Android

It appears Samsung already has grand plans for the future of the Galaxy F foldable flagship. A report from the South Korean Yonhap News Agency has stated that the tech giant intends to keep releasing new foldable phones each year in selected markets. This will be alongside the usual yearly updates to the Galaxy S series and the Galaxy Note series.

The 5G market is going to explode in 2019 and Huawei plans to be prepared for the event with the upcoming Kirin 990. This would be the company's first 5G-ready SoC manufactured on the 7 nm+ node, so it would also get a 10% performance bump over the newly launched Kirin 980 SoC. First smartphones to integrate the Kirin 990 chip are rumored to hit the market in late 2019.

Only available in a 6 GB/128 GB memory/storage configuration, the Vivo X21s can be acquired in China for around US$360 and sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, a 12 + 5 MP dual camera setup on the back with AI-driven scene detection, as well as a generous 6.41-inch display with a small notch.

A report from TrendForce has been published that forecasts the state of the tablet industry in 2019. Apple is expected to remain the leader in terms of market share, followed by Samsung, Huawei, Amazon, and Lenovo. However, it is the Chinese manufacturer Huawei that is expected to enjoy the most growth in the sector.

11.11 was a major sales event for Chinese and international e-sellers that took place (accordingly enough) on November 11. Xiaomi has reportedly had a marked success for the day, making US$747 million by the end of the promotional period. It was also the most popular brand in various price brackets.

The OnePlus 7 (or whatever it'll be called) will not be the company's first 5G phone keeping in mind the high costs of the technology. However, OnePlus is indeed testing 5G in Qualcomm's labs for incorporation in a possible new premium lineup. This could mean that we might see three smartphones from OnePlus next year.

Although Sony promised to deliver Android Pie on October 26 to quite a few supported Xperia handsets, the update was a bit delayed. Fortunately, the Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact are now finally receiving the Android 9.0 firmware. Obviously, the other supported Xperia devices should get the update in the coming months as well.

Google said that it will now allow developers to keep apps in multiple windows in a resumed state simultaneously in Android 9 Pie. Developers just need to add the required meta-data to their app's manifest to opt-in. Multi-resume is part of a series of developments to make Android more friendly to foldable screens. Although this feature cannot be tested in current devices, OEMs are expected to push out OS updates that will enable developers to test out this functionality for their apps soon.

The first press render of the upcoming mid-range LG Q9 shows a notched display with a rather wide chin, as well as a noticeable forehead. The list of specs and features includes 4 GB of memory, NFC connectivity, 32 GB or 64 GB storage, as well as a Snapdragon 660 processor. Sadly, there is no info about the launch date and pricing yet.

The upcoming foldable Galaxy phone is going to be a dear proposition for a lot of people, according to a report by The Korea Times. The Galaxy F (or X) is estimated to cost around 2 million won or approximately US$1,770. The outlets quotes analysts who say that Samsung will be getting deliveries from parts suppliers this month and the company will be ready for a launch sometime early next year.

A feature in the latest Pokemon game, Pokemon Let's GO, may get you to load up your game of Pokemon GO on your smartphone. Pokemon that trainers have captured in Pokemon GO can be transferred to Pokemon Let's GO on the Switch. There are a few caveats, but almost every pokemon in Pokemon GO can be transferred.

CloudFlare has released a new app that will route your Android device's internet traffic through its local services, effectively changing your phone's DNS. While this may be a boon for privacy advocates that bemoan the lack of DNS server choice in Android 8.1 (and below), there are a few caveats. The biggest is that the app acts as a VPN, preventing users from accessing any other VPN at the same time.

The Black Shark is Xiaomi's take on a gaming phone. It is powered by up-to-date hardware, although it lacks a headphone jack. Xiaomi has announced that it will release this phone into the European market on November 16.

The 6T is the late-year refresh of the OnePlus 6T. XDA-Developers has reported that the company has sold 86% more 6T units compared to those of the 6 on its first day on sale in the United States. This is almost undoubtedly due to OnePlus' new partnership with T-Mobile.

Samsung has officially unveiled the W2019 luxury flip-phone, which will be available for pre-order from November 11. The rather striking device with a clamshell design features a high-end Snapdragon 845 SoC, two 4.2-inch S-AMOLED displays, and it comes in a choice of either Platinum or Rose Gold. It will only be available for pre-order for the Chinese market through the state-owned telecommunications provider China Unicom.

