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Nokia 9 PureView launch could be few weeks away, claims report

Multiple rumors are swirling on the possible launch date of Nokia 9 PureView. It was recently speculated to go official at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 tech expo in February next year. A newer report had claimed that the phone may debut in January 2019. Through retail sources Nokia Power User has learnt that the HMD Global may launch the Nokia 9 PureView phone within this year.

The publication claims that the Finland-based firm had never postponed the launch of Nokia 9 PureView to 2019. It has further stated that the company underplayed the launch of the smartphone to reduce the rumors surrounding its penta-lens setup. HMD Global had faced some issues with production of the penta-camera setup of the Nokia 9 PureView. However, fresh information has revealed that the company is now actively producing the phone. The report also reveals that the launch of the phone could be few weeks away.

Nokia 9 PureView is likely to arrive as the first smartphone in the world with five rear cameras. The ZEISS branded penta-lens setup of the phone is expected to be coupled with a big-sized LED flash and a laser autofocus module.

Nokia 9 PureView 3D render

The handset is expected to feature a 5.99-inch OLED screen that will carry support for Quad HD+ resolution. It may support a notch-less screen that will offer an aspect ratio of 18:9. It could be the first phone from the company to feature an under-screen fingerprint scanner.

The Snapdragon 845 chipset Is expected to power the smartphone. The SoC could be coupled with 8 GB of RAM and it may feature an internal storage of 128 GB. It may come preinstalled with Android 9 Pie OS that may offer Android One experience. The handset may not feature a 3.5mm audio jack. The smartphone could be packed with a 4,150mAh batter that may carry support for wireless charging.

(source)

Lenovo Z5 Pro reservations cross 500,000 mark

On Nov. 1, Lenovo had introduced the Lenovo Z5 Pro smartphone. The sales of the smartphone will begin on Nov. 11. Since its launch, the handset has been available on reservations. The Chinese manufacturer has officially confirmed today that the Z5 Pro reservations have crossed 500,000.

Lenovo Z5 Pro 500,000 Reservations

The Lenovo Z5 Pro has met with an overwhelming response from the audience during its reservations period since the number of the people who registered their purchase for it has exceeded 500,000 mark. The 64 GB and 128 GB storage editions of the Lenovo Z5 Pro are respectively priced at 1,998 Yuan (~$288) and 2,298 Yuan (~$331). The handset comes in a single color variant of Black.

The Lenovo Z5 Pro is an advanced version of the Lenovo Z5 phone that was announced in June. The USP of the smartphone is that it is equipped with manual slider design. Unlike the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 slider phone, the Z5 Pro is fitted with an in-display fingerprint reader. Lenovo claims that the Z5 Pro offers a screen-to-body ratio of 95.06 percent.

The smartphone features a 6.39-inch AMOLED screen that carries support for Full HD+ resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The Snapdragon 710 chipset is the driving force of the phone. The 64 GB and 128 GB variants of the phone feature 6 GB of RAM. There is no microSD card slot on the device. The ZUI 10 based Android 8.1 Oreo OS is preinstalled on the device.

The rear side of the Lenovo Z5 Pro features 16-megapixel + 24-megapixel dual camera setup. For capturing selfies, it is fitted with 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual selfie snapper. The smartphone lacks support for 3.5mm audio jack. It is backed by a 3,350mAh battery with fast charging support.

What is your opinion on the Lenovo Z5 Pro? Let us know your thoughts by posting your comments below.

Xiaomi marks its UK debut with the launch of Mi 8 Pro for £499 ($654)

Xiaomi today officially entered the UK market with the launch of its Mi 8 Pro flagship smartphone. In the UK, Xiaomi will also open a brick-and-mortar Mi Store in Westfield London on 18th November.

Prior to the company’s official debut in the UK, Xiaomi already had a presence in the European market with Spain where the company has 10 stores. Earlier this year in May, Xiaomi started operations in France and Italy as well.

The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro will be available in the UK from 9th November for an off-contract price of £499, which roughly converts to $654. It comes in Transparent Titanium color and will be available through Three, Amazon, Argos, John Lewis, Carphone Warehouse, Currys PC World, Very, Mobile Phones Direct, Katana and Mi.com.

Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro

Wang Xiang, Senior Vice President of Xiaomi Corporation, said:

Today we witness a new chapter in Xiaomi’s global expansion journey, underpinned by our global ambitions. We are thrilled to make great strides by announcing our arrival in the UK. By bringing a range of our amazing products at honest pricing we want to offer more choices and let everyone in the UK enjoy a connected simple life through our innovative technology.

The phone features a 6.21-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with screen resolution of 2248 x 1080 pixels. Under the hood, the device is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor clocked at 2.8GHz, along with Adreno 630 GPU.

