After the US, Canada will also get SD820-powered Galaxy Note7

After the US, Canada will also get SD820-powered Galaxy Note7

Samsung  

Canada might have got the Exynos-powered Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, but that won't be the case with the Galaxy Note7 as Samsung has confirmed that the country will get the Qualcomm-powered variant of its newest flagship smartphone.

This will make Canada the second country after the US to get the SD820-powered Note7. While the exact reason behind the move isn't yet known, reports say a single variant for both the US and Canada would simplify shipping to the North American market. The Samsung Galaxy Note7 is set to launch in the US and Canada on August 19.

Via

The new Redmi Pro is rumored to be Xiaomi's most expensive Redmi ever

The new Redmi Pro is rumored to be Xiaomi's most expensive Redmi ever

Xiaomi  

Earlier today the upcoming Xiaomi Redmi Pro got portrayed in some hands-on images for the first time. They have once again shown us its dual rear camera arrangement, the brushed metal look, and the fingerprint scanner on the front.

Its maker has also confirmed that the Redmi Pro is powered by MediaTek's Helio X25 chipset, which boasts a deca-core CPU clocked at up to 2.5 GHz. One thing that's remained a mystery so far is the Redmi Pro's pricing.

Well, according to a rumor from Weibo (China's Twitter, basically), this model will be Xiaomi's most expensive Redmi ever. It will start at CNY 1,299 (approximately $194 or €177), and there will be a higher-end version priced at CNY 1,399 ($209 or €191). It's unclear exactly what will differentiate the two. Also, don't forget that this is just an unconfirmed rumor for now, so it may not pan out. We'll know for sure on July 27, at the Redmi Pro's official unveiling.

Via

Xiaomi Note 2 Coming in August

Xiaomi Note 2 Coming in August

Xiaomi  

While earlier rumors have suggested that the Xiaomi Note 2 will be made official this month, it is now being said that the unveiling will happen sometime next month. The latest piece of information comes from popular analyst Pan Jiutang.

This is inline with the August time-frame already revealed by Xiaomi co-founder Liwan Jiang - Jiang basically said that some high-end products will be launched in the month of August.

As for Note 2's specs, latest rumors say the device is powered by Snapdragon 821 chipset, and sport a 5.5-inch 1080p AMOLED touchscreen. RAM options include 4GB and 6GB, with 64GB and 128GB internal memory, respectively.

In terms of camera, the handset features a 12MP rear unit. A large 3,700mAh battery is there to keep the lights on. There's also a fingerprint sensor on the front.

Via

iPhone 7 tipped to release in week of September 12

iPhone 7 tipped to release in week of September 12

News  

While we were already expecting a September unveiling for the Apple iPhone 7, the usually reliable leakster Evan Blass (who goes by the Twitter handle @evleaks) has now revealed more precise information on this front.

According to the tipster, this year's iPhone will be released sometime in the week of September 12.

iPhone 2016 release: week of September 12th.

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 23, 2016

In case you missed, earlier there were reports that the Cupertino-based company will out three iPhone models this year - a regular iPhone 7, a bigger Plus variant, and a dual camera-toting iPhone Pro. However, it was again @evleaks who recently revealed that there will only be two models, suggesting either a Plus or Pro. 

Source 

New pictures on Galaxy Note 7 reveal dangers and limitations of the iris scanner

New pictures on Galaxy Note 7 reveal dangers and limitations of the iris scanner

News  

By now, it's next to certain that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will have an iris scanner for increased user security. The gizmo will likely work by projecting an infrared beam to the user's eye, then using a camera to read the iris. That's why it would be better and more consistent when working in dark areas or in weird angles.

However, it seems the tech is not without its limitations. A new photo of the Galaxy Note 7's Settings screen for the iris scanner shows a number of warnings from Samsung. For one, it's recommended that iris scans are done at a minimum distance of 8 inches (20 cm) from the user's eyes. To be safe, Samsung suggests using the scanner at 9.8 (25 cm) to 13.8 inches (35 cm) from your face. This is probably due to concerns that the infrared beam could cause harm after regular use at close distances. For that reason, it is also suggested that it shouldn't be allowed for babies or small children to use the iris scanner.

Secondly, Samsung warns that if the user has glasses on, they might want to remove them, as the optics could mess with the iris scanner's work. This is surely going to be an issue for those that need to wear glasses constantly, and we aren't sure whether contact lenses would produce some kind of distortion as well.

All that said, it does seem that the Note 7 would at least be able to read a user's iris quickly and reliably – earlier today, we were treated to a video showing it perform an unlock in less than a second.

Were you planning to use the iris scanner as your regular form of unlocking? Does this new information change your stance on it?

source: GSMCN (Weibo)