Xiaomi has changed its bootloader unlocking policy in China

After the HyperOS launch, Xiaomi has made changes to its bootloader unlocking policy for the Chinese market.
They are making it more DIFFICULT to unlock the bootloader by adding more restrictions

New Rules:

1. Reach level 5 in the community
2. Real name verification 💀
3. Participate in answering questions
4. Apply once, valid for only one year (need to reapply after one year)
5. Unlock up to 3 devices per year
6. 72-hour waiting period for unlocking
7. Locked Bootloader is mandatory to receive HyperOS updates

Xiaomi also notes that if abnormal account behavior is detected, the Mi account will be banned

Interestingly, users will also have to answer a MCQs questionnaire about bootloader and fastboot commands.
Xiaomi even added a 15mins time limit to complete it 💀

HyperOS will debut globally in Q1 2024, and almost same changes to bootloader unlocking are expected for global users

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RIP Omegle

Omegle, the popular online chat website that let users chat, talk, interact with strangers anonymously, has shut down after 14 years(2009~2023)

The anonymous online chat service did not require users to register to chat, which might be one of the reasons why the service gained massive popularity.

Omegle even had an increase in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic
However, the online chat service often found itself in hot waters, with users often complaining about pedophilia, racism, abuse and sexism

RIP Omegle. You will be remembered 🙏🏻

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WhatsApp to introduce Ads to rival Telegram
Source

WhatsApp’s head Will Cathcart said the company is not planning to show any ads in the main inbox but could show ads in other places.
It might show ads in Status — the app’s Stories-like feature — and channels.

Cathcart also added that Channels could charge people to subscribe, and the owners could promote ads for it within Channels.

Telegram also shows ads in Channels now.
Can someone gift me telegram premium?

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Samsung and Google jointly develop a new tech to rival Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision

Samsung & Google have jointly developed a new & advanced 3D spatial audio technology called as IAMF (Immersive Audio Model and Formats).

This spatial audio technology has been adopted by AOM (Alliance for Open Media) which consists of brands like Amazon, AMD, ARM, Apple, Google, Huawei, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Netflix, Oppo and more

IAMF Features:
• Ability to express sound vertically
• AI and Deep Learning based scene analysis
• 3D audio effects
• High level of audio customization
• Horizontal sound expansion

To use Dolby Atmos & Dolby Vision, hardware manufacturers have to pay licensing fees to Dolby, which is $2, thereby increasing the products' overall cost.

Google will project this technology as a free alternative to Dolby Atmos & Dolby Vision to other brands.

IAMF is open-source unlike Dolby, so both creators & corporates can use it.
Plus, it will be paired with HDR 10+ to rival Dolby Vision

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Honor will next launch its X9B smartphone in India

After launching Honor 90 in India, Honor will now launch a budget-friendly X9B smartphone. It has been certified at the Indian BIS certification site and will launch in January 2024

Specifications:
• 6.78-inch (1200x2652 px) 1.5K resolution Curved AMOLED Display
• 120Hz refresh rate
• 1.07 Billion colors display
• 1920Hz PWM Dimming

• Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC
• 12GB +(8GB Virtual) = 20GB RAM LOL
• Fingerprint sensor; NFC

• 108MP main (NO OIS) + 5MP UltraWide + 2MP useless triple rear camera
• 3x Lossless Zoom
• 16MP front camera
• 5800mAh battery with 35W fast charging

Colors: Sunrise Orange, Midnight Black & Emerald Green
Honor X9b has already launched in Saudi Arabia for SAR 1399

Funnily, Just because this cheap smartphone got SGS 5-star Whole device drop resistance certification, Honor is claiming its display as "Ultra BOUNCE Anti-Drop Display" XDDD

So acc to honor, their smartphone glass bounces like a rubber LOL

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RIP: the deal between Qualcomm and Iridium to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones for two-way emergency messaging has collapsed, as reported by PCMag.

Qualcomm announced Snapdragon Satellite back in January of this year and said that "emergency messaging on Snapdragon Satellite is planned to be available on next-generation smartphones, launched in select regions starting in the second half of 2023."

However, Iridium in a press release today said that "the companies successfully developed and demonstrated the technology; however, notwithstanding this technical success, smartphone manufacturers have not included the technology in their devices."

Given all the hype around satellite messaging on Apple devices, I'm surprised that there wasn't much interest from Android smartphone makers! Perhaps the cost to support this in terms of extra hardware needed plus patent licensing wasn't worth the relatively small number of users who might utilize this feature?

—-

EDIT: It wasn't that Android smartphone makers weren't interested in bringing satellite connectivity to their phones, but instead they wanted a "standards-based solution" instead of a proprietary one.

