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

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

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Dec 27, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Electronic Items Starting Just $3.99 On GeekBuying

By

Vinay Patel

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Dec 27, 2017

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

Headphones & Speakers

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

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

RC Toys

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

Video Games

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

Projectors

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

Memory Cards

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

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

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

3D Printers

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

Power Banks

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

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

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

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

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Dec 27, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Jeet

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Dec 27, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By

Jeet

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Dec 27, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dec 27, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

(source|via)

New Hisense Full-Screen Model Receives TENAA Certification

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Dec 26, 2017

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

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

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

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

Huawei’s Next P-Series Flagship May Be Called P20, Leaked 2018 Product Roadmap Reveals

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Dec 26, 2017

Huawei released the flagship Huawei P10 earlier this year as its first flagship model for the year. The P10 takes over from the P9 which was itself launched after the P8. Naturally, we would expect the next flagship that would be launched in the first quarter of 2018 to adopt the moniker Huawei P11. However, fresh details have emerged, showing that the next P-series model will be called Huawei P20.

The disclosure comes from a very unlikely location, faraway Israel. Huawei’s product licensed importer in Israel Alpha Telecom on Tuesday held a product launch where the Huawei Mate 10 was launched for the first time in Israel. During the launch event, Rami Hazan, CEO of the company disclosed that the next Huawei flagship series would be called Huawei P20 and would be launched at the beginning of 2018.This aligns with earlier rumours that Huawei has already registered the trademark P20.

The Huawei P20 is expected to be released at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2018 which is scheduled to hold in February 2018. Alpha Telecom also unveiled Huawei’s 2018 product roadmap for the domestic market and from that, we could get an idea of the products that would be launched next year. The Huawei P20, unfortunately, isn’t listed among the products that would be unveiled in Q1 2018 but that is because the roadmap is for Isreal. Huawei plans to drop the P20, P20 Plus and P20 Lite in Q2 2018, according to the roadmap. We must point out that the list contains two models identified with what is likely their codenames. The products are codenamed Maya and Salina and are believed to be unannounced models that Huawei will unveil in Q1 2018.

Xiaomi Starts ￥9.9 Super VIP Monthly Subscription Model: No Advertisements, Cloud Storage & More

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 26, 2017

Advertisements are an inevitable part of any service. Companies invest millions of dollars to develop software for their smartphones and in return, many of them use advertisements to generate revenue for their products and services. Xiaomi is no exception to this rule and the company’s MIUI often features advertisements in its system services. Some don’t mind these ads, as long as they keep the services free, but there is a section of the population who would want to avoid any kind of advertisements in their user interface. For them, Xiaomi has just launched a new ￥9.9 Super VIP monthly subscription service in China for MIUI.

How it works is pretty simple. You pay the company, either monthly or yearly, a fixed amount and in return you get a bunch of benefits including advertising free interface and cloud storage.

The Xiaomi Super VIP subscription model will cost you ￥9.9 ($1.5) per month or ￥88 ($13.5) per year. You get more benefits if you are ready to pay for the entire year. At present, the service is in beta and Xiaomi is accepting only 10,000 experience and 10,000 monthly users to this program per day. Only 1000 applicants are being accepted for the year program per day. The beta kicks off from today and ends on December 31.

If you get into the Super VIP beta program, you’ll be exempted from any kind of system or system app advertisements. However, you’ll still be seeing third party app ads as the service doesn’t restrict other applications. Apart from this, monthly users get 22 set of exclusive VIP themes, 5GB of cloud storage, and 1000 books to read per month. In comparison, the yearly users will get 37 exclusive VIP themes, 10GB of cloud storage, and 1200 books to read per month.

Note that if your Mi account is logged into multiple smartphones, only one of the phones can enjoy the benefits of this Super VIP service.

So, what are your thoughts about this new service from Xiaomi? Would you be ready to shell out a nominal amount per month to receive the above benefits?

