Category: Tech

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

AMD Announces The Ryzen R1000 Embedded Processor

AMD has expanded its lineup of embedded processors with the launch of the Ryzen R1000. It is the newest chipset by the company after the Ryzen V1000 embedded processor which was launched a while ago. The latest generation of the SoC offers dual-core, quad-threaded performance, as well as the ability to run in a fanless setup. It features low power solutions for 4K displays and offers leading-edge security features.

AMD Ryzen R1000

The latest AMD R1000 embedded processor features the Ball Grid Array (BGA) packaging. This provides more interconnected pins that can be put into a dual in line or flat package. The BGA mounted SoC suggests it won’t be able to install in a conventional desktop PC’s motherboard. Ryzen R1000 features Zen+ CPU cores which are paired with the company’s Vega 3 graphics engine. Notably, the upcoming gaming console, Atari VCS has been announced to be one of the first devices to feature the Ryzen R1000 processor.

Atari VCS Gaming Console

The new Ryzen R1000 embedded chipset is based on the 14nm fabrication process and features dual cores. While it is slightly less powerful than their predecessors, the new processors are capable of outputting 4K video to three displays simultaneously. The processor operates at a power input of 15W TDP (Thermal Design Power), but users will be able to tune it anywhere between 12W to 25W. If kept on lowest settings, the chipset doesn’t require much cooling, so a fan is not required. Having a fanless design is essential for a thin and lightweight product, which will be the characteristics of the products Ryzen R1000 is developed for.

Availability

Also read: Samsung Galaxy A70 With A Massive Display Launched In India

The new Ryzen R1000 embedded processor will be available starting Q2 to various OEMs worldwide. Interestingly, the SoC is already supported by numerous companies. Furthermore, the Atari VCS is a highly awaited gaming console and as mentioned above, will feature the processor.

April 17, 2019
Samsung Galaxy A70 With A Massive Display Launched In India

Samsung is on a roll, with the Korean company expanding its Galaxy A lineup. The company unveiled the Galaxy A10, Galaxy A30 and Galaxy A50 in February. Amidst positive reviews, Samsung’s new devices were looking to create a dent in the entry-to-mid level smartphone segment. The company has now expanded its lineup by launching the Galaxy A70 in India. The device features a slew of innovative features and a modern design.

Galaxy A70

The Samsung Galaxy A70 is the elder sibling to the Galaxy A50. It features a similar design to the latter with a ‘3D Glasstic’ gradient at the back. The front of the handset is dominated by a massive 6.7 inch Super AMOLED display that has a resolution of 2400 x 1080 px. The device has ultra-narrow bezels all around the display and an Infinity-U style notch on the top. For biometrics and security, the smartphone features an in-display fingerprint scanner and supports face unlock technology.

The Samsung Galaxy A70 runs on the 11nm Snapdragon 675 SoC which is also featured on the Redmi Note 7 Pro. The chipset consists of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU for graphics. For optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 32MP sensor with an f/1.7 aperture; combined with an 8MP ultra-wide angle sensor with an aperture of f/2.2 and a 5MP f/2.2 depth sensor. For selfies, it has an f/2.0 aperture equipped 32MP camera which is housed in the Infinity-U notch on top of the display. In terms of memory and storage, the device will be available with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

The Galaxy A70 is powered by a large 4500 mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging via the bottom mounted USB Type-C port. It also has a dedicated microSD card slot for memory expansion up to 512GB. The smartphone runs on Samsung’s OneUI which is built on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. It is offered in three colours, namely Black, Blue and White.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Microsoft Announces The All Digital Xbox One S

The Galaxy A70 has been launched in India at a price of Rs. 28,990. The smartphone will be available for pre-bookings between April 20 and April 30. It will be sold via major offline stores and online via Flipkart, Samsung’s online store. Initial buyers will also get an option to buy the Samsung U Flex wireless earphones at a discounted price of Rs 999 down from Rs. 3,799.

