Amazon announces new Fire TV with 4K HDR support

Amazon announces new Fire TV with 4K HDR support

Amazon has launched a new redesigned Fire TV with features like 4K, HDR, Dolby Atmos, Alexa and more for $69.99. The new Fire TV has been completely redesigned. Gone is the puck shaped, Apple TV-like design and in its place is a more compact, Chromecast-like design. With the built-in HDMI cable, the device now plugs straight into your TV without taking up additional space below it, although it will still need to be powered using the bundled wall outlet. The new Fire TV has a faster Amlogic processor with 4x Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.5GHz and Mali-450 MP3 GPU, along with 2GB of RAM and 8GB internal storage. This allows the device to stream in 4K 60fps with HDR-10 support. There's also Dolby Atmos, for those with fancy home theater setups but there is no Dolby Vision support, unlike the new Apple TV 4K. A new feature is support for HD Antenna that can be purchased separately, which allows you to also watch cable TV from networks like NBC and PBS so you are not just limited to streaming services. The Fire TV comes with the Alexa Voice Remote with full access to Alexa and also pairs with your Amazon Echo devices so you can control your Fire TV using the Echo. The new Fire TV will be available standalone for $69.99 starting October 25. You can also optionally get it with an Echo Dot for just $10 more at $79.99 and with the optional HD Antenna for $74.99.

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Deal: OnePlus 5 comes with free Bullets V2 headphones

Deal: OnePlus 5 comes with free Bullets V2 headphones

is one of the excellent and reasonably-priced flagships out on the market, but it is usually shipped without headphones. Now you can get the Chinese manufacturers Bullets V2 for free if you buy the OnePlus 5 with 128 GB storage. Going on the OnePlus website and selecting the $539 phone, at the third step Special offers youll see the headphones are offered with 100% discount. The Bullets V2, offered in Black or White have a retail price of $19.95 which goes down to $0 when the 128 GB OnePlus 5 is added to the shopping basket. The company reminds all that the deal is available until September 30. So if you are interested head to OnePlus website and grab the promo before it's over.

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Instagram improves controls for managing comments

Instagram improves controls for managing comments

Instagram has hit 800 million user mark and it is celebrating with some new features. One of them is improved comment moderation. Users can now choose who gets to comment on their posts, from everyone to people you follow and your followers, just the people you follow and just your followers. You can also block specific people from commenting on your posts. Another addition is the ability to anonymously report when someone on a live stream is in need of mental support and the app will then flash a help screen for them with helpline numbers, suggestions, and an option to call or text someone for help. Lastly, some new kindness-themed stickers have been added for the Stories mode. The changes will be rolled out gradually to users. Source

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WSJ: the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X is causing the supply issues

WSJ: the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X is causing the supply issues

Weve been hearing that the will face component shortages since the new flagship was merely a rumor. Now quotes multiple sources who say that the TrueDepth camera is what keeps production slow. Two components nicknamed Romeo and Juliet work in tandem to enable the FaceID / animoji magic. However, the Romeo modules are harder to manufacture and take more time compared to the Juliet module. The sources did not name the function of Romeo, but it appears that this component is the true roadblock (and not the AMOLED screen ). The issue so so severe, that the factories can churn out only tens of thousands of units per day keep in mind that the iPhone X launches on November 3 and pre-orders will probably be in the millions. Its possible that Apple will not be able to fulfill all pre-orders this year. Note that analysts expect the iPhone X iPhone 8 + 8 Plus sales, totaling units. Still, theres hope that the production hurdles will be surmounted as all 2018 iPhones to use FaceID. (paywall)

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Mediatek introduces the MT6739 chipset

Mediatek introduces the MT6739 chipset

The India Mobile Congress 2017 was the host of a Mediatek event where the Chinese company announced a new entry-level chipset MT6739. The SoC has quad-core CPU and supports two main cameras, 18:9 ratio screens and dual VoLTE. The processor has four Cortex-A53 cores and operates at up to 1.5 GHz. Its screen resolution support is limited to to 1440x720 pixels 720p in 18:9 ratio. The modem is LTE Cat.4, and dual SIMS are supported. Heres a full list of the MT6739 specs: The MT6739 is arriving as an update to the MT6735, and will power smartphones by the end of 2017.

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Sony exec: next-gen Xperias to have bezel-less design

Sony exec: next-gen Xperias to have bezel-less design

Managing Director of Sony India, Kenichiro Hibi, has stated that Sony is planning to launch next-gen Xperia phones and you can expect a completely new design from the devices. In other words, OmniBalance that has been employed since 2013 with the Xperia Z may be coming to an end. Hibi knows the direction that the market is heading 18:9 phones with bezel-less designs. And Sony may join this design trend with a new device soon. The company has neglected the low-end and even its mid-rangers have premium ambitions. With that in mind, Sony cant afford to keep an old school design when the market leaders have all jumped on the bezel-less bandwagon. Hibi says that while the Indian market is focused on entry-level phones, Sony is doubling down on high end and mid-range devices. Something like an is billed as premium mid-range while even the is not the true flagship that honor goes to the instead.

