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Blackview BV-SW02 will go live at the ridiculously low price of $39.99 before Xmas! (video)

The Blackview BV-SW02 was announced last week and it is the first business and sports smartwatch of the company. It comes with many attractive features and the Chinese manufacturer confirmed that it will hit the market on December 23rd at the ridiculously low price of $39.99. Let’s see what it has to offer.

When used as a sports smartwatch it offers heart rate detection, calorie tracking as well as  12 sports-focused modes to help the user train better: outdoor running, indoor running, outdoor riding, indoor cycling, outdoor walking, hiking, indoor walking, elliptical machine, rowing machine, HIIT, yoga, and other (customizable via the app provided). Also, it sports 5ATM rating, meaning that it can withstand the pressure 50m deep underwater.

Blackview BV-SW02On the other hand, when used as a business-oriented watch, it notifies you about calls, texts, events, and other social notifications. It also supports hanging up incoming phone calls without taking out your phone. You can see the daily weather forecast and you can also wear it during sleeping to track your sleep habits and improve your sleep quality.

Blackview BV-SW02

One of its best features is its battery performance. The BV-SW02 can go on for up to 15 days on a single charge, taking advantage of the power-efficient Nordic nRF52840 Bluetooth chip. It comes with a 1.3″ round LCD display with 4 styles supported. In the box, you will find a black TPU wristband dedicated to Decathlon as well as an extra orange wristband. It is compatible with phones running Android 4.4 or higher and iPhones with iOS 9.0 or above. The VeryFitPro app is used to communicate with the watch and record your activity.

Blackview BV-SW02

Coming on December 23rd, it brings premium design and quality at an incredible price during presale. You can add it t your cart right now to get notified when the sale begins. On the same day, the Blackview BV9900 rugged flagship phone will start its open sale at a discounted price of $329.99. You can also join the giveaway of both products to win your one.

Samsung Galaxy S9 series to finally start Open Beta for One UI 2 from Monday

According to a new report, Samsung is starting the Open Beta testing for the Galaxy S9 series which will receive it’s One UI 2. It was previously revealed that Samsung’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy Note 9 series would receive the open beta but the exact date was not specified. Now, it is confirmed to arrive next Monday on 16th December 2019.

For those interested in participating in the open beta, users must download the Samsung Members app. Through this you must register for the Open Beta program and once eligible will receive the Beta build. To install, go to Settings>Software updates>Download updates manually.
Note: Make sure to back up your devices, as it is Beta build and might lead to loss of user data. Also, update any app to the latest builds to avoid compatibility issues.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Sunrise Gold
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Sunrise Gold

Recently, the South Korean tech giant had also announced the list of system upgrade plans for Samsung Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10e; these devices will receive the stable live build for Android 10 OS in January 2020. Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+, on the other hand, will receive the software update in February 2020.

Similarly, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 will also receive the update in February while the live build for Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will launch in March 2020. The last smartphone to get the latest Android 10 OS update is Samsung Galaxy Fold, with a release date in May 2020. For owners of the aforementioned devices, this is great news as the new update brings tons of new features and security updates.

Galaxy Note10+ Star Wars Rise of Skywalker Edition
Galaxy Note10+ Star Wars Rise of Skywalker Edition

Furthermore, while users are waiting for the major update, they can check any pending updates that might have by going to Settings and looking for the system update. Samsung has historically been a bit slow with updates and inclusion of smartphones due to its vast lineup but it generally always bring the older devices up to speed.

 

(Via)

Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 get MIUI 11 Global stable ROM

MIUI India has announced that the MIUI 11 Global Stable ROM is now available for the Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A. Owners of the two phones will have to download the ROM and manually install it.

The stable ROM has version number 11.0.4.0 for the Redmi 6A and version number 11.0.1.0 for the Redmi 6. It brings features such as Mi Share, Game Booster, Sounds of Nature, Task and a revamped and minimalist design. The size of the ROM for both phones is 1.3GB.

The update arrives a month behind schedule according to the rollout timetable released back in October. Both phones were scheduled to get the update in the first few weeks of November but it is actually arriving a month later.

The Redmi 6A and Redmi 6 were announced in June 2018. The Redmi 6A has a 5.45-inch HD+ display, an Helio A22 processor, 2GB/3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of storage. There is a single 13MP camera on the back while a 5MP camera is in front for selfies. It has a 3000mAh battery and charges via a MicroUSB port.

