Google recently launched its flagship Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones which are touted as the best Android smartphones right now. However, they are not perfect as the premium phones have several issues.

One of the issues on the phone is slow fingerprint recognition but it seems that the tech giant has something up its sleeves to make the unlocking process a bit faster. It appears that the company is planning to introduce Face Unlock for the Pixel 6 lineup pretty soon.

Interestingly, the Face Unlock feature on the Pixel 6 series smartphones was spotted in earlier leaks but the functionality was removed when the devices were launched. Now, an XDA Developers contributor Freak07 has found references to the Face Unlock feature, hinting that the feature could be rolled out.

The feature is being referred to as Tuscany internally and it appears that Google is trying to make it more power-efficient and this could be the reason for it being pulled out from the devices ahead of getting launched.

Do note that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro doesn’t come with dedicated hardware for face unlocking which means that even when the feature is rolled out, it will be dependent on the phone’s front-facing camera sensor.

It’s noteworthy that the presence of the code in the repository doesn’t necessarily mean that the feature will be rolled out. So, we would advise you to take this new information with a pinch of salt.

RELATED: 

• Google Pixel 6’s fingerprint reader may break if the phone runs out of battery: Report
• Google to start allowing third-party in-app payments in South Korea
• Google Pixel 6 seems to have an overrated fast charging capability, new tests reveal
• The Pixel 6 Pro propels Google into DxOMark’s top 10 phone camera ranking
• Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro teardown reveals extensive heat dissipation, poor repairability

The post Google Pixel 6 series could get Face Unlock support in future update appeared first on Gizmochina.

It is quite unusual for us to covers cars on this site. However, you should find this car, the 2021 Cadillac XT4, pretty interesting, as it has a feature that is usually found in smartphones than in automobiles.

Car manufacturers are always playing with new ways for users to unlock their cars but Cadillac takes things to another level with its 2021 XT4 SUV. Just like several phones including the iPhone X and Mate 30 Pro, the Cadillac SUV supports face unlock. Yes, you read that right.

Cadillac has built cameras into the frame of the driver’s door. There are three cameras in total – 2 infrared cameras and an RGB camera. The carmaker says the system identifies up to 106 different facial features and will unlock the vehicle in 2 seconds.

The Cadillac XT4 can store up to 8 different users, one of which is the administrator that can add and delete users. The face unlock system will also work in the dark which is no surprise since it has infrared cameras. Cadillac is assuring users it will work both indoors and outdoors too.

Don’t want to use face unlock? No problem. The XT4 also has a fingerprint scanner or you can decide to unlock the vehicle with a PIN.

The Face Unlock feature seems to be exclusive to the Chinese model of the vehicle as there is no mention of it on the American page.

UP NEXT: Amazfit GTR and Amazfit GTS gain support for unlocking Chinese electric vehicle

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When it comes to keeping your phone secure, there are multiple options available. Most phones ship with at least three or more of the following security methods – Pattern, Password, PIN, Fingerprint Scanner, and Face Unlock. Our focus for this week’s poll is on the last two.

Most phones released in the past few years have a fingerprint scanner (under the display, side-mounted, or rear-mounted). Face Unlock has also become a popular feature that is bundled as an additional security option or as an alternative to a fingerprint scanner on some devices.

Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, so it is no surprise that folks will prefer one over the other.

For this week’s poll, we want to know which you prefer, Fingerprint Scanner or Face Unlock? So please take the poll below and also let us know why you prefer one over the other in the comment box below.

The post Poll of The Week: Which do you prefer: Fingerprint Scanner or Face Unlock? appeared first on Gizmochina.

Google Pixel 4’s new set of sensors on top of the display was the talk of the town over the past few weeks. Such a setup warranted powerful features like Motion Sense and an ultra-fast Face Unlock.  But once the phone was launched, reviewers noted that the soli radar based ‘Motion Sense’ experience was underwhelming. Even the Face Unlock feature on the Pixel 4, which was very secure on paper, came with a major flaw.

Over the past couple of years, Face Unlock has become a huge part of our smartphone experience. But most Android smartphone makers have so far opted for a less expensive and less secure Face Unlock technology. So it was exciting to see Google’s own version of Face Unlock which was secured. But it turns out, Google’s Face Unlock has a major flaw, it works even when the user’s eyes are closed. So, if the Pixel 4 user is sleeping or even dead, Face Unlock will be able to open the phone.

