Category: Tech

Latest Technology News, Alternative, Bio-Tech, Medical, R&D and Innovations

Xiaomi Confirms The Redmi Note 8 Will Have Snapdragon 665, 48 MP Quad Cameras

Back in 2014, Xiaomi’s arrived in India to capture the smartphone market in the mid-range segment. Since then, the company has seen great success with its offerings especially the Redmi Note range of devices. Now, its latest entry, Redmi Note 8, has finally been confirmed and will arrive with Snapdragon 665 and a 48MP quad camera setup.

Redmi Note 8 Series

Xiaomi is set for a big launch in China on 29th August 2019. In the event, it is expected that the company will unveil its smart TV offering alongside laptops, possibly MIUI 11 and the Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro. Last week, we had reported on one of the devices sporting the MediaTek G90T gaming centric SoC for the Note 8 series. Unfortunately, at the time it was unclear if the Note 8 would feature the same. But, Redmi has confirmed that the standard Note 8 will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 chipset.

What To Expect

Redmi, through official channels, has confirmed that the Note 8 will arrive with a quad-camera setup which is a first for the company. The primary sensor will be a 48MP shooter alongside a wide-angle lens, macro lens and depth of field sensor. It is yet to be confirmed exactly which image sensor is being used for the 48MP camera but that will soon be known.

Also Read: Haunted iPhone XS Flashes Every Night Between 3 AM and 4:30 AM

The Redmi Note 8 is also confirmed to house Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 chipset which uses Samsung’s 11nm LPP process. Notably, the Xiaomi Mi A3 also has the same SoC which is a direct successor to last years Snapdragon 660 that was seen in the Redmi Note 7 device. The newer chipset brings improved battery performance, Vulkan 1.1 API Support and a third-gen AI engine with Hexagon 686 DSP. Finally, the price of the device is yet to be determined to see the actual difference between the Note 8 and Note 8 Pro.

August 26, 2019
Samsung Galaxy Fold Up For Pre Registrations In China, To Launch Next Month

Korean technology behemoth Samsung announced its first foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold back in the month of February. However, just before the device’s official launch which was scheduled for April, review units of the handsets started breaking. The company then had to recall all the smartphones and postponed the release indefinitely. Samsung then announced last month that the problems plaguing the device have been fixed and it will finally be released in September. Now, the claims seem to be rightly addressed as the ambitious foldable handset is up for pre-registration in China.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The aforementioned news arrives after Samsung has started taking pre-registration for the Galaxy Fold on its official Chinese website. There is no shipping date mentioned, so nothing can be said on when the smartphone will start making its way into the market. The pricing for the device remains the same as announced, US$ 1980 (INR 1,36,500), so no changes there. Whatever said, it seems like the company is confident on the device and rightfully so, as in its last press release Samsung listed out all the changes it has made to make sure the Galaxy Fold is durable; and can stand the test of time in the real world.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy Fold has passed through some design and construction improvements to be certified for a relaunch. These improvements include the extension of the top protective layer of the inside display. The new layer now makes it apparent that it is an integral part of the display and should not be removed.

Also read: Haunted iPhone XS Flashes Every Night Between 3 AM and 4:30 AM

The updates to the foldable smartphone also include additional reinforcements to further protect it from external particles while maintaining its folding mechanism. Along with the aforementioned changes, the handset will also feature protection caps on the top and bottom of the hinge area; while also reducing the space between the hinge and the body of the device. If Samsung goes forward with the September release of the Galaxy Fold, it would rival the spotlight Apple’s next iPhones will get which are also due in a couple of weeks. Whatever be the case, we will not have to wait too long to find out.

August 26, 2019
Haunted iPhone XS Flashes Every Night Between 3 AM and 4:30 AM

To begin with, a Reddit user who goes by the username ‘NotRealUserNameHomie‘ has observed that his and his wife’s iPhone XS start strobing by themselves in the middle of the night (between 3 AM and 4:30 AM which apparently are known as witching hours).

Obviously, the user is asleep between these hours but he has learned about this anomaly while he was doing a routine check of the surveillance camera that supports night vision. See video below

Although this might seem like a paranormal occurrence, there are a couple of reasons that could be causing this. The source of the light is explainable but details regarding what is triggering it are still unknown.

While initially, it seemed like the well-known iPhone feature ‘LED Flash for Alerts’, looking closely reveals that it is not the case. Because, if it was the flashlight strobe the area around would have been lit and it could have been seen via the human eye.

Alternatively, this is the Infrared dot projector that aids in facial recognition of the FaceID biometric unlocking feature. (DIY: Put a TV remote in front of the camera sensor on your smartphone and look at its display, you will be able to see a light beam clearly which is otherwise invisible to the naked eye)

While FaceID could be the reason toggling this sensor on the couple’s iPhones, shockingly the Redditor claims that this feature has been disabled on both the iPhones.

Additionally, the infrared dot projector is also used to determine whether the user is looking at the display or not. This aids the iPhone to keep the display on and prevents it from going into sleep mode after touch inactivity counter has been hit.

Similar to FaceID, this aspect could also be detecting movement. Even though Apple has never spoken about it, this could be a deliberate behaviour.

iPhone XS

Also Read: Key Factors To Consider Before Buying A Laptop

A theory suggests that the Apple iPhone XS would periodically restart and this execution would be authenticated by the user unknowingly while they are looking at the display during night hours.

Conclusively, most users would not have a night vision surveillance camera installed in their living space. Therefore, this feature would have gone unnoticed until now. Or there might be some supernatural spirit that is repeatedly toggling the IR projector.

