Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+ Spotted On FCC

The Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+ have been extensively leaked through different channels from the past few weeks. These smartphones were initially spotted on Geekbench, then on Wi-Fi certification portal. And now, the smartphones have been officially certified by Federal Communication Commission (FCC), which hints towards an imminent launch of these devices in the USA. These devices were tested on March 19th and 20th and the certificate was issued on the 20th of March 2018.

According to FCC filing, these devices were found under the ID A3LSMA605FN and A3LSMA600FN for the Galaxy A6 and A6+. A screenshot posted on filing also confirms the model name as the Galaxy A6, which has dual SIM card slots. Both the models are running on Android 8 Oreo OS with custom Samsung Experience 9 UI. Additionally, the screenshot confirms that the device does not support fast charging, and can draw a maximum power of 7.5 watts.

Samsung Galaxy A6 Specs

The Samsung Galaxy A6 comes with a model number SM-A600FN, which is powered by Exynos 7870 Octa-core chipset. The device comes with 3GB RAM and runs on Android 8 Oreo OS. Coming to the benchmark scores, the device gets 723 points on the single core and 3605 points on the multi-core performance. The Exynos 7870 chipset has been used in the earlier Galaxy J series smartphones. However, there is no information on the display resolution or aspect ratio of both models.

Samsung Galaxy A6+ Specs

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ comes with a model number SM-A605G, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core chipset. The device gets a boost in RAM, which comes with 4GB RAM and runs on latest Android 8 Oreo OS. In terms of benchmarking capabilities, the device scores marginally higher score on single core performance and go down in the multi-core performance. In fact, the phone scores 739 points on the single core and 3469 points on the multicore performance.

Samsung Galaxy A8+

March 31, 2018
Xiaomi To Launch A Helio P60 Chipset Powered Smartphone

Xiaomi recently launched the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s, which is the first 2018 flagship smartphone from the company. Lately, the company has been launching smartphones powered by a Snapdragon chipset. However, according to a report, the company is all set to launch a smartphone in Q2 of 2018 powered by the Helio P60 chipset. The MediaTek Helio P60 chipset was launched at MWC 2018.

Companies like Oppo, Vivo, and Meizu have already launched smartphones with this chipset and Xiaomi is the next phone-maker to join the club Helio P60. However, considering the patent infringements, the Xiaomi smartphone based on this chipset is most unlikely to launch in India.

MediaTek Helio P60 Specs

The chipset uses 12 nm FinFET technology based on big.LITTLE architecture. The four high-performance cores are based on ARM Cortex-A73 cores and the other four efficient cores are based on ARM Cortex-A53 cores. Compared to the Helio P30 chipset, the Helio P60 offers up to 70% improved CPU performance.

The chiset has a Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. The chipset offers a staggering 70% boost in overall GPU performance compared to its predecessor. In fact, the performance will be similar to Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 chipset. The dedicated NeuroPilot can handle native AI tasks using Android Neural Networks API with class-leading performance. The three image sensing processors support dual camera module. In fact, this uses 16% less power by combining Ai accelerators with the real-time image enhancement.

The MediaTek Helio P60 chipset supports displays with up to 1080p resolution. In fact, the smartphone manufacturers can go with a display with up to 20:9 aspect ratio. In terms of storage and RAM, the chipset can handle up to 8GB LPDDR4x RAM. The chipset can handle UFS 2.1 storage. Finally, coming to the connectivity the processor can handle dual LTE and VoLte network with Cat 7 download speeds and Cat 13 upload speeds.

March 31, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note9 Could Launch In July This Year

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S9/S9+ in India and the company is already gearing up for its upcoming Note flagship smartphone launch. According to a report, the company will launch the Galaxy Note9 in the month of July, that is 2 months before the usual launch date. According to the report, Samsung usually starts manufacturing display units for its Note series of the smartphone in June. However, this time around, the company will start the manufacturing of the display panels in the early April. So, the Note flagship is coming sooner than the expected date.

One more reason for this earlier launch is to compete against Apple’s three upcoming iPhone models. The report also claims that the Note9 will miss out on an In-Screen fingerprint sensor as the technology was not up to Samsung’s quality standards. However, smartphone makers like Oppo, Vivo, and Huawei have already launched a smartphone with an In-Screen fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 Specs

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is listed on Geekbench with a model number SM-N960U. The company 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.

