Nokia may be adding Nokia 4, Nokia 7 Plus to its lineup in 2018

HMD Global may be gearing up to launch the Nokia 4 and Nokia 7 Plus as part of its 2018 smartphone lineup, an APK file for the default Nokia camera app has revealed. The company is also expected to launch its first Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphone, called the Nokia 1. Reports say HMD Global could be launching as many as six Nokia smartphones in the coming months.

Six new Nokia smartphones launching in the coming months

According to a report by GizChina, the names Nokia 4 and Nokia 7 Plus showed up on a teardown of the default Nokia camera app. This brings the number of leaked Nokia smartphones to 6 – the Nokia 6 (2018), Nokia 8 (2018), Nokia 9 and the Nokia 1 had been spotted online earlier.

While the new reports don’t reveal the specifications of the Nokia 4 and Nokia 7 Plus yet, speculations are that the Nokia 7 Plus may feature a bigger display and improved processor, compared to the original Nokia 7 launched last year in China. The Nokia 7 sported a 5.2-inch display, Snapdragon 630 processor and a glass design with aluminium frame.

On the other hand, the Nokia 4 seems to be a new smartphone altogether. Additionally, HMD Global is also reported to be preparing to launch the Nokia 1, which was leaked last month. The Nokia 1 is expected to be HMD’s first Android Go smartphone, rumoured to feature an IPS LCD display with HD resolution, 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage.

Nokia 9 launch scheduled for January 19

Lastly, the company is also scheduled to launch the Nokia 9, its next flagship smartphone, on January 19. At the event, HMD is expected to reveal the Nokia 6 (2018) and the Nokia 8 (2018) as well. The Nokia 9 is expected to launch with thin bezels and a 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon 835 chipset and a dual camera setup with Carl Zeiss optics.

from TechRadar: Phone and communications news http://www.techradar.com/news/nokia-may-be-adding-nokia-4-nokia-7-plus-to-its-lineup-in-2018

Google Pixel XL available on Amazon at Rs. 36000 discount

The Google Pixel XL 128GB is available on Amazon with some hefty discounts. Launched in October 2016 at a price of Rs. 76,000 in India, the Pixel XL 128GB variant is available at Rs. 39,999, after a discount of Rs. 36,000. You can exchange or your old smartphone to get an additional discount, that brings the price down to Rs. 36,000.

The Pixel brand is Google’s attempt to offer premium smartphones with fast updates, competing directly with the Apple iPhone, Samsung's Galaxy S and Note lines and more. With the Pixel brand, Google has also focused heavily on the cameras, taking a big leap in terms of image quality and overall user experience. The Pixel phones have had some of the best camera phones in the market over the last two years.

Google Pixel XL specifications

The Google Pixel XL has a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display and a glass and aluminium design. Launched with Android 7.1 Nougat, the Pixel XL is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chipset. The phone comes with 4GB RAM and up to 128GB internal storage.

In terms of optics, the Pixel XL has a 12.3MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, gyro EIS, Laser and Phase Detection Autofocus, and a dual LED flash. The rear camera can record 4K videos and it also supports slow-motion recording up to 240fps at a resolution of 720p. The phone comes with an 8MP camera on the front.

At the time of writing, Amazon's Pixel XL discount is applicable on the Quite Black variant of the Pixel XL 128GB.

Other Pixel offers

There have been a slew of offers on Google’s Pixel smartphones over the last few weeks. The Pixel 2, in particular, was available at Rs. 39,999 after discounts and cashbacks on Flipkart, making it a good option against the likes of the OnePlus 5T and the Nokia 8.

from TechRadar: Phone and communications news http://www.techradar.com/news/google-pixel-xl-available-on-amazon-at-rs-36000-discount

Apple begins replacing batteries for older iPhones earlier than announced

Originally set for late January, the company is now offering $29 rates for out-of-warranty battery replacements on throttled iPhones.

