Vertu Puts Up Entire Catalogue of 105 Models On Auction, Bid Starts At $26,000

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Aug 11, 2017

UK based luxury phone manufacturer Vertu has put up all the entire catalogue of phones in the Vertu museum on auction. This is all part of the company’s winding-up process and is by the order of the liquidator appointed to liquidate the company’s asset. The entire collection of the Vertu museum includes 105 iconic phones and appearance models. The phones that will be in the collection will include models from the Signature, Constellation & Ascent Range right from when the first model was launched in 1998. Some the phones contain finishing with 18 carat gold, titanium, stainless steel, diamond and other precious stones.

The auction is coordinated by auctioneer G J Wisdom & Co and bidding starts at £20,000 ($26,000). This price is definitely a decent one for 105 phones considering that Vertu used to sell only a single unit for as high as $30,000 when the company was still booming. But now, the company is being liquidated and anything would do so that the creditors would recoup some of their money. The auction does not seem to include the recently launched premium models like the Signature Cobra priced at $360K.

Vertu is well-known for rugged looking models with a premium design adorning ornaments such as gold, diamond and others on the body. The company has been in debt for a while now, with its debt burden estimated to be to the tune of 128 million pounds. The company was announced to have been bought by an exiled Turkish businessman but he has been unable to settle the huge pile of debt, hence the liquidation. The bid process will close by 7 pm (UK time) on today (August 11).

(source)

ZTE Blade A6 Receives FCC Certification with Snapdragon 435 and ZTE Z982 Gets Spotted on GFXBench

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 11, 2017

ZTE has couple of budget smartphones waiting to debut soon. The upcoming ZTE Blade A6 has received certification from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. Another smartphone from the company labelled as ZTE Z982 has appeared on GFXBench benchmarking site.

The ZTE Blade A6’s appearance on FCC reveals that it will be support LTE on the U.S. network bands like 2, 4, 5, 7 and 28. This suggests that the U.S. carriers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and US Cellular will be supporting the Blade A6.

The images of the smartphone that has been submitted by ZTE to the FCC that the topside of the smartphone has a 3.5mm audio jack. Its bottom side features a microUSB pot and a loudspeaker. The images also suggest that the top bezel has several sensors and a selfie camera whereas the bottom bezel has capacitive buttons. The right edge of the phone has volume controllers and power button.

The ZTE Blade A6 specifications are still under the wraps, but markings on the internal components have revealed that the Snapdragon 435 will be present under the hood of the phone. It features 16 GB of storage and a 5,000mAh capacity battery.

The other ZTE phone, ZTE Z982 is speculated to a newest smartphone from the Max series. The listing of ZTE Z982 on GFXBench has revealed that it has a 6-inch full HD display. It is driven by Snapdragon 430 chipset and 2 GB of RAM.

Its rear camera is of 16-megapixel and the front side features an 8-megapixel selfie snapper. It will come preinstalled with Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS that will be overlaid with the company’s own UI. Since it is expected to release a Max series phone, it is likely to come with a fingerprint scanner.

(source 1,2)

Android O Release Delayed? Official Name to Be Declared on August 21

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 11, 2017

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Android O may debut in the second week of this month. Fresh information shared by David Ruddock, the managing editor of Android Police reveals that Android O release has been delayed. However, there is no information available on why Google may have delayed the release of Android O.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones were expected to get the final version of Android O by mid-August. However, the tweet from Ruddock states that the Android O update for Pixel has been pushed back. Through another tweet he maintains that it is a completely unverifiable rumor. His other tweet suggests that Google may do something grand on the release of Android O. However, it is unlikely to hold a launch event for it.

https://twitter.com/RDR0b11/status/895711402995757056

https://twitter.com/RDR0b11/status/895720628426166273

There is a possibility that the Android O may still contain some bugs and the company is trying to fix them before releasing a stable version for the Google Pixel smartphones. It is also likely that the upcoming Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 that will come loaded with Android O will debut the new Android version. However, these smartphones are slated to get unveiled in October this year and Google may not delay the release of Android O to such an extent.

