Posts

Showing posts from August, 2019

Weekly poll results: Realme 5 Pro is a hit, steals the spotlight from the Realme 5

Image
Realme has a future best-seller on its hands - but not two of them. The Realme 5 Pro got a very positive reception in last week's poll - people are happy with the upgrades over the Realme 3 Pro, which launched earlier this year at the same price. The upgrades are mostly in the camera department - going up to a 48MP sensor for the main camera and adding an ultra wide and dedicated macro cameras. The selfie camera dropped in resolution (25MP to 16MP), but the new sensor has larger pixels (0.8µm to 1.0µm). Added splash resistance and a slightly overclocked chipset just about cover...

Google Play Store adds UPI as a payment option for users in India

Image
UPI, short for Unified Payments Interface, is an initiative and facility offered by the Government of India to promote the use of digital payment solutions in the country. With UPI, users can transfer a limited amount of cash instantly between bank accounts. While this amount may not be sufficient for medium and large scale business to use as their primary medium for exchanging funds, it does work out very well for smaller businesses as well as for users who are transacting in smaller amounts. Google and other services did recognize the potential that UPI had for the massive Indian population, which is why Google Pay (erstwhile Google Tez in India ) launched off with UPI support from the first day. Google promised at Google I/O 2019 that it would soon feature UPI as a payment solution within the Google Play Store, and now, it appears that Google is finally rolling out UPI as a payment option. Google Play Store in India currently supports credit cards, debit cards, net banking, carri...

Flashback: the Motorola ROKR E1 was a dud, but it paved the way for the iPhone

Image
Apple began life as a hardware company, selling desktop computers and then adding laptops to its roster. But in 2001 the company started its long journey to becoming a media distribution company - a journey that saw the launch of Apple Music in 2015 and will welcome Apple TV+ later this year. In 2001 Apple released iTunes to the world and a few months later the very first iPod followed. Those two products revitalized the waning company and grew quickly. In 2005 Apple had a commanding 75% share of digital music sales and 80% of MP3 player sales. With over 20 million iPods sold, Steve...

Huawei hints at an update to the FreeBuds coming at IFA

Image
Huawei's Mate 30 lineup isn't going official until later in September, but the company's still coming to IFA next week. Among the things the Chinese maker is bringing there is a new Kirin chipset, but that's not all - apparently, a new pair of wireless earbuds is on the way unless we're totally misinterpreting this short teaser below. New Kirin technology will connect you to a whole new audio experience.Discover how by following #HuaweiIFA2019 👉 https://ift.tt/2Ljp42H #IFA19 pic.twitter.com/WBwKrACotr— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) August 31, 2019 What we...

Apple initiates screen replacement program for aluminum Watch Series 2 and 3

Image
Apple is starting a screen replacement program covering the aluminum versions of the Apple Watch Series 2 and Series 3. It addresses a crack that may develop along the rounded edge of the screen, starting from one corner and then potentially spreading along the entire perimeter, as shown in the example drawings. The affected models are both 38mm and 42mm sizes of the Series 2 and 3 with GPS-only and GPS+cellular versions of the latter. Nike+ versions of both generations are part of the program as well. It's unclear what causes the crack to form and just what the "very rare...

A Brief Battery Life Comparison between the Honor 20 Pro and Galaxy S10+

Image
Battery life is always a pressing concern for smartphone users, with survey after survey showing that consumers still want long-lasting batteries out of their new devices. While this sounds like a simple feature, squeezing more out of a phone’s battery requires improvements in hardware as well as software optimizations, meaning tremendous investments. Another great route that is thankfully being embraced by modern flagships is, well, offering a bigger battery . The Honor 20 Pro and the Galaxy S10+ might sit at very different price points, but both offer huge 4,000mAh and 4,100mAh batteries respectively and top-of-the-line silicon in the form of the Kirin 980 and Snapdragon 855. While they sport similar battery capacity in terms of mAh, they also offer different screen technologies (LCD for the Honor 20 Pro, OLED for the Galaxy S10+), and vastly different Android experiences. In order to see how these devices stack up despite their similarities and differences, we took them through a s...

Samsung Galaxy M30s key specs confirmed through Android Enterprise listing

Image
The Samsung Galaxy M30s made headlines throughout the week and it seems an official announcement isn't too far away as the smartphone has received Android certification from Google. The Galaxy M30s has been listed on Google's Enterprise Recommended devices website and the listing confirms a few specs of the smartphone. The M30s will sport a 6.4" display which is likely to have a 1080p resolution. The smartphone runs Android Pie and has 4GB RAM. It will come in two storage options - 64GB and 128GB. The listing also confirms the presence of a fingerprint scanner, which from...

