All Gadget News on iGyaan, latest gadgets, top new gadgets, cheapest gadgets and expensive gadgets all the latest gadget news , reviews and featured stories
After launching the new iPad Pro this year, it seems like Apple might also launch a new iPad Mini. This will be the fifth-generation of the iPad Mini. That is not all, the tech giant will also reportedly launch a 10-inch entry level iPad as well. What’s more, the report also claims that this will all happen in the first half of 2019. The entry level iPad is also said to be available in two versions.
The iPad Mini has been long due for an upgrade with the last variant coming out in 2015. After the launch of that model, the only changes the iPad Mini received was a few price cuts. However, things were looking up as few reports had detailed that Apple would launch an iPad Mini this year, along with the iPad Pro and the new MacBook Air. Unfortunately, we did not see that happen. But things might change with the introduction of this so called, ‘low-cost’ iPad Mini.
The New iPad Pro
The iPad Mini 5 is said to have an upgraded processor and a lower cost display panel. The new entry-level iPad will replace the 6th generation 9.7 inch iPad. The new iPad is said to have a 10 inch display with a much narrower frame. The entry level tablet is expected to carry on some design elements from the 2018 iPad Pro, but won’t be as sleek as the same. It is, however, expected to have Apple Pencil support, just like its predecessor.
With a decline in iPad sales over the years, Apple is looking for avenues to ensure that its popular tablet is back in the spotlight. It will also look to cut costs, to ensure a cheaper price for the new iPads. One such example is the reported plan to shift to Korean made LED displays from the current Japanese LED displays.
The iPad Pro 2018 was introduced last month. The new iPad carries a brand new design language and a killer performance, which is worthy to even replace a laptop, in some cases. The new design features slim bezels on all sides and the lack of a home button. The rectangular build sure does look great, but ran it to some problems soon after its release. Users started complaining that the new iPad Pro can be easily bent, thus comprising the integrity of the device. Now, Apple has confirmed that some of the iPads may ship bent. But they do assure customers that this will not affect the performance of the device.
The ‘Bendgate’
Apple says the the bend is a side effect of the manufacturing process involved in making the iPad Pro. A cooling process involving the iPad Pro’s metal and plastic components, results in this bend. They say that this should not worsen over time or negatively affect the performance of the device. Most interestingly, Apple does not consider this to be a defect. This is not limited to just one variant and both the 11 inch and 12.9 inch model of the iPad Pro can exhibit this.
The statement from Apple is not something that they have admitted to on their own. This is a response to many customers after they took to social media to state that their iPad Pro’s developed a slight bend, without any rough usage or mistreatment of the device. Users also said that they had never applied any extra stress to the iPad Pro.
Recently, a video by Jerryrigseverything showed him bending the iPad Pro into half without much of an effort. However, Apple still stands by the quality of its iPad Pro. A lot of experts also said that the video was a bit biased and is more of a publicity stunt. Apple claims that the device is extremely thin and is spread over a large surface area, therefore making it more susceptible to this issue. However, no one has reported this issue causing any issued in the working of the device and the iPad Pro is still the best tablet in the market right now.
The Xiaomi Mi Pad 4 Plus was launched a few months back by the Chinese electronics giant. It is the larger, 10.1 inch variant of the Mi Pad 4. During the time of its release, the device was running on Android 7, but then Xiaomi quickly updated it to Android 8 Oreo, within a few days of its launch. Now, a Mi Pad 4 Plus has been spotted on Geekbench, running on Android 9 Pie.
The Geekbench listing reveals that the Pie update for the tablet is around the corner. Considering the fact that Xiaomi ship their devices with their own custom UI, it is safe to assume that this will be running on the latest MIUI 10 which features advanced AI capabilities and UI improvements such as gesture navigation. The Android 9 Pie update will surely bring a lot of improvements to this tablet. On Geekbench, the tablet got a single-core score of 1642 and multi-core score of 5854.
Specifications
The Mi Pad 4 Plus has a 10.1 inch IPS LCD display with a 1920 x 1200 px resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The device has got fairly thick bezels on all sides and features a home button on the bottom of the screen. It runs on the Qualcomm snapdragon 660 SoC with the Adreno 512 GPU. It has 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB and 128 GB storage options. However, the Mi pad 4 Plus does not support any memory expansion.
