Smartmi Car Air Purifier announced, priced at ¥349 (~$51)

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Jan 1, 2019

If you are in search of an air purifier for your car, you just got one more option to choose from. One of Xiaomi‘s partner companies, Zhumi/Smartmi, announced a new car air purifier yesterday. The Smartmi Car Air Purifier may as well be the cheapest announced by Xiaomi or any of its partner companies.

The Smartmi Car Air Purifier has a cylindrical shape and comes in white. Like other air purifiers we have covered, it attaches to the headrest of the car seat. It has a 360° air inlet design and an EPA12 filter that can filter particulate matter up to 0.3μ in size. The purifier itself has a CADR value of up to 70m³/h.

The air purifier is powered by a high-quality DC brushless motor with a dual-fan design that is efficient and quiet. It is powered by a 4.5m long cigarette lighter plug. The plug has a USB port on top, so you can plug in your devices in case you want to charge.

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Counterpoint: Huawei joins list of contributors to 2018’s high-end smartphone market growth

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 1, 2019

The high-end segment is the money spinner for phone manufacturers as that is where the most profit is made. It is no surprise Apple is the top performer in this category. However, according to Counterpoint’s stats for Q3 2018, Chinese smartphone companies are cashing in in this segment with Huawei leading the pack.

Counterpoint says the high-end smartphone segment witnessed its fastest growth in the third quarter of 2018. While the overall smartphone market declined by 5%, the premium segment grew by 19% that quarter

The market research firm has split the premium smartphone segment into three tiers – the $400 – $600 category, the $600 – $800 category, and the $800 and up category.

For the first category, Samsung is king here with 25% of the market share and is followed closely by Apple with 21%. Huawei comes next with a market share of 17%. Vivo and OPPO claim the 4th and 5th spots with 10% and 7% respectively and Xiaomi is 6th with a 6% market share.

In the $600 to $800 tier, Apple leads with a market share of 61%, three times more than Samsung that is at second place with a market share of 21%. Apple also leads the $800+ tier with a 79% market share. Counterpoint says Huawei also made its mark in the second tier with its Huawei P20 Pro flagship but it isn’t shown on the charts.

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Sony Xperia L3 passes through FCC; packs 5.7-inch display and 3GB RAM

By

Jeet

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Jan 1, 2019

Sony, the Japan-based company which has been struggling in the smartphone market, seems to be working towards launching a new smartphone soon. An upcoming smartphone of the company, Sony Xperia L3, recently passed through the FCC certification process.

The mid-range smartphone is the successor of the Xperia L2 launched last month. Given that the phone has already been through the certification processor, there’s a possibility that the company could launch the device at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2019 in Las Vegas.

The FCC listing of the smartphone reveals that it will come with a 5.7-inch display having 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it will be powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 octa-core chipset along with 3GB RAM.

The phone will be featuring a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of a 13-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. The device will also come with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security. On the front side, it will feature an 8-megapixel snapper for taking selfies and video calling.

Sony will be ditching the micro-USB port and will offer USB Type-C port. As for the battery, the device will be powered by a 3,400mAh battery, which should be enough to last through the whole day on a single charge.

Currently, there’s no more information available related to the smartphone. However, as we said, the phone could be announced during the CES 2019 later this month or at MWC 2019 in February this year.

(Source)

Blue-Gold Nubia X goes on sale today for ¥4299 (~$625)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jan 1, 2019

The Nubia X is a dual-screen phone that launched last year. Including a second screen is Nubia‘s way of achieving an edge-to-edge design as the main display nearly covers the whole of the front with just slivers of bezels at the top and bottom while the second albeit a smaller screen is surrounded by bezels that house the phone’s triple cameras.

The phone comes in multiple variants that Nubia has been releasing in batches. Today, the variant to go on sale is the Blue-Gold version which has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It is priced at ¥4299 (~$625) and is available for purchase on JD.com.

The Nubia X has a 6.26-inch 2280 x 1080 LCD primary display and a 5.1-inch HD+ OLED display. It is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and a 128GB/256GB/512GB of non-expandable storage.

