Author: Vivek Umashankar

Apple Might Launch An Entry-Level MacBook In 2018

Recently, there has been a lot of demand for compact notebooks. Apple appears to be preparing to cash in on this demand by launching an affordable MacBook. A report suggests that Apple might launch a new MacBook in Q2 of 2018. This will be a successor of the 12 inch model that was updated in 2017. The device is expected to be priced similarly to the entry-level Air model or slightly higher than that.

The new Macbook is expected to go into mass production from June. These notebooks will be manufactured by two assembly chains. Quantum Computers have said to fulfil 70 percent orders and Foxconn will fulfil rest. Apple is aiming at 6 million device shipments. However, the actual volume is expected to reach 2/3rd of the target.

12 inch MacBook

The displays for the new notebook will be sourced from LG, as there is an issue with the Chinese supplier. The notebook will have a 13.3-inch display with a native 2560 x 1600 px resolution, similar to the current MacBook Pro lineup. Similarly, the upstream supply chain for the production of 2018 iPad Pro, and an inexpensive iPad 2018 have already begun. Also, the company is expected to launch the inexpensive iPad in Q2 of 2018 and the iPad Pro in the second half of 2018.

Expected features of Apple MacBook 2018

As mentioned, the notebook will have a 13.3 inch display with 2560 x 1600 px resolution. Under the hood, the notebook will have Intel’s latest Core M series chipset with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. Similarly, the notebook will have a similar form factor as of the original iteration with a butterfly mechanism keypad.

The notebook might also feature Touch ID for the authentification. However, we do not expect the notebook to have Touch Bar.

March 12, 2018
Google Might Rebrand Android Wear To Wear OS

Android Wear has long fought a losing battle against Apple’s Watch OS. Smartwatches are the most predominant variant of wearable smart devices and it seems like Google just can’t crack the code. In a bid to reignite the interest and anticipation around Android Wear, the company might be willing to change things up a bit. Google is planning to re-instate Android Wear under a new moniker called, “Wear OS”. In fact, the name resembles Apple’s “Watch OS“, which powers the Apple Watch.

A new screenshot from a Reddit page clearly mentions the name “Wear OS” with a new logo, similar to the Google Assistance. This change was spotted in the Google Play Services Beta 1.25 with the “Nearby” feature.

According to statistics, Android Wear OS holds 18% share in the smartwatch market while Apple dominates with more than 50% of the share. It is also worth noting that even Qualcomm has stopped working on chipsets that power smartwatches. In fact, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 2100 was the last Android Wear chipset, which was announced in April 2017.

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple has created a complete ecosystem, that works seamlessly with the Apple Watch, iPhone, and Mac. However, Google has failed to replicate that user experience of the smartwatch across the devices. However, Google and Android Wear has failed to replicate the same ease of use and fluidity across its devices. The Wear OS is expected to offer seamless integration with a new user interface.

Expected Debut of Wear OS

Google is expected to announce the Wear OS along with Android P at I/O 2018. Similarly, the company is expected to launch Google Pixel Watch along with the Pixel 3 smartphones in late 2018.

March 12, 2018
Nokia 9 Might Have An iPhone X Like Notch And In-Screen Fingerprint Sensor

The Apple iPhone X introduced a new design language to the iPhone lineup. After three generations of very similar looking devices, the iPhone X represented what the future of iPhones would be. And that future includes a notch on the display. Panned at first and appreciated later, the notch on the iPhone X has gained quite the status since September 2017. So much so that the Mobile World Congress 2018 saw plenty of iPhone X clones being unveiled.

Even Google introduced support for a notch in the first developer preview of Android P. This means that the notch is here to stay and Google wants as many apps as possible to be acclimatised with the new aspect ratio. A new report claims that Nokia, too, will launch the Nokia 9 with a notch on top. Apart from that, it might have an in-display fingerprint sensor as well.

Essential Ph-1

The Essential Ph-1, although was the first Android device with a notch, did not really turn heads like the iPhone X did. With companies like Huawei expected to launch their new smartphones with a notch, it looks like Apple’s design decision will shape the industry’s design language as a whole.

Expected Specifications of Nokia 9

Similar to the Nokia 8 Sirocco, the Nokia 9 will have an OLED QHD+ display. An OLED display is a pre-requisite for Clear ID. Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with a custom CPU for AI. The device will have premium glass design with support for wireless charging.