The device sports a 13 MP single rear camera and a 5 MP from facing camera. The front camera also supports Face Unlock for securely unlocking the device. Additionally, the device also has a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button to unlock the device. Under the hood, it packs a 8,620 mAh battery, which claims 16 hours of video playback. The device features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and a USB Type-C port for connectivity, along with 4G LTE support. Additionally, there is not word about the Indian launch of the tablet as of now.
DJI has been making handheld gimbals for a long time now and their latest gimbal has been launched which is smaller than your palm! Gimbals are a major part of the drone-manufacturer and they have successfully released several great products in their Osmo series. The gimbal is known as the DJI Osmo Pocket and is extremely tiny.
The small gimbal measures in at 121.9 x 36.9 x 28.6 mm, and it weighs only 116g. This is great for people who travel frequently and shoot videos. Vloggers and other video content creators can now do away with lugging around huge bags if they want to shoot videos on the go. The camera is by no means a compromise in- terms of quality!
DJI Osmo Pocket Camera Specifications
The camera on the DJI Osmo Pocket shoots 4K 60fps video at 100Mbps with its 1/2.3″ 12 MP sensor. It is great for low light shooting as well owing to it’s f/2.0 aperture. the camera has an 80-degree field-of-view. It also has a 1 inch touchscreen in-built for one handed use and is available in black colour. The gimbal does have a few buttons on it and a scroll wheel. It supports 5V/2A charging
The Osmo Pocket has dual mics, as well as an 875 mAh battery that can reportedly last up to 140 minutes. The battery charges from 0 to 100% in 73 minutes. There are several accessories available for the DJI Osmo Pocket. These include a charging case, wireless module, extension rod, waterproof case, ND filters, a controller wheel, a 3.5mm adapter for external mics and a lot more. There is also an unboxing video on Youtube and an advertisement on twitter that shows the product in it’s entirety.
The Osmo Pocket has NightShot, motionlapse and timelapse. It also pairs with a companion app called the DJI MIMO App that is supported both on Android and iOS devices. It also shoots 3×3 panoramas. The Osmo Pocket is sold with USB-C and Lightning adapters and connects directly into your smartphone. The Osmo Pocket is priced at USD 349 and is on sale now.
Every month we bring to you the best and the coolest gadgets from around the web. So here’s this month’s pick for the top tech gadgets and accessories and DIY tools for under Rs 200.
Foldable Keyboard
This foldable keyboard is a great accessory for all those who work on the go. Being a bluetooth keyboard, it can connect to your smartphone easily and at any point of time. The keyboard also comes with a stand, on which you can mount your phone. The keys are well spaced-out, but its not the best typing experience. However, considering its size, it offers great travel. It also has a micro USB charging port. It even has dedicated keys for Windows, iOS and more. Another interesting feature is the dedicated shutter button which lets you take selfies on your phone from the keyboard. Surely a top tech.
Smart Plug
This is a smart plug which connects to your Wi-Fi to function. You can then use an app through your smartphone to control the smart plug and turn it on and off. The smart plug also has two USB ports which are turned on always, regardless of whether you turn on the plug or not. You can also set up schedules and timers as to when you want the plug to be turned on. You can also control it via Alexa and Google Assistant.
Bumper Laptop Sleeve
This Bumper Laptop Sleeve is as functional as good looking. It has a very sleek, non intrusive design and goes well in all kinds of environments. The laptop sleeve is built for 13.3 inch laptops. It has a rigid, rubber bumper on the outside, which will protect it from shocks and impact. It has a soft fabric lining on the inside, which also protects your laptop. The exterior bumper also has a very attractive design. The case opens from one side. The opening is magnetic and snaps back into place once you take your laptop out or place it in.
Wireless Air Mouse
This is a rechargeable wireless Air Mouse cum keyboard. This wireless mouse can connect to any TV or laptop and can be helpful in many ways. The wireless mouse lets you control your device easily, without the hassles of buttons. This is also useful in laptops in scenarios where you would have to get up again and again to access the controls. The mouse also has a keyboard on the back, which is useful for typing, both on TVs and on laptops. A very useful top tech.
