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Buy OnePlus 7 Pro Phablet for a Lowered Price from Gearbest [Coupons]

The OnePlus 7 Pro launch event was held in New York, London, and Bengaluru at the same time. Touted as one of the best handsets from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, the OnePlus 7 Pro is without an iota of doubt, one of the well-received mobile devices launched this year.

OnePlus 7 Pro

Before we check out the phablet’s awe-inspiring features which makes it deserving of the aforesaid title, we got something for OnePlus fans to cheer about.

If you have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on the recently unveiled OnePlus 7 Pro without emptying their pockets, it might interest you to know that Gearbest is currently doling out noteworthy discounts on two variants of the coveted phablet. Moreover, we will show how you can save more money at checkout.

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet [8GB RAM+256GB ROM]

This international version of the OnePlus 7 Pro phablet ships with 8GB of RAM and offers a hearty 256GB of internal storage capacity. Aside from that, the device is crammed with multiple top-end specifications that are likely to sweep you off your feet.

The model usually carries an $851.43 price tag, but Gearbest is giving you an unmissable chance to buy it for a lowered price of just $649.99. Interested in getting an additional discount? Read on.OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet International Version

To extend this 24 percent discount, all you need to do is to apply coupon code GBBEATBGOP7P at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you save $42 more by reducing the retail price of the phablet to $607.99.

You can visit this link to avail of the discount and use the coupon which is likely to expire soon. With over two hundred pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in 25 days.

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet [12GB RAM+256GB ROM]

Equipped with a larger 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage capacity, this international version of the OnePlus 7 Pro 4G phablet would normally set you back a whopping $955.86. Much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, this model has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price tag of just $799.99 on Gearbest.

OnePlus 7 Pro 4G Phablet International Version

This is a noteworthy 16 percent reduction in the device’s original selling price. On top of that, you can use coupon code GBDPONE256 for an extra $42 off. In other words, you can bring the already reduced retail price of the phablet further down to just $757.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon.

You can visit this link to avail the discount and take advantage of the coupon before it expires. Note that more than a hundred pieces were already sold at the time of writing, and the promo will come to an end in four days.

An absolute steal at this price, OnePlus 7 Pro smartphone offers the following features:

  • 6.67-inch QHD+ Fluid AMOLED 90Hz screen
  • Third generation in-display fingerprint scanner
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor
  • Adreno 640 GPU
  • 6GB/8GB/12GB RAM
  • 128GB/256GB UFS 3.0 storage
  • OxygenOS 9.5 based on Android 9.0 Pie OS
  • 4000mAh battery with Warp Charge 30 Fast Charging

Buy VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector for Just $119.99 from Gearbest [Coupon]

A video projector can be described as an image projector that takes video signal to project a corresponding image on a projection screen with the help of a lens system.

VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector

Cinephiles who fancy watching their favorite videos on a big-screen without leaving the comfort of their homes usually spend a lot of money on high-end video projectors. Cost-conscious buyers, on the other hand, settle for inexpensive alternatives that fail to meet their expectations.

If you have restlessly been looking for a low-priced, yet feature-rich video projector, look no further. The VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector which is currently available for a lowered price on Gearbest might just fill the bill.

Touted as an upgraded version of the F10 video projector, the F10UP runs Android OS 7.1 version, marking its foray into the home smart projectors segment from a traditional home multimedia projector.VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector - Black EU Plug with Android System

 

Equipped with 2G memory (quad-core CPU) and 16G ( Penta-core ARM GPU ) expansion, the VIVIBRIGHT F10UP supports a maximum video resolution of 1080P. Moreover, it comes with a built-in WIFI, Bluetooth connectivity which delivers an uninterrupted wireless transmission.

Moreover, you can download and install online video software for online video playback as Netflix, YouTube or Amazon Video. It can be remotely controlled with two AAA battery-powered remote control from any corner of the room.

Given that it boasts an impressive array of features, you’d normally expect the VIVIBRIGHT F10UP LCD Home Entertainment Video Projector to carry a steep price tag, but Gearbest is giving you a chance to buy it for just $129.99. This is a 13 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $149.16.

You can save $10 more by applying coupon code X3JDN3HL3Z at the time of checking out. The aforesaid coupon helps you bring the already lowered asking price of the F10UP further down to just $119.99 at the time of checkout.

