Xiaomi edges out Vivo to become the fifth-largest smartphone brand in the world

Xiaomi and OPPO see sizeable gains in Q2 2017 as Samsung and Apple occupy the top two spots.

Xiaomi is having a remarkable year, and the latest numbers from Strategy Analytics reflect that. The company has surged past Vivo to become the fifth-largest smartphone brand in the world in Q2 2017, recording shipments of 23.2 million phones. That’s a YoY increase of 58%, with Xiaomi now occupying a global market share of 6.4%.

After a tumultuous 2016, Xiaomi is now following in OPPO and Vivo’s footsteps by focusing on the offline sector to boost sales. The company has 137 Mi Home stores throughout China, and is looking to significantly expand its retail footprint in the coming years, taking a $1 billion loan to do so. Xiaomi also launched its first Mi Home store in India, and is looking to open 100 stores in the subcontinent over the next two years.

Xiaomi is also rumored to be starting a new sub-brand that will primarily be sold offline, with leaked renders of an upcoming phone highlighting a dual camera setup similar to that of the Mi 6.

Xiaomi’s Indian unit saw a staggering 328% increase in revenue in Q1 2017.

The company saw a meteoric rise in India over the last twelve months, with revenues from the Indian business increasing by 328% in Q1 2017. Most of that has to do with well-timed launches and products that offer incredible value for money. The entry-level Redmi 4A, in particular, turned out to be one of the most popular devices in the country this year, and the Redmi Note 4 continues to sell well six months after its release.

OPPO also noted a healthy increase in shipments to the tune of 64%, and the company managed to successfully lure customers away from the likes of ZTE, LG, and Alcatel in China, India and Europe.

Global smartphone shipments grew by 6% to 360.4 million, with Samsung coming in at first place with 79.5 million shipments. The South Korean company now has a global market share of 22.1%, with healthy sales of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ buoying its shipments. Apple is once again second with 41 million iPhone shipments during the quarter.

Huawei is in third place with 38.4 million shipments, with both the Huawei P10 and Mate 9 posting healthy sales figures. Huawei is slowly edging toward Apple, but with a new iPhone model set to come out this quarter, the Chinese manufacturer won’t be able to claim the second spot anytime soon.

5 Important Considerations When Buying a Used Phone

Buying a used phone can be a heck of a deal, but you need to know what to look out for!

When it’s time to upgrade your phone, most of us will go to our carriers and see what deals they have to offer — but don’t forget about the bustling used smartphone market. You can find your next great phone at a discounted price by buying used, but we’ve got some tips to consider before hopping on Craigslist and buying the first phone that pops up.

Always inspect the phone in person — if possible

It sounds obvious, but turn on the phone and see that it works. Don’t get screwed.

Honest folks will properly photograph and report any and all damage on the phone in their online ad, but if you’re buying a used phone from a local seller you’ll want to do a full inspection before sealing the deal. If you’re buying from a local seller and are planning to meet up in public (always choose a public location for in-person meetups), be sure to take the time to look over the device thoroughly.

Look for all signs of wear, but especially any dents along the side or chips around the edge of the screen. Since it’s very likely the phone will not be under warranty, you don’t want to end up buying a phone that’s on its dying legs or on the verge of some serious issues. Also always make sure the phone powers on properly and that it doesn’t have any security locks — a telltale sign that someone’s trying to sell you a stolen phone.

Look beyond Craigslist and eBay

While you might instinctively search Craigslist or other local swap sites for used phones being sold in your city, or eBay to try and snag an excellent deal, there’s an inherent risk involved with both services that you might get ripped off.

That’s why you should check out the reputable phone reselling sites out there, which acts as a third-party intermediary between the seller and the buyer while also verifying the condition and value of the phone. You’ve got two main options to choose from.

Gazelle sells certified pre-owned devices that go through a rigorous inspection process to check for any functionality or cosmetic issues. Gazelle also ensures that all devices are reset prior to shipment and include a USB charger and charging cable for your phone. With unlocked phones as well as models locked to specific carriers available, you can save some money and get a new (to you) phone at a steep discount.

Swappa is the other site worthy of your attention. Swappa relies on PayPal for all transactions, allowing you to pay the seller directly while keeping you protected by PayPal’s outstanding buyer protection policy. Swappa offers more comprehensive information about the market prices for phones, too, so you can see how the average price has fallen over time.

Orchard is another service we recommend you check out. The company just expanded to selling Android phones, and every device it sells has gone through a thorough diagnostic to make sure everything is in working order.

