The upcoming Apple iPhone 9, the successor to the iPhone SE from 2016, has been rumored for a long time now, and it looks like we’re finally getting very close to its official introduction. A few weeks ago a report talked about the phone being delayed indefinitely because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but apparently Apple may have had a change of heart.
According to a new report, the company held an internal meeting to discuss how to proceed, and the conclusion of said meeting is that the iPhone 9 will get official on April 15. It will then become available on April 22. It’s unclear if the company plans to hold an online event for the launch, or will simply issue a press release and be done with it.
The iPhone 9 will allegedly start at $349 or $399, thus being an intriguing new entry into the mid-range price wars. Design-wise, expect a blast from the past, with huge screen bezels and a physical, capacitive Touch ID sensor on the front, below the display (but not under it, mind you).
As far as the release timeframe goes, since we’re still globally dealing with a pandemic, it pretty much goes without saying that Apple’s plans might change yet again. Hopefully they don’t, and then perhaps Google will also choose to announce the Pixel 4a soon so it can battle it out with the iPhone 9 for the hearts and minds of consumers who aren’t willing to pay twice or thrice as much for a smartphone, especially given the situation right now.
The OnePlus 8 Pro will have an exclusive color, Ultramarine Blue, which you can see in these official images that leaked a couple of weeks before the phone’s announcement.
Like the vanilla OnePlus 8, the Pro will be available in the new Glacial Green hue as well as a more traditional Onyx Black. The Ultramarine version isn’t a gradient like the Interstellar Glow of the non-Pro model, however.
OnePlus 8 Pro in Ultramarine Blue
Leakster Roland Quandt also has some more details to share. As you can see in the images, the display has slightly curvier sides (the vanilla phone is mostly flat). This will be a 6.78″ AMOLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and and will be able to push out 1,300nits at max brightness.
Quandt confirms the dual 48MP setup on the back with a Sony IMX689 sensor in the main camera (1/1.43″ sensor, 1.12µm pixels) and an IMX586 in the ultra wide cam (1/2.0″, 0.8µm). There will also be an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom and a 5MP sensor whose job will be to capture additional color data.
OnePlus 8 Pro in Glacial Green
OnePlus already confirmed the 120Hz spec and that the 8-series phones will be powered by a Snapdragon 865 chipset with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage, plus a 5G modem, of course. CEO Pete Lau said that the phones will be under $1,000.
OnePlus 8 Pro in Onyx Black
By the way, the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro will get Cyan Sandstone cases, which will look great with the Glacial Green paint job. The Pro is also getting Black Sandstone and Karbon (black again), but nothing to go with the Ultramarine Blue.
Xiaomi’s video and 5G-forward flagship smartphone series debuts alongside five new ecosystem products for global markets
Global technology leader Xiaomi today launched the latest devices in its popular Mi smartphone lineup – Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, and Mi 10 Lite 5G – alongside five new ecosystem products. For the first time ever, each device in Xiaomi’s new flagship line is 5G-ready out of the box, enabling the next generation in mobile connectivity. The new ecosystem products slated for Xiaomi’s global markets include Mi AIoT Router AX3600 , Mi AIoT Router AC2350, Mi TV 4S 65”, Mi Air Purifier 3H, and Mi True Wireless Earphones 2.
Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10: Boasting Xiaomi’s most compelling all-round smartphone experience
Creators’ Choice: quad camera setup with ultra-clear 108MP sensor captures the ultimate photo and video content
Mi 10 Pro brings photography and videography to the forefront with its impressive hardware setup and software features. Packed with an impressive 108MP primary sensor, Mi 10 Pro offers one of the biggest smartphone sensors currently on the market.
In addition to shooting ultra-clear 108MP shots, users can document scenes in full perspective, thanks to Mi 10 Pro’s 20MP ultra wide-angle lens. The device includes two dedicated telephoto lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths: users can snap gorgeous portraits at 2x zoom, or faraway subjects up to 50x zoom with the OIS-stabilized ultra long-range zoom lens.
