Author: Vivek Umashankar

T-Mobiles Launches Sidekicks Smart Shoes With Built-In Display

The T-Mobile Sidekick was an iconic mobile phone and an important step in the evolution of Android OS. The phone never launched in India but, it had a futuristic 180º swiveling display and was endorsed by many celebrities. However, more importantly, the software of the phone was what evolved into becoming Android OS. Now, the company is rebooting its iconic phone as something even cooler for the present day. T-Mobile has announced the Sidekicks smartphone, a Smartshoephone.

T-Mobile Sidekick

Today, T-Mobile introduces the world’s first Smartshoephone™: T-Mobile Sidekicks. As fun as they are functional, T-Mobile Sidekicks Smart-shoes are fully tricked out for speed on the fastest LTE network ever and optimized for unlimited data with T-Mobile ONE, of course.

https://youtu.be/XQQuOICUylQ

Sidekick Specs

The Sidekick device is no less than any of the smartphones available in the market. The shoes have a touch-enabled display, built on to the sole of the shoes, which ability handle heaviest steps. When the user receives a voice call, the front side of the shoes will display caller ID with flashy lights. Additionally, the sole has the one of the biggest earpiece ever, which offers impeccable sound quality.

The device has all sorts of wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS to stay connected 24/7. However, it still requires an active T-Mobile SIM card, which offers unlimited calling and LTE data. Ever disappointed for the fact that, smartphones have started to lay off 3.5 mm headphone jack. If you have a Sidekick smart-shoes, then they come built-in with retractable smart lace, which doubles as hi-fi buds and charging connector pin.

Unlike most of the smartphones, these shoes are waterproof. The company has patented a new technology to withstand snow, puddles and mysterious liquids. As these are shoes, they also have a fitness tracker, which can accurately map your steps. Any smartphone is incomplete without AI, so, the T-Mobile Sidekick can recognise your voice using the command ‘hey sidekick’. If you are looking for a ‘revolutionary smart-shoes/phone then T-Mobile Sidekick is the one to choose.

March 31, 2018
Samsung Smartphones With Always-On Displays Get Support For GIFs

Samsung has silently added support to showcase GIFs on its smartphones with Always on Display (AOD). Always On Display is a feature where the phone’s screen is off, except for the clock and notification icon. This features required an AMOLED panel, and it only works in the Samsung flagship series smartphones.

To get this feature working, you should have AOD application version 3.2.26.4. If you are running on the latest version, then select ‘set always on display image’ and select a GIF. However, note that the app can only rear GIF formatted pictures, not .webp. Similarly, if the GIF is too long, the app will recommend it to trim down to a specific time frame.

Once, you lock your smartphone, the GIF will animate for a once and will stay in the fixed frame after that. Additionally, one can also set a super slow motion video recorded on the Galaxy S9/S9+ as an AOD picture as well.

This feature will work on devices including, the Samsung Galaxy S9/s9+, Galaxy S8/S8+ and the Galaxy Note 8. If you are yet to receive this update and you don’t want to wait. Then, click on this link to manually download the APK and sideload it. However, we don’t recommend sideloading third-party apps as they might goof-up your smartphone.

March 31, 2018
Huawei Enjoy 8 Plus Officially Launched

Huawei has officially launched the Huawei Enjoy 8 Plus, Enjoy 8, and 8e smartphones in China at a starting price of 1,099 Yuan (Rs 10,999). These are the affordable smartphone series from Huawei with latest features like dual primary camera setup and a taller display. The Huawei Enjoy 8 has a glass back, and the Enjoy 8 Plus and Enjoy 8e have a metal unibody design. All three devices run on the latest Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI skin.

Huawei Enjoy 8 Plus

The Huawei Enjoy 8 Plus has a 5.93 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a 2.5D curved glass finish. Under the hood, the device has the Kirin 659 Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64/128GB onboard storage. Similarly, the storage is expandable up to 256GB using a micro SD card slot.