No matter which service you go with, make sure you’ve done your research and know exactly what you’re buying.

It pays to be patient

If you’re in no immediate hurry to buy a used phone, it might be well worth waiting for the next big phone launch before buying a phone. Consider that the average price of a used Samsung Galaxy S7 edge on Swappa has dropped by around $100 since March 2017 — the Galaxy S8 was released in April, so you can see how the trend works.

So the lesson here is to be strategic. Wait for the next big phone release and watch the market for a flood of last year’s device. The next big Android release will be the Galaxy Note 8, so you should expect to see the value of older phones drop a bit on the resale market.

Be aware of any carrier locks

Put your SIM card in it. Make a phone call.

Typically, you’re going to find the better deals on a phone that are locked to a specific carrier. This is fine, as long as you buy the right phone for your carrier. While certified sellers will absolutely include whether a phone is carrier locked in the posting title or description, Chuck from across town might be oblivious to this and think he’s selling an unlocked phone when it’s actually from AT&T.

To save yourself a headache, if you’re buying in person try inserting your SIM card in the phone and powering it on. If you get any network lock notifications, that’s an immediate red flag, especially if it was advertised as being unlocked. Ask for an unlock code or walk away.

Alternatively, with sites like Swappa or Gazelle you’re typically going to pay a premium for an unlocked phone, so if you can find the phone you want that’s available on the carrier you’re with go for it. If you have no intentions of switching carriers anytime soon, you can save some serious cash.

Use some of your savings to protect your purchase

Around these parts, we always recommend getting a case or screen protector for your new phone. This advice goes double when you’re buying a used phone because you can’t be too sure what hell a phone may have gone through before it got into your hands.

I’ve had phones take a drop and appear to be fine, only to have the screen crack weeks or months later because the structural integrity of the phone had been compromised. The thing is, you just never know for sure with a used phone so it’s best to err on the side of caution. Besides, you’re already going to be saving a ton of money by buying used, whats $10 or $20 for some accessories that will extend the life of your phone?

The best insurance policies for your phone

What are your tips?

Have you bought used phones before? What was your experience like? Got any tips to add to our list? Share them in the comments below!

Samsung’s giant 4K QLED TV costs $20,000

More than just about any other electronics products, TVs cost a fortune if you really want the biggest, best model available. Case in point is Samsung’s Q9, the latest model in its top-end QLED lineup. At 88-inches, the 4K model is now Samsung’s largest QLED screen, and we now know you’ll pay $20,000 for the privilege. That’s double the 75-inch Q9F model, which is actually on sale in the US right now for $9,000. The cheapest model, the 55-inch Q7, runs $2,500.

For your dollars, you get 88 inches of Ultra HD (3,840 x 2,160) resolution, 10-bit HDR (no Dolby Vision though, unfortunately), 240 Hz refresh, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth (including Headset support), four HDMI inputs and Samsung’s Smart Hub and Smart Remote. Like others in the Q-series, the Q9 is extremely thin, has nearly no bezel, and features a “no-gap” wall mount thanks to the 1.88mm transparent optical cable.

The technology behind it is Samsung’s latest-gen QLED, which uses a layer metal “quantum dots” placed in front of an LED backlight panel. Each can emit an individual hue from a palette of a billion colors.

Considering how good its AMOLED smartphone displays are, it’s surprising that Samsung never really got into OLED TVs. Instead, it came up with QLED, which requires a backlight — a completely different technology. While that makes QLED panels much brighter than OLED, OLED sets have better blacks, since they can turn individual pixels completely off. Samsung also claims its QLED sets can cover 100 percent of the DCI-P3 HDR color space, while OLED sets can’t quite do that yet.

However, reviewers far prefer OLED sets and even high-end LEDs over Samsung’s QLED models. “There’s no getting around it, Samsung is asking you to pay top-shelf prices for a second-rate screen technology which can never go head to head with LG’s OLED range or a Full Array backlit LED television from the likes of Sony or Panasonic,” Lifehacker’s Adam Turner wrote in a recent shootout. Ouch.

Source: Samsung

Team USA tests Eagle Prime ahead of its ‘Giant Robot Duel’

Over two years since it announced its robot battle, MegaBots is testing out the fighting machine it will take to the mechanical blitz. Its latest vid sees it pilot the 12-ton behemoth around an obstacle course. The MK3-class “Eagle Prime,” which looks more like ED-209 than an Autobot, is put through its paces in the clip. You can watch as it uses its grappling claws to open doors, drives through walls, fires and reloads its paintball cannon, and tears another robot a new one.