Most Face Unlock mechanisms, even the ones that just rely on the front camera, cannot unlock your smartphone if your eyes are shut. For example, OnePlus 7T‘s Face Unlock needs at least one eye to be open in order to unlock the device. This is a very important feature to ensure no one can unlock your phone while you are sleeping. But Google has confirmed that Pixel 4’s Face Unlock works even when your eyes are shut and unfortunately, there’s no workaround to the issue.

Editor’s Pick: Here’s why Google Pixel 4 series isn’t launching in India

Technically, Google doesn’t consider this as an issue as it believes this allows for a seamless and ultra-fast unlocking experience. But many don’t share the same feeling. BBC’s Chris Fox was the first to spot this issue. He even tweeted with video proof.

Proof, for those asking #madebygoogle #pixel4 pic.twitter.com/mBDJphVpfB

— Chris Fox (@thisisFoxx) October 15, 2019

Google doesn’t confirm whether it will add an option to fix this (issue?). But given how this particular point has got global coverage, it’s quite possible that the company adds a toggle setting via a future update to force ‘eyes to be open’ before unlocking the device.

UP NEXT: Tech Throwback Thursday: How Google’s Modular Smartphone Dream Was Killed

(Source)

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Google is working on its next-generation Pixel flagship smartphone — Pixel 4 series and the company recently confirmed the phone’s design when it shared a render of the upcoming smartphone, surprising everyone.

Now, the company has yet again shared details about its upcoming smartphone, breaking the company’s norms. It confirmed that the upcoming flagship smartphone will come with support for air gestures and face unlock.

These features will be a part of something that the company calls “Motion Sense” and are powered by the company’s Soli chip. While the Face Unlock feature isn’t new and almost all smartphone makers are offering this feature, Google says that its version will be the fastest and the safest ever.

As for the security measures, the search engine giant will be using the Titan M security chip in the upcoming Pixel 4 smartphones, so you don’t have to worry about security. The facial data will be stored in that chip and never online, so it cannot be accessed by anyone else.

And to make sure that the face unlocks feature for the upcoming Pixel 4 smartphone is as good as the company claims it to be, Google confirmed that it conducted field research. In that, the company went out to the streets and paid people with $5 gift cards to scan their faces. This was earlier reported by several media houses but the Mountain View-based company has not confirmed it.

Google says that after 18 months of collecting the data, it will get rid of the face data that the company collected for these tests. It also said that currently the face scans are “encrypted and access restricted” with no connections to people’s Google account.

Seeing the way Google is going all-out for this “Motion Sense” feature, it seems that the feature will be a major selling point for the upcoming Pixel 4 series devices. It remains to be seen how it fares in the real world and how people receives it. For that, we’ll have to wait until the commercial launch of the upcoming flagship smartphone from Google.

(Source)

Up Next: World’s first foldable phone, Royole FlexPai undergoes JerryRigEverything’s Durability test

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Google is doing things differently this year with respect to the Pixel 4. Apparently, it wants to control the narrative. Earlier, it released an official render of the phone, shortly after a leak surfaced on the web. Today, it has released the first official video teaser for the phone.

The less-than 30-second video doesn’t give us a good look at the design of the phone but it does confirm some rumors about its features.

First, the Google Pixel 4 will support Face Unlock similar to that of the iPhone X series. An official blog post by Google reveals more about this and it includes a cross-sectional image that shows all the components in the phone’s big forehead.

Starting from the left, there is a face unlock IR camera, followed by the main front camera, and then an Ambient light/Proximity sensor. Then there is the speaker in the middle or audio port as Google calls it.

To the right of the speaker is the Soli radar chip which allows you to control the phone with no hands. In the video, it is shown that you will be able to swipe to change tracks. You will also be able to wave your hands to silence alarms and calls. If you look closely at the video, there is a small animation at the top of the screen that shows when you make a gesture with your hand.

That isn’t the only thing the Soli radar is good for. Google says the device turns on as you reach for the phone, allowing the phone to unlock “all in one motion”.

We presume what happens “behind the scenes” is the radar senses the movement of your hand and then wakes the phone which then activates the face unlock system. It scans your face and then unlocks the phone. It is a pretty fast process, so you shouldn’t notice any lag.

Side Note: We can’t possibly be the only ones who think the Soli radar will make its way into the next version of Google Nest Hub?

Next to the Soli radar are the rest of the face unlock system which includes a face unlock dot projector, another IR camera, and a flood illuminator. Google says it will not only unlock your phone but also authenticate you for payments and applications. It will be called “Motion Sense” and will not be available in all countries.

