Huawei phones now automatically deletes images downloaded from Twitter app in China

By

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Jan 22, 2019

Huawei, which is currently at the center of the US-China trade war, is going through rough times. While it is facing issues in other countries, especially in the west, the company’s recent decisions have faced criticism from users of its home country as well.

After announcing that Huawei will block third-party launchers on its EMUI 9, the company’s smartphones now automatically deletes images downloaded from the Twitter app in China. Users have started complaining about this on various online forums.

A Reddit user confirmed that he also is also facing the same problem. He added that his Honor Note 10 received an update of around 3.5MB and now images from Twitter are getting deleted. His other Huawei smartphone, P20 Pro, isn’t China-exclusive and it is not facing this issue.

It’s noteworthy that the images downloaded through Twitter mobile app are getting deleted and the images downloaded from Twitter through mobile browsers, including Huawei Browser, remains safe. Some users have pointed out that going back to the previous version of the application allows users to save images.

While it seems that the Twitter app is deleting images in the background, currently only Huawei smartphone users are facing this issue and there are no reports about deleting Twitter images from users of other company’s smartphones.

As of now, there’s no official statement released either by Twitter or Huawei. Notably, Twitter, along with other social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram as well as Google‘s services have been blocked in China. People are using VPN to access blocked platforms even though many VPN apps are also blocked in China.

Previously, Huawei announced that it will be blocking third-party launchers on its EMUI 9, a fork of Android. The company has also blocked bootloader unlocking. At a time when mistrust against Huawei is rising, Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei recently defended the company’s independence from Beijing’s control.

(Via)

Buy DJI Smart Controller, JDRC JD-20S PRO RC Drone And Other RC Toys At Slashed Prices On GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

If you have restlessly been looking for cost-effective remote control toys and accessories that do not compromise on quality, it might interest you to know that GeekBuying has launched the ‘Best RC Toys EU Stock Sale’ promo.

As part of this recently kicked-off promotional sale, you can now get your hands on a wide selection of RC toys without emptying your pocket. The Chinese online store is doling out noteworthy discounts on all items featured in this event and offering big coupons, giving buyers a chance to save more money.

We’ll take a gander at two such items that GeekBuying is now offering at lowered prices. Moreover, we will show how you can get extra discounts during the checkout process.

DJI Smart Controller for DJI Mavic 2 Series RC Drone

Designed to work with the Mavic 2 and a slew of other aircraft that are equipped with OcuSync 2.0, the DJI Smart Controller delivers an unparalleled outdoor flying experience. It sports an easily readable 5.5-inch built-in screen that shows crystal clear images even in direct sunlight.

A top-branded Smart Controller, offering comparable features would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online as well as offline stores, but you can buy the DJI Smart Controller for just $669 on GeekBuying. If this 16 percent drop in the device’s retail price of $799.99 doesn’t impress you much, we got good news for you.
In order to get an extra $116 off before placing the order, you can use coupon code GIZ_PYIVAASO. The aforesaid coupon helps you bring the already lowered selling price of the DJI Smart Controller further down to just $659.

You can visit this link to grab the discount. It is worth noting that the promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing.

Get 16% Off On DJI Smart Controller

JDRC JD-20S PRO WIFI FPV Foldable RC Drone

The JDRC JD-20S PRO adopts a foldable arm design that makes it an easy-to-carry RC drone. Moreover, it houses a built-in 1080P wide-angle lens camera that can capture awe-inspiring images and videos from the sky.

Aside from that, the JDRC JD-20S PRO comes with an altitude hold mode and a headless mode that allows the aircraft to maintain a consistent altitude and ensure that it always follows control from your frame of reference even when it is not facing you.
While the JDRC JD-20S PRO usually carries a $69.99 price tag, the feature-laden RC drone has gone up for sale carrying a lowered price of only $59.99 on GeekBuying. This 14 percent discount can be extended further with the help of coupon code GIZ_WXWNEASM.

The coupon helps you reduce the original selling price of the drone to just $49.99, by offering an extra $10 off at checkout.

You can follow this link in order to take advantage of this discount before the promotion comes to an end.

Get 14% Off On JDRC JD-20S PRO WIFI FPV Foldable RC Drone

OPPO F11 Pro certified in three countries; Coming soon with 10x optical zoom camera?

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 22, 2019

The OPPO CH1969 was has been recently certified by SIRIM authority in Malaysia, TKDN body in Indonesia and NBTC in Thailand. Through the NBTC certification it has been known that the CPH1969 OPPO handset will be introduced in the market as OPPO F11 Pro. It will be arriving as the successor for the OPPO F9 Pro.

