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Category: Gadgets

  • OnePlus 7T: Everything you need to know

    OnePlus 7T: Everything you need to know

    OnePlus officially announced the latest OnePlus 7T during a global unveiling event from India. The successor to the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro,  the latest OnePlus 7T gets its fair share of upgrades across the board.

    Some of the handset’s highlights include a frost mist matte glass build, triple rear cameras on the back, as well as a 90Hz AMOLED screen – all for less than $600. Here’s what’s new in the OnePlus 7T.

    Display

    The OnePlus 7T packs a 6.55-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. Besides, the OnePlus 7T offers a screen refresh rate of 90Hz, along with a taller aspect ratio of 20:9  giving it a more compact form factor. The 90Hz refresh rate allows the screen to refresh itself within just milliseconds – 40 milliseconds, to be exact – which is a boon when playing high-end games or binge-watching TV shows.
    Elsewhere, the waterdrop notch gets reduced by 31 percent which would make watching movies or playing games even more immersive. It also offers other useful features such as HDR10+ compatibility along with a high peak brightness of 1000 nits.

    More power

    Under the hood, the OnePlus 7T gets powered by the latest Snapdragon 855  chipset clocked at 2.9Ghz bundled with 8GB of RAM. Besides, Qualcomm claims a 15 percent performance improvement on the Adreno 640.

    Storage

    The handset is offered in two choices when it comes to storage – 128GB and 256GB. However, it’ll be offered in 128GB storage in most markets. Besides, the Chinese manufacturer is also offering 5GB of cloud storage for free. Also, there’ll be an additional 50GB of cloud storage for free, though the offer is only valid for the first year.

    Software

    Elsewhere, the OnePlus 7T will be the first smartphone to ship with the latest Android 10 OS out-of-the-box. The company’s proprietary OxygenOS 10 runs on top.

    Camera

    In the photography department, the OnePlus 7T packs a triple-camera system on the back with a 48MP primary sensor, 12MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, and a 16MP ultra-wide sensor with a 117-degree field of view. For selfies, there’s a 16MP front-facing shooter.

    Bigger battery and faster charging

    Juicing up the handset would be a 3800mAh battery with support for fast charging with the bundled 30W Warp charger. Boasting about the handset’s fast charging ability, OnePlus claims it’s 23 percent faster than the previous-gen Warp charging facility. Other key features on the OnePlus 7T include UFS 3.0, an in-display fingerprint scanner, as well as face detection feature.

    Pricing and Availability

    The OnePlus 7T will be available in the US starting October 18 for $599 via OnePlus.com, T-Mobile.com, and in T-Mobile stores. The handset will be offered in a choice of Frosted Silver and Glacier Blue color variants.

  • Amazon launches Alexa-powered Eero mesh router

    Amazon launches Alexa-powered Eero mesh router

    Amazon has unveiled its brand new Eero mesh router with Alexa controls, making it the first Eero product released since it acquired the maker of mesh home routers in February this year. Priced at $99, the new Eero router is available in the United States starting today, and will arrive in Europe later this year.

    Amazon boasts that its new Eero router offers hassle-free usage, allowing for setup of 10 mins or less. The router packs a dual-band radio system, as well as deeper integration with Alexa controls. With advanced Alexa integration, it allows users to control their network via voice commands. For instance, users can turn on or off guest Wi-Fi with voice commands, or pause Wi-Fi access to a specific device on the network (such as a video game console or any other device such as a tablet or a smartphone).

    Such advanced features are currently not available for third party devices, though Amazon announced its plans to make an API so that other companies can use these advanced features. Routers from the likes of TP-Link, Asus, Linksys, and Arris will get support for these features later this year.

    As already mentioned, the new Eero router will cost $99. However, it’ll also be offered in a pack of three which costs $249. According to Amazon, the three-pack can cover a house of up to 5000 square feet, and offer speeds of up to 350Mbps with dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz, and supports 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 LTE.