In the previous year, Google had released the Android 7.0 Nougat OS on Aug. 22 to a couple of Nexus devices before making it available on the original Google Pixel phones. Since Google has recently released the fourth and last Android O Developer Preview, it seems the currently delay may not be a long one and it may release at any time. Earlier rumors have revealed that this year Google will be releasing the Android O earlier this year. So, even though it is delayed now, Android O may hit Nexus devices and original Pixel phones before Aug. 22.

Google is yet to confirm on the official name for the Android 8.0 (Android O) operating system. The rumor mill has claimed that it may either arrive as Android Oreo or Oatmeal Cookie. Ruddock is of the view that the official name of Android 8.0 will be declared on Aug. 21, the day of the solar eclipse.

The LG V20 from last year was the first non-Google phone to arrive with Android Nougat preinstalled. Since the alleged Nokia 8 was spotted with Android 8.0 on Geekbench earlier this month, rumors claimed that the Nokia 8 could be the first non-Google to arrive preloaded with Android 8.0.

Motorola Moto X4 Images Leaked Ahead of Alleged August 24 Launch Event

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 11, 2017

Motorola is expected to debut the Moto X4 and Moto M2 smartphone in the remaining months of this year. The smartphone firm has also confirmed on holding a launch event on Aug. 24. Speculations are rife that Motorola will be debuting the Moto X4 at the upcoming launch event. The arrival of the smartphone seems all the more imminent as the Moto X4 has received approval from Brazil’s Anatel agency that is equivalent to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from the U.S. The Moto X4 with model number XT1900-6 has appeared at Anatel.

The leaked information of the Moto X4 has revealed that the Moto X4 will be an upper-midrange smartphone. The Moto X4’s appearance at Anatel has also revealed some images of the smartphone. The Moto X4 comes with rounded corners and the top bezel features a selfie camera and its LED flash. The bottom bezel has a fingerprint scanner enabled Home button.

The backside of the smartphone has curved edges and there is round-shaped camera module that includes a dual-LED flash at the top and twin camera sensors. There is a Moto logo present near the center of the back panel. The bottom edge of the smartphone has a USB Type-C port as well as a 3.5mm audio jack. A SIM tray is available on the top-edge of the smartphone. Anatel listing of the Moto X4 has revealed that the smartphone is enabled with Digital TV. Motorola will be also providing a Turbo Charger and a pair of headphones with the smartphone.

The rumor mill has revealed that the Moto X4 will be arriving with a 5.2-inch AMOLED screen that will be supporting a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. Some rumors claim that the Snapdragon 630 chipset will be powering the smartphone. However, other sources suggest that the Snapdragon 660 will be present under the hood of the Moto X4.

There is a possibility that it may come in two variants such as 3 GB of RAM + 32 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM + 64 GB of native storage. It will be also featuring a microSD card slot. It is expected to come with a pair of 13-megapixel f/1.7 aperture sensors. The front side of the smartphone may come with a 5-megapixel selfie camera. It is expected to arrive with a Quick Charge 3.0 enabled 3,800mAh battery. It will be coming with Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. It is expected to sell with a cost of 350 euros in ($411).

(source|via)

Leaked Details of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A Reveals It’s Just A Redmi 4A With A Bigger Display

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 11, 2017

Images, specs and price of a device said to be the Xiaomi Redmi 5A just leaked online and there is nothing to be excited about.

This is actually not the first Redmi Note 5A leak that has showed up in recent times. About a month ago we saw a leaked image that revealed the phone’s retail box. The box is red which is a deviation from the white retail boxes Xiaomi is known to use for its phones.

The specs of the Xiaomi Redmi 5A are not impressive in any way. It is practically the same as that of the Redmi 4A save for the display that is now 5.5-inches but still 720p. There is 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and the Snapdragon 425 is still the chip of choice here.

The rear camera remains 13MP and the front is still 5MP, though we can’t tell if the sensors have changed in terms of pixel and aperture size. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A comes with a 3080mAh battery which may be the typical capacity, so its probably the same 3120mAh of the Redmi 4A. The Redmi Note 5A is also stated as running Android 7.1.

The main focus for the Redmi Note 5A is actually the design. It appears that it has swapped the plastic body of the 4A for a metal one. The rear camera and flash still sit on the top antenna line but their positions are now reversed. The speaker on the back has also been moved to the bottom of the phone beside the microUSB port.

