Android Pie for Huawei P20 Pro and Huawei Nova 3 is coming soon in India

Get 28% Off On Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Smartphone

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Jan 5, 2019

Originally designed to help you stay in touch with your family and friends on the go, mobile phones have come a long way.

Keeping in line with that, the neoteric mobile devices that are currently available in the market today are even capable of serving as a camera that helps you capture memorable moments. On the downside, these devices don’t come cheap.

If you are in the market for a cost-effective smartphone that doesn’t compromise on specifications, you have come to the right place. Banggood has teamed up with top brands like Xiaomi and ZTE to offer their feature-laden smartphones for unbeatable prices. We will show how you can grab an extra discount as well.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3

Xiaomi took the wraps off the long-awaited Mi Max 3 smartphone in July last year. As expected, the phone garnered huge popularity among Xiaomi fans and avid mobile gamers who fancy playing popular games on a big screen mobile device.

The Mi Max 3 sports an extra large 6.9 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with 1080 x 2160 pixels resolution. The phone is housed in a sturdy aluminum body that houses a fingerprint sensor and IR remote on the back.
The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa Core, Max to 1.8 Ghz processor and it packs an Adreno 509 GPU, under the hood. Moreover, it ships with 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and offers 64GB of onboard storage capacity that can be expanded up to 256GB via Micro SD/TF card.

On the optics front, the Mi Max 3 features a 12.0MP + 5.0MP dual-camera setup on the back and an 8.0MP front shooter for selfies and video chatting. Aside from a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, the phone has an accelerometer, gyro, proximity, and compass.

The global version of the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 would normally set you back $387.47. Thanks to a 28 percent drop in the device’s original asking price, you can now buy it for just $279.39 on Banggood. But that’s not all.

In addition to taking advantage of the aforesaid discount, you can use coupon code 1BGMax3 to bring the already lowered selling price of the Mi Max 3 smartphone further down to just $237.48. In other words, you can get an extra $41.91 off simply by using the above-mentioned coupon.

You can visit this link to grab the discount, which will be valid for the black color version of the smartphone for a limited period of time.

ZTE Nubia V18

ZTE made the Nubia V18 smartphone available to the public in March last year. The phone’s exceptional features are likely to make it an instant hit among smartphone enthusiasts and tech buffs that have restlessly been waiting to get their tech greedy hands on a feature-rich handset.

In terms of specs, the Nubia V18 sports a mammoth 6.01 inches FHD+ IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. ZTE has used high-quality aluminosilicate glass to make this awe-inspiring handset and the company adopts an Incell manufacturing process to make its fully laminating screen.

The phone packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core 14nm process 2.0GHz 64-bit processor along with 4GB of RAM. It comes with 64GB of expandable internal storage (up to 200GB). Furthermore, the Nubia V18 runs Nubia UI 5.1 based on Android 7.1 Nougat OS and is backed by a non-removable 4000mAh battery.

Much to the delight of photography buffs, the Nubia V18 houses a 13.0MP rear-mounted camera with f/2.2 aperture, 5-piece lens, PDAF autofocus, and NeoVision7.0 image engine. Up front, there’s an 8.0MP camera for self-portraits and face-to-face video chatting.

ZTE has put a $199.99 price tag on the global version of the Nubia V18 smartphone, but you can now pre-order it for only $169.99 on Banggood. This is a significant 15 percent reduction in the phone’s original asking price.

Moreover, you can use coupon code 1BGV18 in order to reduce the ZTE Nubia V18 smartphone’s reduced selling price to only $144.99. The aforesaid coupon helps you get an additional $25 off before you proceed to checkout.

With 11 pre-orders already placed at the time of writing, this discount which will be valid for the black color version of the smartphone is slated to end soon. You can visit this link to avail the discount before the promo ends.

Get 15% Off On ZTE Nubia V18 Smartphone

Buy The One Netbook One Mix 2S, One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptops For Unbelievably Dropped Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

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Get 22% Off On One Netbook One Mix 2S Yoga Pocket Laptop

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Jan 5, 2019

If you are in the market for a cost-effective laptop that won’t let you down on the specification front, we got good news for you.
One Netbook is offering its feature-laden One Mix 2S Yoga and the One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket laptops for considerably lowered prices on GeekBuying, much to the relief of those living on a tight budget.

We’ll divulge more details about the aforesaid laptops, the discounts you can avail on their retail prices and also show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money at checkout.

One Netbook One Mix 2S Yoga Pocket Laptop+ Original Stylus Pen

The fingerprint recognition-equipped One Mix 2S Yoga Pocket Laptop is a great choice for those who fancy an instant, safe and time-saving access to their content. The device is powered with an Intel Core M3-8100Y, Dual Core, up to 3.4GHz processor and it packs a competent Intel HD Graphics 615 GPU, under the hood.

