A few weeks ago, reports had surfaced on the OnePlus forums that the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro had a green tint issue, similar to the ones seen on other recent AMOLED display equipped smartphones. However, buried in the same forum posts were reports of a black-crush issue. The back-crush problem is characterized by blocks of different shades of black when a pure black image is displayed on the screen. OnePlus has made a statement regarding this issue and it does not look good.
OnePlus has issued an official statement on the OnePlus Reddit forums, confirming that the black crush issue is a hardware problem and cannot be fixed via a software update. The company is giving consumers three options in case they notice this issue on their devices; repair, refund or replacement. OnePlus has issued two software updates since the problems came to light, but the black crush issue still persists. The green tint appearing on the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro also has its roots in hardware issues, but OnePlus seems to think it can be fixed via software fixes.
Lately, there have been a number of reports of not just OnePlus’s flagship devices, but also with Samsung’s latest crop of flagships. There has been a trend of smartphones launching without proper QA testing, which results in faulty devices being shipped to users. Ideally, once the issues with Samsung’s S20 series displays started cropping up, OnePlus should have started looking into their own devices for the same issues, given that the company making the AMOLED panels was the same.
OnePlus is yet to start shipping their devices in India, with the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro both being available for pre-order on Amazon. Both the smartphones feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 processor. Both devices also come with LPDDR5 memory, high refresh rate displays (120Hz on the Pro and 90Hz on the regular OnePlus 8) capable of HDR video playback. The OnePlus 8 starts at Rs 41,999 while the OnePlus 8 Pro starts at Rs 54,999. Both the devices will be available for purchase through Amazon and OnePlus India’s own website.
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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro was announced back in March alongside the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max but due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the sales of the phones have been deferred until now. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is going on sale from May 5 in India and will be sold on Amazon India and the Mi India store.
Additionally, the company has revealed that it is offering an extra discount of Rs 1,000 for ICICI bank credit cardholders and for orders placed under the EMI option. As for the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Xiaomi hasn’t revealed when it’s going to start selling the maxed-out version of the Redmi Note 9 Pro in the country.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro price and availability
The Note 9 Pro starts at Rs 13,999 for the base variant with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage and the other variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage is priced at Rs 16,999.
The phone comes in three colours-- Aurora Blue, Glacier White and Interstellar Black. It goes on sale from May 5 on Amazon India and Mi India Store.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 specifications
Redmi Note 9 Pro features a 6.67-inch Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) resolution display topped with a layer of Gorilla Glass 5 and a punch-hole cutout for the selfie camera.
It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G chipset with an octa-core CPU and Adreno 618 GPU. This is paired with upto 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage options to choose from. The phone also comes with a dedicated slot for microSD cards for further memory expansion.
The Note 9 Pro has a quad-camera setup that consists of a primary 48MP camera with an f/1.8 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5MP macro camera with f/2.4 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor. On the front, there is a 16MP selfie camera housed within the punch-hole cutout.
The phone’s power button on the right edge doubles up as a fingerprint sensor and it has a 5,020mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.
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The Google Pixel 4 when it was launched, kicked up controversy because one of its most novel features was also the reason why it wasn’t launched in various countries like India. However, Indian consumers and many others around the world have been holding out for the Google Pixel 4a, hoping that it would launch with more of the desirable features of the Pixel 4, minus the Soli radar and the massive price tag. We finally know the Pixel 4a is real, given the numerous leaks around it and now, we have the first set of camera samples from a pre-production Google Pixel 4a.
YouTuber Julio Lusson, who runs the channel TecnoLike Plus has published an entire camera review of the Google Pixel 4a, complete with camera samples. A few things that are confirmed through his post is that the Pixel 4a features the same primary camera as the Pixel 4. This means we get the Sony IMX 363 sensor with a resolution of 12.2 megapixels, paired with a lens that offers an aperture of f/1.7 and optical image stabilization. The single front-facing camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels and an aperture of f/2.0, the same sensor found on the front camera of the Pixel 3 (Review) and Pixel 3a.
The samples posted by the YouTuber show a very capable camera, something we’ve come to expect from the Pixel lineup of smartphones. In fact, the Google Pixel 4a also sports the Astrophotography mode which allows users to shoot photos of the night sky using just their smartphone. As long as there’s no light pollution and you’re pointing the phone at the right part of the sky, you can expect some amazing photos of the stars in the night sky or even a view of the Milky Way’s arms. You can see all the samples on Julio's website.
The Google Pixel 4a is rumoured to come sporting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC paired with 6GB of RAM. The phone is expected to only come in a single size, with a 5.81-inch display and a resolution of 2340x1080 and a 60Hz refresh rate. The phone is also expected to sport a 3080mAh battery. The phone is expected to be announced on May 22 for an expected price of $400.
