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Apple Hires Contractors That Listen To Private Conversation Through Siri

Apple is a company that has always promised its customers industry-leading security. For the most part, it holds true. The company is one of the better-trusted consumer brands in the world, at least in terms of data privacy. However, a new report has surfaced which claims that the tech giant is regularly listening on private conversations by its hired contractors through Siri, its digital voice assistant.

Home Pod

Initial reports had revealed that Apple was hiring contractors across the globe to listen to Siri recordings to improve the voice assistants capabilities. What came as a surprise was the fact that the company had failed to enlighten its users regarding this practice. Now, a fresh report suggests that there have been “countless instances” of recordings carrying sensitive information or private conversations. Furthermore, it has also been reported that some cases of illegal activities have also been caught in the recordings. Apple had initially promised users that anonymity is being maintained and no user info is accessible. However, a source claimed that the recordings also feature user data showing locations, contact details and app data.

Apple started the initiative of human interaction with Siri recordings to improve its interface and interactional capabilities. The company said that only a small portion of Siri requests are analysed and users’ Apple ID is not associated alongside the recordings. Addtionally, Apple claimed that all reviewers are under strict confidential guidelines and are undertaken at secured facilities. Although the contractors and audio reviewing isn’t a secret, its privacy terms do not inform users of the practice.

Also Read: Indian Smartphone Market Reaches Record-Breaking 37 Million Shipments In Q2

People conscious about their privacy and afraid of the accidental triggering of Siri can turn off the “Hey Siri” feature. The new accusation marks the increasing frequency with which even the most trusted brands are being doubted. In a modern interconnected world, data privacy is now increasingly more important. Apple has yet to respond to the latest reports but a statement is expected to arrive soon.

July 27, 2019
Xiaomi Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones Review

For the 5th anniversary of Xiaomi’s entry into India, the Chinese company has entered the wireless headphones markets again. This time the company has offered an over the ear wireless headphones dubbed, Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones. The review will be divided into multiple bases to give a detailed report on our experience with the new headphones. You can also check out our video review of the product on our YouTube channel.

https://youtu.be/KlozFFWbW38

Build

Xiaomi’s Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones are made entirely out of plastic giving it a very light weighted feel. The headphones offer soft cushioning for its ear cups with padding on the upper portion of the headband as well. Furthermore, the headphones are more compact than most in the price range and should fit with both small and large heads with the help of its expandable headbands. Notably, despite being made of plastic, the headphones are really durable with our stress tests showing commendable flexibility and bending capabilities. The headphones also arrive with a pair of well-built aux cable and microUSB charger that is wrapped neatly via a rubber band for better storage.

Design

Xiaomi’s Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones look premium from afar with elegant gold accents surrounding the ear cups rims and the headband. However, it is only the case from a distance. After holding the headphones you are reminded of its plastic feeling build quality owing to its really lightweight nature. For those interested in a premium glossy or metal built headphones, the Mi Super Bass might not be the right choice you.

Connectivity

One of the key features offered by Mi Super Base Wireless Headphones is the inclusion of Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The newer technology is compatible with older Bluetooth 4.0 or even 4.2 models but will perform more reliably with newer phones. The latest version of Bluetooth offers a wider range of connectivity with lesser frequent stutters or lags whilst in use. Additionally, a 3.5mm audio cable is also offered in the box for those who do not wish to connect via Bluetooth or have run out of battery.

Battery Life

Xiaomi claims that the Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones can run for 20hrs on a single charge via the microUSB cable. It turned to be more or less true in our tests that neared the company promises. Hence, it means that depending on usage habits, users can expect the headphones to last days on end at a single charge. Finally, the added feature of a 3.5mm headphone jack is a major plus point as the battery can no longer be a concern on the go if users carry the audio cable.

Sound Quality

As the name suggests, the Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones offer deep bass that translates to a better listening experience. The sound range is above average and struggles during the highs in a song but manages to finish off with good sounding lows. We also tested the headphones with games on both PC and mobile with PUBG Lite and PUBG Mobile. In our experience, the sound of bullets, explosions and even footsteps were clear and crisp so we can recommend this to casual gamers.

