Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite Android Pie Beta testing to start soon as the company opens registrations

Xiaomi launched the second-generation Android One devices – Mi A2 and Mi A2 Lite back in July at an event in Spain. At the event, Xiaomi and Google promised Android version updates along with monthly security patch updates as the device was launched under the Android One program. Going by the history of first gen of Android One device Mi A1, Xiaomi has managed to provide monthly security patch updates, but it has struggled to deliver on the promise of keeping the Android version up to date as Android Oreo 8.1 update for Mi A1 was delayed and was released in June 2018. Xiaomi has a tradition of involving users in Beta testing for their devices and in case you own a Mi A2 Lite and want to test the Android Pie update before everyone else, there is a good news for you. Xiaomi has recently posted recruitment for Beta testers for Mi A2 Lite on MIUI Forum, you can apply here to be a part of the Beta testing team in case you’re interested. The recruitment is open only for Mi A2 Lite variant as the company had already selected Beta testers for Mi A2 back in August. Though the recruitment is open to all users, active ...

Xiaomi Mi A2 Android 9.0 Pie stable update starts rolling out in India

Xiaomi launched the second-generation Android One device – Mi A2 in India back in August running Android 8.1 (Oreo). At the event, Xiaomi and Google promised Android version updates along with monthly security patch updates as the device was launched under the Android One program. Today the company has rolled out stable Android 9.0 (Pie) update for the smartphone, as it had promised, after few months of beta testing. Android P includes Adaptive Battery that uses machine learning to prioritize system resources for the apps, App Actions that helps you raise the visibility of your app and help drive engagement using machine learning, and Slices are a new way to surface rich, templated content in places like Google Search and Assistant. Xiaomi Mi A2 Android Pie update is 1.06GB in size and also includes Android security patch for November 5, 2018. According to reports, camera2 API has not been enabled with the update. We will be updating the download link soon. Source

Xiaomi Redmi 5A MIUI 10 Stable OTA update starts rolling out in India [Download link]

Xiaomi launched the Redmi 5A a year ago running MIUI 9 based on Android 7.1 Nougat. As per an official announcement, Redmi 5A is eligible for Android Oreo update, the device has already been updated to Oreo with MIUI China Beta ROM update last week. MIUI Global Beta ROM for Redmi 5A is not released for past couple of weeks and we are expecting Android Oreo based MIUI Global Beta ROM to be released soon. The company started rolling out MIUI 10 Stable for Redmi Note 4 couple of days ago, and today it has started rolling out MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM for Redmi 5A. [gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="268786,268787,268788"] The new update comes as MIUI 10.1.1.0.NCKMIFI and is 271 MB in size but it is based on Android 7.1 (Nougat). Xiaomi has not updated the Android security patch on Redmi 5A and it runs on July, 2018 security patch. MIUI 10 brings major changes like Full-screen gestures, Redesigned Notification Panel, Redesigned Volume Sliders, Improved multitasking management, natural sound system, and a lot more, for more details on MIUI 10 refer to this post. You can download the recovery ROM here and flash it using the recovery method or download the fastboot ROM here and flash it using the fastboot method. Redmi 5A was ...

Apple said to be hiring Chip designers in San Diego for developing its own modem

Apple is said to be aggressively hiring engineers seeing designers with an aim to develop wireless components and processors that would weaken Qualcomm's chances of supplying chips for future iPhones. This month, Apple published 10 job listings on its website for chip design-related positions in San Diego. This marks the first time the Cupertino based technology giant has publicly recruited for such roles in the Southern California for chip design. Apple is advertising for engineers to work on multiple types of chip components, including engineers to work on the company’s Neural Engine artificial intelligence processor and wireless chips. The company is said to be seeking hardware and software engineers to work on wireless components. It already houses chip designers in several locations, including in prime areas. The company has increased the number of components it designs itself over the lifetime of the iPhone giving it a chance to differentiate its flagship products from those made by rivals. This also gives Apple control over costs. To date, the company has released wireless chips for AirPods and the Apple Watch but hasn’t produced its own complete wireless systems for the iPhone. Apple is seeking engineers with experience in mainstream wireless protocols like LTE and Bluetooth. ...

Realme will be the first to launch MediaTek Helio P70-powered smartphone globally [Update: U-series smartphone]

Update - November 16, 2018: Xiaomi today announced that the first MediaTek Helio P70-powered smartphone will launch under new 'U series'. Since the company has started teasing it might be launched in December. Yes, it’s coming. #Realme is bringing to you world’s first #MediaTekHelioP70 smartphone with our brand-new U series product. Are U excited? @MediaTek pic.twitter.com/87xBltHsdo — Realme (@realmemobiles) November 16, 2018 Earlier: MediaTek introduced the MediaTek Helio P70 SoC yesterday. At the MediaTek event today at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2018, Realme has confirmed that it will be the first brand to launch MediaTek Helio P70-powered smartphones globally. “The next Realme will be powered by P70 and it is coming soon,” said Madhav Seth, Chief Executive Officer, Realme India. Realme India CEO at the event said that Realme 1 did very well achieving 4.5 out of 5 stars as an average rating on Amazon.in. Realme 1 was powered by MediaTek Helio P60, which is the P70's predecessor, however the company went with Snapdragon 450 for the Realme 2 and the Snapdragon 660 for the Realme 2 Pro that were launched recently. The MediaTek Helio P70 is based on the same TSMC’s 12nm FinFET technology as the predecessor, but this comes with multi-core APU operating at up ...

