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Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Launched in India

Amazon has launched their most powerful streaming stick in India. It is called the the Fire TV Stick 4K and it comes with the new Alexa Voice Remote. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K can directly stream content from your Amazon prime video/music account to your big screen television. Certainly, to use the streaming service you must be a subscriber of Amazon prime video which costs Rs 129 per month or Rs 999 for an annual subscription.

As the name suggests, the updated Fire Stick can now stream content upto 4K resolution and other than prime video it can stream content from multiple other content providers. The content providers include ZEE5, hotstar, Netflix, EROS Now, SonyLIV and hungama play. Amazon recommends to use a Wi-Fi connection with speeds higher than 4 MBPS to provide a buffer free experience.

The new Alexa Voice Remote can perform actions by voice commands. The commands can vary from playing movies/videos to sports news and even weather details. Additionally, the voice remote can also control lights or other electronics that the user may have in their pre-existing Alexa ecosystem. Basically, the voice remote can control all Alexa devices with voice instructions. Some Alexa devices include Echo and Echo Dot.

Also Read: Amazon Launches new Echo Speakers, Subwoofer Starting Rs 4499 On Sale Now

Amazon Echo

Talking about audio, the Fire TV Stick 4K supports audio in Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. This technology is used for creating and playing back multi-channel soundtracks. 5.1 and 7.1 Speaker systems also make use of this technology.

Details

The TV stick has an inbuilt storage of 8 GB. It runs a Quad-core 1.7 GHz processor. The Fire TV Stick also has a PowerVR IMG GE8300 GPU. The TV stick has dual-band, dual antenna Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 with low energy consumption. It has a HDMI output port to connect to the HD-TV and a micro usb for power input.

Price & Availability

The Fire TV stick 4K with the Alexa Voice remote bundle has a price tag of Rs. 5,999 and is available for pre-order now. Amazon will be release it on 14 November and deliveries will begin soon after.

October 4, 2018
OnePlus 6 To Get A Rs.5000 Discount

OnePlus 6 is the current flagship from OnePlus which was launched earlier this year. It is a flagship device at a very competitive price. The smartphone originally came with a price tag of Rs 34,999 for the 64 GB storage variant. Now, Amazon is offering a temporary price cut for the OnePlus 6. Amazon is celebrating their Great Indian Festival Sale from October 10th to October 15th. During the Amazon sale, OnePlus will sell the device at a discount of Rs 5,000. After the discount, the effective price of the smartphone will be Rs. 29,999.

Additionally, The launch of next generation of the OnePlus flagship is just around the corner. The upcoming OnePlus 6T is set to launch on October 18.

Also read: OnePlus 6T New Features, Launch Date and Price.

Buying the OnePlus 6 still makes sense. We say so because the new device will have a higher price than the current generation as confirmed by the company. A lot of components like the processor of the new device will be carried forward from the current OnePlus 6. Due to the fact that the Snapdragon 845 is the best processor that Qualcomm has on offer for now. OnePlus earlier confirmed the new device will not have the 3.5 mm headphone mm jack which can also be another reason to choose the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6 specifications

The OnePlus 6 has a 6.28 inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with a pixel density of 402 ppi. Powering the smartphone is an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor along with the Adreno 630 GPU. The device had Android 8.1 Oreo but now has received updates for the latest Android 9.0 Pie. OnePlus has their custom android skin which they build on the latest android version. The device has two storage variants. A 6 GB RAM with 64 GB storage and 8 GB RAM variant with 128 GB of storage (Note: The price 29,999 is for the 6 GB RAM, 64 GB vaiant) .However, OnePlus 6 does not offer an option to expand the inbuilt storage.

The smartphone has 16 MP + 20 MP dual rear camera with Dual-Led flash and a 16 MP front-facing shooter. The device has a 3,300 mAh battery with dash charge support. The device has an accelerometer, proximity sensor, compass, gyroscope and a rear-mounted finger print sensor for additional security. Along with the fingerprint sensor the device can also be safely unlocked by the facial recognition which is quite precise and fast. The device has dual 4G VoLTE SIM card support. In terms of connectivity it has Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and USB Type-C 1.o for charging and data transfers. OnePlus packages the device with a pre-applied screen protector, a TPU case, user manual , SIM tray ejector and the dash charger along with the Type-C data cable.