The front hasn’t seen much change. It is white on this gold unit and you have capacitive buttons for navigation. The proximity sensor and front camera flank the earpiece on both sides but the sensor is now circular. At the top sits the earphone jack, a secondary microphone and an IR blaster.

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HTC U11 Lite Codenamed as HTC Ocean Life to Debut Within this Year

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 11, 2017

HTC has so far released smartphones like HTC U Ultra, U Play, X10 and U11 flagship in this year. Around a month, the rumor mill had revealed the leaked specifications of the HTC Ocean Life smartphone. Fresh information suggests that HTC will be releasing HTC Ocean Life smartphone before the end of this year. A fresh image of the smartphone has appeared and it is now speculated to debut as HTC U11 Life.

The HTC U11 Life is expected to come with a 5.2-inch display that produces a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The leaked image of the phone suggests that its frontside resembles with HTC U11 and HTC 10 from the previous year. Below the display of the phone is the front-mounted fingerprint reader.

The top bezel of the HTC U11 Life has a 16-megapixel Panorama selfie camera. The rear side of the smartphone is also flanked with a 16-megapixel camera that is coupled with phase detection autofocus. The Snapdragon 630 chipset will be powering the HTC U11 Life. However, a previous report had revealed that the Snapdragon 660 chipset will be powering the HC U11 Life. As of this writing, there is no information available on its RAM.

It will be coming with a native storage of 32 GB and it will also feature a microSD card slot. It will be packed in a IP67 certified chassis. It will be arriving with HTC USonic earphones coupled with active noise cancellation. It is likely that the smartphone may not feature a 3.5mm audio jack just like the HTC U11. in other words, it will allow headphone connectivity through the USB-C port of the phone.

The pressure-sensitive metallic frame available on HTC U11 as Edge Sense will be also present on HTC U11 Life. The previous report has also revealed that it will be loaded with Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS. It will also include a 5.0 Bluetooth and will include a 2,600mAh battery.

There is no information available on the pricing of the HTC U11 Life. In the U.S., it is expected to be exclusively available for purchase through T-Mobile. The unlocked edition of the smartphone will be available for buying through HTC.com.

(source)

LG Smartphones Sold In North America Will Have FM Radio Enabled

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 11, 2017

It is not unusual to get a phone with a FM radio in developing countries. However, for countries like the US and Canada, you may not find the FM radio app on your device and that is because it has been deactivated. All Qualcomm LTE chips have FM capability baked in and I believe the same applies to chips from other companies. Some phone manufacturers have deactivated the feature on their smartphones and some carriers too don’t have it activated because they both make money from streaming services. LG plans to have the feature enabled henceforth on its smartphones sold in the US and Canada.

The South Korean company is partnering with TagStation, owners of the NextRadio app to activate FM radio in all its phones. It will also pre-load the NextRadio app on some of its smartphones. In the case of a network blackout, audio emergency alerts will be available too.

The advantages of having a FM radio can’t be over emphasized. There are times when internet or cell service may be out and the radio is your only source of information. The FM radio also consumes way less battery and data compared to streaming apps.

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Leak: Meizu M6 Note Running Helio P20 instead of P25?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 11, 2017

Meizu will be launching the M6 Note on August 23 with press invite already sent out for the event which would be held at the Beijing Performing Arts Centre. Before now, we have seen the specifications of the mid-range smartphone leaked and one of the spectacular features is the presence of an Helio P25 chip (MT6757T) which is in the same mid-range segment as the Snapdragon 630 SoC. But in a surprising twist, a new leak has emerged which suggests that the Meizu M6 Note will feature a MediaTek Helio P20 processor.

The leak comes in form of a screenshot of a device which is said to be the M6 Note running through benchmark app CPU-Z. The leaked screenshot clearly lists the processor under scrutiny as the MediaTek Helio P20 chip (MT6757 with a clock speed of 2.39GHz. Both the Helio P20 and Helio P25 almost feature similar configuration but problem is, while the Helio p25 comes with support for dual cameras, the P20 does not. Recall the Meizu M6 Note is rumoured to sport a dual camera setup at the rear with one of the sensors being a Sony IMX258 sensor. Unfortunately, we can’t see the back of the device to tell if there is a dual camera setup on board or this is the M5 Note being bandied around as the upcoming M6 Note. Even at that, the M5 Note features a Heli P10 Soc and not a P20.

