Samsung Gear 4 to Have Foldable Display? Company Files Two New Smartwatch Patents

-

Dec 29, 2016

Meizu doesn’t look like it is relenting but looks set for more releases next year just like it did this year. Just recently, a Meizu 2017 product schedule was leaked online showing us the devices we should look forward to seeing next year and even revealing the likely processor that would fire them up. That list included a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, by the way.

Right now, live renders of an unknown Meizu phone has leaked online. The phone is tipped as belonging to the Blue Charm series and is expected very soon, perhaps in January 2017. The smartphone popped up on Weibo recently and was accompanied by a few details about is features. The device is said to have a 500w soft flash, of course on its front camera which should guarantee some level of brightness on selfies.

Also, the device is detailed as having a 5.0-inch display with a 5MP front-facing camera. The Meizu smartphone whose name is not yet determined, is also said to come with a cheap price tag and would likely be launched a few days after the holidays. That’s all that is revealed for now. We’ll keep you posted on latest development, as usual.

Microsoft Surface Phone Rumors: New Leaked Renders Found Fake; Trial Production Started?

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

Alleged renders of Microsoft Surface Phone renders had surfaced yesterday. Even though they were found to be fake, the trial production of the smartphone is rumored to begin soon.

Microsoft Surface Phone Leaked Renders

The new renders of the rumored Surface Phone have been revealed by a well-known Chinese leakster on Weibo. What’s interesting about the leaked photos is that the smartphone carries Surface Phone branding at the bottom side on its rear.

Microsoft Surface Phone leaked photos have surfaced several times, but none were found to be true. Even the new renders are fake as the handset features Carl Zeiss branding that is not in use since 2013, Phone Arena reported. In fact, these renders may belong to an older prototype of a Lumia smartphone.

The Redmond giant has not confirmed whether it is working on Surface Phone. However, in the previous month, rumors started swirling that the company has entered an agreement with Taiwan-based Pegatron as the only ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) for production of the Surface Phone.

Microsoft Surface Phone renders — Weibo/KJuma

Microsoft Surface Phone Variants

Early speculations suggest that Microsoft is testing numerous prototypes of Surface Phone. All the prototype units are said to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 that comes with Quick Charge 4.0. The fast charging feature reportedly can gain 50 percent battery power by charging the device for 15 minutes.

One of the Surface Phone prototypes has 64-bit Windows 10 Mobile with 6 GB of RAM. This variant seems to support X86 apps. It is rumored that this prototype cannot run X86 apps directly but it will allow users to install them. These apps can be only run in Continuum.

Another prototype also features 64-bit Windows 10 Mobile with 4 GB of RAM. This model is said to be incapable of running X86 apps in Continuum. These variants suggest that different models targeting consumer and enterprise users are in works.

Related:Microsoft reportedly is testing Surface Phone

3-in-1 Form Factor

A laptop dock accessory that will allow users to connect Surface Phone to it is also speculated to be in works. By this, the Microsoft Surface Phone will be able to deliver 3-in-1 form factor.

Hence, the Surface Phone would allow customers to use it in three ways. Apart from using it as a handheld smartphone, the device can also deliver full-fledged desktop experience by continuing to a larger screen through the Continuum. The laptop dock is expected to replace users’ laptop.

Microsoft Surface Phone Release Date

It is expected to come preloaded within Redstone 3 update of Windows 10. Hence, its release date is expected to set around August or September 2017.

Xiaomi Mi 6 Said To Look Like A Sized Down Version Of The Mi Note 2

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

The Xiaomi Mi 6 is the expected “next big thing” from China’s Apple – Xiaomi, so it is not much of a surprise that the device has continued to be in the front burner of late. The likely render of the device had leaked earlier in October with a unique curved display.

We actually didn’t see the resemblance back then, but right now a recent leak hints that the Mi 6 would adopt the same design as the Mi Note 2 bit with a scaled down size. And really on close scrutiny, the Mi 6 and Mi Note 2 actually look similar, just that the Mi 6 would be a bit smaller in size.

