Samsung To Exclusively Get Initial Batch Of Snapdragon 845 For Galaxy S9?

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Oct 9, 2017

For Galaxy S8, Samsung had a deal with Qualcomm which allowed the South Korean company to keep the initial batch of Snapdragon 835 processor to itself. Now, a new report suggests that Samsung will have a similar deal for the Snapdragon 845 as well.

Samsung got to keep the initial batch of Snapdragon 835 as it worked out a deal with Qualcomm for the manufacturing of Snapdragon 835 processor. If Qualcomm again resorts to Samsung for manufacturing Snapdragon 845, the South Korean giant could get a similar deal this time also.

On the other hand, some reports indicate that Qualcomm has ditched Samsung and is giving the contract to manufacture its next-generation chipset to its rival TSMC, while other reports suggest LG as the manufacturer.

Samsung will be launching its new flagship smartphones next year, and if Samsung manufactures the upcoming chipset, it could retain the first batch of Snapdragon 845 exclusively for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.

The same report also suggests that the Galaxy S9 and its bigger sibling, Galaxy S9 Plus are likely to launch a month earlier than usual.

However, this report contradicts earlier reports which suggest that Xiaomi Mi 7 will be the first device to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 process. Xiaomi is said to be working with Qualcomm to optimize the chipset Snapdragon 845 v2 for Mi 7.

The Snapdragon 845 is expected to get manufactured through 10nm Low Power Early (LPE) FinFET process. It is said to come with a combination of Cortex A75 cores, Adreno 630 graphics and X20 LTE modem.

The Galaxy S9 is expected to arrive in two models according to a leaked listing of firmware codes – G965FXXU0AQI5 and G960FXXU0AQI5. These two models are said to be the SM-G965 and the SM-G960.

Some report suggests that the phone could probably have the same display size and shape as the S8. We are expecting more information about Samsung’s next flagship smartphones to surface in the coming weeks.

(Source)

Photos of Redmi Phone With 18:9 Display Leaked, Is This The Redmi Note 5?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 9, 2017

Fresh images leaked on the internet today reveal that Xiaomi is bringing the trending 18:9 display to its Redmi line. The photos show the front and rear of a phone which we think may be the Redmi Note 5.

The Redmi line is known for maxing out at 5.5-inches but this device has a larger screen, thanks to the significantly reduced bezels at the top and bottom of the phone. Our guess is that the display is about 6.0” in size.

The bezels are actually pretty thin. The bottom one even appears to be thinner than that of the Mi MIX 2. The top bezel is slightly bigger because it holds the front camera, earpiece, and sensor. We can also make out the volume rocker and power button on the right of the device.

The back of the phone is what gives this away as a Redmi phone. The design reminds us of the Redmi Pro, the only dual camera phone released under the Redmi line. Due to the screen taking up much of the front, the phone has the fingerprint scanner at the back. It sits below the LED flash and seems to have the same diameter as the cameras.

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Project Loon Gets FCC Approval For Wireless Connectivity In Puerto Rico

By

Jeet

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Oct 9, 2017

Project Loon, a product of Google‘s parent Alphabet, had expressed interest to help restore wireless connectivity in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Both islands, after being hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, are left without cellphone coverage in more than 90 percent area.

In the development of this matter, within just seven days, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has given an experimental license for 30 Project Loon balloons to fly over Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The license is applicable from October 6th until April 4th, 2018. It was granted to Ben Wojtowicz, a software engineer and member of Alphabet’s X lab who is working on Project Loon.

In the license, FCC stated that “the purpose of the [Special Temporary Authority] is to support licensed mobile carriers’ restoration of limited communications capability in areas of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.”

If everything goes as per the company’s plans, then the balloons will temporarily replace thousands of mobile towers and provide voice and data services to users.

The 30 Loon balloons will float 20 kilometers above the earth in the stratosphere and will relay communications between ground stations connected to the surviving wireless networks, and the devices of users.

Each balloon can serve 5,000 square kilometers. Hence, 30 balloons are expected to provide service over all of Puerto Rico and some parts of the US Virgin Islands.

