Category: Google

Google Brings Real Time Translate To All Assistant Enabled Headphones

The Google Pixel Buds are a pair of AI powered earphones which were launched back in 2017. They pack a lot of features such as touch controls, asking for directions, skipping songs and interaction via the Google Assistant. One of the greatest feature this integration brought is the ability for real time translation of languages. Earlier, this really cool feature required for you to have the Pixel Buds and a Pixel smartphone. Now, Google has opened up support for other Google Assistant enabled headphones and all Android devices.

Also Read: Lenovo To Launch S5 Pro On October 18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=103&v=oQVQVt5H2QM

Demonstrated at last year’s made by google event, the Pixel Buds can translate what a person in front of you is saying. They then translate your reply and play it back to them via the speakers of your Pixel Device. While this is a really helpful and cool feature, it didn’t really pick up. This is because the Pixel Buds weren’t a hit with customers and not everyone has a Pixel smartphone. However, this will change with the new announcement. Now you can access this feature using any Android device coupled with a Google Assistant enabled headphones. The list of headphones which are capable of doing this at the moment is not very long. It includes the JBL Everest 710GA, Bose QuietComfort 35 II, Sony WH-1000XM2, Sony WI-1000X, OnePlus Bullets and a few more.

Those having any of the above headphones along with an Android device with Google Assistant, will now be able to use the real-time translation feature. Google announced this through the support page for the Pixel Buds. However, one still needs an active data connection to use this feature.

The Google Pixel Buds are Google’s answer to the Apple Air Pods but did not live up to the expectations that the company had. However, this move by Google will surely change the way people use headphones.

October 15, 2018
Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL Price And Availability In India

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones were launched at an event held a few days back. The flagship devices have some new features, certain design changes which cannot be called great and other updates. Along with the Pixel devices, Google also launched the Pixel Slate, Google Home Hub and the Pixel Stand. However, only the Pixel smartphones and the Pixel Stand will be available in India as of now.

Pre-order the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL here

Pixel 3 & 3 XL Specifications

The Pixel 3 has a 5.5 inch FHD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 443 ppi. The 3 XL has a bigger, 6.3 inch FHD+ display with an 18:5:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 523 ppi. Its display sports a notch. Both the devices have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection.

Running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, the devices have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB / 128 GB storage options. They also have a new Pixel Visual Core chip for enhancing the capabilities of the camera. The devices have a Titan M security module for safeguarding user data.

On the back, the devices sport a single 12.2 MP dual pixel camera. This has an aperture of f/1.8 and shoots 4K video at 30fps. On the front is a dual selfie camera setup. One of the lenses is a wide angle lens which allows for ‘group selfies’. The camera has new features such as Top Shot and Night Sight.

Under the hood, the devices pack a 2,915 mAh battery with fast charging and wireless charging support.

Price & Availability

The Pixel 3 costs Rs 71,000 for its 64 GB storage variant and Rs 80,000 for its 128 GB variant. The Pixel 3 XL costs Rs 83,000 for its 64 GB variant and Rs 92,000 for its 128 GB variant. The devices are already up for pre-order on Flipkart and Airtel Store. Delivery for the devices starts on November 1.

You can also avail some of the offers on Flipkart to get a discount on your new Pixel device. Upon using your HDFC Bank Credit or Debit Cards, you will get an instant discount of 10%. This discount is restricted to Rs 1,500 per card. Another offer gives you a discount of Rs 2,500 with your HDFC Bank Credit or Debit Card on the purchase of a Pixel device.

Additionally, you also get an exchange offer for your old device. If you trade in your Pixel 2 XL for the Pixel 3, you will get a discount of around Rs 18,000. On the flip side if you sell it on a website which buys used smartphones, you can easily get an upward of Rs 25,000 for the same device.

Pre-order the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL here

October 12, 2018
Flipkart Big Billion Days Best Smartphone Deals And Discounts

With the Flipkart Big Billion Day Sale on in full swing, we bring to you some of the best deals on great smartphones. The specifications mentioned are for the variants offering the said deal.

