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Huawei is gearing up for the launch of its latest smartphone, dubbed the Nova 5i it is set to be unveiled on the 21st of June. A week before the official announcement, the device has been listed on the Chinese regulatory website, TENAA that has revealed its specifications and design.
Huawei Nova 5i
According to the TENAA listing, the Huawei Nova 5i measures 159.1×75.9×8.3 mm and it tips the scale at 178 grams. The front of the handset accommodates a 6.4 inch display that has a pixel density of 2310 x 1080 px. Noteworthy, the display panel has a punch hole on the top left side that houses a 24 MP selfie camera.
The rear of the Huawei Nova 5i is occupied by the fingerprint sensor, company branding and quad rear camera setup. The rear camera setup consists of a 24 MP sensor, an 8 MP sensor and dual 2 MP sensors. In terms of memory and storage, the device will be offered in two variants which are as follows:
6 GB + 128 GB
8 GB + 128 GB
Under the hood, the Nova 5i is kitted with the Kirin 710 SoC which consists of an Octa Core CPU along with the Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. Connectivity options on the Huawei Nova 5i include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, FM Radio and a bottom mounted USB Type C port. The smartphone also has a whole host of sensors which include gravity sensor, distance sensor and a light sensor.
It is powered by a 3900 mAh battery and in terms of OS, runs on the latest Android 9 Pie. Noteworthy, reports claim that Huawei Nova 5i might be launched with the HongMeng OS which will eventually replace Android OS on future devices.
Conclusively, all details about the Nova 5i will be publicised on the upcoming launch date which is set to 21st of June.
Apple launched the current generation of iPhones at an event in September last year. The devices launched include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and theiPhone XR. While the former two were the pair of flagship smartphones from the company, the latter created more buzz. Mainly because it was a more affordable, slightly specced down variant of its elder siblings. In an attractive deal on e-commerce website Amazon, the iPhone XR has been discounted for a limited time period.
iPhone XR: Price & Availability
Amazon has discounted the Apple iPhone XR in its Fab Phone Fest that is applicable until the 13th of June. Under this scheme, the 64GB variant of the smartphone will cost Rs. 58,999 down from the MRP of Rs. 76,900. The 128GB version will retail for Rs. 63,999, dropping from the MRP of Rs. 81,900. Noteworthy, the 256GB version of the smartphone is not available on sale for the time period. Interested buyers in the iPhone XR can additionally avail a discount of up to 10,150 on exchanging their old device.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR is the most affordable smartphone from Apple in the latest iPhone series. It features an all-glass design on the front and the back with an aluminium chassis to provide rigidity. The device sports a 6.1 inch LCD display with a resolution of 1792 x 828 px. For biometrics and security, the handset uses FaceID, the company signature security technology for mobile devices.
The iPhone XR runs on the Apple A12 Bionic Processor which is manufactured using the 7nm fabrication process. The device has a four-core GPU that is 50% faster than the A11 chip from 2018. In terms of optics, The smartphone has an f/1.8 aperture equipped single 12 MP wide-angle camera. For selfies, there is a 7 MP camera sensor housed in the notch on top of the display. In terms of memory and storage, the device is available with 3GB of RAM and the following three storage variants.
The iPhone XR is powered by a 2942 mAh battery and is IP67 certified for water and dust resistance. The smartphone is available in 5 colours, namely Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Coral, and White.
Facebook in a new announcement has planned to once again start paying users for being monitored. The ‘Study from Facebook’ application will monitor the user’s device, finding which apps are currently installed, duration of usage of said apps, track their location, and most importantly, record app data of users.
The monitored app data can uncover which features are being utilized in an app. The social media giant claims that it will not be able to track any specific information like messages, passwords or websites visited. The application has been launched months after Facebook’s last attempt at a user-monitoring software. Facebook Research, which was terminated after various controversies arose with the app being specifically marketed to teens, exclusively on the iPhone. The defunct app through special certification allowed itself to circumvent the App Stores and gain special access within Apple devices framework. This was a clear violation of Apple’s rules and regulations causing it to be shut down in January.
