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  • Moto Z4 Play leak indicates waterdrop-styled notch, Moto Mods support

    Moto Z4 Play leak indicates waterdrop-styled notch, Moto Mods support

    Leaks about the upcoming Moto Z4 Play have finally surfaced on the web. An alleged 360-degree render of the handset is doing rounds on the web, which shows off the handset from all sides. The leak comes via credible tipster OnLeaks, who has collaborated with CompareRaja to give us a good idea about the Moto Z4 Play’s design.

    Going by the leaked render, the Moto Z4 Play will feature very slim bezels on all sides, along with a waterdrop-shaped notch on the front. Moving on to the back, we can see a ring shaped single-lens primary camera unit with the Motorola logo sitting right below it, which could also double-up as the fingerprint sensor.

    On the right edge, we can see the volume rockers and the power button. While cutout for the speaker grille can be seen on the top edge. Besides, the device can be seen sporting a USB Type C port at the bottom edge, as well as the 3.5mm headphone jack.

    Finally, the leaked render shows connecting pins for the Moto Mods at the bottom. Now, this essentially implies that the company isn’t ditching the concept of Moto Mods yet, given the fact Motorola launched only one Moto Mod this year – the Moto stereo speaker. The latest render suggests that new Mods could arrive this year. You can check out the render below:

    For now, not much is known about the specifications of the Moto Z4 Play, but rumors indicate it could pack a 6.2-inch display. More details about the handset are likely to surface in the coming weeks. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anyhting new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

    In case you missed, a leaked case render of the Moto G7 was also spotted on the web earlier this week.

  • Netflix snubs iTunes for new user subscriptions

    Netflix snubs iTunes for new user subscriptions

    Netflix is no longer allowing users to subscribe to the streaming service via iTunes, the streaming giant has officially confirmed. The move will reportedly save the company over $250 million a year, and is going to cost Apple in excess of $250 million a year. With this change, new Netflix users with an iOS device will be required to subscribe for the service by directly visiting their official website.

    “We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment for new members. Existing members, however, can continue to use iTunes as a method of payment,” ,” a Netflix spokesperson told VentureBeat.

    Apple typically gets a 15 percent share if users pay for an app via the App store. While this may not sound a lot, but if you have thousands of users and subscribers worldwide, this small interest amounts to a lot of money.

    It’s also worth noting that active users who’ve subcribed for Netflix through iTunes are not affected by this move. They can carry on using the service as they’ve been until now. It’s only new users, or someone who wants to reactivate their account will have to do so via the official Netflix website.

    Netflix did the same thing with Google Play. Back in May, the company stopped allowing users to pay for the service via the Play Store. Interestingly, it’s not just Netflix who’s trying to avoid fees from Apple and Google.

    Fortnite Developer Epic Games, has now launched its own dedicated store for PC and Mac users to avoid taxes from Apple. Besides, even music streaming service Spotify has ditched Apple. The music streaming giant now wants users to sign up for the service directly through Spotify, rather through iTunes or the AppStore to avoid fees Apple charges on subscriptions purchased through iOS.

  • Windows 10 reportedly surpasses Windows 7

    Windows 10 reportedly surpasses Windows 7

    Windows 10 has finally surpassed Windows 7 in terms of users. Officially released back in 2015, the latest version of Windows now has more users than Windows 7. According to a report by Net Market Share, Windows 10 has now captured a user base of 39.22 percent, beating Windows 7’s user base of 36.90 percent.

    Hence, Windows 10 becomes the most popular OS in the world, way ahead of macOS X which has userbase of 9.61 percent, followed by Windows XP and Windows 8.1.

    Microsoft originally hoped to achieve over one billion Windows 10 devices in a span of three years, though that did not happen. The company announced back in May last year that nearly 700 million PCs are running Windows 10.  It’s also worth noting that Windows 10 growth was impacted ever since the end of the free upgrade offer for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

    The latest version of Windows did see an increase market share, though at a much slower pace, as more and more businesses moved away from Windows 7. With that being said, one can’t deny the fact that Windows 10 adoption accelerated throughout 2017-18.

    Users still running older versions of Windows

    That said, the majority of users are still running older versions of the OS even now. Extended support for Windows 7 will come to end in 2020, and by that time Microsoft should be able to achieve that 1 billion target.

    During the initial launch of the OS, Microsoft said it won’t have much trouble getting users to upgrade to newer versions of Windows in the near future. The company’s Windows as a Service strategy has performed rather well so far, with more than 20 percent of all Windows 10 users already using the latest feature update for the OS, which rolled out in October.

