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Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL official spec sheet reveals Pixel Neural Core SoC inside

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will arrive in about two weeks, bringing new features such as multiple rear cameras, Face ID, and new software features. There are tons of leaks of both phones already but more are still pouring in. The latest is an official spec sheet of both phones.

Pixel 4
Pixel 4

The spec sheet was posted on the web by 9to5Google and it reveals details we already know as well as some new ones.

The Pixel 4 will have a 5.7-inch FHD+ “Smooth Display”. The spec sheet reveals it is an OLED panel with a refresh rate up to 90Hz and Ambient EQ. The larger Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch Quad HD+ screen with the same features and refresh rate.

While the Pixel 4 packs a bigger screen than its predecessor, it comes with a smaller battery capacity. The spec sheet says it is a 2800mAh battery while its bigger sibling has a 3700mAh battery. Both phones will come with an 18W USB-C power adapter.

Powering both phones is a Snapdragon 855 processor and not the more powerful Snapdragon 855+. However, there is another processor inside called the Pixel Neural Core. More info about this processor will definitely surface later but from the name, we know it handles AI and Machine Learning tasks. We presume this replaces the Pixel Visual Core in the previous models.

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The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will both come in a single RAM variant which is 6GB and users will be able to choose between purchasing the 64GB or 128GB version.

The Pixel phones are known for their camera prowess and they take great pictures even though they have just one rear camera in a market where having multiple sensors is the rave. This year Google is adding an additional camera to the back of both phones. The spec sheet says the phones will have a 12MP Dual-Pixel main camera and a 16MP telephoto camera.

The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will also have stereo speakers, USB-C 3.0, Face Unlock, Motion Sense, Titan M Security Module, and 3 years of security and OS updates. Since both phones will launch with Android 10, expect Android 11, Android 12, and Android 13 updates.

The spec sheet also reveals what is inside the box of the new Pixel 4 phones. There is a 1m long USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) for charging and data transfer, there is an 18W power adapter, a quick switch adapter, a SIM tool, and a Quick Start Guide.

 

Buy Nitecore HC65 LED Headlamp for Just $49.99 from Gearbest [Coupon]

Gearbest is a Chinese online store that doesn’t disappoint when it comes to buying high-end products at unbeatable prices. To give its loyal users something to cheer about, Gearbest offers great discounts on a wide selection of amazing products.

Nitecore HC65 Portable 1000lm LED Headlamp with 18650 Battery

We will be checking out the noteworthy discount Gearbest is doling out on the Nitecore HC65 Portable 1000lm LED Headlamp, and even show how you can save a considerable amount of more money at checkout. So without wasting more time, let’s delve into the details.

The Nitecore HC65 is a highly useful LED headlamp that features U2 LED beads with a max output of 1000 lumens, offering an impressive 110m of max beam distance. In addition to offering seven brightness levels, it allows you to switch between four special modes to meet your lighting needs.

It is a great choice for adventure junkies who go camping, and hiking. Aside from that, the Nitecore HC65 is an ideal device for using at home or even gifting as it can be used for emergency lighting purposes.Nitecore HC65 Portable 1000lm LED Headlamp with 18650 Battery - Black

A high-end LED headlamp normally carries a steep price tag, which stops cost-conscious from their hands on it. The Nitecore HC65, on the other hand, will set you back only $74.95 on Gearbest.

If that doesn’t impress you much, you can grab an extra $24.96 off by applying coupon code NTHC65GB at the time of checking out. In other words, you can bring the already reduced asking price of the Nitecore HC65 LED Headlamp further down to just $49.99 before placing your order.

Made using a sturdy aluminum alloy material, the durable and practical Nitecore HC65 weighs in at just 0.0980 kg, making it an easy-to-carry LED headlamp. To get the discount and use the coupon before it expires, all you need to do is to follow this link.

Grab great charging solution deals from Choetech starting from just $9.11! (coupons)

Choetech is a rising star in the mobile accessories market with a product portfolio that ranges from chargers to hubs and audio accessories. To make a statement and let more users become familiar with its products and their build quality, the Chinese manufacturer is offering three great deals that you can find on Amazon US and get the discount using the coupons found below. Let’s see what they’ve got.

 

Choetech Fast Wireless Charger Pad

Choetech charging pad

The charging pad on offer has an ultra-slim profile and sports anti-slip rubber to keep it always in place. It is compatible with all Qi-certified smartphones and other devices. The supported power is 7.5W for the iPhone series starting from iPhone 8 up to the newest models. Also, it can each 10W wireless charging for devices that support it like all Samsung flagships from Galaxy Note 8 up to the latest S10 and Note 10. You can get it at just $9.11 on Amazon using coupon IUVYMALR.

 

Choetech 15W Wireless Charging Stand

Choetech stand

The wireless charging stand from the company supports even faster charging as it can reach up to 15W thanks to its dual-coil design. So, it is suitable for all phones with 15W support like Samsung flagships as well as LG flagships. The wide charging area allows you to place your phone either vertically or horizontally. There is a QC3.0 charger included and you can get it for just $17 from here using coupon ZV7DRMNP.

 

Choetech 14W Solar Panel waterproof charger

Choetech Solar charger

Last but not least, Choetech offers a charger that can work without a power outlet nearby. It uses solar panels to convert solar power into electricity of 14W. It is perfect for taking it when going camping and its foldable design makes it easy to carry around. Also, let’s not forget that it is environmentally friendly too! You can get it at just $29.99 from Amazon using coupon DJLE5Z54.