Redmi Note 5 Pro

The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a 5.9 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the 1.8 GHz Snapdragon 636 processor, and has an expandable memory of up to 128 GB. The Redmi Note 5 Pro has a dual 12 MP + 5 MP rear camera setup and a 20 MP front camera. It has a 4,00o mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 14,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 12,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 11,699

Redmi 6

The Redmi 6 has a 5.45 inch HD+ Full Screen Display. It features a 12 MP + 5 MP AI Dual Camera System with Portrait Mode on the Front Camera. It runs on a 2.0 GHz Mediatek P22 Octa Core and has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 8,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 7,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 7,199

Realme 2 Pro

The Realme 2 Pro has a 6.3 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa Core chipset and has 6 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable up to 256 GB. It features a 16 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and a 16 MP front camera. It packs a 3,500 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 14,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 13,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 12,591

Realme 2

The Realme 2 has a 6.2 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa Core processor and has 3 GB of RAM. The device has 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable up to 256 GB. It has a 13 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and a 8 MP front camera. The device has a 4,230 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 9,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 8,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 8,091

Realme C1

The Realme C1 has a 6.2 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa Core Processor and has 3 GB of RAM. It has 16 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 13 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and a 5 MP front camera. The device has a 4,230 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 8,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 6,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 6,999

Honor 9N

The Honor 9N has a 5.84 inch display. It runs on the Kirin 659 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 13 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and a 16 MP front camera. The device has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 11,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 9,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 8,999

Honor 7A

The Honor 7A has a 5.7 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa Core Processor and has 3 GB of RAM. It has 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 13 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 8,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 7,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 7,199

Honor 10

The Honor 10 has a 5.84 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Kirin 970 Octa Core Processor and has 6 GB of RAM. It has 128 GB of inbuilt storage. It has a 24 MP + 16 MP dual rear camera setup and an 24 MP front camera. The device has a 3,400 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 32,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 24,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 22,499

Asus Max Pro M1

The Asus Max Pro M1 has a 5.99 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa Core Processor and has 3 GB of RAM. It has 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 2 TB. It has a 13 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 5,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 10,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 9,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 8,999

Asus Zenfone 5Z

The Asus Zenfone 5Z has a 6.2 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core Processor and has 6 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 2 TB. It has a 12 MP + 8 MP dual rear camera setup and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,300 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 29,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 24,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 22,499

Motorola One Power

The Motorola One Power has a 6.2 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 16 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and an 12 MP front camera. The device has a 5,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 16,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 15,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 14,399

Nokia 5.1 Plus

The Nokia 5.1 Plus has a 5.8 inch HD+ display. It runs on the MediaTek Helio P60 Octa Core Processor and has 3 GB of RAM. It has 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 400 GB. It has a 13 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,060 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 10,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 10,499

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 9,449

Nokia 6.1 Plus

The Nokia 6.1 Plus has a 5.8 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 400 GB. It has a 16 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and a 16 MP front camera. The device has a 3,060 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 15,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 14,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 13,499

POCO F1

The Poco F1 has a 6.18 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core Processor and has 6 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 12 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and a 20 MP front camera. The device has a 4,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 21,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 20,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 18,899

Samsung Galaxy S8

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8 inch Quad HD+ display. It runs on the Exynos 8895 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 12 MP rear camera and n 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 49,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 29,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 27,490

Samsung On8

The Samsung On8 has a 6 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 16 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and a 16 MP front camera. The device has a 3,500 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 16,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 14,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 13,491

Samsung On6

The Samsung On6 has a 5.6 inch HD+ display. It runs on a 1.6 GHz Exynos Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,000 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 13,490

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 11,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 10,791

Vivo V9

The Vivo V9 has a 6.3 inch FHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 16 MP + 5 MP dual rear camera setup and a 24 MP front camera. The device has a 3,260 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 18,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 15,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 13,391

Oppo F9

The Oppo F9 has a 6.3 inch FHD display. It runs on the Mediatek Helio P60 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 256 GB. It has a 16 MP + 2 MP dual rear camera setup and a 16 MP front camera. The device has a 3,500 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 19,990

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 18,990

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 17,091

Infinix Smart 2

The Infinix Smart 2 has a 5.45 inch HD+ display. It runs on the Mediatek MTK6739 Quad Core Processor and has 2 GB of RAM. It has 16 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 128 GB. It has a 13 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,050 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 5,999

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 4,999

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 4,499

Google Pixel 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 XL has a 6 QHD+ display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Octa Core Processor and has 4 GB of RAM. It has 64 GB of inbuilt storage. It has a 12.2 MP rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. The device has a 3,520 mAh battery.

Regular Price : Rs 45,499

Click Here to Buy It At Deal Price : Rs 40,000

Additional HDFC Bank Discount : Rs 35,000

October 11, 2018
Google Camera App APK Available For Download

It has just been a few hours since the Pixel 3 and 3 XL launch and we are seeing the Google Camera app APK popping up on the internet. The APK won’t have all the features that a Pixel 3 device can utilise and most devices haven’t been listed in the Google Camera Port list yet.