Cordless Screwdriver
This is a great product for all those who love DIY projects and also for generally anybody who uses screws and screwdrivers regularly. The screwdriver has a great build quality and it also grips very well in your hand. On the front, it has an LED torch light, which helps you see the area ahead of it, to help you in dark conditions. It is rechargeable and has many different magnetic bits for each type of screw head. It has a 200 cycles per minute speed. The screwdriver also has three different speed modes.
USB Fingerprint Scanner
This is a portable, USB fingerprint scanner. This can be used on laptops and PCs and gives you security and convenience at the same time. The device is fairly easy to setup and can be used whenever you are on the go. It has Windows Hello support, making it trustworthy and secure. You just need to setup your fingerprint once, after which the sensor will help you unlock your system. Th fingerprint sensor is very fast and responsive and ensures a better user experience.
Tyre Pressure Gauge
The Michelin tyre pressure gauge is one of the most accurate tyre pressure gauges both in and around its price segment. The gauge comes with a keyring, which we felt is very convenient. The accuracy of the gauge is pretty high and gives you a clear idea about the air pressure levels in your tyres. It also has an inbuilt flashlight and a backlit display for use in darkness. You can measure the tyre pressure in PSI, BAR, KPA or Kg/cm. This range of options surely makes it very convenient.
Gas Leak Detector
This gas leak detector is a great gadget for in terms of both, functionality and safety. The detector gives out a loud alarm in case it detects a gas leak or incase the temperature outside rises a beyond limit. This includes Butane, CNG and more. It is really helpful and convenient and is a must have for almost everyone. A helpful top tech.
Gods Rudra Backpack
The Gods Rudra backpack is a water repellant laptop back. It is not only useful, but it looks great as well. The bag has a lot of storage and dedicated slots for many items or accessories you might use on a daily basis. It also has a reflective pair of ‘eyes’ on the back which reflect any light thrown at them. The eyes resemble Ironman and not only look really cool, they are handy for drivers to spot you if you are walking down the road or even riding a bike.
USB Type-C To HDMI Adapter
This USB Type-C to HDMI adapter is a great accessory for all those who have a USB Type-C port on their smartphones. The adapter can be used for connecting your phone or any other device for that matter, to an external display. It supports 4K at 60 Hz. You can also use it with laptops or tablets with a USB Type- port. The adapter is made from good quality aluminium and is a great accessory to have.
Xiaomi is expected to showcase quite a few products at its event in New York next month. Out of the many possibilities, it is rumoured to be the global launch event of the Mi Mix 3 smartphone. However, a new product which has just received its certification could also be one off the debutants at the event. These are a pair of bluetooth wireless earphones by Xiaomi.
FCC Listing
The earphones have received their certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US. The earphones are registered under the model number TWSEJ01JY and bear the name ‘Mi True Wireless Earphones’. The same model has also been cleared for Bluetooth certification. Additionally, a series of leaked images give us a good look at the design of the earphones. The design looks pretty similar to the Apple AirPods and the and the Xiaomi Bluetooth Headphones Youth Edition. Then again, there is nothing much you can do about the design of a pair of wireless earphones.
From the images we can see they have an inward curve to fit snugly into your ears. They also have a charging case, similar to the Apple AirPods. They also come with 3 pairs of silicone earths, to be fitted according to your ear size. The FCC listing also suggests that the earphones will be available in white colour only. The listing also tells us that they are Bluetooth 4.2 compatible. The listing also suggests that the earphones can be controlled using touch and that you can accept and reject calls as well as control music. The earphones also have an LED light and the eartips are also tipped with soft silicone. They will also have active noise cancellation feature.
Additionally, the earphones will charge fully in one hour and the charging case has a battery back up of upto 10 hours. It is expected that the earphones will be priced aggressively just like the Mi AirDots. Xiaomi is known for its disruptive products which challenge competitors with aggressive pricing.
With the latest update, which is already rolling out, Google has added multi-room playback support for the Chromecast, when it is paired with Google Home speakers. This will add the Chromecast to the Home ecosystem and allow you to play a song, a playlist, a podcast or even an audiobook. The Chromecast will then let you play it across all speakers and other Chromecast-connected devices in your house.