(Source)

Google Will Set Up Brick & Mortar Stores In India by Q4 2018: Report

By

Joel Joseph

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Dec 26, 2017

Google is keen to set up brick and mortar stores in India, according to a new report from Economic Times. The newspaper agency, citing internal sources, revealed that the company is currently in talks with multiple malls to set up stores across the country. The plan is to set up “experience centres”. It is said that the company was pleased with the response received to its pop up centers opened recently in Mumbai and Delhi-NCR regions to showcase the newly launched Pixel 2 smartphones.

A senior executive of one of the malls which hosted the pop up centre said, “They got a flavour of how physical stores are also important because you can’t explain many of the features online.” The ET report adds that Google is planning to open the stores by Q4 2018. Apart from Pixel smartphones, the company is reportedly planning to sell other Google branded products such as Google Home Speakers, Chromecast, Daydream VR, and Pixel laptops.

It’s not surprising to see Google looking to expand its reach in the offline market. There’s a very solid trend among smartphone companies strengthening their hold in the retail market. OPPO, Vivo, and even Xiaomi are good examples of how strong offline presence helps to improve sales and revenue, even when the smartphone market is getting crowded. Google is way behind the top players in the Indian market which include Samsung and Xiaomi, and it makes sense to start taking steps to build a good chain of brick and mortar stores.

At present, big smartphones companies are adopting either single-brand license or franchise route to get their retail stores in India. The report didn’t mention what kind of strategy Google had in mind. Apple has already applied for the single brand license in India, while companies like Samsung and Xiaomi have currently adopted the franchise route to open their stores in the country. It is worth mentioning that Xiaomi has also applied for single brand license in India, but we still don’t know when it’ll get approved by the Government.

(Source)

Xiaomi Has Sold Over 10 Million IoT Smart Home Products Globally

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Dec 26, 2017

Xiaomi continues to make progress on all fronts as the tech giant has been revealed to have surpassed 10 million shipments for its IoT devices. This is coming barely three years after the company nick-named “China’s Apple” committed to the production of IoT devices in order to create a connected smart home.

The tech giant announced on Christmas day that it had achieved the milestone earlier this month. The record shipments also show that Xiaomi’s diversification strategy was working as planned. Presently, Xiaomi’s IoT gadgets include products like the Mi Robot Vacuum Cleaner, Mi Smart Speaker, Mi Home Thermometer, smart body scale, home security kit and several others. Most of the IoT gadgets are manufactured under Xiaomi’s MIJIA crowdfunding platform like the Aqara smart home products.

Majority of the smart home IoT gadgets are sold exclusively in China but most of them can be bought outside China via third-party e-retailers like Banggood, GearBest, LightInTheBox and several others. Xiaomi doesn’t ship the product directly but of late, the company has made available some of its IoT gadgets in India where Xiaomi has continued to soar and is currently close to surpassing Samsung as the largest local smartphone vendor, according to recent estimates. As Xiaomi’s connected smart home products continue to gather momentum, the tech giant is expected to expand its Internet-enabled home products to more markets around the world.

(via)

Sharp FS8015 Gets Spotted on TENAA Along with Entire Specifications

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Dec 26, 2017

Earlier in this week, the Sharp FS8018 phone with a notch for the selfie camera at the top edge of the phone was spotted on the website of TENAA, the telecom regulatory body from China. Another upcoming phone from the company with a model number of Sharp FS8015 has been found listed on TENAA.

The images of Sharp FS8015 on TENAA reveals that it will be arriving with a full screen design and a vertically stacked dual rear cameras. The back panel of the phone also features a fingerprint reader. Coming to the specs of the phone, it features a 5.99-inch screen that offers an aspect ratio of 18:9 as it supports a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels.

Since the Sharp FS8015 is powered by an octa-core processor that clocks at 2.2 GHz, it seems that the handset will either feature Snapdragon 630 or Snapdragon 660 chipset. The 4 GB RAM variant of the phone will be featuring 64 GB of storage whereas the 6 GB RAM model will be housing a native storage of 128 GB.

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The rear side of the Sharp FS8015 will be equipped with a dual camera setup featuring a 12-megapixel sensor and a 13-megapixel sensor. It has a selfie shooter of 16-megapixel. It is preinstalled with Android Nougat OS and will come fueled with a 3,100mAh battery. The TENAA listing states that the Sharp FS8015 will only arrive in one color choice of Black.

