Weekly poll results: the Microsoft Surface Duo excites, but many have reservations

Last week’s poll shows that the Microsoft Surface Duo excites power users – maybe not so much with its hardware, but with its promise of next-level multitasking instead. Despite the Surface branding, this doesn’t run Windows, it’s an Android phone, but Microsoft did lean on its decades of UI design expertise to create a fairly unique product. Dual screen mobiles are nothing new. The Sony Tablet P is an early example of the form factor, the ZTE Axon M is more recent. There are even several LG and Asus phones that fall in this category with their second screen accessories. However, none...

Read More

Flashback: Kin - Android’s homely cousin dies twice at the hands of Microsoft and Verizon

Unless you grew up in the US at a particular point in time, you’ve probably never heard of the T-Mobile Sidekick, aka Danger Hiptop. It was designed by a little company called Danger, which was co-founded by Andy Rubin. Rubin would go on to create another company, Android Inc, that started work on a new smartphone operating system before being acquired by Google. Some years after Rubin left Danger, the company was picked up by Microsoft, which was also looking for the next big smartphone OS since Windows Mobile was on its deathbed. The result of was the Kin series, starting with the...

Read More

ZTE Axon 20 5G appears in three new colors in latest official poster

A render of the ZTE Axon 20 5G shared by a company executive a few days ago revealed the smartphone in black color. Today, that same employee shared another poster, which shows off the Axon 20 5G in three new colors alongside the previously confirmed black shade. Additionally, the image once again confirms that Axon 20 5G will pack a 64MP primary camera, and this time we also get a better look at the phone's screen, which is devoid of any holes or notches - thanks to the under-display selfie camera. ZTE hasn't confirmed any other specs of the Axon 20 5G yet, but thanks to TENAA, we...

Read More

Google Camera app will stop creating folders for each portrait shot

Google's Camera app has a few fascinating idiosyncrasies that anyone who's dealt with Pixel phones has had to come to terms with. One of them is its file management policy for handling Portrait mode shots - for each one of these, it creates a dedicated folder to hold two images, one with the applied blurred background processing and one that is as shot. This has proven problematic for viewing in basically any app that's not Google Photos, on desktop too. As reported by AndroidPolice, starting with v7.5, that's no longer going to be the case - Portrait mode shots will be saved in the base...

Read More

Verizon's Moto G7 Play and Moto G7 Power get Android 10 updates

Motorola started rolling out the Android 10 update for the Moto G7 Play in June, and now it is the model locked to Verizon's network that's receiving the latest version of Android. Moto G7 Play Verizon's Moto G7 Power is also getting Android 10, and the new builds for the US-based carrier's Moto G7 Play and Moto G7 Power sport versions QPY30.85-18 and QCO30.85-18, respectively. They bring along new volume controls, improved navigation gestures and notifications, as well as location and privacy enhancements. The Android 10 updates are rolling out over the air for both...

Read More

Gionee Max key specs and design confirmed ahead of August 25 launch

A few days ago, we learned Gionee is set to launch an entry-level smartphone dubbed Gionee Max on August 25 in India, which will pack a big battery and will be priced under INR6,000 ($80/€70). Now the company has uploaded a banner on its official Twitter account to reveal the phone's design, while the promo page on Flipkart has been updated to reveal more specs. The Gionee Max will pack a 6.1" HD+ waterdrop notch display with 2.5D curved glass on top, with the back home to a dual camera setup aligned vertically in the top-left corner. The smartphone will have 2GB RAM and 32GB...

Read More

vivo Y20, Y20i full specs and images leak

The vivo Y20 bagged certification from Indonesian authorities last week and today we learn there's a Y20i as well, since marketing images and what look like screenshots of the Y20 lineup's pre-briefing presentation slides have surfaced online, revealing the duo's full specs and design. The vivo Y20 and Y20i are the same smartphones with three differences - the amount of RAM, charging speed, and color options. The Y20 will come with 4GB RAM, charge at up to 18W, and will be available in Obsidian Black and Dawn White colors. The Y20i, on the other hand, will charge at "normal" speeds, have...

Read More

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G ad got out a little early

At the Note20 Unpacked event on August 5, Samsung also made the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G official - kind of. As in, the foldable got plenty of stage time and press images were released but it wasn't strictly 'announced' - with detailed specs and prices all. A few promo videos followed, and then a shady hands-on clip the day after, with another one a couple of days ago. Joining these now is a newly-leaked full video ad. It goes over key features of the Z Fold2 5G starting with its phone-tablet duality - 'you can have it all and do it all' on this one. The 7.6" Ultra-Thin Glass display with 120Hz...

Read More

Google Pixel 5 to feature 90Hz screen and ultrawide camera, 4a 5G to come with Snapdragon 765G

Google announced the Pixel 4a earlier this month and teased its 5G variant alongside the Pixel 5, both of which are rumored to launch on September 30. Google hasn't revealed any specs of these smartphones yet, but the CAD-based renders of the Pixel 5 that leaked yesterday revealed its design, and today we get to know more about the phone's specs. Citing people familiar with Google's upcoming phones, Android Central claims the Pixel 5 will have 8GB RAM and 128GB storage onboard and it will be powered by the Snapdragon 765G SoC, which is hardly a surprise since the smartphone was previously...

Read More