The main camera’s laser autofocus module, AI 2.0, Night mode 2.0, and dual-flash join forces to capture unrivaled details during daytime photography and brighter, clearer photos at night. Mi 10 Pro offers the world’s most compelling photography experience with a DxOMark score of 124, ranking #1 globally at launch.
When it comes to videography, Mi 10 Pro goes all in. Achieving a DxOMark video score of 104, Mi 10 Pro is the top-ranked device for videography. The device offers the industry-leading UHD 8K 30fps video recording feature to capture every moment in detail, while its unique video modes – including Portrait video, Color focus, ShootSteady, Vlog, and slow motion – allow users to easily create movie-grade content. Mi 10 Pro also offers a Pro mode with additional software options for those striving for a more professional video quality.
Mi 10 Pro
World’s best smartphone audio experience with symmetrical dual speakers
Leveraging best-in-class audio hardware, both Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 sport a symmetrical dual speaker system on both the top and bottom. The setup involves two 1216 super-linear speakers and a 1.2cc/1.0cc-equivalent speaker chamber with up to 0.65mm/0.5mm speaker amplitude, respectively. Both devices have been specially tuned at every discrete volume level which assists in producing superior sound fidelity. These features come together to create an extraordinary and immersive smartphone audio experience, with Mi 10 Pro earning a DxOMark Audio score of 76, ranking #1 globally.
Introducing Xiaomi’s most elegant smartphone design with unmatched TrueColor Display
Beauty and functionality join forces to form Xiaomi’s most elegant smartphone design ever. Both Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 sport a 3D curved front and back with smooth contoured edges and slim side bezels to enable the Mi series’ most comfortable in-hand feel yet. To ensure durability, both devices are outfitted with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on both the front and back. Mi 10 Pro flaunts an anti-glare finish and frosted glass rear panel, while Mi 10 offers a gorgeous glossy back. Moreover, the devices’ specially designed discrete in-display front camera minimizes bezels and allows for more display area.
Featuring a dazzling 6.67” curved AMOLED edge-to-edge DotDisplay with TrueColor technology, Mi 10 Pro offers unparalleled color accuracy for serious creatives and casual consumers alike with a JNCD <0.55 and △E <1.1. This new generation display technology yields higher brightness (up to 1200nit maximum brightness) and better power efficiency over its predecessor, while a 90Hz SmoothSync display provides fast and fluid screen response for a stutter-free experience.
All in all, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 deliver Xiaomi’s most pleasant display ever. Dual brightness sensors offer accurate brightness detection, while various brightness modes ensure ultimate eye comfort. In fact, both devices are TÜV Rheinland low blue-light certified, and verified by HDR10+ for their vivid visual experience.
Mi 10
Leading performance and speed with Snapdragon™ 865 + LPDDR5 + UFS 3.0
Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 feature the latest 5G-enabled flagship Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform. Enhancing CPU, GPU, AI performance and the overall user experience, the 7nm chipset features a maximum clock speed of 2.84GHz with the new Kyro™ 585 based on the ARM Cortex-A77 architecture, and also touts improvements in power-efficiency. The powerful chipset is accompanied by ultra high-speed RAM and storage combinations – LPDDR5 and UFS3.0, offering exceptional write-read data and powerful computing capabilities.
Moreover, the devices boast LiquidCool 2.0 – an advanced cooling system consisting of a large vapor chamber, as well as multi-layer graphite and graphene stacks that dissipates heat generated during long-term use to ensure peak performance. This robust overall hardware setup earned Mi 10 Pro a compelling AnTuTu benchmark score of 602,660.
Catering to the increasing demand for high speed content consumption in the 5G era, Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 not only offer 5G network connection, but also support 5G MultiLink for simultaneous connection to three networks (2.4G/5G Wi-Fi and mobile data) at once for quick connection switching. Additionally, both devices feature Wi-Fi 6 support, the most advanced Wi-Fi standard currently available. This significantly increases the upload and download speed, while reducing network congestion when connected to multiple devices.
