Cubot F1 Hands On : A Basic Smartwatch Under $65

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Dec 28, 2017

Around a week ago, Huawei’s chief executive of the consumer business, Yu Chengdong had confirmed that the Huawei Mate 10 will be available in the U.S. in the coming year through local carriers. He had also said that the company would be expanding its smartphone business in the U.S. in 2018. According to The Information, Huawei will be debuting the Mate 10 flagship phone through AT&T in February next year.

Huawei’s high-end smartphones have been available in the U.S. through retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. However, it would be first time for a US carrier to sell a flagship phone from Huawei. The publication has claimed that the Chinese manufacturer will be investing around $100 million to advertise its phones in the U.S. in 2018.

Yu has also said that some of the EMUI (Huawei’s Android skin) elements are “stupid” which indicates that the Mate 10 will be arriving in the U.S. with an enhanced EMUI skin. It appears that AT&T won’t be the only carrier that will be selling Huawei’s flagship phones in the U.S. as Bloomberg had recently reported that the Chinese manufacturer is in talks with Verizon to sell its smartphones in the country.

Huawei has said that it aims to become the number one smartphone brand in the world by 2021. For this to happen, Huawei will have to ship more smartphones than Samsung and Apple across the world. To gain popularity over its major rivals in the U.S., Huawei needs to sell more phones through some US carriers.

In the past, Google Nexus 6P – a Huawei phone had sold well in the stateside when it was made available through major carriers. Hence, Huawei phones are expected to receive good reception in the U.S. Before becoming available for buying through the U.S. carriers, the Mate 10 series phones are expected to get showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 which will held at Las Vegas in January.

Do you think that the Mate 10 series receive positive response in the U.S? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

Buy Original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier International Version For Just $139.99

LG And HERE Partners To Develop Next-Gen Telematics Solution For Autonomous Vehicles

By

Jeet

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Dec 28, 2017

After partnering with Qualcomm for developing an autonomous driving technology, South Korea-based LG has now announced a partnership with HERE Technologies. Both the companies will now work on a next-generation telematics solution for autonomous vehicles.

In this partnership, LG will use its advanced telematics technology with high-precision map data, while the location services will be powered by the HERE Open Location Platform.

Telematics deals with integrating telecommunications with informatics for providing services such as navigation and entertainment. It uses technologies such as GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi and DMB.

Lee Woo-jong, President of LG’s Vehicle Components Company, said,

We’re excited to present a new standard for autonomous mobile communication solutions in cooperation with HERE, which has unsurpassed cutting-edge automotive guidance technology. With partners like HERE, LG can continue to advance the next generation of connected car technologies to help prepare automakers for the self-driving era.

HERE is working on developing HD Live Map — a cloud-based map service that supports connected advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving solutions.

It’s the same system that LG intends to deploy in the new solution. This will enable automakers to identify all roads and surroundings such as lane markings, stop signs, crosswalks, speed signs, traffic lights, etc.

Moon Lee, VP of HERE Technologies, said:

We believe our Open Location Platform-powered services can play a critical role in next-generation telematics technology for autonomous vehicles, and we’re excited to be working with LG to make this a reality.

Using this next-gen telematics offering, cars will be able to use their ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance Services) to collect information on the road, along with information on cars surrounding them using the V2X (Vehicle to Everything platform).

The collected information will then be sent to the cloud servers. Them, LG and HERE’s telematics solution will analyze the collected data and send customized driving information to the car.

Buy Original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier International Version For Only $139.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 28, 2017

The international version of Original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier is currently up for grabs on GearBest at a discounted price of just $149.99. This is a considerable 25% reduction from its original asking price.

Capable of purifying your home in just a few minutes, Original Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier is ideal for daily use. It features multiple modes including a standard mode and super mode.

The standard mode offers purification capacity up to 330 cubic meters per hour covering purification area between 23.1 – 39.6 square meters. The super mode, on the other hand, boasts purification capacity up to 380 cubic meters per hour. This mode can cover up to 27.2 – 46.6 square meters area.

