OPPO Unveils Its Flagship Find X5 Pro

OPPO has now unveiled its latest flagship smartphone: the Find X5 Pro. A successor to the tech company’s Find X3 Pro from last year, the new X5 carries a very similar design aesthetic, utilizing a thin, lightweight body with a raised camera cluster on the top rear left of the device. On the front sits a 6.7-inch WQHD+ curved AMOLED screen that covers 100% of the P3 color gamut, displaying more than one billion colors and a peak brightness of 1,300 nits, all protected by a Gorilla Glass Victus layer.

 

The processor comes in the form of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, heralded as one of the most powerful Android chips currently available on the market, and its battery pack also gets an increased capacity of 5,000mAh. Much like its predecessor, however, the new model also places its focus on its cameras. Retaining a three-lens setup on the back, the X5 carries a 50-megapixel ultrawide with a maximum aperture of f/2.2 and a 110-degree FOV, a second 50-megapixel wide camera supporting f/1.7, a 77% color accuracy, five-axis image stabilization, and a 13-megapixel telephoto lens opening up to f/2.4. For those who fancy a selfie for social media, there’s also a front-facing camera with a 32-megapixel sensor. For those interested, OPPO’s new flagship Find X5 Pro will be available from March 14 for €1,300 EUR (approximately $1,422 USD).

Huawei Is Finally Rolling Out Its Own "Harmony" Operating System

After U.S. sanctions forced Google to withdraw access to Android last year, Huawei has now finally officially released its own operating system: the HarmonyOS 2. According to the Chinese firm, the new HarmonyOS 2 is said to offer upgraded connectivity, with drag-and-drop interfaces for pairing devices, and a cinch function when you’re watching movies or videos on your phone that’ll send it to a TV and audio to your earbuds.

 

As for which devices are getting the new operating system, Huawei will first begin updating existing devices such as the Mate 40, P40, Mate 30, and MatePad Pro, followed by the nova 6, nova 7, nova 8, Mate 20 and other MatePad products by the third quarter of 2021. Near the end of the year, the V and S series smart screens will also receive the update, along with the Mate 20 X smartphones and M6 tablets. Lastly, the Mate 9, Mate 10, P20, P10 and nova 5 will get the update in the first six months of 2022. Elsewhere in tech, Google’s high-speed QUIC technology has become an official Internet standard.

Twitter Will Make Key US Political Accounts Adopt Tighter Account Security

 Twitter, which was recently targeted in a hacking campaign that compromised the accounts of prominent political figures and celebrities, said on Thursday it was implementing more security measures for certain election-related accounts in the United States.

Accounts belonging to the US executive branch, Congress, presidential campaigns and political parties are among those which Twitter said in a blog post it would require to take security measures "given the unique sensitivities of the election period."

The accounts will be required to use a strong password, Twitter will enable by default a setting that helps prevent unauthorised password changes and the users will be strongly encouraged to enable two-factor authentication.

In July, hackers were able to access Twitter's internal systems and seize control of accounts, including Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and former US President Barack Obama, and solicit digital currency. Twitter has said its employees were duped into sharing account credentials.

Lawmakers have expressed concerns over what would happen if a similar breach occurred a day before the US presidential election on November 3.

After the hack, the White House said it had been in constant contact with Twitter to ensure the security of President Donald Trump's Twitter account, which was not jeopardised in the hack.

Other types of accounts for which Twitter is requiring or recommending these security measures include those belonging to members of the US Congress, US governors and secretaries of state, political candidates that have Twitter's "Election Labels" and some major US news outlets and political journalists.

Twitter said that in the coming weeks it would put in place other internal security safeguards for the accounts, including better detections to help the company and account holders respond quickly to suspicious activity and increased login defenses to prevent malicious account takeover attempts.

Microsoft Surface Pro X Reportedly Getting New Processor, Colour Option

 Microsoft Surface Pro X, the company's ARM-powered tablet, is reportedly getting a refresh with an upgraded Microsoft SQ2 processor, a new platinum colour option, and new Type Cover colours. The updated version is expected to launch in October this year, and Microsoft reportedly aims at pushing the Surface Pro X to the mainstream market with the new processor, hue variant, and accessories. The original Surface Pro X debuted last year and the upgraded version seems to be coming right on time.

In a report, Windows Central cited sources that the Microsoft Surface Pro X will soon start shipping with the company's latest SQ2 processor. This is a significant upgrade from the SQ1 chip that powered the earlier Surface Pro X model. It is being speculated that the new SQ2 chip is based on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 SoC that promises to offer a notable boost in performance.

The report also suggests that Microsoft is planning to announce x86 64-bit app-emulation. As of now, the ARM version of Windows 10 can only emulate 32-bit apps. Given the improved performance of the SQ2 chip, the 64-bit app-emulation could boost demand for the Surface Pro X.