Wireless charging-enabled high capacity batteries team up with ultra-realistic haptic feedback systems for the ultimate smartphone experience
Under the hood, Mi 10 Pro packs an ultra-high-capacity 4500mAh battery that enables a triple fast charging experience with 50W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. Mi 10 sports a 4,780mAh battery and offers 30W wired and wireless charging, as well as reverse wireless charging.1
Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10’s ultra-realistic vibration system delivers crisper, more realistic haptic feedback than ever before with 150 different vibration options. These updated haptics improve acceleration strength and consistency, and provide sophisticated vibration for the user.
Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 also offer multifunctional NFC and IR blaster for daily access of swift payment transactions and quick remote control of home appliances.
Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865 5G Mobile Platform, up to 2.84GHz clock speed
Storage
LPDDR5 + UFS 3.0
Cooling System
LiquidCool 2.0 – Vapor Chamber + multi-layer graphite + graphene with up to 10.5°C CPU temperature reduction2
Rear Camera
108MP main lens with 1/1.33” sensor, 8P, 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixels with OIS 20MP ultra wide-angle lens, 117° FOV 12MP telephoto portrait lens with dual PD 8MP telephoto lens with 10x hybrid zoom and OIS
108MP main lens with 1/1.33” sensor, 7P, 1.6μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel with OIS 13MP ultra wide-angle lens, 123° FOV 2MP depth sensor lens, 1.75μm 2MP macro lens
Front Camera
20MP discrete in-display camera
Connection
Multifunctional NFC, IR blaster
Security
Ultra-thin in-screen fingerprint sensor
Battery & Charging1
4,500mAh (typ) high-capacity battery 50W wired fast charge (45 mins to 100%2) 30W wireless fast charge Reverse wireless charging 65W in-box charger
4,780mAh (typ) high-capacity battery 30W wired fast charge (56 mins to 100%2) 30W wireless fast charge Reverse wireless charging 30W in-box charger
Audio
Dual 1216 linear speakers, symmetrical speakers system 1.2cc sound chamber Hi-Res Audio certification
Dual 1216 linear speakers, symmetrical speakers system 1.0cc sound chamber Hi-Res Audio certification
Motor
X-axis linear vibration motor
System
MIUI 11 based on Android 10
Storage Variants
8GB+256GB
8GB+128GB 8GB+256GB
Mi 10 Pro is available in two colors, Alpine White and Solstice Grey, in 8GB+256GB at €999. Meanwhile, Mi 10 has two variants 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB, in Twilight Grey and Coral Green, starting at €799 and €899 respectively.
***
Introducing 5G to everyone – the brand-new Mi 10 Lite 5G
In an effort to make the endless possibilities of 5G accessible to every user, Xiaomi unveiled an additional member to the Mi 10 family during today’s launch – Mi 10 Lite 5G.
Inheriting the flagship screen and camera offerings from the Mi 10 series, Mi 10 Lite 5G features a 48MP AI quad-camera setting and a 6.57’’ AMOLED TrueColor display with optimized color accuracy. Paired with incredible photography and videography features, such as Night mode 2.0, AI Dynamic Skyscaping, and Vlog mode, Mi 10 Lite 5G allows users to create stunning static and video content with top-notch visual performance.
Featuring a Qualcomm®️ Snapdragon™ 765G and an integrated X52 modem, Mi 10 Lite 5G offers blazing 5G connectivity to power even the most hyper-connected lifestyle. With its Kyro™ 475 chip processor, stellar RAM and storage combo, LPDDR4X and UFS 2.1, Mi 10 Lite 5G ensures a powerful computing performance and efficient operating system.
Mi 10 Lite 5G packs a 4,160mAh large battery and up to 20W fast charge for all-day use, as well as QC3.5 and FFC support.
Mi 10 Lite 5G will be available for purchase starting at €349 in May.