The design of the Nubia X means it doesn’t have a front-facing camera, so you have to use the main cameras on the back for taking selfies which is where the second display comes in as it serves as the viewfinder when taking selfies. There are two cameras on the rear – a 16MP f/1.8 sensor and a 24MP f/1.7 sensor.

The secondary display not only works as a viewfinder when taking selfies, but it can also serve as additional touch controls when playing a game on the main screen. And since it is an OLED display, it has an always-on-display feature which is customizable and can be configured to display animations, custom messages, or even used to monitor a virtual pet that comes with the phone.

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Xiaomi Mi LED TV models get price cut in India

By

Jeet

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Jan 1, 2019

In recent months, a few of Xiaomi’s products have seen price fluctuations in the Indian market. Due to the depreciation of the Indian rupee, the company had increased the pricing of Mi LED TV in November last year. Recently, the company announced a price drop on a couple of smartphone models.

Now, the China-based company has announced price drop on three of its Mi LED TV models in the Indian market. The company says that the price cut comes following the decision by Government of India wherein Goods and Service Tax (GST) on television sets have been reduced from 28 percent to 18 percent on TVs up to 32-inches.

Xiaomi also adds that the company is following its philosophy of ensuring that whenever the company makes more than 5 percent profit margin on any hardware products, it tries to give it back to the customers, which the company calls ‘Mi Fans.’

The Xiaomi Mi LED Smart TV 4A 32-inch model has received a price cut of Rs. 1,500 (~$22) and is now available for Rs. 12,499, roughly $179. The Mi LED TV 4C PRO 32-inch model, on the other hand, has received Rs. 2,000 ($29) price cut, bringing the price down to Rs. 13,999, which converts to around $201.

Apart from the 32-inch models, the Mi LED TV 4A PRO 49-inch model has also received a price drop of Rs. 1,000 (approximately $14), making Rs. 30,999 ($445) as the new effective price. The company says that the price cut on this 49-inch model is due to recent dollar moderation.

A few months ago, the International market research firm, IDC released its report for India’s smart home market for Q2 2018. The report reveals that Xiaomi, a new player in the smart TV market, became the leading brand in just six months. The company was able to triple its shipments in Q2-2018 to become the market leader in the smart TV category. According to Xiaomi, they have sold half a million TVs since their entry into India.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 now available on open sale in India, starts at Rs. 12,999 ($180)

By

Jeet

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Jan 1, 2019

Last month, Asus launched its Zenfone Max Pro M2 smartphone, which is the successor of the company’s popular budget device Zenfone Max Pro M1.

The phone went on sale in India last month itself but was available for purchase through a flash sale model. However, after conducting just one flash sale, the company has now announced that the Zenfone Max Pro M2 will now be available on open sale through Flipkart.

It comes in two color options — Blue and Titanium. The 3GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 12,999 (approximately $180), 4GB RAM model costs Rs. 14,999 ($209) while the 6GB RAM model is priced at Rs. 16,999 (approx. $237).

The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with a curved 3D glass rear and a metallic frame, measuring 157.8 x 75.5 x 8.5mm. It features a 6.26-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ screen resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels and 19:9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 6 on top.

Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 octa-core chipset. It comes in three variants — 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM and 32GB/64GB internal storage along with a microSD card slot for storage expansion. There’s also a rear-facing fingerprint sensor for added protection.

As for the camera, the device comes with a vertically-stacked dual camera setup, featuring a primary sensor of 12-megapixel Sony IMX486 with f/1.8 aperture. It is accompanied by 5-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. On the front side, there’s a 13-megapixel selfie camera with an LED flash that supports Face Unlock.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, micro-USB 2.0, and 3.5mm audio jack. It runs stock Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box and is powered by a 5,000mAh battery which unfortunately lacks support for fast charging.

The Zenfone Max Pro M2 recently received a firmware update that comes with better camera effect optimization along with updated audio performance, and an upgraded fingerprint sensor performance that makes it more accurate and fast. It also has improved the display edge and updated the Google security patch from October to November.

Buy Top-Branded Bluetooth Speakers For Considerably Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons Inside]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 1, 2019

Looking for cost-effective earphones that boast an impressive array of features? You have come to the right place.
We have compiled a list of top-branded earphones that have gone up for sale carrying dropped prices on GeekBuying. Aside from that, we will show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money without breaking a sweat.

