Author: Yashonil Gupta

Samsung Will Launch Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab S5e Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A20e In India This Month
According to fresh reports, Samsung will launch a host of new devices in India this month. These are expected to be the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Tab S5e tablets, along with the Galaxy A20 and Galaxy A2 Core smartphones. While previous reports have revealed many details about the latter two, The former two were announced by the company a while back.

Galaxy Tab 10.1

The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the latest addition to the company’s tablet range. As it has been announced before, the details about the device are known. The tablet will feature a 10.1 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 px. The tablet has considerable bezels around the display, unlike the more premium offering, the Tab S5e.

Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is kitted with an Exynos 7904 octa-core chipset. In terms of optics, the tablet has an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. Dual speakers with support for Dolby Atmos give the device its audio capabilities. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by a 6150mAh battery and will run on the company’s latest OneUI on top of current Android 9 Pie. The device has been priced at EUR 219 (Rs. 17,000) for the Wi-Fi version and EUR 269 (Rs. 21,000) for the LTE version in Europe.

Galaxy Tab S5e

The Galaxy Tab S5e has a modern design with thin bezels around the display and a sleek side profile. On the front of the device sits a 10.5 inch Super AMOLED display that has a 16:10 aspect ratio. The display panel has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 px and a pixel density of 287 ppi. The top bezel of the tablet houses an f/2.0 aperture equipped 8 MP selfie camera.

The rear of the Tab S5e is occupied by a 13 MP camera, Samsung branding and AKG logo. AKG is an Austrian company that is famous for its headphones and microphones. The company is now owned by Samsung and the logo behind the Galaxy Tab S5e conveys that the device has admirable audio output. The device can also capture 2160p videos at 30fps from the rear camera and 1080p videos at 30fps from the front shooter.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S5e packs the Snapdragon 670 SoC which is comprised of Adreno 612 GPU and an Octa-Core CPU. Connectivity options on the tablet include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and a bottom mounted USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer. It runs on Android 8 Oreo which is skinned with Samsung’s own UI. The device is powered by a mammoth 7,040 mAh battery that also supports fast charging. In terms of memory and storage, the tablet is offered in two storage variants which are as follows:
- 4 GB + 64 GB
- 6 GB + 128 GB
In addition to the inbuilt storage, the device also supports memory expansion up to 512 GB via a microSD card. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e is available in three colour options which include Black, Silver and Gold. It is available in both LTE and Non-LTE options for the price of US$ 399.99 (Rs. 28,500) for Wi-Fi and US$ 541 (Rs. 38,600) for the LTE version.

Galaxy A2 Core

The Samsung Galaxy A2 Core will be the second Android Go device from the company, the first one being the Galaxy J2 Core. A few days ago, a known tipster leaked the images of the device. While the previous leaks don’t mention any specifications of the Galaxy A2 Core, a recent listing on CPU benchmarking website Geekbench revealed key specifications of the Galaxy A2 Core. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo Go edition out of the box and is expected to feature Samsung’s Experience UI on top.

The Samsung Galaxy A2 Core runs on the 14nm Exynos 7870 SoC. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and Mali-T830 MP1 GPU. The smartphone will have 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage. The leaked listing suggests that the smartphone may be on its way to the retail market soon. Given Samsung’s aggressive stance on pricing lately, the expected price of the smartphone is Rs. 5,990.

Galaxy A20

The Galaxy A20 features a polycarbonate body with a similar design language to the Galaxy A10 and the Galaxy A30. While the front of the smartphone resembles the former handset, the back is similar to the latter. The device has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1560 x 720 px. The front has minimal bezels all around the display with a small Infinity-V style waterdrop notch on top. The rear of the smartphone houses a fingerprint sensor which allows it to securely unlocked. Additionally, it also supports face unlock technology.

