ZTE’s Future Phones May Not Include Google Apps and Services

By

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Apr 18, 2018

On Monday, the U.S. Commerce Department ordered American companies to not to sell its components and software to ZTE for seven years. The reason behind imposing such a ban on ZTE is that it was found guilty of illegally selling U.S. good to countries like Iran and North Korea. Instead of reprimanding the staff and senior officials who were involved in the illegal conduct, ZTE had reportedly rewarded them with full bonuses and kept its practices secret to the U.S. authorities. Citing an unnamed source, Reuters has reported the recent ban could also prevent Google from licensing its Android OS to ZTE.

According to the U.S. order, ZTE won’t be able allowed to get involved in the exporting of any commodity, software or technology from the U.S. It also includes licenses of software. ZTE lawyers are in talks with Google officials. However, both the companies have declined to comment on the issue.

One should be aware of the fact that the ban can’t prevent ZTE from launching phones with Android since it is an open source OS. What may likely happen is ZTE may end up selling phones with modified version of Android without the Google Mobile Services (GMS) package. In other words, future ZTE phones with forked Android version may not include any of the apps and services by Google, including the Play Store.

ZTE smartphones feature components from major U.S. companies like Qualcomm and Dolby. The ban prevents these companies from supplying components to the Chinese firm. ZTE ships nearly 45 million phones and nearly half of them are powered by Qualcomm. Preventing it from launching phones with Android OS and GMS could be a bigger blow for the company.

(source)

Meizu 15 Camera Sample Surfaces Online, Confirmed To Feature Dual Camera Setup

By

Jeet

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Apr 18, 2018

Meizu has announced that it is holding a press conference on Wuzhen on April 22nd where the company will launch its Meizu 15 smartphone lineup which includes Meizu 15, 15 Plus and 15 Lite.

Now, ahead of the official launch, the China-based company has shared a photo on microblogging platform Weibo which is a camera sample of the Meizu 15 smartphone. The image shows Meizu 15 watermark on the bottom-left corner. The watermark also confirms that the device will come with a dual camera setup on the back.

The image shows off the camera’s night shooting capabilities and reveals that the camera also supports long exposure mode. The sample image shows that the camera captures a good amount of details and the image also appears sharp.

Earlier, the specifications of all three upcoming smartphone models were leaked online. Meizu 15 will come with a 5.46-inch AMOLED Full-HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels screen resolution. Under the hood, there will be an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, paired with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on the configuration which you choose to buy.

On the other hand, the Lite and the Plus variant of the smartphone will feature a 5.5-inch and 6-inch display respectively. The 15 Lite will pack 4GB RAM and will have two variant based on the internal storage — 32GB and 64GB, whereas the 15 Plus will come with 6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage.

Instead of the trendy notched display, the company has opted to offer a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio display with minimal bezels on the sides of the display. There’s also a circular home button below the display, which resembles home button on Apple iPhone.

While the smartphones are scheduled to get launched on April 22nd in China, the company has announced that it will start taking pre-orders for the Meizu 15 series from today, i.e. 18th April. Previously leaked pricing details suggest that the Lite variant will cost 1699 yuan (approx. $270) while the Meizu 15 and the Plus variant will be priced at 2499 yuan (~ $397) and 2999 yuan (approximately $477) respectively.

(Source)

Preorder Bluboo S3 Smartphone For Only $149.99 On Banggood; Discount Available On Black And Gold Color Version

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 18, 2018

The Bluboo S3 is expected to propel straight to skyrocketing popularity among smartphone enthusiasts after hitting the store shelves this month. On the downside, the S3 is highly unlikely to sweep budget-conscious buyers off their feet despite boasting an array of exciting specs and features.

Taking that into consideration, Banggood is giving buyers an opportunity to preorder the Bluboo S3 at a considerably lowered price. The site is giving 25% off on the recently announced smartphone’s original asking price of $199.99.

The discount is valid for black and gold color versions of the Bluboo S3 smartphone. The first 999 pieces will be up for grabs for only $149.99, while the other 1999 pieces will sell for $179.99.

The Bluboo S3 is a bargain under $150, given that it dons a big 6.0 inches IPS FHD+ G+FF display with a screen resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The phone is housed in a robust metal body that further enhances the display made by Sharp.

Furthermore, the S3 is powered by a MediaTek MT6750T, 64-bit processor and it uses an ARM Mali-T860 MP2, 650 MHz, 4-Cores GPU, under the hood. It offers 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 64GB of internal memory that can be expanded up to 256GB via SIM 2 slot.

