HMD Global rolls out Android 10 to the Nokia 7.1

Late last week, Nokia started rolling out the stable Android 10 update for the Nokia 9 PureView. The Nokia 9 PureView was the second device from the company to receive the Android 10 update, following the Nokia 8.1. As part of the update schedule shared by the company earlier this year in September, the company was expected to release a similar update for the Nokia 7.1. In keeping with its promise, HMD Global has now started rolling out the Android 10 update to the Nokia 7.1.

According to a recent tweet from HMD Global’s Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas, the Android 10 update is now rolling out to Nokia 7.1 users around the world. The update brings all the new features introduced with Android 10, including gesture navigations, smart reply, privacy controls, focus mode, and family link. It’s worth noting that the Nokia 7.1 was launched with a promise of three years’ worth of monthly security updates and two years of OS upgrades. Android 10 is the Nokia 7.1’s second OS update and the device will receive no further OS updates from the company.

Nokia 7.1 scores another perfect 10! Upgrade to Android 10 starts today. #nokiamobile #Android10 pic.twitter.com/2WyefgCZ9B

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) December 10, 2019

HMD Global plans to release Android 10 updates for several more devices in its lineup in Q1 2020. These include the Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 6.1, Nokia 2.2, Nokia 3.1 Plus, Nokia 3.2, Nokia 4.2, Nokia 1 Plus, Nokia 5.1 Plus, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The Android 10 updates will continue into the second quarter, with devices like the Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1, Nokia 5.1 and Nokia 1 receiving the update towards the end of the first half of 2020.

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ARCore’s Depth API helps create depth maps using a single camera

Google ARCore, which was recently renamed to Google Play Services for AR, is Google’s attempt at expanding Augmented Reality and its experiences to more and more devices without the need for specialized niche hardware, unlike the erstwhile Project Tango. Google is now making ARCore more immersive for a wider variety of devices through the new Depth API.

Devices under Project Tango, like the Lenovo Phab 2 Pro, relied on dedicated hardware in the form of sensors and cameras to enable the device to perceive depth and 3D space. The need for specialized hardware, however, meant that devices needed to be consciously built for optimal AR experiences, which in turn ended up disturbing the smartphone user experience. ARCore flipped the equation by removing the need for dedicated hardware, thus bringing the optimal AR experience to smartphones that had already nailed down the user experience.

ARCore is now expanding on the availability of its optimal AR experiences through the new ARCore Depth API. This new API improves immersion for devices with a single RGB camera, as it allows developers to make use of Google’s depth-from-motion algorithms to create a depth map. This depth map is created by taking multiple images from different angles and comparing them along as the user moves the phone, estimating the distance to every pixel.

Depth data is useful for enabling features like occlusion: the ability for digital objects to accurately blend around real-world objects.

Occlusion as a feature is now available to over 200 Million ARCore-enabled Android devices through Scene Viewer, the developer tool that powers AR in Search.

Beyond occlusion, 3D depth data also enables other possibilities, like more realistic physics, path planning, surface interaction, etc. Depth API can thus enable developers to create experiences that can have objects accurately bounce and splash across surfaces and textures, as well as new interactive game mechanics that enable players to duck and hide behind real-world objects.

Since the Depth API is not dependent on specialized hardware, it will work across a wider range of devices. But of course, better hardware will improve the experience. Additional sensors for depth mapping, such as time-of-flight (ToF) sensors, will allow developers to unlock new capabilities like dynamic occlusion — the ability to occlude behind moving objects.

If you would like to try out the new Depth API, Google asks you to fill out the Call for Collaborators form over here. Google will then reach out to the collaborators who it feels would be the best fit to push the technology forward.

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Source: Google Developers Blog

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Airtel launches VoWiFi in Delhi/NCR, to be rolled out all over India soon

It’s no doubt that both Airtel and Vodafone are struggling right now. Not only have the companies been facing the worst quarterly losses in the telecom sector’s history, but they have also racked up a massive liability. Earlier this month, Bharti Airtel’s board approved a fundraising plan for $3 Billion for “any future payouts” including AGR liabilities as well as debt refinancing. Out of the $3 Billion, $1 Billion will be raised through debt, while the other $2 Billion will be raised by issuing additional equity shares. In a bid to attract more users to its platform and counteract the massive losses, Airtel has now launched its VoWiFi services in Delhi/NCR.

The new Airtel VoWiFi service aims to enhance indoor voice calling experience for smartphone users by allowing users to seamlessly switch from LTE to WiFi-based calling when they’re inside their homes or offices. Users will incur no extra charge for voice calls made with Airtel VoWiFi and the company promises that the application will consume minimal data.