Also Read: Corsair Has Acquired The Gaming Computer Maker Origin PC

Price, Availability & Conclusion

Xiaomi’s Mi Super Bass Wireless Headphones are available in two different colour accent variants, namely Gold and Red. Both versions is offered from Xiaomi at an affordable price of INR 1,799. The headphones were launched alongside Redmi’s K20 series and follow the same general formula of providing a solid value for money. Conclusively, we recommend these headphones for people looking for good sounding headphones at this price point, however, those that are looking for solid build quality, you might want to skip this one.

July 26, 2019
Motorola Launches The Moto E6 With Snapdragon 435 & 2GB RAM

Through a blog post on the 25th of July, Motorola has launched its latest budget smartphone, the Moto E6. The device is the successor of the Moto E5 series launched last year and unlike its predecessors which were launched in a pack of four, the latest handset arrives as a solo announcement. It has been launched only in the United States as of now, with global availability expected to be announced soon by the company.

Moto E6

The new Moto E6 smartphone by Motorola as mentioned above is the company’s latest budget offering. The device features an all polycarbonate design which looks similar to its predecessors. It has a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1440 × 720 px. As it is a budget handset, there are significant bezels on the top and bottom of the display. There is also no physical fingerprint scanner on the Moto E6, which means users will have to rely on traditional unlocking methods; such as patterns, numerical pins and passwords to access the smartphone.

The Moto E6 runs on the slightly dated Snapdragon 435 SoC which has an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 505 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone from Motorola has a single, f/2.0 aperture equipped 13MP sensor with LED flash. For selfies, an f/2.0 aperture equipped 5MP sensor is placed above the display on the front. Memory options on the device are limited to 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage; the latter of which is expandable via microSD of up to 256GB in capacity.

Also read: RED Confirms Hydrogen 2, Blames Chinese ODM For Failed First Smartphone

The Moto E6 is powered by a 3000mAh battery which supports 5W charging via the bundled adapter in the box. The device runs on the latest Android 9 Pie with little customisation from the company. It will be available in two colour variants, namely Starry Black and Navy Blue. The Motorola Moto E6 will be available for sale in the US in the following weeks at a price of US$ 149 (Rs. 10,300). Unfortunately, there is no word from the company yet about the international availability of the handset.

July 26, 2019
RED Confirms Hydrogen 2, Blames Chinese ODM For Failed First Smartphone

RED announced its first-ever smartphone back in May 0f 2018. The announcement led to the build-up of a lot of hype. Its popularity soared due to RED being a renowned name in the digital cinema industry owing to its cameras. The phone was much awaited prior to its launch but failed to deliver many of its basic expectations. RED’s Hydrogen One was a commercial failure because of its shortcomings on basic UI and even the camera, a department RED specializes in. Now, the company has gone on official forums to blame a Chinese ODM which was tasked with manufacturing the smartphone and has seemingly confirmed Hydrogen 2.

In the forums, RED explained why its bold endeavour into the smartphone industry wasn’t a success. Allegedly, RED claimed that getting the Chinese ODM (Original Device Manufacturer) that was tasked for making Hydrogen One to complete the work was “beyond challenging.” It explains why the smartphone had faced delays prior to its actual launch date. The phone faced disastrous levels of un optimization which RED claims were due to the poor software integration of the Snapdragon 835 SoC.

Furthermore, RED is now partnering up with a new ODM which according to the company seem much more capable. In the post, the company also confirmed the second iteration of the Hydrogen phone. The new device is being built from the ground up and is expected to release in 2020. Additionally, an attachable module that RED had promised is finally planned to be released. It is an improved Komodo module that will work with both Hydrogen One and Two and will allow for “cinema-grade images at the highest level at lower pricing.”

Also Read: Google Launches Gallery Go, A 10MB Offline Photo App

Unfortunately, more information regarding the upcoming RED Hydrogen Two is still unavailable. It is speculated that the device is still in its early stages of development and more details are expected to arrive later this year. Hopefully, the second iteration is a much better experience than the last and will hold true to any promises RED makes. Stay tuned for more updates.