Also read: The Best April Fools Pranks By Technology Companies In 2019

Under the hood, the Galaxy A20 is kitted with the Exynos 7884 SoC which consists of an Octa-core CPU. The device has a dual rear camera setup comprised of a 13MP sensor with an aperture of f/1.9 and a 5MP sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. For selfies, it has an 8MP camera with f/2.0 aperture housed in the notch on top of the display. The smartphone is available with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage which is further expandable by up to 512GB with microSD support. The Galaxy A20 is powered by a 4000mAh battery, which is an upgrade over the 3400mAh found on the Galaxy A10. The Galaxy A20 was launched in Russia for the price of RUB 13,990 (Rs. 14,999) which would mean it would be priced similarly in India.
April 1, 2019
The Best April Fools Pranks By Technology Companies In 2019

On April 1 every year, many technology companies try to prank their users and fans by showcasing some quirky and impossible seeming products. This year too, they tried their best to do that again. Here are the best gags implemented by various technology companies to get you in the April Fools spirit.

Google

The master of trolling, Google has many funny gags in store. The first one was implemented inside Google Maps. In the hamburger menu on the left-hand side, there is a new Snake game which lets users play it and take a trip down memory lane. This gag is in line with the Pac-Man and Waldo ones the company used in the year 2017 and 2018 respectively.

A unique and weirdly funny gag that Google used was the introduction of Google Tulip. With this, it showcased a service that allowed users to interact with their plants using Google Assistant. With a perfectly tailored video to support it, the Google Tulip already looks like a market-ready product and a useful gadget in its own might.

A new feature in the Files Go application has also been shown off. With the screen cleaner feature, users can finally be able to clean their filthy smartphone screen; this is achieved with the help of the ‘Smudge Detector API’ the company has put in place. What’s more, the app will also make your device smell like pineapple for some reason. With a convincingly made video and explanation, it wouldn’t be hard to hear if someone actually believes it.

OnePlus

A little over the top, but the gag by Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus was a step in the right direction. The company announced on April 1 that it will launch an electric car with some unprecedented features. The upcoming electric vehicle by OnePlus will have gesture controls and will also use the smartphone as a steering wheel. Perhaps if the company kept it down a notch it might have been a little believable; but alas, everyone saw through the gag. Despite the obvious, it was a great attempt at a gag by OnePlus and managed to keep many hooked.

Samsung

What if our mobile processor would also be able to power our PCs and laptops? Sounds like a distant dream right. This is what Samsung promised with the Extender, which would allow installing a mobile processor, like the company’s own Exynos 9820 and place it inside a desktop CPU socket. While the idea is pretty neat and may actually prove to be useful if implemented, a link to the product video redirects one to Rick Aster’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”; the song has become an iconic sign signalling when one is being pranked.

NVIDIA

Move away Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa’s of the world, because NVIDIA’s RON is here. Promising of a holographic virtual assistant, NVIDIA showed off the RON assistant in a video and through its dedicated web page. It has a few nifty features up its sleeves, like feedback in gaming, rage converter and TrollDestroyer. Although an obvious gag, if RON launches in real life, it can emerge as a PC gamer’s pipe dream.

Razer

Being an introvert isn’t easy, and gaming peripheral company Razer surely understands it better than most of us. It has announced its new service called Razer Ping; it will let users point their camera at anything and it will send a notification to everyone in their vicinity, saving them the pain of communicating. While not as brilliant of an idea as the rest of them on the list, a company well known as Razer doing something like this is highly appreciated.

T-Mobile

https://youtu.be/veGkOhffvy8

One of the largest mobile carriers in the US, T-Mobile has a great idea for many people concerned with the noisy environment around them. With Phone BoothE, the company has introduced a new way to talk. And taking a jab at AT&T’s highly controversial 5Ge networks, T-Mobile has also put an ‘E’ at the end of the name. Furthermore, the CEO of the company, John Legere himself announced the service in the video. One of the more believable gags out of the list, one cannot deny the creativity and the humour of it.

Duolingo

Missed your French lesson for today, well now you can have the Duolingo mascot, the cute green bird Duo follows you so a class is never missed again. The Duolingo Push feature will feature the bird in three modes, Encouraging, Disappointed and Passive Aggressive. With all the memes made around the application recently, the advertisement is a funny and innovative gag for the April Fools.