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One in four iDevices already runs iOS 11

One in four iDevices already runs iOS 11

Apples latest iOS 11 and over 25% of the iUsers switched in the first week. The numbers came from analytics platform Mixpanel. The adoption rate is slower than iOS 10 last year, which reached . Adoption of iOS 11 stood at 12% 24 hours after its release and it's gaining 2-3% per day throughout the first seven days, eventually reaching 26.57%. Today numbers are actually lower at 23.6% due to numerous complaints about bugs. Apple answered woes with releasing an update . It is worth noting that Mixpanel is a third party analytics company and data may not be 100% accurate. We'll know for sure when Apple delivers the official numbers.

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KGI: iPhone 8 sales are not weak, people are just waiting for the iPhone X

KGI: iPhone 8 sales are not weak, people are just waiting for the iPhone X

The should have been a clue the and are selling as well as expected, claim industry analysts at KGI. According to their numbers, the two 8 models saw roughly half the sales during the opening week compared to last years iPhone 7. But KGIs Ming-Chi Kuo (usually an authoritative source) expects that the will match the sales of the 8 and 8 Plus combined. This will bring sale numbers back to where they need to be. Earlier, KGI predicted for the X, so its a matter of how fast Apple can make them. Keep in mind that even at equal number of phones sold, Apple will earn more money the $1,000 iPhone X will increase the Average Selling Price (ASP) of Cupertinos product line. Additional curious info from the launch weekend sales show that the iPhone 8 Plus outsold the smaller model. In previous years the smaller and more affordable model lead in the sales. Kuo writes:

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Panasonic unveils Eluga I4 mid-ranger

Panasonic unveils Eluga I4 mid-ranger

Eluga I4 is the name of the new phone Panasonic announced today in India. It is a direct successor to the and comes with 4G VoLTE support. It runs on MediaTek chipset and Android Nougat and has low-end specs and an affordable price tag. The screen of the Eluga I4 is 5 with HD resolution and 2.5D curved glass on top. Underneath, an MT6737 chipset features a quad-core CPU and the Mali-T720 GPU. Panasonic equipped the new phone with 16 GB internal storage, and there is also a microSD slot for 128 GB more. RAM is 2 gigs. An 8 MP camera with quad-LED flash sits on top of the back panel, while the front one has a fingerprint scanner that doubles as a home button. The selfie cam is 5 MP. The whole package is powered by a 3000 mAh battery. The Panasonic Eluga I4 is offered in either Blue, Black or Gold. The price is INR8,290 which is about $125. It can be purchased at Panasonic shops or various online and offline retailers across India.

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Galaxy A5 and A7 (2018): fingerprint reader below the camera, Infinity Display

Galaxy A5 and A7 (2018): fingerprint reader below the camera, Infinity Display

Weve heard the Galaxy A5 (2018), now lets look at whats on its outside. A pretty extensive leak details the general design of the 2018 A-series with a focus on the A5 and A7. The back will have a fingerprint reader under the camera huzzah, why couldnt the Note8 be like that? Anyway, its a fairly small reader, it looks like it could have been repurposed from a Home button reader. Speaking of buttons, the new A-series will have a Bixby button. We can hear the groans already. At least now Samsung allows you to . The schematic of the front shows . Not unusual, the A-series always gets the flagship S-series features a year later. Here are some more angles of the Galaxy A5 and A7, 2018 edition. Note the Bixby button.

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Apple releases macOS 10.13 High Sierra

Apple releases macOS 10.13 High Sierra

Apple has released the final stable version of macOS 10.13 High Sierra to users. It is now available for download for free on the Mac App Store and is about 4.8GB in size. With its yearly update schedule Apple has already reduced the number of major features added every year and with High Sierra in particular there was more focus on improving the existing feature set rather than adding more. Despite that there are still some important features here that Mac users can appreciate. One of the additions is support for the APFS file system. This is a replacement for Apple's older HFS file system, which has been around for years and was developed back when all computers hard hard drives. APFS has been designed primarily with flash storage in mind and takes full advantage of the fast flash storage found in most Macs these days as well as being future proof. It's designed to be faster, efficient, reliable and more secure than before. It is currently only available on Macs with all flash storage and those with Fusion drives or HDD will be getting it later. The other addition is the support for HEVC codec. HEVC or H.265 is the successor to the popular H.264 codec. It is more efficient than its predecessor, with files taking up about 40% less space without compromising on quality, allowing you to store more files or download and stream faster. Even the videos shot from iPhones running iOS 11 now use this codec. It is the future for video compression and your Mac is now ready for it. The latest MacBook Pro and iMac models with Intel Kaby Lake processors are capable of hardware decoding the codec while older Macs will be able to do it on a software level. High Sierra also brings with it support for Metal 2, Apple's proprietary low-level graphics API. Along with improving performance, Metal 2 also makes it possible to do machine learning for things like speech recognition, natural language processing and computer vision. Further improving machine learning capabilities is the addition of Core ML, Apple's machine learning framework that lets developers integrate machine learning models within their apps using a Mac. Virtual Reality support has also been added. Developers can now use their Macs to create applications that enable virtual reality functionality, including games. Valve is optimizing its SteamVR platform for macOS and the HTC Vive is now supported on Macs. Final Cut Pro X will be updated later with support for 360 degree VR videos. Developers will also be able to officially use external graphics cards over the Thunderbolt connector for additional graphics performance. Other improvements include an updated Photos app with new UI and photo editing tools, new Safari with automatic blocking of autoplay videos and intelligent tracking prevention to prevent cross-site tracking of your cookies, improved Siri with a new voice and functionality, improved Notes app with tables support and improved Spotlight with support for flight status information.

