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NASA Opens Commercial Opportunities For The International Space Station

The National Aeronautical Space Agency of the US has opened the door for business endeavours in the ISS. The American space agency made this decision with national interest in mind. “US industry innovation and ingenuity can accelerate a thriving commercial economy in low-orbit,” as stated by NASA in a press release, will open the space station to private sectors

NASA executives announced today the commercial viability of opening up certain sections of the International Space Station. This will allow companies to work in space with the station’s facilities. The filming industry could greatly utilize the opportunity for filming commercials or movies in space. NASA is also encouraging the private space industry to send in ideas for habitats and modules attachable to the ISS for a temporary basis.

Private companies can now buy time and space for a chance aboard the ISS to produce, market, or test products. These companies will also be allocated resources directly from the ISS for their commercial endeavours. Starting from 2020, companies can send their astronauts to the ISS but with a heavy cost. NASA has always been openly against the commercialisation of the ISS, unlike Russia that is open to ads and branding on its side of the station. The Russian side has even allowed tourism to some extent while NASA has strictly regulated all forms of commercial activities, save educational undertakings or technological demonstrations that are non-commercial in nature.

The extent of this commercial-phobia even had NASA ban its astronauts from experimenting on any research that might be profitable down on Earth. A committee formed by the western space agency was tasked to devise new methods to commercialize the space station for a new source of revenue and recognition. This business-oriented mindset might also see NASA selling naming rights of its past spacecraft and rockets, although nothing concrete supports this claim.

The leadership behind NASA is looking into a transition for the commercialization of the ISS and its low orbit region of space to the private sector. This will help alleviate the monetary load required to run and maintain the ISS, $3-4 billion per year. Eventually, the entire station might be handed over to private sectors and the funds acquired will help in making the new space station near the moon.

Also Read: Huawei P30 With 12GB RAM Spotted On TENAA

The new opportunities for commercial activities might lead to some really interesting outcomes in the near future. The world has already started moving post this announcement with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon space being contacted by Bigelow Aerospace, the space habitat developer, for the transport of its private astronauts. Soon many more announcements and projects like the aforementioned collaboration are likely to be seen.

June 8, 2019
OnePlus 7 Pro Almond Colour Variant To Launch In India On June 14
OnePlus at an event on the 14th of May launched the OnePlus 7 Pro flagship smartphone. It was announced alongside the regular OnePlus 7, the Bullets Wireless 2 and the OnePlus Warp Car Charger. The device was launched in three locations, namely New York in the US, London in the UK and Bengaluru in India simultaneously. At the time of its unveil in India, the OnePlus 7 Pro was available in two colours: Mirror Grey and Nebula Blue. As per the company’s official website, the third Almond Colour Variant of the device will be officially launched on the 14th of June.

OnePlus 7 Pro

The OnePlus 7 Pro as mentioned above, is the latest flagship offering from the company and the beefed-up variant of the OnePlus 7. The smartphone measures 162.6 x 75.9 x 8.8mm and weighs 206 g. It has an all-glass design on the front and back with a metal chassis for reinforcement. The device has a 6.67 inch Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 px which gives it a pixel density of 516 ppi.

The display on the OnePlus 7 Pro has a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz which is also seen in handsets like the Asus ROG Phone and Nubia Red Magic 3. To maximise the screen real estate, the smartphone has minimal bezels on all sides of the display and utilizes a pop-up mechanism to house the front-facing camera. For biometric security, it features an in display fingerprint scanner with support for face unlock technology.

Under the hood, the OnePlus 7 Pro is kitted with the 7nm Snapdragon 855 SoC which consists of an Octa-core CPU and the Adreno 640 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera setup comprised of an f/1.6 aperture equipped 48 MP primary sensor; and an f/2.4 aperture equipped 8 MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom; the third sensor used is an f/2.2 aperture equipped 16 MP ultra wide angle lens with a Field of View (FoV) of 117 degrees.