On top of that, you can get an add-on for $4.59 for spending $20. You can follow this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires. With 28 pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in six days.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G: Specs Comparison

5G is the next technology frontier and ignoring it is not a wise choice. Did you ever wonder whether you should spend more to buy a 5G-enabled smartphone or stick to 4G for a few years more? It mostly depends on the zone where you live and on your connectivity-related needs. But if you are one of those advanced users who need a 5G phone, you currently have several choices. After Samsung with the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G and Huawei with the Mate 30 Pro 5G, even Xiaomi launched a 5G-enabled flagship in 2019: it is the Mi 9 Pro 5G which even carries a pretty affordable price if we compare it with other 5G phones. Here you will find a specs comparison analyzing their specifications.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 158.1 x 73.1 x 8.8 mm, 198 g 162.3 x 77.2 x 7.9 mm, 196 g 157.2 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm, 196 g
DISPLAY  6.53 inches, 1176 x 2400p (Full HD+), OLED 6.8 inches, 1440 x 3040p (Quad HD+), Dynamic AMOLED 6.39 inches, 1080 x 2340p (Full HD+), Super AMOLED
PROCESSOR Huawei Hisilicon Kirin 990, octa-core 2.86 GHz Samsung Exynos 9825, octa-core 2.73 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+, octa-core 2.96 GHz
MEMORY  8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – nano memory card slot 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB – micro SD slot 8 GB RAM, 128 GB – 8 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 256 GB – 12 GB RAM, 512 GB
SOFTWARE  Android 10, EMUI 10 Android 9 Pie, One UI Android 10, MIUI
CONNECTIVITY  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS
CAMERA  Quad 40 + 40 + 8 MP + TOF camera, f/1.6 + f/1.8 + f/2.4
32 MP front camera
Quad 12 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.5-1.8-2.4 + f/2.1 + f/2.2
10 MP f/2.2 front camera
Triple 48 + 12 + 16 MP, f/1.8 + f/2.2 + f/2.2
20 MP camera f/2.0 front camera
BATTERY  4500 mAh, fast charging 40W, Fast wireless charging 27W 4300 mAh, fast charging 45W, Fast wireless charging 20W 4000 mAh, fast charging 40W with fast wireless charging 30W
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68, Face ID Hybrid Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, waterproof IP68, 5G Dual SIM slot, reverse wireless charging, 5G

Design

The Horizon display of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G makes its design simply amazing. It is a panel with extremely curved sides which makes you forget the wide notch. Thanks to the curved bezels allowing the presence of a side touch area, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G does not have any physical key, and this makes it even more attractive. Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a very big phablet and for this reason, it is not comfortable for everyone, but it still comes with a very elegant and innovative design. The punch-hole display makes the bezels very narrow and the overall design is very minimal. Special features: while Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G supports a 3D facial recognition system, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G has the S Pen.

 

Display

The best display belongs to the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G: not only it has the biggest panel, but it even carries the highest resolution: Quad HD+ with 1440 x 3040 pixels. It is also the only device of this trio to support the HDR10+ standard which guarantees a better performance with multimedia content thanks to richer colors and a wide dynamic range. And it even supports the S Pen with Bluetooth integration which can be used for handwriting, drawing and as a remote controller.

 

Hardware/Software

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G wins the hardware award since it sports the most powerful processor and it has the fastest performance. It is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ chipset and it comes with up to 12 GB of RAM, which is the perfect couple for every advanced activity. The second place goes to Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ which carries a different chipset depending on the region (either the Snapdragon 855 or the Exynos 9825) paired with 12 GB of RAM. Note that Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has Android 9 Pie out of the box, while its rivals already come with Android 10. The 5G connectivity is better on the Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G as the Kirin 990 chipset is the first one with an integrated 5G modem and it can reach up to 6.5 Gbps of download speed thanks to mm waves.

 

Camera

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is the absolute winner when it comes to cameras. It is equipped with a rear quad camera including two 40 MP sensors, 3x optical zoom, OIS, and a 3D TOF camera. But it loses when it comes to selfies: there, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G is a lot more satisfying. If you need a top camera phone, just do not go for the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G, it lacks OIS and it does not differ so much from the Mi 9.

 

Battery

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G has the biggest battery and we believe it will last more not only for this reason, but also because it has a very efficient chipset built at 7nm+, and just a Full HD display, unlike the Galaxy Note 10+ 5G. It even has a very fast charging technology and reverse wireless charging.

 

Price

The starting price of Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G is about €900/$990, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G starts from €1200/$1300 and Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G costs just €600/$658. At the end of the day, I define Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G a slightly more advanced device for power users due to its better display and the support to S Pen, but Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G offers a better camera experience and likely a longer-lasting battery. Note that this comparison was only based on the specs on the paper as we have to wait for all the devices to hit the market in order to test them thoroughly. Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G loses the comparison (except when it comes to hardware) but it has a higher value for money.