    Not to mention, Microsoft has a huge year ahead of itself with one major update planned for the first half of 2019, while another in the second half of 2019.

  • New Moto G7 leak hints at waterdrop-notch, 3.5mm audio jack

    New Moto G7 leak hints at waterdrop-notch, 3.5mm audio jack

    Leaks about the upcoming Moto G7 series are coming thick and fast. Now, a new set of leaks have surfaced on the web that allegedly shows handset inside a transparent case. The images show-off the upcoming handset from all angles giving us a complete view of the device.Going by the alleged leak, the smartphone will sport a waterdrop-style notch on the front.

    While the back of the handset will sport dual rear cameras as well the fingerprint sensor right below the camera. Moving on, the leak shows the volume rockers and power button housed on the right edge.

    Besides, the bottom of the handset has cut-outs for the 3.5mm jack, speaker grill, and the USB-C port. Elsewhere, the leak suggests the device will feature a slight chin below the display.

    moto g7 body

    As per earlier leaks, Motorola is expected to announce four variants of the upcoming Moto G7.  These include the Moto G7, Moto G7 Plus, Moto G7 Play, and Moto G7 Power. In terms of specs, Key sources indicate that the handset might feature Snapdragon 660 processor bundled with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

     

    Meanwhile, the Plus variant of the handset could come with Snapdragon 710 processor paired with either 4GB/6GB and 64GB of built-in storage. Rumor also has it that the handset might come with wireless charging.

    Besides, the Moto G7 Power, as the name suggests, might feature a hefty battery capacity. Past reports indicate the device might come fitted a chunky 5000mAh battery.

    As far as release goes, rumor has it that the company plans to launch the handset sometime in February. More details about the handset 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.

  • Bethesda confirms new post-launch content for Fallout 76

    Bethesda confirms new post-launch content for Fallout 76

    It’s 2019, and Bethesda gives us a taste of of what’s in store for Fallout 76 this new year. In the publisher’s blog post, the publisher has revealed a few key features which players can expect in the forthcoming update. Since the release of Fallout 76, Bethesda’s primary objective has been to address the many in-game bugs.

    The publisher rolled out three patches in December alone to rectify the game’s several bugs. That said, there are still plenty to deal with, as many players would accept. However, Bethesda has promised more patches for Fallout 76 in the next few updates.

    “Later this month, we are providing resolutions by way of new patches for Fallout 76. Like our December 11 update, we will have a big update that will address many of the issues you’ve been providing feedback on. Full patch notes will follow soon,” explains Bethesda in the studio’s latest Inside the Vault blog post.

    Apart from updates, Bethesda also plans to add new content to the game. While there have been some new content added since release, the publisher hasn’t added any significant post-launch content.

    It still remains unknown what new content will arrive on Fallout 76, given the fact the publisher has adopted a different release model for post-launch content with Fallout 76.

    Bethesda is using earnings from micro-transactions to fund DLC content, therefore, all upcoming DLC’s will arrive as fee downloads. As a result of this change, it’s remains unknown whether the publisher plans to release large DLC content, as they have done with previous iterations of Fallout, or a constant stream of smaller post-launch content.

  • Epic Games surprises Fortnite players on New Year’s eve

    Epic Games surprises Fortnite players on New Year’s eve

    Epic Games has a special surpise for everyone playing Fortnite on New Year’s Eve. To celebrate new year around the world, Fortnite is offering an in-game live event, where gigantic disco balls appears on the map every hour.

    Besides, the descending ball drop mimcs the same affect for players as the boogie bomb, implying that everyone playing Fortnite on New Year’s eve is dancing collectively every time the clock hits midnight. 2019 has already arrived in some parts of the world, however, the in-game virtual ball drop was a rather delightful surprise for everyone playing Fortnite tonight.

    “Woke up to learn that many Fortnite players are unaware of time zones. We’re an educational and international game. Happy New Year to you if you’re already in 2019!”, tweeted Nick Chester, Epic’s PR spokesperson.

    While 2018 was already a massive year for Fortnite, Epic Games also has huge plans for Fortnite in 2019. The publisher has promised to make single-player and co-op mode ‘Save the World’ free, instead of the paid addition it is for now.

    Fornite is now available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android with cross-play support.

  • Jio Phone explosion in India burns elderly owner alive

    Jio Phone explosion in India burns elderly owner alive

    We’ve come across several incidents of phones catching fire, but they don’t cause serious harm to their owners. However, a recent phone explosion in India has tuned out to be fatal, as an elderly man was reportedly burnt alive after his phone exploded.