Aside from that, there are other modes such as high-speed mode, timing mode, sleeping mode, and an automatic mode to name a few. The device can remove the second-hand smoke, dust and it can also adsorb formaldehyde, a colorless, combustible, strong-smelling chemical which can cause adverse effects such as watery eyes, skin irritation, burning sensations in the eyes, throat, and nose.

If you want to get your hands on this smartphone-control smoke dust peculiar smell cleaner from Xiaomi, you must bear in mind that the promo is slated to end in 6 days. On top of that, there were only 106 pieces left at the time of writing.

You can apply coupon code ‘NEWARPGB’ at the time of checking out and buy Xiaomi Smart Mi Air Purifier for only $139.99. Head straight to this link before the promo comes to an end.

Huawei’s Honor View10 To Be Amazon Exclusive In India, Registrations Start Today

By

Jeet

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Dec 28, 2017

Earlier this month, Huawei launched its smartphone named Honor View10, which is a re-branded model of Honor V10 available in China. During the launch event, the company revealed that the phone will go on sale in India from January 8.

Now, the company has revealed that the registrations for the first sale in India will begin from 28th December, i.e. today. It seems that the Huawei’s Honor View10 will be exclusively available through Amazon India, just like the Honor 7X.

In India, the device will be available in two colour options — Navy Blue and Midnight Black. However, the company has not yet revealed the phone’s pricing.

The Honor View10 features a metal body design and comes with a 5.99-inch Full HD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio and a screen resolution of 2160 x 1440 pixels. Under the hood, the phone is powered by the company’s own Kirin 970 processor, which has a dedicated NPU and brings a ton of AI features.

The device packs 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage and comes with an option for storage expansion up to 256GB using a microSD card. The phone features dual rear cameras with f/1.8 aperture — one is a 16-megapixel RGB sensor while the other is a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor. On the front, there is a 13-megapixel selfie shooter.

Even though the Honor View10 comes with narrow bezels, there is a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. Connectivity options on the device include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi, GPS and USB-C port.

The phone runs Android 8.0 Oreo operating system with the company’s own EMUI 8.0 over the top. It also comes with facial recognition feature for authentication. It is fuelled by a 3,750mAh battery which comes with the support for fast charging through Huawei’s 5V/4.5A SuperCharge technology.

GeekBuying Is Offering A Massive 50% Off Flash Deals And New Arrivals

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 28, 2017

What better way to kick off 2018 than getting a massive 50% discount on electronic items such as smartphones, tablet PCs, wearables, computer peripherals, electronic gadgets, security system, watches, jewelry and lots more.

As part of its ‘Happy New Year 2018’ flash sales, GeekBuying is currently offering a 50% discount on a slew of newly-arrived electronic items. Let’s check out what the site has to offer.

50% Off Flash Deals

GeekBuying is offering Coolpad Torino S2 3505I-U00 5.0 Inch Smartphone, OnePlus 5T 6.01 Inch Smartphone, Haier XShuai ShuaiXiaoBao Robot Vacuum Cleaner and few other electronic items as part of its new year flash sale with 50% off top brands.

Today’s Recommendation

This segment is further divided into New Arrivals and Hot Deals categories. You can get your hands on ZTE Nubia Z17 Lite 5.5 Inch Smartphone, CUBOT F1 Smartwatch, T-bao Tbook X8 15.6 inch Laptops and a slew of other recently-arrived electronics for a considerable discount.

The Hot Deals category, on the other hand, comprises Xiaomi Mi A1 5.5 inch Smartphone, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 Smartphone, Makibes G07 IP68 Water Resistant Smart Sports Watch and lots more bearing a considerable reduction from their original asking price.

Local Warehouse

GeekBuying has 3 local warehouses based in Spain, Germany, and Italy. The Spain warehouse section offers various electronic items including Jumper EZbook 3SE 13.3″ Notebook Laptop, Coolpad Torino S2 3505I-U00 5.0 Inch Smartphone, GPD XD 5 Inch Android4.4 Gamepad at a discounted price. There are some other products available in this warehouse.