April 1, 2019
Nubia Alpha To Go On Sale In China Starting April 8

Chinese smartphone maker Nubia launched its Alpha wearable at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona in the month of February. It is the world’s first foldable smart wearable and was first shown off at the IFA last year. The company has freshly announced that the Nubia Alpha will go on sale in China starting the 8th of April.

Nubia Alpha

To recall, the Nubia Alpha has a 4 inch flexible OLED display which is produced in collaboration with Visionox; a known maker of OLED displays. The screen has a resolution of 960 x 192 px and a pixel density of 245 ppi. According to the company, the display has been tested for durability and should be good for at least 1,00,000 bends. The device is made out of stainless steel and has two buttons on the right side and the sensors housed up front. Unlike most smartwatches, it has a camera built-in. There is a 5MP f/2.2 sensor for taking selfies and making video calls from the device.

Under the hood, the Nubia Alpha has been kitted with a 28nm Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC. The chipset has a Quad-core CPU and Adreno 304 GPU. Notably, the processor was released in 2016 and since has been succeeded by the new Snapdragon Wear 3100. The device features 1GB of RAM and 8GB of onboard storage. It also has an IP67 rating for protection against water and dust.

The Nubia Alpha is powered by a 500mAh battery, which the company claims can last up to two days depending on its usage. It has features like fitness tracking, mobile payments, and voice calls either through its built-in speaker or a connected Bluetooth headset. The smartwatch also has gesture controls. These will allow the user to scroll the content on the display in all four directions by waving a finger over the front-facing camera.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Oppo Patents A Smartphone With Sliding Rear And Dual Selfie Cameras

While the company hasn’t specified what price the Nubia Alpha will be available for in China. But the price mentioned at the event that the smart wearable will be sold for €450 (around Rs 36,400). The Black coloured eSIM model will be available for €550 (around Rs 44,400), while the Gold clad version will retail for €650 (around Rs 52,500). While these are the European prices, they are expected to be similar in China.

April 1, 2019
ISRO Successfully Launches The PSLV-C45 Rocket With 28 Third-Party Satellites

The Indian Space Research Organization or ISRO has successfully launched India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket on Monday morning. The freshly launched rocket carries the EMISAT, which is an electronics intelligence satellite for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It also had 28 third-party satellites onboard.

PSLV-QL Rocket

The PSLV-C45 rocket was launched by the ISRO from its launch base in Sriharikota. It is the first time that India has put satellites in three different orbits. The EMISAT satellite, which is developed by the DRDO, is intended for the measurement of electromagnetic spectrums. It was released into an orbit 749 km above the surface at 17 minutes after the launch. The other 28 third party satellites had a different country of origin. While 24 of them were from the US, two belonged to Lituania and one each from Spain and Switzerland. All of them had a combined curb weight of 220 kg.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third generation launch vehicle of India. It is the first launch vehicle of the country to be equipped with liquid stages. After its first successful launch in October 1994, PSLV emerged as the reliable and versatile workhorse launch vehicle of India with 39 consecutively successful missions by the June of 2017. During the period from the year 1994 to the year 2017, the vehicle has launched 48 Indian satellites and 209 satellites for customers from abroad. It is recognised for launching two spacecraft named Chandrayaan-1 in 2008 and Mangalyaan in 2013 – that later travelled to Moon and Mars respectively.

Also read: Xiaomi Mi A3, Here’s All You Need To Know

With this launch, the ISRO will now be able to manoeuvre satellites placed in different orbits. It can also conduct various experiments which are expected to assist in future launches. The organization inaugurated a new viewing gallery a few days ago. This would help space aficionados watch future launches with a proper view. The gallery hosted around 1200 spectators at the launch on Monday.

