Author: Abhinav Pathak

Job Opening At Apple Hints At Health-Centric Processor

With its disputes with Qualcomm, Apple decided to use Intel chipsets in its upcoming smartphones. However, the company also announced that it will focus on using in-house chipsets for the iPhones. Which is why along with the iPhone X and iPhone 8, the company introduced the A11 Bionic chip. This chip has a dedicated neural processing unit for AI applications. A new job posting on Apple’s website shows that the company may be planning on bringing a health-centric chipset to its products.

In the list of Apple products which would use a health-focussed chip, the Apple Watch could be the first. According to the job post, the company is looking for ASIC (Application-specific integrated circuit) architect. Unlike common SoC, an ASIC chip only has a specific task to perform. For instance, high-efficiency Bitcoin miner is an ASIC. In simple terms, a Bitcoin is a form of electronic cash. However, the Cupertino company wants to use these ASIC chips for health focussed functionalities. The previous job openings at the company were for people with experience in health, wellness, and fitness sensors. These listings hint at the company’s future plans with its products, including, but not limited to, the iPhones.

Image: Apple ASIC Architect Job Opening

The current line of Apple iPhones including the iPhone 8 and iPhone X use the A11 Bionic chipset. This chipset uses a custom Apple GPU for graphics output. For LTE connectivity one of the iPhone variants uses a Qualcomm modem while the other variant uses an Intel modem. This is also what the company could be planning to move away from. In favour of in-house chipsets and modems, Apple may soon drop Intel and Qualcomm modems. However, the new 2018 iPhone lineup would most likely use the Intel modems. There is no word on the availability of this ASIC chipset but we think it could be seen in the next generation-Apple Watches. Stay tuned as we will be bringing more updates on the story on further development.

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August 16, 2018
BlackBerry Key 2 LE Official Images Leaked Before August 30th Launch

On July 13th, BlackBerry released the BlackBerry Key 2 in the USA. Soon after, on 31st July, the company launched the smartphone in India via Amazon for Rs. 42,990. The company which made the QWERTY keypad so popular joined the Android smartphone league a while ago. The BlackBerry Key 2 is one such smartphone which is true to its QWERTY roots, but, it also embraces the new OS. Not even a month after the smartphone’s launch, the company is ready to unveil a new addition to the Key series. Leaked press images and renders suggests that BlackBerry will launch the BlackBerry Key 2 LE on 30th August IFA event. The IFA is an international product showcase event which takes place annually in Berlin.

Also Read: Razer Phone 2 To Launch By The End Of The Year

The leaked press renders reveal a new blue colour variant for BlackBerry smartphones. Along with the new colour, the BlackBerry Key 2 LE also has a textured finish for the rear panel. The smartphone seems to be rocking a rear dual-camera setup with an LED flash. The left side of the smartphone lacks any kind of button while the right side has both the power, volume rocker, and the Convenience key. The Convenience key is BlackBerry’s hardware button to launch the user’s favourite app from anywhere in the Android OS.

The rumours suggest that the BlackBerry Key 2 LE will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. This chipset uses the Adreno 509 GPU for graphics output. Since the BlackBerry Key 2 has 64/128GB storage and 6GB RAM options. the Key 2 LE could also launch with the same variants. With the BlackBerry Key 2 LE, the company plans on launching a Lite version of the already available Key. So it is safe to assume that the Key 2 LE will be relatively cheaper than its predecessor. Stay tuned for a full coverage when the smartphone launches.

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August 16, 2018
Google Has Announced The Android 9 Pie Go Edition

It was in the year 2007 when Google officially introduced the Android ecosystem to the world. Android got its name from a Latin word “Androides”, meaning, human-like robot. The term Android also shares some resemblance with the ex-CEO and founder, Andy Rubin. Android is an operating system primarily designed for devices with touchscreen. Android has evolved not only in terms of versions but also in terms of its varieties. The latest version of the Android OS is the Android 9 Pie. The recent years gave us Android One and Android Go in addition to stock Android. Google announced Android Go as a watered-down version of Android 8 (Oreo) for low-end smartphones. It seems that now the company wants to continue the Android Go series with the Android 9 Pie Go edition.

Also Read: POCOPHONE F1 Leaked Ahead Of 22nd August India Launch

Android Go delivers the latest OS to devices with RAM as low as 512MB. Android Go is the watered-down build of the Android Oreo (8.0). This OS is built to work on low-powered devices without any jitters. With Android Go, users will find that the OS takes significantly less amount of space than even Android Nougat, which released before Oreo. The OS also offers lite versions of Google apps like YoutTube Go, Gmail Go, and Files Go. This allows it to run smoothly on smartphones with storage space as small as 8GB. The latest smartphone to launch with Android Go out of the box is the Nokia 1. In a blog post from Google, the company announced that it will also launch the Android 9 Pie Go edition as a continuation of the current series.

