 9, 2020

Being a well-established company in the smartphone market after many years of continuous improvement, Blackview achieved another year of increased production and sales in 2019. Durability combined with the latest tech in the market made their products very popular so they made a 2019 year review video about it.

Blackview 2019 highlights

Starting from their top device, the flagship BV9900 instantly became the top rugged camera phone of 2019. Flagship performance combined with excellent camera resulted in a 1500 units limited stock sale disappearing in just 2 days.

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Key features

MediaTek Helio P90 AI processor
8GB RAM 256GB ROM
Sony® 48MP quad rear camera
IceMode – Phone, Message, Contacts, Camera functions still can be used when the temperature as low as -30℃
Heart rate monitor & barometer & air quality sensor & hygrometer & UV meter
Price: $499.99

Last year, Blackview also released a budget device with a killer quad-camera setup. It is Blackview A80 Pro and it became one of the best budget mainstream phones you can get in 2019.

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Key features

Sony® IMX258 13MP quad camera
MediaTek Helio P25 processor
4GB RAM 64GB ROM
4680mAh big battery
Flattering appearance and slim body
Price: $159.99

Another special device is the BV9800 Pro that was created for serious adventurers as it features a FLIR® Lepton® thermal and Sony® 48MP camera, giving you the power of thermal imaging. Whether you’re inspecting electrical panels, troubleshooting mechanical systems, looking for HVAC problems, or finding water damage, the thermal camera is the most useful feature on any rugged phone right now.

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Key features

FLIR® Lepton® thermal and Sony® 48MP camera
MediaTek Helio P70 processor
6GB RAM 128GB ROM
6580mAh battery
Global LTE bands
Price: $499.99

Next is the BV9100, the enormous battery rugged phone. Carrying a 13000mAh battery can run for days on a single charge, making outdoor trips more trouble-free. The battery capacity is larger than most powerbanks out there so you can imagine just how long it runs.

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Key features

13000mAh big battery, 60 days standby time
30W super-fast charging, fully charged in 2.5 hours
MediaTek Helio P35 processor
4GB RAM 64GB ROM
Sony® 16MP dual rear camera
Price: $269.99

Blackview 2019 performance highlights

As said before, the company constantly stays up to date with the developments in the smartphone market and that was mirrored in the company’s increasing fanbase. Having a product portfolio that covers the entire spectrum of the market -from entry-level to flagship- Blackview increased sales volume and a growing fan base. It’s worthwhile to mark that there was a 75% staggering increase in the fan base on Blackview’s Facebook page in 2019.

Blackview future

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To thank all of their customers and fans, Blackview launched a New Year Giveaway. At the same time, they are continuing to adapt, create, innovate and inspire. The first step this year is the upcoming MWC event in Barcelona on February 24th. They can’t wait to share more new good products.

Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD has a fingerprint scanner

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 9, 2020

These days, there are a lot of computers that come with just 256GB SSD storage. There are even some with 128GB of storage. While there is the option to replace the storage with a bigger one, another thing you can do is pick up portable storage. However, unlike your PC which is password protected or has a biometric scanner to keep your files safe, most portable storage drives do not have any protection, thus allowing anyone can gain access to your files. To fix that, Samsung has announced a new portable SSD that has a built-in fingerprint scanner.

The Samsung T7 Touch has a fingerprint scanner at the top that scans your fingerprint before granting you access to the files on it. The drive can save up to four different fingerprints, which comes in handy if you share the drive with your partner, relatives, or colleagues at work.

The drive is enclosed in an aluminum case and Samsung says it can survive drops from heights up to 2 meters. There is a USB-C port along with an LED that lights up when you plug it in or transfer files.

The Samsung T7 Touch brings more than just protection. It has write and read speeds up to 1,000MB/s and 1,050MB/s respectively. According to Samsung, that is twice the read and write speeds of the Samsung T5, its predecessor.

You will be able to purchase a unit later this month starting at $129.99 for the 500GB version, $229 for the 1TB version, and $399 for the 2TB version. It will be available in black and silver.

Samsung will also announce a version without the fingerprint scanner but the price is unknown and it won’t be available until the second quarter of 2020.

(Source)

Realme TV confirmed to debut this year; Realme smartwatch certified in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Jan 9, 2020

Realme plans to launch the Realme TV later this year. Ralme CHina CMO Xu Qi confirmed at the Realme X50’s launch event in China recently. This is the first smart television from the Chinese smartphone company that commenced business in 2018. Rumors around the Realme TV started last year with the company believed to launch the device by the end of 2019. Like smartphones, Realme plans to challenge Xiaomi in the smart TV market. At the same time, the mysterious Realme smartwatch has bagged approval from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in India which indicates that it could be debuting in the next few months.