The company’s new move showcases its struggling effort in obtaining user’s data from their phones. Facebook, however, has learned a couple of things from its last public debacle. Study app will now only be available for people verified to be over the age of 18; being available exclusively on Android, where the users can choose to grant deeper access to the app. The monitoring software will now also highlight through different screens what type of user data has been collected and exactly how it’ll be used.
Facebook has yet to specify exactly how much it will be paying the user’s to use the app. Although a recent blog post has confirmed that all research participants will be compensated. A PayPal account is mandatory for the study that will reference data that the company already has over the user and the data collected. The Study app has been launched in India and the US. Initially, only the users invited for a study by Facebook can use the app.
It is expected that Google will launch the latest iterations of its Pixel lineup of smartphones in October this year. These devices, allegedly called the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL will be the successor to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from last year. While the launch of the devices is a few months down the road, details about them have already started pouring in. Now, fresh leaks in the Android Q source code reveals that the upcoming Pixel 4 handsets may have the support for Air Gestures, presumably for music playback.
Air Gestures in Pixel 4
Google Pixel 3XL
According to reports, Google is working to incorporate air gestures in Pixel 4. This is believed to be because of two commands named ‘Skip’ and ‘Silence’ found in the code of the Android Q Beta. Likely to be media controls, the commands may be enabled via dedicated hardware detecting the user’s hand movements. As the Pixel lineup is the poster child for Android and all its core features; it is assumed that the gestures might make an appearance in the next generation of the smartphones. The new gestures will require an always aware sensor present inside the Pixel 4.
Google installing air gestures in Pixel 4 falls in line with the company reviving its Project Soli, which was first shown off in the year 2015. Soli showcased a gesture-based control system for electronic devices. So the company may install the technology required for the gesture system to work on smartphones. A similar implementation was seen in the LG G8, which utilised a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor to capture hand movements for controlling certain elements of the device. Unfortunately, more details about the Pixel 4 are not available yet, but it is expected that more information is unravelled; as we move closer to the launch of the handsets in October.
Chinese smartphone maker, Oppo has launched a variety of distinctive smartphones in the past including the Oppo Find X and the Oppo N3. A freshly granted patent to the company reveals that it is working on yet another unique smartphone that has an edge-to-edge display and a sliding mechanism. The patent for the aforementioned smartphone was granted to Oppo by the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office).
Patent Disclosures
Oppo Smartphone Patent
As previously mentioned, the Oppo smartphone from the patent has a unique design with a sliding display. The front of the smartphone lacks any kind of obstructing notch and has minimal bezels around the display. The front facing selfie camera is placed in the bezel which remains concealed under the sliding mechanism. Also, the selfie camera has a circular shaped ring flash which will allow for capturing well-lit pictures in dark conditions.
Moving to the rear of the Oppo smartphone, it has a conventional design with a dual camera setup present on the upper half. The right side of the smartphone is occupied by the volume rocker and power button while the left side is occupied by what seems to be the SIM card tray. The bottom side of the device is occupied by the 3.5 mm audio jack and USB C port which is flanked by grilles on either side while the top side of the device is devoid of any controls or ports.
To get more details about the aforementioned Oppo smartphone we will have to wait patiently for the company to reveal more details. Also, it is not yet confirmed whether the device will ever see the light of the day or not. As a lot of patented devices never make their way to the commercial availability stage.
Nintendo’s keynote at E3 2019 went by in a flurry of new announcements. Some much-awaited titles have been further delayed, while other rumours have been since confirmed. The Japanese video game developer took the stage on the exact date as last year to talk about its share of promised new content for its loyal fanbase.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Sequel Confirmed
One of Nintendo’s most popular game franchise till date has been confirmed on getting a sequel. The game of the year winning title for 2017, had garnered critical acclaim in the gaming community for its breath-taking visual style and art forms. The company has not revealed any solid details apart from the video confirming the title currently being under development.
