Xiaomi possibly launching the Mi 5X in India next month

-

August 28, 2017

LG, the South Korean giant, has its launch event around the corner where they are going to unveil one of the most anticipated smartphones of the year, the LG V30. The V30 is a successor to the highly popular V20, with their signature being the secondary display at the top. Recently the company boasted about the upcoming smartphone in a teaser video showing "immersive sound" experience. The video gave us a clue that LG V30's highlights could be the sound delivered by it. After the video, LG on Sunday revealed a few more details pointing towards the handset's capabilities and promising "next-generation audio functions unseen in a smartphone before."

LG V30 will include Hi-Fi Quad DAC (digital to analog converter) also found on its predecessor, the V20. LG is now having a tie-up with a California based company, ESS Technology, which will bring features like digital filters and sound presets, enabling a more customizable experience, and high-quality, clear sound even with "ordinary" headphones when connected to the V30. The company has also shared some screenshots providing us with a quick glance at the level of audio customization on the upcoming V30.

Also Read: Huawei Mate 10, code named Marcel

The things don't just wrap up here, LG is also working on great audio streaming quality with the V30. The V30 is using high resolution streaming technology from UK-based MQA Ltd. Moreover, the audio recording on the device will be seamless with its audio receiver can be used simultaneously as a microphone. LG claims that the device will be able to record a wider dynamic range of sounds, “from a whisper to a thunderstorm, without distortion.”

LG is also extending its collaboration with B&O Play, which "fine-tuned the overall sound experience" on the most awaited V30. Just like the V20, the V30 will also ship with high-quality B&O Play earphones bundled in the box.

Huawei Mate 10, code named Marcel

By

Sukhad

-

August 28, 2017

In a recent promotional teaser, Huawei showcased all of their recent dual camera setup devices. The list consists of Huawei P9 and P9 Plus, with the Huawei Mate 9 all launched in 2016. Other devices showcased were Huawei P10 and P10 Plus in April 2017. Other than these devices one other device was also showcased which didn't showcase any name. Although not carrying any name the device was accompanied with a tag line, #beyondthegalaxy and carrying a date of 16th October 2017.

Which leads us to believe that Huawei Mate 10 which is reported to be unveiled on 10th of October 2017 and will be available from 16th October. Beyond the galaxy, tagline leads us to believe that Mate 10 would have an Infinity display. The device will be powered by homegrown Kirin 970 chipset, which is developed using the 10nm process which will be running at a clock speed of 2.8GHz. Mate 10 will feature a 6.1-inch display which will have a resolution of 1080x2160. The smartphone is also expected to have a dual-camera setup with a pair of two, 13-megapixel sensors on an RGB lens and the other lens in monochrome. This setup allows your camera to have depth and perform remarkably well under low-light conditions.

Codename for Huawei Mate 10 is Marcel.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 27, 2017

According to Evan Blass, the Huawei Mate 10 is codenamed, Marcel. There is no news on why the company have named the Mate 10 that. At this stage, the Huawei Mate 10 looks like a fantastic device with a lot to offer, in the coming days we might hear more about the device.

iVOOMi Me 5 Review: A cheap 4G VoLTE smartphone

By

-

iVOOMi, a Chinese brand owned by Suntek Global, a Hong Kong-based firm, has made its way to India recently. The company has come in to bring some budget friendly devices with support to 4G VoLTE. In the moving smartphone industry, customer's needs are being fulfilled but at a price. Smartphone manufacturers have been concentrating on giving a good build quality, excellent camera and some decent performance. What these manufacturers tend to forget is the budget of some people. In this generation, there are some people around the world who cannot afford the costly devices but still like to use the 4G VoLTE services and enjoy the use of social-media, banking and many more applications. iVOOMi Me 5 is a device which brings 4G VoLTE enabled smartphone with Android Nougat at a very cheap price. Here is our in-depth review of the new iVOOMi Me 5.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the Me 5 sports a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels with 2.5D curved glass. The smartphone comes with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of onboard storage which is further expandable up to 128 GB via a microSD card. Under the hood, the Me 5 packs in a 3,000mAh battery with no support to fast-charging. The phone runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box.

