Category: Tech

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PUBG Mobile 0.11.5 Beta Update Introduces New Weapons, Vehicles & More
The immensely popular PUBG mobile keeps on getting better with each passing day. Bluehole Corporation, the developer of PUBG has released yet another beta update for the game which brings several new changes ranging from new weapons to vehicles to dynamic weather. The latest update has the version number ‘0.11.5’ and the update consumes 1.7 GB of data to download for the Android operating system. Currently, the update is only available to download from Tencent’s website (download here) and will soon make its way to the Google Play Store.

PUBG Changelog With 0.11.5 Update
- New G36C Rifle- The new weapon fires 5.56 mm rounds which are also used by the might M416 and M16A4. However, it will only be limited to the Vikendi map and will replace the SCAR-L.
- New Tukshai aka Auto-Rickshaw- The new vehicle will be exclusively available to the Sanhok region and it will replace three other vehicles including the Jeep, Dacia (sedan) and the Mini Bus.
- Reformed Zombies- The fictional undead creatures will now be able to enter the area where they previously could not. Also, they will now enter a weakened state from time to time during the match.
- Pre-selected “I got supplies” message- The update will add the aforementioned message as the default option in the message bar. This is a feature which will be highly appreciated by squads rather than solo players.
- Dynamic Weather In Two Areas – The most popular Erangel and Miramar maps will now support dynamic weather. In simple words, the weathers in these locations will be ever changing. Weather conditions like rain reduce the visibility conditions making the game harder and more indulging.
Also Read: Redmi Note 7 Pro To Go On Sale For The First Time In India Today

A few other changes that are accompanied with the update include tuning of fuel level in vehicles, outfit preview notification if one piece covers another and feedback button in the main menu.
March 13, 2019
Redmi Note 7 Pro To Go On Sale For The First Time In India Today

The Redmi Note 7 Pro is all set to go on sale in India for the first time today. The smartphone was launched alongside the Redmi Note 7 on February 28. It is the first phone that Redmi has launched in India after separating from its parent company Xiaomi. The device features a modern design and ambitious specifications with a lucrative price tag.

Redmi Note 7 Pro: Where To Buy?

Click here to buy the Redmi Note 7 Pro

The Redmi Note 7 Pro will be available at a price of Rs 13,999 for the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. The variant with 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage has been priced at Rs 16,999. The smartphone will be available to order via flash sales on Flipkart and Mi.com from 12 noon on March 13. It will also be available offline from Mi Home outlets starting today.

Redmi Note 7 Pro: Specifications & Features

To recall, the Redmi Note 7 Pro is a budget offering from the company and features a modern design with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the rear. The smartphone has a 6.3 inch LCD display with a small waterdrop notch up top. The display panel has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a resolution 2340 x 1080 px and pixel density of 409 ppi. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back of the device and it also supports face unlock technology.

The Redmi Note 7 Pro runs on the 11nm Snapdragon 675 chipset. It consists of the Kryo 460 CPU with two Cortex A76 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and 6 Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.7GHz. The CPU is paired with the Adreno 612 GPU. The smartphone is available in two variants, a 4GB+64GB variant and a 6GB+128GB model. It also has the Qualcomm Spectra 250L ISP (Image Signal Processor) for improving camera performance. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has Android 9 (Pie) out of the box, with Xiaomi’s own MIUI 10 on top. Reputably, the device also supports memory expansion up too 256 GB via a microSD card.

The Redmi Note 7 Pro features a dual camera module on the back of the smartphone, which comprises of a primary 48 MP Sony IMX586 sensor and a secondary 5 MP depth sensor. Noteworthy, the Sony IMX586 sensor is found in higher-end devices like the Honor View 20. The camera also supports 4K recording at 30 fps. In terms of the front camera, it has a 13 MP front facing camera with AI integration.

Also read: World Wide Web Turns 30, Top 10 Internet Moments

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

Click here to buy the Redmi Note 7 Pro

March 13, 2019
Samsung Announces NU6100 UHD TVs In India
Samsung has launched a lineup of online exclusive UHD TVs in India which carry the Super 6 Series branding and NU6100 moniker. The newly launched TVs will compete against the likes of Mi LED TVs which have gained a lot of popularity due to their low price. The Samsung UHD TV lineup includes three sizes which are 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch.

