Author: Anubhav Sharma

Under Display Selfie Camera Technology Showed Off By Oppo And Xiaomi

Innovation regarding smartphone cameras is an ongoing process in the current scenario. Instances from the past include the first pop-up camera, which was introduced in the Vivo Nex in the year 2018. In constant strife to eliminate notches in smartphone displays, brands such as Samsung and ASUS launched the Galaxy A80 and Zenfone 6 respectively, which feature rotating camera systems. However, Chinese brands Oppo and Xiaomi have posted videos that showcase smartphones with under-display selfie cameras in all their glory.

For those seeking the perfect, notchless smartphone screen experience – prepare to be amazed. ?

You are taking a very first look at our under-display selfie camera technology. RT! ? pic.twitter.com/FrqB6RiJaY
— OPPO (@oppo) June 3, 2019

A senior Oppo executive allegedly shared a short video clip of a prototype smartphone sans a notch. When the camera app was launched, the screen displayed a view of the room’s ceiling, whereas no front camera can be spotted in the video. To confirm that the camera being showcased is an under-display module, the VP hovered his finger above the spot where the selfie camera is supposed to be, and as expected, it was visible on the display.

Check this out from our R&D team! @Xiaomi continues to innovate and we have some exciting tech up our sleeves. RT if you love under display camera! #xiaomi pic.twitter.com/4Rlzt9uRAd
— Alvin T (@atytse) June 3, 2019

On the other hand, Xiaomi also posted a video which showcases two smartphones held next to each other. The device on the right features a waterdrop style notch, whereas the one on the left has no notch at all. After the camera application was launched, the user of the device switched to the front camera, which was placed under the display and hence wasn’t visible at all.

As further stated by the Oppo executive, an under-display camera would imply that there will be one less fragile component in the device to worry about. Moreover, there will be no physical wear and tear regarding such a camera module. However, a significant loss in optical quality may be experienced in the early stages of development as stated by the company.

Also Read: LG To Launch An Online Only Budget Smartphone Series In India Soon

Nonetheless, this unveil may be an indication that Oppo’s sister company, Vivo might also be working on a smartphone with an under-display selfie camera. The company previously hinted at such a feature in the Vivo Apex 2019 concept smartphone. Since the smartphone was devoid of any notch and ports, it is expected that the device will be launched with an under-display selfie camera.

June 3, 2019
Google Cloud Restored After Outage, Multiple Applications Affected

It seems that Facebook and Instagram are not the only platforms that suffered outages in the year 2019 so far, as Google Cloud services were down as well on June 3, 2019. The outage affected multiple applications such as Gmail and Nest. Furthermore, applications that implement Google Suite including Snap and popular voice-chat platform, Discord were offline as well. First reported by users in the United States, a similar issue was also brought to light by other users across the world.

As per a statement released by the company, the Google Compute Engine was suffering from a multi-region issue that was affecting Google Cloud services. Owing to network congestion in Eastern USA, users were experiencing extremely slow loading times and errors. Moreover, people reported issues with Google Nest that was not allowing them to change the temperature in their homes and apartments.

Reportedly, the issue was resolved a few hours later after its occurrence. Another statement put forward by the company confirmed that Google was conducting an internal investigation of the problem in order to prevent future recurrence of the same. However, concerns were raised regarding the vulnerability of Cloud-based software and applications. Since a multitude of services relies on Google’s Cloud Service, a lot of developers and organizations may start thinking about contingency plans in case an outage occurs again.

Also Read: WhatsApp Profile Photos Now Can’ Be Saved, New Album Features

Even though the cost of hosting applications on a third-party cloud platform is quite low, it basically implies that the entirety of the service is dependant on one platform to function. In such a case, a backup storage or cloud storage can be helpful for the organization. This particular outage experienced by Google may be a wake-up call for network-dependant applications that suffer if the service stops functioning even for a short duration of time.

June 3, 2019
Facebook Ordered by US Judge to Turn Over Records on Data Privacy

As per latest reports, Facebook has been ordered by a US judge to turn over emails from various shareholders amongst other records. The records were related to the company’s model of handling data privacy and security. This happened as a consequence of when British Political Consulting firm Cambridge Analytica accessed private data of 87 million users in 2015.

