Mysterious Meizu Phone with Full Screen Design Appears in Leaked Photo

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Oct 31, 2017

Various Chinese smartphone manufacturers have launched their full screen design phones. However, there are couple of well-known brands like OnePlus and Meizu that are yet to unveil their full screen smartphones. OnePlus 5T is speculated to arrive later in November with full screen design. Xiaomi is expected to announce budget-friendly full screen Redmi 5 Plus phone in the near future. A leaked photo of an unidentified Meizu phone suggests that the company is also prepping on releasing a smartphone with full screen design.

The appearance of the mysterious Meizu phone in the above photo is similar to Vivo X20. The phone seems to be sporting an 18:9 aspect ratio display. However, it does not appear to offer a high screen-to-body ratio. The side bezels are not very slim. The upper bezel houses a selfie snapper and a sensor whereas the bottom bezel lacks Meizu’s signature mBack Home button. The rear side of the phone could be featuring a fingerprint reader.

There is no information available on the specifications of the mysterious Meizu phone. However, the leakster claims that the phone will be driven by a MediaTek chipset. The design of the phone of the suggests that it may not feature high-end specs. He had also stated that the Chinese manufacturer will be soon holding a launch event to unveil this phone.

The above phone appears quite different from the rumored mblu ZERO bezel-less phone from Meizu that had appeared in September. In the same month, Li Nan who is the VP of Meizu’s Blue Charm lineup had said in an interview that a Blue Charm phone with full screen design will be unveil next year. He had added that the phone would be carrying a price tag of 3,000 Yuan (~$452).

(source)

Meizu and MediaTek Partner on Facial Recognition Technology

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 31, 2017

Meizu’s head of global marketing, Ard Boudeling took to Twitter to give us a hint about what the company is working on.

According to the tweet, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is working together with Taiwan’s MediaTek on the “best facial recognition technology on smartphones.” It is no surprise that both companies have formed a partnership as one can almost say Meizu is MediaTek’s best buddy in the smartphone industry. The Pro 7 Plus is proof of this friendship as it is the only phone in the market powered by the Helio X30.

Facial recognition is the new rave in the smartphone industry. It is an alternative biometric feature to fingerprint scanning and manufacturers are working on making it equally secure and fast. Apple already debuted its own facial recognition technology called Face ID on the new iPhone X and we expect more manufacturers will join the train next year.

We're working together with @MediaTek to create the best facial recognition technology on smartphones. We hope to show you in 2018. pic.twitter.com/lYnFXMtblL

— Ard Boudeling (@ArdCB) October 30, 2017

The tweet also says that the technology will be shown to the public in 2018. While there is no mention of the exact quarter, we presume the technology will show up first on a flagship device. Maybe the Meizu Pro 8.

Continue

HTC U11 Life’s Entire Specifications Gets Listed on T-Mobile’s Site Before Launch

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

The HTC U11 Life that is scheduled to get unveiled on Nov. 2 was officially listed on T-Mobile’s site accidently. The carrier has managed to remove the listing of the phone. However, a mirror link has all the details of the official listing of U11 Life.

The HTC U11 Life is a mid-range phone from the company is driven by Snapdragon 630 chipset that is assisted by 3 GB of RAM. It is packed with a 2,600mAh battery that produces a standby time of 672 hours and can deliver a usage time of 13 to 17 hours. It will be arriving with a 5.2-inch display that will carry support for full HD resolution.

The Taiwanese company has included 32 GB of internal storage on this phone. For more storage, users can add a microSD card. The handset is running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat with HTC Sense skin place over it. The device will feature both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

When it comes to connectivity, the HTC U11 Life is enabled with features like 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ab/g/n, NFC, GPS, USB-C 2.0 and Bluetooth 5.0. For photography, it is equipped with a 16-megapixel rear camera and the frontside of the phone is also flanked with a 16-megapixel sensor.

The HTC U11 Life will be arriving with a IP67 certified water and dust resistant body. The squeezable frame feature that is found on the U11 flagship will be also available on the U11 Life phone. With no 3.5mm audio jack on the U11 Life, the Taiwanese manufacturer will be providing USonic earphones along with the phone.

