Author: Yashonil Gupta

Apple Sends Out Invites For March 25 Event, Streaming Service Expected

Apple has sent out invites for an event scheduled on the 25th of March. The event is scheduled to take place in the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino, California. This is the same place where the company announced the current generation of iPhones which include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. While the invite for the aforementioned event doesn’t mention what Apple will announce or unveil at the event, but it is presumed to showcase its subscription-based online services.

What To Expect On March 25?

The highlight of the Apple event on March 25 will be its upcoming online subscription services. As reported earlier, the company has been planning to launch a range of subscription-based services which might finally see the light of the day at the event. Reportedly, the first service that will be unveiled is a news subscription which would allow users to get news directly from their preferred publications in a digital manner. Another product that was rumoured and now is all but confirmed from the invite is a video streaming service by Apple. The event invite includes a text that reads, “It’s show time” which supports the claim of the launch of a video streaming service.

Also read: OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

A streaming service by Apple would make its debut in a market filled with similar products. The most popular ones of them include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. In a bid to stand out from the competition, Apple is rumoured to be working with HBO to bring the channel’s content on its platform. Other exhibits like a carpool karaoke and Apple produced content will also be available on its streaming service. Besides the service-related announcements, the company is also expected to use the event to launch the long-rumoured AirPods 2 wireless earphones and announce the availability of the highly awaited AirPower wireless charging mat.

March 12, 2019
OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

OnePlus is expected to launch its next flagship, the OnePlus 7 in the month of June. The smartphone will be a successor to the OnePlus 6T which was lauded for its performance and affordability. The device has been previously leaked to sport an all-new design and updated internals. A post by the CEO of OnePlus, Pete Lau on the Chinese social networking website Weibo has suggested that the company is working on a pair of truly wireless earbuds which may be announced along with the OnePlus 7.

OnePlus Truly Wireless Earbuds

In his post, the senior OnePlus executive mentions the current industry trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of a single port. He then asks for suggestions for truly wireless earbuds. Considering smartphone manufacturers like Nokia and Samsung have already released earbuds that are fully wireless, OnePlus may be looking to go down the same path. The earphones will be an upgrade to the Bullets Wireless earbuds, which were launched last year. Unfortunately, details about the device aren’t known yet, but the upcoming truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus are likely to retain the Bullets branding and will arrive with a charging case like the Apple AirPods. It is also reported to have a minimal audio delay, a small and lightweight body and will be comfortable to wear.

Also read: YouTube Rolling Out Fact Checking Feature To Combat Fake News

Interestingly Apple started this trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack with its 2017’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. OnePlus removed the headphone jack with their current generation flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 6T. Like its predecessor, the upcoming OnePlus 7 is not expected to have the ill-fated headphone jack. So, the idea of launching truly wireless earbuds along with the device may turn out to be a good idea for the company. The truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus will compete against the likes of the Apple AirPods, the latest Samsung Galaxy Buds and Nokia’s True Wireless Earbuds. As the company is known to price its devices competitively, the earphones could be priced around the US$ 120 (Rs. 8300) range.

March 11, 2019
YouTube Rolling Out Fact Checking Feature To Combat Fake News

In a bid to eliminate fake news from its platform, YouTube has started rolling out a fact-checking feature in its smartphone application. The feature is currently available for limited users as part of a testing program. While its public rollout is also expected to follow soon. As of now, the feature is only confined to Indian smartphone users, with a worldwide release to follow suit.

YouTube Fact Checker

The fact checks on the YouTube app will be displayed in the search results of queries which are most susceptible to be fake and manipulative. Videos based on the query, explaining the real information will be displayed on the top, inside the information pane. The fact checks will appear as content from YouTube’s partner sites concerning the particular search query. Results are available in the Hindi and English language currently, with more languages to be added soon.