Overall, OnePlus 6 is an excellent phone and after the discount which Amazon is offering that makes it an even better deal. You can also watch our video for the device below.

October 4, 2018
Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro Leaked Ahead of Global Launch

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro has been leaked ahead of its launch. The device will launch at a special Galaxy event by Samsung on October 11th. Today, a German website claims to have the official specifications of the device.

Design:

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro has a quad rear camera setup. The lenses are arranged in a vertical manner and have the LED flash below them. The device has a fingerprint scanner on the back. The front is more conventional with thick bezels and no notch.

Specifications:

The Samsung Galaxy A9 Star Pro has a 6.28 inch Super AMOLED display. It has an FHD+ display with a 2280 x 1080 px resolution. The device has also waived off physical navigation buttons, which are-on screen now. The smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 Octa Core Chipset and has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. This is expandable up to 512 GB using a microSD card.

The Device is houses a 3720 mAh battery and has Quick Charge 2.0 support. It also features face recognition and has a USB Type-C for for connectivity and charging.

Let the fun times begin, this October 11, 2018. pic.twitter.com/8zzWYAgiWB

— Samsung Mobile (@SamsungMobile) September 14, 2018

Camera:

The camera is surely the highlight of the device. The quad camera setup does not seem improbable as Samsung had mentioned the words “4x fun” on the invite for the event. The source mentions that the camera has the following specifications.

It has a 24 MP main camera with optical image stabilisation and an aperture of f/1.7. The second is a 5 MP depth sensor for live focus and has an aperture of f/2.2. The third camera is a 8 MP wide-angle lens with an aperture of f/2.4. The fourth camera, has a 10 MP f/2.4 sensor with 2x optical zoom. The front camera is an 8 MP snapper with autofocus and an aperture of f/1.7.

All the information is from the source which claims that the features are true. To find out whether it is legit or not, we will just have to wait for the upcoming October 11 ‘Special Galaxy Event’.

October 4, 2018
Blackberry Evolve To Go on Sale In India Starting October 10

Optiemus Infracom is the licensed manufacturer of Blackberry Smartphones in India. In the month of August, the company launched the Blackberry Evolve and Evolve X for the Indian market. The devices were supposed to go on sale by mid-september. But, due to some manufacturing delays that did not happen. Now Optiemus Infracom has announced that the Blackberry Evolve will go on sale from October 10 in India and will be Amazon exclusive. However, Blackberry is yet to reveal as to when the Evolve X will go on sale.

Display & Operating System

The Blackberry Evolve has a 5.99 inch capacitive IPS LCD screen. It has a resolution of 1080 x 2160 px and a pixel density of 403 ppi. The smartphone has a 76.6% screen to body ratio and weighs in at 170 grams. For protection, the screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.

Processor & Storage

The Blackberry Evolve is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC. It has an Octa-Core Cortex-A53 processor and has a clock speed of 1.8 GHz along with the Adreno 506 GPU. The device has 64 Gb of inbuilt storage and has 4 GB of RAM. In terms of expandable storage the device can accept microSD cards of upto 256 GB.

Camera & Battery

The smartphone has dual 13 MP rear cameras with dual tone LED flash that can also record 1080p full HD videos at 30 FPS. The device has a 16 MP front facing camera with led flash that records 1080p full HD videos at 30/60 FPS. The Blackberry Evolve has a 4,000 mAh battery and supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0.

Connectivity & Colours

In terms of connectivity, the Blackberry Evolve has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and a USB Type-C connector for charging and data transfer. The device also features a rear-mounted finger print sensor for added security. The smartphone is available only in Black colour.

The Blackberry Evolve has a price tag of Rs 24,990 and will be available for purchase starting 10th October on Amazon.

