If these early images of the alleged Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s are anything to go by, then it looks like the iPhone X ‘notch’ is here to stay. The leaked images of the upcoming Mi Mix 2s show a very iPhone X-like top notch which appears to house the front camera and sensors.
If this does happen, and the Mi Mix 2s is launched with a notch so similar to the iPhone X, this phone will definitely grab the headlines. For design purposes, a notch will help the front camera move to a more natural position than in the bottom bezels, found on the Mi Mix and Mi Mix 2. Further, the notch can also help decrease the size of the bottom bezel which is not visible in the images.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
The notch on the Mi Mix 2s however, looks a bit forced, rather than natural as compared to the one found on the iPhone X. Looking at the inages, it is visible that the “horns” around the cutout are wider, leaving more room for icons in the status bar compared to the iPhone.
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s if launched, will not be the first Android device with a notch. The Essential Ph-1, which was released in August has a cyborg-like cutout for the front facing camera. Android apps, as found on the Essential Ph-1 do not deal well with a notch and developers need to actively update their apps to make use of the full 18:9 aspect ratio and also deal with a notch on the screen.
Essential Ph-1
The Xiaomi Mi Mix, launched in 2016 was the phone that prompted big smartphone makers to produce bezel-less devices. With the Mi Mix 2, Xiaomi entered a global market with its marquee device and with the Mi Mix 2s, it looks like the Chinese smartphone maker wants to take Apple head-on with another ‘top-notch’ device.
Here are the top tech deals on GearBest right now:
Xiaomi Smart LED Lamp
The strain caused to your eyes while working in a setting where the lighting is either too bright or too dim is something we’ve all experienced. In this era of smart lighting, Xiaomi has come up with a smart lamp in collaboration with Philips and it’s an instant winner. Take good care of your eyes and don’t let this lamp go out of stock!
For $13, this bag from Xiaomi is a steal! If you are a light traveler and like to carry minimal things to work or college, then the Xiaomi Sling Bag with its water-resistant material is ideal for you. Don’t let this bag go out of stock because it is one of the best deals on right now!
This little mouse is your perfect travel companion. If you hate using your laptop’s trackpad and carrying a chunky wired mouse is even more annoying, then Xiaomi Portable Mouse is tailor-made for you. It requires 2 AAA batteries to run and compatibility won’t be an issue.
The Xiaomi Action Camera is compact, easy to carry and does the job you’d expect it to do. The camera records 4K videos at 30fps and has a 6-axis electronic image stabilisation. This action camera from Xiaomi connects to your smartphone via WiFi or Bluetooth and can be controlled through the companion app. The camera takes in a maximum of 64GB microSD card. The camera is powered by a 1450 mAh battery which Xiaomi claims will last up to 4 hours on standby and has a 2.4 inch touchscreen display for in-camera navigation.
This bedside lamp connects to your phone via WiFi and Bluetooth for a fast access through the Mi Home app. You can choose different colours and intensity of the light depending on your preference. If you have a Mi Band, the lamp links with your Mi Band via the native app and automatically switches off when you fall asleep.
If you live away from your family and never get the time to clean your house, then the ILIFE Smart Robot cleaner is just the piece of tech you need! A full suite of Intelligent Sensors beneath the robot allow ILIFE robot cleaner to work its way around furniture and avoid stairs or other dangerous drop-offs.
Smartphones in today’s day and age have become accessible to everyone because of their cheap price tag without compromising a lot on features. A few years ago what was only available on a premium smartphone has now made its way into the ‘budget category’. As Xiaomi launched the Redmi Y1 at a starting price of Rs 8999, it entered that segment of the market which is already overflowing with different phones from different companies. Let’s stack up four of the best offerings, Redmi Y1, Moto G5, Lenovo K8 Plus and Micromax Infinity from this price range and see which one comes out on top:
Xiaomi Redmi Y1
The Xiaomi Redmi Y1 was launched in India as a part of a new lineup that focuses on selfies. The Redmi Y1 has a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with a 1280 x 720 px resolution. In a lot of ways, it is an updated variant of the Redmi 4, which is also priced at Rs 8999 with the same chipset and RAM/storage configuration.