Apart from the new chip, the Surface Pro X could also be getting a platinum colour option, similar to the one already available on the regular Surface Pro offerings. Currently, the Surface Pro X is only available in a black colour option. The Surface Pro X Type Covers are also reportedly getting colour variants similar to the regular Surface Pro Type Covers. With the new colours and accessories, the report suggests that the tech giant plans to promote the Surface Pro X as “ready for mainstream.”

The report also points out that there are no significant design changes in the refreshed Surface Pro X variant.

Microsoft Surface Pro X price in India

The Surface Pro X is currently available in two storage variants in India. The 8GB + 128GB storage option is priced at Rs. 98,990. On the other hand, the 8GB + 256GB storage variant carries a price tag of Rs. 1,43,950.

Microsoft Surface Pro X specifications

The Surface Pro X is touted as the company's thinnest and lightest 2-in-1 device to date. With a thickness of 7.3mm, it weighs only 774 grams. It features a 13-inch display with a resolution of 2,880x1,920 pixels and an aspect ratio of 3:2. It boasts of a battery life of up to 13 hours, with support for fast charging. The compatible Surface Pro X Signature Keyboard and Surface Slim Pen are sold separately.

OnePlus Buds Z May Launch as Affordable TWS Earphones Alongside OnePlus 8T

 OnePlus Buds Z will reportedly be the affordable variant of the OnePlus Buds true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones. Without giving any details, a known tipster has shared a cryptic message on Twitter that apparently tips the name of the alleged unannounced earphones. The moniker seems to be correct because OnePlus generally uses ‘Z' for the cheaper version of a device, for example, OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z earphones are priced quite low as compared to the OnePlus Bullets Wireless and OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2.

Noted tipster Max J shared an image on Twitter that reads Bud Z. This is reportedly the name that OnePlus will use to call its more affordable true wireless stereo earphones. The tipster hasn't shared any details about the alleged earphones, but the moniker itself suggests that these are likely to be the cheaper version of the OnePlus Buds. Apparently called the OnePlus Buds Z, these wireless earbuds could be launched alongside the OnePlus 8T smartphones.

If we see the nomenclature used by OnePlus for its audio products, the Chinese company uses ‘Z' for the cheaper version of a device. For example, OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z earphones are an affordable variant of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 earphones. In fact, they are cheaper than the first generation of OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones.

The first mention of the OnePlus Buds Z was spotted in a code of OxygenOS 11 Open Beta 1 update that was released for the OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 users. The public update mentioned the unannounced earphones, hinting at the launch. It also mentioned that the company is working on 8K 960fps video recording. However, the open beta code does not say much about the unannounced audio device.

OnePlus 7T Getting a Commemorative White Colour Variant

 OnePlus 7T is getting a new white colour option. As the flagship phone completes a year in October, OnePlus 7T has been launched in a fresh colour variant in order to commemorate it. The OnePlus 7T white edition has only been released in China so far, but it can be speculated that the company will soon launch it in other markets as well. There are no other notable changes on the phone apart from the new hue.

OnePlus announced in a community post that the new colour variant was its way of saying farewell to OnePlus 7T. The company shared posters of the white variant of the OnePlus 7T that showed the phone with a white back panel and a silver frame. OnePlus also hinted that this special white edition of the OnePlus 7T will be getting delivered to customers in a “unique way,” although no details were revealed around the same. Releasing a special edition of the OnePlus 7T appears to be a way for the company to mark the curtain call for the smartphone, as it concentrates on the recently released OnePlus 8 series and the affordable OnePlus Nord.

Apart from the white colour and smooth finish on the back panel, similar to the OnePlus 6 Silk White Limited Edition, the phone appears to have the same specifications and features as the other colour variants of the OnePlus 7T. It is currently available in India in Frosted Silver and Glacier Blue.

OnePlus 7T specifications

OnePlus 7T features a 6.55-inch full-HD+ (1080x2400 pixels) Fluid AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC, coupled with the Adreno 640 GPU and up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM. It is offered in 128GB and 256GB storage variants.

Speaking of optics, OnePlus 7T has a triple rear camera setup with a 48-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel secondary sensor, and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. It packs a 3,800mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging.

iOS 14 Bug Resets Default Mail and Browser Settings With Every Reboot

 iOS 14 has been released for all iPhone and iPad users earlier this week, and one of the new features includes the ability to change the default browser and mail app settings. However, a new bug has now been seen that resets Mail and Safari as default mail and browsers apps after reboot. This is affecting both iPad and iPhone users and we can confirm that two iOS 14 handsets owned by Gadgets 360 team members are also experiencing the same issue.

The new Apple software released ahead of the anticipated iPhone 12 line-up this year brings a lot of changes, including the ability to change the default browser to Google Chrome from the default Safari browser that comes bundled in. This can be done by going into Settings > Chrome > Default Browser App. Once this change is made, all links will automatically open on Google Chrome instead of Safari. This is a welcome change for all Chrome fans. However a new bug reportedly resets this default setting every time a user reboots their iPhone or iPad. After the reboot, links again start opening on Safari browser on iPhone and iPads, a change that shouldn't happen in an ideal scenario. This bug was first spotted by 9to5Mac.