Zeiss optics will, in all probability, co-engineer the cameras for the Nokia 9. However, recent reports claim that it might have a Penta-lens setup which will house both the wide angle and telephoto lens.

March 12, 2018
Android 8.1 Oreo Now Available For OnePlus 5/5T Via Open Beta

When it comes to incremental Android OS upgrades, most of the OEM’s tend to neglect them. However, OnePlus is known for updating its smartphones with the latest OS, at least its new smartphones. The OEM has a track record of pushing incremental updates, and the company continues to do the same.

OnePlus has released the Oxygen OS Open Beta 4 build for the OnePlus 5 and 5T based on Android 8.1 Oreo. Users can install the update by downloading the file from the OnePlus official website. The update weighs at about 1.6GB and the first time Beta testers have to manually download and flash the update. However, if you are already on a Beta build, then the device will receive an OTA update.

Release notes

The update adds new gesture-based auto call pickup by raising the smartphone. Similarly, the company has added more clock styles for the ambient display. The update also optimises full-screen gesture support (only for OnePlus 5T) with updating the device to latest February security patch.

The update introduces a new feature called “Gaming Mode”, which enables immersive gaming experience including power saving and pausing adaptive brightness. The OnePlus switch feature helps to migrate application data, allowing you to switch between devices seamlessly.

March 12, 2018
Possible Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s Spotted On Geekbench
Xiaomi confirmed that the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s will be launched in China on March 27th. Subsequently, the company has also teased about some of its features and specifications in the past few days. The device will support wireless charging. Also, the device will have AI-powered dual camera setup. Similarly, a new batch of live images has been leaked, which tells a different tale from what we have heard until now.

As per the newly leaked images, the device has a display similar to the Mi MIX 2, with a front-facing camera located on the bottom left corner. However, this goes against most of the leaks, which predicted a completely bezel-less design. Interestingly, the dual-camera setup is similar to the one found on Redmi Note 5 Pro.

Similarly, an unknown Xiaomi smartphone was also listed on Geekbench with the code name Xiaomi Dipper. The Xiaomi Dipper has 6GB RAM and powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset. The device scored 2449 points on single-core and 8309 on multi-core performance. Since Xiaomi has already confirmed the presence of the Snapdragon 845 chipset, chances are that this could be it.

Source: Geekbench

Specifications of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080p display with a notch at the top right corner. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, the smartphone will not support memory expansion.

The device will have an AI-powered dual camera setup. However, the dual camera implementation is yet to be known.

The device is expected to have a 3400 mAH Li-ion battery with wireless and fast charging. The phone will run on Android 8 Oreo OS with custom MIUI 9 skin on the top. However, none of the Xiaomi devices, barring the Mi A1, run on Android 8 Oreo as of now.
- 6 inch 18:9 aspect ratio display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset
- 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB Storage
- AI-powered primary camera setup
March 12, 2018
Huawei Y9 2018 Officially Launched
Huawei officially launched the Huawei Y9 2018 in Thailand. The Huawei Y9 2018 is a slightly redesigned version of the Honor 7x with a dual front-facing camera. However, the company is yet brief the pricing and availability of the Huawei Y9 2018.

Specifications

The smartphone has a 5.93 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display with 18:9 aspect ratio. The device will be powered by Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

The phone has a rear dual camera setup with a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary depth sensor. Similarly, the phone has a dual front-facing camera with a 16MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor, which helps to capture depth effect. In fact, the primary camera setup is similar to the Honor 7x and the front-facing camera setup is similar to the Honor 9 Lite.

The device will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI on the top with face unlock. The device still has a micro USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The volume rockers and power button are on left side and the SIM tray is on the right side. The smartphone packs in a 4000 mAh battery, which is the largest that we have seen in the recent Huawei/Honor smartphones.

Summary:
- 5.93 inch FHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio
- Kirin 659 Octa-core Chipset
- Dual primary camera setup
- Dual front-facing camera
- Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI skin
March 12, 2018
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Vs Redmi Note 5: A Real Upgrade?

Xiaomi India claimed that the Redmi Note 4 was the number one budget-centric smartphone in 2017. The device had almost everything that a user can ask for in a smartphone in that budget. However, by the end of 2017 things changed. Users were looking for a smartphone with features like bezel-less display and dual cameras, and the Redmi Note 4 had none of those.