None of the certification bodies have revealed any information on the specifications of the smartphone. Like the predecessor F-series phones, the upcoming OPPO F11 Pro will be aimed towards the Asian markets. There is no confirmation on whether the company will be releasing the OPPO F11 handset alongside it. Last year, various markets in Asia had received the OPPO F9 phone, but India had received the same phone as OPPO F9 Pro.

OPPO has recently confirmed that it will be showcasing its 10x optical zoom technology at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech trade show in the coming month. It remains to be seen whether the Chinese firm will launch the OPPO F11 Pro with 10x optical zoom or it will be reserved for OPPO R19 that is expected to go official in March in China.

The OPPO F9 Pro had arrive with a waterdrop notch screen. Hence, it is likely that the OPPO F11 Pro may either feature the same display or a punch-hole display to offer higher screen space to its users. There is a possibility that the company may opt for a notch-less AMOLED screen like the OPPO Find X for the F11 Pro. Doing so will allow the company to offer in-display fingerprint scanner feature on the device.

Read More: OPPO Find X2 may launch with these new features

The OPPO F9 Pro features a 6.3-inch IPS LCD dewdrop notch screen which is shielded by Gorilla Glass 6. The Helio P60 powers the phone with up to 6 GB of RAM. It has an inbuilt storage of 64 GB and comes with a microSD card slot for additional storage. Other features of the phone include 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual camera, 25-megapixel front camera and 3,500mAh battery with 20W VOOC Flash Charge support.

(via 1, 2)

Buy Xiaomi AMAZFIT Bip Pace Youth And Other Top-End Smartwatches At Lowered Prices On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

In collaboration with Banggood, Huami’s popular self-brand Amazfit is now offering tech buffs an unmissable chance to get their tech greedy hands on some of its high-end smartwatches without breaking the bank.
Keeping in line with that, the Xiaomi AMAZFIT Bip Pace Youth smartwatch has now gone up for sale carrying a considerably reduced price of just $82.99 on Banggood. This 17 percent discount is currently available for the light grey, green, orange and black color versions of the device.

Equipped with an impressive array of features including a 45-days standby time, GPS+GLONASS, heart rate monitor, an international standard rating of IP68 and lots more, the AMAZFIT Bip Pace Lite is an irresistible smartwatch. The device is backed by a robust 190mAh Lithium-ion polymer battery that works for 45 days on just a single charge.
Moreover, the smartwatch is capable of accurately detecting location thanks to a built dual model that comprises a Sony 28nm GPS+GLONASS. You can use the MiFit app to synchronize, map your run and keep an eye on your progress.

The AMAZFIT Bip Pace Lite comes with a real-time heart rate monitoring feature that identifies aerobic and anaerobic exercises, reminding the wearer when the heart rate goes over safety range. There are other calls and SMS reminders along with App notification, watch and idle alert.

Aside from the feature-laden AMAZFIT Bip Pace Lite, Banggood is offering significant discounts on a myriad of other smartwatches including the international version of Xiaomi Amazfit Verge, AMAZFIT Huami Stratos, and the Xiaomi AMAZFIT Cor MiDong just to name a few.

For the sake of an instance, the international version of the Xiaomi Amazfit Cor2 smartwatch usually retails for $99.99, but you can now buy it for just $75.99 on Banggood. This is a significant 24 percent drop in the device’s original asking price.

You can click here to visit the promotion page and check out the rest of the smartwatches that you can buy without emptying your pocket on Banggood for a limited period of time.

Check Out AMAZFIT Official Store Online Deals

Buy Huawei TalkBand B5 Bluetooth Smart Bracelet For Just $159.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

Newfangled timepieces do a lot more than just tell time. The market is rife with modern smartwatches that track your health and monitor various activities in order to motivate you to lead a healthier lifestyle.
On the downside, these devices don’t come cheap. In a bid to make a slew of HUAWEI-branded smartwatches available to fitness purists at unbeatable prices, GeekBuying has launched a new promo.

Dubbed as ‘Smartwatches of HUAWEI New Arrivals,’ this recently kicked-off promo gives buyers a chance to save extra money in the form of big coupons. First fifty buyers can get an extra $10 off on the Huawei Honor Magic smartwatch by applying coupon code CLGIERYD.

Likewise, first 100 buyers can use coupon code MHZYWCOP and get an extra $5 off on the Honor Magic smartwatch. It is worth noting that the aforesaid coupon is slated to expire on February 15th.

While the promo features a slew of other coveted smartwatches, we’ll take a gander at one of Huawei’s popular smartwatches, the TalkBand B5. Placed under the ‘More Deals’ category of the promo, the TalkBand B5 is an irresistible smart bracelet that you can now buy on GeekBuying without emptying your pocket.
The Huawei TalkBand B5 would normally set you back $199.99, but you can now buy it for just $169.99 on the Chinese online store that’s known for offering China’s best electronic items at unbeatable prices. You can extend this 15 percent discount by using coupon code GIZ_ROBWTEWM.

