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Bombay High Court Asks Spotify To Deposit A Sum Of 6.5 Crore

Spotify, the world’s most popular music streaming service was launched in India on February 26. Just before its launch date, the Bombay High Court directed the Swedish music streaming company to deposit a sum of Rs. 6.5 crore, after an infringement suit was filed by Warner/Chappell. breach

About The Suit

Along with the suit, Warner/Chappell Music also filed a motion seeking an interim injunction to prevent Spotify from including its songs in the application without a valid license. Spotify claimed that it could offer the songs in the app in conformance with its request for receiving a statutory license under Section 31 D of the Indian Copyright Act.

Two rights fall under section 31 D, the right to communicate works to the public, and the right to reproduce the said works. It was argued by Warner/Chappell’s counsel that Section 31 D would only be applicable to broadcasting organizations, which means that Spotify will only be allowed to communicate the works, not reproduce them. So far, the application by Spotify hasn’t met its approval, so no statutory license has been granted to the company.

Conclusion

Shortly after filing the Section 31 D application, Spotify had decided to give up a sum of 528,000 Euro to one of Warner/Chappell’s partners. There is no explanation of how Spotify arrived at this conclusion, but Warner Chappell refused this sum of money. The American Music publishing company then prompted Justice SJ Kathawalla to ask the Swedish music streaming service to deposit a lump sum of Rs. 6.5 crore with the Court. At the same time, the High Court also directed Warner/Chappell to return the 528,000 Euro back to Spotify.

Also Read: Samsung Launches Galaxy A10 With Infinity-V Display

As of now, Spotify has been directed to keep a record of the inclusion of Warner/Chappell’s music and all forms of revenues. This is the exact reason why the Swedish music streaming service was allowed to launch in India. The hearing for further decisions will take place on March 25.

March 1, 2019
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 Starts Receiving Android Pie Beta Update

Asus launched the Zenfone Max Pro M1 back in the month of April last year. The smartphone quickly became one of the best selling models of the company owing to its affordable price and the features it offered. Asus has made an announcement on Twitter that it has started rolling out Android 9 Pie to the device, but there is a catch. The update is only available as a part of a beta program; users will need to register for the update on their device to get the latest software.

Android 9 Pie: What’s New?

The current generation of AndroidOS, Android 9 Pie was introduced in August last year and brings about significant changes from its predecessor, Android 8 Oreo. The most notable change is the introduction of navigation gestures, which can be enabled manually in the settings. These gestures offer a completely new way to navigate around the user interface. Also introduced is the new settings menu, which is completely overhauled since Android Oreo. The quick settings menu has also been updated, with the option of selecting a dark or a light mode active at all times.

With Android 9 Pie, there is better notch compatibility and the volume slider has been moved to the right side. The software also introduced an all-new Digital Wellbeing setting; which can be used to monitor the device usage and cut down on the repeated use of certain apps. The update also introduces new, smoother animations to the devices.

Also read: GoPro Launches HERO 7 Black Limited Edition In India

The user can register for the Android Pie Beta program by visiting the link here. Notably, Asus also started the beta program for the Zenfone Max Pro M2 earlier last month. The company had previously promised that both of these devices will be updated to a stable build of Android 9 Pie by the month of February which they have failed to deliver. Unfortunately, Asus has not revealed any information on when the stable build of the update will be released for the Zenfone Max Pro M1.

March 1, 2019
Twitter Is Indeed Working On A ‘Hide Tweet’ Feature

Speculations around Twitter’s updates previously indicated that the social media service is developing features to improve user experience. Twitter has now confirmed that it is working on a new ‘Hide Tweets’ feature, which will help users to hide replies on their respective tweets. This will provide users with more control of their conversations, Twitter says.

About The Feature

Twitter is testing replies moderation. It lets you to hide replies under your tweets, while providing an option to show the hidden replies pic.twitter.com/dE19w4TLtp
— Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) February 28, 2019

The option was first spotted in Twitter’s code and can be accessed from the list of moderation options by clicking on the ‘Share’ button, from what has been spotted so far. As per reports, the Share button has been given an overhaul as well. The ‘Hide Tweet’ button will act as a better alternative to muting or blocking the user.

Similarly, an option to ‘View Hidden Tweets’ was also spotted, which indicates that the feature will work in a similar manner to Facebook’s ‘View Edit History’ option. The ‘View Hidden Tweets’ button will allow users to ‘unhide’ the tweets that were hidden in the first place by the Original Poster. This feature will ensure that the chain of information is not entirely broken by the introduction of such a feature.