The smartphone dual primary camera setup with a 13MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The smartphone has a dual front-facing camera with a 16MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor.

Huawei Enjoy 8

Huawei Enjoy 8 has a slightly bigger 5.99 inch display. However, the resolution has been toned down from FHD+ to HD+ 1440 x 720p. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 32/64GB onboard storage.

The smartphone has a dual primary camera setup with a 13MP RGB sensor and an 8MP front-facing camera. Additionally, the smartphone also supports Face Unlock.

Huawei Enjoy 8e

The Huawei Enjoy 8e is the most affordable smartphone of the series. This device has a slightly smaller 5.7 inch IPS LCD display with HD+ 1440 x 710 px resolution. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

The smartphone has dual camera setup with a 13MP RGB sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The device has a single 5MP front-facing camera and a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.

March 30, 2018
Moto G6 Plus Specifications Leaked

The Moto G6 lineup has been in the news a lot lately. We recently covered the design leaks of the Moto G6 and G6 Play Now, official renders of the Moto G6 Plus have been leaked. The image reveals that the Moto G6 Plus will have an 18:9 aspect ratio display similar to the Moto G6. Additionally, the leak also specifies that the smartphone will have an all-glass design with a dual camera setup. The leaked image has a date mentioned on its wallpaper as April 3, which could be the launch date of the mobile. However, that is unlikely since the company has not hinted at a launch event so far.

The smartphone looks like a vertically stretched out version of the Moto X4. On the front, the device has a narrower bezel with a Motorola logo and a fingerprint sensor. Additionally, on the up top, the phone has an earpiece, front-facing camera and an LED flash.

Moto G6 Plus Specs

The Moto G6 Plus will have a 5.93-inch 2160 x 1080p IPS LCD display with 2.5D curved tempered glass protection. Under the hood, the smartphone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 Octa-core chipset with up to 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. However, the storage is expandable up to 256GB via micro SD card.

The phone has a 12 MP RGB sensor and a 5 MP telephoto lens on the back. The setup is expected to be different from what we have seen so far from Moto devices. The front-facing camera is a 16MP sensor with a front-facing LED flash.

The smartphone will run on close to stock Android 8 Oreo OS. However, the Moto G6 Play which was spotted earlier had a ZUK UI on top of Android 8.0. So, it is very early to make any kind of assumption on the type of Android the smartphone might come with. However, it seems unlikely that Motorola will move to a custom skin considering the success it has had with stock OS.

March 30, 2018
Apple Sued By 60,000 South Korean Users For Slowing Down Older iPhones

Apple recently released iOS 11.3 software update with new features. In fact, this update also solves the CPU throttling issue on older iPhones. Users, who own an older iPhone model can now toggle between performance or battery life in the settings menu. However, the company warns that manually enabling the performance will drain the battery. Now, a large group of iPhone users in South Korea have filed a class action lawsuit with the Seoul Central District Court against Apple for slowing down older iPhones.

Apple started to slow down (by throttling the CPU frequency) older iPhones with degraded batteries to offer better battery life. However, this was done without user’s consent. As soon as the news went viral, Apple CEO Tim Cook apologised the users and announced a new battery replacement programme at an affordable price.

The Lawsuit

60,000 iPhone users in South Korea are now demanding a compensation of US$ 188 per customer or US$ 12 million in total. This is also the one of the biggest action lawsuit that in South Korea. However, the initial number of users who wanted to file a lawsuit was near 400,000. The number lessened at the time of document verifications and other legal procedures. Similarly, Civic Group Activists have already filed a class action suits against Apple in South Korea in early 2018. They won the lawsuit with a compensation amount of US$ 2.2 million.

