Android 8.0 Oreo with 0.2% User Base Appears for the First Time on Android Distribution Chart

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Oct 3, 2017

The recently introduce Sony Xperia XZ1, XZ1 Compact, XA1 Plus and the upcoming Mate 10 series and Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL smartphones are all arriving preinstalled. Since there are not many Android 8.0 Oreo driven phones in the market, Oreo was not seen in the Android distribution chart by Google. However, it has finally appeared in this month’s Android distribution chart with a percentage of 0.2 percent.

Currently. only the Pixel devices like Pixel, Pixel XL and Pixel C along with some Nexus devices like Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, and Nexus Player have received the Android 8.0 Oreo update. These devices probably account for 0.2 percent of market share for Android Oreo.

Android 8.0 Oreo was introduced on Aug. 22 and even though many smartphone OEMs such as BlackBerry, HTC, Sony, Nokia, Huawei and Motorola have confirmed the list of their devices that will be upgraded to Oreo, none of the smartphones except for Google devices have received the Android 8.0. Google does not consider Android versions that have lower than 0.1 percent distribution. This could be the reason why Oreo was not seen in the Android distribution chart since its launch in August.

With a huge market share of 32 percent, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is the Android version that is widely available on Android devices. It is followed by Android Lollipop that is running on 27.7 percent devices. Compared to last month, the market share of Marshmallow and Lollipop have declined. In th previous month, both carried respective market shares of 32.2 percent and 28.8 percent.

Last year’s Android Nougat is still not available on large number of Android devices as it has a market share of 17.8 percent. The market share of the Android KitKat has been reduced to 14.5 percent whereas Jelly Bean has a market share of 7.6 percent. Older versions such as Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread have respective market shares of 0.6 percent.

The aforementioned data was collected during a one-week period that ended on Oct. 2. These stats show that the market share of Android Nougat is slowly increasing. In the last month, Nougat had a market share of 15.8 percent. As far as Oreo is concerned, its market share is expected to improve by the end of year as many smartphone OEMs will begin the process of rolling out Android O.

(source)

Huawei Mate 10 Pro Likely to Cost 940 Euros (~$1,100)

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 3, 2017

The arrival of the Huawei Mate 10 series is drawing near. According to one of the recent tweets from a well-known leakster Roland Quandt, the Mate 10 Pro would be priced at 940 euros (~$1,100) in Eastern Europe. The tipster has made this claim on the basis of Mate 10 Pro’s listing on retailer sites that have been taken down.

In the previous week, the rumor mill had revealed the following speculated pricing of all the variants of the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro:

Huawei Mate 10

4 GB RAM + 64 GB storage = 4,299 Yuan (`$647)

6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage = 4,899 Yuan (~$737)

6 GB RAM + 256 GB storage = 5,599 Yuan (~$843)

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage = 5,499 Yuan (~$827)

6 GB RAM + 128 GB storage = 6,199 Yuan (~$933)

6 GB RAM + 256 GB storage = 6,899 Yuan (~$1,038)

8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage = 7,499 Yuan (~$1,129).

The 940 euros ($1,100) pricing that has been leaked by Quandt could be referring to the 6 GB + 256 GB or 8 GB + 256 GB variant of the Mate 10 Pro.

The Huawei Mate 10 is speculated to house a 5.9-inch display that will carry support for 16:9 aspect ratio whereas the Mate 10 Pro is rumored to feature a 5.9-inch display that be offering an aspect ratio of 18:9. Both the smartphone are rumored to be powered by Kirin 970 chipset that is integrated with AI NPU. One of the recent reports have revealed that Mate 10 duo’s AI capabilities will allow them to see, think and learn like a human brain.

The Mate 10 duo are expected to be arrive with a pair of f/1.6 aperture SUMMLUX-H lenses. Both the smartphones are tipped to house the same battery of 4,200mAh capacity. Another recent report has revealed that Huawei may introduce a Samsung DeX-like product that will allow users to connect Mate 10 to a large screen through a dock for viewing Android apps on a desktop UI.

Huawei will be unveiling the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro on Oct. 16 in Munich, Germany. It is also expected to debut Mate 10 Lite with mid-range specs.