The Redmi 6 has the same 5.45-inch HD+ display but swaps the Helio A22 for the Helio P22. It also comes with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage that can be expanded via a dedicated MicroSD card slot. Unlike the Redmi 6A, the Redmi 6 has a fingerprint scanner. It also has dual rear cameras (12MP + 5MP) but its selfie camera is the same. It also has a 3000mAh battery.

 

Vivo iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition goes on sale in China for 2,598 Yuan (~$370)

The Vivo iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition is live on sale in China. Vivo unveiled the iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition discreetly in China on Dec. 5. The smartphone is a slightly upgraded version of the iQOO Neo 855  that was launched back in October this year. The new smartphone is powered by the upgraded SD 855+ SoC and is priced from 2,598 Yuan (~$370).

iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition Specifications and Features

The iQOO Neo 855  Racing Edition features the standard 6.38-inch Super AMOLED display found on the iQOO 855 Neo. The display offers an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, 2340 x 1080 pixels full HD+ resolution, HDR10 and flaunts a waterdrop notch. The screen is embedded with a fingerprint sensor. Powering the iQOO 855 Neo Racing Edition is a 2.96GHz Snapdragon 855+ SoC with up to 12 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.0 internal storage.

The Racing Edition has a triple sensor layout on its back with the primary lens using a 12-megapixel sensor with an aperture ratio of f/1.79. It is paired to an 8-megapixel sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.2, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.4 complete with an LED flash module. The selfie camera uses a 16-megapixel lens with an aperture rating of f/2.0. Camera aids on the smartphone include panorama, HDR, Super Night Scene 2.0, AI scene detection and professional mode.

The iQOO Neo 855  Racing Edition draws power from a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charge. The highlight of the Racing Edition is the 10-layer heat dissipation system that comprises liquid cooling, thermally conductive gel, and heat pipes. These work in conjunction to keep the overall temperature of the different internal hardware components down under heavy load.

The iQOO 855 Neo Racing Edition runs on Android 9.0 Pie-based FunTouch OS 9 with a custom Monster UI on top. The device features a Multi Turbo acceleration technology that optimizes performance while gaming. The device comes preloaded with Game Space 2.5 and Game Box for an immersive gaming experience. Connectivity options on the smartphone include dual 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, USB-C, GPS, and a 3.5mm headphone port. The smartphone supports face unlock and features an in-display fingerprint scanner for additional security.

iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition Price and Availability

Vivo is currently selling two variants of the iQOO Neo 855 Racing Edition in China. While the base variant with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage is priced at CNY 2,598 Yuan (~$370). The higher-end variant with 12 GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at 2,798 Yuan (~$400). The smartphone is available in three color variants, including Carbon Black, Iceland Aurora and Light Mint.

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A71 launched with 6.7-inch Infinity-O display, 64MP quad cameras and 4,500mAh battery

Apart from launching the Galaxy A51, Samsung Vietnam also unveiled the Galaxy A71 smartphone today. It comes with a similar design as the Galaxy A51 but is packed with better internals. The Galaxy A71 manages to impress with an Infinity-O display like the Galaxy Note 10. It comes equipped with a 64-megapixel quad camera setup on its back and its driven by a large-sized battery that carries support for fast charging.

Samsung Galaxy A71 Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy A71 that measures 163.6 x 76 x 7.7mm and weighs 179 grams features a 6.7-inch S-AMOLED Infinity-O display that is integrated with a fingerprint reader. It supports full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a tall aspect ratio of 20:9.

Samsung Galaxy A71

The octa-core processor that powers the Galaxy A71 has 2.2GHz Snapdragon 730 CPU. The phone comes in 6 GB and 8 GB RAM variants. Both models offer 128 GB of native storage. The device comes with a dedicated microSD card slot for additional storage.

For capturing selfies, the Galaxy A71 has an f/2.2 aperture 32-megapixel front camera. The rear shell of the smartphone has a rectangular camera module that houses four lenses and an LED flash. It comprises of an f/1.8 aperture 64-megapixel main lens, an f/2.2 aperture 5-megapixel depth sensor, an f/2.4 aperture 5-megapixel macro lens and an f/2.2 aperture 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor.

The One UI 2.0 based Android 10 OS comes preloaded on the Galaxy A71. It is backed by a 4,500mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. The phone also supports face recognition.

Samsung Galaxy A71 Price

Samsung has not confirmed the pricing and availability of the Galaxy A71. However, it has revealed that the phone will be available in colors like Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush Silver, Prism Crush Blue and Prism Crush Pink.

