Blog

OnePlus 7 Unboxing And Hands On Video
OnePlus launched its latest flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 7 Pro and the OnePlus 7 at multiple events around the world; on the 14th of May. While the former has been made available for sale in most markets and targets a premium price bracket; the latter has just been announced to go on sale starting next week and is more affordable than ever. Here is our experience with the unboxing and hands-on of the latest flagship killer of OnePlus for 2019, the OnePlus 7.
Click here to buy.

Video

What’s In The Box?
- OnePlus 7
- Power Adapter
- Type-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Welcome Letter
- Safety Information and Warranty Card
- LOGO Sticker
- Case
- Screen Protector (pre-applied)
- SIM Tray Ejector
Design

The design of the OnePlus 7 is reminiscent of its predecessor, the OnePlus 6T. The device measures 157.7 × 74.8 × 8.2 mm and weighs in at 182 grams. It has a robust build with glass on both the front and back which is held together with a metal chassis. The front of the smartphone has negligible bezels on all sides with a waterdrop notch on top of the display.

The OnePlus 7 houses the power button along with the mute switch on the right side of the smartphone. The left has the volume rockers along with the SIM card tray. Over at the rear of the device, on the attractive gradient coloured back panel the vertically placed dual rear camera with an LED flash is present. The company branding is placed on the bottom of the rear of the handset.

Display

The OnePlus 7 has a 6.41-inch Optic AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The display on the smartphone is the same as its predecessor, with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. It supports features such as Reading Mode, Night Mode and Video Enhancer. The display on the OnePlus 7 as mentioned above, has a waterdrop notch on top to maximise the screen real estate. It also houses the in display fingerprint scanner which is reported to be 1.5 times faster than the previous generation.

Processor

One of the key highlighting features of OnePlus 7 is its chipset. The smartphone is kitted with the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is also present on devices including the Galaxy S10 lineup (US Variant) and the Xiaomi Black Shark 2. The chipset is manufactured using a 7 nm fabrication process which makes it highly power efficient in comparison to the 10nm Snapdragon 845 that the OnePlus 6T incorporates. The Snapdragon 855 consists of an Octa-Core Kryo CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU.

Memory and Storage

The OnePlus 7 is available in two storage variants, the base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage; and the top tier variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard memory. It is also one of the world’s first smartphones after the OnePlus 7 Pro to feature UFS 3.0 2 lane storage. This should provide it with class-leading read and write speeds along with the LPDDR4X RAM which should result in fast performance.

Camera

In terms of optics, the OnePlus 7 has a dual rear camera setup consisting of an f/1.7 aperture equipped 48MP sensor; with an f/2.4 aperture equipped 5MP depth sensor. The primary lens uses the ubiquitous Sony IMX 586 sensor also found in smartphones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Honor View20. For selfies, the OnePlus 7 has an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16 MP sensor housed in the waterdrop notch on top of the display.

In terms of video recording, the rear cameras of the device are capable of shooting at 4K resolution at up to 60fps. Video from the front camera is restricted to 1080p resolution at 30fps. Additionally, the camera supports features such as HDR, Portrait Mode and Studio Lighting.

Battery and Other Features

The OnePlus 7 is powered by a 3700 mAh non-removable battery which is the same size as its predecessor. For fast top-ups, the battery supports 20W fast charging via the bundled Dash charger inside the box. The device runs on the company’s homegrown OxygenOS which is based on top of the latest Android 9 Pie.

Connectivity and Colour Options

Connectivity options on the OnePlus 7 include dual 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS and bottom mounted USB Type C Port. The USB Type C supports the USB 3.0 standard, which should make the read and write speeds on the device faster than before. The OnePlus 7 will available in two colour options at launch namely, Mirror Grey and Red.

Price and Availability

Also read: Amazon Textract Service Intended For Transcribing Data Is Now Live

The OnePlus 7 will go on sale starting the 4th of June at 12 noon exclusively on Amazon India. In terms of pricing, the base variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs 32,999; while the variant with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard memory will cost Rs. 37,999 for prospective buyers.
May 31, 2019
A 16 Year Old Dies After Allegedly Playing PUBG Mobile For Six Hours

Chinese conglomerate Tencent released the game PUBG Mobile for Android and iOS last year. The game was the mobile adaptation of the renowned battle royale title PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). Since its release on smartphones, the game has seen an unexpected spike in its popularity which eventually led to a few cities in India going as far ahead to ban PUBG Mobile completely. Now, reports have surfaced that a 16-year-old boy from Madhya Pradesh has died; after allegedly playing the battle royale game for six hours on a stretch.

