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Author: Jessica Robinson

Honor V30 vs. Honor V30 Pro

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are some of the first flagships on the market that already support 5G. However, there is a lot more to love about the devices other than their advanced connectivity potential.

The devices feature the new Kirin 990 chipset, which is what enables the devices’ support for 5G. The latest Kirin chipset used in these devices are versatile – they support both NSA non-independent 5G networking and also independent SA 5G networking.

The versatility of these chips in and of itself entitle these Honor devices to some pioneering bragging rights. They happen to be one of the few devices outside of Huawei’s brand lineup that support both classes of 5G networking.

In ideal conditions, 5G could enable download speeds of up to 2.3Gbps, and upload speeds up to 1.25Gbps. The Balong modem used in these devices can also seamlessly work with 4G, 3G, and 2G networks, making it the current king of mobile networking.

The Kirin 990 5G is a different chipset from the vanilla Kirin 990. The Kirin 990 5G is created using a more optimized 7nm+ EUV manufacturing process. It boasts slightly high clock speeds than the vanilla Kirin 990 on some of its cores and also has one large extra NPU core. It also includes the previously mentioned Balong 5G modem.

Comparison:

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro include the basic Kirin 990 chipset with the Balong 5000 modem as an external component. Therefore, both models are 5G enabled.

However, there are many differences between the two models – most notably in the camera department.

Cameras:

The Pro version comes with a better ultrawide camera in the rear setup. All other camera lenses on the front and the back of the two phones have no difference.

In-hand feel:

In the hands, the V30 feels a little heavier than the V30 Pro, even though they’re the same size and comprise of similar hardware.

Processing Power:

On the processor front, the V30 Pro dominates, since its cores have higher clock rates than that of the V30.

Both the phones have the same Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Storage Capacity:

The V30 is available in two variants – 6GB of RAM and 8GB of RAM. Both options have a fixed internal storage capacity of 128GB.

On the other hand, the Honor V30 Pro is available only with 8GB of RAM; however, one can opt for either 128GB internal storage or 256GB internal storage.

Both the V30 and the V30 Pro do not have a microSD card slot, limiting users to relying on the fixed internal storage for the life of the product.

Design:

As mentioned earlier, both phones feature a similar layout –a 6.57-inch LCD screen that has a 1080p resolution. Both displays have a punch-hole on the top left corner.

Both phones have a side-mounted fingerprint reader incorporated into the power button itself. Also, both phones include the same sensors – gyroscope, accelerometer, proximity, and compass.

The V30 Pro is only available in three colors – Blue, Black, and White. The V30 comes in Blue, Black, White, and Orange.

Batteries:

The battery capacity on the Honor V30 is slighter larger at 4200mAH, whereas the V30 Pro has a 4100mAh battery.

There is also a difference in charging speeds. The V30 Pro supports 40W fast battery charging, which can charge the phone to 70% in about 30 minutes. It also supports 27W fast wireless battery charging and reverses battery charging.

The V30, on the other hand, only supports 40W fast battery charging – wireless charging and reverse battery charging is not supported.

Here are the spec sheets for both devices:

Honor V30 specifications:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.9 mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 213g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary Camera: 40MP, f/1.8 aperture with Laser Autofocus and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with Fixed focus;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 aperture with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32 MP, f/2.0, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8″, 0.8µm + 8 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide)

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 chipset, octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.09 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.86 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 6GB/128GB or 8GB/128GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,200mAh supporting 22.5W charging.

Connectivity: Dual SIM Slots with separate Balong 5000 Dual standby 5G modem; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor V30 Pro:

Body: 162.7×75.8×8.8mm; Front glass, aluminum frame.

Weight: 206g.

Screen: 6.57″ IPS LCD, FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400 px), 400ppi pixel density.

Cameras:

Primary: 40MP, f/1.6 aperture with Laser Autofocus, Dual OIS and AI Ultra Clarity mode;

Ultra-wide: 12MP, f/2.2 aperture with 109-degree FOV, 16:9 sensor, Laser Autofocus, and Cine-lens;

Telephoto: 8MP, f/2.4 with 3x optical zoom, Laser Autofocus, and OIS functionality.

Dual Selfie Cameras: 32MP, f/2.0 aperture + 8MP, f/2.2, 105-degree FOV.

Chipset: 7nm HiSilicon Kirin 990 5G Chipset (EUV), octa-core (2×2.86 GHz Cortex-A76 & 2×2.36 GHz Cortex-A76 & 4×1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) and Mali-G76 MP16 GPU.