Shareholders of the social media giant stated that they had a credible basis to believe in the fact that Facebook board members may have been involved in data privacy breaches. The breach involving Cambridge Analytica, however, was not revealed until the month of March 2018. It was noted that at the time of the breach, Facebook was subject to a US Federal Trade Commission consent decree that essentially required the company to strengthen its data security measures.

The shareholders in the organization filed a suit against Facebook in order to obtain various records concerning the Cambridge Analytica and other breaches. In case any anomalies would be detected with the reports, the shareholders can also sue the company officials and related directors via a derivative lawsuit. Basically, a shareholder derivative suit is brought by a shareholder on behalf of a corporation. A shareholder can only sue on behalf of a corporation when the corporation has a valid cause of action, but has decided not to use it.

Also Read: Alphabet’s New AI Defeats Human Players In A Multiplayer Game

Cambridge Analytica was hired during US President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, and it used various profiling techniques to influence the behaviour of voters in general. However, as soon as the data breach was out in the open, it shut down, leading to the introduction of several US and European regulatory probes into Facebook. The company has been surrounded with controversies for quite some time now, including the disclosure of user passwords in plaintext to company employees. Current situations are not hinting towards the betterment of the scenario, indicating that Facebook needs to employ some serious discretionary measures in order to stabilize.

June 1, 2019
Under Armour And Dwayne Johnson Launch Project Rock Truly Wireless Earphones

American apparel brand Under Armour and popular actor/retired professional wrestler, Dwayne Johnson have collaborated to unveil new ‘Project Rock’ Truly Wireless Earphones. The earbuds are focused towards consumers who indulge in extensive fitness activities such as gymming, running and exercising. Previously, the duo launched the over-the-ear UA Sport Wireless Project Rock Edition headphones in 2018.

Project True Wireless Earphones Features

The Truly Wireless Earbuds will be the latest addition to the “Project Rock” audio products. Named as the “UA True Wireless Flash Project Rock Edition”, the earphones are IPX7-rated water and sweat resistant. On a single charge, the earphones can last for about 5 hours. Upon discharging, they can be juiced up via the charging-cum-carrying case, which provides an additional 20 hours of recharge. The carrying case itself can be charged via a micro-USB 2.0 port. Regarding audio, the company has teamed up with JBL audio.

The Project True Wireless Earphones feature UA TALKTHRU, which enables the user to lower the music momentarily to focus on the surroundings. This technology is similar to the one found in JBL’s own wireless earbuds. A golden bull logo is embossed on both the earphones, which doubles up as a button to activate noise cancellation and block out external audio. The earphones will ship with a set of antibacterial ear tips that will enable them to sit comfortably in the ear without falling off.

Also Read: Facebook Patent Reveals A Drone Powered By Kites

The Project Rock earphones will pack JBL’s 40mm drivers for high-precision audio. Dwayne Johnson has been teasing the sound quality of the earphones for quite some time now on his Instagram channel. The earphones will be shipped June 7 onwards, and are priced at US$ 199 (~INR 13,800). They will go up against the Beats PowerBeats Pro Truly wireless earbuds, which retail for $249.95.

June 1, 2019
Samsung Galaxy M40 Specs Leaked, Reveals 32MP Primary Camera

As previously reported, South Korean technology giant Samsung is all set to launch the Galaxy M40 smartphone on June 11, 2019. Similar to the other devices in the Galaxy M series, the Galaxy M40 is expected to provide decent specifications at a competitive price point. Samsung seems quite confident with the upcoming device owing to the success of the Galaxy M10, M20 and M30 in the market. As per fresh leaks, the smartphone is expected to feature a 32MP primary camera alongside two other sensors.

Galaxy M40: Leaked Specifications And Features

Leaks suggest that the Galaxy M40 will sport a 6.3 inch FHD+ display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The smartphone will boast of a high screen-to-body ratio thanks to the Infinity-O display (punch-hole display). The right side of the device will accommodate the volume rockers and the power button. The rear panel of the handset houses the triple camera setup, the fingerprint scanner and the company branding in the middle.