July 25, 2019
Samsung Claims The Galaxy Fold Has Been Fixed, To Relaunch In September

Korean electronics giant Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold back in the month of February. At the event, it was announced that the device will be commercially available starting the 26th of April; however, a few weeks before its release a few Galaxy Fold review units started breaking. Many known technology journalists reported that due to a design flaw, the handset’s inside display can easily be compromised.

Samsung then announced that it is taking some time to fix the smartphone and will launch it again at a later date. Months passed, but there was no definite time bracket from the company. Until now, as it has claimed in a press release that all the issues plaguing the Galaxy Fold have been fixed and the device will be relaunched in the month of September.

What has been fixed

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Fold has passed through some design and construction improvements to be certified for a relaunch. These improvements include the extension of the top protective layer of the inside display. The new layer now makes it apparent that it is an integral part of the display and should not be removed. The updates to the foldable smartphone also include additional reinforcements to further protect it from external particles while maintaining its folding mechanism. Along with the aforementioned changes, the handset will also feature protection caps on the top and bottom of the hinge area; while also reducing the space between the hinge and the body of the device.

Also read: Netflix Launches Mobile-Only Plan In India, Costs Rs 199 Per Month

The images shared by Samsung of the redesigned Galaxy Fold reaffirm its claims as the mentioned changes are visible, although only subtly. While the foldable smartphone has been redesigned, the company claims its price will remain the same, that is US$ 1,980 (Rs. 1,36,500). While Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy Fold will launch in September, no specific launch date has been provided. It is also not certain why the company is not announcing the device at the Galaxy Unpacked event next month, where it is expected to launch the Galaxy Note 10. It is speculated that it is being done to not steal the spotlight away from either of the two handsets. Whatever may be the case though, we will not have to have to wait too long to find out.

July 25, 2019
Google Launches Gallery Go, A 10MB Offline Photo App

Google, one of the largest technology brands, has unveiled its latest software application to organize photos offline for Android devices. The search giant introduced its Gallery Go application which is a lightweight offline gallery app. The program was developed by Google for Nigeria which hints its focus for third world countries where data connectivity is not widespread. In addition, Gallery Go is built on a simple user interface to enable easy usability from first-time smartphone owners.

Features

Back in 2015, the company launched Google Photos which is a photo-sharing and online storage service. It is one of the most used application from the company and constantly gets updates that offer new features. Similarly, Gallery Go is in a sense a Lite version of the photo app and brings many of the great features from Google Photos. It is an offline gallery app with native support from organizing and cataloguing images. The application carries a negligible file size of 10MB and also works with SD cards to allow for easier transfer of images from smartphones.

Availability

Furthermore, Gallery Go also features a simple editing tool that is useful for enhancing images. It is enabled via Google Photos Auto Enhance feature that automatically adjusts lighting and contrasts. The small app size carries a hefty punch with its functionality without ever slowing down users smartphones. Gallery Go is available on the Play Store for devices running Android 8.1 Oreo or higher. The application has been released globally but will unfortunately not carry some of the features such as “organizing according to people” in certain countries.

Also Read: 2020 Olympics Medals Will Be Made From Gold Recycled From Old Smartphones

Gallery Go follows Google’s trend of making Go variants of its software which are lightweight and offer simpler functionality. The best example of this would be Android Go OS, a light version of Android OS. The company has made the app for users that do not have a reliable internet connection so even countries like India in its rural side can benefit. Users that are interested can download the app and try it out. Do let us know your opinions of the app in the comments section down below.

July 24, 2019

Nokia Launches 220 4G and 105 Feature Phones

Nokia has been making smartphones for quite some time now, however, a large part of the company’s revenue is still generated via the sales of budget-oriented feature phones. Further diversifying its portfolio of such affordable mobile devices, Nokia has launched two new candy-bar style phones which are called the Nokia 220 4G and Nokia 105.