Xiaomi launches the Viomi Travel Electric Cup with Thermos and Water heating functions

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain partner Viomi is known for its cool home gadgets that range from dishwashers to portable stuff like water kettle, thermos flasks, smart garbage disposal, smart water heater. The company has just updated its Thermos flask lineup with the addition of a product we all should need, especially those who are always on the road. The Viomi Travel Electric Cup as it is called is a thermos flask for storing hot water and also a water heater with a 300W power rating which can heat up water when need. The device comes with a crowdfunding price of  99 yuan ($14).Viomi Travel Electric Kettle

The body of the Viomi Travel Electric Cup is made from 304 stainless steel and has a capacity of 400ml. The flask weighs just 0.5kg, making it easy to carry around. The design includes a hidden power cord at the bottom which is used to connect it to a power source whenever you need to heat up water. The design ensures the cord is neatly tucked under the flask after use.

The inside of the electric cup is made of SUS304 stainless steel which meets the requirements of GB 4806 food contact grade. It has the advantages of not easy to rust, anti-fouling, good cleaning and no plastic odour.

Hollow design is used between the cup body and the inner liner to provide insulation and anti-scalding. After the water is boiled, it is safe to hold the cup. It can keep the water hot for up to 3 hours but under the boiling mode, the water can be kept hot for up to 12 hours. There is a one-touch high-sensitivity touch switch on the body of the flask. After it is powered on, a single click activates the boiling mode and it takes just 6-8 minutes for the water to boil.

 

New videos show capabilities of the new Google Assistant on Pixel 4

Google has scheduled a launch event on 15th October where the company is all set to launch the Pixel 4 series flagship smartphones, a couple of Nest devices as well as Pixel Buds 2 wireless earphones.

Ahead of the launch of the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, most of their specifications and features have already leaked online. Now, a new video has surfaced online which showcases the power of the new Google Assistant present on the Pixel 4 smartphone.

google assistant

If the reports are to be believed, then the Pixel 4 series will come with a new Google Assistant which will have all the features of the “old” Google Assistant as well as some new additions. A promo video of the same has now leaked online, giving us idea about how powerful the updated Assistant will be.

The video shows people using voice commands to control aspects of their phones. In one video, the user is asking Assistant about the nearest metro station once the directions are provided by the app, the user then asks Google to send a text to their friend to let them know they are on the way.

In another example, it is shown that a person arrives at a secluded area on a lake and asks Google Assistant to turn on Do Not Disturb mode, which it does. Do note that the current version of Assistant can also do these tasks.

However, in the video, we can see that the user interface of the so-called new Google Assistant has been updated. It now looks much simpler and has a colorful bar at the bottom that moves along with different functions.

There’s another example which showcases the new Assistant’s capabilities. In the video, the user gets a text from a friend asking when their flight lands. The user then asks Assistant “What time is my flight?” and it pulls up the information without even needing to switch apps.

Afterwards, the user says another command “Reply I get in at 5:45 PM”, without saying “OK Google” at the beginning. But since Assistant can understand the context of that query, it already knows what to do. Now, this is an advanced feature that’s currently not possible with Assistant which such efficiency.

There’s yet another video showcasing the feature where the user says “Show me my photos from last weekend.” Then, Google Assistant opens Google Photos and shows the user’s photos from the previous weekend. This is followed by the user saying “Show me the ones with a dog” and it only shows photos that feature a dog from that past weekend.

It remains to be seen if the new Google Assistant will be limited to the new Pixel 4 series flagship smartphones or the company rolls out the feature for other devices as well.

(Source)

Dual Camera-toting Huawei ART-TL00X’ TENAA images surface

Huawei has a new smartphone coming soon. TENAA images of the device which has model number ART-TL00X have now surfaced on the web to give us an early look.

The Huawei ART-TL00X has a display with a punch hole for the camera in the top right corner just like that of the Huawei Nova 4. The display is over 6-inches in size but the exact dimension is not known.

On the back, the phone has dual cameras arranged vertically on the left side of the phone. The sensors share the same housing with the LED flash, and the setup, when viewed from the sides, shows a camera bump that is quite visible.

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The Huawei ART-TL00X has a blue-green gradient finish but there should be other color variants available when it launches. The volume and power buttons are on the right while the SIM tray is on the left side of the frame

What is unusual about the phone is its lack of a fingerprint scanner on the rear and on the sides. It is either it doesn’t have one at all, making it an entry-level smartphone or there is one under the display. If it is the latter, that means it is an AMOLED display and that will make it the first non-Samsung phone with a punch-hole screen with an in-display fingerprint scanner.

The specs of the phone are still unknown but they should become known when TENAA publishes the listing after the Chinese holidays.

 

(Via)

‘Apple keeps prices as low as possible’ claims Tim Cook

Apple CEO, Tim Cook is on a visit to Germany and after attending the Oktoberfest, he stopped by the office of Blinkist which is a Berlin-based startup. While at Blinkist office, he sat with German publication Stern to talk about the new iPhones (1, 2, 3) and the Apple TV+ service.Tim Cook at Blinkist Germany | 1

The senior Apple official highlighted that his company always tries to ‘keep the price of their offerings as low as possible’. Due to this strategy only, Apple was able to price the iPhone 11 for € 800 which is €50 less than last year’s iPhone XR.

Speaking about Apple TV+, he said that the subscription costs €5 a month which is about 40 per cent more affordable than its key competitor, Netflix’s base plan that costs €8 and does not even include HD streaming. With that being said, his company believes that Netflix is not afraid of Apple’s new service, as most customers tend to subscribe to multiple video streaming services rather than just one, in order to gain access to the wide variety of content that is available out there.