The above-mentioned coupon helps you get an extra $10 off. In other words, you can bring the already lowered retail price of the TalkBand B5 further down to only $159.99 simply by applying the coupon before placing your order.

The TalkBand B5 sports a 1.13-inch AMOLED screen that is easily readable even in the glaring light. The device features a 2.4 times bigger 2.5D glass than its predecessor to provide more shreds of information on the screen.

Moreover, you can use TalkBand B5 Bluetooth headset in order to answer an incoming call when your hands are tied or you are working out. It features a powerful triple-core audio chipset along with HD Audio services to make conversation on the Bluetooth headset more natural.

You can head straight to this link to check out more details about the Huawei TalkBand B5 smart bracelet and grab the discount before the promotion comes to an end.

Get 15% Off On Huawei TalkBand B5 Bluetooth Smart Bracelet

Check Out GeekBuying’s Smartwatches of HUAWEI New Arrivals

Buy TenFifteen F6 Smart Watch At A Considerably Lowered Price Of $98.99 On Banggood

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

If you are in the market for a smartwatch, you are highly likely to come across a wide selection of feature-rich smartwatches that carry steep price tags.

While those who aren’t willing to shell out a lot of money on a smartwatch usually end up compromising on quality, TenFifteen is bent of changing that. The Shenzhen based tech company has teamed up with Banggood in a bid to make its top-end F6 smartwatch available to those living on a tight budget.

The F6 would normally set you back $185.99, but first 100 buyers can get their hands on this coveted smartwatch at a slashed price of just $98.99 on Banggood. The next 200 pieces will retail for a slight steeper $118.99 and once they are sold out the F6 will go back to its original asking price.

As part of a promotional sale that kicked off on Monday, January 21st, the TenFifteen F6 watch phone has gone up for sale carrying a heavily discounted price tag on Banggood. Moreover, five lucky buyers who order the F6 before the promo ends on January 27th will qualify to get the XANES XT06 worth $25.99 as a free gift.
Three days after the event ends, Banggood will reveal the winning list and the prizes will be sent within seven working days after the event ends.

Housed in a sturdy metal frame, the TenFifteen F6 is an irresistible smartwatch. It sports an easily readable 1.39-inch IPS round touch screen with a high resolution of 400×400 pixels and 9H glass Corning Gorilla 3rd Generation for added protection.

Under the hood, the F6 packs an MTK6739 quad-core processor coupled with 1GB of DDR3 RAM. The watch offers a hearty 16GB of onboard storage capacity. You can use a nano-SIM for hands-free calling with the F6 smartwatch that also supports GPS positioning.

On the photography front, the F6 houses a 5.0MP camera, adopting a larger area, a faster sensor for a superior photography experience. Aside from that, the smartwatch features multi-sport modes and has an optical heart rate monitor as well as a pedometer.

The F6 smartwatch runs Android 7.1 Nougat OS and draws its juices from a 580mAh battery. Aside from that, it supports a 4G network so that the wearer can chat with family and friends, play online games and lots more with breaking a sweat.

You can follow this link in order to check out more details about the TenFifteen F6 watch phone and avail the discount before the promotion sale ends.

Get 47% Off On TenFifteen F6 Smart Watch

Buy Top Variants Of The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Phablet At Unbeatable Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

Deemed as one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, GearBest is now giving Xiaomi fans an unmissable chance to get their hands on two variants of the recently launched Redmi Note 7 without emptying their pockets.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Phablet (4GB RAM+64GB ROM)

You can buy this variant of the Redmi Note 7 phablet for a lowered price of only $299.99 on GearBest. This is a 2 percent reduction in the model’s original asking price of $305.89.

Moreover, you can choose between two color options including blue and black. Aside from getting the aforesaid discount, users who spend $20 will be eligible to get an add-on item for only $2.99.

You can follow this link to check out more details and grab the discount. Note that the estimated shipping time for this order is 15-28 business days.

Get 2% Off On Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Smartphone With 4GB RAM And 64GB ROM

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Phablet (6GB RAM+64GB ROM)

This variant of the Redmi Note 7 packs relatively more power in the form of 6GB of RAM, under the hood. Its original asking price is $348.85, but thanks to an 8 percent discount, you can now buy it for a considerably reduced price of $319.99 on GearBest.

This significant discount will be valid only for the gold color version of this variant. Moreover, GearBest users who end up shelling out $20 will qualify to get an add-on item for just $2.99.
You can visit this link to avail the discount. It is worth noting that the estimated shipping time for this order is 3-8 business days.

An absolute bargain at this price, the Redmi Note 7 sports an extra large 6.3 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a high resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels. It features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top for added protection.

It packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE, Octa core, 2.2GHz processor along with a highly competent Adreno 512 GPU, under the hood. Aside from that, both models ship with enough RAM to carry out advanced multitasking without interruption and offer ample internal storage space for you to save your favorite content.

