Google Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL Rumors: Updated Specifications Leaked

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Sep 28, 2017

A lot of information on the upcoming Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones have been revealed in the past weeks. Today, Android Authority has shared fresh details on the specifications of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL that it has received from an exclusive source.

Google Pixel 2 XL Specifications

The Pixel 2 XL will be coming with a curved edge-to-edge display that will support QHD resolution. The display is expected to carry support for Wide Color Gamut. The publication claims that it is not sure of the exact size of the display for Pixel 2 XL. However, its source has stated that it will be supporting a screen-to-body ratio of about 80 to 85 percent. Previous rumors have claimed that it will be fitted with a 5.99-inch OLED panel from LG.

The Pixel 2 will be driven by Snapdragon 835 chipset and it is expected to arrive in 64 GB and 128 GB models. It is going to be equipped with a battery of 3,520 mAh capacity. The publication has added that the Pixel 2 XL won’t be featuring a 3.5mm audio jack, but it will be flanked with dual stereo speakers.

Just like the original Pixel phones, Google is expected to include stellar cameras on the Pixel 2 XL and Pixel 2. At least, one of the camera sensors of the smartphone is going to feature OIS. The Pixel 2 XL is going to feature a e-SIM card that would allow users to seamlessly switch between networks in the U.S.

The Pixel 2 XL is likely to feature Google’s second-generation fingerprint reader. As far as the durability of Pixel 2 XL is concerned, it will feature an IP67 certified dust and water-resistant along with Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The Active Edge feature that will function like the Edge Sense feature on HTC U11 will be available on the left side of the Pixel 2 XL. Hence, squeezing the Pixel 2 XL will allow to launch Google Assistant or dismiss an alarm.

Google Pixel 2 Specifications

The Google Pixel 2 is expected to arrive with identical specs as its larger sibling. However, the Pixel 2 will have some key differences. Since the Pixel 2 will be arriving with a smaller display that supports FHD resolution, it is unlikely to support Wide Color Gamut. It will be featuring a battery of 2,700 mAh capacity. Previous reports have revealed that it will be coming with a 4.97-inch display.

Customers of Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL will be provided with unlimited Google Cloud storage for free until 2023. The Pixel 2 duo will be unveiled on Oct. 4.

(source)

Leaked Photo of ZTE Axon Multy Foldable Smartphone with Dual Screens Appear

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Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 28, 2017

Earlier in this month, the rumor mill had revealed that ZTE will be announcing a foldable smartphone with dual screens called ZTE Axon Multy in the next month. Today, Android Authority has revealed a leaked photo to show the semi-unfolded view of the alleged smartphones.

The ZTE Axon Multy features a pair of full HD displays. When the device is unfolded, these screens join together to form a larger display of 6.8 inches with a resolution of 1,920 x 2,160 pixels. It suggests that the unfolded screen would offer an unconventional aspect ratio of 1:1. As it can be seen in the image below, the two displays are connected by means of a hinge.

The leaked logo of the smartphone had suggested that the smartphone would be unveiled as ZTE Axon Multy. However, newer information suggests that the handset may debut as ZTE Axon M. It is expected to deliver superior multi-tasking experience as it will allow users to run different apps on both screens simultaneously

Previous reports have revealed the thickness of the device when kept in the folded state would be less than 10mm. The dual screen phone would be driven by Snapdragon 820 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. It is pegged to arrive with an internal storage of 32 GB. It is expected to include a 3,120mAh battery. It is speculated to feature a 20-megapixel camera and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The ZTE Axon M is rumored to be unveiled on Oct. 17 in New York. The Chinese firm had already confirmed that it would be holding an unveil event on that day. The Axon M is expected to be exclusively available in the U.S. through AT&T. As far as pricing is concerned, it is expected to cost around $650. Initial reports suggest that the smartphone may not be available outside of the U.S.

