Highlights: Huawei Mate 30 Series is in testing phase, says company executive. The phone could launch in September or October this year. It may come with 5G support. Huawei just launched the P30-Series of phones in Paris and just on the heels of the camera-centric phones, reports about the successor of the Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro (Review) are already making rounds on the internet. A Huawei executive in Malaysia has confirmed in a video that the next Mate devices are already in the testing phase internally and may launch in September or October later this year. Last year, Huawei launched the Mate 20 Series of phones in October. In a press conference, Huawei Product Manager Bruce Lee (via CNET), said, “Now is March and the Mate 30 will be launched in September or October.” Moreover, the phone could also come with 5G capabilities. Recently, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, said that the company is “considering” adding 5G connectivity to “the next Mate series.” This makes sense because by October, we may start seeing a working 5G infrastructure in some part of the world. As far as hardware is concerned, the Huawei Mate 30 Series may debut with HiSilicon Kirin 985 mobile platform. Generally, the Chinese tech giant launches the flagship processor in July-August. Last year, Huawei launched the HiSilicon Kirin 980 SoC in August as the world’s first chipset manufactured by manufactured with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 7nm process. A recent report said that the Kirin 985 will be manufactured using EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet) lithography that will make more advanced semiconductors for mobile, server, network and supercomputing applications. The report also said that Huawei will increase its orders of 7nm TSMC wafers, silicon-based round disks on which etching is done, in the second half of this year. HiSilicon is also reported to become the largest customer of TSMC 7nm. Huawei has claimed that in 2018 it shipped a record 200 million units, including the Huawei P20 and Mate 20 series of smartphones. The report says that the company will launch (more) phones with four cameras on the back as well as folding devices to meet its annual shipment target of 250 million. A few weeks ago, back covers allegedly of the Huawei Mate 30 series of phone were leaked online suggesting that their could be five cameras on the back - a setup that has already been seen in the Nokia 9 PureView. Related Read: 41 smartphone brands exit, 15 entered India in 2018: Report
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Highlights: Google Pixel 3a could be priced starting at Euro 450 (Rs 34,977 approx). The pricing is reportedly for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model of the phone. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are also tipped to launch in a new Iris colour model. There have been numerous reports and rumours suggesting that Google is working on a couple of mid-range Pixel 3 series of handsets called the Pixel 3 Lite and Pixel 3 Lite XL. However, a previous report tipped that the phones might be named Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL instead. While the two handsets are rumoured to be launched in Spring, more information about them is leaking out. The latest report comes from WinFuture, which suggests that the Pixel 3a could be priced at Euro 450 (Rs 34,977 approx) for the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage model. While there could be other variants of the device, they are speculated to come with more storage and not more RAM. Additionally, the standard White and Black colour options are said to be accompanied by an “Iris” colour variant, which is a shade of violet. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are reportedly codenamed “bonito” and “sargo.” A reference to their code names was spotted in the ConnectivityMonitor and Google Camera apps. As mentioned, the phones are expected to be launched in spring but there’s also a chance that Google might announce them after concluding Google I/O 2019. As their names suggest, the two phones are reported to be less expensive, and presumably less powerful, versions of the current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones. The Pixel 3a could run on the Snapdragon 670 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and is speculated to feature a 5.5-inch display. Same as the Pixel 3, it could sport a 12MP rear camera with dual LED flash and an 8MP sensor on the front. The larger Pixel 3a XL might be launched running on the Snapdragon 710 SoC. It is said to feature a 6-inch display. There is no information on the RAM, storage and the battery size of the handset. However, both the smartphones are slated to run on Android 9 Pie, sports a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Related Reads: Google Pixel 3 Lite, Pixel 3 Lite XL may be called Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL: Report Google Pixel 3 Lite, Pixel 3 XL Lite reportedly launching in Spring 2019