The newly launched 4G handset is a successor to the Nokia 220 which debuted in the year 2014, while the Nokia 105 has undergone a fourth overhaul.

Nokia 220 and 105

As previously mentioned both the Nokia 220 4G and Nokia 105 have a Candybar style design with a small display on the front and a tactile keypad which is placed right below it. Notably, the latter has a rubberised keypad while the former has a plastic keypad.

The highlighting features on the Nokia 220 4G and Nokia 105 are an LED TorchLight, FM Radio and a long battery backup which is a staple to company’s feature phones. Both smartphones have plastic build which is designed to disassemble in case of an accidental drop. The detailed specifications of the two smartphones are as follows:

	Nokia 220 4G	Nokia 105
Display	2.4 inch QQVGA Colour Display	1.77 inch QQVGA Colour Display
Battery	1200 mAh	800 mAh
Camera	VGA Camera LED Flash	N/A
Dimensions and Weight	121.3 x 52.9 x 13.4mm 86.5 gram	119 x 49.2 x 14.4mm 74 g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 4.2 Micro USB 3.5 mm Audio Jack	Micro USB 3.5 mm Audio Jack
Other Features	LED Flash Wireless FM Radio MP3 Player	FM Radio Torchlight

Also Read: Fresh Leak Reveals Full Specs Of The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 And Note 10+

As the specifications state, the price of the Nokia 220 4G is the more than the Nokia 105. Both the handsets will be available for purchase in the month of August. The price of the two devices are as follows:

Nokia 220 4G: US $ 44, (around Rs 3,000)
Nokia 105: US $ 15 (around Rs 999)

What are your thoughts on the two newly launched feature phones from Nokia? Let us know in the comments below.

July 24, 2019

Apple iPhone 11 Leaked Internals And Camera Features Roundup

Historically, Apple releases the latest entry of its flagship smartphones in September. The latest models are reportedly dubbed iPhone 11 and will launch in three different variants. The traditional launch event will host the latest generation of iPhones that will be successors to their previous iterations; iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. Now, we have provided a small roundup of leaked internals and features of the upcoming smartphones.

Reportedly, 2019 iPhone will feature similar resolution as its predecessors while keeping the lightning port and sport a new Taptic engine. It means that the upcoming Apple handsets will not carry the USB-C port that is already available on the latest iPad Pros.

Display & Ports

Previously, reports had unsurfaced claiming the tech giant to move towards a more AMOLED centric electronic product line. However, the 2019 iPhone XR might be skipping the new display which may arrive on its 2020 edition next year. The deal with Samsung for a large number of AMOLED panels will have Apple include such displays on a more broader scale in the near future. Additionally, the exclusion of a USB Type-C port is rather odd considering 2018 iPad Pro already features the universal port.

Internals & New Taptic Engine

2019 iPhone or iPhone 11 will run on the latest A13 SoC, codenamed Cebu, from Apple. It will be the latest instalment in mobile processors from the company and improvements are expected on power management and performance. A beefier version of the chipset might be included in the upcoming 2019 iPad Pro as well.

Past reports had suggested that Apple is moving to discontinue its proprietary Taptic Engine owing to cost and lack of flexibility. Now, a fresh report claims that ‘leap haptics’ from Apple will replace the previous engine for haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is a touch and pressure sensitive system that allows for more customised functionality. Users could press on apps and launch certain functions that were available. Apple is rumoured to be removing its Taptic Engine on iPhones for a new iteration that might be more cost-effective.

Brand New Camera

Many have already seen the new triple camera setup which is featured on the back of 2019 iPhones. The iPhone 11 and 11 Max will feature a triple camera on a square module at the back while the cheaper 11R only sports a dual-camera setup. The third additional sensor is now leaked to be a wide-angle lens which would allow for ultra-wide shots from the rear. Notably, one new feature that will be available to users is Smart Frame. It is a function that captures an image from both the primary and wide-angle lens which thereon lets the users manually adjust the framing, or perform automatic perspective and crop correction.

iPhone 11 Concept

However, the new function is only accessible for a limited time after a shot is taken and will discard additional footage soon after. The front-facing camera on the iPhone 11 will also see an upgrade. The selfie shooter is getting added support for 120fps slow-motion recording. A function which is not seen on a more broader scale in the current market.