The Cons

Concerns arose on Twitter regarding the fact that this option will lead to users hiding obnoxious tweets. For instance, a user might get a different idea while reading a tweet if some of the replies are missing/hidden. People also said that controversial politicians can just hide tweets that they find outrageous or unacceptable. Unless a user actually clicks on the ‘View Hidden Tweets’ button, he/she might miss out on critical parts of the conversation.

The Pros

The positive aspects of integrating such an update are intended towards putting the user in control of his tweets. In a ‘toxic social media era’ where hate provoking comments can be found on almost every post, moderating the replies could impact user growth for the better purpose. It could also encourage people to debate or argue in a more ‘docile’ manner knowing that their tweets can be hidden any time.

1/8 Thanks to Jane and @MattNavarra for starting the conversation about the this feature we are developing! We wanted to provide a little more context on it. https://t.co/Ws2rJfa8sl
— Michelle! (@thechelleshock) February 28, 2019

Also Read: Twitter May Soon Add “Quick Peek” Feature On iOS And Android

Twitter Senior PM said that the ‘Tweet transparency’ feature will lead to a healthier Twitter community, where users can actually call out situations where hiding tweets become necessary. Twitter plans to test out this feature publicly in the coming months. The feature may roll out with some pending updates such as a ‘clarifying feature’, which allows users to explain the context of their old tweets.

March 1, 2019
Apple Working On A Foldable Smartphone With A Magnetic Mechanism

Last month saw a bunch of smartphone manufacturers showcasing their take on a foldable smartphone. Samsung announced the Galaxy Fold and Huawei showed off its Mate X. There is another major OEM which is reportedly working on a foldable device. Fresh patents filed by Apple reveal what the company has planned as a folding mechanism on its long rumoured foldable smartphone. The company may be planning to put magnets under both sides of the display to make the device fold completely flat.

Apple Foldable Smartphone

The patent filed by Apple suggests different folding designs that the company may be planning on using. The image in the patent exhibits the use of magnets under the display. These magnets may be used to make the foldable smartphone fold completely flat, which is a problem other OEMs seem to struggle to figure out. The magnets that may be used are expected to be electromagnetic in nature and spring into action when the device is folded, to keep both sides of the display latched together. As soon as the device is unfolded, the electromagnets will lose their charge, making it effortless to open the device.

According to reports, Apple is trying to develop a specialized display coating and new foldable sensors to make the folding mechanism work. Intriguingly, the patent suggests that the display panel makes use of some sort of heating technology to improve the operability of the panel. The heating method that is suggested is required every time the display is folded or unfolded, as a cold display is more susceptible to breaking or cracking when folded and unfolded repeatedly. The images also show a unique, circular hinge which consolidates both sides of the display. Unfortunately, other details about the Apple foldable device isn’t known yet.

Also read: Canon Launches The EOS RP Mirrorless Camera In India

This technology employed by Apple is expected to be groundbreaking as the company is known to wait out on current trends until they are perfected. The foldable device from Apple may be a smartphone or a computing device, like an iPad which will turn into a compact device when folded. As per the reports, the company may release the device next year.

You can check out the patents filed by Apple here.

March 1, 2019
GoPro Launches HERO 7 Black Limited Edition In India

GoPro launched the HERO 7 Range of action cameras in September 2018. The lineup included the HERO 7 Black, HERO 7 Silver, and HERO 7 White. The company has now released a Limited Edition Dusk White variant for GoPro HERO 7 Black, which supports 8x Slo-mo video, Timewarp video and several other features.

Features

The GoPro HERO 7 Black has a 2 Inch (480 x 320 px) touch panel that can be used to access different available shooting options on the device. It sports a 12MP sensor that can shoot 4K videos at 60 fps (frames per second). The camera also features 8x Slo-Mo feature, which captures super slow 1080p videos at 240 fps. The American company claims that it delivers gimbal-like camera stabilization without the gimbal, leading to extremely stable HyperSmooth videos.

In terms of other features, the HERO 7 Black limited edition brings TimeWarp video shooting to the table. TimeWarp ensures that the camera captures a smooth and stabilized time lapse video, even if the person is moving through or around the scene. GoPro also provides the ‘SuperPhoto’ feature in the limited edition, which tones the camera images with HDR, local tone mapping and noise reduction. According to the company, the SuperPhoto feature can work in any form of lighting.

