Author: Vipul Vij

Top Tech Stories Of The Week

Samsung Galaxy Note8 Officially Launched

Samsung launched the highly-anticipated Galaxy Note8 in New York on August 23 during its ‘Unpacked 2017’ event. Priced at Rs 74,999 the Galaxy Note8 is the first Samsung to feature a dual-camera setup. Both the cameras are 12 MP and both have OIS, one has a wide lens while the other a telephoto lens. The Galaxy Note8 also has an IRIS scanner on the front, sadly the fingerprint sensor still sits on the back of the phone next to the cameras.

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Apple May Launch The iPhone 8 On September 12

Apple looks all set to launch the new iPhone on September 12. Apple has been hosting its iPhone launch events in September since 2012. September 12 also falls on a Tuesday, which is in line with the previous iPhone announcement events. It is rumoured that the main iPhone 8 will be available in extremely limited numbers at launch. Along with the new iPhone 8, the launch of the iPhone 7S, 7S Plus, Apple TV with 4K video output, LTE enabled Apple Watch is also expected.

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Google Pixel 2 And Pixel XL 2 Will Be Launched On October 5

The follow-up to last year’s lineup of Pixel devices, the pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 could be launched on October 5th according to a tipster. This tip comes after specifications of the Pixel 2 were leaked through an FCC filing document. In his tweet, Evan Blass claims that both the devices will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset, instead of the much-anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset.

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Android 8.0 Oreo Officially Launched

Google officially launched the next generation of its Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during the first Solar Eclipse in the USA since 1917 on August 21. The Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are tipped to be the first sdevices to run Android 8.0 Oreo while many other smartphones will soon follow suit.

Features such as the new picture-in-picture mode, auto fill framework, notification dots and much more will be available when the Android 8.0 Oreo starts rolling out to devices later this year.

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Moto G5S Plus To Launch In India On 29th August

Lenovo-owned Motorola is set to launch the Moto G5S Plus in India on 29th August. The smartphone will be an Amazon exclusive in the beginning and will be available at offline retailers later.The Moto G5S Plus’ widely speculated feature, the rear mounted 13MP dual-camera with an f/2.0 aperture and dual tone LED flash, comes with video stabilization and 4K video recording at 30 FPS.

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August 27, 2017
Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000 Are Priced at US $1999, Ship with a Briefcase

Audio-Technica has announced its 2017 flagship headphones, the ATH-ADX5000. Audio-Technica has gone a step further by shipping a briefcase along to carry your US $1999 headphones. With the ATH-ADX5000, Audio-Technica is entering the premium headphones market with the likes of Sennheiser HD 800 S, Audeze LCD-X, and Focal Utopia.

The ATH-ADX5000 has been designed independent of its previous ‘ATH’ series, featuring new 58mm tungsten-coated drivers inside its honeycomb-patterned ear cups. Unlike what Audio-Technica has previously done, the headband and its plush Alcantara covering stretches onto the rather enormous pads. Keeping in line with other high-end headphones in its class, the ATH-ADX5000 is being hand-assembled in Tokyo and each unit is laser-etched with its serial number. Connecting the headphones to your audio system is a 6N-OFC oxygen-free copper cable and a 6.3mm jack. The headphones have a 420 Ohm impedance which will require a high-end amplifier to get the full audio experience.

The Audio-Technica ATH-ADX5000 will go on sale in November for USD 1999 (Rs 1,27,000 approx), but some people will get a chance to see and hear them during IFA 2017 in Berlin.

August 26, 2017
Moto X4 Specifications revealed in FCC Filings

The successor to the Moto X Style, the Moto X4 has skipped a few “speculated” release dates and is now back in the spotlight after its FCC filing document got leaked.

Just like with the Google Pixel 2’s FCC certification documents, specifications of the Moto X4 have also been leaked. As per the listing, Moto X4 is said to boast NFC for faster file transfer and contact-less payments and most importantly it will support the latest Bluetooth v5.0. The smartphone will have a 5.2 inch 1920 x 1080 px AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top for protection. The device will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset and a 2.2GHz octa-core processor with 5GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage which will be expandable via microSD card. Graphics will be handled by the Adreno 508 GPU.