Qualcomm said in a statement to CNBC that smartphone makers have "indicated a preference towards standards-based solutions" for satellite-to-phone connectivity. "We expect to continue to collaborate with Iridium on standards-based solutions while discontinuing efforts on the proprietary solution that was introduced earlier this year," the company said.

—-

In any case, Iridium says that, with the termination of its agreement with Qualcomm, it will be "free to directly re-engage with smartphone OEMs, other chipmakers, and smartphone operating system developers that the Company had been collaborating with previously." It will also pursue "new relationships with smart device OEMs, chipmakers, and developers for its existing and future service plans."

Valve announced Steam Deck OLED

This new Steam Deck OLED is more like a Steam Deck Pro variant.
It is the “first handheld with HDR OLED”.

Comes with 50% battery improvement over the original Steam Deck but features the same processor

What's NEW:
• 7.4-inch RGB-stripe OLED custom Samsung Display
• 90Hz refresh rate
• 1000-nit HDR peak brightness
• Multi-color indicator LED
• 110% DCI-P3 color gamut
(OG Steam Deck has 67% sRGB)

• More efficient die-shrink 6nm AMD “Sephiroth” APU
• 50Wh battery (up from 40Wh)
• 6400MT/s memory (up from 5500MT/s)
“Onboard mic can now be used simultaneously as headphone jack”

• Larger & quieter fan
• Larger heatsink
• Louder speakers “with improved bass”
• “Higher fidelity haptics”
• 29g lighter & Wi-Fi 6E

Machine screws on rear cover with metal bosses for easier repair
Replacing the display does not require taking the back off

Priced at 550$ for 512GB model

Steam Deck 2 is still in the works

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First look at OnePlus Watch 2 Renders
Source

After launching the OnePlus Watch 1 in 2021, OnePlus is now preparing to launch the Watch 2 in 2024

The OnePlus Watch 2 will flaunt a 1.43-inch AMOLED display & will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 processor

It will run latest WearOS 4 by Google

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Redmi 13C Launched Globally

This is the rebranded Poco C65 which was launched a few days ago. It comes with the same specsheet:

• 6.74" (1600x720 px) HD+ resolution LCD Display
• 90Hz refresh rate
• 600nits brightness

• MediaTek Helio G85 12nm SoC
• 8GB Virtual RAM support
• eMMC 5.1 storage
• MicroSD Card slot

• 50MP main + 2MP useless dual rear camera
• 8MP front camera
• 5000mAh battery with 18W charging
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• 3.5mm audio jack; FM Radio
Colors: Black, Blue & Purple

Priced at 110$ for 4GB RAM & 128GB storage

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First Look at the Polestar Phone

Volvo and Polestar are owned by Geely and now it has even purchased MEIZU, a Chinese smartphone brand.
The company teased Polestar Phone’s design during its inaugural Polestar Day event.

This Polestar Phone will be launched in December 2023 and will be made by Meizu only. It will be a premium device

The phone has the signature Meizu design language seen on the Meizu 20 series with a flat metal frame and three camera modules

Polestar will integrate this upcoming phone with its cars and Meizu even has its own Flyme Auto car software.

It might come with Polestar OS interface which is likely developed in collaboration with Meizu.

This phone could be EXCLUSIVE to China

Seems like Car manufactures are shifting to smartphones (Nio and Polestar) & smartphone makers shifting to cars (Apple and Xiaomi)

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Honor X50i Plus launched in China

From the looks, Honor has shamelessly copied iPhone's design from rear & front both

Specifications:
• 6.7-inch FHD resolution OLED
• 90Hz refresh rate
• 3240Hz PWM dimming
• 2000nits brightness

• MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC
(rebranded Dimensity 810 chip)
• 12GB Physical + 8GB Virtual RAM

• 8MP Front camera
• 108MP main + 2MP useless dual rear camera
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• 4500mAh battery
• 35W fast charging
Colors: Liquid Pink, Fantasy Night Black, Ink Jade Green & Water Blue

Prices:
• 12GB + 256GB = 1,599 CNY (~$220)
• 12GB + 512GB = 1,799 CNY (~$250)

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Xiaomi is the MOST Creative brand of all time

Xiaomi proudly unveiled the Mi 14 Pro in Titanium by shamelessly replicating the iPhone 15 Pro intro video.
it's not a glitch in the matrix, it's just Xiaomi hitting the copy-paste jackpot again!

Can't design your own intro video? Just borrow someone else's!

It's almost impressive how Xiaomi, despite being a giant, got ZERO creativity
It's not just a smartphone; it's a tribute to the lack of originality.

Even an independent designer with a laptop could whip up a more creative intro video than Xiaomi which has thousands of designers/engineers

Then in their launch event, Xiaomi compares their smartphone with iPhones after copy-pasting intro videos, cloning features, and still walking around like they invented the wheel.

From 'borrowing' QS tiles to hijacking animations & now the launch video – Xiaomi has become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the 'Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V' Olympics.

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