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

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

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.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung W20 5G is now listed with 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung W20 5G is now listed with 19,999 Yuan (~$2,843) in China

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

By

Sean

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

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.

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.

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

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

By

Sean

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

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

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.

Editor’s Pick: Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 to feature an UTG display thinner than human hair

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.

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!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 12, 2019

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

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 12, 2019

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 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.

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

By

Sean

-

Dec 12, 2019

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.

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.

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

Editor’s Pick: Huawei and Honor online market share exceeds Xiaomi, Vivo, Apple and OPPO in Q3 in China: Counterpoint report

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

There's still the regular Moto G8, and I've seen evidence that there's a Moto G8 Power, too. G8 Power, code-named "sofia," is being tested with Android 10, and it seems to be built on the same platform as the G8 Plus (sm6125.) There also seems to be another variant, "sofiap." https://t.co/zsrWOOADg8

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) October 24, 2019

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.

Editor’s Pick: Motorola Razr 2 may feature touch sensors on its sides

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.

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

By

Sean

-

Dec 12, 2019

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.”

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 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

By

Simranpal Singh

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

(via)

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

Editor’s Pick: Realme Buds Air to arrive with wireless charging support

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.

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.

(source)

Xiaomi Youpin launches the feature filled BeeBest Smart Walkie-talkie

By

Airyl Jaszly

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

(Source)

German carrier picks Huawei to build its 5G network

By

Jeet

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Dec 12, 2019

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.

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)

Sony invents 2×2 On-Chip Lens Solution (OCL) for less blurry photos

By

Airyl Jaszly

-

Dec 12, 2019

Image sensors, especially ones with small pixels like in smartphones, feature an on-chip micro lens array to help guide all the arriving light to the sensor’s photo diode. Right now, each pixel gets its own lens, but Sony has developed a way for four adjacent pixels to share a lens. Compared to past tech, cameras will be twice as accurate when seeking focus. This system is enabled with the just-revealed Sony 2×2 On-Chip Lens Solution (OCL) for future mobile image sensors.

Sony first revealed their 2×2 OCL mobile camera tech two days ago and was described as follows: “The 2×2 On-Chip Lens (OCL) solution is a new image sensor technology for achieving high-speed focus, high-resolution, high-sensitivity, and high dynamic range.” Where the best Sony Quad Bayer sensors had an on-chip lens for each individual pixel, this new solution uses one on-chip lens for each four adjacent pixel set.

The main advantage of this design setup will be improved autofocus performance, especially in the dark. PDAF (Phase detection autofocus) relies on focus pixels whose output is not part of the final image – which means they have to be spaced out, reducing the coverage. With 2×2 OCL, all pixels can be used as part of the focus detection system. This also solves a related issue where low horizontal detail negatively affects the AF system’s performance.

As for when it’s coming to consumers, don’t expect it too soon. The 2×2 On-Chip Lens Solution (OCL) was only revealed days ago. Sony did not specify where this newly-revealed tech would be released first. It’s not likely we’ll see this in early 2020 – but it wouldn’t be a bad bet to see it in smartphones in the latter half of the year.

(Source)

Oppo Reno3 series smartphones to come with 360-degree antenna design

By

Jeet

-

Dec 12, 2019

Oppo has already confirmed that it will be hosting a launch event on 26th December in China where the company will officially launched the upcoming Oppo Reno3 series smartphones with 5G connectivity support.

The company has already revealed some of the key features and specifications of the smartphone. It is already known that both the Reno3 and Reno3 Pro will be the first devices from Oppo to have dual-mode SA/NSA 5G support.

Now, Oppo’s Vice President Shen Yiren has shed light on the phone’s antenna design. He has revealed that the smartphones will come with a 360-degree surround antenna design which will help keep the signal stable even when playing games or doing other things.

With the use-case of the smartphones changing, mobile manufacturers are coming up with new designs for antenna to make sure that the phone-holding pattern of the user doesn’t mess with the signal reception, a phenomenon known as “death grip”. And this offering from Oppo is in line with that.

It is also said that the phone will intelligently switch between 4G and 5G connections, depending on what you’re doing, the internal temperature and battery consumption. For example, launching a video will put the modem in 5G mode so that it can pre-load the video and start playback as quickly as possible.

Recently launched Redmi K30 smartphone also comes with an unusual 12 antennas, which is about 2.4 times the number that is found in 4G smartphones. The company also mentioned that it is now using a new structural design and complex RF solution to make 5G signals stronger and much more stable.