The spokesperson of the X division explained in a press statement that the next step is to integrate Project Loon with a telco partner’s network. The spokesperson further added that things are a little more complicated as they are starting from scratch.

In the application submitted to FCC, Alphabet showed that it has permission for Loon to use frequencies of eight wireless carriers in Puerto Rico for disaster relief and to restore limited communications.

Notably, this isn’t the first time Project Loon is coming to rescue in the time of emergency. Earlier this year, Project Loon was deployed with the help of Telefonica in Peru after a series of devastating floods.

Project Loon was started with the aim of serving the population that is still without internet access. It has launched several successful pilot projects, but the project is yet to be deployed commercially on a large scale.

(Source)

Honor 7X TENAA Listings Reveal 4 GB RAM, 64 GB & 128 GB Storage Options, 18:9 Display

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 9, 2017

Previous reports have revealed that the BND-AL10 and BND-TL10 are the variants of the upcoming of the Honor 7X smartphone. Since both the variants have now received TENAA certification, the entire specifications of the Honor 7X have been revealed.

The Honor 7X measures 156.5x 75.3 x 7.6mm and its weight is 165 grams. The BND-AL10 and BND-TL10 variants of the Honor 7X have identical specs. However, the listings suggest that the latter will be a China Mobile carrier variant whereas the former will be a regular edition. The Honor 7X will be coming in three color choices such as black, blue and gold. The images of the smartphone that have surfaced on TENAA show that it features a rear-mounted fingerprint reader.

Previous rumors have revealed that the Honor 7X would be coming in two models such as 3 GB of RAM + 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of storage. However, the TENAA listing for the BND-AL10 model has been modified. It states that the model featuring 4 GB RAM + 32 GB of storage has been replaced by 4 GB of RAM + 128 GB storage. Hence, there is a possibility that that the Honor 7X may not be available in 3 GB RAM option. The smartphone will also feature an external storage slot that will support up to 256 GB of microSD card.

[envira-gallery id=”152315″]

The TENAA listings have revealed that the Honor 7X will be featuring a 5.93-inch display that will support a FHD+ resolution of 2,160 x 1,080 pixels. This suggests that the handset will feature an elongated display like the recently unveiled Honor 9i and it will offer an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The Geekbench listing of the Honor 7X as well as some of its recent reports have revealed that the handset is powered by 2.36 GHz Kirin 659 chipset. It will be fueled by 3,240mAh battery. The handset will come preinstalled with Android 7.0 Nougat that will be customized with Emotion UI skin. For photography, it is expected to house a dual camera system on its rear panel that will include a 16-megapixel sensor and a 2-megapixel sensor. It will be arriving with an 8-megapixel selfie snapper.

The Honor 7X is scheduled to get announced on Oct. 11. Its 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM model is expected to be priced around 2,099 Yuan (~$315).

(source 1, 2)

Xiaomi Mi Note 3 Already Selling At A Discount Price Online

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 9, 2017

Xiaomi phones have always been plagued by a shortage of stock in the past which has worked against the growth of the innovative tech company. But recently, there has been a change which has seen more units coming out of the production line. This has ensured that the supply chain is efficient such that third-party retailers now get enough units of Xiaomi phones, including the Mi Mix 2 and Mi Note 3 launched on September 11.

That is perhaps one reason for the reduction in price which the Mi Note 3 currently enjoys on a third-party retail website named Sundan. The 6GB + 128GB version of the Mi Note 3 is presently on sale for 2,699 Yuan, which is 200 Yuan lower than the price listed on Xiaomi’s official website as well as other retail websites like JD and Suning, where it sells for 2,899 Yuan. The price reduction is for the Bright Black version and also apply to the Blue variant. The Blue variant is presently available for 2,799 Yuan which is still 200 Yuan lower than the official price. This reduction doesn’t apply to the 64GB version of the Note 3.