Earlier, the Home ecosystem only allowed for speaker groups to be made with audio devices. Obviously, this did not include the Chromecast. The speaker support for Chromecast had been announced by Google way back in October. The feature is already available for users who are a part of google’s preview program. Working on all the generations of Chromecast, the update is expected to reach almost every device soon. Some users reported that there were not able to see the option even after the update. It was later found out that this issue will be resolved after rebooting the device.
The speaker group can be setup through the Google Home app. The speaker group also includes televisions, which can now be aded to the groups. For example, when a TV, which is connected to a Chromecast is synced to a speaker group, you can view the song information on the screen. This is displayed against a background of rotating images.
The new grouping also includes smart displays including the Google Home Hub and the recently launched LG Xboom WK9. Along with this, Google had also added support to pair bluetooth speakers with the Home App. This was done earlier this year and enables users to add voice control to the sound system.
The iPad Pro 11 inch and iPad Pro 12.9 inch with an edge-to-edge display was launched last month in the US. And now the devices are available for pre-order in India. The new devices are significantly more powerful than the previous generation and now have Face ID support like the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max.
The new iPad Pro has thin bezels on all four sides & is available in two screen sizes which are 11-inch and 12.9-inch. Both the variants have similar specifications except for a few differences. The iPad Pro has a LED-backlit display with a pixel density of 265 ppi. Its displays have a scratch resistant glass and an oleophobic coating which reduces the number of fingerprint smudges left behind after using it. The iPad Pro runs on iOS 12.1 and has the 7 nm A12X Bionic chipset. The chipset is integrated with an Octa-Core CPU and 7 Core GPU. In terms of memory, the larger 12.1-inch variant has 6 GB of RAM while the 11-inch variant gets 4 GB of RAM. With the new iPad Pro, Apple has also bumped up the storage capacities.
The new device is available in 4 storage capacities which are as follows:
64 GB
256 GB
512 GB
1 TB
For photography, the iPad Pro has an f/1.8 aperture equipped 12 MP rear sensor & an f/2.2 aperture equipped front-facing cameras. The tablet can shoot 2160p videos at 60fps with the rear camera while the front camera can shoot 1080p videos @ 30fps. The iPad Pro also has a Quad LED dual-tone flash for the rear camera. The 12.9-inch variant has a 36 Wh battery while the 11-inch variant has a smaller 29 Wh battery.
In terms of connectivity, the iPad Pro has 802.11 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and a Type-C USB port for charging and data transfer. The device is available in Wi-FI and Wi-Fi + Cellular options. The tablet also has a host of sensors which are Face ID, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer and a proximity sensor.
Accessories
With the iPad Pro, Apple also introduced a folio style detachable smart keyboard for it. The keyboard magnetically attaches to the tablet and can be set to two different viewing angles. It is sold separately as an accessory for the iPad Pro & it definitely boosts productivity on the powerful device. The tablet with the smart keyboard is pretty capable of replacing your everyday laptop. Additionally, it offers support for a wide variety of applications which range from casual games to professional video editing software like Luma Fusion.
Apple pencil is an accessory that opens a whole new world of possibilities with the iPad Pro. It is developed for design professionals who are on the go and want a portable workstation. The Apple pencil charges wirelessly from the iPad Pro which it connects to magnetically. To change tools, the user can double-tap on the side of the pencil.
The iPad has always been a class-leading product and with the new keyboard attachment and a more powerful processor, it also intends to challenge the ultrabook segment.
The iPad Pro is available in two colors which are Silver & Space Gray. The device is up for pre-order in India and the deliveries will commence soon. The price for different variants of the device is as follows:
Diwali is the festival of lights and at this time of the year, people all across the country buy gifts for each other. It ranges from sweets, chocolates, home appliances to lights and tech. This diwali we list a few items that can be great gifts for the tech enthusiasts in your family. Let’s find out more!
Kindle E-reader
Everyone has a family member who is a voracious reader. And what better gift for them than the Amazon Kindle?! The Kindle has an all-new design which is thinner and lighter than it’s previous models. It is also now available in a choice of black or white colour. The Kindle e-reader is easy on your eyes and does not have a built in light. So, one might not be able to read in the dark. It has a touchscreen display and reads like real paper. There is no screen glare even in bright sunlight and the feel of reading is almost like a page in a book. A single battery charge lasts weeks and can hold thousands of books. There is also a huge selection of books available for download, both free and paid in several different languages. The device is available on Amazon for a price of Rs 4,799.