Once again, another tipster has come out to reaffirm earlier rumors that the Mi 6 would feature a Snapdragon 835 chip onboard and would be launched in February just like we have heard in the past. Another information revealed by the tipster is that the flagship would pack a 128GB and 256GB storage options and would come in black, white and blue color variants.

We really don’t know how all these will turn out. They may end up being untrue so for now, we won’t take them serious.

Bluboo Picasso 4G Review (Upgraded Model)

By

Linus

-

Dec 29, 2016

We have a lot of cheap smartphones from China and I just came across a cheap Bluboo Picasso 4G device that gets most of the basics right for the low price of just below $80. Learn more in the full review.

VIDEO REVIEW

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWpqu8yqIys[/embedyt]

UNBOXING

The phone ships with all the usual stuff. No extras included.

DESIGN

The Bluboo Picasso 4G does not sport exceptional looks but it is a quite well-made phone. However, it sports neither a metal trim nor metal buttons.

Speaking of the display, the 5” 720p panel is pretty sharp and bright for a cheap phone but we have those visible bezels on each side.

It’s great that we have a 5MP front facing camera but there is no LED notification light.

As for the main camera, there is a 13MP shooter.

The loudspeaker quality is kind of mediocre like on most of the cheap phones.

HARDWARE

The Bluboo Picasso 4G runs on a little outdated Mediatek 6735 chip with the clock speeds of 1.0GHz. Also, the phone has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.

Honestly, the spec sheet does not really impress and that translates to a mediocre gaming performance. You should expect quite a few skipped frames even if you play games like Asphalt 8 on medium graphics.

BENCHMARKS

USER INTERFACE

The phone ships with the Android 6.0 but we have a few added features by Bluboo. For example, the app tray has been removed. On a positive note, we have the NFC feature. Some of the extra features include a variety of gesture and motion controls. Some of them work well but others are very slow to respond.

In general, the UI performance is okay. I didn’t have any lag but if you have install a lot of apps like I did, you should expect a little bit of stutter from time to time.

IMAGE QUALITY

You should never expect any miracles from the cameras of budget phones and the Bluboo Picasso is no exception. Most of the images will do the trick for social media but they could definitely have more detail and sharpness.

Obviously, the quality decreases in lower-lit situations as on all cheap phones.

The selfies won’t look as sharp as you may expect but it may be enough for social media.

As for video, the quality of footage is kind of poor like on most of the cheap phones.

CONNECTIVITY

When it comes to connectivity, the phone does everything quite well. The GPS lock speeds are fast but it could be more accurate when you use it with navigation apps.

BATTERY LIFE

The 2800mAh battery performs quite well. I could get about a full day of moderate usage out of this phone, which is a good result.

CONCLUSIONS

Bluboo Picasso 4G is not going to be your next powerhouse device but it gets the basics right.

We don’t have any exceptional looks but the phone is well made, it is compact to carry around and the user interface has some cool extra features.

You can also take some okay looking photos and the battery life is pretty good thanks to quite a large capacity.

However, the processor is a little outdated if you are a spec head, the capacitive buttons are not backlit and the phone lacks premium materials in the construction.

At the end of the day, Bluboo Picasso 4G may not be the only cheap device out there but it gets all the basics right. However, you have to consider if the previously mentioned shortcomings are important to you or not.

Buy Bluboo Picasso 4G

Meizu 2017 Product Lineup, SoC & Schedule Leaked, Snapdragon Chip Listed

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

For a while now, Meizu has been stuck with using MediaTek chip on its smartphones and of late, the Meizu Pro 6 Plus featured a Samsung Exynos 8890 flagship SoC. Unfortunately to the disappointment of not a few persons, Meizu has failed to pack Qualcomm’s chip on its latest gadgets.

A recent Qualcomm press release had stated among other things that China’s top ten phone brands have all got Qualcomm’s patent license. If you talk about the top ten brands in China, Meizu is definite among them.