Recent reports have revealed that the HTC U11 Life will be also available in Android One version. This model is speculated as the first Android One to come preloaded with Android 8.0 Oreo. As far as the cost of U11 Life is concerned, it is expected to be priced around 369 euros (~$429). Apart from the U11 Life mid-range phone, HTC is also expected to announce the U11 Plus flagship on Nov. 2.

(source|via)

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Real Photos Leaked, Re-affirms Full-Screen Design

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 31, 2017

November 11 is a popular day for e-commerce in China and it is known as Double 11 (11.11) and ahead of the deal day, several mobile phone manufacturers are quietly preparing for one last push to grab some of the market shares. Xiaomi is frantically preparing for the day, with the realization that a good outing during 11.11 would see it hit the 100 million mark in terms of shipment this year. The tech company dubbed “Apple of China” is preparing to release up to three models including the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 Plus. Both models have made the rounds in leaks and rumours lately and we still keep getting more. Right now, a couple of real-life photos said to be those of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus have appeared online.

The Redmi 5 Plus may likely be the first model Xiaomi will release ahead of the double 11 sales promotion. The device promises to be a hot selling one considering the unique design. For the first time, Xiaomi is bringing the full-screen design to the budget segment. The Redmi 5 Plus features an 18: 9 aspect ratio with ultra-thin bezels at all four sides. There is no capacitive home button onboard due to the high screen-to-body ratio.

The rear design looks very much similar to Xiaomi’s first dual camera smartphone – the Redmi Pro released last year. It packs a dual camera setup aligned vertically. Just under the cameras lie the LED flash and thereafter you get the fingerprint sensor. The Redmi 5 Plus will likely be bigger in size. It is tipped as packing a 5.99-inch display with 2160 x 1080p (FHD+) resolution which effectively means it will have an 18:9 aspect ratio.

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is also expected to pack a Snapdragon 625 chip but there are talks of a Snapdragon 450 onboard. The device will come in two versions with 3GB RAM and 4GB RM respectively. The dual cameras are said to be a 12MP+ 5MP combination. The Redmi 5 Plus lower version may be the one with a D 450 chip and it may come with a 720p resolution but 18:9 aspect ratio (HD+). The lower version may likely come as cheap as 799 Yuan. These are just speculation, though, the actual details would be outed when Xiaomi takes the wrap off the device.

(source)

2018 iPhones, iPads May Feature Intel, MediaTek Modem Chips

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

Qualcomm and Apple have been battling out over patent royalties since couple of years. Recent reports have revealed that the U.S.-based chipmaker wants to ban the sales of iPhones in China. The growing bitterness between the two companies has probably caused Apple to rely less on Qualcomm. A fresh report reveals that the 2018 iPhones and iPads may not feature Qualcomm modem chips. Instead, the Cupertino company is expected to use modem chips by Intel and MediaTek on its iPhones and iPads that will be released next year.

The probable reason why Apple will be using intel and MediaTek modem chips is that Qualcomm is not providing some vital software that is need for testing its chips on prototypes of iPhones and iPads. Qualcomm has reportedly stopped sharing the software after the Cupertino company filed a legal suit against it in January for unfairly charging huge patent royalties. The report about using Intel and MediaTek modem chips for future iPhones and iPads have surfaced after Qualcomm had recently claimed that the modem that could be present in the upcoming iPhone has been successfully tested and released to Apple.

Until 2016, Apple has been exclusively using modem chips by Qualcomm on its iPhones. The CDMA variants of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that feature Snapdragon X12 modem was found to be faster than the Intel XMM 360 modem present inside the GSM variants of these phones. The performance of Qualcomm’s modem was so good that the Cupertino company had to throttle down its speed to keep parity between the variants of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Qualcomm owns 50 percent of the market when it comes to modem chips for smartphones. MediaTek with 25 percent and Intel with 6 percent are the other major brands that manufacture modem chips for smartphones. In 2016, the U.S.-based chip maker had sold nearly $3.2 billion of modem chips to Apple. Since Apple is now also using Intel’s modem as well, that figure is expected to decline to $2.1 billion.