Tim also talked about a potential issue that his company might face in the future. He pointed out that Elizabeth Warren, who is a candidate for the US presidency, wants to break up large tech companies, due to which his company could face some serious implications.

While Apple is facing pressure from the US Supreme Court based upon claims that the company has monopolized the iOS App Store, Tim defended his company and said that about 86 percent of all the applications on the App Store are free to download and the 30 percent fees are justifiable as this allows the come to ensure that only applications matching its standard reach the customer.Tim Cook at Blinkist Germany | 2

Even though consumers seem to have a positive opinion about Apple’s latest hardware, software and service offerings; it might have a rocky road ahead due to fierce competition, issues like the splitting of large companies and criticism from the US supreme court which was previously mentioned.

(source)

 

Google Pixel Buds 2 to launch alongside Pixel 4

The Pixel Buds launched alongside the second-gen Pixel back in 2017. The Bluetooth headphones with Google Assistant and real-time translation got lukewarm reviews and wasn’t a hit. It has now been reported that the Pixel Buds 2 may arrive this year on October 15.

Pixel Buds

There are no details about Google’s new earphones. Of course, it should still have Google Assistant built-in, but its design is a mystery. Will it keep the design of its predecessor i.e. with a cable connecting both earbuds or will it be true wireless earbuds?

We sure do expect some big changes when Google unveils the Pixel Buds 2 later this month. With those changes may come an increase in price too but they will probably keep it under the $200 mark.

Another audio product we expect Google to announce at the Made by Google event is a new Google Home Mini smart speaker, though it is reported it will arrive as the Nest Mini since Google’s smart home products are now under the Nest brand.

 

Android 10 update for OnePlus 7 series has not rolled out to everyone yet

OnePlus has been fast in rolling out update for its flagship smartphones and the company did the same with the OnePlus 7 series. It has been almost two weeks since OnePlus started rolling out Android 10 update for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro smartphones.

However, many users of those devices have reported on Reddit and official OnePlus forums that they haven’t received the new Android 10 update. While the rollout was said to be a phased manner, which should take only a few days.

Android 10 OxygenOs 10 OnePlus 7 Pro

Now, it’s been around 12 days since OnePlus announced the rollout for the 7 and 7 Pro smartphones and still not everyone has received the update. This could mean that the update has been halted or delayed by the company but the company has not yet announced anything related to this.

The Chinese company started rolling out the stable build of Android 10 after two Open Beta builds for the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro. The stable update brings a host of new Android 10 features alongside OxygenOS 10 features such as notifications segregation, Wi-Fi sharing, a new game space, and a smarter ambient display.

The complete change log of the OxygenOS 10 includes following:

  • System
    • Upgraded to Android 10
    • Brand new UI design
    • Enhanced location permissions for privacy
    • New customization feature in Settings allowing you to choose icon shapes to be displayed in the Quick Settings
  • Full Screen Gestures
    • Added inward swipes from the left or right edge of the screen to go back
    • Added a bottom navigation bar to allow switching left or right for recent apps
  • Game Space
    • New Game Space feature now joins all your favorite games in one place for easier access and better gaming experience
  • Smart display
    • Intelligent info based on specific times, locations and events for Ambient Display (Settings – Display – Ambient Display – Smart Display)
  • Message
    • Now possible to block spam by keywords for Message (Messages – Spam – Settings -Blocking settings)

The company has already confirmed that the Android 10 public beta for OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T users in China will be made available in late October while the stable version will be arriving in late November.

Further, it has also confirmed that the update for OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T will be available by second quarter of 2020 in China. OxygenOS builds are known for arriving shortly after the release of HydrogenOS builds. However, there is no official confirmation yet on the OxygenOS based Android 10 updates for OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 5 series smartphones.

 

Redmi 8 is all set to debut in India on October 9

Xiaomi launched the Redmi 8A smartphone in the Indian market a couple of weeks ago. Now, the company has confirmed that the Redmi 8 smartphone will make its debut in India on 9th October.

In the teaser image shared by the company for announcing the launch date, Xiaomi seems to be focusing on two aspects for promoting the device — battery and camera. Manu Kumar Jain, Xiaomi India MD has teased the smartphone as “battery champion” and says that you can “play more”, “click more”, “watch more”, and “store more”.

Redmi 8 India Launch Date

While the company has not revealed the specifications of the Redmi 8, the phone was recently listed on TENAA and was also spotted on Google Play Console, revealing almost everything when it comes to specifications.

As per the leaks, the Redmi 8, which carries model number M1908C3IC, will come with 6.21-inch HD+ display offering 1520 x 720 pixels screen resolution at 320PPI pixel density. Under the hood, the device will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 mobile platform, along with 3GB of RAM.

 

The listing also reveals that the smartphone will come running Android 9 Pie operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s own MIUI 10. In the camera department, the smartphone will have a dual-camera setup on the back consisting of a 12MP primary Sony IMX363 sensor and a 5MP depth sensor.

On the front side, the device will come equipped with an 8MP snapper for taking selfies and video calling. Earlier, it was revealed that the phone will pack a massive 5,000mAh battery and the device is also expected to have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The phone is also speculated to have USB Type-C port at the bottom.

Tipster Ishan Agarwal had earlier revealed that the Redmi 8 will be made official in variants such as 3GB RAM with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage in China. The device is expected to come in four colors — Phantom Red, Fairy Green, Carbon Ash, and Sapphire Blue. Since the Redmi 7 was launched in India for ₹7,999, we expect similar pricing for this Redmi 8 smartphone.