More revealing is the recent leaked product schedule said to be Meizu’s lineup for 2017. The product schedule outlines the different Meizu smartphones that are likely to be released in 2017 and the month they would drop. According to the poster, Meizu should release the M5S in February using a MT6753, the Meizu Pro 7 uses a Helio X30 chip launching in June. In addition, the Meizu S using an Helio P25 chip is expected in July, while the MX7 with an Helio P30 chip will drop in September. October would see the Meizu Note 6 powered by an Helio P20 SoC.

One notable information outlined on the leaked calendar is the processor the devices would carry on launch date. That would not have gotten us excited if not for the Qualcomm chipset which is listed against a device whose name is obscured on the sheet, perhaps a Meizu M derivative. However, we could see what looks like a Snapdragon 626 chipset listed as featuring on the device.

Well, don’t get too excited because even if the product schedule turns out to be true, you won’t be seeing the Snapdragon-powered Meizu flagship anytime soon. The device is listed for release in December 2017, one year from now.

Xiaomi to Unveil Yi Erida Drone and Yi 4K+ Action Cam at CES 2017

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

Xiaomi already announced it’s making its first appearance at CES next year, but the announcement didn’t end there. The phone manufacturer also added that they plan to launch a new product at the event. We don’t know what the product is but it seems there will be more than one device making an appearance at the event seeing as Xiaomi just announced that it will be launching the Yi Erida drone and Yi 4K+ action camera.

Apart from phones, Xiaomi makes a bunch of other stuffs, part of which includes smart bikes, a smart electric scooter, a drone and action cameras. Earlier this year, Xiaomi launched the Mi Drone, a first from the company. Less than a year later, the company will be adding the Yi Erida drone to the line-up.

The Yi Erida will be equipped with a Yi 4K action camera that can record for 2 hours on a single charge, and will also have a tri-rotor design. The drone will be able to fly at speeds of up to 75mph (120km/h) and have a flying time of 40 minutes. It will also be fitted with a gimbal system that lets you record steady videos while flying. The Yi Erida will have advanced radar and sensor systems, manual camera controls, and can be controlled via a mobile app which Xiaomi says will make remotes obsolete.

Flyme 6 Gets ”Time Machine” Feature: Lets You Access Deleted Data From Up to 2 Years

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

Meizu announced a new version of its own android based OS during the launch of the Meizu M5 Note. The new OS called Flyme 6 will be coming out of closed beta tomorrow and in addition to the numerous new features already listed, a new feature called Time Machine will be making its way to the OS.

According to Meizu, Time Machine will let users retrieve accidentally deleted contacts. The feature will let you access deleted contacts data as far back as two years (the data starts recording from the day you start using the feature). So two years from now, you should still be able to access contacts deleted between now and December, 2018. To make use of the feature, users will have to got to Settings > Data Cloud Sync > Time Machine.

Meizu also says they have optimized the contacts synchronization speed by up to 65% and reduced traffic consumption by up to 66%. So a 300 contact phone-book should synchronize in about 9 seconds.

Flyme 6 will be available for the following phones as a public beta starting tomorrow: PRO 6 Plus, PRO 6s, PRO 6, MX5, Pro 5, MX5, MX4 Pro, MX4, U20, U10, Meizu Max, Meizu E, Meizu Metal, Meizu M3 Note, Meizu M3s, Meizu M3, Meizu M2 Note, and Meziu M1 Note.

Get Quality Nomu Rugged Smartphones at Discounted Rates!

By

Linus

-

Dec 29, 2016

Most of us have smartphones these days but some people either tend to break their phones quite often or they work in the environment that is full of dust, humidity etc. Therefore, we have rugged smartphones and if you want to still be using your device even after severe drops on concrete or into the pool, the Nomu rugged phones are currently on sale at Gearbest.com.