What’s different?

The first thing that one notices is the redesigned UI. Swiping right opens up options for slow motion, Panorama, Photo Sphere, Portrait, AR Stickers, Lens and Settings. Instead of appearing as a list, it now appears as round icons on the bottom half of the screen. The bottom half also has the Camera, Video and More options. This looks much cleaner and makes it easier to swap between modes easily and quickly. The Panorama mode has arrows instead of dots which many phones like the Oneplus 6 already use. Top Shot and Night Sight will only work on Pixel devices but most features other than that are usable on other devices as well.

Here is a before/after photo of the camera app as published by a developers website and these are the changes:

The Pixel 3 will start at $799 and £739. The 3 XL starts at $899 and £869. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have a 5.5-inch and 6.3-inch display respectively. They are available in 64GB and 128GB storage options. Many are speculating if the 4GB RAM would be enough for a flagship device. The Snapdragon 845 chip is a welcome change to see. Of all the features that got consumers excited about, the Google Camera app and dual front cameras drew significant attention. It will be great to see if the new app and it’s AI are able to improve image quality in future.

The Pixel camera hardware features a 12-megapixel sensor with autofocus, dual pixel phase detection, OIS, EIS, f/1.8 aperture. On the front, it has dual 8-megapixel cameras with one wide angle lens for selfies. Google Pixel Slate, Pixel Stand and Home hub were some of the best devices at the show. Let us know what you think about the new Pixel 3 and 3XL in the comments below!

October 10, 2018
Google Launches The Pixel Slate Starting at $599

Google has launched the Google Pixel Slate at its hardware event today. Google calls it the ‘perfect combination’ of a tablet and laptop and it features rounded edges. As the leaks suggested, the tablet is available in midnight blue colour. The Pixel slate has a pixel density of 293 ppi, and a 6M pixel display. This is Google’s second attempt at making a perfect tablet as it improves on their OS design. It supposedly provides the sharpest picture in the category with 8K content playback. The 12.3 inch LCD UHD+ Custom display looks fantastic at first glance, featuring a low temperature polycrystalline and silicone technology. It is 7 mm thin and weighs a mere 1.6 lbs. It has an aluminium body.

The Pixel Slate has dual front firing speakers and comes with custom design profile for audio. Google is also providing 3 Months of YouTube TV with Pixel Slate and Pixel Book for free but for now it is limited o the US market. It is unclear if this will be available for Indian markets or not.

The tablet also features 8 MP front and rear cameras and uses machine learning algorithms. It is not surprising that it has an integrated portrait mode even though it has a single lens, as do the Pixel devices. The front facing wide angle lens is for video chat and larger pixels allow better low light performance.

The all new Chrome OS optimised for touchscreen experience is designed in a way that it becomes easy to use handheld .It also provides full desktop experiences and runs developer tools and full power Linux apps. Machine learning customises your toolbar, suggesting apps that you use frequently and at certain times in the day. The big screen enables working in splitscreen mode easier and faster. Google Assistant integration offers a wide variety of voice activated features such as finding restaurants, dictating emails or playing shows.

Google has also introduced Google Family link that helps parents set digital ground rules for children. It also features do not disturb and nightlight features for sleep

After having a few bad days relating to security breaches, google has decided to provide Titan security chip to all its mobile devices. Google also introduced the Pixel Slate Keyboard, as anticipated. It requires no pairing or charging and you can just connect and start typing. The round buttons were also among the many things that had leaked in the last few days. The keyboard is full sized and has backlighting for night time typing.

The full feature trackpad makes it feel like a laptop instead of a two in one device. The folio is infinitely adjustable for any angle and turns into a protective case when not in use. Google has also heavily integrated G Suite, Docs, Sheets and Slides to enable working on the Pixel slate that much easier.

This can be deduced from the full desktop Chrome browser that the company has integrated into the tablet and not the mobile browser of any site. Google also boasted that the tablet could easily handle any number of tabs you need. Google also spoke at length about the Pixel Pen support and promised that the tablet would give around 10 hours of battery life.

The Pixel Slate starts at $599, and will be available inUS, Canada and UK later this year.

October 10, 2018
Google Launches The New Home Hub With Nest Integration

Google has launched a new addition to their Google Home devices called the Home Hub. It is a tablet/dock hybrid smart device with a built-in screen. The device can run most Google apps like weather, YouTube, etc. The Home Hub can directly play videos from YouTube. The smart device also acts as a centralised control system for other smart devices that are installed in a modern day smart house like speakers and lights. Instead of controlling different smart devices from their proprietary apps, the Home Hub can control them from a unified interface.