We don’t know exactly why this sudden reduction or discount in the Mi Note 3’s price but it is likely a temporary reduction aimed at ramping up sales on their retail channel. As a reminder, the Xiaomi Mi Note 3 comes with the upper mid-range Snapdragon 660 chipset with 6GB + 64GB /128GB memory options. There’s a 5.5-inch 1080p display on board. The 12MP camera module is the same as the Mi 6, but the algorithms have been improved to provide better bokeh tracking. Mi 6’s portrait focus wasn’t very accurate, so it would be interesting to see how the new algorithms improve the tracking. On the front, the phone features a large 16 MP 2μm sensor for noise-free selfies. You can check out a few bokeh samples down below. There’s a large 3500mAh battery as well.

(source)

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore Says Windows Phone Is No Longer Company’s Focus

By

Jeet

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Oct 9, 2017

There have been a lot of speculations regarding the future of Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. Now, it seems that the company’s executive Joe Belfiore has put the matter to rest.

Joe Belfiore, former Windows Phone program manager and current Corporate VP for Windows, has tweeted that new features and hardware for Windows 10 Mobile “aren’t the focus anymore” for the company.

However, if you are the one who is still using Windows Phone, you’ll still get fixes and security patches, but don’t expect anything more than that. The fixes and patches will keep coming mainly due to the adoption of Windows 10 Mobile for Work in the enterprise market.

One of the major reason he pointed out for dropping the platform is to get developers to develop apps for the platform. He even said that Microsoft tried paying companies to make apps, but the lack of users became another problem as for most companies, the userbase was too low to invest.

Of course, there were more reasons behind the failure of Windows Phone. While the company failed to keep up with Android and iOS, it also had no specific hardware strategy, or so it appeared.

The tweets clearing the air regarding Windows Phone comes from Belfiore after talks about him switching to iPhone and Android devices as his daily drivers.

While it is clear that Microsoft is no longer focusing on the platform, at least not for the near future, the company seems to be more focused on developing and improving applications for Android, macOS and iOS.

Microsoft is encouraging employees to create cross-platform apps in their spare time with Microsoft Garage. Apart from that, it has also launched a few apps for other platforms, including Microsoft Launcher, Edge, Kaizala, Cortana, Next Lock Screen, among others.

As per the rumours, Microsoft is working on a new “mobile” device codenamed Andromeda, which is expected to launch next year. The device will run on the new “Windows Core OS” platform.

(Source)

Honor 7X Appears on Geekbench, Reveals Kirin 659 & 4 GB RAM

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 9, 2017

Honor has confirmed that it will be unveiling the Honor 7X smartphone on Oct. 11. It seems that the Honor 7X is being tested to check its performance before it official launch as it has allegedly appeared on Geekbench benchmarking site.

A smartphone labelled as “Huawei BND-AL10” has been spotted on the benchmarking platform. Rumors have revealed that the smartphone is codenamed as Bond and its 3C certification has revealed BND-AL10 and BND-TL10 model numbers. The Geekbench listing has also revealed that Honor 7X is running on Android 7.0 Nougat and it is powered by an octa-core processor along with 4 GB of RAM. Previous reports have revealed that the all-new Kirin 659 chipset would be fueling the Honor 7X.

On single-core test, the handset has scored 909 points and in multi-core test, it has recorded a score of 3159. This shows that the Honor 7X will be a mid-range phone. The Kirin 659 will be an enhanced version of Kirin 658 that powers phones like Huawei P10 Lite and Huawei Nova Youth.

The recently launched Huawei Honor 9i (also known as Maimang 6 and Nova 2i in other markets) is also fueled by the new Kirin 659 chipset. It is a 16nm chipset that features four cores of Cortex A53 running at 2.36 GHz and four cores of Cortex A51 clocking at 1.7 GHz. It includes Mali T830 MP2 graphics.

The rumor mill has already leaked its specifications and pricing. Since it is speculated to launch as a budget-friendly phone with dual rear cameras, it is expected to rival with Xiaomi Mi 5X. Like the Honor 6X, the Honor 7X is also rumored to be available for buying outside China.

(source)

Real Images and Video of Apple iPhone X Leaked Before Official Pre-Orders

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 9, 2017

At the launch event of iPhone X, Apple had made it official that its pre-orders will begin on Oct. 27. Few photos and a video of what appears to be a real iPhone X have now already appeared on Reddit.