On the photography front, the Bluboo S3 smartphone sports a 16-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual camera setup on the back and an 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies. Moreover, it comes with a hybrid dual-SIM (Nano+ Nano/microSD) slot with dual standby.

The phone draws its juices from a massive 8,500mAh Lithium-Polymer battery that delivers up to 900 hours of standby time and up to 60 hours of talk time. It runs on Android 8.1 Oreo operating system.

You can visit this link in order to check out the full specification and take advantage of the promotion before it ends on Friday, April 27.

Save $50 On Bluboo S3 Smartphone On Banggood Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Galaxy S10, S10 Plus Design Reportedly Finalized; 3D Camera, Under Display Fingerprint Scanner Tipped

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Apr 18, 2018

A fresh report on a South Korean publication has revealed that Samsung has finalized on the design of the upcoming Galaxy S10 flagship that may debut in the first quarter of 2019. Citing industry sources, the publication also claims that the 10^th anniversary Galaxy S series phones arriving next year will be equipped with under-display fingerprint scanner and 3D sensing camera like the iPhone X.

The report claims that the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus will be featuring 18.5:9 Infinity Display design like their predecessor. The South Korean company had introduced it first on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ phones that were launched last year. The upcoming Galaxy S series phones are expected to arrive with slightly larger display. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ respectively feature 5.77-inch and 6.22-inch display. The report reveals that the Galaxy S10 could sport a 5.8-inch display whereas the larger Galaxy S10+ may arrive with 6.3-inch display.

The Galaxy S10 and S10+ may feature 3D facial recognition feature. This function will be reportedly made possible through Samsung’s partnership with Mantis Vision, an Israeli startup and Woodgate, a local camera component manufacturer. The 3D facial identification feature on the Galaxy S10 duo could be as advanced as the iPhone X.

One of the major changes that could be seen in the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus is the removal of the physical fingerprint scanner as the company is speculated to embed it under the display. Samsung is reportedly working with Qualcomm and Synaptics to bring the under-display fingerprint scanner feature on the Galaxy S10 and S10+. The Taiwan-based Aegis Tech is expected to supply components for it.

A recent report had revealed that the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10+ could be fueled by Exynos 9820 chipset. The SoC is also expected to first debut on the Galaxy Note 9 this year. The Snapdragon 855 powered Galaxy S10 duo could be aimed towards market like the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China and the rest of the world may receive their Exynos 9820 variants.

The production of the Infinity Display for the Galaxy S10 duo is expected to begin by November this year. Since Samsung is known for announcing its Galaxy S series of phones around the Mobile World Congress (MWC), it is likely that the Galaxy S10 and S10+ may get unveiled around MWC 2019 in February next year.

(source)

Buy Tanix TX28 TV Box For Only $67.99 On GearBest; Flash Sale Slated To End Soon!

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 18, 2018

Equipped with a powerful RK3328 CPU and a Mali-450 MP2 graphics processing unit that concocts data in a flash, the Tanix TX28 TV box is capable of delivering unparalleled performance. Furthermore, the device runs on Android 7.1 Nougat operating system that helps it work unwaveringly.

On the downside, the TX28 doesn’t come cheap. The Tanix-branded TV box would usually set you back $74.44 on GearBest, but if you’re not willing to spend that kind of money, we have good news for you.

GearBest is currently selling the black-tinted Tanix TX28 TV box at a heavily discounted price of $67.99. This is a noteworthy 7% reduction in the device’s retail price. On top of that, you also get Alfawise DY – 1 TV Box Bracket Wall Mounting Holder for absolutely free.
The TX28 is crammed with an array of awe-inspiring features such as 100M ethernet network, Bluetooth 4.1, and dual-band WiFi that allows it to access the network at a relatively higher speed. Moreover, it offers 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 32GB of onboard storage.

You can even stay entertained with online movies, Facebook, Picasa, Youtube, Flicker and keep in touch with your friends and family through Skype chat. It comes with a remote control that draws its juices from two AAA batteries.

You can click here to avail the deal and check out other Tanix Exclusive Deals. There were only 47 pieces of the Tanix TX28 TV box left for the Flash Sale price at the time of writing. The promotion ends in 4 days.