 

 

 

Samsung Galaxy A51 launched with 6.5-inch Infinity-O display, 48MP quad cameras and 4,000mAh battery

Today, Samsung unveiled two new Galaxy A 2020 series of smartphones in Vietnam. The Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 phones have gone as successor edition of the Galaxy A50/50s and Galaxy A70/70s smartphones. The Galaxy A51 comes with a top-center positioned punch-hole display like the Galaxy Note 10. It also comes with some other exciting features such as quad rear cameras, large-sized batteries and attractive color editions. Visit this link to know about the Galaxy A71 smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy A51 Specifications

The all new Samsung Galaxy A51 has an Infinity-O S-AMOLED display of 6.5 inches. It supports 20:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The display is fitted with an in-screen fingerprint reader. The device also supports face recognition.

The Exynos 9611 chipset that includes 2.3GHz octa-core processor. The phone comes in multiple RAM options of 4 GB, 6 GB and 8 GB. Its storage variants are 64 GB and 128 GB. There is a dedicated microSD card slot for more storage.

When it comes to photography, the Galaxy A51 features an f/2.2 aperture 32-megapixel lens on the front and a rectangle-shaped quad camera setup on its back. The Galaxy A51’s quad camera system a 48-megapixel main lens with f/2.0 aperture, a depth sensor of 5-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture, a macro lens of 5-megapixel with f/2.4 aperture and a ultrawide lens of 12-megapixel with f/2.2 aperture.

The Android 10 OS customized with the latest One UI 2.0 runs on the Galaxy A51. It houses a 4,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging. The device also supports Dolby Atmos. The handset measures 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9mm and weighs 172 grams.

Samsung Galaxy A51 Price

The Galaxy A51 is priced at 7,990,000 VND (~$346) in Vietnam. Samsung will start with its pre-orders on Dec. 16 and it will be available for purchase from Dec. 27. Customers that pre-order receive a Bluetooth headset and a 10,000mAh power bank from Samsung. Prism Crush Black, Prism Crush White, Prism Crush Blue and Prism Crush Pink are the color variants of the Galaxy A51. There is no word on the availability of the smartphone outside of Vietnam.

 

 

 

 

Vivo launches a Mobile Gaming oriented Type-C data cable

According to a new report, Vivo has just launched a unique Type-C charger which doubles as a mobile gaming data cable. The product has strictly been marketed towards gamers and also features useful functions and design.

Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable
Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable

Design & Features

Vivo’s new flash charging mobile gaming data cable uses a T-shaped charging plug alongside a suction cup that attaches to the back of a smartphone. The latter can be used to run the cable through the back of the device when charging, which allows for an uninterrupted and nonintrusive gaming experience. This lets only the Type-C charging pin and its small head to be found exposed on the lower part of the handset.

Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable
Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable in Blue

 

The new flash charger for mobile gaming supports 2A charging. According to officials, it is compatible with both Vivo and IQOO smartphones; and is capable of providing a 44W ultra fast charging which can charge a compatible IQOO device up to 69 percent in just 30 minutes. On the other hand, Vivo’s X27 can also be charged up to 57 percent in 30 minutes using the gaming data cable when it is used with the smartphones 22.5W fast charger. The cable is about 1.2 meters in length and arrives with anti-winding design. Meaning, it is less likely to get tangled in and of itself.

Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable
Vivo Gaming Type-C Cable in Red

Price & Colors

Vivo’s gaming-oriented type-C cable is offered in two color variants which include red and blue versions. And as for the cost, the unique product from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is offered at a price of 59 Yuan or roughly 7.11 US Dollars.

 

(Via)

Reno3 Pro to come with enhanced VOOC 4.0; charges full in 56 minutes

The Reno3 Pro is ready to give the Redmi K30 5G a run for its money. Details about the features of the upcoming phone, which will launch on December 26, have been pouring in for weeks now. The latest is about the fast-charge technology that will be bundled with the device.

OPPO’s Vice President, Shen Yiren, took to Weibo to reveal that the Reno3 Pro will have an enhanced version of VOOC 4.0. He said the phone will be able to charge from 0 to 50% in just 20 minutes while a full charge will take 56 minutes.

OPPO Reno3 Pro Enhanced VOOC 4.0

That is much faster than the original VOOC 4.0 which takes 30 minutes to charge a 4000mAh battery from 0 to 67% and 73 minutes to charge it to 100%.

Based on the figures, it appears OPPO has reduced the trickle charge duration or increased the duration of the rapid charge. This way, the phone takes a shorter time to get full.

