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Samsung Galaxy A90, A40 and Galaxy A20e listed on company’s official UK website

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Still firing from all cylinders, Samsung doesn’t seems to have any intention to let off some steam in its bid to maintain its lead as the number one smartphone vendor globally. The company recently adjusted its strategy, chosin to devote more attention to the mid-range and budget segment while still maintaining its lead in the flagship segment. The rise of Chinese OEMs in the mid-range segment has seen Samsung almost lost the segment entirely. We are gradually losing count of the number of mid-range models the Korean company has released and those it is planning to release. Some upcoming Samsung models have popped up on Samsung UK’s website.

Three new models, the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A20e were all listed on the UK website. The pages are basically blank ones and so don’t have any details of the specifications or pictures of the models. The A90 has featured a couple of times in leaks with a recent one showing that the model will not be exclusive to China but will be available in other markets. The Galaxy A90 is also rumoured to pack a pop-up camera as well as a a rotating camera technology.

The Galaxy A20e is thought to be a variant of the Galaxy A20. When launched, it will be the first A series device to utilise the “e” moniker. The model was earlier spotted with the model number SM-A202F and may just be a trimmed down variant of the Galaxy A20. The device is expected to hit global markets later this spring.

Read Also: Samsung Galaxy A90 rumoured to pack a pop-up and rotating camera mechanism

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy A40 was also listed. The device was earlier spotted on Samsung’s Germany website some weeks ago, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if it is launched in the UK. It is unclear if the three models will be officially announced soon but since the company has already started testing the product page on its website, their launch shouldn’t be far away.

(source)

Buy CUBOT X19 And Gocomma B6 2 in 1 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter At Lowered Prices On Gearbest

By
Vinay Patel
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With smartphones becoming an inseparable part of our fast-paced lives, mobile phone accessories such as earphones, phone cases, wireless chargers, Bluetooth speakers etc. have also garnered huge popularity.
If you’re in the market for a cost-effective smartphone and mobile phone accessories that don’t cost a bomb, Gearbest’s got your back. The Chinese online store is now offering the CUBOT X19 phablet and Gocomma B6 2 in 1 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter at lowered prices.

CUBOT X19 4G Phablet

Launched in January this year, the X19 is an irresistible phablet that boasts an impressive array of features and top-end specs. As a phablet, the X19 features a 5.93-inch FHD+ display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels.

It packs a powerful MT6763T ( Helio P23 ) Octa-Core 2.5GHz 64-bit processor, paired with  4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity. The device houses a 16MP+2MP dual-camera setup at the back and an 8MP front shooter for selfies.
Cubot X19While you’d normally end up spending a lot of money on a top-branded phablet offering comparable features, the twilight color version of the CUBOT X19 can now be yours for only $119.99 on Gearbest.

This is a 27 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $165.43. Alternatively, you can go for the black-tinted CUBOT X19 that usually retails for $157.97.

Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, the aforesaid color version is now available for a reduced price of only $119.99 on Gearbest. This is a 24 percent drop in the device’s original asking price. You can follow this link to buy your favorite color version of the CUBOT X19.

There were 224 pieces of the twilight and only 114 pieces of the black color versions remaining at the time of writing. The promo is slated to end in three days.

Get 27% Off On CUBOT X19 4G Phablet

Gocomma B6 2 in 1 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter

Known for offering top-end mobile accessories that don’t cost a bomb, Gocomma makes everything from Bluetooth car chargers, screen protectors to adapters. Staying true to its reputation, the popular brand is offering its B6 2 in 1 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter for a lowered price on Gearbest.

The B6 Bluetooth receiver transmitter would normally set you back $12.53, but you can now buy it for only $8.49 on Gearbest. This is a 32 percent reduction in the Gocomma B6 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter’s retail price.


As part of an imminent flash sale, the device will be up for grabs bearing a further reduced price tag of only $7.99. Moreover, Gearbest users spending $20 will qualify for an add-on item for just $2.99.

You can visit this link to check out more details about the Gocomma B6 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter and grab the discount, which will be valid for the black color version for a limited period of time.