Get 7% Off On Tanix TX28 TV Box On GearBest Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Checkout Teclast April Promotion On GeekBuying; Flash Deals And Other Offers

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 18, 2018

GeekBuying is offering a broad range of devices at a discounted price this month. As part of its Teclast April Promotion, GeekBuying has reduced the retail price of Teclast-branded tablets and laptops. The products have further been divided into multiple categories to facilitate the search process.

Flash Deals

This category features a slew of tablets including the Teclast F7 business laptop that can now be yours if you’re willing to shell out just $299.99. Note that the device would normally set you back $ 421.99 on GeekBuying.

The site is offering a noteworthy 29% off on the 6GB RAM/128GB ROM version of the Teclast F7. Alternatively, you can go for the 6GB RAM/64GB ROM version of the laptop which bears a 34% discount and is up for grabs for only $265.99.

The discount will be valid for just 4 days. It’s worth noting that the Teclast F7 laptop will go back to its retail price once the promotion concludes.

More Teclast

This section is brimming with Teclast-branded laptops and tablets that you can buy without burning a hole in your pocket. Lining with this, you can get 16% off on Teclast F6 Pro notebook which usually bears a price tag of $680.69 on GeekBuying.

The coveted F6 Pro notebook is available at a slashed price of just $569.99 for 4 days. Alternatively, you can go for the Teclast X10 3G phablet and get 38% discount on its original asking price of $129.66.

Thanks to the aforesaid discount, the F6 Pro is now up for grabs for only $79.99 On GeekBuying. Note that the promo was on the verge of wrapping up at the time of writing.

Other Offers

Apart from handing out big discounts on tablets and laptops, GeekBuying is selling a myriad of other devices at a massively lowered price. You can buy the GPD XD Plus Gamepad tablet PC for just $222, which is a 12% reduction in its retail price of $251.99.The above-mentioned discount will be valid for the black color version of the GPD XD Plus for 3 days. This category also includes phablets, laptops, and Xiaomi-branded notebooks.

You can head straight to this link to check out all the products and take advantage of the promotion before it comes to an end.

Get Big Discounts On Teclast-Branded Tablets And Laptops On GeekBuying Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Preorder Vernee X1 Smartphone For Just $199.99 On Banggood; Discount Valid For Limited Time Only!

By

Vinay Patel

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Apr 18, 2018

Vernee took the wraps off its long-awaited X1 smartphone earlier this month. The phone boasts an array of exciting specs and features that make it a bargain under $300.

On the downside, the Vernee X1 is unlikely to garner popularity among tech buffs that aren’t willing to shell out that kind of money on a smartphone. If you’ve been looking to get your hands on a high-end smartphone without emptying your pocket, look no further.

The Vernee X1 4G smartphone is currently up for preorder at a discounted price of just $199.99 for a limited period of time on Banggood. Note that the device would normally set you back $299.99 on the site.

This is a considerable 33% reduction in both black and blue color versions of the Vernee X1 smartphone. The aforesaid price will only be valid for 999 pieces, while 1999 other pieces will be up for preorder for $219.99.

The remaining pieces will come bearing a relatively steeper price tag of $249.99. In other words, the sooner you preorder the Vernee X1 smartphone on Banggood, the bigger discount you get.

The Vernee X1 is an irresistible smartphone, given that it sports a big 5.99-inch in-cell AUO display with a screen resolution of 1080 X 2160 pixels. The phone is housed in a metal and glass body, and it features an eye-catching tri-bezel-less design.

The X1 packs a powerful MT6763 Octa Core 2.0GHz processor along with an equally robust ARM Mali-G71-MP2; 700MHz graphics processing unit, under the hood. It offers 6GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage that can be expanded up to 128GB using SIM 2 slot.

The hybrid dual-SIM smartphone sports a 16-megapixel + 5-megapixels dual camera setup with dual-LED flash and AF on the back. A fingerprint scanner has been mounted on the backside of the device. Up front, it has a 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel dual cameras for selfies.

You can check out the full specification and avail the deal simply by following this link. Note that the Vernee X1 smartphone will go back to its retail price as soon as the promotion concludes.

Get 33% Off On Vernee X1 Smartphone On Banggood Check More Deals and Promotions From Other Shops

Xiaomi TV Speaker Unboxing: Simple Design But Solid Build

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 17, 2018

Xiaomi took its fans by surprised when it announced an amazing product that would be paired with its growing range of smart TVs. The Xiaomi TV Speaker, as it is called, comes with a simple design but its build has all the attributes of a quality product for which Xiaomi is known. Here are the unboxing pictures of the Mi TV Speaker culled from Chinese blog –Mydrivers.