It can capture 4K videos at 60fps and supports Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) for smoother footage. For selfies, an f/2.0 aperture equipped 16 MP camera is housed in the pop-up mechanism on top of the display. Video from the front camera is capped at 1080p resolution at 30fps. In terms of memory and storage, the handset will be available in the following variants.
- 6GB RAM and 128GB ROM
- 8GB RAM and 256GB ROM
- 12GB RAM and 256GB ROM
The OnePlus 7 Pro is powered by a non-removable 4000mAh battery with support for 30W Warp Charging technology. The smartphone uses a new X-axis Haptic Vibration Motor which the company claims will provide it with better haptic feedback than the OnePlus 6T. In terms of connectivity, the device supports Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0 and NFC. The OnePlus 7 Pro also boasts of Dual Stereo Speakers and Audio tuned by the Dolby Atmos technology. It is the first globally available smartphone to feature the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 3.0 standard, which will result in fast read and write speeds.

Pricing & Availability

Also read: OnePlus 7 Pro: Unboxing and Hands On

The OnePlus 7 Pro was launched for a price starting Rs. 48,990 for the variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB internal storage. Noteworthy, the Almond colour version will be only available in the 8GB RAM and 256GB variant has been priced at Rs. 52,990 (~$765)
June 8, 2019
Xiaomi Mi Band 4 With Colour Display To Launch On 11th June

After the wonderful success of the Mi Band 3, Xiaomi has been highly anticipated to launch the updated Mi Band 4. The former is expected to be a worthwhile upgrade over the current generation device with significantly bumped up features. The company’s CEO has shared an official teaser of the smart wearable that uncovers its launch date and key features.

Mi Band 4 Features

The key highlighting feature of the upcoming Mi Band 4 is the inclusion of a colour display which will open up a whole new array of applications for the device. Due to the said feature, the information presented on the device’s display will be more intuitive and appealing to the eye. Another feature that the 4th generation of fitness tracker from Mi is set to introduce is a heart rate monitor.

Apple Watch

The said feature is inspired from the Apple Watch which is the leader in smart wearable industry. As the name suggests, it monitors the heart rate of the wearer. If the device registers irregular pattern in heart functionality of the wearer, they can be promoted with a notification to consult a medical profession. This in exchange can prevent a forthcoming health adversity that has not yet presented itself.

Furthermore, the Mi Band 4 will get all new colour options for the strap which include violet, red, maroon and almond. The device is also reported to feature a larger capacity battery to make up for a colour display that consumes comparatively more energy. Also new with Mi Band 4, the device is proposed to have an option with NFC support which will be used for wireless payments.

Mi Band 4 Price and Launch Date

Also Read: Huawei P30 With 12GB RAM Spotted On TENAA

Taking all the new features of the device in to account, the Mi Band 4 will have higher price tag compared to Rs 1,999 of the current generation device. All in all, the official features and price of the fitness tracker will revealed at its launch event which is set for the 11th of June in China.

June 8, 2019
Huawei P30 With 12GB RAM Spotted On TENAA
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei launched the P30 in the month of March 2019. The device was unveiled alongside its elder sibling, the P30 Pro, which featured one-of-a-kind periscopic camera setup. However, it seems that the Huawei P30 may receive an upgrade in the not-so-distant future. A beefed-up version of the smartphone with 12GB of RAM has showed up on TENAA, and features the model name ELE-AL00m.

Huawei P30 Pro

Previously, the Huawei P30 was available in two RAM variants, 6GB and 8GB. Except the RAM bump-up in the TENAA listing, no other upgrades to specifications were spotted. The P30 is the less feature rich variant of the high-end P30 Pro. It features a similar design to the Huawei P20 launched in the year 2018. The device has a 6.1 inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 px. For security, the smartphone has an in-display fingerprint scanner with support for face recognition.