March 30, 2018
Xiaomi Mi 7 Will Have An In-Screen Fingerprint Sensor With A Notch

Xiaomi is expected to launch the Mi MIX 2s in India soon, after the launch in China. However, that won’t be the only flagship smartphone the company will launch in 2018. For weeks, it was expected that Xiaomi will launch the Mi 7 at Mobile World Congress 2018, however, that did not happen. Since then, we have seen a few renders and leaks of the upcoming flagship device.

And now, a new report from XDA Developers claims that the Xiaomi Mi 7 will have an in-screen fingerprint sensor and a notch, similar to the Vivo X21 UD.

Unlike most leaks, which happens via manufacturer or a case maker, these leaks have been achieved by decrypting the firmware file of the smartphone. In fact, these features were expected to debut with the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s. However, due to optimisation issues, these features were postponed to the Mi 7.

The MIUI source code confirms that the Xiaomi Mi 7 comes with a code name ‘dipper old’. As the company has used the code name ‘dipper’ in earlier models, its safe to assume, that the leaked device is the Mi 7. In the build.prop file there is a line called ‘goodfix_fod’. Goodfix is one of the companies that can manufacture in-screen fingerprint sensor and ‘fod’ translates to a ‘fingerprint on display’. To incorporate an in-screen fingerprint sensor, the smartphone has to have an OLED display. This means the Xiaomi Mi 7 will be the second flagship smartphone from the company to use an OLED display (Xiaomi Mi Note 2 is the first model).

Xiaomi Mi 7 Specs

The Xiaomi Mi 7 will have an OLED display with a notch on the top. Considering similar smartphones, the smartphone is likely to have a 19:9 aspect ratio screen with FHD+ resolution. Under the hood, the device will have the Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with at least 6GB RAM and 64GB storage.

The leak does not cover the camera specifications of the smartphone. However, it does mention that the device will have a 4000 mAh battery. Considering the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s, the device is likely to support wireless charging.

March 30, 2018
LG G7 Design Leaked By Case Renders

The notch is poised to be one of the most common features of upcoming Android smartphones. OnePlus has confirmed the presence of a notch on the upcoming OnePlus 6 as well. And now, an LG executive opened a new thread on Reddit to get feedback a notch. Recent LG G7 renders have revealed a notch as well and new case renders solidify the argument

Having a notch will help smartphone makers to achieve higher screen to body ratio by altering the aesthetics of the smartphone. However, a smartphone with a notch will have a lot of compatibility issues with non-optimised apps.

LG G7/G7+ Specs

Both the devices will have 6.1 inch MLCD+ display with a 3120 x 1440 px resolution which translates to a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The display will support native HDR10 content, similar to the LG G6. Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage on the G7 and 6GB RAM and 128GB storage on the G7+.

The devices will have a dual primary camera setup similar to the LG V30+. However, the company might go with a telephoto sensor, instead of a wide angle sensor. Both the models will have a 3000 mAh battery with support for fast charging and wireless charging capability. Considering the time of the launch, these smartphones will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom LG UI.

March 30, 2018
Moto Z3 Play Specifications Listed On FCC

Recently the design of the Moto Z3 Play was leaked. And now, the device has been listed on Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This hints towards an imminent launch of the smartphone in the USA. The Moto Z3 Play will be a sort of a mini flagship smartphone from the company, which offers most of the features found on the flagship Z series smartphone at a reasonable price tag. However, the smartphone will have a cut down in the specs sheet to decrease the cost of production.

Recently we learned that the Moto Z3 Play will have an all-glass design with a dual camera setup. Additionally, the smartphone will also support for Moto MODs. The device is listed under a model number XT1929, which is similar to the Moto Z2 Play model number (XT1710). According to listing on FCC, the smartphone will be launched in Verizon, North American, Brazilian, and Latin America. However, the smartphone is also expected to launch in other markets like India and China as well.

Moto Z2 Play

Moto Z3 Play Specs

The Moto Z3 Play has a 6.1 inch IPS LCD display with 2160 x 1080 px 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core chipset with 3/4GB RAM and 32/63GB onboard flash storage. Additionally, one can increase the storage up to 128GB using a micro SD card. Similar to the Moto G6, the Z3 Play is expected have a forward facing fingerprint scanner which doubles as a one key navigation button.