The Xiaomi TV Speaker comes in a brown packaging box complete with its accessories which include a user manual which should be expected to be written in Chinese, a power adapter, an AV cable and two plastic anchors and screws for mounting the speaker on the wall for those who wish to do so. The Mi TV Speaker also comes with anti-slip pads at the bottom which makes it fit to be placed on a table or shelf without the fear of the device slipping off especially when the speaker is working.

The Mi TV Speaker has a white long stripe design which is simple. The front of the speaker is covered with a fabric material. The design also blends with the TV and all styles of home decor as a result of its simplistic outlook. The Mi TV Speaker has to holes at the back for mounting the device on the wall using the plastic anchors and screws provided in the box.

Also, at the back, the speaker houses a host of ports for connectivity. Aux-in (3.5mm audio), Line in (AV audio), SPDIF (SONY, PHILIPS digital audio interface), Optical (Optical fiber) and a port for the power adapter to be connected to the speaker. The power on/off button is also housed inside the small cutout which houses these ports.

While at the top of the Mi TV Speaker are the control buttons. There are seven buttons, two round and bigger buttons which are the volume control buttons are located at both extreme end. The other buttons which are all similar in their designs include the Bluetooth, Aux-in (3.5mm audio), Line in (AV audio), SPDIF (SONY, PHILIPS digital audio interface), Optical (Optical fiber) buttons. The buttons specify the different modes via which the device can be used.

In terms of operation, the Xiaomi TV Speaker is designed to be simple and practicable. In addition to being used for the Mi TV and other smart TVs and even older TV models, the Mi TV Speaker can be used while connected to a mobile phone, computer, projector and many other electronic devices.

On the internal aspect, the speaker comes with built-in 8 sound units and this includes two 20-ball dome tweeters, two 2.5-inch subwoofers and four passive radiators. The sound frequency response ranges between 50GHz – 2500GHz. The output is clear and the sound is natural.

This compact and sleek TV Speaker is already available on Xiaomi Mall and Mi Home. It comes priced at 399 Yuan ($63). We don’t have any idea as to when the gadget will be available to buy outside China but GearBest presently sells for a premium price. Meanwhile, find more unboxing pictures from below.

Meizu 15 Reservations To Kick Off on April 18 Ahead of Launch

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 17, 2018

Meizu has announced that its upcoming Meizu 15 smartphone will open for reservations on April 18 in China. The reservation will open simultaneously at 0.00 (UTC+8) on Meizu’s official online store, Meizu flagship store on Lynx, as well as its official flagship stores on Jingdong, Suning, and Gome. Recall that Meizu had hinted that the device would be officially launched on April 22.

The Meizu 15 isn’t a flagship model as it falls into the midrange category, going by the specs it packs. However, the device comes with a unique and spectacular design totally different from those of previous Meizu models. No, the Meizu 15 doesn’t attempt to keep up with the growing notch-y display trend. Instead, the device is bezel-less on the side while it has a minimal amount of bezels at the top and bottom. The device also features the traditional 16:9 aspect ratio and a circular home button that looks like the Apple iPhone home button. It is likely that the redesigned home button still retains the features of Meizu’s mBack button.

The sleek design of the Meizu 15 continues at the rear where the device packs a metal body with a brushed metal design. There is also a dual camera setup at the back arranged in a vertical direction. Meizu’s iconic ring flash is placed just under the rear cameras. According to previous leaks, Meizu 15 will come with a 5.46-inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD (1920 x 1080p) resolution. Under the hood, there will be an octa-core Snapdragon 660 SoC paired with either 4GB or 6GB of RAM depending on the configuration which you choose to buy. We don’t have any idea of the likely price tag but what we know is that the Meizu smartphone will go on sale on April 29.

(source)

Moto G6 Official Teaser Reveals Dual Rear Cameras And Front-Facing Fingerprint Sensor

By

Jeet

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Apr 17, 2018

Lenovo-owned Motorola has scheduled a launch event in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 19th April, where the company is expected to launch its next-generation Moto G-series smartphones which include Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play.

Now, ahead of the official launch, the company posted a teaser video on Twitter, which revealed some key features of the upcoming smartphone. The teaser video, which features either Moto G6 or Moto G6 Plus, confirms earlier reports that the phone will come with a dual camera setup at the back with dual-tone LED flash.