It packs 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage but there’s no microSD card slot for expanding storage. The phone comes with a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint sensor for added security.

Coming to the camera department, the device features a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of two 12-megapixel sensors with Optical Image Stabilizer and optical zoom. On the front side, the device comes equipped with a 20-megapixel f/2.0 camera sensor housed inside the display notch.

The handset supports Dual SIM, 4G, Wi-Fi, dual-band GPS, dual–SIM support, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB OTG, and USB Type-C as connectivity options. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out-of-the-box with the company’s MIUI 10 interface. The phone is fuelled by a 3,000mAh battery with support for fast charging technology.

 

Read More: Xiaomi’s Pocophone F1 budget flagship phone is now available for purchase in the UK through Amazon

 

Along with the Mi 8 Pro, the Chinese company has launched a few other products in the UK, which includes Mi 8, Redmi 6A entry-level smartphone, Mi Band 3 fitness tracker, and the Mi electric scooter. The Redmi 6A is priced at £99 (approx. $130), the Mi Band 3 costs £27 (approximately $35), and the Mi electric scooter is priced at £399, roughly $523.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 vs Lenovo K9 vs Realme C1: Specs Comparison

Starting from today, Xiaomi Redmi 6 and 6A are officially on open sale in India. They represent two of the most important and powerful handsets in one of the lower price ranges: the one around €100. But they are not the only good alternative with that affordable price tag. Lenovo K9 and Oppo Realme C1 are two other excellent devices sold at a very affordable price and in this comparison, we will let you understand which one you should choose depending on your expectations.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 vs Lenovo K9 vs Oppo Realme C1

Xiaomi Redmi 6 Lenovo K9 Oppo Realme C1
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 147.5 x 71.5 x 8.3 mm, 146 grams 153.8 x 72.9 x 8 mm, 155 grams  156.2 x 75.6 x 8.2 mm, 168 grams
DISPLAY 5.45 inches, 720 x 1440 pixels, 295 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD 5.7 inches, 720 x 1440p (HD+), 282 ppi, 18:9 ratio, IPS LCD  6.2 inches, 720 x 1520 pixels, 271 ppi, 19:9 ratio, IPS LCD
PROCESSOR MediaTek Helio P22, octa-core 2 GHz  MediaTek Helio P22, octa-core 2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, octa-core 1.8 GHz
MEMORY 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD dedicated slot 3 GB RAM, 32 GB –  micro SD slot  2 GB RAM, 16 GB – micro SD dedicated slot
SOFTWARE Android 8.1 Oreo, MIUI Android 8.1 Oreo  Android 8.1 Oreo, Color OS
CONNECTIVITY Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS  Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS
CAMERA Dual 12 + 5 MP f/2.2
5 MP front camera
Dual 13 + 5 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4
Dual 13 + 5 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4 front camera
Dual 13 + 2 MP f/2.2 and f/2.4
5 MP f/2.2 front camera
BATTERY 3000 mAh 3000 mAh  4230 mAh
ADDITIONAL FEATURES Dual SIM slot Hybrid Dual SIM slot  Dual SIM slot

Design

Even though it is fully made of plastic, Lenovo K9 is the most attractive device among these ones. It has a wonderful rear cover which reminds of the reflective glass back of some iconic Honor devices, and it does not have a notch, just in case you hate it. It is also the thinnest device of the trio. But you may also like the Realme C1 more than Lenovo K9 because of its higher scree-to-body ratio thanks to a tri-borderless design and a not so big notch.

 

Display

With a diagonal of 6.2 inches, Oppo Realme C1 has the biggest display, and that is why we prefer it over its opponents. Further, the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, so it should be harder to damage despite its very narrow bezels. In terms of viewing quality, not much changes between these devices.

 

Specs & Software

While Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Lenovo K9 are equipped with the Helio P22 SoC by MediaTek, Oppo Realme C1 has the Snapdragon 450. The first is better when it comes to CPU power and it has a lower power consumption so it makes batteries last more (12 nm production process), while the second has a better GPU, so it provides nice performance in gaming. If you need a phone for daily use and you are not a gamer, Helio P22 is more suitable. And if you want the best performance (as well as the best user interface), you should go for the 4/64 GB configuration of the Xiaomi Redmi 6.

 

Camera

If you are looking for the best camera department, choose Lenovo K5. It has a total of four cameras and it has the same dual camera setup on the front and on the back. It is composed of a primary 13 MP sensor and a secondary depth sensor with a resolution of 5 MP.

 

Battery

If you want the longest battery life, Oppo Realme C1 is the best smartphone for you. It features a huge 4230 mAh unit which can provide two full days of battery life if you do not stress it too much. Both Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Lenovo K5 have a 3000 mAh battery, so they can not compete.