Samsung Galaxy M30

Under the hood, the Galaxy M40 will run on the Snapdragon 675 chipset, which consists of the octa-core Kryo 460 CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU. Information regarding different variants is unknown, but it is confirmed that the smartphone will launch with at least 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It will be powered by a 3,500 mAh battery, unlike the Galaxy M30 (see review here), which packed a massive 5000 mAh battery.

Regarding optics, the Galaxy M40 will feature a triple rear camera setup, which will consist of a 32MP primary sensor, a 5MP depth sensor and a third 8MP ultra wide sensor. For selfies, it will sport a 16MP front camera housed in the in-screen cutout. Noteworthy, the M40 will be the first M-series smartphone to run on Android 9.0 (Pie) out-of-the-box.

Galaxy M40: Expected Price And Availability

Also Read: Mysterious Mid Range HTC Smartphone Certified By Bluetooth SIG, Launch Imminent

As mentioned before, the Galaxy M40 will be unveiled by the company on June 11, 2019. Sources state that it will be priced around the price point of INR 20,000 (~$287). When launched, it will be retailed on an online-only basis, with the retailers being popular e-commerce website Amazon and Samsung’s own online store.

June 1, 2019
Facebook Patent Reveals A Drone Powered By Kites

A freshly revealed patent shows that Facebook is working on a drone which is quite unconventional. The drone will not use its own power source for flight, instead it would make use of kites to stay afloat. Named the “dual-kite aerial vehicle”, each drone consists of two separate kites that can be directed independently. Moreover, the drone can utilize the force of the wind to extend its flight time, essentially making it self-sufficient.

The patent was originally filed in the month of November 2018. It depicts a drone that is connected to the kites via a kiometre-long tether. It is designed along the lines of a helicopter-style aircraft, and by cutting down the size and weight of the drone, it can attain extra-long flight durations. Facebook also mentions that a fleet of such drones can be controlled wirelessly from the surface. Since higher altitudes imply more sunlight, they can be employed to generate power through solar panels as well.

The social media giant was previously reported to be working on Aquila, which was a project that involved beaming down an LTE network from high-flying droneships in the stratosphere. The drones in Aquila were supposed to run on solar energy, providing sustainable flight over long durations of time. However, the project didn’t really take ‘flight’, and was abandoned by the company in the year 2018.

Also Read: Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Trailer Reverts The Series Back To Its Roots

The drone in the freshly filed patent, however, is nothing like Aquila. It resembles the balloons that Google previously showcased for its Loon project. Nonetheless, the reveal should be taken with a grain of salt, since it could be long before we could get to witness such an offering from the company. With the privacy and security concerns looming over Facebook, it may not want to launch large drones into the sky anytime soon. However, considering that the organization previously teamed up with aviation giant Airbus to provide high altitude connectivity, a prototype may be under development as well.

May 31, 2019
Gigabyte Launches PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs With 4.88 Gbps Read Speeds

Taiwanese technology company Gigabyte has unveiled the first PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that hits an incredible read speed of 5,000 MB/s, or 4.88 GBps. At the same time, the SSD can reach write speeds of 4,400 MB/s.

However, Corsair also launched its own Generation PCIe SSD on May 27, 2019. It can achieve a read speed of 4950 MB/s, which falls merely 50MB/s short of Gigabyte’s SSD. Both the SSDs offer almost 56% faster read speeds than the Samsung 970 nvme Solid State Drive, which is one of the fastest available SSDs in the market. The Gigabyte PCIe 4.0 utilizes the Phison PS5016-E16 controller and 3D Triple Level Cells (TLC) NAND flash memory chips manufactured by Japanese manufacturer Toshiba.

A full body copper heat spreader engulfs the AORUS NVMEe Gen4 SSD, so that the generated heat can be managed at higher read/write speeds. Since the temperature can increase drastically during operation, Gigabyte states that using the heatsink can reduce the temperature of the SSD by almost 14 percent.