GoPro action cameras are known to be tough and rugged for extra durability, and the HERO 7 Black follows on the same line. GoPro claims that the Hero 7 Black is ‘tough as nails’, and can shoot in water depths of up to 10m. In addition, the camera supports a total of 16 voice commands, which allows the users to click pictures hands free, or tag their videos on social media. Speaking of social media, GoPro HERO 7 Black Limited Edition supports live streaming to Facebook via Facebook Live and Youtube. Other features include Face/Smile detection, GPS and 3.5mm audio mic input. The camera is bundled with a 1220 mAh battery, mounting equipment and a USB Type-C cable in the packaging.

Availability And Price

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches 32 Inch Mi LED TV 4A Pro In India

The GoPro HERO 7 Black (Dusk White Limited Edition) can be pre-ordered via Amazon for Rs. 35,500. For a limited period, users will get a free GoPro Shorty mini extension pole/tripod worth Rs. 3,900 when they pre-order the camera.

March 1, 2019
Canon Launches The EOS RP Mirrorless Camera In India

After launching it on February 14 in Singapore, Canon has launched the EOS RP mirrorless camera in India. It is the lightest and smallest full-frame mirrorless camera the company has ever made. The camera is the second addition to its EOS R range, with the first one, the Canon EOS R which was launched in September last year.

Canon EOS RP: Features

The Canon EOS RP boasts of a lighter, smaller body compared to regular DSLRs. Measuring 132.5 × 85 × 70 mm in body size and weighing in at 485g, the camera is 285g lighter than its closest competitor, the company’s own 6D Mark II. The Canon EOS RP features a 26.2MP dual pixel CMOS sensor which is capable of 4K video recording at 25fps. It has a 0.05s focusing speed and EV-5 (Exposure Value) focusing capabilities. The camera runs on Canon’s Digic 8 image processor and is equipped with the RF mount which was introduced with the EOS R last year.

The Canon EOS RP has a wide range of lens compatibility options. Either an RF, EF or an EF-S lens can be used with an EF-EOS-R Mount Adapter in the camera. An LP-E17 battery is utilised in the camera which the company says should be good for 250 shots. For the viewfinder, Canon is using a 2.36 million dot OLED Electronic viewfinder with a 22mm eyepoint. It also has silent scene mode and support for UHS-II memory cards. Just like the EOS R, the EOS RP can be charged via a USB Type-C port, but there will be a need for the optional PD-E1 adapter (sold seprately).

Canon EOS RP: Price

Also read: Xiaomi Launches Mi Wireless Earphones In India

The entry of Canon in the mirrorless camera space seems to be a little late. But what will make it stand out from the competition is the price. The Canon EOS RP is available in India at a starting price of Rs. 1,10,495 for the body. If the RF24-105mm f/4 IS USM lens is purchased alongside the camera, it will cost Rs. 1,99,490.

March 1, 2019
Xiaomi Launches 32 Inch Mi LED TV 4A Pro In India

Xiaomi launched its new 32 inch smart LED TV in India, which is the Mi LED TV 4A Pro. It was announced at the Redmi Note 7 launch event held in New Delhi on February 28. Xiaomi claims that it is India’s smartest Android TV so far, and that it brings exciting features to the table. The company also launched the Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and the Mi Bluetooth Wireless Earphones at the event.

Features

The Mi LED TV sports an Ultra-bright HD ready display, which promises vivid colours and enhanced brightness. The display is paired with 20W (10W x 2) stereo speakers with dts-HD support, which deliver a powerful sound experience. The LED TV has thin bezels giving it an elegant appearance. It also has inbuilt PatchWall to personalize content by curating shows and movies for the user.

Xiaomi claims that the Mi LED TV 4A has more than 7,00,000+ hours of content available. All this content is available across streaming services like Hotstar, Voot, TVF and Sony LIV, which are preloaded on the Mi LED TV. It also features inbuilt Play Store Chromecast and the Google Voice Assistant for hands free operation. The TV runs on PatchWall and Android TV OS.

The Smart TV has a powerful 64-bit Quad Core processor to minimize system lag. Furthermore, Mi LED TV has 1GB RAM and 8GB of inbuilt storage. Multiple connectivity options such as HDMI, USB 2.0, AV and a 3.5 mm audio jack are available on the television. Wireless connectivity support includes Bluetooth v4.2 and Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz).