You don’t have to worry about security as the Pixel 4 will feature the Titan M security chip where your face data will always be stored. Never online where it can be accessed by someone else.

The Pixel 4 is shaping up to be an interesting device and we have a feeling it may even launch earlier than its predecessor.

(Source)

UP NEXT: Google smartphone sales doubled last quarter thanks to the Google Pixel 3a series

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Huawei, the world’s No. 2 smartphone brand, has announced a new update for its Android-based custom mobile operating system — EMUI 9. In the new update, the company has upgraded the facial unlock feature to support two faces.

This will enable users to store two facial profiles on their phones and could use either of them for unlocking the device. Earlier, users were allowed to keep only one profile for the facial recognition-based unlock feature.

As per the reports, the new update is currently being rolled out to only two flagship smartphones of the company — Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Huawei Mate 20 RS Porsche Edition. For those who have received the update, you can use this new feature by going through the following steps.

Navigation to the settings menu on the phone and go to “Security and Privacy.” Once you reach there, enter the “Face Unlocking” section and once you have added the first facial profile, you’ll get an option to add a “New Spare Face”. Tap that option and select “Start Entry” and “Enter the second face” to complete the process of adding another profile.

Either of the facial profile can be used for any function, including phone unlocking, application unlocking, Alipay or WeChat payment authentication, among others. EMUI also has a feature that hides the notifications until the facial recognition is done and for this also, either of the facial profiles can be used.

It remains to be seen if the company has solved the issues related to the facial recognition feature. Users had previously reported that if the facial profile was created wearable spectacles, the phone wasn’t able to authenticate when the face gets scanned without wearing the spectacles.

The EMUI 9.0 update brings various new changes along with all the features of Android 9 Pie. The customized skin comes with plenty of bug fixes and enhancements over the EMUI 8.0. The new user interface is better optimized for full view displays and carries additional AI-based features.

Read More: Huawei’s semiconductor spending witnessed a staggering 45% growth in 2018

It also comes with GPU Turbo 2.0 which reduces the touch response of the phone by 36 percent and adds a new app assistant. Since EMUI 9 is based on Android Pie, it also gets navigation gestures. Among other features, the Android Pie also comes with Adaptive Battery which makes use of machine learning technology to improve the phone’s power management.

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Face Unlock is gaining wide popularity and that could be attributed to Apple’s use of the technology on the iPhone X and subsequent models. However, recently, the technology has come under close scrutiny due to the penchant to getting fooled by a representation of the owner’s face. Recently, Forbes conducted a test where a portrait of one of its author was 3D printed and the portrait was used to unlock all the Android phones tested. Turns out you don’t even need to go to such hassle as a new study has shown that a high-quality photo of the owner can unlock most of the facial recognition-packing phones around.

The test carried out by the Dutch Consumentenbond organization discovered that out of a total of 110 devices that were tested, 42 could be unlocked with a high-quality photo of the owner. Surprisingly, this figure includes flagship as well as midrange and budget models from Huawei, Xiaomi, Nokia, Lenovo, Alcatel, BlackBerry, HTC and Sony among others. Flagship models such as the Huawei P20 Pro, HTC U11 Plus, and Sony’s Xperia XZ2 series were all found wanting in this regard. The list also contains midrange models like Samsung Galaxy A8, Xiaomi’s Mi A2 etc.

Read Also: Sony to introduce 3D laser face recognition with better precision than Face ID for phones late 2019

A number of devices also held their ground and came out unopened by the photo such as the budget Alcatel 3V. Others include Honor 10, HTC U12 Plus, Huawei Mate 20 series, OnePlus 5T, OnePlus 6, and Samsung’s 2018 flagships. Do note that most of the phones that were not unlocked came with dedicated hardware for facial recognition. In addition, all Apple 2018 models also came out strong as had earlier been discovered in previous tests. Notwithstanding, it still holds true that face unlock shouldn’t be trusted for digital security. You can check out the list of the models and how they fared from the table below (Credit- Android Authority).

(source)

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More leaks of the Honor V20 keep pouring in and a new one has surfaced that shows the front of the phone. It also confirms a feature of the phone.

The Honor V20 is shown in its retail box but the angle the picture was taken doesn’t give us a good look at the packaging. The only thing we can make out is that it is a white box and not cyan.