On the camera front, the smartphone will feature 12MP dual cameras. The primary camera is an RGB sensor while the secondary camera comes equipped with a monochrome sensor for black-and-white images and more detailed coloured images. On the front is a 16MP camera with a wide-angle lens. The Moto X4 will be IP68 certified water and dust resistant unlike the splash resistance on previous Moto phones. The fingerprint sensor will be placed in front of the device just below the screen.

The Moto X4 is rumoured to be priced at around Rs 26,500 for the Indian market when it arrives. Motorola is scheduled to announce the Moto G5S Plus in India on 29th August, and the Moto X4 could be unveiled at the IFA in Berlin on 31st August. Busy days ahead for Motorola.

August 25, 2017
Unboxing The Lenovo Yoga 720
The Lenovo Yoga 720 is a powerful laptop that can be transformed into a tablet as it has a touch-enabled display. The laptop has a 13.3 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS multi touch display. The laptop runs Windows 10 Home and is powered by a 4 cell battery which promises up to 10.5 hours of run-time. The variant we have unboxed has the 7th generation Intel i7-7500HQ chipset, the dual-core processor is clocked at 2.7 GHz with 8GB RAM and 512GB SSD while graphics are handled by the Intel HD620 GPU.

The laptop is available in three colours, Platinum Silver, Iron Grey, and Copper. Let’s unbox the Lenovo Yoga 720 and check what’s inside the box
- The Lenovo Yoga 720
- Charging brick
- Charging Cable
- Documentation
With the price starting at Rs 74,500 the Lenovo Yoga 720 features a chiclet style keyboard and a fingerprint sensor that sits below the bottom right corner of the keyboard. The trackpad supports multi-touch and the JBL stereo speakers are placed on the bottom side of the laptop below the vents. The power button sits on the right side of the laptop along with a traditional USB 3 port which is accompanied by 2 USB Type-C with Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The laptop weighs at 1.3 kilograms and can be folded into a tablet.
August 25, 2017
Apple Set To Launch New iPhone 8 On September 12

The world could witness new iPhones in less than a month as Apple is expected to hold the all-important launch event on September 12.

Apple has been hosting its iPhone launch events in September since 2012. September 12 also falls on a Tuesday, which is in line with the previous iPhone announcement events. A lot of people were speculating between September 5 and September 12, this should be clarified soon as Apple’s press invites should be appearing in inboxes soon. This news might convince a few iPhone buyers to hold off on their credit cards for a little longer. Apple is going to release the final version of iOS 11 at some point between September 12 and September 22.

Apple is also probably going to announce a new version of the Apple Watch. The main change with this new watch could be that it’s going to have LTE connectivity. There could be a small update to the Apple TV as well with 4K video output.

If certain reports are to be believed, Apple will, in fact, launch three different iPhone’s this year, iPhone 7S, iPhone 7S Plus and the iPhone 8. The marquee phone, of course, is going to be the iPhone 8 or whatever Apple decides to call it at the end with a reportedly bezel-less display and vertically mounted dual-camera setup. Apple will also finally introduce wireless charging to its iPhone lineup after a component was leaked online. The iPhone 8/X/Pro will also feature better cameras which will reportedly record 4K videos at 60 FPS. Another headlining feature will be 3D facial recognition, dubbed as ‘FaceID.’ The smartphone is expected to break the thousand dollar barrier and cost around $1,100 for the base variant.

Apple may also announce newer AirPods as the previous generation ones leave a lot to be desired from. The event will be followed up by a pre-order phase before the iPhones start to become available in stores. It is rumoured that the main iPhone 8 will be available in extremely limited numbers at launch.

August 25, 2017
Android 8.0 Oreo : What Phone Makes The List
Google officially launched its latest Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during an event that ‘eclipsed’ the Solar Eclipse on August 21. Developers have had access to a preview version of Google’s latest mobile operating system since mid-March, with updated versions releasing in May, June, and July.

The new OS comes with a lot of new features and under the hood upgrades for better user experience. Highlights of new features in Android 8.0 Oreo
- A new picture-in-picture feature allows users to continue operating the device without interruptions for things like watching a video.
- Users can now organise notifications into custom channels and modify the alerts for the entire channel.
- An auto fill framework in the operating system makes the repeated filling of forms easy for the user.
- Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) can specify a look and feel for the UI by choosing between various icon shapes by using Adaptive Icons
- Smart sharing feature allows the operating system to guess the context of a photo, and pick the best application to hand the image over to.
- There are also background execution limits, which ensures that applications running in the background don’t use up a lot of system resources.
A lot of you must be wondering whether your Android device will be updated to 8.0 Oreo or not. Let’s find out

Google Devices

This is a no-brainer. If you own the Nexus 5X, 6P or the Google Pixel or the Pixel XL, an Android O update isn’t far away. Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be the first devices running Android 8.0 Oreo when they’re launched and an update to the Nexus devices and previous gen Pixel smartphones will follow soon.