Xiaomi recently launched the Redmi Note 5, the successor to the Redmi Note 4. Is this the smartphone that users were anticipating from the brand? Is a rebranded Redmi 5 Plus a worthy upgrade over the Redmi Note 4?

Display

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has a 5.5 inch 1920 x 108px IPS LCD display with prominent bezels. The display is vivid and has great viewing angles. However, it has big bezels and looks dated for today’s standards. However, the Redmi Note 5 has a 5.99 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080px IPS LCD display. Colours and contrast have been improved over the Redmi Note 4. Finally, the Redmi Note 5 opts for “Full Display” design with a taller 18:9 aspect ratio.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

Under The Hood

The Redmi Note 4 and Note 5 are powered by the Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset. The chipset is based on the 14 nm FinFET architecture with great thermal efficiency and battery life. So, both the devices will offer similar user experience as they use an identical chipset. So, you will not feel a difference in terms of performance.

Design

Except for the display, the smartphones have an identical metal unibody design. However, the design feels old-fashioned in front other smartphones like the Honor 9 Lite.

Left: Redmi Note 4 Right: Redmi Note 5

Camera

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has a 13MP primary camera and the Note 5 has a 12MP primary camera. Though the number of pixels has been decreased, the 1.25-micron pixel size on the Note 5 helps the device to take better photos. Similarly, the Redmi Note 5 also excels in video department with 4K @30fps video recording capability, as the Note 4 maxes out at 1080 @30fps. For the front-facing camera, these phones use an identical 5MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture.

Battery

The Redmi Note 5 has a 4000 mAh battery and the Redmi Note 4 has a slightly bigger 4100 mAh battery. However, the Note 5 does support Quick Charge 2.0 and the Note 4 doesn’t.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

Conclusion:

If you have a Redmi Note 4 and happy with the performance but not happy with the display and the camera, then go with the Redmi Note 5. However, if you are not happy with the performance and camera, then better skip the Redmi Note 5, as there are no differences. Similarly, consider the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, which offers better performance with a much better dual camera setup and a front-facing camera with face unlock. It is also powered by the Snapdragon 636 chipset.

March 10, 2018
Huawei P20 Lite Live Images Leaked

Huawei is all set to launch the Huawei P20 Pro, P20, and the P20 Lite on the 27th of March. After skipping a major mobile launch at MWC 2018, the company has been promoting its launch event that will take place in Paris.

After a few leaked renders, a new set of live images have surfaced online of the P20 Lite. The Huawei P20 Lite is expected to be the most affordable one of the three smartphones.

The leaked photo shows the back-side of the upcoming Huawei P20 Lite in Orchid Blue colour. Similarly, the smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a rear-facing fingerprint sensor with a blurred IMEI information. In fact, this is the only P20 model, which has a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.

Specifications of Huawei P20 Lite

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Under the hood, it will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 chipset along with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. However, as this is a Lite edition, we expect the company to go with a Kirin 600 series chipset, instead of Kirin 970.

While the smartphone will be thin, it is expected to house a big battery that will support SuperCharge. The Huawei P20 Lite is expected to have a 16 MP + 2 MP primary camera setup and a 16 MP front-facing camera.

March 10, 2018
Bose Announces The World’s First Audio-Based Bose AR Glasses

Virtual and Augmented Reality are expected to be the next big thing in the tech industry. In fact, over the past few years, the technology has grown tenfolds. Using these technologies, companies are coming up with products, which completely change the way we interact with our surroundings.

Bose, a well-known audio technology company, has announced a new platform called Bose AR. The idea is to focus on what you hear, rather than what you see. This is similar to Intel’s smart glasses. However, unlike Intel’s visual-based AR, Bose uses sound as the AR element.

What is Bose AR?

Most of the AR-based platform is built on visual elements. However, the Bose AR is a platform which uses sound as the AR medium. Bose demonstrated this platform on a pair of sunglasses. In fact, the Bose AR technology can be implemented into headphones, eyeglasses and helmets with ease.

The company tells that, the glasses will be useful for people who travel a lot. The technology can provide proper information on a place like the Eiffel Tower or a crowded market in London. Similarly, in day to day life, the glasses can come up with basic information like weather details, reading signboards or even translating a food menu.

The Bose AR SDK is now available for the developers. Similarly, the company has fixed a grant of US$ 50 Millions for start-ups.