October 4, 2018
LG V40 ThinQ Launched With Five Cameras

The new LG V40 ThinQ is the second flagship device launched by LG this year. It is pretty similar to the LG G7 in terms of specifications and design, but performs a monster leap in the camera department. The smartphone has 5 cameras; three on the back and two front cameras.

Camera:

The camera setup on the LG V40 ThinQ is unique, with three rear cameras and two front cameras. The three rear cameras are actually three different cameras and not just three sensors. This means that each camera produces a different picture, of varying size and quality.

The setup features a standard 12 MP camera, which is the primary camera. This has a f/1.5 aperture and a pixel size of 1.4 micron. This is a larger pixel size than the LG G7, and will offer an improved camera performance. Next up, it has a super wide 16 MP camera with a f/1.9 aperture and a 107 degree field of view. Along with this, there is a 12 MP telephoto camera and offers 2x the zoom capability over a regular lens.

The three different cameras provide different images, as mentioned before and LG has incorporated features that really make this setup useful. The device has a’triple preview’ feature which shows you a live preview from all the three cameras, simultaneously. With this, you can choose as to which camera would be the best option for that particular setting. The smartphone also has a ‘triple shot’ feature which lets you take the same image from all the three cameras, without having to switch from one camera to another. Interestingly, it also saves a GIF transition between the shots along with the three individual images.

The camera also has a cine shot feature which lets you animate a certain part of your image, to make it more interesting. The LG V40 ThinQ has AI camera features as well which automatically adjust saturation, shutter speed and other settings to ensure that you shoot the best image. The camera also has inbuilt Google lens functionality.

Specifications:

The LG V40 ThinQ has a 6.4 inch, OLED display. It has a resolution of 3120 x 1440 px, a 19:5:9 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 537 ppi. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection and an always-on display.

It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC with an Octa Core CPU. It has the Adreno 630 GPU. the device has 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable upto 512 GB. The LG V40 ThinQ has Boombox speakers and a 32-bit quad DAC. It has DTS X Surround Sound and a headphone jack as well.

The device has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating and supports wireless charging. The LG V40 ThinQ runs Android Oreo out of the box and has a 3,300 mAh battery. The device also has a dedicated Google Assistant Button.

Launch Offers & Price:

The LG V40 ThinQ has been launched in the US and there is no word about the India launch as of now. It retails in the US between $ 900 and $ 980 depending on the mobile carrier. Pre-orders for the device are now open and LG does offer interesting deals for the same. Upon the pre-order of an LG V40 ThinQ, the company offers a DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal and a SanDisk 256 GB microSD card for free, along with the device.

October 4, 2018
Microsoft Launches The New Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2 and Surface Headphones
Microsoft launched an updated range of the current Surface devices and added some new products in their current line-up in this year’s surface event. The event was held in New York City on October 2nd. The new devices released are the Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2, Surface Headphones and the Surface Pro 6. Microsoft has set the launch of the new devices for the upcoming holiday shopping season.

1. Surface Laptop 2:

This is an updated version of the Surface Laptop that Microsoft released last year. The device has the new 8th Generation Intel Core processor. The user can opt for the Intel Core i5 or i7 processor as per their needs. It has a 13.5 inch PixelSense Display with a 2256 x 1504 px resolution and has a pixel density of 201 ppi.

PixelSense is Microsoft’s technology that can sense the amount of pressure that is being put on the display of Surface devices. This technology broadens the possibilities of what a touch screen is capable of. Microsoft is utilising this technology in their surface accessories like the Surface Pen and the Surface Dial. The display has 10 point muti-touch capabilities. In terms of storage, the users can select the SSD storage capacity which ranges from 128 GB to 1 TB. The RAM can be configured to either 8 GB or 16 GB. The device runs the Intel UHD 620 Graphics irrespective of the processor selection.