Also Read: Xiaomi Delays The Release Of Its Foldable Smartphone Over Market Insecurity

As per reports, the NVMe SSD will be available in two storage variants, 1TB and 2TB. The company plans to roll out the SSDs in the month of July 2019. Interested users can get their hands on the Gigabyte X570 motherboard along with the SSD and the latest Ryzen processors in order to test out the insane Gen4 transfer speeds. Since Gigabyte has not unveiled the price of the NVMe Gen4 PCIe SSDs, an official announcement is awaited regarding the same.

May 31, 2019
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Trailer Reverts The Series Back To Its Roots

We get dirty, so that the World stays clean

Activision’s vision of a game closer to reality has never looked so good, as showcased in the latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reveal trailer that was released on May 30, 2019. The franchise can be deemed nothing less than legendary, and while the reviews of the previous iterations of the game have been dwindling in quality, Modern Warfare aims to take the player back to the roots.

The trailer is centred around the ‘golden’ CoD character, Captain John Price, who is one of the more prominent faces of the franchise. It is expected that other characters such as John “Soap” MacTavish and Derek “Frost” Westbrook will also make an appearance in the reboot. The trailer showcases scenarios that are heavily relatable to the current state of the world in some cases. Terrorism and bio-chemical wars are just two of the threats that were poised in the trailer.

One significant fact is the return of the original developers, Infinity Ward back to the franchise. As per reports, the core developer and design teams working on the game (including developers from Naughty Dog) are focusing on the emotional impact that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can have on the players. Infinity Ward co-head stated that the story designers will aim to be sensitive and edgy at the same time. Since the game is based on real world headlines and events, it is expected to feature psychological warfare along with dictating villains and a rich dose of violence.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The trailer further reveals that the storyline of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can be experienced from two separate perspectives. The player can play as a lethal Tier-1 Marine with a complete set of weapons and equipment, or he can play as a freedom fighter in the Middle-eastern region. Similar to the previous games, the players can call in airstrikes, perks and care packages to strengthen their position.

Also Read: A 16 Year Old Dies After Allegedly Playing PUBG Mobile For Six Hours

The game is scheduled for launch on October 25, 2019. Additionally, Infinity Ward revealed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will support cross play across all major platforms, which may be a major upside to the game. Furthermore, more information regarding the gameplay and the game itself is expected to be revealed at the E3 2019, which will start June 11 onwards. And we can all hope to catch some more glimpses of old characters from the previous Modern Warfare games, because the end of the trailer packs a clue too obvious to ignore.

Who’s your team?

Some Old Comrades

Watch the official reveal trailer of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare below

May 31, 2019
The Galaxy Note 10 Will Not Have Physical Buttons Or A Headphone Jack

Samsung is known for launching its Galaxy Note series smartphones at the end of summer. Following the same launch cycle, the company’s upcoming flagship, the Galaxy Note 10 is expected to be unveiled in the month of August 2019. Ahead of its announcement, rumours regarding the device have started to surface. As per latest rumours, the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was retained in the Galaxy S10 series smartphones will reportedly not be present in the Note 10 devices. Furthermore, the flagship smartphone may not sport any physical buttons as well. The device will be released in two different variants, and both of them will sport the same button-less design.

The rumours further state that the exterior buttons of the Galaxy Note 10 handsets will be replaced by capacitative or pressure sensitive buttons, that will be accessed by the user via raised bumps or a textured surface along the sides. Another device with the same design factor is the Vivo Apex, which is a step ahead and excluded all forms of ports and buttons from the device. Both the volume rockers and power button in the aforementioned smartphone were capacitative. Moreover, the device lacked all forms of ports, including the charging port. It had to be charged using the magnetic POGO pins at the back.

The removal of buttons from the smartphone will result in the absence of any cutouts in the frame of the device. This implies that the the Note 10 will have a slimmer design with increased structural integrity. Also, an IP68 water and dust resistance rating is easier to attain with the removal of physical buttons. However, we can expect that the Note 10 will not go port-less anytime soon, since the inclusion of a stylus and fast charging renders it impossible to do so.

