Samsung Vega Smart Speaker with Bixby AI in Works

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Jul 5, 2017

Various major tech brands such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have released their own smart speaker devices. It all started with the launch of Amazon Echo smart speaker in 2016. Speculations have it that Samsung is also working on a smart speaker that will be driven by its own Bixby AI.

A smart speaker consists of a speaker and a digital AI assistant. Amazon Echo is driven by its Alexa AI virtual assistant. Apple’s Siri voice assistant is available on its HomePod smart speaker. The Google Home smart speaker has Google Assistant and a speaker. Microsoft and Samsung collaborated to release Invoke speaker system featuring Harman Kardon speaker and Cortana voice assistant. According to the Wall Street Journal, Samsung is working on a smart speaker that is codenamed as Vega that will be coupled with Bixby AI.

The Bixby AI assistant was first made available on Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ flagship phones. Samsung has even included a dedicated Bixby button on these smartphones. The recently launched Galaxy Note Fan Edition that is exclusively available in South Korea is also equipped with Bixby AI. Currently, Bixby AI only supports Korean language. Its seems that Samsung Vega smart speaker may not arrive soon because the English edition of Bixby is still unavailable.

Its English edition is still in open beta phase and is currently available for testing for registered users in the U.S. Bixby AI is likely to be available for public use by the end of this or by the coming month. Once the Bixby AI is made official for U.S. audience, there is a possibility that Samsung Vega may also release soon. Samsung Vega is likely to support its other smart products such as Smart Home and IoT enabled TVs.. It is expected to feature Harman Kardon speaker as the well-known audio system brand has been acquired by Samsung.

Compared to 2016, smart speaker users have almost doubled this year. A recent survey has revealed that 36 million users in the U.S. use a smart speaker at least one time in a month. When Samsung had launched S Voice couple of years ago, there was no major competition for it. However, Samsung Vega will face stiff competition from rivals like Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, Google Home and Microsoft Invoke

What do you think about the Samsung Vega? Will it be able to find success among rival smart speakers?

(source|via)

Hisense H10 Unboxing & Hands-on Images: Beautiful in Silver & Black

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 5, 2017

Chinese OEM Hisense released the Hisense H10 mid-range smartphone a few days back in China and the device is already available via JD.com. Hisense is currently locked in legal battle with Sharp Corporation in the U.S over the license to produce low-end TV for the U.S market. Sharp is accusing Hisense of producing low-quality TVs and honestly, I think the design quality of the H10 puts to question that accusation. The Hisense H10 is of the highest build quality that you can wish for on a mid-range phone and the design, just see for yourself from the following hands-on / unboxing images courtesy of IThome.

The H10 is packaged in a beautiful white packaging box with Hisense printed on the body. The box casing also contains some of the specifications of the model with the key highlight of 20MP written along with the rider “shoot more beautiful you” on the body. Inside the box, you get the phone itself, a protective casing, a headphone, a USB cable and charger.

The Hisense H10 design looks quite spectacular, both on the Black and the Silver variant. The H10 comes with a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080p. The display looks as of it is a curved edge display especially on the black variant but it is not. There is the presence of a 2.5D curved glass on top of the display. The front camera and flash can be noticed on top of the display. There is also no front home key but that doesn’t mean there are no bezels. There are bezels on all side but the device likely uses a virtual home button.

At the rear, there is a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor located at the middle while the rear camera and flash are tilted to the left corner of the device. The Hisense H10 uses a metal body and the Hisense logo is embossed at the bottom part. The device also utilises a U-shaped fused antenna band design that is very obvious on the Silver version but is somehow masked on the black variant. The bottom of the device houses a single speaker, a micro USB port and an audio jack.

The new Hisense device packs a 20MP front-facing camera with a front flash and this may just be its most spectacular feature. The rear camera is configured with a 12MP Sony IMX386 which isn’t a bad one but promises crisp clear shots. The Hisense H10 packs a Snapdragon 430 chip and whatever deficiency this may result in is mitigated by a 4GB RAM and there is 64GB of storage onboard. Providing the beautiful interface is an Android 7.1 Nougat OS with Hisense’s Vision UI overlay.

The Hisense 10 will eventually be available in Blue and Pink colours in addition to the Silver and Black variants. The price is pegged at 2299 Yuan (∼$339) and it is already available on Jingdong (JD.com).

Nokia 7, 8 & Nokia Accessories Arriving; No Nokia Android Tablets This Year

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 5, 2017

The Nokia brand has finally returned as Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6 and Nokia 3310 (2017) smartphones are expected to be available for purchase in various global markets by the end of this month. These phones do mark the relaunch of the brand, but these phones may not interest all the kinds of buyers. Still, these phones have met with positive reception because of which HMD Global is encountering issues in supplying sufficient stock to various global retailers and carriers. The Finnish firm is expected to introduce second batch of phones soon. In an interview with Finnish publication, HMD Global’s Marketing Director, Pekka Rantala has revealed the company’s future plans.