    According to local reports, a phone exploded in the man’s pocket and set his clothes on flame while he was sleeping. The owner’s wife, shocked by the whole incident, called the ambulance and rushed the man to the hospital. Sadly, due to severe burns, the man was declared dead a few minutes later.

    The phone was a Jio model

    The phone in question was a Jio model the victim purcahsed under the governemt scheme for INR 1100, which translates to around $15. Jio is an Indian brand owned by Reliance, which manufactures feature phones for the masses at very economical prices.

    According to the victim’s family, the phone was barely a month old before the explosion happened. Following the incident, other customers who bought the same model have ditched their devices over safety concerns. For now, it appears the handset’s quality was really poor, however, no specifics are available right now as to what caused the explosion.

    Jio

    Police investigation is now underway and more specifcs about the incident are likley to surface upon further investigation. Besides, the company is yet to offer an official statement about the matter, and are likely looking into the incident themselves.

    In other related news, a man from Ohio also claimed that his iPhone XS Max caught fire while it was in his back pocket. The handset was barley 3 weeks old when it caught fire out of the blue.

    Such incidents remind us that exploding smartphones can be fatal. Hence, readers are advised to make use of authorized accessories and batteries with their smartphones. Besides, industry experts also suggest that smartphone users should not leave their device plugged into the charger overnight.

  • AT&T working on a 2-in-1 portable charger for iPhone and Apple Watch

    AT&T working on a 2-in-1 portable charger for iPhone and Apple Watch

    It appears AT&T plans to join the lucrative and ever-growing wireless charger accessory market. As according to an FCC filing, the carrier is allegedly working on a 2-in-1 iPhone and Apple Watch charger that also houses a 3000mAh battery for charging on-the-move.

    The filing also reveals the name of this accessory, which AT&T calls the Power Drum Wireless charger and Apple Watch Power Bank. Not to mention, it’ll also work with any smartphone that supports the Qi wireless charging standard.

    power drum

    Going by the the diagram shown in the filing, the top of the Power Drum serves as Qi charging pad for your iPhone or any Qi-compatible smartphone. Besides, the device integrates Apple Watch charger on the front. The hardware supports output of up to 10W, though it can be dialed back to 7.5W for iPhones.

    You can find the complete documentation of the Power Drum below:

    • Made for: Apple Watch Series 3, Apple Watch Series 2, Apple Watch Series 1, Apple Watch (1st generation)
    • 2-in-1 portable charger, charges an Apple Watch and Qi-enabled wireless device simultaneously
    • 3000mAh capacity battery
    • Built-in magnetic charging module for Apple Watch
    • LED charge indicators
    • Input: Micro USB
    • Output: up to 10W on select wireless charging devices and up to 5W on Apple Watch

    As we can see in the documentation above, it does not mention support for the Apple Watch 4. That said, it’s highly unlikely the accessory won’t support the latest Apple Watch. It only implies that AT&T began working on the Power Drum nearly a year ago.

    As far as pricing goes, the documnetaion suggests the Power Drum will set you back by $99.99. However, there’s no mention when the carrier will start shipping the device. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything new. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • Google denies withdrawal of two-year updates for Android One phones

    Google denies withdrawal of two-year updates for Android One phones

    A Reddit user earlier spotted some missing text from the official Android One page that promised 2-year software updates for Android One phones. This led to worries that the tech giant isn’t going to live up to its promise to offer timley updates for devices sold under the program. However, Google has now responded with an official statement stating it has no intentions of doing so.

    “We confirm that our promise to provide 2 years of updates on Android One devices still stands and our website design does not impact the promise of this program,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

    A little bit of text from the official webpage which indicated that participating devices would be receive guaranteed OS updates for two years went missing. The text removal was pointed out by a Reddit user.

    Though, with Google now denying the withdrawal of two-year software updates, it appears the removal of update-related text isn’t that big a deal as some of us thought to be.

    That said, it’s worth pointing out that the original text that guaranteed two year updates is still missing from the official webpage. The reason, according to Google, is because they’re redesigning the website.

    Android One is Google’s effort to offer timely updates

    Google launched the program a few years ago in an effort to unite the fragmented Android market and offer timley software updates. With so many smartphone manufacturers, most companies choose to modify the stock Android OS, which eventually disrupts the update process.

    With the initiative, Google wanted to bring more companies under the program so that system and security updates can land much quicker on all handsets. All smartphones under the program are free of any bloatware, which makes it the purest form of Android.