Oppo Reno3 is expected to come powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1000 SoC while the Pro model is expected to pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset, the same processor that powers the Redmi K30 5G smartphone.

Since the company has revealed almost every major feature for the upcoming smartphones, only the variants and pricing details remain to be seen, which will be revealed during the launch event in the coming days. Oppo will also launch its Enco Free TWS earbuds at the same event.

Huawei and Honor online market share exceeds Xiaomi, Vivo, Apple and OPPO in Q3 in China: Counterpoint report

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 12, 2019

Counterpoint has released the report for the online smartphones sales in the third quarter of 2019 in China. The list is led by Huawei and its sub-brand Honor. The combined sales of Huawei and Honor have exceeded the total market share of Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo.

According to Counterpoint’s survey, Huawei held a market share of 26 percent in Q3 and Honor had a market share 20 percent. The dual brand strategy allowed Huawei to account for 46 percent of the online market share. Xiaomi, Vivo, Apple and OPPO held 14 percent, 10 percent, 9 percent and 5 percent market shares respectively in Q3 2019. These four brands together constitute for 38 percent online market share.

Counterpoint claimed that Huawei has continuously aimed the high-end smartphone market with its P and Mate series of smartphones. The sales of its high-end phones have been consistently increasing year after year. The Huawei P30 and P30 Pro was found to be the only hot-selling Android phones in the high-end smartphone in Q3 2019 in China. Apart from its flagship products, the Nova 5 series, Enjoy 9 and Enjoy 9 Plus have also met with good reception in the online market.

Honor has been mainly targeting the youth and online market. The Honor 9X is one of the bestselling phones in the online market. The Honor 20 and Honor 20i phones are also selling well in China.

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At the beginning of the year, Xiaomi had an online market share of 20 percent. Hence, its current standing of 13 percent is a significant decline. Vivo ranked with fourth with 10 percent market share. In Q1 2019, Apple had held 9 percent online market share. In Q3, it has ranked fifth with the same market share. OPPO’s market share of 5 percent in online sales is quite low compared to the major brands.

Counterpoint is of the view that Huawei, Honor and Apple will be the main winners in the online market share of China in Q4 2019. The Huawei-Honor dual brand strategy may allow them to account for half of China’s online market. The arrival of 5G phones in the Chinese market at the end of 2019 will certainly help in driving more smartphone sales in the Chinese market.

Xiaomi leads Smart TV market in India with 33 percent market share

By

Jeet

-

Dec 12, 2019

Xiaomi not only brings new smartphones in the Indian market but also keeps pushing new models of its smart TV as well. The company is using the same strategy for TVs in India as of smartphones, offering new technology at cheaper prices.

These efforts from the Chinese company have proved fruitful and this time again, Xiaomi is leading the Indian Smart TV market. As per the report from IDC, Xiaomi’s Mi TV holds about 33 percent of the market share when it comes to Smart TVs in India.

Following Mi TV range in India in the second spot is Samsung India with a market share of 14 percent. LG sits at third with a share of 13 percent whereas Sony gets a share of 10 percent in the smart TV space. TCL sat last in the top five with a share of 9 percent.

The report also reveals that the Xiaomi Mi TV range has seen Quarter-on-Quarter growth of 46 percent and a Year-on-Year growth of 69 percent. In addition, the report shows that the Mi TV market share is 19 percent greater than Samsung, 20 percent higher than LG and Sony, and 24 percent higher than TCL.

Xiaomi is offering a massive range of Mi TV models in the Indian market, pretty much at every price point. The base models of the Mi TV 32-inches start from as low as ₹13,000 (approx. $184) and the entry-level 4K smart TVs starts from ₹24,999 (~$354). The most premium model, which is the 65-inch Mi TV 4X, is currently selling for ₹65,999 (~$934) in India, which is also the cheapest 65-inch smart TV you can buy in India.

Apart from the pricing, another major selling point for the Mi TVs in India is that all the models run on Google Certified Android TV operating system. It comes pre-installed with the company’s own Patchwall 2.0 custom user interface, which is a modified interface bringing content from various OTT platforms.

Recently, the Mi TV models have also gained support from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The latest launch in the Mi TV series is the Mi TV 4X 55-inch 2020 edition that comes with a 4K HDR display and native support for Netflix as well as Amazon Prime Video. The company has said that Mi TVs are available for purchase across 70+ Mi Homes, 20+ Mi Studios, 2,500+ Mi Stores, and several Mi Preferred Partner outlets in India.

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