Honor 9N India launch today: Watch live stream, know expected price, specs

The Honor 9N would sport an optimised notch-based screen and 2.5D curved glass design with 12-layer Nano coating on the back for a mirror-like effect

Honor, the online subsidiary of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, is all set to launch the Honor 9N in India on July 24. The Flipkart-exclusive smartphone would sport an optimised notch-based screen and 2.5D curved glass design with 12-layer Nano coating on the back for a mirror-like effect.

The Honor 9N is reported to be a renamed version of the Honor 9i, launched in China some time ago. In terms of specifications and features, the Honor 9N is expected to sport a 5.84-inch fullHD+ notch-based screen stretched in a 19:9 aspect ratio. The phone would be powered by Kirin 659 system-on-chip (SoC), paired with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. This is the same processor that has been used in most of Honor’s budget smartphones, including the Honor 9 Lite, Honor 7X and Honor 9i (Indian version).

However, the Honor 9N processor might support Huawei’s recently announced GPU Turbo technology, which the company claims to boost graphic performance by up to 60 per cent and processor efficiency by 30 per cent.

Article Source : BS

Oppo Find X earns people’s votes as innovative smartphone: Know poll result

In a poll on the day of launch we asked for our readers for their opinion about the phone, and they said they saw the Oppo Find X as an innovative smartphone and not a marketing gimmick”

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo on July 12 launched the Oppo Find X in India. The phone is one of its kind and comes with a motorised mechanical pop-up module, which hosts front camera, earpiece, sensors on the front and rear camera, along with LED flash on the back. In a poll run on the day of launch, we asked for our readers to give their opinion about the phone, and their mandate has been in favour of the Oppo Find X. They see the device as an innovative smartphone rather than a marketing gimmick.

Oppo Find X features

The Find X sports a new design in comparison to the current-generation flagship smartphones. The phone features a curved arc glass-based design with a 6.42-inch AMOLED screen in 19.5:9 aspect ratio on the front, stretchingt from edge to edge on three sides, and leaving a negligible chin at the bottom. The all-screen design is achieved by moving the earpiece, selfie camera and sensors to the pop-up mechanic module (stealth design), which comes out from the top. The module also sports the dual camera set-up on its back, along with LED flash, that leaves the phone’s back with only the Oppo logo and the Find X moniker.

Interestingly, there is no fingerprint scanner and the phone relies on the front camera as a biometric tool to unlock the phone. (Click Here : Technology News)

The front camera, along with a host of sensors such as a flood illuminator, an infrared camera, a ranging sensor and a dot projector, uses Oppo’s 3D structured light face recognition technology to unlock the phone. According to the company’s claim, the sensors used in the phone project over 15,000 recognition spots on a human face, thereby building a complete 3D facial model of the user to accurately recognise the face and unlock the device. This is a somewhat similar set-up first seen in the Apple iPhone X. However, Oppo managed to implement it without using a notch-based screen.

In terms of camera, the Oppo Find X sports a 25-megapixel selfie sensor and 16MP+20MP dual lenses on the back. Both the front and rear cameras use AI technology for scene selection and to improve the output. The cameras also feature a 3D lighting technique for portraits with background bokeh effect.

Oppo Find X software

The phone features gesture-based ColorOS 5.1 operating system, which is a custom ROM built on the Google Android Oreo. The operating system allows system-wide integration of Google Assistant, which enables voice command-based operations to look up information, schedule appointments, make phone calls, play music, listen to weather forecasts and find locations.

Oppo Find X specifications

The Find X is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of ROM. The phone is powered by a 3,730 mAH battery, which supports Oppo’s VOOC flash charging technology that, the company claims, provides up to two hours of talk time in five minutes of charging.(Source : BS)

Vivo X21 review: A worthy mid-range flagship to challenge OnePlus dominance

Priced at Rs 35,990, the Vivo X21 is a premium mid-range device strong in almost all areas; the phone's modest processor seems a downside, but it shows no signs of weakness in real-life scenario

 

After showcasing the prototype of in-display fingerprint sensor technology at the Consumer Electronic Show, 2018, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on May 29 launched the Vivo X21 with a fingerprint sensor under the display. For a mid-range smartphone, the X21 boasts premium features like dual rear cameras, artificial intelligence capabilities, face-unlock mechanism, Hi-Fi sound with dedicated AMP and modern notch-based screen. These features propel it in the league of mid-range premium smartphones – at least on papers.

Vivo X21 design

The Vivo X21 glass-metal-glass sandwich design looks similar to other mid-range smartphones. The design, especially the frame, looks close to the OnePlus 6, but the front is dominated by a notch-based screen stretching almost edge to edge on three sides and leaving only a thin chin on the bottom. On the back, the reflective glass design with horizontally aligned dual camera set-up on top left is in line with the current trend and looks similar to the Honor 10.

The thin frame that holds the front and back glass feels pointed, something similar to the Nokia 8 Sirocco. While the frame makes it easy to hold and operate the phone, the razor thin volume rocker keys and a power button on the right side of the frame are somewhat uncomfortable to use.

On the bottom, the phone sports an outdated microUSB port for charging and data transfers, coupled with a mono speaker on the right and dual-SIM slot on the left. The left side of the frame is vacant and the top side features a 3.5mm audio output port and secondary microphone.