August 24, 2019
Key Factors To Consider Before Buying A Laptop

Choosing a perfect laptop can be an overwhelming task due to the abundance of options available in the market. While choosing the right CPU and GPU have their own importance, we believe there are several other options that one must consider before picking the right choice which are listed below.

Display Size and Weight

13 Inch MacBook Pro

When it comes to the display size, most consumers tend to be biased towards a larger panel. However, we would recommend you to question yourself beforehand the kind of tasks you intend to perform on your laptop. A lot of customers buy a 15-inch or even a 17-inch laptop which according to us is targeted towards a small group of users or professionals like gamers or video editors.

The key reason for choosing a laptop over a desktop is, the former being a portable device that can be conveniently transported or carried in a backpack. For people who are always on the go, a 13-inch laptop would prove to be a better option. As per our observation, 15-inch laptops or above (excluding ultrabooks) can be too beefy to be carried around. Defying the whole purpose of them being easy to carry.

A bit of my personal experience, the used Thinkpad X240 I bought a couple of months ago to use as a secondary laptop has surprisingly become my go-to choice. It features a 12.5 inch display and weighs just 1.3 kg which is considerably less than my 13 inch MacBook Pro which weighs in at 2.1 kg.

Long Battery, Compact Charger With Fast Charging Support

Once again, when you opt for a laptop instead of a desktop, it is for the ease of portability. Besides choosing the right size display, having a long battery backup is important as well. This aspect will provide you with the freedom of working on for extended periods of time in situations when there is no power outlet around.

As observed with budget-friendly 15 inch or larger laptops, companies tend to equip them with a small capacity battery which barely crosses the 3-hour mark. Without getting into much of the details, we believe that a laptop with 45 WHr+ battery capacity is a good option as it could provide a battery backup of 5-7 hours.

Noteworthy, the battery backup is also hugely affected by the CPU that the laptop features. Therefore, opt for a power-efficient variant that might have a clock speed lower than 2 GHz but supports turbo clocking. If you plan to get an Intel-based laptop, look for “U” or “Y” suffix in the processor name as they mean ‘low power’ or ‘ultra low power’ consumption.

Another factor to take into consideration is the size of the power brick/charger and the charging speed it supports. Try looking for a laptop that supports and ships with a charger that is rated for 50+ watts so the inbuilt battery can be rapidly topped up.

Faster Storage Over More Storage

Although consumer-grade SSDs have been available for a long period of time, their adaptation has been limited as the default storage type. Based on our observation, conventional hard disks are the biggest bottleneck in any laptop or desktop rather than the CPU or RAM.

Even the standard SATA based SSDs are upto 5 to 6 times faster than a spinning hard disk. For the consumer, this could mean boot times falling from 1.5 to 2 minutes to under 20 seconds and applications like games loading much faster. Accordingly, we would suggest that you make sure that the laptop you are about to buy has an SSD in addition to a regular spinning drive.

In case the laptop does not support multiple storage interfaces, go for the SSD variant and buy an external hard disk additionally. Moreover, due to the abundance of high-speed internet, files like movies can be streamed on-demand rather than being stored on a personal storage medium.

Upgradability Options

While buying a laptop also go through the upgradability options it supports. This would allow the user to increase the pre-installed RAM or storage medium which could either be a hard disk or an SSD.

In order to save up space and make laptops thinner in size, manufacturers tend to solder the previously mentioned components directly onto the motherboard. Which unfortunately disallows any sort of upgrades after the device has been purchased.

Not only will adding RAM or storage be easier but replacing faulty components will also be considerably more economical. As such parts can be swapped with standard off the shelf components are easily available both online and offline.

While laptops with an upgradable CPU are now a thing of the past. If you plan to upgrade it later down the road, you should keep it in mind while buying a laptop.

Build Quality and Materials

While most consumers just choose a laptop based on the way it looks. We would recommend going a bit deeper and inspection the e-commerce website or questioning offline retailer the material that is used to fabricate the machine. Most affordable laptops are made out of plastic which is sprayed with shiny paint that can be easily scratched.

Moreover, plastic is prone to cracking or breaking when exposed to an external force. Therefore a metal body laptop could be a better choice as it will age much better. Another preferred material of choice is ‘Magnesium alloy’. A few examples of laptop constructed with this include some models of the Dell Latitude lineup and the Lenovo Thinkpad lineup.

Also Read: OnePlus TV Specifications Leaked, Reveal A MediaTek SoC & 3GB RAM

All in all, these are a handful of things that one must consider before buying a laptop in addition to on paper specifications.

Which aspect do you think is the most noteworthy in this list? Also if you have any suggestions that we might have missed upon. Please let us know in the comments below.

August 24, 2019
OnePlus TV Specifications Leaked, Reveal A MediaTek SoC & 3GB RAM

Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is expected to launch its first-ever television called OnePlus TV next month. The company has already confirmed that the device will be launched in India exclusively in September and be made available to the rest of the world later this year. Via a Twitter post, it also revealed that the TV will have a 55-inch QLED display when launched and will be exclusively available via Amazon India. Now, as we move closer to the launch date, the key specifications of the OnePlus TV have been leaked online.

OnePlus TV

More info on the @OnePlus TV "OnePlus_Dosa_IN" I talked about yesterday.

It's using a Mediatek MT5670 (no info found on it, so far) with a good Mali-G51 MP3 GPU. And of course, #AndroidTV 9.