Memory options: 8GB/128GB or 8GB/256GB.

OS: Magic UI 3.0.1 based on Android 10.

Battery: 4,100mAh with support for 40W wired SuperCharge; 27W wireless SuperCharge; 7.5W wireless reverse charge.

Connectivity: 5G (NSA and SA mode) Dual SIM, Dual standby; Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS (L1 + L5), USB Type-C 2.0.

Misc: Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Honor’s V30 and V30 Pro are both formidable flagships comparable to the like of Samsung’s newest Note 10+ – even though they come in at a few hundred dollars less.

Picking the right one among the two can be a super simple decision. It’s all a matter of preference.

If you prefer to have a slightly better ultrawide camera lens (8MP vs. 12MP), you must go for the Pro version.

However, if you’d like to spend less and want a slightly larger battery, the V30 is the better option.

Since both support 5G and have mostly similar specs, you can make a decision solely based on these three preferences and not worry about losing out on any features.

January 2, 2020
RCS Now Available To All Android Users In The U.S.

Google’s response to Apple’s iMessage is available to the public and is already being adopted.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) is an upgrade to the SMS protocol, developed by Google. It is now available for use by all android users in the U.S., regardless of what carrier they use.

RCS was made available to users in the U.S. over the weekend.

Sanaz Ahari, who leads the Google Communication Suite team, confirmed the news on Twitter.

To get access to the functionality, users need to update both their Carrier Services and their default Google Messages app.

Mobile hardware manufacturers develop RCS technology rather than Google. However, Google is leading the effort to make it available by default on all Android phones.

RCS will eventually replace the SMS protocol since it supplies users with additional features similar to those modern messaging apps offer.

These include the ability to share larger media files, incorporation of typing indicators, read receipts, and also group chatting functionalities that are easier to manage.

The SMS protocol has been available since long before the smartphones’ arrival in the market, and it’s starting to look outdated now.

Rich Communication Services can work over any cellular network, using up internet data rather than your text allowance.

It also works over Wi-Fi.

One downside with RCS is that unlike rival messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, RCS chats are not end-to-end encrypted – which makes the conversations vulnerable to snooping by third parties.

As more countries get RCS support, widespread adoption will result in SMS finally becoming defunct.

It’ll only enable Android-to-Android communication unless Apple decides to support RCS on their iPhones too.

RCS is now available in the U.S., the U.K., and France. Users can expect a worldwide rollout soon.

As of now, Google is ahead of schedule. The rollout of RCS in the U.S. wasn’t expected until early 2020.

Initially, Google had decided to let cellular network carriers manage the rollout of RCS. In a rare joint effort, the U.S.’s four leading carriers made efforts to accelerate the adoption of RCS back in October.

However, in the last 12 months, Google had a change of heart and decided to push out the messaging upgrade itself – using its infrastructure and servers to enable RCS functionality for users.

Nonetheless, the four carriers plan to launch their RCS applications in 2020.

Last week, Google also announced a new ‘Verified SMS’ feature that will help tackle SMS phishing.

Businesses that use SMS marketing can register with Google. Google will then handle the message authentication process based on the user’s phone number.

When Verified SMS is on, and the user receives a message from a business registered with Google, Google translates the message into an unreadable authentication code.

Google then compares this code with the code sent to Google by the business. Acting as a mediator, Google removes the need for users to rely on businesses for their security.

Only if these codes (known internally as message hashes or message HMACs) match, Google confirms that an authentic business sent the contents of the message.

An authentic business’s logo comes with a ‘verified’ icon.

Google’s push to make RCS a global reality and its efforts to make messaging secure will make Android the superior option in no time.

January 2, 2020
PowerMax P18K- Energizer’s newest power bank can make phone calls!

Energizer’s latest 18,000mAh power bank runs a full copy of Android OS. Energizer is a household name prominent for their batteries. The PowerMax P18K Pop is their first (and admittingly ground-breaking) attempt at breaking into the smartphone business.

The PowerMax P18K Pop is a phone-cum-power bank that boasts a massive 18000mAh battery. One could charge a 10000mAh power bank with this phone and still have enough charge left for days.

The device itself is bulky, weighing little over a pound and coming in at a width of 30mm. Carrying a phone this thick and heavy in your pocket can be difficult.

As a power bank, the P18K Pop is a powerful device. However, it also impresses as a phone.

It comes with a 6.2-inch LCD screen with no notch. The bezels are super thin, making the bright, 1080p screen pop out. Size-wise, the display feels perfect for one-handed use, if you can hold it with one hand, that is.