 

Price

You can get Oppo Realme C1 for about €96/$109, Lenovo K9 for €110/$125 and Xiaomi Redmi 6 for €120/$136. I would personally pick Oppo Realme C1 because has the most important component that, in my opinion, should be inside low-end devices: a huge battery.

 

Xiaomi Redmi 6 vs Lenovo K9 vs Oppo Realme C1: PROs and CONS

Xiaomi Redmi 6

PROs

  • Micro SD dedicated slot
  • Affordable price
  • Compact design
  • Nice rear camera

CONS

  • Anonymous design

 

Lenovo K9

PROs

  • Awesome design
  • Front-facing flash
  • Affordable
  • Four cameras

CONS

  • Nothing particular

 

Oppo Realme C1

PROs

  • Bigger display
  • Micro SD dedicated slot
  • Bigger battery
  • Affordable

CONS

  • Worse cameras

Nubia Red Magic 2 announced with 10GB RAM, 256GB storage & Android Pie, to be crowdfunded

Nubia has announced its second gaming smartphone today. The Red Magic 2 will succeed the Red Magic released earlier this year. The new gaming phone packs a significant amount of upgrades.

Red Magic 2

The Nubia Red Magic 2 is powered by a Snapdragon 845 processor clocked at 2.8GHz. This is the chipset we expected to power the first one. It also has 10GB of LPDDR4X RAM, putting it on the still short list of phones with that amount of RAM. That generous amount of RAM is paired with an equally generous 256GB of  UFS 2.1 storage.

The Red Magic 2 uses a dual cooling system – Air + Liquid Cooling. This drops the CPU’s temperature to 13.2°C and increases CPU performance by up to 70%. There is DTS 7.1 surround sound, 3D stereo audio, AI noise canceling, DTSX Ultra and a SMART PA amplifier all for an impressive audio performance. There is also 4D gaming with real-time game scene recognition.

The phone runs Red Magic OS with Android 9 Pie underneath. There is a GameBoost mode that can be activated with a dedicated button. The RGB lights make a comeback and there are air triggers with touch sensors on the right side of the phone called Red Magic buttons.

There are still some unknown specs such as the screen, cameras, and battery capacity. Hopefully, those will be revealed at a later date.

The Red Magic 2 will also be crowdfunded like the original. It has already crossed its target of ¥1,000,000 by more than 200% even though the deadline is still December 6. If you are interested, head to the source link.

READ MORE: World’s first 10GB RAM phone Black Shark Helo goes on sale

The phone is expected to start shipping a month after the crowdfunding ends. The crowdfunding price is ¥3888 (~$560) but we expect the phone to sell for a little more when it is available for purchase after a proper release.

(Source, Via)

OxygenOS 9.0.5 update brings bug fixes and improvements for Screen Unlock to OnePlus 6T

OnePlus has begun pushing out a second update to the OnePlus 6T. The update arrives as OxygenOS 9.0.5 just a week after it received its first update after it launched.

OnePlus 6T

The new update doesn’t bring many changes but the changelog says there are improvements for screen unlock and general bug fixes and improvements. The update is about 95MB in size according to those who have received it. However, there are reports of no noticeable difference after the update.

The OnePlus 6T is the latest flagship from the manufacturer. It has a 6.41-inch optic AMOLED screen with a water-drop notch, a Snapdragon 845 SoC, up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage.

On the back of the phone is a 16MP + 20MP dual camera setup and in front is another 16MP sensor. The OnePlus 6T runs Android Oie out of the box and packs a 3700mAh battery. It also has an in-display fingerprint scanner.

READ MORE: OnePlus launches Bullets 2T Type-C wired earphones in China

Razer Phone 2 to launch in Taiwan on November 14

The Razer Phone 2 launched last month in the US for $799. It was later seen on Razer‘s Chinese website prompting reports it would launch in China but it still hasn’t launched yet. Now, Razer has begun sending invites for a launch in Taiwan.

Razer Phone 2

The invite is for the launch of the Razer Phone 2 and it is scheduled for November 14. There is no info on a second product but we won’t be surprised if it also announces some gaming peripherals.

The Razer Phone 2 packs a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 display with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 processor and has 64GB of storage. There is a variant with 128GB of storage too. Nevertheless, a MicroSD card slot will let you add up to an extra 512GB.

Dual 12MP cameras grace the back of the phone and an 8MP camera is in front. There are Doby Atmos front-facing speakers, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a USB type-C port. The Razer Phone 2 packs a 4,000mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 4+ and 15W wireless charging and has an IP67-rating. The logo on the back also has Razer’s famous Chroma LED that switches between colors.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Black Shark Helo global debut on November 9 seems likely

OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple Looks Really Beautiful in our Hands On!