Rantala has said that Nokia has no plans to release Android tablets. This piece of information may disappoint Nokia fans who are eagerly waiting for Nokia Android tablet as the Nokia N1 tablet from 2014 was well-received in China, the only country where it was sold. Rantala added that the company mainly focused on the production of smartphones and it won’t be releasing a tablet in 2017.

He also revealed that apart from smartphones, the company would be launching Nokia branded accessories. When asked about the rumored Nokia 9, there was no proper answer on the upcoming flagship phone from the company. However, he gave a hint by saying that it is logical from the company to use Nokia 7, Nokia 8 or Nokia 2 names as it has launched phones with names like Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. However, Nokia won’t be releasing a device with Nokia 4 moniker because the number 4 is considered bad omen in China and some Asian countries.

The Nokia 9 is rumored to come with a 5.3-inch QHD display and it is expected to be driven by Snapdragon 835 chipset. It is rumored to come in RAM variants like 6 GB and 8 GB. The flagship is pegged to come with a pair of 13-megapixel rear shooters. Several leaked photos of the Nokia 9 have already appeared along with its specifications. Speculations are rife that the Nokia 9 would be unveiling in Q3 this year with a price tag of $699.

The rumor mill has also predicted that Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 are the other phones from the Finnish firm that will be unveiled soon. Also, the company is also expected to announce new feature phones as they have already appeared on TENAA, China’s telecom regulatory body.

(source|via)

Android 8.0 Update: Launching in Q3 2017 For AOSP & OEMs, Codenamed Oreo

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 5, 2017

Google‘s next operating system is already known to go by the model name Android 8.0 and its identified also with the codename Android O. The true meaning of the O is yet to be officially identified. While some think it is Android Oreo, a divergent speculation says it is likely Android Oatmeal Cookie. Another theory has emerged that argues that the O in Google’s Android O still stand for Oreo. As a matter of fact, both names are derived from biscuits but that isn’t the most important thing about the upcoming OS.

The Android O timeline has been buzzing steadily towards its official launch with progress being made with the release of the first, second and third Developer previews. While Google’s new OS seems to be mostly in a finished state, there are a few new additions to the developer previews. The first Developer Preview was launched in March this year with some update and in mid-May, the second Developer Preview was rolled out bringing more new contents. The third Android O Developer Preview for Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel and Pixel XL devices hit the Internet in June bringing some new APIs that would appear in the final version. The release of the fourth and final version is expected any moment from now before the Stable ROM starts rolling out.

As for the release date, Google has confirmed that Android 8.0 will be available for AOSP and ecosystem releases in the third quarter of this year after the Fourth and final Developer Preview ha rolled out. This means the last preview should come out any moment from now since we are already in the third quarter. Although there is no specific release date yet, a number of sources are pointing to a release in August this year.

Android 8.0 codenamed Oreo, is expected to come with a number of new features, including support for picture-in-picture, application badges, notification dots, support for automatic filling, higher text selection, a substantial improvement of the notification system. There are also some changes seen in the Developer Preview already, such a new media notification, new icon and clock.

(source)

The ASUS Zenfone 4 Max Kicks Off The Series With Dual Cameras & A 5000mAh Battery

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 4, 2017

Keeping to its words of launching the Zenfone 4 series this month, ASUS has officially announced the Zenfone 4 Max in Russia.

The Zenfone 4 Max is a big upgrade over its predecessor. From sporting a new design to grabbing an extra rear camera and rounding it off with a bigger battery, the Zenfone 4 Max ticks the right boxes.

The Zenfone 4 Max has a 5.5-inch FHD display. Looking at the promotional images, we advise you purchase the black variant. Can you see those black bands around the display? They shouldn’t exist in 2017.

ASUS has released the Zenfone 4 Max in two variants. One has a Snapdragon 430 processor and the other uses a Snapdragon 425. ASUS says memory configuration is up to 4GB and 16GB/32GB/64GB with the option for expansion via a dedicated microSD slot (256GB max).

The rear cameras on the Zenfone Max are a combination of a 13MP f/2.0 main sensor with fast autofocus and another 13MP with a 120° wide-angle lens that fits in more details. The front camera is an 8MP shooter and has its own LED flash at the top right corner.

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First Image of Moto X4 Leaks on The 4th of July

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 4, 2017

The Moto X4 might have been postponed till Q4 2017 but that doesn’t mean the leak train should stop moving. To celebrate 4th of July (US Independence Day), @evleaks has released an image of the Moto X4 giving us our first clean look at the upcoming phone.

The Moto X4 shares a similar design to the other Moto phones announced this year but looks a bit more refined thanks to its glass back. This looks very much like glass even though a spec leak from yesterday says it will have an aluminium body. The leaked product map even says it is 3D glass.