Huawei P30 Pro

The Huawei P30 runs on the 7nm Kirin 980 chipset. It consists of an Octa-core Cortex CPU and a Mali G76 GPU. In terms of optics, the smartphone has a triple rear camera module comprising of a 40MP primary sensor (f/1.8 aperture), a 16MP ultra-wide sensor (f/2.2 aperture) and a third 8MP telephoto sensor (f/2.4 aperture). For selfies, there is a 32MP front camera housed in the notch up front.

Huawei P30 Pro

Also Read: Google Stadia Price And Launch Date Revealed

The smartphone is powered by a 3650mAh battery with 22.5W fast charging support via the bottom mounted USB Type-C port. The smartphone also supports NanoMemory cards, a new memory standard the company introduced in 2018. The device is IP68 Dust and Water resistant. Currently, it is available in a 128GB ROM variant. After the aforementioned RAM upgrade, the device will be available in three different RAM variants :
- 6GB
- 8GB
- 12GB
June 8, 2019
Google Stadia Price And Launch Date Revealed

Google, ahead of the gaming expo E3 2019, has unveiled the details for its new game streaming service. The company’s announcement in March for Google Stadia had left out many of the finer details that have since been disclosed. Google will directly compete with companies like Sony and Microsoft, that are suddenly dealing with a new platform that had no hardware limitations, in the widely popular and ever-growing cloud based gaming market.

Google Stadia is confirmed to launch in November 2019. 14 regions will be in the first wave of countries to receive the game streaming service, such as the US and Canada. 31 games from 21 different publishers will be available at the initial launch with the “Founder’s Edition”. The special edition will cost $130 (approx. Rs.9,000) for a hardware starter kit (bundling a $70 or Rs.4,000 controller) with 3 months of premium service, and a $10/per month (approx. Rs.700) after the complimentary period ends.

The company has only announced the pricing of one tier in Google Stadia’s subscription options. Stadia Pro that is priced at $99.9 (approx. Rs.7,000) will offer 4K gaming at 60fps streaming with HDR and 5.1 surround sound. This pack requires a stable 35Mbps of bandwidth connectivity. Google Stadia promises more games in its free category alongside exclusive discounts on games. A Standard edition is being prepared as well, with no details given on that version, more information might be revealed at E3 2019.

Google is also planning a separate free tier that will be seen sometime in 2020. Pre-orders for the “Founder’s Edition” of Google Stadia are now open in 14 countries that receive the service first. The quality of this service is yet to be determined in the real world since Stadia has only been seen in action under controlled environments. Stadia should not be grouped with services like Netflix, in which users pay a monthly subscription and watch movies or a series. Google only offers a platform in which users can buy the games that they wish to play, along with a monthly fee for the online service. The only game that comes free with just the subscription is Destiny 2 by Blizzard-Activision, as of right now.

Google Stadia in practice is closer in resemblance to Steam, the digital game store by Valve. Apart from the 31 game titles at launch, like Mortal Kombat 11 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, more games will be added eventually along the way. However, it is still unclear if Google Stadia will be a host for games developed exclusively for the platform. Notably, the $130 price tag for early buyers is still a cheaper alternative to any gaming console currently available in the market, namely PS4 and Xbox One. Google is currently bundling the Chromecast Ultra that plugs into TVs with a limited-edition dark blue version of Stadia’s controller.

Also Read: iPhones Valued At $19 Million Stolen By ‘Fraud Ring’

The cross-platform streaming of games from Xbox allows users to play on any PC, Pixel 3 or 3a device (Google plans on supporting more smartphones soon) or Chromecast TVs. Google Stadia has led Microsoft and Sony to develop their own game streaming services such as xCloud and PlayStation Now respectively. A move just to stay relevant in the market and in the future. With the advent of network advancements like 5G, digital media is growing at an ever-increasing pace.

