News

Vivo V7+ shows up on official website before launch

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Vivo recently sent out invites for the launch of its next smartphone, the V7+. Thanks to a few leaks, we have a clearer idea of what to expect.

Before we begin, this is the invitation that circulated:

The date is set for September 7, fitting for the smartphone’s model number. This was sent to Indian media, meaning the Chinese company will prioritize the South Asian market before its own, similar to past Vivo launches.

Interestingly, Vivo already set up banners on its official website today, revealing the handset’s near-borderless FullView display:

If the final product closely resembles the render we’re seeing here, we could be in for a significant upgrade over the V5 Plus, which, curiously enough, was also exposed before its official launch last January.

We don’t have any confirmed specifications or features yet, but we did score a couple of leaks that may be of the actual retail units. See them for yourself:

The front-facing camera placement seems to be aligned with Vivo’s renders, but the side bezels are slightly thicker than expected. Still, the top and bottom bezels are quite thin, and the clean back panel is a welcome sight.

We can also more or less confirm that the smartphone will be focused on improved selfies, thanks to a possible pair of cameras on the front, one of which might have a 24-megapixel image sensor.

Only six days remain before the grand reveal and all the details we’re after.

SEE ALSO: Vivo V5 Plus camera hands-on: Another perfect selfie?

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Gaming

Resident Evil Village gets a launch date for the iPhone 15 Pro

In time for Halloween

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One of the biggest developments for the new iPhone 15 Pro series was the genuine push towards gaming. The new flagship promises a healthy lineup of modern games coming to the platform soon. Now, one of those titles, Resident Evil Village, has finally received an official launch date.

Resident Evil Village is one of the most notable entries in the long-running horror franchise. Though Resident Evil 4 remains an unbeaten classic in gaming history, Village leverages modern consoles to deliver the iconic feel of the series. In fact, it’s already available on a lot of different platforms including unlikely ones such as the Nintendo Switch and macOS.

Now, the title is getting an official iOS version. Without the version, it’s difficult to say how the game will perform on the smartphone. Thankfully, the wait won’t be long anymore. Resident Evil Village will be officially available on the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max starting October 30, right on time for Halloween. It will also come to the iPad Air and the iPad Pro. The base game will cost US$ 40 and an additional US$ 20 for the DLC.

Besides Resident Evil Village, the iOS and iPadOS platforms will also get other big names such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Death Stranding.

SEE ALSO: Resident Evil 4 Remake coming to iPhone 15 Pro

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Apps

Tinder rolls out a $500-per-month subscription tier

Exclusive only to top users

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How much is a date worth to you? For most people, US$ 500 is way more than enough for a fancy night with a special partner. Tinder, however, thinks US$ 500 should be the baseline for its most dedicated users. The dating app has rolled out a premium subscription tier worth US$ 500 per month.

Though Tinder is still a free service, the app also offers more features locked behind different subscription tiers. The regular lineup includes Tinder+, Gold, and Premium tiers. Now, the app has a fourth paid tier, and it’s a pricey one.

Rolling out exclusively to only the top 1 percent of users, Tinder Select will cost users US$ 500 per month. Invited users will still need to apply to avail of the new tier. According to an interview with Bloomberg, the company says that the tier will include more premium features such as “’VIP’ search, matching, and conversation.”

It’s hard to say how much more value that the tier will offer subscribers. After all, only a very small handful of users will have access to the tier. As always, users can keep using the app at no cost.

Despite the addition of new features over the past months, Tinder has struggled to keep up with the industry. The Match Group also has other apps in its portfolio including Hinge. Other companies, such as Bumble, are also competing against Tinder.

SEE ALSO: Tinder now lets users specify pronouns and relationship type

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News

Pixel 8 series will reportedly receive seven years of updates

Major Android updates and security patches

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Every smartphone comes with an expiration date. While users can technically keep a device running well past this date, these devices will no longer enjoy the same support they once did upon launch. Five years is the current standard for software updates. However, Google is pushing the period by two years, reportedly offering seven years of support for the Pixel 8 series.

A little over a week before the launch of Pixel 8 series, Google has already let a lot of details slip about the flagships. There’s not a lot that we don’t already know about the device. However, the expanded support period is still relatively new information especially for those thinking about upgrading their phones for the Pixel 8.

According to Kamila Wojciechowska on X, the  series will receive seven years of support. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the series is getting all the major Android updates for seven years. It might just include smaller updates and security patches.

Regardless, seven years is still a big jump from the industry standard. Samsung, for example, only offers five years of support for the Galaxy S23 series. Whenever you buy a new smartphone, you expect to keep it for several years. Expanding the cushion of support by two years ensures that users can keep using their new smartphone with nary a hitch over the years.

The Pixel 8 series is launching officially on October 4.

SEE ALSO: Google reveals the Pixel 8 series in official teaser

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