As of this writing, there is no information on the launch date of the phone. However, it appears that the Japanese tech giant will unleash the Sharp FS8018 and FS8015 phones soon in China..

Samsung W2018: Variable Aperture Explained

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Dec 26, 2017

Samsung’s W-series is a line of smartphones with the clamshell design of old. While the design may no longer be in vogue, the latest model in the series, the Samsung W2018 packs modern day specs. Apart from the fact that it has 2 displays, the W2018 is powered by the Snapdragon 835 and has 6GB of RAM making it the most powerful clamshell phone ever released.

Samsung also set another record with the W2018’s camera. The phone’s primary camera has an aperture of F1.5, the widest found on a phone. However, that is not the only special thing about the camera, while it does have an aperture of 1.5, it can switch to a 2.4 aperture size as well depending on the lighting.

While there are phones that can change the size of their apertures, they actually do so electronically. The Samsung W2018 on the other hand varies it mechanically just like a DSLR.

To vary the aperture size in a camera, the amount of light passing through the lens is adjusted by using a polygon or circle with a variable area. The image above should help explain better.

The Samsung W2018 applies the same principle above. When the aperture changes, you can see it when you look at the lens. The first image below is when the aperture is set to 1.5 and the next is when it is 2.4. The camera switches automatically between the apertures depending on the amount of light detected.

Continue

LeEco Is Back! Releases 10 New TVs Under Lean & New Series

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Dec 26, 2017

Just when we thought LeEco’s collapse was all done and dusted, the company has made a remarkable comeback into the tech gadget scene with the launch of a number of smart digital TVs in China. The company seems to have charted a new course for itself under a new management in the absence of founder Jia Yueting. But LeEco seems to be taking things slowly by reducing its business lines. For now, the smartphone business seems to be on a hiatus as no new model has been added in recent times. Instead, the once sprawling tech giant has shifted its focus to Smart TVs, apparently to leverage on its internet services business.

Today, the ailing tech giant launched several smart TVs under two new lines dubbed Lean and New series. The two series are made up of a total of 10 new models of varying sizes ranging from 40 – 65 inches. The new Smart TV series is said to built with the focus on the family and provides a completely open platform with a host of internet services available to users.

The LeTV Lean series is made of the following models; X40L / X43L / X50L / X55L / X65L with the price starting at 1899 yuan (~$290). On the other hand, the New series is comprised of the following models; X40N / X43N / X50N / X55N / X65N starting at 2099 yuan (~$320). The New series is obviously the high-end series and the price goes as high as 5799 Yuan (~$885) for the top-end model.

The models differ slightly in their configuration but in terms of image quality, the new generation products still retain Leco’s super TV’s unique color management engine. Most of the products support HDR technology. The Smart TVs utilises a unique SDR to HDR processing technology which converts SDR contents into HDR display effects thereby enhancing the user’s viewing experience. Onboard the smart TV series is the Mstar quad-core processor while the entire product range comes with 16G flash memory. Providing the interface is LeEco’s custom EUI 6.5 operating system bringing with it lots of new features to the Smart TVs.

The New and Lean series LeEco Smart TVs are presently available in China via LeEco’s LeMall.

Android Oreo Update On Xiaomi Mi A1 Brings Support For Fast Charging

By

Jeet

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Dec 26, 2017

Xiaomi launched Mi A1 smartphone earlier this year, reviving Google’s Android One program. The smartphone has been well-received by the users and is currently one of the best device available for purchase in its price range.

During the launch, the company had promised to roll out the Android Oreo update for the device soon. After seeking beta testers for the update, Xiaomi started rolling out the Android Oreo update for the Mi A1 to select users.

While the update introduces several new features on the device such as picture-in-picture mode, Autofill API, smart text selection, notification dots, etc., there is an addition of one feature that no one expected — fast charging.

Mostly all of the Xiaomi’s device lacks support for the Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology even though the hardware is capable enough for such feature. This is because Xiaomi did not pay the license fees to Qualcomm to use the Quick Charge technology. But that is about to change now, at least for the Mi A1.

