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

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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.

(source)

Photo Of Galaxy S9 Internal Components Show Space For Audio Jack

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Habeeb Onawole

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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.

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Huawei P11 Lite (or P20 Lite) Mockups Appear Online

By

Habeeb Onawole

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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.

Continue

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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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

By

Habeeb Onawole

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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.

Continue

OnePlus 5T Soft Gold Variant Could be Launching Soon

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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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.

(source)

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.

(source)

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

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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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

By

Habeeb Onawole

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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).

Continue

Buy The International Edition Of Xiaomi Mijia Mini Action Camera For Just $89.99 On GearBest

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 27, 2017

Xiaomi’s popular subbrand, Mijia makes a myriad of devices and it recently marked its foray into camera segment with Mijia Mini 4K 30fps Action Camera.

Much to the delight of photography enthusiasts, the International Edition of Xiaomi Mijia Mini is currently up for grabs on GearBest for just $92.11. This is a massive 26% reduction from the device’s original asking price.

It’s worth noting that only 194 pieces were left at the time of writing. Moreover, the promo is slated to end in 3 days i.e. on Saturday, December 30. The Xiaomi Mijia Mini is available in Black color option on GearBest.

The Xiaomi Camera Mini sports a 2.4-inch touchscreen, 7 glass lens and supports 4K 30fps video recording. The camera comes with six-axis EIS which makes it more stable for shooting.

The device is brimming with important features which make it ideal for photo-shooting, home security, outdoor sports, and even deep-water probing.

Apply promotion code ‘Xmas455‘ or ‘GBXMMJ1227‘ at the time of checking out to buy the Mijia Mini for just $89.99. You can head straight to this link to take advantage of the international edition of Xiaomi Mijia Mini before the promo comes to an end.

Buy Xiaomi Mijia Mini 4K 30fps Action Camera International Edition For Just $89.99

Nokia 7 Global Launch May Happen in Early 2018

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 27, 2017

In October, HMD Global had launched the Nokia 7 mid-range smartphone in China and since then it has been unavailable outside of the country. Fresh information suggests that the recently spotted TA-1041 phone could be the international edition of Nokia 7. The global launch of the phone is likely to begin at the start of 2018.

Just as the Nokia 6 was exclusively available in China at its launch and later on it was made available in wider markets, the Finnish firm is also expected to bring the Nokia 7 to global markets after selling it exclusively in China.

HMD Global is speculated to debut the Nokia 9 flagship phone alongside a 2018 edition of Nokia 8 on Jan. 19. There is a possibility that the Finnish firm may use the same platform to announce the global edition of the Nokia 7. However, there is no official confirmation on the Jan. 19 launch event.

The Nokia 7 had received over 1.5 million registrations in China before going on sale and it was sold out in few minutes through its first flash sale. The Nokia 7 includes a 5.2-inch IPS LCD screen that produces full HD resolution. It is the first Nokia phone to be driven by Snapdragon 6XX series chipset. The 4 GB and 6 GB RAM variants of the phone are powered by the Snapdragon 630. Apart from the internal storage of 64 GB, it also features a microSD card slot for additional storage.

The rear panel houses a 16-megapixel camera that is enabled with dual-tone LED flash. It has a frontal shooter of 5-megapixel. It includes a 3,000mAh battery that is coupled with 18W fast charging. In the home country, the Nokia 7 is available in two variants. The base model featuring 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM is priced at 2,499 Yuan (~$381) whereas the higher model with 64 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM is carrying a price tag of 2,699 Yuan (~$411).

Buy Electronic Items Starting Just $3.99 On GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 27, 2017

As part of its Christmas Sale, GeekBuying is offering a slew of electronic items including RC toys, video games, projectors, memory cards, 3D printers, power banks, headphones and speakers at a discounted price, starting from just $3. Let’s check out some of these items.

Headphones & Speakers

GeekBuying has some jaw-dropping discounts in the aforesaid categories. There’s a massive reduction in the cost of Xiaomi-branded earphones, and up to a considerable 69% discount on Tronsmart, and Bluedo-branded Bluetooth speakers.

There is a 41% off the Original Xiaomi Piston Fresh Edition Earphone Wired Control Headphone (with mic). You can now buy it for just $4.69 before the promo comes to an end.

RC Toys

GeekBuying is offering a myriad of RC toys at a discounted price. You can save a considerable 35% while buying JJRC H44WH DIAMAN 720P WIFI FPV Foldable RC Quadcopter from the site. While the original asking price of the foldable RC quadcopter is $48.99, you can buy it on GeekBuying for just $31.99.

Video Games

The next category we will take a gander at is video games. Avid gamers can now avail up to a whopping 57% off the video gaming accessories including Tronsmart Mars G02 Wireless Game Controller, which is up for grabs on GeekBuying for just $19.99. This is a massive reduction from its original $46.02 asking price.Aside from wireless game controller, you can buy other accessories such as Nomu AR1 Fidget AR Fitness Gamepad, 8Bitdo NES30 Arcade Stick Bluetooth USB Connection for Nintendo Switch / Android / Windows / MacOS and lots more.