Get 32% Off On Gocomma B6 2 in 1 Bluetooth Receiver Transmitter

 

AU Optronics unveils 6.2-inch through-hole punch display with tiny 4.2mm cutout, smaller than Honor V20’s

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Samsung is presently the top smartphone display manufacturer globally. The tech giant is closely followed by rival Korean company LG Display. The rest of the top 7 display manufacturers include Tianma, Japan Display Incorporated, AU Optronics, Sharp and Foxconn. Each of these companies is increasingly mapping out strategies to outwit their competitors. Taiwanese display manufacturer AU Optronics unveiled its own strategy when it launched a 6.4-inch full-screen display panel with blind-hole punch in January this year. DigiTimes reports that AUO has now started shipping the new 6.4-inch blind-hole all-screen handset displays to clients, with plans to ship another model of 6.4-inch blind-hole displays in the second quarter of 2019.AU Optronics

The report quoted company sources to have also disclosed that AUO has rolled out 6.2-inch LTPS all-screen hole-punch handset displays, using through-hole punching technology. The LTPS panel comes with a 21:9 aspect ratio in an ultra-thin bezel design packed with a TDDI (touch and display driver) IC for further slimming down the panel’s thickness. Perhaps, the most interesting aspect is the size of the punch-hole which is said to be a 4.2mm aperture. This is smaller than the 4.5mm aperture of the Honor V20. The Honor V20 uses the blind technology which looks similar but is different from the through-hole punch which AUO has just unveiled. The through-hole penetrates the LCD panel, the screen up to the backlight layer. On the other hand, the blind hole penetrates only the liquid crystal panel layer.6.2-inch LTPS through-hole punch handset displays

Read Also: Digitimes: Full Screen Smartphone Shipments Will Account For 40% of the market in 2018

The source also disclosed that related technology for the production of the 6.2-inch LTPS through-hole punch handset displays is ready and AUO is capable of kicking off volume production on demand. Furthermore, AU Optronics is also said to be developing inkjet printing technology for the production of OLED panels. The Taiwanese company has reportedly set up an R&D line for the production of the inkjet-printed OLED panels already. Initial products that would feature the ink-jet printed OLED include large-size gadgets such as TVs and other products.

(source)

BlackBerry CEO does not believe in foldable phones, finds them Bulky!

By
Michele Ingelido
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Samsung and Huawei are putting a lot of efforts on foldable phones since they believe these handsets represents the future of mobile devices. People are every day in need of bigger displays and a smartphone which can transform into a tablet could be the best for a lot of users. But BlackBerry CEO John Chen does not share the same opinion. According to Chen, besides carrying a very high price, these devices are too bulky.

BlackBerry KEY² official render

He wouldn’t let anyone outside of lab testing at its company buy a foldable phone. And according to him, there are no breakthroughs on the horizon after fingerprint readers, facial recognition and iris scanners. Only time will tell us if the BlackBerry CEO is right or not: after all, foldable phones are still not on the shelves.

 

 

The first foldable phone to hit the global market will be the Samsung Galaxy Fold and it will probably be available starting from May, with a starting price tag of about $2,000. After that, in summer, Huawei Mate X with a totally different concept (the foldable screen is placed externally) will hit the market as well. According to reports, Samsung is even working on two more foldables.

 

(source)

First 5G launch delayed most likely to Q2 2019 in South Korea

By
Michele Ingelido
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5G is currently among the most awaited upcoming technologies. It was expected to launch for the first time in South Korea within the first three months of 2019. But according to the South Korean government, the first major launch of 5G networks will be delayed to Q2 2019, most likely in April. The government did not give a definitive confirmation about the delay, but it is almost sure.

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT gave two main reasons for the delay. The first is the lack of 5G phones: the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G should have been ready and completely tested within March, but it seems that the handset will not be ready for a launch in March. LG is waiting to adopt the Snapdragon X50 modem (that is the first 5G modem by Qualcomm) on the V50 ThinQ, but it will not be ready until April.

 

 

The second reason for the delay is the pricing structure of South Korean carriers. The government rejected the proposals from the famous local carrier SK Telecom because the requested prices were too high and not suitable for normal users. The plan was defined expensive and thought only for people in need of huge amounts of data.

(source)

Qualcomm updates camera specifications for Snapdragon chipsets with more details

By
Michele Ingelido
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Just like smartphones, even chipsets have a specs sheet and it is very important for manufacturers to know all the platforms’ specifications in order to equip their devices with supported components. Several chipsets are adopted by smartphones manufacturers for years, especially Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platforms. Just imagine SoCs such as the Snapdragon 625 released in 2016 (or even Snapdragon 660) that is still widely used on several last-generation phones.

A lot of new display panels and camera sensors with new specifications were released after these chipsets and, even though they often do not meet their specs sheets, they are often paired with these mobile platforms in the same phones. For example, look at the Redmi Note 7 boasting a Snapdragon 660 chipset and a 48 Megapixel camera. Its initial specs sheet says it does not support such high Megapixel count. How is it possible?

Simple, the fact that the specs of certain components do not meet the official requirements does not necessarily mean that it is not compatible with a mobile platform.