Realme plans to focus on IoT products this year, ranging from personal, travel, family solutions. The list includes smart wearables, audio products, TV and more. In light of the situation Realme recently launched the Buds Air, the company’s first truly wireless earbuds. The company plans to sell over 50 million smartphones this year with the primary focus staying on 5G and IoT.

Realme fitness band teaser — Realme fitness band teased by Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth

“Despite seeming overly ambitious the decision is not very difficult. Since Realme is a nascent brand and is among the lightest players participating in 5G implementation” Qi said. Realme plans to launch multiple 5G smartphones by the end of 2020, including a range of affordable devices priced below 1,500 Yuan (~$216). The company also plans to launch its first-ever smartwatch in India.

Editor’s Pick: Realme 5i launched in India for Rs. 8,999 (~$126) and Realme fitness band teased

Realme Smartwatch

Courtesy of leakster Sudhanshu Ambhore, Realme smartwatch was recently spotted listed on BIS website with model number RMA183 Additional details are currently lacking. At today’s Realm 5i launch, the Realme India CEO Madhav Sheth teased the upcoming Realme fitness band. It sported a yellow strap, but its display was not shown clearly.

There is no confirmation on whether Realme has a fitness band and a smartwatch as two separate upcoming devices. With the budget smartwatch and fitness band market seeing some major activity from popular smartphone manufacturers, get ready to witness some great products being launched soon.

Xiaomi crowdfunds the MORROR ART Transparent Bluetooth Speaker

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 9, 2020

We just can’t help loving most of the products Xiaomi launches under the Youpin crowdfunding platform. The company has now launched the MORROR ART floating lyrics Transparent Bluetooth Speaker which has a “dynamic floating lyrics” that fits the mood of the music, letting you see the music.

The MORROR ART speaker is equipped with a 21.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920×1080. The speaker comes with AR-coated glass which is a high-transmittance glass used in museum exhibit windows. The glass has excellent transparency as if it did not exist. It is also incorporated with backlight technology from Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation enables the screen to show brightness that is comfortable for the eyes in the dark and can be enjoyed at night.

The speaker uses a 6-series aluminium alloy shell which combines sandblasting and anodizing processes. The shell resists oxidation and corrosion and also shows a high-level surface texture. The speaker has a dimension of 525mmx140mmx322mm and weighs 10kg.

The MORROR ART floating lyrics transparent Bluetooth speaker uses a unique 100mm diagonally configured speaker. After precise calculation of the 10L resonance air volume in the box, the official said that this design is like a long and loose “air spring”, which greatly improves the response of the speaker. speed.

The speaker is equipped with an upgradeable 32-bit control unit and fine-tuned by subjective acoustic debugging experts. It supports 3 tuning modes (high-fidelity mode, sweet voice mode, and rhythm mode) and various music styles can be easily controlled.

The product comes with a crowdfunding price tag of 2999 yuan ($431) but will retail for 3799 yuan ($546) after the exercise. It is expected to start shipping to backers from January 31.

(source)

Future Smartphone may have Ultrasound sensors in place of physical buttons

By

Sean

-

Jan 9, 2020

In the near future, smartphones might just turn to ultrasound sensing technology to replace any and all physical buttons on one’s handset. The news arrives after an video on YouTube (by Gary Explains) turned the spotlight on certain technological developments in Ultrasense.

The new technology could potentially improve smartphone design and also be a step closer to the future with seamless handsets; something OEMs have been working on for years now. Unfortunately, ultrasonic technology has previously left a bad mark in the industry, looking at the in-display fingerprint scanner on Samsung’s Galaxy S10 series. However, Ultrasense aims to tackle another area altogether.

The company plans on making a simple switch that can be situated under any surface and be used similar to capacitive buttons (which are generally not compatible with most surfaces). Technically, the technology would work on glass, metals and even unconventional surfaces like leather and wood. This implies that soon smartphone manufacturers would not need to drill holes in the handset’s frame to make room for the volume rockers and power buttons.

Furthermore, Ultrasense has claimed that its sensors can even detect the force of different levels. This would allow for unique drag-to-activate features alongside the conventional tap methods. Notably, the move to ultrasonic sensors will allow smartphone manufacturers to place additional emphasis on building durable, water and dustproof devices.

Another claim by Ultrasense points at the emerging 5G networking, which its sensors are apparently more responsive with. While Ultrasense can bring a wide array of features with the technology on smartphones, the company is also planning on including these sensors in various other IoT devices. It includes automobiles, home appliances and even enters the medical fields. Unfortunately, the company has yet to unveil this technology or its prototype, so safe to say it’s not arriving in any smartphone within 2020.

(Via)

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Blackview 2019 highlights

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