    To recall, Amazon announced its Eero acquisition, manufacturer of mesh home routers back in February this year. Amazon stated that acquiring Eero will allow them to help customers connect their smart devices better, with Alexa-powered devices which will be easier to set up and manage. The latest Eero router marks the first new product from the mesh networking company since Amazon acquired it earlier this year.

  • Amazon’s Alexa-powered wireless earbuds might feature fitness tracking

    Amazon’s Alexa-powered wireless earbuds might feature fitness tracking

    Reports emerged earlier this year indicating that Amazon is working Alexa-powered wireless earbuds, that’ll compete directly with Apple’s Airpods. Today, a new report from CNBC has shed more light on the matter. Besides, the report also suggests that Amazon plans to launch a new, better sounding Echo speaker

    To begin with, the report suggests that Amazon’s upcoming earbuds will not only feature Alexa but will also include multiple health and fitness features. They will reportedly come equipped with a built-in accelerometer that will be able to track calories burned, distance ran, and the wearer’s pace.

    However, the report also indicates that Amazon’s earbuds might not feature cellular connectivity. Now, this could make Alexa integration a bit of a hassle as they would need to pair with a smartphone to unlock Alexas’s full functionality.

    As far as pricing goes, the report suggests that Amazon’s earbuds will get a price tag of less than $100, which make them more affordable than Apple’s Airpods and other popular wireless earbuds. That said, it remains unclear whether Amazon’s upcoming earbuds will feature true wireless capabilities like Airpods. Today’s report from CNBC, however, states that the Alexa earbuds would be similar to Airpods.

    Elsewhere, the report also suggests that Amazon plans to launch a new Echo speaker with a built-in woofer, which is expected to improve the sound quality significantly, compared to the current Echo lineup, Apple’s HomePod, as well as Google Home. Amazon recently announced a lossless tier for its music streaming service that will offer songs with a bit depth of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44.1 kHz. And it would be a good idea if Amazon launches a new, improved Echo speaker that would allow subscribers to listen to music in high-definition with better sound quality.

    Amazon is expected to announce these new products during its annual launch event in Seattle on Wednesday. We’ll bring you all the live updates from the event. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • OnePlus 7T teased ahead of September 26 event

    OnePlus 7T teased ahead of September 26 event

    OnePlus recently announced its plans to take the wraps off the OnePlus 7T at an event on September 26. Just like the Pixel 4, the OnePlus 7T has been the subject of numerous leaks. In fact, the device has leaked so often that OnePlus has now officially teased an image of the handset.

    OnePlus CEO Pete Lau has given us an early look at the device by posting an image of the handset on the OnePlus forum. The device shown in the image falls in line with past OnePlus 7T leaks. The image posted on the OnePlus forum shows a new rear circular camera module that packs a triple rear camera system. The image also shows-off the new blue color gradient, which Pete Lau explains has a “smooth matte surface with a brilliant metallic radiance”.

    In other related news, credible tipster Ishan Agarwal has allegedly revealed the exact configuration of the triple-lens camera setup. It includes a 16MP 17mm ultra-wide-angle camera with a 117-degree field of vision, a 48MP 26mm wide-angle lens at f/1.6, and a 12MP 51mm telephoto lens with f/2.2 aperture and 2x optical zoom.

    Elsewhere, both OnePlus 7T models are said to offer 90Hz displays and run Snapdragon 855+ processor. Reports also indicate that the OnePlus 7T Pro may launch with Android 10 pre-installed.

    OnePlus on Monday announced its plans to unveil the OnePlus 7T at an event on September 26. The Chinese smartphone maker will hold an offline event on the said date in New Delhi, India, along with a North American reveal which starts at 10:30 am ET. Following these two, there’ll be another launch event on October 10 in London, where the company says there is ‘much more to come’.