Overall, the design looks modern, but not refreshing. The metallic frame gives to the convenience to hold the phone with confidence, but the thin volume rocker keys and power button reduce the utility overall.

Click Here  : Vivo X21 review

Comio X1 Note with 18:9 screen, dual rear cameras launched at Rs 9,999

The Comio X1 Note will be available through offline stores and online e-commerce channels like Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, ShopClues and Paytm

Technology : Home-grown smartphone brand Comio on May 22 launched the Comio X1 Note at Rs 9,999. The 18:9 aspect ratio screen-based budget smartphone comes in two colour options – royal blue and sunrise gold. The phone will be available through offline stores and online e-commerce channels like Flipkart, Amazon, Snapdeal, ShopClues and Paytm.

As part of a promotional offer, the Comio X1 Note comes bundled with a Reliance Jio scheme that gives customers unlimited data and talk time, along with a Rs 2,200 cashback in the form of recharge vouchers (44 vouchers of Rs 50 each). Eligible Jio subscribers can avail of the cashback and free data offer on a monthly recharge plan of Rs 198 or Rs 299.

In terms of features and specifications, the smartphone sports a 6-inch fullHD+ 18:9 aspect ratio screen covered under 2.5D curved glass. The phone sports a 13-megapixel primary camera sensor paired with 5MP sensor on the back and an 8MP camera on the front for selfies. The dual-SIM 4G-VoLTE enabled smartphone is powered by a 1.45GHz quad-core processor, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, expandable up to 128GB using microSD card. The phone is powered by a 2,900 mAh battery

Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to be a flagship-inspired midrange phone: Hands-on

Priced at Rs 25,990, the Galaxy A6+ appears to be trimmed-down version of Samsung flagship smartphones. In terms of usability, the phone feels solid in hands and the super AMOLED screen looks dazzling

Technology news: To stay competitive in budget and midrange segments and stave off threat from Chinese smartphone majors like Xiaomi, South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung launched the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+ on May 21.

The Galaxy A6+ boasts premium features like super AMOLED 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Samsung Pay Mini, Bixby, dual rear cameras and metallic build. However, being a midrange phone, the Galaxy A6+ cuts down on some features like Bixby personal assistant capabilities, curved screen, powerful processor and complete Samsung Pay capabilities – these features are still limited to Galaxy Note and Galaxy S-series.

Based on our early hands-on, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ seems to have taken inspiration from the Galaxy A8+, launched last year at Rs 32,990. Here are the observations based on the Galaxy A6+ first impressions:

The Galaxy A6+ has a tall instance and metallic unibody that look plush. The front is dominated by a 6-inch super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen that boasts always-on feature for ease of use. Though the phone sports ‘Infinity Display’, there are thick bezels around it that diminish the design languageOn the back, the antenna lines are not linear and look odd, but the matte metallic build seems sturdy and offers a good grip. Thankfully, the fingerprint scanner is aligned vertically with the rear dual-camera set-up which makes it easier to use.

Coming to the features, the Samsung Galaxy A6+ boots a customised Android Oreo-based operating system. The user interface looks smooth, yet it has bloatware installed that might not be appreciated by everyone. Important a specific feature that we find lacking is the pressure-sensitive on-screen home button with tactical feedback that is there in premium Galaxy Note and Galaxy S-series. There is an on-screen home button but that does not unlock the screen. Instead, a double tap on it unlocks the screen, which seems to mock the very purpose of the button. However, the A6+ features face unlock, which is not as swift as the one found in other smartphones, yet manages to work appropriately at least in well-lit environment....READ FULL SOURCE

Samsung takes on Xiaomi, launches Galaxy J6, J8, A6, A6+: Details here

The Galaxy J6, J8, A6 and A6+ sport super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen (Infinity screen) and features utility tools such as chat-over-video, especially designed for millennials

TECHNOLOGY NEWS: Samsung, a South Korean electronics manufacturer, on May 21 launched four smartphones – the Galaxy J6, Galaxy J8, Galaxy A6 and Galaxy A6+. The smartphones sport super AMOLED 18.5:9 aspect ratio screen, dubbed as Infinity screen by Samsung, and features utility tools such as chat-over-video, which enables quick reply mode within the video playback screen.[

SAMSUNG GALAXY J6: BUDGET OFFERING WITH POLYCARBONATE UNIBODY

The Galaxy J6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of polycarbonate unibody, the Galaxy J6 is the most affordable J-series device in the newly launched smartphones. It is powered by Exynos 7-series octa-core processor, paired with either 3GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations. In terms of imaging, the phone sports 13-megapixel primary camera and 8MP selfie camera, both assisted by LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 13,990 and Rs 16,490 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants, respectively.

SAMSUNG GALAXY J8: BIG SCREEN, DUAL REAR CAMERAS AND POWERFUL BATTERY

The Galaxy J8 sports a 6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of polycarbonate unibody, the Galaxy J8 is the most power-packed J-series device. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. In terms of imaging, the phone sports a dual camera set-up on the back, featuring a bright f/1.7 aperture-based 16-megapixel sensor mated with a 5MP depth sensing camera. There is a 16MP selfie camera on the front and both the front camera and rear camera units are assisted with LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,500 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 18,990.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A6: MIDRANGE DEVICE WITH PREMIUM BUILD QUALITY

The Galaxy A6 sports a 5.6-inch HD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of metallic unibody, the Galaxy A6 is a midrange offering with premium build quality. It is powered by Exynos 7-series octa-core processor, paired with either 4GB/32GB or 4GB/64GB RAM and storage

configurations. In terms of imaging, the phone sports 16MP camera sensors on both the front and back, featuring f/1.9 aperture lens and LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,000 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 21,990 and Rs 22,990 for 4GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB variants, respectively.

