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Xiaomi IPO falls far short of $100 billion goal but it’s still worth a buttload of money

Jason England
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On Monday, Xiaomi joined the Hong Kong Hang Seng index with a $54 billion debut. This is far less than the estimated $100 billion number that was floated months ago, with it closing on Monday at HK$17 per share. Tuesday saw it rise up to HK$19 per share but still puts it at far less than the original Xiaomi IPO estimate.

However, $54 billion is nothing to sneeze at; it still positions Xiaomi as one of the highest valued publicly traded smartphone companies in the world. While they are nowhere near Apple or Samsung, on paper Xiaomi is now worth three times more than LG.

Don’t feel too bad for LG though — if you were to look at the revenue numbers they tell a different story. Whereas Xiaomi only brought in a little over 15 billion in revenue for 2017 LG’s revenue was 55 billion.

Although short of the lofty $100 billion Xiaomo IPO estimates this is still a very positive opening for Xiaomi’s initial public offering. The reason for the lower $54 billion opening could be in part due to overall declining smartphone sales or questions on how Xiaomi will adapt to new markets. As Xiaomi looks to expand outside of China and India, it will encounter larger more established brands such as Apple, Huawei, and Samsung.

In addition, Xiaomi phones are already sold on razor slim margins with them generating more profit from the use of their services. Outside of China where Google is not blocked it will be more difficult to generate this kind of profit from their services.

As Xiaomi expands, it just might be able to win over customers with lower prices. However, while that works to sway first-time buyers in their home country, many also go onto a more premium Apple or Huawei phone by their 3rd or 4th upgrade.

If Xiaomi can find a way to increase profits per handset while retaining first-time customers, it just might hit that $100 billion valuation someday.

Google looking at massive EU fine, possible changes to Android

Jason England
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Google is facing possible record-breaking fines from European regulators over its Android policies. This stems from the practice of Google requiring their search engine and apps to be bundled with Android phones. Without bundling these apps and using Google as the default search option your phone would lose access to the coveted Play Store.

It is because of this policy, that the European Union (EU) competition chief Margrethe Vestager is expected to impose a fine on Google that could reach into the billions. The EU fine is one thing, but it could also have further reaching consequences, such as requiring Google to change their approach to Android.

If you’re wondering why Apple doesn’t see such scrutiny over iOS and the bundling of their apps or services. This is in part because Apple is the only company who makes devices running iOS.

READ: The best phones you can buy at Verizon Wireless right now

To alter this policy, would mean a substantial change to Google’s business model when it comes to Android. Google would have less influence over which apps you use and would be unable to collect as much data on your searches to serve you ads.

At its core, Google is an ad company and understanding its users and collecting as much data as possible gives them a huge advantage. This is why Google offers handset makers Android for free guaranteeing its dominance over any other mobile OS. It is also why Google can afford to put so much research and money into Android while providing it for free.

In their defense, Android is one of the most open, flexible, and widely used operating systems in the world. Google also says that requiring these apps helps keep the Android experience consistent across devices.

The EU has some of the strongest regulations for consumer privacy and competition in the digital age. If Vestager is successful in this pursuit, it could open up the doors to Google and Android being under more scrutiny in the United States. The EU fine could force them to rethink their strategy with Android and requiring them to change their business model.

OnePlus 6 in Red now available, get it while it’s hot

Alexandra Arici
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Update: Announced earlier this month the Red OnePlus 6 is now up for grabs in the US. It’s available with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Get it for $579.

The Silk White, Mirror Black and Midnight Black versions are also still available to purchase.

Original story:

Over the weekend OnePlus officially announced a new color version for its current flagship, the OnePlus 6. The new variant is simply called Red and unlike the Lava Red OnePlus 5T, it won’t be restricted to just a few markets. On the contrary, the Red OnePlus 6 will be available in all markets where OnePlus usually sells its phones.

The OnePlus 6 launched in May in two black variants and proved to be a great success. A White model followed last month and now a Red one is on the way.

In recent years OnePlus mostly launched devices in black and white (with variations), but that’s the past. In the blog post, the company seems to suggest that the Red color could become a regular option for OnePlus customers.

The Red OnePlus 6 will set you back with $579

The Chinese phone maker says it wanted the new Red OnePlus 6 to have a clear quality similar to amber, but also “an enduring appeal that will last for years to come.”

To produce the new hue, OnePlus used a new film coating processes which according to the company has never been attempted in the smartphone industry. The technique is reminiscent of the film coatings used by OnePlus in the other color variants of the OnePlus 6.

If the Red OnePlus 6 has already caught your attention, then you should know the phone is scheduled to go on sale on June 10.