March 31, 2018
Top Fitness Bands Available In India Under Rs. 2000

Wearables, unlike smartphones, are not a necessity in our lives. However, the wearable tech has come a long way in the recent past with smartwatches and fitness bands being the most common of the lot. While smartwatches mean a lot of monetary investment, same is not the case for fitness bands. Let’s take a look at the top fitness bands in India at under Rs 2000!

Xiaomi Mi Band 2

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The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is one of the best looking fitness band available in India. The band retails for Rs 1,799 and available on Amazon and Mi.com. The band comes with a monochrome OLED display with an impressive 20 days battery life. However, the actual battery life depends on the type of usage. Additionally, the device comes in multiple colour strap bands, which are using Anti-sweat Thermoplastic Elastomers. The can measure your steps, track your calories intake, and can even measure your heart rate using a built-in sensor. Additionally, the band has a one key navigation system, which can be used to navigate throughout the band interface.

Fastrack Reflex Smartwatch Band

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Fastrack is a fashion brand, which makes accessories for the youth. The Fastrack Reflex Smartwatch Band is priced at Rs 1,830 and available on Amazon and other authorised retails stores. Similarly, the smart band comes with a mono colour always on OLED display, which can display different information like Time, Steps Count, and distance traveled. However, Unlike Mi Band 2, this misses out on a heart rate sensor. The main unit has a USB type-A port, which is used to charge the device using a USB port.

Lenovo HW02 Plus Heart Rate Fitness Band

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This is the cheapest smart fitness band in our listing. The band is priced at Rs 1,299 and exclusively available on Amazon. The band comes in a fancy dual tone design with an one-touch button design. Additionally, the watch is water and dust resistant with the IP67 rating. It has a tiny 0.42-inch OLED panel with a dynamic heart rate scanner. A user can analyse the complete health data through an iOS or Android smartphones. However, it is on a heavier side compared to other two bands.

March 31, 2018
Huawei Gains A Patent On A Foldable Smartphone Design

Companies like Samsung and Apple have started working a smartphone with a foldable display. In fact, the Samsung Galaxy X could be the first smartphone to feature this technology. And now, Huawei filed a new patent on a smartphone with a foldable display technology. Having a foldable display on a smartphone will offer a compact form factor with a large screen real estate.

Foldable Smartphone Technology

This new patent from Huawei has a similar mechanism, that is found on the Microsoft Surface Book. The smartphone is will have similar dimensions as of a standard smartphone. Unfolding the device will offer a bigger tablet-like screen. This also means that the fingerprint sensor will be built on to the display, similar to the Vivo X20 UD.

Having a foldable design also means that, the device should have a foldable display. Though companies like Samsung has already achieved an OLED panel with foldable display, can this withstand the day to day usage? This design mechanism might affect the battery life and durability of the smartphone as well. As this is just a patent filing, the technology is still at a nascent stage and still needs additional fine-tuning.

A smartphone with a flexible display, glass is still a long due. However, considering the progress happening in the smartphone industry, these smartphones could hit the market sooner than we expect. Considering all these technical difficulties, smartphones with a foldable display could see its daylight in CES 2020.

March 31, 2018
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
iOS 11.3 Finally Lets You Choose Between Battery Health And Performance

In December 2017, a series of benchmark tests revealed that Apple was deliberately slowing down older iPhones. Apple then came out and cleared the air around what was the motive behind such a drastic decision. While many conspiracy theories believed that Apple did this to force people into buying new iPhones, the reality was something different. The new iOS 11.3 update now fixes this issue.

However, Apple took full responsibility for its actions and promised to make amends. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple Inc. conceded that a future iOS update will let people choose between peak performance and battery health. And now, the new iOS 11.3 update lets users do exactly that. With iOS 11.3, users can head to the battery settings to check the battery health of their iPhone and whether it has been slowed down via software or not.

This was a necessary step for Apple and now gives a lot of control to the user. Some users would choose battery health in order to avoid replacing the old battery. However, there is a majority of people who’d rather use their iPhone to its full potential. The new feature, right now, is in its Beta mode.

How to check battery health: Settings>Battery>Battery Health (Beta)

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