Adorning the glass back are the dual rear cameras, which to be honest looks like a robber wearing a face mask. There is a dual tone flash beneath it and the whole setup sits in a circle with a small bump. The Motorola batwing logo sits a few centimeters below the setup.

The front of the Moto X4 also gets the glass treatment and you can see how it curves at the edges. There is a LED flash at the top left corner and a front facing camera on the right.

What is different is the fingerprint scanner. Unlike the other Motorola phones with fingerprint sensors released this year, this one isn’t an ingress but is raised up.

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MECOOL M8S PRO Plus TV Box with Air Mouse For $49.99 on Geekbuying

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 4, 2017

I’m not sure there is so many TV Box around which runs Google’s latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system but the MECOOL M8S Pro Plus is one of the few doing so. The MECOOL Android TV Box is the latest offering from MeCool and it comes with a top notch specs lineup that lets users stream video content at very high quality. The TV Box lets users stream content from YouTube and NetFlix at 1080P resolution @60fps.

For the hardware, the M8S Pro Plus features an Amlogic S905X quad-core CPU backed by 2GB of RAM with a Mali-450 pent-core GPU firing up the graphics to a great performance. The TV Box also comes with 16GB of eMMC flash storage. The gadget also comes with WiFi connectivity, having a 2.4G WiFi 802.11 b/g/n support. It also supports a wide range of video and audio formats ranging from MPEG, HD, mpg, MPEG, MP3, WMA, AAC and several others. You can also use the MECOOL M8S Pro Plus to access several Internet platforms such as Skype chatting, Facebook, Picassa, Flicker, YouTube and several others. The TV Box also brings several Android apps and games to your TV.

The MECOOL M8S Pro Plus Android TV Box is on offer at Geekbuying for just $49.99. This offer also comes with a Tronsmart TSM01 Air Mouse (English version) which is compatible with most Smart TVs, Set-top-box and Android TV Box. It can be used as a non-directional remote control and also to navigate like a mouse but one that works even while the device is being held in the air. Getting both gadgets at $49.99 is a good deal if I must say. If you want to take advantage of this offer, use the link below.

Buy MECOOL M8S Pro Plus with Tronsmart TSM01 English Air Mouse for $49.99

LEAGOO T5 Global Presale Begin – Save $50 and get free gifts

By

Shine Wong

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Jul 4, 2017

LEAGOO T5 GlobalPresale – Save $50 and get free gifts !

Pre-order Leagoo T5 on Gearbest

LEAGOO T5 Presale Campaign:

What you can get:

1, Save $50

2, Free gifts: 1 x earphone, 1 x case

Presale Time: 3rd July – 10th July

	LEAGOO T5	Redmi Note 4
Display	5.5 inch,FHD, SHARP display, Corning Gorilla Glass 4	5.5 inch, FHD
CPU	8-core	8-core
RAM	SAMSUNG 4GB	4GB
ROM	SAMSUNG 64GB	64GB
Rear Camera	SONY 13MP+ OV 5MP	13.0MP
Front Camera	OV 13MP	5.0MP
Fingerprint ID	Front Mounted	Back
VoLTE	Support	Support
CNC Metal Body	Yes	Yes
Battery	3000mAH LG	4100mAh
Quick Charge	5V2A	5V2A
Price	$149.99	$167.99

Official 3D video of LEAGOO T5:

Pre-order Leagoo T5 on Gearbest

The highlights of LEAGOO M5 Edge:

Centralized with SONY sensor, LEAGOO T5 features with 13.0MP main rear camera, together with OV sensor to back up 5.0MP sub rear camera, LEAGOO T5 captures tiny details with extreme ability. With an extra-wide F2.0 aperture and a customized 1/3.06 inch sensor, wonderful moments could be captured as clearly as it happens, even under low-light environment.

SONY 13.0MP main camera
OV 5.0MP secondary camera
F 2.0 aperture
0.1s Auto focus
5P Lens
1/3.06″ sensor size
1.12um*1.12um pixel size

Brand New Portrait Mode in LEAGOO T5 brings SLR-like bokeh effect, foreground figure is more clear than ever before, even eyelashes could be seen after fully divided, which benefits from the special 52mm portrait camera that was chose. Equipping with latest Dual-Cam scheme, Binocular Stereo Vision and Depth Learning Algorithm, LEAGOO T5 enables you to shoot out the most stunning photos.

Adopted with OV 13.0MP sensor, front camera of LEAGOO T5 could be used to focus on selfie subject, combined with the front complementary light and instant beauty function, your selfie will lean in unprecedented breathtaking effect!

F2.0 aperture
5P Lens
Selfie Softlight
1/3.06″ sensor size
1.12um*1.12um pixel size
77.9°wide angle

LEAGOO T5 impresses you with a flagship performance. Along with Mali-T860 GPU and SAMSUNG 4GB of RAM, T5 performs very well in dealing with complicatedgraphics and big games.The upgraded MTK6750T chip not only gives T5 a fast and stable performance with low power consumption, but also provides a high efficiency and good experience in multitasks.

