Author: Vivek Umashankar

Xiaomi’s Gaming Smartphone BlackShark Listed Online

A lot of smartphone makers are working on gaming-centric smartphones. A few months ago, he Razer Phone was launched, and there are rumours of Asus working on one as well. The latest entrant into the gaming-centric smartphones segment appears to Xiaomi. As per a leak, the company might launch a gaming-centric smartphone called BlackShark.

Xiaomi is known for budget and affordable flagship smartphones. However, it will be interesting to see if the company will retain the pricing strategy for this device as well.

The teaser image from the website doesn’t say much, but, it indicates the dual stereo speakers at the bottom with a USB type C port. In fact, the design of the phone does not look anything similar to any of the Xiaomi smartphones. The company might have gone for a complete redesign of its new device.

Razer Phone

The features of Xiaomi BlackShark are expected to match with the features of the Razer Phone, which offered top of the line specifications with gaming-centric features like the dual stereo speaker, 120Hz refresh rate, and the Snapdragon 835.

Specifications of Xiaomi BlackShark:

The Xiaomi BlackShark is expected to have a 6 inch display with 2160 x 1080p resolution. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset with 8 GB RAM and 32 GB storage. However, the company is expected to Xiaomi BlackShark with either 64GB or 128GB storage.

The BlackShark might offer a full metal unibody design with dual stereo speakers at the bottom. Out of the box, the smartphone will run on Android 8.0 Oreo. However, it might feature either MIUI or stock Android. As this is a gaming smartphone, it comes with one of a kind aviation class cooling system with additional tweaks. The smartphone scores an impressive 270680 points on Antutu, in fact, it is more than that of the Galaxy S9’s 265267 points.

Mi Mix 2

Conclusion:

Going by the company’s pricing strategy, the Xiaomi BlackShark should be priced competitively. However, the company might not launch this smartphone at MWC 2018, instead, it might have a separate launch event in China sometime later in 2018. Therefore, if true, the Mi BlackShark will surely give the Razer Phone and Razer Phone 2 a run for its money.

February 21, 2018
Sony Teases Xperia XZ2 Pro Launch With A Cryptic Video

Sony is expected to launch a couple of smartphones at MWC 2018. The launch is significant in more than one way. Apart from the flagship devices on display, the company will also finally move on to an 18:9 aspect ratio. However, the company is in no rush to give anything away before the launch event. Hence, Sony’s social media team decided to post a cryptic video on Twitter to announce the launch event.

The video shows a hand with Sony’s iconic wallpaper in front of a grey background. It doesn’t seem necessary to delve too deep into the video. However, the decision to put up a cryptic video is very interesting. There is a lot of speculation around the Sony devices launching at MWC 2018. Hence, the company’s admission to a launch event that too with a minimalistic video appears to be a smart choice. It has certainly made people talk about the Sony devices again.

The smartphone maker is known to launch new smartphones at MWC every year. This year, the company might launch the Xperia Xz2 Pro and the Xperia Xz2 Compact. These devices are expected to offer newer design language called as “Plate + Human”.

Join us. 26.02.2018 #SonyMWC pic.twitter.com/n6IQ82XRVZ

— Sony | Xperia (@sonyxperia) February 19, 2018

Sony Xperia Xz2 Pro:

The Sony Xperia Xz2 Pro is expected to have a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display with dual front-facing stereo speakers. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Oct-core chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. However, this could be untrue and the company could launch the XZ2 Pro with a Snapdragon 835 chipset. Although not public, there is a possibility of Samsung having early access to Snapdragon 845 chipsets.

Hence, the launch of the Xiaomi Mi 7 has also been pushed to later. Since the company confirmed that the Mi 7 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset.

This might be the first Sony smartphone to feature dual camera at the back with a 16 MP + 13 MP camera setup. There will be a 12 MP front-facing camera at the front.

Sony Xperia Xz2 Compact:

The Xperia Xz2 Compact might have a 5 inch display with a 2160 x 1080 px resolution. Just like the Xperia XZ2 Pro, it could either be powered by the Snapdragon 845 or 835 chipset. The Xperia Xz2 Compact might feature thin bezels along with an 18:9 aspect ratio display.