The Dark Crystal
Nintendo’s portable gaming console, the Switch, is receiving a new turn-based strategy game. The title will be based in the same universe as Netflix’s prequel called The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. The game is set on a fictional planet with different races and in the reveal, the trailer looks unique in its own right. The exact release has not been specified but will be available for purchase later on in 2019.
The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Unlike its mature-themed main storyline version, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has a lot more cartoonish aesthetics going for it. The title is set to launch on 20th September 2019 and will feature great new visuals and game designs. New game modes will allow players to design their very own dungeon to challenge and run through.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Port
The award-winning title from one of the gaming industries most beloved studio’s, CD Projekt Red, is receiving a port. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is touted to be one of the best role-playing game (RPG) ever made. In late 2019, the game will finally receive a port to Nintendo’s Handheld Console, the Switch, giving players the ability to explore the rich world within the game on the go.
Resident Evil Port
Adding on to the already large catalogue of supported games on the Nintendo Switch, two more of Resident Evil series title have now been ported as well. The 5th and 6th instalment in the horror-action genre of the shooter wasn’t received as warmly as its predecessors but still sold relatively well. Both games will be launching this fall 2019.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
The underrated title from Nintendo receives its latest entry, that jumpstarts the franchise again with a myriad of new features. A blend of horror and comedy go hand-in-hand as seen as the trailer with more physical gameplay that allows players to tackle ghosts. The new instalment in the series now supports a co-op system, allowing for a friend to tag along as the squishy Gooigi. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will hit the shelves later in the year on the Switch.
Daemon X Machina
The game that was teased last year finally receives a trailer and it is exciting, to say the least. The game releases this September on the 13th and will feature warring mechs (giant fighting robots piloted by humans) go up against each other and large mechanical behemoths. This trailer was one of the few that garnered notable anticipation within the audience.
No More Heroes 3
The sequel to the 2nd entry in the franchise, No More Heroes 3 will pick up right after it infamously disliked ending with the predecessor. The game is as over the top as the previous titles and will feature the return of eccentric and highly amusing characters. Notably, the game in a bizarre manner will now also have flying mechs involved. Players will take control of Travis Touchdown again after the game releases in 2020.
Banjo-Kazooie Debut In Super Smash Bros
Super Smash Bros Ultimate, the title where many of the gaming community’s favourite character brawl it out for victory, receives a new set of characters. The fan favourites from Dragon Quest, Banjo-Kazooie are arriving in the game this fall and will bring new levels of fun-filled antics to the family-friendly franchise.
Panzer Dragoon
Nintendo is remaking the iconic Sega Saturn consoles shooter, Panzer Dragoon, for the Switch. The new version will feature updated visual fidelity alongside enhanced gameplay for new the generation and for the most part, will remain true to the original title. The expected launch date is year-end 2019.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
Gamers that still have a Pokéball Plus in their homes can still make use of them. The upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield on the Switch will not be controlled by the Pokéball, however, unlike Let’s Go. Now critters can be taken out of the game and into the real world, earning players various bonuses.
Cadence of Hyrule
Cadence of Hyrule took the world by surprise with its art styles and forms that make the game resemble an Indie development and not a AAA title. The musical spinoff of the Zelda franchise will launch relatively early, shipping to Switch on 13th June 2019.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
The long-awaited title from Nintendo that was previously supposed to launch this year has received a delay. Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Switch will now be available on 20h March 2020. The title still carries the series iconic art style albeit in a more updated form that makes it look gorgeous in a cartoonish manner. Players are now tasked with building up a community on a deserted island with the latest entry.
Alien: Isolation and Dauntless Ports
Two of the new ports that have been announced caught everyone by surprise, welcomed nonetheless. Alien: Isolation, the terrifying horror game with the classic Xenomorph is arriving to Switch. It will be joined by the recent free-to-play monster-slaying title, Dauntless, that only recently received a port from PC to consoles. Both games will be available in late 2019.