The Android 9 Pie Go edition would share a lot in common with the Android Go (Oreo). However, Google claims that the Pie Go edition would take up even lesser space and provide faster device boot times for smartphones. The Android 9 Pie Go edition will also cater to the low-end devices like the Android Oreo Go edition. The company promises top-of-the-line security features and an accessible dashboard for tracking and monitoring data consumption. Companies like Nokia, Micromax, and Lava are already on the list of smartphone brands to receive Android 9 Pie Go edition.

It is reassuring to see that Google wants to keep the low-end low-budget smartphones just as relevant as the flagship Android devices. With the Android 9 Pie Go edition, it will allow users on a tight budget to enjoy a fast, smooth, and the latest Android experience.

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August 16, 2018
Honor 8X Spotted In A TENAA Listing With A V-Shaped Notch

The Honor is a sub-brand of the Chinese company, Huawei. When Honor announced the Honor 8, the company debuted it as a flagship smartphone. In addition to the Honor 8, the company also released a Pro and a lite version. Both of these smartphones catered to flagship as well as the mid-range price segment. According to a TENAA listing, it seems that the company is ready to release yet another the smartphone in the Honor 8 series. The reports suggest that this could be the Honor 8X, a mid-range offering from the company. What sets this smartphone apart from the rest of the series, is its V-shaped notch.

Also Read: Galaxy Note 9 Launched

While a V-shaped notch is not new in the smartphone market, it certainly is a first for an Honor smartphone. With notch-less displays, devices like the Oppo Find X and the Vivo Nex make it evident that smartphone companies are ready to move past the notch trend. However, these smartphones were not the first to try moving away from the current notch trend. Smartphones like the Essential Phone PH1 and the Sharp Aquos S2 had the smallest possible notch on a smartphone. The new Honor 8X follows much of the same design pattern to keep the notch as minimalistic as possible. The V-shaped notch seems to be housing only the front-facing camera sensor.

With the Honor 8X, the company most likely wants to introduce a budget-friendly smartphone. However, in the Honor 8 series, the Honor 8 Lite is already a mid-range smartphone. The rumours suggest that the smartphone would run on a Snapdragon 660 paired with the Adreno 509. The images posted on TENAA reveal that the smartphone would rock a dual rear-facing camera along with a fingerprint sensor. The Honor 8 was available in a 32 and 64GB storage variant with 4GB of RAM. Quite likely, the same storage variants would be available for the Honor 8 X as well. With the exception of the RAM, which could be bumped up to a 6GB RAM.

There is not much information available about the price or availability of the Honor 8X. However, we think that the smartphone could launch in the month of October at a starting price of $188 (Rs. 13,222). Stay tuned as we will be bringing more news about the Honor 8X soon.

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August 16, 2018
The New Motorola P30 Is A Mix Between iPhone X & Huawei P20

It was on 15th August 2011 when Google bought the smartphone brand, Motorola. Before the purchase, Motorola segregated into two companies, Motorola Solutions and Motorola Mobility. It was Motorola Mobility which was responsible for manufacturing smartphone. This was also the company which Google bought. However, just three years after the Google and Moto merger, Google sold off Motorola to Lenovo, in 2014. Ever since Lenovo purchased Motorola, the company has been producing both mid-range and flagship smartphones. One such smartphone, the Motorola P30 is the latest offering from the company. It is worth noting that Motorola went out of its way to make this smartphone look eerily similar to the iPhone X. While using almost the same colour finish found on the Huawei P20.

Also Read: POCOPHONE F1 Leaked Ahead Of 22nd August Launch In India

Specification

The Motorola P30 has a 6.2-inch IPS LCD 2246 x 1080 px display. Protecting the panel is an unspecified version of Corning Gorilla Glass. Because of the elongated iPhone X like notch, the smartphone has an 18.7:9 aspect ratio. The smartphone runs the Lenovo ZUI 4.0 on top of the Android 8.0 (Oreo).

There is a triple camera setup on the Motorola P30 with two rear-facing and a single front-facing camera sensor. The rear-facing camera module has a 16 MP primary sensor with f/1.8 aperture and a 5 MP secondary sensor. The front-facing camera module is a 20 MP shooter with f/2.9 aperture and LED flash.

The Motorola P30 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 chipset. The smartphone uses the Adreno 509 for graphics output. Powering the smartphone is a 3,000 mAh Li-Ion battery. The storage options available for the smartphone are 64GB and 128GB with 6GB RAM. The smartphone supports a microSD card of up to 256GB.

Pricing And Availability

Announced in China, the Motorola P30 is available for pre-order in the country. The company also plans on bringing the smartphone to other markets soon. There are a total of three colour variants of the smartphone, Aurora, Black, and White.