The first image shows the lock screen of the iPhone X and the home screen can be seen in the second image. Since the screen of the iPhone X shows a date of Sept. 30, it appears that these images were snapped in the previous month.

The “Confidential and Proprietary” disclaimer text present at the bottom of the lock screen suggests that the handset has a special build of iOS onboard. Hence, it indicates that the person who has leaked these images and video could be an Apple employee. The rear image of the iPhone X shows its sleek design and the vertically stacked dual cameras.

[envira-gallery id=”152297″]

The video of the iPhone X only lasts for 9 seconds and it shows the live wallpaper in action. The live wallpaper in the video feature red bubbles of different sizes floating on a rich black background. The black color is so rich that the notch present at the top of the phone is almost invisible. The video can be viewed through the source link.

The pre-orders of iPhone X is slated to begin later in this month. Recent reports have revealed that the smartphone is being manufactured in limited quantity since Apple is reportedly struggling with the production of the TrueDepth camera system.

During the unveil event of the iPhone X, the Cupertino company had confirmed that its shipments will begin on Nov. 3, but a recent report has claimed that the shipment of the first 1 million iPhone X units will begin in December. Some reports have also claimed that the iPhone X shipments will begin in February or March next year. If Apple is unable to meet the promise of releasing the iPhone X on Nov. 3, the company may issue an official statement on the delayed shipments by the end of this month.

The iPhone X was unveiled as the tenth anniversary iPhone from the company. The 64 iPhone X carries a pricing of $999 and its 256 GB model is priced at $1,199.

(source 1, 2)

Vivo X20 Now Comes In A Special Black And Gold Color Variant, Specs Remains Same

By

Jeet

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Oct 9, 2017

Vivo X20 smartphone was launched last month, having some of the most popular features that are in demand. After seeing the response to the phone and the sales figures during the National Day in China, the company has now announced a new variant of the smartphone.

Making an announcement on the micro-blogging portal weibo, Vivo has launched a new Black & Gold color variant of its X20 smartphone. This new model is priced at 3398 Yuan, around 300 Yuan more than the regular price of X20 which is available in Gold, Rose Gold and Matte Black colors.

The smartphone comes in Black color with some elements of Gold color. The Vivo branding on the back of the phone, the camera module, and the fingerprint sensor have gold-colored embellishments.

Most of the specifications of this new model remain same as of original. The device comes with a 6.01-inch display and a screen resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The display has an aspect ratio of 18:9, and the screen covers almost 85% of the body on the front side.

Under the hood, it is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 processor. It has 4GB of RAM, just like the original model, along with 128GB of internal storage. While the original device had 64GB storage variant, this special edition lacks the 64GB variant.

The camera setup also remains the same. It boasts a dual camera setup at back, featuring a 12-megapixel primary lens and a 5-megapixel secondary lens. The phone also has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture.

The smartphone, which runs on FunTouch OS based on Android 7.1 Nougat, is powered by a 3,245mAh battery. The smartphone is expected to go on sale from tomorrow.

Vivo X20 in special Black & Gold color variant

(Source)

BlackBerry Motion Officially Unveiled with IP67 Body, 4,000mAh Battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Oct 9, 2017

TCL has officially introduced the BlackBerry Motion smartphone today. It was unveiled through the GITEX Technology Week that is going on in Dubai, UAE. The BlackBerry Motion is a mid-range smartphone that comes with an all-touch display, water-resistant chassis and huge battery.

BlackBerry Motion Specifications and Features

The BlackBerry Motion does not feature a physical QWERTY keyboard. Hence, the frontside of the phone is occupied by a premium anti-scratch LCD display of 5.5 inches that produces a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The power-efficient Snapdragon 625 chipset is present under the hood of the phone along with 4 GB of RAM. The native storage available on the phone is 32 GB.

The presence of 4,000mAh battery makes it the largest battery smartphone from BlackBerry. With Quick Charge 3.0 onboard, the handset can be charged to 50 percent in 40 minutes. The Home button present below the display is embedded with a fingerprint scanner.