  • OnePlus 7T to go official on September 26

    OnePlus 7T to go official on September 26

    OnePlus on Monday announced its plans to unveil the OnePlus 7T at an event on September 26. The Chinese smartphone maker will hold an offline event on the said date in New Delhi, India, along with a North American reveal which starts at 10:30 am ET. Following these two, there’ll be another launch event on October 10 in London, where the company says there is ‘much more to come’. Apart from the dates and times, the invite also reads the following: “90 Hz Display. Smooth Like Never Before,” which only suggests the upcoming OnePlus 7T series will have 90Hz displays.

    Much like the Pixel 4, the OnePlus 7T has also been subject to a barrage of leaks in the past. According to key sources, the OnePlus 7T is expected to feature a 6.55-inch AMOLED display. Under the hood, the smartphone is expected to get powered by Snapdragon 855+ processor bundled with 8GB of RAM and 128GB/256GB of storage. Other key specs include a 3800mAh battery and a triple-lens camera setup.

    The OnePlus 7T Pro, on the other hand, is expected to sport a 6.65-inch AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 855+ CPU, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 4085mAh battery. The device is also said to come with an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

    Rumor also has it that the OnePlus 7T Pro may launch with Android 10 pre-installed. Now, this would break the trend for the company where the past “T” models often shipped with an outdated version of Android OS. For instance, the OnePlus 5T launched with Android 7.1 Nougat, which was an outdated Android version during its release.

    We’ll know more when the company officially unveils the OnePlus 7T series on September 26. In the meantime, more leaks about the handset are likely to surface before we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Apple Watch Series 5: All you need to know

    Apple Watch Series 5: All you need to know

    Along with the iPhone 11 range, Apple also announced its brand new smartwatch with Apple Watch Series 5. For the most part, Apple hasn’t made any radical changes when it comes to the look and feel of the smartwatch. However, the Apple Watch Series 5 gets a bevy of hardware and software changes, along with a plethora of choices for cases and straps.

    To begin with, the Apple Watch Series 5 is the first Apple Watch to come with an always-on display, which Apple calls the ‘Always On Retina display’. With this new feature, the latest Apple Watch joins the number of competitor smartwatches that come with ‘Always On’ displays. Apple has used an LTPO (Low-Temperature Polysilicone and Oxide) Retina Display, which allows the watch to adjust the display’s refresh rate. It goes up to 60Hz when a user is interacting with the smartwatch, and drops to 1Hz in Always On mode.

    The addition of an ‘always-on’ display wouldn’t affect the battery life, as the Apple Watch Series 5 is rated to deliver the same 18-hour backup as its predecessor.

    “Apple Watch Series 5 features an innovative new display that allows the time and important information to remain visible at all times. Each watch face has been carefully optimized for the new display and to preserve battery life, the screen intelligently dims when a user’s wrist is down and returns to full brightness with a raise or a tap. This combination of hardware innovation and incredible software design allows Apple Watch Series 5 to offer an all-day 18-hour battery life,” said Apple.

    Elsewhere, Apple’s latest smartwatch features a built-in compass and an updated Map app to give users a navigation device right on their wrist. There’s also a new compass app that displays latitude and longitude, heading, incline, and current elevation. And to give users an extra layer of safety when traveling, the Apple Watch Series 5 comes with the international emergency calling.

    Like its predecessors, the Apple Watch Series 5 focuses on health and fitness. The smartwatch now features menstrual cycle tracking, as well as a new research app. As far as software goes, the Apple Watch Series 5 gets powered by watchOS 6.

    Besides, Apple Watch Series 5 is also the first of its kind available in four different casing materials. These include aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic, as well as titanium. Apple has also made the App Store accessible within the smartwatch. The company has also created a brand new online “Apple Watch Studio”, which allows users to mix and match Apple Watch cases and straps and choose a combination that works for them.

    In terms of pricing, the Apple Watch Series 5 starts at $399 for the GPS version, while its 4G version gets a price tag of $499. It is now available for pre-order via Apple.com and the Apple Store app, while it’ll arrive on store shelves on September 20.

    You can find out more about the Apple Watch Series 5 on the official Apple website.