Notably, YouTube will use information from around six verified services in the country to exhibit the aforementioned panels in India. Many of the same services are also working with Facebook to check misinformation on its platform and in apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. YouTube has been trying hard to curb malpractices on its platform. A few weeks ago, it started demonetizing and disabling comments on videos which had objectionable content. This move by the company to curb fake news is seen as a positive step and may prove to help in dispersing true and unadulterated information to the audience via the globally used platform.

Also read: Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019

Interestingly, YouTube is not looking to ban the objectionable content it is targeting. Fake news has been a problem in the online space particularly in India for the past few years. Previously, WhatsApp also tried to curb the spread of false news on its platform via advertisements cautioning its users. And, as the General Election have also been announced, the spread of misleading information on platforms like YouTube, Whatsapp and Facebook may increase in the following weeks.

March 11, 2019
Redmi 7 To Launch In China On March 18
Earlier this year, Redmi separated from its parent company Xiaomi as an independent brand. The company launched its first smartphone the Redmi Note 7 in China in the month of January. On the 28th of February, Redmi launched the Redmi Note 7 and its beefed-up sibling the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India which made its global debut. The company has announced that the latter will launch in China on March 18. Fresh reports claim that it won’t be the only device to be launched then, as the Redmi 7 is also presumed to make its debut at the event.

Redmi 7 Specifications

The Redmi 7 will succeed the Redmi 6 as a budget smartphone from the company. A few days ago, specifications of the device were leaked online. According to the leaks, it will have an all-new design with a polycarbonate frame and a colourful gradient back. The display will be a 6.2 inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1520 x 720 px. There will be a waterdrop notch on the top with minimal bezels on all sides of the display. The smartphone has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock technology.

According to leaks, the Redmi 7 will run on the Snapdragon 632 SoC which is manufactured using 14 nm fabrication process. The chipset is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 506 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will feature dual rear cameras which consist of a 12MP sensor combined with a 2MP depth sensor for enhanced portrait shots. For selfies, the smartphone has an 8MP camera housed in the notch on the top of the display.

The Redmi 7 will be powered by a 4000mAh battery with support for fast charging. It will run on the latest MIUI 10 which is built on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. The company has confirmed on the Chinese social networking website Weibo that the handset will also have an infrared blaster and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In terms of memory and storage, the smartphone will be available in the following variants:
- 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM
- 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM
- 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM
In addition to the inbuilt storage, it will also support memory expansion via a microSD card. Although not yet confirmed, it is likely to support cards of up to 256 GB.

Price & Availability

Also read: Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019

The Redmi 7 will launch alongside the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China on March 18. It is also expected to soon make its way into the Indian markets. Unfortunately, the company has not revealed the price of the device but reports claim it will be available starting CNY 700 (Rs. 7,200) for the variant with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage; the version with 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard memory will cost CNY 800 (Rs. 8,300); and the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage will be priced at CNY 900 (Rs. 9,300). Pleasingly, we won’t have to wait for long as the launch of the device is imminent.
March 11, 2019
Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019
Each year Google announces changes and upgrades in its Android Operating System (OS) at its developer’s conference called Google I/O. Last year, it surprised the audience by announcing that the Android 9 Pie Beta will be made available for smartphones other than the company’s own Pixel lineup. This step was taken in order to curb Android Fragmentation, which means an alarming difference in the various available Android versions in the market. Fresh reports claim that the company is planning on adding more smartphone OEMs to this list for the year 2019 with the upcoming Android Q Beta update.

Android Q Beta

Google is expected to announce the first Android Q Public Beta at the Google I/O event which will be held in the month of May this year. The update will bring about significant changes in the design and usability of the OS. Previous leaks suggested that with the next version, the company is planning on removing the back navigation button completely in favour of new gestures; which will be used to navigate around the UI. Last year, it added smartphones from different OEMs which were eligible to get the first Android P Public Beta. Those devices included:
- Sony Xperia XZ2
- Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
- Nokia 7 Plus
- Vivo X21
- Essential Phone PH-1
- OnePlus 6
- Oppo R15 Pro
A senior Google executive was noted saying the company will add a host of new smartphone OEMs to the list of devices supporting Android Q Public Beta. Unfortunately, as of now it is not known which devices will be added to the list but speculated names include smartphones from Motorola, Samsung, LG and Huawei. The brands from last year will be retained and their latest devices are also expected to be provided with the update.