About the case

According to the report from a reputable media house, 16-year-old Furkan Quereshi of the Neemuch town in Madhya Pradesh died; after playing PUBG Mobile continuously for six hours. The incident occurred after he lost a game, became agitated and started shouting at his teammates. It is then claimed that he collapsed on the floor, after which when his family took him to the hospital, the doctors declared him dead on arrival. The boy started playing the game after lunch on the 26th of May, and the aforementioned incident happened at around 7 PM. His brother claims that he was addicted to PUBG Mobile, playing close to 18 hours in a day.

Also read: Amazon Textract Service Intended For Transcribing Data Is Now Live

According to the doctor who examined Furkan, his heart was healthy as he was a swimmer; but the excitement of the game PUBG Mobile might have caused a surge in the adrenaline. This is reported to have caused a cardiac arrest in the boy, taking his life. The police have filed a case and an investigation; to further determine the cause of death of the boy is underway. The doctor, along with the family of the boy has pleaded for a ban on the game entirely across the country.

May 31, 2019
Death Stranding By Hideo Kojima Finally Has An Official Release Date

An official release date has finally been announced for the long-awaited game, Death Stranding. The legendary video game creator and designer Hideo Kojima has been one of the major reasons for the game becoming incredibly hyped up and garnering a sizeable fanbase. The title is a PlayStation exclusive that will officially be available in the PlayStation Store on 8th of November this year.

Death Stranding has been confirmed to be available in 4 different editions that feature add-ons from in-game items to actual real-life collector’s edition cargo case and a life-sized BB Pod Statue with a baby on the inside. The same baby that has been seen numerous times in every promotional material and video game trailers that have surfaced since the initial announcement at E3 2016.

Hideo Kojima announced his partnership with Sony Interactive Entertainment after his split from Konami in July 2015. Death Stranding became his first game since the closure of Kojima Productions. The game marks the second time Norman Reedus collaborates with Kojima (after the cancelled Silent Hills game). A game trailer was posted on YouTube just a day prior to the launch date announcement.

Death Stranding is an action game set in an open world with various multiplayer functions that will also come into play. The player has the ability to interact with the environment and many unique gameplay elements have been seen in trailers, such as the unique death interaction. No plot details have been divulged but Kojima has talked a lot on human ties and connections. Stating that people build walls and have become isolated, the goal of the player is to reconnect the isolated cities and people in a fragmented society.

Also Read: Apps On iOS Were Found Sending Large Amounts Of Data To Tracking Companies

As previously mentioned, Death Stranding has four different editions that will go on sale. The Standard Edition is priced at $59.99 (Rs. 3,999) while the Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $79.99 (Rs. 4,799 in). Both of these editions are currently available for pre-orders on Sony’s PlayStation Store in India for the aforementioned price. The Death Stranding Special Edition carries a price tag of $69.99 (approx. Rs.4,900) and the Collector’s Edition (the one with the baby and BB pod) is priced at a whopping $199.99 (approx. Rs.14,000).

May 30, 2019
Amazon Textract Service Intended For Transcribing Data Is Now Live

Amazon has unveiled a new service named Textract which enables its Web Service customers to accurately harvest text from documents. The word Textract is a combination of ‘Text’ and ‘Extract’, and it does exactly what it says. The software performs the same task as a standard OCR (Optical Character Recognition) reader, but where the OCR scanner falls short, Textract accomplishes the task effortlessly.

Amazon’s software is designed to identify various document formats and analyze its contents to process them in the desired manner. For instance, if the concerned document is a table, Textract will reproduce data in a structured form that is closest to the original data arrangement. Forms, charts and receipts are scanned and reproduced in a similar manner. And the whole process can be completed without human intervention, rendering Textract as an independent software.

The stumbling block with basic OCRs is their inability to process mixed data or data which is arranged in an non standard format. For the same reason, organizations utilize manual labour for data entry, which defies the purpose of an automated OCR. On the other hand, Amazon claims that its new service is capable of processing millions of pages in a short duration of time. Noteworthy, unlike several other similar services, machine learning experience is not necessary to use Textract states Amazon.