Also Read: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Review

As of right now, no concrete conclusions can be drawn about what is confirmed and what is false. Only Apple’s official launch announcement in September can clear all doubts and rumours. Stay tuned for more information regarding the upcoming iPhone. More information is expected to arrive soon and updates will follow promptly.

July 24, 2019

Fresh Leak Reveals Full Specs Of The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 And Note 10+

Samsung will soon launch the 10th iteration of its Note lineup of smartphones which will be dubbed the Galaxy Note 10 and the Galaxy Note 10+. Both the smartphones have been subjected to numerous leaks in the past that have revealed their features in bits and pieces.

However, a reliable source has shared detailed specs of the two Samsung Galaxy Note 10 handsets that have only left their pricing to the imagination.

It has been said time and again that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lineup of smartphones will be significantly different than their predecessor, both in terms of specs and design. And the latest leak strengthens the claim.

According to the images shared by the source, both the Galaxy Note 10 smartphones will have a visionary design with a large screen display on the front that is surrounded by negligible bezels. Besides they will also have a punch hole in the display to house the selfie camera and an indisplay fingerprint sensor.

Talking about the rear of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphones, they seem to have a glass build with a neat layout that accommodates the company branding the camera setup. Both handsets have an elongated capsule-shaped triple camera module. Besides, the Galaxy Note+ sports and additional ToF sensor which is placed next to the main module.

Following are the detailed specs of the two Galaxy Note 10 smartphones:

Specification

Galaxy Note 10

Galaxy Note 10+

Screen

6.3 Inch Infinity O, 60 Hz

AMOLED Display

QHD+ Resolution

6.5 Inch Infinity O, 60 Hz

AMOLED Display

QHD+ Resolution

Chipset

Exynos 9825

Octa Core CPU

(2x 2.7 GHz, 2x 2.4 GHz, 4x 1.4 GHz)

Snapdragon 855

Octa Core CPU

Adreno 640 GPU

Exynos 9825

Octa Core CPU

(2x 2.7 GHz, 2x 2.4 GHz, 4x 1.4 GHz)

Snapdragon 855

Octa Core CPU

Adreno 640 GPU

Battery

3600 mAh

Fast Wired Charging Upto 45 W

Wireless Charging Upto 20 W

Reverse Wireless Charging Upto 15 W

4300 mAh

Fast Wired Charging Upto 45 W

Wireless Charging Upto 20 W

Reverse Wireless Charging Upto 15 W

Front Camera

10 MP Dual Pixel

f/2.2

4K @ 30 fps

10 MP Dual Pixel

f/2.2

4K @ 30 fps

Rear Camera

12 MP Dual Pixel, f/1.5-f/2.4

16 MP Ultra Wide, f/2.2

12 MP 2x Optical Zoom, f/2.1

4K @ 60 fps

12 MP Dual Pixel, f/1.5-f/2.4

16 MP Ultra Wide, f/2.2

12 MP 2x Optical Zoom, f/2.1

ToF (Time Of Flight Sensor)

4K @ 60 fps

Security

Face recognition

Ultrasonic Fingerprint Reader

Knox 3.4

Face recognition

Ultrasonic Fingerprint Reader

Knox 3.4

RAM

8 GB

LPDDR4x

12 GB

LPDDR4x

ROM

256 GB (base variant)

UFS 3.0

Expandable Upto 1 TB

256 GB (base variant)

UFS 3.0

Expandable Upto 1 TB

Other Features

AKG Stereo Speakers

Dolby Atmos

S-Pen (with air gestures)

AKG Stereo Speakers

Dolby Atmos

S-Pen (with air gestures)

Also Read: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER Review

To sum it up, both the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10+ will be one the best smartphones of the year 2019. However, to authenticate the leaks and get official pricing we will have to wait for the official launch which is scheduled for 7th of August.