What do you think about this smartphone? Will it be able to entice buyers even though it does not feature high-end features like Snapdragon 835 and dual rear cameras? Share us your thoughts by posting your comments below.

(source)

Leaked Official-Looking Posters Pitch Meizu MX7 To Launch on October 11

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 28, 2017

Meizu has tremendously picked up the pace with its smartphones released in the second half of the year. The first half of 2017 saw quite a few models released by the tech giant but now, soon after the launch of the Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus as well as the Meizu Flow headset, the company has launched the M6 Note and recently, the M6. Now, there are signs the Meizu MX7 will be launched on October 11 by the tech giant.

The Meizu MX7 is supposed to be a flagship model considering that the MX series was Meizu’s flagship series until the birth of the Pro-series. The MX7 will take the reins from the MX6 launched around July last year packing an Helio X20 chip and a powerful 12MP Sony IMX386 rear camera sensor. The MX7 was expected to launch in September this year packing an Helio P30 chip, according to the leaked Meizu product schedule for this year that has so far been fairly accurate.

In this case, September is almost gone leaving the possibility of the MX7 launching in October. However, it must be noted that the teaser posters were not released officially by Meizu and cannot be found on any of Meizu’s official Weibo handles. This leaves room for speculation that they are likely fake. Moreso, we can’t vouch for the pedigree of the leaker. The teaser posters are also suggestive of the MX7 packing an in-display fingerprint sensor which Qualcomm says will only find its way into smartphones next year. You can check out the posters from below.

(source)

Huawei Files For U.S & EU Trademark For A New EnVizion 360 Panoramic VR Camera

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 28, 2017

Huawei recently filed a patent application for a selfie toning flash which is believed to find its way into smartphone cameras soon. Apparently, the tech giant is also planning to have its own 360-degree camera as a recent patent filing for an EnVizion 360 Panoramic VR Camera has been made by the Chinese tech giant before the U.S Patent and Trademark Office. A similar patent application was also filed in the EU Intellectual Property Office.

As with other patent applications, not so many details of the product are revealed but the name is suggestive of a panoramic camera likely similar in function to the Samsung Gear 360 camera which made its debut in 2016 and is in its second generation. The Gear 360 has a portable design and is capable of capturing 360-degree photos and videos. The EnVizion 360 Panoramic VR Camera may go beyond just 360-degrees photos and videos, though, as it is also a Virtual Reality camera which would work with a VR headset. Huawei already has a 360-degree camera to its name so, it is most likely there are more innovative features wrapped with this one.

Related: The Insta360 ONE 360-Degree Action Camera Is Currently on Sale at Tomtop

The Huawei patent application also indicates the presence of an Android app which would be used for controlling the EnVizion 360. This is also similar to the Gear 360 which has a dedicated app that lets owners control the camera and stitch the 360-degree photos. The patent filing is pretty recent and so, we might not be seeing the EnVizion 360 camera anytime within this year.

(source 1, 2)

Amazon Launches 5 New Echo Devices and A 4K Fire TV

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 28, 2017

Amazon unveiled a bunch of new products today. Five of the products are Echo related and the last is a new Fire TV.

Amazon Echo 2nd Gen

The Amazon Echo was the first Alexa powered device released by the retail giant in 2014. Then it announced the Amazon Tap and Echo Dot. While the Echo Dot already got a second gen model almost a year ago, the Echo is just getting its own three years later.

The new Amazon Echo is smaller with a height of 148mm but wider with a diameter of 88mm. The biggest change is in its appearance as it now comes in six new styles – Heather Gray Fabric, Charcoal Fabric, Sandstone Fabric, Oak Finish, Walnut Finish and Silver Finish.

[envira-gallery id=”150942″]

It still has 7 microphones that can pick up instructions from all corners of the room in addition to 360° audio. The top is different as you now have volume buttons in addition to the microphone off and Action buttons. You also do not have a microphone grille for the 7 microphones.