The Thunder Purple Oneplus 6T turned out to be the first gradient color model from the company. We know that OnePlus tried a lot of gradient options with the OP6, but couldn’t finalize one for release. However, it looks like this particular purple hue turned out to be good enough for their standards. So for those OnePlus fans who thought they missed out on a gradient back, this is definitely a welcome surprise.

OnePlus-6t-purple-02

We got our hands on with this particular version recently and the phone looks absolutely gorgeous. The color tone is softer than what we saw in the official renders and the transition from a blackish blue hue to a pinkish purple is seamless. What makes the Thunder Purple variant even more special is that there aren’t any other colors available for the 6T right now. The two other variants are both black, namely Midnight Black with a matte finish and Mirror Black with a high gloss finish. We are familiar with both since they are exactly the same finishes as seen on the older OnePlus 6 model.

OnePlus-6T-Purple-03

In case you are wondering, the iconic ‘S’ line seen on the midnight black edition is also present on this gradient version. So the Thunder Purple variant has a similar matte finish. Also, the gradient color continues to the curved sides of the phone. So the power button is black while the alert slider gets a black hue.

OnePlus-6T-Purple-04

Needless to say, the OnePlus 6T Thunder Purple is definitely one of the fanciest color options from the company so far. The RED Limited Edition OP6 was also beautiful, but we’ve got no details about a similar variant for the 6T so far.

oneplus-6t-purple-01

Unfortunately, the Thunder Purple variant seems to be exclusive for China for the time being. That shouldn’t stop you from getting one though. Giztop has listed the phone for purchase online and in stock. Check it out if interested from here!

What do you think of this OP6T variant?

 

ZMI Travel Assistant Z1 goes on sale for ¥499 (~$72)

A few months ago, ZMI, one of the company’s Xiaomi‘s partner known for manufacturing power banks announced its first phone – a feature phone actually that doubles as a translator and also works as a portable hotspot device. Called the ZMI Travel Assistant Z1, the device is now available for purchase.

ZMI Travel Assistant Z1

The ZMI Travel Assistant Z1 has a candy bar design with a 2.8-inch color display and a T9 keypad. Its selling point is its AI translation feature which provides real-time voice translation from Chinese to up to 16 different languages.

The Xiao AI assistant can also set reminders, answer questions, set alarms, and can be used to control connected Mijia smart devices. It also has access to an online library of audiobooks and music.

The ZMI Travel Assistant Z1 supports 4G LTE and can double as a portable hotspot, connecting up to 10 devices. It also has GPS, a 2MP rear camera with flash and a 5,000mAh battery with reverse charging. There is a hybrid SIM slot for two nano SIMs or a SIM and a memory card (32GB max). The ZMI Travel Assistant also has a USB-C port, a feature missing on a lot of mid-range smartphones.

READ MORE: Xiaomi crowdfunds a cheap Feature Phone with Wi-fi, 4G and real-time voice translation

Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer Edition & Mi MIX 2S also receive Night Mode camera feature

Yesterday we reported that the Mi 8 Pro would get the Mi MIX 3‘s Night Mode based on details found in its internal test firmware. Now details have surfaced that the feature is also present in the internal test firmware files of the Mi 8, Mi 8 Explorer and the Mi MIX 2S.

The feature is being pushed out as an update to those running a closed beta version of MIUI 10. A screenshot has revealed that the update is a little over 300MB in size. The feature should be available to more people later when it leaves closed beta.

Night Mode MI MIX 2S

Xiaomi‘s CEO, Lei Jun promised that the night mode camera feature of the Mi MIX 3 would be made available to other flagships. And less than two weeks following the launch of the flagship, Xiaomi’s R&D team is already pushing out the feature to four phones already albeit in closed beta.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro with SD636 SoC and four cameras launched in Indonesia

UMIDIGI kicks off 11.11 Global Shopping Festival with many new offers and deals

As the shopping day is nearing, various brands and retailers in China are getting prepared for the 11.11 sale event. Similarly, UMIDIGI has kicked off discounts and new offers for 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. This year, UMIDIGI is here with some special discounts and several bargains for their fans. Users can avail these discounts at Aliexpress or Gearbest online stores.

umidigi 11.11

UMIDIGI has lined up several giveaways, discounted products, and promotional offers. The Chinese electronics maker will offer a discount almost on every product, with the maximum discount of over $100. At the 11.11 global sale festival, UMIDIGI products will be at their lowest record prices.