Other specifications of the M6 Note includes a Meizu M6 Note will feature a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The device will be powered by one of MediaTek’s latest chip, the Helio P25 (MT6757T) chip which is a 64-bit octa-core processor with Mali-T880 GPU. The processor will be backed by 3GB of RAM on some models while others will have 4GB of RAM. The storage will be either a 32GB and 64GB variant respectively while the device will get its juice from a 4,000mAh battery.We can’t explain this but the device in the leaked photo may likely not be the M6 Note.

(source)

Xiaomi Mi Mix’s Price Down By 500 Yuan, Time For Mi Mix 2?

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 11, 2017

It is a usual practice for smartphone manufacturers to reduce the price of their current stock when a new model is about launching. That is what Xiaomi might have stylishly done with the Mi Mix which has got a 500 Yuan price slash on Xiaomi’s official flagship store on Jingdong (JD.com). The 500 Yuan price reduction is for the 6GB RAM + 256GB storage version of the concept flagship which took the industry by storm last year, bringing its price down to 3499Yuan (~$524) from 3999 Yuan (~$599). The 4GB + 128GB version also had its price reduced by 300 Yuan and is now available for 3,199 Yuan(~$479) instead of 3,499 Yuan (~$524).

The price reduction seems to also affect the Mi Mix’s sales on Mi Mall as it too, has notification of a 500 Yuan price cut. We can’t be so sure about this being a ploy to make way for the Mi Mix 2 as Xiaomi is currently running its 8.16 promotion where almost its products have got some percentage of price reduction. But don’t forget the Mi Mix is rumoured as coming in September or there about so, this could be a way of reducing the quantity in stock before the launch. It should be noted also that Xiaomi reduced the Mi Mix’s price during the 6.18 promotion back in June but the price reduction wasn’t as high as 500 Yuan. That could mean something is likely brewing.

The Xiaomi Mi MIX sports a 6.4-inch display with a resolution of 2040 × 1080 pixel as well as a 17: 9 aspect ratio. The Xiaomi flagship is powered by a Snapdragon 821 chip with 4GB/6GB of RAM, and 128GB/256GB of storage. The bezel-less flagship model comes with a 91.3% screen-to-body ratio, an innovative design which is rumoured to go up to 95% on the Mi Mix 2 and also features a ceramic body. The concept MIX is fueled by a 4400mAh battery and packs a rear mounted fingerprint scanner among other features. It is available in black and white colours but only the black variant is available at the moment.

(source)

ASUS ZenFone 4 Appears on Geekbench with Snapdragon 630, 4 GB of RAM

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 11, 2017

The ASUS ZenFone 4 is slated to get announced on Aug. 17 along with other ZenFone 4 series phones. It seems that the Taiwanese company is testing the ZenFone 4 before its launch as it has appeared on GFXBench benchmarking site.

The ZenFone 4 (Z01K ZE554KL) that has appeared on benchmarking site has revealed that the smartphone features a 5.5-inch display that carries support for full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The smartphone is driven by an octa-core processor that clocks at 2.2 GHz along with Adreno 508 graphics This suggests that the ZenFone 4 is driven by Snapdragon 630 chipset. The rumor mill has also revealed that a Snapdragon 660 chipset edition of the ZenFone 4 will be also available.

The chipset of the ASUS ZenFone 4 is coupled with 4 GB of RAM and it has a native storage of 64 GB. It features a 12-megapixel rear snapper and an 8-mgeapixel front-facing camera. Some rumors have claimed that the ZenFone 4 will be coming with a dual rear camera module featuring a pair of 12-megapixel sensor and an 8-megapixel sensor. One of them is speculated as a 120-degree wide-angle lens that offers fivefold light sensitivity.

The Android 7.1.1 nougat is available preinstalled on the ZenFone 4. The rumor mill has also revealed that a 3,300mAh battery will be powering the ASUS ZenFone 4. It is a dual-SIM smartphone that comes with a dedicated slot for microSD card. The smartphone measures 7.7mm in thickness and its weight is 165 grams. It is expected to be available in color choices such as black and white. In Europe, the ASUS ZenFone 4 is expected to carry a pricing of 499 euros (~$586).