Talking about the launch Randeep Sekhon, CTO Bharti Airtel, said, “As a customer obsessed brand, we constantly working on improving customer experience based on their feedback. Seamless indoor coverage has been a key ask from mobile customers but getting permissions for site installations has always been a big challenge for mobile operators, particularly in top metros. ‘Airtel Wi-Fi Calling’ is another pioneering technology intervention from Airtel and will go a long way in making the voice calling experience more seamless.”

Airtel VoWiFi will not require any additional apps and can be easily configured on any smartphone by following a few simple steps. Users can check smartphone compatibility by following this link, enable the WiFi calling feature on their smartphones, and then turn on VoLTE for a seamless calling experience. As of now, Airtel VoWiFi includes support for the iPhone 6s and later, the Xiaomi Redmi K20/K20 Pro, POCO F1, Samsung Galaxy J6, A10s, On6, M30s, and all models in the OnePlus 7 series.

The service is currenlty only compatible with Airtel Xstream Fiber home broadband and the company plans to roll out support for all broadband services and WiFi hotspots in the near future. Following the successful rollout in Delhi/NCR, Airtel plans to extend the service all over the country. It’s also worth noting that even though the VoWiFi might not generate direct revenue for Airtel, it may help the company retain customers by offering a better calling experience.

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Redmi K30 launches with a 120Hz screen, Snapdragon 765G, and 64MP Sony IMX686

Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi entered the affordable flagship game with the Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro, launched in China in May 2019. Both the devices featured an identical design, and the main point of difference between the two was the SoC in use. The Redmi K20 Pro was the true flagship killer, featuring the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC; while the Redmi K20 balanced performance with affordability by opting for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC. Half a year later, Xiaomi is looking once again to balance affordability with performance with the new Redmi K30 that has now been launched in China.

Redmi Brand Product Launches

Xiaomi has grown to embrace the fact that devices leak before launch, so the company now reveals many key details and even official product renders in the run-up to the launch event. The company itself revealed that the Redmi K30 will be its first 5G smartphone back in October 2019. Closer to launch, Redmi confirmed the quad rear camera setup with the 64MP Sony IMX686 primary sensor, 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging, side fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, and multi-function NFC. Now, we have the full specification sheet of the Redmi K30 4G and Redmi K30 5G.

Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G: Specifications

Specification	Redmi K30 5G / Redmi K30 4G
Dimensions and Weight	165.3 x 76.6 x 8.79 mm 208g
Display	6.67″ FHD+ (2400 x 1080) LCD; 120Hz high refresh rate Punch-hole display with dual front cameras Corning Gorilla Glass 5 HDR 10 support
SoC	5G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G: 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Prime core @ 2.4GHz 1x Kryo 475 (ARM Cortex-A76-based) Performance core @ 2.2GHz 6x (ARM Cortex-A55-based) Efficiency cores @ 1.8GHz 7nm EUV process Adreno 620 4G: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
RAM and Storage	6GB LPDDR4X + 64GB UFS 2.1 6GB + 128GB 8GB + 128GB 8GB + 256GB Supports microSD card expandability
Battery & Charging	4,500 mAh battery Fast charging: 5G — 30W 4G — 27W
Rear Camera	Photo: Primary: 64MP Sony IMX686 sensor, f/1.9, 1/1.7” sensor, 0.8μm pixels Secondary: 8MP 120° Wide-Angle Camera, f/2.2 Tertiary: 2MP, f/2.4, Depth Sensor Quaternary: 5G — 5MP, Macro, f/2.4 4G — 2MP, Macro, f/2.4 Video: 4K @ 30fps 1080p @ 60fps Ultra wide: 1080p @ 30fps Slow motion: 1080p @ 120fps, 720p @ 960fps
Front Camera	Primary: 20MP Secondary: 2MP depth sensor
Other Features	3.5mm headphone jack Multi-function NFC IR Blaster Side fingerprint scanner 5G: SA + NSA 5G network support 5G: Dual-frequency GPS
Android Version	MIUI 11 based on Android 10

One of the primary highlights of the Redmi K30 5G is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC inside, making it the first phone to be released on this platform. The Snapdragon 765G on the Redmi K30 5G features a Prime CPU core clocked at a high 2.4GHz, assisted by a Performance CPU core clocked at 2.2GHz; both of these are based on customized Kryo 475 architecture, which in turn is derived from the ARM Cortex-A76 design. There are also 6 ARM Cortex-A55-based Efficiency cores, giving the SoC a configuration of 1+1+6, against the 2+6 config on older SoCs like the Snapdragon 730. The SoC is also built on an 8mm EUV manufacturing process. You can read more about the Snapdragon 765G in our dedicated coverage from the Snapdragon Summit 2019.