Samsung

Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 8 running Android 7.1.1 Nougat and promised an update to Android Oreo in the coming months. This suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ may also receive an update before the mid-2018 launch of the Galaxy S9. Samsung’s mid-range devices may also receive an Android Oreo update but later next year.

HTC

HTC has officially announced that the HTC 10, U Ultra and the new flagship U11 will receive the Android Oreo update in the coming months.

OnePlus

Carl Pei has announced that Oneplus 5, 3T and 3 will all receive Android 8.0 Oreo update. However, it was also announced that this update will be the last Android OS update for last year’s OnePlus 3 and 3T.

Motorola

Moto Z2 Force, Z2 Play, G5S, G5S Plus, G5 and G5 Plus are all in line to receive an upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo keeping up with Lenovo-owned Motorola’s promise.

Lenovo

Lenovo recently dropped its custom VibePure UI for pure Android skin and promised that the K8 Note and other K Note devices will receive the Android Oreo update. The timeline though is not confirmed.

LG

LG is on the verge of launching its late 2017 flagship, the LG V30 on August 31. The phone will most likely run Android 7.1 Nougat and will be updated to Android Oreo later on. Along with the LG V30, LG G6, LG V20, and V10 might also receive the update in the coming months.
August 24, 2017
Google Pixel 2 And Pixel XL 2 May Be Unveiled On October 5th

Google Pixel and Pixel XL launched last year on October 4th to great anticipation. A new leak claims that the second generation Pixel phones will debut exactly one year after their older siblings, on October 5th. The tweet sheds light on another component of the device which is heavily rumoured, but, with no real evidence.

Google's second-generation Pixel handsets, powered by Snapdragon 836 SoC's, will be unveiled on October 5th.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 24, 2017

In his tweet, Evan Blass claims that both the devices will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 836 chipset, instead of the much-anticipated Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset. More details about the new Pixel devices were leaked through an FCC filing by HTC confirming that the Taiwanese smartphone maker will be handling the smaller of the two variants, the Pixel 2.

Also, back in March, Bharat Nagpal had posted on his official Facebook account sharing information about the same chipset (Snapdragon 836), and that it will first show up in Pixel devices.

https://www.facebook.com/iBharatNagpal/posts/1834695183463459

An interesting detail revealed by the filing was a feature called “Active Edge”, which is similar to the squeezable frame feature on the HTC U11. The difference here is that the squeeze will be programmed to launch the Google Assistant. In the filing, the “8998” in the baseband revealed that the device would either have a Snapdragon 835 or the updated, as-of-yet unreleased 836. There have been renders of the Google Pixel 2 suggesting that the 2017 flagship will ditch the headphone jack. The device will also sport a design similar to its predecessor’s with big bezels around the screen and a smaller glass window at the back.

The smaller Pixel 2 will reportedly sport a 5 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display and still have large bezels around the screen, unlike many flagships of 2017. The Pixel XL 2, on the other hand, will feature a more “2017 flagship design” with thin bezels around a 6 inch 2560 x 1440 px AMOLED display. The devices will run on 3,ooo mAh battery and 3,500 mAh battery respectively.

August 24, 2017
Samsung Launches The Galaxy Note8 With Dual Cameras And IP68

In an event in New York, Samsung has just launched its new iteration of the Note series, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 at a price of GBP 869 (Rs 71,100 approx). After the Samsung G alaxy Note7 was recalled globally due to a fault in the battery, causing it to catch fire, the South Korean electronics giant made a comeback of sorts with the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has been launched in four colours – the Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Deep Sea Blue and Maple Gold.

Just like the Galaxy S8 and S8+, the new Galaxy Note 8 features a glass front and back and the AMOLED display has curved corners and a long aspect ratio. The new 2017 Samsung Galaxy Note has a 6.3 inch 2960 x 1440 px 18.5:9 aspect ratio Super AMOLED display with an 83.1% screen-to-body ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back of the device.

