Xiaomi’s Mi 11 Pro flagship could bring major display enhancements

Qualcomm is scheduled to host the Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit early next month. During the event, the chipmaker is expected to unveil its next flagship SoC — the Snapdragon 875. Much like last year, we also expect some smartphone OEMs to announce their next-gen flagships at the event. Last year, Xiaomi was one of the few OEMs that announced its Snapdragon 865-powered flagship Mi 10 series during the tech summit. This time around, we’re expecting the Chinese smartphone maker to talk about the Mi 11 series. While Xiaomi is yet to reveal any details about its upcoming flagships, recent leaks suggest that the Mi 11 Pro could include major display enhancements.

Digital Chat Station, a leaker on Weibo with a good track record, suggests that the Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro will feature a QHD+ resolution panel at up to 120Hz refresh rate. Although this wouldn’t make it the first Android phone with a QHD+ panel and 120Hz refresh rate (OPPO Find X2 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro already offer QHD+ 120Hz panels), it would be a big leap for Xiaomi as the Mi 10 Pro had an FHD+ panel with a 90Hz refresh rate.

Along with the high-resolution panel, Xiaomi is expected to introduce some new display features with the Mi 11 Pro. XDA Senior Member kacskrz, another reliable Xiaomi tipster, recently spotted several new display features in the latest MIUI 12 beta code. These include MEMC, SDR-to-HDR upmapping, and AI upscaling.

Xiaomi has already implemented MEMC in several of its previous phones, including the Mi 10 Ultra and the Mi 10T Pro, but the company is yet to add SDR-to-HDR upmapping or AI upscaling to any of its devices. The company’s Mi Box 4K features SDR-to-HDR upmapping, so the tech isn’t new for the company. Furthermore, there are some other devices in the market that offer SDR-to-HDR upmapping, such as the OPPO Find X2 Pro and OnePlus 8 Pro. As of now, it isn’t clear if Xiaomi will use self-developed display technology to offer these features or if they’ll license it from a company like Pixelworks. Regardless, it would be great to see such premium display tech reach more people with Xiaomi’s next flagships.

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Featured image: Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro

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It’s official: Huawei has sold its Honor smartphone brand

Last week, a report claimed Huawei had finalized a buyer for Honor’s smartphone business. Today, Reuters is reporting that Huawei has agreed to sell Honor, a smartphone brand under the Huawei Consumer Business Group, to a consortium of over 30 agents and dealers. The buyers announced they’re setting up a new company called Shenzen Zhixin New Information Technology to complete the purchase.

Once the sale is complete, Huawei will no longer hold any share in the new Honor brand. The deal will include everything from R&D capabilities, supply chain management, and other Honor assets. Honor’s workforce includes over 7,000 employees.

A joint statement, shared by Chinese newspaper Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, on behalf of the more than 40 companies involved in the transaction said the sale is a “market-driven investment made to save Honor’s industry chain.” After the change of ownership, Honor will continue as usual, with no impact on production expected.

Ever since Huawei was placed on the U.S. Commerce Department’s “Entity List,” the company has found it difficult to operate its consumer hardware business. The company has adapted about as well as it could, but it’s increasingly facing tougher challenges due to increasing restrictions by the U.S. For instance, since the U.S. effectively blocked many chipmakers from supplying to Huawei, the company will be unable to have its ARM-based SoC designs fabricated by contract chipmakers like TSMC. As such, the Kirin 9000 found in the Huawei Mate 40 series is expected to be Huawei’s last self-designed high-end Kirin silicon, and the company will have to turn to 4G chipsets from competitors like Qualcomm or hope that China’s semiconductor manufacturing industry can step up.

If Huawei seeks to become fully independent from US-based companies, then it’ll need a lot of cash to make that happen. The deal to sell Honor could be the cash infusion that Huawei needs for this effort. No figure for the transaction was revealed, but a previous report claimed it was in the region of $15.2 billion. The previous report also claimed that the consortium’s goal after purchasing Honor would be to take the company public within three years.

With the sale now complete, Huawei will allegedly put its focus on continuing to make high-end smartphones and its corporate-oriented business. Honor, meanwhile, will continue to cater to the mid-range market across the globe.

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Samsung is working on a secure file transfer app called “Private Share”

Samsung this year introduced a clever Quick Share feature that makes it simple to share files between the company’s smartphones and tablets. Now, the company is allegedly gearing up to introduce another file sharing feature known as Private Share.

According to SamMobile, the new feature will use the power of blockchain for a more secure file transfer experience. The concept will reportedly take inspiration from ephemeral messaging, with senders having control over when the sharing of a file will expire. Once sharing expires, that file will then be deleted from the recipient’s device.

The Private Share app will also prevent recipients from re-sharing and taking a screenshot of files. However, there’s nothing to stop a recipient from take a picture of said information with another device. But if you’re sharing such private information with someone, one would hope you could trust that person not to go to such lengths.

SamMobile said Private Share will work similarly to Quick Share. Both the sender and the recipient will need to have the Private Share app, and once the sender sends a transfer request to the recipient, a private channel will be created after the request is accepted.