The 2nd Gen Amazon Echo will sell for $99.99 and will start shipping in November.

Amazon Echo Plus

The Echo Plus is just like the first gen Echo. However it has a built-in ZigBee smart hub for controlling your home. It is perfect for those who do not already own a smart hub.

The Echo Plus is priced at $149.99 and is available in black, white, and silver. It will ship next month and buyers will get a free Philips Hue bulb.

Amazon Echo Spot

The Echo Spot is a blend of the Echo Show and Echo Dot. You get a smaller circular screen in a compact body along with other features of the Show such as the front camera.

It has a 2W speaker but external speakers can be connected via the 3.5mm audio jack. It comes in black and white and will sell for $129.99 and will be available in December.

Echo Connect

The Echo Connect is a black rectangular box for voice calling. Since Amazon already added voice calling to its Echo speakers, those who have a home phone service and want to connect it to their Echo device need to buy this. All you have to do is plug in your phone line into the Echo Connect and sync your contacts with the Alexa app.

Ask your other compatible Echo devices to call a contact and it places the call using your home line number. It will sell for $34.99 and be available in December.

Echo Buttons

The Echo Buttons are a fun way to use Alexa. They are the first of the Alexa Gadgets and are deigned to provide users with a physical way to interact with other Echo devices.

Other Alexa gadgets will be released and they will be able to perform actions just like the buttons, sync, react to notifications, and send input to your echo device.

The Echo Buttons for now can be used during an Alexa trivia game just like on a Quiz shows. It will come in a pack of two for $20.

Fire TV (4K)

Details of the new Fire TV leaked two weeks ago. The Chromecast-like device will provide 4K content at 60fps as well as HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. It comes with the same remote we saw in the image which has voice control for Alexa once you pair any of your Echo devices to the TV.

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TrueDepth Camera on The iPhone X is Responsible for Supply Issues

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Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

The iPhone X is reported to be facing production issues which have been said will result in some orders not getting fulfilled until next year. Only 40 million units of the phone is expected to be shipped this year.

The production issues are said to be due to components shortages. According to The Wall Street Journal, the component causing the delay in production is the TrueDepth camera and not the AMOLED display. Made-up of two components with the aliases Romeo and Juliet, both work together for FaceID and animoji, WSJ says the component called Romeo is the harder one to make.

It is reported that the factories can only churn out a few ten thousands which is really small considering Apple’s sales targets for the iPhone X is supposed to be a total that of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus’ which is more than 50 million.

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OnePlus 5 Running Android 8.0 Oreo Seen on Geekbench

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

A few days ago, we reported that the Huawei Mate 9 was seen on Geekbench running Android 8.0 Oreo. A new Geekbench listing shows that a OnePlus 5 running Android 8.0 was also benchmarked a few days later.

OnePlus has already confirmed that its latest flagship along with the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T will be updated to Android 8.0. A few weeks ago, OnePlus released Android Oreo for the three phones for its closed beta group. It then said that a public beta version will be available by the end of September.

The OnePlus 5 benchmarked is the 6GB RAM variant. It scored 1837 points in the single core test and 6085 in the multi-core test. This is a couple of points below that of the 8GB RAM version seen on the site before its release.

OnePlus phones run OxygenOS which is a lot like pure Android but with some interesting customization features. This makes it easy for them to push out updates faster for their phones. However, that doesn’t mean their devices have a longer update life.

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Mediatek’s New MT6739 Quad-Core SoC Has Dual VoLTE and 18:9 Display Support

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

Taiwanese chip maker, MediaTek has announced a new processor at the ongoing India Mobile World Congress. The MT6739 is a quad-core chip targeted at the country’s growing 4G market.

Mediatek MT6739

The unique selling point of the chip is its support for dual VoLTE and Dual SIM Dual Standby, that is each SIM can be set to 4G+4G. The MT6739 has four Cortex-A53 processors with a clockspeed of up to 1.5GHz. Its GPU is a PowerVR GE8100 clocked at 570MHz.