Features

Google has intentionally skipped the addition of a camera to the Home Hub. They believe some users might feel uncomfortable in front of a device that is directly pointing a camera towards them. The new device has an Ambient EQ sensor that can determine the ambient light and adjust the brightness of the Home Hub during different times of the day.

The Google HomeHub has a “Voice-Match” feature. With this feature, the Home Hub can determine which member of a family it is interacting with it. And it will give out results based upon the member’s preferences and relevance. It also has Nest Integration. Nest is a centralised thermostat that can control temperatures in different areas in a home or office. It has a quick status drawer which the company is calling HomeView. It can be pulled by a simple swipe from the top of the screen which allows viewing the status of different smart devices across your home. With this feature, Home Hub can remotely control Nest and other smart devices.

Google Home Hub also acts as a digital photo frame and displays pictures taken from the android phones or google cloud of the home-owner. The smart device will come with a 6-month free subscription of Youtube Premium which is an ad-free version of video streaming service.

Price & Availability:

The Google Home Hub has a price tag of 149$ (Rs 11,000 approximately). It is available for pre-order starting today on the Google online store. It will be available in retail stores from 22nd October in the USA, UK and Australia. Google is yet to announce the availability of this device in India.

October 10, 2018
Google Pixel 3 And Pixel 3 XL Launched

Google has launched the highly anticipated Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices at the Made By Google event today. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are exactly what we saw in the numerous leaks leading up the the event. However, they do carry features and improvements which we did not know.

Design

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL devices sport a familiar design with a matt finish back and rounded edges. The rear of the device houses the single camera lens, LED flash and fingerprint sensor. The front of the Pixel 3 XL is a bit different, with a huge notch, which Google claims provides more screen real estate to users.

They feature Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the screen for protection and Soft touch Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the back. The devices have an IPX8 water and dust protection rating. The devices have an Aluminium frame with hybrid coating and are available in Just Black, Clearly White and Not Pink Colours.

Display

The Google Pixel 3 has a 5.5 inch FHD+, flexible OLED display. It has an 18:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 443 ppi. The Google Pixel 3 XL has a 6.3 inch FHD+, flexible OLED display. It has an 18:5:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 523 ppi.

Both the devices have an always-on display and the now playing feature. They have Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection and HDR support.

Processor

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC. They have an Octa Core CPU with a clock speed of 2.5 GHz, along with the Adreno 630 GPU.The devices have 4 GB of LPDDR$ RAM and 64 GB/ 128 GB storage options.

Additionally, they have the Pixel Visual Core chip which helps in improving the camera performance. The devices also feature the Titan M security module. The Titan M security module adds to the security provided with your phone and it safeguards user data, passwords and more.

Camera

Pixel devices have been known for their excellent camera performance. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL also come with a bunch of new camera features and improvements. The devices have a 12.2 MP dual-pixel rear camera. This has an aperture of f/1.8 and shots 4K video at 30 fps. The devices have dual front cameras featuring an 8 MP wide angle lens and a telephoto lens. The lenses have an aperture of f/2.2 and f/1.8 respectively. The front camera records 1080p video at 30 fps.

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL camera are heavily integrated with AI. The cameras use machine learning to shoot the perfect picture every time, according to Google. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL continue to have the

The rear camera features autofocus and dual pixel phase detection. With this you can just tap on a subject and the camera will automatically track the subject, never letting it go out of focus.

Battery & Audio

The devices have a 2915 mAh battery with fast charging and wireless charging support. The device uses a USB Type-C charger. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have dual front firing speaker and 3 microphones. Google also offers YouTube Music for 6 months, free of cost to all Pixel 3 buyers. The Pixel 3 devices will be the first to ship with YouTube Music.

Additional Features

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have some other equally impressive features as well. The device has a CallScreen feature. With this, you can just tap on the CallScreen button when you are receiving a call. The Phone will automatically ‘talk’ to the person on the other end of the line and inquire as to who is calling and for what reason. It will then transcribe the reply in real time and show it to you in textual format on your screen. You can then decide whether you want to pick up the call, reject it or report it as spam.

The devices also have the flip to shut feature. With this, you can just turn your phone upside down, to mute notifications.

Price

The Google Pixel 3 starts at $799 and is up for pre-order now.

October 9, 2018
Google To Shut Down Google+ After Data Breach

Alphabet, the company that owns Google is shutting down its social networking website. Google+ has reportedly exposed user data of 500,000 customers to external developers. This comes after an announcement of a bug breach that was reportedly in their system for more than two years.