 

US offers data localization alternatives to India, pressures them to avoid Huawei

Huawei‘s US ban is now a storied saga in smartphone history. For those not in the know, the US has banned the company and threatened sanctions against anybody doing selling or buying technology from the Chinese company. They’ve also banned the sale of US products or technology to any company that might use Huawei technology. This has also apparently extended to other countries, as India is currently under pressure from the US as well.

In an interview with Economic Times, sources within India claimed that the US delegation urged that New Delhi and Washington should “work together only with trusted sources” when deploying 5G. The implication, they said, was that Chinese telecom gear makers such as Huawei should be kept out of partnering in next generation telecom technology.

Huawei has on its part made public statements made earlier in India on security. “Huawei is part of the positive initiatives to improve India’s network security and capability which goes beyond just 5G,” its India CEO Jay Chen had said. As of right now, then company is still actively doing business in India, even launching some new products there.

Huawei is a world leader in 5G technology along with South Korean Samsung and offers a definite price advantage when compared to European players like Ericsson and Nokia. Some Indian officials had earlier doubted if the country would be able to attain the goal of 5G coverage across the rural landscape if it summarily kept out a major player like Huawei.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro featured 08

In other news, Huawei recently launched the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro flagship in another country for the first time earlier today, that being in Malaysia. The launch of the Mate 30 series devices outside China comes at a time when there’s uncertainty over access to Google apps and services through Huawei’s phones, so it’ll be interesting to see how it performs.

(Source)

 

Popular display mirroring app ‘Duet Display’ is now available for Android

With the latest macOS Catalina and iPadOS, Apple introduced an all new productivity focused feature called ‘sidecar’. It allows device owners to utilise their iPad as a secondary display to their Mac computers. However, long before Apple baked this feature into its devices, an app called ‘Duet Display’ has been providing users with a similar experience which is also available for PCs running Windows 7 or higher.

To take things a step further and expand their customer base, the developers have now launched Android and Chromebook versions of the same. Therefore, users can now use their Android smartphone or tablet as a secondary display for both Mac and PC.

Due to the touchscreen present on tablets and smartphones, Duet Display opens a whole new dimension of interaction with desktop centric operating systems, especially MacOS that natively does not support touch input.

The application makes perfect sense for users who travel with a laptop and tablet, as they can now increase their productivity several folds due to the addition screen real estate. In terms of features, ‘Duet Display’ supports gesture controls, customizable shortcuts and a user friendly ‘Touch Bar’.

The Android version of the application is currently offered at a discounted price of $ 9.99 which is significantly less than the standard $19.99 asking price.

Click here to visit Duet Display website and navigate to the downloads section.

 

OnePlus 7T Pro Indian release date possibly revealed as mid-October

OnePlus recently launched the brand new OnePlus 7T in Inda, with many believing we’d also see the OnePlus 7T Pro during the launch event. Unfortunately, nothing much was said about the device at the event, leaving many questioning when we’d see it. Thankfully, it seems the company is gearing up for a mid-October launch.

HDFC Bank’s SmartBuy offer page has revealed the availability of the upcoming smartphone on both online and offline channels. As per the offer page, the OnePlus 7T Pro will go on sale on Amazon starting from October 15. However, the page reveals that the launch date is tentative instead of confirmed.

Products One Plus 7 Pro One Plus 7T One Plus 7T Pro One Plus TV Offer Period for Respective Channels
Instant Discount Offer 2000 1500 3000 4000/5000
Amazon -Sale Go Live Date 5th Oct 2019 5th Oct 2019 Tentative 15th Oct 2019 5th Oct 2019 5th Oct -11th Oct 18th Oct – 20th Oct 26th Oct 2019- 4th Jan 2020
OnePlus.in – Sale Go Live Date 27th Sept 2019 27th Sept 2019 Tentative 10th Oct 2019 NA 27th Sept 2019 – 4th Jan 2020
Offline (OP Exclusive Stores)- Sale Go Live date 27th Sept 2019 27th Sept 2019 Tentative 10th Oct 2019 NA 27th Sept 2019 – 4th Jan 2020
Offline Distribution (Croma/RelianceDigital /Vijay Sales/Bajaj Electronics /Poojara Telecom /Top 10 Mobiles) 28th Sept 2019 4th Oct 2019 Tentative 10th Oct 2019 NA 28th Sept 2019 – 4th Jan 2020

On top of this, the smartphone will be available for purchase from OnePlus official online store along with OnePlus exclusive stores starting from October 10, 2019 which seems rather unlikely. The OnePlus 7T Pro will be available on major retail stores including Croma, RelianceDigital, Vijay Sales, Bajaj Electronics, Poojara Telecom, and Top 10 Mobiles.

The OnePlus 7T Pro will have a 6.65-inch Fluid AMOLED display with notch-less design. The Snapdragon 855+ will be powering the smartphone and it will be housing a large battery of 4,085mAh with Warp Charge 30T support. Its triple camera system will include a 48-megapixel primary lens, an 8-megapixel telephoto lens and a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens.

(Source)

Huawei Mate 30 series lands in Malaysia amid uncertainty over Google apps

Huawei recently launched the Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro flagship smartphones which are now available for purchase in its home market China. Today, the Chinese giant has launched the Mate 30 series smartphones in Malaysia.

The launch of the Mate 30 series devices outside China comes at a time when there’s uncertainty over access to Google apps and services through Huawei’s phones. It’s noteworthy that the Mate 30 series is the first from Huawei to come without access to Google’s services and apps after ban from the United States.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro featured 02

In Malaysia, both the smartphones come in two color options — Space Silver and Black. While the Mate 30 is priced at RM2,799, the Pro variant costs RM3,899. The company will soon reveal more details about its availability.