Fresh ID style combines with a pure metal unibody, LEAGOO T5 is dedicated to the beauty of curve and radian. Fresh and brilliant without losing its heritage, every detail reveals LEAGOO’s ultimate desire for relentless pursuit of self-breakthrough.

7.9mm ultra thin body
175 times design versions update
New generation of curved design

Experience a true to life world with T5. The phone sports a 5.5-inch FHD SHARP®screen with IPS display technology that not only provides a wider viewing angle up to 178 degrees, but also delivers clear andbright visual experience with brilliant color saturation and contrast. The SHARP®display’s smooth color dynamics are rendered through 2.5D curved glass.

1920×1080 High Resolution
400 PPI
97% NTSC Color Saturation
1500:1 Contrast Ration
IPS Display 178ºViewing Angle

LEAGOO T5 supports 5V2A quick charge, which is achieved by both hardware design and software optimization. Backed up by Vcharge, the charging process is now faster and safer.

With the new type of high-capacity lithium core which supports quick, LEAGOO T5’s battery is not only stable, but also lasting. After 580 times of charging and discharging, the battery retains 80% of its initial rated capacity. The service time is twice that of common ones.

Video Play : 8 Hours
Continuous Calling: 20 hours
Normal Use: 36 hours
Standby: 10 days
Battery density ratio: 570:1

With 4G network, it’s easier and faster to browse the Internet and download apps or videos. Thanks to LTE Cat.6 protocol, the maximum download speed can reach up to 300Mbps.

Cat 6
Dual 4G
VoLTE
up to 300Mbps download

The Fingerprint sensor used on LEAGOO T5 has an outstanding reliability while being the fastest in its class, for an unmatched user experience. Thanks to Smart Touch technology , it has independent ISP for storing and processing fingerprints. Crafted from premium ceramic, the fingerprint sensor actively learns and progressively improves, so your scans get even more precise over time.

Smart Touch Technology
360°Readability
0.1 sec Unlock
4 in 1 Non-press fingerprint ID

Main features of LEAGOO T5:

5.5 inch SHARP FHD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 screen
MT6750T 8-core chipset
SAMSUNG 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM
SONY 13.0MP + OV 5.0MP rear dual camera
OV 13.0MP front camera
LG 3000mAH battery with 5V2A quick charge
LEAGOO OS 2.1( based on Android 7.0)
0.1 sec Unlock, 4 in 1 front-mounted fingerprint ID

Pre-order Leagoo T5 on Gearbest

Xiaomi Launches Mi 6 and Mi Max 2 in Russia Today

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 4, 2017

Two months ago, Xiaomi made its way into Russia with three new devices: the Mi MIX, the Mi Note 2, and the budget Redmi 4X. Today, it adds the flagship Mi 6 and the recently launched Mi Max 2 to the phones available in the Eurasian country.

Xiaomi Mi 6

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is a dual camera flagship powered by the Snapdragon 853. It has a 5.15-inch full HD display, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Xiaomi has settled for a dual rear camera configuration akin to that of the iPhone 7 Plus.

The main sensor is a 12MP 1.25μm wide-angle sensor with a f/1.8 aperture, 4-axis OIS and 6P lens and the second sensor is another 12MP 1.0μm telephoto lens with a f/2.6 aperture, PDAF and a focus range of 52mm which lets you take portrait mode images.

For the selfie camera, Xiaomi has put an 8MP camera that records 1080p videos at 30fps. The Mi 6 has a 3350mAh battery with support for Quick Charge 3.0.

Those who plan to get it should remember that the Mi 6 doesn’t have an audio jack but works with USB Type-C headphones. The device is also splash resistant.

The Mi 6 will be available for purchase on the 6th of July at 11:00 AM Moscow time for 29,990 Rubles. You can head to the official Mi Russia site and register to get notified.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2

The Mi Max 2 is for those who enjoy the extra screen estate of a tablet but still want a phone. The 6.44-inch 1080p display should more than suffice for any video watching or media consumption you’re into.

There is a Snapdragon 625 paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You shouldn’t worry about battery life as the combination of the 5300mAh non-removable battery and the power-efficient SD625 should get you through a whole day at most.

The Mi Max 2 also packs an impressive Sony IMX386 sensor on the rear and a 5MP front facing camera. There is 9V/2A fast charging to help refill the large battery as fast as possible.

The Mi Max 2 will sell for 19,9990 Rubles.

Mi Band 2

The official site also has the Mi Band 2 but there is no price at the moment. There is a chance it will also go on sale on July 6 alongside the phones.