The ZenFone 4 is not the flagship smartphone from ASUS. The rumored ZenFone 4 Pro smartphone is expected to be a flagship phone that will be driven by Snapdragon 835 chipset. Apart from the ZenFone 4 and ZenFone 4 Pro, the Taiwanese company is also speculated to launch the ZenFone 4V and selfie centric smartphones such as ZenFone 4 Selfie and ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro. The ASUS ZenFone 4 Max that belongs to the same series has been already unveiled few months ago.

(source 1,2)

Rumour: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 To Sport A 95% Screen Ratio, Bright Silver Variant Coming

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 11, 2017

It is no longer news that Xiaomi will be launching its next generation Mi Mix 2 this year and that the device is already in the works with Phillipe Starck still providing the design. Details of the device have been very scarce in coming as Xiaomi has maintained a long silence about it, perhaps with the intention of springing a surprise. We already know, though, that the Mi Mix 2 will come with a high screen to body ratio and recently a photo shared by Lei Jun suggests that the device will adopt a similar 18:9 aspect ratio used on the Galaxy S8.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 renders have allegedly popped up online from China and one of the things that need to be noted is that there will likely be a variant sporting a Bright Silver body just like the Mi 6 did. The Mi Mix 2 is also said to come with an enhanced display with the screen-to-body ratio said to be as high as 95%. Apart from that, the renders also show the device as coming with well-rounded edges and a nearly bezel-less design. Bezels will only be present on the bottom edge with the other aspects completely bezel-less and curved on all the display edges.

We only get to see the front aspect of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 from the renders so, we still don’t know if there is a rear fingerprint sensor but there are speculations that Xiaomi may not feature an in-display fingerprint sensor if the device is released this year. The Mi Mix features a virtual navigation key and also will use a Cantilever piezoelectric ceramic technology which replaces the traditional earpiece due to the absence of bezels.

Xiaomi is said to partner with AAC technologies who will develop a better, new generation technology known as AAC actuator which would be used for the ear piece sound output. The AAC actuator is said to achieve a better screen sound, especially at low frequency. It also works better with the 3GPP standard. The source of this leaked details also tips that the flagship model may be released around September, at the same period the iPhone 8 is coming out, obviously to grab some market shares from the Apple flagship due to its price tag which is expected to be less than iPhone 8’s. The price is rumoured to be up to 4999 Yuan (around $750) but this is just a speculation, nothing of such has been officially revealed. We expect more leaks to emerge as the month rolls by.

(source)

Moto Z2 Force With 6GB RAM & 128GB Storage Gets TENAA Certification

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 11, 2017

Motorola‘s Moto Z2 Force has received certification from China’s Telecoms Regulatory agency TENAA and has thus been listed on the outfit’s website. The Moto Z2 Force is one of the high-end smartphones that Lenovo is hoping to use to rejig its ailing smartphone business globally. The device has already been announced in the U.S. with a staggering $720 price tag. The TENAA listing is an indication that a launch in China will take place soon.

The Moto Z2 Force bears a striking resemblance with the Moto Z2 Play which has been launched in China for over a month now. Th only difference between both models is that while the Z2 Force is expected to pack a flagship specs lineup, the Z2 Play comes as a mid-range device with a Snapdragon 626 chip on the driving seat.

The TENAA listing shows the Moto Z2 Force will feature a 5.5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. The device is also listed with a 6GB RAM + 128GB storage combination which is exclusive to China and will be powered by a 2.35GHz processor, already known to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 flagship SoC. The device also features a 2565mAh battery but there is an earlier rumour that the battery will get a boost with the external Moto Mod battery pack which will be released as well. The device comes in black and white colours and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box but we can’t say if it has got a touch of ZUI.

Other features of the Z2 Force includes a dual camera setup at the rear having a 12MP main sensor and 8MP secondary sensor, while at the front, there is a 5MP camera for selfies. From the photo, we can see that both the front and rear cameras come along with dual-tone LED flash.