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Retail box of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus leaks

Retail box of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus leaks

An image of a retail box with the name Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus popped on Weibo today. It is scarce of details but was enough to confirm that the Chinese manufacturer is redying an enhanced version of its entry-level phone. According to sources, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is expected to be the high-end version of the Redmi 5, which is also still unannounced, even though leaked official images pretty much confirmed the phone. This is not the first time Xiaomi is introducing a Plus version of a device. Last year the was announced along the with a bigger screen, dual camera and 20% mightier battery. The phone was also the first Xiaomi handset with 6 GB RAM. We are still waiting for any official information about the unveiling of the and the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. |

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Sony launches Xperia XZ1 smartphone in India

Sony launches Xperia XZ1 smartphone in India

Sony has launched one of its newest smartphones, the , in India. The phone was first announced last month at IFA 2017. In India, it is being priced at INR 44,990 ($690) and is available starting today. If you are wondering how the XZ1 is different from the launched earlier this year or indeed, the launched last year, then you are not alone. Even Sony pretty much repeated the same thing in their press material that they did for the last one. Looking closer reveals some differences from the XZs, such as a thinner and lighter design, newer and faster Snapdragon 835 processor, HDR display and a smaller battery. And yeah, that's pretty much it. So that's your overview of the Xperia XZ1. It's Pretty Much The Same As Last Time. You can find our full review .

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Foldable Galaxy X phone gets certified in its home country

Foldable Galaxy X phone gets certified in its home country

The foldable Galaxy X phone missed its rumored and certainly did not come out ahead of the Galaxy Note8. It is still busy collecting certifications from the and authorities and now one from South Koreas equivalent to the FCC. This certification mentions the familiar model number SM-G888N0 but doesnt betray much more than that. The N0 suffix reportedly marks a Korean model. Things are looking good for a launch in the holiday quarter, but when a worldwide launch may happen is unclear. From Samsungs patent drawings, it looks like the company intends to take the widescreen to an extreme the whole internal side of the flip phone will be covered in a flexible screen. That would make it much, much wider than the S8s 18.5:9 screen. | (in Dutch)

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Google's Android Pay gains support for 24 new financial institutions in US

Google's Android Pay gains support for 24 new financial institutions in US

The ever expanding list of Android Pay supported banks/financial institutions has been updated yet again. This time, a total of 24 new names have been added, including Bank of Idaho, Beehive Federal Credit Union, Citizens Bank (WI), Community National Bank & Trust of Texas, and Duke University FCU. Other names are First Community Bank (TX), Great Plains Bank, Guaranty Bank & Trust Company of Delhi, Gulf Winds FCU, Mascoma Savings Bank, Meadows Bank, Meriwest Credit Union, Nascoga Federal Credit Union, One Bank & Trust, N.A., Pen Air FCU, Security Federal Bank, Texas Brand Bank, The Bryn Mawr Trust Co., The State Bank and Trust Company, TrueCore FCU, Wauna FCU, West-Aircomm FCU, Westmoreland Community FCU, and Xplore Federal Credit Union. With this, the total number of banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions in the US that support Android Pay now stands close to 1,000 (996 to be precise). |

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Gionee GN5007 spotted on TENAA with 6-inch display, 5,000mAh battery

Gionee GN5007 spotted on TENAA with 6-inch display, 5,000mAh battery

A new Gionee smartphone has been spotted on the website of China's TENAA. Listed as Gionee GN5007, the device is powered by an octa-core SoC with 1.4GHz processor, and sports a 6-inch display with 1440720 pixel resolution. RAM is 4GB, while internal memory is 32GB. The handset features a 13MP main camera and an 8MP selfie shooter. Measuring 156.375.68.6mm and weighing in at 187g, the phone runs Android Nougat (version 7.1.1) out of the box, and packs in a 5,000mAh battery. As far as color options are concerned, the TENAA listing only reveals black. There's currently no information on the GN5007's pricing and availability. |

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Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera scores 83 on DxOMark

Sony Xperia XZ Premium camera scores 83 on DxOMark

The and have dominated the camera game according to DxOs latest camera testing procedures with scored of 94 and 92, respectively. The was also reviewed by the camera reviewers and scored 83 points. Considering that smartphones have been competing for DxOs top spot including the and , Sony doesnt seem to be trying on the camera front. Either that, or DxOs testing protocols arent in Sonys favor, well let you be the judge. DxO says that Sony does a well enough job with still photography and video, but doesnt break any new ground or try to really challenge the other leaders of the pack. It did poorly in DxOs new Zoom and Bokeh tests, which pulled the weight of the score down. The XZ Premium does have one innovation unique to the brand, and thats the 960 frame-per-second super slow-motion video capture. Otherwise, the XZ Premium has a pretty solid autofocus performance in images and videos, as well as very good stabilization in video recording. Check out what we had to say about the Xperia XZ ( ) and its as well. You can also check out the full DxO review of the Sony Xperia XZ Premium in the Source Link. |

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Essential PH-1 now available from Best Buy