***
Advanced technology sets new ecosystem devices apart: Mi AIoT Router AX3600 , Mi AIoT Router AC2350, Mi TV, Mi Air Purifier 3H and Mi True Wireless Earphones 2
Mi AIoT Router AX3600: Leading the next generation of network speed, Mi AIoT Router AX3600 is Xiaomi’s first Wi-Fi 6 enabled router, offering the latest wireless connectivity standards. It sports a dedicated AIoT antenna and Wi-Fi chip, allowing for automatic discovery of IOT devices and easy pairing with one-click configuration. It also supports connecting up to 248 devices simultaneously. Mi AIoT Router AX3600 will be available soon for €119.99.
Mi AIoT Router AC2350: Mi AIoT Router AC2350 is the Wi-Fi 5 variant of Mi AIoT Router AX3600 and supports up to 128 devices. Featuring Wi-Fi speed up to 2183Mbps, the device’s seven external power amplifiers ensures great coverage and stable connection. Mi AIoT Router AX2350 will be available soon for €49.99.
Aside from the two routers, Xiaomi also introduced an array of ecosystem products armed with advanced technology that sets them apart from other products on the market. These offerings include:
Mi TV 4S 65’’: Boasting a truly cinematic experience, Mi TV 4S 65’’ offers best-in-class picture quality with 4K and HDR10+, along with superior sound quality via DTS-HD and Dolby Audio support. Featuring a variety of content providers including Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and more, viewers will enjoy an extensive library of entertainment options. Additional apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store for even more content options, and users can take advantage of convenient features such as Chromecast and Google Assistant.
Priced at €549, Mi TV 4S 65’’ will be available for purchase this June at Authorized Mi Stores.
Mi Air Purifier 3H: Featuring a significantly improved purification performance, the newly released Mi Air Purifier 3H offers an upgraded CADR of 380m2 which efficiently covers up to 45m2 of space. It also sports a true HEPA filter that eliminates 99.97% of micro-particles and an OLED touch display that shows real-time air quality and allows users to manually adjust settings. Mi Air Purifier 3H can also be controlled via the Mi Home App and is compatible with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Mi Air Purifier 3H will be available soon, starting at €179.99.
Mi True Wireless Earphones 2: The brand new Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 offer a premium sound experience with amplified bass and noise cancellation technology (ENC). Boasting Bluetooth 5.0, the new and improved earphones allow for a faster and more stabilized signal transmission. Users will enjoy the simplified experience with a pop-up pairing function3, automatic detection for device in/off ear status, and a quick double-tap function to access music or voice assistant.
Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 will be available starting at €79.99.
Product availability may vary between markets. For more details, visit www.mi.com.
1 Wired and wireless charging compatibility and actual charging speed may vary depending on the charger. 2 Data sourced from Xiaomi labs. 3 Only specific Xiaomi smartphone models on up-to-date MIUI versions support this feature. Additional device support will be available via OTA.
Qualcomm Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Android, YouTube, Google Play and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today announced the HUAWEI P40 Pro+, HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40, the new HUAWEI P40 Series flagship smartphones featuring cutting-edge designs with ground-breaking camera innovations that radically expand mobile photography and video capture possibilities.
The HUAWEI P40 Series continues the series’ heritage of imaging excellence. The large 1/1.28-inch sensor has a binned pixel size measuring 2.44 μm to massively boost light intake for enhanced low-light performance, while a new periscope design realises 10x true optical zoom. The HUAWEI P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G and supports high-speed 5G and Wi-Fi 6 Plus. The advanced hardware is embedded in a beautiful and compact enclosure featuring the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display that delivers outstanding fluidity and responsiveness.
Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer BG, “The HUAWEI P Series has always been about innovative aesthetics and making premium imaging hardware accessible, representing the very best of industrial design and technology. With an outstanding sensor, camera systems that we co-engineered with Leica, powerful chipset and HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine, the HUAWEI P40 Series exemplifies our focus and offers an all-day Super Definition experience to help consumers realise their creative vision.”