A similar change was introduced to smartphones a few years back, when manufacturers inadvertently moved in favour of removing physical ‘home’ buttons from the devices. For instance, the iPhone 6S was the last smartphone from Apple that featured a physical home button. The downside to such buttons is their tendency to wear out after a duration of time. On the other hand, capacitative buttons are much more resilient as compared to physical buttons. Another factor is the space consumed by the physical button module inside the device. The removal of physical buttons can ensure more space for the screen and other components.

As mentioned before, the buttons are not the only feature that is being eliminated. Rumours state that the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been present in all Samsung flagships till date (except the Galaxy Fold) will be ditched in the upcoming Galaxy Note 10 smartphones. Other popular smartphone brands such as OnePlus and Apple have already gotten rid of the headphone jack in their flagship smartphones, and it seems that the South Korean technology company is planning to follow suit.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Also Read: Amazon Textract Service Intended For Transcribing Data Is Now Live

The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is expected to be unveiled in the month of August 2019. It is speculated to feature a quad rear camera setup, a 19:9 display and a 4,500 mAh battery in the top variant. Also, the company may introduce a new stylus for the smartphones, which will boast of an inbuilt camera with optical zoom.

May 31, 2019
Amazon Textract Service Intended For Transcribing Data Is Now Live

Amazon has unveiled a new service named Textract which enables its Web Service customers to accurately harvest text from documents. The word Textract is a combination of ‘Text’ and ‘Extract’, and it does exactly what it says. The software performs the same task as a standard OCR (Optical Character Recognition) reader, but where the OCR scanner falls short, Textract accomplishes the task effortlessly.

Amazon’s software is designed to identify various document formats and analyze its contents to process them in the desired manner. For instance, if the concerned document is a table, Textract will reproduce data in a structured form that is closest to the original data arrangement. Forms, charts and receipts are scanned and reproduced in a similar manner. And the whole process can be completed without human intervention, rendering Textract as an independent software.

The stumbling block with basic OCRs is their inability to process mixed data or data which is arranged in an non standard format. For the same reason, organizations utilize manual labour for data entry, which defies the purpose of an automated OCR. On the other hand, Amazon claims that its new service is capable of processing millions of pages in a short duration of time. Noteworthy, unlike several other similar services, machine learning experience is not necessary to use Textract states Amazon.

Also Read: Apps On iOS Were Found Sending Large Amounts Of Data To Tracking Companies

Lastly, the Textract can identify organization-specific data such as security numbers and IDs and copy it into spreadsheets which are easily editable. Bigger chunks of data are loaded into databases which are then accessible via smart searches inside the Web Service. The Textract has been released in select parts of the United States (including Ohio, North Virginia, Oregon) and Ireland as of now.

May 30, 2019
Meizu 16XS With 4000 mAh Battery Launched

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Meizu has officially launched the 16XS smartphone in China on May 30 2019. The smartphone is one of the more affordable devices in Meizu’s 16-series lineup. The 16XS packs a modest set of specifications at a competitive price. The device will go up against smartphones such as the Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Realme 3 Pro.

Meizu 16XS Features And Specifications

The Meizu 16XS has a similar design factor to its elder sibling, the Meizu 16s. It features a 6.2 inch AMOLED display which is surrounded by narrow side bezels. There is no notch since the front camera is housed in the forehead/top bezel of the device. The display has a resolution of 2232 x 1080 px and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The rear panel of the smartphone sports the company branding and the triple camera, which is discussed later.

Under the hood, the Meizu 16XS packs the Snapdragon 675 chipset, which consists of the octa-core Kryo 460 CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU chip. It is also fitted with 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, which is paired with 64GB and 128GB RAM. For biometric security, the 16XS has an in-display fingerprint scanner which is claimed to unlock the phone within 0.2 seconds of placing the finger.

In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup. It consists of a primary 48MP (f/1.7) Samsung GM1 MOD sensor, a secondary 5MP (f/1.9) sensor and a third wide-angle (118.8 degree) lens. For selfies, the Meizu 16XS is equipped with a 16MP front camera that supports HDR+ and portrait mode. Additionally, the selfie camera also has support for facial recognition technology.