  • Apple unveils the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

    Apple unveils the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max

    Apple announced its 2019 iPhone line-up during an event held at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Just like last year, this year’s iPhone range consists of a trio of models. These include the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

    All three iPhone models are quite similar to their predecessors. That said, Apple boasted about some massive improvements in the camera department during the event. Besides, several upgrades have been made under the hood to deliver faster performance and better battery life. The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max feature 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays, respectively.

    The highlight of these devices is the new triple-lens primary camera, which includes a telephoto lens, a wide-angle camera, along with an ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view. The triple-lens camera system on the back is also capable of recording 4K videos at 60fps. Besides, users will be able to edit a video using the Photos app.

    Elsewhere, the iPhone Pro range gets support for HDR10, spatial audio, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos. Besides, Apple has promised four more hours of battery life with the iPhone Pro series compared to their predecessors. Both iPhone Pro models also ship with an 18W charger in the box.

    The most affordable of the lot, the iPhone 11, features a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina displays. It’ll be offered in a choice of six color variants. These include green, purple, yellow, red, white, and black. Under the hood, it comes with the A13 Bionic processor, which Apple claims makes it the fastest GPU and CPU ever in a smartphone.

    Talking about cameras, the iPhone 11 packs a dual-lens primary camera which includes a wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens with a 120-degree field of view. For selfies, the handset features a 12MP TrueDepth camera, which lets users take wide-angle selfies and shoot slow-motion videos.

    The iPhone 11 also comes with Night Mode, which is said to improve low-light photography. Apple explained that Night mode gets automatically activated when it detects low light to increase the brightness and reduce noise. The dual-lens camera system on the iPhone can also shoot 4K videos at 60fps.

    iPhone 11 range: Price and availability

    All three iPhone 11 models are available for pre-order starting September 13 at 5 am Pacific Standard Time, while shipping begins on September 20. The ‘iPhone 11 Pro’ and ‘iPhone 11 Pro Max’ are priced at $999 and $1099 respectively, while the iPhone 11 gets a price tag of $699.

    Meanwhile, Apple also announced a new trade-in program for several countries as a part of the iPhone launch. The trade-in program allows you to return your old iPhone to get a new one at discounted prices. With the trade-in offer, new iPhones start at $399, $599, and $699.

  • Leaked Google Pixel 4 ad shows-off gesture controls, low-light camera prowess

    Leaked Google Pixel 4 ad shows-off gesture controls, low-light camera prowess

    Google is expected to announce the Pixel 4 range sometime in October, and leaks about the upcoming flagship are flying thick and fast. The latest leak appears to be a genuine Pixel 4 video promo, sent to ProAndroid by a reader. The video confirms the presence of gesture controls, an astrophotography mode, as well as massive low-light camera improvements.

    Google has already teased a video which shows off how users will be able to control the Pixel 4 without touching the screen, just by hand gestures. And the latest leaked TV commercial showcases the Soli-powered gesture control feature. With gesture controls, Pixel 4 users would have the ability to control the phone and apps with gestures from above the screen.

    Besides, the promo video also boasts about the Pixel 4’s low-light camera prowess, along with the ability to take impressive shots of the stars.

    A recent leak indicated that Google is prepping a new feature called ‘Motion Mode,’ which allows users to take high-quality action shots without any blur. The feature would come in real handy while shooting sports and action shots. The same leak also tipped at an 8x zoom and capabilities for astrophotography – such as the ability to take low-light shots with the Milky Way in the background. And the latest promo video indeed suggests that Google plans to give Pixel 4 the ability to take photos of the stars.

    You can check out the leaked Google Pixel 4 promo below:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoGaGe10VyY

    As per earlier reports, the Pixel 4 is expected to get powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 processor. Besides, leaks also hint at 6GB RAM for both Pixel 4 models, which would be an upgrade on the 4GB RAM found on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. However, leaks suggest the Pixel 4 will be offered in 64GB and 128GB storage options, same as last year’s Pixel 3 range.