ATV only allows 1080p for the TV menus, don't worry TV is 4K for compatible content. pic.twitter.com/RuS8TgYBJF
— Android TV Guide (@AndroidTV_Rumor) August 23, 2019

The specifications of the upcoming OnePlus TV have been leaked by a Twitter handle by the name of Android TV Rumors. According to the image embedded in the tweet, the television has been given the codename “Dosa” which is a popular food item in South India. The listing also mentions that the device will run on the MediaTek MT5670 SoC and have a Mali G51 GPU inside. Unfortunately, no details about the mobile chipset inside the OnePlus TV are known yet. The image also mentions that it will have 3GB of RAM inside and will have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 px. This is surprising as it was earlier known to be a 4K television. It is being speculated that the mentioned resolution is only for the menu, which means while actually displaying content, the TV will scale itself into 4K resolution.

Also read: Android 10 Announced: Looking Back At The 10-Year-Old History Of Android Versions

The OnePlus TV is expected to run on Android TV 9, which is confirmed by the latest leak. It was known previously that the upcoming television will be a premium offering as the brand is known for its premium smartphones. However, this also means that affordability may not be the number one goal of OnePlus here. It is expected that the OnePlus TV will be launched on the 26th of September, alongside the rumoured OnePlus 7T Pro. Since there is not much time in the announcement, we may not have to wait too long to see the television in action.

August 24, 2019
Android 10 Announced: Looking Back At The 10-Year-Old History Of Android Versions

American technology behemoth Google announced earlier this week that the latest version of its Android operating system will be officially called Android 10. By this decision, the company has also broken on the long going tradition of naming the versions after sweet treats or desserts. The latest release also marks the tenth version of the platform, as is evident from the name. The operating system may have had a rocky start back in the year 2008, it has significantly evolved over the years. So to mark the landmark release of Android 10, we look at the extensive history of the software over the years.

Android 1.0 and 1.1

The one that started it all. The first version of the platform was released back in 2008 and it seems like so long ago that it did not even have a dessert name. But just to complete the cycle, enthusiasts have started calling it Android Alpha and Beta for the versions 1.1 and 1.2 respectively. The first generation of the operating system included basic Google apps like Gmail, Maps, Calendar and YouTube. While all of it seems very basic now, it was quite a big deal to have a suite of applications on a mobile phone.

Android 1.5 – Cupcake

The Android 1.5 Cupcake was released in 2009, which also established the naming scheme based on sweet treats. Apart from being a monumental release, Cupcake brought about many changes to the platform. It was the first version to include an on-screen keyboard and third-party widgets. The latter provided the platforms one of the most unique features. Fun fact, this was also the first time the operating system gained the functionality enabling video recording on smartphones.

Android 1.6 – Donut

Android 1.6 Donut was also released in the year 2009 and brought about many features to the platform. The first and most significant was adding the search box. What is now a ubiquitous feature was first added to Donut. The version also added support for multiple display sizes, which is a key element for the platform’s success. It also introduced Google Play, which was called the Android Market at the time. The store enabled users to download and try out different apps and games.

Android 2.0/2.1 – Eclair

The Android Eclair was released after almost six months of Donut, which is not something the company does today. It was sort of like an incremental update, with the platform adding support for Google’s turn by turn navigation and speech to text among other features. Eclair also added live wallpapers, which while it drained a lot of battery, was a really cool feature at the time.

Android 2.2 – Froyo

Google plopped up the Android 2.2 Froyo just four months after Eclair. This release, just like the Frozen Yogurt it is named after, was a sweet treat to the users as it focussed on increasing the performance of the devices. The release added the support for new Voice Actions and added support for mobile hotspots; which is also an important addition by historical importance.

Android 2.3 – Gingerbread

Android 2.3 Gingerbread was released in the year 2010 and marked an incremental update over Froyo. The platform gained support for new and improved gaming API for better and graphically intense gaming. It also added NFC connectivity to compatible devices; enhancing their connectivity. Fun fact, Google added a hidden easter egg in the operating system starting Gingerbread. The first hidden surprise was a zombie artwork when the users tapped on the version number multiple times in settings.

Android 3.0/3.1/3.2 – Honeycomb

Back in the year 2011, when tablets were becoming all the rage in the market, Google released the Android 3.0 Honeycomb. As a tablet exclusive operating system, it didn’t see many takers but was an important step in the redesigning of the platform. The version saw a user interface that utilised the whole display of the device, which was important in a tablet. However, due to limited application support and not many makers adopting it, Honeycomb is one of the more obscure versions on the list.

Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich was a major design overhaul for the operating system. Released in the same year as Honeycomb, the version brought about changes like a new Holo design, swipe gestures for notifications and recent apps, and support for Android Beam. Looking back at Ice Cream Sandwich now feels like it was an extremely ambitious update, one which has futuristic vibes going on for it.

Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 – Jellybean

Released over multiple periods between 2012 and 2013, the Android 4.1/4.2/4.3 Jellybean was an incremental update over Ice Cream Sandwich. The platform gained support for account switching, which lets multiple users use a smartphone in different ways. It also has Google Now, a barebones digital assistant which has now been christened as Google Assistant. Jellybean also got actionable notifications, which let taking actions without opening certain applications easier.

Android 4.4 – KitKat

The name for Android 4.4 KitKat was a result of Google’s partnership with Nestle in the year 2013. This release made for a delicious name, and software refinements all around the operating system. Things like a smart dialer, full-screen applications and the “Okay Google” keyword; which we now take for granted, were first added in KitKat.

Android 5.0 – Lollipop

One of the biggest releases of the operating system, Android 5.0 Lollipop saw Google going back to the drawing board in 2014. The company adopted the Material Design theme, which is still in use today and almost redesigned the platform. With the release, lock screen notifications became a thing, and the software gained support for full hands-free “Ok Google” detection. Not to mention the change in the recent apps drawer with the release. Fun fact, Google added a neat little game in the easter egg which resembled Flappy Bird, another smash hit game of the time.