June 7, 2019
Nokia 2.2 Is Now Available For Pre-Order In India

HMD Global, the parent company of Nokia, has been fighting for its market share in various price segments. Its smartphones of different prices have, through Nokia’s brand name, become increasingly more relevant in the smartphone industry. The newly launched Nokia 2.2 will find its spot in the lower-end price bracket in the market. Nokia 2.2 will be the cheapest Android One smartphone made by the company, and by that extension, the cheapest smartphone to ever will receive the Android Q update. The handset has launched globally with the first pre-orders being available in India as of right now.

Price and Specification

The smartphone will be available in India for Rs 6,999 and Rs 7,999 depending on the configuration of the variants. Despite the relatively low price tag, Nokia 2.2 sports a large 5.71-inch display with a waterdrop notch design on the top. The display is an HD+ IPS LCD panel that is claimed to reach 400 nits of brightness with a 5MP selfie camera at the front. Rear shooter of the device is a 13MP sensor with an LED flash.

A fingerprint reader is skipped hence, users will have to rely on the face unlock for the biometric security. Nokia 2.2 is equipped with the Helio A22 chipset, which is a quad-core CPU, and either 2GB or 3GB of RAM. The internal storage option includes 16GB or 32GB with microSD card support for expandable external storage. Battery capacity sits at a modest 3,000mAh (removable battery) that charges via the bottom mounted microUSB port. The entire configuration is encased in a reflective polycarbonate design.

Since Nokia 2.2 is an Android One device, it is guaranteed to receive latest Android updates for at least 2 years. This makes the smartphone stand out the most in comparison to other entry-level options in the market, a huge selling point. Notably, a dedicated Google Assistant button is also available on the left of the device.

Also Read: iPhones Valued At $19 Million Stolen By ‘Fraud Ring’

Only two colour variants are available for the Nokia 2.2, namely Black and Steel. Official sales start on 11th June 2019 with the 2/16GB version priced at INR 6,999 while the 3/32GB version at a reasonable INR 7,999. Nokia with its smartphones hopes to capture its former glory and dominance in the phone making business, and smartphones like these are a small step in the right direction.

June 7, 2019
iPhones Valued At $19 Million Stolen By ‘Fraud Ring’

A gang of fraudsters have reportedly stolen $19 million (approx. Rs. 132 crores) worth of iPhones over the past seven years in the United States of America. The FBI and NYPD aptly named the gang ‘Fraud Ring’, which was run by six people that called themselves ‘Top Dogs’. The gangs used counterfeit debit cards and fake IDs to buy new iPhones to be sold for high prices in the black market.

The payment method that involved instalments enabled the scam to go undetected. A detailed report has been uploaded online regarding the fraud case. The victims of the scam included customers whose accounts were compromised along with respective carriers. The gang, possessing the debit cards and fake identification bought iPhone units from stores posing as the original account holders. The reason listed by the scammers was to upgrade to a newer handset on their previously existing accounts. Fraudsters stretched the scammed devices instalments over many months, that later showed up on the actual customer’s bill.

The perpetrators are being charged with felony counts of mail fraud, conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. A total of 34 states in the US were affected while the exact number of individuals have yet to be disclosed. One of the accused co-operated with the authorities and revealed the workings of the Fraud Ring in exchange for a reduced sentence. It has been reported that the ‘Top Dogs’ took the largest chunk of the revenue, while the middlemen were responsible for all illegal activities like stealing identities by scamming customers. The bottom level involved drivers and runners that made rounds to various destinations to commit the fraud and ship the iPhone units back.

The co-operating witness claimed to have joined the gang in 2013 and has made about 18 trips in total. Fraud Ring paid $100 for each iPhone that was stolen by him during that period. A shipping company (back in 2014) was discovered in possession of 250 phones, fraud cards, driver’s licenses, and passports after an employee opened one of the packages.