Where the Xiaomi Redmi Y1 supposedly excels is the camera department and specifically, the front camera. On the front of the phone is a 16MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture. Xiaomi claims that the software processing and beautify mode will result “in your best selfie ever.” The rear-mounted 13MP camera with PDAF and LED flash.
Moto G5
Lenovo-owned Motorola launched the Moto G5 along with the Moto G5 Plus in India in February 2017. Even though in August, Moto G5s and Moto G5s Plus were launched as an incremental upgrade, the Moto G5 at a price of Rs 10500 is a great option. With stock Android OS, and a more than capable Snapdragon 425 chipset, the Moto G5 fits the bill for a lot of consumers.
For the Moto G5 as well, the camera has been the highlight. The Moto G5 has a 13MP f/2.0 camera with phase detect autofocus with a 5 MP front camera.
Micromax Infinity
A phone made for people who prefer design over everything else, the Micromax Infinity offers a display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The Micromax Infinity has a 5.7 inch IPS LCD display with a 1440 x 720 px display. Similar to the Moto G5, the Micromax Infinity also has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which can be expanded via microSD card.
It has a 16MP front camera and a 13MP rear camera with auto scene detection, bokeh effect, super pixel and panorama.
Lenovo K8 Plus
The Lenovo K8 Plus is the only phone in this list that has a dual-camera setup at the back. It has a 5.2 inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1080 px resolution. The Lenovo K8 Plus runs stock Android 7.1 Nougat and Lenovo has promised an update to Android 8.0 Oreo by early 2018.
The Lenovo K8 Plus sports a vertically placed dual-camera setup at the back. It has a primary 13MP Pure cell sensor mated with a 5MP Samsung BSI sensor dual camera with an f/2.0 aperture and dual LED flash. The smartphone is capable of depth effect shots, bokeh effect shots, and dual ISP images. On the front is an 8MP wide angle lens with an f/2.0 and an LED flash.
Xiaomi introduced a new lineup of smartphones in India which will focus on the ever-growing craze of selfies. The Redmi Y1 is the first smartphone launched in the lineup along with the Redmi Y1 Lite. Priced competitively, is the Redmi Y1 the new budget king?
HTC has launched the HTC U11 Life in two variants, one variant running Android 7.1 Nougat with Sense UI and an Android One variant running Android 8.0 Oreo. The HTC U11 Life is priced at US $349 (Rs 22500 approx.) for the unlocked version in the US. There is no official word on its availability in India as of now.
HTC has launched the HTC U11+ at a price of £699 (Rs 59800 approx.) in the UK. There is no official word on the phone’s availability in India as of now. There were multiple leaks leading up to the launch of the phone and most of them have turned out to be accurate. HTC U11+ will succeed the HTC U11 which was launched back in March 2017. Along with the HTC U11+, the HTC U11 Life was also launched, which is a mid-range device with design aesthetics similar to the HTC U11.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 3 was launched in China on the 11th of September at a starting price of CNY 2,899 (Rs. 28,300 approx.). The Mi Note 3 succeeds the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 which was launched in 2016 with a fair amount of upgrades.
Israeli company Corephotonics has filed a lawsuit against Apple for patent infringement. It looks like Apple can’t catch a break, as this case has emerged right after it won a US $120 million case against Samsung. Corephotonics, a maker of dual lens camera technology, claims that the cameras featured in the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus infringe on four of its patents.
Corephotonics was founded in 2012 by Dr. David Medlovic, a Tel Aviv University professor and former chief scientist in the Israeli government.
iPhone 7 Plus
Corephotonics claims in the lawsuit that it reached out to Apple “as one of its first acts as a company” to establish a strategic partnership. The exchanges with Apple continued for a some time but never resulted in a license agreement for Corephotonics’ dual lens technology. In the lawsuit, the company claims:
Apple’s lead negotiator expressed contempt for Corephotonics’ patents, telling Dr. Mendlovic and others that even if Apple infringed, it would take years and millions of dollars in litigation before Apple might have to pay something.
According to the lawsuit filed, Apple infinged four patents that Corephotonics filed between 2012 and 2015. Of the four, two patents were on mini telephoto lens assembly, one patent on dual aperture zoom digital cameras, and one on high resolution thin multi-aperture imaging systems, which is essentially an umbrella term that covers what dual lens cameras are.
