Author: sparta

Infinix Creates the GT 30 Pro: An Excellent Affordable Gaming Smartphone
(Image credit: Infinix)

There is a revival in gaming phones thanks to the rise of mobile gaming, with brands paying more attention to the mid-range and budget markets, which is encouraging. Infinix, in particular, has had significant success with its GT series over the past couple of years; I found the GT 10 Pro enjoyable, and the GT 20 Pro built upon that success.

The GT 30 Pro has recently been unveiled, and the phone is poised to launch in India. Prior to its global release, I corresponded via email with Infinix’s Product Director Weiqi Nie to gain insights into what the brand is doing differently this time and how it is positioning the GT series.

Design has consistently been a major attraction of prior GT models, and Infinix has further emphasized this with the GT 30 Pro. The phone boasts a “cyber-mecha” aesthetic that appears quite impressive, and while the GT 10 Pro resembled a derivative of Nothing’s devices, that is certainly not true for the GT 30 Pro.

Nie mentioned that Infinix drew inspiration from “futuristic machines and modular aesthetics” in crafting the device. “As time has passed, this concept has grown to be more expressive, functional, and in tune with the needs of contemporary gamers. In the GT 30 Series, this vision comes to life through the enhanced Mechanical Light Waves system. It features deep integration between software and hardware design, offering 14 lighting scenarios and over 20 customizable effects that respond dynamically to actions like charging, gaming, and notifications.”

Infinix aimed to create a phone with a striking design, and with the unique back pattern and vibrant lighting, the GT 30 Pro stands out considerably. While design is important, the primary consideration when selecting a gaming phone is performance.

Infinix opted for MediaTek instead of Qualcomm, and Nie indicated that the Dimensity 8350 provided the ideal combination of superior frame rate gaming and thermal management. “MediaTek’s platform provided the right blend of performance, efficiency, and scalability to realize the GT 30 Pro’s vision. The Dimensity 8350 Ultimate facilitates smooth high-frame-rate gaming, effective thermal management, and optimized power efficiency—essential for sustaining consistent performance in both gaming and everyday use.”

“The Dimensity 8350 Ultra’s capabilities offered the performance headroom necessary to incorporate features like a 144Hz AMOLED display, advanced cooling solutions, and responsive gaming enhancements, all while keeping price accessibility in mind. This strategy allows the GT 30 Pro to offer a flagship-level experience tailored for a wider audience.”

Overheating remains a challenge for gaming phones, particularly with this year’s Qualcomm chipsets exhibiting a high thermal threshold. Fortunately, this is not an issue with MediaTek designs, and Nie mentioned that sustained performance is a “core priority” for the GT 30 Pro, especially during extended gaming sessions. The GT 30 Pro is equipped with Infinix’s 3D Vapor Cloud Chamber (3D VCC) liquid cooling technology, and Nie noted that the brand performs “intelligent software optimization that dynamically manages power and thermal behavior based on real-time usage.”

There are also two accessories — the MagCase and MagCharge Cooler — the latter serving as an active cooling solution directing cool air to the back of the device. “The GT 30 Pro adopts a system-level strategy—integrating a high-performance chipset, efficient cooling, and smart charging solutions such as Bypass Charging 2.0 and optimized wireless charging with active cooling. This guarantees stable, high frame rates over extended periods without overheating or throttling—even during charging.”

I will be assessing the GT 30 Pro’s capabilities in this area, and having utilized other MediaTek mid-range models, I am eager to discover what this phone has to offer. Additionally, the GT 30 Pro retains ultrasonic triggers, enabling gamers to easily assign in-game actions — these features genuinely enhance the gaming experience.

The phone sports a 144Hz display, and what excites me the most is that it unlocks 120fps in demanding titles such as PUBG Mobile.

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White House Affirms 25% Tariff on iPhones Will Persist Throughout Trump Administration

Over the last few weeks, Donald Trump has implemented a range of sudden tariff adjustments, seemingly increasing and decreasing tariffs at random. The resulting chaos has impacted the stock market significantly while raising numerous unresolved questions regarding the effects these tariffs will have on international trade. This situation escalated to an almost humorous level earlier this year when Trump imposed an immense 145% tariff on Chinese products before reducing it to 30% just weeks later. Meanwhile, Apple finds itself and the iPhone at the mercy of Trump’s erratic tariffs.