The MediaTek Helio P70 processor makes the P18K Pop super powerful. The phone can easily handle all kinds of graphically-demanding games and applications. Paired with 6GB of RAM, multitasking on this Energizer phone is smooth and lag-free.

Energizer does not compromise on storage as well since the P18K Pop comes with 128GB of internal storage and also has a microSD card slot for further storage expansion.

The device boasts a triple camera setup on the rear, which includes a 12MP camera, a 5MP camera, and a 2MP depth sensor.

On the front, this Energizer phone features a pop-up camera mechanism comprising of a 16MP camera and a 2MP depth sensor.

The cameras can record 1080p full-HD videos at 30fps maximum. There are no unique modes that enable recording time-lapses or slow-motion videos.

Other than the massive battery itself, the phone does not furnish other unique selling points. The lackluster, flat software skin and the absence of modern camera functionality make the phone as a package feel a little bland and dated. The device is pricey, which makes one seriously consider if the money is worth spending.

The phone does not have a headphone jack. However, it features loads of other ports that allow charging multiple devices.

The fingerprint scanner is separate from the power button, both of which are mounted on the right side, making them easier to access, considering the bulkiness of the device.

The phone boasts a massive battery, robust build quality, and a high-resolution screen. Also, it features camera setups on-par with the latest trends, a fast processor and loads of RAM and storage space. It seems like Energizer refuses to make any compromises on their first smartphone.

It comes with an almost bloat-free copy of Android 9 (Pie), which is just icing on the cake.

January 1, 2020
BlackBerry Key2 Review: Is it only for old Loyalists?

Blackberry has seen a time when its popularity was second to none. The brand started as a phone for corporate execs through which they could have one-on-one encrypted chats and share private data.

However, with the introduction of the Android operating system, the Blackberry range of smartphones started to lose a lot of customer base. Brands like Samsung and a deluge of others took over, leaving the company somewhat shaken and unable to evolve.

However, to revive the Blackberry smartphone industry, the company released its Android smartphone Blackberry Keyone last year. It supported the Android operating system and provided a large touchscreen and a full physical keypad.

This year, the company has again offered the market the successor of Key one, which is named as BlackBerry Key2.

The Blackberry key2 has a much powerful processor, better battery life, and increased camera performance. Blackberry has launched the phone at a premium price of $650.

Specifications & Design

This good-looking phone is much sleeker and compact in looks when it comes to the design. Since the entire body is divided between the screen and the keyboard layout, you will never feel the screen being too short or the keypad being small.

The proportion between screen and keyboard is perfect for those who like using the keyboard for typing.

The mobile comes with a USB C type charger port, which means it will support faster charging time and faster data transfer speeds. It also comes with a 3.5mm jack, which some of the premium smartphones miss in the market.

The phone has a 4.5-inch LCD screen with 1620×1080 resolution and a bright and clear display, which pops out colors naturally with high contrast and brightness ratio.

The screen size is the same as what was used in the Key one device, but the display and colors seem to be more vivid and bright. The text on the screen appears to be clear and visible, even in the most intense sunlight.

The BlackBerry Key2 houses a powerful Snapdragon 660 processor, which can provide decent performance when it comes to multitasking. The multicore processor can efficiently run multiple applications at one time.

However, at this price point, many different smartphone brands are providing Snapdragon 845 or even 855 chipsets. Snapdragon 660 can be found on a lot of different mid-budget phones and does give an excellent performance. The smartphone comes bundled with 6 GB of RAM for smooth app operation.

It might disappoint you when it comes to hardcore gaming, but most of the blackberry users do not purchase the phone for gaming.

Key2 also comes with a 3500 mAh battery, which as per the company will provide a full day of battery life with regular usage.

Since the battery is combined with a mid-range processor, it will not drain much power while still being efficient. Also, since the screen is the biggest battery drainer, a smaller screen size helps in spending less battery life.

Other Features of BlackBerry Key2

From the old days, Blackberry has been known to provide the best security features to given end to end encrypted chat and data transfer. The phone works on Android 8.1 and will be getting security updates from Google in the future, making the device much more secure. Blackberry has still retained some of the software that used to run on its operating system to android.

Blackberry’s locker application has improved over previous smartphones. The app can secure your other apps and even the launcher on the home page if you want.

The main feature of this phone is the physical keyboard. The keyboard is super-soft to use, very similar to the earlier Blackberry devices.

If you are new to the keyboard style phone, then it will take you very little time to get used to it, thanks to the comfortable and beautifully designed keyboard.