Highlights: The Samsung Galaxy A2 Core will be an Android Go device. The phone will come with a 5-inch qHD display, 1GB RAM and possibly 16GB storage. The device will run on Android Oreo (Go Edition). Samsung plans to launch its next Android Go device in the coming days. The phone will be called the Galaxy A2 Core and will succeed the Galaxy J2 Core that launched in India last year. The upcoming entry-level smartphone has been leaked multiple times and based on them, we have a good idea what to expect. Recently, a detailed spec-sheet of the Galaxy A2 Core surfaced online which further confirmed the features and hardware the phone will come with. The Galaxy A2 Core was leaked on SlashLeaks recently, revealing everything about the phone. We know the Android Go smartphone will sport a 5-inch qHD (540x960) TFT LCD display. The phone will be powered by a Exynos 7870 SoC coupled with 1GB of RAM, in line with the hardware requirements of an Android Go phone. The internal storage of the A2 Core is not completely confirmed, but past reports have pegged the phone will house 16GB of internal storage, along with support for storage expansion. On the back, the Samsung Galaxy A2 Core will get a 5MP camera on the back with an LED flash. We can’t confirm the specification of the front camera, though. The phone will be powered by a 2,600mAh battery. The leaked spec-sheet even revealed the dimensions and weight of the phone. The A2 Core will measure 141.6x71.0x9.1 cm and weighs 142 grams. The phone will support Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, 3.5mm headphone jack and FM radio. Since this will run on Android Go, the phone will also come with Google’s suite of Go apps along with lighter versions of Samsung apps. Most other popular apps like Facebook, Messenger and more have their own ‘lite’ versions on the PlayStore as well. The leaked spec-sheet reveals the Galaxy A2 Core will run on Android Oreo (Go Edition) and not Android Pie (Go Edition) which can be a bummer. The phone is expected to launch in India, considering this is one of the key markets for Samsung’s budget phones. The A2 Core, when it eventually launches, will have the newly launched Xiaomi Redmi Go priced at Rs 4,499 for company. Related Read: Xiaomi Redmi Go first impressions: Smartphone made for feature phone users
Highlights: HBO will release The Last Watch on May 26. The documentary will be 2 hours long. It is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Game of Throne season 8. With season 8, Game of Thrones is finally coming to a close. On May 19, fans will bid farewell to the TV sensation which forever changed the world of streaming. As emotions and anticipation for the new and final season of Game of Thrones ride high, HBO has announced that it will be releasing a two-hour long documentary feature on the making of GoT Season 8. According to the production house, Season 8 of Game of Thrones has been its most challenging and ambitious project to date. The documentary will be called The Last Watch and will debut on May 26, a week after the show’s final airing. HBO says that the documentary “delves deep into the mud and blood to reveal the tears and triumphs involved in the challenge of bringing the fantasy world of Westeros to life in the very real studios, fields and car-parks of Northern Ireland." It further adds that the documentary will focus on the “trenches of production”, including the extreme shoot schedules and environments that actos of the show had to face. It is “a funny, heartbreaking story, told with wit and intimacy, about the bittersweet pleasures of what it means to create a world – and then have to say goodbye to it," HBO says. The Last Watch is directed by documentary maker Jeanie Finlay, along with showrunners David Benioff, D.B. Weiss and Bernadette Caulfield. It will be available on HBO, HBO Now, HBO GO and HBO On Demand. In India, it is expected to be made available on Hotstar. Related Reads: HBO boss says Game of Thrones will have a dramatically and emotionally satisfying ending
Highlights: Xiaomi foldable phone showed off in another video. The video confirms the double fold design that was shown in a clip in January. It also hints that the phone will run of MIUI 9 atop Android 9. In January, Xiaomi co-founder Lin Bin showed off a foldable phone announcing the company's entry into the bendable devices market. Since then, Huawei and Samsung have been stealing the limelight after launching their respective devices, and little was heard about Xiaomi’s handset. The phone has now been teased in another video hinting at what one should expect from the device if and when it launches commercially. In the 10-second video, a person is seen playing around the phone in an unfolded state, scrolling through what looks likes a social media site. The operator then folds the phone and keeps it on a cup. As it was shown in the previous video, Xiaomi is using a double fold in its device, and the latest video reaffirms the design. The operator is also seen using gesture controls while navigating. The gesture controls suggest that the phone runs on MIUI 9 baked atop Android 9 Pie. Gesture controls are a significant feature in the latest OS and are developed so that users can easily navigate with one-hand, especially on phones which have large displays. The video shows the foldable Xiaomi phone in a portrait position and aspect ratio seems to be 3:2. The last video showed the phone in landscape position where it sported a 4:3 display aspect ratio. The operator then tilts the phone in the landscape position and folds it from the sides. Other phones, like Royole FlexPai, Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X, have only one fold in the centre. There have been reports that the Samsung