Awei T5 TWS Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds

You can use this truly wireless Bluetooth earbuds either as two unilateral earbuds or in pairs. The storage box comes in handy for charging the earbuds and can only be used as an emergency power bank for the phone.

While the Awei T5 would normally set you back a pretty penny on online as well as offline stores, you can now buy it for just $34.99 on GeekBuying. This is a significant 10 percent drop in the device’s original selling price of $38.99.
On top of that, you can apply coupon code GIZ_AWEIT5 for an extra discount at checkout. The aforesaid coupon helps you save $5 more by reducing the earbuds’ retail price to just $29.99. You can visit this link to avail the discount before the promo ends.

Huawei Honor FlyPods TWS Earbuds

The FlyPods can be connected to the smartphone through Bluetooth 5.0, and after first pairing, it can be used as a handsfree earphone. When you flip open the earbuds, there’s a pop-up that appears on your phone screen showing all sorts of details including the current battery level of the earbuds and a request to pair.

The Honor FlyPods TWS earbuds normally carry a steep price tag, but you can now get your hands on these coveted TWS earbuds for a dropped price of just $189.99 on GeekBuying. This is a 19 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $233.99.

Aside from taking full advantage of this discount, you can use coupon code GIZ_FLYPODS and get an extra $20 off at the time of checking out.

In other words, you can bring the already reduced retail price of the Honor FlyPods down to just $169.99 with the help of the coupon, which is likely to expire soon. You can visit this link to grab the discount before the promo wraps up!

i10 TWS Bluetooth Binaural Earbuds

The i10 is an irresistible in-ear earbud that works with an iPhone, iPod and a slew of other mobile phones, making it a great choice for both work and sports. The device can wirelessly connect and deliver a music time of 4 hours, standby time of 80 hours and talk time of 4 hours.

Much to the delight of cost-conscious music lovers who aren’t willing to spend a lot of money on top-branded earbuds, the i10 has now gone up for sale carrying a considerably lowered price tag of $39.99 on GeekBuying.

If this 9 percent drop in the device’s retail price of $43.99 doesn’t impress you much, you can use coupon code GIZ_NEQQVQIL to get an extra discount.

The above-mentioned coupons reduce the earbuds’ already lowered selling price further down to just $32.03. The above-mentioned coupon helps you save an extra $7.96. If you are interested in grabbing this discount, all you need to do is to follow this link before the promo ends.

Joyroom JR T02 TWS Bluetooth Earbuds

Backed by a robust 350mAh battery, the Joyroom JR Bluetooth earbuds can deliver 5 hours of uninterrupted talk time. It adopts an eye-catching mobile charging box design that enables charging and storage in one frame.
Despite being loaded with exceptional features, the Joyroom JR T02 Bluetooth earbuds are not overpriced. While they normally sell for $26.99, you can now get your hands on these feature-laden earbuds for a dropped price of just $19.99 on GeekBuying.

Aside from that, you can use coupon code GIZ_YXLFJGOA and get an extra $4.01 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button. The coupon helps you reduce the original asking price of the Joyroom JR T02 down to only $19.98. You can follow this link to get the discount before the promo ends in three days.

Buy Tronsmart Element T6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker And Element Mega 40W Bluetooth Speaker For Lowered Prices On GeekBuying [Coupons]

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 1, 2019

Music lovers who fancy listening to their favorite music outdoors usually spend a lot of money on headphones or earphones and end up buying a small pair of speakers that they can carry in their laptop bags.

If you are in the market for a cost-effective Bluetooth speaker, it might interest you to know that Tronsmart has teamed up with GeekBuying to offer its select Bluetooth speakers for unbeatable prices. On top of that, we will show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money at checkout.

Tronsmart Element T6 25W Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Capable of delivering an impressive 15 hours of play time on a single charge on a 60% volume, the Element T6 is an irresistible Bluetooth speaker. Its powerful bass offers a room-filling experience.

