Oppo R9, R9 Plus smartphones with 16MP selfie cameras launched

Oppo launched two new camera-centric smartphones, R9 and R9 Plus in China. The main USP of these devices is the 16MP front facing camera. The Oppo R9 is priced at CNY 2,799 (approximately Rs 29,000) while the Oppo R9 Plus has been priced and CNY 3,299 (approximately Rs 34,000) respectively. The Oppo R9 will be go on sale starting March 24 in China while the Oppo R9 Plus is expected to be available from April 12.

Besides, the 16MP front-facing cameras, the devices also comes with a 78.1-degree wide-angle lens and an f/2.0 aperture. As for features, the Oppo R9 features a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 pixels resolution. It is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor paired with 4GB RAM. Running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with ColorOS 3.0 on top, the device comes equipped with an internal storage of 64GB which can be further expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. The Oppo R9 sports a 13MP rear camera with LED flash and a 2850mAh battery completes the package.

On the other hand, the Oppo R9 Plus sports a 6-inch Full-HD AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor paired with 4GB RAM. Running Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with ColorOS 3.0 on top, the device comes equipped with both 64GB and 128GB models, and can be further expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. The R9 Plus comes equipped with Sony's IMX298 CMOS sensor along with a 16MP rear camera and a 4120mAh battery completes the package. Both devices sport a fingerprint scanner placed right below the display as well.

Tags: Oppo, Oppo R9, Oppo R9 features, Oppo R9 Plus, Oppo R9 Plus features, Oppo R9 Plus price, Oppo R9 Plus specs, Oppo R9 price, Oppo R9 specs

Source: Oppo R9, R9 Plus smartphones with 16MP selfie cameras launched

Alcatel Idol Pro 4 Smartphone Could Sport 4GB of RAM, 64GB Internal Storage

Tech

It has been speculated that the Idol Pro 4 will be sold as an unlocked device at Microsoft Stores.(Photo : YouTube)

Chinese smartphone maker Alcatel has announced its upcoming devices at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain including the Pop series flagship handsets.

Recently leaked information suggests that another handset will soon be revealed by the company in the market. The rumored device is called the Idol Pro 4 smartphone, which could possible sport a huge 4GB of RAM and 64GB memory storage.

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According to the leaked information, the Idol Pro 4 smartphone is powered by a Microsoft Windows operating system, where it will be equipped with high-end hardware specifications alongside support for Continuum. The handheld device is rumored to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and accompanied by a high resolution display (it was suggested to be 2K display rather than a Full HD screen), alongside Windows 10 Mobile Redstone 1.

In addition, it is said that the Idol Pro 4 smartphone will have a 22-megapixel rear shooter and a 10-megapixel front snapper, which is capable of taking high-quality selfie images and video calling.

Meanwhile, it has been speculated that the Idol Pro 4 will be sold as an unlocked device at Microsoft Stores. At the higher end of the Windows 10 Mobile platform, the pickings are rather scarce.

Microsoft may have finally delivered a new flagship in the form of the Lumia 950, but the cupboard is still quite bare for those seeking a powerful experience. With Redmond not apparently that focused on creating its own new hardware, it's up to manufacturing partners to take the reigns.

The Idol Pro 4 should also arrive with support for Microsoft's much-vaunted Continuum feature, and if the camera is as impressive as the rest of it, we could be in for a real gem of a Windows smartphone. 

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Source: Alcatel Idol Pro 4 Smartphone Could Sport 4GB of RAM, 64GB Internal Storage

China’s ZTE Delays Annual Results To Assess Impact From New US Restrictions

Chinese telecommunications major ZTE Corp. said Thursday it would delay releasing its annual results until it assessed the impact of U.S. export restrictions placed on it last week. The company is still in talks with the U.S. Commerce Department over alleged violations of U.S. sanctions on Iran, a Reuters report said, citing a spokesman for China's Commerce Ministry.

The smartphone maker was slapped with export restrictions over allegations of selling phone monitoring equipment to Iran in contravention of U.S. laws. The export restrictions ban U.S. suppliers like Intel and Qualcomm from selling American-made equipment and parts to the Shenzhen-based company. U.S. suppliers to ZTE and its subsidiaries are required to apply for a license for the supply of the components, called a "hard-to-get permit" by the Chinese media.

ZTE's Hong Kong-listed shares have been suspended since Monday.

The company said it was unable to finalize its annual results "pending a thorough self-assessment on the potential impacts of the restriction measures on the business and operation of the group." The export restriction does not stop ZTE — the fourth largest smartphone seller in the U.S. — from selling handsets in the United States.

The restrictions could disrupt handset production if ZTE sources U.S.-made parts to manufacture its handsets, experts told Reuters.

On Wednesday ZTE's chairman Hou Weigu had reportedly said that there was "uncertainty as to whether a solution can be achieved."