This bug could access Profile fields that were shared with the user. This includes Profile fields that are not public.

The data is limited to static, optional Google+ Profile fields including name, email address, occupation, gender and age. It does not include any other data the user may have posted or connected to the website or any other service, like Google+ posts, messages, Google account data, phone numbers or G Suite content.

They reportedly discovered and immediately patched this bug in March 2018. Google also said that they believe it occurred after launch as a result of the API’s interaction with a subsequent Google+ code change. The company also acknowledged in their blog that one of the reasons for shutting down the Google+ is that it “has not achieved broad consumer or developer adoption.

To provide for a smooth transition for the existing users, they will wind- down over a 10 month period.

[blockquote right=”pull-right”]Google will wind- down over

a 10 month period, closing

its curtains in August 2018[/blockquote]
This means the Google+ site will close curtains next August. According to Google they have no evidence that any developer was aware of this bug. They have also assured that no one has abused the API. In Google’s finding there is no evidence that any Profile data misuse occurred.

The company has offered reassurance that whenever there is a user data breach, they go beyond their legal requirements and apply several criteria focused on their users in determining whether to provide notice. When it comes to Gmail, they are updating its User Data Policy for the consumer version. This will protect the user by limiting apps from accessing user data. There has been a lack of interest and the gradual decline of social media overall in the recent times. It is also noteworthy that just 10 days ago, Facebook reported a data breach of 50 Million users.

It seems that this was a good decision on the company’s part. Let us know what you think in the comments below!

October 9, 2018
Google Pixel 3 XL Goes On Sale Before Official Launch

There have been multiple instances where the upcoming Google Pixel 3 XL has leaked online. The device is set to launch officially on 9th October at a NYC event. Previously a leaker who goes by the name of Rozetked shared a hands on video of the Pixel 3 on Youtube. And now a Hong Kong based retailer is selling the Pixel 3 XL even before its official launch. The alleged Pixel 3 XL was available for HK$15,880 or around Rs 1,50,000. Engadget, got their hands on one such unit and have tested the device thoroughly.

Google Pixel 3 XL Via Rozetked

The reporters at Engadget state that the Pixel 3 XL is a solid and well-built device. The accessories included in the smartphones’s box are : a USB Type-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter, USB Type-C earphones, wall charger and the device itself.

Specifications:

The device has a 6.3 inch capacitive OLED touchscreen along with a notch up top. It has a resolution of2,960 x 1,440 pixels.It runs on the Snapdragon 845 chipset. In terms of storage it has 128 GB of inbuilt storage and strangely enough it only has 4 GB of RAM. But this might be a cheaper variant of the device and other variants with higher RAM and a bigger storage might also be available.

Pixel 3 XL

In the photography department, the Pixel 3 XL still has a single 12.2 rear camera but the new device surprisingly has two front cameras. The front cameras have a resolution of 8 MP each. Out of the two front cameras, one has the standard lens and the second has a wide angle lens for taking group selfies. As for recording videoss, the rear camera can record 4K videos at 30FPS and the front camera can only record video upto 1080p.

The phone runs on the latest Android 9.0 Pie. Another noticeable feature the device has is Active Edge. This activates the Google Assistant by squeezing the sides of the smartphone. Previous leaks of the device state that the smartphone has a 3,430 mAh lithium ion battery.

Though the upcoming Pixel 3 devices have leaked before their official launch. We believe that Google still has some fancy tricks up their sleeve and might demonstrate some surprising elements about their latest flagship.

Finally, Google will officially launch the device tomorrow and clear up all the rumors that have been building up. Also, we might see a new version of the their Chromecast digital media player and even a Chrome OS tablet.

October 8, 2018
Top 5 Most Awaited Upcoming Smartphones

The smartphone industry has been growing at an unprecedented rate. With cut-throat competition, manufacturers are making breakthroughs almost every few months. For some, it is the battle to be on the top and for the others, it is the war to survive. So, we take you through the top smartphones which are set to launch soon. The specifications are based on various leaks and the official specs will only be revealed after the launch of the devices.

Google Pixel 3

The upcoming flagship devices from Google is one of the most and least anticipated phones. The reason being that even though they will be great devices, a series of leaks have laid the devices bare before us. With unboxing videos and reviews doing rounds of the vast internet, the only thing which is possibly left to know is the price. The Google Pixel series is the only one to have stuck to a single lens camera setup, even in 2019. This does not make the devices dated or dull the camera performance.