The BlackBerry Motion comes pre-installed with Android 7.1 Nougat OS and it is going to receive the latest Android 8.0 Oreo update in 2018. A feature called Locker allow users to securely store their documents and photos on the native storage and make use of a PIN code or fingerprint scanner to access them. The Locker Mode allow users to save captured photos to the internal storage without sending to the cloud.

The Convenience Key is enabled with four customizable profiles such as Home, Car, Office and User. These can be automatically activated through a home Wi-Fi network, in-car Bluetooth, BlackBerry Hub synced meetings or frequently used apps.

For photography, the BlackBerry Motion is fitted with a f/2.0 aperture 12-megapixel snapper. The frontside of the phone includes an 8-megapixel selfie camera. It is the first BlackBerry branded phone to come with IP67 certified body. The handset features an aluminum frame and soft texture on its rear for better grip. It includes connectivity features like 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C, dual-SIM support, 4G and Wi-Fi.

BlackBerry Motion Pricing and Availability

Starting from today, the BlackBerry Motion is available on pre-orders in UAE with a pricing of Dh 1,699 (~$462) and in Saudi Arabia for 1,699 Riyal (~$453). As far as the global release of the smartphone is concerned, TCL has only revealed that it will be made available to select markets.

(via)

EXCLUSIVE: This Is The OnePlus 5T With A Tall 6-inch 18:9 Display

By

Joel Joseph

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Oct 9, 2017

The OnePlus 5 has been selling well for the past four months, but it looks like a successor is already on its way. Our source reveals to us that a new model, which will go by the name of the OnePlus 5T will release in November 2017. This is very similar to what OnePlus did in 2016, releasing the OnePlus 3T just five months after the OnePlus 3.

So, what’s new in the OnePlus 5T?

At this moment, we have only a few details about the upcoming model. The biggest upgrade is said to be in the display department, with the company bumping up the screen size on the 5T model to 6-inches with 2160 x 1080p resolution, thereby making it an 18:9 smartphone. Major manufacturers, including ones like Vivo have released 18:9 flagship smartphones this year, so it makes sense for OnePlus to jump on the tall display bandwagon with a new model. But the OnePlus 5 is already up to date with powerful specs, so it will be interesting to see if there are any other upgrades in the new model’s specifications.

We have also got a low resolution render of the OnePlus 5T model. We can’t deny that the phone seems to draw its inspiration from the Galaxy S8 on the front. The bezels are thin on the top as well as the bottom and the 18:9 aspect ratio is evident from the taller than usual design. What’s even more interesting is that the sides look curved. Our source couldn’t confirm whether the phone has a curved edge display, so we can’t be sure of it right now. The render looks identical to the recently leaked OPPO F5, but our source claims that this is what the OnePlus 5T will look like as well, at least from the front.

While OnePlus is yet to confirm the launch of a new model, there are indications that a new model could be on its way. The OnePlus 5 is already out of stock in many countries right now.

Our source has been reliable in the past, so we are 80% sure that this information will turn out to be true. The internet has been silent about the existence of the OnePlus 5T so far, therefore we’ll have to wait and see whether more details emerge in the coming weeks. The launch is said to be around early November, so there isn’t a lot of time left for its official unveil.

(Source)

Meiigoo S8 Presale Begins On Banggood, Dual Cameras and 18:9 Display for $165

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2017

The Meiigoo S8 is a full-screen smartphone inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S8. Meigoo isn’t hiding where the design inspiration comes from and it is even evident from the name. The Meiigoo S8 packs impressive features for less than half the price of the Galaxy S8 though.

For $169.99, the Meiigoo S8 sports a 6.1-inch FHD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 3D glass on top. It is powered by the MT6750T processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The Meiigoo S8 has two camera at the back. There is a primary 13MP f/2.2 sensor paired with a 5MP sensor for adding depth of field effect. The selfie camera is a 5MP sensor. There is a 3300mAh battery and a fingerprint scanner on the rear. The S8 also comes with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box.

The Meiigoo S8 is a dual SIM phone (hybrid -nano only) with the tray at the top of the phone. It has a 3.5mm audio jack at the bottom and surprisingly, comes with a USB Type-C port.