Furthermore, the One Mix 2S Yoga Pocket Laptop ships with 8GB of DDR3 RAM and offers a hearty 256GB of onboard storage space so that you have ample space to download and install your favorite games or programs and save your content. It sports a 7-inch touchscreen display with a high screen resolution of 1920×1200 pixels.
While the One Mix 2S Yoga Pocket Laptop would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online and offline stores, you can now buy it for just $669.99 on GeekBuying. This 22 percent discount can be extended further simply by applying coupon code GIZ_2019NEW5 at the time of checking out.

The aforesaid coupon helps you get an extra $5 off by reducing the laptop’s already lowered retail price to just $664.99 before you place your order. You can follow this link to avail this discount before the promo ends in five days. Note that the coupon is also likely to expire soon.

One Netbook One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptop+Original Stylus Pen

The One Netbook One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptop will grab your attention with its appealing 7-inch touchscreen display that boasts a screen resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Aside from that, the device packs Intel’s Core m3-7Y30, Dual Core, up to 2.6GHz processor with 8GB of DDR3 RAM to ensure superior speed when it comes to running your favorite apps or playing popular games.

It comes with 256GB of internal storage capacity so that you can save your content, download apps and games without worrying about running out of storage space on your laptop. The device draws its juices from a robust 6500mAh battery and runs the latest genuine Windows 10 operating system with the most recent software updates.
While these awe-inspiring features completely justify the steep $824.99 price tag the One Netbook One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptop normally carries, you can now buy it for a dropped price of just $629.99 on GeekBuying. This is a noteworthy 24 percent drop in the device’s original asking price.

On top of that, you can use coupon code GIZ_2019NEW5 at the time of checking out in order to save an extra $5. The above-mentioned coupon brings the laptop’s already reduced selling price further down to just $624.99. Regrettably, the promo will only be valid for five days.

You can visit this link in order to buy the One Netbook One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptop for an unbeatable price on GeekBuying before the promo wraps up and the coupon expires.

Get 24% Off On One Netbook One Mix 2 Yoga Pocket Laptop

Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 New Year Sale

Buy One, Get One Item Free, Grab Big Discounts And Unmissable Deals On GearBest

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Check Out GearBest’s 2019 Top Brand New Year Deals

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Jan 5, 2019

If you fancy getting your hands on your favorite brands without spending a lot of money, GearBest’s got your back!

Deemed as one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, GearBest is now offering a wide selection of top-branded cleaning appliances, health care products and a slew of other products as part of its ‘2019 Top Brand New Year Deals’ promo. So without further ado, let’s delve straight into the details.

The first section called ‘Buy One Get One Free’ is where you can get the Oclean One/SE replacement brush head absolutely free when you purchase the Oclean One rechargeable sonic electrical toothbrush that usually sells for $82.63, but is currently available for a dropped price of just $63.99.

In other words, you not only can take full advantage of the aforesaid 23 percent discount but also get a free gift. On the downside, there were only 94 pieces of the electrical toothbrush remaining for this promo, which is slated to end in five days.

The next section is called ‘Flash Sale’ features the ILIFE A4S Smart Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, Dibea D18 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and various other gadgets that come in handy in day to day life. More importantly, the items included in the aforesaid section are available for considerably lowered prices.

If you are a brand conscious buyer, you can head straight to the next category dubbed, ‘Top Brands.’ This section is further divided into sub-categories featuring popular brands like Roborock, Dibea, JIMMY, Oclean, breo, and soocas.

The following category called ‘Cleaning Appliances’ give those who fancy keeping their surrounding clean and tidy all the time without breaking the bank a lot to cheer about. This section includes various vacuum cleaners and accessories that you can buy for lowered prices.

While we usually associate steep price tags with products that help us keep a track of our health or lead a healthier life, the ‘Health Care’ category is brimming with useful items that have gone up for sale carrying heavily discounted price tags. For instance, the Xiaomi Mijia MJTXD01SKS electric shaver that sells for $56.31 can now be yours if you are willing to spend only $36.99.

The promo features a myriad of other products that you can buy for slashed prices for a limited period of time. If you are interested in taking advantage of the discounts, all you need to do is to follow this link to visit the promotion page before the sale ends.

Buy The Tronsmart PB10 And Xiaomi 2 in 1 Power Bank & Charger For Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

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Check Out GeekBuying’s 2019 New Year Sale

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Jan 5, 2019

Looking for a portable power bank that helps you keep your phone charged especially in times of an emergency like power cuts?

You are likely to come across a wide selection of power banks that would normally set you back a pretty penny. Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on a power bank, GeekBuying is now doling out noteworthy discounts on top-branded power banks.

Aside from taking full advantage of the aforesaid discounts, you can save a considerable amount of extra money simply by applying the specific coupon code at the time of checking out. So without further ado, let’s check out the details.