April 1, 2019
Nokia X71 Leaked On Geekbench, Specifications Confirmed

A few days ago, reports of the upcoming smartphone from HMD Global owned Nokia brand was prevalent. Reportedly called the Nokia X71, it was speculated to be released in the global markets as the Nokia 8.2. Fresh reports claim that the device will in fact be released as the Nokia 6.2 and the Geekbench benchmark scores of the handset have also been leaked. The smartphone will launch on the 2nd of April in Taiwan.

Nokia X71

The Nokia X71 will be a smartphone from the company was leaked in images a while ago. The looks of the device are reminiscent of the Nokia 6.1 Plus launched last year, complete with a glass sandwich design. The leaks suggest that it may feature a 6.4-inch Full HD+ display. There will be a punch hole on the top left of the handset to accommodate the selfie camera. This is the first time a Nokia smartphone will feature the popular design trend. For biometrics and security, the device will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

The leaked Geekbench listing reveals that the Nokia X71 will run on the 14nm Snapdragon 660 SoC. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 512 GPU. Benchmarks of the smartphone reveal a score of 1455 points for Single-core and 5075 for Multi-core performance. The score falls in line to the scores obtained by the processor, also seen in devices like the Redmi Note 7 and the Zenfone Max Pro M2.

It is expected that the smartphone will have a triple rear camera setup. It has been leaked that the 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor will make an appearance on the device, along with a 5MP ultra wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies, it is expected that a 16MP camera will be housed in the punch-hole on the top left of the display. For memory, the Nokia X71/Nokia 6.2 will feature 6GB of RAM.

Also read: The Pixel 4 Concept Renders We Want Google To Breathe Life Into

Latest leaks allege that the Nokia X71/6.2 will be powered by 3500mAh battery. The smartphone will run on the latest Android 9 Pie with Android One certification. This implies that the device will receive software updates for at least 2 years. As mentioned above, the Nokia X71 will launch on April 2 in Taiwan. Seeing as the company has been competitive with the pricing of its smartphones lately, it is expected to be priced under Rs. 20,000.

April 1, 2019
PUBG Mobile Adds Rocket Launcher, New Zombie Mode In Latest Update

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or PUBG Mobile, in the one year it has been available, has quickly grown to become one of the most popular smartphone games of all times. Tencent, the team behind the game, has added a host of new features in the latest beta update. The latest update carries the version 0.12.0 and adds features like new weapons, event and an all-new spectate functionality.

What’s New?

The latest update of PUBG Mobile is available to download for selected users under the beta program. The biggest noticeable change is the addition of a new Zombie Mode. Available under the event section, the description of it says, ‘Collect supplies during the day and fend off zombies at night. Survive until the rescue arrives to win!’. The text suggests gameplay wherein players would need to exterminate or ward off the zombies for a selected time period until rescue arrives. Notably, this will be different from the existing Zombie mode wherein players need to eradicate the Zombies and also fight off other players to be the last one standing.

The update to PUBG Mobile also adds new weapons. The first weapon added is a Rocket Launcher and was highly anticipated by the players. Another weapon is an explosive crossbow, which would blow up when hitting the target. These two weapons are expected to be exclusive to the new Zombie Mode and will not be available in the normal game. A friendly spectate is also being added to the game. This would let a players friend spectate them while playing. It will also display the player’s information and the number of people watching. The crosshair colour, which is used to aim in the game, can now be changed.

Also read: Apple Arcade: Which Are The Top Games So Far?

A male voice for the quick chat feature is also being added to PUBG Mobile. This would exist separately with the voice currently available and will be given as an option. For the login screen, a new cosmetic change will be available. An eagle, termed as a companion, will be added to the character’s shoulder which would feature emotes. While not a big change, it will add an ornamental update to the existing game. Unfortunately, it is not known when the above features will be available in the stable update of the mobile game, but their addition to the beta mode insinuates that it may be added in the following weeks.