Samsung NU6100 UHD TV Features

Click here to buy the Samsung NU6100 UHD TV

The NU6100 UHD TVs feature the PurColor technology that aims to deliver vivid colours with high levels of sharpness and optimized levels of contrast for an immersive experience. Also, the TVs are bundled with Smart Hub and Smart Convergence features. They allow the uses to stream content wirelessly on the large screen TV directly from their mobile phones or tablets.

The Super 6 Series UHD TVs from Samsung are equipped with a Quad Core processor which in combination with the UHD picture engine allows playing 4K games without lag from consoles on the device. The TVs run on Tizen OS which supports several media streaming services including Netflix, Hotstar and Youtube.

The inbuilt media streaming service on the NU6100 UHD TVs has access to over 60,000 international and national movie titles which can be viewed in 10+ local languages. All three variants of the UHD TVs have 20w speakers and a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. The UHD TVs have two HDMI ports and one USB port for playing content via a thumb drive or an external hard drive.

Price and Availability

Also Read: ASUS ROG Launches RTX Powered Gaming Laptops & Desktops In India

The Super 6 Series UHD TVs from Samsung will be exclusively available from online channels and will be available for purchase from the 12th of March. Flipkart will sell all three models of the TV while Amazon will only sell the 50 inch variant. In addition to Flipkart and Amazon, the UHD TVs will also be available from Samsung’s online store. The price for different variants of the UHD TVs are as follows:
- 43 inch – Rs 39,999
- 50 inch – Rs 49,999
- 55 inch – Rs 59,999
Click here to buy the Samsung NU6100 UHD TV
March 12, 2019
ASUS ROG Launches RTX Powered Gaming Laptops & Desktops In India

ASUS ROG unveiled its latest lineup of gaming laptops including the ROG Zephyrus S GX531, ROG Zephyrus S GX701 and ROG Strix SCAR II on March 11, 2019. In addition, the company also launched an RTX powered gaming desktop: the GL12CX. ASUS claims that each one of these devices offers best-in-class cooling to deliver “sustained gaming performance”.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX531 Laptop

The GX531 features a 15.6 inch Full HD IPS display, with 144 Hz refresh rate, 3 ms response time and full VR compatibility. It packs an Intel Core i7-8750H hexa-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz, which can be overclocked to 3.9 GHz. The laptop is kitted with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, which has 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Furthermore, the GX531 has 8 GB of onboard DDR4 RAM, with expansion support up to 24 GB. It has two M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slots and a 512 GB SSD.

The gaming laptop doesn’t sport a mechanical keyboard, however, it has a Backlit Chiclet Keyboard with N key rollover. The Zephyrus S GX531 supports Aura Sync, using which users can synchronize RGB lighting patterns across the supported peripherals. It has two 2W speakers with an Array Microphone. Interestingly, the laptop is bundled with a webcam (for streaming or video calling) that can be attached to any part of the laptop for preferred angle capturing. In terms of ports, it is fitted with 1 x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, 1x USB3.1 Gen 1 Type C port, 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type A port, 2x USB 2.0 Type A ports, 1x HDMI 2.0b port, 1x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack and 1x Kensington lock. The laptop weighs at 2.1 kilograms

ASUS ROG Zephyrus S GX701 Laptop

The GX701 gaming laptop sports a 17.3 inch Full HD IPS display, with 144 Hz refresh rate, 3 ms response time and VR compatibility. Under the hood, It packs an Intel Core i7-8750H hexa-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz, which can be overclocked to 3.9 GHz. For graphics, the laptop is kitted with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, which has 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The GX701 has 8 GB of onboard DDR4 SDRAM, with expansion support up to 24 GB. It has four M.2 NVMe PCI-E 3.0 slots and a 1TB SSD.

The GX701 has a similar backlit chiclet keyboard to the GX531 except for the Per-Key RGB feature on the GX701. It supports Aura Sync too, and has two 2.5W speakers for audio output. In terms of ports, the ASUS laptop has 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, 1x USB3.1 Gen 1 Type C port, 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type A port, 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A ports, 1x HDMI 2.0b port, 1x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack and 1x Kensington lock. It weighs at 2.7 kg.

It is priced at Rs. 3,49,990 and will be available for purchase in April 2019.