UMIDIGI is hosting few giveaways of A3 and Uwatch smartwatches. They have paired up 20 units of UMIDIGI A3 and 60 units of Uwatch for Giveaways which are slated to end on November 9th. You can have a look at the promo of the event sale below:

Several products such as UMIDIGI A3, Uwatch, Z2 Pro, Z2 Pro, Z2 series and One series will be available at huge discounts at 11.11 Global sale event.

Further, there are some special coupons, which will reduce the overall price of the product during checkout on Gearbest. Users can use these UMIDIGI coupons at Gearbest:

  • UMIDIGI Z2 PRO   coupon:GB$MPZ2PRO
  • UMIDIGI One         coupon: GB$MPONE 
  • UMIDIGI One Pro  coupon:GB$MPONEPRO 
  • UMIDIGI Z2 SE      coupon:GB$MPZ2SE 

Read MoreBuy UMIDIGI Z2 Pro 4G Phablet For Only $319.99 On GearBest

These coupons are limited to 100 units, so you need to hurry up if you want to grab some good discount on UMIDIGI products on the sale day.

Also, don’t forget to join the UMIDIGI A3 and UMIDIGI Uwatch giveaway.

Get Graphene Heated Neck Wrap at just $33 for pain relief and physical therapy

Are you using your laptop or other computing machines for long hours and have a stiff neck issue? Then the Graphene Heated Neck Wrap is best suited for you. The new Neck wrap helps to warm up your neck with the help of far infrared and electromagnetic waves which are usually invisible to the human eye. Its thinness and flexibility is a significant pro that the new Graphene heated neck pack carries.

It is the best gift to your body during winters as it helps to relax you with a comfortable level of heat. Further, it provides better circulation and is safe to use. Anyone, like students, workers who use laptops or those who have computer neck can use it. There are plenty of useful features that the Neckband offers. There are many reasons to use the Graphene heated neck bank.

Features of Graphene Heated Neckband:

Physical therapy and pain relief: It can relieve you from constant neck pain as graphene heating film it uses carries the same wavelength as of human body.

Adjust Temperature as per need:

A user can control the temperature, and it gives an ability to customize for need.

Compatibility and Power Usage: 

It uses a 5 volt DC to run, means you can use any mobile phone charger, power bank or PC to power it up. It can be used anywhere, while traveling, working, studying, etc. You can keep enjoying it without any issue.

Comfortable and personalized fit:

It fits just in the right place and carries ergonomic design. It can work without awkward positioning and any discomfort.

Safe to use:

It has some self-timer and is quite easy to use. You can set the timer to 1 hour or less for automated operation. Also, it doe not cause any electromagnetic radiation.

In order to use it, you need to connect the power cable aka USB cable to the metal part on the right side of the band, and you’re ready to go. Now, at its opening, there are terminal ports where you can connect and disconnect the cables. So, while washing, you can disconnect it and can completely wash it without any issue.

You can even use it while sleeping and can set a timer of 60 minutes. The graphene’s flexibility and less power consumption is a major pro. It will help you to keep warm and will help with circulation when you’re sitting idle.

Buyers can get it from Amazon at the price of $33.99.

Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A now available via open sale in India

Earlier this year, in September, Xiaomi launched Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A smartphones in the Indian market. Now almost two months after their launch in India, Xiaomi has announced that both the phones will be available for purchase in India via open sale.

The Redmi 6A with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage model is now available for purchase for Rs. 6,999 (~$97) through Amazon and Mi.com, while the 16GB internal storage model will be available from 14th November. It comes in three color options — Blue, Gold, and Rose Gold.

Xiaomi Redmi 6

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi 6 is available for purchase exclusively through Flipkart and Mi.com. The 3GB RAM and 64GB storage model is priced at Rs. 9,499 while the 32GB storage model costs Rs. 7,999 (~$111). It comes in four colors —  Black, Rose Gold, Blue, and Gold.

The Redmi 6 and 6A both come with a 5.45-inch IPS LCD HD+ display with 1440 x 720 pixels screen resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. While the Redmi 6 is powered by MediaTek‘s Helio P22 octa-core processor, the Redmi 6A runs on Helio A22 quad-core chipset.

The Xiaomi Redmi 6 features a 12MP + 5MP dual cameras on the back with LED flash, 1.25μm pixel size, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture, and EIS. On the front side, there’s a 5MP snapper with f/2.2 aperture for taking selfies and video calling.