Judging by the vid, Eagle Prime handles pretty well for a 16-foot beast. The 430-horsepower combat mech stands atop a custom tank tread, allowing it manoeuvre around corners. Since its public unveiling in May, the MegaBots team have also given it a brand-new reloading air cannon.

Eagle Prime will represent Team USA in the “Giant Robot Duel” against “Kuratas” (a 13-foot combat mech from Japanese company Suidobashi Heavy Industries). The Real Steel-style matchup was due to take place this month, but is again being pushed back, this time to September. MegaBots claims the delay is down to “logistical issues.” Although the event is not open to the public, fans can catch the action on YouTube and Facebook.

Xiaomi is one of the world’s biggest phonemakers, again

Samsung shipped two percent more phones in the second quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year, according to Strategy Analytics. By shipping 79.5 million out of 360 million units worldwide, it remains the top smartphone-maker in the world — it has been for a while, so it’s not the standout name in the market research company’s list. It’s Xiaomi, which reclaimed the fifth spot in the top phone manufacturers list for the first time in a year.

Xiaomi hasn’t been doing well recently despite displaying explosive growth in its first few years, even if it doesn’t officially sell its devices in the west. Lei Jun, its CEO, told employees in an email earlier this year that the Beijing-based company grew faster that it could handle and needed to slow down and refocus. That same month, company vice president Hugo Barra, known for his work with Google’s Android division, left Xiaomi to head back to Silicon Valley.

Despite its recent struggles, Xiaomi’s sales have been climbing these past few months. Its annual shipment ballooned by 58 percent, and it took over six percent of the global smartphone marketshare in Q2, thanks to its Android devices. The budget phone Redmi 4A, in particular, proved to be especially popular in India.

Unlike Samsung and Xiaomi, Apple didn’t do as well as it would have wanted. It’s still in second place, but its sales are down by one percent compared to the same period in 2016. It also only shipped half the number of phones Samsung did. That will likely change once the next iPhone comes out, though it’s worth noting that Samsung is also preparing to launch the Note 8 in a few weeks’ time. Huawei occupies the third spot in the list and retains its status as the top Chinese phonemaker, followed by Oppo, which took over eight percent of the global marketshare.

Source: Strategy Analytics

Uber and Lyft are losing their fight against unionization

A federal judge has dealt a blow to ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft, after dismissing an appeal to block legislation that would allow their drivers to unionize. US District Court Judge Robert Lasnik rejected the lawsuit filed by the US Chamber of Commerce on behalf of its members (including Uber and Lyft), which argued that drivers are contractors, not employees, and therefore federal and state laws do not give them the right to unionize.

This is good news for advocates of Seattle’s Uber unionization law, which was passed by City Council in 2015 and gave rideshare drivers collective bargaining rights. But they’re not out of the woods yet. In April Lasnik temporarily blocked this law from going into effect while he considered its various legal challenges, and it remains blocked despite the rejection of the Chamber’s lawsuit.

While many drivers welcome unionization, Lasnik is also currently mulling over a second lawsuit from a number of Uber and Lyft drivers backed by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, which promotes conservative, anti-union legislation. Clearly this isn’t a straightforward, two-sided argument, so the eventual outcome will set an important precedent for the future of economy-sharing start-ups.

Via: Wall Street Journal

Virgin Orbit will test its rocket-launching plane in 2018

There’s a lot happening at Virgin’s three space companies, even though they might not be making headlines the same way that other commercial spaceflight companies are. Virgin Galactic is focused on human spaceflight, and will be resuming powered test flights later this year after a tragic crash in 2014. The Spaceship Company is just that — it’s aimed at building and testing aerospace vehicles. It’s the company’s third and most recent venture, Virgin Orbit, that we’re focused on today. The first flight of LauncherOne, the company’s rocket, will take place sometime before July of 2018.

Virgin Orbit is designed to be a small satellite launcher, but it doesn’t have a traditional rocket. Instead, a 747-400 aircraft called Cosmic Girl will carry both rocket and payload to 35,000 feet. The plane will then release the LauncherOne rocket, which will begin a powered ascent into space. It can carry a 300-kg (661 lb) payload to an orbit 500-km (310 mi) above the Earth.

The company’s announcement this week focused on the changes to the plane Cosmic Girl. In order to serve as the launch platform for LauncherOne, the plane had to undergo extensive modifications, which were followed by thorough inspections. That process is now complete, and Cosmic Girl is ready. Virgin Orbit’s VP of Launch Tim Buzza expressed excitement that the company was one step closer “towards our vision of launching anyone, anywhere, any time.”