March 10, 2018
Convert Your Dumb TV Into A Smart TV Using These Accessories

Xiaomi recently launched the Mi Smart TV 4 and 4A in India at very competitive pricing. These televisions are powered Android operating system with support for Wi-Fi. The USP of these TV is the “Smart TV” status, which differentiates them from the competition.

People, those who bought a new TV without the smart features might feel sad about their decision after Xiaomi smart TV launch. However, worry not, as you have three ways to convert your normal television into a smart television in less than Rs 5000.

To convert your standard television into a smart television, just plug-in the device and go through the on-screen setup process.

However, it is worth noting that your TV should have an HDMI port and a high-speed Wi-Fi connection.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Amazon Fire TV Stick is available on Amazon for Rs 3,999. The device has received a massive response for its compact form factor and easy UI. One needs to have Amazon account and to access the contents of Amazon Prime Music and Prime Video. Similarly, the device comes with a pre-installed browser, which can be used to access the internet. The retail package also includes a remote, which can be used for the UI navigation. The device comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, which can stream content up to 1080p.

Google Chromecast 2

Google Chromecast 2 works in a similar fashion with additional advantages. The device is priced at Rs 3,399 on Flipkart, which is a bit cheaper than the Amazon’s offering. One can connect their smartphone or laptop to the same network and can stream anything from games to movies. As this is developed by Google, the app support is also quite extensive. However, the retail package does not include a dedicated remote, as any smartphone can be used as a remote.

Xiaomi Mi TV Box

The Xiaomi Mi Tv Box is currently available on GearBest for US$ 67.5 (Rs 4387). Do note that, the shipping charges are also included in the price. The device runs on custom Android OS with 2GB RAM and 8GB Storage. This has an advantage over the other two devices, as the Xiaomi Mi TV Box can stream content up to 4K resolution. The device also has an additional USB port, which can read most of the video formats.

Buy the Mi TV Box here

March 10, 2018
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro Gets iPhone X Like Gestures For Navigation
The Apple iPhone X has a display with 19.5:9 aspect ratio with almost no chin, which eliminates the space for a home button. So, the company introduced gesture-based navigation, which replaces the home button.

Similarly, Xiaomi has also started testing the gesture-based UI on its “Full-Screen” devices. The list of compatible devices includes the Xiaomi Mi MIX, MIX 2, Redmi Note 5 Pro, and the Redmi Note 5. Similarly, OnePlus is also testing gesture-based navigation for the OnePlus 5T on an open beta ROM.

Xiaomi introduced the gesture-based navigation system in the Mi MIX 2 initially. This comes after Apple introduced similar gestures in the iPhone X. With devices moving toward an all-screen and no bezel design, gestures could be the future. While the transition for iPhone users from the home button to gestures was organic, same can’t be said for Android users.

iOS used gestures before the introduction of the iPhone X as well. Swiping from left to right on the screen to go back in an app was one of them. However, Android has always used three buttons for navigation. Hence, the transition could be a bit more cumbersome. That being said, we expect more smartphone makers to introduce gestures within their UI as time goes by.

It is worth noting that one has to install Global MIUI 9.5 Beta ROM to test out the feature on this smartphone. Similarly, as this is a beta ROM, we do not recommend installing this on a daily driver. To enable gesture control, go to Settings, full-screen display, select full-screen gestures. Go through the tutorial ones to understand basic commands.

Basic Gestures
- Swipe from the middle bottom to go Home from anywhere
- Swipe and hold from the middle to open multi-tasking tray
- To go back swipe from the left edge
March 10, 2018
Fortnite Battle Royale Launching On Mobile Platform
Fortnite Battle Royale, a popular cross-platform game by Epic Games is soon coming to the mobile platform. The company is planning to roll out the title to popular Android and iOS devices.

The Fortnite Battle Royale is already available on different platforms like Play Station, Windows OS, and macOS. By launching the game on iOS and Android, the company is planning for the cross-platform gameplay across the devices.

Epic Games has stated that the gameplay will be identical. In fact, they have mentioned that the 100-player game will have same maps, content, and weekly updates.

iOS users can sign up on the 12th of March for the launch event and the invites will start rolling out at midnight of the same day. Users will receive an e-mail, with an URL to download the game from App store. As the game is in a testing period, everyone may not receive the invite and the company has promised to add more users in the coming days. However, Android OS users have to wait a few more months.