April 1, 2019
True Wireless Earbuds Market Reaches 12.5 Million, AirPods Still The King

With the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in the year 2017, Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from its smartphones. Eventually, more OEMs followed suit and in today’s day and age, truly wireless earbuds have become really popular for listening to music and for taking calls. Recent research conducted by Counterpoint, a known research organization claims that the Global market for truly wireless earphones has reached 12.5 million in the fourth quarter of the year 2018. Out of the massive number, the Apple AirPods are the most selling pair of truly wireless earbuds.

Results Of The Research

In the global research conducted by Counterpoint, the finding revealed that the market for truly wireless earbuds is on the rise. The highest selling devices were as mentioned above, the Apple AirPods. The truly wireless earphones hold a massive market share of around 60 percent of the total sales. Other members in the top ten list include the Jabra Elite Active 65t, Samsung Gear IconX, and Bose SoundSport Free. However, several low to mid-tier models priced under US$100 (Rs. 6,900) also made the cut.

The area where truly wireless earphones were found to be most popular was North America with it being the largest market for wearables. It accounted for 24% of the sales volumes, followed closely by the Asia Pacific region (excluding China) and in the third place, there is Europe. A senior Counterpoint analyst said that as more companies will enter the market of truly wireless earbuds and offer advanced features at a reasonable price, the customers will end up getting more choices in the future. She also claimed that the competition is going to be more intense with time.

Also read: Canon Launches Zoemini S And Zoemini C Instant Print Cameras

The success of Apple AirPods in regard to the sales of truly wireless earbuds is alleged because of the seamless connectivity to the Apple ecosystem. For people who use an Apple electronic device like an iPad, iPhone or a Macbook, using AirPods has its advantages over any regular Bluetooth headphones. Their sales dipped a bit towards the end of last year, but that is seen as due to the anticipation of the next generation of the truly wireless earbuds which launched a few days ago.

March 29, 2019
Nubia Red Magic 3 Leaked To Support 30W Fast Charging

Components including the camera, display and chipset for the most modern smartphones are supplied by a handful of suppliers. Therefore, it is hard to develop and manufacture a smartphone that stands out of the bunch. Razer, a recognised gaming peripheral brand tried to change that by launching a gaming-oriented smartphone, the Razer Phone in the year 2017. Following Razer, several OEMs have started to release their own versions of a gaming smartphone. The Chinese smartphone maker, Nubia is also set to launch the third iteration of its gaming handset soon. Allegedly called the Nubia Red Magic 3, specifications of the device have been previously revealed by a senior company executive. The upcoming handset has obtained the China Compulsory Certificate (3C) which reveals one of its notable features. The certificate conveys that the anticipated smartphone will support 30W fast charging.

Nubia Red Magic 3 Specifications

Like most gaming smartphones, the Nubia Red Magic 3 is expected to feature a design that aesthetically appeals to gamers. It may be similar to the Red Magic Mars launched last year. A few days ago, a senior executive of the company revealed some features and specifications of the device. It is confirmed to be kitted with the 7nm Snapdragon 855 SoC. The chipset is the latest from Qualcomm and has an Octa-core CPU combined with Adreno 640 GPU. For memory, it will have 12GB of RAM, the highest available on smartphones currently.

To prevent the Nubia Red Magic 3 from overheating, it will reportedly have a combination of Air + Liquid cooling technology which will be the industry first. Notably, the smartphone is also expected to feature a display with an astoundingly high refresh rate. It may sport a 120Hz refresh rate display panel which was first seen in the Razer Phone. Another interesting addition will be a 4D vibration motor, which will provide haptic feedback while gaming. The Nubia Red Magic 3 is reported to be powered by a 5000mAh battery. As previously mentioned it will support 30w fast charging.

Also read: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 With S Pen Launched

Like its predecessor, the Nubia Red Magic 3 is also expected to have RGB LED lights on its back. It might also have remappable shoulder pads which were first introduced by the Asus ROG phone.