Nomura research analyst Huang Leping told the South China Morning Post that since ZTE completed its purchase of U.S. components for its 2016 production schedule at the end of last year, the company and the Chinese government have some time to negotiate a resolution.

"We estimate US-made components accounted for between 10 percent and 15 percent of ZTE's total bill of materials last year," Huang said.

Source: China's ZTE Delays Annual Results To Assess Impact From New US Restrictions

China's ZTE to appeal US export ban imposed last week

LONDON/WASHINGTON: China's ZTE will appeal tough US export restrictions imposed last week, according to a person familiar with the matter, after the telecom equipment maker's costly lobbying effort failed to allay concerns about its business.

The US Commerce Department imposed restrictions on US suppliers providing crucial components to ZTE for alleged Iran sanctions violations, a move likely to disrupt its global supply chain.

"The US Department of Commerce and ZTE are in ongoing discussions," a senior Commerce Department official told Reuters. "These discussions have been constructive, and we will continue to seek a resolution."

How long the appeals process might take remains unclear. It usually takes a year or more for export curbs to be removed for a company, but Washington can act more quickly.

ZTE, also a top smartphone maker, declined to comment on its appeal plans or about its lobbying efforts.

In statements following the imposition of the restrictions, ZTE said it was "actively facilitating communications with the US governmental department to search for a solution."

Lobby spending

Since coming under fire in 2012 for alleged deals with sanctions-hit Iran and possible links to the Chinese government and military, ZTE has ramped up its spending on Washington lobbyists.

It spent $5.1 million in the last four years, up from $212,000 in 2011, as it sought to assuage national security concerns, according to publicly available lobbying records maintained by Congress.

That was around $1 million more than what Huawei Technologies, a larger Chinese telecom equipment company also under scrutiny in Washington over national security issues, spent over the same period.

ZTE lobbyists contacted lawmakers in both houses of Congress, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce, the State Department and the National Security Agency to discuss matters such as cybersecurity, supply chains and trade relations, according to the lobby documents.

ZTE used at least five lobbying firms, and former US officials such as ex-Nebraska congressman Jon Lynn Christensen.

Acting for ZTE, Christensen met with US Department of Treasury, Department of Commerce and lawmakers to provide "education regarding supply-chain security" and "cybersecurity issues," the lobby disclosure documents show.

When contacted by Reuters, Christensen said the lobbying was not directly related to the investigations.

"My work was educating members of congress on a smartphone manufacturer and the opportunities (ZTE) provided for a very affordable phone," Christensen said.

In 2013, the telecoms gear maker hired lobbyists from the Podesta Group to encourage the Department of Defense and the State Department to maintain "ope n and transparent markets in US-China trade relations," the documents show.

ZTE spent $1.44 million with Podesta, an influential firm in Washington that also helps Chinese and other foreign companies navigate mergers with challenging national security implications.

Tony Podesta, the firm's chairman, told Reuters his work for ZTE was not directly related to the investigations.

In an interview with Reuters in January, Lixin Cheng, the chairman and CEO of ZTE USA said the company had worked hard to help US officials and other stakeholders understand its "transparent structure and governance".

But such efforts failed to convince lawmakers. Shortly before the House Intelligence Committee released its scathing report in 2012, executives from ZTE met with Representative CA Ruppersberger of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, in Hong Kong, the congressman said. "I basically said 'you are a Communist Chinese company, the way I see it if your government tells you you have to do something -- you have to do it,'" Ruppersberger told Reuters, referring to his concern that the company could assist China's government to hack into American networks. "Now they have trade violations with Iran," he said. "There's an example of why I don't want to do business with China when it involves national security."
Source: China's ZTE to appeal US export ban imposed last week

Xiaomi is working on a curved screen smartphone

Xiaomi is the third China-based client of Samsung.

The change log says it is only bug fixes and system optimization, but since the update size was about 120MB, it is recommended that you update your device. That's why we're looking at the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 vs Lenovo K5 Note in a specs and price shootout. It is powered by Snapdragon 801 processor with 3GB RAM and comes with 16GB and 64GB internal storage options. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 features fast charging while the Lenovo K5 Note has fast charging and Dolby Atmos audio.

To be specific, the 164 grams heavy Redmi Note 3 measures 150 x 76 x 8.65 mm while the Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus measures 142x71x8.2mm and weighs 142 grams.

The Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus too has 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage but its expandable storage slot has 32 GB capacity.

The Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus comes with 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, Omnivision OV13850 sensor, f/2.2 aperture, 5P lenses, 1080p video recording and on the front, it has 5MP camera with f/2.8 aperture. However, Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus has a smaller display which means its display has higher pixel density and hence should offer crisper output. It is none other than the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, which was launched few days back in the Indian market at starting price of Rs. 9,999. The front camera also has a f/2.0 aperture and it supports face recognition and has Beautify mode. It also has a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter.