In terms of I/O ports the device has one USB 3.0 connector, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, mini display port and one surface connector port which is compatible with the Surface Dial screen interactions. The laptop also has a 720p HD webcam, dual stereo microphones and an ambient light sensor. The Surface Laptop 2 is available in four different colours: Burgundy, Platinum, Cobalt Blue and Black. The laptop price ranges from $ 999 for the base variant and goes all the way upto $ 2,199 for the top end variant.

2. Surface Studio 2:

This is an updated version of the previously launched Surface Studio. Now Microsoft has updated the processor, graphics card and the storage. The Surface Studio 2 has an easy tilt screen which can be used to write and even draw on. Microsoft is targeting this machine towards design professionals. The screen is a 28 inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. Like the Surface Laptop 2, the Surface Studio 2 also has a 10 point multi-touch screen.

It runs on the 7th generation Intel-core i7-7820 HQ which is a step up from last generation that used an intel 6th generation processor. The pc has 1 TB or 2 TB SSD storage options and RAM can either be configured to 16 GB or 32 GB. There are two graphics card options to choose from, the Nvidia GTX 1060 with 6 GB of DDR 5 Ram or the Nvidia GTX 1070 with 8 GB of RAM (Note: This is the graphics card RAM and not the system’s main RAM).

In terms of camera, video and audio, it has a 5 MP front facing camera with 1080 HD video recording, dual microphones and 2.1 Dolby Stereo speakers. In terms of wireless connectivity, it has an 802.11 ac A/B/G/N Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The device weighs in at 9.56 kg. Other than Surface Studio 2, the box packs the Surface Pen, the surface keyboard, the surface mouse and the power cord for the device. The Surface Studio’s base model starts at $ 3,499 and goes upto $ 4,799 for the top of the line variant.

3. Surface Pro 6:

The Surface Pro was first launched in 2013 and has reached its 6th generation. The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s answer to Apple’s iPad. But the Surface Pro and iPad are fundamentally very different. The Apple iPad is very app driven and a mobile version of the complete computing experience whereas the Surface Pro 6 is a full fledged computer. The Surface Pro is Microsoft’s take on building a portable computer. The Surface Pro 6 has a detachable physical keyboard and it has a kick-back stand that can be adjusted to different angles to make it stand upright. The detachable keyboard is sold seprately.

The device has a 12.3 inch 10 point multi-touch display. The screen has a resolution of 2736 x 1824 px and a pixel density of 267 ppi. Powering the tablet is an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The device has Intel UHD 620 Graphics built-in. Like the Surface Laptop 2, the RAM can be configured to either 8 GB or 16 GB. SSD storage can be selected from 128 GB upto 1 TB. The device has Bluetooth 4.1 technology and 802.11ac A/B/G/N Wi-Fi. It has an Accelerometer, a Gyroscope and an Ambient light sensor.

The I/o ports device has are: one USB 3.0 port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Mini DisplayPort, Surface Connector (Microsoft’s proprietor connector) and a microSDXC card port. Microsoft claims the device has a battery backup of upto 13.5 hours which will vary depending upon the usage of the device. The tablet weighs at 775 grams for the i5 variant and 792 grams for the i7 variant. The price of the device varies between $ 899 and $ 1,899 depending upon the configuration.

Additional Accessories:
- Surface Pen: It is an active stylus and a digital pen that Microsoft developed to work alongside their Surface devices with PixelSense technology. It has variable pressure sensitivity points that allows it to work like a real life paint brush or a pen. Microsoft is mainly targeting it towards professionals in the design industry. People in this field can take advantage of the technological advancements that a digital design canvas offers compared to the traditional pen and paper.
- Surface Dial: This is yet another accessory that is mainly targeted towards designing professionals. The dial sits on top of the screen of the Surface Laptop or Studio. It provides functionalities like zoom in and out, selecting paint-brush and a bunch of other features that can ease the work of professionals.
4. Surface Headphones:

This is another key product that Microsoft announced at this year’s Surface event. Microsoft Surface headphones have a lot of handy features. The headphones automatically pauses the audio as you remove them from your head and then resumes audio as you put them back.