Maximum RAM supported is 3GB and it should provide Cat. 4 LTE downlink speeds and Cat. 5 uplink speeds. The chip also supports up to 13MP cameras.

Another feature of the new processor is its support for 18:9 screens with HD+ resolution. This means the chip will most likely be the SoC of choice for manufacturers planning to release low-cost full screen smartphones.

MediaTek also announced the Helio P23 at the event. It has 8 Cortex-A53 processors with a clockspeed of up to 2.3GHz. Like the MT6739, the P23 has dual VoLTE in addition to ViLTE. It also supports 13MP + 13MP dual cameras or a single 24MP camera.

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Apple is Most Valuable Brand for The 5th Time in A Row

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

Apple Inc. has been awarded the most valuable brand for the 5th time by Interbrand, a consultant firm. The tech company with its headquarters in Cupertino, California is valued at $184 billion, 3% up from last year. This is Apple’s 5th win in a row.

Google which marks its 19th anniversary today comes in at $141.7 billion, 6% up from last year’s figure. Microsoft comes in at third place with a value of $80 billion and a 10% annual growth. Jeff Bezos’ led Amazon which is based in Seattle comes after Coca-Cola ($69.7 billion, a 5% drop), the only non-tech company in the top 4, with a value of $64.79 billion.

Apple’s biggest rival in the smartphone industry, Samsung is at the sixth position with a $56.2 billion value, a 9% increase from 2016. Facebook is the tech company with the biggest increase in brand value – a 48% increase to bring it to $48 billion.

Toyota and Mercedes Benz are the only two automobile companies on the list, valued at $50 billion and $47 billion value respectively. IBM (excluding the PC and server business owned by Lenovo) is the 10th with a value of $48 billion.

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Are These Live Photos That of The Mate 10 Pro?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

The Huawei Mate 10 will arrive on October 16. Expected to come in 4 variants, alleged live photos of one of them have been leaked online. Although the leaker says it is the Mate 10, we are not so sure.

We know it is not the Mate 10 Lite as that is the already announced Maimang 6. We also know it is not the Mate 10 because that is expected to have its fingerprint scanner in front. That leaves us with this being the Mate 10 Pro which is expected to have its fingerprint scanner on the rear due to its 18:9 EntireView display. Though we can’t confirm the display type since there are only photos of the back.

Unlike the Huawei Mate 9 Pro whose dual rear cameras are in a vertical position, the sensors here are horizontally placed. To also distinguish it from the design of the iPhone 8 Plus or the OnePlus 5, Huawei has put the cameras in the middle.

Flanking the sensors on the right is the LED flash and on the right is a laser focus module. The entire camera setup is housed in a pill shaped design with a silver chrome accent. There is also a circular fingerprint scanner below the cameras.

The Mate 10 Pro seen in the image has a reflective back just like the HTC U11. The finishing does look really good but it sure is going to be a fingerprint scanner.

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2018 Sony Smartphones Confirmed to Arrive with New Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 27, 2017

Sony has been making smartphones with OmniBalance design since 2013. However, a recent report had revealed that the Japanese tech giant will be launching its forthcoming smartphones with new design. Since the information had surfaced from a forum post, it could not be fully trusted. Today, the managing director of Sony, Kenichiro Hibi has confirmed that the Sony will be “soon” adopting a new design for its next-generation smartphones.

Sony has released its new smartphones, the Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ Premium with thick bezels above and below the screen when other smartphone OEMs such as Samsung, LG and Apple have launched premium phones with full screen design. Hibi said that in order to stay competitive in the premium smartphone market, Sony will be launching forthcoming smartphones with new design language. The OmniBalance design will continue to exist as long as X series smartphones are available in the market.