April 17, 2019
Honor 20i Launched With 32MP Front Camera And Triple Rear Cameras
The Chinese technology company, Honor launched the Honor 10 in the year 2018, which included premium specifications at a budget aggressive price. The company has now launched the first device in the upcoming Honor 20 lineup, which is the Honor 20i. The newly launched device is the base variant in the Honor 20 series, which will be comparatively affordable than its alleged elder siblings, the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro. The latter smartphones will be unveiled on the 21st of May in London.

The Honor 20i features a 6.21 inch LCD display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. The screen has a pixel density of 415 ppi. The device has a U-shaped notch up top, which houses a 32MP (f/2.0) camera for selfies. A narrow chin is clearly visible in the front panel of the smartphone. Moreover, the Honor 20i sports a triple rear camera module, which consists of a 24MP (f/1.8) primary camera, a second 8MP ultra-wide camera sensor and a third 2MP depth sensor.

Under the hood, the smartphone packs a Kirin 710 Octa-core chipset, which is developed by Huawei Technologies. It is fabricated using a 12nm process, and comprises of four cores operating at 2.2 GHz and the rest of the cores clocking at 1.7 GHz. In addition, the Honor 20i will is available in four variants: 4GB+128GB, 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB and a 6GB+256GB variant. Expansion up to 512GB is supported via the hybrid microSD card slot.

Also Read: Google And Apple Take Down TikTok From Their Respective Application Stores

Additional features include Bluetooth v4.2, dual-band Wi-Fi Support and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The smartphone packs a 3,400 mAh battery, which can be charged via the micro USB port. It runs on the Android 9.0 Pie, with Huawei’s custom EMUI on top. The smartphone weighs in at 164 grams and has a thickness of 7.95mm. Moreover, it is available in three colour options, Gradient Blue, Gradient Red, and Magic Night Black.

The prices of the different variants are mentioned below:
- 6GB+64GB: CNY 1599 (~INR 16,600)
- 4GB+128GB: CNY 1599 (~INR 16,600)
- 6GB+128GB: CNY 1899 (~INR 19,700)
- 6GB+256GB: CNY 2199 (~INR 22,800)
April 17, 2019
Google And Apple Take Down TikTok From Their Respective Application Stores

On April 16 2019, the Indian government asked American Multinational technology giants Apple and Google to take down the popular application TikTok from the respective application stores. This action took place soon after the Supreme court refused to issue a stay order regarding the ban of the viral app. As per reports, ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok had previously filed an appeal which alleged that such a ban will lead to a huge setback to the company in the future run. As per latest reports, the application has been banned from both Apple and Google’s application stores.

About TikTok

TikTok is an insanely viral media sharing application, which is a rebranded version of the application that was earlier referred to as ‘Musical.ly’. The app allows users to share self-created short videos with a background track of their choice. Millions of audio tracks are present in TikTok’s library. Furthermore, a multitude of filters and effects are available in the application, which can be used to enhance the video quality. The app is completely free to use and was gaining a lot of popularity among the younger audience.

The aforementioned application was accused of providing unregulated videos to its users, which contained instances of vulgar content. Reports stated that the Madurai bench of the aforementioned High Court had previously passed an order which directed the government to remove the application and any similar instances from the app stores. In the appeal filed by ByteDance, it claims to have taken down 6 million lewd and non-compliant videos from the application’s video library. Moreover, ByteDance also stated that the company trusts the Supreme Court to take the right decision.

Conclusions

Also Read: Apple, Qualcomm Drop All Lawsuits, Sign A Six-Year License Agreement

The Madras HC also appointed a senior advocate as an independent counsel in the case. The Senior Advocate will examine the implications of the application regarding any policy-violating content in the application. In the next hearing (which will be held on April 24), TikTok’s viability as a media sharing application will be brought to light. Even though there is a chance that the application may not ever make its way back to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, TikTok Owners are quite positive regarding the results of the hearing in the light of the appointment of the new independent counsel.