They have Cortana integration. Cortana is Microsoft’s virtual assistant with whom the user can interact to perform certain tasks. You can ask Cortana to set reminders, inquire about the weather, etc. This is just a small example of what the virtual assistant is capable of. To control the volume of the headphones you can simply rotate your fingers around it’s ear cup. They also have variable active noise cancellation. The headphones have four microphones that helps in improving the noise cancellation quality. With this feature the user can filter or allow the amount of ambient sound that gets to your ears. The headphones are compatible with Windows 10, Android, iOS and macOs. They are available in Light Grey colour and have a price tag of $ 350.

Your Phone App

Additionally, Microsoft also demostrated their application “Your Phone” for Windows. With this application the user can directly respond to text messages they receive on their Android phone. This a really convenient feature and the user does not need to switch back and forth between the computer and phone to respond to text messages.
October 3, 2018
Nokia Shares A Mysterious Teaser Ahead Of Nokia 7.1 Plus Launch

HMD Global is set to launch a new Nokia smartphone tomorrow. In the run up to this launch, it has posted a teaser on twitter, that sure has everyone confused. The event will see the launch of the Nokia 7.1 Plus and maybe the flagship Nokia 9 PureView.

Want an exclusive look at our next launch and get close to the action? Like this Tweet to find out more! It’s in your hands… #Nokiamobilelive pic.twitter.com/jIru50HYTH

— HMD (@HMDdevices) October 2, 2018

The post ends with the silhouette of a smartphone and the date of the launch. This could mean that we will see the launch of just the Nokia 7.1 Plus tomorrow. However, a surprise from Nokia could also be on the way in the form of the Nokia 9. HMD Global had recently acquired the PureView trademark and it is rumoured that it will be using it in the upcoming Nokia 9 flagship. This adds strength to the rumours that the Nokia 9 has a penta camera setup.

Nokia 7.1 Plus:

The Nokia 7.1 Plus has been subject to many leaks before its launch, with the latest taking place today. According to the alleged renders, the device has a notch on its display and a dual camera setup along with a fingerprint reader on the back. The Nokia 7.1 Plus is reported to have a 5.84 inch IPS LCD display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and 2244 x 1080 px resolution display. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 SoC with 3 GB and 4 GB RAM options. It will have microSD card support with 32 GB and 64 GB memory options.

The device is said to have a 12 MP + 5 MP rear camera setup and a 8 MP front camera. Along with this, a report claims that the price of the upcoming device has been leaked and that it will start at around Rs 29,000 in India.

Nokia 9 PureView:

Although we might not see this smartphone being launched tomorrow, we are adding it as a bonus. The device has picked up a lot fo attention due to its unique penta camera setup. While the design isn’t appealing to many, the functionality of the 5 cameras could be something to look out for. The design is already patented by Zeiss, which adds strength to the rumours. Also, recent reports stating that the Nokia 9 will carry the PureView trademark push the odds in favour of such a device. The PureView trademark is only carried by devices which have a groundbreaking camera setup. Therefore, a lot can be expected form the Nokia 9.

October 3, 2018
Google’s New App Lets You Use Your Android Device Hands-Free

The Google Voice Access app has been launched and provides an entirely hands-free experience to users. The feature is only available on Android phones as of now and lets you navigate through apps, compose and edit text, and talk to Google Assistant. The tech giant has made this app keeping in mind the millions of people with motor and mobility impairments.

The app provides a much more extensive experience as compared to the Google Assistant. With the new app, you can “click buttons”, control apps, scroll and navigate app screens and basically do almost anything, without having to touch the phone. While Google has built the app to help people with disabilities, those without a disability can use it too. The app will is handy in tight situations like cooking or when one has got their hands full.

It works through a system which places numbers on the screen, which you can call out to access those features. Simply call out the number and the app will perform the specific task or open the feature. To get a better understanding the position of numbers, take a look at the image below.

Other than this, you can also instruct your smartphone to “turn up the volume” or “turn off device”. You can also change these in the settings menu. You can also instruct the device to scroll up or down through a menu. The app also helps you send whole messages and has simple editing tools as well. You can tell the app to change or delete certain words and even delete entire lines. You can also access the full list of commands under the “show all commands” section in the settings menu.