Essential PH-1 now available from Best Buy

You can now get the ( ) from Best Buy retails stores in the United States. The blue and yellow retail stores preorder period is over and you can now place an order for the Black Moon version of the Essential Phone and you can even pick one up in the store. It might be a good idea to check if your local store has one before making the trip. The Pure White model, on the other hand, isnt available just yet, though it is listed as coming soon. On Best Buys website. The Essential PH-1 has a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge display that it calls Full Display. Aside from having a unique-looking display, the Essential PH-1 is made of top-shelf materials and features a very attractive, yet minimalistic design. Internally, the PH-1 offers Qualcomms latest Snapdragon 835 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of non-expandable storage. |

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Instagram adds face filters to live video

Instagram adds face filters to live video

Instagram has introduced a new ability to its live video feature. Users can now use one of the many face filters that were recently introduced while streaming live to their followers. Not only can can the filters be chosen for a stream but you can switch between them during the course of the live stream. Instagram has also added a sunglasses filter, which will be available exclusively for live videos for the next week. Users can tap on the filter to change the scenery that is reflected off the glasses. As before, one the live broadcast ends, the user can choose to save their live stream as a story for their followers to see for the next 24 hours or discard it.

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Motorola Moto Z2 Force currently going for $500 in US

Motorola Moto Z2 Force currently going for $500 in US

If you are a Motorola fan in the US, and are in the market for a flagship-level smartphone, here's a deal for you: is currently going for $500 in the country. Specifically, T-Mobile is offering the device at this rate. That, if you compare with the $750 price tag the handset usually carriers at the magenta carrier, translates into a solid discount of $250. You can also make a purchase by paying $20 upfront, followed by 24 monthly payments of $20 each. Officially, Motorola is offering the T-Mobile variant for $720, so you still get to save over $200 if you avail the T-Mobile deal. There's currently no information on when the promo expires, so those interested may have to act fast. Oh, and yes, on the phone is also currently going on, so do weigh you options. |

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Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Note Edge gets BlueBorne fix as well

Verizon's Samsung Galaxy Note Edge gets BlueBorne fix as well

Shortly after a similar update to units on its network, Verizon has started pushing out the BlueBorne security fix update to units as well. Arriving as software version MMB29M.N915VVRU2CQI3, the update also brings along most up to date Android security patches the carrier doesn't explicitly specify whether or not these are September fixes. Recently, OnePlus also the BlueBorne fixing update to / on the Open Beta channel. |

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BlackBerry Keyone Black Edition reaches Canada next week

BlackBerry Keyone Black Edition reaches Canada next week

The is slowly making its way to more and more markets across the world, and now it's almost time for it to land in the company's home of Canada. The device is expected to land there as soon as next week, but may only be out at certain retailers and carriers at the end of the month. Anyway, it is coming. The Keyone Black Edition will be priced at CAD 799 unlocked, and should be available from Amazon, Walmart, and Staples, among other places. Compared to the silver/black that was initially announced in February at MWC, the Black Edition has more RAM and internal storage: 4GB and 64GB, respectively. Otherwise it's identical on the inside to the other version. Of course it's a different story on the outside, with the all-black matte paintjob being decidedly more striking and business-suited.

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HTC U11 Plus rumored for November with 6-inch 18:9 bezel-less screen

HTC U11 Plus rumored for November with 6-inch 18:9 bezel-less screen

If you hate bezels but love HTC, it's been a bad year for you so far, considering the and 's screen-to-body ratios. But good news may be just around the corner, if a new report from France is to be believed. The Taiwanese company is still working on new smartphones, despite of some of its hardware engineers and designers. In fact, just a couple of days ago we heard that it by the end of the year. One of those will allegedly be called U11 Plus (codename Ocean Master). This is said to be the first HTC handset to adopt the premier trend of 2017, namely 18:9 aspect ratio displays with minimal bezels. The U11 Plus will have a 5.99-inch panel made by JDI, with 1,440x2,880 resolution. The phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 835, still Qualcomm's No.1 chipset, aided by 4 or 6GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage, depending on which model you choose. A 12 MP camera will be on the back (the same unit that is in the U11), and an 8 MP shooter will take care of selfies. The U11 Plus will have IP68 certified water and dust resistance, support for Qualcomm QuickCharge 3.0 (up to 18W), and a squeezable frame that enables the Edge Sense feature. The U11 Plus will be unveiled on November 11 in China, because it's going to be used by the company in its plan to regain at least some market share over there. For now it's not clear if the phone will be sold in developed markets, but that apparently is quite likely. (in French)

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Meizu announces M6 Note One Piece special edition in red with yellow accents

Meizu announces M6 Note One Piece special edition in red with yellow accents

Following of the , today Meizu has turned back towards the smartphone it and graced it with a special edition. The Meizu M6 One Piece special edition is styled to remind you of the Japanese manga series. It features a black front and red back, with red and yellow accents. The new paintjob isn't only on the outside the handset also comes with One Piece themed UI elements, including wallpapers, icons and widgets. Fans of One Piece will surely be thrilled by this device. Spec-wise, nothing changes compared to the vanilla M6 Note, so you still get the same 5.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, Snapdragon 625 SoC, 12 MP + 5 MP dual rear cameras, 16 MP selfie snapper, and 4,000 mAh battery. The Meizu M6 Note One Piece special edition goes on sale on September 25 for CNY 1,699 ($257 or 215) with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and CNY 2,399 ($363 or 304) if you need 4GB and 64GB, respectively. Note that this means you're paying a CNY 400 to 700 premium for the One Piece design, depending on which model you choose.