The Galaxy Note 8 runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat and Samsung has promised an update to 8.0 Oreo in the near future. The phone is powered by a non-removable 3,300 mAh battery with QuickCharge 2.0 through the USB Type C port and because of the glass at the back, the phone also supports wireless charging as well. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, the fingerprint sensor sits at the back of the device right next to the dual-cameras. The iris scanner and face unlock features also return to the Galaxy Note 8 for further security.

As is with all Samsung flagship devices, the Galaxy Note8 will ship with two different chipsets, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 2.45 GHz octa-core processor with Adreno 540 GPU for USA and China, and the Exynos 8895, 2.3GHz Quad-Core (Custom CPU) + 1.7GHz Quad-Core (Cortex-A53) with Mali-G71 MP20 for the remaining markets. The device will have 6GB RAM and onboard storage options of 64GB/128GB/256GB which will be expandable via microSD card up to 256GB.

What makes the Note series stand out from the flagship crowd is the S-Pen. The new Galaxy Note 8 comes with a new S Pen with improved functionalities. The Galaxy Note 8 and the S Pen are both also IP68 certified water and dust resistant. The S-Pen comes with a host of new features such as Smart Select, which allows you to easily select, clip and copy the content that you like. You can also send .gif messages via the S Pen. Another interesting feature is the Screen Off Memo, wherein you can quickly jot down important notes and details without going through the hassle of unlocking the device and opening the Notes app. The S Pen will be available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Deep Sea Blue and Maple Gold colours.

The Galaxy Note 8 is the first phone from Samsung to feature dual-cameras with a 12MP dual-camera setup, the primary camera has a wide-angle 12MP lens with an f/1.7 aperture and the secondary camera has a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture. The telephoto lens enables a 2X lossless optical zoom and has features such as the Bokeh effect, much like the iPhone 7 Plus. The dual-cameras are capable of capturing 4K videos at 30 FPS On the front is an 8MP camera with an f/1.7 aperture and captures 4K videos at 30 FPS.

Samsung has also launched a host of Galaxy Note 8 compatible accessories today. The Samsung signature flip cover, a wireless charging pad in two colours, a back cover with a felt touch finish in 4 colours and a half-and-half gripper like the one launched for the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will be available starting in mid-September, in major markets including US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and in India.

August 23, 2017
Top Tech And Accessories Under Rs 500
If you are always on the hunt for tech and accessories that won’t break the bank, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top tech accessories under Rs 500

Pull Light

This convenient LED light is like a flashlight in the form of a bulb. You need to pull on the thread to switch it on and it is powered by three AAA batteries. It can be useful if you have a cupboard which is not lit or a part of your home which needs a bit more lighting. At a price of Rs 449, it is a handy accessory to have around your home or office.
- Price – Rs 449
- Powered by three AAA batteries
- Pull the thread to switch on the light
Mini Tripod

At a price of Rs 375, this mini tripod with an included smartphone mount is perfect for vlogging or for people who record a lot of videos with their smartphone. The mini tripod can also be used as a selfie stick and will come in handy for stable images and videos if your hands are shaky.
- Price – Rs 375 including a smartphone mount
- Ideal for vlogging
- Stable images and videos
Mini Mic

To go along with that useful mini tripod is the mini mic for voice recording. It connects to your phone via the headphone jack and comes with a desktop mount. It has a 3.5mm output jack as well so that you can connect your headphones while recording an audio. For the size and a price of Rs 499, it records good quality audio.
- Price – Rs 499
- Connects to phone via headphone jack
- Ideal to keep on desk
- Records good quality audio
Havit USB Speakers

These compact speakers take power from a USB output and has a 3.5mm headphone audio output. For the size and price of the speakers, they get really loud. You can buy the Havit USB Speakers from Amazon for Rs 390.
- Price – Rs 390
- Compact design
- Powered via USB output
- Connects to phone via headphone jack
Havit Gaming mouse

The Havit Gaming Mouse comes with a 1.5-meter long cable and is available in two colours, White and Black. You can switch between 3 different resolutions – 800 DPI, 1000 DPI and 1,200 DPI. Another feature of this gaming mouse is that it has multiple LEDs that light up when you connect the mouse. You can further cycle through the LED lights to choose the one you like. It is available at a price of Rs 399.
- Price – Rs 399
- 1.5-meter long cable
- Different Resolutions – 800/1000/1200 DPI
- Multiple LED lights to choose from
Saco Gadget Organiser