Snapdragon 710 featured

In order to make things clearer, Qualcomm just updated the specs sheets of several Snapdragon chipsets with more accurate camera specifications. This will help users, manufacturers, and developers to know immediately which camera sensors are compatible with those chipsets. Folks at XDA Developers discovered that the official pages of Snapdragon 845, 710, 675 and 660 were updated in early February with new camera specifications, such as new info about the frame rates, Megapixel, resolution limitations, codec support, Multi-Frame Noise Reduction, Zero Shutter Lag and more.

 

[envira-gallery id=”240250″]

In the images above, you can clearly see the differences between the chipsets pages before February and the actual ones which contain more detailed camera specifications. If you dig in the official website, you will probably find even more updated pages for several other chipsets. These specs will also be useful for all those developers who want to create ported camera apps for smartphones with the listed chipsets.

(source)

Huawei Watch GT to debut in India on March 12

By
Michele Ingelido
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It was October 2018 when Huawei announced the Watch GT alongside the Mate 20 series. A smartwatch based on a proprietary operating system instead of Wear OS, but still with flagship-class specification and a special focus on physical activity. Now, the company finally announced that the wearable will debut in India starting from next week. It will be available to purchase starting from March 12 and, according to the official teaser post published on Twitter, it will bring a revolution in the world of fitness.

Amazon India has already set up a landing page for the new Huawei Watch GT with its main specifications and features. The smartwatch boasts a Cortex M4 chipset and it is waterproof up to 5 ATM. It comes with a 1.39-inch AMOLED display showing images with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels, one of the highest ever seen on a circular smartwatch. It is equipped with a GPS module as well as an accurate optical heart rate sensor.

 

 

Huawei Watch GT will be available to purchase in two variants: a Sports version and a Classic one with a more elegant design. Its battery is able to last up to 30 days if you only use it for notifications, up to two weeks with heart tracking and exercise monitoring and 22 hours with GPS enabled.

(via)

Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE updated with Fingerprint Shortcut feature

By
Michele Ingelido
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Did you ever think about how wonderful it would be to use the in-display fingerprint reader of your phone to quickly open any app or feature you need? Well, the new Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE are going to get this useful feature through a new update starting this week. The MIUI update that the Chinese giant is going to roll out to both its latest high-end devices will allow everyone to simply touch on the fingerprint reader area in order to open customized shortcuts.

In order to use the feature, the user will need to long press on the fingerprint reader: after that, a menu with several shortcuts will appear and the user will need to swipe on the desired app or feature in order to open it. Besides opening apps, the new fingerprint shortcut feature can also be used to summon the Xiao AI voice assistant, to open the mobile payments screen and much more.

Besides Xiaomi Mi 9 and Mi 9 SE, the feature will be available even on other Xiaomi devices, but only the ones equipped with an in-display fingerprint reader: the Mi 8 Pro was already confirmed a few days ago, and probably the feature will soon land even on the Mi 8 Explorer Edition that is the world’s first Xiaomi phone with a pressure sensitive in-display fingerprint reader.

 

 

The update for the Xiaomi Mi 9 SE and Mi 9 SE will also bring some camera improvements to the two handsets: there will be a new 48 MP camera mode, a super wide-angle mode with the support to flash and more. Last but not least, the update brings new security patches. In order to check if it is rolling out on your unit, you can head to the Settings menu and check the Info section about your device, then tap on Software updates.

(source)

Vivo hits the low-end market with the sleek Vivo Y91i priced at Rs.7,990 ($114)

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Vivo continues to update its Y-series which is focused on the low-end segment. The Chinese company was rumoured to be planning to launch the Vivo Y91i in India today and that has turned out to be true. The Y91i is now official in India just about five months after launching the Y91 which was first released in November last year. Vivo Y91i

Vivo Y91i is very much similar to the Y91 in terms of design and even in the specifications but it comes with a cheaper price tag. The same resemblance exists with the Y91i sold in other markets such as Malaysia and Thailand. The Y91i is similar to the earlier Y91i in design but the earlier model packs a Snapdragon 439 chipset. O note, though, that the new Y91i is India’s version of the Y91C which is currently available in Pakistan.

In terms of the specification, the phone features a 6.22-inch display with HD+ resolution of 720x1520pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. The device has a waterdrop notch (halo) which houses the selfie camera just like the Y91. The Vivo Y91i is powered by the 12nm MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) chipset. This is paired with 2GB of RAM while there is 16GB storage on the base model and 32GB for the higher variant. The device comes with a microSD card slot for expansion.

