Huami Amazfit Sports Smartwatch In Pictures (Red Strap Version)

-

Aug 30, 2016

Xiaomi is launching its Mi Robot Vacuum cleaner tomorrow but that isn’t the only ”robot” the company has been working on.

Leaked images from an insider shows a robot playing a game of xiangqi (Chinese chess) against a human and appears to be doing fairly well. The Xiaomi robot which has a height of about 20 to 30 cm is white and orange (xiaomi colours) and has a wheel.

The xiaomi robot is connected via cable to a camera placed on it which in turn provides a live feed to a phone held by another person. We can’t tell if the person with the phone is just viewing the game or actually controlling the robots actions, but we want to believe it’s the latter. Because, why else will a robot be playing chess against a human unless it’s an AI robot?

If you look closely, you’ll see a Xiaomi ID card on the table and a Mi logo on the top left corner of the phone in use (looks like the Mi 5) verifying that this is indeed taking place at a Xiaomi facility.

Huami Launches GPS Equipped Amazfit Sports Smartwatch for 799 Yuan ($120)

By

-

Aug 30, 2016

True to their words, Huami officially launched their Amazfit smartwatch today. The watch which has a built-in GPS, a pedometer, a real time heart rate monitor, also displays weather information and is priced at 799 Yuan ($120).

The Amazfit watch has a 1.34” diameter, a 22 mm quick-release replaceable sweat-proof strap, a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel, IP67 certification, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB RAM, Bluetooth 4.0 Low Energy, and WiFi. The display which has a 320 x 300 resolution uses a reflective screen to increase legibility outdoors. There is also an app where users can monitor the readings of the watch.

Huami has designed the watch to be able to store up to 500 songs which you can listen to via a pair of Bluetooth earphones, so you don’t have to take your phone along for a run. They also have a partnership with Watercress FM to provide music streaming.

The watch will also be able to carry out basic smartwatch functions such as call and SMS notifications and have support for Alipay.

Huami says the 280mAh battery will last for 11.6 days if you use it just as a plain watch but normal usage (30 minutes run + 200 push messages) will get you 5 days of life. However turning GPS and heart rate monitoring on will get you 35 hours of battery life.

Full Specifications of Huami Amazfit Sports Smartwatch

1.34” 320 x 300 reflective screen
22mm replaceable straps
4GB ROM
512MB RAM
1.2GHz dual-core processor
BLE 4.0 + WiFi
GPS + GLONASS
PPG heart rate monitor
IP67
53.7 grams
280mAh battery

Availability

There is no news on the watch having other colours but users can change the watch face to suit their preference. The Huami Smartwatch will officially go on sale tomorrow.

LeEco Le 2s Pro Will Likely Launch on September 6 With SD821 Chipset: Analyst

By

-

Aug 30, 2016

We are set to see yet another Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 821 powered smartphone in September, if words of industry’s analyst Pan Jiutang is anything to go by. The renowned analyst has hinted that the LeEco Le 2s Pro with Snapdragon 821 chipset will be launched on September 6. Already, Apple’s iPhone 7 and 7 Plus flagships have got a September 7 release, so the flagship LeEco may likely be released just in time to take on the iPhone 7. Don’t forget also that LeEco is planning to enter the US market this fall, so a September 6 release date sounds logical and strategic.

According to Pan Jiutang, the LeEco Le 2s Pro with Snapdragon 821 processor would be available not only in China but also in other countries, perhaps the US as well. The leading industry analyst also gave the specs of the device to include that it would rock an all-metal body with a 5.5-inch JDI display having 1080 pixel resolution. Also, there’s a 4GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage as well as a fingerprint sensor on the back.

Furthermore, Mr. Jiutang also revealed that the Le 2s Pro flagship would likely carry a 2,000 Yuan ($300) price tag. The analyst also disclosed that the Xiaomi Mi 5s will likely be released in mid to late September and also that other smartphone makers like Huawei would release new smartphones this September.

Xiaomi Says MI Pay will Support Credit & Debit Cards, NFC & Bus card

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Xiaomi has official revealed the features of the MI Pay payment platform which they are working on in partnership with UnionPay China. The MI Pay will be officially launched on September 1 and ahead of that launch ceremony, MI Pay’s key features have been announced.