It will be sold with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage on the inside for $579. If Red phones aren’t your cup of tea, then you should know you can pick up the, Mirror Black, Midnight Black or Silk White versions in the same configuration.

For the most demanding users, OnePlus also offers a version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage which retails for $629.

Which of the OnePlus 6 colors do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section below.

Buy the OnePlus 6

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium goes up for pre-order in the US

Alexandra Arici
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Update: Launched in April, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is finally available for pre-order in the US.

Interested parties can pick up the premium phone from Amazon for a whopping $999.99. There are two colors to choose from, Chrome Silver and Chrome Black.

The phone is sold unlocked and is compatible with GSM carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile or Cricket Wireless.

We should also note that customers who place a pre-order for the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium now, will also get a pair of Xperia Ear Duo wireless earphones for free. Shipments will start going on on July 30.

Pre-order the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium from Amazon

Original story:

Sony today has taken the wraps off the Xperia XZ2 Premium, a beefed up version of the Xperia XZ2 flagship which was introduced back at MWC 2018 in February.

The Xperia XZ Premium is mostly the same as the Xperia XZ2 with a few notable changes. For starters, we now have a 4K HDR display and the back is home to a dual-camera setup which supports very high sensitivity.

Main specs

  • 5.8-inch 4K display with 16:9 aspect ratio
  • Snapdragon 845
  • 6GB of RAM
  • 64GB of storage
  • 19-megapixel/12-megapixel rear-facing dual cameras
  • 13-megapixel (1/3.06” in size) front-facing camera
  • 3,450 mAh battery
  • Dynamic Vibration System (a la Xperia XZ2)
  • IP65/IP68 certified
  • Android 8.0 Oreo
  • Chrome Black/Chrome Silver

When it comes to design, the Premium version boasts the same glass back and curvy look, as the Xperia XZ2. Although the biggest difference here is that the new-comer includes a 5.8-inch display with standard 16:9 aspect ratio, while the Xperia XZ2 has a 5.7-inch screen with 18:9 aspect ratio. Resolution has been bumped up from 2160 x 1080 pixels on the previous model to an impressive 3840 x 2160 pixels.

Both models are powered by the new Snapdragon 845 processor, but the XZ2 Premium offers 6GB of RAM instead of the 4GB of the standard XZ2.

A focus on camera

Then there are the cameras. The Xperia XZ2 includes a single 19-megapixel camera on the back, while the XZ2 Premium offers the services of a dual-camera setup. This is a first for the company.

Sony uses a 19-megapixel color sensor and a 12-megapixel monochrome one, which is a similar approach to Huawei’s. Where Sony aims to impress is in the ISO performance department. According to the company, the XZ2 Premium can reach a maximum ISO of 51,200 while shooting pictures. Videos can go as high as 12,800.

Normally, images snapped on a smartphone at this ISO would look quite awful.  But Sony claims that is “AUBE fusion image signal processor” can combine data taken from both sensors, optimize for low light and drastically reduce noise, so you can get usable results.

Obviously, we’ll have to wait and see how the Xperia XZ2 Premium’s camera performs in real life. But Sony promises you’ll be able to get results that were previously only possible to obtain with interchangeable lens cameras.

The Japanese company is also offering a few creative options. For example, there’s an feature which lets you desaturate parts of an image and leave only the subject in color, for more artistic imagery.

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium can also shoot 4K video recording and the 960fps super slow-motion option is also available here.

Sony also put a focus on audio with its latest release. The new phone includes a pair of stereo front-facing speakers, which the company says are the loudest yet.

Sony hasn’t revealed the price of the new Xperia XZ2 Premium. We do know the phone will hit the market this summer. Like its predecessor, it’s probably going to be available in the US as well.

Want to play YouTube in the background of your Android? Here’s how

Alexandra Arici
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Ever wanted to do something on your smartphone while also listening to music on YouTube? Or simply to listen to a song with your smartphone’s screen off? Unfortunately, exiting the YouTube app or turning off your phone’s display means the music will stop playing.

The good news is that there’s a workaround to bypass this problem and it involves using one of your mobile browsers. Whether you use Chrome or Firefox, you can easily get YouTube play in the background.

How to play YouTube in the background of your phone

Chrome usually comes pre-installed with most Android smartphones, but if for some reason yours doesn’t you can easily download it from the Play Store. Once the app is on your phone, you can get your YouTube video to play in the background by following these simple steps. The same instructions apply for Firefox users.

  1. Open up the Chrome app on your phone/tablet
  2. Navigate to the YouTube video you wish to play
  3. Go to Settings (three dots located in the upper-right corner)
  4. Tap on Request Desktop Site
  5. Start playing the video and then press the Home button on your device to close the browser
  6. Pull down the notification bar and press play.