Android 6.0 – Marshmallow

Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released in 2015 and was an incremental update over Lollipop. It was in part because the previous version was such a design overhaul that it made for Marshmallow not to do anything drastic. The version added support for things like fingerprint readers and USB Type C ports and added a feature called Now on Tap. It used the company’s machine learning to provide more information on what is being displayed on the device. For granular privacy settings, Marshmallow also had permission controls for each application.

Android 7.0 – Nougat

Android 7.0 Nougat, was released in the year 2016 and focussed on improving upon Marshmallow. It was launched alongside the first Google-made smartphone, the Pixel and Pixel XL. With Nougat, the company introduced the split-screen feature and debuted Google Assistant, which is arguably the best digital assistant on a smartphone.

Android 8.0 – Oreo

Android 8.0 Oreo was released in the year 2017 and again, was an incremental update over Nougat. The name, much like KitKat was a result of Google’s partnership with a big company, this time it being Nabisco. This release brought about feature like a picture in picture mode, granular control over notifications. One of the landmark features of the sandwich cookie version was the support for Project Treble. It was an attempt by Google to minimise Android Fragmentation; by getting the latest release on most devices faster. Sadly the last bit has not played out very well.

Android 9 – Pie

The last release of the platform yet and one of the most important, Android 9 Pie was baked in the year 2018. It marked a soft reboot in designing the operating system, with the company trying to move away from Material Design. The release introduced new gesture-based navigation, which however half baked they may be; paved the way for all-screen smartphones. Also added to the release were clever software controls for Wi-Fi and mobile data. It also introduced the Digital Wellbeing feature on some devices. This lets users see the amount of time they spend on their smartphones and can limit it.

Android 10 – No Desserts For You!

Also read: Lenovo Teases An Upcoming Budget Smartphone, The Lenovo A6 Note

The latest release by the company, Android 10 as mentioned above does not have an official dessert name. However, according to some reports, Google still has the codename for the release which is named after a dessert that starts with Q. Take your guesses, I’m going with Quiche. However sad the company’s naming decision may be, the latest release will bring about significant changes in the platform. The first one is an all-new navigation gesture system, which resembles the new iPhone gestures. Also arriving in the release are better and faster security updates and support for Live Captions. The final developer’s Beta for the software has just been released; so Google is expected to roll out a stable update in the following weeks.

August 24, 2019
Lenovo Teases An Upcoming Budget Smartphone, The Lenovo A6 Note
In the month of June last year, Lenovo launched a budget-oriented smartphone, dubbed the Lenovo A5 it was well-received by the consumers. According to a teaser shared by a senior company official, the handset is about to get a successor which will carry the ‘Lenovo A6 Note‘ moniker.

Moreover, the same smartphone was previously approved by NBTC, the regulatory body of Thailand. Its listing revealed that the model number of the handset is ‘L19041‘ and surprisingly a device with the corresponding model number has been spotted on the benchmarking website Geekbench that has revealed it key specifications.

Lenovo A6 Note Design and Features

Going by the official images, the Lenovo A6 Note has an elegant design owing to a high screen body ratio display on the front and a contoured rear panel that seems to be made out of polycarbonate.

Like most modern smartphones, the display of the Lenovo A6 Note has a waterdrop notch up top and slim bezels on all sides. The rear of the smartphone houses a dual-camera setup in addition to a fingerprint sensor and vertically marked company branding.

As the image show, the Lenovo A6 Note will be available in two colours which include Blue and Black. The accents around the rear camera module and the colour of the company branding looks very slick and attractive. Overall, the company seems to have nailed the design of a budget-friendly smartphone that a lot of other companies might overlook.

Speaking of the previously mentioned Geekbench score, the handset registers a single-core score of 759 points and a multi-core score of 3555 points. The listing reveals that the hand is equipped with 3 GB of RAM and an Octa Core CPU which clocked at 2.0 GHz. The name of the processor is listed as ‘ARM MT6762V/WB‘ which is the model number for the ‘MediaTek Helio P22′.

Unfortunately, the listing does not reveal other details like the battery capacity, display size or the resolution of the camera sensor. However, taking into consideration the specs of its predecessor and the already revealed specs, we assume the Lenovo A6 Note will have the following features:
- Display: 6.3 inch, HD+ resolution
- Front Camera: 13 MP + 2 MP
- Rear Camera: 8 MP
- Battery: 4,000 mAh or 5,000 mAh
- Security: Rear Mounted fingerprint sensor
- Chipset: Helio P22, Octa Core CPU
- RAM: 3 GB
- ROM: 32 GB
Lenovo A6 Note Price and Launch Date

Also Read: The Motorola One Action, Who Should Buy It?

Although the company has not yet revealed the announcement date of the smartphone, the teaser suggests that the launch of Lenovo A6 Note is imminent. The official price will only be publicised at the launch event, however, the device is expected to be priced in the Rs 6,000 and Rs 8,000 price bracket like its predecessor.
August 24, 2019
Apple iPhone Pro, New iPads And 16 inch MacBook Pro To Launch Soon
Apple’s 2019 iPhone is just around the corner. The company is set to unveil its latest iteration of its iconic smartphone range on in the second week of September 2019. The hype and anticipation surrounding it have been high and we have already covered many rumours and reports on it. However, fresh new suggests that Apple is planning to introduce “Pro” models of iPhone for the first time. It is also claimed that new iPads and 16 inch MacBook Pros are also in pipeline.