 

 

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G vs Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G: PRO and CONS

Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G

PROS

  • Amazing cameras
  • Horizon display with side touch
  • Big battery
  • Reverse wireless charging
  • Face ID

CONS

  • No Google apps

 

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro 5G

PROS

  • Compact design
  • Awesome performance
  • Affordable price
  • Reverse wireless charging

CONS

  • Worse cameras

 

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G

PROS

  • Amazing and bigger display
  • Reverse wireless charging
  • S Pen
  • Great cameras
  • Very nice speakers

CONS

  • Price

Buy Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater [English Version] for Just $7.99 from Banggood [Coupon]

Designed to expand the overall coverage area of your WiFi network, a WiFi repeater or extender uses an existing wireless signal coming from a wireless router or WAP (wireless access point) and rebroadcasts it to make a second network.

[English Version] Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater

If you are in the market for an inexpensive WiFi range extender that doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance, you might want to give the Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater a test drive. The English version of the Xiaomi-branded WiFi repeater is currently available bearing a $16.63 price tag on Banggood.

The Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater adopts a streamlined design that gives it a simple, yet elegant appearance. It comes with built-in dual antennas that offer a transfer rate of up to 300Mbps, which is twice as fast as its predecessor.[English Version] Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater

Moreover, it features a newfangled USB charging design, and its interface supports 180-degree rotation for superior flexibility. To pair the WiFi amplifier, all you need to do is to insert it in the router and wait for a blue indicator that indicates successful pairing.

Unlike any other comparable device available in the market today, the Xiaomi 2nd 300Mbps Wifi Wireless Repeater justifies the price tag it carries. However, if you are living on a tight budget, you can use coupon code XMWIFI8 and save $8.64 at checkout.

In other words, you can bring the already reasonable asking price of the WiFi repeater down to just $7.99 even before placing your order.  On top of that, you get free shipping on orders over $19.99.

To take full advantage of the coupon before it expires, simply follow this link.

Buy FIIDO D3 and FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bikes at Lowered Prices from GeekBuying [Coupons]

An ideal companion for adventure junkies looking for a transit option during their adventurous outdoor activities, an electric bike or scooter can be touted as a more ecological means of transportation.

FIIDO D3 Folding Moped Electric Bike

If you aren’t willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on an electronic bike, GeekBuying got you covered. The Chinese online store is offering the FIIDO D3 and the FIIDO D3S folding electric moped bikes for considerably lowered prices.

Aside from shedding light on the discounts, we will show how you can save more money at the time of checking out. So without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

FIIDO D3 Folding Electric Moped Bike

Designed for all sorts of road conditions, the FIIDO D3 comes with a 52-tooth large chain and a 12-tooth flywheel that offers a three-speed shifting option. It is backed by a robust 280.8Wh battery and is housed in a simple foldable body with beautiful lines.

The highly portable FIIDO D3 usually carries a steep $799.99 price tag, but much to the relief of cost-conscious buyers, it is now available for a lowered price of $ 499.99 on GeekBuying. Moreover, you can extend this 38 percent discount by applying coupon code GKB156S at checkout.FIIDO D3 Folding Electric Moped Bike Three Riding Modes 14 Inch Tires 250W Motor 25km/h 7.8Ah Lithium

The coupon helps you save $50 more by reducing the original asking price of the FIIDO D3 to just $449.99. In addition to getting this 38 percent discount, new users can take advantage of a $2 OFF Coupon for an extra discount.

You can visit this link to place your order. Note that the promo is slated to end in just six days.

FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike

The FIIDO D3S is powered by a 250W brushless motor that delivers 25km/h of max speed, and a max gradient of 25-degree. The e-bike draws its juices from a 7.8Ah 36V Li-ion battery that provides max 25 – 30km mileage (pure electric mode) and 40 – 60km mileage (moped mode).

While the aforesaid features completely justify the steep $819.99 price tag the FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike usually carries, GeekBuying is giving you a chance to get your hands on this feature-laden e-bike for a reduced price of $595.99.FIIDO D3S Folding Moped Electric Bike Variable Speed Version 14-inch Tires 250W Motor Max 25km/h 7.8Ah

This is a 27 percent reduction in the e-bike’s original selling price. On top of that, you can use a $2 OFF Coupon and save more money if you are a new user. The rest of the loyal GeekBuying users can apply coupon code GKB155S for an extra $100 off.

In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the FIIDO D3S further down to just $495.99 even before placing your order. You can visit this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires. The promo will end in six days.

Instagram introduces new AR-powered ‘Try On’ Ads

Beginning today, a handful of brands that sell their products directly on Instagram will be able to add a new AR try-on feature to product pages. Initially, the new AR feature will be limited to cosmetics (Mac and Nars are early partners) and eyewear (Warby Parker and Ray-Ban), but Instagram plans to make it available for more products over time.