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches Redmi Note 7 In India

The MI LED TV 4A Pro 32 is priced at Rs. 12,999 and will be available for purchase from March 7, 12 pm onwards via the Mi Online Store.

February 28, 2019
Xiaomi Launches Mi Wireless Earphones In India

Xiaomi took the Indian smartphone market by storm today when it launched the feature-laden Redmi Note 7 and Note 7 Pro at highly aggressive prices. In addition to the praiseworthy smartphones, the company has also launched two more products, Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones and Mi LED TV 4A Pro.

Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones Design

Xiaomi has released some quality earphones in the past, including the Mi Earphones and Mi Earphones Basic. The Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones are the first ever wireless earphones that the company has launched in India. They sport a minimalistic design along with a ton of other features. Weighing in at 13.6 grams, the earphones are light and should be easy to carry around. They have a sleek reflective finish and the company claims to use reverse spray technology to make the earphones stand out. The earphones also sport an adjustable ear hook which can be rotated at a 360 degree angle as per user comfort.

Connectivity And Features

Regarding connectivity, the Mi Sports Earphones has Bluetooth v4.1 integration that offers a range of upto 10 meters. The earphones feature copper wired speakers and PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)) diaphragm for higher quality audio and low distortion. Users can use the 3-button setup present on the earphones to carry out a number of actions. For instance, users can adjust the volume, skip tracks, play/pause songs, answer/reject calls and enable three way calling using the multifunctional control remote. Present on the same module is the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) silicone microphone which helps improve the sound clarity for calls.

Battery And Protection

In terms of battery, the Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones Basic can endure up to 9 hours of continuous usage before the 120 mAh battery runs out of juice. Apart from this, the earphones also have a standby time of 260 hours. The earphones can be charged via the microUSB 2.0 cable that is included in the package along with extra silicone buds for different ear sizes. Furthermore, the earphones are IPX4 sweat and splash proof to safeguard them against rain and accidental liquid splashes.

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Pro Launched In India

The Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones are available in two colour options, Black and White. They are currently available for pre-order at a discounted price of Rs 1,499 from Mi.com. The deliveries of pre-ordered units will commence on the 20th of March.

February 28, 2019
Official Images Of Huawei P30 and P30 Pro Leak

Last year, Huawei launched the P20 and P20 Pro smartphones which certainly have a focus on photography. In addition to their commendable camera performance, both smartphones were packed with top of the line specifications from the year 2018. The company is set to launch their successors which will be called the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro. Before the official announcement, the images and features of the upcoming devices have leaked.

Huawei P30 and P30 Pro

The details about the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro were leaked by a notable leakster, @rquandt on Twitter. The source claims that the pictures shared by him are official images of the devices which reveal them from all angles. The images exhibit that both the P30 and P30 Pro have tall displays on the front with a water drop notch up top. Both smartphones have Gradient style glass back panel which house the company branding and rear camera setup.

Distinctively, the P30 Pro has a larger display than the standard variant. Furthermore, the display on the former tapers towards the side, unlike the latter. Another noticeable difference between the two devices is the number of sensors in their rear camera setup. The P30 Pro has a quad camera rear camera setup while the P30 has a triple rear camera setup.

Closely inspecting the rear of the P30 Pro reveals a square shaped sensor in the rear camera setup. According to the source, this sensor may have 10x optical zoom capabilities which are similar to Oppo’s 10x zoom capable camera sensor. However, it is yet unknown whether the sensor on the Huawei’s smartphone uses a movable glass prism-like Oppo or not. Examining the rear panel also reveals that the sensor has a variable aperture size of f/1.6 and f/3.4.

Although it is now yet proclaimed, the smartphones are likely to run on the 7 nm based Kirin 980 SoC. The same chipset is also present on devices like the freshly announced Mate X and Mate 20 lineup. The chipset consists of an Octa-Core CPU and Mali G76 GPU. Detailed specifications including the screen size, battery capacity and resolution of the camera sensor will be publicised at the time of its launch date.

Huawei P30 and P30 Pro Launch Date

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Pro Launched In India

Both the Huawei P30 and P30 Pro are set to launch at an upcoming event in Paris which is scheduled for the 26th of March.

February 28, 2019
Samsung Launches Galaxy A10 With Infinity-V Display
Samsung launched the Galaxy M30 in India on February 27, which is the third device in the M series lineup so far. Earlier this month, another Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy A10 was leaked online. Now, Samsung has officially launched the Galaxy A10 in India. The company is targeting low to mid-range segment smartphones with the A series, and the Galaxy A10 is the base model in this lineup.