  • New PS5 and next-gen Xbox details revealed

    New PS5 and next-gen Xbox details revealed

    While Sony and Microsoft have already confirmed they’ve begun work on the PS5 and the next-gen Xbox console, though we haven’t heard anything substantial so far. We’ve come across plenlty of leaks and rumours, though nothing concrete from the companies themselves. That said, developers and industry experts keep discussing about it giving us a good idea about what to expect. The latest information comes from Cradle Games technical director Marc-Andre Jutras, who recently had a brainstorming session with GamingBolt about to what to expect from next-gen consoles.

    He suggests we won’t see a huge upgrade in RAM, as most games don’t require that much memory anyways. Instead, he stated that we might see an increase in processor cores.

    “I don’t think we will see 16GB of RAM, most games don’t use that much RAM anyway. I think the next generation will be between 8 and 12, probably. What you will see however is probably a good amount of cores. I wouldn’t be surprised if the next gen was Ryzen 2600 or something like that. Because it is really stable, cheap, and has a good amount of cores,” said Jutras to GamingBolt.

    He also spoke about what major changes in hardware we might see with upcoming consoles, which would be the focus on VRAM. He explained that 4K games need good amount of VRAM to buffer smoothly, unlike the PS4 which currently offers shared RAM space.

    “So if you end up with a 4K buffer, you need four times the VRAM. So I think you will see, you won’t see shared RAM space next gen like you do with the PS4. I don’t think you will see that because it’s a big bottleneck. You’ll see more VRAM to support 4K and 5K and whatever else comes around. Just how much of that? I wouldn’t be surprised if the PS5 had 8GB of RAM and 8GB of VRAM,” he added.

    It will intersting to see what Sony and Microsoft have to offer with their next-gen gaming consoles. That said, we’re bound to come across a barrge of rumors and speculations before the big reveal. We’ll update you as soon as we hear anything more. Until then, keep checking back for more.

  • iPhone XS Max allegedly catches fire in the US

    iPhone XS Max allegedly catches fire in the US

    A man from the United States claims his iPhone XS Max caught fire while kept in the back of his pocket. Josh Hillard from Ohio says the smartphone felt hot and then started emitting smoke. At the time of the incident, he was with his colleague in the break room when the phone caught fire out if the blue. He then quickly ran out to take his pants off, and another colleauge had to use a fire extinguisher to put out the flame.

    “Left no other option, I had to exit the room since there was a female in the break room with me and remove my pants. I ran to the boardroom where I got my shoes and pants off as fast as possible. A VP of our company put the fire out with a fire extinguisher because he heard me yelling,” said Hillard.

    Following the alleged incident, he went to the Apple Store to narrate the whole debacle and find out what kind of compensation would he receive. However, the victim was only offered a new phone, despite him asking further compensation for his burnt clothes and slight skin burns. Not satisfied by the response, Josh then tried to get in touch with Apple Care over the phone, but to no avail.

    Victim says replacement iPhone XS Max isn’t enough

    Hillard further added that he always showed faith in Apple as a brand, but now he seems to have lost his trust in the company as he isn’t satisfied by Apple Care’s. He is now seeking legal action in order to get more compensation.

     

    Smartphones on fire remind us of incidents such as the Galaxy Note 7 debacle. That said, these types of incidents happen rarely as most handsets go though rigorous testing and safety measures. However, we do come across such news once in a while, so readers are advised to make use of authorized accesories and batteries with their smartphones to negate the possibilty of these incidents happening.

  • RIP Essential Phone: The Essential PH1 officially discontinued

    RIP Essential Phone: The Essential PH1 officially discontinued

    Essential Phone, the brainchild of Andriod co-founder Andy Rubin, has finally reached the end of its lifetime. The company officially announced it’ll discontinue the handset and won’t produce anymore units of the device. However, the news shouldn’t come as a surprise as the Essential Phone is nearly a year and half old. In addition, a rather hefty launch price and camera issues also hampered the device’s popularity with consumers.

    Besides, the company even had to deal with poor initial sales, data breach, layoffs, and other woes which may have led Essential to discontinue the device. That said, it’s not all gloomy as Essential also announced it’s working on a new ‘mobile product.’

    “We are sold out of Essential Phone on essential.com and won’t be adding any new inventory. We are now hard at work on our next mobile product and will continue to sell accessories and provide speedy software updates and customer support to our existing community,’ said the company’s spokeswoman in a statement.

    The next mobile product referred to above is rumored to be a phone powered by AI to answer text messages and emails. Besides, the company promises timley software updates for the Essential Phone, despite the fact it has been discontinued. To recall, the Essential Phone got upgraded to Android 9 Pie on the same day as Google’sPixel range of handsets. Now, that’s pretty commendable for a company who appears to be struggling to survive. In fact, it could be one major reason for fans to look forward to the company’s next mobile product.