The feature is essentially an extension of Facebook’s version of the same, which was also launched with selected brands last year. Instagram’s version, built on Facebook’s Spark AR platform, looks a bit more refined, which likely comes from the extra time in development, but is also probably more of a requirement to fit into Instagram’s aesthetic focus.

There’s a few ways Instagram users might encounter the new shopping feature. The first is while checking out specific products a brand has tagged in a post. You’ll have the option to try out the product via an augmented reality filter before adding it to your cart, but Instagram is also hoping users will be inspired to share these AR experiences in Stories, which will also link back to the original product.

It’s an interesting addition, particularly on Instagram, given the audience’s interest in Stories and the heavier focus on visual tools. That could make it a great option for Instagram campaigns. It will require additional platform expertise to create such experiences, but they’re quite interesting and brimming with potential.

“Instagram is such an important platform for product discovery, particularly in beauty,” says Dina Fierro, VP of Global Digital Strategy at Nars Cosmetics, one of Instagram’s initial shopping partners. “It is very clear that Instagram impacts purchases whether that’s happening online or offline.”

(Via)

Huawei P30 Pro units are failing SafetyNet, Huawei confirms

Here’s some big news, some units of the Huawei P30 Pro are now failing SafetyNet, the Google service that ensures whether devices are running genuine, certified software. Failing SafetyNet essentially means your device can’t use Google services like Google Pay, as well as other apps like Netflix, so yeah, it’s pretty bad.

Android Authority reached out to Huawei to find out what’s going on, and according to Huawei, this problem only applies to Huawei P30 Pro units that are running EMUI 10 beta software. The company also claims that the issue doesn’t actually affect all beta testers, but just a small number of them and that the issue appears to be on Google’s side.

Huawei P30 Pro Mystic Blue and Misty Lavender

In response to the issues, Huawei claims that “usually for the sake of beta testing, Google allows vendors’ beta OS version on specific models to appear and behave as certified version/device even if this version/device combination is still in the process of being certified.”

After some investigation, we found out that the global EMUI 10 beta version released on P30 and P30 Pro in early August does not appear and behave as certified device anymore where they should be, as explained above.

It’s important to note however that this only effects devices running on EMUI 10 Beta. According to the company, “Huawei’s various devices (including the P30 and P30 Pro), running on EMUI 9.X version, can successfully pass the SafetyNet test without any problems”.

EMUI10 on P30/P30 pro had been certified recently and the certified version will be available to global users in the future. In the meantime, we’re reaching out to Google to identify the cause of this issue for the current beta users and try to solve it as soon as possible.”

It seems like Huawei’s troubles continue to pile on top of each other, though it’s at least nice that the company is officially acknowledging the problem. Between this and the recent LZplay Mate 30 series debacle, this has been one of the most interesting years for the company, though at least there are some silver linings here and there.

(Source)

 

Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp with app control, 900 lumen brightness launched

Xiaomi‘s ecological chain company Yeelight lives up to its name with several assortments of smart lamps and bulbs on its catalogue. The company has just launched a new one; Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp and it comes with several innovative features like a new touch interaction, MIJIA app and Apple HomeKit support. The lamp comes with a modest price of 699 yuan ($97).Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp

The Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp features a dual light source design with a 120° curved wall on the back. The light is scattered twice to form a uniform 120% arc angle. It utilises a professional-grade PC diffuser making the light-emitting surface to be even and soft. The lamp has a maximum brightness of 900 lumens which is bright enough to read at night. The lamp bar can be adjusted to any desired level as it is flexible.


Yeelight Star Smart Floor Lamp

The smart lamp comes with support for Apple Homekit and MIJIA app and can be controlled via voice prompt using Siri or XiaoAI voice assistant. The lamp also has three control buttons at the back. The first button is the main control button in which a short press switches on or off the lamp, long press is used to change the light mode. The second and third buttons are used to adjust the brightness level.

There is no word yet on the availability.

Realme X2 Pro, the brand’s first flagship will have a slightly different quad-camera setup

Realme is the only brand in the affordable smartphone segment that has managed to shake up the industry leader, Xiaomi. After taking on the budget and lower mid-range segments of the market with phones like the Realme 5 Pro and Realme XT, the brand is finally unveiling its flagship smartphone, the Realme X2 Pro in China and Europe soon. The company has been religiously teasing new features of the device over the past few days and today it confirms the design of its quad-camera setup.