The company claims that its dual aperture camera technology has two fixed-focal length lenses, including a wide angle and a telephoto lens, which is what Apple uses in its iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus.
In a bizarre turn of events, the Israeli company has roped in the consumers as well in this lawsuit. Corephotonics says since Apple is selling the phones with “knowledge of or wilful blindness” of the patents it’s allegedly infringing, the lawsuit claims that consumers who buy the iPhone 7 Plus and the iPhone 8 Plus are infringing on the Corephotonics’ telephoto lens assembly patent as well.
The lawsuit demands monetary compensation for the lawyers that Corephotonics has had to hire along with additional damages. It is also demanding that Apple stop using dual-aperture cameras immediately.
Xiaomi has launched its first ever selfie focussed Android phone lineup in India. The Redmi Y1 and the Redmi Y1 Lite are the first part of a new lineup of smartphones in India which will focus on selfies. Along with the new phone, Xiaomi also introduced MIUI 9 in India. Launched back in August in China, the MIUI 9 brings new features like split-screen and CPU acceleration and new themes.
After weeks of speculation and leaks, Razer has launched the Razer Phone during an event in London. Launched as a gamer’s phone, the Razer Phone has flagship phone specifications. Razer poked fun at the price of its Razer products and announced that the phone will be priced at US $699 and ship it to the US and EU from the 17th of November.
There is no official word on the availability of the Razer phone in other markets including India.
The latest version of Apple’s operating system for iPhones and iPads, iOS 11, has now been adopted by 52% users. The information was updated on Apple’s App Store support page for developers. The iOS 11 was released for all users on the 19th of September and has had its fair share of hiccups so far.
The adoption rate of iOS 11 at 52% is less than what it was for previous versions. Last year, Tim Cook, at the “Hello Again” Mac event on October 27th, 2016 announced that iOS 10 had reached 60% of devices, while iOS 9 had been adopted by 67% of devices by November 16th, 2015. This adoption rate is significantly higher than Google new OS version, Android 8.0 Oreo. Google’s developer portal estimates that about 0.2% of devices are running Android 8.0 Oreo as of 2nd of October.
iOS 11’s slow rate of popularity or acceptance can be due to the issues found in the new OS. There have been several bugs that have hampered the growth of iOS 11 and a lot of people have refrained from updating their devices to iOS 11. Users have complained that ever since they updated to iOS 11, they have had issues battery draining, UI jitteriness, and random force restart.
In a new bug reported, some users can’t type the letter “I.” Reddit user TheCravin documented the bug and said that Apple’s predictive keyboard feature suggests a random character like “A,” “#,” or “!” followed by the unicode symbol, and then automatically replaces the “I” unless the user takes corrective action.
After testing the 280-character limit with a few users, Twitter is officially rolling out the new character limit to all its users. The only exceptions will be for Twitter users in the Japanese, Korean, and Chinese languages, who can convey as much as double the amount of information in their tweets compared to characters in English and other languages.
This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is madness ! This is me
In a blog post announcing the new official character limit, Aliza Rosen, Product Manager said:
During the first few days of the test many people Tweeted the full 280 limit because it was new and novel, but soon after behaviour normalised. We saw when people needed to use more than 140 characters, they Tweeted more easily and more often.
But importantly, people Tweeted below 140 most of the time and the brevity of Twitter remained.
The 280-character limit is still rolling out in phases and if your tweets are still limited to 140 characters, then fret not.
Back in 2016, Twitter chief Jack Dorsey was asked about the 140-character limit and its future, and he replied with a firm “It’s staying.” When Twitter had announced the test phase of the 280-character limit, Aliza Rosen, Product Manager in a blog post wrote:
We want every person around the world to easily express themselves on Twitter, so we’re doing something new: we’re going to try out a longer limit, 280 characters, in languages impacted by cramming (which is all except Japanese, Chinese, and Korean).
In the same post, she continued, “Also, in all markets, when people don’t have to cram their thoughts into 140 characters and actually have some to spare, we see more people Tweeting – which is awesome!” This made it evident that Twitter was willing to reach out to more people by giving the iconic 140-character limit, something that was quintessential to Twitter’s growthfar and has been a part of the company’s identity since the very beginning.