July 24, 2019

Honor Launches MagicBook Pro 16 Premium Laptop
On the 23rd of July, Honor held a launch event in its home country, China where it unveiled the long-anticipated Honor 9X duo of smartphones. Besides it also unveiled a premium-grade notebook computer called the MagicBook Pro that touts a 16-inch display with an elegant design and high-end specifications.

MagicBook Pro 16 Specs and Features

Right off the bat, the Honor MagicBook Pro draws a lot of inspiration from Apple’s MacBook lineup of computers. It has an aluminium body with a sleek design that incorporates a 16.1-inch Full HD display. In terms of dimensions and weight, the laptop measures 369 X 234 X 16.9mm and it tips the scale at 1.7 kg.

Under the hood, the MagicBook Pro 16 can be configured with either an i5 or i7 8th Generation Intel processor. It also packs an Nvidia GeForce MX250 GPU that has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

The laptop computer from Honor also has a bunch of nifty features which include a power button that doubles up as a fingerprint sensor, a 1 MP web camera that is concealed inside the function lane of the keyboard and dual speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

To keep the temperatures on the Honor MagicBook Pro 16 under check, the laptop is kitted with dual high-speed fans. The laptop also has a variety of input and output ports which are as follows:
- 1x USB Type-C Port
- 3x USB 3.0 (Type A) Port
- 1x HDMI Port
- 3.5 mm audio jack, headphone and mic combo
Connectivity options on the Honor MagicBook Pro 16 include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. The laptop is powered by a 57 WHr battery which is claimed to provide a battery backup of upto 14 hours.

In term of memory and storage the Honor MagicBook Pro is offered in several configurations for which the prices are as follows:
- Core i5, 8GB RAM and 512GB storage: 5,499 yuan (around Rs 55,000)
- Core i7, 8GB RAM and 512GB storage: 6,199 Yuan (around Rs 62,000)
- Core i7, 16GB RAM and 1TB storage: 7,999 Yuan (around Rs 80,000)
Also Read: Jio GigaFiber Commercial Launch Date Tipped, May Cost Rs 600 Per Month

The laptop is currently available for purchase only in China but if the demand for its rises, the company may launch it in other regions as well

To sum it up, the Honor MagicBook Pro 16 sums to a be a laptop that not only looks good but offers worthy specs for the price it is being offered at.

Which according to you is the best feature on teh newly launched laptop from Honor? Do let us know in the comments below.
July 23, 2019
Jio GigaFiber Commercial Launch Date Tipped, May Cost Rs 600 Per Month

Following the sensational reception of Jio 4G, Reliance Industries had announced Jio GigaFiber at the 2018 AGM (Annual General Meeting). At the time of kick-off, the ultra-high-speed internet service was limited to 1,100 cities and users could enrol via a registration process.

Although the beta trials of the Jio GigaFiber service has undergone successfully in most regions, its commercial launch is yet to take place.

According to a fresh report, the highly anticipated Jio GigaFiber service will be commercially rolled out on the 12th of August which is the designated date for company’s this year’s AGM.

Besides announcing the commercial avialbliliy of high-speed broadband Jio GigaFiber, Reliance is also expected to unveil products and services in the entertainment and IoT domain(internet of thing).

When the Jio GigaFiber service was announced last year, users had to pay a sum of Rs 4500 as a security deposit to acquire the necessary networking equipment. However, the company had later introduced an affordable version of ONT (optical network terminal) that has brought down the security deposit to just Rs 2,500.

In terms of the monthly subscription fee, Reliance is expected to retain the price of Rs 600 which was originally announced. Subscribing to the said plan provides a combo of three services which include GigaFiber broadband, Jio Home TV (DTH service) and Jio Apps including Jio Music and Jio Movies (both of which are on-demand streaming services).

Also Read: Huawei Launches The Honor 9X & Honor 9X Pro In China

Conclusively, as Jio 4G took over the telecom sector due to competent prices and widespread reach, the Jio GigaFiber is expected to replicate that in the broadband and DTH industry.