It also reveals that there’ll be a front-facing fingerprint sensor below the display. As the fingerprint sensor is placed on the front side, the phone won’t be coming with an edge-to-edge display. However, we are expecting thin bezels surrounding the display. Furthermore, the video also displays Motorola branding on the handset.

The video also shows a volume rocker placed next to a textured power button, which looks similar to the Alert Slider seen on OnePlus smartphones. However, the teaser does not hint at any of the specifications of the smartphone.

Previous leaks surrounding the Moto G6-series have revealed hardware details. The Moto G6 is expected to come with a 5.7-inch full-HD+ display with 1080 x 2160 pixels screen resolution and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of onboard storage.

The Moto G6 Plus, on the other side, is reported to have a 5.93-inch full-HD+ IPS display with 1080 x 2160 pixels resolution. It is expected to come equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of inbuilt storage.

As of the camera department, both smartphones are rumored to feature a dual camera setup consisting of a 16-megapixel primary camera sensor and an unknown secondary sensor. On the front side, there’ll be 5-megapixel camera sensor for taking selfies and video calling.

Both devices will come with the usual set of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE with VoLTE support, and GPS. The Moto G6 series is expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo operating system out of the box.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Launched In China For 5,999 Yuan ($954)

By

Michele Ingelido

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Apr 17, 2018

Just one day after the official announcement of its Premium sibling, the older Sony Xperia XZ2 has been launched in China. The launch event of the most powerful flagship from the Japanese hi-tech giant took place at 751 D-fashion design Square, Beijing. The handset is actually up for the first Chinese pre-sale and the official price tag for China is 5,999 Yuan, which roughly translates into €772/$954. It is not the most expensive price tag, but it is far from being affordable.

In the event, the company highlighted all the main specs of the flagship once again. Sony Xperia XZ2 features a double-glass sandwich design with a 3D curvature on the back to enhance the grip and a metal frame in the middle. The phone measures 153 x 72 x 11.1 mm, while its weight is 198 grams. Both the glasses are protected by Gorilla Glass 5 and the phone is also waterproof and dustproof thanks to the IP65/68 standard. The display is an 18:9 panel (even though bezels are not so narrow) with a 5.7-inch size and a Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 3840 pixels. It features TRILUMINOS, X-Reality and HDR technologies which make it one of the best display ever seen on a mobile phone.

The front panel is 2.5D-curved and even though there is a pair of thick bezels the fingerprint reader has been placed at the center of the backplate. On the hardware side, Sony Xperia XZ2 boasts an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The main camera is a single sensor with a 19 MP resolution, while the front camera has a resolution of 5 MP. The battery has a capacity of 3180 mAh and, according to tests, it has been optimized in an excellent way by the Japanese company. It supports Quick Charge 3.0 for fast charging. The operating system installed is, obviously, Android 8.0 Oreo.

(via)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro To Get Android 8.1 This Month With MIUI Global Update

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Apr 17, 2018

Despite its support for older devices, Xiaomi is usually slower than other smartphones manufacturers at bringing the latest Android versions on its devices. On the other hand, with its user interface MIUI, there isn’t much need for the latest Android iterations as it is full of additional features and improvements. Anyways, in the recent months, the company seems to be getting faster at releasing major updates, and this may happen even with Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, even though it is not a flagship device.

The mid-ranger focused on the quality-price ratio is still running a ROM based on Android Nougat. It is actually getting updated to MIUI Global Stable 9.2.7.0 based on Android 7.1.1. But a new firmware has just surfaced online, and it suggests that the phone may switch directly to Android 8.1 Oreo, which is actually the latest OS version. The leaked MIUI 9 Global Stable firmware carries the build number 9.5.6.0.OEIMIFA and according to the official MIUI update schedule it will be officially rolled out starting from this month via OTA. Currently, it is only available to download on MIUI website and it can be manually flashed on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro.

If you do not want to wait for the firmware to be rolled out via OTA, you can download the ZIP file with the firmware by heading to this link. The update to MIUI 9 Global Stable 9.5.6.0.OEIMIFA based on Android 8.1 also brings the support to Project Treble on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro. It is a project which tries to solve the fragmentation issue on Android by dividing the OS into two frameworks: one with the core OS and one with the company’s customization. This division will make it easier for the company to release fast updates. The new update also contains VoLTE support.