Xiaomi in announcing the features, stressed that the MI Pay goes beyond the functions of Apple Pay in that it is the world’s first payment platform to support debit or credit cards, bus card and mobile phones.

In the first instance, the MI Pay is said to support more than 10 bank’s credit and debit cards as well as Xiaomi Bus card. The Bus card service is already being tested in some some Chinese cities and provincial areas. Both the bank card and bus card services will be officially available after the September 1 press conference.

Xiaomi’s MI Pay, just like the Apple Pay uses the same NFC technology and both platforms sports similar looking interface and the process of add the debit or credit card to the MI Pay is very simple, by just opening the Xiaomi Mi Wallet application and clicking on your bank, if it is among the supported banks and the option of linking your card comes up. Thereafter, you’ll then need to add your card details like the card number, expiration date, your phone number, and the card type. A verification code is then sent to the registered phone number.

Xiaomi’s MI Pay is presently supported by China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, China Merchants Bank, Huaxia Bank, Minsheng Bank, Ping An Bank, and Industrial Bank. Xiaomi has also hinted that more banks like Bank of China, Industrial and Commercial Bank, China Everbright Bank, Beijing Bank, and Guangdong Development Bank will be added in September.

ZTE Axon 7 Mini with Snapdragon 617 SoC Released for 2200 Yuan ($330)

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

ZTE announced the Axon 7 flagship smartphone sometime in May this year and the smartphone became available in store shelves in June. What looks like a toned down version of the Axon 7, going by the moniker Axon 7 Mini has been released by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

Recall also that the ZTE Axon 7 Mini’s specs was leaked last month, showing us what to expect from ZTE and indeed there is no difference from the leaked specs. The Axon 7 Mini design is very much similar to that of the Axon 7 flagship, although both sport different sizes with the Axon 7 having a 5.5-inch display. The Axon 7 Mini also comes with an all-metal body design, 5.2-inch display with 1080p resolution and 2.5D glass cover. The beautiful dual speaker grills on the Axon 7 is also present here.

The device is powered by a Snapdragon 617 chipset, which is the only thing differentiating the Axon 7 Mini from the Axon Mini released last year. The processor is backed by 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal memory which can be expanded up to 128GB.

On the camera aspect, the ZTE Axon 7 Mini sports a 13MP rear camera sensor with LED flash and up front, there is an 8MP front facing camera. Also, the Axon 7 Mini boots Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS out-of-the-box and also has a fingerprint sensor at the back.

Coming to the price tag, the ZTE Axon 7 Mini is available in gold and silver color variants and is priced at 299 Euros in Europe, which is about 2,200 Yuan ($330).

The Much Loved Moto Dimple Will Double as A Fingerprint Scanner on The Moto M

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

When the Moto X first launched in 2013 it featured a dimple with the motorola bat wing logo on the back, just below the LED flash. The design was well received such that the company decided henceforth to put it on all their phones. It was a perfect position to rest your forefinger while holding the phone.

You’d think when the company decided to make it’s first phone with a fingerprint scanner, they would use the same spot since it was a natural spot for users but instead they came up with the ugly square scanner on the chin of the Moto G4 Plus and Moto Z/ Z Force.

It seems the company has seen the error of its ways. A new phone in the works called the Moto M (Motorola XT1663) will have the moto dimple double as a fingerprint scanner. The device is said to share design similarities to the 2014 Moto G which does not have a single piece of plastic connecting the camera, the LED flash and dimple together like you have on the Moto G 3rd gen.

Apple Sending Out Invites for September 7 Event

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Apple has started sending out invites for an event on September 7. The invite has teasers such as the date which corresponds to the name of the next iPhone (iPhone 7) and the bokeh effects of the lights which hints at the dual cameras expected on the iPhone 7 Plus.

The launch is expected to be for the new iPhone but rumour has it that Apple will also launch the second generation iWatch.

Over the past couple of months we have covered several details and leaks about Apple’s next device must especially the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack and the use of dual cameras. One of the rumours we shall confirm on the launch day will be the presence of connector pins on the iPhone 7 Plus variant which no one has heard of lately or seen on the prototypes making rounds on the internet and if blue will indeed be amongst the colour variants.