SAMSUNG GALAXY A6+: PREMIUM MIDRANGE WITH FLAGSHIP FEATURES

The Galaxy A6 Plus sports a 6-inch fullHD+ 18.5:9 aspect ratio super AMOLED screen. Made of metallic unibody, the Galaxy A6 Plus is a premium midrange offering with flagship features. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. In terms of imaging, the phone sports a dual camera set-up on the back, featuring a bright f/1.7 aperture-based 16-megapixel sensor mated with a 5MP depth sensing camera. There is a 24MP selfie camera on the front, and both the front camera and rear camera units are assisted with LED flash. Powering the device is a 3,500 mAh battery. The phone is priced at Rs 25,990.

Honor 7C hands-on: Budget proposition with impressive camera, build quality

Priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations, the Honor 7C seems to be a great proposition in sub-Rs 12,000 budget smartphone segment

Technology News : Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei on May 22 launched the Honor 7C in India. Priced at Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 for 3GB/32GB and 4GB/64GB RAM and storage configurations, the smartphone seems to be a great proposition in sub-Rs 12,000 budget segment. At these price tags, the phone would compete with the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (Review), Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (Review), Xiaomi Redmi 5 (Review) and Oppo Realme 1 (First Impressions).

The Honor 7C features metallic design, 18:9 aspect ratio screen, Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0 operating system, Qualcomm 450 processor and face unlocking capabilities. Honor has been using the company’s in-house developed Huawei Kirin system-on-chip (SoC) in almost all the current models. However, the Honor 7C is one of a few Honor-branded smartphones that take power from Qualcomm processors. While the Kirin 659 SoC, which powers most budget Honor devices, seems to have an advantage to have more powerful cores than Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC that powers the Honor 7C, the Qualcomm SoC has better graphic handling capabilities over Kirin 659.

The Honor 7C manages to pull out basic tasks at ease. However, it does feel underpowered, especially while handling processor-intensive tasks such as multitasking and online video streaming. The phone also does warm up; however, the thermals remain under control throughout. Interestingly, the phone handles graphic intensive apps and utilities better than Kirin 659 SoC. The browser-based gameplay is consistent and smooth, app-based video streaming services work satisfactory and games work fine at moderate settings.

Other than processing prowess, the Honor 7C does not bring much of a difference to the table when compared to other Honor smartphones. It sports a 5.99-inch fullHD+ IPS 18:9 aspect ratio screen, which looks bright and colourful, covered under curved glass. The aluminium back feels sturdy and premium. There is a micro-USB charging port on the bottom, coupled with speaker and microphone. Overall, the design looks impressive and has a good feel to it.

In terms of imaging, the Honor 7C sports a 13-megapixel primary sensor, paired with a 2MP depth-sensing lens. There is an 8MP sensor on the front for selfies and face unlock feature. The camera in Honor 7C seems to be among the top performer in the sub-Rs 12,000 segment. It works optimally in all lighting conditions. However, the same cannot be said for videography features and we would keep our verdict reserved for review.

Honor 10 review: Power-packed alternative to premium flagship smartphones

The Honor 10 lacks an optimised notch screen and stereo speakers, but the sleek look and fast performance, coupled with top-notch innards, make it a winner in the mid-range flagship segment

Technology News : Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei’s online subsidiary Honor on May 15 announced the artificial intelligence-based Honor 10 in India. Priced at Rs 32,999, the smartphone boasts some of the premium design elements and features of the recently launched Huawei P20 Pro -- glass-metal-glass sandwich design, notch-based screen, AI camera, etc, which -- which make it a cost-effective alternative to premium flagships.

However, being a mid-range device, the Honor 10 cuts down on features like the Leica-tuned camera lenses, vivid AMOLED screen or the dual stereo speakers of the P20 Pro. But, it does sport a 3.5mm audio jack, which is not there in the P20 Pro.

Business Standard reviewed the Honor 10 on several parameters to test its overall performance. Here are the observations:

Honor 10 design

The Honor 10 boasts a glass-metal-glass sandwich design. The front is dominated by a notch-based screen, which leaves negligible bezels on the top and sides. On the bottom, there is a fingerprint sensor placed below the glass, adding to the utility without compromising on the overall design quotient.

The glass back designseems an improvement over aluminium, especially due to its different colour reflection properties. The glass is curved from the edges, something reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S-series devices. While everything seems to be in place, the glass design attracts fingerprint impressions which make it dirty, requiring regular cleaning.

Honor 10 display

The Honor 10 sports a 5.84-inch fullHD+ 19:9 aspect ratio screen, which is bright enough to stay legible under direct sunlight. The notch is set as enabled by default, but can be disabled from settings. However, the notch is disabled by default for video playback through apps like YouTube and Netflix or native video player, and there is no option to enable it.

Online video streaming apps also fail to fill the 19:9 aspect ratio screen and show content at 16:9 aspect ratio, leaving blacked out areas on each side when viewed in horizontal mode, therefore it fails to utilise complete screen area.

