Forthcoming Smartphones in 2020

One Plus 8 & OnePlus 8 Pro

The  Oneplus 7T was launched in October 2019, and we can expect the Oneplus 8 and 8 Pro to launch in May 2020. The new OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro is going to offer some improvements over the current OnePlus 7T and Oneplus 7T Pro.

HIGHLIGHT FEATURES OF ONEPLUS 8T PRO

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Processor, Adreno 650 GPU. 
• In-Display fingerprint scanner.
• Quad Rear cameras With improved Low light performance
• Punch Hole Front Camera with AI and Portrait Mode.
• No 3.5 mm headphone jack – Switch to USB type C earbuds.
• FHD+ Super AMOLED No Notch display to ensure the full vision
• Android 10.0 Out of the Box with Oxygen Os.
• 5G Support

The Oneplus 8 Pro is likely to come with a hole punch camera similar to the Samsung Galaxy S20. 

The phone will come with a glass back design and will feature a large 6.5-6.6 Inch Super AMOLED Display, with (1080×2340 pixels) and 19.5:9 aspect ratio. It will also use the Corning Gorilla Glass 6 for protection. Also, Oneplus is unveiling a new 120 Hz display at CES 2020 that the company can use in the 8-Series. 

Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL

The Google Pixel 5 and 5 XL are still almost a year away for launch. Unlike the current generation of Pixel 4 and 4XL, not launched in India, future phones are likely to come to the Indian market.

Apart from using computational photography leveraging machine learning and AI processing to click excellent images; Google will use Triple cameras in the next iteration.

The second big update for the Pixel phones is 90/120 Hz display, offering a super smooth user experience.

Pixel 5 will come with the Full HD+ display whereas the 5 XL will come with a Quad HD+ OLED display panel.

There is cutting edge project Soli that enables you to use gestures to dismiss calls or swipe photos and a lot more.

Another big update is the IR face camera like the iPhone Xs Face ID for secure unlocking.

Lastly, the phone will run on the latest Android Q, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor and 6 GB of Ram.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 (5G and In-Display Camera)

Xiaomi launched the new Mi Mix 3 on 25th October 2018, at an event in China. The phone offers 5G capability and boasts of a massive 10 GB DDR4X. Mix Mix 4 is expected to launch in Q1 2020 in China.

The Mi Mix 4 is likely to come with in-display cameras as per a leaked image from Slashleaks.

Xiaomi has been working on the under-display camera tech for quite some time and we can actually see some phones in 2020, using this technology.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 comes with a full vision, nearly bezel-less, curved display. The bezels are uniform and are quite thin.

For Imaging, it comes with Dual Rear cameras with 12 MP lens and has an f/1.8 aperture with OIS support.

The front side even has Dual cameras (24MP+2MP) to take images with the bokeh effect.

Powering the Mix 3 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus, along with the Adreno 640 GPU. It can have up to 12 GB of DDR4 ram and storage capacity of 512 GB.

There will be 5G and 4G models for the device. Further, it can have a 4500 mAH battery with 45 Watts wired and 30 watts wireless charging.

There is no date available for India launch, but we can expect it to come in the first half of 2020. For imaging, it can come with a 108 MP primary camera along with 16 MP + 12 MP sensors.

Xiaomi is already launching the Mi Note 10 with a 108 MP camera and is also likely to use the same lens in the Mi Mix 4.

Samsung S20, S20 Plus, and S20 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S20 series will launch on 11 Feb 2020 and is one of the most anticipated phones of all time. 

So what happened to the Samsung S11 series, Samsung is changing the naming and moving to S20. There will be no S11 series. It is confirmed from the image leaks, as shown below. 

Leaks and image render of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S20 suggests it has a centrally aligned punch-hole camera like the Note 10. 

Consequently, Samsung is not going with an under-display camera for the S20 series.

But we can expect the phone to have thinner bezels than the Samsung S10. 

Samsung S20 Ultra has a Rectangular Camera Module With 5 Cameras:

Also, the new Samsung S20 and S20 Ultra will come with a second-generation in-display fingerprint scanner to make it more convenient to use.

No prizes for guessing that the S20 series have the Samsung made Infinity-O display with up to Quad-HD resolution. Further, Samsung may add a 120 Hz display similar to the Rog Phone II.

The most significant upgrade for the S20 and S20 Ultra is going to be the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Octa-Core processor, and the Adreno 650 GPU.

Upcoming-Samsung-Galaxy-S20

Both the devices will come with a rectangular camera module at the back that can have up to 5 camera lenses. The camera will come with laser auto-focus and will even have a macro lens for close up shots.

Other speculated camera features hints that we may see a 108 MP lens, 8K video recording, and 100X digital zoom on the S20 series.

Another big update is going to be Android Q along with the Samsung One UI 2.0, which is now far refined in comparison to the Touch Wiz or the Samsung Experience software.

Further, new S-series phones will come with 5G Volte Support and will offer users blazing-fast data connectivity.