Performance

Performance of the Me 5 is nothing much to talk about as it is a budget device. The phone gave us decent performance when it came to using the phone for some calls, messages, browsing, WhatsApp and Instagram. The phone was able to handle some games like the Subway Surfers and the Temple Run.However, the phone is not meant for heavy gaming.

AnTuTu

Geekbench4

Camera

The camera on the Me 5 is not the best but can take some decent outdoor shots. The phone sports an 8-megapixel rear camera, while the front camera is a 5-megapixel selfie shooter The phone is capable of taking good photographs under good lighting conditions. However, the phone does tend to struggle when it comes to indoor lighting conditions. Here are some sample shots for you to judge.

Outdoor

Indoor

Front

Also Read: Nokia 6 Review: Best Budget Smartphone?

Battery Life

iVOOMi Me 5 impressed us when it came to battery life. The phone was easily able to last one full working day with 4G data enabled all the time. We did our review using a 4G VoLTE sim card, which in our case was Jio 4G.

PC Mark results

Screen-on-time

Software & UI

iVOOMi didn't include a heavy skin with the Me 5, which is a great news as stock android on this phone is much smoother. However, it is not complete stock android as we can see a custom icon pack and a few small customizations here and there. But it was a nearly stock experience. During our review, we were not comfortable with the stock launcher so we switched to Nova Launcher and rest of the software was good enough. The interesting part is that we get Android Nougat at this price. Surprisingly, we also received a software update during our review.

Lock Screen

Home Screen

About Phone

Software Update

Verdict

iVOOMi Me 5 is a great attempt by the company in delivering a good smartphone at a cheap price. As there is no perfect smartphone, this one also has some flaws. The phone was good for cellular reception and the 4G data, but the speaker quality could have been better. The picture quality delivered by the camera was average. The biggest disappointment was the touch on the smartphone which was not that responsive at times, but we cannot be sure for this as this could have been a problem with our unit. However, one cannot complain when the phone is priced this low. Some impressive things were, removable battery, Android Nougat and the support to 4G VoLTE. If you are looking for a smartphone with 4G VoLTE support under Rs. 5000, this could make a good choice and could also justify the price you pay for it.

WhatsApp to introduce 'Business Verified' feature soon

By

-

August 27, 2017

WhatsApp Messenger, a cross-platform instant messaging services, has been surprising us with a lot of new features lately. Since Facebook took over WhatsApp, the application has received even more features and updates. The constantly gets updated to deliver the best features and an optimised application to its users. Now the messaging application is coming up with a feature called Verified Business. The feature is currently in beta stage and is being discussed on the WhatsApp's FAQ page also.

WhatsApp business 1 — Source: WABetaInfo

If a contact on your list has switched his account to business account, you will see a green badge next to the contact name. The badge is something similar to what we have seen on the Twitter's verified accounts, just the difference is the colour. The new green badge implies that WhatsApp has confirmed that the phone number of this contact belongs to a business account.

Also Read: Xiaomi MIUI 9 Global beta 7.8.24 released: Here’s how to get it

When you initiate a chat with a business account holder, you will be greeted by yellow messages inside a chat. As far as the contact is concerned, if you have the number of the person saved in your contacts, WhatsApp will show the name as what you have set. In case you haven't saved the number, the contact's details will be shown as what the account holder has set. You can even block the business account if you don't want them disturbing you.

The beta version of WhatsApp for Android is currently supporting 'Verified Business' accounts, which can be seen with a green badge beside the profile. The new verification feature will be limited to a few business only, the ones who are a part of the pilot program. The businesses can also set their working hours, in order to leave an 'Away' message when unavailable and manage automatic messages.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.0 (2017) will now be called Galaxy Tab A2 S: Confirms Source

By

-

August 27, 2017

Samsung, on Wednesday, took the wraps off the most-anticipated phone of the year, the Galaxy Note 8. Now the South Korean giant is working on introducing another budget friendly tablet to its portfolio. There were few rumours flying around that the upcoming tablet from Samsung would be dubbed as Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017). But now, we have a new report which claims the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017) could now be called as Galaxy Tab A2 S.