Similarly, Germany-based warehouse features amazing electronic items such as LeTV LeEco Le Max 2 X820 5.7inch 2K Screen Android 6.0 OS 4GB 32GB Smartphone, Jumper EZpad 6 Pro 11.6″ 2in1 Tablet, Makibes Talk T1 3G Smartwatch Phone and lots more for a large discount.

The Italy-based warehouse has Jumper EZpad 4S Pro 10.6 inch Tablet, Official International Version Xiaoyi YI 4K Action Camera and a myriad of other electronic items that you can buy at a discounted price.

Top Brands

GeekBuying’s ‘Happy New Year 2018’ sale features some of the top brands including ESCAM, LeEco, DJI, Jumper, Elephone, Amazfit, VORKE, Nubia, Tronsmart, and Xiaomi. The aforesaid brands are currently offering some of their select electronic items at a huge discounted price.

Those looking to take advantage of this discount must bear in mind that these items were available for only a couple of more days at the time of writing. In other words, the promo is slated to come to an end on Saturday, December 30.

If you don’t want to miss this opportunity to buy electronic items that usually carry a steep price tag at a discounted price, head straight to this link before the promo ends.

Get 50% Off Flash Deals And New Arrivals On GeekBuying

ZTE Joins The 18:9 Display Train With The Blade V9

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Dec 27, 2017

ZTE is one of the few manufacturers that we thought would wait till next year to “release” a full-screen smartphone. However, that won’t be the case as a new phone called the Blade V9 has appeared on the manufacturer’s Spanish website.

ZTE Blade V9 Design

The ZTE Blade V9 has a double sided glass design. The glass on the rear appears to be reflective like HTC’s U series. It will also likely get smudged easily.

The bezels on the front of the phone are smaller to accommodate the bigger screen. That change in design has prompted ZTE to move the fingerprint scanner to the back.

Overall, the V9 is a significant improvement over the V8 with respect to design. Not only does it look better, but it is thinner at 7.5mm even with a significantly larger battery and has nearly the same weight as the V8.

ZTE Blade V9 Specs

The Blade V9 has a 5.7” FHD+ Incell display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. It is powered by the Snapdragon 450 just like the Xiaomi Redmi 5. The phone comes in 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM variants with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of built-in storage respectively.

Irrespective of the variant you settle for, the phone has support for storage expansion via a hybrid dual SIM slot.

ZTE has equipped the Blade V9 with dual rear cameras. One is a 16MP autofocus sensor with an F/1.8 aperture and a 6P lens and the other is a 5MP fixed focus sensor.

Both sensors are positioned in the top left corner of the phone with a LED flash beside them and are slightly raised. Below the camera setup, sits a fingerprint scanner. For selfies, there is a 13MP camera.

The Blade V9 runs Android Oreo out of the box. It has a 3.5mm audio jack at the top and a micro USB port at the bottom to recharge it’s 3200mAh battery. The phone weighs 140g and measures 151.4 x 70.6 x 7.5 mm.

ZTE Blade V9 Price and Availability

The Blade V9 comes in gold and black color variants. There is no info on pricing and availability at the moment as the phone doesn’t seem to have been officially unveiled yet.

We presume it will be officially announced in January, most likely during CES like its predecessor, the Blade V8. We also expect to see its siblings the V9 Pro, V9 Lite, and V9 Mini get announced in the coming months.

[envira-gallery id=”164055″]

(Source, Via)

Next Gen. MediaTek Helio P-Series Processors Will Focus On AI & Facial Recognition

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 27, 2017

MediaTek revealed back in November that it was going to take a break from the top-end chipset segment in order to focus more on the mid-range market. The move wasn’t surprising given that its flagship chip of 2017, the Helio X30 failed to garner attention from the big players, except for Meizu, who used it inside the Pro 7 Plus flagship. But considering how even the Pro 7 Plus didn’t do so well, we can only assume that the overall sales of the new chipset has been disappointing this year.

Now, MediaTek’s Deputy General Manager, Kuan Chou Chen, revealed in the year end media meet that the company will launch two new P-series processors in 2018. The performance of the two chips is said to be impressive but the focus will be on advanced AI, edge computing, and computer vision technologies. This includes facial recognition tech, which has become the sought after feature in the past few months. Apart from facial recognition, advanced computer vision will enable better AR / VR and 3D sensing capabilities of the chip.