The Google Pixel 2 has one of the best smartphone cameras out there, despite the fact that it has been an year since its launch. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will continue to carry what has now become a signature single camera setup. However, Google has given in to another trend from the smartphone industry. The infamous notch. The larger, Google Pixel 3 XL has a huge notch while the Pixel 3 will sport a more conventional design.

Both the devices will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The phones will have a 5.4 inch display. Both pixel phones will have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of Storage in the base variants. The top variant may offer upto 256 GB of storage. The smaller Pixel 3 has a 3000 mAh battery while the larger XL has a 3400 mAh battery.

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will launch on October 9.

OnePlus 6T

The OnePlus 6T is going to launch on October 16 and fans cannot contain their excitement. The upcoming device will see major changes such as the presence if an In-display fingerprint sensor and a water drop notch. A ‘T’ upgrade does not usually see such changes. Upgrades in terms of camera, battery and speed are possible, making the device even more appealing. However, OnePlus has let go of the headphone jack and the decision does not sit well with some fans. But, it is highly improbable that the someone would shun this device over a headphone jack.

The device will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC and have 8 GB of RAM. In terms of storage, the device will have 512 GB of storage as OnePlus does not offer microSD card support with its devices. It has a 6.41 inch Super AMOLED display with a tiny waterdrop notch. The device will run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box and has a 3,700 mAh battery.

The OnePlus 6T will launch on October 17.

Nokia 9 PureView

The Nokia 9 PureView is one of the most unique devices on the list as it sports a penta camera setup, according to report. The penta camera setup is a patented technology, belonging to Zeiss. Additionally, reports say that the Nokia 9 has the PureView tag. The PureView tag indicates a device which is revolutionary in terms of camera performance.

Additionally, the Nokia 9 has a massive 4150 mAh battery and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The device has a 6 inch AMOLED display. It runs on the Snapdragon 845 SoC and has 8 GB of RAM. The device has 256 GB of internal storage and an IP68 certification.

Huawei Mate 20 Pro

With its launch around the corner, Huawei is stirring up curiosity with the Mate 20 Pro. The Mate 20 Pro features a unique triple camera setup design. The design is in a square with the LED flash filling in the last spot in the box. The device will run on the Kirin 980 SoC as announced by Huawei. The Kirin 980 is the next flagship from Huawei and is manufactured by the 7nm process. Huawei claims that the Kirin 980 is faster than Apple’s latest A12 Bionic chip.

The device has a 6.3 inch screen with a tiny, water drop notch. Along with the Kirin 980, it has the Mali G76 MP10 GPU, an AI processing Unit and DDR4 RAM. Under the hood, it has a 4,000 mAh battery . It has an in-display fingerprint sensor. The cameras range from f/1.8 to f/2.4 in terms of aperture and have varying focal lengths from 16 mm to 80 mm.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro is set to launch on October 16.

Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro is set to be the next big thing from Samsung. The device is said to feature a quad camera setup, a first for the company which recently launched the Galaxy A7 with a triple camera. With these devices, it is clear that Samsung is not saving all the best features for its flagship devices and is now focusing on all segments.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro has a 6.28 inch Super AMOLED display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory which is expandable up to 512 GB using a microSD card. It packs a 3720 mAh battery. The four cameras are a main camera, a depth sensor, a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens.

The device is set to launch at the special Galaxy Event on October 11.

October 6, 2018
‘Top Shot’ Leaked For Google Pixel 3

With just a few days to go for the Launch Event, yet another leaks reveals more about the Google Pixel 3. While extensive leaks have already covered the vital specs of the device, this new leak shows off some features of the device. They were spotted in what seems to be a catalogue for Google devices. The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will feature a ‘Top Shot’ feature and a ‘face down’ feature. Also spotted in the same leak is the upcoming Google Home Hub device.

Also Read: New Leak Shows Off Sand Pink Pixel 3 And Pixel 3 XL

The new Top Shot feature in the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL lets you capture the perfect shot every time, according to the leak. The content reads “Capture smiles, not blinks, and take group selfies with everyone.” What this could possibly mean is that the new feature can detect when you blink, thus taking better selfies. It also would be able to identify smiles. This is probably going to be done through AI integration with the camera. The group selfie feature also confirms that one out of the two front facing cameras on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be a wide angle lens.

Specifications

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will have a main 12 MP f /1.8 camera. The devices also have a dual front camera setup. Both the devices will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The devices will have a 5.4 inch 2160 x 1080px and 6.71 inch 2960 x 1440px display respectively. Both Pixel devices will have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of Storage in the base variants. However, they may be offered in up to 256GB storage sizes. The smaller standard sized Pixel will be powered by a 3000 mAh battery while the larger XL will get a 3400 mAh battery.