iPhone 11 Concept

2019 iPhone & Pro
- Apple is reportedly planning on launching three new iPhones as it has done so since 2017. But, it will also launch “Pro” variants of these devices.
- The Pro iPhone are distinguished by an additional sensor being present on the rear for ultra-wide images. The sensors will capture three images simultaneously and use new artificial intelligence software to automatically correct and combined the photos.
iPhone XS & XS Max
- iPhone Pro handsets will have significantly upgraded video recording capabilities as well. Apple has apparently made a feature that allows users to retouch, apply effects, alter colours, reframe and crop videos live on the device while it is recording.
- Notably, the reverse wireless charging feature that was seen earlier this year with Samsung Galaxy S10 devices will also be found on 2019 iPhones. It is also claimed that the iPhone will now include a multi-angle Face ID sensor that will unlock the device much more easily even when it is laying flat on a table.
- Apple is making the new iPhone with higher water resistance. It is suggested that the device can last far longer than the 30-minute rating on the currently available iPhones. Additionally, the devices will also be more sturdy with new shatter-resistant technology.
- The entire 2019 iPhone ranges will house the A13 Apple processor as well as a new Matrix chip that could benefit computer vision and augmented reality performance. On the outside, the Pro phones will look similar to its predecessors in size and design but they will introduce an all new matte finish rear.
- 3D Touch will no longer be present in any of the 2019 Apple iPhone range, as the Haptic Touch will replace it. Notewrothy, 5G is not arriving in 2019 iPhones and will be seen in the 2020 models. For iPhone XR, its 2019 iteration will bring incremental improvements. Apart from the faster processor, the handset will reportedly feature a dual camera setup with support for optical zoom.
iPhone XR

2019 Apple 2019 iPads

According to the report, Apple is planning on releasing new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros this year. They will feature upgraded cameras that will be similar to the iPhones. It is still unknown if more than one sensor will be found on the back. Noteworthy, the 2019 iPads will also feature a faster processor but will have its design be similar to its predecessors. Apple is also claimed to discontinue its existing entry-level 9.7 inch iPad in favour of a new 10.2-inch model.

Also Read: Motorola One Action Unboxing And Hands On

2019 MacBook Pros

The report also states that Apple is set to launch a new 16 inch MacBook Pro in 2019. It will be similar in size to the existing 15 inch MacBook Pro but will sport a 16 inch display owing to thinner bezels. The new model will be aimed towards professionals , though, details regarding the controversial keyboard are still unknown.
August 23, 2019
LG Gram 17, 15 and 14 Premium Laptops Launched In India
On the 23rd of August, LG launched three premium-grade laptops in India which are dubbed the Gram 17, Gram 15 and Gram 14. All three laptops will be available for purchase starting next week exclusively on Amazon.in. Noteworthy, in the month of February 2019, the Gram 17 that weighs just 1 kg was awarded a Guinness World Record to be the world’s lightest laptop in its category.

LG Gram 17 Features

As the name suggests, the LG Gram 17 sports a 17 inch IPS display that has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixel and 16:10 aspect ratio. The laptop is kitted with the 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor which is coupled with Intel UHD graphics.

In terms of memory and storage, LG Gram 17 can be configured with upto 8 GB of DDR4 RAM and 512 GB of Solid State Drive (SSD). The laptop is powered by a 72 WHr battery and company claims a battery backup of upto 19.5 hours. It features a whole host of input and output ports which include 1x USB Type-C port, 3x USB 3.1 ports, an HDMI port, headphone and mic combo jack, a microSD card slot.

Other features of the LG Gram 17 include a fingerprint scanner, Precision Glass Touchpad, backlit keyboard and DTS X audio support.

LG Gram 15 and 14 Features

The LG Gram 15 packs 15.6 inch display while the LG Gram 14 features a 14 inch display. The former weights 1099 grams while the latter weighs 995 grams. The Gram 15 and Gram 15 are equipped with 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor. In terms of memory and storage, they have 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB SSD.

Both the laptops are claimed to provide a battery backup of upto 21.5 hours which will vary on the type of usage. Input and output ports on the Gram 15 and Gram 14 are similar to the elder Gram 17.

LG Gram Laptops Price In India

As previously mentioned the three newly launched laptops from the company will be available for purchase from Amazon.in starting next week. The price of the different models is listed below:
- LG Gram 17- Rs. 1,26,000
- LG Gram 15- Rs. 98,000
- LG Gram 13- Rs. 95,000
Also Read: Nokia 7.2 Leaked Live Images Showcase A Triple Camera Setup & Waterdrop Notch

All in all, LG has launched three worthwhile Windows laptop in the country which feature-laden and are capable to take on the notebook computer offerings from all other manufacturers.
August 23, 2019
Nokia 7.2 Leaked Live Images Showcase A Triple Camera Setup & Waterdrop Notch

HMD Global owned Nokia launched the first smartphone under its new 7 series last year. Dubbed the Nokia 7.1, it is a mid-range device which was praised for its premium design and capable specifications. It was then revealed a few days ago that the company is working on its successor which will be called the Nokia 7.2. In the subsequent weeks, the images and design of the handset were leaked online, and it was known that the smartphone is about to launch on the 5th of September at IFA, Berlin. Now as we move closer to the launch, more images of the Nokia 7.2 has surfaced online; which confirm the previously leaked design aspects.

Nokia 7.2

The Nokia 7.2 will be another mid-range offering from HMD Global. Latest images of the smartphone reveal it will have a glass sandwich design with a bluish-green coloured back panel, but it may be offered in more than one colour when launched. The front of the device has minimal bezels with a waterdrop notch on the top. The interface of the handset is visibly stock Android, which suggests it may be Android One certified. This means it will receive major software updates for two years and security updates for three years.