Continue

Nokia Partners With Xiaomi To Use Its Surge S1 Chip In Its Phone

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 4, 2017

Xiaomi and Nokia are said to have been in talks in recent times. Some speculated that Xiaomi was looking to use some of Nokia’s patents so it can penetrate foreign markets like the US but there have been no official statement on that. As at yesterday, sources said both corporations have signed a partnership and will reveal the details in the near future.

The good news is that we won’t have to wait to find out what the partnership is about. Leakster @Reviewer_ 小康 took to Weibo last night to disclose what Nokia and Xiaomi are up to.

According to him, an insider revealed that Nokia will use Xiaomi’s Surge S1 processor in its new phone. The phone wasn’t specified but it sure will be a mid-range device since the processor is a mid-range one.

Earlier this year, Xiaomi unveiled its own home-brewed System-on-Chip, the Surge S1. The Surge S1 currently powers the Xiaomi Mi 5c and it will be nice to see it in a phone from another manufacturer, a big one for that matter.

While we are all excited about the news, we should still take it with a pinch of salt until we get an official statement.

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Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector Sales Hit 10million Yuan in Less Than 2 hours

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 4, 2017

Xiaomi is an innovative tech company known for their cheap but quality tech products which span different categories. The company recently announced its most expensive product ever recently, the Mi Laser Projector with a hefty 9999 Yuan ($1,470) price tag. Yes, it is Xiaomi’s most expensive product presently but on a comparison, the Laser projector is still way cheaper than other laser projectors in the market.

The Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector was billed to go on sale today, July 4 via Xiaomi Mall and indeed it went up on sale with some monstrous sales figures. It took just one hour 53 minutes for the sales to hit 10 million Yuan ($1,470,609.86). Now, if you know about Xiaomi’s products you’d understand that they are just not available in excess units. So, the figure translates into just 1000 units of the Mi Laser and we’re sure that sales revenue could have been more than doubled if the stock hasn’t been exhausted.

The Xiaomi Mi Laser Projector uses an advanced laser fluorescence display technology (ALPD 3.0) with a shelve life of 25,0000 hours which translates to up to 34 years usage if the projector is used for 2 hours daily. A daily usage of up to 4hours can still guarantee up to 17 years of usage, meaning the laser is ultra-durable and long lasting. The projector’s two core technologies are the light source technology manufactured by the Light Peak photoelectric company while the imaging technology chip in use was made by Texas Instruments and Guangfeng photoelectric custom R&D.

The new Laser projector is capable of displaying up to a maximum of 150 inches with 1920 x 1080p resolution. The projector provides a red light ratio of 16% to 18%, wide color gamut, color quasi, with contrast comparable to the laser studio 3000: 1 screen contrast. The light source brightness can reach up to 5000 lumens which is of theatre screen level. The projector also diffuses its direct light source, allowing for more eye protection. The sound quality is also of high quality, giving the Mi Laser 150″ projector the capability of providing theatre-level audio-visuals right in the comfort of the sitting room.

(source)

Meizu Pro7 Will Be First Phone To Launch With Helio X30

By

Habeeb Onawole

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Jul 4, 2017

The Meizu Pro7 is set for a release soon. We have heard rumors of it launching on July 26 but Meizu hasn’t confirmed it yet. Apart from the secondary display the Pro7 will have, the second biggest feature is its Mediatek Helio X30 chip.

The Helio X30 has been a long time coming and it is said to make its debut in the Pro7. So between now and when Meizu launches its new flagship, there won’t be any other phone launching with the processor.

The Helio X30 is a 10nm chip that is supposed to take on the Snapdragon 835. When it was first unveiled last year, quite a number of people looked forward to seeing its real life performance.

The Helio X30 a.k.a MT6799 is a deca-core processor comprising of two Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.5GHz, four Cortex-A53s at 2.2GHz and another four A35s at 1.9GHz. Mediatek has switched to a PowerVR 7XTP-MT4 clocked at 800MHz for the GPU. The chip supports 4K displays, RAM of up to 8GB and UFS 2.1 storage. It will have support for 3x carrier aggregation, LTE cat-10 and Imagiq 2.0.

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Sony Xperia Flagship with Inhouse Chipset Reportedly Unveiling at IFA 2017

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 4, 2017

Since the last quarter of 2015, there have been reports that state that Sony is working on its own mobile phone chipset. Fresh rumors indicate that the Sony flagship that is slated to get announced at the upcoming IFA 2017 event will be powered by the new Sony chipset.

Sony has confirmed to the media that it will be holding a pre-IFA press conference on August 31. Its new smartphones are expected to be showcased at the IFA 2017 event in Berlin, Germany that begins from Sept. 1. The Japanese tech giant is also expected to unleash its smartphone chipset at the IFA 2017. The company is known for announcing new flagships at IFA. Hence, speculations are rife that Sony chipset driven flagship phone would be announced at the upcoming tech trade show.