When it comes to manufacturing chips to support the forthcoming 5G standard, Qualcomm is way ahead of its competitors. Moreover, rumors have revealed that Apple will launch its first 5G enabled iPhone in 2019. This could be the reason why Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf had claimed during a recent interview that the Qualcomm and Apple would settle their disputes in the near future.

(source|via)

Nokia 2 Launched With 5-Inch Display And Snapdragon 212 Processor

By

Jeet

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Oct 31, 2017

After series of leaks, HMD Global has today launched its latest entry-level smartphone, Nokia 2, at a press event in India.

Nokia 2 is the cheapest smartphone from the company so far. It comes with a 6,000 series aluminium frame and a polycarbonate body at the back.

The Nokia 2 features a 5-inch HD LTPS display with a screen resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and 16:9 aspect ratio. There is a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top for protection.

Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 212 processor, making it the first smartphone to run on Snapdragon 212. The processor is coupled with Adreno 304 GPU.

As of the camera department, it comes with an 8-megapixel rear facing autofocus camera with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. Nokia has also included “Bothie” feature that allows users to use both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

However, the disappointing thing about the smartphone is its memory specs. It packs just 1GB of RAM and and only 8GB of internal storage. There is a microSD card slot which allows to expand storage upto 128GB.

The device is fuelled by a big 4,100mAh battery, which the company promises can provide two days of battery life on a single charge. It comes with IP52 certifications, meaning that the smartphone is splash proof.

Connectivity features on the device include Dual SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, and GPS / GLONASS.

Nokia 2 runs on the stock version of Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box, and comes with Google Assistant. The company says that this is the first smartphone in this price segment to feature Google Assistant. Nokia has also promised to update the device with Android 8.0 Oreo “shortly”.

The Nokia 2 has been priced at 99 Euros (~ $115). It will be available in three colour variants — Copper Black, Pure Black and White, and will go on sale from mid-November.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note FE Smartphone Is Now Available In Philippines

By

Jeet

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Oct 31, 2017

After launching the smartphone in South Korea and Malaysia, Samsung has now launched the Galaxy Note FE smartphone in the Philippines. For the uninitiated, the Galaxy Note Fan Edition (FE) is the recycled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.

It appears that the device is MemoXpress exclusive in the Philippines and will only be available for a limited time. While the phone has not yet been listed on the store’s website, it was revealed through a Facebook post.

The Samsung Galaxy Note FE retains most of the specifications of the original Galaxy Note 7. However, the company has replaced the battery on the handset with a smaller 3,200mAh battery compared to the 3,500mAh battery on Note 7.

The Galaxy Note FE comes with a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED QHD display with a screen resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. It is driven by the company’s own Exynos 8890 octa-core processor, coupled with Mali-T880 MP12 graphics. It packs 4GB of RAM and an internal storage capacity of 64GB.

It has an IP68 certified chassis, and the smartphone comes with additional security features like a front-mounted fingerprint scanner and an iris scanner. Samsung has made a few other minor changes to the handset, including Bixby voice assistant and a dedicated Bixby button.

The device is available in a range of different color options — Black Onyx, Blue Coral, Gold Platinum and Silver Titanium. In the Philippines, the Galaxy Note Fan Edition is reportedly priced at PHO 32,990 (~ $640).

As reported earlier, Samsung has no plans to launch the Galaxy Note FE outside of Asia. Even in the regions where it has launched the Galaxy Note FE smartphone, the company is selling the handsets in limited quantities.

Samsung discontinued the Galaxy Note 7 smartphone that was launched last year after a manufacturing defect was found in the smartphone’s battery that generated excessive heat in the device, with a few devices catching fire.

(Source)

LG G7 Concept Design Showcases its Brilliant Appearance

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

LG G6 is the first phone of this year to arrive with 18:9 aspect ratio screen. The LG G7 that is speculated to launch in Q1 2018 is expected to arrive with several improvements in terms of design and specs over the LG G6. A YouTube channel named Concept Creator has uploaded a video that showcases the concept design of the LG G7. Its final design will not be same as the concept model as it is a product of imagination.

The LG G7 concept model seems to be sporting a textured glass panel on its backside. The device is shown in colors like silver, light blue and red and it looks like the phone features a metallic frame. Like the G6, the concept design of LG G7 shows that it has a horizontally arranged dual rear cameras on the back panel.