The Reno3 Pro has been confirmed to have a 4025mAh battery squeezed into a 7.7 millimeters thin body. The battery capacity is smaller than the Redmi K30 5G’s 4500mAh battery but nevertheless, it is good news that the phone is getting an improved fast charge technology.

The Reno3 Pro will come with a Snapdragon 765G processor, 48MP quad-rear cameras, a 6.5-inch OLED display with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a punch hole for a 32MP selfie camera, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and run Android 10 out of the box.

 

Analysts: Apple to not significantly raise prices for 5G iPhone in 2020

According to analysts, Apple will not be significantly raising the price for its 2020 iPhones. Each new entry in the Cupertino-based company’s smartphone yearly lineup has been more expensive than the last. But the new report claims that it would not be the case for the upcoming 5G iPhones.

Generally speaking, smartphones that are equipped with 5G modems are more expensive than mainstream 4G variants. The best example of this being Redmi K30 that arrives in a 5G and, a more affordable, 4G variant. However, according to an analyst from TF International Securities, the cost of new iPhones will rise by just 30 to 100 US Dollars (roughly 211 to 703 CNY).

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

The reason for this is that the iPhone released in spring will share the cost of Apple’s September 2020 launch. The American tech giant is expected to release 5 smartphones in 2020, one of which will be released in spring before its four main lineups. Notably, support for 5G is one of the key upgrades of the new iPhones for the second half of the year.

Regardless of the more expensive 5G components being offered, Apple will not be increasing pricing significantly. The company aims to achieve this by not paying NRE (non-recurring engineering) for one-time metal frame/ case manufacturers in 2020 which saves development costs for the company. In simpler terms, it can help the company manage revenue and expenditure during off-seasons and peak seasons.

Apple 2020 iPhone
5G Networking

Previously, Apple had to compensate its suppliers for their losses suffered due to differences between off-season and peak season shipments. Now, by launching another device in the spring it can balance the revenue between both seasons and not have to pay the fees that it provided its suppliers such as Foxconn. This will allow Apple to not significantly hike the prices of 2020 iPhones with 5G connectivity.

 

(Via)

Samsung W20 5G is now listed for 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

The Snapdragon 855 mobile platform powered Samsung Galaxy Fold has been available in China since a few months, but it only supported 4G connectivity. Last month, the South Korean company introduced the Galaxy W20 5G phone as 5G-ready version of the Galaxy Fold driven by the more powerful Snapdragon 855+ SoC.  At the unveil event, the company did not confirm on the price tag of the Galaxy W20 5G foldable phone. It had only stated that the device will be available for purchase in December. Earlier today, the Galaxy W20 5G appeared on Samsung’s official online store as well as JD.com.

Samsung W20 5G Price

Samsung W20 5G on sale JD
Samsung W20 5G on sale JD

On JD.com, the Samsung W20 5G can be seen in Standard and Premium Edition. Priced at 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843), the Standard Edition ships with a free pair of Galaxy Buds worth 999 Yuan (~$142). The Galaxy W20 5G Standard Edition is up for reservations on the Chinese retailer site. The Premium Edition is priced at a whopping 29,999 Yuan (~$4,264) that includes a free pair of Galaxy Buds and VIP service worth 29,999 Yuan. The above shown screenshot shows that the Galaxy W20 5G Premium Edition was available for purchase at the time of writing this post. The shipments of both models will begin on Dec. 20.

Samsung W20 5G on sale Samsung's e-shop
Samsung W20 5G on sale Samsung’s e-shop

The Samsung W20 5G Standard Edition is the only version that is listed on its official e-shop for China with a pricing of 19,999 Yuan. The next sale on JD and Samsung’s online store is Dec. 20. The W20 5G foldable phone comes in an attractive white color. Samsung only sells its W-series smartphones exclusively in China. While the Galaxy Fold 5G is available outside China, the international availability of the Galaxy W20 5G seems unlikely.

Samsung W20 5G Specifications

The Samsung W20 5G foldable phone has an outer AMOLED display of 4.6 inches that produces HD+ resolution. Opening the device reveals its 7.3-inch flexible AMOLED display that offers full HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform drives the foldable device with 12 GB of RAM. The Android 9 Pie OS along with One UI 2.0 runs on the device. It has a large internal storage of 512 GB.

Samsung W20 5G
Samsung W20 5G

The Samsung W20 5G features 16-megapixel (ultrawide) + 12-megapixel (wide-angle) + 12-megapixel (telephoto) triple camera on its rear. Above the cover display, there is a front-facing camera of 10-megapixel with autofocus. There is a 10-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual camera system placed at the upper-right corner of the inner display.