The smartphone has a dual camera setup with a 12MP and an 8MP sensor. However, the leak does not specify the exact dual camera implementation. Additionally, the device has a 5MP front-facing camera with. The phone has a 3000 mAh battery, with support for turbocharging via a USB type C port. A 3000 mAh battery combined with a processor built on 14nm Architecture should offer great battery life. However, considering the bigger 6.1 inch screen, the battery seems bit smaller.

The listing does not specify the pricing of the smartphone. However. considering the pricing of the previous Moto Z Play models, the smartphone will be priced near US$ 400. The phone is likely to launch in Indian for a price tag of Rs 25,000.

March 30, 2018
GoPro HERO Action Camera Officially Launched In India For Rs. 18990

GoPro HERO waterproof Action Camera officially launched in India. The camera is available on Flipkart for Rs 18,990. However, in the US the device retails for US$ 199.9 (Rs 13,500). The retail package includes a Camera, Frame, Rechargeable Battery, Mounting Buckle, Curved & Flat Adhesive Mount and a USB-C Cable.

Meghan Laffey, GoPro’s SVP of Product, said:

HERO is a great first GoPro for people looking to share experiences beyond what a phone can capture.HERO makes it easy to share ‘wow’ moments at a price that’s perfect for first-time users.

GoPro HERO Action Camera Specs

The camera has a 10MP 1/2.3 inch sensor, with an ability to record native 1080p video footages up to 60fps. Additionally, the device is optically stabilised to offer shake-free footages. The device is water resistant up to 10 meters and can be used to shoot underwater footages. The device has a built-in 4GB storage. However, it is user expandable up to 128GB using a micro SD card.

The HERO Action Camera comes with a tiny 2 inch coloured touch-enabled display with 320 x 480 px resolution screen. Additionally, the device has a tiny monochrome display on the front, which displays information like video quality, storage remaining and battery.

The camera is controllable wirelessly using an Android or iOS device. Additionally, it has all the connectivity features like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which makes sharing videos and images a lot easier. Similarly, the camera also supports hands-free voice control.

March 30, 2018
Moto G6 And Moto G6 Play Press Renders Leaked

The leaks on Motorola smartphones are on roll. Recently, the Moto Z3 Play was leaked by a case maker. And now, the press renders of the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Play has been leaked online. These leaked images are in line with the previous leaks. The Moto G6 and G6 Play have a glass unibody design with a taller 18:9 aspect ratio display. The Moto G6 has a front-facing fingerprint sensor and the G6 Play has a rear-facing fingerprint sensor fitted on to the Motorola logo.

Considering the specifications, the Moto G6 has a high-resolution FHD+ display, dual camera and a forward facing fingerprint sensor. However, the Moto G6 Play has an HD+ resolution display and a single camera. Considering these specifications, the Moto G6 will retail at a slightly higher price tag than the Play moniker.

Moto G6 Specs

The Moto G6 has a 5.7 inch FHD+ 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD ‘Max Vision display’ with 18:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa-core chipset with 4G RAM and 64GB storage.

The mobile has a dual primary camera setup with a 12MP primary camera and a 5MP depth sensor. For the front-facing camera, the phone has a 16MP sensor with probable support for Face Unlock. The smartphone has 154.5 × 72.2 × 8.3 mm dimension with a sealed 3000 mAh battery. The device will run on Android 8 Oreo with stock Android OS.

Moto G6 Play Specs

The Moto G6 Play has a 5.7-inch IPS LCD 1440 x 720 px resolution, protected by 2.5D curved glass. Under the hood, the smartphone sports the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-core chipset with 3GB RAM. The device scores 472 points on a single-core and 1801 points on multi-core on Geekbench.