Several users on Twitter have also reported of facing the same issue, and two iPhone users on the Gadgets 360 team are also facing this problem. The same thing happens when you switch the default mail app from Mail to Outlook. The default setting works fine till the iPhone or iPad battery dies or an intentional reboot is done. That's when all of those manually tweaked settings are erased, and the device is reset to its default settings. After the reboot, all new mails are redirected to the first-party Mail app once again.

Moto E7 Plus Set to Launch in India on September 23 via Flipkart

 Moto E7 Plus will be launched in India on September 23 at 12pm (noon). The phone was originally unveiled in Brazil last week through an official listing on the company website. Now, it has got a dedicated Flipkart page with the date and time for the unveiling. While the Flipkart page does not reveal the specifications for the phone, the listing in the official website tell us what to expect from the Moto E7 Plus. It will come in two colour options and a single RAM and storage configuration.
Moto E7 Plus price in India (expected)

Motorola has not shared pricing for the Moto E7 Plus in India but Motorola had revealed earlier this week that the phone will retail at EUR 149 (roughly Rs. 13,000) in Europe. India pricing is likely to be on the same line. The phone will be offered in two colour options namely, Navy Blue and Bronze Amber that can also be seen on Flipkart. The Indian sale date for the phone will be revealed on September 23, when the phone is unveiled at 12pm (noon).
Moto E7 Plus specifications

The dual-SIM (Nano) Moto E7 Plus runs on Android 10. It features a 6.5-inch HD+ display with waterdrop-style notch and is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC, paired with Adreno 610 GPU and 4GB of RAM.

In terms of optics, the Moto E7 Plus packs a dual rear camera setup that includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.7 lens and a secondary 2-megapixel depth sensor with an f/2.4 lens. Up front, the Moto E7 Plus features an 8-megapixel selfie shooter with f/2.2 aperture.

The phone comes with 64GB of onboard storage that is expandable via a microSD card. There is a 5,000mAh battery on board the Moto E7 Plus with support for 10W charging. Connectivity options include 4G, Bluetooth v5, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Micro-USB port, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack. It has a rear fingerprint scanner as well. The phone measures 165.2x75.7x9.2mm and weighs 200 grams.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Briefly Listed on Company Website Ahead of Launch

 Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has been briefly spotted on the company's website in Germany. A support page for the smartphone that is now removed revealed the name and an image of the phone. The phone also surfaced on US telecom operator Verizon's website that has further shared the specifications of the phone. Same as Samsung Germany listing, the Verizon listing has also now disappeared, but can still be spotted via Google cache. The handset has already been spotted on the Samsung official site in Philippines.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G has been spotted on the South Korean company's German website. The page that is now removed was first spotted by WinFuture's Roland Quandt and accessed by by CNET. The webpage showed the smartphone from the front, and confirmed the name of the handset. The phone bears the model number SM-G7818/DS and features a hole-punch display with the cutout in the centre like we have already seen in various Samsung flagship smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G phone was also spotted on the Samsung Philippines site in Cloud Navy and Cloud Lavendar colour options 128GB of storage. It was later seen on TENAA as well as NBTC suggesting the phone features a 6.5-inch display, 4,500mAh battery with 15W wired charging support and a 4G variant.

As per the renders of the handset, the smartphone has a flat display and a triple camera setup at the back.

In another Samsung Galaxy S20 FE-related development, Quandt also spotted the phone on Verizon's website. The phone listing has now been removed but is still visible via cache.

As per the cached information, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE will sport a 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED display and feature a 4,500mAh battery. It shows the phone with water and dust resistance certification. The listing also shows the presence of 32-megapixel front shooter, Snapdragon 865 SoC, and Android 10 in the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is likely to launch on September 23

Past reports have suggested that the handset will come with an in-display fingerprint scanner and 6GB of RAM. It is also claimed that the phone will pack a triple camera setup with two 12-megapixel sensors and an 8-megapixel snapper.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is likely to launch on September 23 at a virtual event called “Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan”.

Apple Watch Series 6 With Blood Oxygen Sensor, Affordable Watch SE Launched

Apple Watch Series 6 has been unveiled by Apple at its digital “Time Flies” occasion. The new smartwatch by the Cupertino big appears to be like fairly just like the Apple Watch Series four and Series 5 fashions. However, it does carry new {hardware} that’s touted to ship quicker efficiency, higher water resistance, and enhanced wi-fi connectivity, as per the corporate. The Apple Watch Series 6 can also be the primary within the lineup to measure blood oxygen ranges. Additionally, there are new color choices to draw a bigger viewers.

Another main associated announcement was Apple Fitness+, a health service that syncs along with your watch to indicate your Apple Watch Metrics alongside a rising library of music-based exercise movies. The new Apple Watch lineup will notably additionally come with out AC adapters within the field, as a part of Apple’s 2030 setting pledge.