The Google Voice Access App is available Globally on the PlayStore for free. As of now, it only supports English language and Google is bringing additional languages to the app soon.

October 3, 2018
Lenovo Teases Z5 Pro With 4 Rear Cameras, Possible Sliding Front Camera

Lenovo is going to launch a smartphone with four rear cameras and a possible sliding front camera. This exciting new device is the Lenovo Z5 Pro and has been teased by the Lenovo Vice President on Weibo.

The post, which appears to be an invite says the words “AI 4 Shot”. This means that the camera setup has AI integration which will boost the performance of the quad camera setup. The design is unique when compared to other devices. The four lenses are placed in four corners of a square while the LED flash is strangely positioned in the centre of the square. The square design has been used by Huawei in the upcoming Mate 20 Pro. But it uses only 3 cameras and completes the square with an LED flash.

Also read: OnePlus 6T Has Edge To Edge Display, Reveals Official Teaser

Earlier leaks of the alleged Lenovo Z5 Pro showing the front panel of the device had surfaced. The leak shows a device which has a nearly bezel-less screen, without a notch. The front camera is accessed by sliding a part of the device upwards, manually. The sliding camera design will be seen in many upcoming devices such as the Honor magic 2 and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. The video also shows the user accessing the device using an in-display fingerprint scanner, adding to the list of interesting features on the device.

The device is expected to be an upgrade from the Lenovo Z5 and might have a larger display. It is reported to run the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC.

More details about the device are not known, but the device is set to launch this month. The device is sure to stir up some excitement with its unique features and we might just see more of the Lenovo Z5 Pro in the coming few days.

October 2, 2018
Xiaomi Launches Mi Compact 2 Bluetooth Speaker At Rs 799

Xiaomi has launched their new Mi Compact 2 Bluetooth Speaker in India. The speaker is very compact in size and Xiaomi promises the speaker can deliver powerful audio. It measures 32 mm X 50 mm in size and weighs 54 grams. The small size of the devices makes it easy to carry. Above all the speaker of the device uses neodymium magnets. Neodymium magnets are super strong and help in creating a powerful speaker that also has crystal clear audio output.

Features & Design:

The Mi Compact 2 Bluetooth speaker has a built in mic for hands free calling and the user can pick up the calls directly from the speaker by pushing the power button. The device has Bluetooth 4.2 technology. The user can easily connect the speaker with smartphones or computers with bluetooth functionality. Xiaomi claims the device has a battery backup of 6 hours at 80% volume.

Talking about the design, the device has a Parametric mesh design. The mesh is scientifically designed the gives the device a good look and still allows the audio to pass virtually unaffected. Overall the design is very compact and will easily fit in the palm of your hand. Also the device has a lanyard which will make carrying the device even easier.

Physical Button & Controls:

The Mi Compact 2 only has one physical button and users can use it in various combinations to control different settings. To power on/off the device simply hold the power button for 2 seconds. Short pressing the button will play/pause the audio. Short press during a call will allow the user to directly take the call without pulling out the phone and holding the button for 1 second will reject the incoming call. Pressing the button for 6 seconds will reset the device to factory settings and clear all the paired devices.

Specifications & Price:

The device has a 480 mAh lithium-ion battery rated at 3.7 V and It can be charged with the inbuilt micro-USB port. However, Xiaomi does not ship the device with a USB charging cable. The device has Bluetooth 4.2 and it has a distance limit of 10 m which can vary depending upon any physical obstructions between the device and the connected phone. Package contents of the device include the speaker itself, a user manual and a auxiliary connection cable.

The device has price tag of Rs. 799 and is available directly from Xiaomi India’s official website.

October 2, 2018
Google’s Project Stream Lets You Play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey On Your Chrome Browser

Google has announced that users will be able to play the latest Assassin’s Creed Odyssey right on their Chrome browser, without the need of a high-end gaming PC. Google is partnering with Ubisoft and this plan is titled ‘Project Stream’. The company will use a limited number of people to conduct its first test, later this week.