Meiigoo has done a nice job with respect to the design of the S8. The metal frame is just 3mm thin and the back has a mirror finish. The latter is a mixed bag though as while light bouncing off it may look good, it will also be a fingerprint magnet judging from the other phones we have seen employ this design. The phone comes in champagne gold, black, and blue.

For the duration of the pre-sale period which begins tomorrow and runs till October 15, the Meiigoo S8 will sell for $169.99 before returning to its original price of $199.99. Orders made within the period will also be entitled to a $49.99 gift bag which contains a wide-angle lens, a fill light, a Bluetooth headset and a ring holder.

You can find more info about the Meiigoo S8 here.

Buy Meiigoo S8 for $165 on Banggood

OnePlus 5 Out of Stock in Most Countries, New Phone Coming Soon?

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2017

OnePlus launched a JCC+ special edition of the OnePlus 5 recently. Although the specs are entirely the same as the 8GB RAM version of the device and availability is limited to certain countries. However, the regular version is now out of stock in a number of countries including US and Canada.

A lot of other countries also have the slate gray variant out of stock. India is the only country that has all models and color variants in stock. That is not surprising since the OP5 sold there is manufactured by the OPPO factory in Utah Pradesh.

So what’s happening with the unavailable stock in these key markets? While there is no evidence of a new OnePlus phone, some say it may launch a new phone soon. This contradicts recent reports of the OnePlus 5T being cancelled in favor of an early release of the OnePlus 6. It could also just be supply/production issues and they will be back in stock soon.

If OnePlus is indeed going to release a new phone, the key change will be the design, influenced greatly by the display which is expected to have an 18:9 aspect ratio as some other flagships. The rest of the specs may not change, at least we are sure of the processor being a Snapdragon 835 and RAM will either be 6GB or 8GB.

Last year, OnePlus released the OnePlus 3 in June and followed it up with the OnePlus 3T in November. Although the key change was the Snapdragon 820 processor which was replaced with the newer Snapdragon 821.

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Pixel 2 Will Auto Switch To Do Not Disturb Mode When You Are Driving

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2017

A new app on the Play Store called Pixel Ambient Services has revealed a new feature for the new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL.

The app description says it provides features based on local context for Pixel devices. The app screenshots actually explain a bit more. Remember the always listening Shazam-like feature of the new Pixels? This is the app that controls it. As you can see, you can even set it not to display on the lock screen.

A fourth screenshot mentions another feature which automatically turns on Do Not Disturb mode while you are in a moving vehicle. It says that this is determined by device motion and Bluetooth connections. So it will probably only turn it on when certain conditions are met. If you feel you do not like the feature or its not working properly, you can simply turn it off.

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ASUS Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite Official in Philippines, Drops Dual Cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 8, 2017

ASUS announced two new phones in the Selfie series a few months ago – the Zenfone 4 Selfie and the Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro. It has added a third one called the Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite (ZB520KL). Like the name suggests, it features a few downgraded specs.

The Zenfone 4 Selfie Lite shares the same design as its other siblings. It has a metal finish and the fingerprint scanner sits below the display. The specs are where the differences are.

The display is 5.5-inches but ASUS didn’t specify the resolution. The Pro has a 1080p display and the regular version has a HD resolution. Since the Lite version packs less specs than the standard variant, it is definitely a 720p screen as well. The IPS display has a 2.5D glass covering it.

ASUS has swapped the Snapdragon 430 SoC in the Zenfone 4 Selfie for the Snapdragon 425 mobile platform. The RAM is now 2GB and you get either 16GB or 32GB of expandable storage. However, the Zenfone 4 Lite keeps the dedicated MicroSD card slot (2TB max)

Another key difference between the Lite and its siblings is in the camera department. It drops the dual selfie cameras for a single 13MP f/2.0 sensor. It has a softlight LED flash, so you should be able to take decent selfies even in poorly lit areas. There is a portrait mode, beauty enhancements, GIF support and 9 filters.

The rear camera is also a 13MP sensor with PDAF. There is portrait mode in addition to time lapse mode (with power saving), beauty mode, panorama mode, and a super resolution mode of up to 64MP. The rear camera also has 3-axis EIS for when you want to record videos.