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August 16, 2018
Google Is Tracking User Location Without Consent

Google Maps is one of the most used services across all platforms. Even until Apple unveiled iOS 6 in 2012, the company relied on Google Maps. However, even to this date, many prefer Google over Apple maps for navigation. For a long time, Google has been optimizing its Maps services to provide better and more accurate results. However, there are times when the company goes above and beyond to ensure accuracy. According to reports, the company is secretly tracking its users’ location even after they turned their location history off. According to the company, if a user has turned his or her location history off then it will no longer be able to track their location. But, that does not seem to be the case.

As a new user, Google would ask the user to allow it to track his/her location for navigation. Once allowed, the entire location history of the user is recorded in a timeline fashion. This means that the company can keep a track of all the users who opted in for its map services, putting their privacy at risk. To deal with this, the company allows the user to turn off their location history. This, at least on paper, prevents the company from storing its users’ location. However, Google is still able to track its users with the help of some of the company’s apps. For instance, a simple Google search for a particular food item like a biscuit could help pinpoint your precise location. Moreover, the company even stores the instances of the times when you open its map service on a device. While mostly been open about tracking its users’ location, the company has never explicitly mentioned that it stores their location history even while turned off. It is with this privacy issue that more than two billion devices are at risk.

The issue of data privacy and the risks involved with it has always been a major concern. It does not help to know that big league companies like Google can misuse their users’ information. There is no word from the company on this issue but stay tuned as we will closely cover this news.

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August 14, 2018
Samsung To Shut Down A Major Smartphone Manufacturing Plant

In Q3 of 2018, Samsung was the global leader in smartphone market share. The South Korean company also launched its new smartphone in the Note series, the Galaxy Note 9. It is with the Galaxy Note 9 that Samsung could increase its smartphone sales even further. However, the other end of the spectrum reveals a struggling phase of the company. According to the reports, the company is planning on suspending operations in the Samsung manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China. The company produces mobile phones at this plant in China, to suspend its operation would lead to layoff on a massive scale.

It is the Tianjin Samsung Telecom Technology plant, in the city of Tianjin, China, that the company plans on closing. The company, in all likelihood, will withdraw all its resources from this branch. A major cause of this is the decline in the overall smartphone sales, globally. However, the company representatives claim that they are only looking at the possibility of shutting the plant down. As of yet, the jury is still out on whether this Samsung manufacturing plant would close. The Tianjin plant was one of the major producers of mobile phone for the company, in China.

Almost five years ago, Samsung owned 20% smartphone market share. However, the competition from the likes of Xiaomi, OnePlus, and other Chinese brands, led 1% dip in the company’s foothold. Reports suggest that the Tianjin branch of the Samsung manufacturing plant produces 36 million mobile phones a year. If the company decides to suspend its operations here, it could lead to a major setback for the company. Regardless, it would be interesting to see the course of action for this plant and the impact of the decision on the company. .

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August 14, 2018
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Launched

It was on 23rd August 2017, almost two years after the launch of the Galaxy Note 5 that the Galaxy Note 8 launched. While the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 did make a debut, the company, for a faulty battery, recalled the Note 7. Despite the fact, the South Korean electronics still leads the smartphone market in 2018. At an event in New York, Samsung has launched the new Note series smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Specifications

Sharing the same design as the Note 8, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features a glass front and back and an AMOLED display. The smooth chamfered edges and the long aspect ratio are also the same as the last Note smartphone. The Super AMOLED panel is 6.4-inch 2960 x 1440 px 18.5:9 aspect ratio display. The front and rear panels of the Galaxy Note 9 use the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. The smartphone houses the rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, right below the camera module. Previously, the fingerprint sat to the right of the camera module on the Note 8.

Samsung is big on AI this year, as are many other companies as well. However, Samsung claims that it is almost “impossible to take a bad photo” with the Galaxy Note 9’s camera. The AI assisted module on the Note 9 is a triple camera setup with two at the rear and one at the front. The primary camera has a wide-angle 12MP lens with a f/1.7 aperture and the secondary camera has a 12MP telephoto lens with a f/2.4 aperture. The rear camera is capable of taking slow-motion 30fps videos at 720p resolution. While the secondary camera is an 8MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 runs Android 8.0 (Oreo) with Samsung Experience 9.5 UI on top. The smartphone has two chipset variants, one for the US & Canada and the other for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The US and Canadian variants will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and the Adreno 630 GPU for graphical performance. For the EMEA variant, the smartphone will use Samsung’s own Exynos 9810 chipset. For graphical performance, the Exynos chipset will use the Mali-G72 MP18 GPU. Both the Qualcomm and Exynos chipsets are octa-core processors.

