Samsung Galaxy Home Bixby-powered smart speaker to finally arrive in Q3

Because everyone is doing smart speakers now, Samsung had to get in on the action too. And so it announced the Galaxy Home, one such device with Bixby (what else?) built-in. That was in August last year. We're now in June the next year and the Galaxy Home is still nowhere to be seen (or bought). The last release time frame Samsung gave had it hitting stores this April. That clearly hasn't happened, but fret not, Bixby fans, for it's still coming. According to Samsung Electronics' Consumer Electronics CEO Kim Hyun-suk, the smart speaker will be on store shelves in "mid-second half of the...

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LG G7 ThinQ finally gets Android 9 Pie update in Europe

LG's G7 ThinQ received the update to Android 9 Pie in the company's home of South Korea back in January, but it's taken this long for it to make it to European markets, for whatever reason. Still, if you own a G7 bought from somewhere in Europe, the new software should hit your device shortly. That is, of course, if you haven't already received the update notification. Reports are coming in from people in the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, and the UK receiving the Pie release on their G7 units, and the rollout seems to be continent-wide. Keep in mind that as with any such...

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Google Maps now gives info on buses and long-distance trains in India

Google has announced that it's bringing much-needed features to its Google Maps app for its Indian users. They can get information in real-time about bus travel times from live traffic in ten of the largest cities in the country as well as live train status for the Indian Railways trains. Maps also adds mixed-mode commute routes that combine auto-rickshaws and public transport. Thanks to Google's live traffic data and the public bus schedules, Google Maps can now calculate delays and provide accurate travel times in real-time. Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Chennai, Mysore,...

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vivo Y12 debuts with 5,000mAh battery, triple camera

The Indian market is about to get a new affordable option - the vivo Y12. The entry-level phone leaked ahead of its release later this week. The vivo Y12 has a 6.35-inch Halo FullView HD+ display and a MediaTek Helio P22 chipset with CPU clocked at 2.0GHz. Its triple camera has a main 13MP f/2.2 unit, an ultrawide or telephoto 8MP f/2.2 secondary cam and a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The selfie snapper is an 8MP f/2.2 unit with AI enhancement. The key selling point of the vivo Y12 is its mammoth 5,000mAh battery with reverse charging support. The phone runs on vivo's Funtouch OS 9...

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Apple and Huawei dominated the Chinese tablet market in Q1 2019

Despite the continuous decline of the tablet market in recent years, there are a couple of OEMs still doing fine, especially on Chinese soil, according to IDC. The OEMs in question are Apple, Huawei and Xiaomi. Apple feels exceptionally comfortable in this market as it holds a whopping 42.9% share with about 2.28 million shipped units in Q1 2019. That's more than the next four companies put together. Huawei takes the second place with a not-too-shabby 27.1% market share and about 1.44 million tablets. The third place is taken by Xiaomi with just 300,000 units, which accounts for...

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Samsung is working on 6G networks

The 5G networks are still being deployed and there are only a couple of spots in the world where you can access those and only with a handful of 5G devices. And yet that doesn't prevent Samsung from looking even further into the future with the sixth-generation mobile network - 6G. On Tuesday, Samsung officially confirmed that it has expanded the existing telecommunications research team to the level of a center after the initial launch of the 5G network. It's part of the recently formed Advanced Communications Research Center under the Samsung Research company serving as the firm's...

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MIUI 10 update brings DC dimming to Xiaomi Mi 9

Xiaomi has introduced the increasingly popular DC dimming feature to its flagship Mi 9 via the latest MIUI update. The new 10.2.27 firmware has begun rolling out in China. Other improvements include stability enhancements and new power-saving optimizations. Once you update your Mi 9 device you will get a toggle for the new anti-flicker mode from the display section in the settings menu. Xiaomi claims the new option will allow for better eye protection and should reduce visual fatigue at low brightness levels thanks to the decreased screen flicker. According to Xiaomi's software...

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Google will detail Stadia's pricing and title availability on June 6

Google will finally reveal the pricing of its cloud-based Gaming platform Stadia on June 6 at the first Stadia Connect event. We'll also get the spill on which games are coming to the platform and if the service will be a subscription one or a per-title one. We expected to learn the pricing of Apple's own Arcade service but the only new info we got at WWDC 2019 is that tvOS and iOS will get Microsoft Xbox One S and PlayStation DualShock 4 controller support. Check back in two days to find out more about Google's Stadia. Apple, on the other hand, will likely wait till this fall to...