The company is also offering gifts worth RM1,115 with the purchase of the Mate 30 series in Malaysia, which includes a wireless in-car SuperCharge charger, a DJI Osmo Mobile 3 gimbal, a back case, and Huawei Care with extended one year warranty and six months screen crack warranty.

The launch of the Huawei Mate 30 series in Malaysia is a major move from the Chinese giant. Till now, the phones were limited to the Chinese market only, making Malaysia the first international market to get the Mate 30 series smartphones.

 

The Mate 30 series’ international launch comes just a day after it was reported that the workaround for the Google apps and services is no longer working. The workaround, which relied on LZ Play app, has been shut down after reported about the security concerns started making rounds online.

Lack of Google apps and services has virtually no impact as long as the phones are limited to the Chinese market. However, access to Google’s service is crucial when the phone comes to the international markets. While the company is pushing developers to work for its own app store named App Gallery and is willing to spend around $1 billion, it remains to be seen how it turns out.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro featured 05

Coming to the specifications, the Huawei Mate 30 features a 6.62-inch Full-HD+ Rigid OLED FullView display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It is powered by the 5G-ready Kirin 990 chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of native storage. It runs EMUI 10 based on Android 10 OS and is powered by a 4,200 mAh battery.

As for the cameras, the primary camera on the Mate 30 is a 40-megapixel sensor with an aperture rating of f/1.8. This works along with a 16-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with an aperture rating of f/2.2 and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with an aperture rating of f/2.4.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro featured 08

On the other hand, the Mate 30 Pro features a 6.53-inch Full-HD+ Flex OLED Horizon Display with a resolution of 1176 x 2400 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18.4:9. The device is powered by the same octa-core Kirin 990 SoC as the Mate 30 and is available with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

It comes with a quad camera setup at the rear which consists of a 40-megapixel sensor,  a 40-megapixel ultrawide lens, an 8-megapixel depth sensor and a 3D ToF sensors. The smartphone draws power from a 4,500 mAh battery with 27W wireless charging and 40W Huawei Super Charge technology.

 

Xiaomi is crowdfunding Yunmi Travel Electric Cup in China for 99 Yuan ($14)

Xiaomi has put up another product on its crowdfunding platform — Yunmi Travel Electric Cup, which is basically a combination of kettle and thermos. It is made up of 304 stainless steel material and has 400ml capacity and is up for crowdfunding for a price fo 99 Yuan, which roughly converts to $14.

Yunmi Travel Electric Cup

It follows Xiaomi’s white colored minimal design language and weighs at around 500 grams, making it easier to carry around when travelling. The company says that it does not occupy much space in the bag or suitcase and can be stuffed into a backpack as well, making it an idea choice when travelling.

There’s a power cord hidden at the bottom of the device which is a clever move as it cannot be spotted easily, making is look clean and sleek with that minimal design. It is made up of SUS304 stainless steel which the company claims meets the requirements of GB4806 food contact grade.

 

Thanks to the stainless steel material, you don’t have to worry about rust and anti-fouling as well as the there’s no plastic odor. The company has used hollow design between the cup body and the inner liner to provide insulation and anti-scalding.

As per Xiaomi, the device can keep the water warm for over 3 hours after it has been unplugged from the power source. The device comes with a single high-sensitivity touch switch. When the button is clicked once, it will boil the water for about 6-8 minutes and when it’s pressed twice, it will turn on the “insulation” and keep the heating at a constant 50-degree C. It can keep the constant temperature for about 12 hours.

As we mentioned, this new Yunmi Travel Electric Cup is priced at 99 Yuan (~$14) and is currently up for crowdfunding. At the time of writing this, it has already reached 218 percent of its initial funding goal, with 13 days still remaining before the campaign closes.

 

Surface Neo Dual-Screen Laptop and Surface Duo Dual-Screen Phone announced

The highlight of today’s Microsoft New York event was the announcement of the Surface Neo – a dual-screen laptop with 360° hinges that allows you to use it in various forms.

Surface Neo
Surface Neo

While we already had an idea about a dual-screen device from Microsoft, the company went ahead to shock us with yet another dual-screen device but this time around, a “phone” called the Surface Duo.

The Surface Neo and the Surface Duo look alike but the latter is much smaller. However, their internals is different. The biggest difference other than their sizes obviously is that the Neo runs a specially-designed version of Windows 10 called Windows 10X while the Duo runs Android.

Yes, Microsoft is working with Google on the Duo and when it arrives next year (holidays), it will mark Microsoft’s re-entry into the mobile phone business.

Surface Neo

The Surface Neo is still in development but what we saw today shows that Microsoft has gone a long way. The push till next year will allow the company to work with developers that will create programs and apps that will be able to take advantage of the device’s dual-screen.

Microsoft did show us some features and tricks. Like we mentioned above, the Surface Neo runs Windows 10X which is a stripped-down version of Windows 10 but unlike Microsoft’s previous attempts at a lite-version of its operating system, Windows 10X can run legacy programs and not just Windows apps. So all your favorite software should work on Neo but we are not sure all will be able to take advantage of its dual-screen.

Some of the features that got demoed include one called “Spanning” which will allow you to drag an already opened app from one screen to another and have it fill up both screens. Spanning was really smooth even on this prototype. No lags, no jitters.

Surface Neo also has a magnetic keyboard that attaches to the back of the device. In laptop mode, you can decide to use this keyboard or the on-screen one. If you opt for the former, which is smaller than the screen, the remaining visible display at the top becomes what is called a WonderBar. You can call this Microsoft’s version of the MacBook’s TouchBar but significantly bigger. The WonderBar can hold multiple apps including holding a minimized window of Netflix or a YouTube video or displaying gifs/emojis for a chat app. Microsoft says it is working with Netflix and Spotify to make better use of the area.