Sony is expected to unleash two Xperia flagships on August 31. Rumors have it one of the them will be fueled by Sony’s custom chipset. In the last week, a Chinese leakster had revealed that Sony’s upcoming flagship would be featuring a 6-inch bezeless screen from JDI display. It will be offering an aspect ratio of 18:9.

Samsung’s in-house Exynos chipsets and Huawei’s home baked Kirin SoCs are capable of competing with the various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. Xiaomi’s Surge S1 chip was built to power mid-range phone and the company is also rumored to be working on even powerful Surge S2 chipset. Since various smartphone OEMs like Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi have their own chipsets, it may not be surprising if Sony introduces its own SoC at IFA 2017.

There is no information available on the specification of the mysterious Sony chipset. it is not known whether the mysterious Sony chip is as powerful as Snapdragon 835 that powers several 2017 flagship phones such as Samsung Galaxy S8, HTC U11, Xiaomi Mi 6 and OnePlus 5. Since the news of the Sony chipset has arrived from an unverified source, it is best to digest this report with a pinch of salt.

Sony will begin its IFA 2017 on Aug. 31 at 1 PM CEST. A report that surfaced around a month ago had revealed that Sony may announce Xperia XZ1 flagship phone along with other phones like Xperia XZ1 Compact and Xperia X1. The report had revealed that the Xperia XZ1 and XZ1 Compact would be driven by Snapdragon 835 whereas the Snapdragon 630 would be powering the Xperia X1. The Japanese firm is also rumored to be working on Xperia X Ultra phablet that is speculated to come with 6.4-inch screen with 21:9 aspect ratio and Snapdragon 660.

(source|via)

Get Laser Projection Virtual Keyboard for just $23.99

By

Linus

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Jul 4, 2017

Everyone uses some sort of a keyboard every day whether it would be a dedicated device or the embedded one into your laptop. However, if you want to use a portable gadget like a smartphone or a tablet on the go, you will have a hard time getting the job done if you don’t have any keyboard

.

The projection keyboard may not be on the top of your buying list but it looks just great and it can be useful if you need a keyboard on the go since it is tiny, lightweight and compact (it weighs just 47g). Also, the keyboard is compatible with major operating systems.

You can now get this tiny gadget for just $23.99 from lightinthebox.com which sounds like a pretty good deal.

Buy Laser Projection Virtual Keyboard for just $23.99

Nokia 6 Pre-orders Have Started in U.S.; Releasing on July 10, Copper Variant Arriving in August

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 4, 2017

Nokia 6 is the first Android smartphone from the brand. Manufactured by HMD Global, Nokia 6 marks the relaunch of the Nokia brand to mobile market. In the previous week, the Finnish firm had confirmed that the Nokia 6 would be coming to U.S. in early July. The shipping date of the Black and Silver editions of the Nokia 6 is mentioned as July 10 on Amazon. The retailer giant will be also selling the Copper variant in the next month.

On Amazon, the Silver variant is listed as Standard Version which does not include any offers or ads from the retailer. The handset is priced at $229. Even though the Nokia 6 was introduced in 32 GB and 64 GB models, Amazon is selling only the 32 GB version of the phone. In China’s JD.com, the 64 GB storage + 4 GB RAM model of Nokia 6 is currently selling for (~$250) and the 32 GB + 3 GB RAM model is available for 1,479 Yuan (~$218).

The Black variant of the phone is available in Standard Version (without offers & ads) and Prime Exclusive (with offers & ads). Both the color variants are available on pre-orders on Amazon. The retailer is selling unlocked version of Nokia 6 which means the phone will only support GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile. It won’t be supporting other networks such as Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular. There is no confirmation on whether the Arte Black edition will be available in the U.S.

Read More: Nokia 6 Unboxing & Hands-on Images

HMD Global had confirmed in the last week that Nokia 6 would be available later in the U.S. in two more colors like Tempered Blue and Copper. However, the Finnish firm did not confirm on specific date for the release of these two color variants. The Amazon listing states the Copper variant will be hitting the U.S. markets in the next month. It will be available in two editions.

Copper really suits you. #Nokia6 pic.twitter.com/9ixzvC5FA3

— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) July 3, 2017

There is no information on when the Standard Version of Copper Nokia 6 will be available in the U.S. However, the Nokia 6 Copper Prime Exclusive model will be hitting the U.S. markets on August 18. The Prime Exclusive models come with $50 Amazon.com gift card for a paid Prime member. It effectively reduces the cost of the device to $179.

Nokia 6 comes with 5.5-inch FHD display and is powered with Snapdragon 430 SoC. It has a 16-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front-facing shooter. It is packed with 3,000 mAh battery. It is loaded with stock edition of Android 7.1. Nougat and the Finnish firm has confirmed that it will be updated to Android 8.0 probably before the end of 2017.