The keyboard has a glossy button and has an exceptional finish. The keys are 20% longer than the keys on the Blackberry Key one. Apart from regular usage, the keyboard is also touch-sensitive, which is useful to scroll through the screen, just by sliding the fingers on the keyboards.

You can also swipe the finger on multiple keys to create a word while typing. The Speed key function on it, lets you create a shortcut for an application by simply pressing a single key.

The phone also comprises a dual camera setup where both the camera sensors are 12 megapixels with f/1.8aperture and f/2.6 aperture. The HDR mode on the camera provides great-looking photos. Furthermore, low light photography is just satisfactory on these sensors.

The camera can take good quality night portrait photos and has a good blur effect with natural colors and exposure.

Conclusion

Blackberry Key2 is a worthy successor to the Key one and has some significant and significant improvements over the previous generation. The phone itself has a great design, a better keyboard, and a faster processor.

Although at such a high price point, we could have expected a better and high-end processor, still the phone works flawlessly even with multiple applications open. If you are a blackberry fan and want your hands on a keyboard style pad, then this is the phone to purchase.

January 1, 2020
Are Huawei Phone Android Systems Still Safe To Use?

Huawei, the world’s number two phone manufacturer and number one telecom provider, has been in hot water recently. Even after being one of the most sought after smartphone brands globally, the company’s phones have entirely disappeared from the US market.

That is due to an executive order passed by Trump’s Government blacklisting Huawei, seemingly due to “national security reasons.” However, the real reason for this uncalled for blacklisting might as well be the heated ongoing trade war between the United States and China.

The executive order passed by the USA prompted a reaction from Google, which recently announced that it was restricting Huawei’s access to its Android operating system updates.

US chipmaker companies like Xilinx, Qualcomm, and even Intel quickly followed suit. They declared that they were also going to cut off supplies to the Chinese smartphone equipment giant indefinitely.

This sudden shakedown could spell trouble for Huawei as its phones run on the Android operating system.

Furthermore, Intel has been Huawei’s primary supplier of server chips, Xilinx supplies programmable chips to Huawei and Qualcomm is Huawei’s central smartphone modem and processor supplier.

Huawei has listed more than 30 American firms as its core components suppliers.

Furthermore, numerous network providers and retailers from all across the globe stopped dealing with Huawei in fear of sanctions from the Trump Government.

With all the recent happenings between the two superpowers, and now, with the blacklisting of Huawei, Huawei smartphone users are concerned about the fallout.

They have only one question on their mind:

Is my Huawei phone still safe to use?

The simple answer is yes. Google has stated that its Android system, including its security features from Google Play Protect, will continue to operate for existing Huawei smartphones.

However, users will not have access to any upcoming Android releases until this issue gets resolved.

There is also no public evidence confirming or even suggesting that Huawei phones are a threat to the nation’s or the customers’ digital security.

In a press statement, Huawei announced that it would continue to provide after-sales services and security updates for its phones as well as tablets.

In the same press statement, the company stated, “Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Android’s key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefited both users and the industry.”

With no publically available evidence, this sudden move by the US Government looks like a blatant attempt to cut one of the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturers at the knees, only because it holds its roots in China.

Which brings us to the next question:

Should you buy a new Huawei smartphone?

We are yet to learn what the fallout of this blacklisting will be. The company’s future remains undetermined, and which makes recommending its devices very tough at this point.

Huawei in August launched an operating system not based on Android, known as HongmengOS or HarmonyOS.

Richard Yu, the CEO of the company, while speaking at the Huawei Developer Conference in Dongguan, China, made an announced that might hold the secret to the company’s future.

He announced that HarmonyOS would be first used on smart screen appliances such as watches, smart speakers, and televisions and then gradually make its way to the Huawei smartphones.

Yu said that although the OS would initially launch in China, there were definitive strategies in place to promote it globally soon.

Launching HarmonyOS has been considered by many as a precautionary action as the future of the company’s relationship with Google remains shaky. In the conference, Yu also said that the company plans to continue using Android OS for its smartphones and tablets, but if it couldn’t, it would “immediately switch to HarmonyOS.”

Huawei didn’t have any plans to replace Android on its smartphones with HarmonyOS anytime soon.

However, if it is the only way to go, the company must rigorously plan, prepare, and make the switch in a short time – which will prove to be a difficult feat to pull off.

One massive setback for the company would be convincing developers to create ports of every application for HarmonyOS. If the company decides to switch to HarmonyOS, developers will take time to catch up with such a significant change – if they accept it, that is.