There is a 4,235mAh battery inside the Samsung W20 5G that supports 15W fast charging and 15W wireless charging. The device is also equipped with support for 9W reverse wireless charging. It comes with a side-mounted fingerprint reader.

 

 

 

(source 1, 2)

Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite gets a surprise MIUI 11 beta update based on Android 10!

Xiaomi has consistently been pushing the latest MIUI 11 update to its smartphone models. Quite a good number of Xiaomi phones have got the update ranging from flagship models like the Mi Mix 3, Mi 8, Mi 9 to mid-rangers like the Mi 9 SE, Redmi Note 8 Pro, Note 7, Note 6 Pro, Note 5. Even the budget segment isn’t left out as the Redmi 4, Redmi 5, 6/6A and several others have received OTA updates. While MIUI 11 brings several interesting features including system-wide Dark mode, most of the update was based on Android 9 and not the latest Android 10.

In a surprise twist, Xiaomi seems to have pushed MIUI 11 beta update to the Mi 8 Lite and it is based on Android 10.

The Mi 8 Lite could be regarded as an old smartphone, launched in September 2018 running Android 8.1 Oreo-based MIUI 10. The phone soon got updated to MIUI 10.2 which ushered in Android 9 in February this year. This new update was spotted by Piunikaweb and it is for the  Chinese Beta ROM. However, its appearance is an indication that Xiaomi is likely working to bring Android 10-based builds of MIUI 11 to the phone but we can’t say if it will affect the Global Stable branch. There is even a link to download the update file but since it is the Chinese Beta build, you won’t get Google Play Store onboard.

 

(source)

 

Android 10 stable update arrives for the Motorola One Power

The Motorola One Power is the latest smartphone from Motorola to get the Android 10 stable update. The mid-ranger which was launched in October 2018 was originally on the Android 10 closed beta program last month.

Motorola One Power

Motorola says the update began rolling out on December 10, 2019, and expects all devices to have received it by January 10, 2020. This means it is rolling out in stages.

The update arrives as version QPT30.61-18. It comes with the December 2019 security patch and also includes bug fixes and improves system stability.

Motorola One Power Android 10 stable update

The Motorola One Power has a 6.2-inch 1080 x 2246 display with aa wide notch at the top. It is powered by the Snapdragon 636 processor and comes with 3GB, 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of expandable storage via a dedicated MicroSD card slot.

The phone has 16MP + 5MP dual rear cameras and a 12MP selfie camera which has its own LED flash. The Motorola One Power has a 5000mAh battery with support for 15W TurboPower fast charge via a USB Type-C port. It also has an audio jack, Dolby Audio, and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

When it launched last year, it ran Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. It later got updated to Android 9 Pie in November 2018. This Android 10 update might as well be its last Android OS upgrade. However, security updates may continue for the next year or thereabout.

Motorola didn’t announce an Android 10 update roadmap, so we can’t say which device will get the update next. However, its other Android One phones should get it earlier than those not on the Android One program.

(Via)

PUBG Mobile and Peace Elite crosses $1.5 Billion in Global Revenues

According to a new report, the massively popular Tencent Gaming titles PUBG Mobile and Peace Elite have earned a global revenue crossing $1.5 billion. It makes the titles one of the most successful mobile games across the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android) platforms.

PUBG Mobile and Peace Elite are free to play games that are based on the popular battle royale genre, that sees 100 people dropping into a map and fight it out to be the last man standing. The report suggests that the total global revenue of PUBG Mobile and Peace Elite has crossed $1.3 billion in just 2019. This makes the year see 88 percent of the total revenue generation since its initial launch back in 2018.

game test-PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile

Notably, Peace Elite (Chinese version) was launched in May 2019 which is almost a year after PUBG Mobile (global version). However, data statistics show that the Chinese players’ consumption in this series is ahead of the global market. Currently, the revenue from China’s App Store is $614 million alone, which accounts for 40 percent of the total revenue so far. The US players arrive second with a contribution of $293 million and a 20 percent share. Similarly, the third spot goes to Japan which generated $117 million that is 8 percent of the total revenue.

The report also shared that iOS versions generated more revenue than their Android counterparts. App Store generated $1.08 billion alone, which accounts for 72 percent of the total revenue while Google’s Play Store brought in just $438 million accounting for only 28 percent.