While it is said that the performance of the new Helio P-series family is going to be impressive, the executive failed to give out any specific details. An earlier rumour has said that the Helio P40 chip will feature two powerful Cortex A73 cores in an hexa-core architecture. Traditionally, MTK has been a big fan of large number of cores in its chipsets, so it remains to be seen if the company scales down to a hexa-core design for its new P-series processors.

At present, the most powerful chipset in the P-series family is the MediaTek Helio P30. The chip features eight Cortex A53 cores clocked at 2.3GHz with Mali-G71 MP2 GPU, 4G LTE WorldMode modem, VPU (Vision Processing Unit), and the company’s CorePilot 4.0 technology. However, we haven’t seen many P30 phones in the market, apart from the Gionee M7 which was announced back in September. Its slightly lower-end brother, the MediaTek Helio P23 is currently found on multiple OPPO smartphones, including the recently launched OPPO A79 and OPPO A75/75S.

(Source)

Nokia 1 Is Reportedly A Part Of Android Go Program, Expected To Launch In March

By

Jeet

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Dec 27, 2017

HMD Global is reportedly gearing up to launch a new entry-level smartphone. The phone, dubbed as Nokia 1, will reportedly be a part of Google’s Android Go program.

The Nokia 1 is expected to be available from the first half of 2018. According to the reports, it will be available in Russia from March 2018 and could be priced around 5,999 rubles (approximately $104).

Since the phone is said to be the part of Android Go program, which is aimed at emerging markets such as India, there is a strong possibility that the device will also be made available in India quickly after launch.

The Nokia 1 is expected to feature an HD IPS display with a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It is said to come with just 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage. Given that the device will be powered by the Android Go edition, and since Google has already announced watered down versions of its applications, the phone will provide decent performance.

There is no information available regarding the processor. But the company could opt for either Qualcomm or MediaTek as both companies have announced their support for Android Oreo (Go Edition).

At the time of announcing Android Go edition, Google said that it is meant for devices with 512MB to 1GB of RAM. Google has officially confirmed that there would be a lot of Android Oreo Go Edition phones coming in early 2018.

Next year, along with Nokia, China-based Huawei will also reportedly launch an Android Go phone. The smartphone from Huawei is said to come with specifications similar to the Nokia 1 and is expected to be priced around $85.

Currently, HMD Global’s cheapest smartphone is Nokia 2, which was launched in October. The phone, priced at around 99 Euros, features a 5-inch HD LTPS display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor. It packs 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal storage.

There is an 8-megapixel rear-facing autofocus camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Nokia has also included “Bothie” feature that enables users to use both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

It comes with IP52 certification, meaning that the device is splash proof. The Nokia 2 smartphone runs on the stock version of Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and comes with Google Assistant. The company has promised to soon update the device with Android 8.0 Oreo.

(Source)

Chinese Regulator Keeping A Close Watch On Memory Chip Prices After Recent Surge

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 27, 2017

Smartphone storage chip prices have soared quickly in the past 18 months and it is now being reported that Chinese regulator is keeping a close watch on the companies who are responsible for making these chips. The South Korean companies, Samsung, and HK Hynix are the top two manufacturers of memory chips for smartphones. It is said that China’s National Development and Reform Commision (NDRC) has spoken to Samsung regarding this price surge.

China Daily reports that NDRC could be looking at a possible price fixing strategy by these companies to maximize their profits. The supply of memory chips have been tight in the past few months, but their demand has been increasing, thanks to fast-growing companies like Xiaomi and OPPO. But the shortage of memory chips isn’t something that’s very recent. Remember how Huawei used a mix of eMMC and UFS memory chips in its P10 flagship because of a serious shortage of flash memory chips in the supply chain? So, Huawei’s case isn’t an isolated issue as other companies have also struggled to ensure timely supply of memory chips. For example, a few months back, Reuters published a report stating clients have started accepting long term 6 month supply contracts instead of the traditional quarterly or monthly ones to ensure they have enough supply of memory chips. Even the prices for these chips have risen rapidly in the past few months.