Apple Watch Series 6 value in India, availability particulars

Apple Watch Series 6 value in India begins at Rs. 40,900 for the GPS variant, whereas the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) choice comes with a value beginning at Rs. 49,900. Both choices can be obtainable for buy in India in 40mm and 44mm sizes. India availability has not but been detailed past “coming soon”.

In the US, the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS) value begins at $399 (roughly Rs. 29,400). The Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) is priced at $499 (roughly Rs. 36,700). It can be obtainable for pre-orders within the US beginning at the moment from Apple.com and thru the Apple Store app, with its availability starting from Friday, September 18 within the US.

Apple Watch Series 6 specs

The Apple Watch Series 6 is available in 40mm and 44mm case choices that each have a ceramic and sapphire crystal again end and are available in aluminium, stainless-steel, titanium, and ceramic supplies. The smartwatch is powered by a brand new Apple S6 SiP (system in bundle), which is claimed to be as much as two instances quicker than the S5 processor obtainable on the Apple Watch Series 5. There can also be a W3 wi-fi chip for seamless connectivity with Apple gadgets. Furthermore, the Series 6 is the primary in its household to return with an ultra-wideband (UWB) know-how and the U1 chip that allow connectivity utilizing radio waves in a brief vary.

Apple has offered an always-on Retina show on the Apple Watch Series 6 that has a refresh price of as much as 60Hz. The show can also be touted to have a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. The 40mm Apple Watch Series 6 comes with a decision of 324×394 pixels, whereas its 44mm variant has 368×448 pixels. It additionally options a greater Always-On Retina show, mentioned to be 2.5 instances brighter than the earlier mannequin outdoor (when the consumer’s wrist is down). It additionally options an always-on altimeter/

In phrases of well being and wellness monitoring, Apple Watch Series 6 now lets customers measure their blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) because of the brand new well being sensor that makes use of infrared mild and photodiodes to detect color of blood below the pores and skin calculate blood oxygen saturation. Users will obtain an alert if their blood oxygen ranges drop under the reference determine between 95 and 100 %. The smartphone additionally retains {the electrical} coronary heart sensor that first debuted on the Series four and is designed to file heartbeat and rhythm. It can detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) and may present an electrocardiogram (ECG) report.

The Apple Watch Series 6 additionally comes with psychological well being monitoring options, to detect panic assaults and excessive ranges of stress. It additionally affords common respiration workout routines to regulate your stress ranges. Further, the smartwatch affords sleep monitoring utilizing a mix of accelerometer information and software program tweaks obtainable by watchOS 7. Apple claims that the Apple Watch Series 6 gives as much as 18 hours of battery life.

Apple Watch Series 6 additionally introduces a brand new Blue color case, along with Gold, Silver, and Space Grey, whereas a brand new stainless-steel Graphite mannequin (other than the prevailing gold) was additionally launched, in addition to a (Product)RED mannequin with matching bands. Titanium end in Natural Titanium and Space Black colors was additionally unveiled obtainable. The firm additionally unveiled its new Solo Loop and Leather Link bands for Apple Watch fashions.
Apple Watch SE value in India, availability

The Apple Watch SE GPS mannequin begins at Rs. 29,900 and Apple Watch SE (GPS + Cellular) begins at Rs. 33,900. India availability has not but been detailed past “coming soon”. In the US, the Apple Watch SE GPS mannequin begins at $279 (roughly Rs. 20,500), whereas the GPS + Cellular mannequin begins at $329 (roughly Rs. 24,200). US pre-orders start at the moment, with availability from September 18.

Apple Watch SE is a extra inexpensive model of the Series 6 with related options
Apple Watch SE specs

Featuring the identical accelerometer, gyroscope, and always-on altimeter because the Apple Watch Series 6, the Apple Watch SE is powered by the Apple S5 SiP, mentioned to make it twice as quick because the Apple Watch Series 3. It comes with the W3 wi-fi chip. It additionally options the identical dimension and backbone Retina (1000 nits peak brightness) show because the Apple Watch Series 6, 30 % bigger than Series 3. It just isn’t an Always-On Retina show nevertheless, just like the Series 6.

Users will get an optical coronary heart price monitor that additionally gives excessive and low coronary heart price notifications, other than an irregular coronary heart rhythm notification. Fall detection, emergency SOS, worldwide emergency calling, and different security options additionally make their strategy to the brand new Apple Watch SE, nevertheless, Blood Oxygen and the ECG apps don’t. There is not any electrical coronary heart sensor onboard both. It is claimed to supply 18 hours of battery life. It can be obtainable in 40mm and 44mm circumstances, with Gold, Silver, and Space Gray aluminium finishes.