The LG G7 Fit is a sort of 'mini' (albeit mainly in terms of specs) variant of the flagship G7 ThinQ. It was announced at IFA 2018, but was not made available in certain markets on release. However, LG has stated that it will go on sale in more regions from now on.

Remember Samsung's DeX? While that program has so far been a failure, it had led to Linux on DeX, an exciting new feature for select Samsung Galaxy devices. Linux on DeX will allow users to load a full desktop Linux environment within an app container on their Android phone. After connecting their phone to an external monitor, users will be able to enjoy a full desktop Linux experience, all running off their Samsung Galaxy device.

The Pixel 3 series of phones is now linked to overheating, leading to complete shutdown. Numerous users claim that their units do this while charging, whereas one or two assert that it happens while doing tasks such as using the camera. Google has yet to act on this new issue with its latest smartphones.

A new leak detailing Xiaomi's plans for the release of Android Pie has surfaced. According to the sources, devices like the Mi Mix 2 and Mi 8 phones are all set to receive the Pie update before the year runs out, while offerings like the Mi Note 3 will have to wait till Q3 2019 next year.

Huawei will begin sending out the stable Android Pie update to its current-gen flagships tomorrow. The update comes in the guise of an EMUI 9.0 update, the same software on the newly launched Mate 20 phones.

A teardown of the newly launched OnePlus 6T reveals that the company is using an optical in-display fingerprint sensor. The camera that recognizes the fingerprint gets light from the AMOLED display that shines the light only in one direction (towards the camera). Overall, the implementation is well done and this could pave the way for in-display selfie cameras in future phones.

After spending a bit over a month in the Beta stage, Microsoft Launcher 5.0 is finally available for everyone as a stable release. The most important changes are the introduction of an updated Your Feed page and Windows Timeline support, but there are various other goodies in store as well.

The Honor Magic 2 stands out among new smartphones, as it is only the 2nd device in the world to be equipped with a slide-down display for a completely bezel-less screen. It was released in China on November 6, 2018. Now - only 2 days later - it is reported as completely sold out in the country's main outlets.

This year's Samsung Developer's Conference (SDC) has been interesting already. This is mainly due to the Infinity Flex Display that had finally been confirmed during the event's first day. However, other SDC presenters made announcements that indicate that Samsung also has non-foldable displays in the works - with notches.

Korean media outlet ETNews reports that the Exynos 9820 SoC will feature two neural processing units (NPUs) for aiding in AI and deep learning operations. The Exynos 9820 is a 7 nm part made using the new EUV process and is expected to power the next generation of Galaxy phones including the Galaxy S10.

The Fossil Sport smartwatch is now available for order as of today (November 8, 2018). This is the first smartwatch from this brand with the Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset. The Fossil Sport also comes with 6 colors of interchangeable silicone strap.

Xiaomi's upcoming flagship, the Mi 9 could be the first smartphone powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8150 according to supply chain sources. The Mi 9 will also sport the latest Sony IMX586 48 MP sensor for its main camera, up to 10 GB RAM, and an in-display fingerprint sensor making for an impressive spec sheet.

Samsung's new One UI based on Android 9 Pie will be released sometime next year but apparently, that includes only the latest Galaxy S9, S9+, and Note 9 devices. According to a Samsung representative at the ongoing SDC 2018, the Galaxy S8, S8+, and the Note 8 will not be getting the new One UI user experience. However, it is not clear at this stage whether these devices will be getting the Android 9 Pie update separately or not.

Google has announced that it is bringing official support to Android for devices with foldable screens. The news coincides with the launch of Samsung’s new Infinity Flex display that will feature on its forthcoming foldable Galaxy F. ​

Samsung has used its Developer Conference 2018 to introduce its next generation custom Android 9 Pie-based user interface design. Dubbed One UI, the new interface has been designed to simplify the user experience by reducing clutter. ​

New renders of the Nokia 9 seem to confirm Nokia's plans of a penta-lens camera setup. The Nokia 9 is expected to be HMD Global's first PureView-branded Nokia phone, wherein the special emphasis will be on the imaging prowess of the device. The Nokia 9 is also likely to sport a 5.9-inch QHD display and possibly an in-display fingerprint sensor.