In other aspects, the Y91i packs an 8 MP front camera which is also used for facial recognition since there is no fingerprint sensor at the back. The device equally packs a single 13MP f/2.2 shooter at the rear. For software, Vivo Y91i runs on Vivo’s Funtouch OS 4.5 on top of Android 8.1 Oreo. Dual SIM slots are present and the device is powered by a solid 4,030 mAh battery, which can be topped up via the dated microUSB.Vivo Y91i

Read Also: Vivo Y91 vs Realme C1 vs Honor Play 8A: Specs Comparison

As for the pricing, the Y91i starts at RS7990 ($114) for the 2GB+16GB variant. The 2GB+32GB variant is priced at Rs 8490 ($121).  Considering the design and hardware configuration, the pricing is just spot-on and will surely ensure the device rakes in huge sales for the BBK subsidiary. The smartphone is already on sale in India and buyers get color options such as Fusion Black, Sunset Red and Ocean Blue.

Xiaomi reveals the Redmi Note 7 Pro features P2i Nano Hydrophobic coating

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi will be launching the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China on March 18 and ahead of that date, the company has started teasing some of the outstanding features the device would pack. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has already been launched in India but the China version may come with a few surprising features that were absent on the India version. While we wait to see some of those features, the Chinese tech giant has officially disclosed that the Redmi Note 7 Pro comes with the hydrophobic P2i nano coating.Redmi Note 7 Pro

In case you don’t know, P2i is a nanotechnology development company that works with manufacturers to produce liquid repellent nano-coating protection to products for the electronics, lifestyle, life sciences, filtration and Energy, and military and institutional sectors. The P2i technology employs plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition processing to apply an ultrathin polymer layer onto all surfaces of a product. The process known as ‘pulsed-plasma’ takes place under low pressure within a vacuum chamber at room temperature. The coating is introduced as a vapour and ionized. This allows for the development of the polymer layer, which forms a covalent bond with the product’s surface, making it extremely durable. Further, the coating is one thousand times thinner than a human hair and so it does not affect the look or feel of products. It confers on the device hydrophobic properties but may not prevent smudge and fingerprints from accumulating on the screen. 

Read Also: Redmi Note 7 Pro 48MP night mode camera sample released

The nanocoating on the Redmi Note 7 Pro isn’t only on the screen but on the entire body since the device also has a glass back. The Redmi Note 7 Pro doesn’t come with any IP rating for water and dust-resistance but the P2i nano-coating makes it splash proof. The premium mid-range device also come with hardware optimisations such as rubberised layering around important modules to make the phone sort of waterproof. You don’t want to get the phone inside water, though,

(source)

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Gaming Phone listed on AnTuTu with Snapdragon 855

By
Joel Joseph
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Xiaomi backed gaming smartphone, Black Shark is getting a new update on March 18. Likely to be called the Black Shark 2, the new phone has already passed through Geekbench a couple of times before. However, the phone has now been spotted on the AnTuTu benchmark as well, revealing some specifications.

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Antutu

The phone passed through AnTuTu under the model name, BlackShark Skywalker. We know that this is the new generation model because it’s powered by Snapdragon 855. The phone came in 8+128GB memory configuration, but we know for sure that there’s a higher-end model, with 12GB of RAM on board. This 12GB RAM model was spotted on Geekbench a couple of days back. The AnTuTu listing also gives out its display resolution, which is the standard 2340 x 1080 pixels. Finally, the phone manages to score 359,973, which is pretty average for the new Snapdragon 855 chipset.

Xiaomi Black Shark 2
Black Shark 2 leak reveals different camera arrangement

Before this, the 8GB RAM model of the new Black Shark 2 had passed through Geekbench and 3C certification. The latter confirmed that the phone will come with 27W fast charging, same as the Xiaomi Mi 9. A recently leaked hands-on image also gave us a glimpse of the new camera arrangement of the phone. The new model is said to feature vertically arranged dual cameras at the back. We couldn’t find a fingerprint sensor in the image, so it could come with a screen fingerprint sensor up front.

 

 

 

 

The new Black Shark 2 model is confirmed to feature Liquid Cooling 3.0. While details about the new generation cooling technology aren’t widely available, it’s said that the phone could feature larger cooling pipes to limit the internal temperature.

The phone launches on March 18, which coincidentally is the same day when we meet the new Redmi Note 7 Pro in China.

 

(Source)

Vivo IQOO’s 6+128GB version goes up on open sale!

By
Jed John Ikoba
-

Vivo went official with its first gaming smartphone dubbed Vivo iQOO in China last week. The model came equipped with the latest Snapdragon 855 chipset and for memory it is available in 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB, 8GB+256GB and 12GB+256GB versions. The device has already gone on its first flash sale earlier this week and today opened for the second round of sales. The flash sale was wrapped up in no distant time but it was discovered that the iQOO 6GB+128GB variant is now available on open sale on Vivo’s website.

The premium flagship gaming phone comes with a price tag of 29998 yuan and the open sale makes it the first smartphone with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 855 SoC to be sold on open sale in China. The other known Snapdragon 855 models, including the Mi 9 are all still available via periodic flash sales. Even the other memory configurations of the iQOO can only be purchased via flash sales.