  • Next-gen iPhone could pack Sony’s 3D camera sensors

    Next-gen iPhone could pack Sony’s 3D camera sensors

    Smartphone manufacturers have always tried to push the limits with smartphone cameras, but size constraints and other limitations have posed a roadblock for manufacturers.  However, that could all change with the next-gen iPhone, as key sources suggest that Apple plans to equip the iPhone 11 with 3D sensing cameras.

    According to a report by Bloomberg, Sony has increased the production of 3D camera units. The report further notes that Apple has shown keen interest in Sony’s next-generation camera sensors. These sensors will power both the front and rear facing cameras, and Sony plans to setup mass production of 3D sensors by next year to meet demand, the report adds.

    The news comes directly from head of Sony’s sensor division, Satoshi Yoshihara, who stated during an interview with Bloomberg that 3D sensors business could have a major impact on Sony’s Q1 earnings next year.

    Sony’s 3D camera uses a technology called TOF (time of flight), which essentially emits invisible laser beams and measures in how much they take to come back. This technology can be used to make advanced 3D models of objects, which can be used in augmented reality games as well as apps.

    “Cameras revolutionized phones, and based on what I’ve seen, I have the same expectation for 3D. The pace will vary by field, but we’re definitely going to see adoption of 3D. I’m certain of it,” said Yoshihara in an interview with Bloomberg.

    He also demonstrated a few examples of 3D camera sensors using a custom phone. In one app, the phone was able to calculate a room’s depth, while in another it allowed users to make hand gestures to cast magic spells in a virtual game.

    Sony hasn’t revealed specifically which companies are eager to buy its 3D sensors, but Bloomberg suggests Apple is among them. This certainly make sense and lines up with earlier reports as well, which indicated Apple’s plans to invest heavily in augmented reality (AR).

  • New Galaxy S10 Lite render allegedly leaked by case maker

    New Galaxy S10 Lite render allegedly leaked by case maker

    Samsng is expected to release the Galaxy S10 series flagships sometime in February, most likely ahead of MWC 2019. We’ve already come across a barrage of leaks and rumours about the upcoming Galaxy flagship over the past few months.

    As per earlier leaks, Samsung is widely rumored to announce three to four variants of the Galaxy S10. One of those variants is a 5.8-inch flat screen model with an Infinity O display, referred to as the Galaxy S10 Lite.

    The latest leak comes from reupted Samsung insider IceUniverse, who has a credible track record of posting legit details and renders about unreleased devices. He’s shared an image a seemingly authentic Galaxy S10 Lite render created by a case manufacturer, giving us a fairly good idea about the handset’s design.

    Going by the leaked render, the Galaxy S10 Lite could be one heck of a looker. We can see uniform bezels around the screen, much like the newly launched iPhone range. Besides, we can see the punch-hole for the camera near the top right corner, which in our opinion looks much better than notched displays.

    Moving on, the leaked render shows it’ll have the classic 3.5mm jack on the bottom, right next to the USB-Type C port.

    Apart from these details, not much can be gleaned from the leaked render. Neither does the render show where the fingerprint sensor will be positioned. That said, we’ve heard rumors that it could be housed on the back or on the edges.

    More details about the Galaxy S10 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.

  • Google seemingly removes two-year OS updates for Android One devices

    Google seemingly removes two-year OS updates for Android One devices

    Google appears to have removed some text from its official Android One webpage which claimed that partcipating handsets would receive guranteed OS updates for two years. However, now there’s no mention of the OS updates on the official website. The original text on the website was as follows:

    “With Android One, your phone will receive at least two years of OS upgrades to the latest version of Android. That means access to the latest innovations and a phone that always runs as smoothly as the day you bought it.”

    The removal of text was spotted by a Reddit user, which already suggests that the community is slightly baffled with the text removal. It could either be a mistake or appears to have gone for some reason, but it suggests Google is no longer interested in living up to that promise. The only devices to receive regular OS updates would be Google’s Pixel range of devices. And for obvious reasons, users aren’t going to be happy if this turns out to be true.

    It’s also unclear what will happen to these devices that are already listed on the website. There’s also a possibilty that the update poilcy could only apply for new devices. That said, nothing can be said for certain until Google clears the air about the issue.

    To recall, Google launched the Android One program a few years ago in an effort to unite the fragmented Android market and offer timley OS updates. With so many smartphone manufacturers, most companies choose to modify the stock Android OS, which led to delay in OS and security updates.

    All smartphones under the program are free of any bloatware, and are meant to receive timley software updates. With the Android One inititaive, Google wanted to bring more companies under the program, so that system and security updates can land much quicker on all handsets.