The Xperia Xz2 Compact is expected to run on Android 8.1 Oreo with Sony’s Xperia Interface. As of now, there are no other details about the Xperia Xz2 Compact.

Conclusion:

Sony has been known for its premium smartphone. The smartphones are known to have a plenty of features like flagship grade display, premium camera, and even IP certification for water and dust resistance.

With the new Xperia Xz2 series, finally, the company might refresh its blocky slab design with an interesting curvier design.

February 20, 2018
Nokia 1 Gets FCC Certification Ahead Of MWC 2018 Launch

FCC listing reveals a new Nokia smartphone with model number TA-1071. As per the details, the listed device is likely to be the upcoming Nokia 1, which was leaked last week along with the Nokia 7 Plus. With MWC 2018 around the corner, the certification might just have confirmed the launch of the Nokia 1.

The Nokia 1 could be the most affordable Android smartphone to date from HMD Global. Considering the price of the Nokia 2, it could be priced at under US$ 100. As per the listing, the Nokia 1 has an overall size of 5.35-inch body, which might house a 5.0-inch or a smaller display. The smartphone will have prominent bezels with a 16:9 aspect ratio screen.

The Nokia 7 Plus is also expected to be launched at MWC 2018. It will, however, be a more premium offering than the Nokia 1. The Nokia 7 Plus is expected to offer a 6-inch display with the bezel-less design. It is likely to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC with at least 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. In terms of camera capability, the smartphone might have a dual camera setup on the back with Zeiss optics.

Nokia 7 Plus Renders Courtesy @evleaks

Features:

The Nokia 1 will be powered by an entry-level Qualcomm SoC with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. Similarly, the smartphone is expected feature single cameras on both the sides of the device.

The device is expected to feature dual SIM card slots with 4G LTE and Volte support. Additional connectivity features like Bluetooth 4.0, Wifi, Wifi Hotspot are also supported out of the box. The smartphone will run on customised Android Oreo Go OS, based on Android Oreo 8.1 for the entry-level smartphones.

Conclusion:

HMD Global has already confirmed its presence at MWC 2018. However, there are no official words about any products. If everything goes well, then HMD Global might launch Nokia 1, Nokia 4, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 9, and Nokia 10.

February 20, 2018
Nokia 9 Case Renders Leaked Ahead Of Possible MWC 2018 Launch

HMD Global will be announcing quite a few smartphones at MWC 2018. While there have been doubts over the presence of Nokia 9 at the event, recent leaks might differ. New case renders of the Nokia 9 reveal an 18:9 aspect ratio and curved edges. If true, the Nokia 9 could be one of the best looking Nokia devices from the recent past.

Early Nokia 9 Renders

The Nokia 9 will be the successor of Nokia 8, which was the company’s first Android flagship smartphone. At present, the Nokia 8 is available in India at a price of Rs. 28999 after a heavy price cut.

Nokia 9 specifications:

As per the recent FCC filings, the smartphone is expected to feature 5.5-inch OLED display, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC with 128GB storage.

The listing also reveals that, the phone packs in a dual 13 MP + 12 MP camera setup at the back with a 5 MP front-facing camera.

Since FCC listing doesn’t always deliver accurate specifications, the Nokia 9 might debut with Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 since the Nokia 8 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.

Via: Gearbest

Nokia 9 design:

As per the renders, the Nokia 9 features a taller 18:9 aspect ratio display curved on both sides. The smartphone might use a premium OLED display sourced from Samsung with QHD+ resolution. On the rear, the phone once again has a glass panel, which might support wireless charging.

The dual cameras do have a noticeable bump, which might be due to OIS implementation. The fingerprint scanner is located just below the camera, as the front has very narrow bezels. The curve on the front as well as on the back looks similar to that of the Samsung Galaxy S8, which offers incredible in-hand feel.

The bottom portion houses a USB type C port, main microphone and a speaker. The render doesn’t show 3.5 mm headphone jack, which means the device might not have one as well. The volume and power buttons are located at the right side of the smartphone.

The smartphone was expected to feature a dual front-facing camera. However, none of the renders confirms or corroborate that information.