Changing the name, Samsung decided to go on with the same model number as rumoured before. The model number which we came across was (SM-T380 / SM-T385). The leak on the change of name is coming from the tipster Roland Quandt.

Samsung SM-T380 / SM-T385 is not Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2017. It's the Samsung Galaxy Tab A2 S.

— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) August 26, 2017

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus vs Note 8: Which one should you consider?

As far as the specifications are concerned, the upcoming Galaxy Tab A2 S will feature an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1200x800 pixels. Being a budget tablet, it is said to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 427 clocked at 1.4GHz. The device also packs in 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. The tablet will be running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat out of the box. However, there is no word on the battery yet.

On the optics front, the Tab A2 S will sport an 8-megapixel camera at the back, while the selfie and video calling needs will be fulfilled by a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.

Xiaomi MIUI 9 Global beta 7.8.24 released: Here's how to get it

By

-

August 27, 2017

Xiaomi, with the Mi Mix 2's launch around the corner, is also working on their new updated skin, the MIUI 9. MIUI 9 brings more features and optimizations when compared to the MIUI 8. MIUI is one of the most feature rich UI and comes pre-installed in the Xiaomi devices. The MIUI 9 will be based on the Gooogle's Android Nougat. The MIUI 9 is being worked on and here is the final beta version of the ROM, and the company will soon by launching the official version of the ROM. Here's how to download and install the new MIUI 9 Global Beta 7.8.24

Prerequisites

Download the file required
Backup all your important pictures, music and data
Users who are using the stable version of MIUI 6/7/8 have to use the fast boot method

Also Read: Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Here’s what we know so far

Downloads

Xiaomi Mi 5

Xiaomi Mi Max (32G)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X / Redmi Note 4 Qualcomm

Xiaomi Mi 5s

Xiaomi Mi 6

Xiaomi Mi Note 2

Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus

Xiaomi Mi Max 2

Xiaomi Redmi 4X

Method: Update using System Update

First, click on the recovery link given below your Xiaomi device name and download the file
Transfer the downloaded file to your smartphone
Open the updater app on your phone and tap on the three dots in the top right corner and then tap on Choose Update Package.

Method: Fastboot

Make sure the bootloader of your phone is unlocked
Download the Fastboot ROM for your device from the link given above.
Download the MIUI ROM Flashing Tool.
Install the flash tool you just downloaded. Also, download and install the latest version of .Net Frameworks via Windows Update.
Make sure that you have disabled the Driver Signature Enforcement option in Windows and here is how to do it.
Power off your Xiaomi device. Now, press and hold Volume and Power buttons of your phone simultaneously to boot into Fastboot mode.
Connect your device to a Windows PC via a micro USB or the typeC cable.
Extract the downloaded ROM zip files to the root folder (C:) of the computer for easy flashing.
Copy the path of the root folder.
Launch the Mi Flash tool and paste the full path of the folder.
Select 'Clean All' option in the Mi Flash to avoid unwanted errors during the flash process.
Click the Refresh button in case your device is not listed there. Ensure that updated drivers are installed for your phone on the computer.
Finally, when the phone is recognised and mounted on the computer, just select the device in the tool and click Flash.
Wait until the flashing process completes. Do not interrupt the flashing process as it might inadvertently brick your device. Your device should automatically reboot once the flashing is completed.

Source: MIUI

Nuu Q626 and Q500: Hands-On Review

By

Sukhad

-

August 27, 2017

Nuu mobiles recently launched four new devices for the budget smartphone market in India. The Q-series is the lineup for company's entry budget market, with two devices the Q500 and the Q626. Both these smartphones are truly entry-level by the specification but not by pricing. Both devices are very similar in specifications.