BlackBerry was knocked out of the market only because it had a limited user base, and developers refused to create ports of their applications for such a small number of users.

Like Android, HarmonyOS is also open-source – which implies that other manufacturers could also use it. It is a good move since it would increase the scope of the OS and attract more app developers to create apps for it.

A higher number of supported apps give the OS better chances existing and being popular amongst users. Luckily for Huawei, several device manufacturers had shown considerable interest in HarmonyOS.

The primary goal of the new OS is to develop a single platform that will seamlessly work across devices that have larger memory capacities and significantly more powerful processors like laptops and also with smaller, less powerful devices like smartwatches and smartphones.

A cross-platform OS will make the same applications available to a broader gamut of users.

Would discontinuing the use of Google’s Android OS hurt Huawei?

Definitely yes. Huawei users in China won’t be affected since Google is already banned. However, the company must launch an alternative OS as good as the previous one.

It’s a critical move to make since just in the first quarter of 2019, over 48% of Huawei’s smartphone sales were to international markets outside China.

Once Huawei discontinues using Android on its devices, we can expect sales to drop substantially.

Huawei’s plans to become the top smartphone manufacturer globally would be adversely affected.

The vice president of mobility at Canalys, Nicole Peng, rightly points out in her interview with CNBC, “It will be like an instant kill switch for Huawei’s ambition to overtake Samsung in the global market.”

January 1, 2020
Samsung Galaxy S10 Review

The Galaxy S10 is a novel-looking 10th-anniversary launch from Samsung in its S series. It is very much similar to the other versions – S10+ and S10e from the same series. Samsung, with this release, has taken into the already in trend punch-hole display that was initially brought about by Honor. Here is the complete Samsung Galaxy S10 Review.

The in-screen fingerprint sensor is a further adaption from phones from OnePlus, Huawei, and Vivo.

The Samsung S10 has a 93.1 % screen-to-body ratio maximizing the display area of the phone.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the various features of this hefty-priced mobile device-

Build and Design

With a glass construction on both the front and rear, it is no different than the previous release in the same series, S9. The front face uses a Corning’s Gorilla Glass 6 while using Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear side.

An aluminum frame is sandwiched right between the glasses for a sturdy and rigid built. The smooth curves on the sides of the phone, does not for once make it oily on the hands instead offers a good grip against a slide.

While the size and built of the phone is comfortable for one-hand browsing or typing, the punch-hole camera sits comfortably in the top right of the notification bar.

The rear end of the phone is clean as compared to the ones trending in the market having rear-fingerprint sensors. It houses a triple-lens camera range with literally the smallest camera bumps in the back.

The dimensions of the phone are 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm and weigh about 157g, which is slightly taller and much lighter than the S9. Also, it is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance.

Display and Audio

Display and Audio are the main things to notice while we do the Samsung Galaxy S10 review. With curved edges that spill pixels over the sides, the Samsung S10 display delivers a crisp output that has been crowned ‘the most color-accurate smartphone display ever’ by DisplayMate.

The 6.1-inch Super AMOLED screen has amped up its features with better outdoor visibility with superior contrast and color while maintaining an industry-standard aspect ratio of 19:9.

The QHD+ resolution of the phone has a pixel density of 550 pixels per inch, which assures the user a highly detailed view. It offers a naturally vibrant display that is utterly bright and colorful for playing HDR10+ enabled videos.

The S10 also offers to switch between resolution options for better conservation of battery.

The phone has single side speakers for a stereo effect that is loud enough for both calls and music. It supports Dolby Atmos for both speaker and headphones.

Performance, Storage and Gaming

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 or Samsung Exynos 9820 chipset with eight cores in three clusters is built on an 8-nanometre process. The S10 has an 8GB LPDDR4x RAM with a choice in the internal storage between 128 or 512 GB.

It also offers additional storage up to 512 GB. Owing to the high-end processor, cycling between different heavy apps is smooth and without delay. The S10 uses Samsung’s new One UI version of Android 9 Pie as its operating system.

Gaming on S10 is built for incredible performance as you can comfortably download heavy gaming applications like Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile when the phone performs without glitch or stutter even while switching the games at worst.

Camera

Packed with triple-lens in the rear and one front-facing camera, the phone scores high in this section. The three-lens set up in the back includes a 12-megapixel telephoto camera that has optical image stabilization and phase-detection autofocus. The 12-megapixel wide-angle camera is the second or primary camera that offers a dual aperture with a field of view.

The third 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera comes with fixed focus and no optical image stabilization while the front camera is a single 10 megapixel, which is one less than that in the s10+.