Sony Xperia 2 leaked renders show the phone from multiple angles

Image
Images of the Sony Xperia 2, expected to go official at IFA next week, surfaced yesterday giving us a quick glimpse of the device. And today, a full set of official-looking press renders of the handset surfaced, showing the phone from multiple angles, in several colors too. The Xperia 2 looks similar to the Xperia 1, except for the triple camera setup at the back which is now placed in the top-left corner of the device, as opposed to being along the central axis. On the left side of the Xperia 2 is the SIM card slot, and on the right side is the fingerprint scanner flanked by the...

Videos in Google Play Store listings will autoplay starting next month

Image
The Google Play Store recently got a blindingly white redesign, and starting next month, you may find it a bit more annoying. Why? Because it will start playing promo videos in the app listings automatically. Google says the videos in the app listings will be played automatically "to help more users discover your content at a glance". However, this decision may not go well with some app developers as the Internet search giant has said that developers will have to disable monetization in these videos which are pulled from YouTube. The developers have time until October 31, 2019 to...

Samsung Galaxy A90 5G retail box leaks confirming key specs

Image
Yesterday we saw what appeared to be a promo poster of the Samsung Galaxy A90 5G which confirmed the phone's design. Today, we are looking at the retail box of the Galaxy A90 5G which corroborates yesterday's leak and gives us our best look yet at the phone. Samsung Galaxy A90 5G retail box The retail box also reveals key specifications of the Galaxy A90 5G like 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and an octa-core processor which in all likelihood is the Snapdragon 855 SoC. The smartphone will flaunt a FullHD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display measuring 170.3 mm diagonally which translates to...

Twitter CEO's account got hacked, fell victim to SIM swapping

Image
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's own Twitter account was hacked yesterday, allowing the perpetrators to post a total of 17 offensive tweets. The tweets were up for no more than 10 minutes and a little over an hour after the issue was noticed the account was already secure. In a statement, the Company points the finger at the carrier, assuring Twitter systems have not been compromised. The phone number associated with the account was compromised due to a security oversight by the mobile provider. This allowed an unauthorized person to compose and send tweets via text message from the phone number....

Motorola One Zoom detailed specs surface

Image
The Motorola One Zoom has leaked a few times before so we already know what it will look like. We also know a few of its specifications, but the latest leak completes the picture, leaving very little to the imagination. The One Zoom will be powered by the Snapdragon 675 SoC paired with 4GB RAM. It will have 128GB storage and run Android Pie out of the box. But, do note that it won't be a part of the Android One program and will come with deep Alexa integration. The One Zoom will flaunt a 6.4" 19:9 FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a fingerprint reader embedded in it. The screen will...

iPhone 11 family to unsurprisingly become available on September 20

Image
Apple is unveiling the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max at a special event on September 10. But that's the announcement. You may be wondering exactly when you'll be able to purchase one of the new devices. Well, wonder no more. According to a source working at a major US carrier, pre-orders for the trio are set to start on September 13. That's the Friday after the announcement, and it comes as no surprise that Apple would start taking pre-orders then - because it's been doing the same thing for years. Exactly as unsurprising is the rumored release date of the three...

Android 10's September 3 release date confirmed by Canadian carrier

Image
A few days ago a couple of chats with Google support reps surfaced telling us to expect the official release of Android 10 to Pixels to happen on September 3. And today a slip-up by Canadian carrier Rogers has seemingly confirmed the rollout's date. For a short while, Rogers' public OS upgrade schedule included the lines you can see screenshotted below. Apparently this carrier didn't get the memo of Android 10 being the official name of the release formerly known as Android Q, but other than that, it's all there, black on white. Realizing the mistake of making such information...

iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max have all their specs seemingly leaked

Image
After many months of rumors, purported leaks, and speculation, Apple will finally make the new trio of iPhones official on September 10. And today out of China comes a new report that seems to leak all of the new devices' specs. Before we go into the actual information, don't forget to take all of this with a healthy serving of salt - it's just an unconfirmed rumor at this point. That said, a lot of the stuff in it lines up with what we've heard in the past, and the rest is at least plausible. iPhone 11 This is the successor to the iPhone XR, and hence Apple's entry-level option for...