Display And Design

The Samsung Galaxy A10 features a 6.2 inch HD+ Infinity-V display. The smartphone measures at 155.6 x 75.6 x 7.94 mm. It sports a glossy plastic back panel, with a waterdrop notch on the front and a single camera module on the back. The speaker is present on the back near the bottom left corner of the panel. The right side of the smartphone houses the volume rockers and the power button, while the left side houses the SIM card tray. The bottom of the Galaxy A10 is occupied by a 3.5 mm headphone jack and micro USB 2.0 port which can be used for charging and data syncing.

Specifications And Camera

The Galaxy A10 packs the Exynos 7884 chipset, which comprises of an octa-core CPU. The device is available with 2 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 512 GB via the dedicated microSD card slot. The smartphone runs on Android 9 (Pie) out of the box, with Samsung’s One UI on top. It sports a single 13 MP (f/1.9) rear camera with an LED flash and a single 5 MP (f/2.0) front facing selfie camera. The Galaxy A10 is powered by a 3,400 mAh battery.

Price And Availability

Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Pro Launched In India

The Galaxy A10 has been priced at Rs. 8,490 for the 2GB+32GB variant. The smartphone will go live on sale from March 20, and will be available in the following colour options:
- Red
- Blue
- Black
February 28, 2019
Samsung Launches Galaxy A30 and A50 In India
In an effort to boost sales, Samsung been on a smartphone launching spree. Earlier this week, the company launched a new Galaxy M smartphone, the Galaxy M30. In an event held in Mumbai, India on 28th of February, the company has launched three new smartphones in its Galaxy A lineup which includes the Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30, and Galaxy A50. Like previous Galaxy A smartphones, the new devices also have a focus on photography.

Galaxy A30 and A50 Layout and Specifications

Both, the Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 measure 158.5 x 74.7 x 7.7 mm which means that they share a common chassis. The front of the smartphones accommodates a 6.4 inch Infinity U display. The display on the devices uses a Super AMOLED panel that has a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. Noteworthy, the elder A50 has an on screen fingerprint sensor to securely unlock it. The power button and volume rockers are situated on the right side while the SIM card tray is placed on the left side of both the handsets.

The rear of both the Galaxy A30 and A50 have a ‘3D glasstic’ design which has a light glaring surface. The rear of the smartphones house the Samsung branding and camera setup with LED flash. Distinctively, the Galaxy A50 has a triple rear camera setup which is comprised of a 25 MP + 5 MP + 8 MP camera sensors. While the Galaxy A30 has a dual rear camera setup which is comprised of a 16 MP + 5 MP sensors. Notably, the more affordable Galaxy A30 has a rear mounted fingerprint sensor.

The front facing camera of the Galaxy A50 has a 25 MP sensor while the Galaxy A30 has a 16 MP sensor. Both smartphones are powered by a 4,000 mAh battery which supports fast charging via the bottom mounted USB Type-C port. Under the hood, the Galaxy A50 features the Exynos 9610 chipset while the Galaxy A30 packs Exynos 7904 chipset. The Exynos 9610 chipset consists of four Cortex A73 cores, four A53 cores and Mali G72 MP3 GPU. On the other hand, the Exynos 790 chipset consists of two Cortex A73 cores, six A53 cores and Mali G71 MP2 GPU. Connectivity options on both smartphones include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and 3.5 mm audio jack.

Galaxy A30 and A50 Price, Variants and Availability

Also Read: Motorola Confirms Foldable Smartphone, May Look Like The RAZR

Both Samsung Galaxy A30 and Samsung Galaxy A50 will be available for purchase from 2nd of March through both offline and offline channels. The price for different variants of Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 are as follows:
- Galaxy A30 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM- Rs 16,990
- Galaxy A50 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM- Rs 19,990
- Galaxy A50 6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM- Rs 22,990
February 28, 2019
Redmi Note 7 Pro Launched In India

Xiaomi released the highly-anticipated Redmi Note 7 Pro in India at their launch event in Delhi on February 28. The smartphone was launched alongside the Redmi Note 7 and aims to target mid-range smartphones with its aggressive pricing and competitive specifications. It is interesting to see that India was the first country in the world to witness the launch of this device.