If the regulators come to a conclusion that this is a case of price fixing, it could impose penalties and fines on these companies. Given that foreign (South Korean) firms still hold the technology for making premium 3D NAND chips, it becomes necessary for the Chinese government to take care of the increasing prices to ensure this is not hurting the interest of the domestic smartphone manufacturers.

(Source)

Leaked User Agent Profile Suggests The Huawei P11 Is Coming With A 16:9 Aspect Ratio

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 27, 2017

The Huawei P11 and P20 get bandied around as the next P-series flagship that would be unveiled by Huawei, most likely at MWC 2018 in February 2018. We recently reported a disclosure from Israel which indicated that the next P-series model will be named P20. However, a fresh leak has emerged which rekindles rumours that the next-gen P-series model will be called P11.

The leaked details come in form the UAProf (User Agent Profile) data, the Huawei P11 will sport a Full HD display instead of the Full HD+ which has been the centre point of recent flagships and other full-screen models. This piece of detail is, however, not likely to be correct. Although the UAProf data is genuine, Huawei may have altered the correct figure for the aspect ratio in order to keep that element of surprise going. The company employed the same strategy on the Mate 10 Pro whose User Agent Profile data revealed it would have a Full HD (1080p) display but in the end, the device launched with an 18:9 Full HD+ screen.

The Huawei P11 will take over the reins from the P10 and P10Plus and as stated, there are talks of the device being named P20. The device is expected to come with thinner bezels than the P10. The device is expected to be powered by Huawei’s latest Kirin 970 AI chip and would run the latest EMUI 8.0 which is based on Android 8 Oreo. We expect more details of the next-gen P-series model to emerge as MWC 2018 approaches.

Photo Of Galaxy S9 Internal Components Show Space For Audio Jack

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Dec 27, 2017

This year we saw more manufacturers kill the audio jack including newcomers Essential and Razer. However, big players like LG and Samsung have retained this old but useful port. New reports suggest that Samsung will keep the jack in its next flagship, the Galaxy S9.

A photo said to be of the internal components of the Galaxy S9 has surfaced online and shows the spot where the audio jack will be located. While there are rumors that the Galaxy S9 will ditch the audio jack, this is one proof against it. CAD images have also shown that the port will remain.

Earlier on, there was a report that the Galaxy S9 (and Galaxy S9+) will come with a free pair of AKG earphones but a Bluetooth version. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ both have AKG earphones in their boxes but are wired. So you can’t blame people if they believe the S9 won’t have an audio jack since it will come with Bluetooth earbuds.

Huawei P11 Lite (or P20 Lite) Mockups Appear Online

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Dec 27, 2017

Huawei’s 2018 roadmap leaked and revealed that the next-gen P series smartphones will arrive in Q2 2018 though will likely be announced in Q1. One of them is the Huawei P11 Lite (or P20 Lite) and mockups courtesy of Amazon Japan have appeared online.

There are reports that Huawei’s P series will have a full-screen display with a notch just like the Essential PH-1 or iPhone X. Although, no one knows what the notch will look like, one of the images shows the P11 Lite with a notch like the iPhone X.

Housed within the cut-out is the earpiece flanked on both sides by a bunch of sensors. There are two image with the iPhone X design. One is a gold variant with thin white bezels surrounding the screen and the other is gray with black bezels. Both images advertise screen protectors for the phone.

The other two mockups advertise cases for the phone but have a different design. Rather than sport very thin bezels and a notch in the display, they look more like the current full-screen Huawei smartphones. The top bezel is home to the front facing camera, sensors and earpiece while the lower bezel has the Huawei branding.

The back reveals a dual camera design in a vertical arrangement with a circular fingerprint scanner below the setup and a LED flash above. The LED flash is positioned within the antenna line just like the Honor V9/Honor 8 Pro.

HTC to Launch Fewer Smartphones in 2018 and Focus More on Advertising

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Dec 27, 2017

HTC has launched seven smartphones in this year, namely HTC One X10, Desire 10 Compact, U Ultra, U Play, U11, U11 Life, and U11+. Fresh information coming from industry sources reveal that HTC will be launching fewer smartphones in 2018.