Also Read: Apps On iOS Were Found Sending Large Amounts Of Data To Tracking Companies

Lastly, the Textract can identify organization-specific data such as security numbers and IDs and copy it into spreadsheets which are easily editable. Bigger chunks of data are loaded into databases which are then accessible via smart searches inside the Web Service. The Textract has been released in select parts of the United States (including Ohio, North Virginia, Oregon) and Ireland as of now.

May 30, 2019
Motorola One Action With Exynos 9609 And 4GB Of RAM Spotted On Geekbench

Earlier this month, Motorola Mobility LLP launched the Moto One Vision smartphone that features a punch hole display. Besides the previously launched handset, the company is expected to launch another smartphone. The listing of an unreleased device has been spotted on popular benchmarking website, Geekbench. The said listing hints of device’s imminent launch that carries the Motorola One Action moniker.

Moto One Action Benchmark Results

According to the Geekbench listing, the Moto One Action is kitted with the Exynos 9609 SoC. Surprisingly, the same chipset is also found on the previously mentioned Moto One Vision. The Exynos 9609 consists of an Octa Core CPU and the ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. Talking more about the chipset, it is clocked down variant of the Exynos 9610 which is present on the Samsung Galaxy A50.

Moto One Vision (for reference purpose)

Furthermore, the Moto One Action runs on the stock Android 9 Pie OS which will provide for a smooth and bloatware free experience. In terms of memory, the device is fitted with 4 GB of RAM. However, the company is also expected to launch the smartphone in higher Ram capacities as well. Speaking of benchmark results the Moto One Action registers a single core score of 1601 points and a multi core score of 5377 points.

Also Read: Apps On iOS Were Found Sending Large Amounts Of Data To Tracking Companies

Unfortunately, details about the design of the Moto One Action are still a mystery. However, going by the ‘Action’ suffix in the name, it could be a rugged device with heterogenous specifications to the Moto One Vision. This claim can further be strengthened with the fact the company has previously launched a handful of rugged smartphones including the Moto Z2 Force. Even though the launch date of the device is yet to be revealed, the Geekbench listing indicates an imminent launch.

May 30, 2019
Apps On iOS Were Found Sending Large Amounts Of Data To Tracking Companies

Apple is one of the few companies that take into account the privacy and autonomy of its customer’s data. The cost of such high levels of user privacy is the tighter regulations by Apple on its own economy (especially in regards to maintenance and repairs). A report, however, has pointed towards various application in iOS sending a huge sum of data to tracking companies.

The Washington Post conducted research over a myriad of applications on iOS that yielded data that caught apps sending personal information of the user data to tracking companies. The research was conducted over a period of one month in conjunction with Disconnect, a privacy-related firm. The results had shown apps sending 1.5GB worth of user information.

The data was apparently sent during late hours when the user was generally asleep. Charging the phone overnight had seemed to activate the service. The trackers showed activity when the interactions with the device’s functions were to be really low. This process only occurs if the user has the “background app refresh” function enabled in the settings. Although this function is enabled by default on any Apple handset.

The apps from Apple store used in the research were from some of the top companies such as Nike, Yelp, Spotify, Microsoft OneDrive, Mint, IBM’s The Weather Channel, DoorDash, Citizen and surprisingly even the Washington Post’s very own application. Data had uncovered over 5,400 trackers in apps within a mere week into the research. Most trackers are said to work seamlessly without the user ever finding out that they were present in the background processes.

For those unaware, data that is acquired can be used to send ads tailored according to the user’s activities. In other words, after the personal information is received by such companies, users would then start receiving ads for something they looked up or searched for online. Ever since the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data scandal in 2018 was uncovered, the public has been far more concerned and aware of their private information being traded without their knowledge. The aftermath of the fiasco had tech giants and social media companies have stricter regulations placed around them.

DoorDash the food delivery service from California was discovered to have sent data to nine 3rd party trackers, while Citizen the app that sends crime-reports for incidents near the user’s location was found sending phone numbers, email addresses and the actual GPS location of the iPhone owners to a tracker called Amplitude. The developers of Citizen had been contacted and an update has since gone online removing the tracker.

Also Read: Alaka’i Unveiled A Flying Taxi That Runs On Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Apple in an official statement had addressed applications that do not adhere to the App Stores rules and regulations, that require developers to clearly post privacy policies and ask for user’s permission to collect data, to either abide by the rules or be taken down from the App Store. The report had shown not all data collected was harmful or bad to the user as some data was anonymised and stored. However, some trackers have not made clear what kind of data was collected, for what amount of time, and whom it is sent to there on.