This gadget bag will come in handy if you like to travel with a lot of gadgets and like to keep everything clean and separated. This bag opens up into a big organiser to keep all your tech accessories in a segregated manner. The organiser is water-resistant and has a total of 18 different pockets and sections for all your tech. It is available for Rs 499 on Amazon India right now.
- Price – Rs 499
- 18 different pockets/sections for all gadgets
2-In-1 Fidget Spinner Roller Stick

This small little accessory is made entirely out of plastic but is well-built. It can be used as fidget spinner or a fidget stick. It is available for Rs 499 on Amazon.
- Price – Rs 499
- Plastic-built
- Can be used as a Fidget Spinner or Fidget Stick
Dual USB Charger

This compact dual USB wall charger will let you charge two of your devices on a single plug. One of the two smart USB ports give an output of 1A and the other one gives an output of 2.1A. The dual USB charger is available for Rs 399 on Amazon.
- Price – Rs 399
- Two USB outputs
- 1A and 2.1A smart outputs
Wooden Phone Stand

This desktop accessory has multiple purposes. At its core, this is a phone stand but, is sturdy enough that you can even keep your laptop on it while it charges. If you’re not using it to hold your phone or laptop, you can lay it flat on your desk and turn it into a coaster. This accessory is available on Amazon for Rs 413.
- Price – Rs 413
- Ideal desk accessory to keep your smartphone or even a laptop
- Can be used as a coaster
Sticky Jelly Cleaner

If you like to keep your keyboards and laptops clean and are okay with slimy things, then the Slime Cleaner fits the bill for you. Roll this green coloured cleaner on your keyboard and it cleans off the dust. All the dirt and waste material sticks on to the cleaner, so, this will be a short-term cleaning tool. For a price of Rs 499, this is a handy cleaning tool.
- Price – Rs 499
- Ideal to clean keyboards or laptops
- Temporary cleaning solution
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDp-3pspETQ[/embedyt]
August 23, 2017
UC Browser Under Government Scanner For Reportedly Sending Information To China

One of the most popular mobile web browsers in India, UC Browser is under the scanner for reportedly sending data from Indian users out of the country. According to a report by Business Standard, “a government lab in Hyderabad is probing how UC Browser can send user details and location data to a remote server.”

This aforementioned lab is the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), an R&D organisation for the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. If found guilty, the Alibaba-owned app could be banned. Further, the report said that the government plans on sending notices to Reliance Jio’s smartphone brand, LYF, and others including Meizu and Videocon.

The same report adds that the UC Browser sends data including device’s IMEI number and location data to a server in China on connecting to a Wi-Fi network.

This report comes a week after the government had asked over 21 smartphone companies, the majority of them being Chinese manufacturers, to outline the procedures and processes adopted by them to ensure security and privacy of users’ data. To submit the detailed responses on security practices, August 28 has been set as the deadline on the basis of which the government would verify and audit the devices.

In May 2015, a Canadian technology research group reported that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd paid more than $1 billion for leaking sensitive user data and said that it is a privacy risk. Another report states that the UC Browser is the most popular mobile browser in India, accounting for nearly a 50 percent share of the market, ahead of Chrome, which is a little over 33 percent, and Opera, which is nearly at 10 percent. UC Browser once accounted for over 60 per cent of the market share in India, but, has lost out a little of its share to Google Chrome since then.

Reacting to the reports of leaking mobile data of its Indian users to China, the Alibaba-owned browser UCWeb made statement on Wednesday saying that the company would never breach the trust of its users. and it takes security and privacy issues very seriously.

August 23, 2017
New Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 Trailer Displays Gameplay Features

Konami, maker of the famous football video game series – the Pro Evolution Soccer, was present at Gamescom with a new trailer for Pro Evolution Soccer 2018. The latest trailer showcased some of the features that could be expected in the 2018 version of the game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0FCfnmlEwI

Konami announced that the playable demo of PES 2018 will be out on August 30th for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. However, the demo won’t be available on PC and the overall content hasn’t been confirmed just yet.