The Taiwanese company is known for making amazing smartphones, but many of its good phones have failed to achieve popularity because of its poor marketing practices. In 2018, the company will be focusing more on R&D and marketing strategies.

HTC has recently released the U11+ flagship phone. In order to increase its prowess in the mid-range segment, the company is likely to release a toned-down version of the U11+. This smartphone is expected to debut in January. The Taiwanese firm may use the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 platform to unleash it.

It could be the rumored Ocean Harmony phone that has recently received 3C certification in China. It is expected to arrive in two chipset models. The Snapdragon 652 model may include 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of native storage whereas the Snapdragon 660 variant is rumored to house 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. It is speculated to arrive with 5.99-inch Super-LCD 5 display that will support 18:9 aspect ratio.

As far as its flagship phone is concerned, the alleged HTC U12 is rumored to feature a 4K display, Snapdragon 845 chipset and dual rear cameras. It is unclear when the company will be debuting the U12 phone. However, it is speculated that the company may launch it February or early March.

(source|via)

Chinese Tech Stocks Take A Dip As Apple Announces 40% Reduction in iPhone X Orders

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Dec 27, 2017

The importance of Apple in China cannot be underestimated. The American company assembles its devices in the Asian country via its long-term partner Foxconn and also sources for parts from several suppliers. So when Apple makes a decision, everyone involved with Apple gets hit….and the stock market too. Take for example Apple’s decision to cut its iPhone X orders by 40%.

The announcement was reported by a Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News, saying Apple has cut its iPhone X orders from 50 million to 30 million. Apple suppliers Lens Technology and General Interface Solution Holding Ltd. watched their stocks dip by 8% and 8.4% respectively. Foxconn has also been reported to have halted its hiring process.

#Apple suppliers are trading lower after #Taiwan media reported that Apple cut forecast of #iPhone X sales in Q1 2018 to 30mln units from prev 50mln units. pic.twitter.com/6TrhcHuHAP

— YUAN TALKS (@YuanTalks) December 25, 2017

Above is a tweeted image of the stocks of multiple Apple suppliers whose stocks got hit following the publication.

Analysts have cut their iPhone X shipment forecasts for Q1 2018 due to the low demand during the holiday period. Some of them like Sinolink Securities Co. analyst Zhang Bien, and New York-based JL Warren Capital LLC have said shipments in Q1 2018 will drop by 10 million and 5 million respectively compared to Q4 2017.

The drop in orders is said to be as a result of “the iPhone X’s high price point and a lack of interesting innovations,” according to JL Warren.

OnePlus 5T Soft Gold Variant Could be Launching Soon

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Dec 27, 2017

Fresh photos of a OnePlus 5T smartphone that features white colored bezels have surfaced. It is speculated that it could be the upcoming Soft Gold variant of the smartphone.

Earlier in this year, OnePlus had launched the OnePlus 5 in Midnight Black color only. Two months later, the company had introduced the Soft Gold variant of the phone. Hence, it is speculated that the Chinese firm may use the same strategy for the OnePlus 5T. The leaked images shown below only show the frontside of the phone, but the color of the back panel is not known. Since it is speculated to be a Soft Gold model, it may feature a golden rear.

The Midnight Black colored OP5T flagship phone was launched in November. Soon after its launch, its Lava Red variant was introduced exclusively in China. The company is also selling the Star Wars Limited Edition variant of the OnePlus 5T that features a black front and white rear in India and in some European regions. Apart from the Midnight Black of the OP5T, none of the other color variants are widely available across the world.

It is speculated that the company will soon launch the Soft Gold model of the OnePlus 5T that will be widely across the world. It is rumored to feature 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. As of this writing, there is no information on when the company will be unleashing the OnePlus 5T in Soft Gold option.

Latest MIUI 9 Development ROM Brings Smart Gestures To Xiaomi Full-Screen Models

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 27, 2017

Xiaomi continues to add more features to its latest MIUI 9 ROM, the latest being Smart Gesture. MIUI 9 Developer ROM has now gotten a new update that brings onboard full-screen smart gestures which could completely replace onscreen navigation buttons or serve as an alternative form of navigation. The new update has been pushed to the present crop of Xiaomi full-screen models including the Mi Mix, Mi Mix 2, and the recently launched Redmi 5, and Redmi 5 Plus running MIUI 9 Development version.