Tronsmart PB10 10000mAh Mini Power Bank

This palm-sized power bank comes with a robust 10000mAh high capacity that can charge your mobile device on the go. Moreover, the device features a digital LED display that enables you to keep a track of the power left in the increments of 1 percent.

The PB10 comes with faster recharging that lets you charge this Tronsmart-branded power bank in a flash. This feature-rich power bank would normally set you back $17.99, but you can now buy it for just $15.99 on GeekBuying.
You can extend this 11 percent discount simply by applying coupon code GIZ_2019NEW1 before placing your order. The coupon helps you save an extra $1 by reducing the original asking price of the Tronsmart PB10 power bank to only $14.99.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which will be valid for a limited period of time.

Xiaomi 2 in 1 Power Bank & Charger

Backed by a 5000mAh capacity battery that can efficiently charge your smart devices, this 2-in-1 power bank, and charger from Xiaomi can also be used as a dual=port power bank. It comes with a newfangled high-brightness case that not enhances the overall appearances of the device but also ensures it fits snugly in your palm.

The Xiaomi 2 in 1 Power Bank & Charger usually sell for $53.83, but you can now get your hands on it for a dropped price of just $34.99 on GeekBuying. But if this 35 percent discount doesn’t impress you much, you can use the coupon code GIZ_HYYHZVWD to get an extra $13 off.
In order words, you can reduce the device’s already lowered the original asking price further down to just $21.99 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button by using the above-mentioned coupon. You can follow this link to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

Vivo NEX Dual Display teardown shows how hard it is to disassemble and repair

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Michele Ingelido

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Jan 4, 2019

After the Nubia X, the new Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition is the second smartphone to come with two screens, one on the front and one of the back, in order to minimize the bezels without the need of a notch. The display usually represents the hardest component to remove when it comes to disassembling a smartphone. Indeed, according to the first teardown of the first flagship made in China, the phone is hard to disassemble and repair. The disassembly process is hard especially because you need to remove two displays, but not only for that.

The photos published show that Vivo NEX Dual Display Edition has a very busy motherboard with several components directly attached to it. We are talking about both the displays, the triple camera module found on the back and attached to the motherboard separately, antennas and more. So, people who want to disassemble the phone will have to remove two glued displays as well as all those connectors. In order to remove the displays, a heat gun is required. The teardown highlighted the motherboard as well as all the sensors of the rear triple camera.

Read More: The Vivo Nex Dual Display Edition Goes Up For Sale Bearing A $899 Price Tag On Giztop

Vivo NEX Dual Display is equipped with a 12 MP primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and OIS, a secondary 2 MP depth sensor with an f/1.8 aperture and a 3D TOF Camera with an f/1.3 aperture. It has no front cameras because the secondary display allows using the rear cameras as selfie cameras as well. According to the experts who made the teardown, Vivo NEX Dual Display is not easy to disassemble and repair, so you should be careful not to break it and it is recommended not to proceed any disassembly on your own unless you are an expert technician.

(Source, Via)

Nokia 8.1 and 7 Plus kernel source code and Pixel 3 Night Sight camera for Nokia 8 released

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Michele Ingelido

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Jan 4, 2019

New important software-related elements are now available for three of the most important smartphones from HMD Global: the new Nokia 8.1 and the older Nokia 7 Plus and 8. The Finnish brand just released the kernel source code for the Nokia 8.1 and 7 Plus. In case you never heard about it, it is a component which plays a key role in the development of custom ROMs and kernels allowing to customize a smartphone in a radical way by completely modifying its operating system. By releasing the kernel source code for these handsets, HMD Global accomplished the GPL (General Public License) rules which say that modified source code should always be published in readable format once it is compiled and distributed by smartphones manufacturers.

But don’t expect out of the ordinary custom ROM development for Nokia 8.1 and 7 Plus because currently these devices cannot be unlocked. Indeed, Nokia 8 is the only device released by HMD Global on which you can unlock the bootloader since September last year. Even though they are part of the Android One program providing a stock experience with the operating system, Nokia phones aren’t really the devices which can be considered as suitable for modding. Coming to the Nokia 8 which offers more options for modding, it just received the support to the Pixel’s 3 Night Sight camera mode thanks to a ported camera app.

Read More: Nokia 8.1 with 6.18-inch FHD+ PureDisplay and SD710 SoC launched in India for Rs. 26,999 ($373)

The app we are talking about is Google Camera and the new Night Sight feature announced with the Pixel 3 line-up allows capturing all the relevant details and clicking bright shots even when light conditions are disappointing. The ported Google Camera app is available for all the units of the Nokia 8 with Android Oreo and Android Pie installed and it is around 110 MB. The app can even be installed on several other devices from HMD Global, including all the devices starting from the original Nokia 5.