(via)

Honor MagicBook Reservation Now Live at Vmall, Image & Few Details Outed

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Apr 17, 2018

Huawei recently revealed that it would be launching a laptop under the Honor brand. The laptop which would be the first under the brand would be called Honor MagicBook and would be unveiled alongside the Honor 10 on April 19. The upcoming laptop is now up for reservation on Huawei’ Vmall.

The reservation began on April 16 and at present, over 54,000 persons have indicated interest in having the sleek laptop which required them to make a 100 Yuan deposit. Some of the details we could scoop from the reservation page are that the Honor MagicBook will have a standard version and a high-end edition. The laptop will also be available in two colour options, a light and dark variant. The high-end version will only come in the light-coloured body.

One spectacular feature of the Honor MagicBook as gathered from previous teasers is the bezel-less frame it adopts. The reservation page also contains a picture of the device. Although it is partly covered with a veil, we can still catch a glimpse of the entire design. The bezels only look very thin on the sides but the top and bottom bezels are still considerably large. The keyboard and trackpad look very much similar to those of Apple MacBook models. The device also has a web camera housed on the top bezel. The price is unfortunately not revealed as well as the date the device will ship. All other details will be known when the MagicBook is launched on April 19.

(source)

Rumor: Google May Acquire Nokia Health (Withings)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 17, 2018

Nokia (Not HMD Global) purchased Withings a few years ago and renamed it as Nokia Health. Following the acquisition, it has released a couple of products and rebranded others. They include the Nokia Go activity tracker, Nokia Steel HR smartwatch, and Nokia Body Cardio to name a few. Latest reports say Nokia wants to do away with the division.

According to 9to5Google, a memo leaked in February revealed the health division is struggling. Hence, the reason for wanting to sell it off. Google is said to be one of the bidders for the division.

It is reported that Nest is actually the one interested in purchasing Nokia Health. However, Nest announced earlier this year that it would no longer be a separate Alphabet Inc. subsidiary and will be merged back with Google. So, technically it is Google doing the bidding.

There are some other unnamed companies interested in the acquisition. Two of them are French companies and the other is a non-European company. Unfortunately, Google may have issues with the acquisition.

The French government wants it sold to a French company as the country is trying to develop AI. There is also the concern for data protection for Europeans. Google is aware of these developments and is also pulling its own strings. It has established a new AI research center in France and is increasing its workforce in the country.

Continue

Photo Showing The Front & Back View Of the Nubia Red Magic Gaming Phone Leaked

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Apr 17, 2018

It is no longer news that ZTE’s elite brand Nubia is prepping for the launch of its own gaming smartphone billed to happen on April 19. The Nubia gaming phone has already been revealed to go by the name Nubia Red Magic phone and already press invites to the launch have started rolling out. Just a couple of days to go, we have now spotted the real photo of the Nubia Red Magic phone showing both the front and back designs.

The Nubia Red Magic Gaming Phone is expected to come with a powerful hardware configuration and a unique design. The design is said to include cool lighting effects with a super run-class design. The device is also expected to come with four cooling fans to provide some level of cooling. The design will also include some cooling features such as air cooling, near black body, carbon nano-material and a three-dimensional wind tunnel section structure. Although the photo isn’t very clear, we can guess the presence of a dual camera setup on the device as well as a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

On the hardware corner, the Nubia gaming phone is expected to come with a Snapdragon 845 chipset backed by 8GB of RAM. This is just enough to ensure heavy games can be installed on the device. There are also going to be features that ensure high frame rate during gameplay.

(source)

Xiaomi Releases Video Ad For Mi 6X

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 17, 2018

We have a little over a week before the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 6X. A few days ago, official press renders of the phone surfaced online. It has now been followed by an official video ad.

The video advert confirms the phone will have vertically-placed dual cameras and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It also confirms the phone will come in black, red, gold, and blue color variants.

Another feature confirmed at the end of the video is the camera configuration. The Mi 6X will have 20MP cameras on both sides. One is the 20MP selfie camera and another is the 20MP main camera on the rear. The configuration of the secondary camera isn’t revealed in the video but it is said to be an 8MP sensor.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVOZu9KG1d8[/embedyt]

The Xiaomi Mi 6X will be announced on April 25 as a successor to the Mi 5X. It will have a 5.99” 2160 x 1080 display with an 18:9 aspect ratio.