A leaked information that had surfaced in the previous week had revealed that the new design concept that Sony will be using on its next-generation phones is called Mirai. Since the rivaling brands are launching phones with elongated display and bezel-less design, it is likely that the 2018 smartphones from the company may feature a full screen design. However, Hibi refrained from sharing any information on the forthcoming phones.

In April, Japan Display had launched a new 18:9 Full Active LCD panel. Since Sony is known for using display panels from Japan Display, the company launch 2018 Xperia phones with Full Active display.

He stated that the Sony will focus on launching high-end smartphones in India. The company will also continue to release mid-range smartphones priced above Rs. 20,000 (~$305) to survive in a highly competitive market like India. Sony has recently released the Xperia XA1 Plus with a pricing of Rs. 24,990 (~$380).

Even though the Sony Xperia XZ1 smartphone has released with flagship specifications, the company has dubbed at it as “mass-market flagship.” Hence, it is priced less than the competitor smartphones. The XZ1 has arrived in India with a price tag of Rs. 44,990 (~$684) and the Xperia XZ Premium is available for Rs. 60,000 (~$913).

Sony is known for announcing at Mobile World Congress around in February and at IFA expo in September. It is likely that the Japanese tech giant may unveil bezel-less smartphones at the upcoming 2018 Mobile World Congress event.

(source)

Hi-Res Images of Samsung’s Mixed Reality Headset Leaks

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Sep 27, 2017

While other companies are into Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR), Microsoft is focused on Mixed Reality (MR) – a blend of both or to better put it, blending the physical and virtual worlds. Hardware for mixed reality is categorized into two – immersive and holographic. Samsung’s mixed reality headset which just leaked belongs to the immersive category while the Microsoft Hololens is an example of the latter.

Samsung isn’t the only manufacturer with a mixed reality headset. Lenovo, Dell, and ASUS have headsets that should go on sale before the end of the year. If you can’t wait for those, you can buy HP’s or Acer’s Mixed Reality developer edition headsets.

Samsung’s own headset is a bit different from the rest. Instead of an audio out jack, the headset has a pair of AKG headphones integrated into it. For those who don’t know, AKG Acoustics or rather its parent company, Harman International Industries is now owned by Samsung.

The headset is black and looks a bit like the PSVR headset. There are two cameras in front for tracking your environment and there is a wire for connecting to your PC. There is also an image that shows the headset alongside a pair of Microsoft’s motion controllers.

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Xiaomi Reportedly Valued At $69 Billion, May Seek New York IPO

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 27, 2017

Xiaomi earlier this year disclosed that it hopes to ship 70 million phones in 2017 and had also set a 100 billion yuan revenue target for 2017. There are strong indications that Xiaomi would hit its target 70 million shipments by October, two months before the end of the year. The Chinese tech giant is expected to hit 10 million units in shipments this September and another 10 million shipments in the fourth and final quarter of 2017.

Considering the company’s performance so far, Xiaomi is expected to record a revenue of up to 109.75 billion yuan ($16.8 billion USD) this year. This has made financial analysts to put Xiaomi’s net worth at a whopping $69 billion. This estimation is based on the same Price-Earnings ratio (P/E ratio) which was used to evaluate the company in its 2014 fiscal year where it accrued an estimated $45 billion valuation. Apart from the huge valuation, there are also talks of Xiaomi seeking an IPO, which would bring in more investors and thus help the company expand to new frontiers.

The progress made by Xiaomi was indeed thought to be a tall order when Lei Jun disclosed the target of 70 million shipments for this year back in January. This was because the projection was coming on the heels of a poor 2016 which saw the company ship only 41.5 million phones in China according to a report by IDC. There is no doubt now that Xiaomi has got its act together and is set to challenge for the top 3 spots in the near future. Xiaomi did succeed to climb into the first five top global phone makers in the second quarter of the year and is expected to remain within the quintet for the rest of the year.