Connectivity options on the device include Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS + GLONASS. It runs Android Oreo-based MIUI and is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

 

Read More: Xiaomi’s Lei Jun: I didn’t vote in favor for the company’s IPO, plans to release 5G Phones in March-April 2019

 

The Xiaomi Redmi 6A comes with a single 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, PDAF, f/2.2 aperture, and EIS. It features a 5MP front-facing shooter with a f/2.2 aperture for taking selfies and video calling. It too runs on Android Oreo-based MIUI 9.6 and is powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note 9 to get Android Pie-based ‘One UI’ in January

At its developer conference, along with showcasing its foldable display device, Samsung also unveiled ‘One UI’ — it’s new design language for the custom user interface skip for Samsung’s devices.

During the announcement of One UI, the company also revealed that it will begin beta testing of Android Pie-based One UI for select devices later this month in US, Korea, and Germany. It should roll out to other European and Asian countries at some later point.

The devices that will receive the update includes Galaxy S9, S9, and Note 9. While open beta will be available from this month, the public release of the One UI for the mentioned device will take place in January 2019.

Android Pie-based One UI for Samsung phones

Comparing to the Samsung Experience UX which requires two hands to operate, the new One UI is claimed to have been built for a “more natural and comfortable” one-handed use cases. Samsung said that it has been working on the new experience for the past year, and the prime target is to make the interface less cluttered.

The focus of Samsung One UI is on keeping the most relevant content in the most useful place — bottom of the screen. All of Samsung’s apps have adopted a bottom bar layout for smaller navigation elements alongside larger header elements. Menus also pop-up at the bottom of the screen instead of the center.

During the SDC 2018 Keynote, Jee Won Lee, Senior Designer of UX Design at Samsung, said:

With One UI, now you see only the essential features related to the task you are carrying out. It’s a continuous and fluid experience where the necessary buttons appear when you need them and gently disappear when you don’t.

The South Korean company has also introduced a system-wide Night Mode that enables a dark, AMOLED-friendly theme throughout the UI and Samsung’s apps. The new Samsung One UI will also theme itself to match the color of the phone, similar to what Samsung offered on Galaxy Note 9 with its new S-Pen.

 

Read More: Samsung to launch phones with notched display; showcases U, V, and O shaped notch designs

 

Along with that, some Android Pie-based features, including gesture-supported navigation are likely to be a part of the One UI for the devices that’ll receive Android Pie update in January next year. It seems that we’ll have to wait for the Android Pie-based Samsung One UI to make debut in January to see what it actually brings to the table and how it performs.

Qualcomm directed to license patents to other competitors by the US court

In a recent ruling by a US court, Qualcomm has been directed to license patents to other competitors in the market. In a bid to end the monopoly of Qualcomm, a US federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the chip maker must license its technologies to competitors like Intel and others.

Qualcomm logo

Well, it is not a final verdict, US court has given a preliminary ruling in an antitrust lawsuit against the Qualcomm by FTC (Federal Trade Commision) in 2017. The verdict came after 30 days of the requested timeline from Qualcomm and FTC last month.

Federal Judge Lucy Koh in the US District Court of California said Qualcomm must exchange the license with its competitors in a bid to create an environment of competition rather than monopoly. Well, whatever the reason is, consumers are going to benefit from the latest ruling by the US court.

In addition, Judge said not obliging with the preliminary ruling would obstruct or limit competition of the patented components. She added, Qualcomm’s refusal to license patents to competitors like Intel and Samsung was to maintain its monopoly. The ruling didn’t affect the core parts of FTC’s case against Qualcomm. The trial of FTC and Qualcomm is set to begin in January next year. It is going to be the most important case in the past some years by antitrust enforcers against a company accused of monopoly.

Both sides are also willing to settle the dispute as they jointly asked for an extension of 30 days before ruling. But it seems, the settlement didn’t go ahead as the ruling is here and no more advancement has taken place in this case.

Well, whatever goes in the court, it should be for the benefit of the end user.

(Via)

Google introduces In-app Updates API, allowing to update Apps while in use

In order to give users and Android developers more controls to ensure the App compatibility across all devices, Google has added new In-app Updates API to the Android system. Google has introduced new tools and features at Android Developer Summit. Google has added widely requested features in the latest In-app Updates API.

The new API gives developers two new ways to update the apps: flexible and immediate. In flexible app update function, it allows Android users to keep using the app even while it is being updated. Though there’s a catch, the app downloads the update when a user is using it, but it gets installed when you reopen the app.

In the second immediate option, users are given a full-screen update message for forcefully updating their apps. The prompt comes when the user starts an app, they must update it before using it.

Talking about the recent updates, Android product management, and developer relations Stephanie Saad Cuthberston said, “This is something that developers have asked us for a long time is — say you own an app and you want to make sure the user is running the latest version.”

Further adding, Google director of engineering Aurash Mahbood said, the new API is under tests for Google Chrome.

Google also rolled out Instant discovery that allows to easily adopt the new kind of apps. Even Google has increased the limit of Instant Apps to 10 MB for Try Now button on the Play Store.