Specifications

Nuu Q500

The Nuu Q500 is the cheapest option of the four devices launched. The smartphone features a 5.0-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The Q500 is powered by a quad-core MediaTek processor which is coupled with 2GB of RAM. Internal storage of 16GB is expandable up to 128GB through a MicroSD card.

The camera on the Q500 is an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel camera on the front of the device for selfies. All of this is powered by just 2000mAh battery. The device has all the basic connectivity options available with VoLTE support too.

Also Read: Nuu Mobiles Flagship X5: Hands on Review

Nuu Q626

The display on the Q626 is the exact same to that of the Q500, 5-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. The processor is the same MediaTek processor you will get on the Q500, but this time coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The difference between the Q500 and the Q626 is the presence of Fingerprint sensor on the back.

The Camera on the device is an 8-megapixel lens with Autofocus and flash. The front of the device is equipped with a 5-megapixel lens with Autofocus.

Also Read: Nuu Mobile M3: Hands on Review

Hands On Review

Q500

The smartphone feels good to hold because of the slim design and the compact 5-inch screen. The display feels bright and responsive but doesn't impress in the representation of colours. Q500 is powered by a MediaTek processor which is only capable of light gaming and lags a bit whenever pushed a bit. The camera feels very entry-level both at the front and the back. The device is running on a 2000mAh battery, which is below average for a smartphone with a 5.0-inch 720p display.

Q626

Nuu Q626 is very similar to the Q500, with the only noticeable difference being the Fingerprint sensor on the back of the smartphone. The Q626 has a glass back which makes the device feel premium. The processor and the RAM are similar to that of the Q500, hence it's to only suitable for light usage. The camera is also exactly the same as on Q500, with photos coming out were very average and entry level.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2: Here's what we know so far

By

-

August 26, 2017

The Chinese giant, Xiaomi has a launch event around the corner where they are about to unveil the new Xiaomi Mi Mix 2. The Mi Mix was a smartphone introduced by Xiaomi last year, which initiated the trend of the bezel-less display. Though the Mi Mix was not completely bezel-less, it surely had a very beautiful design and a great new concept. Like most of the smartphones, the Mi Mix 2 also gained a lot of hype through the leaks and rumours flying around. The leaks and rumours have helped us a lot to get a clue on what the device will look like, how much could it possibly cost, what would be under the hood and much more. Here is everything we know so far about the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.

Design

The design is something which is the most important aspect when it comes to the Mi Mix series. Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi, confirmed in a Weibo post that the Mi Mix 2 will be designed by Philippe Starck. For those who are unaware, the first Mi Mix was also designed by Starck. A video was shared by Starck where we get a clue on how thin the bezels would be on the upcoming Mi Mix 2.

Except for the video by Starck, we have seen an image on the Chinese social networking site, Weibo, showing the prototype of the Mi Mix 2.

Specifications

As far as the specifications are concerned, the rumours suggest that the Mi Mix 2 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset coupled with Adreno 540 GPU. The smartphone is said to come in two variants, one with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage, and the other with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The phone is said to feature a 6.4-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2540x1440 pixels. Recent rumours also claim that this time Xiaomi may opt in for an AMOLED display for the Mi Mix 2.

On the optics front, the phone is said to sport a 16-megapixel dual-camera setup at the back with phase detection autofocus and a dual tone LED flash. Up front, the phablet might feature a 13-megapixel camera.

Release Date

Recent reports claim that Xiaomi might conduct the launch event for the Mi Mix 2 on the same date as for the iPhone 8. This means, that the Mi Mix 2 would be launching on September 12, considering Apple might also launch the iPhone 7s, iPhone 7s Plus and the iPhone 8 on the same date. However, this is just based on rumours and there are no press invites out for either the Apple's event or the Xiaomi's event.

Price

Current rumours suggest that the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 will be priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly Rs. 38,500) for the 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage variant. The 8GB RAM and 256GB storage variant would cost around CNY 4,999 (roughly Rs. 48,000).

Android Oreo launcher now available for all Android smartphones

By