Projectors

GeekBuying’s Christmas Sale showcases a slew of amazing projectors, from YG-300 Mini Pocket LCD Projector (which you can buy for just $ 35.99) to Original Xiaomi Mijia Laser Projector, which is currently available for only $1899.There’s discount on the original asking price of D8S 3D HD Portable Projector with 1GB/16GB and 2GB/32GB RAM and storage options. While the 1GB version is available for $369.99, with 12% discount, the 2GB version has received a 3% discount that brings down its original asking price of $430.99 to $415.99.

Memory Cards

Although nearly all current-gen smartphones come with large internal storage options, users are likely to run out of it sooner rather than later. Thankfully, we can extend internal storage of devices with the help of memory cards. Geekbuying is currently offering a huge 63% discount on this important item.

You can now buy Original Samsung EVO Plus UHS-3 128GB Micro SDXC Memory Card with 32GB, 64GB and 128GM storage capacity by shelling out just $12.99, $21.99, and $44.99, respectively.Alternatively, you can go for OV 32GB Micro SD Card Memory Card, which is available on GeekBuying in four storage capacities including 64GB, 32GB, 16GB, and 8GB.

You can buy OV Micro SD Card Memory with 64GB storage capacity for just $26.99, 32GB storage capacity for only $15.99, 16GB storage capacity for $9.99, and 8GB storage capacity memory card is available for only $4.99.

3D Printers

There are some considerable discounts on GeekBuying for 3D printers as well. For instance, Creality 3D CR-10S DIY 3D Printer, which comes bearing a steep price tag of $699.99, is currently available on the website for just $499.99. You can choose between Blue and Orange color options.

Power Banks

If you’re a travel buff, you know how important it is to keep your mobile devices charged while on the go. Thankfully, we can now rely on power banks that allow you to store electrical energy and then later use it to charge up a mobile device.

This vital accessory is currently available on GeekBuying at a discounted price. The site is offering up to 58% discount on power banks.You can now buy Original ROMOSS Polymos 10 Air 10000mAh Dual USB Li-polymer Power Bank Mobile Power Charger by shelling out just $13.99, which is a big reduction from its original asking price of $32.99.

It’s worth noting that only a few pieces of these items were left at the time of writing. If you want to take advantage of GeekBuying’s Christmas Sale, head straight to this link.

Take Advantage Of GeekBuying’s Christmas Sale With Electronic Items Starting From Just $3.99

OnePlus Rewarding First 37 Buyers of OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition By Naming A Star After Them

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 27, 2017

OnePlus had recently introduced the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition smartphone to celebrate the release of the latest Star Wars movie. The Chinese manufacturer has announced that it will be rewarding the first 37 buyers of the limited edition OnePlus 5T by naming a star after each of them.

Star Register is the globe’s biggest and most renowned commercial registry of stars. Since Star Register is not associated with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) or International Astronomer Union (IAU), it is possible to add a name to any star that has not been named before. OnePlus has partnered with Star Register to let each of the first 37 customers of OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition to adopt a star.

Registering a star with Star Register require buyers to spend certain amount of money. However, on behalf of the owners of OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition, OnePlus will be spending the amount that is required to purchase the stars for the first 37 customers. These people will be rewarded with a customized “Star Wars” constellation and certificate saying that a star is named after the buyer of OP5T Star Wars Limited Edition.

For the buyers of the regular version of OnePlus 5T, the Chinese manufacturer is providing a cashback of Rs. 1,500 to the users of ICICI credit card to those who avail it through EMI option from Amazon India. This offer will come to an end on Jan. 2.

Some may feel that the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition is exclusively available in India. However, it is already available in some of the European markets like Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

The OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition has the specs as the regular OnePlus 5T, but it comes with a white color rear with a sandstone finish and a red logo of Star Wars. Its alert slider is also of red color. The handset also features a Star Wars themed OS that feature red and white accents and some new wallpapers. It also comes in a special large-sized box that includes a logo of the Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

FCC Approves WattUp ‘Power-At-A-Distance’ Wireless Charging System

By

Jeet

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Dec 27, 2017

In a step towards making wireless charging even easier, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved first wireless charger that has the ability to charge any wireless charging supported device from a distance of around three feet.

Energous, a San Jose-based startup has announced that it has received the first such FCC certification for the “power-at-a-distance” wireless charging system. The mechanism uses its WattUp Mid Field transmitter, which converts electricity into radio frequencies and then beams the energy to nearby devices which packs a corresponding receiver.

Currently, the wireless chargers require devices to be in physical contact. Energous’ WattUp is addressing that and has eliminated the need for the device to be in physical contact with the charger. The company is also working on a device with 15-foot long-range support which has not been approved by FCC yet.

According to the company, WattUp is capable enough to charge multiple devices simultaneously and should work on any number of devices — from smartphones and tablets to keyboards and earphones, as long as those devices are equipped with the right receiver.

Interestingly, the ecosystem is manufacturer-agnostic, meaning that the user only requires the WattUp transmitter. With this, if you’re using a Samsung smartphone with the transmitter made by Sony or any other company, the charging system will still work.