Also read: PUBG Mobile Update Brings New Pirate Themed Game Mode With Zombies

Over at the back, the Nokia 7.2 has a triple camera setup and an LED flash inside a circular housing. This new design characteristic is unlike what the company has implemented before. Underneath the camera setup, a physical fingerprint sensor can be seen; which may be surprising to some as in-display fingerprint scanners are becoming commonplace in many mid-range devices. While other specifications of the handset are not known, rumours point out to a Snapdragon 710 coupled with up to 6GB of RAM inside. Unfortunately, other details like the pricing of the Nokia 7.2 are not known yet. However, since there is little time left before the official announcement, we might not have to wait too long to find that out.

August 23, 2019

The Motorola One Action, Who Should Buy It?

Motorola has freshly announced the Motorola One Action in India which features an unconventionally tall display that has an aspect ratio of 21:9. The smartphone is offered in a single storage configuration and is priced at Rs 13,999.

Falling in a price bracket that is one of the most popular, the question arises where does the Motorola offering stand in front of smartphones like the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Realme 5 Pro that are laden with features.

In this article, we will look at both the pros and cons of the Motorola One Action. Besides, we will also discuss, who should get the latest offering from the company that birthed mobile phones in 1973.

In order to provide a reference point, we have laid out the specifications of the Motorola One Action and its competitors in a tabular manner.

Feature/
Device

Motorola One Action

Realme 5 Pro

Redmi Note 7 Pro

Display

6.3 inch LCD

432 ppi

21:9 Aspect Ratio

Punch Hole

6.3 inch LCD

409 ppi

Corning Gorilla Glass 3+

19.5:9 Aspect Ratio

Waterdrop Notch

6.3 inch LCD

409 ppi

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

19.5:9 Aspect Ratio

Waterdrop Notch

Front Camera

12 MP

16 MP

13 MP

Rear Camera

12 MP (PDAF)

16 MP (ultrawide)

5 MP (Depth Sensor)

48 MP (PDAF)

8 MP (ultrawide)

2 MP (Depth Sensor)

2 MP (Macro Lens)

48MP (PDAF)

5 MP (Depth Sensor)

Battery

3,500 mAh

10 W Fast Charging

10 W Box Charger

4035 mAh

20 W Fast Charging

20 W Vooc Charger (In Box)

4,000 mAh

18 W Fast Charging

10 W Box Charger

Security

Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor

Face Unlock

Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor

Face Unlock

Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor

Face Unlock

Chipset

Exynos 9609

Octa Core CPU

Mali G72 MP3 GPU

Snapdragon 712

Octa Core CPU

Adreno 616 GPU

Snapdragon 675

Octa Core CPU

Adreno 612 GPU

Price

4 GB + 128 GB: Rs 13,999

4 GB + 64 GB: Rs 13,999

6 GB + 64 GB: Rs 14,999

8 GB + 128 GB: Rs 16,999

4 GB + 64 GB: Rs 13,999

6 GB + 64 GB: Rs 14,999

6 GB + 128 GB: Rs 16,999

Build (Front/Rear)

Front Glass

Rear Plastic

Front Glass

Rear Plastic

Front Glass

Rear Glass

Android 9 Pie

Android One

Android 9 Pie

ColorOS 6

Android 9 Pie

MIUI 10

We can clearly see that the Motorola One Action not only has a smaller battery but it also does not support 18 W or 20 W fast charging like its competitors. We feel this is the only con that the newly launched smartphone has.

However, if fast charging is not your biggest concern and you can overlook this aspect. There are plenty of features that he Motorola One Action offers which are listed below:

Bloatware Free Experience: The Motorola One Action runs on the stock version of Android 9 Pie which is devoid of any custom skins. Therefore, the UI is free from any intrusive ads that Xioami owners would be well aware of.
Besides, it does not have any bloatware or custom apps that are found on devices including Xiaomi and Realme. Although it is debatable, we believe stock Android offers a much more slick UI and first-time device owners can learn it without much hassle.

Moreover, there are no proprietary versions of apps like gallery or music that continuously prompt for device permissions like storage and location which may send user data off-shore to data centres in the name of improving user experience.
Android One Certification: Like most other Android smartphones from the company, the Motorola One Action is a part of the Android One Program. Therefore, it is assured to receive at least two upgrades of Android operating system and security patches for 36 months which is a considerable factor.
In the case of Motorola One Action, the smartphone is guaranteed to receive the upcoming Android 10 which was freshly unveiled and its succeeding version which will be unveiled in 2020.
21:9 Aspect Ratio Display: The Motorola One Action has a 6.3 inch LCD display that has a pixel density of 432 ppi. As observed with the previously launched Motorola One Vision, the latest offering from the company also has an unconventionally tall display that has an aspect ratio of 21:9.
For readers who do not know most of the movies are shot in 21:9 ratio and the content creators on YouTube are also gradually moving over to his aspect ratio. To make it easier to understand, the black area above and below any video content is minimised while viewing them on the Motorola One Action. Therefore, it is able to provide an immersive viewing experience.
Punch Hole Camera: The 6.3-inch display of the Motorola One Action features a punch hole that houses the selfie camera. In comparison to the waterdrop notch that is found on almost every other Android smartphone, the punch hole looks a lot more futuristic and intriguing.
Due to this feature alone, the Motorola One Action stands out the crowd and could be a conversation starter while in a social or formal gathering.
128 GB Storage: As we know the Motorola One Action is offered in just one storage capacity that is 4 GB + 128 GB. Unlike its competition, Motorola has opted to go with 128 GB of onboard storage on the sole, base variant. While its competitors are offered in the same ROM capacity, they are at more expensive than the Moto offering.
Based on our experience and encounters, most users buy 32 GB or 64 GB variants of mid-range smartphones and after the 4G revolution and plenty of digital content to consume, they find these storage capacities filling up quickly. On the other hand, 128 GB is perfect for most users.