Family Setup, Apple Fitness+, and extra

The firm additionally unveiled watchOS 7’s Family Setup, on account of arrive later this yr which permits members of the family to higher take of kids and the aged, by permitting them to make use of an Apple Watch with out an iPhone. Once the watch has been arrange, dad and mom will be capable to management who their youngsters message, get location notifications, and different security options. The standalone Apple Watch in Family Setup requires a mobile Apple Watch Series four or later mannequin. It can be obtainable with choose telecom carriers and restricted nations at launch.

Family Setup can be obtainable for Apple Watch Series four and later mobile fashions

Apple Fitness+ can be obtainable from the tip of the yr, and is priced at $9.99 (roughly Rs. 700) per thirty days, or $79.99 (roughly Rs. 5,900) per thirty days, with a 1-month free trial. It is a part of the Apple One subscription bundle. The firm additionally introduced Three months free Apple Fitness+ with new Apple Watch Series Three or later purchases. The firm can be launching Fitness+ with 10 exercise sorts, together with yoga, biking, dance, treadmill stroll/ run, energy, core, hit, rowing, and aware cooldown exercise sorts. You also can sync the music featured in exercise movies along with your Apple Music account, to listen to them later. It can be launched in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the US initially.

Apple Fitness+ is coming later this yr

The firm additionally unveiled new watch faces that can arrive with watchOS 7, together with GMT, Countdown, Chronograph Pro, Emoji face, Typography, Stripes, and Artist. Other watchOS 7 options embody sleep monitoring, computerized handwashing detection, new exercise sorts, and the power to share watch faces. Apple introduced watchOS 7 can be launched for Apple Series Three and later fashions on September 16.

Amazfit GTR 2, Amazfit GTS 2 to be Launched on September 22; Design Teased

Huami will be launching the Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2 smartwatches on September 22. Amazfit launched an invitation for a similar on Chinese microblogging website Weibo, and the founder and CEO of the corporate, Wang Huang, additionally commented on the similarity between Amazfit and Apple Watches. The upcoming smartwatches are anticipated to have SpO2 and stress detection options. Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 are anticipated to be related to their predecessors however have extra superior options.

Amazfit shared an invitation poster asserting the upcoming launch, and shared images of the soon-to-be-launched Amazfit GTR 2 and Amazfit GTS 2. Amazfit teased that the smartwatches might boast of SpO2 options.

Huami founder Wang Huang commented on the challenges confronted whereas designing Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2. He mentioned that whereas it was troublesome to create a traditional, it was even tougher to surpass one. Huang mentioned that the corporate centered on issues comparable to the trendy look of the watch, the lengthy battery life, and the well being options.

As per a teaser poster shared by Huami on Weibo, The Amazfit GTR 2 has a spherical face and a narrower dial bezel than its predecessor. Amazfit GTR 2 that sports activities a traditional look is predicted to exceed its predecessor on the battery entrance. The Amazfit GTR comes with a 410mAh battery that may final up to 74 days in primary watch temper.

The Huami Amazfit GTS 2, in the meantime, has a square-shaped design, and appears slimmer than its predecessor. The Amazfit GTS has a battery lifetime of 14 days and a 1.65-inch (348×442 pixels) AMOLED show with a curved display.

Wang Huang mentioned that the corporate confronted challenges whereas designing the second era smartwatches. It needed to make the looks of the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 extra beautiful, enhance on the well being capabilities and subtract the consumer’s studying prices whereas including on extra capabilities.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Starts Receiving MIUI 12 Update in India

Redmi Note 8 Pro users in India will now be able to experience the latest software, MIUI 12, as the company has started its rollout. The development has been shared by MIUI India's social media handles. The Redmi Note 8 series including the Pro and the vanilla variant are part of the first wave of phones to start receiving MIUI 12 and the company seems to have delivered on its promise of rolling out the update this month. The MIUI 12 update for the Redmi Note 8 Pro brings all the features that were announced with the new Android-based operating system back in April.

MIUI India shared the development on its Facebook and Twitter handles, letting Redmi Note 8 Pro users know they can now download the update. It comes with version MIUI12 V12.0.1.0 and Redmi Note 8 Pro users can head to Settings > About phone > System updates, and tap on Download to start the updating process. Xiaomi has not shared if it is a phased rollout so, we have reached out to the company for the same and will update this space when we get a response.

Redmi Note 8 Pro users in India will get the new and updated UI experience with MIUI 12 with reworked system-wide animations. The latest OS iteration also brings enhanced privacy protection, better multi-tasking experience, and an app drawer. The Dark Mode has been improved as well and Xiaomi has added an ultra-battery saver option to prolong the phone's battery life. As per the changelog shared by a Twitter user, the update comes with build number V12.0.1.0 QGGINXM and is 641MB in size.

The MIUI 12 update for the Redmi Note 8 Pro follows the Mi 10, Redmi Note 9, and Poco X2, all of which have received the update this month itself. The Redmi Note 8 Pro was launched in India in October last year with MIUI 10, based on Android 9 Pie. It was updated to MIUI 11 in November and now, about nine months later, it gets the latest OS iteration, MIUI 12.