Realme X2 Pro features

The Realme Europe website has been updated to reveal that the Realme X2 Pro will feature a 64MP quad-camera setup at the back. The teaser image further confirms that the setup will be arranged vertically at the center, unlike its other four-camera devices which have the setup placed on the top left corner.

Also, apart from featuring a 64MP high-resolution camera, the X2 Pro will distinguish itself from phones like the Realme XT by bringing in a 20X zoom telephoto shooter as well as an ultra-wide-angle 115° field of view. It should also bring in a dedicated macro lens for super close up shots.

Editor’s Pick: Realme X2 with 64MP quad cameras and Snapdragon 730G launched in China for 1,599 Yuan (~$224)

Realme 5 Pro quad camera featured
Realme 5 Pro also has four cameras at the back

Apart from this, we know that the Realme X2 Pro will feature the Snapdragon 855 Plus processor with a 90Hz display. It will also support the ultra-fast 50W charging standard.

The X2 Pro is shaping up to be a powerful competitor to the K20 Pro. We don’t have a release date yet but expect more details pretty soon.

 

 

(Source)

Watch the “Galaxy Fold” fold nearly 120K times until it’s damaged

Guess we are all familiar with the drama that engulfed the initial plans by Samsung to release the innovative Galaxy Fold foldable smartphone earlier this year. As a reminder, the Galaxy Fold was first unveiled in February this year with the release set for April. However, the release was put off by Samsung following a number of issues that were encountered by early users.Samsung Galaxy Fold

The foldable smartphone was officially relaunched last month and is presently available in several markets across the world. Samsung effected some improvements in its design and construction even though the design remained the same as the first model. Samsung says the flexible display can withstand up to 200,000 folds. This was put to test recently by the guys at CNET who deployed a Foldbot that folds and opens the device severally times at an unusual speed. The machine known as FoldBot was built by SquareTrade and it automatically opens and closes the Galaxy Fold several times per second. The test lasted for over 4 hours and even though the device didn’t last up to 200k times, it stood its ground up to 119,380 times before the screen got broken. Watch the video from below.

Of course, there is no chance you’ll bend the screen up to 120,000 times all through its life cycle. The FoldBot also seems to move at a speed which is unusually faster than how we all will open the phone. So, the flexible display can be said to be relatively durable. Of course, this test isn’t a guarantee that if the phone falls down or gets in contact with hard objects like a bunch of keys in the pocket the display won’t get damaged.

Samsung says it has fixed the hinge and the protective layer of the flexible screen. The foldable mechanism is now hidden behind a rubbery protective layer in order to protect it from dust and other particles getting in the mechanism through the foldable part. Samsung also extended the layer on top that protects the digitizer from scratches beyond the edges, so that it can’t be peeled accidentally.

The Galaxy Fold may be a good buy after all. We await feedback from users who’ll subject it to the rigours of daily use to see how it fares.

 

Microsoft CPO says “Android’s the obvious choice” for Surface Duo, Windows Phone dreams still dead

If you haven’t been keeping up with the news, Microsoft is back to making phones again — and now the company’s basing them on Android. The Surface Duo is still in development, but the device’s announcement has still managed to brush up quite the discussion. One of the things a lot of people want to know is, could we have seen Windows Phone come back?

Well, according to Microsoft’s Panay Panos, the device was always going to use Android, and Windows Phone was never in consideration. He said that for mobile devices, “Android’s the obvious choice” followed by Windows for anything beyond smartphones. He said the company is looking to give customers what they want in the form factor that they want. This means putting the right operating system in the appropriate form factor.

Surface Duo

Does this mean that Microsoft won’t be making Windows phones anymore? Unfortunately, it seems like Windows Phone is still utterly and completely dead to Microsoft. In a recent interview between Panay and CNet, he claimed that Microsoft has no plans to make a Windows-based phone anytime soon. He even reaffirms this in other interviews later.

Microsoft’s reluctance to build a Windows phone makes sense on multiple levels. From a practical standpoint, it might be easier to leave the practicalities to Google, a company that’s far ahead with supporting a wide range of apps on foldable devices, and which may have a better software package for developers to start with.

Perhaps the bigger reason for them not even attempting with Windows Phone, however, is their previous failure to challenge Google and Apple. The two tech giants have completely trounced Microsoft’s efforts in the past, and it seems like Microsoft isn’t exactly raring to rush into another pointless endeavor when there’s a more beneficial solution available.

(Source)

iPhone 11 sales perform better than expected, Apple increases production by 10%

In the month of September, Apple launched its latest smartphone lineup which consists of the standard iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. For the first time in its history, Apple has reduced the starting price of a model upgrade. Even with the introduction of a secondary rear camera and newer chipset, Apple priced the iPhone 11 for $699 which is considerably lower than its predecessor, iPhone XR that started at $749.