The Redmi Note 7 houses a 48.0MP+5.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and a 13.0MP front shooter for the self addicts. It runs MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie OS and is backed by a robust 4000mAh battery.

Furthermore, the Redmi Note 7 features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. In addition to that, the phone comes with an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.

Get 8% Off On Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Smartphone With 6GB RAM And 64GB ROM

Check Out The 2019 GearBest 5 Days Arrival Deals

Get 20% Off On The European Union And The Non-European Union Versions Of UMIDIGI F1 On CooliCool

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 22, 2019

As part of its latest promo, CooliCool is doling out noteworthy discounts on a wide selection of items, offering unmissable deals and big coupons.

Dubbed as ‘2019 Happy New Year,’ this recently kicked off promo has been split into multiple categories including Coupon Code, 2018 Top Sales, Discount Sales, 2019 Latest Products and lots more.

The promo features the $3 off coupon NY03, which can be used if your order exceeds $189, and another coupon NY05 that you can use to get an extra $5 off if your cart value is over $259.

Aside from that, the Chinese electronics store is offering the European Union and non-European Union versions of the UMIDIGI F1 smartphone at unbeatable prices. So without further ado, let’s check out the details.

UMIDIGI F1 – European Union Version

This version is specifically designed for those living in EU-28 countries. The UMIDIGI F1 is an irresistible smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features and its European Union Version usually sells for $249.99.
Much to the delight of UMIDIGI fans located in the European Union region, the aforesaid model has now gone up for sale carrying a considerably lowered price of just $199.99 on CooliCool. This 20 percent discount will be valid for the black, golden and red color version of the phone for a limited period of time.

You can follow this link to grab the discount before the promo wraps up.

Get 20% Off On European Union Version Of UMIDIGI F1 Smartphone

UMIDIGI F1 – Non-European Union Version

Alternatively, those living outside EU-28 countries can go for the non-European Union version that would normally set you back $249.99 on both online and offline stores. Thanks to a 20 percent discount, you can now buy this variant at a lowered price of just $199.99 on CooliCool.

You can choose between three color options including black, golden and red. If you are interested in taking advantage of this discount, all you need to do is to follow this link before the promo ends.
Touted as a perfect blend of power and speed, the UMIDIGI F1 packs an Helio P60 MTK6771 2.0GHz Octa Core processor along with an ARM Mali G72 MP3 700MHz GPU, under the hood. Moreover, the phone ships with 4GB of RAM and offers 128GB of internal storage capacity.

The phone sports 6.3 Inch FHD+ Waterdrop In-cell, LTPS display with a screen resolution of 2340×1080 pixels at a pixel density of 409PPI (pixels per inch). On the optics front, the F1 houses a 16MP+8MP dual-camera set up on the back and a 16.0MP front shooter for self-portraits and video calling.

Furthermore, the phone runs Android 9.0 Pie operating system and draws its juices from a robust 5150mAHh Li-Ion (Lithium Ion) battery that supports 18W fast charging. The F1 features a slew of useful sensors including P-sensor, L-sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, and a geomagnetic sensor.

Get 20% Off On Non-European Union Version Of UMIDIGI F1 Smartphone

Check Out CooliCool’s 2019 Happy New Year Promo

Buy Top Variants Of Xiaomi Redmi 6A Smartphone At Lowered Prices On Banggood [Coupon Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

-

Jan 22, 2019

Looking for a top-branded smartphone that doesn’t cost a bomb? Banggood’s got your back!

The Chinese online that’s known for offering the best bang for your buck is now offering two variants of the well-received Xiaomi Redmi 6A smartphone at unbeatable prices. In addition to that, there are model-specific coupons that you can use to get extra discounts during the checkout process.

Xiaomi Redmi 6A (2GB RAM+16GB ROM)

This global version of the Redmi 6A smartphone usually sells for $134.99, but you can now buy it for just $110.49 on Banggood. This 19 percent discount will be valid for the black as well as the gold color of the phone that would now set you back $105.49.

Note that the gold color version usually carries a $129.99 price tag. On top of that, you can use coupon code 1BG6AGCL to reduce the already lowered asking price of the phone further down to just $86.50 and save $23.99 more.

You can head straight to this link to avail this discount before the promo comes to an end.

Get 19% Off On Xiaomi Redmi 6A Smartphone

Xiaomi Redmi 6A (2GB RAM+32GB ROM)

If you fancy having more onboard storage capacity on your phone, you can go this Redmi 6A variant that offers 2GB of RAM, coupled with 32GB ROM for you to save your favorite content. More importantly, this variant has now gone up for sale carrying a dropped price on Banggood.