May 30, 2019
Meizu 16XS With 4000 mAh Battery Launched

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu has officially launched the 16XS smartphone in China on May 30 2019. The smartphone is one of the more affordable devices in Meizu’s 16-series lineup. The 16XS packs a modest set of specifications at a competitive price. The device will go up against smartphones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 3 Pro.

Meizu 16XS Features And Specifications

The Meizu 16XS has a similar design factor to its elder sibling, the Meizu 16s. It features a 6.2 inch AMOLED display which is surrounded by narrow side bezels. There is no notch since the front camera is housed in the forehead/top bezel of the device. The display has a resolution of 2232 x 1080 px and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The rear panel of the smartphone sports the company branding and the triple camera, which is discussed later.

Under the hood, the Meizu 16XS packs the Snapdragon 675 chipset, which consists of the octa-core Kryo 460 CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU chip. It is also fitted with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which is paired with 64GB and 128GB RAM. For biometric security, the 16XS has an in-display fingerprint scanner which is claimed to unlock the phone within 0.2 seconds of placing the finger.

In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup. It consists of a primary 48MP (f/1.7) Samsung GM1 MOD sensor, a secondary 5MP (f/1.9) sensor and a third wide-angle (118.8 degree) lens. For selfies, the Meizu 16XS is equipped with a 16MP front camera that supports HDR+ and portrait mode. Additionally, the selfie camera also has support for facial recognition technology.

Out-of-the-box, the smartphone runs on the FlyMe 7.3 OS based on Android 9 Pie. It is powered by a 4000 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. Noteworthy, the 16XS weighs in at 165 grams, making it one of the lightest devices in its segment. For gamers, the smartphone also has a HyperGaming mode which will allow them to turn off notifications and other distractions while gaming sessions.

Meizu 16XS Availability And Price

Also Read: Redmi K20 Pro Will Also Have 12 GB RAM Variant Reveals TENAA Listing

The Meizu 16XS is priced at CNY 1698 (~INR 17,200) for the 6GB+64GB variant, whereas the 6GB+128GB variant has a price tag of CNY 1998 (INR 20,200). It will be available in 4 colour options, namely Jade White, Black, Coral Orange and Atlantis Blue. Although the smartphone has been launched in China, no official announcement regarding its India launch has been made till now.

May 30, 2019
Samsung Galaxy M40 Design Revealed By The Company Before Launch

Korean electronics giant Samsung will launch its latest smartphone called the Galaxy M40 on the 11th of June. It will the most premium device in the online-only Galaxy M series which was introduced back in the month of January. While the key details about the new handset from Samsung have been leaked in the past, its design has been shrouded in mystery. Now, the company has revealed what the Galaxy M40 will look like on its official website.

Galaxy M40

As mentioned above, the Galaxy M40 will be a mid-range offering from the Samsung and will take over from the Galaxy M30 (Review); as the most premium smartphone in the Galaxy M lineup. The image shared by the company on its website reveals the device in its full glory. The front of the handset has an almost bezel-less Infinity O display. It houses the hole punch camera on the top left side of the display to maximise the screen real estate. The right of the smartphone houses the volume rockers and the power button.

Over at the back, the Galaxy M40 has been revealed to sport a triple camera setup with an LED flash. The fingerprint sensor along with the company branding is also placed on the back of the handset. The upcoming handset will run on a Snapdragon 6 series SoC. While what chipset the Galaxy M40 will sport is anyone’s guess, past leaks have hinted towards the 11nm Snapdragon 675 SoC. The chipset is comprised of an Octa-core CPU, the Adreno 612 GPU and is also present in the Galaxy A70 and Redmi Note 7.

Galaxy M30

Also read: Screen Protector For The Google Pixel 4 Already Available For Pre-Orders

Previous leaks have revealed the Galaxy M40 will have a 6.3-inch LCD display with a FullHD+ resolution. It is also expected to be the first device in the Galaxy M series to run on the OneUI; based on top of current Android 9 Pie out of the box. For memory and storage, the upcoming smartphone will feature up to 6GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. It is also expected to be powered by a massive 5000mAh battery with support for some kind of fast charging. Unfortunately, details about the pricing of the device still remain shrouded in mystery; although it is expected to be priced under Rs. 25,000 in India.