April 17, 2019
Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Registers Highest Overall Score In DxOMark

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S10 lineup of smartphones at the Galaxy Unpacked event in the month of February. The newly launched devices include the S10e, standard S10, S10+ and the S10 5G. All variants of the S10 lineup are laden with praiseworthy features, especially the high-end S10 5G. To add up to the Galaxy S10 5G’s prowess, DxOMark has ranked the smartphone on top of its charts.

Galaxy S10 5G Camera Composition

The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G features an outrageous number of cameras which rounds up to a total of six. Out of the six cameras, four are placed on the rear, while the remaining two are placed in Infinity-O notch on the front of the display. The quad rear camera is comprised of a 12 MP primary sensor, an f/2.2 aperture equipped 16 MP ultra wide sensor, f/2.4 aperture equipped 12 MP telephoto sensor and a TOF (Time Of Flight) sensor which captures depth information. The dual front camera of the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is comprised of an f/1.9 aperture equipped 10 MP sensor and a TOF camera.

Galaxy S10 5G DxOMark Results

As previously mentioned, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G has registered the highest DxOMark overall score of 112 points. Notably, the score is equivalent to the remarkable camera beast, the P30 Pro from Huawei. Though, it lags behind the latter by 2 points in the photo score which is mainly due to 5X optical zoom support on the P30 Pro.

Also Read: Sony PlayStation 5 With 8K Graphics Teased In An Interview

However, the S10 5G bounces back in the video department where it surpasses the P30 Pro by 3 points, consecutively balancing the odds. All in all the Galaxy S10 5G is one of the best smartphones currently up for grabs and Samsung has definitely hit a home run with the device.

April 17, 2019
ASUS Zenfone 6 Passes FCC Certification, Will Feature Dual Camera And Snapdragon 855

ASUS previously tasted success in the hands of the Zenfone 5Z which was launched last year. The smartphone had worthy features and carried an aggressive price tag which helped it compete with smartphones like the Xiaomi POCO F1 and the OnePlus 6. As covered previously, an unreleased smartphone, named the ASUS Zenfone 6 was spotted on AnTuTu in the month of April 2019. Fresh reports state that the aforementioned device has received FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification, which reveals it will sport dual rear cameras.

FCC Label Information

One of the documents in the certification revealed a specification that had previously been spotted on benchmarking platforms, which is the SM8150 baseband processor (the Snapdragon 855 chipset). The SoC is one of the most powerful chipsets in the market as of now, and it comprises of an octa-core Kryo 485 CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU. The details of the chipset were derived from the FCC label which is placed at the back of the smartphone. The label also conveys that the ASUS smartphone will support 18W fast charging, similar to the Zenfone 5Z. Moreover, the presence of two IMEI numbers on the label indicates that the Zenfone 6 is obviously a dual SIM handset.

Features And Specifications

Previous listings revealed that the alleged ASUS Zenfone 6 will pack 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. However, ASUS is also expected to launch the upcoming smartphone in other storage variants. Other speculated specifications include the display resolution, which is 2340 x 1080 px. The listing also exposed that the handset will run on Android 9.0 Pie OS. Furthermore, the ASUS Zenfone 6 is expected to be equipped with a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, which may be the Sony IMX586.

ASUS Zenfone 6 Renders

Also Read: Indian Government Asks Apple & Google To Remove TikTok From Their App Stores

An ex-employee of the Taiwanese technology company previously released some renders of two smartphones with attractive slider designs. It is possible that the company may actually think about adopting some of the preceding designs. As for the ASUS Zenfone 6, other specifications will only be publicised once the company officially unveils them on May 15, 2019.