As a reminder, the Vivo iQOO sports a 6.4-inch waterdrop AMOLED display with high 91.7% screen to body ratio. It is embedded with a Snapdragon 855 processor with four memory variants which includes 6+128GB, 8+128GB, 8+256GB, and the big monstrous 12+256GB version. The smartphone comes in two different colours, the Electro-optic Blue and Lava Orange with both colors featuring Halo light strip at the back which would be an added advantage for gamers. The light strip comes up automatically when you finish a particular milestone during gameplay, giving a sense of achievement. There are also two monster touch buttons on the sides for playing games.

Read ALso: Vivo iQOO vs Xiaomi Black Shark Helo vs Nubia Red Magic Mars: Specs Comparison

In the camera department, it features a triple camera setup, with a 12MP IMX 363 primary sensor, 13MP wide angle lens and a 2MP lens for background blur. There doesn’t seem to be OIS on board, but you do get EIS. For selfies, there’s a 12MP sensor for capturing those amazing moment. Under the hood is a 4000mAh battery which would give gamers a considerate gaming time when fully charge. The battery is supported with a 44W charger which would charge the device fully in just 45mins. Other features include Jovi Assistant, NFC, screen fingerprint, and a new Funtouch OS 9 based on Android Pie.

(source)

 

Xiaomi Mi 9 Hands On: Premium Curved Design meets Affordable Pricing!

By
Joel Joseph
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Xiaomi is known for its value for money flagships and the tradition continues with its new launch, the Xiaomi Mi 9. The phone is one of the best looking Xiaomi smartphones in recent times, as the company has refined the phone’s design as compared to its predecessor and is offering it in a number of different color variants. We got the blue color variant for this hands-on and it looks really premium. If you thought that Xiaomi phones didn’t look or feel premium before, then know that this phone does take things up a notch.

Xiaomi Mi 9 hands on (1)

Since we are on the topic of notches, yes, the front does feature a notch, but it’s pleasant to the eyes because of its water drop design. There’s still some bezels below the display, so it’s not quite the new age notch-less and bezel-less phone, say like the Galaxy S10+. But it sure does look good.

mi9-back-hands on-02

The back of the Xiaomi Mi 9 is made out of glass and it’s protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The front comes with Gorilla Glass 6 protection. The blue color on the back looks beautiful and the color is said to be sprayed below the curved glass. The sides of the glass at the back is curved, which makes it really comfortable to hold. The grip feels natural and it’s pretty easy to hold the device even with one hand. But note that the glass makes the phone quite slippery and you’d probably end up covering the phone with a case for an added sense of security.

Xiaomi Mi 9 hands on (6)
Xiaomi Mi 9 Camera bulge

Also, let’s talk about that camera bump. The triple camera module, which includes a 48MP camera sensor, protrudes quite significantly from the back. Know that it will be the first part of the phone that touches the surface, which means it will be subjected to some rough conditions. However, Xiaomi has ensured that the camera lens will remain scratchless by using sapphire glass. Still, personally, I would look for a case that evens out the back. By the way, we might not have to endure such protruding camera models. OPPO’s upcoming 10X Zoom camera is said to have a flat triple camera setup. It comes with a 48MP camera too!

 

 

Overall, if you match the phone’s styling and the hardware inside, not to mention the amazing price tag, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is definitely the smartphone to look out for this year. It features the new Snapdragon 855 processor with up to 12GB of RAM (on the transparent edition), a solid triple camera setup (48MP main + 12MP telephoto + 16MP wide angle), 6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED display, and a decent 3300mAh battery with 27W fast charging and 20W fast wireless charging as well. Except for the average battery, I personally feel, the Mi 9 does well in all other aspects. For a starting price tag of around $450, it’s definitely a steal!

[envira-gallery id=”240193″]

It’s worth mentioning that the Xiaomi Mi 9 is likely to be the last flagship from Xiaomi that’ll start under 3000 Yuan ($450). The company’s CEO recently revealed that it would like to increase the prices of its flagships, albeit slightly, to offer better components to its users in the future. But right now, at this price, the Xiaomi Mi 9 is definitely the smartphone to beat.

 

OnePlus 7 listing appears on Giztop with specsheet and an image

By
Simranpal Singh
-

The Chinese smartphone maker is working in full swing to launch the next flagship device, OnePlus 7. Already, numerous leaks have surfaced in the past revealing its specs and design. Today, a full-fledged listing has appeared on the website of Chinese retailer, Giztop flaunting its front side in an image along with its specifications. The image is matching the recently leaked 360 degree 3D render prototype of the OnePlus 7, irrespective its buttons placement.

