BardTech

The post This is the Google Assistant UI that likely shows when you dock the Google Pixel 3 into the Pixel Stand appeared first on BardTech . Google is set to unveil the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at their annual hardware event (albeit at a different time and place from earlier years .) There’s little we don’t know about the upcoming Google Pixel 3 XL thanks to pre-production units making their way to the Ukraine and Russia. Even the Pixel 3 XL’s smaller sibling, the Pixel 3, recently appeared on camera . We know nearly all the specifications , the design , and even some of the new software features . We’ve long suspected that the Google Pixel 3 series will feature wireless charging and the latest leaks confirmed the feature . We’ve also heard about a possible wireless charging dock for the device called the “ Pixel Stand .” Now, we’ve managed to activate the special UI in Google Assistant that likely launches when you dock the Google Pixel 3 or Google Pixel 3 XL into the P...

The post The ZTE Axon 9 Pro is the true successor to the ZTE Axon 7 appeared first on BardTech . After a brief stint with a foldable smartphone last year in the Axon M , ZTE is back with the proper successor to the ZTE Axon 7 . At IFA, the company unveiled the ZTE Axon 9 Pro. It’s the latest flagship smartphone from ZTE and it has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 system-on-chip to match. We’ve heard that the Axon 9 would be coming sometime this year , but we finally received confirmation thanks to the company’s invitation to their press event . The invitation confirmed the presence of the display notch, as shown in the render above. What we did not learn from the invitation were any of the specifications of the ZTE Axon 9 Pro. How does this device compare to the ZTE Axon 7? In summary, the Axon 9 Pro is a more powerful version of the Axon 7 in basically every aspect. The Axon 9 Pro features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC compared to the Axon 7’s Qualcomm Snap...

The post Google for India event: Tez is being renamed Google Pay; updates to Google Go, Search, Assistant, Maps, and more appeared first on BardTech . At the annual Google for India event held in New Delhi on Tuesday, Google made many announcements. The first of them was that Google Tez is being renamed Google Pay. There were also announcements related to Google Assistant , Google Search, Android Go , Google Go, Google Maps, Google Station, and more. Let’s take a look at them one-by-one: Google Tez renamed to Google Pay Google Tez is Google’s UPI-based payment platform in India. With the lack of NFC-based mobile payment solutions in the country, Google opted not to launch Google Pay (formerly known as Android Pay) in India, and instead launched a UP-based mobile payment system which is different from NFC-based payment systems. Tez has achieved a certain degree of success in India . In March, Tez had added a chat feature allowing users to communicate with their contacts while s...

The post Google for India event: Tez is being renamed Google Pay; updates to Google Go, Search, Assistant, Maps, and more appeared first on BardTech . At the annual Google for India event held in New Delhi on Tuesday, Google made many announcements. The first of them was that Google Tez is being renamed Google Pay. There were also announcements related to Google Assistant , Google Search, Android Go , Google Go, Google Maps, Google Station, and more. Let’s take a look at them one-by-one: Google Tez renamed to Google Pay Google Tez is Google’s UPI-based payment platform in India. With the lack of NFC-based mobile payment solutions in the country, Google opted not to launch Google Pay (formerly known as Android Pay) in India, and instead launched a UPI-based mobile payment system which is different from NFC-based payment systems. Tez has achieved a certain degree of success in India . In March, Tez had added a chat feature allowing users to communicate with their contacts while ...

The post Realme 2 launched in India with 6.2″ notched display, Snapdragon 450, and dual cameras appeared first on BardTech . The Realme 1 was launched on May 15 as Realme’s first smartphone . At that time, Realme was an online-only brand of OPPO. The Realme 1 provided a lot of value for its price, with its list of specifications including the capable MediaTek Helio P60 system-on-chip, 3GB/4GB/6GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front-facing camera, and a 3,410mAh battery. Its starting 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was sold for ₹8,990 ($128), which undercut all of its competitors. Last month, Oppo’s Vice President resigned from the company to form Realme as an independent brand. The Realme 1 went on to become a success in India, with 400,000 units being sold in 40 days . Three months after the launch of the Realme 1 launch, the brand is back with the Realme 2. The Realme 2 was being teased for the last few weeks, and now, it has been officially announce...

The post Realme 2 launched in India with 6.2″ notched display, Snapdragon 450, and dual cameras appeared first on BardTech . The Realme 1 was launched on May 15 as Realme’s first smartphone . At that time, Realme was an online-only brand of OPPO. The Realme 1 provided a lot of value for its price, with its list of specifications including the capable MediaTek Helio P60 system-on-chip, 3GB/4GB/6GB of RAM with 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front-facing camera, and a 3,410mAh battery. Its starting 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was sold for ₹8,990 ($128), which undercut all of its competitors. Last month, Oppo’s Vice President resigned from the company to form Realme as an independent brand. The Realme 1 went on to become a success in India, with 400,000 units being sold in 40 days . Three months after the launch of the Realme 1 launch, the brand is back with the Realme 2. The Realme 2 was being teased for the last few weeks, and now, it has been officially announce...