April 17, 2019
Huawei P30 Lite

The Huawei P30 Lite is the base variant in the P30 smartphone lineup. The smartphone has a glass-sandwich design and measures at 152.9 x 72.7 x 7.4 mm. It features a 6.15 inch display with a resolution of 2312 x 1080 px and a pixel density of 415 ppi. The smartphone runs on the Kirin 710 chipset which consists of an octa-core processor and the Mali G51 GPU. The P30 Lite has a 3340 mAh battery which supports 18W fast charging. Furthermore, the device features a triple rear camera setup and a single 32MP front camera, which is housed in the U-shaped notch up front.

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April 16, 2019
Indian Government Asks Apple & Google To Remove TikTok From Their App Stores

In the ongoing case against the immensely popular media app TikTok; the Indian government has asked technology giants Apple and Google to take down the short video recording and sharing service from their respective app platforms. The news arrives after the Supreme Court refused to issue a stay order on the banning of the app. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok had filed the appeal to issue a stay on banning the app alleging it is causing irreparable damage to the company.

What Is TikTok?

For those who are unaware, TikTok is a popular Chinese mobile app that was earlier known as ‘Musical.ly’. It lets users create short videos and offers features like filters and effects to be used in the videos. The app has become immensely popular among the younger audience which is credited to the exponential increase in affordable smartphones and the rise of 4G connectivity in the country.

About The Case

A case was filed in the Madras High Court after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the court regarding the TikTok app for objectionable, vulgar content. The Madurai bench of the aforementioned High Court passed an order which directed the government to stop the downloading the app in the country. It also put a restriction on certain media houses which restrained them from telecasting the videos created using the TikTok app. As mentioned above, the company ByteDance then challenged this by filing an appeal in the Supreme Court. It has claimed it has taken down almost 6 million videos which didn’t meet its guideline policies and that it trusts the Indian Judicial System to take the right decision.

Also read: Redmi Smartphone Leaks With Snapdragon 730, Triple Camera Setup

The aforementioned request to remove TikTok from app stores by the government is issued via the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The ministry has asked Apple and Google, both of the companies which own iOS and Android OS respectively. If the companies accept the request made by the government, the TikTok app will cease to subsist on the app stores of both the Operating Systems. This is being done to stop new users from downloading the app. However, for users who have the TikTok app preinstalled on their devices, the change wouldn’t lead to anything, as the app would continue to exist on their devices.

April 16, 2019
Redmi Smartphone Leaks With Snapdragon 730, Triple Camera Setup

Since Redmi has parted ways with Xiaomi, it has only brought two smartphones to the market, which are the Redmi Note 7 and the Redmi Note 7 Pro. Both devices are priced budget-aggressively which have received their fair share of quality reviews from consumers. Redmi is now looking towards expanding their product lineup. Recent leaks suggest that the Chinese company is working on another smartphone, which has a front pop-up camera and a rear triple camera setup.

As per the leaks, the smartphone features the newly launched Snapdragon 730 chipset, which is the also present in the recently released Samsung Galaxy A80. The SoC was launched by Qualcomm on April 9, 2019, and comprises of an octa-core Kryo 470 CPU, which is clocked at 2.2 GHz and the Adreno 618 GPU chip. Another notable aspect of the leak was the presence of a 4000 mAh battery in the device. The chipset has support for Quick Charge 4+ technology, which implies that the Redmi smartphone is likely to support fast charging.

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE

Among other details mentioned in the leak is the presence of a triple camera module, with a 48MP sensor as the primary camera. Apart from this, the image shows a second 8MP camera which may an ultra-wide sensor, and a third 13MP sensor, which is probably a telephoto lens. The second leaked image depicts a smartphone with a pop-up camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microphone. This indicates that the Redmi smartphone will have a notch-less display.

Xiaomi Mi 9 SE

Also Read: OnePlus 7 Launch Details May Be Revealed On April 17 As Per CEO Pete Lau

The smartphone may be directed towards the mid-range smartphone segment and is expected to be priced aggressively when it is launched. Although since the aforementioned data is sourced from a leak, fans should take it with a grain of salt. No such device has been officially confirmed yet, hence we would have to wait for the same.