The S-Pen has been in the Note family since the first Galaxy Note released in 2011. The S-Pen is a Samsung proprietary stylus which the company provides with both the Note and the Tab series. What makes the new S-Pen standout is its improved functionalities and Bluetooth connectivity. The S-Pen is now usable as a camera shutter trigger, making it easier to take photos and especially selfies. The S-Pen SDK will soon be available for developers to build their app around the stylus and integrate it seamlessly with their apps.

Pricing And Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will be available starting from August 24th, in major markets including US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and in India. The base price for the Galaxy Note 9 starts at £899 (Rs. 79,534.53 approx) for the 128GB variant. The 512GB variant will cost £1,099 (Rs. 97,206.07 approx). Once the device is available globally we will provide our in-depth review of the smartphone, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, take a look at the official images of the Note 9 directly from the launch.

This is the new #Note9 pic.twitter.com/vUOjJW19kt

— iGyaan (@igyaan) August 9, 2018

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August 10, 2018
The Difference Between Android Go, Android One, And Stock Android

It was in the year 2007 when Google officially introduced the Android ecosystem to the world. However, before the announcement, Android started as a small company by the name Android Inc., with Andy Rubin as the CEO. Android got its name from a Latin word “Androides”, meaning, human-like robot. The term Android also shares some resemblance with the ex-CEO and founder, Andy Rubin. Android is an operating system primarily designed for devices with touchscreen. Google has followed a sweet related alphabetical naming convention with each new version of Android. Starting with the first version, Android Cupcake launched in the first quarter of 2009 with Donut to follow, in the same year. Android has evolved not only in terms of versions but also in terms of its varieties. The recent years gave us Android One and Android Go in addition to stock Android.

What Is The Difference Between These Three Android Variants?

Many people think Android Go and Android One are more or less the same. While Stock Android is more or less the operating system users receive in their smartphones, out of the box. However, this is a fairly common misconception as these three could not be more different. While the likes of Android Nougat, Oreo, and the latest, Android P are OS version, the formerly mentioned are the variants. Let’s take a look at stock Android first.

Stock Android

Image: Samsung TouchWiz and Stock Android On Pixel 2

Under the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), Google provides the source code of the Android OS to various manufacturers. Google then allows these manufacturers to build around the Android OS and develop their own flavour/skin or add additional features. For instance, Samsung uses its proprietary skin called TouchWiz while Xiaomi uses the MIUI skin. However, these are not what one should refer to as the stock Android experience. A heavily skinned version such as the TouchWiz or EMUI overshadows the minimalistic functionalities of what Google tends to offer with “stock Android”. In this version, a user will only find a few Google apps, meaning, the stock Android experience is free of bloatware. By bloatware, we mean additional apps like Samsung Pay, which already have an alternative Google app available on Google Play Store. It was the Nexus line of smartphones which started the stock Android experience and later adopted by the Pixel lineup. With stock android, it also becomes easy for users to receive new security patches and major OS updates. Especially, since manufacturers do not intervene to build their own take of the OS.

Android One

Image: Mi A2 Running On Android One

Android One is yet another variant of the OS with initial intentions to be exclusive to the South Asian markets like India. Its original initiative to cater to the low-end smartphones later changed as Android One is also seen on the mid tier flagship devices like the Moto X4. In a nutshell, Android One is for those manufacturers who would rather spend time focussing on putting together a good hardware rather than working on the software, Google provides the Android One for such companies. Much like stock Android, Android One smartphones are the first to receive the latest OS updates. One of the latest smartphones running on Android One is the Xiaomi Mi A2.

Also Read: Google Pixel 3 XL Renders Reveal A Thick Chin, A Notch And Colourful Power Buttons

Android Go

Image: Nokia 1

While Android One is available for all smartphones, Google did not give up on the idea of making the OS compatible with low-end devices either. The recently announced Android Go delivers the latest OS to devices with RAM as low as 512MB. Android Go is the watered-down build of the Android Oreo (8.0). This OS is built to work on low-powered devices without any jitters. With Android Go, users will find that the OS takes significantly less amount of space than even Android Nougat, which released before Oreo. The OS also offers lite versions of Google apps like YoutTube Go, Gmail Go, and Files Go. This allows it to run smoothly on smartphones with storage space as small as 8GB. The latest smartphone to launch with Android Go out of the box is the Nokia 1.

Regardless of its variants, Android will keep on evolving to a better version of its predecessor. With that said, for users looking for a smartphone which won’t hurt the pocket but won’t also bog down in the long run then an Android One or an Android Go device is the best bet. However, instead of price, top of the line specifications and the first to receive the software updates are a user’s priorities, then smartphones like the ones from the Pixel lineup will be a viable option.