Honor 10 multimedia capabilities

The Honor 10 neither have the HDR compliant screen nor the dual stereo speakers that the premium P20 Pro offers. The phone also lacks Dolby Atmos support and relies on Huawei’s 3D audio technology to boost the audio output.

Yet, for a midrange smartphone, the Honor 10 fairs well to play multimedia content, thanks to 3.5mm audio jack that makes a lot of difference, especially for people who like to use headphones more than speakers for content playback.

Honor 10 performance

The Honor 10 is powered by Kirin 970 system-on-chip (SoC), the same processor that powers the premium Huawei P20 Pro. It is paired with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The phone boots EMUI8, which is an Android Oreo-based customised skin developed in-house by Huawei to utilise the potential of AI across different system settings.

Oppo Realme 1: Budget smartphone with impressive design, sleek performance

The phone booted up fast and the touch interface was butter smooth, probably because of the 6GB RAM and Mediatek's octa-core Helio P60 processor

This was fast! Moments earlier, I had set up the face unlock feature of Oppo’s Realme1, and lo and behold, the phone unlocked in a jiffy. The phone looks sleek and sexy with the “Diamond Black” back sporting a curious angled pattern, which reflects light at different angles. While the back is a fingerprint magnet, it does look cool.

The phone booted up fast and the touch interface was butter smooth, probably because of the 6GB of RAM and the Mediatek’s octa-core Helio P60 processor. In the limited time I used it, gaming and browsing was fast and without lags, even with multiple apps open in the background.

There’s 128GB memory onboard, so there’s no problem with those big games. I played my favourite NFS titles and Asphalt 8: Airborne without a hitch.

The selfie camera, with its various beauty modes and filters, looks set to satiate any selfie addict. Plus, the pictures came out quite well in the time I used it; the single-camera primary setup also clicked decent pictures indoors and I look forward to using this extensively outdoors.

The smart assistant reminded me of my regular iPhone screen, and the feature I liked best was step tracking, which is accurate enough to push any casual fitness enthusiast.

Oppo’s ColorOS, built on top of Android 8.1, didn’t feel bloated, while the clone phone feature is a godsend for people maintaining two phone numbers. Calls from this device were as good as the network allowed it, while WhatsApp video calls stood out because of its powerful selfie cam.

OnePlus 6, Honor 10 India launches this week: Things that you need to know

While the OnePlus 6 is set to be unveiled on May 17 and would go on sale starting May 21, exclusively on Amazon, the Honor 10 would be unveiled on May 15 and go on sale starting May 16 on Flipkart

Chinese smartphone manufacturers OnePlus and Honor are gearing up to launch their flagship smartphone – the OnePlus 6 and Honor 10 – in India this week. While the OnePlus 6 is set to be unveiled on May 17 and go on sale starting May 21, exclusively on Amazon, the Honor 10 would be unveiled on May 15 and go on sale starting May 16 on Flipkart. Both the smartphones would compete in the mid-range flagship segment.

Here are a few things that you need to know about the OnePlus 6 and Honor 10 smartphones:

OnePlus 6 screen

The OnePlus has used a 5.5-inch fullHD screen in most of its smartphones, except the OnePlus 5T, which has a 6-inch screen due to an 18:9 aspect ratio screen. The OnePlus 6, based on recent leak by Amazon Germany, is expected to have a 6.28-inch screen with fullHD+ resolution. As confirmed by the company’s co-founder earlier, the screen would sport a notch on top.

OnePlus 6 design

The OnePlus 6 will make a departure from the current trend of an aluminium build in favour of a glass body, but it would retain horizontal lines and curved design of the current generation flagship.

OnePlus 6 colours

The new glass-based design of the OnePlus 6 is confirmed to feature nanotech coating, something similar to the Huawei P20 Pro. Therefore, the phone is expected to come in multiple colour options, too. The phone is expected to come in at least three colour variants – black, white and blue.

OnePlus 6 camera

In terms of imaging, the smartphone would bring certain upgrades over the current generation. A new camera placement, vertically in the centre, with a fingerprint reader below it, is confirmed. However, the exact camera specifications have been kept under wraps, and the phone, according to a leak, is expected to sport a dual-camera set-up on its back utilising 16-megapixel and 20MP sensors placed vertically at the upper centre, instead of the horizontal set-up found in the current generation. As for the front, the selfie camera is reported to feature a 20MP sensor of f/2.0 aperture size.

As for the features, ultra-slow motion video recording is one particular feature that would be making way to the OnePlus 6, as confirmed by the company through teasers shared on various social media channels.

OnePlus 6 features and specifications

The phone will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and have a 256GB storage variant paired with 8GB of RAM. The mid-range smartphone is also expected to have 64GB and 128GB variants, paired with 6GB of RAM. OnePlus has been teasing the features of the smartphone in the form of tweets and as part of other social media promotion activities – ingress protection (IP) rating for water and dust resistance, for example.

OnePlus 6 price

The OnePlus 6 is expected to price sub-Rs 40,000, at least for the base models with 6GB RAM and 64GB and 128GB storage options.

Honor 10 screen

Similar to the OnePlus 6, the Honor 10 would also sport a notch-based screen. However, the Honor device would sport a smaller 5.8-inch fullHD+ 19:9 aspect ratio screen compared to the 6.28-inch in the OnePlus 6.