The device might run on Android 8 Oreo out of the box. However, instead of stock Android, the Moto G6 Play comes with Lenovo’s custom ZUK skin. However, that is hard to believe since Motorola has had success with its close to stock Android OS devices. Finally, the smartphone packs in a massive 4000 mAh battery with no mention of fast charging what so ever.

March 30, 2018
Marvel Strike Force Now Available On Android And iOS Devices

Marvel in collaboration with FoxNext Games has released free to play Marvel Strike Force game for iOS and Android devices. This is a role-playing-style (RPG) game which features characters from Marvel Universe.

A user has to form a team using 60 defined characters. One can choose between Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Loki, Elektra, Captain America and Iron Man. After the formation of a team, you have to battle against evil-minded opposition to save the earth. The player has to use different attacks and moves to fight the enemy. Though the game is free to download, one can boost up the characters using in-app purchases.

Game Play

In the introduction, the game will display Marvel’s logo. At the time of loading, it will feature important characters like Spiderman and Ironman. Similarly, the loading app also displays important villain characters. Then character named Luke Cage will explain the gameplay. After that, a user has to select the squad. After selecting the team, the actual gameplay begins, where a user has to choose play as a different character to defeat the enemies in the arena.

To give your characters more strength, they have to be tried using the gold bars collected by winning fights. As the game continues to progress more and more missions will be unlocked. The gameplay was smooth for the most part and the background music suits the theme of the game.

The game weighs at 89MP in the Play Store and it requires additional 200MB of in-app data. Finally, if you are looking for an RPG game, then try the Marvel Strike Force.

Links to download

Android

iOS

March 29, 2018
Nokia 7 Plus Will Be An Amazon Exclusive Smartphone

Nokia has started sending press invites for their upcoming launch event on 4th of April. According to leaks, the company is expected to launch the Nokia 6 2018, Nokia 7 Plus and the Nokia 8810 4G feature phone. And now, a new leak suggests that the Nokia 7 Plus will be an Amazon exclusive smartphone. The smartphone was launched in China for 2,299 CYN. Similarly, the device is expected to be priced anywhere near Rs 22,999.

A tipster has shared a picture with the Nokia 7 Plus smartphone with an Amazon exclusive badge. Nokia has launched the Nokia 6 and Nokia 8 as an Amazon exclusive smartphone, so, Nokia might be planning to continue the partnership. However, there is no information on the availability of remaining models.

Nokia 7 Specs

The Nokia 7 has a 5.2 inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1080 px resolution. Nokia 7 Plus, on the other hand, has a 6 inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio hence, the “Plus” moniker. The Nokia 7 plus also features a dual-tone design thanks to a few gilded bits and pieces.

Under the hood, the 7 Plus has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset. That is coupled with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card.

On the back of the 7 Plus is a dual-camera setup powered by Zeiss optics. The primary wide-angle sensor is a 12MP camera with an f/1.75 aperture coupled with a 13MP telephoto lens with an f/2.6 aperture. Additionally, the telephoto lens will allow for bokeh shots which have now become very trendy. On the front is a 16MP fixed focus camera with an f/2.0 aperture.

March 29, 2018
Razer Basilisk Mouse, BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Launched in India

Razer has launched two gaming accessories in India on the 29th of March 2018. The Razer Basilisk Mouse and BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard now available in India for a price tag of Rs 5,499 and Rs 9,999 respectively. These are sold by a Bengaluru based distributor Kaira Global with a 2-year warranty. Similarly, one can also purchase additional Razer accessories on Amazon India website.

Manoj Attal, Director Kaira Global said

Ready or not, move over competitors here comes the Razer Basilisk a killer FPS mouse with a clutch trigger, adjustable scroll wheel and ergonomic designs Razer Basilisk is an ideal companion in the game-winning feats and gain an edge over their competitors.