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August 8, 2018
Top 5 Netflix Shows To Binge Watch This Week

Netflix brought its streaming service platform to India in January 2016. Ever since its release, many people have switched over to online TV streaming services instead of the conventional satellite television. Following Netflix, Amazon also released their streaming service called the Prime Video which comes bundled with the Amazon Prime membership. A Netflix membership starts from Rs. 500 for a single screen and goes all the way to Rs. 800 for a total of four screens sharing a single account simultaneously. In this rainy season, it is rather difficult to make weekend plans with friends to go outside. For this very reason, we have compiled a list of Top 5 Netflix shows anyone can binge watch this week.

Also Read: Apple May Have Plans to Acquire Netflix

1. Rick And Morty

This American Sci-Fi animated show which was created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The show aired in The US on Cartoon Network for their late night program block called the Adult Swim. This dark humoured show is also available on Netflix in India. We decided to put in the list of Top 5 Netflix shows because it has all the elements expected from a good show. To start with, the art direction for the show contains blood and gore which is depicted in a way which is quite unique to the show. The show also does not shy away from playing with colours and character variations. While we the two protagonists of the show get the most screen time, the show also gives other characters a proper background. Justin Roiland, who is also one of the creators of the show, is the voice behind both Rick and Morty. What is worth noting here is that while Rick is a drunk super genius scientist, Morty is a timid schoolboy and Rick’s grandson. Justin manages to pull off both of these voices exceptionally well.

2. Final Space

This is again an animated, dark humoured, Sci-Fi show which launched recently. Final Space is about a character named Gary imprisoned on a spaceship. Gary also has a side-kick named Mooncake, these characters take us through a journey filled with intergalactic adventures. The show has a unique way of storytelling which caught our attention. Going back and forth in time, we see all the events which transpired to lead to the current situation which the protagonist finds himself in. Again, the art direction here also has a colourful vibe and a lot of gruesome shots. While an animated show, we definitely do not recommend this for kids.

3. Stranger Things

While Stranger Things tells a story about many characters, the main focus is on a female protagonist, Eleven (Millie Bobbie Brown). This show has a very rusty vibe which is very well depicted through its cinematography. The way that the plot thickens with each episode is one of the reasons why this is on our list of Top 5 Netflix shows. This Sci-Fi show has it all, alternate dimension, giant scary aliens, telepathy. While the show has a lot of funny moments, the overall tone is quite serious. Anything more about the show and it will be a borderline spoiler. If you for some reason already haven’t watched this show, you should start ASAP.

4. The Ranch

In our list of Top 5 Netflix shows, the Ranch has some of the most critically acclaimed actors. Known for movies like The Big Lebowski, and his moustache, Sam Elliot plays the role of a rancher, Beau Bennett. Beau is a father of two sons, Colt (played by Ashton Kutcher) and Rooster Bennett (Danny Masterson). The show also casts Elisha Cuthbert known for her role in The Girl Next Door. This is a family-friendly show about how these characters try to run a ranch while facing all the hardships life throws their way.

5. Sacred Games

This Netflix original show has the potential to change the way we think about the Indian television. The show breaks free from the “Saas-bahu” genre and offers a very interesting story about a police inspector, Sartaj Singh. Sacred Games tells the story of how Sartaj Singh (played by Saif Ali Khan) who is working on a case of a popular Mumbai gangster, Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). The show also has a soundtrack by the artist DIVINE known for his unique rapping style and lyrics.

While Netflix has a lot of shows worth binge-watching, the above mentioned are some of the shows we feel are worth starting your weekend with. The shows are not listed in any particular order since each targets a very different story arch and audience. We will be bringing more of these Top lists so stay tuned.

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August 8, 2018
Top 10 Upcoming Movies In 2018

Undoubtedly, Marvel Cinematic Universe has been cashing a lot of cheques with movies like Avengers: Infinity War and Black Panther. The recently released Ant-Man & The Wasp made the franchise US$76 million in its opening weekend. Also, the Tom Cruise-starring Mission Impossible: Fallout which released on 25th July made US$153.5 million at the box office. However, those who missed the above-mentioned movies should not fret as the year 2018 still has a lot of good movies up its sleeves. Here is a list of the top 10 upcoming movies in 2018, in a chronological order.

1. Venom (Release Date: 4th October 2018)

With the third trailer already viewed more than 2.5 million times on YouTube, Venom is on the top of the list of top 10 upcoming movies in 2018. Tom Hardy, previously starred as the antagonist in the Christopher Nolan-directed Batman movie, The Dark Knight Rises. In Venom, Tom plays the role of Eddie Brock, a news journalist who gets possed by an alien parasite called the Symbiote. The parasite provides the hosts with superhuman abilities while making their hosts more violent and capable of killing someone. The Venom releases on 4th October, here’s the latest trailer.

2. Bohemian Rhapsody (Release Date: 24th October 2018)

Critically acclaimed for his role in the TV series, Mr. Robot, Rami Malek will star as the iconic lead singer of the rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury. The movie will take us through the journey of the British band’s fame and how Freddie tries to move away from Queen in pursuit of a solo career. This is definitely one of the top 10 upcoming movies in 2018, releasing on 24th October.