Do note that the camera samples are all from the Pixel 4a running pre-production software
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Telegram has hit a new milestone. The app has been downloaded 500 million times on the Play Store. Unlike some other apps, Telegram doesn't come bundled or preinstalled on a smartphone, unlike other popular chat apps. According to Android Police, “Many of the Play Store install milestones that go by are more a reflection of 'how many phones were this app bundled with' than 'look at how many people downloaded this by choice.' Telegram doesn't ship pre-installed on any Android phones, but despite that, the app just passed 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store”. On April 24, the company published a blog post highlighting that it has 400 Million users. In the blog, post Telegram highlights that “Every day at least 1.5 million new users sign up for Telegram. Features like folders, cloud storage, and desktop support make Telegram ideal for remote work and study during the quarantine. It's no wonder Telegram is the #1 most downloaded social media application in over 20 countries – people all over the world are switching to Telegram at an accelerating pace.”
The blog post goes on to read, “Video calls in 2020 are much like messaging in 2013. There are apps that are either secure or usable, but not both. We'd like to fix that, and we will focus on bringing you secure group video calls in 2020.” So it looks like Telegram will work on a video calling feature in 2020. There is no information on when the app will get the feature. The demand for video calling apps has increased during the lockdown. You can check out some of the popular video calling apps being used here.
WhatsApp has also increased the limit of video calling from 4 ton 8. However, to use the feature, users have to update the app. You can read more about WhatsApp’s increased video calling limit here.
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A Forbes article claimed Xiaomi smartphones are collecting browser data including from incognito sessions and sending to servers in Russia and Singapore. While rampant data collection is indeed an unfortunate status quo of internet companies, it’s the nature of encoding that Xiaomi is using that has alarmed cybersecurity experts. Xiaomi took out a detailed blog explaining their privacy policies and data collection practices with Manu Kumar Jain even recording a video to debunk the ghastly claims made by the Forbes article
While the response is listed out in full detail on Xiaomi’s blog, it can all seem a litte too technical. To help you understand, we have broken each claim made on the Forbes piece and Xiaomi’s response to it —
Claim 1: Mi Browser and Mint Browser tracking all activity, even when in incognito
Gabriel Cirlig, the cybersecurity expert quoted in the Forbes piece was the first to discover this. He found the Mi browser (installed by default in all Xiaomi phones) as well as Mint Browser (available on Google Play Store with thousands of installs) were tracking the URLs you visited as well as the search terms you used on DuckDuckGo as well as Google Search. The browser tracked the URL even when you are in the private or incognito mode. This data is being sent to servers owned by Alibaba in Russia and Singapore, and rented by Xiaomi.
Xiaomi’s response
Xiaomi admits to collecting data such as system information, preferences, user interface feature usage, responsiveness, performance, memory usage, and crash reports. These are anonymised and aggregrated and cannot be used to identify an individual. Xiaomi also admits that URLs are collected to identify slow-loading web-pages but doesn’t mention whether it also looks at what the user is searching on search engine websites. Furthermore, Xiaomi states the data collection is done with user consent which the user permits when they agree to the terms and conditions when setting up a Xiaomi smartphone.
The company further confirmed that it collects usage stats while in incognito mode as well, and usage stats also includes URLs which is ironic considering the incognito mode is enabled so that such data is not collected.
Counter Response from cybersecurity researchers
So, Xiaiomi have published a blog, which I think aims to refute what myself, @hookgab and @iblametom are presenting.https://t.co/b8YH1pa2xo Let's tear it down.
— Cybergibbons (@cybergibbons) May 1, 2020
Another cybersecurity expect who Forbes spoke to, Andrew Tierney (goes by the alias @Cybergibbons) tweeted out a proof of concept which countered Xiaomi’s response. While most of it is too technical to explain in simple terms, the video basically shows that the data collected has a UUID or a universally unique identifier which easily lets someone identify where the data came from.
Claim 2: Sending data to remote servers using sub-standard encoding
The researchers also claimed Xiaomi is storing the data in foreign servers based on Russia and Singapore. These servers are owned by Alibaba and rented by Xiaomi. They have web domains registered in Beijing. Furthermore, it was found Xiaomi is using base64 encoding which the researchers claimed can be easily decoded on the client-side, once again potentially revealing individual identities.
Xiaomi’s response
“Xiaomi hosts information on a public cloud infrastructure that is common and well known in the industry. All information from our overseas services and users is stored on servers in various overseas markets where local user privacy protection laws and regulations are strictly followed and with which we fully comply.”
Indeed, this is a standard practice among many software companies. Collecting aggregated and anonymised data is performed by the largest internet giants like Google and Facebook. And this is one place where Xiaomi alone can’t be taken to task.
Xiaomi also claimed the data sent to overseas servers are all anonymised and there’s no way it can be traced back to an individual. However, the researchers found Xiaomi is using base64 encoding which is easily trackable, at least from the client side.
Xiaomi’s response didn’t really touch this part of the claim. It did however state that they use TLS 1.2 encryption standard. As a result, while it may be difficult to intercept the data in transit, there’s no way to tell how the data is treated once it reaches it destination.
Claim 3: User data collected isn’t anonymous, as claimed by Xiaomi. The UUID is specific for each user for 24 hours and not randomly assigned as suggested by Xiaomi
Gabi and other researchers found that the data shared from the Mi Browser and Mint Browser all carry unique identifiers which are specific for individual devices. For instance, two sets of data sent from the same smartphone within 24 hours. will carry the same UUID, which again potentially allows server clients to identify the origin of the data.