ASUS ROG Strix SCAR II

The ROG Strix SCAR II laptops are specifically designed for Esports, the company states. It has a 15.6 inch Non-Glare Full HD IPS Panel with 144 Hz Refresh rate and 3 ms response time. It packs an Intel Core i7-8750H hexa-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz, which can be overclocked to 3.9 GHz. The laptop features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070, which has 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. The GX701 has 8 GB of onboard (dual channel) DDR4 SDRAM, with expansion support up to 32 GB. It has a M.2 NVMe PCIE 3.0 slot and a 512GB SSD, along with a 1TB FireCuda SSHD (Solid State Hybrid Drive).

In addition to a backlit chiclet keyboard, the SCAR II’s keyboard has 4 extra hotkeys, which can be used to increase/decrease volume, mute the microphone and launching the ROG Armoury Crate (ASUS software to optimize games and save RGB profiles). The laptop has two 3.5W speakers with Smart AMP technology and features a similar webcam attachment to the GX531 and GX701. In terms of ports, it houses 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type-C port, 2x USB3.1 Gen 1 Type C port, 1x USB3.1 Gen2 Type A port, 1 x mDP 1.2 port, 2x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A ports, 1x HDMI 2.0b port, 1x RJ-45 Jack, 1x SD card reader, 1x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack and 1x Kensington lock. It weighs at 2.4kg.

The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR II is priced at Rs. 1,64,990 onwards.

ASUS ROG Strix GL12CX Desktop

Also Read: Specifications Of Sony Xperia 4 Leak Before Official Launch

The ASUS GL12CX is kitted with an Intel Core i9-9900K processor octa-core processor clocked at 3.6 GHz, with a max turbo frequency of 5 GHz. The Intel Z390 motherboard in the desktop also houses the NVIDIA Geforce RTX 2080 GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM. The desktop can support up to 32 GB of DDR4 of RAM, and it has 2 DIMM (Dual in-line memory module) slots. The Desktop also features a 512 GB SSD and a 2TB HDD.

The GL12 CX is priced starting Rs. 1,23,990.

March 12, 2019
Huawei Watch GT, Band 3 Pro and Band 3e Launched In India

At an event in India today, Huawei launched its range of wearables. The lineup includes the Watch GT, Band 3 Pro and the Band 3e. The highlight feature of all the product includes long battery life and a modern design at an affordable price. While the Watch GT is aimed at a premium smartwatch user, the fitness bands are targeted at fitness enthusiasts on a budget.

Huawei Watch GT

The Huawei Watch GT is a Lite OS based smartwatch which features sleep tracking, fitness tracking, and GPS capabilities. The Watch GT is waterproof down to 50 meters, measures 46.5 x 46.5 x 10.6 mm and weighs in at 46 grams without the strap. The device has a circular 1.39 inch AMOLED display with a 454 x 454 px resolution and a pixel density of 326 ppi. The smartwatch is made out of metal with a ceramic bezel and is available in two models, Classic and Sport.

The watch uses Bluetooth 4.2 to connect with smartphones and is compatible with both Android and iOS. Huawei claims 2-week long battery backup with active fitness tracking and up to 30 days with normal watch functionalities. Although, if you use it in continuous exercise tracking mode with heart rate monitor and GPS set to on, the battery backup drops down to 22 hours. The Watch GT can be fully charged in a mere 2 hours.

Huawei Watch GT has dual chipsets, a high power efficiency chipset for running less power-intensive processes and a second chipset which is up to 6x faster than the first for running features like activity tracking and heart rate monitor. According to Huawei, the combination of two different chipsets allow for the claimed long battery backup. It has an inbuilt heart rate sensor that can monitor and record the user’s heart rate, that can also be displayed on a smartphone app at a later point. It can also record sleeping patterns and suggest improvements for better sleep.

Huawei Band 3 Pro

The Huawei Band 3 Pro offers a less invasive and more lightweight option for those with fitness tracking needs. The Band 3 pro has a GPS tracker, heart rate sensor, and is waterproof to down to 50 meters. It measures 45 x 19 x 11 mm and weighs a mere 25 grams, almost half of the Watch GT. It has a metal construction with a high gloss UV coating and a silicone rubber strap. The smart band has a 0.95 inch 2.5D AMOLED display with 240 x 120 px resolution.