RELATED: The $900 Smartphone Flagships

Huawei Mate 8 Gets Price Cut, Now available for 2,699 Yuan ($404)

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Huawei has scheduled a news conference for September 1 at the IFA 2016 holding in Berlin, where the Chinese phone maker is expected to release a new smartphone. Although we were expecting the Huawei Mate 9, that expectation has been punctured by the President of Huawei’s consumer phone business who hinted that the new smartphone which would be released at IFA Berlin 2016 would not be from the high-end Mate Series but a new series which falls into the mid-range category.

huawei-conference

But in a new twist, the Huawei Mate 8 price has been slashed in China from the 2999 Yuan ($470) the device was initially being sold for, to 2,699 Yuan ($404). This could suggest that the Mate 9 may be closer to being released, even if not at IFA 2016 but sometime very soon.

The 2699 Yuan price tag was spotted in China’s online shop Vmall for the silver-colored 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage version of the Mate 8 and on top of that buyers get a 500 Yuan ($75) coupon to purchase any other product. That means the actual price buyers would be paying for the Mate 8 is 2199 Yuan ($330). Isn’t that an amazing offer? You can also pay on delivery, with free shipping available in China.

iMan Victor Is A Luxury Smartphone With Liquid Metal Frame & IP67 Certification

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Chinese smartphone manufacturers often come up with something interesting every once in a while. iMan is a company that you may have not heard before, but it’s looking to get your attention with its brand new iMan Victor smartphone. While competing in the regular smartphone segment would have been extremely hard, iMan Victor markets itself as a unique phone, in the affordable Luxury smartphone segment.

In case you are wondering what makes it so luxurious, then here’s the answer. The iMan Victor comes with a premium Liquid Metal frame, which makes the phone look much more polished than its price. Further, the phone has IP67 Certification which means it’s waterproof as well. So, you don’t have to worry about getting this device wet. The company claims the Victor is the world’s first Luxury phone with Liquid Metal Frame and IP67 Certification.

As for the specs, the manufacturer reveals that the phone will come with the Helio P10 octa-core chipset inside with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. There will be a 5-inch display with unknown resolution. At the back, the phone comes with a 13MP Sony IMX214 camera. Other features of the phone known to us include NFC support and fingerprint sensor (0.2s unlock). The phone is expected to launch in September for a price tag of $249.99.

For this price, the specs are not the best, but then if you would like to have a smartphone that features liquid metal frame and a unique look, then the Victor could be a decent option.

GEARBEST: Top Brand Sale Brings Redmi 3 at $125, Mi Band 1S at $15 + More Deals

By

Check out Gearbest’s HOT Brand Sale

-

Aug 29, 2016

Gearbest has a new top brand sale going on, which kicks off today, wherein products from trusted manufacturers like Xiaomi, ONDA, UMi and other brands are up for sale. The sale which starts today offers products ranging from smartphones, smart bands, earphones to motherboards and robot vacuum cleaners. Xiaomi, Teclast, ILIFE, SHCAM are some of the top known brands that are in the sale. To make things easy, you can select the brand from the hovering menu option on the side as seen on Gearbest’s dedicated sale page.

So, what are some of the top products up for sale?

If you are looking for Xiaomi products, then the Redmi 3 is available at $125, the Redmi Note 3 at $197.69, Original Xiaomi earphones at $16 and even the Chinese version of Mi Router 3 at $29.99. The Mi Band 2 smartband is also listed at $31.59.

Then there are tablets from Teclast with cheap options like the Teclast X80 listed at $80,the X98 2-in-1 listed at $159.99 and the Teclast Tbook 11 at $165.99.

There are robot vacuum cleaners from ILIFE as well, starting at $120. Sports Cameras lik SJCAM SJ4000 and M20 2160p models are listed at $69.99 and $104.69 respectively. Other products include TV Boxes from Beelink, Quadcopters from HUBSAN, IP cameras from Sricam etc.

You can check out the entire products up for sale from the dedicated sales page on Gearbest. Check out the link below for details.