The post Apple begins replacing batteries for older iPhones earlier than announced appeared first on Pocketnow.

from Pocketnow http://pocketnow.com/2018/01/01/apple-begins-replacing-batteries-for-older-iphones-earlier-than-announced

Huawei P20 name could replace P11

We're learning about three phones from Huawei that could be coming at MWC 2018. They apparently have better names than what we've been figuring.

The post Huawei P20 name could replace P11 appeared first on Pocketnow.

from Pocketnow http://pocketnow.com/2018/01/01/huawei-p20-rumor

What is Pocketnow looking forward to in 2018?

Our publication has a wishlist (of sorts) for 2018 — because if it's for Christmas, you're trying way too hard. Will the mobile technology scene conform to our desires? Check out the trends we're looking at.

The post What is Pocketnow looking forward to in 2018? appeared first on Pocketnow.

from Pocketnow http://pocketnow.com/2018/01/01/what-is-pocketnow-looking-forward-to-in-2018

Here's more evidence Samsung is making a dual-screen, foldable phone

A couple of weeks ago we reported on a Samsung patent showing a phone with two screens, separated by a hinge, that you could fold over. Now a new patent has emerged showing a very similar-looking device – is this the long-rumored Galaxy X?

The patents were once more uncovered by LetsGoDigital, and depict a phone very much in the style of the ZTE Axon M, which you can see in the image above. Two linked screens are fixed with a hinge in the middle, so the phone can be closed over with either the two displays or the two back panels showing.

The new patent also shows this device being used in 'tent' mode, much like a 2-in-1 laptop. When the two screens are open side by side, they can be used separately or as one bigger screen, according to the diagrams in the patent.

In fact there are only a few slight cosmetic changes between this and the device design we saw revealed in a patent in December. One additional benefit to the design shown in the older document is that you can operate a video or photo app without obscuring the screen with your fingers.

As always with patents, there's no guarantee that a product like this is ever going to see the light of day – it's just an indication of what Samsung's trying to develop at the moment. It could be months or years before something actually gets released.

However, rumors have swirled for years about a Samsung Galaxy X, a foldable phone with either a bendable screen or two fixed screens separated by a hinge, as shown in these new diagrams. 2018 could finally be the year it makes it to market, even if we aren't going to get phones you can roll up for several years yet.

• Samsung Galaxy X: the story of Samsung’s foldable phone so far

from TechRadar: Phone and communications news http://www.techradar.com/news/heres-more-evidence-samsung-is-making-a-dual-screen-foldable-phone

Face Unlock arrives in beta form on the OnePlus 5 just in time for 2018

As promised, you can now unlock the OnePlus 5 with your face, as long as you're prepared to install the beta version of OxygenOS. The feature originally appeared as a OnePlus 5T exclusive, but will now work with the handset that preceded it as well.

Seeing as both phones have the same front-facing camera, the developers at OnePlus shouldn't have had too many problems getting the security tech to work on the OnePlus 5 too. According to company chief Carl Pei, the feature has been added due to "popular demand" from users.

Without any 3D scanning hardware to make use of, the Face Unlock system pushed out here isn't as secure as the Face ID that Apple built into the iPhone X, and it won't work in the dark. However, it's a convenient alternative to using the fingerprint scanner to unlock your phone.

Beta beware

The latest beta update for OnePlus device owners also includes a variety of security patches and bug fixes, as usual. However, this isn't the final version being rolled out over-the-air – you can expect a few bugs to crop up as you use it.

If you do decide you want to take the plunge and start using Face Unlock as soon as possible, follow the instructions on the OnePlus website to install the beta OS. Bear in mind that in some cases data might get wiped from the phone during the upgrade, so be sure to get everything backed up beforehand.

Otherwise, just be patient and wait for the feature to hit the stable version of OxygenOS, which will show up on your phone as normal. OnePlus' next trick is likely to be the OnePlus 6, which is tipped to have a more sophisticated face unlocking system built in.

• Face ID on the iPhone X gets fooled again by an affordable mask

Via Android Police

from TechRadar: Phone and communications news http://www.techradar.com/news/face-unlock-arrives-in-beta-form-on-the-oneplus-5-just-in-time-for-2018