The phone is powered on, so we can see how big the hole for the camera is and it’s clearly not as big as that of the Samsung Galaxy A8s. The image does confirm the Honor V20 will support face unlock as you can see there is a prompt that says you can unlock your phone with a glance.

The Face Unlock feature on the Honor V20 is definitely not as sophisticated as that found on the Honor Magic 2 or the Mate 20 Pro, so it won’t work in the dark and can’t be used for payments.

READ MORE: Honor phone with 6” HD+ display and single rear camera appears on TENAA, may be Honor Play 8

The Honor V20 will launch on December 26 and will come with an All-View Display, a Kirin 980 processor, a 48MP rear camera, Link Turbo, 22.5W fast-charging and run EMUI 9 based on Android 9 Pie out of the box. Honor will then launch it in Europe on the 22nd of January as the Honor View20.

(Via)

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Alongside the new Honor 8C, the company also unveiled a mid-range tablet in China, the Honor MediaPad T5. You could also call it the Honor Tab 5. Note that there’s a good chance that you have already heard this name, if you recall, Huawei had released the MediaPad T5 earlier this year. Well, don’t get yourself confused, these two are basically the same device. Except for minute differences (camera specs, fingerprint), the Huawei MediaPad T5 is basically the Honor MediaPad T5. Just note that in China it goes under the Honor brand, while internationally, its being sold under the Huawei brand name. Now that we’ve cleared this, let’s move on to the Honor MediaPad T5 (Honor Tab 5) in detail.

The tablet comes in an all metal CNC body and weighs just about 460 grams. The dimensions (243mm × 164mm × 7.8mm) are decent enough for a 10-inch tablet, making it easy to carry around where ever you go. To be honest, there’s nothing spectacular about the tablet’s design but for its affordable pricing, the metal body and under 500 gram weight makes it a pretty good tablet in the segment. Further, there are two color options available: Glacier Blue and Grey.

The Honor Mediapad T5 comes with a 10.1-inch 19200 x 1200 pixel resolution display, which brings the aspect ratio to a comfortable 16:1o. Apart from the large FHD display up front, the tablet features dual stereo speakers with Huawei Histen 5.0 sound technology with Harman Kardon professional tuning. It’s clear that the company wants to market this tablet as an entertainment device. The large display and stereo speakers definitely gives it an edge over large screen smartphones which threaten to eat up the tablet market.

Inside, the tablet comes with a Kirin 659 processor with 3+32GB and 4+64GB storage options. Since its a Kirin processor on board, you also get the company’s GPU Turbo technology which should offer solid gaming performance.

Another upgrade on the Honor Tab 5 aka Honor MediaPad T5 is the presence of a fingerprint sensor and even face unlock. The Huawei branded model that’s sold internationally doesn’t feature this sensor. Other notable features includes eye comfort mode with blue light filter, and children’s corner.

The Honor MediaPad T5 starts at 1399 Yuan ($200) for the 3+32GB model, 1599 Yuan ($230) for the 4+64GB model and goes up to 1799 Yuan ($260) for the LTE 4+64GB variant. Reservations start today and goes on until October 14. First sale is on October 15 at 10AM in China.

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It was reported this week that HMD Global has gained ownership of the PureView trademark formerly owned by Microsoft. It has also trademarked PureDisplay. Now the Nokia-brand licensee has applied to trademark the phrase “Face Unlock”!

Yes, HMD Global has applied for a trademark for Face Unlock. It’s a no-brainer that this is related to the face unlock feature already available on scores of smartphones. However, there is no info as to what Nokia’s face unlock technology will be like.

A few of the Nokia phones being sold now support face unlock. The feature rolled out to these phones such as the Nokia 6.1 and Nokia 7 Plus via an update. However, it is not as secure as that found on the iPhone X or the Find X.

READ MORE: Nokia 7 Plus confirmed to get Android 9.0 Pie update in September

With the recent trademarks, some have speculated that they are associated with its upcoming flagship smartphone currently referred to as the Nokia 9 which may also be the device codenamed Nokia Phoenix.

(Source, Via)

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Xiaomi has a new flagship smartphone in development. Unlike its other phones which launch under the Redmi or Mi brand, this upcoming device will launch under a new brand called POCOPHONE. The device is called the POCOPHONE F1 and it has gotten its Bluetooth certification.

The Bluetooth certification page which confirms the phone’s model number as M1805E10A and its processor as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor with a liquid cooling system also reveals some important details about its cameras.