Design And Display

The Redmi Note 7 Pro sports the Aura Design, which features 1.95 mm thin bezels and a 2.5D curved glass design. The glossy curved frame houses the 6.3 inch LTPS FHD+, dot notch display. The screen has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 with a 1500:1 contrast ratio. The device has Sunlight display for better outdoor viewing and a Reading mode to improve readability on the smartphone. The smartphone is protected on both sides by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The Redmi note 7 Pro is the first Note device from Xiaomi to house a USB Type-C connector, which is placed on the bottom of the handset (right next to the speakers). It also retains the 3.5 mm audio jack and the IR blaster, both of which are present at the top of the phone.

Specifications

The Redmi Note 7 Pro runs on the 11nm Snapdragon 675 chipset. It consists of the Kryo 460 CPU with two Cortex A76 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and 6 Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.7GHz. The CPU is paired with the Adreno 612 GPU. The smartphone is available in two variants, a 4GB+64GB variant and a 6GB+128GB model. It also has the Qualcomm Spectra 250L ISP (Image Signal Processor) for improving camera performance. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has Android 9 (Pie) out of the box, with Xiaomi’s own MIUI 10 on top.

Camera And Features

The smartphone features a dual camera module on the back of the smartphone, which comprises of a primary 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor and a secondary 5 MP depth sensor. Noteworthy, the Sony IMX586 sensor is found in higher end devices like the Honor View 20. The camera also supports 4K recording at 30 fps. In terms of the front camera, it has a 13 MP front facing camera with AI integration.

The Redmi Note 7 Pro is powered by a 4,000 mAh battery which supports 18W Quick Charge 4.0, although the device ships with a 10W charger in the box. As mentioned before, the device has an IR blaster, similar to the one seen in previous iterations of the smartphone. Biometric security is limited to a rear mounted fingerprint sensor. The smartphone is available in three colour options, Neptune Blue, Nebula Red and Space Black.

Also Read: Xiaomi Wants To Triple Its Stores In Europe

The Redmi Note 7 Pro will be sold at a highly competitive price of Rs. 13,999 for the 4GB+64GB model, and Rs. 16,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant. The device will be retailed via Flipkart, the company’s official website and Mi home stores across the country, and will go live for sale on March 13.

February 28, 2019
Xiaomi Launches Redmi Note 7 In India
In an event held in New Delhi, Xiaomi India has launched four products in the country which include two smartphones, an LED Television and a pair of wireless water-resistant earphones. Certainly, the showstoppers of the event were the Note 7 and Note 7 Pro. The Redmi Note 7 was first launched in China in the month of January and surprisingly the Redmi Note 7 Pro has made its global debut in India.

Redmi Note 7 Layout and Specifications

On the front of the Redmi Note 7, sits a 6.3 inch LCD display with a small waterdrop notch up top. The display panel has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a resolution 2340 x 1080 px and pixel density of 409 ppi. For protection against scratches, it also has Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The top, left and right side bezels around the display are negligible while the bottom bezel is comparatively thicker.

The right side of the Redmi Note 7 is occupied by the power button and volume rockers while the left side accommodates the Dual-Sim slot. The USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer is present on the bottom of the device which is flanked by loudspeaker and microphone grille. The top side of the Redmi Note 7 harbours a 3.5 mm audio jack and an IR Blaster.

The rear gradient panel of the smartphone is made out of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 which houses the fingerprint sensor, Redmi branding and dual camera setup. The smartphone is available in three colour options which are as follows:
- Sapphire Blue
- Ruby Red
- Onyx Black
The dual rear camera setup of the Redmi Note 7 is comprised of a 12 MP sensor and a 2 MP secondary sensor. The front facing selfie camera of the device uses a 13 MP sensor which is housed in the waterdrop notch above the device. Noteworthy, the smartphone has P2i hydrophobic nano coating which will allow the device to sustain accidental liquid splashes.

The Redmi Note 7 is kitted with the Snapdragon 660 SoC which consists of Adreno 512 GPU and an Octa-Core CPU. Out of the eight CPU cores, four Kryo 260 cores are clocked at 1.8 GHz for better battery efficiency and four Kryo 260 cores are clocked at 2.2 GHz for maximum performance.

The Redmi Note 7 is powered by a large 4,000 mAh battery which supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0. The Quick Charge 4.0 support allows the handset to be charged with 18 watts of maximum power. Connectivity options on the device include 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and FM Radio. It also has a whole host of sensors which include an accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, and a compass.