February 20, 2018
This Is What The Apple AR Glasses Might Look Like

A Dutch-based designer has come up with a concept render for the Apple AR Glasses. The concept images are very realistic, which showcases the aesthetics and the function of the glass. Unlike the Google Glass, Apple AR Glasses looks like regular sunglasses with Apple logo on both sides of the frame.

Google was the first company to release a pair smart glasses. However, owing to its unusual appearance and intrusive features, it failed to take off. Intel recently came up with a concept called Vaunt, which uses retinal projection technology to project an image directly on your eyeball. One of the main features of the Vaunt is how simple they look. Unlike the Google Glass, it will be hard to notice these smart glasses in a crowd. Also, they aren’t as intrusive either, since there are no cameras to secretly record footage.

Intel’s new smart Vaunt Glasses. Image courtesy: Verge

Even Snapchat came with Spectacles, which comes with a dedicated camera to record videos. The Snapchat Spectacles also have a glowing LED ring, which notifies that the user is recording a video.

If Apple does launch the Apple AR Glasses, it has to be minimalistic. The glasses cannot have an in your face design, like the Google Glass. The renders reveal that the Apple AR Glasses will look close to regular spectacles. If the design is anywhere near the final product, the Apple AR Glasses could be a success.

Features of Apple AR Glasses:

According to Martin, the Apple AR Glasses uses a micro-projected to project the images on the lens. So, the Apple AR Glasses user will be able to see real-world information and the smart information from glass simultaneously.

These glasses will be based on Augmented reality, rather than the virtual reality. With the help of smart glasses, the user will be able to check phones battery percentage, network reception and notifications with a blink of an eye. Like Apple Watch, the Apple AR Glasseses are expected to support wireless charging using Qi-wireless compatibility.

The glass frame is expected to feature sensors like camera, GPS, and light sensor. There will be complete Siri integration with all the functionality. The Glasses are also expected to feature dual speakers, which can transfer the sound to the user directly.

These Glasses will be powered by Apple’s rOS, which will be based on iOS, with a battery efficient chipset. The rOS stands for reality operating system, focused on AR capabilities.

GBH Insights analyst said:

While this has been a late entrant from an AR/VR perspective, we believe Apple AR Glasses will be the next step in the wearable category for Apple.

Conclusion:

So far, there have only been rumours about this. Some reports claim that the Apple AR Glasses might start shipping as early as 2020.

February 20, 2018
Xperia XZ2 Compact Prototype Leaked Before MWC 2018 Launch

Sony will be launching a couple of new devices at MWC 2018. The Xperia XZ2 is expected to be the first Sony smartphone with an 18:9 aspect ratio. ALong with the Galaxy S9 devices and Mi Mix 2S, it will also run on the Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, it’s smaller sibling, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is expected to maintain the 16:9 aspect ratio. Recently, a prototype of the Xperia XZ2 Compact showed up online with an interesting design.

Someone named Grisha left a comment on an Xperia Blog with the image of the upcoming device. In the image, the Xperia XZ2 Compact is placed next to the Xperia X5 Compact. Although the image is taken from a side angle, it reveals that even the Xperia XZ2 Compact will have a new design, despite the 16:9 aspect ratio.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact featured a 4.6-inch IPS LCD display. Under the hood, the smartphone was powered by Snapdragon 810 SoC with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage.

It offered a 23 MP main camera and a 5.1 MP front-facing camera with a dedicated shutter button. In fact, it was the most powerful compact smartphone in the market at the time of launch. As a result, the smartphone was highly appreciated for its one hand usability.

Alleged features of Xperia XZ2 Compact:

The Xperia XZ2 comes with a radically redesigned body. Most of the Sony flagship smartphones offered a blocky slab design, while the XZ2 Compact will offer a curved design. Interestingly, the company might also ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack. Although these are still rumours, the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact might follow the industry trend of getting rid of the headphone jack.

The leaked design of the XZ2 Compact resembles the “Plate + Human” concept from 2015.

As per the renders, the smartphone has a metallic frame with a soft material like the finish on the back with a pillow effect. The design is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 930 with a metallic frame and a soft shell.

Similar to the Sony Xperia XA2 series, the XZ2 Compact is speculated to house a rear-facing fingerprint scanner. However, this is still a prototype, which means the final design might vary. As quoted by the commenter, the final product will be different from what we see in the image.