As of now, there is no information on the MIUI 12 update for the Redmi Note 8 but it is said to receive the same this month itself.

Oppo Reno 5 Series Rumoured to Use Unannounced Snapdragon 775G, Snapdragon 860 SoCs

Oppo Reno 5 series seems to be in development and may come with Snapdragon 775G and Snapdragon 860 SoCs, a tipster claimed on the Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo. The series is said to include the Oppo Reno 5, Oppo Reno 5 Pro, and the Oppo Reno 5 Pro+ phones. Notably, Qualcomm has neither announced the Snapdragon 775G nor Snapdragon 860 SoC. Oppo has also not shared any information about the Reno 5 series. The Chinese company recently brought the Oppo Reno 4 Pro to the India.

A tipster who goes by the pseudonym Really Asen Jun (translated) posted on Weibo the names of the rumoured Oppo Reno 5 series phones and the processors that they will come with. The Oppo Reno 5 is said to come with the currently unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 775G SoC while the Oppo Reno 5 Pro and Reno 5 Pro+ are said to come with the unannounced Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 SoC. Beyond this, the Weibo post does not give any more information on the rumoured phones.

From the nomenclature of the processors, the Snapdragon 775G SoC seems to be an upgraded version of the Snapdragon 765G while the Snapdragon 860 seems to be a toned down version of the Snapdragon 865 SoC. Notably, rumours of the Snapdragon 860 surfaced earlier this month when a known Chinese tipster with the pseudonym Digital Chat Station (translated) shared that this processor was mentioned in an Oppo meeting.

Oppo brought the Oppo Reno 4 Pro to India at the end of July. The phone is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC. It comes with a 6.5-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,400 pixels) Super AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate and up to 180Hz touch sampling rate. The phone sports a quad rear camera setup and a single selfie camera housed within the hole-punch cut out. The Oppo Reno 4 Pro has a 4,000mAh battery with 65W SuperVOOC 2.0 fast charging support.

Asus ZenFone 6 Aka Asus 6Z Android 11 Beta Programme Announced, Enrolment Open Till September 4

Asus ZenFone 6 or Asus 6Z, as it is known in India, is now part of the Android 11 beta programme. The development was shared by Asus on its community forum, giving Asus ZenFone 6 users an opportunity to enrol in the programme. It requires phone users to be on the latest Android 10 build version 17.1810.2008.171 that was released last week. This update brought an option to enrol in the beta programme through the Setting menu. Asus ZenFone 6 users have till September 4 to enrol in the programme.

The Asus ZenFone 6 beta tester recruitment programme, as mentioned on Asus's official community forum, states that full-functionality and a bug free experience cannot be assured with the beta build. It states that the purpose for this programme, as with other beta test programmers, is to get feedback from the community and implement it in the final Android 11 release. Notably, after enrolling into the programme, Asus will reveal on September 9 if you have been accepted or not.

To enrol for the beta test programme for Android 11, Asus ZenFone 6 users need to have the latest build with version 17.1810.2008.171. Once this build is installed, head to Settings > System > System update and tap on the Gear icon on the top right. It will then show an option to “Enroll in the Beta Test Program”, followed by the beta test program notice and ASUS privacy policy to which you will have to Agree. Next, sign up with your Asus member account, fill in the application, and tap on Submit.

The Asus ZenFone 6 was launched as the Asus 6Z in India back in June last year. It came with Android 9 Pie and at the time, the company had promised two OS updates. In November of last year, it was updated to Android 10 after a beta programme for the same was announced in July.

Vivo Y20, Vivo Y20i specifications Leaked, Snapdragon 460 SoC and 5,000mAh Battery Tipped

Vivo Y20 and Vivo Y20i alleged specifications have leaked through marketing material, shared by a known tipster on Twitter. The two phones seem to be powered by the Snapdragon 460 SoC and carry mostly the same specifications, except for the RAM, colour options, and charging speed. Recently, a Vivo phone with model number V2027 was spotted on the Indonesian certification database and Geekbench website, also suggesting the Snapdragon 460 SoC. As of now, Vivo has not shared any official information on the Vivo Y20 series.

Vivo Y20, Vivo Y20i specifications (expected)

From the image of the alleged marketing material shared on Twitter by known tipster Mukul Sharma, it can be seen that the Vivo Y20 and Vivo Y20i will run on Funtouch OS 10.5, based on Android 10. The phones are said to feature 6.51-inch Halo FullView displays. The processor, as mentioned earlier, is listed as the Snapdragon 460 and while the Vivo Y20 specifications show 4GB RAM, the Vivo Y20i is listed with 3GB of RAM.

In terms of optics, the two phones are said to come with triple rear camera setups that will include a 13-megapixel primary shooter, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel portrait camera. On the front, the phones are rumoured to come with an 8-megapixel shooter that is housed in a notch.