The advanced camera settings of the S10 now have ten new categories in the scene optimizer. The Samsung camera AI can now differentiate between cats and dogs, which further fine-tune the white balance in the pictures. Also, the shot suggestion feature nudges you to frame or level your subjects better using the neutral processor engine.

The excellent camera feature of the phone offers crisp photos that are rich in color and sharpness while an automatic setting for noise reduction in low light pictures. The ultra-wide camera has a 123-degree field of view, making it a very versatile one. The camera also offers live filter options like live focus or color print filters.

Battery

With a much smaller unit than the other phones in the series, the Samsung S10 has a 3400mAH battery, which is still an upgrade from the S9 with a 3000mAH battery.

As Samsung promises, the battery has an all-day life, which takes up to 90 minutes to fully charge the device.

The more extensive features of the battery are wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. The Wireless PowerShare option allows charging other wireless charging enabled devices directly with your Samsung S10.

All devices that support Qi wireless charging standard can be easily changed just by placing it on the rear of S10. In times of desperate need for a charge, this can prove to be helpful, although the charging speed remains slow.

Add-ons

This time Samsung adds, a dash of newness to the existing traditional fingerprint scanners and device unlock methods. The S10 comes with a brand new ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner that reads the ridges through the display.

The “face unlock mechanism,” though still needs some reasonable effort on it, works pretty efficiently and quickly. While it is fundamental that you try this in a well-lit room as it uses a 2-D representation of your face, the mechanism still looks far less secure than the traditional or fingerprint unlock method.

All in all, the Samsung S10 scores high on performance, camera, and design while it could do some more on the security features for this hefty priced possession.

December 31, 2019
Samsung Galaxy S10 Bitcoin Wallet all Set to give Cryptocurrency to Masses

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts who enjoy android frameworks may be in for a delightful feature. Samsung has disclosed information about its hush-hush bitcoin wallet project. Allegedly, it will be rolled out along with the new Samsung Galaxy S10.

The brand announced the news art the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this week. Samsung confirmed that the new Galaxy S10 model will support cryptocurrency transactions, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Enjin, and Cosme. More decentralized applications will also run on the device.

The latest model from the smartphone maker will feature even bigger screens and an improved camera. However, the crypto feature is the most radical and revolutionary feature any phone has launched yet.

The Speculations have already begun

Samsung is a crucial global tech player, and cryptocurrency is a heavily regulated ecosystem. Therefore, such a big announcement may mean a lot of things or nothing at all. Many industry watchers think that this may well mean the comeback and rise of cryptocurrency once again after the recent busts.

It may be one of the first steps towards making crypto as a mainstream mode of payment.

Other have also tried

Phone makers like HTC have been attempting, including cryptocurrency wallets in new machines like the Exodus one, but have failed to exercise approval and acceptance on a global level.

Will security and privacy be a concern?

The S10 boasts of defense-grade security in the form of Samsung Knox. It means that carrying out encrypted transactions will be a tension0-free affair. It also has secure storage backed by hardware. Also, it will keep your private keys safe for blockchain services on mobile.

Companies like the Korean Blockchain firm Cosmochain (Cosmee) have already partnered up with Samsung to launch their currencies on their android apps. Cosme is a social media platform that runs on a peer-to-peer network.

Therefore, one can think about whether the move by Samsung already has secret economic and political backing on a global level?

Crypto Push Imminent?

The CEO of GlobalBlock thinks that crypto wallets included on hand-held devices will fix the fundamental problems of regulation, application, and security. With more exposure, knowledge about the benefits and scope of blockchain-based networks will reach more people.

Therefore, we can see that when such radical applications, a new wave of information will release a new wave of education and opportunities for those interested. In the future, the possibility of payments without contact will be much more achievable, given the smooth transitions these apps will provide.

However, we still need a developed economic and technical framework to realize the full potential of blockchain. Regulation, by far, is the biggest constraint. Efforts like this from Samsung are sure to wrack some brains at the right places and open up outdated bottlenecks!

Therefore, the announcement by Samsung must be construed positively. Regulators should take note that if hand-held devices can integrate blockchain tech, maybe its time for the masses to embrace and use it actively.

December 31, 2019
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ Contain Latest Upgrades Including Camera Improvements

According to the latest reports, few of the newest flagship Android phones from Samsung are getting the most recent firmware updates. Samsung S9 and S9 + are two phones that are receiving the updates in this segment.This includes new android capabilities, improved camera specs, and display. The brand wishes to capture mass markets by introducing rich features at median prices.