The Huawei Band 3 Pro apart from the touchscreen has a physical home button to easily navigate through the menus. Like the Watch GT, it also uses Bluetooth 4.2 to connect and is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. The Band 3 Pro has an inbuilt heart rate sensor that can monitor and record the user’s heart rate, that can also be displayed on a smartphone app at a later point. It can also record sleeping patterns and suggest improvements for better sleep. All the activities can be monitored and tagged in the App and then later reviewed for data collection on the user’s daily performance.

Huawei Band 3e

Huawei Band 3e is the most affordable product launched at the event today. The fitness band also offers a footwear mode which allows it to be attached on to a shoe for accurate step and fitness tracking. It measures 40.5 x 14.8 x 11.2 mm and weighs in at 17g. The smart band has a 0.5-inch PMOLED display and is waterproof down to 50 meters, just like its elder sibling. The physical home button on the band provides an option to navigate through the different menus. Huawei claims a battery life of 14 days on the device or 40 hours on continuous tracking mode. The strap is available in five colours which include Black, Grey, Orange, Cyan and Pink.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Specifications Of Sony Xperia 4 Leak Before Official Launch

The Huawei Watch GT has been priced at Rs. 15,999 for the Sports edition, while the Classic edition will cost Rs. 16,999. Pleasantly. buyers will get a pair of Bluetooth earphones worth Rs 2,999 with the purchase of the smartwatch. The Huawei Band 3 Pro has been priced at Rs 4,699 whereas the Band 3e costs Rs 1,699. The Watch GT and the Band 3e will be available starting March 19 on Amazon while the Band 3 Pro will go on sale starting March 26.

March 12, 2019
Specifications Of Sony Xperia 4 Leak Before Official Launch

Sony launched the Xperia 1 flagship smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona last month. The device was the world’s first to have an aspect ratio of 21:9 which the company calls ‘CinemaWide’ display. Fresh reports of a mid-range smartphone from Sony have surfaced online, claiming a device named Xperia 4 is in the works with a tall 21:9 aspect ratio.

Sony Xperia 4

According to the leak, the Sony Xperia 4 will measure 149.5 x 65 x 9.4mm. It may have a similar design to the Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus, which have a considerable bezel on the top and minimal bezels all around the screen. The Xperia 4 will have a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2520×1080 px. Like its siblings, the smartphone is expected to have a side mounted fingerprint scanner, embedded in the power button and will support face unlock technology.

The report claims that under the hood, the Xperia 4 will run on the Snapdragon 710 SoC which is manufactured using 10nm fabrication process. The chipset has an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 616 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will have dual rear cameras, details of which are unknown currently. There will be a single front-facing camera housed above the display for selfies. In terms of memory and storage, the device will have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.

The Xperia 4 will be powered by 2800 mAh battery which will support Sony’s adaptive charging technology. One surprising omission from the smartphone is reported to be the 3.5mm headphone jack. Until now, the company only removed the port from its flagship devices, but the mid-range Xperia 4 will also allegedly lack the support for it. The handset will be available in four colours, which include Silver, Black, Purple, Red.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: Apple Sends Out Invites For March 25 Event, Streaming Service Expected

The Sony Xperia 4 will be a mid-range offering from the company, so it is expected to be priced around the US$ 500 range (Rs. 34,000). The smartphone is expected to be unveiled in the month of April in markets like Japan and Europe.

March 12, 2019
Apple Sends Out Invites For March 25 Event, Streaming Service Expected

Apple has sent out invites for an event scheduled on the 25th of March. The event is scheduled to take place in the Steve Jobs theatre in Cupertino, California. This is the same place where the company announced the current generation of iPhones which include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR. While the invite for the aforementioned event doesn’t mention what Apple will announce or unveil at the event, but it is presumed to showcase its subscription-based online services.

What To Expect On March 25?

The highlight of the Apple event on March 25 will be its upcoming online subscription services. As reported earlier, the company has been planning to launch a range of subscription-based services which might finally see the light of the day at the event. Reportedly, the first service that will be unveiled is a news subscription which would allow users to get news directly from their preferred publications in a digital manner. Another product that was rumoured and now is all but confirmed from the invite is a video streaming service by Apple. The event invite includes a text that reads, “It’s show time” which supports the claim of the launch of a video streaming service.

