Google Pixel XL 2 might get a ‘squeezable’ frame

If you’ve seen or heard of the HTC U11, you’ll be familiar with the device’s “squeezable” sides. HTC calls it Edge Sense, a feature that lets users squeeze the side of the smartphone to do things like turn on the flashlight, open the camera and take a photo, as well as launch Google Assistant. Something similar might be coming to the second iteration of the Google Pixel XL, except the device won’t be made my HTC. According to a leak from Android Police, it’ll supposedly be made by LG. The looks won’t stray too far from the original Pixel and it’ll still have a rear fingerprint sensor and a large single-lens camera.

The XL version is said to have a 6-inch LG-made display with 2:1 ratio, “minimal bezel,” and rounded corners. It might have a longer design with thinner side and top/bottom bezels. The squeezing part is said to trigger Google Assistant “in various ways.” There is no indication when the device will be released. And they also didn’t have any info on the smaller Google Pixel. But if Google follows last year’s launch, it could come out around October this year.

Source: MacRumors

This might be what the Moto X4 will look like

We’ve gotten a whiff of what the upcoming Moto X4 is supposedly going to be packing when it is rumoured comes out late this year. Evan Blass (@evleaks) claims it’ll run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage with microSD expansion, and a 3,000mAh battery. It’ll also reportedly have a Full HD display (no word yet on size), IP68 certification, and a dual-camera setup at the rear with 8-megapixel and 12-megapixel sensors as well as a 16-megapixel front-facing camera. On top of that there will also be a fingerprint sensor that is capable of recognizing gestures.

Now, Blass updates his story on the Moto X4 to add a photo of what it looks like. All gold and supposedly an aluminum-wrapped device, you can see the dual-camera setup at the back and minimal bezels to the side of the device. If this is the only color the phone will be available in, it’s certainly a flashy one. What do you think? Is this a device you’d want to get?

These are the rumoured specs of the Moto X4

Tipped to be the first non-Google-branded Project Fi-ready smartphone, the Moto X4 is said to be a pretty decent mid-range device. Evan Blass (@evleaks) shares some of the rumoured key specs of the device over at VentureBeat. It’s said to run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 octa-core processor running at 2.2GHz, Full HD display, 4GB of RAM, 64GB internal storage with microSD expansion support, and a 3,000mAh battery. The X4 will said to have an IP68 certification to prevent water and dust ingress. Its focus will be on getting great photos with a dual-rear setup with an 8-megapixel and 12-megapixel setup at the back and a 16-megapixel front camera. The phone will also reportedly have a front-mounted fingerprint sensor that doesn’t just unlock the device, it can also supposedly recognize simple gestures to duplicate the functions of some on-screen navigation buttons. The Moto X4 is tipped to come out in the fourth quarter, which is just in time for holiday shopping season.

Microsoft will reportedly lay off thousands of staff worldwide as part of major sales reorganization

Rumour has it Microsoft is getting ready to lay off thousands of its global workforce this week as the company is set to reorganize its sales division. According to a report from TechCrunch, Microsoft intends to merge its enterprise customer division with its small-and-medium-enterprise unit. The reorganization is said to be part of Microsoft’s plan to focus more on its growing Azure business, which is its cloud computing business. It isn’t clear though if these reported layoffs will be new job openings that focus on the cloud business.

Microsoft’s fiscal year ends on June 30^th so layoffs could be tied to this. Reorganization is also seen to be a result of last year’s change of leadership. Judson Althoff and Jean-Philippe Courtois now lead the company’s sales and marketing divisions after COO Kevin Turner left. And Althoff is known to be critical of previous approaches to sales and is looking to make Azure a key focus for the company. Microsoft hasn’t commented on the report yet.

Source: GeekWire