[Update 2: Redmi K20 Pro in India] Xiaomi is recruiting beta testers for the Mi 9’s Android Q-based MIUI update

Image
Update (8/30/19 @ 12:10 PM ET): Xiaomi is now recruiting testers for MIUI 10 (Android 10) on the Redmi K20 Pro in India. Update (8/9/19 @ 9:35 AM ET): Xiaomi has begun rolling out the Android Q open beta to the Xiaomi Mi 9 and Redmi K20 Pro. Android Q has been available for developers since a few months now, giving them a chance to try out Google’s newest update to Android before it rolls out for the general public. These Beta releases gives them an opportunity to explore newly introduced APIs and test their apps against the changes, ensuring that everything works for the end user when the new update finally goes public. In a similar fashion, OEMs are also provided access to the newest version of Android to allow them to begin work on rebasing their custom UX’s onto the platform update. For instance, OnePlus’s recent accidental notification push occured when the OxygenOS team was working on Android Q, and we have even had our first look at Huawei’s EMUI 10 based on Android Q ...

Nokia phones were the quickest to get Android 9 Pie, shows Android update chart

Image
People are keeping their phones longer - the upgrade cycle in the US, Europe and China is now close to 30 months. This places a great emphasis on software support as new software keeps the phone feeling fresh even after two years. Counterpoint Research has collected data on the Android upgrade schedule of various brands, tracking how many models were upgraded to Android 9 Pie (or launched with it), focusing on models that have been released since Q3 2018. The speed of updates was also tracked. The undisputed winner is HMD and its Nokia phones. Currently, 96% of all Nokias launched since...

OnePlus 7T Pro renders reveal similar design to the OnePlus 7 Pro

Image
We’ve been talking a lot about the OnePlus TV recently, but the company also has new phones on the horizon. Earlier this month, we got our first look at the “standard” OnePlus 7T. For the most part, it looks the same as the OnePlus 7, but with a new round camera module. Today, we’re getting our first look at the OnePlus 7T Pro and it’s also more of the same. And now comes your very first look at the #OnePlus7TPro and #OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition, in form of gorgeous and official looking 5K renders! On behalf of my Friends over @91mobiles -> https://t.co/Anv9SNqpIf pic.twitter.com/mR8CIpqUNU — Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) August 30, 2019 The design of the OnePlus 7T Pro is nearly identical to the OnePlus 7 Pro. We can see the same bezel-less display, pop-up selfie camera, triple rear cameras, and curved glass. The renders show off the Pro in the familiar blue color and we can also see the black/orange McLaren Edition. Previously, OnePlus launched an upgraded version of th...

OnePlus 7T Pro Will Look Identical to 7 Pro, But There’s a McLaren Edition

Image
The latest on future OnePlus product releases suggests we may get new goods by the end of September , including a OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro, alongside the new OnePlus TV. Throughout the week, we’ve learned a lot about the OnePlus 7T while the 7T Pro has remained somewhat of a mystery. That just changed. The OnePlus 7T Pro has leaked in a couple of CAD-based renders that show a device with an identical design to the OnePlus 7 Pro. That’s not at all shocking, as OnePlus often releases “T” versions of phones with upgraded internals rather than massively tweaked designs. REVIEW : OnePlus 7 Pro As you can see in the images here, the triple camera layout sits vertically along the phones back, while a pop-up selfie camera shows off its coolness. That should mean another all-display front with no notch or hole punch and what should mean another 90Hz beauty of an AMOLED panel. The blue color you see here is a new “Haze Blue,” while the black and orange version does indeed say “McLar...

First ever TCL-branded phone to arrive at IFA 2019

Image
TCL Communication is known for being the license holder for alcatel and Blackberry smartphones in the last couple of years, but now the portfolio is getting bigger. The company announced it will officially introduce the first TCL-branded smartphone for global markets on September 5 at IFA 2019. It will also reveal a new foldable display concept, its first wearable display and a "100-inch cinematic viewing experience to a device about the size of most sunglasses". Foldable concepts by TCL Stefan Streit, GM of Global Marketing at TCL, said that since the company is one of the leading...

Alleged Sony Xperia 2 shows up in leaked press photos

Image
Sony is rumored to announce a successor to its Xperia 1 flagship soon and it looks like that will happen next week at IFA Berlin. Several shots of the alleged Xperia 2 appeared online and give us a good look at the upcoming device. Visually it retains most of the design characteristics of its predecessor with the exception of the rear camera placement which has been moved to the top left corner. Xperia 2 front and back Looking around the sides of the phone we see Sony kept the button placement intact with the volume, power and camera buttons all on the right side alongside the...