Also read: OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

A streaming service by Apple would make its debut in a market filled with similar products. The most popular ones of them include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. In a bid to stand out from the competition, Apple is rumoured to be working with HBO to bring the channel’s content on its platform. Other exhibits like a carpool karaoke and Apple produced content will also be available on its streaming service. Besides the service-related announcements, the company is also expected to use the event to launch the long-rumoured AirPods 2 wireless earphones and announce the availability of the highly awaited AirPower wireless charging mat.

March 12, 2019
Google Pixel 2 Spotted Running Android Q Beta On Geekbench
Mountain View, California based Google is soon expected to release the first Android Q beta for Pixel smartphones. Before its official rollout, a Google Pixel 2 smartphone running the aforementioned version of Android has been spotted on Geekbench. The device secures a single core score of 1856 points and a multi-core score of 6307 points which is comparable to a device running Android 9 Pie.

Although Google has not yet confirmed the date of the rollout, the listing indicates that the update will be dispensed soon. Last year, the company released the first Android P developer preview for Pixel smartphones on the 7th of March. For at least a few weeks, the developer preview will only be exclusive for Google Pixel smartphones which will later be followed by devices of other OEMs. Notably, a Google executive in a podcast announced that updates of Android Q public beta will be rolled to several other devices as well.

What Features Will Android Q Bring To The Table?

With every Android update, Google strives to make the mobile OS smooth and bug-free. Therefore, the first and foremost change with Android Q will be speed and performance optimisation. A notable feature, that Android Q is confirmed to bring is system-wide dark mode. This feature will especially be useful for users of smartphones with an OLED display as it will prolong the battery life of the device. Other possible features that the upcoming Android update is believed to improve or add are as follows:
- Inbuilt Screen Recording Support – As the name suggests, it allows the user to record the media or games that are being displayed on the screen. With the surge in mobile games streaming, this feature has been in high demand. Although this feature could have been added to any Android device running versions below Android Q with the help of 3rd party applications, an inbuilt screen recorded would surely be appreciated.
- Desktop Mode – This feature will allow the user to project the display the contents of their Android device on a large screen. Hence, an Android device could be used as a desktop computer. Companies including Samsung and Huawei in the past have included a similar feature on their Android devices. However, the integration of this feature on a deeper level will result in better performance. Also, it will end the exclusivity which the users of a handful of companies are able to enjoy.
- Improved Facial Recognition – Facial recognition is not a new feature that Android Q will bring. However, the latest update will further enhance the feature so that it is faster and more secure than before.
Also Read: OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

Other features of the Android Q will only be revealed once Google officially lifts the curtains off its latest software offering.
March 12, 2019
Realme 3 To Go On Sale In India For The First Time Today
Amidst the launch of a number of budget-aggressive smartphones in India, Realme 3 was launched on March 4, 2019. Succeeding the Realme 2, the device offers significant performance and design upgrades over its predecessor and will go up against devices like the Redmi Note 7 and the Samsung Galaxy M20 in India.

Specifications, Design And Features

Click here to buy the Realme 3 on Flipkart.

The Realme 3 sports a 6.2 inch IPS LCD with a 1520 x 720 px resolution. The device has a dewdrop notch display and is encompassed by narrow bezels which add to the elegance of the device. The rear unibody panel of the smartphone is made out of polycarbonate with a 3D gradient finish on top. The back of the device houses the dual camera module with the LED flash, the Realme branding and a fingerprint scanner. The left side of the Realme 3 is occupied by the volume rockers and the SIM card tray with a dedicated microSD card slot (up to 256 GB), whereas the right side is occupied by the power button. The bottom of the handset accommodates the micro USB port, the speaker grille and the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

The smartphone runs on the Helio P70 chipset which comprises of a 2.1 GHz octa-core CPU and the Mali G72 GPU. The Realme 3 has two memory variants, one with a 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage and the other with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM. The device has the Color OS 6.0 on top of Android 9 (Pie) out-of-the-box. The OS features gesture navigation and AI battery management.