(source)

New eSUN eABS MAX For 3D Printing is Halogen-Free & Flame Retardant

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 4, 2017

The use of ABS moulding process for the construction of different plastic-based components like toys, tools, Lego blocks etc, has become very popular. The process utilises Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) which is an opaque thermoplastic and amorphous polymer. The material can be recycled over and over again without losing its plastic properties and this is likely what makes the process popular. It also comes with high strength, high toughness, easy processing quality.

In the 3D printing industry, ABS is also one of the most widely-used material and one good product which has been developed after extensive research is the eSUN ABS and ABS+ 3D printing material. The ABS+ is much improved in good melt mobility and smooth printing quality, better toughness, smoothness with no edge warp once printed. Here are the key features of the ABS and ABS+.

eSUN has now added another high-quality 3D printing product dubbed eABS MAX halogen-free flame retardant filament. The new product adds the toughness of ABS+ and ensures flame retardant efficiency.

Key Characteristics

1. The appearance is black, nontransparent;
2. Non-toxic, tough, hard texture, with good temperature tolerance and creep resistant;
3. Good melt fluidity, print smooth, nice abrasive resistance and dimensional stability, oil resistance;
4. Compared with ABS and ABS+, it has better toughness, much improved in craze, edge warping, whole layer stripping situations when printing objects with large corner;
5. Maintain 90% of physical performance in -20℃ low temperature and won’t crisp;
6. Waterproof, less than 1% of water absorption in normal temperature, which ensures flame retardant efficiency;
7. Allow acetone polishing for appearance.

Application

With easy processing quality and good impact properties, it’s suitable for cars, domestic appliance, office machine and other areas.

eSUN has got up to 15 years of experience in the manufacture of ABS material and so yu can rest assured that the eABS Max offers a higher quality than the regular ABS. You can check out more details and known how to order this product from their website.

Leaked Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Protective Case Reveals Interesting Features

By

Jed John Ikoba

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Jul 4, 2017

Samsung‘s next Galaxy Note series flagship, the Galaxy Note 8 is touted to come with a price that would make it Samsung’s highest priced smartphone. An earlier leak sort of pre-informs us that we shouldn’t expect anything less than $1000 on the Note 8. As such, we expect a top ranking, sleek design on the flagship Galaxy Note 8 in addition to a well-studded specs line-up.

A Weibo leaker has now leaked what is said to be the protective casing of the Galaxy Note 8 for us to see what the design looks like. Although we won’t be able to see the entire design of the device, the protective casing affords us the chance to see where the openings are and as such know the location of some of its hardware like the camera. In this case, one interesting feature that we can see on the device is the cut-out at the rear which shows the Samsung flagship will come with a dual camera setup. The dual cameras are aligned in a horizontal direction with what should be a dual-tone LED flash but the side.

The device will also come with a rear fingerprint sensor, meaning we’ll still have to wait some more for a front fingerprint sensor-packing Samsung flagship. The opening shows the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will have a similar fingerprint sensor design like the Galaxy S8. The device is also likely to come with the Bixby AI as there is an opening for the Bixby key. There is also an opening for the Stylus pen at the bottom end as well as a USB Type-C port and yes, there seems to be a 3.5mm audio port.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is said to feature a 6.3-inch display with 2K resolution and is expected to be powered by Samsung’s Exynos 8895 chip on one version and a Snapdragon 836 chip on the other version. The memory will be backed by 6GB of RAM with 64GB and 128GB storage versions.

(source)

Moto M Spotted on GFXBench Smaller Screen, More RAM for 32 GB Model

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 4, 2017

Lenovo had launched the Moto M (model number XT1662) totting 5.5-inch FHD screen in the last quarter of 2016. Today, the Moto M bearing the same model number has appeared on GFXBench benchmarking platform with some modified specs.

One of the most striking changes that can be seen on the freshest listing of Moto M on GFXBench is that it features a 4.6-inch display that carries support for full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.

Also, the 32 GB model of Moto M had featured 3 GB of RAM. There was another 64 GB variant of the phablet that came with 4 GB of RAM. The recent GFXBench listing of Moto M shows that it features 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM.

The listing contains two CPU variants such as MediaTek MT6755 (Helio P10) and MT6755T (Helio P15) for the Moto M. The Helio P10 model is running on Android Marshmallow whereas the Helio P15 variant is running on Android Nougat. Both the models feature the same amount of RAM and internal storage.

Last year, Lenovo had released the Moto M with Helio P10 in China and the Indian markets received its Helio P15 edition. The benchmark listing also reveals a 16-megapixel rear camera 4K video recording support and an 8-megapixel frontal shooter which can shoot full HD videos.

It is strange to see the original Moto M listed with different specs on the benchmarking site when there are rumors on the arrival of its successor model. There is a possibility that Motorola could be testing a new phone that is based on 2016’s Moto M and that could be the reason why it is carrying the same model number. Also, there is possibility that the company could be prepping up to release a new variant or successor for the phone for regions outside of China and India.