(source)

Microsoft Surface Pro LTE Models are Reportedly Arriving on December 1

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 27, 2017

When Microsoft was expected to debut Surface Pro 5 as the successor for Surface Pro 4 in May, the company had unveiled the “new Surface Pro.” At that time, it had also promised to release a cellular variant later this year. During the ongoing Microsoft Ignite 2017 event in Orlando, the company has confirmed on the arrival time of Surface Pro with LTE connectivity.

Microsoft has been silent on the LTE variant after the launch of Surface Pro. Earlier in this month, a U.K. based retailer began the pre-orders of the Surface Pro LTE with December release date. At the aforementioned event, Microsoft has confirmed that Surface Pro with LTE connectivity would be available from Dec. 1.

Some rumors claim that the LTE-enabled Surface Pro would be showcased at the Future Decoded event that will be held on Oct. 31. Surface chief Panos Panay will be delivering a keynote at the upcoming event.

The two Core i5 models of the Surface Pro will come with support LTE connectivity. It means the variants like 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB storage or 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage with Intel HD 620 graphics. These configurations match with the Surface Pro LTE devices that were available on pre-orders earlier this month.

As far as pricing is concerned, the U.K retailer had listed the 4 GB RAM variant with a pricing of £1,132 (~$1,400) and the 6 GB RAM model was listed for £1,402 (~ $1,800). These prices may not be final as the pre-order pages are no longer accessible. The Core i7 Surface Pro model featuring 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage is also expected to arrive with LTE connectivity in the near future. This seems to be a possibility because Microsoft had introduced different color variants for Core i5 Surface Laptop, but later on Core i7 variants had also arrived in new colors.

Do you think that the LTE-enabled Surface Pro will be well-received by consumers? Share us your thoughts by adding your comments below.

(source)

Hisense A2 Pro Pricing Revealed, Now On Sale on JD.com

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 27, 2017

Hisense announced its latest dual-screen smartphone dubbed A2 Pro in China a couple of days back. The device was immediately available for reservation of JD.com but the price wasn’t announced. The Hisense A2 Pro has now got its price tag unmasked as it goes on sale today on Jingdong and it comes in cheaper than the 3699 Yuan- Yotaphone 3. The A2 Pro will sell for 2,999 Yuan (~$451) which is about 700 Yuan lower than the price of the Yota 3.

The Hisense A2 Pro features a dual screen setup comprised of a 5.5-inch AMOLED display and a 5.2-inch e-ink secondary display at the rear which is similar to what the Yota 3 features. However, the Yota3 comes with a superior specs lineup than the A2 Pro, thus justifying its higher price tag.

As a reminder, the Hisense A2 Pro features a Full HD display with 2.5D curved glass at the front. The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor backed by 4GB of RAM and there is 64GB of storage onboard. On the camera end, the device packs a 12MP Sony IMX386 flagship sensor at the rear which should team up properly with the powerful processor to deliver shots with vivid clarity. In addition, the A2 Pro packs a decent 3,090mAh battery and has support for dual SIM cards/ dual standby. It comes with a fingerprint sensor which is located on the side of the device. The A2 Pro is now on sale on Hisense official flagship store on Jingdong.

HTC U11 Plus Concept Renders Surface to Reveal Marvelous Full Screen Design

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 27, 2017

HTC is speculated to launch a couple of smartphones such as Ocean Master, Ocean Life, Ocean Harmony and HTC U11 Life before the end of 2017. Recent reports suggest that the Ocean Master is the codename of HTC U11 Plus flagship smartphone. Some of the key specs of the smartphone have already surfaced. Waqar Khan who is known for designing concept renders of popular smartphones has created concept model of the HTC U11 Plus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNzCyBSafGU&feature=youtu.be

The realistic looking HTC U11 Plus concept renders reveal its marvelous full screen design. As it can be seen in the concept renders, the U11 Plus has a large-sized screen that is flanked with very slim bezels on its four sides. The rear side of the smartphone features a camera and fingerprint reader. The backside of the phone features a glass panel that appears to be curved at all the four edges.