Meizu M3E Star Trek Edition Spotted In Pictures

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Meizu has a few phones in the pipeline which are going to be unveiled in September. The company released the Meizu M3E mid-ranger earlier this month and looks like there could be a special edition of the model in the works. A few pictures of the Meizu M3E Star Trek Edition were leaked on Weibo earlier today, revealing the existence of this edition.

We can see that the basic design is going to be the same as the M3E, however, there’s the Star Trek logo at the back, indicating that this is a special edition. Further, the other two pictures show that the theme and icons in this M3E Star Trek Edition would also be customized.

It’s not new for companies to release special edition models of their popular smartphones, but it’s usually the top-end models that get such a special treatment. So, it’s surprising to see that Meizu chose the M3E for such a customized version. We have already seen special editions like the OPPO R9 Barcelona Edition, Galaxy Note 7 Edge Injustice Edition and they turned out to be quite popular among fans. So, releasing Meizu M3E Star Trek Edition may not be such a bad idea.

It’s worth noting that although many of us must have already seen the new Star Trek Beyond movie, it will release in China only on September 1. So, the timing could be just perfect for this version’s launch.

The Huawei P10 May Feature an Under-Glass Fingerprint Sensor

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

We’ve seen phone manufacturers place fingerprint scanners in front or at the back of a phone. We’ve also seen some phones with fingerprint scanners on the side like the Xperia Z5 Compact, Honor 7i and Nextbit Robin. Huawei wants to do things differently by putting the fingerprint under the front glass, that is if the rumour turns out to be true.

A weibo account, @Mocha Socialist Workers, said in a post that he suspects that Huawei is simply not following the bandwagon by placing their fingerprint scanner in front but are working on the first locally produced embedded fingerprint scanner. The technology will see the fingerprint scanner placed at the bottom of the glass covering the screen. While he says the P10 may be the first device to use this design, he says this is still a speculation.

New Nokia Feature Phone (RM-1187) Gets TENAA Certification

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

The twists and turns around the expected smartphone from Nokia under the new Nokia/HMD Global Oy partnership has continued to get more confusing by the day. Just last month, we were fed with rumors that two Android-based Nokia smartphones with 2K display, Android 7.0 Nougat, Snapdragon 820 Chipset and more, are in the pipeline. While we were still waiting for the device to pop, what appeared to be Nokia smartphones with a somewhat confusing and outdated specs line-up were spotted on GeekBench.

Just today, a Nokia feature phone code-named RM-1187 was listed on China’s telecommunications equipment certification center TENAA’s website as certified by the regulatory agency. According to the listing data, the certification application was from Microsoft (China) Co Ltd., but since Microsoft sold off Nokia’s feature phone business to HMD Global Oy, this may very well be the first HMD Nokia to hit the market.

According to the TENAA listing, the Nokia Feature phone RM-1187 will feature a 2.4-inch display with 240 x 320 resolution. The entire device has a dimension of 118 x 50 x 13.5 mm, weighing just 82.6 g. Also listed is a 16MB RAM, a battery capacity of 1025mAh, 16MB of internal storage, expandable with a microSD card up to 64GB.

In addition, there is a rear main camera on the device with CMOS sensor and LED flash as well as a front facing camera but the pixel size of the sensors were not disclosed. The Nokia RM 1187 feature phone is a dual-SIM enabled device, features 2.5G network connectivity and comes in three color variants, Black, White, and Cyan.

(Source) (Via)

The $900 Smartphone Flagships: Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or iPhone 7?

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Samsung’s latest flagship is the stylus-toting Galaxy Note 7. Sporting a 5.7” 2K Super AMOLED screen with dual curved edges, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, 12MP f/1.7 rear camera, 5MP front camera, a 4096 pressure sensitive S-Pen, iris scanner, fingerprint scanner, and an IP68 certification; the Note 7 does has a lot to offer. But at a price. A price of 6000 Yuan ($900)!!!

Another phone which will probably be having such a high price tag is Apple’s new phone, the iPhone 7. Although it has not been released yet, we already have a fair knowledge of what to expects following months of leaks.

The iPhone 7 (Plus) is said to come with a 5.5” 3D-touch screen, dual 12 MP cameras on the back, a 5MP front facing camera, a fingerprint scanner, and doesn’t come with a 3.5mm jack. It will also be ditching the 16GB storage option.