In fact, we have already reviewed the Nomu S30 and we were mostly positive about it.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXidbfMi8pM[/embedyt]

The Nomu S10 is the cheapest out of the pack but the phone still has quite a lot to offer for the price of just below $120. Obviously, the phone is designed to withstand the punishment of dust, humidity and severe temperature changes.

Also, the IP-68 certification assures the water-resistance, so you can use the phone under water for 30 mins.

Finally, the phone sports some decent specs for the price that include a quad-core MTK6737 chip (1.5GHz), 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage.

Buy Nomu S10

The Nomu S20 is a slightly more expensive ($150) phone but it has a much larger 6.0 display that assures a better multimedia experience.

In addition, the phone has the Gorilla Glass 3 protective glass and it is shatter-resistant (up to 1.5m), which is a great feature if you work in some dangerous environments like construction sites.

Obviously, the S20 keeps the same IP-68 rating that allows this phone to take a beating. Finally, the phone is more powerful as it has the same quad-core MTK6737 chip (1.5GHz) but it sports 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

Buy Nomu S20

Buy Nomu S20 on eBay

Finally, the Nomu S30 is one of the most powerful budget rugged phones you can buy at the moment. Even though the phone is pretty expensive ($230), it has some great specs. The phone ships with an octa-core Mediatek Helio P10 chip with the clock speeds of 2.0GHz, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage.

One of the key selling points is a huge 5000mAh battery that will allow you to use the phone for at least a few days.

The Nomu S30 has the IP-68 rating and it is water, dust, shock and temperature-resistant. Naturally, all the ports are covered with flaps to avoid any water damage.

Buy Nomu S30

Xiaomi Confirms The Release of Its White Bicycle In January

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

Xiaomi has announced that it would officially launch its White bicycle on January 1, 2017. The bicycle is one of Xiaomi’s ecological chain product manufactured by Hutchison Technology Co., Ltd and as usual, if it isn’t innovative, it isn’t Xiaomi. The bike comes with some innovative features.

A shared photo of the bicycle shows it comes in white colors and the company also teased that the bicycle would not have metal chains as well as its attendant need for oiling. Instead, the white bicycle would come with carbon fibre drive belt, thus effectively putting an end to drive chain problems. Companies such as BMW, Harley Davidson, Bombardier and other giants in the bike industry are already adopting this technology.

Xiaomi is reported as planning to release the first 100,000 units of the bike in Cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Xiamen, while other cities will get it later. The bike is likely going to be available for use on rental basis where users will just make a deposit of 199 yuan and then they can rent the bike at a fee of 1 yuan per half hour.

Moto G4 Plus Gets Android Nougat Update

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

Lenovo-owned Motorolo is finally rolling out an Android Nougat update to the Moto G4 Plus. This is not the first time the Moto G4 Plus is getting the Android Nougat update as Motorola carried out a soak test back in October.

The new update brings a ton of new features to the phone such as split-screen multi-tasking, quick switching between apps, and work mode. You can also reply to notifications directly from the status bar without opening the app, and even control the notification settings for an app by pressing and holding down on the notification.

Motorola has also added new Moto experiences like the Moto action which lets you swipe to shrink the screen and a setting to disable or enable the feature that locks the screen when the screen is on and you touch the fingerprint scanner.

The update is starting in India and will gradually roll out to other owners. You may receive a notification telling you abut the update or you can manually check by going to Settings>About Phone>Software Update. Make sure you have at least 50% of charge left on your phone before downloading the update.

MGCOOL Cam 360 Dual Fish-Eye Lens Brings Better Panoramic View

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

MGCOOL Cam 360 is a sports camera with a difference as it adopts dual fish-eye ultra-wide angle lens which is reputed as being able to capture the entire 360 degree screen, thus bringing better panoramic views. The camera lens literally works like fish eyes, hence the name fish-eye lens. Each of the lens is close to or equal to 180 degree wide angle and both work together to give a wide angle view.