Source

Facebook to Add Facial Recognition Feature Soon for Unlocking Account

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 3, 2017

When a Facebook user is unable to sign in into his account, he can rely on the two-factor authentication that asks for a mobile phone number so that a confirmation code can be sent to it through SMS. It seems that apart from this method of regaining control of the account, Facebook will be soon provide another option of facial recognition to confirm the identity of the user for unlocking an account. Facebook has confirmed that it is currently testing the new account authentication feature.

According to Facebook, the facial recognition feature for verifying an account will be only available on those devices that users have already used to log in. Currently, it is testing it by making the feature available to a small number of users. If the feature proves to be reliable and cannot be fooled by hackers, it may be made available to wider audience. A screenshot of the new facial scanning feature has been shared by Matt Navarra from The Next Web.

NEW! Facebook working on a facial recognition feature to help secure your account

h/t Devesh Logendran pic.twitter.com/demol4dKj1

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) September 29, 2017

Here is how the facial recognition feature will work on Facebook. Users will be required to hold their phone to their face and then the Facebook app will scan the face and compare it with the tagged images and videos of the user that are present on the site. Once a match is found, the account will be unlocked.

For wider acceptance, Facebook will have to ensure that the facial scanning feature is highly reliable and it cannot be hacked by using a picture of a user. The company is not new to facial scanning technology as it has been using it for years when it makes suggestions for tagging. When a photo is uploaded on Facebook, it is automatically scanned to detect faces it recognizes from the profiles of friends and then it provides suggestions on tagging. In the previous year, Facebook had acquired a company called FacioMetrics, a facial recognition software company. Facebook had claimed that it had bought FacioMetrics to rival with SnapChat for adding effects to photos and videos.

Do you think Facebook’s facial recognition feature will be reliable and unhackable? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source 1, 2)

Samsung to Make Huge Revenue through iPhone X than its Own Flagship Phone

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 3, 2017

Apple is selling the iPhone X with a starting price of $999. The Cupertino company will not only benefit from the sales of iPhone X, but also Samsung which its major rival will also reap good profits from its sales. According to a new report on The Wall Street Journal, the South Korean company earns around $110 when each unit of iPhone X is sold.

A recent market analysis by the Counterpoint Technology Market Research has revealed that Apple is expected to sell around 130 million units of iPhone X until the summer of 2019. If Apple manages to sell these many units of iPhone X, it is certain that Samsung will also make huge money by the sales of the most advanced smartphone from Apple.

As far as the sales analysis of Galaxy S8 is concerned, Samsung is expected to sell around 50 million S8 units in a timeframe of 20 month since its launch in April. The South Korean company’s component division will be getting $202 from the sale of each Galaxy S8 unit. This suggests that iPhone X will bring around $4 billion in revenue to Samsung’s component division than the Galaxy S8. The component division of Samsung earned 35 percent of the firm’s $195 revenue in 2016.

Ming-Ch Kuo who had accurately predicted $999 pricing of iPhone X had revealed earlier that Samsung is charging around $120 to $130 for each OLED panel that goes into the iPhone X. This amount is around $75 more than what the Cupertino company is usually paying for LCD panels that it uses on other iPhones.

Currently, Samsung is the sole provider of OLED panels for iPhone X. Apple wants the South Korean company to manufacture OLED panels in a certain way to house the notch present at the iPhone X. This has reportedly result in production problems that is reportedly delaying the iPhone X’s arrival to the market.

Recent reports have revealed that the Apple is exploring other options for OLED screens. Some reports have revealed that LG Display may provide OLED panels to Apple. Also, the Cupertino company is also rumored to build its own OLED manufacturing factory. A recent report has revealed that Apple may use the Full Active LCD panels from Japan Display (JDI) for iPhones. JDI is also expected to provide OLED panels to Apple in 2019.

Meanwhile, Samsung seems to be making good revenue through the sales of iPhone X and also through its own flagship phones such as Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy Note 8.