For some time, Apple believed it could evade the tariffs in China by shifting a considerable part of its production to India. However, Trump recently stated that this is insufficient. Instead, Trump aims to pressure Apple into producing the iPhone in the United States and has plans to enact a 25% tariff.

Taking to social media last week, Trump expressed the following:

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else. If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the US Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

As expected, Apple shares plummeted amidst investor worries that the company would be compelled to increase iPhone prices, seriously affecting iPhone sales. However, it is important to mention that Apple might find it more practical to absorb the tariff costs, maintain iPhone prices, and utilize its substantial cash reserves to cover the tariff.

White House states it doesn’t wish to harm Apple

Amid all these discussions, the White House contends that people are overreacting. During a CNBC interview, National Economic Council Director Keven Hasset minimized what he referred to as a “tiny little tariff” on technology companies such as Apple.

“The bottom line is, what we’re trying to do, is onshore as much as we can in the US and make it so the US is not hyper-dependent on imports from China,” Hassett stated. “And I think one of the things we’re seeing is that people are moving way faster than you might expect.”

Hasset highlighted that the objective is to redirect manufacturing to the United States as much as possible “to ensure the US economy is secure and not susceptible to Chinese extortion.”

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Google Introduces Web Application Showcasing Gemini and Canvas for Public Testing

Wondering what a real AI web application looks like? Google just revealed it to us with highlights from I/O.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Key points to consider

  • Google developed an interactive web application with Gemini to summarize some of its I/O announcements.
  • The web application was crafted using Canvas with AI assistance, and you can experiment with the app and access the code that created it.
  • The interactive experience conceals a secret Veo 3 announcement that wasn’t disclosed during the event.

At Google I/O 2025 last week, Google showcased numerous real-world uses for AI, including its role as a coding assistant. The company highlighted various ways to swiftly create custom web applications using Gemini, specifically focusing on Canvas, its AI-enhanced workspace for coding and beyond. There’s doubt regarding AI’s ability to truly create applications, which might explain why Google produced its own web application with Gemini that you can try immediately.

In a blog post, Google outlined its method for creating the web application, aimed at showcasing some announcements from I/O in an enjoyable and interactive way. The company invited <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" href="https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software/google-gemini" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-software

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Opera Unveils Neon: A Subscription-Driven AI Browser with Website Creation Features

**Opera’s AI Browser Operator: A Fresh Phase in Web Navigation**

In early April, Opera unveiled its groundbreaking AI Browser Operator, offering an insight into its vision for agentic browsing in the age of AI. This announcement introduced a novel browser named Opera Neon, which incorporates the Operator as a fundamental element instead of just a feature.

### Opera’s Confidence in the “Agentic Web”

Opera highlights that Neon is crafted not only for browsing purposes but also for proactively undertaking tasks on behalf of users. This encompasses a variety of capabilities, including researching, designing, and even developing websites, code snippets, reports, and games. The browser functions with AI agents that operate in the cloud, enabling them to keep processing tasks even if the user’s device is offline. Furthermore, Neon boasts the Browser Operator, an integrated AI agent with which users can interact to obtain contextual responses, automate online tasks like filling forms or booking accommodations, and directly engage with webpage content.

Henrik Lexow, Opera’s Senior AI Product Director, remarked, “We’re at a juncture where AI can radically alter the way we navigate the internet and carry out numerous tasks within the browser. Opera Neon places this at our users’ fingertips. (…) We view it as a collaborative platform to co-create the next era of agentic browsing alongside our community.”

### The AI Browser Competition is Underway

Opera’s latest browser makes its entrance into a swiftly growing market of AI-augmented browsers, contending with Microsoft Edge featuring Copilot, Chrome with Gemini, Perplexity’s Comet, Brave with Leo, and Firefox’s recent beta release of Link Previews. Even Apple has woven subtle AI features into Safari’s Reader Mode.