Ensuring convenience, the entire “power-at-a-distance” setup can be easily controlled using a mobile application. Users can stop charging a particular device from the application and start the charging again without any hassle.

Currently, the company doesn’t have any retail-ready product for this technology. However, the company is planning to show off its technology at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2018 in Las Vegas. There is a possibility that Energous could start selling the device to public from the second half of 2018.

Oppo Officially Opens Its First Flagship Offline Store In Shanghai, China

By

Jeet

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Dec 27, 2017

Oppo, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer which has made it to the list of top five smartphone brands in the world, has now opened its first flagship offline store in Shanghai, China. With this Oppo Store, the company is aiming to create a conversation between the brand and its customers.

At this newly launched Oppo Store, customers will be able to explore the range of products offered by the company. Oppo has also revealed that the recently announced Oppo R11s New Year Edition phone will also be available for purchase at the store.

The store is located in Shanghai’s Huaihai Road and occupies space of around 500 square meters. It is divided into two zones — Sales and Experience, with a range of products including smartphones, headphones, speakers, and others.

Commenting on this announcement of the opening flagship store, Alen, Vice President of OPPO, said:

Retail stores, especially the flagship stores, are the main channel for us to communicate with customers. This Flagship Store expresses our latest ideas on upgrading our retail store experience and elevating our brand. We have chosen our Shanghai Flagship Store as a breakthrough for a better customer experience.

Oppo is now focusing on scaling up its retail presence, starting from China. The company has said that it will also open more store in other cities as well. Recently, the company also received approval to open single-brand retail stores in India. This will enable the China-based company to sell directly to consumers and add to its existing wholesale business.

Xiaomi, another China-based smartphone company, has started focusing on establishing its presence in the offline space. The company opened over 200 Mi Stores in China in this year only and has plans to open around 1,000 physical stores in China by the year 2018.

With India being one of the largest markets for the smartphones, the companies are also focusing on establishing its presence there. While Xiaomi has already started opening Mi Stores in India, the likes of Oppo are expected to follow the same steps in India.

Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ Mass Production Reportedly Starting Next Month; Market Release in Early March

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Dec 27, 2017

Samsung is expected to launch the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ by the first quarter of 2018. According to a South Korean publication, the company has started receiving parts for building the Galaxy S9 and S9+ from its suppliers. The mass production of the Galaxy S9 duo is slated to begin from January. The report claims that the company will be announcing the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in late February and these phones will be hitting the market by early March.

One of the first parts that Samsung has started receiving is the stacked circuit board called SLP (Substrate Like PCB). It is a system board design in which the chips are held tightly so that adequate space is available for adding other components such as larger batteries. The Apple iPhone X also uses such kind of motherboard design.

As many as five suppliers are providing SLP for Galaxy S9 and S9+ and Samsung will be adding another supplier for it in February. Hence, there is a possibility that the Galaxy S9 and S9+ might feature larger batteries than the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

The South Korean company has started the mass production of camera modules for its upcoming flagship phones. The Galaxy S9 will be having an integrated front-facing camera setup that will include an iris scanning camera and a photography camera. The Galaxy S9 will be coming with two separate cameras for iris scanning and photography.

The rumor mill has revealed that the Galaxy S9 will be featuring a single camera on its back panel and the S9+ will be exclusively blessed with dual rear cameras. The South Korean publication also reaffirms on it as it has reported that the Galaxy S9+ will be the first Galaxy S series phone to arrive with dual rear cameras. Like the Galaxy S8, the S9 will be also featuring a single camera.

Samsung is expected to unleash the Galaxy S9 and S9+ in Barcelona, Spain through the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 in February next year. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are expected to release in the market by early March. From January, the South Korean company will begin the mass production of the finished products of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ for around two months in order to release them simultaneously across the world.

(source|via)

New Hisense Full-Screen Model Receives TENAA Certification

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Dec 26, 2017

Hisense first released its maiden full-screen smartphone dubbed Hisense Hali in October this year and it was an instant hit. The renowned electronics maker is now set to unveil yet another full-screen model and that model has been certified by the Chinese telecoms regulatory agency (TENAA).

The Hisense model is listed on TENAA with the model number Hisense HLTE500T and it features a 5.99-inch IPS display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. This means the smartphone will utilize the 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone comes with a dimension of 158 x 75.12 x 7.5mm, weighing in at just 170g. The phone is also listed as coming in three cool colour options namely; Gray, Blue and Gold colours.

Other listed specifications of the Hisense HLTE500T include a dual camera setup at the rear which comprises a 12MP + 8MP dual rear cameras while at the front there is an 8MP shooter. The rear cameras are aligned in a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the Hisense model is powered by an unnamed Octa-core 2.2GHz processor and it features two memory variants. There is a 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant while there is equally a 6GB RAM + 128GB storage option. Both storages are expandable up to 128GB. Keeping the light on is a 3320mAH battery while the interface will be provided by Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS out of the box.

We don’t have any idea when the Hisense HLTE500T would be launched but it is expected to hit the stands in Q1 2017, likely in January.

(source)