Lastly, Samsung may finally include a high-speed charging experience with a bundled 45 Watts charger with the new phones.

Huawei Mate 10 (Folding Phone)

The Huawei Mate X comes with Dual displays that have 6.6 Inch (1148×2480 pixels, 19.5:9 aspect ratio), and the rear has a thinner 6.38-inch display offering 892×2480 pixel count and a 25:9 aspect ratio.

When the displays are not folded it becomes an 8 Inch single panel.

The Mate X comes with Huawei EMUI software along with the Android 9.0 pie.

Powering the Mate X is the Kirin 980 Octa-Core processor made from 7 Nm technology and can offer a significant boost in gaming and multi-tasking performance.

The Mate X comes with Leica cameras with at the back, offering a primary 40 Megapixel lens, 16 MP (wide-angle lens) and an 8 Megapixel telephoto lens.

Lastly, the Mate X comes with a 4500 mAH capacity battery and has a 55 Watts charger which can charge it up to 85% in just 30 minutes. 

Apple iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 PRO Max

Similar to 2019, in 2020, Apple will launch 3 new iPhones – iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 PRO Max. 

As per reports, Apple can launch the iPhone 12 with three screen sizes – 5.46 Inch, 6.1 Inch, and 6.7 Inch. 

Another rumor suggests Apple can launch a fourth iPhone this year and may call it as iPhone 12 Max. The two non-Pro models will be affordable while the Pro models will be more expensive.

iPhone-12-and-12-PRO-Max

Also, there we some reports of iPhone SE 2 launch but Apple has not refreshed the iPhone SE for many years now. 

Display and Design – The new iPhones are expected to come with a completely new design that may not have a notch or at least with a smaller notch. The notch was introduced with the iPhone X and it will be three years since the company introduced the concept. 

Also, another big upgrade is 120 Hz display for the Pro models and Apple may use thinner OLED panels made by Samsung for the iPhones. 

What’s more, there are some pointers hinting at an in-display fingerprint scanner or the in-display camera that we have seen on some of the prototypes from Oppo and Xiaomi. 

Performance and Hardware – Undoubtedly, Apple will introduce the new A14 chipset with the new iPhones. As we know the A13 is faster than the upcoming Snapdragon 865, the A14 will be far ahead of Qualcomm flagship processors. 

5G – All the iPhone models can have support for 5G Technology as Qualcomm has already announced that the Snapdragon 865 based phones will have 5G. Most of the big markets like the US and China are gearing for 5G and till 2021 they will need 5G phones. 

Cameras – A lot of companies are offering Quad-Cameras now and with up to 108 Megapixel resolution. Apple may add a higher megapixel camera with a 40 to 64 MP lens to the top models.

Faster Charging – The charging speed on the iPhones is way slower than several Android rivals and it is high time for the company to add 30 Watts to 50 Watts Charger with the iPhone 12.

The new iPhones are launched in September every year and we can expect the iPhone 12 series to launch around 10th September 2020.

Source: https://candytech.in/ 

Covid 19 [Corona Virus]

1. What is SARS-CoV-2? What is COVID-19?

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the name given to the 2019 novel coronavirus. COVID-19 is the name given to the disease associated with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans.

2. Where do coronaviruses come from?

Coronaviruses are viruses that circulate among animals with some of them also known to infect humans.

Bats are considered as natural hosts of these viruses yet several other species of animals are also known to be a source. For instance, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is transmitted to humans from camels, and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1) is transmitted to humans from civet cats. More information on coronaviruses can be found on the ECDC factsheet.

3. Is this virus comparable to SARS or to the seasonal flu?

The novel coronavirus detected in China is genetically closely related to the SARS-CoV-1 virus. SARS emerged at the end of 2002 in China, and it caused more than 8 000 cases in 33 countries over a period of eight months. Around one in ten of the people who developed SARS died.

The current COVID-19 outbreak caused around 7 000 reported cases in China during the first month after initial reports (January 2020), with a further 80 000 cases reported globally during the second month (February 2020). Of these first 87 000 cases, about 3 000 died. Cases are now being detected in Europe and across the globe. See the situation updates for the latest available information. 

While the viruses that cause both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza are transmitted from person-to-person and may cause similar symptoms, the two viruses are very different and do not behave in the same way. ECDC estimates that between 15 000 and 75 000 people die prematurely due to causes associated with seasonal influenza each year in the EU, the UK, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. This is approximately 1 in every 1 000 people who are infected. By comparison, the current estimated mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per 1 000 people.

Despite the relatively low mortality rate for seasonal influenza, many people die from the disease due to the large number of people who contract it each year. The concern about COVID-19 is that, unlike influenza, there is no vaccine and no specific treatment for the disease. It also appears to be as transmissible as influenza if not more so. As it is a new virus, nobody has prior immunity which in theory means that the entire human population is potentially susceptible to COVID-19 infection.

4. How severe is COVID-19 infection?  

Preliminary findings indicate that the mortality rate for COVID-19 is 20-30 per thousand people diagnosed. This is significantly less than the 2003 SARS outbreak. However, it is much higher than the mortality rate for seasonal influenza.