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Windows won't get Apple's new Music, Podcasts and TV

Yesterday Apple unveiled its new iOS 13 and alongside it, macOS Catalina. Those brings a lot of improvements and finally the end of iTunes as we know it. The old app has been dissolved into three new ones - Music, Podcasts and TV - on the Mac. On Windows, iTunes will live on, seemingly unchanged, for the foreseeable future. The news was delivered by Apple to Billboard editor Micah Singleton. This means that iPhone users on Windows will need to live with the old app in order to access Apple Music, their apps and backups. There's no word on if and when Apple will release Music, Podcasts...

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Samsung Galaxy A80 review

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OnePlus 7 gets OxygenOS 9.5.4 update with DC Dimming, Fnatic Mode

The OnePlus 7 that went on sale today in the UK, Europe, India, and China and is already receiving its first update - OxygenOS 9.5.4. The firmware weighs 223MB in size and bumps up the Android security patch level from March 1, 2019 to April 1, 2019. In addition to that, the update also brings in DC Dimming so that the phone's screen doesn't flicker at low brightness settings. Additionally you get the Fnatic Mode as well as some optimizations for the fingerprint unlock and the photo quality. And then there are also general bug fixes and an improvement to the "smooth-scrolling...

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Black Shark 2 now available for purchase in India

The Black Shark 2 is now available for purchase in India through Flipkart. It comes in two memory versions - 6GB/128GB and 12GB/256GB. The former is priced at INR39,999 ($577) and is offered in Shadow Black color, while the latter costs INR49,999 ($722) and comes in Frozen Silver paint job. Black Shark 2 The Black Shark 2 is a gaming smartphone having Snapdragon 855 SoC at the helm. It features a 6.39-inch FHD+ AMOLED display and comes with Liquid Cooling 3.0 which the company claims lowers the CPU temperature by up to 14°C. The smartphone also has a dual camera setup at the...

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Apple reveals complete list of iOS 13 and iPadOS eligible devices

Yesterday Apple introduced its new iOS 13 with a new system-wide Dark Mode, improved keyboard with swipe functionality, Apple Maps enhancements and more - you can read all about it here. Alongside that, we also got a new iPad OS, which aims to bring Apple's tablet computers to new productivity heights. After all the excitement it's time to see which devices make the cut to the new firmware. First off, iOS 13 is coming to the following list of devices: iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhone XR iPhone X iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus iPhone 7 iPhone 7 Plus iPhone 6S iPhone 6S...

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ZTE nubia Red Magic 3 tops AnTuTu list for fastest Android in May

The Chinese benchmark AnTuTu released its monthly list of fastest Android devices tested. The list is dominated by Snapdragon 855-powered smartphones, with the two ZTE flagships claiming the top spots - the gaming nubia Red Magic 3 grabbed the first place, closely followed by the Axon 10 Pro. Third came the Xiaomi Mi 9 Explorer. Xiaomi has two more phones in the top 5 - the Black Shark 2 and the regular Mi 9. The list continues with the Meizu 16s, OnePlus 7 Pro and Lenovo Z6 Pro. Finally, the last two spots are occupied by the Galaxy S10+ and Galaxy S10, although the result is...

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vivo NEX S gets Android Pie

More than a month after the NEX A got the Android Pie update, Indian users are reporting that its flagship brother the NEX S is also getting the new firmware. The OTA update comes in at a hefty 3.24GB and brings the latest Android features alongside stability improvements for a smoother user experience. The user interface gets a system-wide dark mode alongside overhauled visuals with new visuals and icons. There is a new default system font as well as new wallpapers and animations. Other additions include an updated game assistant, new shortcut center with programmable shortcuts and...

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Samsung Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy A90 show up on Geekbench

The Samsung Galaxy Note10's August release is fast approaching and the rumor mill is picking up speed. We finally have something solid in the form of Geekbench scores. Interestingly, a still unreleased Galaxy A90 also joins the upcoming flagship in its run through the benchmark. Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G and regular version Two Geekbench listings of the future Galaxy Note10 popped up - one with SM-N976B model number and the other one SM-N976V. The latter boasts 12GB of RAM as opposed to the 8GB of RAM on the regular one and also a slightly more powerful Exynos 9825 chipset. And as...

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Sasmung Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy A90 show up on Geekbench

The Samsung Galaxy Note10's August release is fast approaching and the rumor mill is picking up speed. We finally have something solid in the form of Geekbench scores. Interestingly, a still unreleased Galaxy A90 also joins the upcoming flagship in its run through the benchmark. Samsung Galaxy Note10 5G and regular version Two Geekbench listings of the future Galaxy Note10 popped up - one with SM-N976B model number and the other one SM-N976V. The latter boasts 12GB of RAM as opposed to the 8GB of RAM on the regular one and also a slightly more powerful Exynos 9825 chipset. And as...