Unprecedented design
The HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ are equipped with the HUAWEI Quad-curve Overflow Display. Inspired by the art of motion, the display takes on a curved edge on all four sides, creating a shape that is reminiscent of water on the cusp of overflowing from the rim of a filled cup. The super narrow bezels and streamlined round corners ensure an ergonomic hold and a near borderless look, while an enhanced in-screen fingerprint reader offers 30 percent faster biometric authentication.
Available in three glossy glass finishes – Ice White, Deep Sea Blue and Black – and two innovative refractive matte glass finishes – Blush Gold and Silver Frost, the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 exude classical elegance from every angle. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ features an exquisite nano-tech ceramic back panel that is kilned and polished to ensure it stands the test of time with incredible durability and timeless style. This unique design comes in two iconic colours: Ceramic White and Ceramic Black.
All-day Super Definition photography
Embedded in the HUAWEI P40 Series is the advanced Ultra Vision Leica camera system, available in triple-camera, quad-camera and penta-camera configurations. The HUAWEI P40 delivers outstanding photographic results with ultra wide-angle, wide-angle and telephoto lenses. The HUAWEI P40 Pro features an evolution of the Leica Quad Camera with a more powerful Ultra Wide Cine Camera and ToF Camera alongside 50x SuperSensing Zoom. The HUAWEI P40 Pro+ lets consumers see the unprecedented with the SuperZoom Array, which supports 10x true optical zoom and 100x maximum digital zoom.
The HUAWEI Ultra Vision Sensor included in the full HUAWEI P40 Series is Huawei’s largest CMOS sensor to date. Measuring 1/1.28 inches diagonally, it supports pixel binning to achieve a pixel size of 2.44 μm and Full Pixel Octa PD AutoFocus for high-speed focus at any time of day, while the HUAWEI XD Fusion Engine integrates and processes data from multiple cameras to generate a comprehensive improvement in picture quality.
HUAWEI P40 Pro brings faraway subjects up close with 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom and 50x maximum digital zoom. For the first time ever, the 5x Optical Telephoto Camera in the HUAWEI P40 Pro includes a RYYB colour filter array to boost light intake and improve quality of zoomed shots. HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a 100x SuperZoom Array with a new periscope design that reflects light five times, extending the light path by 178 percent to support 10x true optical zoom. The optically stabilised Ultra Vision Wide Camera and SuperZoom Array work in tandem with AI to realise Triple OIS + AIS for vastly improved photo and video stabilisation.
Skin tone and texture are faithfully reproduced by a new Multi-spectrum Colour Temperature Sensor and AI AWB algorithm that boost colour accuracy by 45 percent. Deep learning algorithms provide real-time portrait optimisations that enhance lighting and detail. HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ have a 32 MP AF Camera and IR Depth Camera that support autofocus and Bokeh reproduction to deliver the same outstanding portrait effects that are signature to Huawei devices, as well as IR Face Unlock for device unlock even in low light conditions. HUAWEI P40 Series also introduces HUAWEI Golden Snap, which includes AI Best Moment, a new smart photography feature that chooses the best frames from a Moving Picture. AI Remove Passerby and AI Remove Reflection can do away with unwanted subjects and glare from the frame, allowing users to easily enhance their images after the fact.
A powerful pocket-sized video camera
The 40 MP Ultra Wide Cine Camera in HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+ has a focal length that is equivalent to 18 mm and a 1/1.54-inch sensor supporting the 3:2 aspect ratio. SedecimPixel Fusion Technology is built into this camera to support 16-in-1 pixel binning, producing super pixels that measure 4.48 μm to boost light sensitivity up to ISO51200 and enable 7680 fps Ultra Slow-Motion video capture.
HUAWEI P40 Series supports real-time Bokeh effects for videos. Similar to the results of a wide aperture lens, this feature adds progressive Bokeh to help highlight the main subject of the footage. The telephoto camera can capture high quality zoom footage as well as 4K time-lapse videos. Directional Audio Zoom, available on HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+, allows users to zoom in on an audio source and amplify its sound at the same time.