While you’d normally expect a Bluetooth speaker offering comparable features to carry a steep price tag, the Tronsmart Element T6 can now be yours for a dropped price of just $49.99 on GeekBuying. This is a 9 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $54.99.
Moreover, you can use coupon code GIZ_KDAYYEQW and get an extra $8 off before placing your order. In other words, you can reduce the original asking price of the Tronsmart Element T6 to just $41.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon at the time of checking out.

You can visit this link to grab the discount, which will be valid for the camouflage color version of the Bluetooth speaker for a limited period of time. Alternatively, you can choose from black, red color versions that come with and without carrying case.

Get 9% Off On Tronsmart Element T6 25W Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Tronsmart Element Mega 40W Bluetooth Speaker

Designed to jazz up your audio experience by delivering powerful and compelling sound on-the-go, the Tronsmart Element Mega is touted as Luis Suárez’s top choice. It features a fully integrated touch panel along with a unique slide-to-control volume mechanism.

The Tronsmart Element Mega features 28 core high-fidelity large subwoofer horn that is capable of producing an output up to 40W. While this Tronsmart branded Bluetooth speaker usually sells for $75.99, you can now buy it for a dropped price of just $43.99 on GeekBuying.

As if that weren’t enough, you can even extend this 42 percent discount by using coupon code GIZ_FSRVODVH during the checkout process. The aforesaid coupon helps you get an extra $12 off by bringing the already lowered selling price of the Tronsmart Element Mega further down to just $43.99 before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

If this unmissable discount on the Tronsmart Element Mega 40W Bluetooth speaker has stirred your interest, you can head straight to this link to grab it without wasting time. Note that the promo is slated to come to an end in three days.

Get 42% Off On Tronsmart Element Mega 40W Bluetooth Speaker

Buy OnePlus 6T And Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G Phablets For Unbeatable Prices On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Jan 1, 2019

Newfangled mobile devices like smartphones and phablets do a lot more than just helping to stay in touch with family and friends regardless of which part of the world you’re in.
While there’s no dearth of high-end smartphones, phablets and other mobile devices in the market today, you usually end up spending a lot of money on these devices. In a bid to make top-notch phones and phablets available to cost-conscious buyers, GearBest is offering noteworthy discounts on select phablets from OnePlus and Xiaomi.

OnePlus 6T 4G Phablet

The long-awaited OnePlus 6 successor dubbed, the OnePlus 6T was launched last year in November. Following in the footsteps of its well-received predecessor, the 6T garnered huge popularity among OnePlus fans and those who fancy using a big-screen mobile device for watching their favorite videos.

On the downside, this OnePlus branded phablet didn’t come cheap. In fact, the OnePlus 6T would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online and offline stores.
Much to the delight of those who have restlessly been waiting to get their hands on the coveted phablet without spending a lot of money, OnePlus is now offering the international version of the OnePlus 6T for a considerably lowered price just $569.99 on GearBest.

This is a significant 16 percent discount on the phablet’s original asking price of $677.36. You can follow this link to grab this discount, which will be valid for the mirror black color version of the phablet for a limited period of time.

Get 16% Off On OnePlus 6T 4G Phablet

Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G Phablet

Xiaomi took the wraps off the hotly-anticipated Mi Pad 4 Plus phablet in August 2018. As expected, the feature-laden phablet became an instant hit among tech buffs and Xiaomi aficionados.

Taking its huge popularity into consideration, the Chinese electronics giant is now offering the Mi Pad 4 Plus phablet for an unbeatable price on GearBest. While the phablet usually carries a relatively steep price tag, you can now buy it for only $299.99 on GearBest.

This is a significant 20 percent drop in the device’s original selling price of $376.24. An absolute bargain at this price, the Mi Pad 4 Plus sports an extra large 10.1-inch FHD display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
It packs a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor along with a competent Adreno 512 GPU, under the hood. The device ships with 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM and offers a hearty 64GB of onboard storage for you to save your photos, videos, and other multimedia content.

Regrettably, the discount will only be valid for the remaining 242 pieces of the black color version of the phablet. You can head straight to this link to avail the discount before the promo ends in just three days.