Also Read: Astrobotic’s Tiny Rover To Test Endurance Of Small Robots On The Moon

This incident is reported to be one of the largest smartphone scams to date in terms of the value of stolen devices. Similarly, a group of scammers was accused of stealing 1,300 iPhones worth $1 million in 2018. Many such scams have been surfacing recently as fraud is being taken more seriously by the Government and investigating agencies.

June 6, 2019
Sony PlayStation 5 Details Revealed By Company CEO

Sony may have stated that no big announcements will be made at E3 2019, but on the other hand, fans are getting their fair share of PS5 details from the company itself. Previously, company officials revealed key pieces of information regarding the upcoming console. The loading speed of games on the PlayStation 5 was also compared to that of PlayStation 4, in which PS5 beat the PS4 by a huge margin. As per latest reports, Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment has also revealed that the ‘PlayStation Now’ game streaming service will be ‘taken to the next level’ with the next generation Playstation amongst other upgrades.

As per sources, the Japanese company also plans to introduce Cross-Generational play with the successor of the PS4. With cross-generational play, players can simply switch to a new console and continue playing their game of interest from the point where it was left off. This implies that it won’t matter to Sony’s servers what device players are using. The friend list will be retained across all the consoles including the PlayStation 5, no matter what.

Sony’s CEO also stated that the company has an active user base of 94 million players, out of which 36 million players have an active Sony PlayStation Plus subscription. To hold on to such a huge player base, the company plans to include a custom-designed SSD (Solid State Drive) in the console to make games load faster. In terms of graphics, it will offer HD 4K graphics at a staggering 120Hz refresh rate, Jim Ryan added.

Also Read: Astrobotic’s Tiny Rover To Test Endurance Of Small Robots On The Moon

The PlayStation 5 is expected to sport 3D audio technology, which will enable gamers to have immersive gaming experience. Last but not least, some new PS5 games may support Ray Tracing. Ray Tracing simulates the interaction of real-world light with real-time objects in the game, which leads to lifelike graphics rendering. Battlefield 5 was the first game to support Ray Tracing on NIVIDA RTX powered PCs, and we can expect developers to release more titles in accordance with Ray Tracing technology if consoles start supporting it too.

June 6, 2019
Astrobotic’s Tiny Rover To Test Endurance Of Small Robots On The Moon

Astrobotic, the Pennsylvanian aerospace company plans on sending a lander to the Moon within the next couple of years for various tests and studies. The main motive of the tests will be to test the operational life of small robots on the Moon’s surface. The toaster-sized machine was built by the Carnegie Mellon University and will pave the way for drone-based space exploration.

NASA (National Aeronautical Space Agency) had previously contracted Astrobotic with a sum of $79.5 million to carry the American space agency’s 14 payloads on its lander, which is dubbed Peregrine. The lander will reportedly carry another 14 payloads from various commercial companies, space agencies and research organizations. All the payloads will be hauled in a lander which is over 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

The reason for the rovers small stature is due to the lack of room in the cargo region of the Peregrine landers. Hence, an announcement unveiled the development of a tiny robot that can survive the low gravity, extreme temperature conditions, and high radiation environment on the lunar surface. An average rover is built to be large and sturdy to survive the gruelling conditions while carrying scientific instruments. Astrobotic faces a Herculean task of creating a fully functioning rover of this size.

The Peregrine lander will also carry a couple of other pint-sized rovers apart from the one developed by Astrobotic. For the lunar mission, ispace, a Japanese company is planning on supplying the lander with its own rover, similar to the Mexican space agency. These mobile platforms form one of the most crucial parts of Astrobotic’s Moon mission. Terrain mapping and reconnaissance around the lander on the moon will be provided by such tiny mobile robots while being tested for endurance.

The tiny robot will face numerous hurdles on its mission with many factors that can render it useless on the Moon’s surface. Some of the probable problems include rough surfaces, power generation, and temperature regulations. The small size implies that solar panels, radiators and outfitting scientific sensors will be limited. The gravity, however, plays in favour of the drones, making it easier for the 4-pound (approx. 1.8 kilograms) rover to traverse the lunar terrain.