Also read: Qualcomm Demands US$ 31 Million In Damages From Apple

The Android Q Public Beta update is being provided with the help of Google’s Treble project. It was released with Android 8 Oreo in the year 2017 and separated the chipset maker from the update process. This was aimed at streamlining the software updates, which differed drastically with each brand. This initiative of adding more smartphones to the beta update list by Google aims at fixing the issue of fragmentation in Android. It will be announced at the upcoming Google I/O, which will take place from May 7 to May 9 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in California, USA.
March 11, 2019
Is The Future Of Charging Wireless?
Apple introduced wireless charging with the iPhone models in the year 2017 which include the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. While the technology was available for a long time in smartphones, its embracement by Apple made it mainstream. Smartphone OEMs followed Apple and started introducing wireless charging in their devices. The market of wireless chargers has also grown exponentially over the past two years. But, the technology is still imperfect and slow in its current state. So, what could be the next big thing in wireless charging and will we ever see a future without wires?

Introduction and History

Wireless charging is a feature that allows compatible electronic devices to recharge via electromagnetic induction. This allows the transfer of power without the hassles of cables and wires. The feature has grown to become immensely popular in smartphones lately. It was first introduced with the Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 back in September 2012. Soon after that, OEM’s like LG and Samsung brought this feature to their flagship devices. In today’s day and age, the feature is more common and is generally observed in premium smartphones. This feature only works in smartphones that use glass, plastic or ceramic back as metal does not allow electricity to pass via induction technology.

Most smartphones that support wireless charging technology are certified by the Qi standard. This standard was established by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) in the year 2010. Some modern smartphones that make use of the Qi standard to pack wireless charging include Samsung Galaxy S10 series, iPhone XS, XS Max, Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. A Qi certified dock or a charger is used which is connected to a wall outlet. The smartphone or any Qi-enabled device can be placed over the charger or on the dock to charge it. The current record for fastest wireless charging on a smartphone is held by Xiaomi’s latest flagship the Mi 9; which supports 20W wireless charging.

Why Wireless Charging?

The Wireless Charging technology may not be in its best state right now, but it’s unarguably useful because of many reasons. Some of the reasons to choose the feature over conventional charging are highlighted below:
- Convenience: This one is a no brainer, as just keeping a device over the charging dock is easier than plugging it in. This aspect of convenient charging makes the best case to switch to a Qi-enabled device.
- Safer, because of a shielded connection: The feature uses induction, and there is no fiddling with wires, which makes this a safer way to charge an electronic device. One might argue that the wire is present but is needed to be handled with rarely.
- Increased durability of ports: Regular plugging and unplugging an electronic device will mechanically wear out the connection port over time. With wireless charging, there is no need to fiddle with a wire, so the ports remain intact.
- Increasing developments in technology: This point is valid for wired charging as well, but seeing how wireless charging has improved over the years, it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for this visionary technology.
The Future Of Wireless Charging

While wireless charging is a great feature to have and saves the user a lot of hassle in handling cables; it is still not as fast and efficient as wired charging. Also, there is no consumer solution currently available which can transfer current from a distance. The development of this technology is still in its nascent stage and the prototypes of it working aren’t very promising. Disney in the year 2017 showcased a prototype room which turned the whole space into a wireless charger. Unfortunately, this required an aluminium room and a metal pole in between. In order to create a wireless charging enabled room, designs and aesthetics take a backseat.