Get 20% Off On Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus 4G Phablet

Fresh Moto G7 case renders provide a better look at the device

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 31, 2018

One of the most-awaited mid-range models of 2019 is perhaps the Motorola Moto G7. The device looks all set to hit the market, considering all the numbers of leaks that have been outed in recent times. The latest leak is the series of renders of the device in a transparent case, making it possible to see the upcoming Moto G7 from all angles.

From the transparent case, we were able to get a better look at the dual camera setup and the fingerprint scanner positioned at the rear. Also, the screen features a teardrop notch on the front with buttons and ports on the sides.
The Moto G7 is equipped with a speaker grille, a power button, a volume rocker on the right side, a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom. In contrast to its predecessors, the Moto G7 has it speaker at the bottom.

Lenovo-owned Motorola is expected to release a total of 4 Moto G7 smartphone variant which includes the Moto G7, Moto G7 Plus with a teardrop notch, Moto G7 Play and lastly the Moto G7 Power with the regular wide notch. Both the Moto G7 and G7 Plus are most likely to have similar specs but they vary slightly with a larger screen and battery, which is likely in favour of the Plus device. The Moto G7 Power and the Moto G7 Play, are also expected to be equipped with mammoth batteries, with the power capacity expected to have a large 5000mAh packed inside, providing enough juice for the essential running of the device.

The Moto G7 is expected to be launched officially in Brazil around February before the commencement of the mobile world congress (MWC).

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector Lite to launch on crowdfunding January 2

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 31, 2018

Around June 2017, Xiaomi stunned the industry when it released the Mi Laser Projector with several outstanding features but with an affordable price tag when compared to other Laser Projectors in the same category. Perhaps, the success of the Mi Laser Projector may have prompted the company to launch a new Lite version which is billed to debut on January 2 via its crowdfunding platform.

Xiaomi recently released several posters which tease the impending launch and contained some details of the Mi Laser Projector Lite. The photograph of the Lite version is very much distinct from the Full version. It has a narrow and taller frame and comes with a colour scheme that is no longer deep black. The side is white, while the front is a lighter gray, giving it a more appealing look.

The specific specifications of the Mi Laser Projector Lite are not clear at the moment, but since it is a “Lite version”, the configuration must be much lower, of course, the price will be far cheaper and affordable. However, we can pick out some of the key specifications from the posters. One of such is an OSRAM P1W/A lamp bead with brightness up to 800 ANSI. The projector will also support HDR10 high dynamic range video decoding and Texas Instruments TRP square pixels Architectural plan. The device will also have a 1080p LED light source projection.

In addition, the Mi Laser Projector Lite will pack two 2 inches 10W dual speakers with dual passive film audio. The device also comes with Dolby audio and DTS sound effects. It also comes pre-installed with MIUI TV operating system which is the same with that of Xiaomi TV models. Of course, that means it comes with voice control support. The Laser projector Lite can project images on screen sizes ranging from 80 inches to 120 inches.

Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector Lite will launch on crowdfunding at 14.30 on January 2 and will have a 2,199 yuan crowdfunding price which is cost-effective.

(source)

AT&T’s Power Drum, a portable wireless charger and power bank gets FCC and WPC approval.

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 31, 2018

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has just given a regulatory approval to an upcoming battery powered bank and wireless charger that goes by the name AT&T power drum. The wireless power bank device can charge an Apple watch (it has a built in magnetic charging module for Apple watch) and an Apple iPhone (or any Qi-compatible handle) simultaneously. However, the AT&T’s Qi-compatible Power Drum will not function with the series 4 Apple watch, but will work with all other variants of the wearable timepiece.

The Qi charger will charge at 10W but at a limited power output of 7.5W for iPhone devices and the Apple watch timepiece will charge the rate of 5W. More so, as a powerbank, the power drum comes with 3,000mAh battery capacity which is very low compared to the 10,000-20,000mAh powerbanks that are available in the market today. Despite the low capacity, you will be glad to have that extra battery that can still save the day.

The power drum comes with a micro USB port for charging it, which implies that you need to carry an extra cord around with you. Other features include, a LED charge indicator, Nightstand mode which allows the Apple watch to be used in alarm mode while charging, also a softpad providing a stable surface for the device.