Enjoy the music, while also searching for a new pair of boots! Or turning the screen off.

Another way to keep the music going while you do something else on your phone is to use multi-window mode on Android. Learn how to access it by reading the tutorial right here.

Seven best adult coloring apps for Android to help you de-stress

Alexandra Arici
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Coloring used to be reserved for children, but in recent years, the endeavor has found a different demographic. What started as a niche hobby has slowly turned into an international trend, as adult coloring books are flying off the shelves all over the world.

According to experts, adult coloring can help with a number of emotional and mental issues. For many, boredom, lack of structure, and stress are the greatest triggers. But the time and concentration that adult coloring takes help the individual abandon the focus on negative issues and habits, and re-focus them in a safe and productive way.

Now, if you’re not the type to always carry around a large book and a set of crayons, then you should know that adult coloring book apps are also an option.

Having a coloring app installed on your device is great when you have a few spare moments at work and you want to relax by doing a bit of coloring without attracting unwanted attention.

In this article we’ve put together a list of seven adult coloring apps which are available for download on the Google Play Store. Most of them are free to download and will provide you with a pretty great artistic experience.

Mandala Coloring Pages

What it is:

Developed by Coloring Games, Mandala Coloring Pages lets you color beautiful Mandalas and create your own designs too.

Why we like it:

  • Allows you to pick from up to 100 different Mandalas. There are several categories to choose from including Simple, Complex, Animals, Floral, Straight and more.
  • The app is not just for coloring, it can also be used for freehand drawing.
  • You can create your own mandalas by using the Design tool.

Install Mandala Coloring Pages

Recolor

What it is:

Don’t like coloring Mandalas? Recolor is an app filled with diverse artworks that are just waiting for you to bring it to life.

Why we like it:

  • If you’re not really a fan of Mandalas, Recolor might be the app for you. It includes over 2000 uniquepictures organized in themed chapter including birds, fantasy, fashion, 3D or patterns.
  • Once you are satisfied with your coloring efforts, you can further enhance your picture by adding effects, filters and outline.
  • The app also has a social component. It lets you view other people’s work. You can like and comment on their drawings. Just like on Instagram you can also follow your favorite “artists”.

Install Recolor

Colorfit

What it is:

A coloring and drawing app which aims to provide anxiety and stress release.

Why we like it:

  • The app includes a large variety of drawings. Some are free to use, but some require diamonds to be unlocked. Fortunately, you can get (enough) diamonds daily simply by check-in. You can also watch short ads to get more.
  • Unlike other competing apps, Colorfit also offers a choice in coloring tools including spray paint, pencil or watercolour brush.
  • You can create your color palette from scratch or choose from the rich palettes the app already provide.

Install Colorfit

ColorTherapy

What it is:

A coloring app for adults that puts an emphasis on experimenting with different color palettes.

Why we like it:

  • The app’s gallery contains numerous image categories including Animals, Canvas, Exotic or Flowers.
  • You can try out a number of color palettes including Basic, Vintage or Shades. Once you’re done coloring you can also add filters to your drawing.
  • The app gives you access to a customizable brush (size, opacity), on top of the standard color fill option.
  • Check out the creations of other users in the Inspiration tab.

Install ColorTherapy

Coloring Book for Adults

What it is:

Offered by App Labs Games, this coloring book app offers a nifty collection of themes for those seeking stress relief through app therapy.

Why we like it:

  • It’s super straightforward. Chose a category, then picture and get to work.
  • Publish your work so others can view and like your masterpiece. You don’t even have to sign-up with an account.
  • Ran out of pictures to color? Try App Labs’ other coloring apps including Mandalas Coloring Book for Adults.

Install Coloring Book for Adults

Colorfly

What it is:

One of the most popular coloring book apps out there. It comes packed with tons of pictures to choose from.

Why we like it:

  • While the app’s main purpose is to let you color, it also has a Creative corner where you can design your own creations. Draw your own mandala or take a picture and turn it into a drawing. Alternatively, you can write and color your own message.
  • The app also shows the images colored by other people for inspiration.
  • Colorfly includes a sub-category of famous paintings you can color, which is really cool. Unfortunately, some require a subscription to be unlocked. And so do additional tools like gradients and brushes.

Install Colorfly

Sidenote: The subscriptions costs $19.99/month.

Colorify

What it is:

Not to be confused with Colorfly, Colorify is an app developed by Vivasouk that allows you to engage yourself in hours of peaceful color therapy.