Below the dual camera setup is a fingerprint scanner. The bottom side of the phone features a USB-C port. There is a 3.5mm audio jack at the topside of the phone. The G7 branding can be seen at the bottom portion of the rear panel. The left edge of the G7 concept model has the volume buttons and its right side features the Power key.

The frontside of the LG G7 concept model shows that it has a display that offers a higher screen-to-body ratio than the G6. Even though there is no mentioning of the specifications of the LG G7 in the video by Concept Creator, it can be assumed that the South Korean company will retain 18:9 aspect ratio on the screen of the phone. The side bezels are almost non-existent, but there are thin bezels at the top and bottom sides of the display. The LG G7 concept device seems to be equipped with dual front speakers.

Early rumors have claimed that the LG G7 would be driven by Snapdragon 845 chipset and it would be introduced ahead of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. The rumor mill has revealed that the LG G7 may get unveiled as early as January 2018. The company is also expected to introduce its own AI assistant on the LG G7 phone.

(source)

Nokia 8 Teardown – Not Easy to Repair, But Display, Battery & Rear Cameras Can Be Replaced

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

At the beginning of this month, Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything had performed some durability tests on the Nokia 8 flagship phone which confirmed that it has a sturdy build. Nelson has added another video to his YouTube channel to reveal whether it is easy to repair the device or not.

In the above video, the display of the phone is separated from its chassis after softening the adhesive present between them by using some heat. There are two separate ribbon cables that connect the display panel to the body of the phone. Once those ribbon cables are detached, the display can be removed from the device.

For a novice, it may not be easy to remove the display from the chassis of Nokia 8 as there is a risk of cracking the screen. However, an expert will find it easy to replace the screen of Nokia 8.

There are 19 screws of different sizes holding the mid-plate to the frame of the phone. The 3,090mAh battery is present on the backside of the mid-plate. A copper heat pipe can be found sitting just above the battery to control the internal temperature of the phone. The thermal paste is not present on the heat pipe but to the graphite panel next to it. This mean the Snapdragon 835 SoC will transfer its heat to the graphite panel of the phone and then to the copper heat pipe. This arrangement may seem odd, but it does manage to control Nokia 8’s temperature pretty well.

Nelson’s Nokia 8 teardown also reveals that the dual camera system sitting on the backside of the phone can be replaced. Also, the charging port of the phone can be replaced after disconnecting it from the motherboard, but it is accessible only after detaching screen and mid-plate. Even though Nokia 8’s components like screen and battery can be replaced, it is not very easy to repair it.

(source)

ZTE Axon M Foldable Phone Pre-orders to Begin on November 1

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

The ZTE Axon M foldable smartphone was unveiled earlier in this month. In the U.S., the smartphone was expected to be available through AT&T. Fresh information suggests that the pre-orders of the Axon M will begin from Nov. 1 and it will be available at the AT&T stores from Nov. 17.

The ZTE Axon M can be purchased with an outright pricing of $725 in the U.S. Customers who are interested in availing it through installment payments can opt for AT&T Next scheme to pay $24.17 each month for a period of 30 months. The smartphone is expected to be available in other markets like China, Europe and Japan by Q1 2018.

Even though the Axon M is known as a foldable phone, it does not feature a flexible display. The smartphone houses a pair of same-sized displays that are attached to each other by means of a hinge. It offers various kinds of screen modes through which users can run two different apps on each display or both the screens can be used simultaneously to enjoy a larger view of an app.

The Axon M has a pair of 5.2-inch screens that carry support for full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a single camera of 20-megapixel that is equipped with features like image stabilization, PDAF and 4K video recording.

The Snapdragon 821 chipset is present under the hood of Axon M. The SoC is coupled with 4 GB of RAM. It has an internal storage of 64 GB. The handset is preinstalled with Android 7.1.2 Nougat OS and it has a 3,180mAh battery to keep the lights on.

Do you like the ZTE Axon M? Are you waiting for its arrival in your country? Let us know your thoughts by adding your comments.