The Snapdragon 765G also integrates the 5G modem on the die, resulting in lower power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G comes with dual-mode 5G, supporting both SA and NSA networks. The device also supports 5G MultiLink — essentially allowing users to concurrently be connected to 2.4GHz WiFi, a 5GHz WiFi and 5G/4G network.

The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone from Xiaomi to feature a 120Hz high-refresh-rate display. As the terminology implies, a 120Hz display displays twice the number of images per second as an ordinary 60Hz display, greatly enhancing the user experience. The device dynamically adjusts frame rate between 60Hz, 90Hz, and 120Hz depending on the app and use-case to balance user experience and power consumption. The Redmi K30 5G also has a 91% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to the punch-hole cutout that is utilized for the dual front cameras.

The Redmi K30 5G is also the first smartphone to feature the new 64MP sensor from Sony, the Sony IMX686. The IMX686 comes with a large 1/1.7″ sensor and 0.8μm pixels. The sensor can output 64MP images, but the regular camera mode will utilize pixel binning to combine four pixels into one for a 16MP, 1.6μm pixel image. The 64MP primary camera is flanked by three more cameras: ultra-wide-angle camera, depth-of-field camera, and a dedicated macro camera. On the front, you get a 20MP primary camera, coupled with a secondary camera for depth sensing.

The Redmi K30 5G continues on packing more features, as it comes with a large 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. 5G and the high-refresh-rate display will definitely require a lot of juice throughout the day, so having a large battery as well as a quick way to top it up will come in handy. The phone also features a fingerprint scanner integrated within the power button and also retains some classic features like the 3.5mm headphone jack and the IR Blaster.

The Redmi K30 also comes in a 4G variant, which shares a lot of the same features. The primary differences are the lack of 5G (of course), a switch over to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, a 2MP dedicated macro camera instead of a 5MP macro camera, a bump down to 27W fast charging, and a lack of dual-frequency GPS. The Redmi K30 4G thus retains the 120Hz display, the Sony IMX686, and the big 4,500 mAh battery — making it a viable device for users who are not interested in 5G for the foreseeable future.

Pricing and Availability

Both, the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G are available in four RAM and storage variants.

Variant	Redmi K30 4G	Redmi K30 5G
6GB + 64GB	CNY 1599 (~$227/₹16,100)	CNY 1999 (~$284/₹20,100)
6GB + 128GB	CNY 1699 (~$241/₹17,100)	CNY 2299 (~$327/₹23,100)
8GB + 128GB	CNY 1899 (~$270/₹19,100)	CNY 2599 (~$370/₹26,100)
8GB + 256GB	CNY 2199 (~$312/₹22,100)	CNY 2899 (~$412/₹29,200)

The Redmi K30 4G will be available in Blue, Red, and Purple colors; while the 5G variant gets an additional White color variant. Both the devices will go on sale in China soon. We expect the K30 to make its way to international markets, but keep in mind that the pricing will not be the same as the Chinese pricing.

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What are your thoughts on the Redmi K30 5G and Redmi K30 4G? Let us know in the comments below!

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Huawei’s Harmony OS coming to more devices next year, but not on smartphones or tablets

Earlier this year in August, Huawei first lifted the covers off its long-rumored operating system — Harmony OS. At the time, the company showcased the new microkernel-based OS running on an Honor Vision TV, claiming better performance and improved security. At the time, the company also stated that Harmony OS wouldn’t make it to smartphones and tablets from Huawei or Honor and that Android would remain the standard on these devices. It seems like Huawei wants to maintain its stand on that matter as it plans to roll out Harmony OS to more products next year.

According to a recent report from Reuters, a spokesperson from Huawei has revealed that the company plans to roll out Harmony OS to more products in its lineup next year. However, the company still doesn’t have any plans to ship the OS on its phones, tablets, or computers. The company’s plans were first reported by the government-backed Shenzhen Special Zone Daily newspaper. The newspaper cited comments made by Wang Vhenglu, president of the Huawei consumer business group’s software division at a store event held in Shenzhen. Wang reiterated the company’s stance on Harmony OS at the event and noted that Huawei would prefer Android over its own Harmony OS on phones and tablets.

It’s worth noting that Huawei launched Harmony OS as an alternative to Google’s Android following trade restrictions imposed on the company by the United States. The trade restrictions threaten to cut the company’s access to technology made by US firms, which is why it first rolled out Harmony OS. While the company doesn’t plan on shipping the OS on its phones and tablets, Harmony OS is likely to make an appearance on other smart devices like smartwatches, speakers, and other appliances next year.