There are some fish-eye camera which uses just one lens but the MGCOOL Cam 360 comes with dual lenses and this makes it possible to avoid the shooting effect caused by conversion of the lens. It prides itself as having the same setup as Samsung’s own 360 camera as well as Ricoh, and LG Panoramic camera. They all use dual fish-eye lens design in order to achieve better panoramic effect.

We are not going to bore you with the optical principle behind the workings of the MGCOOL Cam 360’s fish-eye camera but suffice it to say that the production quality speaks for itself. What you get is high impact video and phot shoot.

You can learn more about the MGCOOL Cam 360 from MGCOOL’s official website right here, or instead visit her fan page on Facebook from here.

Nokia E1 Gets 3C Certification, Launch Not Far Off

By

-

Dec 29, 2016

It seems we might be getting one of the new Nokia smartphones soon as it is presumed that the device that just got its 3C certification is the Nokia E1.

The device whose model number is stated as TA-1000 has its charging specification as 5V/2A and its manufacturer as HMD Global Oy. The factory is also listed as FIH Precision Electronics Co. Ltd which is the Foxconn subsidiary serving as production partner.

The Nokia E1 is said to have a 5.5-inch display, 1GB of RAM, a Snapdragon 200 SoC, and runs Android 7.0.1 Nougat. A sketch of the phone leaked online recently shows the phone sporting capacitive keys, a front facing camera positioned at the top left and a Nokia logo at the top right corner. Volume rocker and power button are on the right hand side and the camera and LED flash are positioned in the middle of the phone.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X Release Imminent; Passes TENAA

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

Its seems that the rumored Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X is going to release soon. Its specifications have been revealed as it has received TENAA certification in China.

Earlier this week, first rumors of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X had surfaced. It revealed key specs like Snapdragon 653 chipset, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB native storage. A leaked imaged of what seems to be a real Redmi Note 4X handset has surfaced.

The leaked image shows ‘About Phone’ screen of the purported Redmi Note 4X that once again key specs like 2.0 GHz Snapdragon 653 chipset and 4 GB of RAM. Out of 64 GB native storage, 52.17 GB storage is available to the user. The handset runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow OS along with MIUI 8.1 skin.

Its listing on TENAA certification body has revealed additional specifications of Redmi Note 4X. Apart from 64 GB variant, the smartphone is also expected to launch in 32 GB model.

Even though recent rumors have stated that the Note 4X will feature Snapdragon 653 SoC, TENAA listing has revealed a MediaTek Helio X20 chipset variant of the smartphone. Its main camera will be of 13-megapixel and it is expected to house a massive 4,100 mAh battery.

The TENAA agency photos of Redmi Note 4X suggests that the appearance of the smartphone is quite like Redmi Note 4. The leaked photo of a live Redmi Note 4X handset suggests that it sports a curved display along with slim bezels.

It is expected to feature a 5.5-inch full HD screen. It may come with a 5-megapixel selfie camera and a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. Since Redmi Note 4 lacks NFC, rumors indicate that Note 4X may feature it. It may continue to feature a microUSB port, but some rumors claim that it may arrive with a USB Type-C port.

OnePlus 3T Soft Gold Color Version Goes On Sale on Jan. 3 in China

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

Just like it did for the OnePlus 3, OnePlus is set to release a Soft Gold color version of its latest OnePlus 3T flagship. The new variant will be unveiled on January 3, 2017 at 3.00 and would go on sale immediately on OnePlus’ official website and on Jingdong (JD.com) simultaneously. The new soft Gold variant still starts at 2699 yuan ($392).

The OnePlus 3T was launched about a month ago in China after its initial unveiling in Europe and was touted as available in two variants, Gunmetal and Soft Gold. However, the OnePlus 3T Soft gold variant wasn’t available when it launched but OnePlus has released a poster announcing the variant will now be available next week.