A leakster who has been consistently spilling information on upcoming Moto phones has claimed that the Moto M2 is slated for a launch in October this year. He has revealed that the Moto M2 would be equipped with a 5.5-inch full HD screen. He added that the 64 GB Moto M2 will have 4 GB of RAM and the 128 GB Moto M2 will include 6 GB of RAM. Motorola is also speculated to launch the Moto X4 in the last quarter of this year.

(source|via)

AT&T Motorola Moto Z2 Force Press Render Leaked; Reveals its Design from Angles

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 4, 2017

Motorola was expected to unveil the Moto Z2 and Moto Z2 Force on June 30, but there was no announcement on these flagship phones. However, the arrival of these phones appears to be close at hand. Evan Blass who has revealed fresh information on Moto X4 specifications has also leaked a press render of the AT&T Motorola Moto Z2 Force to reveal its design.

Last year, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force were exclusively available through Verizon in the U.S. Although the unlocked version of Moto Z was also available for purchase in the U.S., the Moto Z Force could be only purchased through Verizon. However, going by the tweet from reliable leakster, Evan Blass, it can be said that Moto Z2 Force will be available through multiple carriers in the U.S. this year.

Moto Z2 Force for AT&T pic.twitter.com/N0h001Xema

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 4, 2017

As it can be seen in the above image, there is a AT&T logo present just above the Moto Mods accessories connector. Hence, this black colored handset is a AT&T edition of Moto Z2 Force. Previous rumors have revealed that the shatterproof screen totting phone would be also available through Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint. This indicates that all the major carriers of the U.S. will be selling the Moto Z2 Force.

There is no information available on when the Moto Z2 Force will be officially launched. In 2016, the original Moto Z was introduced in June but it was made available for purchase by September. The recent leaks on Moto Z2 and Moto Z2 Force suggest that they should get unveiled soon.

Rumors have revealed that the Moto Z2 Force would be coming with a ShatterShield display of 5.5 inches and it will be supporting a quad HD resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The flagship phone would be fueled by Snapdragon 835 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. The rear of the phone will be flanked with dual cameras that will be coupled with dual-LED flash. Last year, the 3.5mm audio jack feature was axed from the Moto Z.

Leaked information has revealed that the company would be bringing back the feature on Moto Z2 and Z2 Force. Both the smartphones are rumored to come with similar specs, but one of the major differences between the two would be that the Moto Z2 will not be featuring a ShatterShield screen.

(source)

Moto X4 New Leaks Reveal Snapdragon 630, 8MP+12MP Dual Rear Cameras, Smaller Battery

By

Anvinraj Valiyathara

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Jul 4, 2017

Last year, there was no Moto X flagship phone. Instead of Moto X phone, Lenovo had introduced Moto Z line of flagship phones that carries support for Moto Mods accessories. However, the rumor mill has revealed that Lenovo will be launching the Moto X4 in the fourth quarter of this year. Its entire specifications and pricing for Indian audience have already surfaced. Earlier today, popular leakster, Evan Blass revealed some key information on the upcoming Moto X4.

Blass had tweeted in May that the forthcoming Moto X will be launching with Moto X4 moniker. Even though several details on its specifications had surfaced in the recent past, a person who is aware of the plans of Motorola has claimed that many of those specs are wrong.

He has revealed that the Moto X4 would be featuring a 5.2-inch screen that will be supporting a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. A leakster had claimed that the Moto X4 would be driven by Snapdragon 660, but fresh information states that it would be fueled by Snapdragon 630 that features an octa-core processor working at 2.2 GHz. The SoC would be coupled with 4 GB of RAM and it will be arriving with an inbuilt storage of 64 GB. Blass did not reveal whether the Moto X4 would be available in 32 GB version.

Lenovo Moto X4 will feature aluminum body, dual rear cameras, and IP68 water resistance https://t.co/c1s4iegoNG pic.twitter.com/p7yTKwCLmM

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 3, 2017

A previous leak had suggested that the Moto X4 would be coming with 3,800mAh battery, but newer information reveals that it would be packed with 3,000mAh battery. Also, the smartphone would be equipped with 8-megapixel + 12-megapixel dual rear camera sensors. On the front, it will be featuring a 16-megapixel selfie snapper.

The Moto X4 would be featuring an IP68 certified chassis. The front-mounted fingerprint reader will be versatile enough to recognize gestures for on-screen navigations. As it was revealed in the previous week, the Moto X4 would be the first non-Google phone to support Project Fi MVNO. This will allow the phone to switch between different networks like Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular networks and Wi-Fi hotspots seamlessly.

A leaked video of Lenovo’s presentation that Moto X4 will come with some other features like Android Nougat OS, NFC, AI integration and always-on voice command. It won’t be carrying support for Moto Mods accessories. According to another leakster, Andi Yatim, the Moto X4 would be selling in India for Rs. 20,999 (~$324).

(source)