Nintendo with its new announcements in the worlds largest gaming expo, E3 2019, is on its way to a jam-packed schedule for new releases and remakes. The company that manufactures its own handheld consoles have still remained relevant in the industry through its iconic games that have also withstood the test of time so far.
With the rise in popularity for mobile gaming, the demand for gaming smartphones has also seen an upward trend. In the year 2018, Taiwan based Asus launched the ROG Phone which is packed with features that are designed and incorporated while keeping gamers in mind. As time passed, the device’s specification seems to fall short in comparison to its competitors including the Nubia Red Magic 3 and the Xiaomi Black Shark 2.
To take on its competitors that pack flagship worthy features from 2019, Asus has been anticipated to launch a successor to the original ROG phone. Pleasingly, the company has officially revealed that the second generation ROG Phone is in the works and it will have a feature that is a segment first. ROG’s official account on Chinese social media website, Weibo confirmed that the Asus ROG gaming Phone 2 will have a praiseworthy 120 Hz refresh rate display. The said display provides for an enhanced viewing experience which is more pleasing to the eye. Noteworthy, it is not yet confirmed whether the future smartphone will use an LCD display or an AMOLED display. As AMOLED technology with this high refresh rate is yet to be unveiled by any company.
To boost the hype around the upcoming device, Asus has also collaborated with the game developer, Tencent which is renowned for the wildly successful PUBG Mobile. Other specifications of the upcoming smartphone will be revealed at the time of launch, however, following are the expectations from the device.
Asus ROG Phone 2 Expectations
Snapdragon 855 SoC: Being a 2019 flagship grade Android smartphone, the apparent choice for the chipset on the Asus ROG Phone 2 is Snapdragon 855 which is seen on most other flagship devices from leading OEMs.
4,000 mAh+ Battery: Running resource hungry tasks like games on a smartphone takes a jab on the battery draining it at a comparatively faster pace. Even though the original Asus ROG Phone has a large 4,000 mAh battery, an even larger capacity battery would be appreciated by the consumers. Also, with the ZenFone 6, Asus has managed to accommodate a 5,000 mAh battery. Therefore, the upcoming gaming focused device is also predicted to have a similar size battery.
In-display Fingerprint Sensor:
The original Asus ROG Phone has a rear mounted fingerprint sensor which was found on almost every 2018 flagship device. However, with the advancement in technology, the industry has shifted to an in-display fingerprint sensor which is concealed under the display. Accordingly, the Asus ROG Phone 2 is also expected to have an in-display fingerprint sensor.
6 Inch+ Display:
The original Asus ROG phone Phone has a 6.0 inch AMOLED display with Full HD resolution. With the most mid-range and premium smartphones from 2019 having a display larger than 6 inch, the upcoming Asus ROG Phone 2 is predicted to have a display larger than its predecessor. It is expected to have a display which can range somewhere from 6.3 inch to 6.6 inch.
To conclude, the expectations and predictions about the Asus ROG Phone 2 will be verified in the coming future with precise specifications being revealed at the time of official launch. The upcoming gaming centred device is expected to launch in the Q3 of 2019.
American electronics giant Apple is expected to launch three new variants of its popular smartphone; the Apple iPhone later this year. The devices will be the successor to the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR from last year. While there is still time before the handsets are officially announced by the company; new information about them has been surfacing online for a while now. In a fresh leak, a Korean media outlet has revealed the battery capacity of the most affordable iPhone to be released this year, the alleged iPhone XR 2019.
iPhone XR 2019
iPhone XR
According to the media outlet, the successor to the iPhone XR, which is purportedly called the iPhone XR 2019 will have a larger battery than its predecessor. It has been revealed that the smartphone will have a 3110mAh battery; which is around a 5 percent improvement over the 2942mAh cell found in the current generation of iPhone XR. The larger battery will make the device have the biggest battery in any single-celled iPhone; as the more premium variants have two different cells attached to each other for a combined larger capacity. The report also mentions that China’s Ameperx Technology Limited (ATL) has started mass production of the batteries for the iPhone XR 2019. The production was kicked off on June 9, with the packaging being done by another Chinese firm known as Huapu Technology.