8 Cant-Miss Deals from the XDA Depot

Image
It has been a busy month over at the XDA Developers Depot, with tech courses and online subscriptions flying off the virtual shelves. Some of these deals are really special — in case you missed them the first time around, here’s a little roundup. ThunderDrive Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription Offering 2TB of online storage space, ThunderDrive is a great option for backing up your files. The platform is six times faster than Amazon, with 256-bit AES encryption for security. You can currently get a lifetime subscription for just $59 , saving over $1000 on the standard price.   ThunderDrive Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription – $59 See Deal KeepSolid VPN Unlimited: Lifetime Subscription If you care about online privacy, you need KeepSolid VPN Unlimited . This award-winning service makes you anonymous online, while blocking ads and malware. It also allows you to access content, with servers around the world. Order now for $39 to get lifetime service, worth ...

OnePlus says they optimized Android TV on the OnePlus TV, offers at least 3 years of software support

OnePlus seems to never go too long without being in the news, but recently the company has been talking about something other than a phone. The OnePlus TV is coming soon and CEO Pete Lau has been teasing it a lot. In his latest post about the TV, Lau talks about how the work they have done with Google on Android TV will benefit the entire platform. Lau talks about how companies that make TVs don’t typically focus on the same features as phone makers. OnePlus released the OnePlus 7 Pro with a heavy focus on the “fast and smooth” 90Hz display, which is as much about hardware as it is software. They are taking that same philosophy to the OnePlus TV. OnePlus is not able to modify Android TV as much as they can modify Android on phones, but Lau tells India Today that there will be some differences in the Android TV OS on the OnePlus TV. “We have been able to work with Google on Android TV OS for the OnePlus TV and we have made improvements and optimizations that we believe are going to ...

Samsung Galaxy A71 pops up on Geekbench

Image
While we're still awaiting more details on the Samsung Galaxy A70s which will bring some minor improvements over the Galaxy A70 a new device believed to be Galaxy A71 made its way to Geekbench and revealed some of its key specs. The A71 comes bearing the SM-A715F model number and the listing tells us it features the same Snapdragon 675 chipset from the A70 paired with 8GB RAM. Geekbench has been known to mix up processor names in the past so it's not certain that the A71 will ship with the same SoC as its predecessor. Either way, the phone managed to push out 2540 points on the...

Samsung Galaxy M30s surfaces a in Blue-Green gradient

Image
A render of the Samsung Galaxy M30s that's rumored to go official next month has surfaced, showing the phone in a Blue-Green gradient. This image also corroborates previous leaks as you can see the back of the phone with a triple camera setup placed in the top-left corner inside a rectangular island which includes the flash as well. The rear cameras are joined by a fingerprint scanner and we can also see that the M30s has the power key and volume rocker on its right side, with the 3.5 mm headphone jack placed at the bottom. The Galaxy M30s is reportedly launching in India next...

Facebook tests a screen sharing feature in its Messenger app

Image
Facebook Messenger has been the standalone app for chatting on Facebook’s primary social media platform, so much so that even the primary Facebook for Android app does not even let you converse with people privately without redirecting you to install Messenger. Messenger has its own merits and demerits, but Facebook is constantly exploring new ways to get users hooked onto its chatting app and use it as their primary form of communication. The newest feature that Facebook is working on for Messenger is enabling screen sharing functionality. According to prolific reverse engineer Ms. Jane Manchun Wong, Facebook has recently begun work on bringing over Screen Sharing feature for its Messenger app users. The feature would be accessible as a button in the Audio/Video call screen. When the user turns on screen share, the camera is turned off and users in the chat will be able to see content that is being actively displayed on the user’s screen. On Android, Screen Share will work only if...

Lenovo introduces Tab M7 and Tab M8 entry-level tablets

Image
Ahead of IFA 2019 Lenovo just announced a pair of affordable tablets with the Tab M7 and Tab M8. Both are aimed as media consumption devices and offer Lenovo's Kid's Mode with a special child-friendly interface. The new tablets also feature thinner bezels compared to previous offerings from the company and are also offered with optional LTE support. Both devices are expected to go on sale in October. Lenovo Tab M8 The larger Tab M8 comes with an 8-inch IPS panel and is offered in both HD and FHD configurations. Under the hood we have the Helio A22 chipset paired with 2/3GB RAM and...