Requirements for Joining invite list
- Active internet connection
- Apple iPhone SE/6S or newer model running on iOS 11
- Apple iPad Mini, iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, and, iPad 2017
March 10, 2018
Motorola’s Virtual Reality Headset MotoMod Leaked

Motorola and its high-end Moto Z series are known for their modularity. The Moto Z smartphones are compatible with all the MotoMods that the company has launched. The Mods attach to the back of the smartphones like a lego to add extra functionality. Mods like a JBL speaker, Hasselblad camera Mod also comes with their own battery. In fact, these Moto Mods works fine with both the generations of Moto Z devices.

Virtual Viewer MotoMod

An upcoming MotoMod, which is similar to the Google Day Dream VR headset has been leaked online. This could be the first VR centric mod from the company. However, things are not very clear and there is no information on the specifications.

The round camera cut-out is similar to the one that we have seen in all of the MotoMods. The Mod has an opening on the right and the left side, which should help for the sliding mechanism. The camera cut-out might hint towards the AR capabilities of the Mod. However, the leak does not suggest anything about its functions, capabilities, or even the pricing.

A recent report has claimed that Motorola will only focus on mods that are profitable. This means that niche mods like the gamepad or Polaroid camera might be scraped off. However, virtual reality has recently picked up the pace which means that the Moto Virtual Viewer makes sense for the company. There is a lot of VR content available now. However, the pricing will be key to the success of this MotoMod.

March 10, 2018
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Will Be An Amazon Exclusive Smartphone

Xiaomi will launch the Redmi 5 in India on the 14th of March. Similarly, the company has announced that the Redmi 5 will available exclusively on Amazon. This is an expected move from Xiaomi to please Amazon customers, as the Note 5 series is exclusive to Flipkart.

The company started teasing the device on the day of the Mi TV 4A launch, where the device appeared at the end of the launch event. The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is expected to be priced at Rs 6,999 for the 2GB RAM variant and Rs 8,999 for the 3GB RAM variant. However, we might also see a 4GB RAM model similar to the Xiaomi Redmi 4.

Specifications of Xiaomi Redmi 5

The Xiaomi Redmi 5 has a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 px display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, the bezels are still very visible, especially in the Gold colour variant.

Under the hood, the Redmi 5 has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chipset, a 1.8GHz octa-core processor, Adreno 506 GPU, 2GB, 3GB or 4GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card. In fact, the Snapdragon 450 is an underclocked Snapdragon 625 chipset, which is used in the Note 5.

Are you a fan of multitasking too? Stay tuned to know what's coming your way. #CompactPowerhouse pic.twitter.com/7KjWaEyZif

— Redmi India (@RedmiIndia) March 9, 2018

There is a fingerprint sensor placed at the back of the phone just below the camera. However, that is mainly a signature Xiaomi decision and not due to the lack of bezels on the front. Powering the device is a 3300 mAh battery which, Xioami claims has a standby time of up to 12 days. The battery is charged via a micro USB slot which means no fast charging. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack placed next to the charging port as well.

The Redmi 5 has a 12MP camera at the back with 1.25-micron pixel size. The camera surprisingly only records 1080P videos at 30fps. To the front of the device is a 5MP camera with Beautify 3.0, which is Xiaomi’s software for enhanced selfies.

March 10, 2018
Xiaomi Teases Wireless Charging On Mi MIX 2S

Xiaomi will launch the Mi MIX 2S in China on the 27th of March. The company has been teasing different features of the device leading up to the launch. In fact, Xiaomi has already confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. Also that the device will have AI-powered dual camera setup.

The company has now released a new teaser, which confirms that the Mi MIX 2s will support wireless charging. The teaser image has a thunder logo that resembles Qualcomm Quick Charging and says “Not Just” with a pad at the bottom. Similarly, the pad resembles a wireless charger. This is worth noting that the Mi MIX 2s will be the first Xiaomi smartphone to support wireless charging.

Expected Specifications of Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s

The smartphone is expected to have a 6 inch 2160 x 1080p display with a notch at the top right corner. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. However, the smartphone will not support memory expansion.

The device will have an AI-powered dual camera setup. However, the dual camera implementation is yet to be known.

The device is expected to have a 3400 mAH Li-ion battery with wireless and fast charging. The phone will run on Android 8 Oreo OS with custom MIUI 9 skin on the top. However, none of the Xiaomi devices, barring the Mi A1, run on Android 8 Oreo as of now.

March 9, 2018