PUBG Mobile
PUBG Mobile Stats showing Quaterly Growth (Via Sensor Tower)

Among the overseas market, games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile are ranked in the top three in terms of popularity. Furthermore, Tencent’s PUBG generated nearly $70 million in November 2019 which is a month-on-month increase of 30.1 percent. As for the title of the top-grossing game, Candy Crush Saga with $88.4 million is at the top followed by PUBG Mobile as a close second.

 

(Via)

OPPO Find X2 launch in Q1 2020 confirmed with better display, SD865 and new Sony lens

Since the past few years, OPPO had been targeting the mid-range and high-end users in China. The OPPO Find X that went official last year had arrived as the company’s first flagship phone in recent years. The Find X was a premium flagship phone that came with a notch-less screen, pop-up camera module for front and rear cameras and 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charging technology. The Find X was the first Android phone ever to arrive with 3D face unlock feature. While the rumor mill expected the arrival of a successor phone for Find X in this year, OPPO VP Brain Shen had claimed that is arrival has been delayed to 2020. OPPO fans who have been waiting for it can rejoice as the company has confirmed today during a press meet that it will be launching the OPPO Find X2 in the first quarter of 2020. It has also revealed some key information on the device.

The OPPO Find X2 will be powered by the Snapdragon 865 mobile platform that was introduced earlier this year. This means the Find X2 will be a 5G-ready device as the SoC ships along with the latest X55 5G modem that supports sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G frequencies. Unfortunately, the Find X2 won’t carry support for mmWave 5G.

Oppo-Find-X-featured

The display will be one of the key features of the Find X2 as it will deliver higher resolution and better fresh rate. In comparison to the last year’s model, fans can expect wider dynamic range and better color reproduction on the Find X2. There is no confirmation on whether the company will be using the upcoming in-screen camera technology on the device. Now that mid-range phones like Redmi K30 are equipped with 120Hz refresh rate display, the Find X2 to may also come with the same or higher refresh rate display.

The OPPO Find X2 will offer stellar photography experience as it is expected to arrive with Sony’ latest image sensor that is called All Pixel Omnidirectional PDAF that will be accompanied with the new 2×2 On-Chip Lens (OCL) solution. Compared to other sensors, the new camera sensor from Sony constitutes of on-chip lens for two pixels instead of one lens on each pixel. The new lens promises faster and accurate autofocus and also it will assist in focusing more in low-light conditions.

Since the OPPO Find X2 is arriving in Q1 2020, it will be aimed to rival with the likes of Samsung’s Galaxy S11 series and Xiaomi’s Mi 10 lineup that will break cover in the same quarter. The technical specs of the Find X2 are currently under the wraps.

 

 

 

(source)

Moto G8 Power spotted in US FCC documents; Launch could be nearing

The upcoming Moto G8 Power has been spotted with its ‘Sofia’ codename on the database of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S for the first time, revealing a few of its key features. The G8 Power (model number XT2041-4) was mentioned alongside a second undisclosed device (model number XT2045-2). The FCC appearance of the G8 Power suggests that its arrival could de drawing near. 

Motorola had launched Moto G8 Plus and G8 Play phones few months. Soon after the launch, XDA Developers Editor-in-Chief Mishaal Rahman had revealed about the existence o Moto G8 Power. According to the FCC’s documents, the forthcoming Moto G8 Power (XT2041-4) is mentioned to feature a 5,000mAh battery. The smartphone measures 157.9 x 75.8 mm, while its thickness is not yet known. The device likely flaunts a 6.2-inch or 6.3-inch display. 

In the recent past, the Moto G8 Power was spotted during the Wi-Fi Alliance certification. The device runs on Android 10 and supports 5G Wi-Fi and dual-band 2.4G. The Moto G8 Power is likely to feature Snapdragon 665 under the hood. The Moto G8 Plus which launched earlier this year is also equipped with the same chipset.

Moto G8 Plus
Moto G8 Plus

In related news, the Moto XT2045-2 was also spotted at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) this year, hinting that the device might launch in 2020. With the advent of the 5G spectrum, numerous smartphone manufacturers were eagerly waiting for Qualcomm to launch its 5G-compliant range of SoCs. With the SD765/765G and SD865 now ready for production, most major players have started announcing their plans for the next year. This list includes Motorola, with its arsenal of 5G smartphones.

Lenovo-owned Motorola is yet to launch a flagship smartphone since 2017. The company is expected to launch an SD865-fueled flagship in 2020, followed by a couple of SD765/765G-powered devices.