Despite the buzz surrounding Neon, a number of questions linger unanswered. The performance of Neon in practical situations beyond basic showcases, pricing specifics, and the timeline for wider user accessibility are still uncertain, as users presently need to join a waitlist for access.

If Opera can fulfill its ambitious commitments, Neon may represent a crucial marker of the future of web navigation, potentially altering how users interact with the internet.

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Tropical Trees as Signifiers of Upcoming Volcanic Eruptions

New investigations indicate that trees situated near volcanoes may assist scientists in recognizing early indicators of eruptions. By observing subtle shifts in leaf coloration, researchers can now reportedly monitor volcanic activity from space, providing a novel tool for natural volcano alerts.

As magma ascends underground, it emits carbon dioxide. This gas enhances plant growth, particularly in regions with abundant vegetation. Trees subjected to higher levels of carbon dioxide exhibit healthier and more vibrant growth. Satellites can detect these alterations utilizing a tool known as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, or NDVI, which assesses plant vitality from orbit.

A study conducted at Mount Etna in Italy revealed that lusher vegetation often coincided with heightened underground activity. Throughout two years, researchers documented 16 instances where rises in carbon dioxide corresponded with distinct variations in NDVI measurements. These changes sometimes occurred far from apparent faults, implying that the signals propagate over a broader area than previously anticipated.

This technique could prove especially advantageous for observing volcanoes in inaccessible regions. Conventional sensors can be costly and challenging to maintain in rugged terrains. Monitoring plant variations through satellite data provides a cost-effective and natural alternative to standard volcano warning systems.

This methodology builds upon earlier discoveries from Costa Rica, where trees similarly responded to volcanic carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, researchers backed by NASA and the Smithsonian are trialing comparable approaches in Panama and other regions of Central America. The goal is to establish a wider system for detecting natural volcano warnings without solely depending on ground instruments.

The research may also aid scientists in comprehending how forests react to long-term rises in atmospheric carbon dioxide. This information could prove valuable in examining climate change and its impacts on global vegetation. In the meantime, examining historical volcanic eruptions, such as the Tongo volcano eruption of 2022, can enhance our understanding of these significant occurrences.

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Comprehending MVNOs: How Mobile Virtual Network Operators Operate

**Greater Savings, Lesser Support: Grasping MVNOs**

In today’s swiftly moving environment, everyone seeks methods to reduce expenses without sacrificing quality. Enter Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), an economical substitute for conventional mobile providers. MVNOs present a distinctive offer: considerable reductions in your phone expenses, but with a compromise in customer service and possible network prioritization challenges.

### What is an MVNO?

An MVNO is a business that delivers mobile services by renting network capacity from well-known carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile. These operators do not possess the infrastructure but provide competitive pricing by procuring extensive quantities of network access at wholesale prices.

### The Cost Benefit

The main attraction of MVNOs is their low cost. By minimizing expenditures on infrastructure and customer service, they transfer the savings to consumers. Plans can be significantly less expensive than those provided by major carriers, rendering them an appealing choice for financially-conscious users.

### The Support Compromise

Nevertheless, the savings come along with diminished customer support. MVNOs often provide limited customer service in comparison to major carriers. This translates to longer wait times for help and possibly less thorough assistance. For tech-savvy individuals who seldom require support, this might not be a significant issue, but it is a factor for those who appreciate strong customer service.

### Network Deprioritization

Another aspect to take into account is network deprioritization. During busy periods or in congested locations, MVNO users might face slower speeds as network resources are favored for primary carrier customers. This can be a considerable disadvantage for users in heavily populated areas or during large events.

### Is an MVNO Suitable for You?

Opting for an MVNO hinges on your preferences. If minimizing expenses is your foremost objective and you can tolerate occasional service disruptions and limited support, an MVNO might be ideal. However, if you depend significantly on customer service or reside in an area susceptible to network congestion, remaining with a traditional carrier may be more prudent.

### Conclusion

MVNOs present an enticing option for individuals aiming to reduce their mobile bill costs. By recognizing the trade-offs, you can make a well-informed choice that balances savings with service quality. Whether you opt for an MVNO or a conventional carrier, the crucial point is to discover a plan that satisfies your requirements and budget.

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