What are your thoughts on Jio GigaFiber? What do you think should be the right pricing for the service and equipment? Let us know in the comments below.

July 23, 2019
Huawei Launches The Honor 9X & Honor 9X Pro In China
At an event in China, Huawei’s sub-brand Honor launched its latest mid-range smartphones, the Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro. The devices are the successor to the Honor 8X series launched last year and features notable improvements in the design and performance department. The handsets have been launched in the Chinese market for now, with global availability expected to be announced soon.

Honor 9X Series

As mentioned above, the Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro are the latest mid-range offering from the company. The smartphones feature a glass sandwich design on the front and back with a metal chassis for reinforcement. Both the devices measure 163.1mm x 77.2mm x 8.8mm and weigh 206g. The handsets have a 6.59 inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080px. To maximise the screen to body ratio, they use a pop-up mechanism to house the front-facing camera. This makes them the first smartphones from Honor to have a pop-up camera. For biometric authentication and unlocking the handsets, they have a side-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock.

Under the hood, the Honor 9X and Honor 9X Pro are kitted with the latest chipset from Huawei, the 7nm Kirin 810 SoC. It consists of an Octa-core CPU and the Mali G52 GPU. In terms of optics, the Honor 9X has a dual-camera setup, which is comprised of a 48MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The Pro variant, on the other hand, has a triple camera layout which adds in an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens to the mix. Both smartphones have an f/2.2 aperture equipped 16MP front-facing camera housed in the pop-up mechanism.

Both the devices in the Honor 9X series are powered by a 4000mAh battery with support for fast charging. For efficiently cooling the smartphones under heavy load, they are equipped with liquid cooling technology. The Honor 9X will be available in three colours, namely Phantom Blue, Phantom Red and Magic Night Black; while the Honor 9X Pro will be available in the Phantom Purple and Magic Night Black colour.

Pricing & Storage Variants

Also read: Another Day, Apple Watch Saves Yet Another Man’s Life

The pricing of the Honor 9X series, along with their corresponding storage variants are listed below.

Honor 9X-
- 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM: CNY 1399 (INR 14,000)
- 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM: CNY 1599 (INR 16,000)
- 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM: CNY 1899 (INR 19,000)
Honor 9X Pro-
- 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM: CNY 2199 (INR 22,000)
- 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM: CNY 2399 (INR 24,000)
July 23, 2019
Another Day, Apple Watch Saves Yet Another Man’s Life

Apple Watch which was originally intended as an extended accessory to the iPhone has turned into a lot more. The smartwatch with built-in health-related sensors like a heart rate monitor (HRM) has saved a significant number of lives in the past.

Likewise, a 48 year old Brit named, Paul Hutton received a life-saving surgery after his Apple Watch notified him of irregular heartbeat pattern which would frequently drop below 40 bpm (beats per minute). For reference, the heart rate of a healthy human ranges between 60 bpm and 100 bpm.

When the Apple Watch notified him for the first time, the man visited a general practitioner who apparently diagnosed him with low heart rate. In order to resolve the issue, he cut down on caffeine. Nevertheless, his Apple Watch which was upgraded in 2017 continued to send notifications.

Following continuous warnings from the wearable device, he has referred him to a consultant who diagnosed him of a potentially life-threatening condition called, ventricular bigeminy. Readers who are unaware, this condition is referred to as a problematic heart rhythm in which there are repeated rhythmic heartbeats, one long and one shorter. This irregular heart-pumping action can lead to the improper blood supply to vital organs of the body.

The sufferer has since undergone a complex surgery that has supposedly fixed the underlying health issue. Though he continues to use his Apple Watch and perhaps will use it even in the future.

Also Read: Galaxy Note 10 Will Support Zoom Audio, Display & Battery Details Also Revealed

To sum it up, technology has actually come a long way and devices like Apple Watch are of great use in saving precious lives.

What is your take on health-related technology and gadgets? If you use any such gadgets yourself, do let us know in the comments below.