There is no any record yet concerning when this product will be officially launched, and according to one of the sources, it seems that the product will be sold at an equivalent of $99.99.

(via)

Sony Xperia XZ4 screen protection leaks, reaffirming a tall display

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 31, 2018

It has been quite a while since we heard any news about the Sony Xperia XZ4. The phone has been rumored earlier this month to feature an extremely tall display with a cinematic screen ratio of 21:9. Here are some leaked CAD (Computer Aided Diagram) renders of the upcoming Sony Xperia XZ4 flagship alongside its screen protector. This leak is again lending credence to earlier rumours of a tall display.

The panel fits closely to the ratios as seen in the renders featuring an extremely thin bezel, without a notch, and cut out for the earpiece, including proximity sensor. It’s also equipped with a tiny hole in the left end of the screen, presumably for the LED notification light. From a glance at the second photo, it fits perfectly for the screen of the Sony Xperia XZ4. We are hoping the picture is the real device because anyone might have produced the panel, just by mere looking at the 3D image.

The same source gave pictures of the protective case as well. This case reveals a vertical triple camera set up that is equipped with several buttons and port. On the right side of the device is the volume button, the fingerprint scanner and the power button are positioned next to each other alongside the camera shutter. Beneath the device a speaker can be seen, a USB-C and a port for the mic connection. There is no 3.5mm audio jack, but that not a news anymore.

(source)

Chinese man who traded his kidney for an iPhone 4 seven years ago becomes permanently disabled

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 31, 2018

We often joke about selling off a kidney to get Apple’s latest iPhones. That is supposed to reflect the high price tags iPhones come with but it may shock you to know that some naive teenagers actually trade-off a kidney to buy Apple’s iPhones and other products. This alarming practice is quite common in China where black market organ transplant is a thriving trade. One case that shook the tech industry was that of Xiao Wang who was a 17-year-old student back in 2011. The teenager craved for an iPhone 4 which at that time was the latest Apple phone and a status symbol at his school.

In order to get the iPhone 4 he so craved for, Wang sold one of his kidneys for the equivalent of $3,200 USD. This was more than enough for him to get the iPhone 4 for himself. Unfortunately, that is a decision that would change the course of Wang’s life forever. Since it is an underground hospital that the operation was carried out, several standard operating procedures were not adhered to. Sadly, the operating room was not sanitized properly and so, Wang soon developed an infection in the remaining kidney that made him deathly ill. And that is when Xiao’s parents discovered what their son had done. While the Wang family didn’t have the financial resources to buy the iPhone 4 that Xiao so coveted, things got worse when the family had to cover the cost of dialysis treatment.

Xiao Wang is now 24 and story has it that he will need to continue with dialysis for the rest of his life. No doubt, his lifespan will be shortened and he won’t be able to live a normal life for the period he’ll be alive. This is a sad one and we wish him all the best. Perhaps, a fundraiser can be started to assist him to get better medical care. However, it is good to bring this out because this is just one of several cases of trading an organ for gadget stories we have come across. There’s absolutely no gain in attempting to trade an organ for a smartphone or anything whatsoever.

(source)

Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro and Realme C1 get ColorOS 5.2 update

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 31, 2018

To round off the year, Realme has released the ColorOS 5.2 update for the rest of its phones. The update was already released for the Realme 1 over a month ago. Now it has started rolling out to the Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro and the Realme C1.

The update is a staged rollout and will not arrive on all devices immediately. However, if you are unwilling to wait for the OTA, Realme has provided links to download it manually.

The update brings new features and also December’s security patch among others. Below is the changelog for the Realme 2 and Realme C1:

System

Single swipe notification dismiss – Now you can swipe from left to right to dismiss the notification.
Headset icon in the status bar – A headset icon in the status bar will be shown when you plug in the headset.
Smart Bar for faster multitasking – You can add apps you use often into “Smart Bar” for faster app launching and multitasking.
Added reboot function – You can swipe up to reboot in the shutdown interface.
Optimized reminders when Developer Options, Accessibility Mode and Device Manager on – Flashing bar, on-going notification and text at the upper right corner for “Developer Options”, “Accessibility” and “Device & Privacy” have been deleted.
Improved frequency for touch screen.