There will be 12 teams available to choose from – FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool FC, Inter Milan, SC Corinthians Paulista, CR Flamengo, CA Boca Juniors, Club Atlético River Plate, Colo Colo, Germany, Argentina, and Brazil. The stadiums included are Camp Nou and Signal Iduna Park.

There’s not a whole lot to the trailer other than plenty of gameplay and some fancy-looking cinematics. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder, David Beckham will lend his image to PES 2018. The 42-year-old will be featured as a legendary player in the PES 2018 ‘My Club’ mode on the game.

The American GPU maker, Nvidia, also released a trailer of PES 2018 PC version. The trailer is more of a demo for the Nvidia Ansel capture technology than it is a gameplay trailer, showing off actual in-game features. The new Nvidia Ansel technology will allow players to capture unique images from any point within a game. Provided you’ve got the right graphics card, you can capture professional-grade 2D, 360 degree, Virtual Reality 360-degree screenshots and even apply a wide-range of image filters. The PC version of Pro Evolution Soccer has never been well-received due to the inferior graphics as compared to its console counterpart.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 releases on September 12th for North America and September 14th in Europe and Australia. No official release date has been announced for other regions yet. The official game will be available for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox 360.

August 23, 2017
Micromax Launches Canvas Infinity With A Bezel-Less Display For Rs 9,999

Micromax in an event on 22 August has launched the Canvas Infinity with a bezel-less display for Rs 9,999.

The Canvas Infinity features an all-metal design with plastic top and bottom ends and a brushed metal finish to accommodate the antennas. The device sports a 5.7-inch 1440 x 720 px IPS LCD display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a 2.5 curved glass on top. Interestingly, LG recently launched the Q6, which also sports an 18:9 display and is priced at Rs 14,990. The Canvas Infinity is powered by a 2,900 mAh battery and runs Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box, the company has promised an update to newly launched Android 8.0 Oreo in the coming months. The smartphone has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset with a quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, Adreno 308 GPU, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. The internal storage is expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back below the camera.

In terms of optics, the smartphone sports a 13MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture, Super Pixel Mode, and an LED flash. The Super Pixel mode allows you to take multiple pictures and stitch them together for finer details in the final image. On the front is a superior 16MP camera with real time bokeh effect and Auto Scene Detection. This feature smartly detects the lighting conditions and changes camera settings before you click a picture. Micromax has taken advantage of the tall display and added “preview on the go” feature which allows you to preview pictures that you click without leaving the camera app, much like what LG does with the camera app.

Micromax has clearly tipped this phone to ride on its “bezel-less” display and a competitive price. The Micromax Canvas Infinity will be available on Amazon India exclusively for Rs 9,999 with registrations starting today and sales beginning from September 1. The company has also announced that the smartphone will retail offline later on.

August 22, 2017
Android 8.0 Oreo Launched – What’s New?

Google officially launched the next generation of its Android OS, 8.0 Oreo during the first Solar Eclipse in the USA since 1917. Developers have had access to a preview version of Google’s latest mobile operating system since mid-March, with updated versions releasing in May, June, and July. Rumours of the new version being named Oatmeal Cookie were put to rest when Google launched Android 8.0 Oreo through a live stream.

So, what has changed from Android 7.0 Nougat to 8.0 Oreo? Let’s take a look

User Interface

Users can now organise notifications into custom channels and modify the alerts for the entire channel. This can be specifying the sounds if the notification triggers a vibration, and if the notification is allowed to override the do not disturb setting. An autofill framework in the operating system makes the repeated filling of forms easy for the user. This can range from sign up information to a new service, or credit card information to make a payment. The feature will prevent frustration and repetitiveness by allowing users to quickly fill in a form. Users will have to opt-in for the Autofill framework, after which new and existing applications can make use of the feature.

Picture-In-Picture Mode and New Notifications

A new picture-in-picture feature allows users to continue operating the device without interruptions for things like watching a video. Another interesting change in the UI this time around is Adaptive Icons. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) can specify a look and feel for the UI by choosing between various icon shapes. Different shapes can be used on some models. The feat is achieved by applying masks over a base layer. The supported shapes are Circle, Squircle, Rounded Square and Square. Adaptive icons can be created using Android Studio.