May 30, 2019
Ferrari SF90 Stradale With A Hybrid Drivetrain Launched

As the awareness regarding environmental concerns increases, companies across the world are looking to adopt clean energy. Italian supercar manufacturer, Ferrari has adopted the best of both worlds in its latest supercar, which is the SF90 Stradale. The supercar is referred to as hybrid due to the fact it packs a 4-liter 769-horsepower Turbo V8 engine alongside three electric motors which have a combined output of 162 kW or 217 HP. The company claims while both the power sources function simultaneously, the SF90 can achieve a speed of 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds.

The supercar sports a torque-vectoring AWD (All Wheel Drive) system and an eight-gear dual-clutch transmission. Even though the SF90 is less powerful than the top of line LaFerrari on paper, the hybrid supercar can reach higher top speeds owing to the lower overall weight.

Ferrari SF90 includes a modern cockpit design, with the Manettino-style steering wheel (where the adjustment controls are mounted on the steering wheel itself). Furthermore, the steering wheel has a touch interface which can be used to switch between various modes (including the hybrid mode).

Also Read: Screenshots Of Ark OS, The Android Replacement By Huawei Leaked

The Italian company has confirmed that the Ferrari SF90 Stradale is not a limited edition vehicle. However, the supercar is expected to be highest-priced model in the already expensive lineup of Ferrari, which means that not a lot of people will be able to afford it. The company has not provided an official statement regarding the price of the supercar yet. As per other reports, Ferrari may also be working on an all-electric car. Even though the design may take its fair share of time to be brought to reality, it is quite evident that electric cars are the future, and with the SF90 Stradale, the Italian manufacturer is one step closer to achieving it.

May 30, 2019
Redmi K20 Pro Will Also Have 12 GB RAM Variant Reveals TENAA Listing

Earlier this week, Xiaomi’s sub brand Redmi launched its highly anticipated flagship grade smartphone called the Redmi K20 Pro. The newly launched device is laden with praiseworthy features and is priced at a competitive price point. The device was originally launched in four storage variants which range from 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM to 8 GB RAM + 256 ROM.

However, the listing of the device on the mandatory Chinese website, TENAA claims the Redmi K20 Pro will also be available in another storage variant with higher RAM. Like the OnePlus 7 Pro, the Redmi K20 Pro will also be offered with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of ROM. Though the price of the said version of the device is yet to be unveiled which is expected to happen in the near future. To recall, the specifications of the handset are as follows:

Redmi K20 Pro Specifications

The Redmi K20 Pro has an all glass design on the front and back with a metal chassis for reinforcement. It has an attractive gradient coloured panel on the back which houses the triple camera setup and the company branding. The Redmi K20 sports 6.39 inch AMOLED display which a Full HD resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The smartphone has an edge to edge display which is achieved due to a pop up style selfie camera which has 20 MP resolution.The Redmi K20 is fitted with the flagship grade 7nm Snapdragon 855 SoC which is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. For photography, the device has a triple rear camera setup which consists of an f/1.75 aperture equipped 48MP sensor, an f/2.4 aperture equipped 13MP ultra wide angle sensor; and a tertiary f/2.4 aperture equipped 8MP telephoto sensor. As previously mentioned it has 20 MP front camera for capturing selfies which is placed in a pop up mechanism on top of the handsets.

Also Read: Screen Protector For The Google Pixel 4 Already Available For Pre-Orders

The Redmi K20 Pro is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery which supports 27 W fast charging. It devices run on latest MIUI 10 which is based on top of Android 9 Pie. The smartphone is available in three colour variants which include Blue, Red and Black.

May 30, 2019
Alaka’i Unveiled A Flying Taxi That Runs On Hydrogen Fuel Cells

This is not the first time a flying taxi concept has been teased. A startup hopes to be different from the rest by its choice with emission-free power supply. Alaka’i had its flying taxi Skai run on hydrogen fuel cells, which is reportedly the first to do so in the category of aerial services.

Skai is claimed to have the ability to stay aloft for upto 4 hours with an estimated range of 400-miles (approx. 643km). When Skai is grounded it can refuel all the way to full in a matter of 10 minutes flat. The flying taxi can seat upto five people with a combined maximum payload being 1000lbs (approx. 453kg)

Essentially, any hydrogen based locomotive is like any other electric vehicle with a small battery that is continuously charged from the hydrogen fuel cells that uses the stored hydrogen gas to combine it with oxygen from the atmosphere. This process essentially powers the engine while not emitting any elements harmful to the environment with the only by-product of this process being water.