In addition, if power users end up filling the whole storage, they are covered with the support of memory expansion upto 512 GB via a microSD card.
117 Degree Action Camera: One of the key highlighting features of the Motorola One Action is its 117-degree ultra-wide video camera. Ingeniously, Motorola has mounted the sensor in a sideways position.
This allows the users to shoot landscape video with the Motorola One Action even when it is held in portrait orientation. This feature is inspired from action cameras like GoPro, which also explains the name of the smartphone.
Moto Actions: Staple to most Android smartphones from the company, the Motorola One Action also supports ‘Moto Actions’, some of which include ‘Fast Torch’, ‘Three Finger Screenshot’ and ‘Quick Capture’.

In order to toggle the flashlight on the Motorola One Action, the users can quickly shake the handset in a back and forth motion. The same gesture can be used to toggle the flashlight off.
To quickly pull up the camera application, the users can twist their wrist twice while holding the Moto One Action. Moreover, the same gesture can be used to switch between the front and rear camera.

As the name suggests, holding three fingers on the display captures a screenshot which is much easier than pressing the power button and volume button simultaneously or clicking the button from the navigation menu.

Until one has actually used these gestures to toggle certain features they would not know how much utility to provide. On top of that, this is something that other companies should draw inspiration from as it does not require any additional hardware.

Also Read: The OnePlus TV Will Have A 55 Inch QLED Display, Company Confirms

To sum things up, Motorola One Action has turned out to be a better offering than we initially thought it to be. Most importantly, all of these features make sense because the company has managed to price the device aggressively.

In case, the device was priced at Rs 16,000 or upwards, most of the features have been overshadowed due to the fierce competition.

The answer to the question “Who Should Buy The Motorola One Action?” is, anyone who is looking for an elegant mid-range smartphone that offers up to date features and has an innovative ultrawide camera.

Don’t forget to watch our unboxing video of the smartphone.

August 23, 2019

Motorola One Action Unboxing And Hands On
Motorola launched its One series of smartphones back in 2018. The range is distinguished by its Android One support and its latest instalment has just been launched in India. Motorola One Action is a mid-range smartphone with a triple camera setup on the rear. Here is our unboxing and hands on of the newly launched device.

Video

What’s In The Box?
- Motorola One Action
- Power Adapter
- Type-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Information and Warranty Card
- Case
- SIM Tray Ejector
Design

The Motorola One Action bears similarilities in design with the previously released Motorola One Vision. However, unlike the latter, the former has a plastic back rather than a glass one. The device measures 160.1 x 71.2 x 9.2mm and weighs about a 181g. On the front, the device features minimal bezels which is in part due to its in display punch hole selfie camera. The build feels robust and the polycarbonate back rounds the corners as well.

Motorola One Action’s flanks house the volume rockers and power button on the right while the left is bare with just a SIM card slot. On the rear, the device has a triple camera module on the top left with an LED flash right below it. The signature batwing style “M” logo is found in the fingerprint scanner in the middle while the Android One branding can be seen at the bottom.

Display

Motorola One Action features a 6.3 inch LTPS IPS LCD Full HD+ display with a resolution of 2520 x 1080px. Notably, the device has an aspect ratio of 21:9 which is great for watching movies or videos that are also natively filmed at this ratio. Usually, black bars have to fill the top and bottom due to devices having an 18:9 display. The display, as mentioned above, has a punch hole selfie camera which also allows for an unintrusive viewing experience.

Chipset, Storage and Other Features

Under the hood, the Motorola One Action houses the Exynos 9609 SoC which is manufactured using a 10nm fabrication process. Interestingly, the chipset is also found in the Motorola One Vision as well. The mobile CPU consists of an octa core processor which is clocked at 2.2GHz alongside the Mali G72 MP3 GPU. It offers 4GB of RAM which is coupled with 128GB of internal storage similar to the One Vision. Furthermore, the storage of the handset can be further expanded up to 512GB via a microSD card.

Camera

Motorola’s One Action stands out from the One Vision with a triple camera setup over the latter’s dual cameras housing. The primary lens is a 12MP shooter with f/1.8 aperture alongwith 5MP depth sensor combined with a wide angle action camera with a 117 degree field of view. On the front, the device houses a 12MP with f/2.0 aperture and 1.25um pixel size for selfies.

Battery and Connectivity

The device is powered by a 3,500mAh battery which unfortunately does not support fast charging with only a 10W charge rating. For connectivity, Motorola One Action includes Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, dual 4G VoLTE, GPS, NFC and bottom mounted 3.5 mm jack and USB Type C port which can be used for charging and data syncing.

Colour Options and Other Features

Motorola One Action is available in two colour options that are Denim Blue and Pearl White. Additionally, the device packs many noteworthy features such as face unlock, Action Cam, 21:9 display, Moto Actions and Gesture support and more. It also houses many of the basic sensors like a fingerprint reader, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, Gyroscope and others. Notably, the smartphone is an Android One device which means it is guaranteed to receive to major OS updates and three years security updates.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Lineup Will Support Dedicated Gaming Accessories

Price and Availability

Motorola One Action can be purchased from 30th August 2019 and will be available from Flipkart.com and will also arrive in select offline stores. The price of the single storage variant (4GB RAM + 128GB ROM) is INR 13,999.

Click here to check out the Motorola One Action on Flipkart
August 23, 2019
The OnePlus TV Will Have A 55 Inch QLED Display, Company Confirms

OnePlus, a Chinese electronics OEM who is best known for its smartphones, announced last year that it will release a Television soon. While the details about the device were scarce for a while, a few days ago, the company revealed that the OnePlus TV is ready for primetime and will be launched next month in September. As we move closer to the official announcement, OnePlus has finally revealed the display size and type of the device. According to a post on microblogging website Twitter by the company’s official handle, the upcoming OnePlus TV will have a 55-inch QLED display.