Along with the full-view display, the device hosts a power button on the right side, and volume rockers sit on the left. It’s significantly large speaker grill is visible on the display top. Even though, the alert slider is missing from the frame. Further, it’s quite difficult to verify the pop-up camera module as nothing is visible beside its front side. The image seems quite practical, and it is possible that OnePlus should have eliminated the alert slider.

OnePlus 7 rumored specifications

Furthermore, Giztop has also listed the specifications of the device. As per the specs sheet, OnePlus 7 will carry  6.5 inch AMOLED display carrying “world’s fastest screen unlock” in-screen fingerprint sensor. OnePlus has dubbed to carry waterdrop display having a screen-to-body ratio of 91.5 percent. One of the major attractions of the smartphone is its in-display fingerprint reader. Further, OnePlus 7 will make debut with Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC which supports maximum clocking speeds of upto 2.84 GHz coupled with Adreno 640 GPU. On the camera end, its triple camera sensor module with 48MP+20MP+5MP will take place on the rear side of the device. On the front, there will be another 16MP pop-up camera sensor for selfies and video calling.

OnePlus will make it available in two different variants featuring 8GB RAM +128 GB storage and 12 GB RAM with 256 GB internal Storage. It is listed to host 4000 mAh of a huge battery which will be compatible with 44W super fast Dash charging technology. The device will run on Oxygen OS 9 aka Android 9.0 Pie. It will be compatible with almost every network carrier across the Globe.

Additionally, OnePlus founder Pete Lau has confirmed that the OnePlus 7 won’t feature wireless charging option. Already, various renders carrying punch hole display, some skipping notch have appeared in the past. We suggest you wait for the official confirmation, as the launch is not so long away.

(Source)

This Could be Sony’s Big Plans for 3D Camera Sensors and AR Apps

By
Vinay Patel
-

New Sony patents that were originally spotted by Android Headlines and recently shared by the World Intellectual Property Organization seems to spills the beans on the Japanese tech giant’s secret strategy about 3D camera sensors and AR-compatible applications.


If the listings are anything to go by, Sony’s big plans involve multi-dimensional 3D scanning using pose metrics, determining the scale of an object from a 3D scan and verifying environmental conditions for 3D scanning.

The first new patents allude to a system that is probably embedded in a smartphone’s 3D sensor camera and comes in handy while checking the surrounding environment of the user or objects in a bid to ensure 3D scanning is attainable.

Particularly, it adopts the device-bound sensor to carry out several checks for lighting and a slew of other environmental conditions which are likely to crop up due to background objects against a list of norms either in the cloud or locally. It doesn’t have to do that in real time, thanks to the system’s ability to work from a sequence of photographs.
The company’s second filing builds on the earlier presumption by enforcing a series of instructions in the device that houses the camera in order to figure out how processing will take place based on the adjustment of the device.

This will enable the system that has been described in the third patent to proceed to the step of generating the 3D image data linked either with the person or object in question. It is worth noting that Sony has patented a resolution for finding a more ideal scale and dimensions of the scanned object by using a ‘plurality’ of photos as well as the ratio between various points in those objects.
Although the patents may be linked, the question is how they might be used. It looks like the new patents can be efficiently joined in multiple combinations in order to serve various use cases. For instance, the second Sony patent can be effectively used in combination with the environmental checking system as well as the capture system. This carries out a solution that ensures that the user is an ideal environment for 3D modeling.

It can be recalled that Sony had alluded to 3D camera sensors as the current generation’s counterpart as far as innovation is concerned. Keeping in line with that, it is hardly surprising that the company is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to ensure its associated patents come to fruition.
While it may seem that the aforesaid associated patents may not be ready to use in their existing form, Sony recently decided to increase the production of related LIDAR-based time-of-flight sensors, ignoring a decline in overall demand.

It still remains to be seen whether or not the new patents will be used and exactly how does the company plan to utilize them, but we could actually end up seeing those in some smartphones, given that ToF sensors and 3D cameras are likely to take the industry by storm in the near future. For more images of the new Sony patents, you can head straight to Android Headlines.

(Source: 1)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10 concept looks promising in these 3D renders

By
Simranpal Singh
-

The Korean giant, Samsung, has already stepped into the new era of smartphones by announcing a foldable device last month. Samsung has also announced its Galaxy S series flagship devices such as Galaxy S10, S10+, and S10e. It’s been only a few days since the device has hit the shelves, and the renders of its upcoming Galaxy Note 10 has started surfacing on the web. Recently, guys over at PhoneArena designed concept renders of Galaxy Note 10 by considering current leaked specs and other design details.

As of now, Samsung has no definite plans of when they will announce the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. However, on the basis of leaks and other theoretical information available, new concept renders are here showcasing the design of Note 10. PhoneArena has managed to develop near-possible renders of it resembling the recently launched Galaxy S10 device. Last year, Note 9 also carried similar aspects as the Galaxy S9.