Galaxy Fold has a crease in the centre. Xiaomi's foldable phone is expected to pack the Snapdragon 855 chipset and the display is said to be co-developed by Xiaomi and Visionox. In a previous Weibo post, Bin said that the double folding mobile phone is coming and the company has fixed the problems of the foldable display. “After conquering a series of technical problems such as flexible folding screen technology, four-wheel drive folding shaft technology, flexible cover technology, and MIUI adaptation, we made the first folding screen mobile phone, which should be the world's first double folding mobile phone,” he said. “This symmetrical double-folded form perfectly combines the experience of the tablet and mobile phone, which is both practical and beautiful. Although it is still an engineering machine, it is sent out for everyone to see,” the executive added. A previous report claimed that Xiaomi will launch the phone in the second quarter of 2019 at a price of $999. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Fold’s price starts at $1,980, the Huawei Mate X is priced at a whopping $2,600. Related Read: Meet FlexPai: The world's first foldable smartphone Samsung foldable smartphone with new Android UI unveiled at SDC #xiaomi Xiaomi Mi Fold with double folding screen. pic.twitter.com/vvYaf6rLOL — Xiaomishka (@xiaomishka) 27 March 2019
Highlights: MG Hector will come with TomTom and Gaana apps pre-installed. MG will highlight the car's tech features on April 2. The Hector is expected to be launched in May. MG and MG Hector are two words that are on everybody’s lips right now. The Chinese-owned British brand is set to bring the MG Hector, its first car in the country, to India sometime in May. In an exclusive leak, we’ve learnt that the Hector will come preloaded with TomTom and Gaana apps, giving it a possible software edge in the navigation and music departments. The centre console of the Hector will be home to a 10.4-inch HD touchscreen display for the infotainment system, which can also be used to adjust the climate control system in the car. The inclusion of the two apps in the car's software doesn't seem like a big surprise because the MG Hector is expected to come loaded with tech goodies. MG will highlight several of these unique tech features at an upcoming tech forum called drive.in on April 2. The SAIC Motor UK-subsidiary will also introduce something called “Internet of Cars” at the event. We reckon what MG has up its sleeve is a set of features on the car remotely controllable using a proprietary app on an Android/iOS smartphone. But we can’t say for sure just yet. What we know for sure is that the Hector will come with a large 10.4-inch touchscreen panel on the centre console, which is a few inches larger than the 8.8-inch touchscreen display on its most immediate competitor, the recently launched Tata Harrier. In addition, it will also come with a 360-degree camera, a Harman Infinity audio system with a dedicated subwoofer, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. Only a couple of days ago the MG Hector was spotted with a Hybrid badge on its tailgate, leaving us all wondering if MG Motor has plans to bring the mini-SUV with a petrol hybrid engine option. Though the hybrid inclusion is not clear, we know the Hector will come with two engine options: a 1.5-litre petrol motor, which is good for about 170 horsepower of power, and a 2.0-litre diesel motor sourced from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Both engines will be BS-VI compliant. Related Read: MG Hector SUV spied with Hybrid badge
Highlights: Google and Facebook paid up fake invoices worth $122 million to a Lithuanian man. The tech giants did not realise that the invoices were for things they did not even order. The Lithuanian man pretended to be a vendor from Taiwanese hardware company Quanta Computer Inc. A Lithuanian man managed to dupe two of the world’s biggest corporations - Google and Facebook - by producing fake invoices, which the companies paid up without a shadow of doubt. Evaldas Rimasauskas of Lithuania duped Facebook of $99 million and made Google pay up $23 million between 2013 and 2015, by simply sending them fake invoices for things they did not even order and supporting his claims with forged paperwork and emails from corporate executives. Rimasauskas produced false contracts, fake letters from company executives and other documents to make his claims look legitimate. He even went to the extent of posing as a vendor from a Taiwanese hardware manufacturer called Quanta Computer Inc and registered a company with the same name in Latvia to boost his credibility. No one at Facebook or Google thought of checking up on his million dollar claims, which he distributed across several bank accounts in Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia, Cyprus and Latvia. It was Google that finally discovered the con and last week, Rimasauskas plead guilty to US Wire Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money Laundering charges. He has now agreed to forfeit $50 million, while it’s unclear what will happen to the rest of the $73 million. Rimasauskas will be sentenced on July 29 and he faces up to 30 years imprisonment for the scam. Meanwhile commenting on the matter, Google said, “We detected this fraud and promptly alerted the authorities. We recouped the funds and we're pleased this matter is resolved." Via