    Besides, Google also plans to upgrade the face unlock mechanism with its new Pixel range. The latest video shows how a user unlocks the Pixel 4 by looking at it, similar to how Face ID works.

    Google is expected to launch the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL sometime in October, while shipping is likely to begin later that month. More leaks about the Pixel 4 are expected to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • IFA 2019: LG G8X ThinQ launched with snap-on ‘Dual Screen’ case

    IFA 2019: LG G8X ThinQ launched with snap-on ‘Dual Screen’ case

    LG has unveiled its latest flagship – the LG G8X ThinQ. The handset features two screens – a 6.4-inch full HD+ OLED FullVision display with a resolution of 2340×1080 pixels, and a secondary display of similar configuration which is attached to the primary display via a USB Type C port. And it doesn’t stop there. The LG G8X ThinQ also has a third 2:1 mono display, which can be used for several functions such as checking time, date, battery level, notifications, and other vital information without opening the dual-screen.

    As already mentioned, the handset’s dual screens are connected via hinges. LG explained that while the first Dual Screen offers two different viewing angles, the second screen has a new 360 Freestop Hinge to allow for viewing at any angle.

    Elsewhere, the LG G8X ThinQ gets powered by Snapdragon 855 processor bundled with 6GB RAM and 128GB of built-in storage. The internal memory is further expandable up to 2TB via a microSD slot.

    Talking about cameras, the LG G8X ThinQ packs a dual rear camera setup with a 12MP standard lens and a 13MP super wide-angle lens. For selfies, the handset features a 32MP front-facing shooter. That said, LG notes that the front cam has been configured to shoot images at 8MP by default.

    The LG G8X ThinQ gets fueled by a 4000mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0. On the software front, the handset runs Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box. The handset also comes with LGs advanced audio technology, which includes 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC tuned by Meridian Audio and DTS:X 3D Surround Sound. It also comes with IP68 water and dust resistance technology. Also, the handset is compliant with MIL-STD 810G military-grade standard.

    LG, however, hasn’t announced the pricing and availability details of the LG G8X ThinQ. Though what we know so far is that it’ll be offered in Aurora Black color variant when launched in the market.

  • Huawei Mate 30 launch date announced

    Huawei Mate 30 launch date announced

    The Huawei Mate 30 is set to go official at an event in Munich on September 19. The Chinese manufacturer recently posted the event’s invite which shows a gradient ring with the caption ” We’re going full circle in Munich on 19.09.2019″. The teaser image does fall in line with earlier leaks, which shows a round camera housing with a thick ring around it. Besides, the teaser also tips at a quad-camera setup, along with an almost bezel-free display with a wider notch. The teaser primarily focuses on the camera lens graphic, which suggests the flagship is likely to pack a top-notch camera.

    Key sources suggest that both the Huawei Mate 30 and Huawei Mate 30 Pro will be unveiled at the event. The Chinese manufacturer’s upcoming flagship will also get powered by the latest Kirin 990 processor. Other rumored features include support for wireless charging.

    That said, the fact that Mate 30 phones possibly won’t use Google apps and services thanks to the current trade disputes between China and the US, Huawei might have to consider other alternatives so that the handset’s sales aren’t affected. If the Huawei Mate 20 isn’t allowed to be sold with licensed Google apps and services, the handset could be offered an open-source version of Android. Another alternative for Huawei is to release it own HarmonyOS that’ll support Android apps. That said, it’s still possible that Google might apply for an exempt for the Huawei Mate 30.

    We will bring you all the news and updates from the Mate 30 launch event set for Sept 19. in Munich. In the meantime, more leaks about the Huawei’s upcoming flagship are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Fitbit Versa 2 powered by Amazon Alexa goes official

    Fitbit Versa 2 powered by Amazon Alexa goes official

    The Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch is finally official. The new smartwatch comes with Amazon Alexa and will launch on September 15, starting at $199.95. It’ll come in three color options. These include a black color with a carbon case, a stone color with a mist grey case, and a petal color variant with a copper rose aluminum case.