Skai was designed to turn eyes and garner attention, and as such have succeeded those standards with BMW’s help with its signature Designworks and the view that any passenger receives with a clear wrap-around its canopy and centre. Safety-related questions do arise with concept vehicles such as this and rightly so when air travel is concerned. Alaka’i has reassured that Skai will carry multiple features such as airframe parachute and safety systems in place for the battery and hydrogen fuel cells.

The early iteration of this concept will be manned by a specially trained pilot. Although Alaka’i has stated its plan on making Skai a fully autonomous vehicle for commercial use in the future. Numerous tests are in the cards for the company before mainstream service status can be granted by the Government’s regulatory body.

The hydrogen architecture utilized by Skai is the main concern in this project that has to be done perfectly. The CEO of Alaka’i has his beliefs set in the near future where flying taxis and vehicles being a common addition to reality. Implications of this technology extend for ambulances in the medical fields and hauling cargo for the transportation sectors.

Also Read: Screenshots Of Ark OS, The Android Replacement By Huawei Leaked

This project has an optimistic implication in the economy of aerial-based travel in cities all across the world. Skai has so far outclassed its other electric-based competitors in terms of efficiency and operational duration and may prove to be a game changer in the transportation services business.

May 30, 2019
Screen Protector For The Google Pixel 4 Already Available For Pre-Orders

Google is expected to launch its latest iteration of flagship smartphones in the month of October this year. These devices, allegedly called the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, will succeed the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from 2018. While there is still a considerable amount of time before the company announces the upcoming handsets, early details about them have already started to trickle in leaks and renders. Now, a smartphone accessory maker Skinomi has listed screen protector for the Google Pixel 4 on its website. In the listing, a render of the handset’s front panel is also visible, which reveals its design.

Google Pixel 4

The images showcased on the website of Skinomi exhibit the design of the Pixel 4. It has been reported that Google will opt for a punch hole display for its upcoming smartphone, whose claim is further strengthened by the renders. Also evident from the pictures is the lack of considerable bezel around the device’s display, giving it a modern look. The screen protector for the handset has two cutouts on the top and bottom, which may be for the front-facing stereo speaker setup; which was introduced to the lineup with the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL in the year 2017. Notably, the listing on Skinomi’s website claims the screen protector will be shipped starting 20th November 2019. It can be pre-ordered now for a price of US$ 8.95 (Rs. 625).

Also read: Screenshots Of Ark OS, The Android Replacement By Huawei Leaked

While the render falls in line to the previous leaks regarding Pixel 4, it is recommended to be taken with a grain of salt. Because of the seemingly far launch date of the upcoming smartphone, the image may turn out to be fake. However, considering how much Google received flak for the design of its previous devices, it may not be all that surprising if the company finally decides to take the aforementioned design into consideration. As previously mentioned, the company is expected to unveil the Pixel 4 in the month of October at the Made by Google event.

May 30, 2019
Apple Foldable Phone Patent Revealed

In the ongoing race of foldable smartphones, American tech giant Apple is looking to introduce its own contender. An Apple foldable device has been in the rumours for quite some time, and as per the latest reports, it may not be far from turning into a reality. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a total of 85 patents for the company, two of which include a foldable iDevice and a smart keyboard which resembles the iPad’s Folio keyboard.

Patent For Foldable iDevice

The application titled “Apple invents both Single and Multi-Fold Device Form Factors for Future iDevices” was filed by the company in the month of August 2018. The patent covers electronic devices that feature a bendable region. Such a device will sport a display layer and a cover layer that can fold around the aforementioned bendable region. The patent indicates that the flexible cover layer may be made out of ceramic so as to increase the detail of protection against falls and scratches. Additionally, the flexible cover may also provide structural integrity to the foldable device.

The patent exhibits the ability of the foldable device to transform into a tablet, which would enable the user to make use of the entire display surface. The device can be folded two times, which implies that almost one third of the total display surface will be visible when the device is in its folded state.