Th catalogue also mentions that you can just flip your Pixel 3 device face down to turn off notifications. This could be one of the features that is included in Google’s Digital Wellbeing program which aims to curb your smartphone addiction. What this feature would do is basically switch your device to Do Not Disturb when you flip it. The feature is called ‘Flip to Shh’. It had already shown up in some of the Beta versions of the Digital Wellbeing program.

Google Home Hub

The Google Home Hub is a smart display designed to work with Google Assistant. The device is pegged to have a 7 inch screen and ‘crystal clear audio’. The device focuses on getting things done hands free and working with voice search. You can get your commute , calendar, reminders and more on your home screen. It will also enable you to control your lights, cameras, TVs and more utilise the Google assistant to the fullest. Most of these features are available in Alexa enabled devices and the Apple HomePod. While the Hub has an advantage over these devices in terms of a display, pricing is going to be key for Google.

The launch event for Google is set for October 9. It will see the launch of many devices other than the Pixel 3 Smartphones and the Home Hub.

October 6, 2018
New Leak Shows Off Sand Pink Pixel 3 And Pixel 3 XL

The yearly launch cycle of the Google Pixel devices this year is on Oct 9th. New images have surfaced for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL showing off what appears to be a new colour. The new Pink Sand colour is in addition to the usual Black and White colours of the Pixel devices. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have been subjected to a host of leaks over the past months. A few stolen devices ending up in the hands of reviewers. We have seen unboxing videos and even reviews of the phones which usually are a tight kept secret from companies.

From the information that is available, the Pixel 3 devices are expected to have two front facing cameras. While the phones will have a main 12 MP f /1.8 rear facing camera on both the standard and XL variants. The Google Pixel 3 Xl will also be the first Pixel device to have a notched display. The front cameras and ear piece on the Pixel 3 XL will reside along with the required sensors in this notch.

Pixel 3 XL Sand Pink

Both the devices will run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. The phones will have a 5.4 inch 2160 x 1080px and 6.71 inch 2960 x 1440px display respectively. Both pixel phones will have 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of Storage in the base variants. However, may be offered in up to 256GB storage sizes. The smaller standard sized Pixel will be powered by a 3000 mAh battery while the larger XL will get a 3400 mAh battery.

Also Read : Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Retail Box Revealed By Xiaomi CEO Before Official Launch

Rumors point towards a one more different Green/teal colour also known as “Mint.” But industry experts claim that the Pixel devices will only be launched in three colours. The launch for the Pixel 3 phones is around the corner and we know almost everything there is to know about the phones. There is, however, still a slim chance that Google has been trolling the internet with these leaks. And the real Pixel devices will be completely different in design. We wouldn’t hold our breath on that though.

The Pixel phones should start around the US$ 699 price tag. This would peg them at around Rs. 50,000 in the Indian market. India is also expected to get the Pixel phones by the end of October 2018.

October 5, 2018
Google’s New App Lets You Use Your Android Device Hands-Free

The Google Voice Access app has been launched and provides an entirely hands-free experience to users. The feature is only available on Android phones as of now and lets you navigate through apps, compose and edit text, and talk to Google Assistant. The tech giant has made this app keeping in mind the millions of people with motor and mobility impairments.

The app provides a much more extensive experience as compared to the Google Assistant. With the new app, you can “click buttons”, control apps, scroll and navigate app screens and basically do almost anything, without having to touch the phone. While Google has built the app to help people with disabilities, those without a disability can use it too. The app will is handy in tight situations like cooking or when one has got their hands full.

It works through a system which places numbers on the screen, which you can call out to access those features. Simply call out the number and the app will perform the specific task or open the feature. To get a better understanding the position of numbers, take a look at the image below.

Other than this, you can also instruct your smartphone to “turn up the volume” or “turn off device”. You can also change these in the settings menu. You can also instruct the device to scroll up or down through a menu. The app also helps you send whole messages and has simple editing tools as well. You can tell the app to change or delete certain words and even delete entire lines. You can also access the full list of commands under the “show all commands” section in the settings menu.

The Google Voice Access App is available Globally on the PlayStore for free. As of now, it only supports English language and Google is bringing additional languages to the app soon.