Out-of-the-box, the smartphone runs on the FlyMe 7.3 OS based on Android 9 Pie. It is powered by a 4000 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. Noteworthy, the 16XS weighs in at 165 grams, making it one of the lightest devices in its segment. For gamers, the smartphone also has a HyperGaming mode which will allow them to turn off notifications and other distractions while gaming sessions.

Meizu 16XS Availability And Price

Also Read: Redmi K20 Pro Will Also Have 12 GB RAM Variant Reveals TENAA Listing

The Meizu 16XS is priced at CNY 1698 (~INR 17,200) for the 6GB+64GB variant, whereas the 6GB+128GB variant has a price tag of CNY 1998 (INR 20,200). It will be available in 4 colour options, namely Jade White, Black, Coral Orange and Atlantis Blue. Although the smartphone has been launched in China, no official announcement regarding its India launch has been made till now.

May 30, 2019
Ferrari SF90 Stradale With A Hybrid Drivetrain Launched

As the awareness regarding environmental concerns increases, companies across the world are looking to adopt clean energy. Italian supercar manufacturer, Ferrari has adopted the best of both worlds in its latest supercar, which is the SF90 Stradale. The supercar is referred to as hybrid due to the fact it packs a 4-liter 769-horsepower Turbo V8 engine alongside three electric motors which have a combined output of 162 kW or 217 HP. The company claims while both the power sources function simultaneously, the SF90 can achieve a speed of 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds.

The supercar sports a torque-vectoring AWD (All Wheel Drive) system and an eight-gear dual-clutch transmission. Even though the SF90 is less powerful than the top of line LaFerrari on paper, the hybrid supercar can reach higher top speeds owing to the lower overall weight.

Ferrari SF90 includes a modern cockpit design, with the Manettino-style steering wheel (where the adjustment controls are mounted on the steering wheel itself). Furthermore, the steering wheel has a touch interface which can be used to switch between various modes (including the hybrid mode).

Also Read: Screenshots Of Ark OS, The Android Replacement By Huawei Leaked

The Italian company has confirmed that the Ferrari SF90 Stradale is not a limited edition vehicle. However, the supercar is expected to be highest-priced model in the already expensive lineup of Ferrari, which means that not a lot of people will be able to afford it. The company has not provided an official statement regarding the price of the supercar yet. As per other reports, Ferrari may also be working on an all-electric car. Even though the design may take its fair share of time to be brought to reality, it is quite evident that electric cars are the future, and with the SF90 Stradale, the Italian manufacturer is one step closer to achieving it.

May 30, 2019
Apple Foldable Phone Patent Revealed

In the ongoing race of foldable smartphones, American tech giant Apple is looking to introduce its own contender. An Apple foldable device has been in the rumours for quite some time, and as per the latest reports, it may not be far from turning into a reality. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has published a total of 85 patents for the company, two of which include a foldable iDevice and a smart keyboard which resembles the iPad’s Folio keyboard.

Patent For Foldable iDevice

The application titled “Apple invents both Single and Multi-Fold Device Form Factors for Future iDevices” was filed by the company in the month of August 2018. The patent covers electronic devices that feature a bendable region. Such a device will sport a display layer and a cover layer that can fold around the aforementioned bendable region. The patent indicates that the flexible cover layer may be made out of ceramic so as to increase the detail of protection against falls and scratches. Additionally, the flexible cover may also provide structural integrity to the foldable device.

The patent exhibits the ability of the foldable device to transform into a tablet, which would enable the user to make use of the entire display surface. The device can be folded two times, which implies that almost one third of the total display surface will be visible when the device is in its folded state.

Patent For Smart Keyboard Design

The second patent covers a device that is quite similar to the Apple Folio smart keyboard, which was released alongside the iPad Pro 12.9 in the year 2016. The patent includes images of a variety of designs for a new smart keyboard that may be announced in the future. One of the images showcases a keyboard design with a space above the keyboard which can be used to input data via the Apple Pencil. Another design features the inclusion of a trackpad to the keyboard.