The aforesaid model would normally set you back $140.10, but you can now buy it for just $114.99 on Banggood. This 18 percent discount will be valid specifically for the black color option of the phone for a limited period of time.
On top of that, you can use coupon code 2BG6A3 in order to get an extra $16.1 off. In other words, you can reduce the retail price of the phone to just $98.89 simply by applying the above-mentioned coupon while placing your order.

You can visit this link to grab this discount before the promo wraps up.

Launched in June last year, the Xiaomi Redmi 6A is an irresistible smartphone that boasts an impressive array of features. It sports a 5.45 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 720 x 1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9.

It is powered by MTK Helio A22 MTK6762M Quad core, up to 2.0GHz, 12nm processor and packs a PowerVR GE8320 GPU, under the hood. OOn the optics front, the phone houses a 13.0MP rear-mounted camera and a 5.0MP front shooter for selfies.

The Redmi 6A runs MIUI 9 based on Android 8.1 Oreo OS and is backed by a 3000mAh battery. In terms of sensors, the phone features a light sensor, vibration motor, proximity sensor, accelerometer, e-compass, and AI face recognition.

Get 18% Off On Xiaomi Redmi 6A Smartphone

World’s first Snapdragon 855 phone, Lenovo Z5 Pro GT goes on pre-sale today for ¥2698 (~$386)

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 22, 2019

During the launch of the Z5S, Lenovo made a surprising announcement of the Z5 Pro GT. The Lenovo Z5 Pro GT comes at the Snapdragon 855 variant of the Z5 Pro. Interestingly, the device comes as the first Snapdragon 855-powered hone and there wasn’t so much hype preceding its launch. Lenovo VP Chang Cheng has now officially announced on Weibo that the Z5 Pro GT will go on pre-sale in China today at 10 AM.

The device will sell for 2698 yuan for the base variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The company is still to disclose when the phone will go on sale but the fact that pre-sale is already set to roll indicate that it will go on its first sale soon.

Apart from packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 7nm chipset, the Lenovo Z5 Pro GT features a 6.39-inch Samsung AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340×1080 and a 95.06 percent screen-to-body ratio. It adopts a sliding screen design and an in-display fingerprint sensor embedded on the screen. The slider phone features a 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel mechanical dual selfie camera setup that springs up by sliding the screen. The rear shell of the phone has a 24-megapixel + 16-megapixel dual camera setup. There is a 3,350mAh battery inside the smartphone and it comes preinstalled with ZUI 10 based on Android 9.0 Pie OS.

(source)

Redmi Note 7 again proves its toughness as it is kicked down the stairs and used as a skateboard

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 21, 2019

Xiaomi continues to promote its latest Redmi Note 7 with several videos popping up online which heralds the powerful screen the device packs. The latest set of videos we came across contained tests carried out by the new Redmi CEO Lu Weibing.

In the first video, the CEO placed the phone inside a trash can which was then covered with duct tape. Thereafter, the bin was sent crashing down the stairs. The phone fell down 18 stairs in 4 seconds, a total height of 2.7m (9ft). The test isn’t really convincing because we believe most phones will survive such crash under the protection of the trash bin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2CJyLHC3Xs

The second video looks more daring and extreme as the device is used as a skateboard. Lu Weibing strapped a pair of rollers each on two Redmi Note 7 units. The rollers were attached with their base resting on the screen and then, duct tape was used to hold it in place firmly. The CEO had someone use the duct tape to attach the phone to the sole of his legs. He then made attempts to move about with the skateboard. The bottom line is, the Redmi Note 7 screen succeeded in maintaining its integrity even after carrying such weight.

We recently saw a video of the Redmi Note 7’s screen being smashed and stamped but the Gorilla Glass 5 remained tough. There should be no doubt, then, that Xiaomi is delivering a smartphone with perhaps the toughest screen in its pricing category.

Livermorium, now F(x) Technology to launch a smartphone with QWERTY keyboard this year

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 21, 2019

Livermorium was in the news last year for its QWERTY keyboard Moto Mod for the Moto Z Series. The Mod was announced at CES 2018 with a planned release for Winter 2018, however, it was later canceled. The company changed its name to F(x) Technology and will now launch a high-end smartphone with a QWERTY slide-out keyboard.

F(x) Technology has released a couple of promotional e-mails that provide details of the upcoming smartphone. Apparently, the phone was scheduled to launch last year but was pushed forward.

The smartphone will have a 6-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio which the manufacturer claims has a smaller footprint than the Nokia 7.1 Plus and the Moto Z3. The smaller form factor is said to make typing more comfortable. The display will be an AMOLED panel for “ more vibrant colors, deeper blacks, and fewer, thinner screen layers” says F(x) Technology and will have curved edges to match the overall design of the phone.