Google has rolled out an update to the Google Assistant which enables the AI assistant to recognise songs. One of the more popular features introduced in the Pixel 2 phones is ‘Now Playing‘, wherein the Pixel2 can recognise songs playing and pull up links to buy or stream them. The catch here is that while Pixel 2 doesn’t use the internet to search for songs, the Google Assistant needs the internet to recognise the song and pull up results.
This feature will come in handy more than you think. If you are always reaching into your pocket and struggling to open Shazam just in time for it to catch the song and show a result, this feature can be priceless.
If you enter a cafe and want to know what song is playing, simply open up Google Assistant and ask ‘what song is this’. Depending on how fast your internet connection is, Assistant will pull up a card for you with the name of the song, the artist, lyrics, and YouTube, Google Play Music, and Spotify (not available in India) streaming links. If Google Assistant has voice set as the preferred input method and you’re in a loud environment, you will see a new “What’s this song?” chip as the first suggestion in the carousel.
The Google Pixel 2 was launched after the iPhone X but, thanks to it being available before the iPhone X the phone was put through its paces all over the internet. DXOmark is a portal that rates the camera of a smartphone on different parameters and the Google Pixel 2 came out to be the highest rated smartphone ever. The recently launched iPhone X was tested by DXOmark and was given an overall rating of 97, which is onepoint less than the Pixel 2.
In its summary, DXOmark said:
With a Photo score of 101, the Apple iPhone X achieves the best results so far for still images, edging out the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the previous joint leaders in the Photo ranking, by one point.
Its overall score of 97 puts the iPhone X into joint second place with the Huawei Mate 10 in the current DxOMark Mobile overall rankings, just behind the Google Pixel 2 with 98 points.
It is interesting to note here that despite clicking the best still images, the iPhone X falls short of the overall score of the Pixel 2 because of its video recording capabilities. The iPhone X is the only smartphone that records 3840 x 2160 px videos at 60fps.
For video, the X doesn’t quite rise to the same high-water mark, achieving a video sub-score of 89 points.
Photos are an extremely subjective aspect of smartphones, just like sound hence, scores by DXOmark can mean everything or absolutely nothing to a consumer. Still, having the second best smartphone camera in the world is no mean feat.
The iPhone X has dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, and it’s equipped with dual optical image stabilisation. The sensors are both larger and faster, according to Apple, and the main camera is equipped with a wide angle lens and has an f/1.8 aperture while the secondary telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture. In between the two cameras is a quad-LED True Tone flash. Both the front and back cameras have the portrait mode. The rear cameras have the portrait lighting feature, just like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus.
Would you prefer the Google Pixel 2 over the iPhoneX on the sole basis of their DXOmark scores? Let us know in the comments below.
The highly anticipated Apple iPhone X is now available to the consumers and has received great early reviews. it may not have broken the Pixel 2’s record on DXOmark, but, its display appears to be doing great. According to a report by DisplayMate, the 5.8 inch OLED Super Retina display of the iPhone X is the “most colour accurate” display.
The report was presented by DisplayMate President, Dr. Raymond M. Soneira and claims that the iPhone X display has “close to textbook perfect calibration and performance” through a built-in automatic colour management system. The system switches to a relevant colour gamut on the basis of the image displayed within the Wide DCI-P3 Colour Space that has an ICC Profile. This process helps in rendering correct colours, neither over-saturated nor under-saturated, the report mentions.
The display of the iPhone X is reported to have the highest brightness for OLED smartphones at 634 nits. This is higher than the 560-nit brightness of the Samsung Galaxy Note8. Similarly, the iPhone X has a Super Dim Setting that can drop down the display brightness to as down as two nits. The image contrast of the iPhone X was found to be “slightly too high”.
However, the viewing-angle performance of its display is apparently better than any mobile display, monitor, TV or UHD TV that are available in the market right now. The OLED panel on the iPhone X displays 22% decrease in brightness, this is less than the 30% that traditional OLED panels display.
DisplayMate also mentions the highly discussed ‘notch’ at the top of the display. The notch, which houses the TrueDepth cameras for FaceID and ‘portrait mode’ selfies has a negligible presence on the front, taking up to 2% of the total screen area.