    Besides, there’ll be two exclusive editions of the smartwatch, emerald and Bordeaux with a copper rose case. The two exclusive versions will be available later this fall via Fitbit.com and select retailers.

    The Fitbit Versa 2 gets a slew of upgrades over its earlier model. For instance, it gets a more powerful processor, which means apps and data will load much faster. Besides, it is claimed to offer over five days of battery life.

    Elsewhere, the Versa 2 gets a sleek new waterproof design, along with new sleep features such as ‘sleep score,’ which essentially tells a user how well he slept. It also gets an on-device microphone with Amazon Alexa integration, which users can command to check their schedule, start a workout, or respond to texts.

    The Fitbit Versa 2 also gets a brighter, crisper AMOLED display with an optional ‘Always On’ mode. Other notable features include water resistance up to 50 meters, 15+ exercising routines, 24/7 heart-rate tracking, and on-device workouts.

    Apart from the new smartwatch, the company also announced Fitbit Premium, a new subscription service slated for a release this fall for $9.99 a month or $79.99 per year. The Versa 2 smartwatch will support Fitbit Premium service, which essentially gives users more information about their health trends. The service will be available in English in 17 countries via the Fitbit app.

    Besides, the service will be available in more languages by 2020, such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Korean. Moreover, Versa 2 buyers will get a 90-day trial for the service.

  • Google Pixel 4 detailed images leaked

    Google Pixel 4 detailed images leaked

    While Google has officially teased several images of the upcoming Pixel 4 flagship. That said, those photos didn’t reveal anything concrete apart from the square camera housing on the back. However, a new set of alleged leaked images of the device seemingly gives us our first close look at the Pixel 4.

    The images show both front and back of the Pixel 4, along with sensors and bezels. The photos show a rather thin bottom bezel, but it still appears pretty big compared to several other phones. Meanwhile, it appears Google has ditched the notch on top. However, it doesn’t seem too tall despite all the sensors it houses. Besides, the image also shows a narrow, but a slightly taller speaker grille compared to the Pixel 3. Also, we can see a greyish-white power button housed on the right edge, with volume rockers placed right below it.

    The back of the phone shows the massive square camera housing, which is rumored to pack a standard 12MP lens with phase detection autofocus and a 16MP telephoto lens. Besides, the image suggests that Google has possibly used glass on the back instead of the dual-tone matte soft-touch glass, as the Pixel 4’s rear appears quite shiny.

    Though as is the case with every leak, readers are advised to take this with a pinch of salt as there’s no confirmation that these images are real. With that being said, these images were seemingly taken by a Sprint engineer as the “Sprint” text is clearly visible on the lockscreen. Given the fact that Sprint currently sells the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these images show the real Pixel 4.

    As per earlier leaks, Google is expected to release the Pixel 4 range in October, while shipping is likely to begin later that month. More leaks about the Pixel 4 are likely to surface as we near its official release. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Baidu overtakes Google, now the second largest smart speaker seller globally

    Baidu overtakes Google, now the second largest smart speaker seller globally

    The global smart speaker market has seemingly witnessed a tectonic shift, making the Chinese manufacturer Baidu the second-largest smart speaker seller internationally, as it overtook Google to claim the second spot.

    According to a new report from Canalys, the Chinese manufacturer recorded a staggering growth in Q2 2019, compared to the same period a year ago. The company saw an astounding growth of 3,700 percent, recording sales of 4.5 million units, which is a monumental rise compared to 100,000 units it sold during the same period last year.

    In comparison, Google managed to achieve sales of 4.3 million units of its smart speakers, a drop of 19.8 percent as it sold 5.4 million units in Q2, 2018.

    Amazon regains the top spot, recording sales of 6.6 million units of its smart speaker systems in Q2 2019. Now, this makes for a growth of 24.5 percent, compared to 4.1 million units of its Echo range of smart speakers that found buyers in Q2, 2018.