SamMobile speculates that Private Share will be introduced as a headlining feature alongside the rumored Galaxy S21. It’s unclear, however, if Private Share will be exclusive to Samsung’s new device, or if it’ll eventually roll out to other Samsung phones in its lineup.

This wouldn’t be Samsung’s first mobile foray into blockchain tech. The Galaxy S10 previously introduced a Blockchain Wallet to securely handle your cryptocurrencies. We may find out what Samsung is up to very soon, as reports suggest the company may introduce a new flagship device in early January 2021.

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Former Essential employees form OSOM, a tech firm making privacy-centric hardware

Many former Essential Products employees have joined a new startup called OSOM, which stands for “Out of Sight, Out of Mind.” The company has secured $5.6 million in funding and will use that money to create products that put an emphasis on privacy.

According to a CNET report, OSOM’s main goal in making consumer hardware is to respect user privacy. That means the company won’t collect any analytical data without explicit user consent. If data is collected, the company will tell users exactly how that data is being used. OSOM founder Jason Keats, who was a former head of R&D at Essential, told CNET that “there will never… [be] a scenario where we have an individual’s data.”

Users will also be able to control what data is shared with third-party apps, although OSOM didn’t make clear how this method of control will be implemented. OSOM has, however, assured potential customers that when a device’s camera or GPS is turned off, they won’t be turned on through software without a user knowing. Some of today’s phones already allow people to do that, but OSOM said its privacy-first features will be easier to use.

As of now, OSOM hasn’t said what kind of products it’s working on, only revealing it has seven or eight in mind. What OSOM won’t do is re-create Essential or release products the former company never finished. However, with so much talent from Essential Products coming to OSOM, it’s very likely there will be at least one phone in the next few years.

Other notable former Essential Products employees at OSOM include Wilson Chan (former head of operations), Wolfgang M. Muller (former VP of Global Sales), Jean-Baptiste Théou (former Principal Software Engineer), and more. It’s a small team consisting of nine full-time employees, but OSOM is planning to expand to 50 by the end of 2021.

According to Keats, he and his team learned a lot from working on the Essential Phone. Keats acknowledged that its one and only smartphone was flawed — it featured buggy software and an underwhelming camera, not to mention it was rushed to market. He’s hoping to avoid a repeat of that, so consumers should expect a much more polished experience.

When OSOM does launch its first product, it will likely run Android. But it’s unclear if the company will ship a smartphone with a customized version of Android lacking Google apps, or simply strengthen Android with improved security and privacy features. Whatever is released, OSOM has assured that it’ll feature premium hardware at an affordable price. We can expect a simultaneous launch in the U.S. and Europe, with plans to launch in parts of Asia, too.

It’s important to note that Andy Rubin, the founder of Essential Products and the center of recent sexual assault allegations, is not involved in OSOM.

“Essential’s our past,” Keats said. “OSOM’s our future. Andy’s not involved in any capacity.”

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PinePhone KDE Community Edition will run Plasma Mobile out-of-the-box

Pine64, makers of PinePhone, the Linux powered, completely open mobile device, has joined forces with software community KDE for a special edition. The PinePhone KDE Community Edition will run Plasma Mobile, the mobile version of KDE’s Plasma graphical workspace environment. KDE says that Plasma Mobile “includes most of the essential features a smartphone user would expect and its functionalities increase day by day.”

Plasma Mobile has been designed to allow developers to write for Plasma Desktop and Mobile simultaneously, with the mobile OS taking care of formatting, even where the phone screen is connected to a monitor in other words. All apps for Plasma work on all form factors, meaning that it’s easy to hook your PinePhone up to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor and use it as a workstation, similar to Ubuntu Touch and Samsung DeX. Users of the desktop OS will also be able to link their PinePhone KDE-CE to their desktop. There is a 2GB and 3GB variant, with the latter bundling in a hub offering with two USB, video, and ethernet ports.

The specs for the Pinephone KDE-CE are identical to the standard Pinephone, including six kill-switches to deactivate modules such as GPS, microphone, or the modem, for added privacy. As ever, PinePhone is open, so you can dual-boot one of the many other GNU/Linux distros that it supports if you so wish.

A gallery of Plasma Mobile’s UI and apps.

Pre-orders for the PinePhone KDE Community Edition will begin in December on the Pine64 website. Unlike the standard PinePhone which runs Linux Manjaro out-of-the-box, this one will be sold at a $10 markup, but Pine64 has already announced that this will be passed on to KDE to support the development of Plasma. Based on that, we expect it to be sold at around the $160/$210 mark depending on RAM size. Both Pine64 and KDE are committed to open technology, so this seems like an excellent partnership as well as a chance for you to be on the bleeding edge of not one but two exciting projects as they continue to evolve.