The dual camera module consists of a primary 13 MP (f/1.8) camera sensor and a 2 MP depth sensor. The camera has features like Nightscape and Chromaboost, which are first-in-class. In terms of the front camera, the device has a 13 MP selfie shooter. It is powered by a 4,230 mAh battery with 10 W charging support. Notably, the Realme 3 also sports Bluetooth v5.0.

Price And Availability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9khBEFQgIPc

Also Read: Realme 3 With 3D Gradient Unibody Launched

The Realme 3 is available in three colour options which include Dynamic Black, Radiant Blue, and Classic Black. It is available for purchase on the Flipkart online store, as well as Realme offline stores. As mentioned before, it is available in two storage variants for which the prices are as follows:
- 3 GB RAM + 32 GB ROM – Rs 8,999
- 4 GB RAM + 64 GB ROM – Rs 10,999
Click here to buy the Realme 3 on Flipkart.
March 12, 2019
OnePlus To Launch A Pair Of Truly Wireless Earbuds With The OnePlus 7

OnePlus is expected to launch its next flagship, the OnePlus 7 in the month of June. The smartphone will be a successor to the OnePlus 6T which was lauded for its performance and affordability. The device has been previously leaked to sport an all-new design and updated internals. A post by the CEO of OnePlus, Pete Lau on the Chinese social networking website Weibo has suggested that the company is working on a pair of truly wireless earbuds which may be announced along with the OnePlus 7.

OnePlus Truly Wireless Earbuds

In his post, the senior OnePlus executive mentions the current industry trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack in favour of a single port. He then asks for suggestions for truly wireless earbuds. Considering smartphone manufacturers like Nokia and Samsung have already released earbuds that are fully wireless, OnePlus may be looking to go down the same path. The earphones will be an upgrade to the Bullets Wireless earbuds, which were launched last year. Unfortunately, details about the device aren’t known yet, but the upcoming truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus are likely to retain the Bullets branding and will arrive with a charging case like the Apple AirPods. It is also reported to have a minimal audio delay, a small and lightweight body and will be comfortable to wear.

Also read: YouTube Rolling Out Fact Checking Feature To Combat Fake News

Interestingly Apple started this trend of removing the 3.5mm headphone jack with its 2017’s iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. OnePlus removed the headphone jack with their current generation flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 6T. Like its predecessor, the upcoming OnePlus 7 is not expected to have the ill-fated headphone jack. So, the idea of launching truly wireless earbuds along with the device may turn out to be a good idea for the company. The truly wireless earbuds from OnePlus will compete against the likes of the Apple AirPods, the latest Samsung Galaxy Buds and Nokia’s True Wireless Earbuds. As the company is known to price its devices competitively, the earphones could be priced around the US$ 120 (Rs. 8300) range.

March 11, 2019
Samsung Is Working On An Ingenious Foldable Phone Claims Patent

Late last month, the Korean Electronics giant, Samsung launched its first foldable smartphone called the Galaxy Fold. The device has an unconventional design with a large foldable inner display and a primary cover display. Soon after the launch of the Galaxy Fold, Huawei launched its first foldable smartphone that carries the Mate X moniker. The key difference between the two newly launched devices is the type of foldable display. The Samsung Galaxy Fold has an inner folding display while the Mate X has an outward folding display which the company refers as a falcon wing design. A freshly granted patent to Samsung proposes that the company is working on another foldable phone with an ingenious design. The patent also raises the question of whether the device is a successor to the Galaxy Fold or an entirely different smartphone.

Patent Disclosures

Samsung filed the patent for the aforementioned foldable smartphone with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) on the 21st September 2018 which it was granted on the 4th of January 2019. The front of the device houses a large screen foldable display which is stabilised via a complex spring-loaded mechanism. The left and right halves of the foldable device are consolidated with the help of a flexible material which conceals the previously mentioned mechanism.

The spring that drives the mechanism stays in a rested position when the device is in its folded state. However, to maintain a flat unfolded state the user must turn a small latch at the rear of the device which tenses the spring to present a smooth and wrinkle-free display. As the display of the device from the patent stays exposed it is highly susceptible to scratches and scuffs. Therefore, the company is also expected to develop a protective case for the device. Surprisingly, the patent does not exhibit any camera sensor on the front or the rear of the device. Any details about the specifications of the foldable smartphone are currently unavailable. We will have to wait for the company to spread some light on the foldable smartphone from the freshly granted patent.