OnePlus TV

Upgrade to an unparalleled viewing experience with a 55″ QLED display on the OnePlus TV ?

Get notified – https://t.co/LTDvaPHwH0 pic.twitter.com/Wyg4aONW9W
— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) August 22, 2019

As mentioned above, the OnePlus TV will feature a QLED display panel measuring 55 inches. QLED or 4K Quantum Dot displays are a more affordable offering than the competing OLED panels, which have become ubiquitous in televisions these days. Alongside the tweet, the company also posted a link to Amazon India, which means that the upcoming device may exclusively be available on the e-commerce platform when it is launched in India. Users can register by going to the link in the tweet and click on the “Notify Me” button to receive a notification when the television is available for sale.

Also read: Nokia Announces Android 10 Update Schedule For Existing Smartphones

OnePlus has already confirmed in the past that its television will be first launched in the Indian market next month. This will be followed by its release in Europe and North American market later this year. As the company is known for making premium, affordable smartphones, the OnePlus TV can also be expected to be a premium device. While the pricing and other details are not available yet, we will not have to wait too long to find out as the release date is just around the corner.

August 23, 2019
Nokia Announces Android 10 Update Schedule For Existing Smartphones
In the last couple of hours, we have received two major news from Google and Nokia. First, that Google’s Android Q’s official name is Android 10. Second, Nokia has announced its Android 10 schedule for its existing smartphones that are part of the Android One program. The announcements came one after the other and here’s a short breakdown of it.

Nokia Update Timeline

Nokia had re-entered the global market with its Android One smartphones two years ago. Since then, the company has seen a warm welcome owing to a bloatware-free experience its devices offer. Most of the handsets offered by Nokia are targetted towards mid to budget range which is uncommon for an Android One device to be. For those unaware, it is a program started by Google that ensures the device running the stock Android gets at least two major Android updates and security patches for three years.

After being the fastest to upgrade Nokia phones from N to O and O to P, I am super excited to share with you that the Q(ueue) for Nokia phones is moving fast as we get ready to welcome Android 10 on Nokia smartphones – roll out starts in Q4, 2019! #Nokiamobile #android10 pic.twitter.com/qXM4ZXAPBo
— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) August 22, 2019

In other words, Nokia devices are ensured for long term use. The company shared its schedule regarding the roll-out of Android Q on its devices which is as follows:

2019 Q4:
- Nokia 7.1
- Nokia 8.1
- Nokia 9 PureView
2020 Q1:
- Nokia 6.1
- Nokia 6.1 Plus
- Nokia 7 Plus
- Nokia 2.2
- Nokia 3.1 Plus
- Nokia 3.2
- Nokia 4.2
- Nokia 1 Plus
- Nokia 5.1 Plus
- Nokia 8 Sirocco
2020 Q2:
- Nokia 2.1
- Nokia 3.1
- Nokia 5.1
- Nokia 1
Google Android 10

Google has officially announced that it is parting from its beloved naming philosophy. The sweet-toothed names that were associated with each new generation of the OS are finally being sobered down. It has been confirmed that Android Q will officially be called Android 10. The reason the company said for this major change is to help people understand generations better.

Also Read: Samsung Announces Galaxy A30s, Features A Triple Rear Camera

The example given out was that some regions cannot distinguish between L or R in regional languages. So, simply saying Lollipop makes no sense to them. Thus, Google is employing a clean, sober and chronological name scheming. It would also seek to not have certain countries in the world feel left out over dessert names from their region (R for Rasgulla Or L for Laddo ;)). The move by Google is purely unifying and simplifying in nature.
August 23, 2019
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Lineup Will Support Dedicated Gaming Accessories
Chinese conglomerate, Xiaomi is bracing for the launch of Redmi Note 8 smartphone lineup which will be unveiled on the 29th of August. As the launch date of the handsets near, the company keeps on sharing more details about them.

According to a fresh teaser, the upcoming Redmi Note 8 smartphones will have exclusive gaming accessories including a gamepad with a joystick. Moreover, it has been revealed that the devices will have a liquid cooling system which will keep the temperatures under check during intensive gaming.

The teaser shared by the company reveals that the liquid cooling system is capable of reducing temperatures as much as 6-degree C which is a considerable difference.

Besides, the company had previously shared a bar graph that compares the Antutu benchmark of three mid-range chipsets which include the MediaTek Helio G90T, Huawei Kirin 810 and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 710. For readers who are unaware, the upcoming Redmi Note 8 smartphones will be equipped with the Helio G90T chipset.

The chart reveals that the SoC found in Xiaomi’s offering registers a significantly higher score than the SD710 which is present on devices like the Realme X (a competitor of the Redmi Note 8). However, the G90T scores a slightly lower score than the Kirin 810 which is found on the Huawei 9x and 9X Pro.

Redmi Note 8 Pro Leaked Images

Also Read: Samsung Launches Galaxy A50s With Improved Cameras And Holographic Back

According to past reports and leaks, the specifications of the Redmi Note 8 Pro will be as follows:
- Display: 6.3 inch IPS LCD, Waterdrop Notch
- Design: Front Glass, Rear Glass
- Storage Variants: 6 GB + 64 GB, 6 GB + 128 GB, 8 GB + 128 GB
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, 18 W Fast Charging
- Chipset: Helio G90T
- Read Camera: Quad Sensor (64 MP Primary Sensor)
- Biometric Security: Rear Mounted Fingerprint Sensor
In order to learn the official specs and price of the Redmi Note 8 lineup, we will have to wait for the official announcement. As previously mentioned, the handsets will be unveiled on the 29th of August in China.
August 23, 2019