The iPhone XR, when launched last year, was praised for its battery life as it used a lower resolution LCD display compared to OLED found in its elder siblings. Increasing the capacity of its successor insinuates that the iPhone XR 2019 may be another battery champ; among the slew of iPhones scheduled to release this year. The upcoming affordable iPhone has been leaked to arrive with two new colours, dual rear cameras and run on the Apple A13 SoC at the same price as its predecessor. Unfortunately, more details about the handset are not known at the moment, but they are expected to be unravelled as we move closer to the device launch.
Korean electronics giant Samsung has launched the latest smartphone in its Galaxy M lineup, the Galaxy M40 in India. It is a mid-range device which takes the mantle of being the most premium handset in the series from the Galaxy M30. The Galaxy M40 boasts of competitive specifications at a lucrative price tag.
Samsung Galaxy M40
As mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy M40 is the latest mid-range offering from the company. The device features a polycarbonate body with an attractive gradient coloured back. It has a 6.3 inch LCD Infinity-O display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. To maximise the screen real estate, the smartphone sports a hole punch cutout to house the front camera on the top left of the display, like the Honor View20; however, unlike that smartphone, the latest device eliminates the earpiece in favour of the company’s “screen sound” technology. This vibrates the entirety of the display to generate sound inside voice calls. For quickly accessing the handset, a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock is also present on the Galaxy M40.
The Galaxy M40 is kitted with the 10nm Snapdragon 675 SoC under the hood. It is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU. The processor is also seen in smartphones from the likes of the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Samsung Galaxy A70. In terms of optics, the device has a triple rear camera setup. It consists of an f/1.7 aperture equipped 32MP primary camera; combined with an f/2.2 aperture equipped 8MP ultra wide angle sensor and an f/2.2 aperture equipped 5MP depth sensor. For selfies, an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16MP camera is expected to be housed in the punch hole cutout on top of the display. The Galaxy M40 has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which supports memory expansion via microSD.
The Samsung Galaxy M40 is powered by a 3500 mAh battery with support for 15W charging. The smartphone runs on the latest OneUI skin on top of Android 9 Pie. This will make it the first device in the Galaxy M series to feature Android Pie out of the box. The handset is available in two colour options, Midnight Blue and Seawater Blue.
The Samsung Galaxy M40 has been launched at a price of Rs. 19,990. The smartphone will go on sale starting on the 18th of June at 12 noon; it will be available exclusively via Amazon India and Samsung’s online store.
AMD has taken the computing world by storm with its announcements of various new generation CPUs and GPUs. The American company’s latest lineup have spurred its competitors such as NVIDIA and Intel. Both companies’ have seen a downfall in their respective stocks post-AMD’s announcement two-weeks prior at Computex 2019. Team red went on stage about the pricing of some of its top-notch products at E3 gaming expo 2019.
Ryzen 9 3950X
AMD’s Next Horizon Gaming Event at E3 2019 gaming expo unveiled the pricing of the worlds only gaming-centric CPU with 16 cores. Ryzen 9 3950X is priced at $750 (approx. Rs.52,000). The 16-core/ 32-thread CPU chipset has a base clock of 3.5GHz base clock and a boost clock of 4.7GHz. The cache is a massive 72MB and a relatively low 105W TDP for a 16-core processor. Even a 16-core Threadripper from AMD is rated at 180 watts; Intel’s very own 16-core has a 165W TDP.
The 7nm processors are proving to be much more power efficient and cheaper, not only in workloads for creators but for gaming performance as well. Apart from being the only 16-core gaming CPU, it is also compatible with an AM4 motherboard, becoming a Threadripper class capable CPU fully operational in a consumer grade small motherboards. Both Intel’s and AMD’s 16-core CPU draw a lot more power from expensive and large motherboards that harbour larger sockets.