(source)

Get Xiaomi Mi 6 128GB/6GB International Version for just $408!

By

Linus

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Aug 10, 2017

Each year we all wait for one of the most powerful budget flagships and it is finally here. The Xiaomi Mi 6 has killer specs, awesome looks, and a compelling dual-camera setup. You can now get the 128GB/6GB International Version for just $408 which sounds like an amazing deal!

Once you first pick the Xiaomi Mi 6 up, the first impressions are that the phone looks just gorgeous. Also, it has excellent build quality and it is fairly compact since it sports a 5.15” IPS LCD display, which is sharp, vibrant and definitely one of the best 1080p panels you can find.

I love that the phone sits nicely in the hand. The stainless-steel frame is almost seamless with a curved glass back panel, which actually does a decent job with all the fingerprints and smudges. In comparison, the phone does not attract fingerprints so quickly like the Galaxy S8. Also, the buttons are easy to reach and they have a great tactile feedback.

One of the key selling points of the Mi 6 is the dual camera setup that consists of a 12MP shooter with a wide-angle lens and another 12MP sensor with the telephoto lens that gives 2 times zoom and the ability to take beautiful portrait photos with bokeh effect. The main camera has a bright f/1.8 aperture lens, 4-axis OIS, and dual tone dual-LED flash.

As far as hardware goes, the Xiaomi Mi 6 is one of the most powerful smartphones the money can buy. It ships with the latest and greatest Snapdragon 835 chip, 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which is, however, not expandable.

You can now get the 128GB/6GB International Version for just $408 which sounds like an amazing deal! Make sure to use the COUPON CODE: GBM6128 to claim a discount.

Buy Xiaomi Mi 6 with COUPON CODE: GBM6128

The ASUS Zenfone 4 Max Gets A 5.2-inch Version With Snapdragon 425

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 10, 2017

If you are familiar with the Zenfone series you should be used to the multiple variants for each model. I remember the Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 2 which I owned, had multiple variants. Some of the differences were actually just limited to the chip and clockspeed. I think it’ll be interesting to find out who makes more variants between Xiaomi and ASUS.

The Zenfone 4 Max (ZC554KL) was the first of the Zenfone 4 series to be announced. It comes with a 5.5-inch FHD display, dual rear cameras, a Snapdragon 430 processor and a whooping 5000mAh battery.

A new leak has revealed that won’t be the only device with the Zenfone 4 Max name. Another one with model number ZC520KL will be released soon and it packs entirely different specs.

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Working Nokia 8 Photos Leaked Once Again, Revealing Some Key Specs

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 10, 2017

A new set of images of the expected Nokia 8 flagship has popped up online once again. The images are said to have appeared on China’s social media app WeChat and even though they look quite blurry, they no doubt bear semblance with the leaked photo of the upcoming flagship that we have seen thus far, including the one Nokia showcased in a video celebrating the International Cat Day. Apart from the looks, we also get further confirmation of the Nokia 8 key specifications.

Some of the photos show a couple of the device’s specifications as well as the interface and wallpaper. The device is revealed as having the model number TA-1012 which is one of the Nokia 8’s model number which was revealed when it hit AnTuTu recently. Other model numbers such as TA-1004, TA-1012, and TA-1052 are all also associated with the Nokia flagship.

The leaked photos also confirm the presence of a Snapdragon 835 chip, 4GB RAM and QHD display as among the features of the phone. While the display size wasn’t revealed, earlier rumour tips the Nokia 8 as coming with a 5.3-inch display while the photo gives the pixels-per-inch as 559. The Nokia 8 will come with Android 7.1.1 providing the interface.

(via)

Zhumi Launches The Smartmi DC Inverter Air Conditioner For ¥4399 (~$660)

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Aug 10, 2017

Zhumi, the makers of the Mi Air Purifiers, today unveiled its first air conditioner, the Smartmi DC Inverter Air Conditioner.

The air conditioner has a white simplistic design that is curved at the corners. The vent is beneath the unit and there is a circular display flanking it on the left. You may be wondering if that is the best spot for it. You don’t have to worry as the base of the air conditioner is inclined forward, so the display is actually directed towards your eyes.