Apple iPhone 11 According to a Nikkei report, the reduction in price has resulted in better than expected demand of the new smarpthone. Subsequently, Apple has asked its suppliers to ramp up production of iPhone 11 lineup by upto 8 million units. Although irrelevant, this figure is equivalent to what Google’s annual smartphone shipment for the current year looks like.

After the report was published, the share price fo Apple’s component manufacturers rose in Japan. Japan’s Minebea Mitsumi closed up 3%, Japan Display rose by almost 2%, while Murata Manufacturing and Alps Alpine also gained.

Having said that, suppliers are maintaining a cautious stance as they are unsure whether Apple can sustain the surge in demand for an extended period or not. Another factor that could hinder iPhone sales in future is the China tariff that Washington is supposed put into effect from the 15th of December. Due to this, Apple will have to pay a 10% tariff on products that are imported from China.

Reports in the past have claimed that if such a tariff is put into place, Apple plans to absorb them until it can negotiate a deal with its government or move the iPhone production to another country which is easier said than done. But Apple is yet to make a statement and if it passes on the tariff hike on to consumers by increasing price, the sales could plummet. Therefore, the cautious stance of Chinese suppliers makes sense.iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

Yasuo Nakane, head of global tech research at Mizuho Securities, said his company has revised up 2019 iPhone production estimates to 194 million units from 178 million. But they are still less than the 208.8 million iPhones sold in 2018.

While Apple seems optimistic about the demand of the iPhone 11, only time will tell, if it is able to beat sales of the iPhone X lineup from yesteryear.

(via)

 

ZTE files Design Patent for a Smartphone with Rotating Display Module

In order to make its offerings stand apart from the crowd, ZTE usually tends to make smartphones that have a distinguishing factor. One such example of this statement could be the gaming-centric Nubia Red Magic 3 which is the world’s first handset with a cooling fan.

Falling in line with the same strategy, ZTE has filed a design patent for yet another unique smartphone that has a rotating module on top. The concept of a swivel module is similar to previously launched smartphones (1, 2) from companies like Oppo and Gionee. However, the module on those smartphones had a camera setup on one side and earpiece on the other.

Whereas, the ZTE smartphone from the patent has both the camera setup and earpiece on one side while its other side houses a small rectangular display panel. The mechanical operation of the module is comparable to the Asus 6Z which has a motor-driven flip camera.

Clearly, the purpose of implementing such a design is to maximise the screen to body ratio. Besides, the patent suggests that the swivel module is equipped with sensors that are capable of locating the ear of the user. This allows the earpiece to be manoeuvred in a manner so that the audio output from the earpiece can be clearly heard regardless of the angle the smartphone is held by the user.

Unfortunately, the images of the smartphone’s backside are not shared by the source. However, it can be assumed that the selfie camera mounted in the swivel system will also double up as the rear camera.

Only time will tell, whether the ZTE handset from the patent turns into a reality or not. Having said that, the concept seems viable and ZTE could consider launching it in the near future. We will update you in that case, so stay tuned.

(via)

 

Samsung is gifting employees with Galaxy S10+, other goodies after closing its last Chinese factory

A report from South Korea emerged a few days back stating that Samsung will close down its last factory in China later this month. Samsung went on to confirm that it was indeed shutting down its last factory in China. Samsung Galaxy S10 Smoky Blue featured

With the closure of the factory, employees have been given their severance benefits and it includes a free Galaxy S10+, a wristwatch and some cash for staff that have stayed for up to 10 years. Some employees who had stayed for a lesser period got the Galaxy A80. The entire winding down process was captured in a short video which you can watch from here.

Samsung Galaxy S10Samsung once operated three mobile phone manufacturing plants in China, one in Shenzhen, Tianjin and this last one in Huizhou. The factories in Shenzhen and Tianjin were both closed in 2018. The Huizhou plant located in the Guangdong province of China was opened in December 1992 and started production in 1993. It is presently the only functional Samsung production plant in China and around June this year, the company scaled down production at the plant with reports of workers getting laid off.

Redesigned AirPods 3 with active Noise cancellation discovered in source code of iOS 13.2

Several reports in the past have claimed that Apple will introduce a new design with the second generation of AirPods. However, all of them turned out false after their official unveiling, as the company retained the original design while adding support for wireless charging and incorporating the faster H1 chip.

With that being said, the long-anticipated AirPods with an overhauled design may launch soon. Steve Moser, a contributing writer for MacRumours who also happens to be an iOS developer has shared a Tweet which shows new AirPods design in the beta version of the latest iOS 13.2.