April 16, 2019
Apple’s iOS 13 To Get Dark Mode, New Undo Actions And More: Reports

Apple is scheduled to kickstart its developer’s conference, called WWDC on the 3rd of June this year. The company is expected to announce the latest version of iOS, the operating system used in the iPhones and iPads. Allegedly called the iOS 13, it is expected to bring about a plethora of changes to the software. Fresh reports claim the update will introduce the much awaited dark mode and a new undo action among many others.

iOS 13: What To Expect?

The upcoming iOS 13 from Apple as mentioned above, will introduce a host of changes in the operating system. The biggest change in the update will be the introduction of dark mode. According to reports, this will be a system-wide implementation and will be available as an option in settings. The final implementation may end up looking like the dark mode on the latest MacOS Mojave, which was rolled out last year. The second significant change will be applicable to the iPads running on iOS 13. With the new software, the ability for apps to have multiple windows will be added. These windows will contain individual sheets which can be attached/detached. The new update is expected to make multitasking better on the iPads.

iPhone X

Another overhaul in the upcoming iOS 13 will be regarding the undo system. In previous generations, users could physically shake the device to undo the last typed characters on the keyboard. The latest update will change this as a new three-finger tap gesture will replace the aforementioned actions. With the new iteration, users will be able to slide left or right after the three fingers tap to undo or redo their actions respectively. With iOS 13, the company will also add a new font management panel to access font settings more easily.

iPhone XR

Also read: PUBG Mobile v0.12.0 Update Introduces New Weapons, Enhanced Zombie Mode And More

Other notable changes in the forthcoming iOS 13 will be an upgraded Mail app. The new app will be capable of organising messages into categories like marketing, travel or not important. Similar to third-party email apps, the new, updated Mail app will also be able to categorise messages as “read later”. Like the above-mentioned software, the Reminders app will also get a major overhaul. The voice assistant for Apple devices, Siri will also be better at rejecting noises such as laughter or crying babies with the iOS 13. The latest operating system will hit iPhones and iPads later this year. All the devices from iPhone 6s and above, iPad Mini 2 and above and the iPod touch 6th Gen is expected to receive the update.

April 16, 2019
OnePlus 7 Launch Details May Be Revealed On April 17 As Per CEO Pete Lau

OnePlus has built a reputation for itself as a company that manufactures “flagship killer smartphones”. When the OnePlus 6T was launched in 2018, it received rave reviews worldwide owing to its inclusion of top-of-the-line specifications at a more affordable price point than its competitors. The device featured a host of interesting features, such as Dash Charging and an in-display fingerprint scanner. As reported previously, the next generation of the smartphone including the OnePlus 7 and the OnePlus 7 Pro is all set to make its appearance in the market in the upcoming month i.e. May 2019. A tweet from the CEO of OnePlus, Pete Lau has now revealed that the company will officially announce the launch details of the OnePlus 7 series on April 17. 2019.

I know you guys are stoked to hear about the new device – check back to see my post this Wednesday ?
— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) April 15, 2019

The OnePlus 7 has been floating around in rumours and leaks for quite some time now, and the fans would be ecstatic in light of any official news from the company. Leaks have already revealed a multitude of specifications and features of the upcoming smartphone. The OnePlus 7 lineup is expected to feature the powerful 7nm Snapdragon 855 chipset, which comprises of the octa-core Kryo 485 CPU clocked at 2.84 GHz, combined with the Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of memory, the smartphones may have 12GB of RAM and 512GB ROM for the top variants.

OnePlus 6T

Talking about the optics, the OnePlus “flagship killers” are speculated to feature triple camera setups on the back, with a single front camera which may be housed in the pop-up mechanism of the smartphones. This may lead to a notch-free display on the devices, improving the aesthetics of the same. Under the hood, the OnePlus 7 may be powered by a 4,000 mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging. Also, the Pro version of the smartphone may have a bigger battery pack because of the rumoured 5G connectivity support in the same. Both the devices are expected to run on the latest Oxygen OS 9 on top of the current Android 9 Pie.