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Sony Xperia XA1 Plus launched in India

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus launched in India

Sony has launched the in India. The phone is priced at INR 24,990 ($384) and will be available starting tomorrow, September 22. The Xperia XA1 Plus is Sony's mid-range smartphone aimed at multimedia consumption. It has a large 5.5-inch 1080p display, which is larger than most Sony smartphones. It runs on a MediaTek Helio P20 processor with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of expandable storage. On the back is a 23 megapixel camera with f2.0 aperture and Sony's SteadyShot digital image stabilization for videos. On the front is an 8 megapixel sensor with f2.0 aperture and wide-angle lens. The Xperia XA1 Plus also has a fingerprint sensor, USB-C connectivity, dual SIM support, Android 7.1.1 Nougat and 3430mAh battery with fast charging. The phone will be available in three colors, Black, Blue and Gold.

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Xiaomi joins the Qi wireless charging consortium

Xiaomi joins the Qi wireless charging consortium

Xiaomi has joined the Wireless Power Consortium, known for its Qi standard. That is the same standard that is supported by Apple, LG, Samsung (which also supports PMA) and others. The company has not made an official announcement, but it showed up on the member list at the Consortiums home page. One would think that Xiaomi Mi 7 would be the first to include Qi wireless charging. Wireless charging has been gaining momentum over the last few years and cafes, airports and even Ikea have joined in. The latest high-profile participant is Apple, which switched to glass backs this generation of iPhone to enable wireless charging. Qualcomm was claiming that it has tech that works on metal phones, but were yet to see it (that was back in 2015).

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Deals: Amazon India offers great discounts, iPhone prices cut up to 30%

Deals: Amazon India offers great discounts, iPhone prices cut up to 30%

Amazon India is holding its biggest sales event yet the Great Indian Festival. Here are some select deals (click on the prices to go to Amazon). There are iPhones at up to 30% off. The is 30% off, down to . The older is only 18% off, making it cost about the same as the 7, so not worth it. An even older is 14% off, down to . If you want to pay as little as possible for an iPhone, then the is down to , 26% off. The is cheaper ta , but we think the SE is a better deal (it's 3 years younger). Note that you can get 10% cashback if you pay through HDFC. The popular is 37% off, down to . If you want to go smaller, the is , 19% off. Another 5 or so option is the is going for , a 24% price cut. Then there's the bezel-less for , 24% down. Some phones like the ( ) and ( ) have not been discounted, but you can get INR 3,000 credit if you trade in an old device.

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Report suggests iPhone X production hasn't even begun yet

Report suggests iPhone X production hasn't even begun yet

Apple will start pre-orders for the on October 27 and expects to start shipping on November 3 but that may change. According to a chip analyst with Raymond James Apple hasn't begun mass production of the iPhone X. He says units will starts coming off the production lines in mid-October and likely ramp up into the final quarter of the year. If this turns out true then we can expect the iPhone X to be available in very limited stock if and when it launches on November 3 and it could even start shipping later than that. |

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Purported BlackBerry Krypton images leak

Purported BlackBerry Krypton images leak

Although the BlackBerry Krypton has collected almost all the necessary certifications (including those from Bluetooth SIG, WiFi Alliance, and ), there was no information on its design yet. Well, that changes now, as a couple of images of the handset leaked. They focus on the back of the device and reveal a return of the carbon finish. From what all we've gathered so far, the Krypton will be powered by either Snapdragon 625 or 626 chipset, and sport a Full HD display. RAM will be 4GB, and battery capacity will be 4,000mAh. The device is said to be full-touch, and is expected to be made official sometime next month. Meanwhile, has landed in Russia. The device in its regular silver version with 3GB/32GB memory configuration is up for pre-order on retailer Svyaznoy's website. Price tag is RUB 39,990 ($690). |

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Unlocked Moto X4 coming to US, Motorola confirms

Unlocked Moto X4 coming to US, Motorola confirms

After detailing the and launches of the , Motorola made an announcement related to the US release of device, but that turned out to be for the . But what about the standard Moto X4? Well, those who are looking forward to purchase the unlocked Moto X4 will be glad to know that the company has confirmed the it will also be made available in the US. Sadly, the company didn't share an exact date or month, although it did say the device will arrive in the country this year. A formal announcement in this regard is expected sometime next month. Pricing should be the same $399.

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Huawei Mate 10 to come in four flavors, here are their code names

Huawei Mate 10 to come in four flavors, here are their code names

The Mate family tree is getting complicated according to the most recent rumors, there will be three or even four versions. They will differ in what screens they use and the Leica camera will be reserved for the higher-end models. The is code named Blanc and will have a 5.9 AMOLED screen with QHD resolution and a new Leica dual cam. The base Mate 10 will stick to an IPS LCD screen with 1080p resolution, but will keep the camera. This one is dubbed Alps. These two $850 and $650 respectively. Then theres the (aka Rhone), which loses the Leica cam. We wouldn't be surprised to see a different chipset on this one as well. Finally, Marcel that could be this years Porsche Design. It should combine the top specs of the Pro model with a premium exterior. Huawei has scheduled an event for October 16 and looking at these four versions, it will be a busy one.