An all-connected 5G powerhouse
The HUAWEI P40 Series is powered by Kirin 990 5G to deliver integrated 5G connectivity with the most comprehensive 5G band support, robust AI performance and power efficiency. Display responsiveness and gaming experience are taken to the next level by the upgraded graphics rendering engine making the most of the 90 Hz panel on the HUAWEI P40 Pro and HUAWEI P40 Pro+. The 160 MHz Wi-Fi 6 Plus technology featured in the full line-up offers high-speed connectivity with support for 2400 Mbps peak theoretical transmission speed. The industry-leading 40 W Wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge is available on the HUAWEI P40 Pro+ for fast and convenient charging. The chipset is given the thermal headroom to deliver exceptional performance by the advanced cooling systems, including the bespoke 4-in-1 SuperCool system in the HUAWEI P40 Pro+.
The EMUI 10.1 operating system introduces a host of new features that enable a richer, more seamless AI life. HUAWEI MeeTime1 supports 1080 p Full HD video call on Huawei smartphones, tablets and the HUAWEI Vision TV and delivers clear picture quality even in low light or weak signal conditions. Users can also share their phone screen with the other party during the video call and mark-up notes to quickly share thoughts.
Huawei Share facilitates high-speed file transfer between the smartphone and other devices such as tablets and PCs. With Huawei Share on the HUAWEI P40 Series, consumers can stream music to a smart speaker, initiate screen projection and connect to Wi-Fi by tapping the device2 they want to connect to with their phone. New functionality added to the Multi-screen Collaboration allows users to easily answer video or voice calls hands-free directly through the PC, and open files and hyperlinks on the smartphone with native PC applications for enhanced productivity.
Working in close collaboration with global developers, Huawei offers a wide range of global and local apps on AppGallery, Huawei’s official app marketplace. Users can also enjoy a rich library of quality entertainment media on HUAWEI Video, HUAWEI Music and HUAWEI Reader, with new additions from top content providers being added on a continuous basis.
Alongside the HUAWEI P40 Series, Huawei also launched the HUAWEI WATCH GT 2e, HUAWEI Sound X and the latest Spring/Summer 2020 HUAWEI X GENTLE MONSTER Eyewear, further enriching its product portfolio of all-scenario products that are designed to help consumers live a better digital life.
Apple has acknowledged issues with the Personal Hotspot feature on iPhone and iPad within iOS 13, and it’s thought the next software update may be able to fix this problem.
Apple confirmed iOS 13.4 will be landing on Tuesday, March 24, and it’s set to be a fairly big update to your iPhone. Your iPad will also get an update to iPadOS 13.4, if it’s compatible.
Many users have reported the Personal Hotspot feature is temperamental in the iOS 13 update, with it disconnecting regularly. An easy fix is to turn the feature off and on again, but that doesn’t solve the problem for good.
Now, an internal document from Apple has been sent to the company’s Authorized Service Providers (and it was found by MacRumors).
The note says that Apple is aware of the disconnect issue for the Personal Hotspot feature. It offers a variety of fixes while the company works on an official fix.
There’s no confirmation that this will be tackled within iOS 13.4, but it being acknowledged by Apple ahead of a new software update may mean that the upgrade will come with a big fix.
While that’s uncertain, the latest iOS 13.4 update looks set to bring an option to unlock your NFC-compatible car with your iPhone, along with new Memoji stickers, iCloud folder sharing, and even combined app purchases across iPhone and Mac.
iPadOS is arguably getting even bigger updates, with mouse and trackpad support set to land within the tablet software.
A few days ago HMD announced that its first 5G phone will be used in the next Bond movie ‘No Time To Die’ and today we get a quick glimpse of that phone thanks to a newly published trailer.
Seen below is a screengrab from the upcoming second trailer for ‘No Time To Die’ in which Agent 007 is talking on the yet-to-be announced Nokia smartphone.