Along with the new updates API, Google official rolled out support for foldable devices on the eve of celebrating ten-years of Android. Well, despite the announcement, there’s no exact time given by Google as to when we will see the API working on Android devices.

Overall, it’s a good package of announcements that Google went live at Android Developers summit. Along with users, App developers will also benefit from the latest In-app updates API.

(Via)

Buy Huawei Honor V10 Smartphone For Just $279 On Giztop

Huawei made the long-awaited Honor View 10 smartphone available to the public this year in January. The phone instantly became a massive hit among Xiaomi fans worldwide after hitting the store shelves.


If you’ve restlessly been waiting to get your hands on the well-received smartphone from Xiaomi at an unbeatable price, we got good news for you. Much to the delight of cost-conscious buyers, the Honor V10 has gone up for sale bearing a lowered price tag on Giztop.

Before we divulge more details about the aforesaid discount, let us take a gander at the awe-inspiring features that make the Huawei Honor V10 an irresistible smartphone. First off, it sports an eye-catching 5.99-inch IPS LCD screen, FHD+ (1080×2160 pixel) display with Face Unlock.

Moreover, it packs a powerful Kirin 970 AI CPU Octa-core i7 co-processor along with a Mali G72 MP12 GPU, under the hood. It comes with 4GB/ 6GB/8GB of RAM and offers a hearty 64GB/128GB of onboard storage so that you have enough space to save your favorite content.
On the photography front, the Honor V10 houses a 20.0MP+16.0MP dual camera setup on the back and a 13.0MP front-mounted camera for self-portraits and face-to-face video chatting. It runs on EMUI 8.0-based Android 8.0 Oreo OS and is backed by a 3750mAh battery with 5V/4.5A quick charge.

The phone comes with a slew of useful sensors including accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. It is up for grabs in 3 color versions including aurora blue, black, and gold.

While a feature-rich smartphone from a leading brand would normally set you back a pretty penny, the Huawei Honor V10 smartphone can now be yours for a dropped price of $279 on Giztop. This is a considerable reduction in the device’s original selling price of $499.

You can head straight to this link to check out the full specification and avail the discount before the promo comes to an end.

Realme expands to Malaysia, launches Realme 2, 2 Pro, and Realme C1

Oppo’s sub-brand Realme, which started off as an online-online brand in the Indian market, is focusing on expanding its presence to other countries. After foraying in the Indonesian market last month, the company has now entered Malaysia.

Realme has launched three smartphones in Malaysia — Realme 2, Realme 2 Pro and Realme C1. Just like in India, the pricing of all three devices in the Malaysian market is pretty aggressive, which could help the company gain popularity in the new market.

Realme Malaysia

The entry-level phone — Realme C1 is priced at RM449, which roughly converts to $108. The Realme 2 is priced at RM599 (approximately $144) for the 3GB RAM model while the 4GB RAM model costs RM699, roughly $168.

The Realme 2 Pro starts at RM899 (approximately $217) for the base model with 4GB RAM while the 6GB RAM model costs RM949, roughly $229. The top-end model with 8GB RAM is priced at RM1099, which roughly converts to $265.

In Malaysia, the Realme smartphones will be available for purchase through the company’s official online store as well as through Lazada Malaysia and Shopee Malaysia. While Realme 2 Pro will be available during 11.11 Sale, the Realme 2 will go on sale from November 24. The Realme C1 will be available from at a discounted rate of RM399 (approx. $96) from November 22 to December 22.

Realme 2 Pro colors

The Realme 2 Pro is the company’s most expensive phone so far. It comes with a 6.3-inch “dewdrop” Full HD+ display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 660 AIE processor and runs on Android Oreo-based ColorOS. It features a 16MP + 2MP dual-camera setup at the rear, and a 16MP selfie camera. it is powered by a 3,500mAh capacity battery.

The Realme 2 features a 6.2-inch HD+ notched display and runs on Snapdragon 450 octa-core chipset. It comes with a 13MP + 2 MP dual-camera setup at the rear and an 8MP snapper on the front. Running on Android Oreo, the phone’s USP is its large 4,230mAh battery.

 

Read More: Realme increases pricing for its Realme 2 and Realme C1 smartphones in India

 

The company’s entry-level smartphone — Realme C1, features a 6.2-inch notched display with 1520 x 720 HD+ resolution and runs on the same octa-core Snapdragon 450 chipset. It comes equipped with a 13MP + 2MP dual-camera setup on the back and a 5MP snapper on the front. It runs Android Oreo and is powered by a 4,230mAh battery.