Also read: OnePlus 7 Listed Online Confirming Price & Specifications

One more problem with wireless charging is overheating. The manufacturers have struggled to increase the charging speed with minimal heating. Notably, overheating is the reason that has caused the production delay of the highly anticipated AirPower wireless charging mat from Apple. But as is the case with every new technology, wireless charging is also expected to get better with time and it is expected to work at a faster speed, that too from a distance and with much less heat dissipation. Vivo, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has recently partnered with Energous; which is known for its long-distance wireless charging technology. This collaboration is expected to further increase the pace of development of wireless charging technology. The future of wireless charging seems very exciting and may lead to one where there are no wires, and our devices never run out of battery.
March 9, 2019
OnePlus 7 Listed Online Confirming Price & Specifications
OnePlus is expected to launch its newest flagship, the OnePlus 7 in a few months. The smartphone is expected to be a significant change over its predecessor, the OnePlus 6T in terms of design and specifications. A fresh listing on Chinese E-commerce website Gizbot has leaked the price and specifications of the upcoming device. This news arrives after the renders of the OnePlus 7 were leaked online a few days ago.

OnePlus 7 Specifications

According to the listing, the OnePlus 7 has a glass on the back and the front with minimal bezels around the display. It has a 6.5 inch Super AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. Unlike its predecessor, the upcoming device does not have a notch and it rather has a pop-up selfie camera like the Vivo V15 Pro. The smartphone has an in-display fingerprint scanner which has been carried forward from the OnePlus 6T.

Under the hood, the OnePlus 7 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC which is manufactured using 7nm fabrication process. The chipset consists of an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, 20MP secondary sensor, and a third 5MP sensor. For selfies, the device has a 16MP camera hidden in the pop-up mechanism on the top of the device. For memory and storage, the OnePlus 7 will be available in the following variants:
- 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM
- 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM
The OnePlus 7 will be powered by a 4000mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging. It will run on the company’s OxygenOS 9 which is built on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. Although the listing has leaked most of the upcoming smartphone’s specifications, we will still have to wait for the company to confirm them aforementioned details.

Price & Launch

Also read: SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Marks Yet Another Significant Achievement

The OnePlus 7 is expected to launch in the month of June and will be available for sale soon after. According to the listing, the smartphone will be priced starting US$ 569 (Rs. 40,000). The company is known for increasing the price of its devices with each iteration, so the news of a price hike might not arrive as a shock to the prospective buyers.
March 9, 2019
Huawei Mate X

The Mate X is the first foldable smartphone from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei. The smartphone folds on the outside which is referred to as ‘Falcon Wing Design’ by the company. Noteworthy, the foldable smartphone is also 5G compatible which is the latest standard in communication technology. It has flagship grade specifications and is also the most expensive smartphone by Huawei.

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March 9, 2019
Reports Claim Apple’s AR Glasses Will Launch In 2020

Apple showed off its ARKit at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference in the year 2017. The new software development tool was able to run Augmented Reality (AR) apps without requiring any specific hardware for it. The company then unveiled the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X the same year with AR capabilities natively present in the smartphones. Fresh reports claim that Apple will launch AR Glasses in the year 2020. These may be released as an accessory for the iPhone.

Apple AR Glasses

Noted Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the company is working on a pair AR Glasses which may release in the year 2020 as an optional accessory for the iPhone. The analyst states that the anticipated device will take the role of a display which will wirelessly facilitate computing and networking from the iPhone. Augmented Reality is defined as “an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something”. Reportedly the glasses will be lightweight and portable as they would use the computing power of the iPhone to process data. Unfortunately, this suggests that they won’t work independently and will be compatible will products from Apple’s ecosystem.

Earlier reports about Apple AR headset alleged that the company is developing an all-new Operating System (OS) for it. It is rumoured to be called rOS which stands for reality Operating System. This OS is also expected to be featured in Apple’s Virtual Reality (VR) ventures, which are suspected to be under development. The Apple AR Glasses may go into production in the fourth quarter of this year or by the second quarter of the next year.

Also read: Facebook Messenger Bug Can Leak Sensitive User Information

The idea of AR Glasses by a company as significant as Apple is expected to bolster the development of the technology substantially. Apple is usually marked as a leader in terms of technology trends which are later followed by other OEMs globally. Consequently, companies except Apple will also develop their variants of visionary technology.