Earlier this month, Motorola launched the One Hyper which is an SD675-powered budget device running on Android One edition of Android 10. The One Hyper flaunts a 6.5-inch notch-less IPS LCD display and features 4GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device features a 64-megapixel + 8-megapixel rear-mounted dual camera setup, along with a 32-megapixel pop-up selfie camera. It draws power from a 4,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charge support.

 

 

(via)

Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 to feature an UTG display thinner than human hair

Samsung was one of the first smartphone manufacturers to launch a foldable device commercially in the market. Although the Galaxy Fold was off to a rough start, the company managed to pull through and eventually make the product a success. Now, the South Korean tech giant is reportedly gearing for the launch of the successor, Galaxy Fold 2, which will arrive with an Ultra Thin Glass display unlike the bendable polymer display used on the predecessor.

Previously, it was reported that Samsung signed a deal with another South Korean company that would supply the former with the UTG displays. However, now it has been confirmed to be the case as the company has submitted a trademark for the name “Ultra Thin Glass.”

Galaxy Fold 4G
Samsung Galaxy Fold

This move arrives after the disaster that had initially plagued Galaxy Fold devices when their polyamide film over its flexible display panel was accidentally removed by people. The removal process damaged the screen; thus, making glass a better alternative altogether.

The UTG is expected to be found in Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 handset is said to be thinner than 100 microns or even 30 microns. In other words, it is going to be super thin with a width similar to that of human hair. It also makes the smartphone considerably more scratch resistant. However, the one downside is that it is difficult to produce and is even more expensive than the previous display.

Samsung Galaxy Fold Display Issue
Samsung Galaxy Fold Display Issue

Samsung reportedly wants to bump up the production of foldable smartphones this year, to produce in the ranges of 5 to 6 million units for the market; most of these are expected to be the Galaxy Fold 2 with the new UTG display. Dowoo Insys is the South Korean supplier for the new display and Samsung has already invested KRW 12 Billion (roughly 10 million USD) for the expansion of its manufacturing capacity which currently stands at 500,000 units.

 

(Source)

Google Chrome v79 brings better password protection and other security enhancements

Google is rolling out a new version upgrade for the Google Chrome Browser. The new Google Chrome v79 includes several new security and privacy enhancements. The features like Password Protection, Real-Time Phishing Protection and some new gestures are part and parcel of the latest iteration.

Despite all the improtant features, the Password Protection is the significant addition to the new Chrome browser. It allows the users to get notifications of when your password gets stolen as part of data theft or some other security issue. The feature even alerts users when they are using the exposed password in some data breach.

Password Protection feature uses Google’s recently launched Password Checkup Tool to crosscheck the passwords. Google is using hashing and encryption algorithms to secure passwords while matching them using different encryption layers. The whole process is also called private set intersection with blinding. The feature can be enabled by heading to the Settings > Sync and Google Services. Moreover, it is limited to the users who have signed in the Chrome browser.

Real-time phishing protection is another feature enhancing protection against specific security issues. It iss a step forward by the search giant to make the web more secure. Google further said in a blog post, “Now we’ll be protecting your Google Account password when you sign in to Chrome, even if Sync is not enabled. In addition, this feature will now work for all the passwords you store in Chrome’s password manager. Hundreds of millions of more users will now benefit from the new warnings.” The interested users can enable this advanced security feature by enabling the “Make searches and browsing better” option in Chrome settings.

Switching profiles on Google Chrome has become an essential feature for advanced users. The search giant has added new gestures to switch between multiple profiles. Users can find the profile switching option on the top right corner.

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Realme X2 Pro Master Edition Brick Red model available for purchase in China

The Realme X2 Pro smartphone was made official in China in October. At the unveil event, the Chinese firm had also debuted Realme X2 Pro Master Edition. The latter was introduced two unique colors such as Concrete and Brick Red. On Nov. 11, the Concrete color variant of the Realme X2 Pro Master Edition had gone on sale in the home market. Today, the company has made available the Red Brick version of the Realme X2 Pro Master Edition available for purchase.

The Realme X2 Pro Master Edition was designed by partnering with Naoto Fukasawa, a known designer from Japan. The company has imprinted his signature on the back panel of the phone using PicoSure laser technology that can be used for 0.09mm thin line. The glass rear of the phone has a matte finish.

Realme X2 Pro Master Edition Price and Specifications

The Realme X2 Pro Master Edition Brick Red is priced at 3,199 Yuan (~$455). The device ships with 12 GB of RAM and an internal storage of 256 GB. The remaining specs of the Master Edition are identical with its regular version.