If you decide to let the gap be at the bottom, the software automatically recognizes the shift of the keyboard and turns the bottom gap into a trackpad. Since the trackpad on a lot of PCs now is made of glass, then you should get used to it pretty easily though there will be no clicking.

There are multiple ways you can use Surface Neo some of which are new such as a reading mode in which you hold it like a book with each screen showing a separate page of the book you are reading. You can also stand it vertically while using a connected keyboard, mimicking using dual monitors. You can also decide to use just one screen with the other folded backward, and with the new Surface Slim Pen, you can take down notes.

The Surface Neo has two 9-inch displays, is powered by Intel’s Lakefield processor, and will arrive in time for next year’s holidays.

Surface Duo

Surface Duo

The Surface Duo has two 5.6-inch displays connected by 360° hinges allowing it to transform into an 8.3-inch tablet when opened. It runs Android and if you remember, Google already developed Android to work with dual-screen devices. You can run two apps on each of the screens for true multi-tasking. You can also have one display act as a virtual controller for games or a virtual keyboard for typing.

There is a Snapdragon 855 processor inside but we doubt this will be the SoC powering it when it launches by the end of 2020.

There are no cameras on the back just like the Duo and there is no mention of a camera(s) above the displays. We also do not think the final product will have a camera on the back since this is a dual-display device and the front-facing cameras can double as the rear cameras when folded backward.

We are pretty excited about the Surface Duo and Surface Neo and can’t wait for them to arrive.

 

Redmi 8A vs Samsung Galaxy M10s vs Realme 3i: Specs Comparison

This year it is very hard for other smartphone manufacturers to beat Xiaomi in the affordable segment. The Chinese giant released a lot of affordable mid-rangers and entry-level phones which are currently among the best sellers of 2019. The latest cheap phone launched is Redmi 8A and it belongs from the most affordable Xiaomi line-up if we exclude the Redmi Go. Its value for money is huge thanks to its great camera, big battery, and high performance, that is why it is a very hot device and it is hard to find a rival. After comparing it with Realme C2 and Honor 8A, here is another comparison with entry-level smartphones from the concurrence: the new Samsung Galaxy M10s and Realme 3i.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Samsung Galaxy M10s vs Oppo Realme 3i

Xiaomi Redmi 8A Samsung Galaxy M10s Oppo Realme 3i
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 156.5 x 75.4 x 9.4 mm, 188 grams 158.4 x 74.7 x 7.8 mm, 169 grams 156.1 x 75.6 x 8.3 mm, 175 grams
DISPLAY 6.2 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 271 ppi, IPS LCD 6.4 inches, 720 x 1560p (HD+), 268 ppi, Super AMOLED 6.2 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 271 ppi, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, octa-core 1.95 GHz Samsung Exynos 7884B, octa-core 1.6 GHz MediaTek Helio P60, octa-core 2 GHz
MEMORY 2 GB RAM, 32 GB  – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot 3 GB RAM, 32 GB  – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE Android 9 Pie, MIUI Android 9 Pie, One UI Android 9 Pie, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA 12 MP f/1.8
8 MP f/2.0 front camera
Dual 13 + 5 MP f/1.9 and f/2.2
8 MP f/2.0 front camera
Dual 13 + 2 MP f/1.8
13 MP f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY 5000 mAh 4000 mAh 4230 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot Dual SIM slot Dual SIM slot

Design

Redmi 8A adopts a brand new ergonomic design with gradient colors and a stripe in the middle of the rear cover which reminds of Oppo Reno smartphones. It is definitely too elegant and it almost does not look like an entry-level phone. It does not have a fingerprint scanner and it relies on face unlock, but this solution makes the rear side cleaner and even more elegant. Realme 3i is another beautiful phone with its diamond-like rear pattern which is available in gradient hues as well. Samsung Galaxy M10s has a traditional plastic body with a single color, so it offers nothing special in terms of design.

 

Display

Samsung Galaxy M10s wins the display comparison as it is the only to sport a Super AMOLED panel, despite its resolution is only HD+. Besides providing better colors thanks to the AMOLED technology, Samsung Galaxy M10s also offers a wider 6.4-inch panel which is more comfortable for advanced users. Both Realme 3i and Redmi 8A have an IPS panel with the same diagonal and the same HD+ resolution, as well as a waterdrop notch.

 

Specs & Software

The presence of the Helio P60 chipset and a higher-end memory configuration makes the Realme 3i more powerful and smoother than Samsung Galaxy M10s and Redmi 8A. It is the only to sport up to 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of internal storage. The silver medal goes to Redmi 8A because it has a Snapdragon 439 chipset which delivers better and more stable performance than the Exynos chipset found on the Galaxy M10s. But you should not notice big differences between their performance, while Realme 3i is definitely superior with all the usage patterns. Samsung Galaxy M10s, Redmi 8A, and Realme 3i are all shipped with Android 9 Pie out of the box, customized by the custom user interfaces One UI, MIUI, and Color OS, respectively.

 

Camera

If we consider both the rear and the front camera departments, Realme 3i offers a more complete and improved camera experience. Its dual rear camera with bright focal aperture and an additional depth sensor is more suitable for most of the scenarios, while the higher resolution of the front camera allows capturing more detailed selfies. But photo quality is not everything: Samsung Galaxy M10s has an ultrawide sensor which is considered much more useful than depth sensors. So if you need it, go for the Galaxy M10s as the photo quality does not differ so much.