    It’s also worth noting while Google and Amazon maintain an international presence, sales of Baidu smart speakers were largely restricted to the Chinese market. That said, the enormous size of the Chinese market means there’s a massive potential for Baidu to grow, given that smart speaker market in the country is still in its nascent phase.

    “Local network operators’ interests on the [smart display] device category soared recently. This bodes well for Baidu as it faces little competition in the smart display category, allowing the company to dominate in the operator channel,” said Canalys Research Analyst Cynthia Chen.

    Both Google and Amazon focused on international markets in Q2 2019. Reports indicate that 50 percent of Amazon’s shipments were outside the U.S in Q2, an increase of 32 percent compared to the same period last year. As for Google, 55 percent of its shipments were made outside the U.S, an increase of 42 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

    The remaining top five contenders were Alibaba and Xiaomi, shipping 4.1 million and 2.8 million units respectively in Q2 2019. Meanwhile, the sales of Apple’s HomePod totaled 3.7 million units.

  • iOS 13 beta tips at an iPhone 11 event on September 10

    iOS 13 beta tips at an iPhone 11 event on September 10

    Apple today started rolling out iOS 13 beta 7 for developers. As expected, people are already looking for clues through the software about the upcoming iPhone 11. It appears iHelp BR has found something concrete in the latest iOS 13 beta. They’ve discovered an image named ‘HoldForRelease,’ which shows the September 10 date on the calendar of iOS 13’s home screen. Now, this implies that Apple might hold an iPhone event on the said date.

    Notably, even iOS 12 included a similar image, which displayed September 12, which was, in fact, the date Apple officially announced the iPhone XS range. Now, the presence of a similar picture in iOS 13 beta, only points to the fact that Apple might hold an iPhone 11 event on September 10.

    Apple typically holds an iPhone event on the second Tuesday or Wednesday in September. For instance, the iPhone XS event was held on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, while the iPhone X went official on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Similarly, the iPhone 8 event was held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, while the iPhone 7 was unveiled on
    Wednesday, September 9, 2015.

    Are three iPhones incoming?

    As per earlier reports, Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones in 2019. These include the successor to the iPhone XR with a 6.1-inch LCD screen, along with two OLED models with 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch displays. The upcoming iPhones are expected to get similar screens as the current-gen iPhone models, though with larger batteries.

    Multiple sources also point to the fact that Apple will incorporate a triple-lens camera setup for this year’s flagship iPhone model. Besides, a recent leak via Twitter suggests that Apple’s top-end iPhone model for 2019 might have the word ‘Pro’ in its name, as opposed to the ‘Max’ moniker. Now, this suggests that Apple’s top-end iPhone for 2019 might be called the iPhone 11 Pro, or simply the iPhone Pro.

    Besides, analysts at Citi Research predict that Apple Pencil support might finally arrive on the next iPhone.

  • LG teases a new smartphone with multiple displays for IFA

    LG teases a new smartphone with multiple displays for IFA

    LG has shown off a new video teaser for a multi-screen smartphone slated for an unveiling during IFA berlin next month. The teaser reveals a smartphone that can not only fold out to double its display, but also has a translucent display or what may be called as a tertiary display.

    While LG has already indicated that it has no plans to launch a foldable smartphone with a flexible OLED panel like the Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X. But that doesn’t imply it isn’t interested in the idea of a phone with at least a secondary display.

    For instance, the LG V50 5G has a secondary display though it’s not as large as the main display. That said, that could all change with its next dual display smartphone.

    The company just teased a new video for a smartphone set to be unveiled at IFA Berlin next month. It appears to be a smartphone that adopts the same approach as the LG V50, with a dual-screen accessory case or something on the lines of ZTE Axom M. That said, we won’t rule out the possibility that we might see something entirely different from LG.

    If we look at the video teaser closely, LG could be working on smartphone that has a transparent or translucent OLED screen that folds out and then can be used as a secondary display. In the teaser video, there appears to be a transparent display layered over the primary display which folds out before it’s activated.

    We can expect more details about LG’s upcoming multi-screen phone before its official unveiling on September 6 in Berlin. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.