March 29, 2019
Redmi Partners With Marvel For Avengers: Endgame Movie

Xiaomi’s subsidiary Redmi separated from its parent company to exist independently as a brand back in the month of January. Redmi then launched two new smartphones, named Redmi Note 7 and Note 7 Pro in the Indian and Chinese market. While the smartphones were received well with the users, the company didn’t do anything significantly different for the devices to stand out from the crowd. In a fresh announcement, Redmi has partnered up with Marvel Studios, a production house best known for their superhero movies, before the latter’s new release titled ‘Avengers: Endgame’.

What Does The Partnership Mean?

Redmi’s official account posted an update a while ago on Chinese social networking website Weibo announcing the aforementioned partnership. Marvel Studios is all set to release its next movie, which is said to be one of the most highly anticipated releases of all time. Unfortunately, the companies didn’t reveal further details regarding the collaboration. But it is expected that Redmi may be planning to launch an Avengers special edition smartphone sometime near the movie’s release. While the movie will release in China on April 24, it will be available to watch for the rest of the world on April 26.

The partnership between Redmi and Marvel is not the first time a company has partnered with a production house before a major movie release. OnePlus last year also partnered with Marvel Studios and released a special Avengers edition OnePlus 6 smartphone. This was done to commemorate the production house’s major release that year titled ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.

Also read: Why Are Smartphones Becoming Expensive With Each Passing Day?

Xiaomi, the parent company of Redmi also released a special edition Mi 9 last month in partnership with a movie named ‘Alita: Battle Angel’. A special or a limited edition smartphone is usually seen as a collector’s item and is really popular among fans of the said movie. A partnership between Redmi and Marvel is a surprising move and expected to get a positive response from the fans of both companies.

March 29, 2019
Motorola One

The Motorola One is the second Android One smartphone from the company and is the specced down variant of the Motorola One Power, which was launched in the country last year. It features a modern design, with a notch on the front and offers competitive specifications at a lucrative price. It is targeted towards users who want a clean software experience and guaranteed software updates for at least two years.

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March 28, 2019
Huawei P30 Pro

The Huawei P30 Pro is the latest flagship smartphone from the Chinese telecommunications giant. It is the successor to the P20 Pro launched last year and features quite a few upgrades over the device. The handset sports a unique periscope camera module which can provide it with 5x optical zoom and 10x hybrid lossless zooming capabilities. Also present is the flagship grade Kirin 980 SoC and 8GB of RAM. With a highly capable and promising list of features, it is expected to be one of the best devices of the year.

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March 28, 2019
Here’s How Dark Mode Prolongs Battery Backup While Helping You Sleep Better

In recent times, the dark mode has turned out to be high in demand feature on smartphones. Many OEMs and application developers have started to implement the mode in their devices and software respectively. Dark mode is usually a visual setting that can be turned on and off at will and what it does is make the display darker in most places. The colour generally used is Black, like done in Reddit, Greyscale like in Google’s system application or a shade of Blue like the Twitter app and website. But is using a darker theme really advantageous for your well being or is it just a gimmick?

Advantages Of Dark Mode

If we talk about the advantages of the dark mode on your health or on the devices, there are quite a few that appear in mind. Here are some of them. A word of caution though, as the feature is most effective on devices with an OLED screen, as they turn the black areas of the screen completely off. So some advantages can only be visible on devices with an OLED display.

Reducing Eye Strain

This one is a little obvious, as looking at bright light can cause a strain on eyes. Using a darker theme can help solve the problem. Countless studies have shown that Blue light can be harmful to the eyes. As it travels all the way to the retina, the light-sensitive portion of the eye, the risk of degeneration of the retina is very much possible. Many night or dark modes thus promise a Blue light filter for a comfortable viewing experience.

Sleeping Better

The bright light of electronic devices can confound sleep inducing neuron cells and activate the ones that help a person stay awake. This plays with one’s sleep cycle and while the effects might not be visible right in the beginning, they build up over time. Using a darker theme at night or around a darker environment can actually help a person sleep better as the possibility of the damaging sleep cycle reduces to a great extent.