(Via1, Via2)

Google’s first foldable phone reportedly in development under the Pixel line-up

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Michele Ingelido

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Jan 4, 2019

2019 will be the year of foldable smartphones. After FlexPai foldable announced by the Californian company Royole Corporation, Samsung and Huawei will soon unveil their first foldable phones and make them mainstream. Even LG is expected to showcase a foldable phone, but it is expected to launch only in the second half of 2019. According to a tipster, Google will join the club with its first foldable phones under the Pixel line-up. Now new rumors state that the phone is currently in development, but there is no official schedule for its launch. Actually, we do not even know if it will debut soon.

According to the most reliable hypotheses, it will take a while before seeing a foldable phone by Google on the shelves. We may need to wait as long as two generations from now. The release of a foldable phone by Big G was expectable as the Mountain View giant has been working hard with Samsung for its upcoming foldable phone. As we all know, the support to foldable displays was recently added to Android Pie in order to guarantee a seamless user interface as well as a “continuative” experience when the users switch from a folded screen to a tablet-like wide display.

A known Russian blogger recently claimed that the company was working on various Pixel phones and the foldable device was one of them. At the moment, FlexPai from Royole Corporation is the only foldable phone ever announced and it packs the new octa-core Snapdragon 855 chipset by Qualcomm that is currently the best mobile SoC from Qualcomm for the mobile market. It’s worth noting that Samsung already unveiled the Infinity Flex Display which will be in its upcoming Galaxy F phone that’s expected to be announced in March.

(Via1, Via2, Image Source)

Upcoming Redmi phone could feature Type-C, hints Lei Jun

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Joel Joseph

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Jan 4, 2019

Xiaomi is all set to make some changes in its popular Redmi brand. The company confirmed a couple of days back that the brand was going independent, much like Honor acts as a separate brand from Huawei. The primary reason given by Lei Jun for this big change was allowing the two brands, Xiaomi, and Redmi to focus on their respective high-end and low-end segments. But this change might bring some upgrades to the Redmi lineup, at least according to the comments from CEO Lei Jun.

Huawei-Mate-10-Pro-Type C featured — Huawei-Mate-10-Pro with Type C — GizmoChina

Earlier today, he posted a couple of comments on Weibo about the idea of Type-C ports on a Redmi smartphone. He asked his followers whether they would like to see Type-C port on Redmi phones. He further added that this would eventually increase the cost of the smartphone. However, he failed to confirm whether the upcoming 48MP Redmi model will feature this new USB standard. Given his sudden interest in this particular topic, especially before its launch on January 10, it’s likely that the phone swaps the old MicroUSB port for Type-C.

RELATED: Alleged Xiaomi foldable smartphone appears in video

Despite upgrading the processors on recent Redmi smartphones like the Snapdragon 636 in the Redmi Note 6 Pro or its predecessor, the low-cost lineup has almost always used the traditional MicroUSB port. USB Type-C connectors first started appearing nearly three years ago. If you remember, the LeTV trio — Le Max, Le 1 Pro, and Le 1, were the first set of Android smartphones to bring this reversible connector into the mainstream market back in 2015. At that time, we would have thought Type-C ports would become mainstream by the end of 2018. But unfortunately, there’s still a lot of MicroUSB smartphone releases in the market. Even the new Zenfone Max Pro M2 features a MicroUSB 2.0 port, not to mention a bunch of mid-rangers from OPPO like the A7X still featuring this old port.

The upcoming Redmi smartphone is confirmed to come with a 48MP camera on board. Recent TENAA certifications further reveal a few features about the phone, including its gradient design. You can read all about it from here. Another interesting rumor going around is that the Redmi brand could be headed by Gionee’s former president, Lu Weibing. A couple of days back, Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun revealed that Lu had joined the company but he failed to reveal his exact role. The timing of the announcement and the news about Redmi going independent could have led to these speculations. For now, we don’t have any official confirmation in this regard.

Samsung Galaxy M20 live photo leaked and key details appear through FCC certification

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2019

Samsung is expected to unleash the Galaxy M series of smartphones soon. The Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 are the two Galaxy M phones that are expected to debut soon. Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy M10 will be packed with entry-level specs whereas the M20 is expected to arrive with mid-range specs. The Galaxy M20 that has a model number of SM-M205F has received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. The FCC filing of the phone has revealed some of its key specs.

The FCC documents of the Galaxy M20 has confirmed that it will be featuring a 156.4 x 74.5mm. Since the display of the M20 measures 155.9mm diagonally, it is equipped with a 6.13-inch display. Rumors have it that it will be featuring an LCD display. In the previous month, the Galaxy M20 had appeared on AnTuTuv through which it was revealed that it carries support for full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels.