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Samsung pushes out new update for Galaxy A30

The Samsung Galaxy A30 was released back in February alongside the other members of Samsung's growing Galaxy A-line. Now users in India, Thailand and Malaysia are reporting that a new firmware has made its way to their units. The A305FDDU2ASE5 update weighs in at 459 MB and features minor improvements to the camera alongside improved third-party app compatibility and the latest June security patch. A30 users will now have the ability to record slow-motion videos, which was previously unavailable. The other major addition is the improved compatibility with third-party apps with Telegram...

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Motorola One Vision expected to launch in India on June 20

The Motorola One Vision will debut in India on June 20 as the company has started sending out invites to the media for a launch event. The invite doesn't reveal what smartphone Motorola's launching in India, and only says that the company's "bringing to you another premium device" on June 20. Motorola One Vision That said, we've also heard about this Chicago-based phone maker working on two other One series smartphones called One Action and One Pro. So chances are we may see either or both of them debuting in India. Coming back to the One Vision, it brings many firsts for a...

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Our Oppo Reno 10x zoom video review is up

Oppo decided to ditch its Find series and move to Reno phones as its new flagships. The Snapdragon 855-powered Oppo Reno 10x zoom already got a thorough text review and now we have the video review on our YouTube channel, where all the key aspects are covered in under 10 minutes. The new Oppo flagship comes with an unusual shark fin elevating front-facing camera that houses the flash on the other side and a triple camera including a 5x periscope telephone lens. The phone looks amazing and has a lot going for it. The Oppo Reno 10x zoom is available with 5G connectivity in...

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OnePlus 7 goes on sale in the UK, Europe, and Asia

The OnePlus 7 is finally available for purchase in the UK, Europe, and Asia. It comes in 8GB/256GB and 12GB/256GB configurations in China, with the rest of the world getting 6GB/128GB and 8GB/256GB memory combos. OnePlus 7 The OnePlus 7 is offered in Mirror Grey and Red colors, with the latter being exclusive to the Indian and Chinese markets. You can check out the pricing of the OnePlus 7 down below: Model UK Europe India China 6GB/128GB £499 €559 INR32,999 ($476/€423) - 8GB/256GB £549 €609 ...

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Xiaomi Mi Band 4 coming on June 11

It is that time of the year when Xiaomi announces its new wristband. Last early summer we saw the Mi Band 3 and now the company has scheduled a launch for the successor, called Mi Band 4. The event will take place on June 11 and we expect the product to be the first in the family with a color display. Official invitation The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is being launched first in China but should hit other markets across the world in the following month or two. Expectations are for two devices - one with NFC for contactless payments, and another without the chip and a lower price tag. The...

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Samsung enters partnership for graphic technologies in smartphones

AMD and Samsung have reached a deal that will bring Radeon graphic solutions to future Samsung mobile devices, including smartphones. The partnership will effectively license AMD's custom graphics IP based on the recently announced RDNA architecture in return for which Samsung will pay royalties. The deal is a multi-year collaboration, which Samsung hopes will allow them to advance future smartphone productivity and innovation. For AMD this is a chance to reach a wider audience in the mobile market and expand their Radeon user base and development support...

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Nokia 3 receiving Android Pie update

After rolling out the Android Pie update for Nokia 3.1 Plus and 3.1 in February and March, respectively, HMD Global is now seeding the latest version of Android for the Nokia 3. The wait is over! Keeping up with our promise of 2 years of Android updates, Nokia 3 (2017) is now officially running on Android 9 Pie! Step up to Nokia smartphones, they Just Keep Getting Better! #GetSmart #Nokiamobile pic.twitter.com/Xz1JXt2Cet— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) June 3, 2019 The Nokia 3 was launched in 2017 with Android 7.0 Nougat and later picked up 8.0 and 8.1 Oreo. This makes for a very...

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OnePlus 6/6T get May 2019 security patch with the latest OxygenOS updates

Last week OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS Open Beta updates for OnePlus 6 and 6T which came with Zen Mode and Screen Recorder. Now, the Chinese phone maker has released the stable builds of OxygenOS for its 2018 flagships. OnePlus is rolling out OxygenOS 9.0.6 for the OnePlus 6, and 9.0.14 for the 6T. The two updates have identical changelogs, with the exception of the 6T getting some optimizations for its front camera. You can check out the entire change-log of these latest builds below: System Updated Android Security Patch to 2019.5 General bug fixes and...

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