Buy Xiaomi HUAMI AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 For Just $144.99 On GeekBuying [Coupon Code]

If you’ve explored the vast wearable market, you’re probably familiar with the Amazfit brand. With a reputation for making activity trackers that are simplistic but stylish, the brand launched the second version of its well-received smartwatch under the caring wing of Xiaomi back in 2017.


The device officially bearing the Amazfit Smart Sports Watch 2 moniker was launched alongside an Amazfit Smart Sports Watch 2S Premium Edition variant. Nearly a year after hitting the store shelves, the English version of the smartwatch has gone up for sale at a discounted price on GeekBuying.

We’ll not only shed light on the aforesaid discount but also show how you can save a considerable amount of extra money at the time of checking out. So without wasting time, let us head straight to the details.

The English version of the Xiaomi HUAMI AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 would normally set you back a pretty penny on online stores and offline shops, but you can now buy it at an unbeatable price of just $162.99 on GeekBuying. This is a significant 42% drop in the device’s original asking price of $279.99.
Aside from that, you can apply coupon code DDPDOCYC to get an extra $75 off while checking out. In other words, you can bring your already reduced grand total further down to just $144.99 simply by using the aforesaid coupon before placing your order. Also, here is a coupon code FTUTPGHR for all overseas to get the AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 at $152.99

An absolute bargain at this price, the AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 sports an easily readable 2.5D capacitive touchscreen display with an HD resolution of 320 x 300 pixels. Moreover, it has Corning Gorilla glass material on top for added protection.

Moreover, the watch features a hand polished ceramic bezel that mirrors the captivating gloss, while the hardness of the ceramic keeps the watch safe from scratches. The watch uses stainless steel buttons for a convenient control.

You can even connect the watch to your smartwatch using the new Amazfit V2.0 or Mi-Fit app and sync and update all your activity data to your smartphone so that you can access it anywhere. Furthermore, it is 50m waterproof and can be worn even while swimming.

If the AMAZFIT Stratos Smart Sports Watch 2 has stirred your interest, you can head straight to this link to check out its full specification and avail the discount. Note that the promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing.

Honor Magic 2 sold out in China the same day it went on sale

Last month, Honor announced its latest smartphone — Honor Magic 2, the successor of the Honor Magic launched in 2016. The Magic 2 was much-awaited because of its sliding mechanism design that enables the company to offer a higher screen-to-body ratio.

After announcing the phone in October, the company made the device available for purchase in China on 6th November through online as well as offline channels. Now, the company has announced through Weibo that the phone has been sold out.

Honor Magic 2 Sale China

In the photos shared by the company, we can see that people lined up at Honor‘s Experience Stores across China to purchase the Honor Magic 2 smartphone. The company also announced that it achieved very good sales number for the online sale but haven’t revealed those numbers. Further, Honor added that it won the title of the best sales for a new product among 4,000 other products.

In terms of design, the phone has a sliding screen that adopts five tracks to offer sturdiness over time along with an unmatched sliding experience. The Honor Magic 2 flaunts a 6.39-inch Full HD AMOLED display bearing a screen resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels and 19.5:9 aspect ratio.

Under the hood, the device packs the company’s own Kirin 980 CPU ARM Cortex A76 octa-core processor, which is paired with Mali-G76 MP10 GPU. The handset packs either 6GB or 8GB RAM along with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage.

Honor Magic 2 featured 2

The smartphone boasts a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 16MP f/1.8 RGB sensor, a 24MP f/1.8 Monochrome sensor, and a 16MP super wide-angle f/2.2 sensor. The cameras are packed with tons of features such as scene recognition (more than 1500 scenes), HDR wide-angle photography with night mode, AIS, AR mode, studio level 3D portrait mode and even 480fps slow-motion recording.

On the front side, the phone comes equipped with a 16MP f/2.0 camera and two 2MP f/2.4 depth-sensing camera sensors. There’s also an IR 3D face unlock system, in case you don’t want to use the in-display fingerprint scanner.

The phone runs on Honor’s Magic UI 2.0 which is based on Android Pie operating system. The phone also comes with an advanced AI Assistant called YOYO that packs tons of features, including a feature similar to Google’s Duplex. It is fuelled by a 3,400mAh battery with 40W fast charging support that is dubbed as Magic Charge.

 

Read More: Honor V20 and mysterious Huawei VCE-AL00/TL00 phone spotted on CMIIT and 3C

 

In China, the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage version costs ¥3799 (approx. $545) while the 8GB RAM + 128 storage model retails for ¥4299 (approximately $616). The 8GB RAM + 256GB version is priced at ¥4799, which roughly converts to $688. The Honor Magic 2 comes in three colors —  Gradient Red, Gradient Blue, and Gradient Black.