A live image of the smartphone’s display that surfaced through a separate leak has revealed that the M20 will be featuring an Infinity-V display. The notch houses a selfie camera and an earpiece.

The Galaxy M20 FCC documents have also revealed that it will be a dual-SIM phone that will carry support for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE 5.0. It is packed with a battery that has a model number of EB-BG580ABN. It could be the massive 5,000mAh battery that it expected to power the phone. For security, the M20 will be offering features like fingerprint scanner and face recognition. The battery of the M20 will carry support for 9V / 1.67A charging.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S10 real image leak shows the phone’s front panel

Recent reports have revealed that the Galaxy M20 will be available in two models such as 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM. It could be fueled by Exynos 7885 chipset. The dual camera setup on its rear is expected to feature a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary camera. It could be arriving with an 8-megapixel selfie shooter. The smartphone is likely to come preinstalled with Android 8.1 Oreo OS. It is expected to carry a price tag of Rs. 15,000 (~$215).

(source 1, 2)

Honor 8A official renders leaked few days ahead of launch (Update: Pricing and new color variants)

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2019

Update: The Honor 8A will be also coming in Red and Gold color options in China. The 32 GB storage + 3 GB RAM and 64 GB storage + 3 GB RAM are respectively priced at 799 Yuan (~$116) and 999 Yuan (~$145).

Original Story:

Honor has recently confirmed that it will be debuting the Honor 8A smartphone on Jan. 8. The handset will be arriving as a successor for the Honor 7A from the previous year. The entire specifications of the smartphone have already surfaced through its TENAA listings. The official renders of the Honor 8A smartphone has surfaced few days ahead of its launch.

Honor 8A Press Renders

The press renders of the Honor 8A show that it features a teardrop notched display. The bottom bezel of the phone has brand name of the company. The smartphone has an LED equipped single camera on its rear. The rear side of the phone seems to be made out of glass. The handset does not feature a fingerprint scanner which indicates that it is an entry-level smartphone. The Honor 8A will be available in Black and Blue colors. The predecessor Honor 7A had featured a dual camera setup and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. Hence, the Honor 8A appears like a downgraded device when compared to its predecessor model.

Honor 8A Specifications

The Honor 8A launch poster that the company had released earlier this week had revealed that is equipped with features like waterdrop notch screen, 64 GB of internal storage, octa-core processor and dual speakers. Through the TENAA listings of JAT-AL00 and JAT-TL00 Honor 8A variants, it has been revealed that it will be featuring a 6.088-inch display that will produce HD+ resolution. The handset measures 156.28 x 73.5 x 8mm and weighs 150 grams.

The Honor 8A is fueled by 2.3 GHz octa-core processor. Probably, it could be featuring the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. The SoC of the phone could be assisted by 3 GB of RAM. For photography, the Honor 8A will come equipped with 13-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel frontal shooter. The handset will be receiving power from 3,020mAh battery.

As of this writing, there is no information available on the pricing of the Honor 8A smartphone. It may release in 32 GB and 64 GB storage options.

Read More: Huawei and Honor tops JD’s new year sales, Apple leads in terms of average price

Honor 8A Pro Rumors

Even though the Chinese manufacturer has not released any information on the Honor 8A Pro handset, rumors have it that there will be a Pro edition of the smartphone. The Honor 8A Pro is expected to feature a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

(source 1, 2)

Realme Tech Backpack to go on sale for the first time in India on January 7

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Jan 4, 2019

Realme, the smartphone brand that debuted last year, has already launched five smartphones in the Indian market. Recently, the company also entered the accessories market with the launch of earphones and phone covers.

Now, increasing its products portfolio in India, the company has launched a lifestyle product — Realme Tech Backpack. While the company has not revealed the features of the backpack, it has announced that it will go on sale for the first time on 7th January.

The Realme Tech Backpack is priced at Rs. 2,399 which roughly converts to $34. As a part of the company’s “Realme Yo! Days” sale, the backpack will be available at just Rs. 1 for first 100 orders each day on 7th, 8th, and 9th January.

Along with the Realme Tech Backpack, the Realme U1 Fiery Gold will also go on sale for the first time on 7th January. For those who purchase the Fiery Gold variant of the Realme U1 from 7th January to 9th January, the company is bundling Realme Buds for free. The Realme 2 will also be available on open sale from 7th to 9th January.

During the sale, the Realme Buds which are priced at Rs. 499 (approximately $7) will also go on sale for the first time. Currently, there’s no information available regarding Realme Iconic Case, which was announced alongside Realme Buds.

Xiaomi’s XiaoAI Voice Assistant has over 100 million activations so far: Lei Jun

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Jan 4, 2019

Last year, Xiaomi launched its own voice-activated smart assistant named XiaoAI which is not just powering its smartphones but many other products, including smart speakers and smart home products.