JBL Wireless On-Ear Headphones With Mic
The JBL on-ear headphone can make for a great gift for the audiophile in the family. It has a pure bass sound and is great for listening to music with a great bass-line. Unlike many other headphones in the market, this headphone claims a 11-hour battery life which is a lot more than most of its competitors. The headphone supports Bluetooth 4.0 and weights just 145 grams. It sits comfortably around your neck when not in use and is quite comfortable to wear for long periods of time as well. It is priced at Rs 2,948 on Amazon.
Amazon Fire TV Stick with Voice Remote
This nifty accessory is for the family members who are addicted to their TV programmes and love watching streamed content as well. You can connect Amazon Fire TV Stick to your HDTV and start streaming movies, TV shows and songs from Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Netflix, Gaana and many more services as long as you are subscribed to them. The device is easy to set up and use and can be a great addition if the person you are gifting it to has an Amazon Prime membership. Amazon Fire TV Stick comes with a voice remote. Press the voice button and say the name of the Amazon Prime Video title you want to watch and it will stream it on your TV directly. You can plug the Fire TV stick into any TV’s HDMI port, connect to Wi-Fi and continue watching. This can be great for use in hotels and other places while travelling. The TV stick is available for Rs 3,499 on Amazon.
Yeelight Candela
How can a Diwali gift list be complete without an amazing lamp! This lamp is a visual comfort light that holds an 1800K colour temperature. It is the same colour temperature as that of a candle which is extremely soothing. The Yeelight Candela features a built-in 2100 mAh battery. This allows for up to 8 hours of continuous use on a single charge. It has adjustable brightness which leads to a similar colour as the warm copper colour of the candle. It is bluetooth controlled and works with the Mi Home app. The company has also indicated on a crowdfunding website that they are working to make Candela Alexa, Google Home and IFTTT compatible. Priced at Rs 4,199 it isn’t exactly cheap, but it can definitely make for a great gift!
Bose Sound Link Micro Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Another great gift for audiophiles, the Bose Sound Link Micro is a smaller, more compact version of the Sound Link Mini. It might be smaller in size, but still retains the great quality sound that one can expect from Bose speakers. Having an IPX7 rating, this speaker is thoroughly water proof. The speaker is easily portable and can be tied to your bag or belt with a tear-resistant strap.The Bose Sound Link Micro has up to 6 hours of play time from a rechargeable battery and a wireless range of up to 30 feet. It also features a speakerphone allowing you to take calls through the device along with allowing voice access to Siri or Google Assistant. Available on Amazon at a price of Rs 8,089, it is a great gift for sure!
This small device is a great addition to any home. Elders can use it to play songs, listen to the news, know about the weather, youngsters can use it to control lights, other appliances and so on. It does so much for its value. The Echo dot can also help you to turn your normal speakers into voice activated speakers in a jiffy! Easy to set up and use, the Echo dot works on Wifi and can control compatible smart lights, plugs, and remotes from Philips, Syska, TP-Link and Oakter just by using your voice. Ordering a cab, food, or even ordering regular items from Amazon are just some of its skills. Priced at just Rs 2,999, it is a gift that everyone can appreciate!
OnePlus launched the OnePlus 6T early this week. Alongside the new smartphone the company also launched a new colour variant of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless earphones. According to the company, a red colour was demanded by the community and the company has decided to deliver.
The OnePlus Bullets wireless were originally launched with the OnePlus 6 early this year, and were really popular with the OnePlus fans. The earphones have a unique feature, which allows users to play or pause music by simply connecting the magnetic back sides of the earphones. The new red colour has now been listed on the OnePlus website.
While the earphones are built well, and have loud sound, they have been under constant criticism. They have been found to be poor on the lower end side, something Oneplus claims to have addressed with improvements in the signal processing of the wireless sound. OnePlus users can also adjust the EQ settings as per their requirement by going to Settings > Sound & Vibration > Audio Tuner
The Bullets wireless continue to the have fast charging with 10 mins of charge delivering 5 hours of usage. While the earphones themselves are made of aluminium, they have rubber ear tips in various sizes and wing tips to secure the earphones. With an inbuilt microphone they are also great for phone calls.