(source|via)

This Could be a Portrait Shot Snapped Using OnePlus 5T

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 31, 2017

OnePlus is known for teasing the features of its forthcoming phone few weeks before its official launch. OnePlus 5 is no longer available for buying which indicates that the company may soon introduce an improved OnePlus 5T phone. The Chinese manufacturer is expected to debut the OP5T in late November and it seems that the head honchos of the company are currently busy teasing its features. OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has shared a portrait shot on his Twitter account. It is likely that the image may have been snapped using OnePlus 5T’s camera.

In the previous week, the co-founders of OnePlus, Pete Lau and Carl Pei had shared camera samples from an unidentified device. It was assumed that those images were taken by the OnePlus 5T phone. Through the following tweet, Pei is asking the viewers to guess the name of the phone that was used for taking the photo.

"What phone is he taking that photo with?…" 😋 pic.twitter.com/PZMIEP1gkv

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) October 30, 2017

It appears that OnePlus is now teasing the camera prowess of the upcoming OnePlus 5T. However, it is pretty difficult to guess on the device through just one photo alone. The impressive portrait shot captures a rich image of the smiling woman that brilliantly separates her from the blurred background. The image hints that the OnePlus 5T may feature an upgraded camera.

Apart from improvements in the camera department, OnePlus 5T is expected to come with a larger display of 6 inches with 18:9 aspect ratio. It is expected to deliver FHD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. A new render of OP5T revealed by reliable tipster Evan Blass hints that it will be coming with an elongated display. The arrival of the full screen design on OnePlus 5T may mean that it will be coming with a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.

The larger OnePlus 5T is also rumored to house a bigger battery. Other specs of the phone are likely to be same as OnePlus 5. The OP5T is rumored to get unveiled after Nov. 20.

What do you think about the image shared by Carl Pei? Is it taken using the OnePlus 5 or the upcoming OnePlus 5T? Share us your views by adding your comments below.

(source)

Lei Jun Reveals Over 10 Million Xiaomi Phones Were Shipped In October

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 31, 2017

Xiaomi continues its successful run this year with record shipments this October. The company’s CEO, Lei Jun has revealed that the Chinese tech giant has shipped over 10 million smartphones this October. Lei Jun made this disclosure in a short Weibo post, Monday where he left out the exact figure but revealed that gross shipment for October is over 10 million units already.

This is coming on the heels of the company’s record shipment of over 10 million smartphones in September. Lei Jun had earlier this month revealed the monumental feat which happened to be the first time Xiaomi would hit such record sales in a single month. That record has now seen a repeat or may have even been exceeded, going by this latest announcement.

The company is yet to disclose the spread of its shipments but it is believed that China and India played a huge role in the record sales. Xiaomi’s decision to expand its offline presence in China by opening up more Mi Stores, thus availing fans access to its products easily. The company has added more than 200 brick and mortar stores in several Chinese cities this year just as planned. Also, the company also improved on its production output such that this year’s flagship models and other budget models are readily available across various platforms. The achievement may also have been driven by the Diwali promotional sales held in India. India alone accounted for more than 4 million units during the period.

The record shipment once again moves Xiaomi very close to achieving its goal of 70 million shipments this year. With this pace, don’t you think Xiaomi may well exceed 90 million shipments this year? The company will likely introduce two or three more smartphones before the end of the year which would further boost its sales.

(source)

Apple Reveals iPhone X Pre-orders Are Far More Than Expected, Stock Soars in Response

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2017

Apple’s iPhone X was announced alongside the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in September this year. While the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus have both gone on sales, pre-orders for the 10th-anniversary flagship iPhone X only opened on Friday, October 27, 2017. Apple has now disclosed that the pre-order for iPhone X were unxpectedly very high.

Apple is not in the habit of revealing the exact figures for its pre-orders, but an Apple spokeswoman told Reuters that the “customer demand is off the charts”. The company’s disclosure was enough to send its already fallen stock surging by nearly 3 percent. This was as a result of the bullish predictions adopted by many bookmakers, some of whom predicted that as much as 10 million pre-orders were received for the iPhone X.

The Apple spokeswoman also hinted that the Silicon Valley giant is working hard to get the revolutionary new product into the hands of every customer who wants one, as quickly as possible. The phone is expected to ship on November 3 but the company’s website reveals delivery times have been pushed back by up to five to six weeks which is also suggestive of huge pre-order figures.