The Realme X2 Pro Master Edition has a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with waterdrop notch. It offers full HD+ resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The display supports a refresh rate of 90Hz and its integrated with a fingerprint scanner.

Realme X2 Pro Master Edition Red Brick
Realme X2 Pro Master Edition Red Brick

The X2 Pro Master Edition has Snapdragon 855 mobile platform onboard. The phone comes with LPDDR4x RAM and UFS 3.0 storage. There is no microSD card slot on the device. The Android 9 Pie OS runs on the X2 Pro Master Edition along with ColorOS 6 UI.

There is a quad camera system on the rear side of Realme X2 Pro Master Edition. It has a 64-megapixel with f/1.8 aperture, an ultrawide lens of 8-megapixel, a macro lens of 2-megapixel and a depth assist sensor of 2-megapixel.  For shooting selfies, the smartphone possesses a front-facing camera of 32-megapixel.

The Realme X2 Pro Master Edition draws power from a 4,000mAh battery. The phone is equipped with support for 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge technology that promises full charging in 35 minutes through USB-C. The other features of the X2 Pro Master Edition include dual SIM support, 4G VoLTE, dual-band GPS, USB-C and 3.5mm audio jack.

 

 

 

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Xiaomi Youpin launches the feature filled BeeBest Smart Walkie-talkie

 

Xiaomi crowdfunding has successfully launched a lot of devices, and it seems like today’s will be no exception. The latest product from Xiaomi Youpin is the Gigabee BeeBest Smart Walkie-talkie. It’s a modern walkie-talkie with a slew of features that could come in handy at any time, all for the price of 399 yuan which comes up to about $57.

So, what features can we expect from the BeeBest Smart Walkie-talkie? For starters, the device features 4G and WiFi networking. Every purchase of the device will come with a free 4G sim card, as well as free 4G for a year. It also has a very far-reaching signal, with devices still being able to communicate with each other from 5000 kilometers away.

As you’d expect from a 4G enabled device like this, the BeeBest Smart Walkie-talkie also features phone calls. It comes with Beidou’s GPS hybrid positioning system for real time location checking even without internet. It even features Xiaomi’s AI assistant built into it. Nothing here is too insane, but it’s very solid set of features for a walkie-talkie.

In terms of battery life, the BeeBest walkie talkie has a 60 hour standby time and 40 hours of actual usage. The device is charged via USB-C, so your pre-existing cables should work with it just fine. Overall, it’s a pretty decent walkie-talkie for the price. It’s nothing crazy, but it’s nice to see Xiaomi releasing these niche products for through Youpin.

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German carrier picks Huawei to build its 5G network

Telefonica Deutschland, which is Germany’s one of the leading mobile carriers, has picked Huawei and Nokia to build out its 5G network. 5G is said to be the next-big-thing and the next-generation mobile network that promise super-fast data speeds and low latency.

This move is being seen by many as a potential snub to the U.S. government which has been campaigning for its allies to keep the China-based telecoms equipment giant out of their 5G networks.

huawei

The United States is suggesting that the usage of Huawei represents national security risk because its equipment could be used for espionage by China. While U.S. has not provided any evidence to support its claim, Huawei has repeatedly denied this allegation.

Getting picked up by Telefonica Deutschland seems like a major relief for Huawei which has been facing scrutiny amid boycott campaign led by the United States. Countries like Japan and Australia have effectively banned the company from their 5G networks while the United Kingdom has yet to make a final decision.

However, the decision isn’t surprising given that the German government decided in October that it would not exclude Huawei from its 5G networks. Instead, the country introduced a draft proposal for security guidelines when it comes to 5G equipment in which the equipment from vendors need to be certified.

Telefonica Deutschland said has said that the company was waiting for government approval. Now, Huawei and Nokia will help the company build its so-called Radio Access Network or RAN. This is the part of the network that hooks up devices with the actual 5G signal. In terms of security, the RAN is often seen as less sensitive than the core.

The company has also announced that it would cut its 2019 dividend by 37 percent in order to prioritize network investments. This comes on the heels of similar cuts in the payout by its competitors Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone.

Telefonica said that work should start in early 2020 and said it expected to have 5G up and running in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt by the end of 2021. A year later, 30 cities with a population of 16 million would be covered. Both of the company’s competitors are existing customers of Huawei but have yet to publicly confirm whether they will stick with the Chinese networks leader for 5G.

(Via)