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LG Q6+ launches in India with extra memory

LG Q6+ launches in India with extra memory

After a , the was officially launched in India. Its the same bezel-less mid-ranger as the regular Q6 but you get more memory (at a higher cost, of course). The Q6+ is available now with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage, putting it closer to the G6 flagship. However, the performance chasm between the two remains Snapdragon 435 just isnt very fast. That may have been okay for an INR 15,000 device ($235/195), but its going to be a tough sell at INR 18,000 ($280/235). To be fair, that is still half the price of the full fat LG G6.

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HTC reportedly has a huge announcement for tomorrow

HTC reportedly has a huge announcement for tomorrow

China Times claims that trading of HTC shares will be suspended tomorrow, September 21, pending a major announcement. The publication goes on to say that the HTC headquarters are busy with people preparing for a major presentation the second floor is filled with chairs and screens. It has been rumored for months that in acquiring parts of the HTC business. Note parts 0 the HTC brand will remain independent but will be refocused to the Vive VR headset. Google will acquire the manufacturing and R capacity of the Taiwanese firm that brought the first Android hardware to the market (and is reportedly working on the new Pixel 2). This will not be the first time that Google has owned an Android phone maker we all remember Motorola. It remains to be seen if this time the search giant will be more assertive and try to push the Pixel brand to the mass market rather than try to appease other Android makers. (in Chinese) |

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Oppo R11 'King of Glory' edition coming next week

Oppo R11 'King of Glory' edition coming next week

Oppo has announced yet another limited edition variant of its smartphone: King of Glory. The model in question is being launched to celebrate the anniversary of the multiplayer online battle arena. Like the and editions of the R11, this new limited edition model also has a 18k gold-plated badge on the rear. Coloring scheme consists of red and black, while UI elements are also customized. The R11 'King of Glory' edition will go on sale September 29. Pricing information, however, isn't currently known. |

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Rose Pink Samsung Galaxy S8 now available in Europe

Rose Pink Samsung Galaxy S8 now available in Europe

The Rose Pink color variant of was in Taiwan. Last we heard, it as well. And now, the model has been spotted in Europe. Dutch retailer Belsimpel has the phone listed on its website. The pink Samsung Galaxy S8 carries a tag of 599, which currently translates to $720. It's on pre-order still, and there's no information on exactly when the handset will start shipping, but it can't be long now.

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You can get the Samsung Galaxy S7 for $465 in India

You can get the Samsung Galaxy S7 for $465 in India

If you are in India, and wouldn't mind using last year's tech you might want to take a look at the deal Flipkart is offering. As part of its Big Billion Day sale, the online retailer will be selling for INR 29,990 ($465). That's down from the usual INR 46,000 ($715) price tag the phone usually carries at the retailer's website. A quick look at the official Samsung India website as well as Amazon India website reveals the phone is currently going for INR 39,400 (around $610), so those availing Flipkart's offer will get to save INR 9,410 ($145). The discount will go live on the midnight of September 20, which is today. For more details as well as other such deals, head to the Flipkart website. |

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LG's new V30 smartphone begins shipping

LG's new V30 smartphone begins shipping

LG has announced that smartphone, which was late last month, has started rolling out. It'll first be available in the company's home country of South Korea, something which will happen this week. The announcement came in the form of a press release, which also noted that other regions including North America and Europe will the get the handset in the days and weeks to come. As for other details like price and launch date, LG says such information will be announced locally in each market.

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OnePlus 3/3T get BlueBorne vulnerability fix in latest Open Beta

OnePlus 3/3T get BlueBorne vulnerability fix in latest Open Beta

Chinese manufacturer OnePlus has started pushing out a new OxygenOS Open Beta update (24/15) to its and smartphones. The update in question brings along a handful of changes, prime among them being fix for the Blueborne vulnerability. For those who aren't aware, the vulnerability allows a remote attacker to take control of devices via Bluetooth. What's scary is that the process does not even require the device being attacked to be paired to the attackers device, or even to be set on discoverable mode. BlueBorne affects mobile, desktop, as well as IoT operating systems, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. Coming back to the update, OnePlus says they have fixed the vulnerability independent of the Android security patch. Therefore, some blueborne vulnerability scanners may not recognize our independent patch. As for other changes, the update includes Soft screen calibration and new boot animation. It also optimizes the clearing of recent apps, and fixes some minor bugs. |

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$49 Google Home Mini leaks alongside the $99 new Daydream View headset

$49 Google Home Mini leaks alongside the $99 new Daydream View headset

aren't the only products expected to be introduced at that have leaked today. In fact, we're also treated to images and a few details regarding the Google Home Mini and the Daydream View 2017. The Google Home Mini is exactly what its name implies a smart speaker that's smaller than the Google Home that is turning one. It doesn't have a battery, so you'll need to keep it plugged in. Given its smaller size, expect the audio quality for music not to be in the same ballpark as what the full-size Home can provide. Then again, the Home Mini will only cost $49, and it will still come with the Google Assistant built-in. That's a good value proposition undoubtedly. As you can see, the device will be launched in three colors: Chalk, Charcoal, and Coral. Because of how small it is, it's unlikely that any part of it will be swappable (like the Google Home's interchangeable bases). Four dots are there to give you feedback when you interact with the speaker, but these aren't colored like those the full-size product employs. Google will also unleash a revamped 2017 edition of its Daydream View VR headset. While the improved model looks quite similar to its predecessor, upon close inspection it does seem to be made from a more rugged, less soft material. Hopefully this will withstand sweat better. The bad news is that the new generation Daydream View will be priced at $99, which is $20 more than the first iteration. It will come in three color versions: Charcoal, Fog, and Coral. |