5. What is the mode of transmission? How (easily) does it spread?

While animals are the original source of the virus, it is now spreading from person to person (human-to-human transmission). There is not enough epidemiological information at this time to determine how easily and sustainably this virus spreads between people, but it is currently estimated that, on average, one infected person will infect between two and three more. The virus seems to be transmitted mainly via respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, or exhale. The virus can also survive for several hours on surfaces such as tables and door handles.

The incubation period for COVID-19 (i.e. the time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms) is currently estimated at between two and 14 days. At this stage, we know that the virus can be transmitted when people who are infected show flu-like symptoms such as coughing.  There is evidence suggesting that transmission can occur from an infected person with no symptoms; however, uncertainties remain about the effect of transmission by non-symptomatic persons on the epidemic.

6. What are the symptoms of COVID-19 infection

The virus can cause mild, flu-like symptoms such as:

• fever
• cough
• difficulty breathing
• muscle pain
• tiredness

More serious cases develop severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and septic shock that can lead to death. 

7. Are some people more at risk than others?

Generally elderly people and those with underlying health conditions (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and cancer) are considered to be more at risk of developing severe symptoms.

8. Are children also at risk of infection?

Disease in children appears to be relatively rare and mild. A large study from China suggested that just over 2% of cases were under 18 years of age. Of these, fewer than 3% developed severe or critical disease.

9. What about pregnant women?

There is limited scientific evidence on the severity of illness in pregnant women after COVID-19 infection. That said, current evidence suggests that the severity of illness among pregnant women after COVID-19 infection is similar to that in non-pregnant adult COVID-19 cases, and there is no data that suggests infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy has a negative effect on the fetus. At present, there is no evidence of transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby occurring during pregnancy. ECDC will continue to monitor the emerging scientific literature on this question and suggests that all pregnant women follow the same precautions for the prevention of COVID-19, including regular handwashing, avoiding individuals who are sick, and self-isolating in case of any symptoms, while consulting a healthcare provider by telephone for advice.

10. Is there a treatment for the COVID-19 disease?

There is no specific treatment for this disease, so healthcare providers treat the clinical symptoms (e.g. fever, difficulty breathing) of patients. Supportive care (e.g. fluid management, oxygen therapy, etc.) can be highly effective for patients with symptoms.

11. When should I be tested for COVID-19?

Current advice for testing depends on the stage of the outbreak in the country or area where you live. Countries across the EU/EEA might be in different scenarios, even within the same country, and testing approaches will be adapted to the situation at the national and local levels.

National authorities may decide to only test subgroups of suspected cases based on the national capacity to test, the availability of necessary equipment for testing, the level of community transmission of COVID-19, or any other criteria. As a rational approach, national authorities may consider prioritizing testing in the following groups:

• hospitalized patients with severe respiratory infections;
• cases with acute respiratory infections in hospital or long-term care facilities;
• patients with acute respiratory infections or influenza-like illness in certain outpatient clinics or hospitals in order to assess the extent of virus circulation in the population;
• elderly people with underlying chronic medical conditions such as lung disease, cancer, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, liver disease, diabetes, and immunocompromising conditions

12. Where can I get tested?

If you are feeling ill with COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, muscle pain or tiredness) it is recommended that you contact healthcare services by telephone or online. If your healthcare provider believes there is a need for a laboratory test for the virus that causes COVID-19, he/she will inform you of the procedure to follow and advise where and how the test can be performed.

13. How can I avoid getting infected?

The virus enters your body via your eyes, nose and/or mouth, so it is important to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

Washing of hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or cleaning hands with alcohol-based solutions, gels or tissues is recommended in all settings.

It is also recommended to stay 1 meter or more away from people infected with COVID-19 who are showing symptoms, to reduce the risk of infection through respiratory droplets.

14. What should I do if I have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19?

Notify public health authorities in your area who will provide guidance on further steps to take. If you develop any symptoms, you should immediately call your healthcare provider for advice, mentioning that you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19.

15. Are face masks effective in protecting against COVID-19?

If you are infected, the use of surgical face masks may reduce the risk of you infecting other people, but there is no evidence that face masks will effectively prevent you from being infected with the virus. In fact, it is possible that the use of face masks may even increase the risk of infection due to a false sense of security and increased contact between hands, mouth, and eyes.

16. Is there a vaccine against the virus? How long will it take to develop a vaccine?

There are currently no vaccines against human coronaviruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19. This is why it is very important to prevent infection and to contain further spread of the virus.

The development of vaccines takes time. Several pharmaceutical companies are working on vaccine candidates. It will, however, take months or years before any vaccine can be widely used, as it needs to undergo extensive testing to determine its safety and efficacy.  

17. Am I protected against COVID-19 if I had the influenza vaccine this year?

Influenza and the virus that causes COVID-19 are two very different viruses and the seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against COVID-19.  

Source: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china/questions-answers