Hooked on Phone: Children Don’t Notice When Their Parents Are Replaced With Strangers (VIDEO)

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Smartphones have become a very important part of our lives, helping us in almost every activity. We always carry around our phone wherever we go, may it be our office, parties or even when we are going to sleep. With smartphones becoming smarter and bringing in more functions, we are increasingly hooked to our devices, which means we spend less time with the people we care about.

Even at the dinner table, smartphones are a common sight giving us less time to connect. So, Dolmio decided to do an experiment to show how children are often hooked on phones at the dinner table to notice changes around them. Of course, this experiment is actually an advert to promote its “PEPPER HACKER” gadget which blocks Wi-Fi, but it still manages to show how young kids are addicted to gadgets at home.

In the experiment, first, they changed some of the things in the house, like replacing a family portrait. But it wasn’t good enough to get the attention of the kids. Later, the parents and siblings in the experiment were replaced by strangers and it still wasn’t enough, for the kids to notice. Only when the Wi-Fi was turned off did the kids notice the many changes around them! It’s an interesting experiment and shows how addicted we are getting to smartphones these days to care about the things around us.

Do check out the video below to watch the entire experiment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dN04OO67_do

Alleged Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Screenshot Reveals Its Specs: SD820 & 6GB RAM

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Xiaomi has been quite busy the past few days, releasing two new phones in the Redmi lineup, the Redmi Pro (Review here) and the Redmi Note 4. However, for those who are looking for a much more powerful smartphone, the company is soon said to release the Mi Note 2 flagship in September this year. Yes, earlier it was said that the Mi Note 2 would debut in August, but now, the latest rumors say that the release will be in September.

Rumors about the Mi Note 2 have been cropping up in China quite consistently for the past few weeks, and the latest leak related to the phone reveals a few details about the specs of the device. A leaked screenshot of the Mi Note 2 shows that the phone will come with the Snapdragon 820 chipset clocked at 2.15GHz. There were rumors that the Mi Note 2 will also have a SD821 powered version, but we can only be sure after the company confirms it. This screenshot could be of one of the versions of the device.

Apart from the powerful SD820, the phone is also running 6GB RAM inside with 64GB of internal storage. So, this doesn’t look like the standard version. We expect a 4GB RAM version of the device as well. Finally, the screenshot reveals that the Mi Note 2 is running MIUI 8.6 version.

Xiaomi Mi Note 2 renders 06 — Mi Note 2 render

While we can’t be sure of the authenticity of this screenshot, these specs are just about what every leak have been pointing towards in the past few days. There are also rumors about a dual curved version of the phone, which makes this device even more exciting.

Redmi Note 4 Unboxing Pictures

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 launched last week and truth be told it is actually the Redmi Pro (Helio X20) without the dual cameras and OLED screen.

The Redmi Note 4 retains the same screen size and resolution as its older sibling but has a more refined build. The speaker is now positioned beside the charging port (which now sits in the middle). A change from it’s position in the back which sort of muffled the sound when placed on a flat surface. The Redmi Note 4 also has a silver frame that goes all around it.

The front facing camera and proximity sensor now flank the speaker at the top and are smaller in size now. The company has made no changes to the placement of the rear camera and fingerprint scanner.

Comparison Video of Mi Robot Vacuum and iRobot 800 Released

By

-

Aug 29, 2016

Last week we reported that Xiaomi probably has a robotic vacuum cleaner in the works based on leaked images of the packaging for the product. The Mi Robot Vacuum is said to come with a smart function that allows owners plan cleaning paths. This function is said to feature in only high-end robot vacuums.

Mi Robot vacuum vs iRobot 880 1

Mi Robot vacuum vs iRobot 880 2

A 30-second time lapse video was released online comparing the yet-to-be released vacuum to the popular iRobot Roomba 880. In the video, the robot vacuums are put in nearly identical rooms. The Mi Robot completes it’s cleaning task in less time than the iRobot 880 and also does it better thanks to its path planning function before returning to it’s original starting position. The iRobot 880 can be seen stuck at one section of the room and doesn’t return to it’s original position till the end of the video.

New Renders of the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 Surface online

By