(source)

Xiaomi Laser Projector, 3-Axis Gimbal & Waterproof Camera Casing Going On Sale From October 31

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2017

The double eleven sales period is always a busy one for Xiaomi and in preparation of the promotional sales, the company usually announces a couple of new products to help drive sales. This year is no exception as Xiaomi has lined up a few new products that would go on sale as from October 31. One of the product is the Mi Laser Projector that was first unveiled in June this year. The tech giant will also be putting up for sale two new accessories for the MIJIA 4K Action camera – a gimbal and a waterproof protective casing.

The Xiaomi Laser Projector is undoubtedly the big one among the trio. Since making its debut, a lot of fans have been yearning to lay their hands on the product despite the hefty 9999 Yuan ($1,470) price tag. Well, when compared to other Laer Projectors in the market, Xiaomi’s is far cheaper. This isn’t the first sale, the product was first sold on July 4 via Xiaomi Mall and it took just one hour 53 minutes for the sales to hit 10 million Yuan ($1,470,609.86). Just 1000 units were made available and since then nothing has been heard until now.

As a reminder, Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector uses an advanced laser fluorescence display technology (ALPD 3.0) with a shelve life of 25,0000 hours which translates to up to 34 years usage if the projector is used for 2 hours daily. A daily usage of up to 4hours can still guarantee up to 17 years of usage, meaning the laser is ultra-durable and long-lasting. The projector’s two core technologies are the light source technology manufactured by the Light Peak photoelectric company while the imaging technology chip in use was made by Texas Instruments and Guangfeng photoelectric custom R&D.

The new Laser projector is capable of displaying up to a maximum of 150 inches with 1920 x 1080p resolution. The projector provides a red light ratio of 16% to 18%, wide colour gamut, colour quasi, with contrast comparable to the laser studio 3000: 1 screen contrast. The light source brightness can reach up to 5000 lumens which are of theatre screen level. The projector also diffuses its direct light source, allowing for more eye protection. The sound quality is also of high quality, giving the Mi Laser 150″ projector the capability of providing theatre-level audio-visuals right in the comfort of the sitting room.

Xiaomi 3-Axis Stabilizer Camera Gimbal & Waterproof Protective Case

Xiaomi had teased the Gimbal when the MIJIA 4K Compact Action camera was launched earlier this year and it courted some attention. The camera has since been on sale and now Xiami is introducing the Gimbal design for the camera. The 3-Axis stabilizer Gimbal can rotate 360 degrees unhindered and is designed with features that ensure stability even when shooting in an unstable terrain or manner. The hand-held gimbal comes with a large 5000mAh battery which ensures it can last for up to 8 hours. There are also various control buttons for shooting and adjustment. The product is priced at 699 Yuan (~$105) and will officially be up for grabs from October 31 on Xiaomi Mall and Xiaomi’s official flagship store on Days Cat.

Also joining the fray is a new waterproof protective casing for the MIJIA 4K Compact Action Camera with an IP68 water and dustproof rating. That means the 4K camera can be used in the rain and in dusty environments without fear of damage. It can also withstand underwater usage up to a 40-meter depth. It has a non-reflective film on the surface where the lens would sit and that aspect is also covered with nano-level hydrophobic anti-fog film. This guarantees optimum shooting performance regardless of the weather condition.The accessory will also go on sale on October 31 and is priced at just 99 yuan (~$15).

(source)

MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM Starts Rolling Out To Mi 6 And Mi Max 2

By

Jeet

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Oct 30, 2017

Xiaomi launched its MIUI 9 earlier this year in July. However, the company delayed the rollout of the MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM by around three months. Recently, Xiaomi announced that the new MIUI version will start rolling out in India from November 2.

However, it appears that the update is now rolling out ahead of the company’s plan. Some users with Mi 6 and Mi Max 2 smartphone have already started receiving the MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM update.

MIUI V9.0.1.0.NCAMEI firmware version is currently being rolled out to the Mi 6, while MIUI V9.0.1.0.NDDMIEI is the firmware version that is being sent to the Mi Max 2. The update is of around 568MB.