Is It The Galaxy Fold 2?

Also Read: Indian Government Implements cVIGIL App To Prevent Devious Voting

The answer to this question is not certain, however, presumably the freshly patented device will co-exist alongside the Galaxy Fold. The market for foldable phones has just started to bloom and Samsung being a leader would want to take full advantage of the market that is soon expected to explode. Accordingly, the company is likely to launch several foldable phones with disparate sizes and forms to examine the choices of the consumers.

March 11, 2019
YouTube Rolling Out Fact Checking Feature To Combat Fake News

In a bid to eliminate fake news from its platform, YouTube has started rolling out a fact-checking feature in its smartphone application. The feature is currently available for limited users as part of a testing program. While its public rollout is also expected to follow soon. As of now, the feature is only confined to Indian smartphone users, with a worldwide release to follow suit.

YouTube Fact Checker

The fact checks on the YouTube app will be displayed in the search results of queries which are most susceptible to be fake and manipulative. Videos based on the query, explaining the real information will be displayed on the top, inside the information pane. The fact checks will appear as content from YouTube’s partner sites concerning the particular search query. Results are available in the Hindi and English language currently, with more languages to be added soon.

Notably, YouTube will use information from around six verified services in the country to exhibit the aforementioned panels in India. Many of the same services are also working with Facebook to check misinformation on its platform and in apps like WhatsApp and Instagram. YouTube has been trying hard to curb malpractices on its platform. A few weeks ago, it started demonetizing and disabling comments on videos which had objectionable content. This move by the company to curb fake news is seen as a positive step and may prove to help in dispersing true and unadulterated information to the audience via the globally used platform.

Also read: Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019

Interestingly, YouTube is not looking to ban the objectionable content it is targeting. Fake news has been a problem in the online space particularly in India for the past few years. Previously, WhatsApp also tried to curb the spread of false news on its platform via advertisements cautioning its users. And, as the General Election have also been announced, the spread of misleading information on platforms like YouTube, Whatsapp and Facebook may increase in the following weeks.

March 11, 2019
Redmi 7 To Launch In China On March 18
Earlier this year, Redmi separated from its parent company Xiaomi as an independent brand. The company launched its first smartphone the Redmi Note 7 in China in the month of January. On the 28th of February, Redmi launched the Redmi Note 7 and its beefed-up sibling the Redmi Note 7 Pro in India which made its global debut. The company has announced that the latter will launch in China on March 18. Fresh reports claim that it won’t be the only device to be launched then, as the Redmi 7 is also presumed to make its debut at the event.

Redmi 7 Specifications

The Redmi 7 will succeed the Redmi 6 as a budget smartphone from the company. A few days ago, specifications of the device were leaked online. According to the leaks, it will have an all-new design with a polycarbonate frame and a colourful gradient back. The display will be a 6.2 inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 1520 x 720 px. There will be a waterdrop notch on the top with minimal bezels on all sides of the display. The smartphone has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock technology.

According to leaks, the Redmi 7 will run on the Snapdragon 632 SoC which is manufactured using 14 nm fabrication process. The chipset is comprised of an Octa-core CPU and Adreno 506 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone will feature dual rear cameras which consist of a 12MP sensor combined with a 2MP depth sensor for enhanced portrait shots. For selfies, the smartphone has an 8MP camera housed in the notch on the top of the display.

The Redmi 7 will be powered by a 4000mAh battery with support for fast charging. It will run on the latest MIUI 10 which is built on top of the latest Android 9 Pie. The company has confirmed on the Chinese social networking website Weibo that the handset will also have an infrared blaster and a 3.5mm headphone jack. In terms of memory and storage, the smartphone will be available in the following variants:
- 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM
- 3GB RAM and 32GB ROM
- 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM
In addition to the inbuilt storage, it will also support memory expansion via a microSD card. Although not yet confirmed, it is likely to support cards of up to 256 GB.