Also Read: Dell Unveils Latitude 7400 Laptop With New ExpressSign-In Feature

The success of this mission will open up lunar exploration for other groups that seek to employ their own tiny drones, with cheaper cost of entry and easy building methods. The entire mission only has a small window of operational value due to the 2-week long night and day cycle on the Moon. All drones are expected to perish in the frigid dark conditions on the Moon 2 weeks into the mission. However, with their ‘sacrifice’, a new method of space and surface exploration can potentially be available for similar endeavours in the future.

June 6, 2019
Facebook’s Cryptocurrency May Launch In June Itself

As reported previously, Social Media giant Facebook is planning to unveil its own cryptocurrency. The company is proposing to set up a digital payment system in up to twelve countries by the beginning of the year 2020. The currency is currently referred to as Globalcoin, but the name may change when Facebook outlines its plans in more details. Facebook also claimed that it has already completed talks with the Bank of England regarding the risks and opportunities of a new currency format. However, the latest reports state that the new currency may be unveiled in this month (June 2019) itself.

Apparently, the company is planning a huge push that will include bonuses for merchants that will adopt the cryptocurrency right away. Facebook also plans to introduce real-world kiosks where users can exchange their “GlobalCoins” for cash. Furthermore, the employees of the company can choose to be paid in the new cryptocurrency, an initiative that Facebook believes will encourage newer users to adopt the cryptocurrency with ease.

The project has been in the works for a while now and was codenamed Libra in the beginning. For the alleged project, Facebook will have to collaborate with various banks; which will allow it to exchange international currencies into Globalcoin. As mentioned before, it has already had a successful talk with the Bank of England, so this should not be a major problem.

Also Read: Dell Unveils Latitude 7400 Laptop With New ExpressSign-In Feature

The major advantage Facebook will have with its currency Globalcoin over its rivals like Bitcoin and Ethereum is the sheer number of users of its various products. Over 2 billion people have been recorded to use Facebook actively and millions of other members of the audience are hooked to applications like Instagram and WhatsApp. Hence, these platforms can serve an important role in boosting the popularity of the new cryptocurrency. However, since Facebook has been involved in multiple security and data breaches in the past, the organization will have to establish a fair amount of trust in its users in order to make its cryptocurrency successful in the long run.

June 6, 2019
Dell Unveils Latitude 7400 Laptop With New ExpressSign-In Feature

The advent of technological innovation has made human lives easier. A couple of decades ago, fingerprint sensor or facial recognition was a term pulled straight out of a science fiction novel. American multinational company Dell has launched a new laptop, the Latitude 7400 that takes another step towards the seamless integration of modern technology into our lives. The company introduced a new method of turning on a laptop and logging in without touching the keyboard at all.

ExpressSign-In

The new ExpressSign-in feature from Dell will now scan for the user’s face even when the system is in sleep mode to automatically sign in to the system. The feature is introduced in a recently unveiled business-oriented laptop, the Latitude 7400 2-in-1. Apart from the new login feature, the laptop features a slim form factor.

Dell achieves the new login method with the help of Intel’s Context Sensing technology and Microsoft Windows ‘Hello’ recognition system. The Hello recognition system and other fingerprint-based sensors have aimed towards making life easier with previously attempted hands-free tests. Dell’s new method, however, takes this a step forward with the Latitude recognizing the user’s face and boots up with no user input via keyboard or any other device.

Dell’s trick to the new login method is to simply look at the screen while proximity sensors enable two LED lights to strobe from either side of the camera. After the screen turns on, the Windows Hello eye icon will try to recognize the user. The entire process of recognition by the system takes less than 5 seconds, as demonstrated by the company.