Right of the bat, the new logo for AirPods is significantly different than both the first and second generation of totally wireless earphones from Apple. Instead of a plastic acoustic outlet that sits in the outer ear, they seem to have an in-ear style design with a silicone cap that extends into the ear canal.

Noteworthy, alleged outer casing of the redesigned AirPods was previously leaked by a Chinese supplier and they surprisingly they look exactly like the Icon from iOS 13.2. For reference, the image has been listed below.

If the images are to be believed, not only will the future AirPods have a compact design, the case in which they rest will also shrink in size drastically.

Talking about their design, both the logo and leaked images exhibit a slit on top which is believed to play a crucial role in active noise cancellation that the AirPods have been long rumoured to attain with an updated model.

For readers who don’t know, the active noise cancellation feature allows a pair of earphones or headphones to neutralise unwanted ambient noises so the user can enjoy their audio content without interruptions. Devices equipped with active noise cancellation are capable of analyzing the outside noise and with the help of complex software algorithms, they generate an inverted sound which can cancel the unwanted sound coming from an external source.

Another intriguing finding that can be derived from the image shared by the developer is an Apple device with a top-mounted power button. Even though the power button on Apple iPads is also located on the top, this could be the successor of the iPhone SE which is reported to launch early next year.

To wrap things up, the launch of redesigned AirPods looks imminent. However, in order to verify the claims, we will have to until Apple officially announces them or sends out a statement addressing them.

Stay tuned for future updates.

 

Chinese Telecom providers gear up for 5G Launch, open Pre-orders for Consumer Plans

While South Korea and the UK are one of the early adopters of 5G, three telecom companies in China are now following suit. Earlier this month, China Unicom and China Telecom announced a joint partnership to build and share a nationwide 5G network, and now they have launched pre-orders for 5G data plans.

The two Chinese companies have designated a combined investment of 24 billion yuan ($3.37 billion) for building 5G-related infrastructure this year alone, while the investment figures for the following year are yet to be revealed.

According to the detailed wording or small print, both carriers will notify their customers once the services are rolled out, though a specific date of the same is yet to be provided.

Going by the promotion page on China Telecom’s website, close to 7,00,000 netizens have signed up to pre-order 5G plans which proves that users are eagerly waiting to avail high-speed services that the next generation of telecommunication technology has on offer.

China Telecom has also announced that it will offer tiered discounts for existing customers which will vary depending on the duration they have been with the carrier. Reports suggest similar discounts will also be offered by China Unicom, however, to boost adoption it is offering additional discounts on 5G-enabled smartphones.

According to local media, the third major Chinese telecom operator, China mobile will also reveal 5G plans in the month of October and they are expected to come out soon.

(via)

 

TCL has no plans to launch Blackberry 5G phone anytime soon

Once considered among the flag-bearers of technology in the smartphone industry, Blackberry was on the verge of going out-of-business before the brand was purchased by TCL back in 2016. With the lack of any new models in the past year, Blackberry devices are likely to remain as midrange budget offerings in the near future. If you are holding on to hopes of seeing a 5G Blackberry, TCL has made a formal announcement confirming that there are no such plans as of now.

In an announcement made during a CCS Insight event in London, Stefan Streit, TCL’s General Manager of Marketing said, “There is no point of 5G on a Blackberry. The device is not for entertainment and emails are already quite fast”. Having shown great enthusiasm for a major part of 2018, Blackberry devices have been largely missing in action since the beginning of 2019.

BlackBerry

It is not that TCL is not investing in 5G. They are exploring other opportunities where the 5G technology can be useful, like an 8K TV or a Smart fridge. TCL is focused on introducing their own lineup of 5G smartphones under the Plex brand name. While also introducing the technology to Alcatel, the second smartphone brand under their banner. The company plans on introducing affordable smartphones by the middle of 2020.

According to CCS Insights, the prices of 5G smartphones will plummet in 2020 due to oversupply. The analytics firm reasons that there are so many devices available across the globe that supply will overpower demand shortly causing widespread price cuts. At the onset of 2022 alone the adoption of 5G will outpace that of 4G in the first three years!

TCL Plex 5G Specifications and Features

alcatel TCL Plex

In related news, TCL unveiled their first 5G smartphone named TCL Plex 5G at the IFA 2019 in September. The device features a 6.53-inch display with a dedicated chipset that converts standard dynamic range content to high dynamic range, presenting additional true colors tones. The smartphone draws power from a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of native storage. It has a triple camera layout starting with a 48-megapixel sensor, along with a 16-megapixel lens and a 2-megapixel sensor. The device sports a 3,820 mAh battery. TCL aims at pricing the 5G variant below the $1000 mark, although there is no official announcement yet.