Reducing Risk Of Migraines, Photophobia

Photophobia is a medical condition that makes the eyes of a person quite sensitive to light, so using a bright device can trigger the condition. Migraines also are increased if staring at a bright light for too long. Using a darker theme or mode reduces the risk of both cases from happening often. It also allows people with the conditions to use their electronic devices for a longer time than before.

Preventing Serious Medical Issues

Increased risks of sleep deprivation can lead to medical cases like depression, obesity and serious cardiovascular issues. To prevent that from happening, a good night’s sleep can be very helpful. A dark mode can go a long way in providing that.

Increased Battery Life

This point is mostly applicable to devices with OLED displays but is still a valid case of using a dark mode. Turning the black pixels completely off is a very good thing for electronics with an OLED display as the light is only required in certain places, which in turn leads to longer battery life.

The Future of Dark Mode

A few months ago, Google released a report which claimed serious benefits of dark mode on smartphones with OLED displays. It also admitted its fault in pushing out the material design theme so aggressively. The theme used brighter colours natively and forced developers to do the same. This realization would insinuate that the company may be planning on implementing a dark mode on Android from the ground up.

Also read: Microsoft Claims To Have Seized 99 Iranian Websites Used By Hackers

Samsung, Huawei and OnePlus have also started to include a dark mode tailored for OLED displays. This is available natively and offers a black theme in system apps and settings. Apps like WhatsApp, which had so far stayed away from the feature, have been planning to add support for it finally. These steps indicate a change which will make dark mode added in most places at least as an option. Besides user preferences, there are no necessary downsides to the feature. Therefore, if the trend hints one thing it is that dark mode is here to stay and will only increase in devices with time.

March 28, 2019
Samsung Working On A Two Way Folding Smartphone Claims Patent

The year 2019 so far has seen a handful of unique and innovative foldable smartphones. Many manufacturers have already tried their hands on this technology with more expected to follow suit soon. Samsung, one of the biggest smartphone OEMs in the world, showed of it’s device supporting this technology. Called the Galaxy Fold, it was launched alongside the Galaxy S10 series last month. But, a fresh patent filed by the company reveals that it is also planning to launch a two-way folding smartphone, which is similar to the Xiaomi’s foldable device that has leaked multiple times.

Samsung’s Two Way Foldable Smartphone

The patent reveals what Samsung may be planning for its next foldable smartphone. First filed in the year 2017, the document of the patent showcases different images of the said device. Upon first inspection, it looks very similar to the handset Xiaomi revealed in a video a while ago. But in contrast to the former, the concept has thinner bezels and offers a larger sized screen in a compact frame. The bigger display can individually be folded from the left and right side of the device and be made into a smaller form factor.

An unusual finding from the images present in Samsung’s patent is the lack of any physical or hardware features. There is no opening like a charging port or a 3.5mm headphone jack anywhere to be found on the smartphone. Also not visible are any camera sensors on any side of the device. All of this may be an indication that Samsung is not nearly ready to launch the handset, or it may be the case that the company has figured out a workaround of the aforementioned hardware features to make the screen to body ratio as high as possible.

Also read: Bethesda Sending Out Early Access Invites To Users For Elder Scrolls: Blades

Samsung is expected to launch the new foldable smartphone as early as next year. This will be an upgrade to the Galaxy Fold in terms of technology and may be priced as exorbitantly as the former. It is also speculated that with the next generation the company will try to bring the technology to a more accessible, mainstream market. The patent for Samsung’s next foldable device can be viewed here.

March 28, 2019
Galaxy Fold’s Durability Shown Off In A New Video By Samsung

Samsung released its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold at the Galaxy Unpacked event in San Fransisco on February 20. While the company didn’t reveal many details about the device at the launch, it was known that it will go on sale starting the 26th of April. The company didn’t even let potential buyers use the smartphone, which aroused suspicion. A few days ago, a video was leaked which showed the infamous crease in the centre when the smartphone was unfolded. In a bid to control the outburst and panic caused by the same, Samsung has released a video showcasing the durability of the folding mechanism of the Galaxy Fold.