(source)

Two ZTE Smartphones With Large Battery Capacities Certified By TENAA

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 3, 2017

Just a couple of days after the appearance of the ZTE Axon Multy which could be the company’s first foldable smartphone, two new ZTE models have appeared on TENAA’s database indicating that they have been certified. The two models are in no way related to the foldable smartphone, neither do they feature flagship specs. Instead, they both pack budget specifications but are set apart by the large battery capacity they carry. The ZTE models appear with the model numbers ZTE A0616 and ZTE A0622.

As for the specs, the ZTE A0616 is listed with a 5.5-inch HD (1280 x 720) display and will make use of an unknown quad-core SoC with a clock speed of 1.45GHz paired with 2GB RAM on one version and 3GB RAM on a second version. The device also comes with storage options of either 16GB or 32GB, both expandable up to 128GB using a microSD card. The presence of fused antenna band lines shows that the device will have a metal body. On the camera aspect, the ZTE A0616 packs 13MP camera at the rear while it will have a dual selfie camera sensor at the front with the main camera being an 8MP sensor. The device will boot Android 7.0 Nougat with ZTE custom UI out of the box. The A0616 gets its juice from a large 3900mAh non-removable battery and has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

On the other hand, the ZTE A0622 seems to have a plastic body but packs a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. The device is powered by an unknown quad-core SoC with a similar clock speed of 1.4GHz and sports a smaller 5.2-inch 720p display.The device will come in 3 storage and RAM options: 2GB RAM + 16GB storage, 3GB RAM +32GB storage and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage options. Available color options include Black, Light Blue, and Dark Blue. The A0622 packs a massive 4870mAh battery despite having the features of a budget phone.

(source 1,2)

Alleged Nubia Z17s Real Photo Leaks Showing Bezel-less Front Panel

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2017

For a while now, we have been inundated with rumours of a Nubia full-screen phone which latest poster hints would be launched on October 12. Ahead of its apparent launch, the Nubia full-screen model which is believed to go by the name- Nubia Z17s, has appeared in a live photo showing the front display panel. Well, we can’t authenticate if this is actually what Nubia will be unveiling in a couple of days from now.

The image looks like a full-screen photo alright, but what makes it of greater interest is a degree of bezels on the part in view. The device looks completely bezel-less on all sides with the chin having ultra-thin bezels and the top and bottom edges also appear to have no bezels. With such a design, this could at best be a concept render even though Nubia touts the Z17s as coming with full-Screen 2.1.

A Nubia phone fingered to be the full-screen model did appear on TENAA recently clutching the model number NX589J. The TENAA listing reveals the Nubia phone sports a 5.2-inch 1080p display, 6GB RAM, 64GB expandable storage, a dual camera setup in which the main sensor is 13MP. There is also a 16MP front camera and a 3100mAh battery. In addition, the device is expected to run on Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS and would have a curved edge design at the rear. We must note that the photos which accompanied the TENAA listing are markedly different from this latest leaked photo. Until the model is official, we can’t be so sure the upcoming Nubia full-screen phone will have such a spectacularly bezel-less design. So, it is best you take this with a pinch of salt as it could be fake.

(source)

Fresh Official Renders of The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL Leaked

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

Just two days away from the official launch of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, we get fresh photos of both devices from popular leaker, Evan Blass. The images reveal all there is about the design, so come Wednesday the only new info will be the software features of both phones.

Evan had earlier shared an image of the Pixel 2 XL wrapped up in a case before releasing more photos on his website, Venture Beat. The photo gives us a good look at the front of the phone and confirms some features earlier reported.

The Pixel 2 XL will indeed come with front facing speakers. While the top speaker/earpiece is closer to the edge of the bezel, the bottom speaker is a few mm away from it. At the top left corner sits the front facing camera.

The image also confirms the report of a new Pixel launcher. As you can see, the search bar is now in between the icon dock and the navigational buttons.

A second image gives us a better look at the 6” QHD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. With its rounded corners just like that of the LG G6 , the Pixel 2 XL doesn’t hide the fact that its made by LG. A third Pixel 2 XL image shows the device in the panda color we saw a few weeks ago, with the power button in orange.