It’s a positive step for a company that has mostly been in the headlines for tragedy over the past couple of years. Virgin Orbit’s launch system may seem unorthodox, but it does have advantages: It’s not as subject to the whims of weather as traditional vehicles. The rocket will be shielded from the ravages of bad weather as Cosmic Girl ascends; it’s only when the plane is at a high altitude that LauncherOne will be exposed. It will certainly be interesting to see what Virgin’s space companies achieve in the future, but for now we’re looking forward to that flight in the first half of 2018.

Via: SpaceNews

Source: SpaceRef Business

You Can Now Send Money With PayPal in Skype App on iPhone and iPad

Skype today announced that users across 22 countries can now send money with PayPal in its mobile app for iOS and Android.

Skype said the person-to-person payments feature is rolling out today in the United States, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain.

Where available, users will need to link their PayPal account to their Skype profile. In a chat, users can then swipe right, tap Send Money, and complete the near-instant money transfer process, which is handled by PayPal. Both the sender and recipient must reside in one of the 22 countries supported.

PayPal within Skype will support currency exchange as usual. If a user is sending funds from the United States, for example, to someone in Europe, the user will have the option to send money in euros if preferred.

The feature will require the latest version of Skype for iOS, available as a free download on the App Store [Direct Link]. However, users receiving money can have any version of the Skype app installed.

Tags: Skype, PayPal
Discuss this article in our forums

Plex Launches Live TV Support for Apple TV App

Two months after rolling out Plex Live TV to iOS and Android TV devices, Plex today announced that its live streaming TV feature is now available for users on Apple TV.

In addition, on any app where Plex Live TV is available, Plex Pass users will be able to use a new “Time Shift” feature, meaning they can scrub back and forth through any live broadcast, as well as pause it.

We’re thrilled to bring Live TV to Apple TV and Live TV and DVR support to Android mobile, joining iOS, Android TV, and our lovely Plex Web app (DVR only).

We can’t quite include a TARDIS with your Plex Pass yet, but we can do the next best thing, which is allowing you to time shift Live TV! That’s right, with our latest enhancements, you can now time-travel (well, pause or skip around) when watching Live TV. No longer will you be forced to choose between getting more Cheetos and seeing who gets voted off the island. Life is hard enough.

To gain access to Plex Live TV, users must be a Plex Pass subscriber (beginning at $4.99/month), and then install a digital antenna, connect a digital tuner, and sync everything to their Plex Pass subscription account.

Plex Pass subscribers can watch live HD content on channels available over-the-air, including major US networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CW, as well as local programming, news, and sports. For apps that support DVR, Plex also said that the feature is officially out of beta.

For a list of compatible tuners and antennas that enable Plex’s live broadcasting and DVR features, check out the company’s list here. The Plex app is available to download from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 10
Tag: Plex
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

Google Earth iOS App Updated With Flyover-Like 3D Views and 64-Bit Support

Google Earth for iOS today received a major update that brings a collection of new features to the interactive mapping app, as well as introducing 64-bit app support so it can run on iOS 11 devices. Apple reminded developers over the summer that once iOS 11 launches to the public, it will cease support of 32-bit apps altogether and only allow 64-bit apps and app updates to be submitted to the App Store.

In its announcement, Google positioned the updated app as a way for users to discover new travel destinations. With the new add-ons, users will now be able to explore locations around the world with a 3D button that refocuses Google Maps and begins circling around a city chosen by the user, similar to Flyover in Apple Maps. All of the updates coming to iOS previously debuted on Android in April.

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. It’s a time to travel with my family, for discovering new places and creating new memories. Google Earth is where I turn to for travel ideas. Just last month I was exploring Canada’s National Parks. Inspired by the beautiful outdoor imagery, I’m planning to hit the road with my wife and kids in a couple weeks, up the coast to Hoh Rain Forest in Washington, and then onward to beautiful Victoria, Canada, home of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

And starting today, if you’re an iOS user, you can download Google Earth and discover your next travel destination, too.

There’s also a new feature called “Voyager” that brings up interactive stories from places around the world with information like the best museums, parks, and landmarks broken down in categories including editor’s picks, travel, nature, culture, history, and education.

To discover a random new destination on the planet, there’s a new dice rolling button that surfaces a new location for users to read up on each time it’s pressed. Google also added an in-app screenshot, or “Postcard,” feature that lets users take pictures of the locations they explore with the new 3D mode.

Google Earth is available to download from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tags: Google, Google Earth
Discuss this article in our forums