With respect to its processor, there are conflicting reports. There are some who say the phone has a Snapdragon 626 processor. Some have also said it is an Helio P60 SoC, yet others again say it is a Snapdragon 660.

Continue

Meizu M3S, M3 Note And Others Get A New Flyme Update

By

Michele Ingelido

-

Apr 17, 2018

A new software update has just hit four Meizu phones. It is the stable update to Flyme 6.3.0.0G and the firmware is based on Android 7.0 Nougat. The update is actually rolling out via OTA on Meizu M3S, M3 Note, U10, and U20. An official changelog has been released as well, so we know every improvement of this update. First of all, it updates the Android security patch. With the new firmware, the system stability and the translations have been improved, as well as energy consumption, compatibility with third-party apps and the Contacts app.

Besides these improvements, there are several bug fixes in the new firmware for Meizu M3S, M3 Note, U10 and U20. They pertain to the camera app, icons, system sounds, settings, Bluetooth connectivity (while connected to a car) and time in the status bar. You can head to the official forum in order to check the full changelog and get the firmware download links for Meizu M3S, M3 Note, U10, and U20 which you can use to manually flash the update.

Meizu will soon celebrate its 15th anniversary by releasing a new trio of smartphones: Meizu 15, 15 Plus and 15 Lite. The Chinese company has just published an official teaser confirming that the line-up will be officially unveiled on April 22. The launch event will take place at the Wuzhen Internet International Conference Center in China, at 7:30 PM local time. The Lite version will be an affordable mid-ranger, the Plus variant will be the most powerful flagship of the company and the standard version will sit in the middle.

OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T Receive Android 8.1 Oreo Update, Brings April’s Security Patch Too

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 17, 2018

OnePlus has begun rolling out an update to the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T. The update which comes as OxygenOS 5.1 brings both devices to Android 8.1 Oreo.

OnePlus has also included April’s security patch in the update and full-screen gesture support for the OnePlus 5T. There are also a few new additions to the gaming mode and OnePlus launcher.

Android 8.1 brings new features like neural network API which provides apps with hardware acceleration for on-device machine learning. There is also support for Netflix’ picture-in-picture mode.

For OxygenOS features, the launcher can now auto-name folders based on categories. There are also category tags when using the app drawer search function. The latter feature is also available on the OnePlus 3T. OnePlus has also optimized the gaming mode. There is a new power saving mode and network boost for gaming apps.

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LG G7 ThinQ Render Surfaces Online Showing Off The Phone’s Design

By

Jeet

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Apr 17, 2018

LG is preparing to launch its new flagship smartphone, which is reportedly named LG G7 ThinQ. While we have already seen lots of leaks related to the phone’s specifications and features as well as images and renders, the new render of the LG G7 ThinQ by @evleaks gives the best view of the phone’s design.

There is a thick metal frame, which reminds us the company’s another model LG G6. The phone also has rounded corners around the phone’s frame. Further, the renders also confirm that the phone’s display will feature a notch on the display — just like most other flagship smartphones launching this year.

The notch consists of a typical sensor, a front-facing camera sensor, and a small earpiece. The smartphone is expected to come with a dual rear camera setup with two 16-megapixel sensors, which will be a step up from the 16-megapixel + 13-megapixel combo setup on the LG V30.

Based on the previous reports, the phone will also come with recording and playback support for HDR 10. The flagship phone is expected to sport an M+ LCD display with a panel said to be “twice as bright as the G6 and significantly more colorful.”

Under the hood, the LG G7 ThinQ is expected to be powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and have up to 6GB of RAM. The phone is believed to feature an extra physical button to trigger an AI-enabled voice assistant.

The South Korean company has already scheduled a launch event for LG G7 ThinQ on 2nd May in New York, followed by a domestic launch in Seoul on 3rd March. So, it’s just a matter of a couple of weeks before the company officially reveals the pricing and availability details.

(Source)

OPPO Patents In-Display Fingerprint Scanner

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Apr 17, 2018

OPPO is following the steps of its sister company Vivo. The latter was the first manufacturer to release a phone with an in-display fingerprint scanner but OPPO may be joining the ranks soon.

OPPO has received a patent approval from China’s State Intellectual Property Office for an in-display fingerprint scanner. Photos from the patent documents show that the fingerprint scanner doesn’t only unlock the device but can be used when the phone is unlocked too which may mean support for payments too.

The fingerprint recognition area is pretty small compared to the one on the Vivo Apex.

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