Galaxy Fold Durability Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdgS3Popjk#action=share

In a 34 second video released by Samsung, multiple Galaxy Folds are being opened and closed simultaneously. The company has claimed that this has been tested 2,00,000 times. According to its estimates, if one opens the mechanism 100-150 times a day, the smartphone’s hinge may last up to 5 years of use. The test took a week of test to achieve the aforementioned number. This video has been aimed at showcasing the durability of the device for buyers sceptical about the quality of the hinge mechanism.

Galaxy Fold Specifications

To recall, the Galaxy Fold is a smartphone that can be converted into a tablet at will. The device has two displays out of which the bigger one is foldable into half. The larger display is a 7.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED panel which the company calls the ‘Infinity Flex’ display. It has a resolution of 2152 x 1536 px and is the biggest the company has ever put into a smartphone. The secondary display measures 4.6-inch diagonally and has an HD+ resolution.

The Galaxy Fold runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC which is made using a 7nm fabrication process. It contains an Octa-core CPU combined with an Andreno 640 GPU. In terms of storage, the device features 12GB of RAM and 512GB of onboard storage. The Galaxy Fold is powered by 2 batteries with a total rated capacity of 4,380mAh with support for wireless charging.

The Galaxy Fold has a total of six cameras on the smartphone. The triple rear camera setup consists of a 16MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide sensor with a 12MP, f/1.5-2.4 sensor and a 12MP, f/2.4 telephoto sensor. The front camera on the tablet is made up by a 10MP, f/2.2 sensor + 8MP, f/1.9 RGB depth sensor. Additionally, there is a cover camera present above the secondary display with a 10MP f/2.2 sensor.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Google Pixel 3a, 3a XL Will Launch In A New Colour Variant, Pricing Tipped

The Galaxy Fold has been launched as a smartphone in the premium category. It has been priced at US$1980 (INR 1,40,000) and will be available starting April 26 in certain markets. Although Samsung has not revealed any details about its India launch, it is expected to make its way into the country soon after the global sale.

March 28, 2019
Google Pixel 3a, 3a XL Will Launch In A New Colour Variant, Pricing Tipped

Google is expected to change its smartphone strategy significantly in 2019. Unlike the previous generation, it has been leaked and speculated countless times that a ‘lite’ version of the Pixel 3 will make its debut this year. While previous reports have allegedly revealed the design and looks of the smartphone, there was a little information about the pricing. Fresh leaks have surfaced claiming that the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will be the name of the specced down of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones respectively and they will indeed launch in 2019. It also has uncovered more information about the device.

Specifications & Features

Previously leaked images of the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL revealed that the design of the smartphones will be reminiscent of its elder siblings. However, instead of an all-glass design on the Pixel 3 lineup, the Pixel 3a devices will have a polycarbonate frame. The front houses a 5.6-inch display on the Pixel 3a, while the 3a XL will have a 6-inch display with significant bezels around it. For biometrics and security, there will be a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

The leaks further insinuate that the Pixel 3a will have a 10nm Snapdragon 670 SoC; while the Pixel 3a XL may feature the 10nm Snapdragon 710 processor. Both the chipsets have an Octa-core CPU and an Adreno 616 GPU. In terms of optics, both smartphones will have a similar rear camera to their elder siblings. This suggests that a 12.2 MP sensor with f/1.8 aperture is expected. Unfortunately, there is no information about the front-facing camera of smartphones. Like its siblings, the devices will also feature 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. For certain markets, a variant with 32GB internal storage is also expected.

Also read: Firefox Releases The Lockbox Password Manager For Android

The leak reveals new information about the Pixel 3a devices. A new colour variant supposedly called ‘Iris’ is also in the works. The colour will be accompanied by Black and White colour variants of smartphones. As far as pricing is concerned, the leak reveals that the devices will be priced starting EUR 450 (INR. 35,000) in certain European countries. They are expected to be unveiled at the Google I/O event in the month of May.

March 28, 2019