Also read: Huawei And Honor Caught Cheating On Benchmarks

Project Stream:

Google might change the way we play games through Project Stream. With Project Stream, Google wants to make all kinds of games available on your Chrome Browser. This eliminates the need to download games or the need for high-end specifications on your device. Streaming such high- end games has its limitations. Google has to ensure that there is almost instant interaction between the game controller and the graphics on the screen. It has to figure out a way to do this, without compromising on graphics and avoiding any lag. Google promises to ensure all this, while providing a cutting edge experience.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is yet to be released. The lucky few who get to be a part of the program will be able to play it for free. There are a few conditions to be a part of Project Stream. First, you have to be a resident of the US. Unfortunately, the testing is still not open for other countries. Second, you need to have an Internet connection capable of 25 mbps or more and need to be at least 17 years of age. If you match all these criteria and want to be a part of the project, you can sign up.

The fact that streaming games has evolved from just being able to view other people playing a game to playing an entire game using just your browser, without the need to download it, is truly amazing. If the project gets through its testing, we might see a future where we do not need anything but a good internet connection to play any game. It will eliminate the need for high-end PC setups, helping gamers who cannot afford the same. The future of gaming is exciting, to say the least.

October 2, 2018
Huawei Y9 (2019) Announced With Dual Cameras On Each Side

Huawei has launched the Huawei Y9 (2019) smartphone. This was done through a blog post on Huawei’s site. The device sports a dual camera setup on both the front and the back and a display notch. The device is set to launch around mid-October, according to the post. However, nothing has been said about the India release.

The Huawei Y9 has a stylish design and is available in various colours. The device has a 6.5 inch display with 3D curved design. The smartphone has a 13 MP + 2 MP rear camera and a 16 MP + 2 MP front facing camera. Both the 2 MP cameras are depth sensors for better portrait shots. The cameras are integrated with AI technology which will enhance the quality of the pictures.

Equipped with the AI Power 7.0, the Huawei Y9 brings a long – lasting user experience, according to the company. The device runs on the Kirin 710 SoC with AI capabilities. The Huawei Y9 also has the Fingerprint 4.0 identification technology and a fingerprint navigation system. This helps users manage all notifications with one key, according to the company.

Huawei has not revealed the price of the device or further details. Huawei has said it will bring the device to the Levant market by mid-October, but there is no word about the Indian launch.

October 1, 2018
Apple iPhone XS, XS Max Have A Charging Issue, Other iOS 12 Devices May Be Affected

The new Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are now facing charging issues. Hundreds of users have said that the devices do not respond to a charger being plugged in. The issue could be to do with the iOS 12 update as some older iPhone and iPad variants have also reported the same.

The Issue:

Users on Apple’s forum, reddit and also a YouTuber have been talking about this issue. The devices, mainly iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max variants, are not showing the ‘charging’ notification when they are plugged in. This doesn’t happen if you pick up the phone or wake the screen. This means that the device is only recognising the power source when there is user interaction. In some cases, the devices are also reportedly freezing, and not responding to screen taps or the power button as well. The users are using Apple’s very own lightning cables and not a third party adapter or wire. A video on YouTube has tested multiple devices, displaying that this problem is pretty widespread.

This led to multiple users believing it to be a hardware issue with the new iPhones or a problem with the charging port present on the devices. However, AppleInsider tested an iPhone 7 and a 12.9 inch first-ten iPad Pro to have the same issue as well. This has led to thoughts that the issue is not with the devices but the iOS 12 update.

Some reports are also saying that the issue may be related to the USB restricted mode on the devices. This is a feature from Apple to help secure data on your phone against anyone trying to download your information without unlocking your device. However, users said that the device would start charging with a slight touch or tap and without unlocking the devices on most instances. Hence, it is unlikely that this is due to a security feature.

Chargegate:

As of now, there has been no official response from Apple as to what is causing these devices to function in this way. Users have already started referring to it as ‘chargegate’ and are a bit irked by the issue.