Xiaomi’s response:
“This screenshot shows the code for how we create randomly generated unique tokens to append to aggregate usage statistics, and these tokens do not correspond to any individuals.”
Counter response by the researchers:
The POC video released by Andrew clearly shows that the UUID is the same for data sent within 24 hours, debunking Xiaomi’s claim of using randomised tokens. He even debunked the screenshot shared by Xiaomi on Twitter.
They present this as evidence that they "create randomly generated unique tokens" that "do not correspond to any individuals". This code shows nothing of the sort. pic.twitter.com/B4mkhU7ZKH
— Cybergibbons (@cybergibbons) May 1, 2020
Is it fair for Xiaomi to collected private browser data?
Xiaomi took a day to jot down its side of the story which maintained that the research done by Forbes for the story is flawed. The company further stated that collecting usage data is a standard industry practice. Almost every web browser in the world collects user data. However, it’s the nature of collecting data by Xiaomi that is under scrutiny.
For instance, while Chrome and Firefox are known to keep track of the URLs you visit, collecting data generate during an incognito sessions isn’t heard of, and can’t be considered normal or an industry practice which can be accepted.
The private mode exists specifically to prevent URLs being listed on browser history and to prevent cookies and other trackers to be inserted. Including search terms is even more alarming.
Furthermore, which it’s proven that the data stays encrypted while in transit, having an UUID means the data can potentially be traced back to the individual.
Xiaomi’s response of calling out the research as flawed without substantiating the claim with relevant evidence and pointers isn’t right. The company needs to come clean of its data collection practices in light of the recent revelations.
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Just a few weeks after Facebook announced that it was investing 5.7 billion dollars in Jio Platforms, Silver Lake Partners, an American private equity firm, has now invested 750 million dollars in Jio Platforms as well. As we reported earlier, Facebook has already invested in Jio Platforms and are looking to create a sort of ‘super app’, much like Weibo chat in China. The deal was Facebook’s largest since the company bought the messaging app WhatsApp in 2014. Facebook spent a whopping 22 billion dollars on that acquisition.
Silver Lake Partners invest $750 million in Reliance Jio Platforms
According to various reports, the investment by Silver Lake Partners represents a shift as this is the first big investment for the equity firm in India. This could put Reliance in a dominant position and could see the telecom giant really push forward when and if the COVID-19 outbreak quells down. Talking about the investment, Reliance Industries Limites Chairman, Mukesh Ambani said, “I am delighted to welcome Silver Lake as a valued partner in continuing to grow and transform the Indian digital ecosystem for the benefit of all Indians. Silver Lake has an outstanding record of being a valuable partner for leading technology companies globally. Silver Lake is one of the most respected voices in technology and finance. We are excited to leverage insights from their global technology relationships for the Indian Digital Society’s transformation."
Reliance Jio joins hands with Silver Lake Partners for a Digital India
As the country goes through a relative time of turmoil because of the Coronavirus, it looks like companies like Reliance Jio are looking to revitalise the economy of India by introducing digitisation across all areas of the country. Reliance has also said that the company has piqued the interest of other financial investors.
Reliance is also looking to launch Jio Meet, the company’s video calling app and have also offered 2GB free complementary data for Jio users.
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Realme X3 SuperZoom has been in the news ever since it was spotted on certification websites in Thailand and India, but a recent leak reveals some of the key specifications of the phone. The X3 SuperZoom also has a regular variant that’s been leaked through a TENAA listing.
According to a tweet posted by leakster Sudhanshu Ambhore, the Realme X3 SuperZoom could come with a 4,200mAh battery with 30W fast charging support. The phone will feature an AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of at least 90Hz similar to the previous generation.
Realme X3 SuperZoom leaked specifications
The Realme X3 SuperZoom has been rumoured to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ chipset with upto 12GB RAM and Android 10 based RealmeUI out of the box. Notably, the company’s Realme X2 Pro from last year did come with an 855+ chip onboard.
The name “SuperZoom” indicates that the phone could come with a telephoto lens that offers more than 20x digital zoom. This is similar to what the company did with the X2 and X2 Pro. While the latter features a 13MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, the regular X2 has a macro lens instead.
The phone was allegedly spotted on Weibo with a carbon-fibre finish on the back and an accented strip that runs down the middle of the rear panel. The design looks reminiscent of Oppo’s Reno range of smartphones but isn’t a direct rip-off.
The X3 SuperZoom could feature a 64MP primary camera or maybe go ahead with Samsung’s 108MP sensor. The X2 Pro was packed with a 64MP camera setup. Having said that, nothing is known about the camera capabilities of the X3 SuperZoom yet.
Realme X3, on the other hand, could feature a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display with dual punch-hole notch cutout and has been listed to be powered by Snapdragon 765G chipset with upto 12GB RAM and 256GB storage options to choose from.
The rear camera array consists of a primary 48MP camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera and two 2MP cameras, possibly a macro and a depth sensor. On the front, there’s a 16MP and a 2MP camera housed within the notch cutout.
It is rumoured to pack a 4,100mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging like the SuperZoom variant.
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