Honor 10 design

The Honor 10 is expected to feature a glass-metal-glass sandwich design, similar to the recently launched Huawei P20-series. The phone is also expected to feature twilight coloured glass on the back, which shows different colour shades when looked at from different angles. The phone is also expected to sport a dual rear-camera unit placed horizontally on the top left corner. However, the fingerprint scanner is not visible on the back, so it is assumed to have been put on the front side below the screen.

Honor 10 camera

Being a cost-effective substitute to the premium Huawei P20-series smartphones, the Honor 10 might shed the Leica lens in favour of the company’s in-house imaging solution. The phone’s camera is also expected to feature artificial intelligence-based scene selection and other camera modes. However, the AI-based camera feature in the Honor 10 might be limited in comparison with the Huawei P20-series smartphones.

As for the features, AI-based scene selection and ultra-slow motion video recording are expected to feature in the upcoming smartphone.

Honor 10 features and specifications

The Honor devices, a cost-effective substitute to the Huawei P-series and Mate-series premium smartphones, usually feature similar technical specifications and features of the premium Huawei smartphones. The Honor 10 is expected to take inspiration from the recently launched Huawei P20 Pro, however, might miss on premium features such as Leica-tuned camera lenses, AMOLED screen, etc, which are limited to premium Huawei smartphones.

Just like the Huawei P20-series, the Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The phone is expected to feature Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0, with system-wide AI integration for enhanced user experience.

Honor 10 Price

In terms of pricing, according to an industry source, the Honor 10 would be launched at Rs 35,000 and would rival the OnePlus 6 in the midrange flagship segment.

Click Here: Technology News

HMD Global to adopt notch screen, resurrect Xseries with Nokia X6

HMD Global, the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer behind Nokia-branded devices, might bring back the old Nokia X-series smartphones. The first smartphone in the series will purportedly be called the Nokia X6. And the official images shared by the company on the Chinese social media platform Weibo shows that the phone will sport a notchbased screen, a first for Nokia smartphones.Those who have seen the original Nokia Xseries devices would agree that those phones offered a value-for-money proposition. The series had its spot fixed between the premium Nokia N-series and the budget Nokia Cseries, therefore it took cues from both. The X-series devices usually had a distinct design language, unconventional mostly, and featured a colourful outlook. The Nokia X7-00 with razor cut metallic design and unconventional pseudo speaker grilles on each corners was the last device of the X-series that came out.Nokia X6 specifications and features-Speaking of the purported Nokia X6, the Android-based smartphone is expected to sport a notch-based 5.8-inch screen with a 19:9 aspect ratio on the front.

The phone is expected to use either a MediaTek P60 system-on-chip (SoC) or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor. The earlier leak also hinted that the phone would sport dual camera set-up on the rear. However, just like original Nokia X-series, it may not feature Carl Zeiss lenses.Nokia X6 launch While nothing is officially confirmed about the said Nokia X6, a purported media invite shared on Weibo hints at a possible China launch on May 16. The said invite shows a phone’s notch-based screen cut-out with a launch date marked on it. However, the source of the invite could not be verified yet.Recent Nokia launches Nokia 8 Sirocco-HMD Global on April 4 launched the Nokia 8 Sirocco in India. Priced at Rs 49,999, the Nokia 8 will go on sale starting April 30 and be available only in black colour. The phone would go on sale either through Nokia phones' official portal or home-grown e-commerce portal Flipkart. The phone would also be available at select retail outlets like Sangeetha, Poorvika, Big C, Croma and Reliance Digital.

The Nokia 8 Sirocco is an unconventional flagship smartphone with a premium design, top-tier innards, wireless charging, water-dust resistance and the Android One promise of guaranteed future OS updates. The phone’s camera might not impress everyone, especially those who like nightlife photography. But the three omni-directional Nokia OZO microphones compensate for that by allowing crisp sound recording, even during live jamming sessions.Nokia 7 Plus-The Nokia 7 Plus is a mid-range premium smartphone with modern looks and smooth performance. It does not have top-tier innards, but it manages to run without any lag or jitters, even during demanding tasks. At Rs 25,999, the phone is an all-rounder with powerful battery, fast charge support, good screen and the Android One update promise.Nokia 6 (2018)-Built on the blueprint of the original Nokia 6, the new Nokia 6 (2018) packs more power and performance. The phone is powered by Qualcomm 630 processor, coupled with 32GB internal storage and 3GB RAM. The phone is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery, which supports fast charge technology. According to company’s claim, the fast charger takes 30 minutes to charge over 50 per cent battery. The phone boasts a 16MP primary camera and 8MP selfie camera.

HMD Global India outlook Since HMD Global entered the handset business in 2016, it has sold over 70 million devices. India, being one of the fastest growing mobile phone markets globally, is among the company’s top three global markets as the country shows better potential than other European markets.After making a mark in the feature phone market within a year, HMD is now eyeing the top spot. The Finnish firm wants to clinch a significant share of the smartphone market that is currently dominated by Asian manufacturers.Pekka Rentala, chief marketing officer of HMD, has set the standards of the local market as a global benchmark. Unlike earlier, when Nokia used to dominate the market, its market share is less than 10 per cent. The market has over 200 handset brands.Rentala wants to rely on the nimbleness of a start-up, rather than taking the conventional approach. He wants to focus on strengthening distribution.While, Nokia has an established e-commerce channel in Europe, penetrating offline and online distribution channels in India is crucial.