Specifications

The Latitude 7400 2-in-1 from Dell is equipped with the i5 8th Generation Intel Core Processor with 8GB of RAM, which can be expanded up to 16GB. The laptop has various internal storage variants that start from 128GB PCIe/NVMe to 512GB. The battery pack also gets two variants: a 4-cell 52WHr and a 6-cell 78WHr. The laptop houses two USB 3.1, two Thunderbolt, HDMI, SIM, and a microSD card reader ports.

Also Read: Microsoft Renames The Windows 10 Xbox App To Xbox Console Companion

The aforementioned configuration is packed in 12.59 x 7.87 x 0.34-inch compact form factor, with an all-aluminium build. The laptop also has a backlit keyboard. Dell Latitude 7400 is currently available for purchase starting from $1,599 (approx. Rs.1,11,000) and going upto $2000 (approx. Rs.1,38,000) for the specced-up variants.

June 6, 2019
Moto E6 Plus with Helio P22 SoC Leaked On Geekbench

Lenovo-owned company Motorola is looking to re-establish its footing in the smartphone market. Lately, the company has shown signs of shifting from flagship devices to midrange and budget smartphones. The company’s latest offering was the Moto Z4, which features the Snapdragon 675 SoC and had support for Moto mods. Motorola’s upcoming budget smartphone, the Moto E6 Plus was spotted on Geekbench, and it revealed some key specifications of the device.

Moto E6 Plus Specifications And Features

The Moto E6 Plus is expected to one of the three Motorola devices in the lineup similar to the E5 series (E5, E5 Plus and E5 Play). The Geekbench listing reveals that it is powered by the 14nm Mediatek Helio P22 chipset. It consists of 8 Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.0GHz and the IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU chip. The handset in the Geekbench listing has 2GB RAM, but since Motorola launched the E5 Plus in two RAM variants: 2GB and 3GB, the same can be expected of the E6 Plus.

Moto G6 Plus

The Geekbench listing further reveals that the Moto E6 Plus runs on the Android 9 (Pie) OS. A single core score of 829 has been achieved by the device, whereas in the multi-core test, it hits a score of 3687. Although no other prominent features and specifications of the device have been divulged yet, it should be noted that the younger sibling of the device featured a 5.45 inch display with a 1440 x 720 px HD+ resolution.

Moto E6 Plus: Expected Availability & Price

Moto One Power

Also Read: Microsoft Renames The Windows 10 Xbox App To Xbox Console Companion

Similar to the Moto E6, the Moto E6 Plus may be available in two 16GB and 32GB variants. It may sport a 13MP (f/2.0) primary camera with a front-facing 5MP camera. Details regarding the secondary camera are unknown at the moment. As mentioned before, the device is expected to be priced aggressively. Since the Moto E5 lineup was unveiled in the month of April 2018, the E6 series might make its way into the smartphone market soon enough.

June 6, 2019
Microsoft Renames The Windows 10 Xbox App To Xbox Console Companion

Microsoft has always had its gaming console companion app pre-installed on every Windows 10 supported device. This was done in order to bridge the social gap between its PC and console gaming fans. In the latest Windows update, the company renamed its Xbox App to Xbox Console Companion. This update is a refresh right before the upcoming ‘new desktop experience’ by the company. Apart from the name, no functional changes have been made to the Windows application.

However, Microsoft has planned updates in the future that will lead to the revamp of the dashboard setup in the app. Furthermore, these changes will be made for an unannounced Xbox console settings menu. The future iterations may also team up with the launch of Microsoft’s xCloud, the online gaming and streaming service. It will also allow cross-platform game streaming amongst the user’s devices. However, no significant changes are mirrored in the Xbox apps for Android and iOS as of now.

When users will update the Microsoft store, they will receive a pop-up message from the company. The message will start with, “Pardon our dust.” and go on to describe the reason for the new name of the application. Xbox Console Companion receives a new icon and will be dedicated for Xbox users. An up-to-date version of Windows (10th May 2019 Build) is required to experience the new feature as promised by Microsoft.