According to the description, the POCOPHONE F1 has a 12MP + 5MP dual camera setup on its rear. The primary sensor has a 1.4µm large pixel size and dual pixel autofocus. This camera configuration is lower than that of the Mi 8 which has 12MP + 12MP dual cameras.

For the front camera, the POCOPHONE F1 will have a 20MP sensor along with a technology called SuperPixel. SuperPixel combines details from four different pixels into a single large one. The result is supposed to be a picture with less noise, more light, and an overall better quality. It also mentions being great in low-light conditions.

Another info mentioned in the description is that the phone has an infrared illuminator and an infrared camera for face unlock. This is the same unlock mechanism on the Mi 8, so it will work the same way. With the infrared illuminator and infrared scanner, you will be able to unlock your phone in the dark just as you do in broad daylight.

A leaked hands-on video already confirmed the phone will have a notch. The notch will house the camera and the IR setup for face unlock as well as other sensors and most probably a notification LED. The certification page also confirms the POCOPHONE is running MIUI 10 and not MIUI 9 like the version that was submitted at the FCC.

FCC documents have revealed the POCOPOPHONE will come with 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage. It is also expected to be one of the cheapest Snapdragon 845 phones in the market according to leaker Roland Quandt.

Earlier this week, he revealed the pricing in Eastern Europe is put at €420 (~$490) for the 64GB model and €460 (~$537) for the 128GB version. Compare that to the OnePlus 6 (6GB + 64GB) that sells for €519 (~$605). However, that isn’t the cheapest price for the POCOPHONE F1.

So. Pocophone F1 might be even cheaper than I said before. Eastern EU dealer has it for less than 390 Euro – which sounds insane, if it really is using an SDM845.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) July 26, 2018

READ MORE: Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 design leak suggests reduced chin, pop-up camera

In another tweet a few days later, he said an Eastern EU dealer has it for less than €390 (~$450)!!! Impressive, right? Now, all we have to wait for is a launch date.

(Sources: 1, 2, Via)

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One of the features of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S series is a front-mounted fingerprint scanner. However, that won’t be the case for this year’s Galaxy Tab S4.

Renders had already shown that the Galaxy Tab S4 was missing a front-mounted fingerprint scanner and didn’t have one on the back, though the latter wouldn’t have made any sense for a device with a 10-inch screen.

New reports have now confirmed that the Galaxy Tab S4 will not come with a fingerprint scanner. Instead, it will come with a combination of an iris scanner and face unlock which Samsung has termed “Intelligent Scan”. The confirmation comes from an instructional video from the official Galaxy Tab S4 firmware.

The Galaxy Tab S4 will be the first tablet to come with an iris scanner. With “Intelligent Scan”, users will be able to unlock their device with either the iris scanner or face unlock depending on the environment. For example, when outdoors and under bright sunlight, the iris scanner is known to fail, so in that situation, the device switches to face unlock. And when in poorly lit areas where Face Unlock doesn’t work, the device switches to iris scanning. You can watch the video in the source link below.

READ MORE: Samsung could merge the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note smartphone lineup

The Galaxy Tab S4 is expected to launch in August. It will come with a redesigned S Pen, thinner bezels, and DeX support. It will also come with a Snapdragon 835 processor and have a 10.5-inch display.

(Source)

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OnePlus has started rolling out an update to 2016’s OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T duo. The new update brings Face Unlock to the device as well as May’s security update.

The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T update comes as OxygenOS 5.0.3. Users will be excited about the Face Unlock feature which debuted on the OnePlus 5T and then rolled out to the OnePlus 5 later. It is also good to see the security patch get updated. The last security patch was that of December 2017.

The update also brings a refined Shelf UI and a new design for app shortcuts with respect to launcher changes. There are also new features for the gallery app, the file manager, and the weather widget. Below is the complete changelog:

• System
  Updated Android security patch to 2018.5
  Supported FaceUnlock
• Launcher
  Refined Shelf UI design
  New design for App shortcuts
  Supported more options when long pressing an icon
• Gallery
  Places: a map view of photos by location
  Supported sharing photos to Shot-On-OnePlus
  Added “Recently Deleted” collection
• File Manager
  Added “Large files” category
• Weather
  Added new widget for Launcher
  Improved the positioning accuracy
  Adjust refresh interval for weather information update

READ MORE: OnePlus 6 Brings Supports For Seamless Updates

Do you own the OnePlus 3 or OnePlus 3T? Let us know what you think about the new Face Unlock feature. Is it as fast as that of the OnePlus 5T?