February 20, 2018
Apple Releases iOS 11.2.6 To Fix Telugu Character Bug
Apple has rolled out a new software update for iOS devices. The new iOS 11.2.6 update fixes the Telugu character bug, that we reported a few days before. The software update patches the vulnerability of iOS devices, which crashed upon using a specific character combination. The update comes with a size of 163.2 MB and the users have to connect their devices to a Wifi network to download and install the update.

The new software update also patches connection of third-party apps with the external accessories. This is a critical software update and all the iOS users are prompted to install the latest patch as soon as possible to prevent crashing of certain apps.

The company is also expected to roll out iOS 11.3 soon, which brings in new animoji and support for AR. The iOS 11.3 will also enable users to toggle the performance of the device on older iPhones. With this update, the user can switch between performance or balanced mode depending on one’s requirement. This will also enable a transparent layer to check the health of the battery on iPhones.

How to install iOS 11.2.6?
- Plug your device into power socket
- Connect to a wireless Wifi network
- Go to setting > General > Software update
- Tap download and install
- If it prompts for password, then enter your password
- Do not turn off your device at the time of installation at any cost
- After successful software installing, the device will reboot itself
- Vila, you have updated your iPhone or iPad to the latest available software
February 20, 2018
Tata Indicom To End CDMA Service In Delhi From 19th March
Due to the continuous number of subscriber loss, Tata Indicom is shutting down its CDMA services in Delhi. In fact, in 2016 alone, the company has lost 19,08,994 customers. The company will be scrapping of the operation from 19th March 2018. Due to continues subscriber fall and financial losses, the company is all set to wrap of the services to prevent the financial burden.

Reliance and Tata Indicom were the major CDMA service providers in India. Reliance recently shut down its service and now its Tata Indicom’s turn to do the same.

All active customers are receiving a text message to opt out of the service within the above-mentioned date. If not, the user will witness the permanent disconnection from the services.

If a user likes to retain his number, then he has to use Mobile number portability service.

How to use MNP to opt out of Tata Indicom services?
- Send a message PORT<space> your mobile number to 1900
- You will receive alphanumeric unique code (do not disclose the code to anyone)
- Get a customer Aquisition form from the cellular provider of your choice
- Fill in Your details and complete KYC to active your new connection.
February 19, 2018
Nokia 8 Pro With Penta-Lens Camera Setup Might Launch At MWC 2018

The alleged Nokia 10 might, in fact, be the Nokia 8 Pro. A new report claims that the company will soon launch the Nokia 8 Pro. The device will have a camera setup, originally rumoured for the Nokia 10. The Nokia 8 Pro will succeed the Nokia 8, which was the flagship device of 2017 for Nokia.

The Nokia 8 was the first flagship smartphone from HMD Global, which offered flagship grade specifications. Nokia 8 was bested by the likes of the OnePlus 5T and Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. This was largely due to their superior design. The Nokia 8 also did not impress with its camera quality which was hyped by the company.

It looks like HMD Global’s plan of launching a Penta-lens smartphone will be more than just a concept. It was rumoured that the Nokia 10 will be unveiled as a concept phone at MWC 2018 and go into production in late-2018. However, it looks like the Nokia 8 Pro will be launched alongside the likes of Nokia 7 Plus at the upcoming event.

If true, the Nokia 8 Pro will definitely grab quite a few headlines. It is also expected to run on the latest Snapdragon 845 chipset. However, the Nokia 8 Pro won’t be the device running on this chipset. Smartphones like the Galaxy S9 and Mi Mix 2S are also expected to be unveiled running on the Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Specifications:

Like the Nokia 8, the Nokia 8 Pro is expected to offer top of the line specifications. As per the leaks, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, coupled with either 4 or 6GB RAM. Like most other flagship smartphones of 2018, the Nokia 8 Pro will offer an 18:9 aspect ratio with minimal bezels. The exact screen size of the device is yet to be revealed, but, as per the trend, we might see a 6 inch display with rounded corners.

The smartphone might house a dual-camera setup at the back, with a possible wide angle sensor and a telephoto sensor. The smartphone does offer dual front-facing camera which is expected to offer features like portrait mode.