However, the emergence of brands such as Vivo and Oppo had made the job difficult, he added. Instead of penetrating the market with high margins and discounts, Nokia will offer products that are value for money.

Nokia is KKR team's principal sponsor in IPL 2018 Nokia and the Shah Rukh Khanowned Kolkata Knoght Riders (KKR) franchise of Indian Premier League (IPL) have a history together. The Finnish mobile phone brand had been the principal sponsor of KKR from 2008 until 2014. However, after a gap of three years, HMD Global revived the association for two years starting with the present season (IPL 2018).

ARTICLE SOURCE- BUSINESS STANDARD.

Xiaomi Redmi S2 with dual cameras being developed, to come to India: Report

Most of the phone's specs, such as HD+ screen, storage and RAM variants put it in line with the Redmi 5. However, the Snapdragon 625 SoC will give the Redmi S2 a huge boost in terms of performance

Based on the report, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 would sport an 18:9 aspect ratio screen of HD+ (1440×720) resolution. The phone would be powered by Qualcomm MSM 8953 system-on-chip (SoC), which is a Snapdragon 625 processor. In terms of storage, the phone would have a 16GB variant, though other storage models are also likely, and there would be a microSD card slot for storage extension. As for memory, the phone would likely come in 2GB and 3GB RAM variants.

Talking of imaging, the phone would have a dual-camera set-up on the back, which will either have the 12-megapixel primary sensor of Sony IMX486 or OmniVision OV12A10, and the 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 as the secondary sensor. On the front, there would be a 5MP Samsung S5K5E8 sensor.

The Xiaomi Redmi S2 would have a 3,080mAh battery and boot Android Oreo 8.1 out-of-the-box.

Based on most of the specifications and features, the Xiaomi Redmi S2 seems like a mixture of the Redmi 5 and Redmi Note 5 (Redmi 5 Plus) with added dual cameras on the back. While most of the specifications, such as HD+ screen and storage and RAM variants put it in line with the Redmi 5, the Snapdragon 625 processor would give the Redmi S2 a huge boost in terms of processing power.

Click here: Technology News  

The researchers noted that digital addiction is not our fault but a result of the tech industry's desire to increase corporate profits

 

People addicted to smartphones are more likely to feel depressed, anxious and lonely, a study has found.

Researchers said that overuse of smartphones is just like any other type of substance abuse.

"The behavioural addiction of smartphone use begins forming neurological connections in the brain in ways similar to how opioid addiction is experienced by people taking Oxycontin for pain relief - gradually," said Erik Peper from San Francisco State University in the US.

In a survey of 135 students, the researchers have found that students who used their phones the most reported higher levels of feeling isolated, lonely, depressed and anxious.

According to the study, published in the journal NeuroRegulation, they believe the loneliness is partly a consequence of replacing face-to-face interaction with a form of communication where body language and other signals cannot be interpreted.

The researchers also found that those same students almost constantly multitasked while studying, watching other media, eating or attending class.

This constant activity allows little time for bodies and minds to relax and regenerate, said Peper, and also results in "semi-tasking," where people do two or more tasks at the same time - but half as well as they would have if focused on one task at a time.

The researchers noted that digital addiction is not our fault but a result of the tech industry's desire to increase corporate profits.

"Push notifications, vibrations and other alerts on our phones and computers make us feel compelled to look at them by triggering the same neural pathways in our brains that once alerted us to imminent danger, such as an attack by a tiger or other large predator," Pepper said.

But, according to the researchers, we can take charge and train ourselves to be less addicted to our phones and computers.

The first step is recognising that tech companies are manipulating our innate biological responses to danger.

Peper suggested that we should turn off push notifications, only respond to email and social media at specific times to focus on important tasks.

Article source: Business standard

OnePlus 6 water-resistant feature confirmed; CEO shares camera samples, too

The OnePlus 6 would bear an ingress protection (IP) rating, which would make it the first device from the stable of OnePlus to sport water resistance capabilities

Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is gearing up to unveil the fifth iteration of its flagship smartphone. Touted as the OnePlus 6, the smartphone would bear an ingress protection (IP) rating, which would make it the first OnePlus device to sport water resistance capabilities.

While the water resistance or exact IP rating has not been officially confirmed, the company has uploaded a promo teaser on Twitter, which reads “Don’t you just hate it when you have to stop using your phone when it rains? So do we”, confirming that the upcoming flagship would feature some sort of water resistance.

In another event, the company’s CEO Pete Lau shared half a dozen of pictures captured using the OnePlus 6 on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The images were taken in broad daylight conditions and, therefore, show lots of details. One of the images also shows the portrait mode capabilities, but fails to reveal the true prowess of the dual camera set-up.

Recently, in a leak shared by Chinese technology portal GizmoChina, the OnePlus 6's purported colour variants have been shared, confirming that the phone would be available in multiple colour options -- black, white and blue.

Talking about the leak, the phone case maker brand Olixar recently uploaded its upcoming portfolio of cases for the OnePlus 6. The portfolio not only showcased the cases but also revealed the phone’s front completely.

In terms of specifications, nothing much has been officially confirmed, except that the OnePlus 6 would be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC) and the top-end variant would get an 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. However, the recent wireless certification also hints at the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations.

As for the price, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of the Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 and Rs 36,999, while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 and Rs 42,999, and the premium variant with 256GB storage between Rs 44,999 and Rs 48,999.