March 9, 2019
New Motorola Patents Suggest Thinner Bezels On Future Devices

Motorola launched the G7 series last month with an all-new design. The smartphones were first from the company to sport a waterdrop notch. In a fresh patent listing, the parent company of Motorola, Lenovo has filed for new designs that might make its way into future devices from the company.

Motorola Patent Listing

The patents were registered on the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) website on the 5th of March. These show the all-new designs Motorola is working on. All the designs show a waterdrop notch like the one last seen on the Moto G7 and Moto G7 Plus. But unlike G7 devices, some of the images show a smartphone with minimal or no chin. There is also a new, more trimmed notch size which will increase the screen to body ratio substantially. The camera placement on the devices seems to be the same as the current generation, two cameras placed horizontally with an LED Flash underneath. The fingerprint sensor seems to be located in the rear mounted Motorola Batwing logo.

More images from the Motorola patent show different camera placements in the smartphones. There is a vertically aligned camera sensor which is reminiscent of the Moto One Power launched last year. The second image shows a horizontal dual camera placement, but unlike the G7 it is placed on the top left corner at the back of the device. The third variation shows a single camera sensor and what possibly could be a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor underneath it. This may be used to capture 3D and depth information. Below it there is a standard LED Flash followed by a fingerprint sensor.

Also read: Best Wired Earphones In India Under Rs 1,000

The designs discovered in the latest Motorola patent may make its way into the next generation of smartphones by the company. It is expected to announce the next generation of its flagship Moto Z device in a few months, which may end up exhibiting a few of the design characteristics.

March 9, 2019
Samsung Galaxy M30

The Samsung Galaxy M30 is flagship to the Galaxy M series. It is priced well and offers some really good features. The smartphone offers some class leading features such as a triple camera setup and a Super AMOLED display. It also has a massive 5000mAh battery which is rarely seen in the segment, making it a very competitive device.

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March 8, 2019
Best Wired Earphones In India Under Rs 1,000

Apple removed the 3.5mm headphone jack from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus models in the year 2017. Since then, many more smartphone OEMs like Huawei, HTC and Sony have expelled the ill-fated headphone jack from their devices. But, the option of listening to music and managing calls from wired earphones is still very popular. Buying the perfect pair can be a daunting task because of the sheer number of options available today. To make the choice easier, we have combined the five best earphones available in the market today for under Rs 1,000.

Boat BassHeads 225

Available in six colours and at an attractive price, the Boat BassHeads 225 are one of the best earphones available in the market for a price less than Rs 1,000. Each earbud has a polished metal housing and features tangle-free, flat cables. The silicone tips are interchangeable and there are different sizes available in the box, for an easy and comfortable fit. There is also a 10mm driver and an inline microphone and audio control button. Promising of good bass, the sound quality of the Boat earphones is great for the price and make them worthy of the asking price.

Mi Basic Earphones

The Mi Basic Earphones, like most Xiaomi products, have the culmination of great features at a jaw-droppingly low price point. The earphones have an aluminium alloy chamber and have an inline microphone with a single button for play/pause and picking up calls. The silicone tips are interchangeable and there are different sizes available in the box, for comfort. The body itself is angled for easier fit into the ear. They are available in two colours, Red and Black, and has a 10mm audio driver. The sound output is quite balanced, making them an ideal choice for the price.

Sennheiser CX180 Street II

The Sennheiser CX180 Street II were launched a few years ago, but continue to remain one of the best choices for anyone looking to buy earphones under Rs 1,000. They have a comfortable fit and feature a unique looking design. Unfortunately, there are no microphones or inline controls on the earphones. They do have changeable silicone ear tips in the box which makes for a better fit for most users. The sound quality is one of the best in the price range, with great vocals and a balanced bass and treble.