Motorola One Power Android 9.0 Pie update starts rolling out in India, brings Dual VoLTE, improved camera performance

Motorola just announced that it has started rolling out Android 9.0 (Pie) update for the One Power Android One smartphone in India, as it had promised at the launch in September. At the launch the company also promised Android Q update for the phone, as well as security updates for three years from the initial global launch date. Android 9 Pie update offers even longer & improved battery life, an entirely new UI with redesigned Quick Settings and a revamped split-screen. The update also brings forth a fresh intuitive navigation, simplified volume controls and an improved Do Not Disturb mode. It also brings Dual SIM Dual VoLTE Support and an improved camera performance including the panorama feature and better low light images. Since the update just started rolling out, it should reach everyone in the next few days. The phone available exclusively from Flipkart at Rs. 15,999.

Sony WH-1000XM3 Noise Cancelling Headphones Review: Keeps Getting Better

There are few products that manage to take a giant step forward with every successive iteration. Sony's 1000XM line of headphones is one such product that not only excels on their own but has taken the competition head-on.  The XM2 doubled battery but generally played it safe. With the WH-1000XM3 though, Sony has gone back to the drawing board and is making massive changes all around. What does it mean for the lineup? Find out in our review. In terms of design, Sony has completely re-engineered the headphone and the changes are almost universally positive. The headphone is flat out more comfortable to wear. From the pillowy faux-leather earpads to the overall weight reduction, you can wear the MDR-1000XM3 for hours on end without any fatigue. During my testing period, I wore the headphone on flights, long bus rides and occasionally even when trying to sleep. There's more padding at the top which helps reduce pressure and Sony has reworked the design of the earcups giving it a longer, more oval shape. The entire headphone now sits closer to the ears, which generally makes them more compact to carry around as well. Of course, like all the previous models, the headphone is ...

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ with thermal management introduced for $25

Raspberry Pi has introduced a new cheaper Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ that uses the same Broadcom 1.4GHz Quad-core processor as the high-end Model B+. It also has support for Bluetooth 4.2 as well as 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi and comes with 512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM. It no longer has an Ethernet port and has just one USB 2.0 port instead of four. The new model comes with improved USB mass-storage booting and improved thermal management. The entire board is certified as a radio module under FCC rules, which in turn will significantly reduce the cost of conformance testing Raspberry Pi–based products. It is powered by a 1.4GHz 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 CPU Quad-Core processor with 512MB RAM. The company says that it will be available at a price tag of $25 (Rs.1,795 approx.). In India you can get it for about Rs. 2,150 (incl. GST).

Sony sold 86 million PS4 units in 5 years, introduces PS4 Call of Duty Black Ops 4 bundle

Sony's PlayStation 4 is now five years old and the company announced that it has sold over 86.1 million units in addition to over 777.9 Million software units worldwide. To celebrate this occasion, the company is releasing a new PS4 bundle; Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 PS4 bundle. Since launch, the company has rolled out around 11 major software updates including the recent 6.0. Call of Duty Black Ops 3, GTA V, Call of Duty WWII, Fifa 17/18 remain the best sellers. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the latest multiplayer first-person shooter that features gritty, grounded, fluid Multiplayer combat, the biggest Zombies offering ever with three full undead adventures, and Blackout, where the universe of Black Ops comes to life in one massive battle royale experience. This bundle will be available from November 27th and is priced at $299.99/ $379.99 and includes a jet-black 1TB PS4 system, a matching DualShock 4 wireless controller, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on Blu-ray Disc.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact Android 9.0 (Pie) update rolling out [Update: Now with November security patch]

Update - November 16: Sony has rolled out new Android Pie update with build number 52.0.A.3.84 that includes November security patch for the Xperia XZ2 Premium, Xperia XZ3, Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact. Earlier: Sony has started rolling out the Android 9.0 Pie update to the Xperia XZ Premium, Xperia XZ1, and Xperia XZ1 Compact as it had promised. At the moment, the update is rolled out in batch-wise in specific regions, and model number, but should have widened release in the coming days. The update brings the model number 47.2.A.0.306. It also brings October 2018 Android security patch. Since the update was due in October but got delayed due to last minutes bugs and this is why we suspect Sony didn’t push the update with the latest November security patches. The new update brings Sony’s new camera interface, Full HD 960fps slow-motion video support and HDR video image enhancement (X-Reality with HDR converter). Selfie camera display flash is also included. However, Sony hasn't updated the interface with gestures and you will have to rely on navigation buttons. Other inclusions in Pie include Adaptive Battery power prioritization for users’ most commonly used apps/services, Adaptive and optimized brightness levels, Predictive Application Actions and more. Since the update just started ...