The post Android TV in 2019: Industry trends moving forward appeared first on BardTech . Android TV boxes have a lot of potential, but thanks to the mishandling by device manufacturers they may soon be outclassed by competitors. However, Google isn’t giving up just yet. In a panel consisting of leading experts from Google and Think Analytics hosted by Accedo at Broadcast Asia, we got to have a closer look at trends and recent developments affecting Android TV as a platform. Android TV going into 2019 Reduced costs and time to market Android TV has matured in a lot of ways over the years, and as a platform, it beats out traditional set-top boxes with the ability to be a whole lot more personal. It can integrate with many different services, and the addition of features such as voice search allows for greater opportunities down the line. As it stands, the price for an OEM to launch an Android TV box is down 60% over what it used to be a little over a year ago thanks to w...

The post Sony’s frustratingly good lineup is held back by nonsensical support, awful pricing, and an outdated release strategy appeared first on BardTech . The Sony Xperia XZ2 might just be my favorite device of 2018. Since my very positive review , my impressions of the device have continued to be fairly positive. It is very snappy, has a great display, camera, battery life, and is continually updated by Sony with security patches within two weeks of Google. That isn’t to say there aren’t a few items that bother me about this phone, and in general, I feel that they are ones Sony really needs to mend if they plan any sort of larger market share than the small sliver they currently have from their flagships to their mid-range devices. The things I still love First, let’s get the things I still love about my Sony Xperia XZ2 out of the way. As I mentioned earlier getting continuous and regular software update s from Sony have been a very pleasant experience. Not all is roses thoug...

The post Samsung Galaxy J2 Core Android Go smartphone launched in India and Malaysia appeared first on BardTech . Android Go is a low-configuration variant of Android designed to take up less resources and run on low-end hardware. It was unveiled by Google back at I/0 2017, and the first Android Oreo (Go edition) phones went on sale in April. Previously, we reviewed the Blackview A20 , which was one of the first Android Go phones. We also took an in-depth look at the Android Go software ecosystem . In terms of devices, Android Go phones have been released by the likes of HMD Global ( Nokia 1 ), Micromax , Intex , and other local smartphone vendors. Recently, Google also announced Android Pie (Go edition) , which would be rolling out in new smartphones starting this fall. We know Samsung, the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, was developing its own Android Go phone , and photos of the phone had leaked a month ago. Now, the company has officially launched the Android Go-pow...

The post Samsung Galaxy A8 Star launched on Amazon India with Snapdragon 660 and 6.3″ display for ₹34,990 appeared first on BardTech . Despite facing heavy competition, Samsung isn’t planning to give up its leadership of the Indian smartphone market. The company is still one of the two market leaders—along with Xiaomi—and in the premium smartphone market, its long reign at the top was only broken in Q2 2018 by OnePlus for the first time ever in India. Samsung has stated that it plans to revamp its mid-range phones with more “premium features,” and the new mid-range phones will launch in Q4 (October-December). Last week, a report stated that the company was due to launch another Galaxy A series smartphone in India this month . Now, Samsung has launched the Samsung Galaxy A8 Star in India, an upper mid-range phone that is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. The Galaxy A8 Star was originally launched in China as the Galaxy A9 Star. The global model is branded as the Galaxy ...

The post Samsung to revamp their mid-range smartphones in India with more premium features appeared first on BardTech . In the last few years, Samsung has faced tough competition from Xiaomi in the budget and mid-range price segments and from OnePlus in the premium segment. Xiaomi overtook Samsung last year to become the largest smartphone vendor in India by volume. Xiaomi then held on to its number one position in Q4 2017 and Q1 2018 . The competition heated up in Q2 2018 as Samsung either caught up with Xiaomi ( according to Canalys ), or overtook Xiaomi to regain first place ( according to Counterpoint Research ), or failed to match Xiaomi’s sales and remained in second place ( according to IDC ). Despite the conflicting statistics, one thing is clear: Samsung is facing competition on a scale never seen before. In the budget and mid-range segments, the company’s phones aren’t competitive in terms of specifications against phones made by Xiaomi, Asus, Realme, and Honor. In th...

The post Detachable Chromebook ‘Nocturne’ may launch in time for Google’s hardware event appeared first on BardTech . A high-end detachable Chromebook codenamed “Nocturne” may arrive just in time for the holiday rush, according to a recent commit in the Chromium Gerrit. This is the same Chromebook which we suspect could be the  Google Pixelbook successor .  The commit is for building the factory image of Nocturne. The factory image is used for running a series of tests to verify the device is in working order before being shipped off with its real deal, signed Chrome OS . When Chrome OS devices reach the factory branch stage it means the timetable becomes a little clearer and we can make a fuzzy guess at the release date. If QC goes through without issue (which isn’t as small a risk as you’d hope), we could see the device hitting shelves in November at the earliest — by our reading of the tea leaves. A November launch puts Nocturne in perfect line with Google’s hardwa...