The F(x) smartphone will have a five-row QWERTY backlit keyboard. It has a staggered layout and dedicated number keys. There are also Shift and Ctrl keys on both sides for easier key combo input easier and the Caps Lock key has a small green LED to show that it is turned on. The keys have a convex design and are said to be optimized to make them comfortable to press. There is also support for multiple languages.

For the slider, F(x) technology said it hired the team that designed the keyboard for the Nokia N97, Nokia E5, and Nokia N950. And just like the N97, the F(x) smartphone will have an angled design which provides a better viewing angle for the display. The angular slider is also said to prevent the screen from wobbling when closed, a common problem of phones with regular sliders.

The metal parts of the slider are said to have been developed using a method called Powder Metallurgy which gives the parts additional strength and durability. The parts are said to be manufactured to meet the same high standard required for the mechanical parts in drones.

In terms of software, the F(x) Technology smartphone will run Vanilla Android (Android Pie) out of the box but with a custom launcher that has been designed to work properly in landscape mode. They have also developed their own apps that work better in landscape mode such as an email app and a calendar app. More custom apps designed for landscape use will be released in the future.

If stock Android is not your thing, then you do not have to worry. F(x) says they will support other independent operating systems. They are already in talks with Lineage OS developers and also plan to work with Sailfish OS developers. They have also promised monthly security updates.

There is no info on the camera specs or processor or battery capacity of the phone yet. However, since the plan is to launch the phone this quarter, we believe more details will surface in the weeks leading to the launch.

What do you think of the phone? Are slider-keyboard phones dead or will the F(x) smartphone be the one that brings them back? Let us know in the comment box.

(Via)

Xiaomi launches the retro-styled Elvis Presley radio with HiFi sound quality

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Jan 21, 2019

Around August last year, Xiaomi had launched the portable Elvis Presley Atomic Player B612 Bluetooth speaker with a design like a miniature LP player. The product was well received perhaps, because of its portable design, powerful output and perhaps the attachment to Elvis Presley. More than three decades after his death, Elvis Presley is as popular in Asia as ever, with fan clubs all over the region – in the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore and Hong Kong. Elvis also has a huge fan base in other continents, a factor that may have spurred the tech giant to launch a second product branded after the iconic US musician. The device is a smart radio and it comes with a retro design which looks like the radios in use during the 1960s.

The design is a classic one which takes us down memory lane. It even uses manual tuning and volume control knobs instead of buttons. It comes with an elegant moon rock white color which is coated in three layers just like car paints. This gives it a smooth feel and it doesn’t retain fingerprints marks. The body is equipped with a chrome-plated dual-purpose metal handle which can be folded over the bottom for use as a stand. Thus, it can be placed at home or carried around. The output of the speaker is also another deal breaker. The 52mm large-diameter NdFeB full-range speaker guarantees sound quality. The sound is of HiFi quality, bringing a true surround sound experience.

Unfortunately, there are no much details about this gadget. Availability is also not revealed but it comes with an affordable price tag of 499 yuan ($73).

(source)

OPPO Find X2 may launch with these new features

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Jan 21, 2019

The OPPO Find X was one of the highlights of 2018. It launched with a motorized slider that revealed the front camera, face unlock sensors and also the rear cameras. OPPO is expected to follow it with a successor this year and according to YouTuber MrWhoseTheBoss, it seems he’s sure it will launch as the Find X2/X 2/Find X II.

In his latest video, he highlights some of the features expected to come bundled with the phone as well as its design. Some of the features include the new 10x optical zoom technology and the new in-display fingerprint scanner technology it announced last week.

The video mentions that OPPO has a similar camera technology to Samsung‘s variable aperture camera that launched with the Galaxy S9 duo. He says a combination of that, the 10x optical zoom technology and a night mode feature will sure be interesting features for the Find X2. He also says the phone should come with a Time of Flight 3D camera that can be used for 3D scanning and also full body frame adjustment when you take photos.

The Find X launched with a slider design in a bid to achieve a completely bezel-less display. However, there are opinions that moving parts in a phone isn’t great in the long run. Also, that design made it impossible for the OPPO Find X to have an IP-rating.

For the Find X2, OPPO is expected to go with a hole-in-display design for the front camera. That should mean no 3D face unlock but since it is expected to feature the new in-display fingerprint technology which is not only faster but also has a wider scanning area and supports two-finger unlocking, that should suffice. Also, the lack of moving parts should mean the phone should have some level of waterproofing built-in.

The OPPO Find X comes with VOOC Charge but two special edition models have support for SuperVOOC fast charging which can charge a 3,400mAh battery from empty to full in just 35 minutes. The Find X2 should come with SuperVOOC charge irrespective of the model.