The Vivo Y20 and the Vivo Y20i are expected to come with 5,000mAh batteries. The charging speed is different on the two phones with the Vivo Y20 supporting 18W fast charging and the Vivo Y20 supporting “Normal Charging.” Both phones are said to come with a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Lastly, while the Vivo Y20 is listed with Obsidian Black and Dawn White colour options, the Vivo Y20i replaces the Obsidian Black with Nebula Blue and retains the Dawn White option.

Vivo is yet to confirm these specifications, so take these with a pinch of salt. Also, there is no mention of a release date or pricing for the two phones.

Moto G9 Launching in India on August 24, Motorola Accidentally Reveals

Moto G9 is coming and the phone will be making its debut in India. Both e-retailer Flipkart and Motorola have been teasing the launch of “something big” for days now and while neither has officially revealed exactly which phone is going to be unveiled, the Lenovo-owned company itself has let it slip that we will see Moto G9 on Monday, August 24. It remains unclear whether Motorola will just unveil Moto G9 or other rumoured Moto G9-series phones like Moto G9 Plus and Moto G9 Play as well.

Motorola India is teasing the fans on Twitter about the new launch and sharing link of a Flipkart teaser page for the phone. This URL that the company is sharing clearly mentions Moto G9 name, thus revealing what we are going to see next week.

Moto G9 launch

Motorola is teasing that it will launch the new phone at 12pm (noon) on August 24; however, the company isn't hosting a virtual launch to unveil the new phone and it will simply announce the phone on social media and Flipkart at 12pm.

 

Moto G9 features, specifications (expected)

Surprisingly, Motorola has been able to keep a tight lid of Moto G9 leaks and rumours and we are yet to hear anything credible about this upcoming phone. If Motorola's previous Moto G series record is any indication, we will likely see a mid-range smartphone.

As per a teaser page on Flipkart, Moto G9 will offer “spectacular performance” and will carry “stunning camera” and a “massive battery.” While most of these adjectives don't really mean anything, considering every smartphone by every company does everything “spectacularly,” the “massive battery” does suggest the presence of at least 5,000mAh battery or more on the phone.

Further, the teaser page mentions the presence of Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC on the phone, the exact model isn't clear though. Flipkart is also teasing that the phone will be able to take good photos in low light.

In other titbits present on the Flipkart page, we see an outline of the phone that indicates the presence of a waterdrop-style notch on the phone as well as a slightly thicker chin. Other bezels are noticeable thinner.

Moto G9 and any other Moto G9 series phone launched on August 24 will succeed the Moto G8 series in the country that includes phones like Moto G8 Plus and Moto G8 Power Lite.

Apple Days Sale: iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone XR Get Price Cuts on Flipkart

iPhone SE (2020) and iPhone XR are currently on sale on Flipkart as part of the Apple Days sale. The sale began today, August 22, and will continue through August 25. The iPhone SE (2020) is going for its cheapest price since it was launched in India in April. The phone brings Apple's flagship processor to a more budget friendly offering. The iPhone XR was launched in September of 2018, while the iPhone 11 made its debut last year in September.

Apple Days sale offers

The Apple Days sale is live on Flipkart and brings three of Apple's popular iPhone modes at discounted prices. The iPhone SE (2020) is listed at Rs. 35,999 for the 64GB storage variant that is lowest pricing yet since its launch in April. The 128GB storage mode is going for Rs. 40,999, while the 256GB variant is listed at Rs. 50,999. The launch price for the three variants in India was Rs. 42,500, Rs. 47,800, and Rs. 58,300, respectively. Flipkart is also offering up to Rs. 13,450 off on exchange and no cost EMI options starting at Rs. 5,667 per month.

The iPhone XR is currently going for Rs. 45,999 for the 64 GB variant on Flipkart and Rs. 51,999 for the 128GB variant as a part of the Apple Days sale. It is available in six colour options, including red, black, blue, coral, white, and yellow. You can avail the same discount as the iPhone SE (2020) with the exchange offer. No cost EMI plans start from Rs. 5,111 per month.

The iPhone 11 can also be purchased for as low as Rs. 63,300 for the 64GB variant with HDFC Bank credit card and debit card Rs. 5,000 instant discount offer. Before the discount, the phone is listed for Rs. 68,300 and you get the same exchange offer as well. No cost EMI plans start from Rs. 7,589 per month. The 128GB variant can be purchased at Rs. 68,600 with the Rs. 5,000 discount and the phone comes in five colour options.

The Apple Days sale on Flipkart will continue through August 25 so if you're interested in getting any of the three phones, this would be the right time.

OnePlus CEO Pete Lau Offers First Look at OxygenOS 11’s Always-on Display Feature

OnePlus CEO and co-founder Pete Lau has teased the upcoming Always-on Display (AOD) feature through a video on Chinese micro-blogging website Weibo. According to the post, OnePlus teamed up with teachers and students with Parsons College in the US to design the “Time” theme for its AOD feature. The video gives a good look at the same and how it has been implemented, along with clips of the design process. AOD will most likely come to select OnePlus phones with OxygenOS 11 that is expected to release over the coming months.

