Google moves to discontinue voice unlock on Android

According to an APK teardown performed by 9to5Google, the option to "Unlock with Voice Match" is slowly being depreciated. The first indication of this was the omission of the aforementioned option on the Google Pixel 3 duo. The Google App version 8.39 for Android has a string of text that reveals the upcoming change. The Voice Match to unlock feature you've been using has been replaced with a more secure way to get personal results while your device is locked. You can change this in your Assistant settings. This feature has been around for a while now. The idea is that Google learns...

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Huawei unveils new AI speaker for Chinese market

Today, Huawei held its Mate 20 event in China where the company announced a new product aimed at the Chinese market. The product is Huawei's AI Speaker (translation from Chinese) which looks strikingly similar to an Apple product: the HomePod: a highly-priced Siri-powered speaker that launched with limited functionality. Huawei did announce another smart speaker during IFA. The AI Cube is a taller Google Home look-alike, but this is a product aimed at the European market and is powered by Amazon Alexa. The AI Speaker is powered by a Chinese voice assistant called...

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Xiaomi: Mi Mix 3's camera software is coming to the Mi Mix 2S and Mi 8

Xiaomi's Mi Mix 3, which debuted yesterday mostly made headlines for its slider design, but it's also carrying Xiaomi's most capable dual-camera setup yet. These claims were further backed up by an immediate DxOMark review of the phone which put it on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note9 and the HTC U12+. And since the new Mi Mix 3 features the same camera modules that the Mi Mix 2S and the Mi 8 use, the company will be updating the latter two with the new more optimized processing from the Mi Mix 3. There's a reason for the Mi 8 and Mi Mix 2S owners to rejoice! Xiaomi's co-founder,...

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Huawei takes a clear shot at Apple and Samsung for slowing down their phones

After the Italian Competition Authority fined Apple and Samsung for intentionally slowing down phones, Huawei seized the moment and trolled both of its direct rivals in a recent tweet. We would never slow our phones down to force an upgrade. We're proud our new #HuaweiMate20Pro is #BornFastStaysFast - just like every other phone in our range. #NeverSlowDown Learn more now > https://t.co/Fn1ADt5VBW pic.twitter.com/AJihfosqAM— Huawei Mobile UK (@HuaweiMobileUK) October 25, 2018 It's not the first time the company bragged about keeping its devices fast and responsive over time. During...

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Huawei launches Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro in China with a twist

Today Huawei officially brought its Mate 20 series to the Chinese market. The Huawei Mate 20 will go on sale in 6GG+64GB version for CNY 4,000 (€500) and 6GB+128GB priced at CNY 4,500 (€570). Interestingly, Huawei will offer the Mate 20 Pro without a fingerprint scanner with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for CNY 5,400 (€680). The Huawei Mate 20 Pro (UD) matches what other markets get and will retail at CNY 6,000 (€760) for a 8GB+128GB model and CNY 6,800 (€860) for the range-topping 8GB+256GB variant. The gargantuan Huawei Mate 20 X will go for CNY 5,000 (€630) and CNY 6,000...

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Cleaner Samsung Experience 10 running on Galaxy S9+ leaks in screenshots

A slew of new screenshots have surfaced, showing what changes Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ and Galaxy Note9 owners will see with the Android 9.0 Pie update. Android Pie on flagship Samsung phones will come with Samsung Experience 10, which will be a mashup of legacy Samsung style and Google's own styling in Android Pie. Samsung will introduce a new system-wide typeface with a rounder look (similar to Google's own Product Sans), the notification shade with rounded icons and the app switching interface are also sticking closer to the stock Android. Samsung Experience 10 on...

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Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 camera samples: a day tour of Beijing

We took the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 on a photo tour around Beijing. We made the best of the day and tested both the main camera and the telephoto camera. We used the AI mode throughout the day and out first impression of it is that we'd just leave it on. Most of the time it made only subtle differences, but more importantly it didn't mess up. So, here are a few shots with the main 12MP camera, starting at a Mars-themed exhibition by Xiaomi at the Bird's Nest. We also shot some photos in the streets (in the shadows of buildings) and indoors, so we covered various lighting...

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Apple stores now stocking iPhone XR but pre-ordering is still smarter

Today is the day the iPhone XR starts to fill the shelves in Apple stores but you're still not guaranteed a pickup. Many stores will have the phone stocked but not all. Several of Apple's online stores still list the XR as unavailable for local pickup. But a deeper dive leads to stores with available iPhone XR stock. If you pre-order the iPhone XR through Apple's website it will be delivered in 3 to 5 business days. To the disappointment of many hardcore Apple fans, Apple still doesn't offer an official case for the iPhone XR, neither online nor in store. An official clear case...

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Oppo A7 leak confirms that's it's actually the re-badged Realme 2

The Oppo A7 has been in the rumor mill for some time now, so the latest leak doesn't come as a surprise - it just confirms what we've been reading all along but also showcases the handset in gold color. Specs and design match the Realme 2 closely, so the Oppo A7 might just be a re-branded version for the Chinese market. We've got the same 6.2-inch HD+ (720 x 1520) IPS panel with a waterdrop notch, Snapdragon 450 chipset running the show paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of memory. The camera setup on the back consists of a 13MP primary sensor and a secondary 2MP one for depth sensing...

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Xiaomi coming in strong in the UK with a new store and products in November

Xiaomi opened up an official UK Twitter account on October 1 which brought a lot of excitement to fans of the brand. It was a clear sign that the Chinese company has big plans for the UK and now Xiaomi finally shed some more light. The firm just confirmed that it's opening up an official Xiaomi store on November 10 in White City's Westfield shopping center, which so happens to be the largest shopping mall in the UK. In addition, Xiaomi teased a that a new flagship will step on UK soil and will bring over some friends too. Most of those would be home devices and perhaps the electric scooter...

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Our Realme 2 Pro video review is up

Realme released four phones this year each competing in the over-saturated budget segment in India but the Realme 2 Pro stands out as the most capable of them all blurring the line between low-end and mid-range. The phone follows the recent trend of waterdrop notches and has significantly more powerful internals than its siblings - the Realme 1 and Realme 2. If you are on the market for a cheap but capable smartphone, take the time to watch our full video review and hear what Angie has to say about this budget gem. And if you are looking for more details, read our full review as...

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Samsung's Galaxy S10 trio and foldable phone detailed in insider report

Samsung's plans for the early part of 2019 have been detailed by company insiders, who spoke to Bloomberg. The report reveals that Samsung is working on three Galaxy S10 devices, one of which could be a 5G-ready phone, and planning to finally show off its new foldable smartphone. The Galaxy S10 lineup will consist of three phones. A 5.8-inch Galaxy S10 with dual-curved AMOLED screen, triple cameras on the back (regular, ultra-wide and telephoto), in-display fingerprint scanner and an under the display selfie camera. There Plus model will be essentially the same, but with a larger...

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OnePlus 6T full specs leak days ahead of the announcement

Well, the OnePlus 6T isn't exactly the most secretive phone out there as recent leaks revealed pretty much everything there is to know. However, the specs sheet that popped up on Twitter fills in the gaps, confirms what we've already suspected and sheds light on some minor details. Here's the full specs sheet. OnePlus 6T full specs and dimensions Right off the bat, we see that the new model is about 2mm taller than the OnePlus 6, slightly narrower and a tad thicker but in exchange offers more battery and bigger screen. The minimalist notch will surely give you more screen real...

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