Both phones have non-removable batteries. In this department, Xiaomi offers two choices to the consumers on Redmi Note 3. The Note 3 has IR blaster which will allow it to be used as a remote controller.

Stay tuned for more news on Chinese smartphone vendors as they trickle in. Besides it has an electronic compass, gyroscope, gravity sensor, proximity, hall, and light sensors.

The Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus has a 2750 mAh battery while the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 has a much bigger 4000 mAh battery.

Snapdragon 820, 4GB RAM and fingerprint sensor?

In terms of connectivity, the Vibe K5 Plus supports dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth v4.1, and microUSB v2.0. backing the device is a 2750mAh of battery.

Source: Xiaomi is working on a curved screen smartphone

This smartphone is nearly identical to the Samsung Galaxy S7 — and China's selling it for a fraction of the price

XiaomiThe Xiaomi Mi 5 See Also The 'Apple of China' just announced its newest smartphone — and it's super cheap China's top phone maker Xiaomi unveils new Mi 5 Here's proof Samsung has leapfrogged Apple's iPhone design

Last month's Mobile World Congress was big for smartphones.

Samsung unveiled its latest flagship handsets, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, and LG announced the specs of its heavily redesigned G5.

These phones should be big sellers, and challenge Apple's iPhone in Western markets. But in China, Apple could face a more formidable rival in the form of a homegrown competitor.

Xiaomi, the Chinese smartphone giant, also unveiled its 2016 flagship device at Mobile World Congress, and it's arguably even more impressive than anything Samsung or LG announced.

With high-end specs and an attractive price tag, the Mi 5 could draw interest from hordes of consumers in China — a market that's of increasing importance to Apple.

$415 can buy you quite a phone

Xiaomi will offer the Mi 5 in two different configurations. The standard edition sports a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 16-megapixel camera, 3,000 mAh battery, 32GB of internal storage, and a body made of metal and glass. The Pro model boosts the internal storage to 128GB, adds an extra gigabyte of RAM, and replaces the glass back with one crafted from ceramic — a rarity among smartphones.

In terms of specs, Samsung's Galaxy S7 is almost identical to Xiaomi's Mi 5 Pro, also boasting a Snapdragon 820, 3,000 mAh battery, and 4GB of RAM. To its credit, it has a QHD display, a slot for microSD cards, and water resistance — three features the Mi 5 lacks. But where the Mi 5 really sets itself apart is on price: Xiaomi is charging just 2,699 RMB for the Pro model; 1,999 RMB for the standard edition. That's about $415, and $307, respectively. Samsung's Galaxy S7, in contrast, retails for nearly $700 in the U.S., and around 4,888 RMB ($750) in China.

Competing hard on price is nothing new for Xiaomi. Since its inception, the company has embraced a strategy built around razor-thin hardware margins. By selling high-end handsets at bargain prices, the company has attracted a strong following in China and grown rapidly. Although the firm was founded less than six years ago, it's now the fifth-largest seller of handsets in the world. Last year, it shipped nearly 71 million smartphones, according to research firm IDC.

Thomson ReutersLei Jun, founder and CEO of China's mobile company Xiaomi, speaks at a launch ceremony of Xiaomi Mi 5 in Beijing

Xiaomi isn't growing as fast as it once was

That was up from about 58 million in 2014, giving it an annual growth rate of nearly 23% -- marginally better than Apple's 20.2% growth, and much better than Samsung's meager 2.1%. But it wasn't as great as Xiaomi had hoped. Management had projected 2015 smartphone shipments of 80 million to 100 million at the beginning of last year, and it fell far short of that target. Xiaomi is looking to the Mi 5 to help it return to its previous trajectory.

Nevertheless, Xiaomi is still a major player globally, and a significant force in China. Although both Apple and Samsung outsold the firm worldwide in 2015, Xiaomi was more successful in its home market. Xiaomi displaced Apple as the largest seller of smartphones in China in the second quarter last year, according to research firm Canalys. It fell to second place in the third quarter, when Huawei surged ahead, but it still sold more smartphones to Chinese buyers than Apple.

Apple's second-largest market

Last quarter, more than 24% of Apple's revenue came from Greater China. It also accounted for almost all of Apple's revenue growth, as sales rose 14% on an annual basis. It's now Apple's second-largest market, and management expects it to eventually overtake North America as Apple's most important region in the years ahead.

The Mi 5 is Xiaomi's most impressive phone yet, but it doesn't fundamentally shift the company's strategy. Still, it may offer Chinese buyers their most compelling alternative to the iPhone.

Read the original article on The Motley Fool. Copyright 2016. Follow The Motley Fool on Twitter.

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Source: This smartphone is nearly identical to the Samsung Galaxy S7 — and China's selling it for a fraction of the price

Gionee Unveils W909 Smartphone Featuring First-of-its-Kind Dual Displays

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Source: Gionee Unveils W909 Smartphone Featuring First-of-its-Kind Dual Displays