(Source, Via)

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The Honor 10 may be getting a global launch soon but that doesn’t mean past Honor flagships have been forgotten. The Honor 8 Pro (Honor V9) and Honor 9 were both upgraded to Oreo back in February. The former has also received a new update.

The February update was supposed to bring Face Unlock to the phone but it didn’t. The new update addresses that and also brings some new features.

Apart from the new unlocking mode, there is also a privacy feature for hiding notifications on the lock-screen and March’s security patch included in the update.

The update is about 500MB in size and is said to be rolling out in batches according to the Honor India Twitter page.

READ MORE: Android Oreo Update Starts Hitting Honor 7X In The US

The Honor 8 Pro was released last year. It has a 5.7” QHD display, up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It is powered by the Kirin 960, has dual rear cameras, and packs a 4,000mAh battery.

(Via)

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Honor 9 and V9 (V9 is the Chinese name for the Honor 8 Pro) were among the last Huawei devices featuring a standard 16:9 display. One of the main disadvantages of the latest full-screen Honor devices was the absence of the fingerprint reader on the front. The company had to place it on the back since there is no space on the front panel due to the bezel-less displays.

So, in order to make authentication more comfortable, the company has decided to bring Face Unlock on several of its devices. And soon even Honor 9 and V9 will get this feature. The confirmation has just arrived from Honor President Zhao Ming who announced that both these handsets will receive Face Unlock through a post on the microblogging platform Weibo.

The date on which the Face Unlock update will be rolled out has not been unveiled, but from the words of the President, we can understand that it should happen very soon. The software-based Face Unlock which will arrive on the Honor 9, V9 is not as safe as the Face ID found on the Apple iPhone X which relies on a hardware sensor. But it is still a fast and very comfortable method to unlock our handsets.

The post Honor 9 and V9 Will Soon Get Face Unlock, Says Honor President appeared first on Gizmochina.

Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro devices in the Indian market. At the time of launch, the company had promised to soon offer the face unlock feature on the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

It seems that the company was waiting for the devices to go on sale. Just a day after the devices went on sale, the company has rolled out a new update for the Redmi Note Pro 5, introducing the face unlock feature. This makes it the first device from Xiaomi to have face unlock feature.

The Face Unlock feature has been introduced in the Redmi Note 5 Pro through the MIUI v9.2.4 NEIMIEK update. The over-the-air (OTA) update is about 1.6GB in size and also includes camera improvements and stability optimizations.

The update will be available out of the box for customers who ordered the Redmi Note 5 Pro through its first flash sale earlier this week. Users can also manually check its availability by going to the Settings > System updates option or by using the Updater app.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is priced at Rs 9,999 for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant and Rs 11,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB variant. On the other hand, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro costs Rs 13,999 for the 4GB RAM and 64GB variant and Rs 16,999 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB ROM option.

Both the devices feature the trending full-screen display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The devices are running on the latest MIUI 9, based on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system out-of-the-box and are powered by a 4,000mAh non-removable battery.

Read More: Xiaomi Sells Over 300,000 Units Of Redmi Note 5 And Redmi Note 5 Pro In Its First Ever Sale In India

The Redmi Note 5 is powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 625 processor and features a 12-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.2 aperture along with an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. The Redmi Note 5 Pro packs Snapdragon 636 processor and features dual camera setup of a 12-megapixel Sony IMX486 sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary sensor. On the front side, it features a 20-megapixel Sony IMX376 camera sensor.

(Source)

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The Honor 9 Lite was announced last month in China and yesterday in India. Although, the full-screen display and quad-camera-toting smartphone comes with EMUI 8.0 based on Android 8.0 out of the box but Honor has begun rolling out a new update.

We have not been able to get our hands on the complete changelog for the update. However, Honor itself has released a teaser poster that reveals the update brings Face Unlock to the device.

Face Unlock has become the new trending feature in smartphones. Following the launch of the iPhone X which ditched Touch ID for Face ID, Android smartphone manufacturers have also included a similar version into their phones. Although theirs isn’t as secure as that of Apple.

The update will roll-out to devices in batches. Some will receive it today while others will get it over the next couple of days.

The Honor 9 Lite has a 5.65” 18:9 FHD+ display. Like Huawei’s other mid-range phones, it is powered by the Kirin 659 SoC and paired with 3GB/4GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB of storage.