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Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus review roundup

Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus review roundup

Every year around this time Apple releases its new iPhones and every year we get a few early reviews in just before the phone goes on sale. But this time, Apple has a more interesting phone coming out in November the casting a shadow over the and are they still worth it with a design dating back to 2014? Let's see what the reviewers say. The consensus is that the Apple iPhone 8 and 8 Plus are let down by a tired design that's built on huge bezels and familiar aesthetics, but the new camera, wireless charging and chip partially make up for it. praises the iPhone 8 duo on the new excellent camera and a promising AR implementation but takes a point away for the design, despite the use of grippier glass. makes mostly the same points fast new processor, excellent camera and having wireless charging is nice. But Nilay Patel isn't too thrilled with the stiff design either. focuses on the new camera of the iPhone 8 Plus in their review hailing the new 12MP main camera as killer and the 8 Plus's Portrait Lighting as working better than it has any right to. The same theme continues with praise for the significantly improved camera and the new faster chipset. The new glass back gets a positive mention too. The review brands the new iPhones as the ultimate refinement before eternal retirement. The (subscription required) is the only media that outright advises you avoid the iPhone 8 on the grounds that the 8 doesn't do enough to be considered more than a 7s, slightly better camera notwithstanding. John Gruber aka the brands the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus pretty good for a boring update. would have you wait to see the iPhone X before deciding on buying either an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus. In its brief write-up describes the new glass and metal design as lovely. shares TechCrunch' sentiment that the new camera is kick-ass. It also hails the glass design as a big improvement coupled with wireless charging. Anyway we'll have even more to say when we get our hands on the new iPhones camera samples, battery tests, loudspeaker test all that jazz. So stay tuned!

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Sony Xperia XZ1 arrives in the US

Sony Xperia XZ1 arrives in the US

Sony Xperia XZ1 in the last days of August. Several weeks later the phone is already available for purchase in the US via Amazon. he is the first device with Android Oreo out of the box. It comes with a 5.2 LCD screen of Full HD resolution and Snapdragon 835 chipset. The Motion Eye camera has the same sensor as the flagship , but has been spiced up with a couple of extra features. The power key houses the fingerprint scanner but it is disabled in the US due to ongoing patent issues. The Amazon-listed Xperia XZ1 comes with two SIM slots for GSM/LTE networks, but you better check your carrier's bands before purchasing. The device is available in all four colors Black, Moonlit Blue, Venus Pink and Warm Silver for $699.99.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 GFXBench outing reveals octa-core CPU, Android 7.1.1 Nougat

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 GFXBench outing reveals octa-core CPU, Android 7.1.1 Nougat

Recently, it came to light that the LTE variant (SM-T395) of the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 has been . And now, the model has surfaced on GFXBench, revealing some of the tablet's key specs. The listing reveals the device is powered by Exynos 7870 SoC and sports an 8-inch display of 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. RAM is 3GB, while internal memory, as per the listing, is 16GB. The tablet features an 8MP/5MP camera combo, and runs Android Nougat version 7.1.1. There is currently no precise information available on the tablet's pricing and launch. |

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Gmail now converts addresses and phone numbers to interactive hyperlinks

Gmail now converts addresses and phone numbers to interactive hyperlinks

Google has started pushing out a new update to its Gmail and Inbox by Gmail services. The update features a useful time-saving change the option to convert addresses (both email and normal) and phone numbers to interactive hyperlinks. Clicking an address link will take the user to Google Maps, the company explains. Similarly, clicking/tapping on an email address will compose a new email, and for mobile users tapping a phone number will initiate the calling process through the device's default phone app. The update has started rolling out, and is available for users on Android, iOS, as well as the the web client.

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Fossil Q Venture and Q Explorist are on sale ahead of schedule

Fossil Q Venture and Q Explorist are on sale ahead of schedule

Last month, Fossil third-gen Q Venture and Q Explorist smartwatches. The company said the wearables will be launched on September 24. While it's still nearly a week before the scheduled launch, the watches are on sale already. Not all the models are available though some (mainly Q Venture variants) are still on pre-order. Among those that are available, pricing varies from $255 to $275 depending on the strap you choose. Oh, and yes, aside from Fossil, retailer is also offering these smartwatches, just in case you want to purchase from them. |

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Second Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 flash sale set for September 21

Second Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 flash sale set for September 21

The went on sale late last week in China. The first flash sale saw the device in less than a minute. Those who missed out can try again, as the device will be again available for purchase this week the second flash sale is set for September 21. As was the case first time around, all three 6GB RAM variants 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB, and 6GB+256GB will be up for grabs. Pricing is CNY 3,299 ($500), CNY 3,599 ($545), and CNY 3,999 ($605), respectively. The Chinese company recently the handset will arrive in India very soon, but an exact date is yet to be specified.