Smart Gestures is not a new feature as it is already available on the Android operating system but this is the first time it is available to Xiaomi models running its custom ROM based on the Android kernel. Smart Gestures are made available as a result of the touchscreen display available on smartphones. The smart touchscreen can identify the palm and finger contact. The user and the system become integrated as a result of the feature, making the system more intuitive, resulting in faster response times and increased productivity.

In the case of MIUI 9, the update that brings the Smart Gesture is version 7.12.25 and after the upgrade, users will need to go to navigation settings and switch from full-screen to full-screen gestures. Basically, there are three operational methods available. To go back to home screen (desktop), you just slide up from the bottom of the screen. This is especially useful since there is no physical home button on the full-screen models. Also, if you slide a little from the bottom edge of the screen and then pause, it reveals your recently opened or running apps. Finally, to return to the previous screen, you just slide from the left or right edge of the screen.We believe that more Smart Gestures features would be made available as time goes on.

HP Envy x2 Snapdragon 835 Powered Always Connected PC Gets FCC Certification

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Dec 27, 2017

Earlier in this month, Qualcomm had unveiled the Snapdragon 845 mobile platform through the Snapdragon Tech Summit event. During the same event, the ASUS NovaGo and HP Envy x2 always connected PCs that are powered by Snapdragon 835 were also showcased. These devices are expected to hit the market by the first quarter of 2018. The HP Envy x2 has now received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which indicates its arrival is drawing near.

On Dec. 15, the HP Envy x2 that is reportedly codenamed as TPN-Q198 had received FCC approval. The device has also acquired certification from GSM Global Certification Forum that reveals the numerous network bands that will be supported by the upcoming HP laptop. The device that is powered by Snapdragon 835 that can last for up to 20 hours by charging it once to the full. It will be able to run full version of Windows 10 S on ARM architecture.

The thickness of the HP Envy x2 is only 6.9mm and its weight is 698 grams only. The SD 835 chip is supported by 8 GB of RAM and it features an internal storage of 256 GB. It promises gigabit LTE experience as it is equipped with Snapdragon X16 LTE modem.

The Envy x2 features a 12-inch Full HD display that is shielded by Gorilla Glass 4. Apart from a user-friendly keyboard, it is also equipped with a stylus. It will be able to deliver immersive audio experience as it will be featuring Bang and Olufsen speakers. Other features of the device include USB-C port, SIM card slot, 13-megapixel rear-mounted camera and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The exact release date of the HP Envy x2 is not known, but its shipments are expected to start in spring. Recent reports have revealed that Snapdragon 845 powered laptops may also hit the market by Q3 2018. However, rumors suggest before launching SD845 driven always connected PCs, Microsoft and Qualcomm will be checking the market response through the first-generation Snapdragon 835 notebooks.

(source: 1, 2|via)

Sony Xperia A Edge Bezel-less Smartphone Leaks

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Dec 27, 2017

Sony is one of the few manufacturers that haven’t jumped on the bezel-less train yet. That is expected to change come 2018. Last week, we saw an image of a bezel-less phone said to be the Xperia XZ2. Today, it has been followed by a new set of images of another phone called the Xperia A Edge.

The Xperia A Edge has a similar tri-bezel-less design to the Xperia XZ2 but has curved edges instead of the right-angle corners Sony phones are known for.

The only bezel on the phone is at the top where it houses the front facing camera, sensors, and earpiece but it’s really small compared to what we have seen from other manufacturers. The rest of the display is totally bezel-less.

The phone uses on-screen buttons and if you are familiar with Sony’s design, you should already know where the fingerprint scanner is located. For those who don’t, it is beneath the power button on the side.

The Xperia A Edge has a metal back graced by dual cameras positioned at the top left corner. Other than the cameras, the only other thing on the back is the Sony logo in the middle.

The last image shows the phone in a variety of colors which include white, blue, black and brown. So we should probably expect it to launch in five colors (including gray).