Also Read: Korvaa: A Pair Of Biodegradable Headphones Developed By A Finnish Design Studio

It is unsure whether the company will unveil any new products based on the preceding form factors anytime soon. Previously, concept renders had surfaced, which showed off the design of a probable foldable iPhone. Considering the ongoing trend of foldable smartphones (such as the Samsung Galaxy Fold), Apple is expected to announce its own version of the foldable smartphone at its launch event in September 2019, where the company will launch its next generation iPhones.

May 30, 2019
Amazon Echo Show 5 Launched In India, Features A 5.5 Inch Display

In another “silent” announcement, Amazon has unveiled its latest smart display which is the Echo Show 5. The suffix ‘5’ in the moniker probably stands for the 5.5 inch display in the device and not the chronology of generations. Speaking of which this is the third iteration of smart displays from the American company. Its predecessor was launched in the month of October 2018 and was priced at INR 22,999. The latest variant, however, is priced at a lower price point owing to the smaller display.

Amazon Echo Show 5: Features And Specifications

The compact design factor of the Echo Show 5 indicates that the company intended the device to be meant for desk/bedside usage. The smart display has rounded edges and features a fabric finish on top. The design of the Echo Show 5 resembles that of Google’s latest smart display, the Nest Hub which was launched at the Google I/O conference 2019. However, Amazon’s smart display includes a camera, unlike the Nest Hub. An interesting feature of the device is a physical camera shutter that can be toggled with the help of a switch placed at the top. In light of rising security concerns, this is the first time that Amazon has included a camera shutter in its device.

The smart display sports an ambient lighting mode to automatically regulate the brightness as per the surroundings. Solely using voice commands, users will be able to view how-to-clips from wikiHow. Additionally, the Echo Show 5 also features a smart home dashboard that can be used to control multiple connected gadgets. The camera can be used in combination with applications such as the Arlo Baby Camera, which can be used by parents to keep an eye on their babies from a remote location.

Also Read: Korvaa: A Pair Of Biodegradable Headphones Developed By A Finnish Design Studio

In terms of security, Amazon has also announced a new privacy feature alongside the Echo Show 5 that will be pushed out to all Alexa-enabled devices. Users can simply tell the Alexa voice assistant to wipe the history on the device to delete all the stored phrases and user information. The Echo Show 5 is available for pre-order via Amazon for INR 8,999 ($ 89.99 in the United States). It is available in two colour options, Black and White. The deliveries of the smart display will commence in the month of July 2019.

You can pre-order the Amazon Echo Show 5 below:

May 30, 2019
Korvaa: A Pair Of Biodegradable Headphones Developed By A Finnish Design Studio

“Electronics” and “Growing” are probably two words that may not have previously co-existed in the past, though not anymore. Reports claim that almost 400 million headphone units were retailed in the year 2018 alone. The highly popular gadgets are fabricated out of a variety of materials such as leather, plastic and mesh, all of which are not exactly environment favourable. As a solution, Finnish Design Studio Aivan has designed the Korvaa headphones that are extremely environment friendly. In fact, the materials used form a crucial basis of the environment itself.

The headband of the Korvaa headset is born out of a 3D printer and designed with the help of a bioplastic formulated from yeast produced lactic acid. Notably, the earcup padding is made out of Hydrophobin. The compound is known for its ability to form a hydrophobic (water-repellent) coating on the surface of an object. It is essentially a foaming protein generated by a type fungus and plant cellulose. Instead of the mesh used in conventional headphones, the Korvaa headset uses a biosynthetic spider silk that is produced by microbes. The outer foam used in the headphones is a composite compound made out of mycelium and cellulose.

Also Read: New MediaTek SoC Is All Set To Bring 5G Network On Budget Devices

The headphones are a result of a joint venture between Avian, Aalto University and VTT Technical Research. First showcased at an event in Helinski, the headphones are still in a prototype stage, which means that except the outer casing, no electronic components are present inside the headset. However, The company aims to incorporate the same “growing electronics” technology in future headphones, so that e-waste generation can be put on hold. If the technology is developed further, bio-engineered products might be a common sight while shopping in the future.

May 29, 2019