Today, Xiaomi’s chairman Lei Jun announced through Weibo that Dr. Cui Baoqiu, vice president of artificial intelligence and cloud platform at Xiaomi has revealed that XiaoAI voice assistant has crossed the benchmark of over 100 million activations.

While there are many voice assistants in the Chinese market, XiaoAI is seeing the success mainly because of its deep integration with Xiaomi’s products. Also, other voice assistants such as Google Assitant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple‘s Siri are not up-to-the-mark in China because of the language barrier.

However, XiaoAI voice assistant from Xiaomi is remarkably similar to Google Assistant. It has the same colorful bars that appear when you are issuing voice commands. It can perform various operations such as open apps, take photos, translate menus, check weather information, among others.

Also, since it is also integrated with the smart home products from Xiaomi, it can also be used to turn on the lights, start a vacuum robot, and all sorts of other commands that Google Assistant (also Siri and Alexa) can also perform.

According to the data revealed by Xiaomi, the company’s smart speaker wakes up over 853,000 people every day with its alarm clock while the 800,000 housework per day with IoT devices. The company also says that the speaker plays 1354221 hours of music every day in Taiwan.

Xiaomi has been working on IoT devices since 2014 and has supported around 2,000 devices with a connection to smart devices exceeding 132 million. At the AIOT Conference in November last year, the company had revealed that XiaoAI had over 34 million monthly active users.

Xiaomi Mi 9 specs, pricing leak reveals Snapdragon, 48MP triple camera and 32W fast charging

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jan 4, 2019

Xiaomi will be launching the Mi MIX 3 5G edition phone by the end Q1 this year. It will be fueled by Snapdragon 855 chipset. The second SD855 powered phone that is expected to debut after the Mi MIX 3 5G edition is the Xiaomi Mi 9 handset. A leakster from China has shared juicy information on the specifications and pricing of the smartphone.

Xiaomi Mi 9 Full Specifications (Rumor)

According to the Chinese tipster, the Xiaomi Mi 9 will be adopting a waterdrop notch display design like the OnePlus 6T handset. It is expected to house a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with 19.5:9 aspect ratio and full HD+ resolution. It is expected to feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. The handset will be measuring 155 x 75 x 7.6mm.

When it to comes to chipset, the Snapdragon 855 SoC will be present under the hood of the device. The tipster has revealed that it won’t be featuring X50 LTE modem that offers 5G connectivity. Instead, the SD855 will come equipped with X24 LTE modem. The handset will be packed with a 3,500mAh battery. There won’t be support for wireless charging on the device. However, it will carry support for 32W fast charging.

A recent report had claimed that the Xiaomi Mi 9 will be the first smartphone from the company to arrive with triple rear cameras. The new has revealed that the triple camera setup of the Mi 9 will include 48-megapixel Sony IMX586 as the primary sensor, a 12-megapixel secondary sensor and a 3D ToF (Time of Flight) camera. For capturing selfies, it has a front-facing camera of 24-megapixel IMX576 sensor. Here is a render of the Xiaomi Mi 9 that was recently shared by popular tipster and designer Benjamin Geskin.

Read More:Xiaomi’s Redmi 48MP camera phone may have received TENAA approval

Xiaomi Mi 9 Pricing and Release (Rumor)

The Xiaomi Mi 9 is speculated to carry a price tag of 2,999 Yuan (~$436) for the starting variant that include 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of inbuilt storage. The tipster has claimed that the phone will be releasing in March. Last year, Xiaomi had held a launch event at the end of May to announce the Mi 8 series. This suggested that the Mi 9 series may debut around May end this year. However, if the Mi 9 handset is really going to release in March as the leakster has claimed, Xiaomi may announce it along with Mi MIX 3 5G handset at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) tech expo in February in Barcelona, Spain.

(source|via)

Xiaomi announces Mi Power bank 3 Pro with 45W dual fast charging

By

Joel Joseph

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Jan 4, 2019

Xiaomi’s power banks are quite popular among fans and today, the company has released a new version of its 20000mAh capacity model, called the Mi Power bank 3 Pro. As the name suggests, this particular model comes loaded with a number of high-end features. The highlight of the new power bank is its support for 45W dual way fast charging.

The Mi Powerbank 3 Pro comes with three ports in total, as opposed to the two ports found on the 10000mAh Mi Powerbank 2 Pro model. There are two USB-A ports along with a USB Type-C port. The Type-C port can take 45W (15V/3A) input as well as output, while the USB-A ports max out at 18W (again both input/output at 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A). It can charge a number of laptops through its Type-C port including some of Apple’s Macbook Pro and Air models and Huawei’s Matebook models (the complete list of supported models are added at the end of the post).