 

Battery

With its mammoth 5000 mAh battery, Redmi 8A is able to deliver three days of battery life with moderate usage, and it is the longest-lasting phone not only in this comparison since it lasts more than most of the smartphones out there. It even supports a nice fast charging technology with a max power of 18W, so it does not take a lot of hours to fully charge it despite its huge capacity.

 

Price

Realme 3i is available at about €100/$110 in India, Samsung Galaxy M10s starts from about €110/$120, and Redmi 8A costs €100/$110 in its base variant with 2 GB of RAM. Despite Redmi 8A rocks a way bigger battery, Realme 3i is a more convincing device due to its higher performance, good cameras, fingerprint reader and more. Even Samsung Galaxy M10s is a very nice device, especially for its ultrawide sensor and its AMOLED display, but overall I would personally choose the Realme 3i for the above-mentioned specifications.

 

Xiaomi Redmi 8A vs Samsung Galaxy M10s vs Oppo Realme 3i: PROs and CONS

Oppo Realme C2

PROs

  • Nice performance
  • Micro SD dedicated slot
  • Big battery
  • Good cameras

CONS

  • Worse chipset

 

Samsung Galaxy M10s

PROs

  • Bigger and better display
  • Fingerprint scanner
  • Good performance
  • Good cameras
  • Micro SD Dedicated slot

CONS

  • Smaller battery

 

Xiaomi Redmi 8A

PROs

  • Micro SD dedicated slot
  • Huge battery
  • Good cameras
  • Fast charging

CONS

  • No depth sensor

Best Android 10 features which will make your device better

Google has finally released the stable build of Android 10 after 6 beta updates earlier this year. The search giant has started rolling the final version of Android 10 to Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The new update will gradually roll out on other devices later this year as Google is “working with a number of partners to launch or upgrade devices to Android 10.” However, OnePlus has started rolling Android 10 based OxygenOS Beta for OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro devices.

Android 10 features

There are many new features that are present in the Android 10 stable build including new Full-Gesture navigation, “Focus Mode”, efficient notification control, better family integrity, and the new system-wode dark theme support. Google aims to bring “greater protection, transparency, and control over your data” with Android 10. It is built for the people of all abilities.

Android 10 will ease the smartphone use and will bring control over the data shared among third-party apps. In today’s write-up, we have compiled a list of the most anticipated Android 10 features.

List of Best Android 10 Features

This year’s release carries some features which are primarily based on the user feedback. The several demand-based features are part of the latest and greatest Android 10.

Dark Mode

After numerous requests from Android users, Google has finally introduced system-wide Dark Mode support for Android devices. Google is working since last year to make Dark Mode compatible across its several apps. Every major App developer is paying heed to the demand by rolling out support for Dark Mode in their respective apps. However, Google is still working to bring Dark Theme mode compatibility on its app.

It is a boon for Android users, especially the owners of OLED display devices. The dark color schema has a significant impact on battery life for OLED smartphones. Unfortunately, Google missed on the option to automatically toggle Dark Mode at sunset in Android.

Related: Ultimate guide to enable Dark Mode in Google Apps – Google Chrome, Calendar, Photos, News, Discover, Keep and others

New Navigational Gestures

Do you miss some iPhone-like navigational gestures on the Android ecosystem? Well, now the users can use new gestures to efficiently browse the Android device. The new navigational gestures are fully optimized for edge-to-edge displays.

A user can quickly switch between apps by swiping left on an element present at the bottom. Swiping left to right on the same bottom area allows the users to go back and forth between apps. Similarly, a small swipe up gesture on the home screen can bring forth the App drawer. We are listening to some best gestures on Android 10:

  • Home Screen + Swipe Up = App Drawer
  • Swipe From Right or Left Edge = To Go Back
  • Swipe across the bottom = Switch Apps
  • Swipe diagonally from bottom corners = Google Assistant
  • Swipe Down = Notifications
  • Swipe from Bottom = To go home

The new gestures are more fluidic and intuitive than any other Android version.

Smart Reply from Notification 

Advancing the reply from the notification feature, Google added a smart reply feature for quickly replying to the message. Google introduced the ability to display suggested replies using TextClassifier API. The Android 10 is capable to generate the suggestions automatically.

Live Captions

Android 10 has brought Live Caption feature while playing videos, podcasts, and audio messages. The Live Caption feature is compatible with every inbuilt and third-party app. Moreover, it can show captions of the stuff you record on your smartphone. It is an effective feature based on Artifical Intelligence.

Parental Controls – Family Link

Advanced parental controls integrated with Digital Wellbeing settings app is part of Android 10. The parents can easily set up their child’s phone and can limit the on-screen time, track phone usage and set a bedtime for automatic phones shut down. It is a boon for the parents whose children are prone to excessive smartphone usage.

Security Updates via Google Play

Since a couple of years, Google regularly rolls security updates every month. However, these upgrades reach Pixel and other high-end devices but they fail to roll on the majority of the mid-range and low-budget devices. Google has added a new provision to roll out security updates straight from Google Play. In Android 10, manufacturers can easily roll out critical security updates via Google Play. The manufacturer’s need not to release full system updates for security patches, they can now simply rollout the important security enhancements via Play Store.

Focus Mode

Like the Zen Mode, it allows users to concentrate on other activities but with added customization features. It temporarily turns off specific distracting apps for some time. However, the feature is not fully stable and there might be some bugs on different phones. Google is aiming to launch stable Focus mode feature somewhere by the end of this year.

New Emojis

Android 10 has added a large collection of new gender-inclusive designs. The users can easily enjoy the new emojis after upgrading to Android 10.