The MIUI 9 Global ROM has already passed the beta testing stage and the company had also started pushing MIUI 9 Stable ROM to select Mi users in China earlier this month. The company is expected to roll out the stable ROM update in batches, just the way it handled the release of the Developer ROM.

Earlier, MIUI Marketing Deputy Director, Huang Longzhon had said that the stable version is normally rolled out within two months of releasing developer version, but since MIUI 9 is a new system, it has taken more time to prepare stable version.

The MIUI 9 brings several new features to the table such as deep level system optimization, new icons, and new animations for launching and closing apps, simple home screen edition, among others. It also comes with features like split-screen, search for apps in the Dual apps mode and better blocklist rules.

Along with some new features, a lot of the existing ones have also been improved, including Silent/DND timer, floating notifications, button and gesture shortcuts, among others.

Apart from India, as of now, there is no information about the rollout of this MIUI 9 Global Stable ROM update to other regions where Mi users are located.

On November 2, the company has also scheduled a launch event in which it will unveil its new selfie-centric smartphone series to take on the likes of Oppo and Vivo.

(Via)

OnePlus 5T Render Leaked from a Reliable Source

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 30, 2017

Since the time OnePlus 5 went out of stock, leaked renders and images of the rumored OnePlus 5T have surfaced through multiple sources. However, most of them were found to be fake. Earlier in this month, Android Authority had shared an image that showed a very small portion of the alleged OnePlus 5T phone. Now, Evan Blass who holds a consistent track record of spilling information on forthcoming smartphones has shared a render of the OnePlus 5T to show off its revamped design.

Top-half of OnePlus 5T (2.5t? Ha). pic.twitter.com/pmfhdQSgWQ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) October 30, 2017

The above render that has been leaked by Blass reveals the top half of the phone. As the rumor mill have claimed, the OnePlus 5T seems to be sporting an elongated design. Apart from the selfie camera, the top bezel does not seem to have any new feature like iris scanner. Compared to OnePlus 5, the OP5T phone appears to be sporting reduced upper bezel. Recent reports have claimed that it may feature a 6-inch display.

Interestingly, the wallpaper present on OnePlus 5T render by Blass seems to be the same one that is present on the leaked photo of the same phone shared by Android Authority. The following image that was revealed by the publication shows a smaller portion of the phone including the bottom bezel. However, it has revealed a very vital information that the fingerprint reader is not present on its frontside. The rumor mill has been claiming that since the OP5T’s display will carry support for 18:9 aspect ratio, it will be arriving with a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.

The OnePlus 5T is speculated to arrive with similar specs as OnePlus 5, albeit some improvements in departments like camera and battery. As far as the launch date of the OnePlus 5T is concerned, Blass claims that it will take place sometime after Nov. 20. A leaked poster that appeared during the past weekend has revealed that OnePlus 5T may debut on Nov. 16.

What do you think about the new render of OnePlus 5T shared by Blass? Share us your views by posting your comments below.

(source)

Android One’ HTC U11 Life Will Cost 369 Euros, Brilliant Black Variant Leaked

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 30, 2017

The HTC U11 Life will be announced on Thursday, 2nd of November. While there is little or nothing we don’t know about the specs, a new image and pricing have surfaced online thanks to Roland Quandt’s Winfutre.de.

The U11 Life is said to be available in two color variants (in Germany) – Sapphire Blue and Ice White. The blue variant has been online for weeks now but picture of a new Brilliant Black color variant (looks more like green though).

The design is the same – glass on both sides with “Android One” written on the back. So if blue or white doesn’t do it for you, there is black (or green) to choose from.

If you have been waiting for the HTC U11 Life, Roland Quandt says it will cost 369 Euros in Europe. This is less than the original 400 Euro mark reported but still a bit high. For 369 Euros, you get 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, IP68 certification, 16MP F/2.0 cameras on both sides, and a pair of USonic earphones.

The HTC U11 Life is also expected to come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in some regions. While HTC has partnered with Google on Nexuses and Pixels, this will be its first Android One phone.

(Source)

Hisense Hali Official: 5.99” HD+ Display, 4GB RAM & 16MP Selfie Camera

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 30, 2017

Hisense has joined the 18:9 train with its latest smartphone, the Hisense Hali. The full-screen phone was first seen on TENAA last week before its official release at an event in China today. The HiSense Hali is actually the result of a collaboration between the electronics manufacturer and China Telecom.