The OnePlus 3T Soft gold variant add some bit of class and extra sleekness to an already beautiful device. The device retains the design of the OnePlus 3 and aside the new color, the specs remain the same with the Gunmetal version of the OP3T. Recall that the OnePlus 3T features the flagship Snapdragon 821 processor clocked at 2.35GHz, a larger 3400mAh battery, a 16MP front facing camera, a new storage variant, and the rear camera now has EIS and is covered by sapphire glass.

The OnePlus 3T is priced at 2699 yuan ($392) for the 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM variant while the 6GB RAM + 128GB variant retails for 2999 yuan ($435).

Buy Oneplus 3T at Giztop

Demand For OLED Panels on The Rise, OLED TV Market Share Could Hit 68% by 2020

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

Seems OLED panels are now replacing LCDs in most gadgets as demand for OLED panels is said to be on the rise. According to a recent report by the Photonics Industry Technology Development Association (PIDA), worldwide purchases of OLED panels have increase. The association which is a nonprofit organization gathering technology and market analysis worldwide for Taiwanese optoelectronic industries, also projected that the market share in high-end televisions is expected to reach 68% in 2020.

This is an indication that OLED panels are gradually replacing all other types of display panels on modern television display. A report by South Korea-based UBI Resear reveals that last year alone, international vendors shipped approximately 260 million OLED panels estimated to be worth $11.7 billion USD. That figure is expected to peak at 370 million units by the end of this year, 2016 thus taking the industry’s value to $16. billion. That figure could rise to 1.25 billion units valued at $61.4 billion by 2020.

PIDA also highlighted the fact that three notable advancements in OLED displays, namely Micro LEDs, Quantum Dot LEDs and printing displays (flexible OLED panels) are currently being used by leading international vendors along side OLEDs. All three are recent technologies but are gradually finding their way into devices. LG is reported to have started supplying flexible OLEDs panels while Micro LED could be used by Apple in its iPhones in the near future.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Phablet May Get S-Pen Accessory; Galaxy Note Series to be Killed?

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

Samsung is rumored to be working on a 6-inch Galaxy S8 Plus phablet. Speculations indicate that it may get an external S-Pen accessory.

Samsung had reserved the S-Pen stylus feature to its Galaxy Note series. However, according to a Chinese leakster, the Galaxy S8 Plus phablet is now speculated to be the first Galaxy S series device to come with a stylus.

Samsung is rumored to be release Galaxy S8 in two sizes next year. The Galaxy S8 is expected to house a 5.1-inch display whereas its larger sibling with 6-inch display is expected to launch as Galaxy S8 Plus. Both the smartphones are rumored to house dual-edge curved displays.

The Galaxy Note series always featured an integrated S-Pen stylus whereas Samsung has never provided a stylus for its Galaxy S series phones. Even though a Galaxy S8 prototype was reportedly spotted with integrated stylus, it seems that the South Korean firm has decided against it.

Speculations suggest that the S-Pen stylus for Galaxy S8 Plus would be available as an external accessory. As of this writing, there is no speculation on the pricing of the Galaxy S8 Plus and its S-Pen accessory.

There have been conflicting rumors about Galaxy S8 mainly because the South Korean company is testing multiple prototypes of its upcoming flagship. However, a clearer picture on the specifications of Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are expected surface in the coming weeks.

Samsung has been announcing its Galaxy S series smartphones in February since 2014. However, rumors suggest that the company has allegedly pushed the Galaxy S8 launch date to April 2017. Its major rivals like LG G6, HTC 11 and Xiaomi Mi 6 are all expected to launch earlier than Galaxy S8.

No Galaxy Note 8 Release in 2017?

Adding a stylus support to Galaxy S8 Plus does indicate that Samsung may discontinue the Galaxy Note series. However, the company has hinted in the recent past that the Galaxy Note 8 would be releasing in 2017.

Will Samsung discontinue Galaxy Note lineup? Would you like to see Galaxy Note 8 in 2017? Share your views by posting comments below.

(Source)

LeEco’s Financial Troubles Continue, Defaults in Payment For EPL Broadcast

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

LeEco‘s financial troubles are far from over, instead they seem to be on the increase. The innovative company is said to have defaulted in payment for the rights to broadcast English Premier League matches in China, the Financial Times reports.