Why we like it:

  • The rich library includes unique categories such as Zodiac Signs or Oriental.
  • For each image you select, you can access the Inspiration tab to get an idea of how to color the drawing you’ve selected.
  • The app has a gradient tool which is free to use.

Install Colorify

LG G6 gets Android 8.0 and is re-branded as ‘ThinQ’

AndroidGuys
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The LG G6 is LG’s phone from 2017, seeing that the LG G7 ThinQ is this year’s flagship from LG. And yet, LG is adding the “ThinQ” rebranding to this year’s phones as well as last year’s. The LG G6 is now rebranded as the LG G6 ThinQ.

Some readers, and our staff, are seeing the Android 8.0 Oreo update on their respective phones now. If you have an LG G6, keep an eye out for a software update. It’s a good one and it makes an already solid phone even better.

SEE: The LG G6 one year later… a review

The LG G7 ThinQ rebranding is due to its AI camera features. Artificial intelligence is one of the top tech trends of the mobile smartphone market, and LG wants to market the growing tech trend. But the serious question here is: why would LG return to last year’s flagships to market this year’s tech trend? Last year is in the past; why not let sleeping dogs lie, especially if sales are a disappointment for the phone in question?

What’s new about the LG G6 ThinQ?

The LG G6 ThinQ is no different from the LG G6, though it includes LG’s new AI camera features. LG is updating the software with the new AI camera. Rebranding the old phone is the Korean OEM’s way of appealing to more budget-conscious customers who may not want to pay this year’s prices for LG flagships.

Perhaps LG is taking a page from Samsung’s playbook. Samsung renamed its Galaxy Note 6 to “Galaxy Note 7” to align the Galaxy Note series with its Galaxy S line in 2016. Samsung’s goal behind the number change was to prevent the assumption that the “Note 6” was inferior to the Galaxy S7. Unlike LG, though, Samsung didn’t add an unnecessary label, and it gave an updated number to devices in the same year. Samsung didn’t rebrand device names from previous years such as 2015.

With every new flagship release, the prices of earlier flagships fall. The LG G6 has already dropped to a sub-$400 price tag. Potential buyers may assume the LG G6 is inferior to the LG G7 ThinQ if the old product isn’t rebranded. Perhaps LG wants to revitalize an old product in the consumer consciousness that few remember. There are few noticeable differences between the LG G6 and LG G7 ThinQ aside from the G7’s notch, wider display, and smaller battery than its predecessor.

Outside of the new AI camera features LG is bringing to its current flagships, the LG G6 ThinQ is the same smartphone customers remember from last year: it features the same Snapdragon 821 SoC, the same 4GB of RAM, the same 18:9 aspect ratio, the same LCD screen, camera lenses, and so on.

The LG G6 ThinQ needs performance improvements

LG is spending money to rebrand the G6. And yet, former G6 owners would rather see LG spend money to fix Bluetooth issues, call quality issues, and even the phone’s bootloops. To place a moniker above performance is indicative that a company is headed in the wrong direction.

What is OPPO’s budget brand ‘Realme’ all about?

Alexandra Arici
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Despite their meteoric rise in the smartphone industry, not a lot of people have heard about OPPO and their mobile devices. Especially in the Western world.

Yet the company has been selling phones since 2011 and has largely done so in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. But in 2018 OPPO has big plans for expansion, which might even include North America.

Nevertheless for the time being, the company has chosen to focus on the ever-expanding Indian market.

According to IDC, the Indian smartphone market is expected to show a double-digit growth in 2018. And admits the growing market, mobile phone makers are rushing to capture the largest share of the pie. OPPO being one of them.

The company has recently announced the launch of a new online brand called Realme which exclusively targets the Indian youth market. The new branch is currently sharing OPPO’s resources such as R&D and manufacturing for the Indian market. It will also use OPPO’s 500 service centers in India for after-sales services.

Realme will operate as an independent brand with a specific team in India, and one in China that will work on software and product development. The brand is focusing on the budget niche for the India market and the aim is to provide better customer experience in this price category.

Previously, OPPO has relied heavily on marketing and promotions to build their offline presence. With Realme, they plan on doing the same with their online standing.

OPPO’s new sub-brand faces some strong competition in the country from China-based rival, Xiaomi, which is India’s leading smartphone brand. OPPO, on the other hand, is the number four player in the Indian market. So the big questions is, will Realme help the Chinese company climb to a better position?

The Realme 1 is the first smartphone under the new sub-brand

We’ll just have to wait and see. After all, the first smartphone to launch under the new brand, the Realme 1 is a pretty typical budget Android phone. With a few notable highlights.