3. The Girl in the Spider’s Web (Release Date: 9th November 2018)

This is a sequel to the 2011 released movie, The Girl With The Dragon Tatoo. The Girl in the Spider’s Web is the second instalment in the movie adaptation of the novel. From cybercrime to government corruption, this movie has it all. The movie releases on 9th November in the US and would hit the theatres in India soon after.

4. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Release Date: 16 November 2018)

When the first instalment of the movie released in 2016, it earned US$ 81.25 crores at the box office. Now the sequel, which revolves around how the Magizoologist, Newt Scamander teams up with a young Albus Dumbledore in order to stop Gellert Grindelwald (played by Johnny Depp) from unleashing utter chaos on non-magical beings (or No-maj). Watch the trailer as the movie releases on 16 November 2018 in the United Kingdom.

5. Creed II

The Creed franchise is a spin-off of the Rocky series which had Sylvester Stallone in the lead role as an underdog boxer. In the Creed series, Michael B. Jordan plays the son of the athlete Apollo Creed whom Rocky defeated in his boxing days. Michael B. Jordan was critically acclaimed for his role as the antagonist, Kill Monger in Black Panther. Creed II is definitely one of the top 10 upcoming movies in 2018.

6. Robin Hood (Release Date: 21 November 2018)

Taron Egerton who plays the lead role in this movie previously starred as a young spy in the Kingsman franchise. Robin Hood is a story about two war-hardened men, Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) and Petit Jean (Jamie Foxx) who start a revolt against the rich and corrupt people of England. The trailer for the movie shows a lot of action-packed sequences and the rustic vibe of the movie. Robin Hood will release on 21 November 2018 in the USA.

7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Release Date: 13th December 2018)

The Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is an upcoming Marvel animated movie which is based on the Miles Morales comic book. This is a story about a young boy from New York who must deal with his high school life and his superhero alter ego when one he realizes there are more than one Spider-Man. The movie will release on 13th December 2018 in Singapore.

8. Aquaman (Release Date: 14th December 2018)

Jason Momoa, better known for playing the chief of the Dothraki tribe, Khal Drogo, first debuted as the Aquaman in the Zack Snyder-directed Batman Vs Superman in 2016. After almost two years, the king of the underwater is getting his standalone movie. In this movie Arthur Curry (Aquaman) finds himself dealing with the chose above the sea-level and the underwater Atlanteans who are ready to revolt. Watch the movie as it releases on 14th December 2018.

9. Bumblebee (21st December 2018)

When Micheal Bay released the first Transformer movie in 2007, Bumblee instantly became a fan favourite character. Nearly 11 years after the first movie, Bumblee has recived his standalone screen time in this Travis Knight directed movie. Watch the trailer below as the movie hits the theatres on 21st December 2018.

10. Alita: Battle Angel (Release Date: 21st December 2018)

With a budget of US$ 20 crores Alita: Battle Angel is a James Cameron produced a movie about a cyborg named Alita who has no memory of who she is, neither any recollection of her whereabouts. Watch as Alita explores the streets of Iron City, Ido while also trying to discover her mysterious past. The movie will release on 21st December 2018 in the US.

How many of them will you be watching?

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August 8, 2018
Fortnite For Android Requirements Leaked

The trend of online multiplayer games has picked up the pace in recent years. One such multiplayer game, Fortnite, places a total of 100 players to compete against each other. The players land on a common map where they shall find resources and fight to become the last one standing. As a result, it has become one of the most downloaded games across all major platforms, making it an extremely popular multiplayer game. It was on 25th July 2017, when the game finally launched on a mobile platform. The iOS devices like the iPhones and iPads were the ones to first receive the game on a mobile platform. While the Android version of the game will initially be exclusive to the Galaxy Note 9, it will later be available on a few other smartphones. However, even the smartphones which support the game may run it on medium settings.

Also Read: BlackBerry Evolve and BlackBerry Evolve X Launched

This list of smartphone compatible with Fortnite on Android leaked a while ago on Fortnite’s website. The list included the likes of Google Pixel, Huawei Mate 10, Razer Phone, and Nokia 6. Interestingly enough, the “flagship killer” OnePlus 6 was absent from the list. According to some reports, the new list suggests that most 2018 flagship devices will support the game. However, the default settings on these smartphones will be medium. On 9th August, Samsung has scheduled its Unpacked event in which it will unveil the new Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy Tab S4. The game could be launching on the Samsung App store when the new Galaxy devices are unveiled. For the first month at least, the game might be exclusive to Samsung smartphone owners.