LeEco’s LeSport subsidiary purchased the rights from the current owner of the broadcast right in China – Super Sports Media Group but failed to meet up with it payment of $30 million which was due on December 20. Super Sports Media group had threatened to cut off LeEco’s braodcast of the highly packed Boxing day matches, a situation which forced LeSport to pay a fraction of the amount owed thus bringing them temporary respite.

However, both parties have agreed on a repayment plan that would end on China’s Lunar New Year on January 28. The agreement seems to guarantee LeSports can broadcast EPL matches until next Tuesday except the company meets up with its payment agreement. As it stands, Super Sorts Media Group can cut off LeSports’ signal at any time, according to an unnamed spokeswoman. But LeSports has assured that there won’t be any problem with its English Premier League broadcasts.

LeEco is currently enmeshed in deep financial crisis which is threatening the foundation of the internet giant. Her current financial travails may be unconnected to huge investments in US-based Faraday Future electric car and its own LeSee Electric car projects, coupled with investments in trying to make in-roads into the US market, including purchasing a vast expanse of land from Yahoo in Silicon Valley for $250 million. LeEco has gifted us some of the finest smartphones around and the it seems to have lots more to offer, so we only just wish the company can come out of this, and soon.

Qualcomm Asked to Pay Over $850 Million Fine For Violating Antitrust Laws in South Korea

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

Qualcomm, the smartphone chipset maker has been asked to pay a huge fine of 1.03 trillion (around $853 million) by the South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) for violating antitrust laws.

In summer this year, KFTC had carried out an investigation on the U.S. based chipset maker in South Korea over unfair business practices. Hence, Qualcomm has been fined a massive sum of $853 approximately. It is the highest ever fine imposed fine by KFTC.

Qualcomm has multiple patents in CDMA and LTE cellular network standards. It charges royalties from various smartphone makers and chipmakers for using its patents. A recent report has revealed that it generated $6.5 billion in the most recent fiscal year.

It collects royalties based on the cost of a mobile device. This indicates the company earns huge revenue through royalty licenses. According to KFTC, Qualcomm has not only denied to share patent rights with chipset manufacturing companies but also made them to sign unfavorable agreements and it did not pay anything for their patents.

It stated that, “The accusation also includes restricting competition by limiting licensing of its standard essential patents to rivals such as Intel, Samsung Electronics and MediaTek.” The regulatory body has ordered the chip maker to renegotiate with rival companies on patents and supply contracts.

It indicates that Qualcomm will be required resign its contracts with companies like Apple, Samsung and Huawei. The chipset maker has said that it will challenge the verdict in the Seoul High Court. However, the company is required to pay the fine within 60 days of the announcement of the verdict.

However, one should know that KFTC’s decision will not be implemented until it issues a written notice to Qualcomm. It can around four to six months for the regulatory body to issue a written order.

It isn’t the first case levied upon Qualcomm on unfair business practices. Qualcomm had to pay $975 million as fine in China when it violated the antitrust regulatory laws of the country. It has also paid fine in EU for similar issue and for the same matter it is under investigation in Taiwan and the U.S.

(Source 1, 2)

Wireless HTC Vive 2 Might Launch at CES 2017: Screen Resolution Expected to be Upgraded

By

-

Dec 28, 2016

HTC might not be doing so well in the smartphone market but their HTC Vive VR headset is currently the best device you can get if you are considering getting into PC-connected virtual reality.

HTC first announced the Vive at 2015 edition of MWC, but it wasn’t available for purchase until April of this year. Now it appears that the Taiwanese company might announce the Vive 2 at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Reports from local media in Taiwan, the HTC Vive 2 will be able to sync wirelessly with compatible PCs out of the box. It will also have its refresh rate bumped from 90Hz to 120Hz and its resolution raised from 1080 x 1200 for each eye to 4K per eye.