October 1, 2018
OnePlus 6T Has Edge To Edge Display, Reveals Official Teaser

OnePlus has been releasing a bunch of teasers for the upcoming OnePlus 6T on twitter. Today, OnePlus posted another short clip on their twitter account. The clip shows a device with very thin bezels and emphasises on a key technology that lies beneath the screen. OnePlus is talking about the in-display fingerprint scanner which the upcoming device will have. OnePlus earlier confirmed that the new smartphone will have this feature. This technology was previously seen on the likes of the Vivo Nex and the Vivo V11 Pro.

A key innovation lies just beneath the surface. Prepare for the #OnePlus6T. pic.twitter.com/uWuTsp7Lcb

— OnePlus (@oneplus) September 30, 2018

Specifications

Processor & Storage:

The OnePlus 6T will be reportedly powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 as it it the best processor offered by Qualcomm right now. Talking about storage, the device is expected to have 8GB of RAM and OnePlus might offer a 512 GB storage variant of the smartphone as Apple is offering this storage capacity with their latest devices.

Also read: Apple iPhone X Vs iPhone XS : What Has Changed?

Display & Android Version:

According to previously leaked posters the device will have a waterdrop notch display. The device will have a 6.41 inch Super-AMOLED display. The smartphone will run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. OnePlus has also come up with a new slogan fror the device, which is “Unlock the speed”.

Battery & Other features:

OnePlus devices have been pretty solid in the battery department and OnePlus also has their proprietary Dash-Charging technology. This technology charges their devices rapidly. With the OnePlus 6 running on a 3,700 mAh battery, it is expected that OnePlus will offer a bigger battery for the upcoming device.

Also, OnePlus has confirmed that the upcoming device will not have a 3.5 mm headphone jack. This decision has mixed reactions from fans who might give it a thought before purchasing the device. But, the good thing is OnePlus will now be offering their Bullet headphones with the Type-C connector. The OnePlus 6t will come with these colour options: Midnight Black, Mirror Black, Silk White and Amber Red.

Price:

The OnePlus 6T might also see a hike in price from the current-generation. As OnePlus tends to increase the price of their smartphones with every new iteration.

Finally, OnePlus will launch the device on 17th October in India and reveal all the specifications and features then.

October 1, 2018
Nokia 5.1 Plus To Go On Sale Today: Price, Details And Where To Buy

The Nokia 5.1 Plus had been launched in India a few days back and is finally going on sale for the first time. The smartphone is priced at Rs 10,999 and is available on Flipkart and the Nokia online store. At this price, it has a display notch, dual cameras, stock android and much more.

Buy the Nokia 5.1 Plus here.

Nokia 5.1 Plus Specifications:

The Nokia 5.1 Plus has a 5.8 inch HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio. It has a display notch, a thick chin and thin bezels on either sides. The device has a glass back, made of 2.5D curved glass. On the back, it sports a dual camera setup and a fingerprint sensor.

Under the hood, it runs on the Mediatek Helio P60 Quad-Core SoC with 3 GB of RAM. It also has 32 GB of inbuilt storage which is expandable up to 256 GB. It packs a 3060 mAh battery.

On the back, it sports a 13 MP + 5 MP dual camera setup. The 13 MP sensor has an f/2.0 aperture while the 5 MP camera is a depth sensor. It has an 8 MP front facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture. It also has AI assistant which might help in camera performance.

The device runs Android One, giving it a clean stock Android Experience, free from bloatware. It runs Android Oreo out of the box and promises regular updates. The Nokia 5.1 Plus will receive the Android Pie update soon. The device has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 and USB Type-C connectivity. It also has a headphone jack.

Buy the Nokia 5.1 Plus here.

The sale for the device starts at 12 PM today on Flipkart and the Nokia online store. The device is available for Rs 10,999. Airtel Prepaid connection users will get an instant cash back of Rs 1,800 on the purchase of the Nokia 5.1 Plus. It is available in Black and Blue colours.

October 1, 2018