RELATED: Xiaomi launches 20,000mAh ZMI Aura Two-Way fast charging power bank for 199 Yuan ($29)

When both the USB-A ports are in use, the output is maxed out at 15W each (5V/3A). Note that the power bank supports pass through charging, so it can charge other devices while being charged. Xiaomi adds that the 11 hour charging time (with a regular 10W charger) for the power bank goes down to just 4.5 hours with a 45W charger.

The power bank seems to be made out of ABS plastic that features a ceramic-like gloss finish. Other features of the Mi Power bank 3 Pro include low power support for smart wearables and 9 layers of circuit chip protection.

The new Mi powerbank goes on sale on January 11 for a price tag of 199 Yuan (~$29). FYI, OPPO had released a SuperVOOC Pikachu themed Powerbank back in November last year which came with 50W charging support. However, if you’re looking for an affordable Magsafe Power Bank for iPhone, or a wireless Power Bank for Samsung, make sure those are compatible with the latest fast charging protocols.

Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 3 Pro supported laptops

Buy More And Get 60% Off On A Wide Selection Of Products On Banggood

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Check Out Banggood’s Epic Markdown Sale

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Jan 4, 2019

Banggood has entered 2019 with a bang! The Chinese online store that’s known for offering the best bang for your buck just launched an ‘Epic Markdown Sale.’

The recently kicked-off event comprises big discounts that get bigger as you buy more items. Keeping in line with that, Banggood users can get 60 percent off and a chance to chose from a wide selection of products carrying price tags as low as $1.11.

In order to simplify the search process, all products have been split into multiple categories. Under the ‘Supersize Your Savings’ section, you can find sub-categories like Hardware Tools, Toys Hobbies, Sports & Outdoor, Home & Garden etc.

You can select a product from any of the aforesaid sub-categories and add it to your shopping cart. In the shopping cart, the price will be deducted from the interrelated discount.

It is worth noting that the ‘Buy More Get Extra Discount’ promo will only be valid for the same category of the products, while products from other categories do not qualify for these discounts. For the sake of an instance, the ‘Hardware Tools’ section offer users who buy two items a 20 percent discount, while a user buying five items qualify to receive a 30 percent off.

Similarly, those who buy three items from the ‘Toys Hobbies’ section will be eligible to receive 15 percent off, those buying five items will get 30 percent off and Banggood users who purchase eight items will be in line for an 8 percent discount. The same concept applies in the following category called ‘Sports & Outdoor.’

The ‘Home & Garden’ category is brimming with all sorts of items that come in handy in day to day life. More importantly, all items included in this section carry heavily discounted price stickers. As if that weren’t enough, users who buy three items from this section will receive 30 percent off and those who purchase five items will receive a 50 percent discount.

Likewise, you can avail noteworthy discounts on items included in the rest of the categories and qualify for additional discounts by purchasing a specific number of items. You can click here to visit the promotion page and take full advantage of this markdown sale before the event comes to an end.

Asus Mini PC ProArt PA90 powered by Core i9-9900K announced for creative professionals

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Jan 4, 2019

Ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show 2019 (CES 2019) next week in Las Vegas, Asus has announced an upgraded Mini PC ProArt PA90. The company says that it has been designed to addresses the specific needs of creative professionals.

It comes with a stylish form-factor that looks similar to the smart speaker. The design of the Asus’ new workstation-class PC seems to be inspired by Apple‘s Mac Pro. It is powered by Intel’s newest Core i9-9900K processor.

There’s also another model of Asus Mini PC ProArt PA90 which is powered by the Intel Core i7-9700K processor. Both are an upgrade from last generation’s Mini PCs and the company claims that the newer models come with 30 percent performance improvements.

It packs NVIDIA Quadro graphics that aims to deliver fast performance and rendering. While the top-end variant comes with Quadro P4000 graphics card, there’s also a lower-specced option with Quadro P2000 graphic card.

The standard model comes with 32GB of RAM but there’s also an option for 64GB of RAM. To take care of the storage needs, there are two options — 512GB M.2 PCIe SSDs and 1TB 2.5-inch HDD. Coming to the software, it offers Microsoft Windows 10 Pro as well as Windows 10 Home.

For connectivity, the device comes with two USB-3.1 ports on the front and rear, four Display Ports on the rear, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. The new PC is equipped with an all-in-one CPU liquid cooler, allowing for it to be 36 percent quieter than average desktops.

Asus has not given an official release date for the Mini PC ProArt PA90 but it said that the device will be “available in the coming months.” The company has not revealed pricing details but it’s fair to assume that the pricing will be well over $1,000.

ASUS Chromebook Tablet CT100 is a Chrome OS Tab targeted at kids

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Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 4, 2019

The Acer Chromebook Tab 10 launched last year as the world’s first Chrome OS tablet. Following its launch, Google itself has launched its own Chrome OS tablet called the Pixel Slate. Now ASUS has followed suit with its own which it has dubbed the ASUS Chromebook Tablet C100.