Design:

Nokia 8 Pro is expected to follow the trend by offering all glass back panel, with a possible support for Qi-based wireless charging. The dual grills on the front also suggest that the smartphone might offer dual front-facing stereo speaker like the Google Pixel 2 XL.

Conclusion:

We expected this smartphone to go live at MWC. But the recent APK tear-down suggests that the Nokia 8 Pro might get launched in August-September of 2018. However, the company might showcase a prototype at the mobile world congress.

February 19, 2018
Top 5 Free Music Players For Android

Music is the strongest form of magic. Listening to music cheers any soul that requires relaxation. In fact, we have multiple genres of music. Hindustani, Karnatik, Folk are originally from India, whereas Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop, and RAP belongs to western countries. Be it the 90s Jazz or the latest I am in love with the shape of you, everyone has a different taste in music.

With the mobile data plans getting cheaper day by day, these music players not only play locally saved tracks but can stream the latest song at free of cost.

Here are the top music players that are available for Android smartphones for free of cost.

Hungama:

Hungama is one of the oldest music player, that exists. The clean user interface is one of the highlights of the Hungama. One can play songs which are locally saved on the smartphone or just search for newer song altogether. The app is free to download, however, one can also choose a premium version which offers ads free user experience with the free MP3 download. In fact, this is the only app that allows the native MP3 download. The app looks a bit dated, with an unpolished user interface. The Hungama Pro plan stars at Rs. 99 per month.

Pros: Free music streaming + offline download

Cons: Boring user interface with annoying ads

Gaana:

Gaana is pretty similar to Hungama, with a few drawbacks. One can stream free music on Ganaa, but one has to subscribe to Gaana+ to save tracks offline. The app is free for download, which plays in-app ads in the free version. If we look at the UI, the Gaana looks more polished than that of the Hungama. The choice of music is unlimited, you can choose from Hollywood to Bollywood. One can experience premium Gaana Plus service for free for the first 14 days, later on, one has to pay Rs. 99 per month.

Pros: Modern user interface

Cons: No option for offline downloads for free

SoundCloud:

SoundCloud is one of the most used music distribution services. The Berlin-based company provides a platform for users to create, record, or to share the originally created music or sound bits. Most of the music found on SoundCloud is created by users. It also gives a platform for the new music creators with free access to the ever-growing library. However, this app cannot play native MP3 files, which makes it a bummer.

Pros: Brilliant UI with unique music collection

Cons: Doesn’t support native MP3 playback

JioMusic:

This is one of the best free music apps for the Android platform. It offers ad-free user experience, free streaming, free offline-downloading. However, the access is limited to Jio network users. One has to have a Jio SIM card with an action plan to use this application. Using Jio Music, one can set caller tune for free of cost at a click of a button.

Pros: Ad-free UI with extensive library of music

Cons: Restricted to Jio network

Wynk:

This music service is run by Airtel. Users of Airtel network will get free access to millions of songs, but the experience is not ad-free. To get ad-free user experience, one has to make get a premium account by paying Rs.99 per month. If you are an Airtel user, then Wynk is a must-have application, which can fulfil all your music needs.

Pros: Open to all with a privilege for Airtel users

Cons: ads playing between the music

February 19, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Specifications Leaked

A new tablet from Samsung was recently listed on GFXBench with the model number SM-T835. The last year’s Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 came with a model number SM-T835. Which suggests that this is indeed the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 came with a glass sandwich design with flagship specifications. In fact, the sound profile of the tablet was fine-tuned by AKG. The flagship tablet from Samsung offered a unique user experience with the latest specifications and a 2k display. Visually, the Tab S3 was one of the most appealing tablets in its times. In fact, it is the only tablet, which offers a 10.5-inch Super OLED panel with rich blacks and punchy colours. So, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is also expected to feature flagship specifications with a premium design.

The Galaxy Tab S3 was originally launched in India for a price of Rs. 47,990, so, the Galaxy Tab S4 is also expected to be priced on the same line.

Tab S4 listed on GFXBench

Specifications:

The Galaxy Tab S4 features a large 10.5-inch 2560 x 1600 QHD+ Super AMOLED display, protected by tempered glass. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core processor, paired with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage with a dedicated SD card slot.