Google Assistant

Long press power button for 0.5s to launch Google Assistant.

Security

Android Security Patch Level: December 5, 2018.

You can download the update here and read about how to install it here.

The update is also rolling out to the Realme 2 Pro. Owners of this phone will get a redesigned set of icons, a screen battery optimization mode, and support for slow-motion video recording.

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FCC reveals Galaxy M10 will have a 6.0-inch screen

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 31, 2018

Samsung has a trio of Galaxy M devices launching soon. They are the Galaxy M10, M20, and M30. The Galaxy M10 was seen on Geekbench last month which revealed its processor along with some other details. Now, it has been seen at the FCC and there are now more details about the device.

We already know that the Galaxy M10 will be powered by an Exynos 7870 processor and will have 3GB of RAM. Now FCC documents have revealed the phone’s display measures 153.2 millimeters which translates into 6.03 inches. Adding the bezels, the phone measures 165.5 millimeters/6.5-inches.

[envira-gallery id=”229999″]

The phone’s battery has model number EBA750ABN which according to the tech blog, Nashville Chatter, is the same model number of the Galaxy A8s’ battery. Since the batteries have the same model number the Galaxy M10 is expected to have a 3,400mAh battery capacity. The phone will also have support for 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.

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Samsung Galaxy A50 key specs appear; Likely to debut after Galaxy S10, S10 Plus

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 31, 2018

Samsung has recently launched the Galaxy A8s with punch hole display inn China. The handset is expected to debut in wider markets in January 2019. The South Korean company is also rumored to unleash the budget-friendly Galaxy M series of smartphones soon. Also, it is speculated to announce the Galaxy S10 series on Feb. 20 ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 that is scheduled to begin on Feb. 25. The company is also preparing new Galaxy A series smartphones named Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50. The latter was recently spotted on Geekbench. Now some more details on its specifications have been leaked.

Fresh information reveals that the Galaxy A50 will be equipped with a 24-megapixel front-facing camera. For security, the Galaxy A50 will be featuring an in-display fingerprint scanner. However, it won’t be featuring advanced and accurate ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner that is expected to be available on the upcoming Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ handsets. Instead, it may feature an optical in-screen fingerprint reader. The handset is draw power from a 4,000mAh battery.

Read More: Samsung could launch its Smart Sports Shoes at CES 2019

A previous report had revealed that the upcoming Galaxy A50 has a model number of SM-A505. It could be an upper mid-range phone since it is rumored to arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB storage models. The report had also revealed that the Galaxy A50 will be available in colors like black, white, silver, blue and pink.

The Galaxy A50 had recently appeared on Geekbench to reveal that it will be the first handset to be fueled by the Exynos 9610 smartphone. The handset is preloaded with Android 9 Pie OS. The variant of the Galaxy A50 that appeared on the benchmarking platform features 4 GB of RAM. Hence, it appears that the 64 GB model of the phone will feature 4 GB of RAM whereas its 128 GB edition may come with 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM.

There is no information available on the launch date of the Galaxy A50. However, it is not being speculated that the company may announce in Q2 2019 after the launch of the Galaxy S10 and S10+.

Nokia 9 PureView promo video reveals camera features and key specs

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 31, 2018

Earlier today, leakster extraordinaire Evan Blass had shared a press render to reveal the front and rear designs of the Nokia 9 PureView. Now, a leaked promo of the smartphone has surfaced courtesy of My Smart Price. Apart from the showcasing the handset from all angles, the video has revealed its key camera features. Through another leak, the display size of the smartphone has been confirmed.

When it comes to design, the appearance of the Nokia 9 PureView is not very different from the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The major change on the Nokia 9 PureView is the removal of the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and inclusion of penta-lens camera setup. Like other Nokia phones, the Nokia 9 PureView will be an Android One smartphone that will deliver stock Android experience.