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Honor Play 8A rumoured to launch in India within the next few weeks

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 21, 2019

Huawei’s Honor brand has since shifted its focus from an elite brand to an independent brand that targets both the high-end, mid-range and budget segment and that shift has been a huge success. The brand has got sleek smartphones cutting across each price segment and an example of such is the Honor Play 8A. The device was launched in China about two weeks back and now, there are speculations that the device will be unveiled in India soon.

According to Indian blog MySmartprice, citing one of its trusted sources, the budget Android phone will soon be hitting the Indian market. The rumour isn’t specific about the date the device will be launched but it tips the event to take place within the next few weeks. The pricing is also unknown but it won’t be too different from that of China. The Honor Play 8A starts at 799 yuan (~Rs8,400) for the 32GB storage version while the 64GB storage version is priced at 999 yuan (~Rs10,500). Thus, the device may likely be priced under RS10,000 for the base variant.

As a reminder, the Honor Play 8A features a polycarbonate body along with a metal frame. The device packs a big 6.09-inch waterdrop notch screen with HD+ resolution of 720 x 1560 pixels. The Play 8A is the second model after Xiaomi’s Mi Play to feature a MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. It comes in 3GB+32GB and 3GB+64GB combo with microSD card slot for expanding the storage. The device equally packs a single 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and autofocus while there is an 8-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture at the front. The device is fueled by a 3,020mAh battery and carries support for 5V/1A charging. Other connectivity features that are included on the Honor 8A are dual-SIM support, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB 2.0 and 3.5mm audio jack. Unfortunately, there is no fingerprint scanner.

Samsung rumored to announce Exynos 9825 processor in H2 2019, may power the Galaxy Note 10

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 21, 2019

Samsung‘s latest flagship chipset is the Exynos 9820 and it will power the upcoming Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus. Going by previous years, the flagship chipset used in the S-series should also power the Galaxy Note released the same year, and in this case – the Galaxy 10/Note X flagship. However, that might not be the case this year.

A post on Weibo by popular leaker Ice Universe revealed that we may get to see the Exynos 9825 in the second half of the year.

Looking at the way the post is framed, this doesn’t seem to mean Samsung’s usual tradition of announcing its next flagship the preceding year just as the Exynos 9820 was announced last year. We believe it means we will see the Exynos 9825 chipset in phones this year and what better phone for it to debut on other than the Galaxy Note 10/Note X?

There isn’t any info on the features of the processor but we think it will be a slight improvement on the Exynos 9820 – probably a higher clockspeed for the GPU and CPU or maybe even its first 7nm chipset since the Exynos 9820 is an 8nm chipset.

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Vivo APEX 2019 Renders appear, showing a bezel-less design and super high screen ratio!

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jan 21, 2019

BBK subsidiary, Vivo only a couple of days back announce that it would hold an event in Beijing on January 24 where the Vivo APEX 2019 is expected to be unveiled. The company has already sent official invitations to various media houses and we highly anticipate to see the device on that day.

Ahead of the launch, the renders of the APEX 2019 has appeared online. Before now, Vivo is yet to officially disclose any detail of the APEX 2019. However, the device has only been promoted using the codename “The Water drop”. Vivo recently shared a video on its official Weibo page which shows the Vivo APEX 2019 being felt by passersby. In the video, many of the responses described the gadget as pebble, soap and so on. That gives us an idea that the device will be a sleek one with a glass body.

The renders show the Vivo APEX 2019 will continue with a bezel-less design and apparently a super high screen to body ratio. The device will utilise the in-display fingerprint sensor and would still not have a selfie camera at the front. What we don’t know is if Vivo will retain the pop-up camera design or would shift to the slider design which seems to be gaining ground. The rear design is still unclear as the renders only show the front design. It is reported, though, that the APEX 2019 body does not have any openings, and even the charging opening does not exist. The device is reported to adopt the wireless fast charging method. Another fascinating thing about the display is the curved edge screen and well-chamfered edges which the device features. We can’t say if the renders are accurate but there’s no doubt the Vivo APEX 2019 is sure going to be a device to look forward to. You can check out the reactions of fans when they touched the Vivo APEX 2019 hidden inside a box in the video below.

(source, via)

Samsung Galaxy A30 spotted on Geekbench, packs Exynos 7885 SoC and 4GB RAM

By

Jeet

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Jan 21, 2019

Samsung is upping its game with its premium mid-range Galaxy A-series smartphones. The company has adopted a strategy of offering Galaxy A-series smartphones equipped with high-end technology and features that aren’t even present on its flagship phones.

Now, another Galaxy A-series smartphone is ready to make its debut. Samsung Galaxy A30 has been spotted on benchmarking portal Geekbench, revealing some of the phone’s key specifications. Based on the listing, it seems that the Galaxy A30 is a budget phone with decent specifications.

The Geekbench listing shows that the smartphone will come with 4GB RAM and will be equipped with Samsung’s own Exynos 7885 chipset. It also reveals that the device will be running Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box with the company’s custom skin on top.