The Chromebook Tablet C100 has identical specs to Acer’s own tablet so you get a 9.7-inch 2048 x 1536 display, an OP1 (Rockchip RK3399) six-core chipset, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage.

There is a 5MP camera on the rear in the same top right corner as seen on Acer’s tablet and a 2MP camera in front for video calls. It also has a USB 3.1 Type-C port that also doubles as a display port, a 3.5mm audio jack, Bluetooth 4.1 and Wi-Fi.

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The ASUS Chromebook Tablet C100 also has a stylus that can be stored in a slot at the base of the tablet when not in use. Unlike the Acer tablet, the ASUS C100 has a rubberized body designed to take a beating and survive drops from up to 3.2 feet. It also comes in gray/black. The familiar chrome logo can be seen at the bottom of the device.

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Google’s upcoming Fuchsia OS confirmed to support Android apps

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Jan 4, 2019

Google has been secretly working on its next-generation operating system called ‘Fuchsia OS’ since quite some time now but there has not been any official announcement from the company. While some reports indicate that it could replace Android, some reports suggest that it will be entirely different.

Earlier, it was rumored that the Fuchsia OS will be capable of running Android applications and now we have a confirmation for the same from Google. Spotted by 9to5Google, a new change in the Android Open Source Project confirms that Fuchsia will be capable of running Android apps using the Android Runtime.

Last month, two repositories related to the Fuchsia OS were added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) manifest. The first — “platform/prebuilts/fuchsia_sdk” contains a pre-built copy of the Fuchsia SDK, which would be used to create applications. The second — “device/google/fuchsia” appeared like a device that could be used by the Android Emulator to run Fuchsia.

This week, there was a change that was posted to Android’s Gerrit source code management system. The README.md file helps explain what the “device/google/fuchsia” repository is intended for. It says that Fuchsia will use a specially designed version of the Android Runtime (“ART” above) to run Android applications. This version of ART will be installable on any Fuchsia device using a .far file which is Fuchsia’s equivalent of Android’s APK.

Fuchsia OS is being created from the scratch to overcome certain limitations that Android presents. It should be able to work across a range of products including phones, laptops, and smart devices. It looks like the OS is being built to be more secure, better capable to understand voice interactions and look the same across devices.

A couple of months ago, it was reported that an Android smartphone from Huawei is being used for testing Fuchsia. The Chinese company has been working on making the upcoming OS run on Kirin 970-powered devices, starting with Honor Play.

Huawei has also become the first company outside of Google to make a major contribution to the upcoming open source OS project. However, this is not surprising given that Google and Huawei have worked together in the past.

The strategy of Google of making information available early and giving developers and users time to warm up to the change seems smart as it makes the transition process easier for users as well as developers. While it will be many more months before we see Fuchsia in the wild, we are expecting Google to official acknowledge Fuchsia OS sometime this year.

(Via)

Weather App from TCL reportedly collects too much user data

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Jan 4, 2019

A free weather information application from TCL named ‘Weather Forecast—World Weather Accurate Radar’ has been collecting unusual amounts of information from its users, claims security experts.

According to the reports, the application has been collecting personal data including email addresses and mobile identification numbers and the data are then transmitted to servers based in China. Further, it is claimed that the app has also subscribed users to paid services without permission.

This is very crucial given that the app has been downloaded over 10 million times on Google Play Store. According to a London-based security firm Upstream Systems, TCL‘s ‘Weather Forecast’ asks to collect information including users’ geographic locations, email addresses, and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.

Weather Forecast—World Weather Accurate Radar

It goes on to claim that TCL has also been attempting to fraudulently subscribe users of budget Alcatel smartphones in countries like Brazil, Malaysia, and Nigeria to paid “virtual reality services”. As per the security firm, Brazil alone received around 2.5 million transaction attempts from Alcatel devices in July and August last year.

The security firm says that the attempts were blocked after the company discovered the activity. It further says that while the app is no longer attempting to subscribe users to third-party services, it still continues to collect user data.

In response to these accusations, the company said that it is “evaluating new security consultants who can provide additional validation of the safety of our mobile applications we develop.”

As said, the app is owned by TCL Communication Technology Holdings Ltd. which is based in Shenzhen, China. TCL is the company that manufactures smartphones for BlackBerry and Alcatel and phones from both those companies come pre-installed with the weather application.

It remains to be seen if Google takes any action against the app or the company. Previously, in December, Google had suspended two Chinese apps from its Play store after allegations that they were exploiting user permissions under an ad fraud scheme.

The Internet Society of China’s analysis into data-gathering practices found that 18 of the most popular apps in the country collected what it deemed excessive user information – including text messages, address book data, and recordings. Almost half of those apps appeared to do this without consent from the user.