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Source: Reuters

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OPPO confirms it’ll launch a smartwatch, 5G hub, and AR glasses in Q1 2020

Over the last few weeks, OPPO has released a couple of teasers showcasing the OPPO Reno3 Pro 5G — an incredibly thin dual-mode 5G device that’s expected to hit the markets later this month. The teasers have already revealed key aspects of the smartphone’s design, showcasing a quad-camera setup, a notch-less edge-to-edge curved display with a hole-punch cutout, and the interesting dual-tone color scheme. We’ve also learned that the device will be powered by Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 765G chipset and will pack in a respectable 4,025 mAh battery. But that’s not all that the company is planning on launching in the near future. At the ongoing OPPO Inno Day event in China, the company has confirmed that it will be launching a new smartwatch, smart wireless headphones, a 5G hub, and AR glasses in Q1 2020.

OPPO Smartwatch

OPPO has been teasing its entry into the smartwatch space for a while now and earlier this year in February, the company’s CEO Chin Mingyong mentioned that it will be targeting smartwatches and smart headphones market in the near future. At the ongoing event, OPPO’s VP, Head of Research Levin Liu confirmed that the upcoming OPPO smartwatch will be unveiled in Q1 2020.

ICYMI today Levin Liu, VP, Head of Research also confirmed an OPPO smartwatch will be unveiled in Q1 2020. #CreateBeyondBoundaries

— OPPO (@oppo) December 10, 2019

While the company revealed no further information about the smartwatch, it did mention having the “technological know-how” to enable eSIM support which requires specific requests from operators. This leads us to believe that they will most likely integrate an eSIM on their upcoming smartwatch.

5G CPE Hub

Along with the smartwatch, OPPO plans to release a 5G connectivity hub called the 5G CPE Hub in the first quarter of 2020. The upcoming 5G hub will accept a SIM card and include support for Bluetooth, ZigBee, and Zwave connectivity for smart home integration, allowing users to connect up to 1,000 devices at the same time.

The hub will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 modem, which can also be found on the OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition and the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC. It’s worth noting that the 5G CPE Hub only supports sub-6 GHz 5G.

OPPO AR Glasses

In an effort to expand its product portfolio beyond smartphones, OPPO also unveiled new AR smart glasses. These new augmented reality smart glasses run OPPO’s Glass OS and work quite a lot like the Microsoft HoloLens or Google Glass. In terms of hardware, the glasses feature 2 FishEye cameras for a wide field of view, an HD camera, and a Time-of-Flight (TOF) camera for 3D reconstruction.

The AR glasses even include support for 3D surround sound to offer users an immersive AR experience. During a stage demo for the AR smart glasses, OPPO showcased a person exploring our Solar System using hand gestures to navigate between planets. The glasses also displayed information on each planet as the person navigated through them.

Along with the aforementioned devices, OPPO also plans to launch smart wireless headphones in the first quarter of next year. However, we currently have no further information regarding the same. OPPO hasn’t revealed exact release dates for any of these upcoming devices, but we expect to learn more as their launch draws closer.

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Thanks to Joshua Vergara from PocketNow for modeling!

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Google denies Epic’s request to exempt Fortnite from a 30% revenue cut on the Play Store

Back in August last year, Epic Games announced that it was finally porting its popular battle royale game Fortnite to Android. However, the developer refused to publish the game on the Google Play Store and distributed it from its website instead. Earlier this year, the company launched its own app store — the Epic Games Store — on Android and in order to attract more developers to their store, the company undercut the Play Store’s revenue model by giving developers 88% of the revenue generated by their apps. However, Epic recently submitted Fortnite to the Play Store and urged Google to provide a special billing exception to circumvent the Play Store’s 30% revenue cut.

As per a recent report from 9to5Google, Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney has revealed that the company’s request for an exception is just a part of its goal to bring about a broader industry-wide change. In a statement to the publication, Sweeney said,” We have asked that Google not enforce its publicly stated expectation that products distributed through Google Play use Google’s payment service for in-app purchase. We believe this form of tying a mandatory payment service with a 30% fee is illegal in this case of a distribution platform with over 50% market share. We note that Google Play’s Developer Distribution Agreement does not require developers use Google payments. It merely references a number of non-contractual documents asking developers to do so.”

In a follow-up statement to The Verge, Google has said that it won’t grant Fortnite an exemption to the Play Store’s 30% revenue cut. The Google spokesperson was quoted saying, “Android enables multiple app stores and choices for developers to distribute apps. Google Play has a business model and billing policy that allows us to invest in our platform and tools to help developers build successful businesses while keeping users safe. We welcome any developer that recognized the value of Google Play and expect them to participate under the same terms as other developers.” The company has further noted that Epic has not asked for an exemption from Apple, where it presumably pays the company’s standard 30% cut. Google has also cited the Play Store’s ability to promote apps and bring more users, provide security and hosting, and tools for technical testing and analytics to justify the 30% cut.

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Source: 9to5Google, The Verge

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