Google drops Play Services support for Android KitKat 4.4

One of the sweetest Google OS updates, the Android KitKat 4.4, will no longer be supported by Google Play Services. The message came from the Android Developers Blog, where it was revealed API levels 19 and 20 will not receive APK versions beyond 23.30.99, starting August 2023. This means devices with KitKat will not get the latest version of the Play Store, which will essentially not allow users to update apps, and their devices will slowly be rendered unusable. Android KitKat introduced updates that are still valid today, over ten years after the OS was launched. The system brought...

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HTC U23 is now on sale

The HTC U23, unveiled last week, is now available for purchase in Taiwan through HTC's official Taiwanese website. It comes in two colors and a single 8GB/128GB memory configuration priced at TWD14,990 ($480/€435/INR39,160). The HTC U23 is built around a 6.7" FullHD+ 120Hz OLED screen with a centered punch hole for the 32MP selfie camera. And around the back, it sports a triple camera system comprising 64MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP depth units. The HTC U23 is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC, runs Android 13 out of the box, and has a microSD card slot for storage...

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The Xreal Beam starts shipping in the US and Japan

The Xreal Beam starts shipping today in the US and Japan. The Beam is an alternative way to connect AR headsets like the Xreal Air to your PC, console or phone. Normally, you need a wired USB C-to-C connection between the headset and your device. With the Beam, however, you can go wireless. It still needs a USB connection to the glasses, but it’s a small device that you can slip in your pocket (doable with a phone, not so much with a PC or even a Nintendo Switch). The Beam also acts like a power bank and can run the Air for up to 3.5 hours. Additionally, there are two USB-C ports...

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Oppo K11 announced with Snapdragon 782G and 50MP main cam

Oppo unveiled its latest K-series phone in China with the Oppo K11. The device features a Snapdragon 782G chipset alongside up to 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. There’s a 6.7-inch OLED screen upfront with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The punch hole cutout at the top houses a 16MP front-facing camera. Hidden beneath the screen is a fingerprint scanner. The device also boasts dual speakers with Dolby Atmos. Oppo K11 in Moon Shadow Gray and Glacier Blue Around the back, Oppo K11 features a 50MP main cam (IMX890) alongside an 8MP ultrawide module and a 2MP macro cam. The...

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Sony's upcoming IMX903 and IMX907 smartphone image sensors detailed

Sony has the largest image sensor aimed at smartphones, the 1” IMX989, which has been used in multiple camera-focused phones. Size isn’t everything, though, and Sony’s next two sensors will go slightly smaller but will have clever designs, according to unofficial reports. The Sony IMX903 is allegedly a 1/1.14” sensor with 48MP resolution and 1.4µm pixels (compared to 1.6µm on the IMX989). It will support dual pixel autofocus, so each pixel will be made out of two photo diodes, each 0.7 x 1.4µm in size. The autofocus system will be able to quickly acquire and track focus on moving...

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Next Realme flagship will be called GT5 Pro

Realme has not realeased a fully-fledged flagship since January 2022, but such a device is in the works, said Digital Chat Station on their Weibo profile. The new top-tier smartphone will be called GT5 Pro and will have a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. There is also a vanilla GT5 in the works which will be official this year and will stick to the current best chip Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Realme’s current most powerful smartphone globally is the GT3 with its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and 240W charging. However, at least on paper, its cameras and display are worse than the GT2 Pro. While the most...

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