Image: List Of Fortnite Compatible Qualcomm Smartphones

It is apparent with this list that most 2018 smartphones will be able to run the game easily. However, the fact which doesn’t seem fit well is that these devices will run the game on the medium setting by default. While this could just be the bare-minimum specs, we plan on digging deeper to find out more. So stay tuned as more on this will be soon available.

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August 8, 2018
Razer Phone 2 To Launch By The End Of The Year

It was in the November of 2017 when Razer announced their first Android smartphone. For the first time, the company entered the smartphone market with the Razer Phone. Razer is a gaming hardware manufacturing company which usually produces gaming laptops, headphone, mouse pads, etc. Also a first for the company and the smartphone industry was the 120Hz screen of the Razer Phone. The smartphone was, all in all, a complete flagship package from 2017 standards. The company is now planning to launch a second gaming smartphone in the Razer Phone lineup and we are excited. From a hardware perspective, the Razer Phone ticks all the checkboxes of a flagship smartphone. Stereo speakers, HDR display, 4,000 mAh battery, and the premium price tag of US4899.99 (Rs. 48,068.66 approx). The new smartphone will probably be called the Razer Phone 2.

Also Read: Honor Play Launched with Flagship Specs Starting Rs. 19,999

The Vice President of Razer, Chen Xiaoping, announced at an event in China that the will launch Razer Phone 2 by the end of 2018. He went on to add that the device is already in the works. So, it is safe to assume that by end of the year, he means the smartphone may arrive sometime in December. According to Chen, the Razer Phone 2 will run the latest flagship chipset offering of Qualcomm. Currently, Qualcomm flagship chipset is the Snapdragon 845. However, some sources claim that the smartphone may pack the rumoured Qualcomm Snapdragon 855, scheduled for a launch in early December.

The Razer Phone 2 could also sport a 5.7-inch display, which in all likelihood, would also be a 120Hz panel. The display in the Razer Phone was a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panel. Since Corning unveiled the Gorilla Glass 6 a while ago, Razer might join the likes of Oppo, Apple, and Samsung to feature the glass on its smartphone. The Razer Phone also retained the 3.5 mm headphone jack, a trend, we hope continues with the Razer Phone 2. Most flagship and even mid-range phones offer an 8GB RAM variant so, it would not be surprising for the company to release one such variant of the device. There is still time before this smartphone is officially unveiled in December. So, stay tuned for more news and rumours about the smartphone.

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August 8, 2018
It’s Official : Android 9 Is Android Pie : Top 10 Features

It was in the year 2007 when Google officially introduced the Android ecosystem to the world. The first commercially available Android smartphone, the HTC Dream released in the September 2008. The smartphone was available globally from 2009 and ran on the version 1.5 (Cupcake) of the OS. Google has followed an alphabetical order of naming convention with each new version of Android. Starting with the first version, Android Cupcake (1.5) debuting with the HTC Dream in 2009, with Donut (1.6) to follow, in the same year. Android has evolved not only in terms of versions but also in terms of its varieties. The latest version of the OS available for all the smartphones is Android 8.0 (Oreo). However, Google has announced the latest version, Android 9 and its official name is Android Pie.

Also Read: Dual SIM Apple iPhone With A 6.1-inch Display Is Launching But You Can’t Have It

Our previous speculation was that Android 9 might roll out as the Android Pistachio. However, Google usually uses sweet treats or desserts to name its Android versions. Thus, it makes a lot more sense for Google to call Android 9, Android Pie. Although its official now, Android Pie was already available as a beta preview for many smartphones. In the list of manufacturers who signed up for the beta program, OnePlus, Nokia, and Xiaomi are some of the top brands. This time around, the new version of the OS is bringing some major changes to the way it works.

Features

1. Gesture-Based Navigation

Image: iPhone X Recent Apps VS Pixel 2 Recent Apps On Android Pie

With Android 9, the OS has changed aesthetically, along with several major feature additions. The most noticeable of them all is the new gesture-based navigation. Although turned off by default, the gesture-based navigation system allows for a new way to interact with Android. In Android Pie, a simple swipe to the left or right will allow users to switch between the recently opened apps. While swiping up would reveal all the opened apps along with a few suggested apps with the OS thinks the user frequently opens.

2. App Slices

This new Android Pie feature seems very familiar to users who have had experience with Google’s Instant Apps. Instant Apps was Google’s way of allowing users to access an app without needing to download it. However, in the case of Slices, the similar idea of Instant Apps targets a whole different set of problems. For instance, if a user searches for Hawaii on Google, then the OS might show them photos from the time when he or she visited Hawaii.

3. Indoor User Positioning

In previous Android versions, if a user sitting inside a building wants to locate himself on the map, then his or her estimated location using GPS was shown. With Android 9, Googles uses Wi-Fi for indoor positioning with an accuracy of up to 1 or 2 meters.