Shenzhen based Honor recently held a launch event in China where the company announced the Waterplay 8 tablet, FlyPods wireless headphones, and the Honor Magic 2 smartphone. As the name suggests, Waterplay 8 is an eight-inch, water-resistant tablet and the Flypods are eerily similar to Apple’s AirPods.
Waterplay 8
The Waterplay 8 has an eight-inch IPS LCD display with a 283 ppi pixel density and a resolution of 1920 x 1200 px. The tablet has a screen-t0-body ratio of 74.13 %. The microSD tray, power button, and the volume rockers are placed on the left of the device. Additionally, it has a home button which doubles as the fingerprint sensor for securely unlocking it.
The Waterplay 8 runs on the Octa-Core Kirin 659 processor along with the Mali T830 GPU. The device has a 5,100 mAh battery which supports fast charging up to 18 W. In terms of storage and memory, the Waterplay 8 has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM which is expandable up to 256 GB via a microSD card. The tablet also has IPX7 rating which makes it dust and water resistant up to 1 meter for 30 mins.
For photography, the tablet has 13 MP f/2.2 + 2 MP f/2.4 dual rear cameras and an 8 MP f/2.0 front selfie camera. Both, the rear & front cameras can shoot videos up to 1080p. It runs on EMUI 8.0 which is based on Android 8.0. The tablet also has a bunch of sensors which include a gyroscope, proximity sensor, gravity sensor, and an ambient light sensor. For connectivity, it has 2.4 GHz 802.11 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and a Type-C USB port for charging and data transfer.
FlyPods Wireless
FlyPods are wireless earbuds from Honor which draw a lot of inspiration from Apple’s AirPods. Apart form the fact that they are available in a bunch of funky colours. They can be used to listen to music or even answer calls that you receive on your phone. The FlyPods hardware package consists of three different pieces which are the left & right earbud and a charging/resting case. They use Bluetooth 5.0 technology to connect with any Bluetooth compatible device. For prolonged life, the earbuds are dust proof and water resistant.
The FlyPods case has a 410 mAh battery which can charge the earbuds up to 3 times. Once the earbuds are charged, they provide a talk time of up to 2.5 hours. The earbuds have a triple color RGB led light to display charging and connectivity status. They can be either charged wirelessly via a Qi charger or the USB Type-C port which is placed on the bottom of the case. The FlyPods weigh in at 45 grams and measures 50.5 x 45 x 24.5 mm.
The Waterplay 8 tablet is available in Silver Moon colour at a price of 1,499 ¥ (around Rs 15,900). The FlyPods are available in three different colors Robin Blue, Charm Red and White. The Blue and White options are available at a price of 799 ¥ (around Rs 8,500) whereas the price for Charm Red variant is 999¥ (around Rs 10,600). Both the Waterplay 8 tablet and FlyPods are currently available on the Chinese Vmallwebsite. It is possible that Honor might launch the devices in India and other regions in the future.
Apple has updated the iPad Pro models and removed the Touch ID and Home Button. Apple has also replaced the lightning connectors with a more efficient USB C port and added Face ID with a 3D depth camera. Apple claims that the company sold more iPads last year than the entire notebook lineup of all of the biggest notebook vendors.
The new iPad Pro models will be available in two sizes 11-inch and 12.9-inch. The 11 inch model has an 11 inch display that fits in the same size as the 10.5 inch iPad Pro and prices start at $799. The 12.9 inch has reduced dimensions because the screen size remains the same but Apple has considerably reduced the bezels on the iPad. The larger 12.9 inch iPad Pro will start at $999.
Apple calls the display, same as the iPhone XR, the “Liquid Retina” display. And has reduced the bezels on all sides. The iPad Pro models become the first iPad’s without Apple’s Home Button, or Touch ID. Apple has also removed the headphone jack and now apart from the quad speakers the iPad Pro also have USB C ports.