Improved WiFi Performance and low-latency modes

Get ready to enjoy real-time games with low-latency on Android 10. It is tweaked to minimize the latency between networks. The support for high-performance mode and low latency mode is extended via WiFi lock API.

Call Quality Improvements

The Android 10 will considerably improve the call quality as it has gained the ability to collect information about the quality of ongoing IMS calls.

Enhanced Camera Capabilities

Android 10 has added several enhancements including monochrome camera support. Using the new Android version, the device cameras can save depth data of the image in a separate file for better image post-processing. Other improvements include support for HEIC – High-Efficiency Image File Format and improved multi-camera support.

Improved Security

The new build also carries various security enhancements.

Improved Biometric

A lot of improvements have been made to the biometric authentication capability. There are some modalities that have been added to the Biometric unlock to make it secure and robust.

TLS 1.3 Support

Like never before, TLS 1.3 official support is rolled out along with Android 10. TLS 1.3 is improved security protocol over the TLS 1.2 with performance benefits and enhanced security. It is 40% faster than the predecessor in establishing a secure connection.

Other enhancements include the ability to run embedded DEX code directly from APK tp prevent attack via locally tempered code.

Android 10 is a full package to enhance device performance, security, efficiency, and accessibility.

Up Next: Android 10 stable update announced, rolling out already

Realme X2 Pro to come with 65W world’s fastest charging technology

Realme Europe has started teasing on the features of the upcoming Realme X2 Pro flagship phone. The smartphone is expected to go official at some point in this month. The features of the smartphone that the company has confirmed so far suggests that it will be a premium flagship device. Hence, it may not carry a cheap price tag. Apart from Snapdragon 855+ chipset and 90Hz fresh rate display, the Realme X2 Pro is now confirmed to come with 65W world’s fastest charging technology.

Realme X2 Pro 65W SuperVOOC

The OPPO Reno Ace flagship phone that will be announced in China will be the first phone to feature the 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 charging technology that was made official last month. With 65W charging, a 4,000mAh battery can reach 100 percent in just 30 minutes. The same technology will be available with the Realme X2 Pro.

The smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 855+ mobile platform that works at 2.96GHz. Currently, it is the most powerful chipset for smartphones. The 90Hz refresh rate display will offer fluid viewing experience while scrolling through apps, images or webpages. It also brings sleeker gaming experience. The handset is expected offer a tall aspect ratio of 20:9. It remains to be seen whether the Realme X2 Pro features a notch-less display or a screen with waterdrop notch. It is very likely to come equipped with an in-display fingerprint reader.

The Realme X2 Pro is also blessed with 64-megpaixel quad cameras system which is better the quad cameras of the Realme X2 smartphone. The main 64-megapixel sensor of the Realme X2 Pro will be coupled with 115-degree ultrawide lens that has capabilities to shoot macro shots, a telephoto lens and a depth sensor. The X2 Pro will offer users with 20x hybrid zoom support. On the connectivity front, the smartphone will only come with 4G support and it will also feature NFC.

Realme X2 Pro SD855+ and 90Hz display

Even though the company claims that Realme X2 Pro will be the first phone in its price segment to come with SD855+ and 90Hz display, it may carry an expensive as it comes with some advanced features such as enhanced 64-megapixel quad cameras and 65W fast charging. It appears to be a better smartphone than the Xiaomi Redmi K20 Pro and a worthy rival for OnePlus 7T that has a starting price of Rs. 37,999 (~$533) in India. Wang Wei Derek who is the Product Director of Realme China had hinted that the Realme X2 Pro could be priced around 4,000 Yuan (~$559).

 

Microsoft Surface Pro X launched, powered by Qualcomm ARM chipset!

It’s been hard for Windows devices to break free of the Intel grasp, but Microsoft‘s giving it another shot with the new 13-inch Surface Pro X, a new tablet running Windows on an ARM-based Microsoft-custom version of a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the SQ1. Next to the also just released Surface Pro 7, you could argue that this is the true new flagship.

The Surface Pro X offers key features of the Surface Pro 7 alongside other extras that make it one of the most interesting 2-in-1s to come to the market in 2019. Design-wise, the Surface Pro X is the thinnest of the newly announced Surface range at 5.3mm and weighs only 762g, which is impressive when you consider some of the advanced features on offer.

The screen has been expanded from a 12-inch panel on the old Surface Pro to a 13-inch display, which the company says offers the thinnest bezels on any 2-in-1 laptop. It boasts a resolution of 2880×1920 resolution, giving it 267ppi. There’s a new Surface Slim Pen nestled in the keyboard, and there’s even wireless charging onboard. The big kicker is that the Surface Pro X features two USB-C ports over the Surface Pro 7’s single port.

The big new thing however has to be the aforementioned Surface SQ1 processor. Co-designed by Microsoft and Qualcomm, it’s a 7W chipset – compared to 2W of most ARM processors – and offers 2 teraflops of power. Microsoft claims that the Surface Pro X provides 3x more power per watt than the Surface Pro 6.

Alongside the SQ1 is an AI accelerator that brings impressive levels of computational power to the hybrid. While it’s hard to say exactly what it’ll be used for, Microsoft gave the example of being able to correct eye contact during video calls. It’s a rather impressive feat, especially considering that it uses 50x less power than a standard GPU.

The biggest question remains whether the SQ1 will be able to offer comparable power to a traditional x86 processor, though. The answer to that question is what will eventually determine how well the Surface Pro X does on the market. Excitingly, the device is already available for preorder today, with a launch date of November 5 for the price of $999.