RELATED: Honor 7X to Receive Facial Recognition Feature Soon

Other than its display and dual glass design, another selling point of the Honor 9 Lite is its camera configuration. It has a total of four cameras (two on each side), both in the same 13MP + 2MP configuration.

The phone also has a fingerprint scanner, a 3000mAh battery, and a micro USB port. The Honor 9 Lite is priced between ¥1199 (~$187) and ¥1799 (~$280) depending on the RAM/storage configuration.

(Via)

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Earlier in this week, OnePlus had confirmed that OnePlus 5 would be receiving the Face Unlock feature that was first introduced on the OnePlus 5T phone. Today, the Chinese manufacturer has confirmed that it will be soon releasing an open beta build of Face Unlock for OP5 users.

OnePlus 5T’s Face Unlock that coexists with fingerprint scanner has received good reception from the users. OnePlus users have requested the company through OnePlus community to make the Face Unlock feature available on older OnePlus smartphones.

Before releasing the final version of the Face Unlock feature, the company wants to test the feature by releasing its open beta build. This will allow OnePlus to kill any bugs and roll out a stable edition of Face Unlock to OnePlus 5 users. There is a possibility that the company may make it available on older devices as OnePlus founder Carl Pei had carried out a poll recently on Twitter and OnePlus forum to ask OnePlus 3 and 3T users whether they would like to use Face Unlock on those phones.

Read More: OnePlus 5T Android 8.0 Oreo Open Beta Will be Available Soon

Compared to Apple’s Face ID, the Face Unlock by OnePlus can recognize a face faster. However, since it is not as secure as Face ID, it cannot be used for authenticating a mobile payment. Face ID’s facing scanning depends on the complex 3D sensors, but Face Unlock can identify by recognizing certain marks on the face such as the space between the eyes or the distance between nose and lip.

The Face Unlock technology is equipped with special identifiers that allows it to identify a face in low light conditions and even when the user is wearing eyeglasses. It is smart enough to confirm whether the subject is a real face or a photo. If Face Unlock is unable to identify a face after five attempts, the face recognition feature will get disabled and it will prompt the user to make use fingerprint reader or enter PIN code or pattern to unlock the phone.

(source)

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OPPO seems to be on a roll in the last few days to the end of the year. After announcing the OPPO A75 and A75s duo in Taiwan yesterday, it has returned to China to unveil the OPPO A83.

OPPO A83 Design

The A83 has a design similar to the A75 released yesterday. The key difference only being the absence of a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. You won’t find the scanner in front too as OPPO has decided to go the iPhone X route by completely ditching the biometric scanner and sticking to Face Unlock.

The OPPO A83 has a metal back that curves at the edges for better handling. The primary camera is raised and there is a LED flash on its right. OPPO’s logo in silver chrome sits in the middle.

Up in front, we get another full-screen display with reduced white bezels on the gold variant and black on the black variant.

OPPO A83 Specs

OPPO’s A83 comes with a 5.7-inch HD+ display. It packs 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and is powered by a 2.5GHz octa-core processor. OPPO didn’t disclose the processor type but this should be the Helio P23.

The phone has a 13MP rear camera that OPPO says can shoot up to 50MP. This is most likely achieved by stitching several shots together. There is an 8MP sensor with AI beauty mode for selfies.

The selling point of the OPPO A83 is its face unlock feature. Unlike its other recent releases that have Face Unlock and a fingerprint scanner, the A83 ditches the fingerprint sensor.

OPPO claims the phone scans for 128 different facial features and unlocks in just 0.18 seconds! To get a clearer picture of the speed, the OnePlus 5T which has one of the fastest face unlock features unlocks in 0.4 seconds.

Is it secure enough to replace the fingerprint scanner? We will have to put it to the test to find out. OPPO also doesn’t mention if it supports payments which is a bummer.

The A83 rounds up its specs with a 3180mAh battery and runs ColorOS 3.2 out of the box.

READ MORE: Huawei, OPPO, Vivo Reportedly Reducing Orders by Over 10% as Worldwide Demand for Phones Decline

OPPO A83 Price and Availability

The OPPO A83 is priced at ¥1399 (~$214) and comes in Champagne and Black color variants. Pre-orders are live on the official online OPPO shop already and sales will commence on the 29th of December. Those who pre-order will get a free pair of QY7 bluetooth headphones.

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The OnePlus 5T is not only one of the best phones in the market but it also has one of the fastest if not the fastest “Face Unlock” feature on a phone. Today, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei confirmed that the feature will make its way to the OnePlus 5.