The Face ID is available both horizontally as well as vertically and will allow Apple to bring Animoji’s and FaceTime calls filled with emojis for iPad users. The iPad Pros get Apple’s new A12X Bionic chip with an 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU which is basically an upgraded version of what was launched with the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR.
The iPad Pro’s now offer great functionality for additional usage throughout the USB C ports for example all MacBook dongles will now work on the iPad Pro. This port will also allow external monitors to be connected to the iPad Pro. User will also be able to charge their iPhones, or any other devices through the USB C ports.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjaKHqDbzSA
The 12 MP main camera allows 4K 6-fps video and is the same sensor seen on the wide side on the iPhone XS, or the exact same sensor in the iPhone XR. Apple includes an 18 watt charger in the box, and users will be able to use after charger like, MacBook chargers to charge up the iPad Pro quicker.
The new Apple Pencil also is redesigned, it attaches to the iPad Pro magnetically and charges wirelessly. Tapping the screen with the pencil will wake the iPad Pro and Apple has included other gesture capabilities for the Apple Pencil.
Earlier this month, Huawei released their Mate 20 series smartphones in London. And now, the company has launched the Mate 20 trio in the Chinese market. Along with the Mate 20 smartphones, the company also launched a smart AI speaker which draws a lot of inspiration Apple’s HomePod.
The Rise Of AI Speakers
HomePod
With the advancements in AI (Aritficial Intelligence) and Virtual Assistant technology , the smart speaker market is getting very hot. Top tech companies are working hard to grab their shares in this new industry. Companies like Google, Amazon & Apple already offer smart speakers and recently the Chinese tech titan Huawei, has jumped on the bandwagon with a budget AI speaker.
Huawei’s Fatboy AI Speaker
While the overall design is pretty similar to that of the Apple HomePod, the LED ring on the top and the four control buttons remind us of another smart speaker. The AI speaker from Huawei looks like a chubby sibling of the Alexa powered Amazon Echo Plus. The speaker has a cylindrical design with control buttons on the top. It has 6 michrophone pinholes on top and a circular ring light around the controls. The Huawei AI speaker has 4 top mounted buttons to control all its functionalities. It includes volume up & down button, mic mute button and a call receive button. The AI speaker can be connected to a smartphone and directly receive calls.
The Huawei AI speaker uses a 2.25 inch sound driver that has a power output of 10 W along with two passive bass radiators. The company claims these help in creating a more natural sound effect and powerful bass performance. For acoustic systems and design co-creation, Huawei partnered with Dynaudio which is a Danish loudspeaker maker. The smart speaker uses Huawei’s “Histen” algorithm which is a music equaliser and sound effect controlling software available on their smartphones.
The brains of the smart speaker are powered by Huawei’s “Xiaoyi” voice assistant which enables it to interact with HiLink supporting smart devices like lights, air purifiers, security cameras and more.
The Huawei AI speaker has a price tag of 399 CNY (around Rs. 4,000) which is much less compared to other smart speakers available in the market. Huawei is yet to comment on it’s global launch or the date of sale.
The new Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen) has been launched and it hosts a lot of improvements over the previous generation. The new improved Echo Plus is different both inside and out. With improved sound quality and some evident design changes, the Echo Plus looks promising, to say the least. Launched at a price of Rs 14,999, we take a look at what it packs inside.
Inside The Box
The Box houses the device itself, a quick start manual and warranty information. Apart from this, it houses the wall adapter which powers the Echo Plus. The wall adapter has a really long wire, ensuring that you can place the device at a spot of your convenience.
Design Changes
The new Echo Plus has a brand new design with a fabric mesh on the outside, giving it a really classy look. This is quite an improvement over the previous generation which had a plastic build. The redesigned Echo Plus actually looks like a device which is meant to be a part of your home, rather than the machine-like design of the previous generation.
The new Echo Plus is shorter but broader but is lighter than the previous version. The device has 4 control buttons on the top. Two of these let you control its volume while one is to disable your microphone and the other is to launch Alexa without having to call out to her. The Amazon logo has been moved to the bottom of the device. The Echo Plus has an LED rim which flashes blue when Alexa is listening to you or is saying something. The ring turns red when you deactivate the microphone. Near the bottom end of the device is the 3.5 mm aux port and the power port.