The HTC-made Pixel 2 with its 5-inch FHD display also makes an appearance. It maintains the 16:9 aspect ratio of its predecessor but gets dual front facing speakers.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be powered by the Snapdragon 835 mobile platform and run Android 8 Oreo out of the box. They will have 4GB of RAM with either 64GB or 128GB of storage. The rear cameras are 12MP sensors on both devices too.

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ASUS X018DC Seen on TENAA With 5.7” 18:9 Display & Dual Rear Cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

In the last 2 months, ASUS has released about six smartphones, but it doesn’t appear to be done as a new phone has been seen on the TENAA website. Like most phones of late, the ASUS X018DC joins the bandwagon with its 18:9 display.

The ASUS X018DC has a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 (HD+) display. It will be available in 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM variants with 32GB and 64GB of expandable storage respectively. The processor is a 1.5GHz octa-core SoC.

Like most of the Zenfone 4 series lineup, the X018DC also features dual rear cameras. It is a 16MP + 8MP combination in the same horizontal design with a LED flash beside the sensors. Front facing camera is an 8MP sensor.

The phone runs Android 7.0 Nougat, has a 4030mAh battery and measures 152.6 × 72.7 × 8.8 mm. It weighs 160g and will come in Star Black, Light Pink, and Gold.

Its hard to see how thin the bezels on the ASUS X018DC are. The sample pictures provided are of the black variant and the display blends perfectly with the bezels. However, we can make out the front camera on the top left corner and the earpiece in the middle. Buttons are on the right and SIM tray is on the left.

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OnePlus 5 JCC+ Limited Edition Now Available for Purchase in Europe

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

OnePlus started the tradition of releasing a special edition of its flagship phone in partnership with a known name in the fashion industry. Early this year, it released the OnePlus 3T Colette Edition. A few weeks ago, it announced the OnePlus 5 JCC+ limited edition in partnership with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, a famous fashion designer.

The limited edition phone was available for purchase during the pop-up event in Paris. However, if you reside anywhere else in Europe, you can place an order for the phone on the official OnePlus site.

The OnePlus 5 JCC+ is quite different from what OnePlus did with the OnePlus 3T Colette Edition. Not only is the packaging different, the phone itself is.

First, the back plate has a writing on it that says the device is for creative minds. Then the buttons are also colored giving the phone a unique look. The power button is blue, the volume rocker is red, and the alert slider is yellow. Apart from those differences, every other feature is the same as the 8GB RAM version of the ordinary OnePlus 5.

The OnePlus 5 JCC+ is available for £499.00/€559. There are also some JCC+ merchandise available for purchase such as a tote bag and a t-shirt priced at €24.95/£21.95 and €29.95/£27.95 respectively.

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JD.com Develops China’s First Unmanned Automated Delivery Vans

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2017

Chinese second-largest e-commerce giant, Jingdong (JD.com) has officially announced that it has entered partnerships with two of China’s automakers SAIC Maxus and Dongfeng Motor Corporation to develop what would be the country’s first unmanned delivery vans. The JD-powered initiative saw both automakers producing two models of the automatic van which uses electricity as its source of power.

JD also hinted that the unmanned delivery vans are intended to be used for delivery of goods from its distribution centres across China to delivery points. The model developed by SAIC Maxus is touted as capable of sensing obstacles 150 meters away and can plan its route using its radar system, multiple sensors and GPS system. The van is said to have undergone several successful tests which cover aspects such as automatic route planning, overtaking, obstacle avoidance and self-parking functions. However, the project is still in the R&D stage and is still a long way from being rolled out as a full-time. Before its full rollout, the project must undergo multiple tests and be licensed before they hit the road full-time.

This isn’t the first time Jingdong is making efforts towards automating its delivery system. The e-retail giant had successfully utilised drones to deliver online purchases to rural shoppers in Jiangsu province. It also reportedly used robots and driverless cars for deliveries during the June 18 shopping festival this year, all part of the test running process for the technology. The new initiative will no doubt help reduce costs and enhance the efficiency of delivery.