Behind The Screen

Each application is now allocated a cache budget. When the system is low on resources, the applications that exceed the cache budget the most will be the first to have their cached files deleted. Content refreshing is now a more streamline experienced. Also, there is now an easier way for applications to check if they are displaying the latest content on the screen. Developers can also set custom triggers to update the content when it is stale or outdated, even without a specific request from the user. There are also background execution limits, which ensures that applications running in the background don’t use up a lot of system resources.

Media playback should be significantly improved for users, as now there is fine-grained control to scrub to a particular frame in a video. Applications can also now mix multiple audio and video tracks at once, for streaming purposes. This can be useful in gameplay videos where users can capture the screen, themselves through the front-facing camera, the audio from a game, and any commentary from the user.

A smart sharing feature allows the operating system to guess the context of a photo, and pick the best application to hand the image over to. For example, if you click a selfie, social networking applications are pulled up but, if you click a photo of a receipt, expense tracking applications will open up. The more you use your phone, the more your smartphone will learn about your behaviour and act accordingly. A smart copy feature enables similar functionality but for text, where the smartphone recognises if the text copied is an address, a phone number or name of an entity, and suggest opening a relevant app. For example, if you copy a phone number, a floating bar will suggest opening up the Dialer app or the Contacts app.

Connectivity

Android 8.0 Oreo has support for Wi-Fi Aware, an energy-efficient way by which supported hardware can discover and chat with each other without a Wi-Fi hotspot or an internet connection. There is also a support for the new Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) 5.0 standard.

It is expected that the first smartphone to run Android 8.0 Oreo will be the new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 while the Pixel and Pixel XL will get an update soon after the launch.

Expected devices to receive Android 8.0 Oreo update

Nexus

Nexus 5X

Nexus 6P

Samsung

Samsung will push out the Android 8.0 update when it launches the Samsung Galaxy S9 next year. Devices expected to receive the update are-

Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy Note 8.

HTC

HTC has already announced that the U11 will get Android 8.0 Oreo update in December.

HTC 10, HTC U Ultra, HTC U11.

OnePlus

OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 5.

Motorola

Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z2 Force, Moto G5, Moto G5 Plus, Moto G5S, Moto G5S Plus.

LG

LG G6, LG V20.

August 22, 2017
Top Bezel-Less Smartphones You can Buy If You’re On A Tight Budget

2017 has so far been the year of the “bezel-less” smartphone, starting early with the LG G6 and the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ then the likes of the iPhone 8 and the Essential phone. These smartphones however, also usually come with a hefty price tag. There are a lot of smartphones that sport a “bezel-less” display and won’t cost you a fortune.

LG Q6

The LG Q6 was recently launched in India for a price of Rs 14,990. It sports a 5.5 inch 2160 x 1080 px IPS LCD display with a pixel density of 442ppi and a 78% screen-to-body ratio. The device is powered by a 3,000mAh non-removable battery and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with LG’s custom skin on top of it. The LG Q6 packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 chipset with a 1.4GHz octa-core processor and Adreno 505 GPU along with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card up to 2TB.

It features a single 13MP rear-facing camera with a single LED flash and on the front is a wide angle 5MP sensor. The rear camera records video at 1920 x 1080 px at 30 FPS. LG also claims that the Q6 has US Military Standard-810G Certification which means that it can survive quite a few drops.

Doogee Mix

The Doogee Mix costs US $180 (Rs 11,500 approx.) and sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD display. The device has minimal bezels on the top, left and right side of the display but the bottom bezel is huge in order to accommodate the fingerprint sensor and the 5MP front camera. The device is powered by a 3,380 mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat. the MediaTek MT6757CD Helio P25 chipset along with 6GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage complete the innards. The smartphone also features a 16MP + 8MP dual-camera setup at the back capable of depth effect mode and video recording in 4K at 30 FPS.

Maze Alpha

The Maze Alpha has a design similar to the Doogee Mix, with a huge bottom chin and ultra-thin bezels on the two sides and top of the device. The phone has a 6 inch 1920 x 1080 px display with an 83% screen-to-body ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for protection. The smartphone costs $224 (Rs 14,300 approx.) which is slightly more than the Doogee Mix and at par with the LG Q6. The Maze Alpha packs a 4,000 mAh battery and supports Quick Charge through the USB Type C port. Just like the Doogee Mix, it runs on the MediaTek MT6757CD Helio P25 chipset along but, with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card up to 256GB. The back of the device features a 13Mp + 5MP dual-camera setup with Samsung S5K3L8 sensor and an f/2.2 aperture the front has a 5MP camera.