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Xiaomi Mi Note 3's innards revealed in teardown

Xiaomi Mi Note 3's innards revealed in teardown

If you wanted to see inside the for some reason, now you can. The phone's first teardown is online so that we can see under its 5.5-inch 1080p screen and into its innards. There are no surprises there we see a dual 12MP camera, 16MP front snapper, a 3,500mAh battery, the 6GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 660 chipset. And if you're planning to tear down your own Mi Note 3 then the source has the instructions on how to do it. You need to remove the SIM tray first and start heating the phone with a heatgun and then pry it open. You'd best leave it to the pros. |

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Weekly poll: are the new iPhones hot or not?

Weekly poll: are the new iPhones hot or not?

The two iPhone 8 models are now and the X will go on pre-order late next month. But they cost , do you think they are as hot as Apple says they are? The and havent changed that much. Sure, they have Wide color gamut displays and the cameras have been upgraded with 2160p @ 60fps video capture. Theres also wireless charging and a new chipset too, but did the iPhone 7 ever feel slow? However, if youre coming from the 6s generation or earlier, the new models are a sizeable upgrade. But think about it once Apple gets the production line in order, will all 2018 iPhones look like the X? If yes, the iPhone 8 would look very old very fast. Speaking of the , its clearly the star attraction. The first new iPhone frontal redesign since the 5, which came out in 2012, half a decade ago! Its screen is fairly unique in shape and adds HDR10/Dolby Vision support. Plus, you get the TrueDepth selfie camera for animoji support and, of course, the new biometric unlock. The removal of TouchID is a big question mark, though. Is FaceID fast enough? Will it work in all conditions? Only one way to tell and that will be on November 3 at the earliest. So, is the iPhone X worth $1,000 dollars? Is the Super Retina Display enough to spend $200 more than the 8 Plus? Will you stick to the smallest new model? Or skip this generation of iPhone entirely?

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Asus Zenfone V is official: 5.2 FullHD display, 23MP camera, Snapdragon 820

Asus Zenfone V is official: 5.2 FullHD display, 23MP camera, Snapdragon 820

Asus has launched the Zenfone V in the US, and that might be the Zenfone 5 in Apple-speak, but here it's [vee] for Verizon. The carrier-exclusive smartphone isn't a rebadged version of an existing one, but rather a new device with a model name V520KL. The Zenfone V is built around a 5.2-inch FullHD AMOLED display Asus doesn't make all that many phones with AMOLEDs. Even fewer have the Snapdragon 820 at the helm, just the , and now this Zenfone V. Probably that's where the primary camera comes from too a 23MP unit with an f/2.0 aperture lens and OIS. Key specs include 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, which is expandable via microSD, and an 8MP front-facing camera. Battery capacity is 3,000mAh and the phone supports PowerDelivery 2.0 via USB-C. The phone is only listed on Asus' website for now, Verizon is still quiet on the matter. Hence there's no info on pricing and availability.

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Here's how much it costs to fast charge the new iPhones

Here's how much it costs to fast charge the new iPhones

Apple brought wireless charging and fast charging to the iPhone lineup but you can't have it right out of the box. The supplied 5W charger in the , and retail box is the same old charger Apple has been bundling for ages. In order to have fast charging you need to buy a separate charger cable. And they won't be cheap, either. Apple has tested the new iPhones with the USB-C 29W charger it supplies with the 12-inch Macbook as well as the 61W and 87W power adapters. The 29W charger costs around 59/49/$49. Then you'd need a USB-C to Lightning cable, which goes for 29/25/$25. You could go for a third party combination, which is generally a bit cheaper but still expensive. Finally, a 29W charger is much bigger than the standard Apple charger (and most Quick Charge-capable USB-C chargers). But if you already have the charger from your Macbook or an iPad Pro then you're just 1 cable away from having Fast Charge on your new iPhone.

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DeviceAtlas: Snapdragon 410 most common mobile chipset in Q2 2017

DeviceAtlas: Snapdragon 410 most common mobile chipset in Q2 2017

Web traffic analysts DeviceAtlas compiled an extensive report on the smartphone usage in Q2 2017. According to the company, Snapdragon 410 chipset is the most popular, just head of the A7 & A9 duo by Apple. The company also posted numbers about RAM, Dual SIM and Year released popularity across the globe. Qualcomm chips are the most popular in the Android world, according to the analysts. The San Diego company is a leader in developed markets like Japan, the US, the UK and Continental Europe. Developing markets like India, Egypt and Colombia have double-digit usage of MediaTek chips, and the Chinese vendor is leader with more than 35% in Nigeria. The same goes for the GPU distribution. Developed markets have higher numbers for PowerVR units, mostly used by Apple on their iPhones. Russia, Poland, and South Africa have between 25% and 40% share of Mali GPUs. An interesting statistic is the RAM trend. Although we already have more than a dozen 8GB RAM phones in the market, devices with just 500 MB memory are still widely used in Colombia, Nigeria, Russia, Brazil, Egypt and Argentina. DeviceAtlas also analyzed the usage of dual SIM phones. More than two-thirds of the phones in India support two SIM cards while the USA is on the other side of the spectrum with only 4.1%. According to the analysts, most prevalent phones are built in 2015 and devices from 2012 are still more popular than phones from 2017. Going in detail, (along with the ) is currently the most used Android phone. You can check out the full report by following the source link below there plenty of other interesting numbers in there.

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