Reports suggest that this firmware update is for the users in the Netherlands for the time being. Users have confirmed that in November 2019, their S9 and S9 Plus have received firmware updates with new security patches.

Earlier, in December 2019, Samsung had released security patches through their firmware update-rollout.

What is Special in Samsung’s New Software Update

This firmware update contains a changelog representing possible camera improvements in their stock camera applications. The camera modules in both the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are a few of the best cameras that money can buy in the current flagship market.

The build numbers of latest firmware updates are G960FXXU7CSK1 and G965FXXU7CSK1, respectively, for the S9 and S9 Plus.

Samsung’s Earlier Software Updates

An earlier update released by Samsung for both the devices included a June 2019 security patch, camera improvements, and a specialized Night mode. This previous build was rolled out in Brazil initially.

Samsung seems to leverage its powerhouse Exynos Chipset on its flagship S9 and S9 Plus by continually optimizing its camera performance.

The review team from Android Authority confirms that the latest updates enhance the low light performance of cameras in both the S9 and S9 plus.

What Does The Latest Update Promise?

The phones can now take better-quality photos in challenging environments. Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus come with Android Pie versions. There is Samsung’s custom UI on top of the Android firmware.

Samsung Galaxy S9 rocks a 12-megapixel shooter that takes superior-quality photos. Furthermore, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus has two of these 12-megapixel lenses offering a two-fold zoom facility. Samsung touts this as their telephoto lens.

Owing to the hardware and software benefits and differences, there is a 130 USD difference between Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.

S9 Plus lets the user take photos with a shallow depth of field thanks to its secondary lens. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is thus favorable for professional photographers and enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Users in the Netherlands can download this latest Samsung update by going to Settings on their S9 and S9 plus. They just need to select Software update located in their Settings page and choose to download and Install.

Users can also download the update from the internet alternatively. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 plus feature personalized voice assistant named Bixby, similar to Google Assistant.

With these latest improvements, the models are sure to attract the vast amount of smart-phone seekers who try finding the right balance between features and pricing.

December 31, 2019
Misfit Vapor X Review – Forget The Fuss
Misfit Vapor X was officially announced on August 19 this year. However, the series has been in the market since 2017 and is very popular among fitness lovers. It is a smart-watch from Fossil, a well-reputed watch brand across the globe.

Let us get straight to the point and understand what Misfit is…

For people who are not aware, Misfit is a fitness brand that started out making fitness trackers through crowdsourcing. Firstly, they made a coin-shaped device that used to track your fitness, and then they explored and came up with new products.

After the launch of Vapor 2 in 2018, they have now come up with Vapor X.

Top brands like Huawei and Samsung are producing wearables and use their patent software whereas, “Wear OS” watches take care of by smaller brands like TicWatch, Fossil, and Misfit.

With the Misfit Vapor X, you will undoubtedly consider spending a bit more due to its classy, bright, and trendy looks and a super elegant frame.

It is a perfect looking wearable. However, Misfit is a brand known for sports, but Vapor X doesn’t give a sporty look. It goes well with all looks and occasions.

The look of the watch is sharp, professional and it can go with everything you wear.

It looks much better than TicWatch and is thinner and lighter than the original Vapor. Misfit hasn’t changed the look too much since the Vapor 2, but to be honest, still no issues!

Why Should You Like it?
- - Firstly, it has a well- designed sleek look and is ultra-lightweight.
  - Keeps Heart Rate Count.
  - Comes with “Pay as you go” facility
  - GPS Tracker is available
  - Swim- Proof, 30 m Water Resistant
  - Phone Free Music, it includes a speaker for audio output
  - Snapdragon wear 3100, which helps the power through, that’s the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor
  - AMOLED display, it is pretty much superb!
  - Rapid Charging, the battery life is impressive; we can at least use it throughout the day and a half without charging! Wherein the “Do NOT Disturb” feature also helps in keeping the battery saved for an additional amount of time
  - The buttons provided are soft
  - A smooth, quick release option to change the strap
  - To come to the price, it’s is cheaper than Gen 5 and also less expensive than Skagen Falster 2
Is it all good?
- - The main frustration is that you do have to plug into a charger to power the watch back on. However, Fossil should now get along with the true wireless charging, though the charger is not bad but not that convenient too.
- - It also provides the “Ultra Battery Saver Mode” which turns the watch into a basic Digital Watch, which is somewhat disappointing
  - The Audio function is not much practical (The speaker provided for Audio Output)
  - The strap provided does not look that amazing. Also, the material is like fake leather and gives a plastic feel
  - HR Tracking is a little disappointing
Verdict:

Misfit Vapor X does everything that a smart-watch should do. Wear it once. You will not feel like replacing it with anything else. The battery life is incredible, which is mainly required and efficiently delivers all the features. Apart from a few unnoticeable bugs, it is an excellent deal to bag.
December 30, 2019
Huawei Mate 20 Pro Review: Is the Phone Worth all the Hype?
Huawei Mate 20 Pro was released on 27 November 2018 and has enough premium features to be called an excellent smartphone today. However, leave budget constraints at home if you want to grab this one.