The Smartmi Air Conditioner has a power rating of 1.5HP. It has a refrigerating capacity of 3500W, a heating capacity of 4500W and an air volume of 700m³/h.

The Smartmi DC Inverter air Conditioner consists of a DC inverter compressor supplied by Hitachi, a low-noise but power-efficient NIDEC DC motor, and a cross-flow fan motor and axial-fan motor supplied by Panasonic.

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Xiaomi Mi 5X Gets A Cheaper 4GB + 32GB Memory Version

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Aug 10, 2017

Xiaomi has released a new and cheaper storage version of the Mi 5X. The new version comes with 4GB RAM which is standard on the other version but this new variant has just 32GB storage on board. The new variant will go on sale as from August 14 but reservation opened today on Mi Mall. The new Xiaomi Mi 5X 32GB makes the price of the cheap mid-range even cheaper, coming in at 1299 Yuan (~$195).

The new variant is coming out as part of Xiaomi 618 promotion which runs from August 10 to August 18 and offers nice discounts on all its product range. The variant has probably come to stay but Xiaomi may have just delayed the release until now as a marketing strategy to get attention. The variant is also available in Black, Gold and Rose Gold colours just as the 64GB version and apart from the storage capacity, it shares all other features with the recently launched 64GB version. For the avoidance of doubt, the 4GB + 64GB variant is priced at 1,499 Yuan ($220).

As a reminder, the Xiaomi Mi 5X features a 5.5-inch 1080p display and has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage onboard. Perhaps, the main highlight of the device is the dual cameras it packs at the rear which is said to be the same configuration with the flagship Mi 6, that is a 12MP main sensor paired with a 12MP telephoto lens. The official camera samples show the camera will be nearly as sharp as the Mi 6. The device also comes as the first Xiaomi device to run MIUI 9 ut-of-the-box and keeping the lights on is a 3,080mAh battery.

(source)

Essential Phone Release Date to be Announced Next Week; To be Available Through Amazon, BestBuy & Sprint

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Aug 10, 2017

The shipment of pre-order Essential Phone units were expected to begin on June 30. However, Andy Rubin’s company, Essential Products failed to begin the shipments in July. On July 21, the official Twitter handle of Essential revealed a vague confirmation that the Essential Phone would be releasing in “a few weeks.” Its release seems to be drawing near as it has got listed on Best Buy earlier in this week. Amazon will be also selling the Essential Phone and Sprint will be the only carrier selling the Essential Phone in the U.S. Still, the company is silent on its release date.

Earlier in this month, Rubin confirmed that the mass production of the Essential Phone has already started. He added that the company is prepping the release of the smartphone to retailers and service providers across the U.S. Essential Products has confirmed that its investors have pumped $330 million to the company. Some of the well-known investors that invested in Essential Products like Foxconn, Alexa Fund from Amazon and Tecent Holdings from China.

Niccolo De Masi, the president of Essential Products has confirmed to the Wall Street Journal that the company will be announcing the Essential Phone release date in about a week. In the beginning year, the Essential Phone will be selling in single digit millions and its distribution will be also limited. In Canada, the smartphone will be available through the U.S. Telus Corp. The Essential Phone will be sold unlocked through Essential.com, Best Buy and Amazon. The unlocked Essential Phone will be usable on any carrier network. The company will be announcing international carrier relationships later this year.

He has said that the U.S. release of the Essential Phone will happen in a few weeks. As mentioned above, Rubin has also said in the previous month that Essential Phone would be arriving in a few weeks. This indicates that the Essential Phone will be hitting the market at a time when popular smartphone brands will be releasing be highly anticipated flagship phones in the coming weeks.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 would be unleashed would be Aug. 23 and the LG V30 will be launched at the end of this month. And Apple will be unveiling the iPhone 8 will be announced in the next month. The Essential Phone will face stiff competition from these smartphones that will be available through multiple carriers in the U.S.

(source)

ASUS Zenfone 4 Selfie and Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro Details and Images Leak, Brings Dual Front Cameras

By

Habeeb Onawole

-

Aug 10, 2017

The ASUS Zenfone Selfie was released in 2015 and came with a 13MP front facing camera. Two years later, it will be getting a successor and doubling the number of front cameras. Thanks to leaker, Roland Quandt we now have the specification details and a bunch of high quality images of the Zenfone 4 Selfie.