Coming to the optics, the device is fitted with a single 12 MP main camera and a 7 MP front-facing camera. The video recording capability is limited to 1080p on both the cameras.

Galaxy Tab S3

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 does offer a single SIM card slot, which is expected to support 4G LTE and VoLte, 3G, and 2G networks. The tablet is powered by Android Oreo 8.0 OS with custom Samsung UX on the top.

Conclusion:

Along with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the Samsung Galaxy S9+, the company might also unveil the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 at MWC 2018. This seems possible since the Galaxy Tab S3 was launched at MWC 2017.

February 19, 2018
Nokia 4 Specifications Leaked Ahead Of Imminent MWC 2018 Launch

A new Nokia smartphone from HMD Global is all set to debut on MWC 2018. This time its Nokia 4, which is likely to replace the Nokia 3. A new report claims that the Nokia 4 will have a badge on the back with a model number TA-1032.

HMD Global didn’t launch either Nokia 3 or the Nokia 5 in China. Which means, there is a great chance that the company might not launch Nokia 4 in China as well. It also comes with a tag Made in India, which means that the Nokia 4 might have a very competitive price tag in India.

The Nokia 3 was one of the affordable Android smartphones from Nokia, based on a MediaTek processor. Like a lot of affordable phones from Nokia, the Nokia 3 was also overpriced. Hence, it could not really have an impact on the Indian market. With a newer processor, the company might be planning to get back the attention of the users. However, the build quality, from the image, still leaves a lot to be desired.

Specifications:

In terms of specifications, the only known information about the Nokia 4 is the that, the smartphone runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa-core SoC. Considering the specifications of Nokia 3, the device is expected to feature 5.2-inch 720p IPS LCD screen with Corning Gorilla Glass Protection. The Nokia 4 will feature at least 2 GB RAM and 16 GB storage like the Nokia 3 with an expandable SD card slot.

There are no details regarding the camera or the battery. In terms of operating system, the smartphone will be based on Android Oreo 8.0 with the stock user experience.

Conclusion:

The Nokia 4 will be the newest addition to that list of smartphones that Nokia might launch at MWC 2018. It looks like Nokia will launch at least 4 smartphones at MWC. The Nokia 10 with a rotating 5-camera setup, the Nokia 7 Plus with dual Zeiss camera and a most affordable Nokia 1 with entry-level specs.

February 19, 2018
Xbox One X And One S Will Soon Support 1440P Streaming

Here is a good news for both Xbox One X and Xbox One S console gamers. According to Kevin Gammill, the Xbox program manager, both the Xbox One and Xbox One S will receive an update to support native 1440p content streaming. There is no mention of the actual time frame, with the next software update the feature could be rolled out.

Xbox One X and Xbox One S are the most powerful gaming consoles from Microsoft to date. However, both models downscale the content from 1440p to 1080p, which makes us to play the games at a lower resolution.

Many questions recently around the timing of our 1440p support. Those of you in our early preview ring should be pleasantly surprised very soon if you have an Xbox One S or Xbox One X.

— Kevin Gammill (@CmdrDesslock) February 16, 2018

Specifications:

The Xbox One X is powered by 12 GB LPDDR5 custom GPU with 8 GB RAM and 1 TB storage. The device does support 4K UHD Blueray optical discs with HDR 10 and Dolby Atmos. Additionally, dual HDMI, thripple USB 3.0, and an ethernet port are also included. Wireless connectivity features like dual-band WiFi and WiFi direct will enable seamless streaming across the devices.

The Xbox One S comes with a slightly compact form factor with 8 GB DDR3 RAM and 500 GB storage. The support Blueray optical discs with HDR 10 remains the same with Dolby Atmos audio. This one also has a similar choice of ports, the only difference is in actual performance.

Both models are powered by the same 8-core Jaguar CPU, the One X has a clock speed of 2.45 GHz, whereas the One S’s speed is limited to 1.75 GHz. In terms of pricing the One X retails for US$ 499, whereas the One S retails for US$ 249.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a gaming console with native 4k streaming capability, then Xbox One S and Xbox One X are the ones, to choose from. If compact One S offers a great value for money, One X offers impeccable performance. The 4k capability just takes the console gaming performance to next level.