This is very likely the Nokia 8.2 5G, which will become official on March 19 in London. The movie is also expected to feature the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 3310 4G, when it premieres in November.
The Nokia 8.2 5G will be powered by a Snapdragon 765G and will have a triple camera on the rear along with a fingerprint scanner.
As Huawei confirmed its plans to introduce the P40 flagship series on March 26, DigitalTrends managed to get a hold of a prototype unit of the P40 giving us our first look at the next-gen Huawei flagship. It’s important to note that they weren’t allowed to play with the phone’s software and cameras nor show the screen or confirm any of the key specs.
Starting off with the design, the P40 is said to come with the same dimensions as the outgoing P30 Pro but with some added thickness. It also comes with a curved glass body that sits more comfortably in the hand thanks to its rounded corners and sports a highly reflective glossy finish. The phone will feature a curved display but not as pronounced as the waterfall offering on the Mate 30 Pro as well as physical volume and power buttons.
The back features a with triple camera setup which includes a periscope, ultrawide shooter and an alleged 52MP main camera. We don’t get any new info here but the hands-on notes the sensors appear larger than on the P30 Pro. There’s also a ToF sensor on the side for depth mapping alongside the flash and microphone. The bottom features a Type-C port and speaker grille but no headphones jack.
The highly anticipated Redmi Note 9 series is confirmed to go official next week on March 12. We actually got several hints from the official Redmi India Twitter account as well as Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain.
Brace yourselves for the biggest #Redmi product launch of 2020! 🤩#ProCamerasMaxPerformance is going to be nothing like you have ever seen before! A new #RedmiNote is coming on 12th March! 😎
From the official teasers, we can see the Redmi Note 9 series will sport a four-camera array on the back housed in a square cutout. An Amazon placeholder also touts the newest Redmi Notes will offer premium design, immersive gaming experience and improved fast charging capabilities.
In a separate teaser post, Manu Kumar Jain showed out the phone laying on its screen, revealing the lower half of its back as well as its Type-C port, headphone jack and speaker grille. That’s all we have for now but it won’t be long before more leaks and teasers surface leading to next week’s big event.
According to a new report from TechCrunch, Facebook is planning an extensive redesign to its Messenger application on iOS. The goal is to simplify the experience of the app, with a focus on stories and friends, which comes at the cost of certain other features.
Facebook’s strategy with Messenger a few years ago was to push consumers towards communicating with brands and businesses through chat bots. The goal was to entice users to do things like shopping directly in Messenger, but now, Facebook is shifting that strategy.
The new Messenger design removes the “Discover” tab from the app altogether. Discover served as a home for those chat bots along with easy access to brands, games, and other businesses. The removal of games from Messenger has been in the works since last summer, with Facebook migrating to a broader Facebook Gaming platform.
Some of these features will still be accessible via Messenger, but much more hidden, TechCrunch reports:
Chat bots, businesses and games are being hidden, but not completely banished from Messenger. They’ll still be accessible if users purposefully seek them through the Messenger search bar, Pages and ads on Facebook, buttons to start conversations on businesses’ websites, and m.me URL that create QR codes which open to business accounts in Messenger. The spokesperson diplomatically claimed that businesses are still an important part of Messenger.
The new Messenger interface features a two-tabbed design at the bottom: one tab for “People” and another tab for “Chats.” The Chats tab will show all of your active Messenger threads, but the “People” tab will show a list of currently active friends, as well as Stories. The full-screen emphasis on Stories comes as Facebook continues to ramp up its efforts against Snapchat. The Stories format has proven popular on Instagram, and Facebook seemingly wants to replicate that success in Messenger.
Facebook confirmed that it is rolling out the redesign, saying that some users have already received the update and others will see it soon:
When we asked Messenger about the changes, a spokesperson confirmed that this redesign will soon start rolling out, removing Discover and splitting the People tab. Some users already have the update, and more will likely get it this week.
What do you think of this new interface? Do you prefer it over the old design? Let us know down in the comments.