The Zenfone 4 Selfie will be available in two variants: there will be a standard edition and a high end version with the Pro Suffix.

Zenfone 4 Selfie

The Zenfone 4 Selfie will come with a 5.5-inch IPS screen with a 1280 x 720 resolution. It will be powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 430 mobile platform clocked at 1.4GHz. Just like Xiaomi’s Redmi 4X Prime, the Zenfone 4 Selfie will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The device will use capacitive buttons with a fingerprint scanner embedded beneath the home button. Power button and volume rocker are on the right and the SIM and microSD card tray sits on the left.

The standard variant gets the dual front camera treatment. One of the cameras is a 20MP sensor and the other is an 8MP sensor. No details have been provided about how they will work, though we presume the smaller sensor will capture depth of field information.

The front cameras are positioned at each end and also have a dedicated LED flash. The rear camera on the device is a 16MP sensor and maintains the square design of the Zenfone 3.

The Zenfone 4 Selfie will have two SIM slots and a dedicated microSD card slot like the Zenfone 4 Max. The Zenfone 4 Selfie weighs 144 grams and is 7.85 mm thick with the non-removable 3000mAh battery.

Price for the Zenfone 4 Selfie is €299.99 (~$352).

[envira-gallery id=”144400″]

Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro

The Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro looks a bit like the standard variant but packs a lot more features. The display is 5.5-inches too but is AMOLED and has a FHD resolution.

The front cameras, a 24MP sensor and a 5MP secondary camera are positioned on the right while the LED flash is on the left. At the bottom of the display are capacitive buttons, with the home button doubling as a fingerprint scanner. The rear camera is also 16MP but it may be a different sensor from that of the standard variant.

The Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro has 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. It is powered by the old but manufacturers’ favorite Snapdragon 625 mobile platform.

The rest of the specs are same as that of the standard variant. However it weighs less at 145g and less thick at 7mm. The ASUS Zenfone 4 Pro will sell for €399 (~$468).

Below are images of the Zenfone 4 Selfie Pro in Red and Gold.

[envira-gallery id=”144410″]

(Source)

LG V30 Officially Confirmed to Come with Widest Aperture Lens

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

-

Aug 10, 2017

A report from the previous week has revealed that the LG V30 will be arriving with topnotch multimedia features. Also, it has been rumored that the LG V30 will be coming with an amazing dual rear camera and one of its camera sensors will be f/1.6 aperture. The South Korean company has now officially introduced a new camera lens with largest aperture ever that wil be arriving on the LG V30.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and HTC U11 come with f/1.7 aperture camera sensors. The LG G6 has a f/1.8 aperture lens. According to LG, compared to f/1.8 aperture lens, a f/1.6 aperture can bring 25 percent more light to the camera lens. Also, it is equipped with features like laser detection autofocus, optical and electronic image stabilization. This makes the LG V30 a well-suited smartphone for shooting photos and videos.

The f/1.6 aperture lens is coupled with Crystal Clear Lens that will also assist in collecting more light compared to a plastic lens and support better color reproduction. In comparison to shooting wide-angle images on LG V20, the f/1.6 lens will reduce edge distortion by a third. This will make it possible to snap wide-angle groupies and expansive landscapes.

Also, the dual rear camera module arriving on the LG V30 will be 30 percent smaller than the one present on LG V20. The LG V30’s camera will be easier and convenient to use compared to the LG V30.

The LG V30’s camera is also rumored to come with DSLR-like features such as LG-Log for specific logging and Graphy for histogram features. It will be also equipped with Cine Video and Live Zoom effects.

LG has also confirmed through another press release that the LG V30 will be arriving with HD TouchSense technology from Immersion. The high-definition haptics, users will be able to feel as if they are touching real buttons on the display of a smartphone. While playing games like car race, gamers will be able to feel the G-forces applied while taking a turn at an S curve. Also, while watching movies, users will be able to enjoy percussion of an explosion.

The LG V30 is slated to get announced on Aug. 31 and its pre-orders are rumored to begin on Sept. 17 in the U.S. It is expected to be available in the market for buying for Sept. 28.

(source 1,2)