At the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 (SDC 2018), Samsung showed off their first working foldable display smartphone. The actual details about the device itself was kept under wraps but Samsung is calling this display 'Infinity Flex'. Samsung said that this foldable AMOLED display is designed to be folded hundreds of thousands of times and is also making an emulator SDK along with guidelines available for developers for testing their apps. Some of the specifications of the foldable display are also now available.

Oppo sub-brand Realme will be first brand to launch MediaTek Helio P70-powered smartphones globally. This was confirmed by Realme CEO Madhav Sheth. The MediaTek Helio P70 octa-core SoC is being built on TSMC's 12nm FinFET process and is designed for enhanced AI functionality. Additionally, Sheth also confirmed on Twitter that upcoming Realme phones will also feature Oppo's Super VOOC fast charging technology.

Today marks the last official update for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, the last phones in Google's storied Nexus line. While the phones haven't seen a software update since getting Android 8.1 Oreo in February 2018, the Nexus handsets have been receiving security updates every month, the last of which was pushed out today.

A new set of leaks from Weibo suggests that the upcoming OPPO R19 will have not 1 but 2 selfie cameras embedded directly into the display. This putative new step in smartphone design would result in a near-100% screen-to-body ratio. The new leak also alleges that the R19 will have 6GB of RAM.

A new report by Kantar World Panel indicates that the number of iPhones sold in Europe in the third quarter of 2018 fell by 1.6%. This may have been driven by increased competition from Xiaomi and Huawei. These brands are also now contending with more established brands such as Samsung in the region.

LG has filed patents with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) for a few smartphone designs sporting borderless screens and in-display front cameras. The patents seem to show that LG could be using a flexible display with either a slanted screen or a straight screen with rounded corners sporting an oval hole at the top for housing the selfie camera (or two) thus yielding a virtually 100% borderless screen with no notch.

New images and a video of another prototype of the upcoming Asus ZenFone 6 have leaked online. These images confirm the presence of a right side lateral notch that was first revealed in earlier leaks. There are some differences between the current leaks and the images leaked earlier indicating that we could be looking at multiple ZenFone 6 variants. That said, MWC 2019 is still some time away so expect further changes in design and software features before launch.

Google’s first Chrome OS tablet is now up for pre-order following its unveiling early last month. The new Pixel Slate follows is the company’s latest attempt to crack the tablet computing market dominated by Apple’s iPad.

OPPO and Pokemon have teamed up so that the OEM can offer its newest power bank with a trademark yellow-and-black Pikachu theme. Appropriately enough, this device has the next generation of OPPO's impressively fast VOOC charging system.

Powered by an unspecified processor — most likely a low-end MediaTek chip — the 10.1-inch NOOK Tablet 10.1 comes with 32 GB of internal storage space and promises more than 8 hours of autonomy. Those interested will find this US$129.99 slate in Barnes & Noble stores starting on Wednesday, November 14.

Design consultancy Special Projects has unveiled a new user interface approach to multitasking that uses AR technology. Seeking to emulate a physical real world work flow, the interface allows users to switch naturally between applications and move between tasks on a smartphone as though they were working naturally on multiple tasks at a desk.

A recent posting on Geekbench's benchmark site shows a Razer Phone 2 running Android 9.0 Pie. This could mean that Razer is testing Android 9 on their latest handset and may be releasing an update soon. This would put the Razer Phone 2 in an elite class, as only a handful of other phones are running Android 9.

Samsung Mobile has uploaded an image of a folding Samsung logo to its official Facebook page hinting at some possible news this week about the much awaited foldable smartphone. This could be an indication of Samsung announcing new details about the foldable Galaxy, or Galaxy X as we know it, at the upcoming Samsung Developer Conference in San Francisco. Details such as a new UI that Samsung has exclusively developed for the foldable Galaxy are expected to be revealed at this event.

Some Huawei Mate 20 Pro owners have been complaining about the display of their brand-new flagship device. A green hue has been seen on faulty handsets, to the extent that it becomes quite visible under certain conditions. The cause of the verdant tint has yet to be fully explained; affected consumers have been offered replacements in some countries.

The OnePlus 6T will soon be available in a Thunder Purple variant as spotted by a leakster on the OnePlus India support page. The new variant was briefly listed on Amazon Germany as well before it was taken down. The Thunder Purple variant will have a gradient color with various shades and will likely sport a glass back. It is not known when this variant would be made official but the current leaks seem to suggest a possible launch by the end of this month.