Audio Features
The Echo Plus claims better sound quality than the previous generation and is equipped with omnidirectional Dolby Audio. The device has a 0.8-inch tweeter and a 3-inch subwoofer. The tweeter is present in the lower half of the device, therefore improving the overall sound output. The improvement in sounds quality is quite evident and it has a pretty broad volume range. The Echo Plus is able to fill the room with good quality sound. Obviously, the sound quality will not match that of a dedicated speaker.
More than the output, the device can also hear you over the sound of whatever is playing. For example, even if you’ve got rock music blaring at full volume, Alexa responds to you and makes sure your command is executed. An interesting feature is the ability for it to connect to other Alexa enabled devices. So you can pair up your Echo Plus device with an Echo Spot or an Echo Dot and play your content across multiple rooms. Additionally, the device can also be connected to other speakers via the Aux port, which will result in better sound. Unfortunately, the device needs power at all times and is therefore not portable.
Home Control & Smart Capabilities
The highlight of the Echo Plus is the fact that it is a smart speaker. This means that the device has the ability to connect with and control smart appliances at your home as well as perform a variety of tasks with the help of Alexa.
The device can control switches, cameras, thermostats and bulbs among other smart devices. You can then control these devices just by using your voice. With Alexa’s increasing popularity, more and more manufacturers are producing devices which have Alexa integration.
Apart from connecting to smart devices, the speaker can perform multiple tasks, thanks to Alexa integration. You can ask the Echo Plus about the weather, a roundup of the latest news, to tell you a joke or even manage your calendar. It can also book a cab, order food and get you information from multiple sources. The device also has the feature to make calls through your mobile, but this is not available in India as of now.
The impressions from our initial use of the device prove that the Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Generation) is an obvious improvement over its predecessor. With a better and classier design, enhanced sound quality and integration of multiple features, it does stand out in its segment. The Echo Plus is available on Amazon for a price of Rs 14,999.
You can check out our video of the Amazon Echo Plus below:
Samsung has launched the latest variant of its flagship tablet, the Galaxy Tab S4 in India. The 2-in-1 tablet has Samsung Dex and S Pen support, enhancing the functions it can perform. Key features of the tab include a 10.5 inch Super AMOLED display, Dolby Atmos sound, a 7,300 mAh battery and improved inbuilt security for your data. The Galaxy Tab S4 costs Rs 57,900 and will be available starting October 18.
Specifications
The 10.5 inch Super AMOLED display has a 2560 x 1600 px resolution. It has an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a 287 ppi pixel density. Samsung promises an enhanced S Pen experience with 4,096 pressure levels and a pen tip of 0.7mm diameter. You can use the accessory to make notes, navigate through the screen, translate any text and send personalised texts through Samsung Live Message. The device runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC and has 4 GB of RAM with 64 GB of inbuilt storage which can be expanded up to 400 GB using a microSD card.
The Galaxy Tab S4 has a 7,300 mAh battery, which according to the company, provides up to 16 hours of video playback. The device has fast charging capability. The Tab S4 has 4 speakers, tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos sound. It has a 13 MP primary camera and an 8 MP front facing camera, both equipped with an f/1.8 aperture. The primary camera records 2160p video at 30fps. The device runs the Samsung Experience UX based on Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box.
Other Features
The Galaxy Tab S4 has an advanced security system. The device has Samsung Knox, which is Samsung’s own mobile security platform. The company claims that this is defence-grade security and all critical information is protected through multiple layers of security. For added security, the tablet also has an Iris Scanner. The device has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS and a USB Type-C port for connectivity. The device has advanced usability options with the help of Samsung DeX. Samsung DeX optimises the tablet and offers two modes. It has a standalone mode in which you can get a PC like experience even without a monitor or keyboard, according to the company. In the dual mode, you can connect the tablet to a bigger monitor.
The Galaxy Tab S4 costs Rs 57,900 and will be available starting October 18 in Black and Gray colours. The device will be available on the Samsung Online Shop and off-line retailers as of now. The tablet will be available as an Amazon exclusive starting October 20.
Samsung is offering the S Pen and Samsung DeX along with the device. The POGO charging dock will be sold separately and costs Rs 3,499.