Redmi Note 7 Price and Availability

Also Read: Flaws In 4G & 5G Allow Hackers To Track Locations & Intercept Calls

The Redmi Note 7 will be available for purchase from 6th March 2019 on Flipkart.com, Mi.com and Mi Home stores across the country. It is available in two storage options for which the price is as follows:
- 3 GB RAM + 32 GB ROM- Rs 9,999
- 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM- Rs 11,999
In addition to the inbuilt storage, it also supports memory expansion upto 256 GB via a microSD card. Also, the company is offering 1120 GB of free data to Airtel telecom users.
February 28, 2019
Motorola Confirms Foldable Smartphone, May Look Like The RAZR

Last year, Motorola filed a patent for a foldable smartphone, which revealed its upcoming plans to enter the competition. Apparently, the company decided to stay quiet about the process. Nonetheless, sources claimed that Motorola has been working on a foldable device. They have been trying out a lot of iterations for the same.

As per sources, Dan Dery (Motorola VP of Global Product) implied that a foldable smartphone release is lined up for the not-so-distant future. Also, he suggested that the company is not going to wait very long before launching its foldable device in the market.

History And Design

Motorola has had a good history with foldable devices, with the RAZR series of phones being one of the most popular devices when they were released. Sources claim that the new foldable device will feature a large internal display that bends over in half when the device is folded. As per Motorola’s patent images, the device looks like some sort of a flip-phone. When the design is compared to the rest of the foldable devices showcased till now, it stands out because Motorola’s build is unlike any of the designs seen so far. It claims to have been testing a plastic OLED device with a plastic film on top. Furthermore, the company believes that such a smartphone display will be prone to scratches and damage, so it plans to use the display on the internal section of the device. As per sources, Motorola is also working on a screen that can fold twice.

The Competition

The upcoming Motorola foldable device will be up against the likes of Samsung Galaxy Fold and the Huawei Mate X, both of which received undivided attention at the MWC 2019. The devices are expected to release soon amidst a lot of hype. Motorola, on the other hand, might launch its iteration a bit later. The company also hinted that it is trying out the z-hinge approach, which means that the device can fold down from a tall display to a pocket sized device (almost 1/3rd the size of the device). Sources believe that the company may launch such a smartphone sooner than expected.

Also Read: 5G Moto Mod Certified By FCC, May Be Available For Purchase In US Soon

As of now, only speculations can be made regarding the launch date of the smartphone, but when it is launched, Motorola might have a fair chance to regain its fans from the RAZR era.

February 28, 2019
Xiaomi Wants To Triple Its Stores In Europe

After making its mark in countries like India and Indonesia, Xiaomi is now looking towards expanding its presence in European smartphone markets. Huawei made a similar announcement, which said that the company will open its first offline store outside China. Xiaomi claims that its products are already taking the European markets by storm, and considering ongoing tensions between the Chinese manufacturer and the US, Europe seems like a safer bet for the company.

About Upcoming Offline Stores

Xiaomi’s Vice President, Wang Xiang made it clear that the company wants to increase the number of offline stores in Europe by three times. As of now, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer has almost 50 stores in Europe, and it wants to take that number over 150. With budget-aggressive pricing across a large chunk of their smartphone range, Xiaomi thinks that it would be a wise decision to start selling directly to the customer via offline Xiaomi stores.

Reason For Expansion

Brand popularity is another factor that the company seems to be going for. Agreed, the brand is known for its affordability and competitive device specifications across products, but reportedly, the company wants to target high-end products at the same time. And expanding to a continent with a high GDP looks like a great idea for the brand. Furthermore, Europe is one of the best markets in the world when it’s about spending potential.

Recent Launches

Xiaomi’s last launch was the Mi 9 smartphone which was showcased at the MWC 2019. The device runs on the Snapdragon 855 and features triple rear cameras with a Sony IMX586 quad-sensor. With a lot of smartphone brands focusing on cameras, Xiaomi is trying to step up to the mark and deliver a similar experience. The handset also sports the world’s very first 20W wireless charging pad, which supports Quick Charge. Furthermore, the device sold out in 53 seconds during its first flash sale in China.

Also Read: Xiaomi Black Shark 2 Gaming Smartphone Leaks Online

All this clearly shows that Xiaomi is slowly, but steadily moving on to the big leagues. With imminent expansion on the line, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer may be on its way to unveil some big devices soon, but nothing is confirmed as of now.

February 27, 2019