JBL C100SI

The company JBL is not unheard of when it is about audio equipment. Available in three colours, Black, White, Red, the JBL C100SI has a nimble design with a slight angle for a better fit. There are interchangeable silicone tips in the box for universal fit. The earphones have a microphone with in-line controls for music play/pause and to answer calls. The sound output is decent and makes it one of the best earphones for the price.

House of Marley Smile Jamaica

Not many people may have heard about the audio company House of Marley. The Smile Jamaica earphones are arguably the best looking ones of this list, complete with a wooden finish. They have a braided cable which makes them tangle-free to an extent. The silicone ear tips are replaceable for different ears and there is a microphone, in-line control button on the earphones. The sound quality of the headphones is balanced, with good bass, treble and vocals. The Smile Jamaica is one of the best choices for people looking for an earphone under Rs 1,000.

March 8, 2019
Black Shark 2 Gaming Phone To Launch On March 18
Xiaomi launched the gaming-centric Black Shark brand last year in a bid to capture the ever-growing market of smartphone gaming. For the delight of Indian consumers, the company has started its operations in the country and will soon launch its first device. All this while, it was also set to reveal the next flagship smartphone that would succeed last year’s Black Shark and Black Shark Helo. Xiaomi has confirmed that the Black Shark 2 will be launched on March 18 in an event in Beijing, China.

Black Shark 2 Specifications

The Black Shark 2 was referenced as Black Shark Skywalker in a leaked Antutu listing. The listing also confirmed the key specifications of the device. It will feature a similar design to its predecessor, meaning a dark grey coloured panel with green lines running vertically along the back and the Black Shark logo in the middle. The smartphone is expected to have a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The leaked Antutu listing revealed a whopping score of 359,973 points. This score places it in the second place, below the company’s own flagship Mi 9 which has a score of 371,849 points.

Xiaomi Black Shark 2 (Skywalker) visits Antutu with Snapdragon 855 & 8/128.#Xiaomi #BlackShark2 pic.twitter.com/Qq6TRvy2j2
— Sudhanshu Ambhore (@Sudhanshu1414) March 8, 2019

To achieve the high score on Antutu, the Black Shark 2 will pack top tier specs. Under the hood, it will run on the Snapdragon 855 SoC which is manufactured using 7nm fabrication process. The chipset consists of an octa-core CPU and Adreno 640 GPU. The company previously confirmed that the device will feature a new form of cooling technology called Liquid Cool 3.0 to keep its temperature under check while running intensive applications. For memory and storage, the smartphone will be available in the following variants:
- 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM
The Black Shark 2 is expected to be powered by a 4000mAh battery like its predecessor and is confirmed by the company to support 27W fast charging. It will also be bundled with accessories for gaming which will launch alongside the smartphone.

Price & Availability

Also read: PUBG Mobile Banned In Cities Of Gujarat

The Xiaomi Black Shark 2 will launch on March 18 and is expected to go on sale soon after in markets like Europe and China. As the company has now started operations in India, the device may be launched in the country a few months after its China launch.

Unfortunately, the price of the device isn’t known yet, but it is expected to be priced around Rs 40,000 in India.
March 8, 2019
Samsung Official UK Website Confirms Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 And Galaxy A20e

Samsung launched a range of smartphones in the Galaxy A lineup last month. These devices include the Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and the Galaxy A50. They were not just new launches for the company but also signified a change in product strategy in order to compete with the ever-increasing hold of Chinese OEMs in countries like India. A few days ago, unreleased Samsung smartphones which were alleged to be the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and Galaxy A60 were hinted in leaks. Samsung’s UK website has confirmed the existence of the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and the Galaxy A20e. The dedicated pages of the smartphones were listed on the aforementioned website.

Samsung Galaxy A90

The Galaxy A90 is expected to be the most premium device in the current A series of smartphones. While most details of it aren’t known yet, it is expected to feature a similar design to its siblings. The device was previously leaked to have a mechanical pop-up camera or a rotating mechanical camera to achieve a high screen to body ratio. If the latest smartphones are anything to go by, the Galaxy A90 will have a Super AMOLED display and will run on the OneUI on top of Android 9 Pie. The company may use an entirely new type of Infinity Display on the handset. Like the last year’s Galaxy A9, it is also expected to have a quad-rear camera setup, details of which are unknown at the moment.