Alongside the announcement, pricing was also revealed for its other lower-specced Ryzen 3000 series lineup.
Ryzen 9 3900X – $499
Ryzen 7 3800X – $399
Ryzen 7 3700X – $329
Ryzen 5 3600X – $249
Ryzen 5 3600 – $199
Ryzen 5 3400G – $149
Ryzen 3 3200G – $99
Radeon RX 5700 Series
AMD announced two variants of its upper-mid-price range GPUs that will compete with NVIDIA’s RTX series GeForce graphics card. The company is focusing on the price range that is more accessible to gamers and focuses on beating NVIDIA at a lower price bracket. RX 5700 will cost $380 (approx. Rs.26,500) and provide noticeably better performance compared to the RTX 2060 GPU priced at $350 (approx. Rs.24,500). The higher variant RX 5700 XT is priced at $450 (approx. Rs.31,000) and also bests the RTX 2070 priced at $500 (approx. Rs.35,000).
Additionally, AMD unveiled a new proprietary Radeon Image Sharpening that will be supported by almost every game without requiring developers’ support. This technique barely has an impact on performance and framerate while improving the overall visual fidelity. RIS was seen in demos at E3 and is technically capable of being adopted by other GPU manufacturers. The new software is exclusive to the RX 5700 series for now, while generic version called Contrast Adaptive Sharpening is being prepared for developers to directly integrate into their games. A new Radeon Anti-Lag has also been announced, that reduces input lag during stressful computations faced by the GPU. This will help give an advantage during competitive games with faster response times.
The new AMD graphics card will be available on 7th July 2019 (7th day of the 7th month with the 7nm processor chips), along with a special 50th Anniversary Edition Radeon RX 5700 XT. The special edition features black chassis and higher clocks that allow the card to go over 10TFLOPs. AMD still has time before taking on NVIDIA’s current top-end GPUs with its upcoming NAVI GPU in 2020.
The company which brought the first foldable smartphone to the market is reportedly working on another unique device with an equally unique display. Previously, a Samsung device with a flexible display was reported to be in the works. However, this time, the display is not just flexible. A fresh patent reveals that the South Korean company is developing a device with a special set of features.
About The Patent
The aforementioned patent was originally filed with the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office) for an ‘Electronic device including a flexible display with expandable display area’ on November 28, 2018. The patent was published less than a year later on June 6 2019. It describes a smartphone with a roll-out flexible display that can create an extra large screen surface to use. Since the user preference is shifting towards larger sized smartphones, it makes sense to innovate a new technology such as this one.
The “non-extended” state of the Samsung smartphone looks like any traditional smartphone. The bezels on the top and the bottom are quite prominent, opposed to the bezel-less smartphones in trend these days. However, the design of the device shouldn’t be taken for granted, since the primary motive of the patent is to depict the working and design of the extendable display module. The final design of such a device can differ significantly from the original renders.
Using a slider system, users can create an elongated screen surface that may have several implications. For instance, the smartphone can be useful while scrolling through web pages, or it can be used to play games that require a large screen surface, for instance, PUBG Mobile. Moreover, users can also use the expanded display on the Samsung smartphone to accommodate more users on the display during a video call or a conference call. The display is stored in a central housing so as to prevent any form of external damage. The sliding mechanism can be triggered automatically or manually.
As per the patent images, the forehead of the Samsung smartphone will house the earpiece as well as an LED notification indicator. The upper bezel also accommodates the front camera sensors. Optics also includes a dual rear camera setup. A USB Type-C port is present at the bottom of the device. If the flexible-cum-expandable smartphone design is viable, the company may use the technology to manufacture tablets in the future as well.
Xiaomi backed Huami has launched the Amazfit Amazfit Health Watch at an event held in China. It is the successor to the original Huami Amazfit Watch and has a similar design to its predecessor.