It is a groundbreaking Android phone with three back cameras and an unmistakable yet suave style. Therefore, if you want to stand apart, you need to check it out!

Is it worth it?

The Mate 20 Pro, is a champion of sorts, in league with the likes of Google Pixels and Samsung Galaxies. Huawei Mate 20 Pro falls in the premium smartphone cadre with prices starting from over 1000 USD.

People have been talking, and the tech community has been speculating about the Huawei Mate 20 pro even before its intended release date. After its release and in-depth review, we try to answer whether the phone is worth all the hype and money.

Huawei Mate 20 Variants

The Mate 20 Pro comes with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. Another variant of Huawei Mate 20 Pro consists of 8 GB RAM and 512 GB of internal memory.

It is a premium, execution-driven smartphone. Huawei Mate 20 Pro comes with a notched display with a rectangular seam at the chin.

The design of this phone is synonymous with Samsung Galaxy S9’s design. The accuracy bent glass configuration utilized here by Huawei is a complete shocker, with the smooth bends of the 3D glass merging superbly with the telephone’s cool-to-the-contact outline.

The Mate 20 Pro is heavier than Samsung Galaxy S9. It calmly rocks a Uni-body design.

Screen and Performance

The Mate 20 Pro houses a 6.4-inch display in OLED. The screen is perfect for viewing high-quality media content, playing graphically intensive Android games, editing media content, and running heavy-duty applications. Its screen is of a curved fashion, with its edges bleeding to sides. Also, the display offers an extensive range of colors and contrast.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro’s chipset is manufactured by the 7nm process to make it energy-efficient and performance-intensive. The name of the chipset batch is Kirin 980 CPU.

The battery capacity is 4,200 mAh. Additionally, there is enough juice to get you through a day and a half of power-packed tasking.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro offers fast charging with its 40 W adapter. It also offers Qi wireless charging. Plus, you can use the phone reverse charge another Qi-enabled phone.

Camera

Huawei Mate 20 Pro has a three-camera set up in the rear. The primary camera is a 40-megapixel shooter with 1.8 wide-angle focal lengths.

The flagship’s second camera is a 20-megapixel shooter. The second camera’s focal length is 2.2 and offers the ultra-wide-angle capability.

The third camera is the 8-megapixel shooter with a focal length of 2.4. The third camera offers telephoto capability.

Photograph, Night, Portrait, Video, Pro, Panorama, Monochrome (the devoted monochrome camera as utilized on the P20 Pro has been removed), Time-pass, Light painting, Watermark, Underwater, and all the more shooting modes are at the user’s fingertips. Also, the initial testing proved that the performance was quick, responsive, and natural.
- - Inside each shooting mode, there are a lot of extra choices that enable you to
  - Include channels
  - Change various beautification settings
  - Modify shading balance
  - Impel different degrees of zoom, including flicking on the telephone’s incredible new 0.6x zoom full-scale.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro packs a committed 120-degree ultra wide-edge focal point. Users can choose to shoot in an 18.8:9 angle proportion. Also, clicking is much better as the shutter is nicely lit and highlights extravagant hues and details.

Audio Performance

Huawei Mate 20 Pro plays every file format thrown at it. The flagship phone bolsters Dolby Atmos for mobiles, which enhances audio and cinematic experiences naturally and or over headphones.

Software

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is one of the first smartphones to come with the Android 9.0 Pie inbuilt out of the case. The 9.0 Pie OS is integrated on the Mate 20 Pro with Huawei’s light EMUI 9.0 skin. Hence, this leads to smooth performance and a buttery UI/UX.

Conclusion

All in all, the Huawei Mate 2o Pro is an ideal choice if you want a premium phone and want to stand out from the crowd. It checks all the right marks for a premium smartphone. Also, the powerful performance, impressive entertainment, and incredible features, it boasts all!

If budget is not a problem for you and you want to own something different, go for it!
December 30, 2019