OnePlus 6T

Also Read: OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro To Launch On The 14th Of May

As mentioned previously in the article, the new OnePlus smartphones will probably be announced officially on April 17. Both the smartphones will be placed at a higher price point than its predecessors. Recent leaks suggest that the smartphone will be priced US$ 569 (roughly INR 40,000) onwards. More information regarding the same is expected to be available in the not-so-distant future.

April 16, 2019
Google Pixel 3a, 3a XL Launch Date Teased By The Company

It has been long anticipated that Google will release two affordable smartphones in the Pixel lineup. These devices will allegedly be called the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL. While there was no official confirmation by the company, key details of the handsets have been leaked multiple times in the past. A fresh listing on the company’s product store insinuates when the aforementioned smartphones will launch. The two new Pixel devices may make their debut on the 8th of May (IST). Notably, this is the first day of the company’s annual developer’s conference, the Google I/O.

Pixel 3a/3a XL

The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will be an entirely new offering by the company. They will be the mid-range variant of the premium Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3XL respectively. Past leaks have revealed the smartphones will sport a design reminiscent of their siblings; except they will feature a polycarbonate build instead of metal and glass on the more premium models. According to the reported specifications of the devices, the Pixel 3a will have a 5.6 inch OLED display while the Pixel 3a XL will sport an OLED display measuring 6 inches diagonally. For biometrics and security, both the devices will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are expected to run on the Snapdragon 670 SoC which is manufactured using 10nm fabrication process. The chipset consists of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 612 GPU for graphics. In terms of optics, both the smartphones will have a single 12 MP rear camera like their elder siblings. For selfies, a single 8 MP camera will be housed on the top of the display. In terms of memory and storage, the Pixel 3a smartphone duo will feature 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of internal storage.

Past leaks have revealed the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will be powered by a 3000 mAh battery. Like its elder siblings, they are expected to run on the current Android 9 Pie with a stock interface and will receive fast software updates. The leaked images also confirm the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack on at least one of the two devices.

Pricing & Availability

Google Pixel 3XL

Also read: Future Android Updates To Be Delivered Via The Google Play Store

The upcoming Pixel 3a smartphone duo from Google as mentioned above may make their debut at the Google I/O 2019. While there is no official confirmation regarding the pricing of the smartphones, previous leaks have claimed the Pixel 3a will be priced around Rs. 35,000 while the Pixel 3a XL may cost up to Rs. 45,000 in India.

April 16, 2019
Microsoft May Launch Surface Buds To Take On Apple AirPods

When Microsoft first launched its wireless Surface headphones, they received positive reviews globally. The headphones have a minimalistic design and offer best-in-class gesture controls. As per the latest reports, Microsoft is working on a pair of Truly Wireless Earbuds, which will supposedly go up against the hugely popular Apple AirPods. The aforementioned earbuds from Apple were first released in December 2016 and have since become the gold standard for wireless earbuds.

Microsoft Surface Headphones

As per sources, the Truly Wireless Earbuds from Microsoft are codenamed “Morrisson”. Reports say that Microsoft is planning to expand its wearables lineup from the Surface headphones to the in-ear Truly Wireless Earbuds, which are speculated to feature passive noise-cancellation. Moreover, they are expected to sport a minimalistic design to the aforementioned Surface headphones.

Apple AirPods

Sources also reveal that the American technology company will aim towards integrating gestures with the Surface buds, which will greatly improve any form of interactions between the smartphone and the earbuds, such as reading content on the handset. Furthermore, just like Apple’s AirPods Siri Integration and Galaxy Buds‘ Bixby assistant, the Microsoft Truly Wireless Earbuds are expected to be equipped with Cortana, Microsoft’s Voice Assistant.