Earlier, it was reported that the Galaxy A30 will be available in two storage options — 32GB and 64GB. Apart from A30, the company is also planning to launch two other smartphones — Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A50, powered by Exynos 7885 and Exynos 9610 chipset respectively.

Meanwhile, Samsung is all set to launch its budget Galaxy M-series smartphones in the Indian market, including Galaxy M10, Galaxy M20 and, Galaxy M30 and the company has also scheduled a launch event on 28th January.

Next month, the company is all set to launch its flagship Galaxy S10-series smartphones on 20th February, a week ahead of the Mobile World Congress 2019. As per the reports, the company will be unveiling three smartphones in the S10 lineup — Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10 Plus.

Samsung intros Exynos 7904 mobile processor with high-end features for mid-range phones

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 21, 2019

Samsung has introduced the all new Exynos 7904 mobile processor. In its press release, the company claims that it has tailored the new chipset for the phones releasing in the Indian market. It is designed to offer high-end multimedia features on mid-range smartphones.

The Samsung Exynos 7904 features a fast performing octa-core processor for better internet browsing experience and swift app launching. The chipset consumes less power while it provides the power to multi-task to the users.

The Exynos 7904 is a 14nm chipset that includes two Cortex A73 cores working at 1.8 GHz and six Cortex A53 cores processing at 1.6 GHz. The Cat. 12 with 3-carrier aggregation support makes it possible to achieve 600Mbps download speeds on Exynos 7904 powered devices.

The image signal processor (ISP) present on the Exynos 7904 supports up to 32-megapixel single rear camera. It can bring support for up to three camera sensors on mid-range phones that can offer users may exciting photography features. For example, the third camera sensor of an Exynos 7905 powered phone can capture panoramic shots with wide-angles or it can shoot portrait images with impressive blurring behind the subject.

The Samsung Exynos 7904 supports playback of full HD videos at 120 fps and Ultra HD videos at 30 fps. Also, phones featuring can support a display of up to full HD+ resolution.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy A60 (A8s Lite) with punch-hole display rumored to debut in Q2

The announcement of the Exynos 7904 has come just around a week ahead of the launch of the new Galaxy M series of smartphones. Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy M20 launching on Jan. 28 will be the first smartphone to be powered with it. The Galaxy M10 that is expected to go official alongside could be fueled by Exynos 7872 chipset that was announced in January last year.

The Galaxy M10 and M20 will be exclusively available for purchase through Amazon India. The Galaxy M10 will be available with a starting price of Rs. 8,990 (~$126) whereas the Galaxy M20 will be costing Rs. 12,990 (~$183) for the base model.

LG V40 ThinQ with five cameras, SD845 and Rs. 49,990 (~$700) goes official in India

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 21, 2019

The LG V40 ThinQ is the latest LG flagship phone to go official in India. The smartphone features a notched OLED display, a Snapdragon 845, three rear cameras and dual selfie shooters. The handset has arrived in India with a price tag of Rs. 49,990 (~$700). It is the very same smartphone that had gone official in October 2018.

LG V40 ThinQ Specifications

The LG V40 ThinQ features a glass panel on its rear and a durable metallic frame. It comes with IP68 rated and MIL-STD-810G grade chassis. The notched FullVision screen of 6.4 inches produces Quad HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 845 chipset is the driving force of the smartphone. The SoC is supported by 6 GB of RAM. It has a native storage of 128 GB and it comes with a microSD card slot for additional storage.

The back panel of the V40 ThinQ features a horizontal triple camera setup that includes 12-megapixel primary sensor with f/1.5 aperture, 3-axis OIS and dual pixel PDAF, a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture, 2x optical zoom OIS and PDAF and a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens with f/1.9 aperture. Sitting at the front is 8-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup for capturing selfie shots.

The LG V40 ThinQ smartphone is preinstalled with LG UX 7.1 flavored Android 8.1 Oreo OS. It receives power from 3,300mAh battery which carries support for 18W fast charging and 10W wireless charging through USB-C. The other features of the smartphone include 32-bit Quad DAC, a dedicated button for accessing Google Assistant, 3.5mm audio jack, face unlock and rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Read More: LG reveals Android 9 Pie update release schedule for G7 ThinQ, V40 and others

LG V40 ThinQ Price

The V40 ThinQ is exclusively available through Amazon India in the country. Price at Rs. 49,990 (~$700), the handset can be purchased in colors like Platinum Gray and Moroccan Blue. HDFC credit and debit card users can avail up to 10 percent instant discount. The South Korean company is offering one-time free screen replacement worth Rs. 16,750 (~$235) for the buyers of V40 ThinQ for free. Other offers include extra Rs. 5,000 (~$70) off on exchange, no cost EMI and Rs. 2,000 (~$28) cash back.