Previous leaks have revealed that the Nokia TA-1094 belongs to the Nokia 9 PureView. The newly spotted leaked video of the phone reveals that TA-1087 model number also belongs to it. Coming to penta-lens setup, the video reveals that all five sensors can work simultaneously. It can capture images with 10x more light compared to traditional smartphones. Apart from shooting photos with rich details, the Nokia 9 PureView will let users to refocus on the captured images taken within Google Photos.

Read More:Nokia 9 PureView may launch in January last week

The Nokia 9 PureView is equipped with a 5.99-inch PureDisplay with support for HDR10. It seems to support an aspect ratio of 18:9. It also features an in-display fingerprint sensor. The smartphone will be preloaded with Android 9 Pie OS. It will be packed with various Google provided features such as Google Photos, Google Lens and Google Assistant. It will be the first Nokia phone to arrive with support for Qi wireless charging. The handset will be fueled by Snapdragon 845 chipset and 6 GB of RAM. It will be arriving with an inbuilt storage of 128 GB.

The release date of the Nokia 9 PureView is still under the wraps. A recent report has revealed that the smartphone will be announced by the end of January 2019.

(source)

LG announces Android Pie update roadmap, G7 ThinQ gets it first

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 31, 2018

LG is terrible when it comes to releasing timely updates. None of its flagships released this year is running a stable version of Android Pie yet and that will be so for months to come. The Korean manufacturer has revealed its update schedule for Android Pie and there isn’t much to be excited about if we are being honest.

LG says the first device to get a stable Android Pie update is the LG G7 ThinQ and the update will arrive in Q1 of 2019. The update will most definitely start rolling out first in its home country, so expect a further delay if you reside somewhere else.

Own the LG V40 ThinQ? LG didn’t reveal when you’ll get Android Pie but they did say that it and the LG G6 will get performance updates that will fix some issues and bring new features.

The LG V30 and LG G7 ThinQ will also get performance updates this month which will also come with security patches.

LG devices run a custom-version of Android called LG UX. However, this year, it released its first Android One phone, the LG G7 One which runs stock Android. It is no coincidence that it has gotten updated to Android Pie.

Nevertheless, LG isn’t the only manufacturer with a customized version of Android, so it isn’t an excuse for its lackadaisical attitude when it comes to updates. Brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Samsung have already started rolling out Android Pie to their devices.

Timely updates are important for users and forms part of their purchase decision. LG needs to fix up in this aspect if it takes its customers seriously.

(Source, Via)

Realme will expand its offline presence to 150 cities in India in 2019

By

Jeet

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Dec 31, 2018

Realme, which started off as an online-exclusive sub-brand of Oppo, split up from its parent company to operate as an independent brand. The company, which started in India, is now present in around six countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Phillippines.

Initially, the company sold its smartphones exclusively through online platforms, but last month, it entered into the offline market via a partnership with Reliance Digital. Now, the company has said that it plans to expand its offline presence to 150 cities in 2019.

Although the company has clarified that the expansion will take place in a phase-by-phase manner. Realme also says that it will expand the offline presence to 20,000 outlets in the country through the year. The company says its offline retailers will be known as REAL Partners.

In a press statement, Madhav Sheth, Chief Executive Officer of Realme India said:

Realme as a young brand is committed to delivering the best consumer experience to our customers. Strengthening our commitment, we are expanding our footprints to meet the rapidly growing customer demands. With the new offline store, we are extending our sales channels reaching out to our offline customers in every region. This is the extension of our sales strategy and the ultimate target of ‘Realme for Every Indian.

The company will first start its offline presence in ten cities across the country in January 2019. Later, Realme plans to add 50 cities every quarter. The retail outlets will have all the models that the smartphone brand has launched so far.

However, the company has not yet confirmed the names of cities where it will start the offline expansion, though these will likely be metro cities. So far, Realme has relied on online partnerships with marketplaces like Amazon and Flipkart to drive sales of its products, which includes Realme 1, 2, 2 Pro, C1, and the latest Realme U1.

With the Reliance Digital partnership, Realme smartphones were available for purchase at more than 130 cities across more than 1,300 Reliance Digital and My Jio stores.

Meanwhile, Realme is reportedly working on another entry-level smartphone named Realme A1 which will be priced under Rs. 10,000 ($143) and will get launched in early 2019.