Also Read: Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL Price Leaked, Launch Imminent

Competition And Availability

Samsung Galaxy Buds

As previously reported, Amazon is also expected to release its own version of Truly Wireless Earbuds in the upcoming months, which will be equipped with the Alexa voice assistant. Considering Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri are the most popular voice assistant in the market right now, Cortana-based Surface buds may have to face some serious competition from the same. Some exceptional features may be able to turn the tide when Microsoft’s Cortana TWS earbuds hit the market by the end of the year 2019.

April 16, 2019
Future Android Updates To Be Delivered Via The Google Play Store

Google’s Operating System Android is one of the most popular softwares in the world. Its popularity can be justified with the wide variety of devices it is compatible with. However, despite the popularity, one Achilles Heel the OS has faced time and again is the disparity in software updates. While smartphone OEMs like Google, Essential and Nokia have been known for pushing updates constantly, the majority of devices lack the latest version of the software. A post on the social media website Reddit insinuates Google is looking forward to changing that.

In the post, the user claimed they received an Android software update through the Google Play Store, Android’s application store. This is an unconventional way of dealing with an update, as in the past all the new iterations to the AndroidOS were delivered through the settings menu. The new type of software update was seen in testing on the latest Android Q Beta 2.

Future Android Updates

While it is not set in stone, the aforementioned change could revolutionise the way future software updates are delivered. While the user on Reddit claimed it was a relatively small update package; it may be an indication that the new way of pushing changes in software through the Google Play Store would be limited, at least initially to monthly security patches. This suggests heavier files, like the ones packing major changes to the software, could still be delivered via the settings menu, as the conventional method.

Also read: Free To Play Forza Street Out On PC, Will Also Launch On Android And iOS

Delivering monthly security patches through the Google Play Store may be a monumental move on Google’s part. Because of this, smartphones which were abandoned and would not receive updates otherwise; would have a chance of receiving an update. This would make the AndroidOS one step closer to a privacy focussed software.

April 16, 2019
Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL Price Leaked, Launch Imminent

It has been leaked multiple times that Google will release a specced down version of its Pixel 3 lineup of smartphones this year. The devices were allegedly called the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL. Not long ago, a listing on Google’s website mentioned the Pixel 3a lineup. This suggests the handsets are closer to launch than ever. Now, a user on social networking website Reddit has leaked the Canadian pricing of the upcoming mid-range smartphones from Google.

Pixel 3a/3a XL

The Pixel 3a lineup will be Googles first mid-range offering. The smartphones have been previously leaked to sport a design that is reminiscent of their elder siblings. However, the material of choice is expected to be polycarbonate instead of metal and glass on the Pixel 3 & 3 XL. The front is expected to be dominated by a 5.6-inch OLED display on the Pixel 3a while the Pixel 3a XL will have a 6 inch OLED display. For biometrics and security, both the devices will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Google Pixel 3XL

Under the hood, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are expected to run on the 10nm Snapdragon 670 SoC. The chipset is comprised of an Octa-core processor and the Adreno 612 GPU. For optics, a 12 MP rear camera is expected in both the smartphones, while the front camera will have a resolution of 8 MP. In terms of memory and storage, the devices are expected to have 4GB of RAM and up to 64GB of onboard storage.

Past leaks suggest that both the smartphones in the Pixel 3a lineup will be powered by a 3000 mAh battery with support for fast charging. Like its elder siblings, they are expected to run on the current Android 9 Pie with a stock interface and will receive fast software updates. The leaked images also confirm the presence of a 3.5mm headphone jack on at least one of the two devices.

Pricing & Availability

Google Pixel 3XL

Also read: Nubia Patent Suggests A Flexible Smartphone Screen With Dual Notch

It was earlier rumoured the company will launch the Pixel 3a smartphone duo at Google I/O next month. The leak of the pricing of both the devices insinuates their launch is imminent. It has been revealed the Pixel 3a will start at CAD 649 (Rs. 33,900). While the Pixel 3a XL will start at CAD 799 (Rs. 41,600). One word of caution though, these are reportedly the carrier pricing, the final price may be lower.

April 15, 2019