The Galaxy A90 will most likely have an in-display fingerprint sensor. The device may run on the Snapdragon 710 SoC which is manufactured using 10nm fabrication process. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. For memory and storage, the smartphone may feature 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.

Samsung Galaxy A40

Samsung Galaxy A40 will be an affordable offering from the company which will sit between the newly announced Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50. Reports suggest that the smartphone will have a similar design to its siblings, complete with a polycarbonate body and a ‘glasstic’ back. The display will sport an Infinity-U, 6.2 inch Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Like the Galaxy A30, it will have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner and will support face unlock technology.

Under the hood, the Galaxy A40 is expected to run on the Exynos 7885 SoC which is manufactured using 14nm fabrication process. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and a Mali G71 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will feature a dual rear camera setup. In terms of memory and storage, the device will be available with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage.

Samsung Galaxy A20e

The Samsung Galaxy A20e will be the most affordable device out of the three. The alphabet ‘e’ in the name suggests a lighter version of the regular Galaxy A20, as Samsung did the same with the Galaxy S10e and the Galaxy Tab S5e. It will be likely that the smartphone features the ‘Glasstic’ design on a polycarbonate back that the Galaxy A10 has. In terms of display, the device will have a Super AMOLED display with a resolution of HD+ and an Infinity-U notch on the top.

The leaks hint that the Galaxy A20e will be the Android Go edition of the regular variant and thus feature Android Oreo Go edition out of the box. The smartphone will not have a fingerprint sensor and instead will rely on face unlock technology for quick access to the device. Under the hood, the device will run on the Exynos 7870 SoC. For memory and storage, the device is expected to pack in 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

Price & Availability

Also read: Is The Future Of Wearables With Or Without Smartphones?

The leak by Samsung on their official website suggests that the launch of the Galaxy A90, Galaxy A40 and the Galaxy A20e is imminent. The devices may launch in the following months. Unfortunately, the pricing of the smartphones aren’t confirmed yet, but the Galaxy A90 is expected to start around Rs 29,999; the Galaxy A40 may cost Rs 17,999 and the Galaxy A20e is expected to be priced at Rs 6,999.

March 8, 2019
Facebook Announces Its Vision For Privacy Focussed Social Networking
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a post from his account about the company’s next move to create a more privacy focussed social network. In his over 3,000 words long article about privacy and building trust of the users, he claimed that his company will be more open to product developments. There were six principles that were shared in the post, aiming to serve as a guideline for future development for the company. These principles are expected to take place in the next few years.

Facebook & Privacy

While Facebook has been criticised about its privacy policies and has seen its fair share of controversies regarding the matter, the company in the post aims to take a firm stand on the matter in the future. The six principles for the company highlighted in the Facebook posts are as follows:
- Private interactions
- Encryption
- Reducing Permanence
- Safety
- Interoperability
- Secure data storage
Facebook claims that they are planning to rebuild more of its services around the above ideas. Understanding privacy concerns, the company also reaffirmed that it start the development and changes openly and collaboratively. Zuckerberg said that the public sharing on the platform will decline in the next few years because people will shift towards private messaging via Messenger or WhatsApp, which will be the main way they will communicate on the Facebook network.

Facebook is also expected to implement end-to-end encryption to all of its communication networks. The post also claimed that will limit the time it will store the user’s messaging metadata. The company got into trouble a few weeks ago for storing and recording data. It will also add a feature to its every service that will allow them to send a message, a report of this feature was also hinted a few weeks ago. The reports said that it planning on adding cross-texting between Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

Also read: Fitbit Launches Versa Lite, Inspire & Ace 2 Fitness Bands

The steps that Facebook seems to be emphasizing upon seem like a step in the right direction for the company, Considering that its reputation hasn’t been great in terms of privacy and collecting user data.
March 7, 2019