October 3, 2018
Google’s Project Stream Lets You Play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey On Your Chrome Browser

Google has announced that users will be able to play the latest Assassin’s Creed Odyssey right on their Chrome browser, without the need of a high-end gaming PC. Google is partnering with Ubisoft and this plan is titled ‘Project Stream’. The company will use a limited number of people to conduct its first test, later this week.

Also read: Huawei And Honor Caught Cheating On Benchmarks

Project Stream:

Google might change the way we play games through Project Stream. With Project Stream, Google wants to make all kinds of games available on your Chrome Browser. This eliminates the need to download games or the need for high-end specifications on your device. Streaming such high- end games has its limitations. Google has to ensure that there is almost instant interaction between the game controller and the graphics on the screen. It has to figure out a way to do this, without compromising on graphics and avoiding any lag. Google promises to ensure all this, while providing a cutting edge experience.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is yet to be released. The lucky few who get to be a part of the program will be able to play it for free. There are a few conditions to be a part of Project Stream. First, you have to be a resident of the US. Unfortunately, the testing is still not open for other countries. Second, you need to have an Internet connection capable of 25 mbps or more and need to be at least 17 years of age. If you match all these criteria and want to be a part of the project, you can sign up.

The fact that streaming games has evolved from just being able to view other people playing a game to playing an entire game using just your browser, without the need to download it, is truly amazing. If the project gets through its testing, we might see a future where we do not need anything but a good internet connection to play any game. It will eliminate the need for high-end PC setups, helping gamers who cannot afford the same. The future of gaming is exciting, to say the least.

October 2, 2018
These 5 Flagships From Last Year Receive A Massive Price Cut On Amazon

Mobile technology has been evolving so fast that flagship devices released in past years see huge price-cuts by the manufacturers within a short time of being launched. We have picked up such top smartphones from last year that offer top specifications at really low prices.

Moto X4:

The device was originally priced at Rs 23,999 and is now available for Rs 15,549.

Motorola released the Moto X4 back in October 2017. The Motorola X4 has a 5.2 inch LCD capacitive IPS touchscreen. The device has 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 processor with the Adreno 508 GPU. The device has 12MP and 8MP dual back cameras with Dual-Led dual-tone flash along with a 16 MP selfie camera. The device can shoot videos at 2K @ 30FPS and 1080P @30/60FPS. The smartphone has a front-mounted fingerprint sensor. Motorola has planned an Android 9.0 Pie upgrade for the device.

Overall, this is a solidly built phone that came with flagship specifications from the yesteryear. The device excels in most of the tasks you throw at it. From great performance to exceptional camera quality this is a great deal at the price this is being offered.

Moto Z2 Play:

The device was originally priced at Rs 29,999 and is now available for Rs 13,888.

Like the Moto X4 this phone was released in 2017. The device has a 5.5 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. It has a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a pixel density of 401 ppi. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 along with an Adreno 506 GPU. Motorola has planned this device to get Android 9.0 upgrades. In terms of connectivity it has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and 4G capabilities. The device has a 12 MP main camera and a 5 MP selfie camera. The device also has fingerprint sensor for securly unlocking the phone.

Google Pixel 2:

Google Pixel 2

The device was originally priced at Rs 61,000 and is now available for Rs 47,990.

Launched in October last year, the Pixel 2 is Google’s 2017 flagship. The device has a great camera, good battery and vanilla Android. The smartphone has a 5 inch AMOLED capacitive touch screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The device has a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels with a pixel density of 441 ppi. The beast is powered by the Snapdragon 835 Soc. It has 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB of storage. This smartphone has one of the best camera out of all the smartphones in the market.

HTC U Ultra :

The device was originally priced at Rs 62,990 and is now available for Rs 29,990.

This is the device that has seen highest price cut in the list. HTC U Ultra is HTC’s last year flagship device. The has a 5.7 inch Super LCD 5 capacitive touchscreen. It has a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels with a ppi of 513. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 and the Adreno 520 GPU. The device has 12 MP back camera with Dual-LED flash. The smartphone has 128 GB inbuilt storage and 4 GB of RAM. The device has a 3000 mAh battery with quick charge 3.0.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2:

The device was originally priced at Rs 37,999 and is now available for Rs 28,981.

This is one of the first devices that came with extremely thin bezels and was the flagship offering from Xiaomi in 2017. The device looks stunning. This smartphone has performance of a true flagship. It has a 5.99 inch IPS LCD Capacitive touch screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2160. It has a pixel density of 403 ppi. Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 along with an Adreno 540. The device has a 3400 mAh Li-ion battery. Connectivity options include WI-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC and Type-C 1.o reversible connector.

September 29, 2018