It comes boasting a 6-inch display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and FHD+ resolution. Customers will surely appreciate having that kind of real estate on a device this cheap. Of course, this is still an IPS LCD panel, rather than an OLED.

The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio P60 processor coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, a pretty rare configuration for budget devices such as this.

In the camera department, customers will get a 13-megapixel rear camera with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and an 8-megapixel camera for selfies.

The catch? The phone comes with face unlock as its only means for quick authentication. Which means no fingerprint sensor on board. On a more positive note, the Realme 1 does impress with its unique appearance. The polygonal effect on the back of the device is surely an eye-catcher. The subtle pattern is only visible when it catches the light the right way, but it gives the Realme a unique personality.

The Realme 1 is by far the best-looking smartphone by OPPO in the budget segment and so far it seems like it stands a very good chance at overshadowing rivals like the popular Redmi Note 5 Pro.

To drive adoption, OPPO has also recently unveiled a new Solar Red color option for Realme 1. It also confirmed the phone will get the Android P update.

While the Realme 1 is currently limited to India, success could prompt OPPO to release the phone into other markets in the near future.

What do you think? Would you consider purchasing the Realme 1 if it were available in your region?

Google kicks off summer sale with discounts on Pixel 2, Google Home series

Alexandra Arici
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It’s that time of the year, folks! Google has started offering a series of discounts on select products via the Google Store.

Indeed, the deals don’t apply to each and every product, but they are quite varied. So if you’re hoping to get a cheaper Pixel 2 you’re out of luck for the time being. Fortunately, the larger Pixel 2 XL model does come with a discounted price tag.

So from now until July 17, you can get the phone with $100 off, as follows:

  • Pixel 2 XL with 64GB storage – $749 (previously $849)
  • Pixel 2 XL with 128GB storage $849 (previously $949)

But before you buy the discounted Pixel 2 XL, remember that the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are in the pipeline. They are probably going to see the light of day in October, which is only a few months away. So you might want to wait for that.

Or you could take a look at Google’s non-Pixel deals

The company’s smart speaker range is also available with a price cut:

  • Google Home Mini – $34 (previously $49)
  • Google Home – $99 (previously $129)
  • 2x Google Home – $158 (previously $258)
  • 2x Google Home Max – $648 (previously $798)

But wait there’s more. Other Google products also included in the summer deals.

  • Second-gen Daydream View – $49 (previously $98)
  • Chromecast Ultra – $54 (previously $69)
  • Chromecast Audio – $25 (previously $35)
  • Google Clips – $169 (previously $249)

It should also be noted that all purchases will also get free shipping in the US. Google says that the deals are available while supply last.

Don’t want to buy from the Google Store? No problem, most of the deals are also available with Best Buy and Target. The two retailers are also knocking an extra $5 off the Chromecast Ultra so you can get it for $49.

On top of the Pixel 2, Google’s summer sale leaves out products such as the Pixelbook or Pixel wireless buds.

Do you plan to take advantage of Google’s summer deals? Let us know in the comment section below.

Cheap Android phones sold in developing markets are stealing users’ data

Alexandra Arici
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Even if you’re careful about avoiding sketchy apps, there’s not much you can do if your smartphone has malware built in. That’s actually the case with many smartphones sold in developing markets.

Research from Upstream Systems found that such devices might ship with data-stealing apps pre-installed.

This malware is designed to commit digital ad fraud and will collect users’ data. It will also deplete their mobile data allowance. Or trigger fraudulent charger to their pre-paid credit, without their knowledge.

Upstream’s Secure-D, a platform which protects MNOs and their subscribers against online transaction fraud, has uncovered a number of low-end Android smartphones that come with digital ad fraud malware pre-installed before the user has even turned the phone one for the first time.  The products sell in markets like Brazil, Egypt, Myanmar, South Africa and more.

What can you get with low-end phones? Free, pre-installed malware

Upstream identified one such app. It’s called GMobi. According to Upstream’s testing, the GMobi app sent IMEI numbers, MAC addresses, and sometimes location data to servers in Singapore.

Note that it’s impossible to simply uninstall such apps. Unless users perform a rooting procedure that might have the effect of voiding their warranty.

GMobi is a performance-based ad platform that enables content monetization and global user acquisition. According to its website, the app serves over 100 OEMS including Huawei, Xiaomi and BLU and has a 150 million install base.

The Wall Street Journal contacted GMobi’s CEO Paul Wu who denied that his company violates any data collection laws. Yet the research findings paint a whole different story.

Regrettably, the malware is targeting people who are often getting online for the first time via a mobile device. In emerging markets, the cost of data remains expensive, relative to local income levels. So online advertising fraud attempts like those described in the report will directly impact the end consumer.

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