(source)

HTC 2Q4D200 Gets 3C Certified, Believed To Be The HTC U11 Plus

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

An executive of HTC disclosed that the company was working on a smartphone with an 18:9 display. The phone is expected to launch as the HTC U11 Plus. On the China Compulsory Certification website, a new HTC phone with model number 2Q4D200 has been certified and it is believed to be the U11 Plus.

The HTC 2Q4D200 is said to be the Chinese variant of the HTC 2Q3FXXX seen on the Bluetooth SIG website. The last three digits are reserved for the different markets the phone will be available in.

The 3C certificate doesn’t reveal the specs but informs us that it supports fast charge (5V,2.5A; 9V/1.7A; and 12V/1.25A) and the SIG certification confirms it will have Bluetooth 5.0.

The HTC U11 Plus is really just a redesigned HTC U11 with thinner bezels and a rumored 5.99” 1440 x 2880p screen with a 2:1 aspect ratio. The processor of choice is still the Snapdragon 835 mobile platform. The main camera is expected to be the same 12MP sensor but it will be nice to see HTC give us dual cameras as a plus.

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Samsung SM-W2018 Flip Flagship Phone To Arrive in November

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

Samsung is one of the few companies that still makes flip phones. This year, it launched the SM-G9298 flip phone in China, but another one called the SM-W2018 is rumored to launch in November. The clam-shell phones are sort of a China exclusive and reports say the W2018 will be available on China Unicom.

The SM-W2018 will sport dual 4.2-inch FHD displays. Sammobile says it will have a Snapdragon 835 processor but there are reports of it coming with a Snapdragon 821 SoC too. RAM is 4GB and storage is 64GB.

For the cameras, the SM-W2018 will have a 12MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera. Battery capacity is put at 2300mAh. However, the W2018 is rumored to have a price tag as high as $2000 when it launches.

If you still want a flip phone but you are not willing to shell out so much, the VKWorld T2 Plus billed to launch this month is a better alternative. It will have dual 4.2-inch screens too but won’t have FHD resolutions. It’s frame is also said to be made of titanium.

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Xiaomi Hints At Record Breaking Shipment in September Exceeding 10 million phones

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2017

Xiaomi has officially hinted that it shipped over 10 million units of it’s smartphones in the month of September 2017. CEO Lei Jun made this known in a Weibo post where he showered encomium on staffs of the various department who made the feat possible.

The CEO also disclosed in his post that this is the first time the tech giant was achieving such feat in its seven years of existence in a single month. That makes the feat all the more spectacular. What Lei Jun left out was that the record shipment means Xiaomi is very close to achieving its goal of 70 million shipments this year.

One major catalyst to this record shipment is the performance of the Redmi Note 4 in India where it recorded strong sales on both Amazon India and Flipkart which may have been spurred by Diwali, India’s annual festival which comes up on October 16 but is usually surrounded by a surge in e-commerce all over the country. Another factor could be the robust manner the tech giant had been marketing its phones this year, combining offline channels to its well established online platforms. With this pace Xiaomi may well exceed 90 million shipments this year.

(Source)

The ZeroLemon 5500mAh Battery Case Adds Over 100% Of Extra Battery Life To The Galaxy Note8

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

ZeroLemon is best known for its battery cases which can be slapped on to phones to serve as an additional battery backup. If you feel the 3300mAh battery capacity of the Galaxy Note8 is not enough, ZeroLemon has a battery case that provides over 100% of extra battery life.

The battery case for the Galaxy Note8 actually provides an extra 5500mAh for users. For a phone with a Quad HD+ display, this does come in handy. The advantages of a battery case are more than just providing extra power. It’s a case too, so it protects the phone. It also saves you the stress of carrying a power bank and cable around.

The only disadvantages are the additional thickness and increase in weight. The battery case weighs 5.26 ounces (~149g), add that to the 195g of the Note8 and your phone weighs 344g.

The ZeroLemon Galaxy Note 8 case has a four-color LED embedded in the power button that indicates the amount of charge left. When it is white, battery capacity is between 75% and 100; green means its between 50% and 75%; blue indicates that you have 25% – 50% left; and red is for below 25%. It supports 5V/1.8A input and output maximum charge.