In a tweet posted earlier today, Carl Pei announced that the feature will be available on the OnePlus 5 due to popular demand.

Due to popular demand, Face Unlock is coming for the OnePlus 5. Thanks for the feedback, and merry Christmas!

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) December 24, 2017

Owners of the OnePlus 5 will be glad as the arrival of Face Unlock means one less difference between it and the OnePlus 5T.

Just a few hours after the announcement and OnePlus has again surprised owners of the OnePlus 5 by rolling out the Android 8.0 Oreo/OxygenOS 5.0 update.

The update not only brings Android Oreo and all the cool features of OxygenOS 5.0 such as parallel apps, it also comes with December’s security patch.

The update will roll out gradually over the next couple of days. However, some users who have updated said using a VPN and selecting Canada will allow you receive the update immediately.

Below is the change log for the update:

Launcher
Optimizations for Shelf
Now you can upload your photo through Shot on OnePlus

Camera & Gallery
New Camera UI design
Optimizations for photo quality
Added beauty effect for Portrait Mode
Added “Places” tab for viewing photos on a map

Apps
Added history feature in Calculator
Added alarm calendar function in clock

System
Added Parallel Apps feature
New design for Quick Settings
New design for Lift up display
Added “Adaptive model” screen calibration
Updated Android security patch to December

READ MORE: OnePlus 6 Rumored To Feature 3D Face ID Technology Like The iPhone X’s

Since the change log doesn’t mention Face Unlock, it means the feature will be added later in a future update.

Let us know in the comment box below if you have received the update and what the experience is like.

(Sources: 1, 2)

The post OnePlus 5 Android 8.0 Oreo Update Rolling Out Already, Will Get Face Unlock (Later) Says Carl Pei appeared first on Gizmochina.

One of the features the OnePlus 5T brings other than a new display is Face Unlock. This is an alternative biometric security to fingerprint scanning and one of the praised features of the phone due to its speed.

A couple of days ago it was reported that the feature will not be available on the OnePlus 5. However, fresh details say the device will get Face Unlock when it receives its Android 8.0 Oreo update.

The feature is already available on the Android 8.0 Beta 2 update for the device. One user who has gotten the beta update has been kind enough to share screenshots. At the lockscreen of the image shared, there is now a prompt that asks to use Face Unlock or enter password. One of the screenshots also shows that the beta update comes with October’s security patch.

READ MORE: Current OnePlus Phones To Get Android 8.1 But No Project Treble

OnePlus already released a stable version of Android Oreo for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. The update brings features such as Autofill, Picture-in-Picture, a new notification panel, parallel apps, and September’s security patch. The OnePlus 5 is expected to be next in line for the stable update.

(Via)

The post OnePlus 5 Oreo Update Will Bring Face Unlock appeared first on Gizmochina.

One of the newest features of the OnePlus 5T that sets it apart from its predecessor phones is Face Unlock. Instead of using a PIN code or using fingerprint scanner, OnePlus 5T users can simply let the device scan their face to unlock it. During a recent Ask Me Anything session on OnePlus forums, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei confirmed that the OnePlus 5 smartphone will not be receiving Face Unlock feature.

Pei has not given any concrete reason on why the company won’t be bringing the Face Unlock feature on OnePlus 5. OnePlus Product Manager Louis S said that the OP5 won’t benefit from the Face Unlock feature as the device already has a fingerprint sensor that delivers a great user experience. This reply seems to be confusing as it could mean that the reason behind adding Face Unlock is that the rear-mounted fingerprint reader does not offer a good user experience.

OnePlus is known for selling flagship phones that offer topnotch specs at unbeatable prices. Since OnePlus is competing with brands like Samsung and Apple in the premium smartphone segment, it strives to offer features that are available on the recent flagship phones by its competitors.

Read More: OnePlus 5T vs Essential Phone Comparison: Flagships Meet Affordable Prices

Apple and Samsung have both introduced face scanning on their recent flagships. Hence, this could be one of the reasons why OnePlus has also included the facial identification feature on OP5T. During the AMA session on OnePlus forums, the company revealed some more information on the Face Unlock by saying that it has been calibrated with the front-facing camera to deliver accurate and reliable results. Hence, it is faster than Android’s Trusted Face feature. Also, it does not consume affect the battery life of the device.

Do you think that OnePlus should bring Face Unlock feature to its older smartphones? Let us know your views by commenting below.

(source)

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