July 23, 2019
Galaxy Note 10 Will Support Zoom Audio, Display & Battery Details Also Revealed

Samsung will soon announce the 10th generation of its Galaxy Note smartphones which will be carrying the “Note 10” branding. Reports in the past claimed that like the Galaxy S10 lineup, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 lineup will have four variants including the “e” variant, “+” variant, “5G” variant and a standard variant. However, a technology blog based out of Greek suggests that the device will only be offered in two variant.

Besides, the source has also revealed key details of the two Galaxy Note 10 variants which are as follows:In term of display, the economical Samsung Galaxy Note 10 variant will have a 6.3 inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution while the second variant will have a 6.8 inch AMOLED display with QHD+ resolution. The former will weigh 168 grams while the latter will weigh 198 grams.

Notably, both the smartphones will skip on a 3.5 mm jack which reportedly allows adding 100 mAh of their respective batteries. Speaking of battery, the smaller Galaxy Note 10 will pack a 3500 mAh battery whereas the high-end variant will have 4,300 mAh battery.

Although both variants of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 will support fast charging the affordable variant will support 25 W charging whereas the top-of-the-line handset will support 45 W fast charging. Noteworthy, Samsung will not supply a 45 W charger within the box and it will be sold separately as an accessory.

The S-Pen that is a staple to Galaxy Note lineup of smartphones will also be present on the Note 10. However, the new stylus pen will boast of new features including support of touchless gestures. Also, while taking notes, the new S-Pen will produce an artificial sound which will replicate the sound of writing on paper with a highlight marker.

A distinguishing photography feature that the Galaxy Note 10 is bound to get is “zoom audio”. The feature is similar to what LG had showcased a couple of years ago. As the name suggests, the zoom audio feature increases the levels of volume captured as a user zooms into a video. To help better understand the following is an example. If a user is capturing video of a running tap and he zooms into the frame, the volume of the audio recording will also increase which mimics an immersive experience.

Finally, with the Galaxy Note 10, Samsung has reportedly done away with the dedicated Bixby button. Instead, the toggle switch to the Voice Assistant will be incorporated into the power button as observed with the Huawei P30 Pro.

Although the current leak does not reveal any details about like the chipset or camera resolution of the upcoming Galaxy Note 10, interested readers can review them here.

Also Read: Asus ROG Phone 2 Launched, Features 120 Hz AMOLED Display And 6000 mAh Battery

In order to confirm all the claims and obtain the official pricing of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 smartphones, we won’t have to wait for long as their launch is scheduled for the 7th of August at the Unpacked event which will take place in New York.

July 23, 2019
Apple To Buy Intel’s 5G Modem Business For US$ 1 Billion

American technology giants Apple and Qualcomm dropped all pending lawsuits against each other and signed a six-year licensing agreement back in the month of April this year. As a repercussion of the decision, chipmaking giant Intel, who was the chief supplier of smartphone modem for the Apple iPhone for the last few years; announced that it is quitting any development on 5G modems. Now, the latest reports reveal that Apple is in advanced talks in buying the dormant 5G modem division from Intel for a hefty sum of US$ 1 Billion.

About the deal

As mentioned above, due to the settlement between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel announced that it is quitting the 5G modem business. The reason cited of the decision by the latter was that Apple is its most important client and without it, the company does not see a path forward. With the chipmaker moving out of the modem business, Apple could really benefit with the company’s resources and expertise. Intel was also the sole supplier of network modems for the iPhones launched in the year 2018, which include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR.

Also read: Huawei’s First 5G Smartphone Will Soon Be Commercially Available

It has been rumoured time and again that iPhones with support for 5G connectivity may arrive as soon as next year. And Apple is looking forward to using its own 5G modems inside the devices. However, for the near future, the company may have to use third-party modems, like the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50/X55 ones; as it may take years for it to develop a viable and sustainable modem business for its handsets. It is speculated that when the deal with Qualcomm ends in the year 2025; Apple will be ready with its own smartphone modems for use in future iPhones.

July 23, 2019