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Elephone S8

The Elephone S8 sports a 6 inch 1920 x 1080 px IPS LCD display. The bezel-less display is restricted to the top, left and right sides as the large bottom chin houses the fingerprint sensor and the front camera. The device is powered by a 3,300mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat. Under the hood is the MediaTek Helio X20 chipset along with 4GB RAM and 128GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card. In terms of optics, the device features a 21MP rear-facing camera and a 13MP front-facing camera.

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Bluboo S1

Next in line is the Bluboo S1 with an impressive 90% screen-to-body ratio and costs around $200 (RS 12,800 approx.). It sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 for protection. Running Android 7.0 and powered by a 3,500mAh battery, the Bluboo S1 packs the MediaTek Helio P25 chipset. The device also has 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card up to 256GB. For the cameras, it features a 13MP + 3MP dual camera setup at the back and a 5MP front-facing camera which is placed below the display.

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UMDIGI Crystal

Our next pick in the budget friendly bezel-less smartphones category is the UMDIGI Crystal which starts at US $109 (Rs 7,000 approx.). The device sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The smartphone features a 3,300 mAh battery and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat. The UMDIGI Crystal is powered by the MediaTek MTK6750T chipset and comes in two variants – one with 2GB RAM/16GB storage and the other with 4GB RAM/64GB storage. In terms of the cameras, it features a 13MP + 5MP dual-camera setup at the back and a 5MP front-facing camera which is located below the screen. The fingerprint sensor is located at the back just below the dual cameras.

Ulefone Future

The last one our list is the Ulefone Crystal which costs about $260 (Rs 16,000 approx.) and sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px display along with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on top. The ‘Future’ runs on the not-so-futuristic Android 6.0 Marshmallow and running all of it under the hood is a 3,090 mAh battery. The device is powered by the MediaTek MT6755 chipset along with 4GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage which is expandable via microSD card up to 128GB.Another not-so-futuristic feature is the single camera 16MP sensor at the back with an f/2.0 aperture and dual-tone LED flash. On the front is a 5MP camera. The fingerprint sensor is mounted on the right edge of the phone just under the lock button.

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August 21, 2017
OnePlus 5 Slate Gray Colour Now Available In 8GB RAM Variant

OnePlus had recently launched a limited edition Soft Gold colour variant for the OnePlus 5. The Chinese smartphone maker has now announced that the OnePlus 5 will be available in Slate Gray colour for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant. The new variant is available to buy on Amazon India and the OnePlus’ native online store.

Up until now, only the Midnight Black edition was available in the 8GB RAM variant. The Slate Gray and the newly introduced Soft Gold had been limited only to the 6 GB RAM variant. However, now the Slate Gray colour will be available in the 8 GB RAM model while the Soft Gold remains currently confined to the 6 GB RAM variant.

When OnePlus teased a new colour variant for the OnePlus 5, it was widely anticipated that a RED variant would be introduced. Keeping OnePlus 5’s design and the dual camera setup’s uncanny resemblance to the iPhone 7 Plus in mind, a RED colour variant was not a far-fetched idea. All of that, however, was just speculation as the Soft Gold variant was announced on 7th August.

The OnePlus 5 sports a 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 px AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top for protection. The smartphone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat with OnePlus’ Oxygen OS on top. The 2017 flagship has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chipset with a combination of either 6GB RAM and 64GB of storage or a whopping 8GB RAM and 128 of storage which can not be expanded. The OnePlus 5 also features dual cameras on the back, one of the main cameras is a 20 MP sensor with an f/2.6 aperture, while the other is a 16 MP camera with an aperture of F/1.7 . The secondary telephoto lens is used for 2X lossless optical zoom and an Apple-esque ‘portrait mode’.

OnePlus recently rolled out OxygenOS update 4.5.7 which seemingly enabled EIS (electronic image stabilisation) in 4K video in the OnePlus 5 and even featured a new Slate font. However, soon after the update, there were reports of the device facing stutters during gaming and battery drain issues for Jio users. These complaints along with previous reports of a jelly scrolling effect prompted OnePlus to abort the 4.5.7 update. OnePlus later announced that it has started rolling out 4.5.8 update fixing the issues while still featuring EIS in 4K video and the new font.

August 21, 2017