4. Support For Notches

With Android 9, users will get content in an edge-to-edge format which also supports the presence of the notch. Android Pie will allow developers to build apps in such a way that their app supports the cut-outs on a smartphone’s display.

5. Intuitive Notifications

Google has been focussing on integrating AI deeply with its OS. It is with Android 9 that users see some of the AI functionalities in the foreground. For instance, on Android Pie, a predicted response will be ready for certain message notifications which you receive. You can either choose to respond to the message with the suggested text or write your own directly from the notification tray.

6. Adaptive Battery & Adaptive Brightness

Another AI-dependent feature which Google has introduced with Android 9 is the Adaptive Battery and Adaptive Brightness. With this feature, the OS will understand the smartphone user’s device usage behaviour and adjust the battery settings accordingly. This adjustment is also dependent on the time of the day or the user’s location.

7. Digital Wellbeing

Android Pie or Android 9 will monitor the user’s daily smartphone usage. Google is calling this feature the “Digital Wellbeing” which will provide an analytical report of the time the user has spent on the device and the number of times the device was unlocked.

8. The Material Theme

Along with the new feature, Google has also introduced some subtle changes to the UI with Android 9. In this version of the OS, the most noticeable changes are with the notification tray icons, which are more rounded than the ones on Android Oreo. The materialistic theme also translates to the way the recent apps are shown. One could say Android Pie takes subtle hints from Apple’s iOS.

9. Rotation Toggle

The rotation toggle is a nifty feature in the Android 9 which tackles the problem of accidental screen rotation. When you turn off auto rotation on the smartphone, an extra icon will appear in the navigation bar, which upon clicking, will change the orientation of the smartphone’s display. This is especially useful for the lazy users who like to use their smartphones in bed.

10. A Total Of 157 New Emojis

With a more gender-neutral approach, Android Pie will bring a total of 157 new emojis to the platform. Some of these emojis include lobsters and alpacas.

Android P is the ninth installation of Google’s Android OS. Many devices including the OnePlus 6 have already received a Developer Preview of the Android P. This new version brings subtle UI changes like the redesigned notification panel when triggered by the volume rockers. The new update also brings better battery optimization, dark and light theme modes, and the ability to toggle between multiple wallpapers. The Android Pie update will initially be available on the Pixel devices first with other manufacturers who signed up for the Beta program to follow. It is safe to say that with every new version, the Android ecosystem keeps evolving, and the trend will continue until either Google runs out of letters in the Alphabet or Android is discontinued.

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August 7, 2018
Oppo Will Get The Corning Gorilla Glass 6 First

Corning is the leader when it comes to manufacturing glass panels for smartphones. Almost all the flagship smartphones use a Corning Gorilla Glass panels to ensure longevity and durability of these devices. The current Corning glass in use is the Gorilla Glass 5. However, on 19th July the company announced the new Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Dubbed as the toughest and the most customizable glass panel, the Gorilla Glass 6 is yet to feature on any smartphone. However, Corning recently announced that Oppo will be the first company to feature the Gorilla Glass 6 on its smartphones. According to rumours however, the Galaxy Note 9 was to be the first Android smartphone with Gorilla Glass 6 panels. The Note 9 is expected to launch on 9th August.

Also Read: Top 10 Features We Want To See In The OnePlus 6T

Initially, it was the first generation of Apple iPhone for which Corning designed the Gorilla Glass. Although Apple has never officially named any of the vendors from which it gets the hardware for the iPhone. The company demanded a strong glass material which would not only be durable but also responsive. In all likelihood, the 2018 iPhone will also feature the Corning Gorilla Glass 6. Apart from Apple, the other highly anticipated manufacturer to feature the Gorilla Glass 6 is Samsung. With the launch of the Galaxy Note 9 hardly a couple of days away, Samsung will most likely want to feature the latest and greatest for its flagship offering. Thus, while Oppo may be the first “official” brand, Samsung and Apple would also sport the Gorilla Glass 6 on their devices as well, among other manufacturers.

Aslo Read : You Don’t Know Glass Like Corning Knows Glass

The Corning Gorilla Glass 6 will allow manufacturers to customize the way they want to use the glass. They can use it for displays, or as back panels which will be available in a coloured or textured finish. The best part is, Corning will do the designing and texturing of the glass for the company. This would mean, that the upcoming Oppo smartphone could sport a unique looking back panel.

It will be interesting to see how well the new Corning Gorilla Glass 6 performs in real life. The company claims that the glass can survive the glass can survive 15 drops from a height of 1 meter. For reference, other glass compositions, such as soda lime and aluminosilicate, do not survive the first drop from the same height. We look forward to the launch of the new Oppo device featuring the Gorilla Glass 6. It will be interesting to see how the new panel fairs against the currently available Gorilla Glass 5, which also featured in the Oppo Find X.

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August 7, 2018