Price & Availability

Also read: Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019

The Redmi 7 will launch alongside the Redmi Note 7 Pro in China on March 18. It is also expected to soon make its way into the Indian markets. Unfortunately, the company has not revealed the price of the device but reports claim it will be available starting CNY 700 (Rs. 7,200) for the variant with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage; the version with 3GB RAM and 32GB of onboard memory will cost CNY 800 (Rs. 8,300); and the version with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage will be priced at CNY 900 (Rs. 9,300). Pleasingly, we won’t have to wait for long as the launch of the device is imminent.
March 11, 2019
Indian Government Implements cVIGIL App To Prevent Devious Voting
For a long time, the Indian government has been stressing on the importance of digital technologies for the betterment of society. It had previously launched several applications that intend to achieve the same. An application called, cVIGIL which was launched last year has now been implemented on pan India level. The cVIGIL app is dedicated to maintaining the Model Code of Conduct of the voting process. In simpler words, it is a digital tool that can be used to desist devious practices which can be used to manipulate voting. The application has begun services before the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 which will be conducted from the 11th of April to 19th of May.

About and Purpose Of cVIGIL Application

According to the Government of India, the cVIGIL application has been developed to act as a medium that can be used to transmit and track complaints on MCC (Model Code of Conduct) violations. Due to the delay in the reporting of these violations, culprits in the past have escaped detection from the squads of election commission which are entrusted to ensure enforcement of the code of conduct. Additionally, the lack of evidence in the form of pictures or video has been a major hurdle in investigating a reported complaint.

The purpose of the cVIGIL application is to curb or desist the unfair practices that the affiliates of an organisation use to alter the voting patterns of the voters. Some methods that are used to manipulate the voter behaviours are as follows:
- Money/Liquor/Drugs Distribution
- Firearms Display
- Fake News
- Communally Hateful Speeches
- Intimidation
How Does cVIGIL Application Work?

The cVIGIL application has a sophisticated mechanism which with the help of both digital devices and media intends to prevent the aforementioned methods used to influence voting. Users of the application can capture photo or video evidence of an MCC violation. The application uses the inbuilt GPS module of the smartphone to stitch the location of the crime with digital evidence. The location and digital evidence is anonymously sent to the government headquarters from where the officials can take necessary actions. Noteworthy, the application also provides a cVIGIL ID which can be used to track the status of the complaint. All in all, it seems to be a great move by the Indian government which has been pestered by these issues for a long period.

Also Read: Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019

The application is currently available only for Android smartphones that run the version Jellybean 4.1 to 4.3 or above.

Click here to download the cVIGIL Application
March 11, 2019
Google To Add More Smartphones To The Android Q Beta List In 2019
Each year Google announces changes and upgrades in its Android Operating System (OS) at its developer’s conference called Google I/O. Last year, it surprised the audience by announcing that the Android 9 Pie Beta will be made available for smartphones other than the company’s own Pixel lineup. This step was taken in order to curb Android Fragmentation, which means an alarming difference in the various available Android versions in the market. Fresh reports claim that the company is planning on adding more smartphone OEMs to this list for the year 2019 with the upcoming Android Q Beta update.

Android Q Beta

Google is expected to announce the first Android Q Public Beta at the Google I/O event which will be held in the month of May this year. The update will bring about significant changes in the design and usability of the OS. Previous leaks suggested that with the next version, the company is planning on removing the back navigation button completely in favour of new gestures; which will be used to navigate around the UI. Last year, it added smartphones from different OEMs which were eligible to get the first Android P Public Beta. Those devices included:
- Sony Xperia XZ2
- Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
- Nokia 7 Plus
- Vivo X21
- Essential Phone PH-1
- OnePlus 6
- Oppo R15 Pro
A senior Google executive was noted saying the company will add a host of new smartphone OEMs to the list of devices supporting Android Q Public Beta. Unfortunately, as of now it is not known which devices will be added to the list but speculated names include smartphones from Motorola, Samsung, LG and Huawei. The brands from last year will be retained and their latest devices are also expected to be provided with the update.

Also read: Qualcomm Demands US$ 31 Million In Damages From Apple

The Android Q Public Beta update is being provided with the help of Google’s Treble project. It was released with Android 8 Oreo in the year 2017 and separated the chipset maker from the update process. This was aimed at streamlining the software updates, which differed drastically with each brand. This initiative of adding more smartphones to the beta update list by Google aims at fixing the issue of fragmentation in Android. It will be announced at the upcoming Google I/O, which will take place from May 7 to May 9 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in California, USA.
March 11, 2019