The original Xbox app is made for managing games installed on the Windows 10 PC. It also provides a simple catalogue for users to browse games in Microsoft Store, or manage the Xbox Live profiles. The app has in-built functions like social chat. This allows for cross-platform chat with friends and participation in communities, sharing in-game achievements and tracking them, managing video clips and capturing screenshots. The latter two of the features were made possible to the users via the console’s DVR feature which also makes game streaming possible via an Xbox console to a Windows 10 PC.

Microsoft will hold a press conference at the gaming expo E3 2019 on June 9th. This event should unveil more details regarding the promised desktop experience and xCloud. The game streaming service will begin its trials in the latter half of the year 2019, as previously claimed by Microsoft. The rebranding of the desktop apps name after the overhaul of Windows 10 Game Bar lays the foundation for the future console’s framework. The Game Bar is now equipped with PC resource monitors, customizable widgets, and broadcast/game capture controls.

Also Read: Google Maps Will Now Provide Info on Trains and Buses In India

With social media now integrated directly with the GameBar, users will be able to access cross-platform voice and text chat. This feature is synchronized across Xbox devices, as well as multiplayer team management. Additionally, Spotify music controls can also be a part of Microsoft future plans to enhance user experience during gaming. The aforementioned features although, might be removed from the now repurposed Xbox Console Companion App.

June 5, 2019
Vivo Y12

Vivo Y12 is the latest budget smartphone offering from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. The handset features triple rear cameras and an 8MP front camera. Under the hood, it runs on the Helio P22 chipset which consists of an ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. It sports a 6.35 inch Halo FullView display with HD+ resolution and 19.3:9 aspect ratio. It boasts of Android 9 Pie, with Funtouch OS 9 on top. The device is powered by a massive 5,000 mAh battery, with reverse wireless charging feature.

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June 5, 2019
Samsung Galaxy XCover 4S Renders & Specs Leaked

Samsung has been focusing a lot on the budget smartphone segment in India lately. The South Korean technology company has tasted success in the hands of Galaxy M-series devices, such as the Galaxy M20 and Galaxy M30. As per latest leaked renders, a smartphone from the company believed to be the Galaxy XCover 4S is in the works. The device previously received FCC certification in the month of May 2019.

Samsung XCover 4S: Specifications And Features

The device bears the model number SM-G398. As per renders, the Galaxy XCover 4S sports a rubber coating which will improve the grip and durability of the smartphone. The smartphone is rated IP68 water and dust resistant. Moreover, it also has MIL-STD 810G certification, which means that the XCover 4S can survive drops from up to 120 centimetres high as well. An interesting feature to note is that the device has physical navigation buttons placed right below the display.

The smartphone features a 5 inch LCD with a 1280 x 720 px resolution and 294 PPI. Since the device doesn’t exactly lie on the side of design and looks, it features reasonably wide bezels on all edges. Under the hood, the Galaxy XCover 4S runs on the Samsung Exynos 7885 chipset, which is clocked at 1.6GHz. It is bundled with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal memory, which can be expanded via the microSD card slot.

In terms of optics, the device features a single rear 16MP (f/1.7) camera. which supports scene optimization via AI. The camera supports Full HD video recording. For selfies, the company has included a 5MP (f/2.2) aperture front camera, which is placed in the top bezel of the handset. It packs a 2800 mAh replaceable battery, which can be charged via the USB Type-C port present at the bottom of the smartphone. It supports Bluetooth v5.0 and NFC. In addition to a 3.5mm headphone jack, the XCover 4S also has a XCover key which can be assigned to any application or service of choice.

Samsung XCover 4S: Expected Price And Availability

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The smartphone is expected to be launched on 12 June 2019. It will be targeted towards users who are looking for a rugged and durable device without any game-changing features. At the time of launch, it is expected to be priced at US$ 280 (~INR 19,500).

June 5, 2019