Razer Basilisk Mouse Specs

The Razer Basilisk Mouse has a 5G optical sensor with 16,00 dots per inch (DPI). According to Razer, the mouse is designed to offer precision and accuracy for first-person shooter (FPS) games. It has a life-span of up to 50 million clicks, which is a far greater number than a standard mouse. The device has a maximum of 1000 Hz Ultrapolling with a gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel. Additionally, it also comes with two removable clutches (short/ long), which are programmable. The mouse also supports Razer Chroma, which offers true 16.8 million customizable colour options. Considering this as a gaming mouse, it just weighs at 107 grams.

BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard Specs

The BlackWidow Ultimate Mechanical Keyboard will enhance the gaming experience by offering better tactility. The keypad IP54 certified for water and dust resistance. Additionally, the keypad has a lifespan of up to 80 million keystrokes. The keys are backlit with green LED lights. The lighting effect is controllable using Razer Synapse software. The keypad weights 368 Grams and comes with 2 years warranty. Also, there are fully programmable keys with a dedicated button to enable gaming mode.

March 29, 2018
Honor 10 With A Notch Leaked In Live Images

Huawei recently launched the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro in France. These smartphones are the latest flagship smartphones from the company. These devices come with a premium all glass design with 19:9 aspect ratio display with a notch. And now, Honor, the subsidiary smartphone brand of Huawei is all set to launch its first smartphone with a notch. A new leak unravels the design of the Honor 10 (tentative) with a notched display. However, the images do not mention either the name or a model number of the device. If this device launches in India, then this could be called as the Honor View10 Pro.

The device is covered with a plastic case to conceal the design. On the front, the device has a taller display, fingerprint sensor and a notch. In fact, the device looks identical to the Huawei P20. However, on the rear side, the smartphone has a horizontally placed dual camera setup, which distinguishes this device from the P20. It is very difficult to make out the build quality from the leaked images. However, considering the current industry trend, the device is most likely to have a glass back panel. The smartphone will borrow some of the specifications from the P20 series.

Honor View10

The Honor 10 will have a 19:9 aspect ratio display. As this is will be an affordable model, the phone is likely to have an IPS LCD panel, instead of OLED.Under the hood, the device will have the HiSilicon Kirin 970 Octa-core chipset with 4/6GB RAM and 64/128GB storage.

The device has a dual camera setup, similar to the Huawei P20. However, to cut the cost of production, the company is likely to use different camera sensors. Additionally, the device will have a bigger battery SuperCharging capability. Starting with this device, the Honor line of smartphones might adopt the trend of removing 3.5mm headphone jack. Lastly, the phone will run on Android 8 Oreo with custom EMUI skin on the top.

March 29, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 Specifications Leaked On Geekbench

Samsung Galaxy Note series is the most premium line of smartphones from the South Korean smartphone company. After the Note 7 fiasco, the company launched the Galaxy Note8 to great critical reception. Now, a Samsung smartphone with model number SM-N960U has been listed on Geekbench. Considering the model number of the Galaxy Note8 (SM-N950U) this looks like the upcoming Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 Specs

Samsung will manufacture the Galaxy Note 9 in two variants. One variant will feature Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and an Exynos 9810 variant similar to the Galaxy S9/S9+. The Geekbench listing confirms some of the key specifications of the device. According to the listing, the smartphone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa-core chipset with 6GB RAM. Additionally, the smartphone scores 2190 points on the single core and 8809 points and multi-core performance. The score is similar to the other smartphones running on the Snapdragon 845 processor. Additionally, the listing confirms that the device runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience UI 9.

Features like truly wireless charging and an In-Screen fingerprint sensor might feature on the Note 9. However, few reports are vary about the Note9 having an In-Screen fingerprint sensor. Samsung’s optical fingerprint sensor was imperfect due to uneven screen brightness. The area containing the fingerprint reader appeared brighter than the rest of the screen, which is why it eventually couldn’t make it to the Galaxy Note8.

March 29, 2018