Previous reports have revealed that the HTC U11 Plus will be fitted with a 5.99-inch display. It is expected to support an aspect ratio of 18:9 and QHD+ resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels. The Snapdragon 835 chipset is expected to power the smartphone.

Read More: Its A Done Deal! Google Buys HTC’s “Powered by HTC” R&D Division For $1.1 billion

The base model of the HTC U11 Plus is rumored to include 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. The highest configuration model is expected to feature 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Other speculated features of the smartphone include 12-megpaixel rear camera, 8-megapixel selfie camera and Quick Charge 3.0.

Like the HTC U11, the Plus edition is pegged to arrive with pressure-sensitive squeezable frame. It is rumored to wear an IP68 certified chassis. Rumors are rife that the HTC U11 Plus may get unveiled on Nov. 11.

HTC seems to have a busy schedule for the last quarter of this year. The Ocean Lite is also expected to get announced in November. The Ocean Harmony is speculated to break cover in December. In the next week, Google will be unleashing the HTC-made Pixel 2 and LG-made Pixel 2 XL smartphones. The Taiwanese company is also rumored to launch an Android One version of its upcoming HTC U11 Life smartphone.

Honor Releases Poster Teasing Honor 7X Launch Scheduled For October 11

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Sep 27, 2017

Huawei’s elite Honor brand has released a poster which teases the launch of the Honor 7X on October 11. The Honor 7X has in the past appeared online in leaks and was first thought to be named Honor V9 Mini due to its closeness in design to the Honor V9 launched earlier this year.

Previous leaks have revealed that the Honor 7X would feature a dual rear camera setup and we had even seen what could be the sample photo captured by the Honor 7X’s dual cameras. Apart from dual cameras, the latest teaser poster also suggests that the Honor model would come with a full-screen design. If this happens to be real, Huawei would be bringing the trending Full-screen design to the mid-range segment in addition to the flagship Mate 10 Pro that is coming with a full-screen design.

Previous leaks have shown that the Huawei Honor 7X would feature a full metallic body with a USB-C port. The device will also pack a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and a design similar to the Honor V9 but would likely have a size slightly smaller than the 5.9-inch display the Honor V9 features. Other details are still sketchy as at this moment but we’ll bring you more as they emerge.

Kaspersky’s TaigaPhone that Prevents Google, Facebook from Spying on User Data to Release Soon in Russia

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 27, 2017

Natalya Kaspersky, the co-founder of Russia’s Kaspersky Lab is working on a smartphone called TaigaPhone that prevents apps like Google from spying on users. The smartphone has been designed by InfoWatch Group that is based in Moscow, Russia. Natalya is also the President of the InfoWatch Group.

The TaigaPhone will be running on customized version of Android that will prevent apps from collecting data. There is no confirmation on whether it will give access to Google Play Store. According to Natalya, “Most smartphone apps collect certain data on users and send it to outside servers.” She has also stated that when users make use of personal smartphones at workplace, their corporate emails, documents and photos are maliciously or accidently shared with third-party agencies.

TaigaPhone will allow the users to monitor and control the data that the apps try to collect. Also, IT departments in corporate companies will be able to control what apps are installed on the phone and what content are shared by the users. InfoWatch claims that the U.S. companies like Google and Facebook use their apps to collect user data. The main motive of making the Taiga smartphone is to protect the sensitive data of Russian citizens and corporations from getting leaked to the U.S. servers.

The company would be manufacturing 50,000 units of the TaigaPhone initially in China. It will be first made available to the workers of Russia companies that are co-owned by the government. Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates are the other markets that will be receiving Taiga. In Russia, the smartphone would be costing around 15,000 rubles (~$260). TaigaPhone has reached final stages of its production. It is a dual-SIM phone that features a 5-inch display and it features two cameras. Nothing much is known on the specifications of the phone.