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iPhone 8 Plus Swollen Batteries Reports To Be Investigated

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 2, 2017

Last week there were two reports on the internet of the iPhone 8 Plus having swollen batteries. One report from Taiwan said the battery became swollen during charging with the official charger and cable. The second report from Japan said the phone arrived from Apple with the battery swollen and had even popped the screen out of its position.

Apple says it will investigate the cases of the swollen batteries, so as to determine what caused them. Carrying out an investigation is said to be Apple’s routine for cases like this even for older models.

iPhoneが昨日より膨らんでる。
Apple、早く回収しにきて！ pic.twitter.com/sRx6orgxi6

— マゴコロ (@Magokoro0511) September 25, 2017

Should potential buyers stay off buying the iPhone 8 Plus for now? We can’t say as these are just two units and sources say it is within the normal failure rate for lithium-ion batteries. Unless it becomes a big deal like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 should customers begin to worry.

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Xiaomi Has Opened Over 200 Mi Stores in China This Year Alone As Planned

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2017

Xiaomi has added 20 new stores to its growing chain of Mi Home brick and mortar stores in China. With this new development, Xiaomi has hinted that the total number of Mi Stores in China has crossed the 200 stores mark. Xiaomi’s CEO, Lei Jun had hinted of the company’s plans to open over 200 Mi Home Stores in China this year several months back. That feat has now been achieved well before the end of the year, springing up the possibility of more stores joining before the year finally runs out.

The 20 new stores were opened on October 1 which is the National Day of the People’s Republic of China and a public holiday. Expectedly, the stores’ opening, recorded huge turnouts in all the cities where they were sited. Except for some cities where the Mi Store is making its debut for the first time, some cities have more than one like Zhengzhou which is getting its fourth Mi Store. The latest development brings the total number of Mi Stores in China to over 300.

Xiaomi has achieved some progress so far in its bid to make its product accessible to its numerous customers who often experience difficulty getting their choice products due to an online-only model the company had been operating. The tech giant plans to open 1000 physical stores in different Chinese cities by the year 2020. The company also aims to open more Mi Stores outside of China. This strategy is meant to complement the online sales channels already in effect. Apart from smartphones, Xiaomi also stocks its wide range of Smart home products like its smart fitness bands, smart scooters, smart air purifiers, water purifier, internet-of-things and more, all in a bid to expand its ecosystem and shore up its revenue. Already, the results are looking promising, with the company climbing into the top 5 spots in global smartphone shipments in Q2 2017 and is set to hit its 70 million smartphone target for this year this October, two months before the year’s end.

(source)

Xiaomi Redmi 5A Hits TENAA Again, Two Variants In Tow

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 2, 2017

Xiaomi‘s next budget smartphone offering is expected to be the Redmi 5A which has now appeared on TENAA showing its complete specification. A device fingered to be the Xiaomi Redmi 5A had earlier appeared on TENAA as MCT3B. But that model seems to be just a variant of the Redmi 5A. The Redmi 5A has again appeared on TENAA, this time with the model number MCE3B. The specifications are markedly similar to the first model but there is, even more, details on this new listing.

The new TENAA listing shows the Redmi 5A will be available in 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM versions, as well as 16GB and 32GB storage variants. The Redmi 5A features a 5-inch display with HD resolution (1280 x 720p) and has a body thickness of 8.35mm. The entire device weighs 137g and it is listed with an array of colour options such as Black, Rose Gold, Gold, White, Blue, Red, Pink, Gray, and Silver.

In addition, the Redmi 5A is equipped with a 1.4GHz Quad-core processor with entire network support and the processor is believed to be a Snapdragon 425 processor. The device is listed with a memory combination of 2GB RAM + 16GB storage and 3GB RAM + 32GB storage. On the camera angle, there is an 8MP rear camera as well as a 5MP front-facing shooter. The device will get its juice from a generous 3,000mAh battery while the interface will be based on Android 7.1.2 Operating system.

The TENAA listing is accompanied with photos of the Redmi 5A and the photos show the device will adorn a metal body manufactured using a three-stage design. There is also an absence of a fingerprint sensor just like the Redmi Note 5A. The Redmi 5A is expected to come with a cheap price tag which should hover around 599 Yuan for the 2GB+16GB variant and 699 Yuan for the 3GB+32GB variant.