Hisense Hali Design

The phone has a double sided glass design which is a bit surprising considering its mid-range specs. The 18:9 display has curved corners and is covered with a 2.5D glass. The bezels are small but not super thin. The glass on the back is 2.5D too but highly reflective just like that of the HTC U series.

Hisense Hali Specs

The selling point of the phone is its 5.99” HD+ display with a 2.5D glass on top. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 mobile platform is paired with 4GB of RAM. And there is 32GB of expandable storage.

Aside from the screen, Hisense has also put a 16MP camera in front for selfies. The software has up to 10 beauty enhancement features, voice capture, and smile detection.

The rear camera on the Hisense Hali is a 12MP 1.25um sensor with PDAF, a color temperature flash, and 6P lens. There is also a rear mounted fingerprint scanner.

The Hali has dual SIM slots (micro) and a TF slot for storage expansion. There is a USB-C port flanked by two speaker grilles at the bottom, and a 3.5mm audio jack and IR blaster at the top. Powering the phone is a 3400mAh battery.

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Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Gets Permanent Price Cut In India

By

Jeet

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Oct 30, 2017

In a bid to boost sales of its larger display smartphone in India, Xiaomi has today announced a price cut for its Mi Max 2 smartphone in the country. The company has cut the price of the device by Rs 1,000.

The smartphone, which was originally launched in India in June this year, will now be available at Rs 13,999 for the 32GB storage model while the 64GB storage variant will now cost Rs 15,999.

Confirming this new development, Xiaomi VP and Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain said, via Twitter:

BIG now costs less! Announcing a permanent price drop of Rs. 1000 on both variants on #MiMax2.

Currently, the online retailer Flipkart is also offering an exchange discount on the old handset, which goes up to Rs 15,000. There is also additional discount on purchasing the phone through credit card.

The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 comes with a 6.44-inch Full HD display with screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor along with Adreno 506 GPU.

On the camera front, the smartphone features a 12-megapixel sensor on the back with dual-tone LED flash and f/2.2 aperture. On the front side, there is a 5-megapixel shooter for selfies with f/2.0 aperture. The rear camera on the smartphone is also capable of shooting videos in 4K.

The device packs a massive 5,300mAh battery. Connectivity options on the phone include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a USB Type-C port. The phone runs on the company’s own MIUI 8, which is based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system.

Recently, Xiaomi had announced that it had sold more than four million smartphone units in India within a month. Through its own Mi.com online store, it has sold more than a million devices.

In China, Xiaomi is expected to unveil the Redmi 5 Plus budget phone with full screen design before November 11. In December, it is expected to launch the Redmi Note 5 smartphone.

Xiaomi is also all-set to launch a new selfie-centric smartphone series in India on November 2. With the new series of phones, it aims to compete against the likes of Oppo and Vivo in India, which are dominating the selfie-centric smartphone space.

Meitu To Launch New Luxury-Looking Meitu V6 On November 1

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 30, 2017

Chinese phone maker Meitu has disclosed that it would be launching a new smartphone on November 1. The smartphone’s identity was also revealed to be the Meitu V6 which belongs to the luxury V-series. The device was announced a couple of months back to drop in November and it recently got the nod from the Chinese telecoms regulatory agency (TENAA) where it appeared as Meitu MP1605.

The TENAA listing also comes along with the photos of the device captured from all angles. The device is indeed a luxury model with a leather back and it readily brings to mind the now-defunct Vertu luxury phone line. The device features a dual camera setup at the rear as well as two LED flashlights located at the outer edge of the cameras. Also, there is a dual camera setup t the front, making the device a quad camera phone. Overall, the shape is very much similar to previous Meitu models.

As for the specification, the TENAA listing shows the Meitu V6 would feature a 5.5-inch OLED display with an FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080 p. The device will be powered by a 2.8GHz MediaTek processor backed by 4GB RAM of one model and 6GB RAM on another model. Both models get 128GB of internal storage. The device is fueled by a 3100mAh battery. The device will also be available in Flame Red, Glacier Blue, Dark Purple, Monet Powder colours.

(source)