HuamiAmazfit Health Watch Features and Design
The Amazfit Health Watch from Huami has a modern design with a square shaped housing. The smart fitness watch features a 1.28 inch colour display with 176 x 176 px resolution and tempered glass protection. Besides the touch screen display, the device can even be controlled via the right side mounted circular crown. The smartwatch supports narrowband network technology (NB IoT) so it is not necessary to be paired with a smartphone to track and collect fitness related data.
The rear of the Amazfit Health Watch has a plastic build that features a PPG heart rate sensor and an ECG sensor. The latter measures the ECG of the wearer in 60 seconds which can be stored locally as well for upto 7 days. The smart wearable is powered by a 200 mAh battery which the company claims can provide for 7 day battery backup. The device runs on the Huangshan No 1 processor which is an in house developed chipset dedicated for wearable devices and has support for AI functionality. The chipset is used to track the data for fitness including ECG. The Amazfit Health Watch is also water resistant to 3 ATM or 30 metres.
The Amazfit Health Watch is priced at CNY 699 (around Rs 7000) and will be available for purchase in China later this month. It is available in three colour options which include Black, Brown with Rose Gold face and Brown with Gold face. The device is also expected to make its way into India in the coming months.
The human race has seen drastic advancements in space exploration over the last five decades. However, humans missions still remain few and far between. The reason for that is considered to be the fuel used in the missions. Until now, most missions to space have used hydrazine, which is a dangerous and toxic chemical for humans to use and handle. Handling the colourless liquid requires some very strict safety precautions. Now, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States has announced that it is planning on testing a new fuel for spacecraft. Dubbed the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) it uses a non-toxic, rose coloured solution that can be a breakthrough in space exploration.
About the fuel
The GIPM is a spacecraft which will use the aforementioned fuel to power the mission. The fuel in question is a “green” mix of hydroxylammonium nitrate with an oxidizer that assists it in burning. It is considered safe enough to fuel the spacecraft while it is still being built, which will fast forward the launch. Apart from being safer, the newest chemical is also significantly more powerful than hydrazine. According to NASA, the newer fuel will offer up to 50 percent better performance. This boost in efficiency can either be used by travelling more distance in an equivalent amount of hydrazine; or by reducing the amount of fuel required in a spacecraft.
If the GIPM by NASA is successful in justifying the need for the new type of fuel; it could pave way for longer, more resource intensive missions like sending humans to Mars or Moon. The aforementioned mission by NASA, GPIM is scheduled to launch in June on board a Falcon Heavy Rocket by SpaceX. This is the same mission carrying the LightSail 2 project which is being conducted to demonstrate controlled solar sailing.
In the month of May 2019, US Commerce department barred all American companies from having any trade relations with the Chinese tech titan, Huawei. The ban has been implemented on the basis of accusations that claim the Chinese company spies on user data with the help of back doors installed on its devices. This move has pushed the company in an uneasy spot where it cannot use either Android or Windows on its smartphones or computers.
However, the company is working rigorously to neutralise the havoc that the trade ban has caused. Huawei was previously reported to be working on its own operating system for mobile devices which is expected to debut later this year. The said OS is allegedly called HongMeng and is reported to be cross compatible with Android OS. This implies that applications from the Android platform will work seamlessly with the upcoming OS from Huawei. According to a fresh report published by China Daily, Huawei has already shipped 1 million smartphones with the HongMeng OS onboard for testing. Besides supporting Android applications, the OS is claimed to have increased security functions to protect personal data.
The OS will support mobile phones, computers, tablets, televisions, cars and even smart wearable devices revealed a senior Huawei executive in a WeChat group involving some internet experts. Intriguingly, Huawei has not started working on the OS following the US ban. Instead, the company has been developing such an operating system for over half a decade. This move was taken as the company had previously anticipated the rising dominance of Western companies in the field of software.
Another report published by South China Morning Post states that in the year 2012, Huawei’s founder arranged a closed door meeting in the company’s heavily guarded premised that lasted for several days. The meeting was intended so that the top official could brainstorm the development of an OS that would safeguard the company’s future if a deal with the US goes bad. Reports also suggest that the company has pumped billions of dollars in the project since its inception without any form of direct contribution to the company’s revenue.