Patent For Smart Keyboard Design

The second patent covers a device that is quite similar to the Apple Folio smart keyboard, which was released alongside the iPad Pro 12.9 in the year 2016. The patent includes images of a variety of designs for a new smart keyboard that may be announced in the future. One of the images showcases a keyboard design with a space above the keyboard which can be used to input data via the Apple Pencil. Another design features the inclusion of a trackpad to the keyboard.

Also Read: Korvaa: A Pair Of Biodegradable Headphones Developed By A Finnish Design Studio

It is unsure whether the company will unveil any new products based on the preceding form factors anytime soon. Previously, concept renders had surfaced, which showed off the design of a probable foldable iPhone. Considering the ongoing trend of foldable smartphones (such as the Samsung Galaxy Fold), Apple is expected to announce its own version of the foldable smartphone at its launch event in September 2019, where the company will launch its next generation iPhones.

May 30, 2019
Screenshots Of Ark OS, The Android Replacement By Huawei Leaked

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei was barred from doing business with any American company a while ago. Because of the sanctions placed by the American government, it lost access to softwares like Android and Windows from its devices. The company was then granted a 90-day breathing window to fulfil all unfinished business with US companies. It was then reported that Huawei has secretly been working on its own Operating System (OS) for mobile devices in a bid to replace Android. According to the latest reports, the company has filed the name “Ark OS” with the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA). This application was filed on the 24th of May.

Ark OS

Reportedly, Huawei filed a claim at the DPMA for the design of certain elements of an interface. In the patent application, the company also shared screenshots of the menus inside the said interface. The images are starkly different from what the company has been doing with the current Android skin called EMUI. The applications showcased in the screenshots are allegedly Android-based. This insinuates that the purported Ark OS will support Android apps natively and will give an option to download them using a third party store.

Also read: Amazon Echo Show 5 Launched In India, Features A 5.5 Inch Display

The screenshots of the alleged Ark OS also repeatedly mention the name of the “Android Green Alliance”. This is a Chinese association formed up of companies like Tencent and Alibaba. It was formed a few years ago in an attempt to introduce quality and design standards of their apps in the Android OS. While it is not known what role will the Alliance play in the Ark OS; it may set up a standard for testing the quality of applications eligible to exist on the app store on the upcoming OS. Unfortunately, Huawei has not announced when its Android replacing OS might debut. But it is expected to make an appearance before the 90-day deadline for the company gets exhausted.

May 30, 2019
Amazon Echo Show 5 Launched In India, Features A 5.5 Inch Display

In another “silent” announcement, Amazon has unveiled its latest smart display which is the Echo Show 5. The suffix ‘5’ in the moniker probably stands for the 5.5 inch display in the device and not the chronology of generations. Speaking of which this is the third iteration of smart displays from the American company. Its predecessor was launched in the month of October 2018 and was priced at INR 22,999. The latest variant, however, is priced at a lower price point owing to the smaller display.

Amazon Echo Show 5: Features And Specifications

The compact design factor of the Echo Show 5 indicates that the company intended the device to be meant for desk/bedside usage. The smart display has rounded edges and features a fabric finish on top. The design of the Echo Show 5 resembles that of Google’s latest smart display, the Nest Hub which was launched at the Google I/O conference 2019. However, Amazon’s smart display includes a camera, unlike the Nest Hub. An interesting feature of the device is a physical camera shutter that can be toggled with the help of a switch placed at the top. In light of rising security concerns, this is the first time that Amazon has included a camera shutter in its device.

The smart display sports an ambient lighting mode to automatically regulate the brightness as per the surroundings. Solely using voice commands, users will be able to view how-to-clips from wikiHow. Additionally, the Echo Show 5 also features a smart home dashboard that can be used to control multiple connected gadgets. The camera can be used in combination with applications such as the Arlo Baby Camera, which can be used by parents to keep an eye on their babies from a remote location.

Also Read: Korvaa: A Pair Of Biodegradable Headphones Developed By A Finnish Design Studio

In terms of security, Amazon has also announced a new privacy feature alongside the Echo Show 5 that will be pushed out to all Alexa-enabled devices. Users can simply tell the Alexa voice assistant to wipe the history on the device to delete all the stored phrases and user information. The Echo Show 5 is available for pre-order via Amazon for INR 8,999 ($ 89.99 in the United States). It is available in two colour options, Black and White. The deliveries of the smart display will commence in the month of July 2019.

You can pre-order the Amazon Echo Show 5 below:

May 30, 2019