Other features of the Zenfone 4 Lite include FM Radio, dual SIM slot (nano only), a micro USB port at the bottom and a 3.5mm audio jack at the top. The phone comes with the same 3000mAh battery as the other Selfie phones and runs ZenUI 4.0 based on Android Nougat out of the box.

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Amazing Discounts and Gearbest Buyer’s Guide [COUPONS]

By

Linus

-

Oct 7, 2017

There are plenty of online stores out there and a lot of buyers are unaware if those stores are reliable or not. Also, many users are not sure about the entire buying process like choosing a product, ordering it and so on as we receive a lot of questions on our email and social media accounts. Make sure to read the entire article to find amazing discount codes!

Gearbest is one of the most reliable stores you can find and buying from it is easy. In this article, we will explain the entire buying process at Gearbest.com and give you some tips and tricks to save money and finding a product that is best for you.

In order to buy anything from the store, you have to register on the site. I know, it may sound like a hassle but in reality, it takes like 30 seconds to create an account and you are good to go.

We will use our recently reviewed Xiaomi Mi Note 3 as an example. You simply have to add to cart any product you want and proceed to checkout.

You can also use any discount/coupon codes if you have one. E.g. Gizmochina readers get a special discount with the COUPON CODE: note364gb that lets you buy the phone for just $389.99 ($60 off the retail price).

Good news is that Gearbest usually offers free shipping for most of its orders if you are okay with a longer shipping time. Obviously, you can select another shipping method to get the item a lot faster.

Gearbest accepts debit/credit card payments or PayPal, which is one of the safest buying methods.

Gearbest now holds a mid-autumn festival that offers discounts up to 85%.

Check out Gearbest Mid-autumn festival deals

We also wanted to share some category COUPONS that give generous discounts:

Smartphones 8% OFF with the COUPON: GBMBP

Tablets 13% OFF with the COUPON: GBTPC

Consumer Electronics 13% OFF with the COUPON: GBCE

Electrical & Tools 12% OFF with the COUPON: GBTE

Computers & Networking 14% OFF with the COUPON: GBCNA

Toys&Hobbies – Remote Control Toys 18% OFF with the COUPON: RC18OFF

Toys&Hobbies 15% OFF with the COUPON: TOY15OFF

Automobiles & Motorcycle 18% OFF with the COUPON: CAR18OFF

Home & Garden 12% OFF with the COUPON: HOME

Health & Beauty 15% OFF with the COUPON: HEA15OFF

Electronic Cigarettes 15% OFF with the COUPON: ecig15off

Outdoors & Sports 10% OFF with the COUPON: OUT10OFF

LED Lights & Flashlights 12% OFF with the COUPON: GB17LED

Google Will Focus On Offline Stores for Pixel 2 Sales in India

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 7, 2017

Apart from the folks at Google, no one knows the exact amount of first-gen Pixel phones sold. A research from a few months ago puts the figure at close to 2 million. It is a no-brainer that Google will want to sell more units of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL this time around and to do that, it plans to take a different approach to sales, at least in India.

According to the Senior Vice President of Google Hardware, Rick Osterloh and the VP of Hardware Product Management, Mario Queiroz, the new Pixel smartphones will still be sold online and offline but will focus more on offline sales.

In Rick Osterloh’s words “Our focus was online last year. People tend to not buy such premium products so if people can see the device and experience it, will help quite a bit”.

Offline sales are very important and should not be overlooked even in developed countries. Xiaomi learnt this the hard way and has opened 200 Mi Stores in its home country this year alone. People want to see what they want to buy and experience what it has to offer before shelling out so much money.

How Google plans to tackle the problem is still unknown but the chance of standalone Google shops is slim. It will most likely be modular shops in popular retail stores and malls.

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Android One’s Xiaomi Mi A1 Now Available in Europe

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Oct 7, 2017

Xiaomi joined the launched its first smartphone for the Android One program, the Mi A1, a few months ago. The new smartphone is actually the Mi 5X, released this year as well but with pure Android on-board.