PinePhone KDE Community Edition Specifications

• Allwinner A64 Quad Core SoC with Mali 400 MP2 GPU
• 2GB/3GB of LPDDR3 RAM
• 5.95″ LCD 1440×720, 18:9 aspect ratio (hardened glass)
• Bootable micro SD
• 16GB/32GB eMMC
• HD Digital Video Out
• USB Type C (Power, Data and Video Out)
• Quectel EG-25G with worldwide bands
• WiFi: 802.11 b/g/n, single-band, hotspot capable
• Bluetooth: 4.0, A2DP
• GNSS: GPS, GPS-A, GLONASS
• Vibrator
• RGB status LED
• Selfie and Main camera (2/5Mpx respectively)
• Main Camera: Single OV6540, 5MP, 1/4″, LED Flash
• Selfie Camera: Single GC2035, 2MP, f/2.8, 1/5″
• Sensors: accelerator, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, ambient light
• 3 External Switches: up, down and power
• HW switches: LTE/GNSS, WiFi, Microphone, Speaker, Cameras
• Samsung J7 form-factor 3000mAh battery
• The case is matte black finished plastic
• Headphone Jack

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Samsung Smart Monitor offers smart TV features, Bixby control, and wireless DeX support

Samsung has been busy this year with the release of several new smartphones. Now, the company is getting busy by expanding its portfolio to a lineup of smart monitors, which feature Tizen OS, Bixby control and wireless DeX support.

The Korean company on Monday unveiled the Smart Monitor, which comes in two models, including a 32-inch M7 model that offers 4K support for $400. There’s also a 27-inch and 32-inch M5 model that features support for Full HD resolution. They’re available for $230 and $280, respectively.

Samsung’s Smart Monitor stands apart by offering a slew of smart features and convenient connectivity options. For smartphone owners, users can wirelessly connect to the monitors via Samsung DeX. The monitors also support App Casting and AirPlay 2, so Apple owners aren’t left out of the cold.

Because the monitors support Tizen OS, they can connect to Wi-Fi and therefore stream HDR10 content from services such as Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, and more. If this is part of your work from home setup, you won’t need to connect an additional set-top box to stream content. Users can also access other apps thanks to the inclusion of Tizen OS, including Office 365.

In addition to 4K support, the M7 Smart Monitor includes a USB-C port that allows for data, display and power (up to 65W), so you can easily connect a laptop. There are also two HDMI 2.0 ports and three USB-A 2.0 ports. The M5 Smart Monitor doesn’t have a USB-C port, although it has two HDMI 2.0 ports and two USB-A 2.0 ports.

Samsung said the Smart Monitor also features Adaptive Picture, which “optimizes picture quality for any viewing environment by automatically adjusting brightness and color temperature in response to room conditions.” Not only will users get a superior viewing experience, but Adaptive Picture should also cut back on eye strain, Samsung said.

Samsung Smart Monitor will be available beginning November 16 in the U.S., Canada and China. Samsung said the Smart Monitor will launch in more markets later this year.

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Save on the new Apple Watch Series 6 at Best Buy and Amazon!

I’m not invested in the Apple ecosystem at all. However, I can’t really deny how nice the Apple smartwatches look. Most Android smartwatches are a bit on the bulky side, looking more like sports watches than a stylish watch you can wear anywhere. I don’t really like a dial as big as my entire wrist, because it looks ridiculous. The right size Apple Watch, though, looks great in the office, or gym, or wherever you go.

Currently, not one, but two retailers have sales on the Apple Watch Series 6. First up, Amazon has a $49 discount on the 40mm Apple Watch Series 6, bringing the smartwatch down to $350. This deal is currently available for three of the models: Silver case with white band, gold case with pink sand band, and the PROJECT(RED) watch. If you’re like me and have a small wrist, this is the perfect smartwatch for you.

Apple Watch Series 6 at Amazon

If you're looking for a 40mm Apple Watch Series 6, you can save $49 at Amazon! This deal is currently available for three out of its five colors.

Buy at Amazon

Then, there is the sale at Best Buy. They have a wide variety of Apple Watches on sale, including both the 40mm and 44mm Apple Watch Series 6. The thing is, the discount is lower than Amazon’s deal–only a flat $20 off for all of the watches on sale. But, there are a couple of perks for choosing Best Buy over Amazon. First, any Apple Watch purchase will net your six free months of Apple Fitness Plus. Second, there are way more watch types on sale.

For those with bigger wrists, the 44mm Apple Watch Series 6 will work better for them. Or if you don’t want to drop over $300 on a smartwatch, you can pick up the Apple Watch Series 3 instead, which is only $190 after the discount. Seriously, Best Buy has seven pages worth of products for this sale–you can definitely find an Apple Watch that works for you.

Apple Watch Sale at Best Buy

Need more watches to choose from? Best Buy is having a sale on all sorts of Apple Watches for the next two days! Any Apple Watch purchase also comes with a free six months of Apple Fitness Plus.

Save at Best Buy

While it’s unknown when the Amazon sale will end, this Best Buy sale is part of Best Buy’s Early Access Black Friday deals, which will end at the end of the day tomorrow. Don’t wait to grab the watch you want!

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