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Google is no longer selling original Pixel, Pixel XL on its online store

India was among the first six countries where Pixel was launched in October 2016, starting at Rs 57,000

Google has removed the original first-generation Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones from its Google Store, media reported.

First spotted by Android Police, the landing page for the 2016 Pixels on Google Store now redirects to another page with just two links -- Pixel 2 and accessories for the Pixel 2.

"The Pixel had a good run, and it probably wasn't selling a lot of units. Google knocked a bit off the price of the first-gen phone after the Pixel 2 launched, but it still started at $549. The Pixel 2 was just $100 more," the report added.

Google later confirmed this to Digital Trends.

"Some third-party retailers are still selling the phone, though we're not sure how much longer that will last. Currently, Amazon is selling both new and refurbished versions of the Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL," reported Digital Trends.

India was among the first six countries where Pixel was launched in October 2016, starting at Rs 57,000.

Pixel was the first smartphone with Google Assistant -- a built-in AI programme that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator like Apple's "Siri".

Pixel came pre-installed with Google Duo video calling app and messaging app Allo.

Pixel smartphones were fitted with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 821 Quad-core (2x2.15 Ghz and 2x1.6 Ghz) processors and 4GB RAM.

Google shipped 3.9 million Pixel and Pixel 2 devices in 2017 which is nearly double the units it sold in 2016.

According to Francisco Jeronimo, Research Director at International Data Corporation (IDC), "#GooglePixel shipments continue to grow, but they still represent a tiny portion of the smartphone market".

Google launched its flagship Pixel 2 smartphone in India in November 2017 at a starting price of Rs 61,000 for the 64GB variant.

According to media reports, the company is set to launch Pixel 3 in 2018.

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Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo with dual rear cameras launched: Know price, features

Priced at Rs 16,990, the phone would be available in black and gold colour variants, and will go on sale across retail stores starting April 12

 

South Korean electronics major Samsung on April 11 unveiled the camera-centric Galaxy J7 Duo with dual rear cameras -- a first for Samsung's J-series smartphones -- in India. Priced at Rs 16,990, the phone would be available in the black and gold colour variants, and it will go on sale across retail stores starting April 12.

In terms of features and specifications, the Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo sports a 13-megapixel and 5MP dual camera set-up on the rear, and an 8 MP on the front. Both cameras come with f/1.9 aperture and LED flash.

The front camera on Galaxy J7 Duo comes with several modes such as selfie focus mode (blurs the background), and beauty mode (enhances selfie by removing blemishes, softening the skin tone, etc.). The Galaxy J7 Duo also comes with face unlock feature, which allows users to unlock the phone with the help of front camera. The Galaxy J7 Duo also gets live focus and background blur shape features, which allows users to change blur shape of background elements.

The Galaxy J7 Duo is powered by Exynos 7-series processor, coupled with 4GB RAM and 32GB internal memory, expandable up to 256GB using a microSD card. The phone sports a 5.5-inch fullHD super AMOLED display and comes with 3,000 mAh battery. The phone boots Android Oreo out of the box.

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Apple iPhone likely to get three rear cameras with 5x zoom by 2019: Report

The report claims that the next iPhone would utilise three 12-megapixel sensors, with the third 12MP lens enabling 5x zoom capabilities

 

US-based software and technology giant Apple is reportedly considering using three rear cameras in at least one of the iPhones by 2019, according to a report in Taiwanese news portal Economic Daily News.

Citing industry sources, the news report claims that the next iPhone would utilise three 12-megapixel sensors, with the third 12MP lens enabling 5x zoom capabilities. However, the report does not specify 5x zoom as optical, digital or hybrid. In current range of iPhones, the dual cameras manage to achieve 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom.

Even if Apple decides to use three cameras in the next iPhone, it won’t be the first smartphone maker to achieve this feat. Huawei, a Chinese company and world’s third largest mobile phone manufacturer, recently launched the Huawei P20 Pro with three rear-cameras. The phone is capable to take 5x optical zoom shots, along with 960fps slow-mo video recording and artificial intelligence-based auto scene selections.

In 2018, Apple is expected to launch three iPhone models, according to Taiwan-based KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The smartphones are reported to sport screens of sizes between 5.8 inches and 6.2 inches, and different display technologies – OLED and IPS LCD.

According to Digitimes research analyst Luke Lin, Apple would launch an OLED display-based 5.85-inch iPhone that would cost much lower than the iPhone X. According to Lin, who cited information from Apple's upstream supply chain, the next-generation iPhone’s manufacturing bill for materials will be over 10 per cent lower than that for the iPhone X. He added, that the MBOM of the iPhone X was more than US$400 in 2017.

In the past, Lin also alleged that Apple was preparing for a new inexpensive smartphone similar to the iPhone SE for 2018, featuring the wireless charging functionality, but without 3D-sensing technology.

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Samsung Galaxy S8 launched in burgundy red colour; priced at Rs 49,900

The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red

On April 9, Samsung launched a burgundy red colour variant of its yesteryear’s flagship the Galaxy S8. The smartphone is now available in five colour options i.e. midnight black, coral blue, maple gold, orchid gray and burgundy red. The announcement of the new colour variant's launch came soon after Samsung’s direct competitor Apple launched the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Red edition.