The technological cold war between the U.S. and Russia is heating up and TaigaPhone is the latest example. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently banned the use of Kaspersky antivirus in the country citing risk to national security. The Trump administration has also directed the U.S. government agencies to remove all the products from Kaspersky Lab from their networks. On the other side, President of Russia Vladimir Putin is reducing the country’s reliance on U.S. based firms like Microsoft and IBM.

(source)

Gionee S11 with 6-inch FHD+ Display, MT6763 SoC and 4 GB RAM Gets Spotted on GFXBench

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Sep 27, 2017

Gionee had launched the S10 smartphone with dual rear and front cameras in May this year. It appears that the company is prepping up on the successor for Gionee S10 as a smartphone labelled as Gionee S11 has appeared on GFXBench benchmarking site.

The GFXBench listing has revealed that the smartphone features a 6-inch display that carries support for FHD+ resolution of 2,160 x 1,080 pixels. The Chinese firm has recently launched Gionee M7 smartphone that houses a 6.01-inch FHD+ AMOLED display which offers an aspect ratio of 18:9.

It is likely that the Gionee S11 may feature the same 18:9 FullView Display that is available on the Gionee S10 smartphone. Since the smartphone is likely to arrive with a FullView Display, there is a possibility that it would be coming with a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.

The MediaTek MT6763 chipset that clocks at 2.3 GHz is present under the hood of the device which features an ARM Mali-G71 graphics. The chipset of the Gionee S11 will be accompanied by 4 GB of RAM and it will be coming with an internal storage of 64 GB. The S11 will arrive loaded with Android 7.1.1 Nougat that would be customized with Amigo proprietary skin from the company.

The benchmarking site has further revealed that the Gionee S11 would be coming with a 16-megapixel rear camera and a frontal camera of 5-megapixel. There is no confirmation on whether the smartphone would be featuring dual rear and front cameras. There is no information on the battery of the device. However, the smartphone may arrive with a battery of 3,500mAh capacity.

After the recently launched Gionee M7 and Steel 2 Plus smartphones, Gionee S11 could be the third smartphone from the company to arrive with FullView Display. The Gionee M7 is powered by Helio P30 processor and 6 GB of RAM. It includes a 16-megapixel + 8-megapixel dual rear camera system and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. It is packed with a 4,000mh battery. The handset is priced at 2,799 (~$425).

The Gionee Steel 2 Plus features an 18:9 FullView Display of 6 inches. It features MediaTek MT6737 chipset, 3 GB of RAM and Snapdragon 435. It has a rear camera of 13-megapixel and a front-facing shooter of 8-megapixel. It is packed with a huge 5,000mAh battery. It carriers a pricing of 1,999 Yuan (~$305).

(source)

The Panasonic Eluga 14 Is A Slightly Cheaper Eluga Ray 500 With Too Many Trade-offs

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Sep 26, 2017

The newly announced Eluga 14 adds to the list of Eluga devices released by Panasonic in recent weeks. It is hard understanding why the Panasonic Eluga 14 exists, as its specs positions it as a lite version of the Eluga Ray 500 but with an unjustifiable price.

The Eluga 14 has the same 5.0” HD display with 2.5D glass as well as the MT6737 SoC of the Eluga Ray 500. It however comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

Another area where it is downgraded is the camera department. Unlike the Eluga Ray 500 that has dual rear cameras, the Eluga 14 has a single 8MP camera with quad LED flash. Front camera remains 5MP.

The Eluga 14 has dual SIM support, VoLTE, and a MicroSD card slot (128GB max.). It also has a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. Battery capacity has been reduced to 3000mAh but it still comes with Android 7.0 out of the box.

So how much does the Panasonic Eluga 14 cost? INR 8290 (~$127)! Now you have to ask yourself if it makes sense purchasing it when the Eluga Ray 500 which has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, dual rear cameras, and a larger 4000mAh battery costs INR 709 (~$11) more (INR 8990 (~$138).

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