(source)

Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Rumor Roundup: Specifications Features, Price, Launch Event & Livestream Details

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 2, 2017

Google’s upcoming Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL flagship phones are launching on Oct. 4. The rumor mill has revealed almost everything on the upcoming Pixel phones from their specifications to pricing. Here is a rumor roundup on the upcoming Pixel smartphones.

Design and Display

The leaked renders of the Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have revealed that these phones will be arriving with a two-tone design on the back panel. One-third of the rear panel will be made up of glass and the remaining portion is pegged to be made up of metal. Last year’s Google Pixel phones had the fingerprint scanner placed inside the glass portion. However, upcoming Pixel 2 phones are rumored to feature the fingerprint reader in the metallic portion.

The IP67 certified chassis of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will protect them from damage from water and dust. The Pixel 2 duo are unlikely to feature the standard 3.5mm audio jack, but are pegged to arrive with dual stereo speakers on the front panel. The Pixel 2 is expected to come in colors like Kinda Blue, Just Black and Clearly White whereas the Pixel 2 XL may be available in Black & White and Just Black color variants.

The Pixel 2 is speculated to resemble the original Pixel phone whereas the Pixel 2 XL is rumored to have a full-screen design like the LG V30. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are rumored to feature a pressure-sensitive frame like HTC U11. The feature is rumored to be called Active Edge. Squeezing the Pixel 2 or 2 XL may allow users to perform certain actions such as activating Google Assistant and dismissing alarm.

The Pixel 2 is speculated to arrive with a 4.97-inch OLED display that will support FHD resolution. The Pixel 2 XL is rumored to be fitted with a 5.99-inch OLED display that may deliver a resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels along with an aspect ratio of 18:9. The Pixel 2 XL’s display is expected to support Wide Color Gamut and offer a screen-to-body ratio of around 80 to 85 percent.

Google Pixel 2 & Google Pixel 2XL Screen Protective cover

Chipset, Storage and Battery

The Snapdragon 835 SoC along with 4 GB RAM are rumored to be present under the hood of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. These phones are expected to arrive in storage sizes like 64 GB and 128 GB. Like the original Pixel phones, the Pixel 2 duo are unlikely to feature a microSD card slot. The Pixel 2 may come equipped with a 2,700 mAh battery whereas the Pixel 2 XL may house a 3,520 mAh battery.

Camera and Software

There is no information available on the exact camera configuration of the cameras that will be available on the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. However, both the phones are going to feature the same rear and front cameras. The rear cameras of both phones are speculated to carry support for Optical Image Stabilization.

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL are rumored to arrive with Android 8.1 Oreo preinstalled. It is expected to bring some new features like a redesigned Pixel launcher, portrait mode feature on Google camera app, and Always-On Display. Google Lens that will allow users to point the cameras of the Pixel 2 phones to any object to get relevant information is speculated as one of the killer features of Pixel 2 duo.

The presence of e-SIM inside the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will allow users to easily switch between networks of different carriers of the U.S. through Project Fi. The search engine will be providing free unlimited storage on Google Cloud until 2023 for Pixel 2 and 2 XL buyers.

Pricing, Launch Event and Livestreaming

The 64 GB and 128 GB Pixel 2 are rumored to be respectively priced at $649 and $749 and the same storage models of Pixel 2 XL are speculated to respectively cost $849 and $949.

The launch event of the Pixel 2 duo will be held at San Francisco begin on Oct. 4 at 9 AM PST in the U.S. The event will be livestreamed here. It can be viewed at 5 PM BST, 9:30 PM IST and 12 AM on Oct. 5 in China.

Through the Oct. 4 launch event, Google is also expected to unveil Google Pixelbook, Home Mini smart speaker and Daydream View VR and Google Assistant powered headphones. The rumor mill is also talking another Google phone called Ultra Pixel that is expected to rival with Apple iPhone X. However, it may not get unveiled with Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

Huawei Mate 10 May Arrive with a Dock for Accessing Desktop UI on a Large Screen

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 2, 2017

With the launch of Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung introduced the Samsung DeX feature that allows users to connect the smartphone to a large display by using a dock. Fresh information suggest that Huawei is likely to introduce a similar feature with launch of Mate 10 flagship.