It seems that Huawei which is a leader across several fields of technologies has also maintained a strong grip in ensuring that it’s hard earned dominance stays regardless of tough times. All in all, Huawei has tackled the massive destruction causing trade ban with strong preparation. Though we will have to wait patiently till the hyped up HongMeng OS is officially rolled out later this year.
Ubisoft’s keynote at E3 2019 gaming expo, has showcased a diverse lineup of new games along with the latest iterations of popular titles. The stage for the French video game developer also showcased a healthy criticism of game development of this day and age with a documentary. Additionally, apart from just game titles, the publisher announced details on a new TV show and a PC subscription service.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Ghost Recon Breakpoint has already been confirmed to be under development before E3 2019. However, Ubisoft announced the official release date of the new iteration of the Ghost Recon series. October 4th is the date the action-packed shooter will hit the global shelves. Jon Bernthal, most famously known for his work as the Punisher, will play as the main antagonist. Interestingly enough, the American made an appearance on Ubisoft’s E3 Stage with a dog by his side.
Watch Dogs Legion
The third iteration of the Watch Dogs title finally gets confirmed with the new reveal trailer by Ubisoft. The company in a bold move shifts the focus of the third entry into the near-future post-Brexit London. The key feature that sets the new title apart from its predecessors is the ability to control virtually any character in the game. This lets players build up a squad of hacking vigilantes from different demographics and skills. Watch Dogs Legion will be released on March 2020.
Assassin’s Creed Odysseys Story Creator & Educational Mode
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey from 2018 took the popular franchise to a historic Greek setting. This instalment of Assassin’s Creed is now receiving new features to add a more in-depth customisation system for the players. Story Creator mode allows players to design their own quests using the web-based tool that is already available for free in open beta. Ubisoft is also planning another mode dubbed, “Discovery” that will be similar to Assassin’s Creed Origins accomplished Education mode.
Rainbox Six Quarantine
It has been a while since a fresh entry appeared in Ubisoft’s Rainbox Six franchise of tactical shooters. The upcoming co-op game was teased by the company at E3 and had showcased playable characters from Rainbox Six Siege making an appearance in the new title. Rainbox Six Quarantine is a squad-based survival first-person shooter that is being developed by a new dedicated team at Ubisoft’s Montreal studio and will release in early 2020.
Roller Champions
Stepping away from the recognizable game titles, Ubisoft unveiled a fresh unexpected title. Roller Champions is a competitive multiplayer game with the roller derby game as the main setting. Giving off a futuristic aesthetic with interesting characters, the game will also be free-to-play at launch. A release date has not been given but is rumoured to be in 2020.
Gods & Monsters
Ubisoft’s team behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey have been working on a brand new game titled Gods & Monsters. While the Assasin’s game featured Greek history, the new title will dive into Greek mythology. The game is, ever so slightly, in resemblance to Zelda: Breath Of The Wild. This is in great taste for both the Nintendo title and Ubisoft game look gorgeous with their unique art styles and environment renditions. The game is set to launch on 25th February 2020.
The Division Movie
Not a lot of information regarding the upcoming division movie has been unveiled. Apart from the lead star, Jake Gyllenhaal that will also be seen in Spiderman: Far From Home, only the movie’s platform has been discerned. The movie has no official release date but will be available for streaming on Netflix.
Ubisoft’s PC Subscription Service
Ubisoft at E3 announced its own take of the PC game subscription plans that have been going about. The company unveiled UPlay Plus that cost $14.99 (approx. Rs.1,000)per month and will offer customers access to more than 100 Ubisoft game titles and DLCs. The subscription will be available starting from 3rd September 2019.
Ubisoft has come a long way from its past missteps at E3 that had it face accusations ranging from false advertising to poor after sales service. The game developer and publisher has made great efforts in the pro-consumer form of business strategies. This dedication to its community and good service with popular games and constant new titles will ensure its longevity in the highly competitive gaming market.