The Mi A1 was first released in India and then Malaysia. Unlike other Android One phones released in the past that are limited to certain regions only, the Mi A1 will be available in 37 countries with a bunch of them in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

If you live in the Netherlands, Poland, and Greece, you can now order the Mi A1. Retail price however varies in all three countries. It sells for €260 in the Netherlands but is higher in Greece with a €284 price tag. Poland has it for PLN 1,300 (~€302).

It will be available in Spain for €228 but not until next week. That is the same time it is expected to go on sale in Hungary and Russia though at higher prices (HUF 75,000/€240 and RUB 19,000/€280 respectively).

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Leaked Screenshots Reveal New Features of Android Oreo-Based EMUI 6 on Mate 9

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Oct 7, 2017

Huawei Mate 10’s October 16 launch is just at the corner, the flagship model is expected to pack a whole lot of new hardware including a new AI-capable Kirin 970 processor. While the focus has been on the hardware the Mate 10 is expected to feature, we almost forgot the flagship will also get a new EMUI 6 interface based on Android 8.0 Oreo. Before now, little is known about the new interface, like it would be based on Android Oreo but a new leak has emerged which shows the real features EMUI 6 would bring with it.

The screenshots of a Mate 9 running on Android Oreo-based firmware is the new leak here and it comes courtesy of XDA Developers. The screenshots reveal details such as Picture-in-Picture mode will be one of the features included in EMUI 6. One of the screenshots shows the Background app notification of Android Oreo will be included. Users of smartphones which have gotten updates to Oreo have reported persistent ‘app is running in the background’ notification and that is same with the EMUI-based Oreo.

Basically, EMUI 6 will come with features of Android Oreo, most of which we already know since Google announced its latest OS version. The new features that would likely be on the EMUI 6includes a screen resolution option in display settings which will let users switch between HD and Full HD resolution mode (720p & 1080p).This will definitely be a good power conservation mechanism. Also, EMUI 6 looks to be bringing the option of hiding the navigation bar by including a new button which you can place on the navigation bar. That button will add a small arrow to the left side of the navigation bar and with a swipe from the bottom, you get to hide or show the nav bar. You can check out more features of the new EMUI 6 from the screenshots below or use the source link below to go check out XDA’s post.

(source)

Huawei Focuses On India In Its Bid To Displace Apple & Samsung

By

Jed John Ikoba

-

Oct 6, 2017

Huawei considers India a strategic market for its growth, according to a statement from Jay Chen, CEO of Huawei India wh also disclosed that the company was looking to expand its growth in the local market. The Huawei Exec was speaking on the sidelines of the India Economic Summit held in New Delhi within the week. He disclosed that the company has made a sizeable level of investments and formed key partnerships in the telecommunications sector in its near two decades of existence in India.

Despite Huawei’s deep ties in the telecoms business where it provides hardware for mobile telecom outfits, the Chinese tech giant is still struggling to carve a niche for itself in the massive Indian smartphone market. A recent report by Counterpoint Research places Samsung as the market leader by smartphone shipment in India for the second quarter of 2017. Samsung is closely followed by Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO and Lenovo (which includes its Motorola business). Huawei is not in the top five key vendors in India despite being the third-largest smartphone maker in terms of shipment globally with an ambition to catch up with Samsung and Apple, the top two global leaders.

Huawei may finally have realized the role India could play in getting it up the chart globally and has recently shifted attention to India. Within the last couple of months, the tech giant has launched a number of smartphones including models by the Honor brand in India. The company recently introduced the Honor 9i with a massive 5.9-inch display, dual cameras at the front and rear, 4GB RAM and slammed a subtle price tag on the device- just 17,999 rupees ($275.91)! With such deal breakers, Huawei may be on the way to knocking its way into the top three vendors in India in the next few years. Who knows, the Chinese phone maker may even give Samsung a run for their money in India and with a strong growth in Inda, it could catch up with Apple and maybe Sammy. Don’t forget Huawei did disclose last year that it would start manufacturing smartphones locally in India and that could help it sell at affordable price points just like the Honor 9i’s price.

(source)