MirAxess CEO Yanis Anteur has claimed that the Mate 10 would be arriving with a PC style functionality. Here is what Anteur has said on it:

“For now on we recommend to use the Mirabook with the Galaxy S8 for DeX and Windows Phones for Continuum. I also have a secret news for you (sic), the new Huawei smartphones announced on 16 October will have a DeX like feature and should be compatible with the Mirabook.”

The above statement suggests that the Mate 10 will provide users with a desktop UI for Android apps by connecting it to display through a dock. Hence, Huawei may debut a proprietary desktop dock that may feature a Displayport. Since Miracast is well-supported by various smart TVs, it won’t be difficult for Mate 10 users to find a compatible large screen. The rumored desktop dock from the Chinese company is also expected to carry support for wireless connectivity for hooking Mate 10 to a large screen through Miracast.

Huawei has recently released a teaser that to reveal the prowess of the Mate 10. The teaser claims that the Mate 10 that is driven by AI enabled Kirin 970 chipset is not a smartphone. This teaser could be hinting its secret desktop functionality. However, the teaser mainly focuses on the AI capabilities of the smartphone by calling it is an intelligent machine that can see, think and learn like a human.

Huawei has been consistently teasing that the Mate 10 is powerful enough to take on the recent flagships from Apple and Samsung. At present, Huawei is the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer after Samsung. Unlike Samsung, Huawei is a highly popular brand in China and the arrival of the DeX-like feature on Mate 10 may receive wide penetrance. This can also prompt other smartphone makers to bring support for desktop interface in their flagship phones in the near future.

More details on the desktop dock for Mate 10 are expected to surface before the Oct. 16 launch event. What do you think about the rumored desktop interface feature that will be arriving with Huawei Mate 10? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source|via)

Honor 9 Confirmed to Launch in India on October 5

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Oct 2, 2017

Honor India has been teasing the arrival of the Honor 9 with #ExploreWithHonor hashtag since the last week. However, the “Honor Smartphone” Twitter account has officially confirmed that the Honor 9 would be unveiled in India on Oct. 5. Also, the official YouTube account of Honor India has also confirmed the same launch date for Honor 9.

When an Honor 9 fan enquired on the arrival of the phone in India, the “Honor Smartphone” Twitter account revealed Oct. 5 as its launch date. The Honor 9 launch event for India will be held at Taj Exotica in Goa starting at 11 AM.

The Honor 9 was unveiled in China in June and then it was also made available in European countries. The launch of Honor 9 in India has come as a surprise as Huawei was expected to debut Huawei P10 flagship in the country.

The Honor 9 has a glass rear panel and comes in multiple color choices like Glacier Grey, Sapphire Blue, Midnight Black, Gold, Blue Bird, and Robin Egg Blue. However, there is no confirmation on whether the company would be selling all the color variants of the phone in India. Moreover, the appearance of the Honor 9 is very similar to Xiaomi Mi 6 flagship phone.

The smartphone features a 5.15-inch display that produces FHD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. It is driven by Kirin 960 chipset. It comes in 4 GB and 6 GB RAM variants and storage models like 64 GB and 128 GB. It includes a 3,200mAh battery.

The backside of the Honor 9 houses a dual camera setup that includes 12-megapixel and 20-megapixel sensor that are accompanied by a dual-LED flash. The frontside of the phone is fitted with an 8-megapixel selfie camera. It is loaded with EMUI Android 7.0 Nougat OS.

The Honor 8 Pro was launched with a price tag of Rs. 29,999 in India. Hence, the Honor 9 is speculated to launch with of Rs. 35,000 in the country. It will be rivaling against smartphones like Nokia 8 and OnePlus 5.

Honor has confirmed that it will be holding another launch event in this month. It will be holding a launch event for Honor 7X on Oct. 11 in China. The entire specifications of the smartphone have been already revealed.

(source 1, 2, 3)