 

Xiaomi India creates history by selling 43 TVs per minute during the festive sales 

Xiaomi claims to have sold over 250,000 units of the Mi TV during the recently-concluded festive sale on Amazon, Flipkart and MI.com. The Mi TV is a huge hit with the Indian customers and that is evident from the sales charts, which roughly translates to 43 devices sold every minute. This is a huge milestone for the brand that had previously shattered sales records in the smartphone category. Xiaomi offered huge discounts on the Mi TV range during the Flipkart Big Billion Days Sale and Amazon’s Great Indian Festival. According to Xiaomi, the two best-selling TVs on Amazon India during the event were the 43-inch Mi TV 4A Pro and the 32-inch Mi TV 4C Pro.

The 32-inch Mi TV 4C Pro is currently listed on the online retail platforms at a discounted price of Rs. 11,499 (~$162). While the 43-inch 4A Pro is listed at Rs. 19,999 (~$282). Xiaomi recenly unveiled a range of TVs in India, including the 65-inch Mi TV 4X, which is their largest offering in India, the 50-inch and 43-inch Mi TV 4X, and the 40-inch Mi TV 4A. These options were also available during sale.

In a statement, Eshwar Nilakanta, the Category Lead at Mi TV for Xiaomi India said, “Our smart TV business commenced in 2018 and has flourished in India ever since. Within just three months of inception the Mi TV reached the top spot in overall sales and has continued to remain on top for the past five consecutive quarters. We crossed the one million mark in India within the first eight months and two million in the next five months. We announced a three million milestone in September but the additional milestone only took us four months to reach. We are humbled and thrilled by the love and appreciation received from our customers and Mi fans in the subcontinent. We hope the Mi TV ushers in the festive cheer for everyone”.

 

Apple reportedly acquired motion capture firm IKinema

Apple has reportedly acquired motion capture company named IKinema. The report comes from MacRumors which is based on evidence from company filings and information shared with the website by its reader.

A document filed with the UK government, Peter Deanwood, who is Apple‘s lawyer and responsible for the company’s international dealings, has been named as a Director of IKinema and the company’s service address has been listed as One Apple Park Way.

Apple Logo

For the uninitiated, IKenima is a motion capture company based out of the United Kingdom that captures animation technology which are used for games, virtual reality and more. It also developed technology that captures real-time motion animation of virtual characters.

Currently, the IKinema website is not operational and shows a support email address and a link to documentation covering the company’s various motion capture technologies. Also, the company’s Facebook and Twitter profiles haven’t been updated since 19th August.

The report indicates that customers of the company were not warned of a possible shutdown or sale and have been kept in the dark since early August. A person with inside information revealed that the acquisition was confirmed in Facebook Motion Capture group.

A few months ago, in July, the company had announced a partnership to provide Ubisoft access to its RunTime middleware. That same press release noted some existing collaborations of the company with Bandai Namco, Koch Media, NetEase Network, Rare, and 343 Industries.

With the acquisition of IKinema, Apple could use the technology in its various AR and VR projects as well as the company could enlist its help for improving True Depth camera technology which captures movements of the face.

(Source)

Samsung patents a unique smartphone with a flexible sliding display

In the Q1 of 2019, Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold which could be titled ‘one of the most innovative smartphones of the year’. However, the company is not stopping there, based upon freshly granted patents, it is working on yet another distinctive handset that features a sliding touch screen display which can conceal the top bezel.

To put it simply, the smartphone has a flexible display which is attached to a complex rack and pinion mechanism that allows it to slide upwards or downwards. Due to which, it can either hide or reveal the bezel above the display that accommodates the selfie camera and the earpiece for receiving phone calls.

Even though this is not that first time we are coming across a smartphone with a sliding display, the previously launched Mi Mix 3 is a prime example of this idea; but instead of the whole display assembly sliding upwards or downwards on Xiaomi‘s offering, Samsung’s device has a movable flexible display which is a completely different implementation.

According to the illustrations, whenever the user receives an audio or video call, they can slide the display downwards which will reveal the earpiece, front camera while simultaneously accepting the incoming call. Similarly sliding the display back upward will result in ending the call.

It is currently unknown, whether or not this fancy sliding display provides for any other function except for answering calls. With that being said, it does provide the smartphone with a high screen-to-body ratio that gives it an elegant look.

To wrap things up, the concept behind the patent definitely looks intriguing, however, it cannot be confirmed whether this particular device will see the light of the day or not. Presumably, the technology could make its way to future offerings from the company for which we will have to wait patiently.

Readers interested in checking out the patent can do so by clicking here.