While looking at the Note 9 concept renders, it is quite difficult to ignore its huge Quad camera module on the rear side along with a flash and other sensors. The shape of the whole camera module is horizontal with little round edges. The concept is derived from rumors which state that it will feature a quad camera setup as like of Galaxy S10. To recall, Galaxy S10 carries a 12MP standard camera, 12 MP telephoto lens, a 16 MP wide-angle shooter and a 3D ToF camera sensor.

On the front, its Infinity-O display taken from Galaxy S10 can be seen with a punch hole featuring dual front cameras. In display cameras are still not available. So we need to wait for some more years for that kind of advancement to take place. Until then, we can’t have a true bezel-less display device, unless you are okay with pop up cameras. Currently, the source is not entirely confident about the size or shape of the punch hole.

Samsung introduced Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor with Galaxy S10 launch. The same kind of fitting is present in the renders. In reality, we believe Galaxy Note 10 will also use this new technology. Unlike Optical fingerprint sensors, Ultrasonics are faster and more reliable. It’s extremely likely that Note 10 will also feature black shaded top right corner wallpapers to hide punch hole as the Galaxy S10.

If we go with the renders, then Galaxy Note 10 repair is also going to be expensive as like iFixit revealed yesterday for Galaxy S10 devices.

What are your thoughts on these renders? For more images, hit the source link below.

(Source)

Redmi GM confirms Redmi Note 7 Pro won’t have NFC, recommends the Mi 9SE instead

By
Jed John Ikoba
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Xiaomi heralded the birth of its new Redmi series with the launch of the Redmi Note 7 in China. The major highlight of the device was the 48MP main camera sensor it packed on its back. That was missing when the Redmi Note 7 was launched in India with a 12MP main sensor. Instead, Xiaomi unveiled the Redmi Note 7 Pro with the 48MP sensor. The Note 7 Pro also missed out on having the NFC technology onboard, an omission which was pointed out by a Mi fan on Weibo. The fan had asked why the Redmi Note 7 which was announced in India a few days back did not have NFC. He further inquired about the surprise feature the China version would have as Xiaomi is yet to launch the Note 7 Pro in China.XIaomi redmi note 7 pro NFC

Redmi’s General Manager Liu Weibing in his response suggested that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will not have NFC onboard. He advised fans who are clamouring for NFC to get the Mi 9 SE instead. He also suggested getting the Mi Band 3 NFC version which is a cheaper alternative.

Read Also: Xiaomi sold over 200,000 Redmi Note 7 units in India in just minutes

The CEO had earlier promised that the Redmi Note 7 Pro will come with a surprise. Perhaps, he was referring to the powerful 48MP Sony IMX586 onboard. The Redmi Note 7 Pro also featured  Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset as well as 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Xiaomi is set to launch the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China on March 18. When it does, it is unlikely if the specs will be different from the model launched in India. A change in specs like we saw with the Redmi Note 5 Pro may be counter-productive in the long run.

(source)

Almost 40% of AI Startups in Europe essentially have no AI

By
Simranpal Singh
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Artificial Intelligence is a much-talked topic in today’s world. Every company or startup is either working on it or talking about its benefits. Despite this fact, there are some AI Startups in Europe which are just creating hype about Artificial Intelligence but are not using it. They are just mongering new technological advancements despite no research evidence in the past over the AI.

ai

In a new survey conducted with over 2830 AI startups in 13 European sub-continent by VC investor MMC ventures, it was revealed that in around 40% of cases, they could not find any mention of AI. MMC head of research, David Kelnar, says that “companies that people assume and think are AI companies are probably not.” Nearly half of the companies in Europe that call themselves AI start-ups don’t actually use artificial intelligence, a new report found. The report data is aggregated by focusing on the “activities, focus, and funding” of each firm.

The new findings are raising questions as like what these companies were doing to manipulate the offerings. Do customers really know into what they are investing? The hype of AI has reached such a height that with fake AI talks, companies are luring huge investments. These companies do not grow within a day, and there are many reasons through which these firms blossom. Even analytics firms are also responsible behind classifying these companies, as noted by Forbes.

“There’s a huge amount of hype around, but one of the ways that we hope to add value as an investor … is to help cut through that and highlight the technology,” said David Kelnar,

The potential of AI is driving more investments to these companies. Primarily, some of them are using AI as a weapon to attract more funding. The report also finds that the “Artifical Intelligence” tag on the company has increased the investments by up to 15-20%. The firms are generating huge investments by just claiming that they are working on AI. In other words, the companies are encashing in on the hype created in the past few years. Further, the valuations of AI firms have also jumped in the past few years, overtaking software firms.