February 19, 2018
Asus ZenFone 5 Specifications Leaked Before Its MWC 2018 Launch

As per the recent leaks and benchmarks listing, Asus might launch it’s flagship ZenFone 5 at MWC 2018. The Asus ZenFone 5 was spotted on AnTuTu with a brief insight into specifications. The one with the top of the line specifications is expected to have the model number Z01RD. We might see multiple variants of the ZenFone 5 with this one being the most powerful of the lot.

Another leak about the ZenFone 5 reveals an interesting detail about its design. The leaked image shows off an iPhone X-like notch on top of the display, similar to the likes of Huawei P11. However, unlike the iPhone X, the ZenFone 5 might just house a front-facing camera and an earpiece inside the notch. The notch on the iPhone X, on the other hand, serves a much more important purpose.

Early ZenFone 5 Sketches

The notch on the iPhone X was met with scepticism at the time of the launch. However, the users and reviewers have appreciated the notch since its launch. Leaks also suggest that Android P is expected to support the notch natively, which suggests, the upcoming Google Pixel 3 and Pixis3 XL could also come with a notch. However, it will be interesting to see what the implementation of the notch will be like.

ZenFone 5 AnTuTu listing

Specifications:

The AnTuTu listing reveals that the smartphone might be powered by the Snapdragon 845 SoC with 6 GB RAM. The internal storage is listed as 32 GB, which sounds quite weird for a modern day flagship smartphone. Like every other smartphone maker, Asus has planned to go with 18:9 aspect ratio display with 2240 x 1080p resolution.

The ZenFone 5 runs on Android Oreo 8.0 out of the box with custom Zen UI. The ZenFone 5 scores 238129 points, which is marginally less than the 265267 points scored by Galaxy S9. Does it point towards the fact that, ZenFone 5 is using a slightly underpowered processor that the Galaxy S9?

The ZenFone 5 is expected to feature a dual camera setup at the back, possibly with a regular and a telephoto lens. The front notch is expected to house a front-facing camera with hardware for facial recognition like the one on the Apple iPhone X. However, the implementation of the facial recognition technology might differ from Face ID. The smartphone is expected to be available in Midnight Black, Moonlight White, and Rouge Red colour, with a full metal unibody design.

Conclusion:

MWC is a week away and we are already seeing smartphones which are expected to go official at the event. It looks like we will be seeing a lot of Android devices with a notch. With these set of specifications, we are also expecting a price tag of at least US$ 600 for the entry-level model.

February 19, 2018
Essential Ph-1 Could Launch In India At A Price Of Rs.30,000

Essential Ph-1, the first Android smartphone with a notch is coming to India. A report claims that the smartphone will be available exclusively via Amazon for less than Rs. 30,000. At this price tag, the Essential Ph-1 will be a great offering for Indian consumers.

The smartphone was officially launched in the US for US$699, and the price has been brought down to US$450 due to unimpressive sales numbers. The phone does offer one of a kind design language, with a sturdy build quality. Though it has flagship specifications, the camera performance was highly criticised, which explains the global shipping number of 88,000 units.

Specifications:

On the front, the Essential Ph-1 packs in a 5.71-inch IPS LCD QHD+ touch panel with 19:10 aspect ratio, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Under the hood, the smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa-core processor, coupled with 4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.

Like most of the modern flagship smartphones, the phone offers dual camera setup (13 MP + 13 MP) RGB + monochrome setup. In this case, the monochrome sensor helps to capture the depth details to give bokeh effect. The front-notch on the display houses an 8 MP selfie camera with 4K video recording capability.

The smartphone packs in a 3040 mAh sealed battery with Quickcharge 4.0+ capability. The smartphone runs on stock Android 7.1 Nougat and expected to receive Oreo update soon via OTA.

Conclusion:

The affordable flagship segment in India is getting more competitive with the recent offerings like Moto Z2 Force and Honor View10. The addition of the Essential Ph-1 makes it more exciting for the consumers. But, with devices like the Mi Mix 2S and OnePlus 6 expected to be launched soon, is it too little too late for Essential Ph-1?

February 19, 2018