According to the folks at TelecomTalk, who have tested the Android 8.0 Oreo update on the Mi A1, the update brings the support for fast charging feature to the phone. In their testing, they found that the phone now takes just 92 minutes to get fully charged, which used to take about two hours before installing the update.

However, it should be noted that this was tested using OnePlus’ Dash Charger and not the Xiaomi’s charger which comes bundled with the phone. Also, we have not yet tried this feature. We are not sure if the bundled charger supports the quick charge feature or not. In case it doesn’t, you’ll have to buy a new charger.

The Xiaomi Mi A1 was launched in India a couple of months ago for a price of Rs. 14,999. However, the company recently announced a price cut of Rs. 1,000 on the device, bringing the effective price of the phone to Rs. 13,999. Apart from the price cut, the China-based smartphone manufacturer also launched a limited edition Red colour model last week.

(Source)

Xiaomi Said to Focus on 3D Facial Recognition in 2018 As Rivals Opt for Under Display Fingerprint Scanner

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Dec 26, 2017

Synaptics has recently confirmed that it is working with Vivo to launch a smartphone next year that will come enabled with under-display fingerprint scanner. Fresh information shared by an industry insider has revealed that not only Vivo, but also other leading smartphone OEMs will be debuting phones with in-screen fingerprint scanner in 2018. However, he claims that Xiaomi is not so keen on introducing the advanced fingerprint scanning technology as it will be introducing 3D facial recognition feature on its future phones.

According to the industry insider besides Vivo, other companies like Huawei and OnePlus will also launch smartphones with in-screen fingerprint scanner. This corroborates with our report that revealed that the OnePlus 6 will come equipped with under-display fingerprint reader.

Since Xiaomi is focusing on developing 3D facial recognition technology, it is expected to introduce the feature first on the upcoming Mi 7 flagship. It is speculated that the 3D facial recognition by Xiaomi could be as robust as Face ID by Apple. The Chinese firm is reportedly working Qualcomm, Himax Technologies and Truly Opt-Electronics to begin the mass production of 3D facial scanning technology by the first quarter of 2018. After arriving on the Xiaomi Mi 7, the advanced face scanning feature is also expected to be available on multiple devices from the company.

Xiaomi has already hinted that the upcoming Mi 7 flagship will be powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset. It is also speculated to arrive with AI driven dual rear cameras. It is rumored to launch as the first Xiaomi phone with wireless charging technology. The Chinese firm is also pegged to launch a larger Mi 7 Plus alongside the Mi 7 smartphone. The Mi 7 and Mi 7 Plus are rumored to respectively arrive with 5.65-inch and 6.01-inch screens. Both the phones are likely to support 18:9 aspect ratio.

Samsung Galaxy J2 (2018) Price Appears on a Russian Retailer Site

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Dec 26, 2017

Last week, popular leakster Roland Quandt had leaked the full specifications of the upcoming Galaxy J2 (2018). He had also claimed that the entry-level smartphone may cost 8,000 Rubles (~$138) in Russia. Even though Samsung is yet to officially unveil the phone, the Galaxy J2 (2018) has appeared with full specifications and pricing on a retailer site in Russia.

The Galaxy J2 (2018)’s listing the Russian retailer site reveals that it will be arriving with a qHD resolution screen of 5 inches. It is surprising to know that the South Korean company is launching a phone with such a low resolution in 2018 when most companies are selling low budget phones with HD or Full HD resolution.

The Snapdragon 425 chipset is powering the Galaxy J2 (2018) along with 1.5 GB of RAM. The device is fueled by a 2,600mAh battery. It will be coming with a native storage of 16 GB. The external storage slot will allow users to add up to 256 GB of microSD card on the device.

The rear and front sides of the phone will be respectively featuring 8-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras. It will be equipped with other features 3.5mm headphone slot, microUSB port, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2. Quandt had revealed that the phone would be coming in Black and Gold options. However, the Russian retailer has listed the phone in Black color only and it is carrying a price tag of 7,990 Rubles (~$138).

There is no confirmation on whether the company will be officially announcing this phone this year. Since the entire specifications of the phone have been revealed, it appears that it will be launching soon.

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