The Weibo post gives us some information on what we can expect from OnePlus' implementation of the AOD feature. It has a “Time” theme that is more of a timeline showing a vertical line straight down the middle of the phone with the current time moving from top to bottom, as the day goes by. The video also shows some interesting features that are part of this theme like gaps in the vertical line whenever the phone is used, with the total number of unlocks on the very top. At the very bottom of the screen, some notification icons can be seen.

Additionally, to minimise the effect on battery life, the number of active pixels at a time has been reduced with this implementation of AOD, according to one of the team members working on this feature.

Lau recently revealed that the final developer preview build of OxygenOS 11 will be released on August 10 that will be followed by the open beta in the near future. OxygenOS 11 will also be based on Android 11. Additionally, it was also recently teased that OnePlus phones will get AOD feature with OxygenOS 11. So, it won't be long until OnePlus users get to experience the AOD feature for the first time, at least for those who opt for the beta version.

Intel Suffers Data Breach, 20GB of Confidential Information Leaked Online

Intel seems to have become a victim of a massive internal data breach, with around 20GB of confidential information reportedly stolen and leaked by an anonymous hacker. The leaked information is said to include various internal documents - some of them marked “confidential” and “restricted secret” and were under non-disclosure agreement (NDA). There is also reportedly some evidence leaking the BIOS code as well as debugging tools developed by the chipmaker. Intel is currently investigating the situation and believes that the leak came from the Intel Resource and Design Center.

Swiss software developer and IT consultant Till Kottmann has released the details about the Intel data breach. Kottmann stated in a series of tweets that they received the information from the anonymous hacker who breached the data earlier this year. Further, the developer tweeted a screenshot providing an overview of the data that has apparently been leaked.

As per that screenshot, the data includes various Intel's roadmaps and confidential documents as well as schematics, tools, and firmware versions of different processors. There are also marketing templates of the company and some NDAs.

“Unless I am misunderstanding my source, I can already tell you that the future parts of this leak will have even juicer and more classified stuff,” Kottmann tweeted while suggesting some additional details around the leak are yet to be revealed.

According to a report by ZDNet, some security researchers who didn't want to be named in the public deemed the leak authentic. Some of the leaked files reportedly included CPU manuals dating back to 2016. Furthermore, the hacker is said to have obtained the data through an unsecured server hosted on the Akamai CDN.

Intel released a media statement saying it was investigating the situation. “The information appears to come from the Intel Resource and Design Center, which hosts information for use by our customers, partners and other external parties who have registered for access. We believe an individual with access downloaded and shared this data,” the company said.

ZDNet notes in its report that as per the screenshot of the conversation between Kottmann and the hacker, the data was not acquired using an account on the Intel Resource and Design Center. However, several documents that were a part of the leak are said to have links to the Resource and Design Center.

Intel isn't alone in the tech world that has suffered a data breach. Imaging giant Canon is also reportedly facing a crisis that has resulted in an outage of its services. Fitness device maker Garmin also recently hit by a cyber-attack that affected its key services in global markets.

Vader Immortal: PS VR Release Date, Price Announced for Star Wars VR Experience

Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series finally has a release date for PlayStation VR: August 25. All three episodes will be available on the same day, for a combined price of $30 (roughly Rs. 2,250). An exact price for India is not known, as Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series has yet to go up for pre-orders on PlayStation Store. The developer ILMxLAB made the announcement during Sony's State of Play broadcast on Thursday, and released a new one-minute Vader Immortal trailer alongside.

Set between Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series takes place on the lava-filled planet of Mustafar that is home to Darth Vader's fortress. You play as a smuggler who's pulled out of hyperspace and tasked by Darth Vader to uncover an ancient mystery. That includes learning to master the Force and wield iconic lightsabers that you can practice in Darth Vader's training dojo.

Written by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) and directed by Ben Snow (Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire) in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series features the voice talents of Scott Lawrence (Star Wars Resistance) as Darth Vader and Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids) as your witty droid sidekick ZO-E3.

It was originally released on the Oculus Quest and won Best VR/AR Game at the 2020 Game Developers' Choice Awards. ILMxLAB worked with Black Shamrock on the PS VR version.

ILMxLAB — the immersive entertainment division of visual effects giant ILM, founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas — has been developing Star Wars VR experiences since 2015.

It partnered with Google on The Force Awakens-related content for Google Cardboard, released Jedi training game Trials on Tatooine in 2016 on HTC Vive, and delivered Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire VR installations in select US and Canada locations. The next thing is Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge, based on the theme park attraction.

“Vader Immortal holds a very special place in our hearts at ILMxLAB and we are very excited to be bringing this to PlayStation VR,” ILMxLAB producer Harvey Whitney said in a prepared statement. “This allows even more fans to experience the first Star Wars story designed exclusively for virtual reality.”