“From an intellectual property perspective, the use of AI in this way actually holds little to no value,” he said in an email to our source. “The AI sector is a bubble that might well burst because of this.”

ai industries europe

Not just talking about fake AI claims, some companies are even manipulating consumer data stats to serve the company’s marketing departments.

As per the report, only one in four AI companies is working in an efficient manner to automate customer service.  Further, nine out of 10 AI startups are just working on the B2B operations. There is a considerable demand for AI-based operations in the health & wellbeing, finance, retail, and media & entertainment sectors. The AI is booming in Europe and the subcontinent has already jumped into the “era of AI entrepreneurship.” In total, one out of twelve new start-ups is primarily using AI at its core.

UK has a massive bunch of AI startups, actually, double the amount in respect to any other country. Companies like Deepmind and others are the actual drivers behind AI growth in the UK.

(Source, Via)

Motorola foldable RAZR Smartphone Could Boast These Awe-Inspiring Features

By
Vinay Patel
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Leading smartphone manufacturers are reportedly hard at works on their versions of these hotly-anticipated smartphones. It is hardly surprising that Motorola is jumping on the foldable, dual-screen phone bandwagon.

Nearly fifteen years ago, the American multinational telecommunications company introduced the Razr series. If rumors making the rounds online are anything to go by, Motorola is gearing up to breathe new life into the brand by launching a new foldable phone under the coveted series.
Adding fuel to the fire of rumors about a new foldable RAZR phone, XDA Developers recently confirmed that Motorola is indeed making a smartphone that will feature two displays. Citing its own sources and a slew of disclosed software features, the site claims that the device is Motorola’s revamped RAZR phone.

A patent that surfaced online in January this year implies the revamped Motorola RAZR will come with a second display, which will be placed outside and show various information. Regrettably, a full Android experience will be highly unlikely, the report indicated.

Motorola will restrict specific applications from accessing the secondary display. In fact, there’s hearsay that only a few pre-installed apps including Moto Camera, Moto Actions, and Moto Display will be allowed to use the secondary display initially.

Other functions of the secondary screen include ceaselessly displaying about six Quick Settings tiles. Apparently, these will comprise options like NFC, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Customization could be made available.

On the downside, the next-gen Motorola RAZR could set you back a pretty penny. Thanks to its newfangled design, the phone will be carrying a steep price tag of about $1,500. Moreover, only 200,000 units are rumored to be manufactured. The purported phone is expected to hit the store shelves later this year via Verizon. Under the hood, the much-awaited foldable flagship phone from Motorola will pack Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855. It will reportedly ship with 8GB of RAM and offer 128GB of internal storage capacity.

Taking the steep price tag into consideration, it looks like Motorola will also be offering more premium configurations in the near future. The announcement of the new foldable phone is expected to coincide with 15th anniversary of the first Motorola RAZR smartphone.

The phone could be announced during the summer months and made available to the huge Motorola RAZR fanbase and other smartphone users either in late August or early September.

(Source: 1, Via)

 

Report says Samsung Galaxy phones are among the fastest depreciating handsets in trade-in value

By
Jed John Ikoba
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South Korean tech giant Samsung has rightly earned its reputation as the biggest smartphone vendor globally. The tech giant, just like other top phone manufacturers, releases its flagship Galaxy S series annually since the first unit rolled out of its factory in June 2010. Samsung even releases two flagship models each year, the other one being the Galaxy Note series.Samsung Galaxy S9 Burgundy Red variant

Samsung flagship models can’t be said to be cheap but a recent report has revealed that the high price tags which they adopt don’t actually retain their monetary value a couple of months after they are launched. The report published by bankmycell says that all phones lose an incredible amount of value as soon as buyers open the box. The report also particularly called out the Samsung Galaxy phones which it claims loses an insane amount of value during the first month after release.

Samsung sales data shows that last year’s Galaxy S9 base model launched with a price of $720. The initial value of the phone was said to have dwindled by 41.66% within the first month. By nine months after launch, the value was down to $290 (-59.72%). Thankfully, Samsung offers trade-in programmes in most regions which makes it easy to swap the old model for the current one. 

Read Also: USB promoter group announces USB 4.0 with up to 40Gbps transfer speed, scheduled for release mid-2019

The report also listed the Top 10 flagship phones whose values have depreciated the most as at 2018.  You’ll notice some of these phones are older, so it makes sense that they’re losing almost all of their value in 2018, but one phone, the LG G6, is not all that old (March 2017) and lost half of its already low resale value in one year. At the start of 2018, it sat at $220. By the end of the year, it was at $110. Even Apple’s iPhones are not left out of the loss in retail value but the decline in value isn’t as steep as Android phones.

(source)

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