The new burgundy red colour variant of the Galaxy S8 has been priced at Rs 49,990. Samsung, in partnership with Paytm which is also offering a cashback of Rs 10,000. This brings down the effective cost to Rs 39,990. The new colour variant would go on sale starting April 13.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy S8 is powered by Exynos 8895 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage – expandable using microSD card. The phone was launched with Android Nougat operating system however and would soon be upgraded to Android Oreo 8.0. It sports a 5.8-inch super AMOLED QHD+ screen in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen is curved from the sides and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

The phone features a 12-megapixel primary camera with f/1.7 aperture. The camera supports dual pixel technology and is assisted by optical image stabilisation (OIS). On the front, the phone has an 8MP selfie camera of f/1.7 aperture. The front camera also supports autofocus. The phone is powered by a 3,000 mAh battery, and supports wireless charging and fast charging.

Last month, Samsung launched the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in India priced at Rs 57,900 and Rs 64,900. The flagship smartphones look identical to the Galaxy S8-series. Although the S9-series feature several new improvements in term of imaging, processing, multimedia capabilities and security, the new price and cashback offer on the Galaxy S8 makes it a real deal.

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Honor 10 teaser shows Huawei P20-inspired design, dual camera: Details here

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 SoC, coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. It is reported to feature an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based fullHD+ screen

Honor, the online subsidiary of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, is gearing up to unveil the Honor 10 smartphone on May 15 in London. The Honor-branded smartphones, as seen in the past, take cues from Huawei P-series and Mate-series flagship devices, so the Honor 10 is expected to be inspired by the Huawei P20-series phones.

According to an alleged official banner leaked on Chinese social media platform Weibo, the Honor 10 is reported to feature a glossy multi-colour back panel, similar to Huawei P20. The alleged phone image also shows a dual rear-camera unit placed horizontally on the top left corner. However, the fingerprint scanner is not visible on the back, so it is assumed to have been put on the front side below the screen.

Just like the Huawei P20-series, the Honor 10 is expected to feature Kirin 970 system-on-chip (SoC), coupled with up to 6 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage. The phone is reported to sport an iPhone X-inspired 5.8-inch notch-based screen with fullHD+ resolution.

Being a cost-effective substitute to the premium Huawei P20-series smartphones, the Honor 10 might shed the Leica lens in favour of the company’s in-house imaging solution. The phone’s camera is also expected to feature artificial intelligence-based scene selection and other camera modes. However, the AI-based camera feature in the Honor 10 might be limited in comparison with the Huawei P20-series smartphones.

Super-slow-motion videos at 960 frames per second (FPS) are another camera feature that might not be there in the Honor 10. However, the phone is expected to capture 480FPS slow-mo video at a 720p resolution.

The Honor 10 is expected to feature Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0, with system-wide AI integration for enhanced user experience. As for the price, Honor phones usually get an affordable price tag when compared with the Huawei P-series and Mate-series smartphones. Therefore, the Honor 10 is expected to be priced in the mid range, rather than premium, especially in India.

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OnePlus 6 Indian price, colour themes leaked: Specs, features & more

OnePlus 6 might be out soon and its 64GB, 128GB and 256GB variants may cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999, Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999, respectively

 

OnePlus is gearing up to unveil notch screen-based OnePlus 6 sometime this month or early next month. However, the leaks of the smartphone have been making rounds on the internet hinting at the possible design theme, imaging set-up, specifications, features and price of the upcoming midrange device.

While the OnePlus 6 notch-based screen and the wooden back cover has been revealed in the past, the new leak showcases the phone’s new colour variants hinting at possible glass-based design, instead of metallic build that the current generation boasts. However, based on leaks, it is assumed that the phone would sport an aluminium frame, similar to the one found in current generation model – the OnePlus 5T.

In an interview with an online technology portal The Verge, OnePlus co-founder and CEO Carl Pei hinted that the upcoming flagship would sport a bigger display. He, however, did not mention the exact screen size and, based on leaks, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 would boast a 6.28-inch screen.

The OnePlus 6 would be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip (SoC). The top-end variant would get 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage – as confirmed by the company in an official teaser. However, the 64GB and 128GB internal storage variants with 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations are also expected to be part of upcoming phone’s variants line-up.

The OnePlus 5T’s dual rear-cameras and modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen have been the core marketing features. However, for the OnePlus 6, the focus is solely on the notch-based screen and the information around camera is scarce – both from company’s side and through leaks. The silence around imaging hints at no major breakthrough in the front and back camera. Based on leaked specifications, however, the upcoming midrange smartphone is expected to sport 20-megapixel and 16MP resolution rear sensors with f/1.7 aperture on both the lenses. On the front, the phone is reported to get a new 20MP sensor with bright f/2.0 aperture lens.

Talking about the price, OnePlus has been raising the price of its devices with every successive generation. And, based on Indian price leak, the OnePlus 6 would be the costliest smartphone from the stable of Chinese smartphone maker. The OnePlus 6 with 64GB internal storage is reportedly going to cost between Rs 33,999 to Rs 36,999 while the 128GB storage variant may cost between Rs 38,999 to Rs 42,999 and the premium variant with 256GB storage may cost between Rs 44,999 to Rs 48,999.

Based on these prices, it can be assumed that OnePlus might unveil 6GB and 8GB RAM configurations with internal storage variants. Therefore, it is expected that the OnePlus 6 base model with 64GB internal storage, along with 128GB and 256GB variants, might also get 8GB RAM configuration.

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