Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2 with Snapdragon 660, 6-inch FHD+ display and Asus Zenfone Max M2 surface in press renders

It is already known that Asus is working on a sequel to the Zenfone Max M1; the Max M2 (ZB631KL) and Zenfone Max Pro M2 (ZB633KL). These new phones are expected to pack huge batteries like the predecessor but the most important thing is the brand new design as well as upgraded hardware. The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz Octa-Core processor, while the regular model will have the same Snapdragon 636 SoC clocked at 1.8GHz Octa-Core processor. Both the variants will post a 6-inch Full HD+ 19:5:9 notch display. The notch is slightly wider on the Max M2 than on the Max Pro M2. The ZenFone Max M2 comes in two variants; 4GB RAM and 32GB storage and another with the same 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Max Pro M2 comes with 4GB RAM and storage options include 64/128GB with support for the microSD card slot. The Pro variant will also have a 6GB RAM variant just like the Pro M1. The ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2 expected to pack a 12-megapixel Sony IMX486 sensor on the back, coupled with a 5MP secondary shooter. The regular Max M2 will have a 13MP sensor but no further information ...

Apple finally implements Indian Govt’s TRAI DND – Do Not Disturb app on iPhone

Threatened by the TRAI, Apple is finally implementing the anti-spam measures for iPhones in India. TRAI has warned Apple to ban iPhones from the country's cellular network if the company didn’t approve a government-developed Do Not Disturb app by January 2019. With the deadline approaching fast, Apple has finally implemented and the app is available on App Store. The app is named 'TRAI DND – Do Not Disturb' promises to help users curb unwanted phone calls and text messages — an issue that has become hugely problematic within the country. The app combats by letting users join a “do not disturb” registry and allowing them to report unwanted contacts. Google allowed the app in its PlayStore back in 2019 and the app was being updated to 2.0 earlier this year. Citing the privacy concerns, Apple didn't allow the app to be released on the App Store though it agreed to cooperate on a version of the app that wouldn’t share a user’s call or message logs with Indian authorities. At the moment, it is unclear the version of DND that is released in the App Store follows the additional privacy protections beyond what was originally devised by TRAI. The registration process appears to leverage the SMS/Call ...

Google said to be planning on shutting down Hangouts in 2020

According to a new report, Google said to be planning on shutting down Hangouts sometime in 2020. This doesn't come as a surprise as Google stopped any further development of the app more than a year ago. Given how Google abandonment the development of the app, many have already transitioned away from using it. However, Hangout still remains a prominent chat option in Gmail on the web and the app is still live on PlayStore till date but many recent user reviews clearly indicate that the app is aging, noting bugs and performance issues. However, Hangouts as a brand will continue to live on with G Suite’s Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet, the former intended to be a team communication app and the latter a video meetings platform. Google's Voice calling which started off as an independent was then integrated into Hangouts was again moved back out into becoming its own redesigned app earlier this year. Despite the shortcoming, Hangouts was one of the few apps to get support for Android Auto's new MMS and RCS functionality. Source

Amazon Echo speakers finally get support for Apple Music

Apple Music support is finally coming to Amazon's Echo speakers and this will enable Apple Music subscribers to play Apple Music’s 50 million songs on Echo devices. Customers will be able to ask Alexa to play their favorite songs, artists, and albums—or any of the playlists made by Apple Music’s editors from around the world. Customers will also be able to ask Alexa to stream expert-made radio stations centered on popular genres like Hip-Hop, decades like the 80s, and even music from around the world, like K-Pop. You need to enable the Apple Music skill in the Alexa app and link your account to start listening. Customers ask Alexa to play all kinds of music in many different languages. Dave Limp, senior vice president, Amazon Devices said: Music is one of the most popular features on Alexa—since we launched Alexa four years ago, customers are listening to more music in their homes than ever before. We are committed to offering great music providers to our customers and since launching the Music Skill API to developers just last month, we’ve expanded the music selection on Alexa to include even more top tier services. We’re thrilled to bring Apple Music – one of the most ...

Google to roll out Call Screen transcription for all Pixel phones later this year [Update: Now rolling out]

Update: Google is now rolling out Call Screen transcript feature for select users. You can view this under Recent calls -> Call Details -> See transcript. Earlier: One of the handiest features Google introduced with Pixel 3 was Call Screen, meaning it will screen unknown calls so you know who’s calling and why before picking up. It will display a new "Screen call" button when you get an incoming call. Just hit the button and it will start screening the call. The system will ask why they're calling and you'll see a transcript of their response in real-time. Then you can decide whether to pick up, mark the call as spam, or tap to respond with one of the quick replies. Google says that this ability to screen calls is designed to help you quickly determine whether the call is important. The feature is powered by AI and runs in real-time on your device. The company says that the experience is fast, responsive, and private to you. It keeps power consumption to a minimum and even works without a data connection. Call Screen is initially available in English to Pixel 3 users in the US and will launch to Pixel 1 and 2 users ...

Instagram now lets you share Stories with ‘Close Friends’ list

Instagram has announced the ability to create a close friend list on Stories and share your Stories just with them. Thanks to this feature, you have the flexibility to share more personal moments with a smaller group that you choose. To add people to your list, go to your profile and tap on “Close Friends” in the side menu. Only you can see your close friends list and no one can request to be added and you also have the ability to adjust the list whenever you want. When you share to Stories, you’ll see the option to share with just the people on your close friend's list. If someone has added you to their list, you will see a green badge when you’re viewing their stories. You’ll also see a green ring around their profile photo in the Stories tray. Instagram Close Friends feature is already available for Android and iOS worldwide. Source

HMD Global schedules an event in India on December 10, Nokia 8.1 with 6.18-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 710 expected

HMD Global has started sending out invites for the launch of a new smartphone in India on December 12th in Delhi. Based on the 'Expect more' teasers, the company is expected to launch the Nokia 8.1 at the event. It was supposed to happen on December 6th, now the event has been postponed to 10th. Since the Nokia 7.1 has been launched in India, the December 12th event, few days after the global event in Dubai on December 5th, might actually see the Nokia 8.1 (X7) be launched in India. Nokia 8.1 (X7) specifications 6.18-inch (2246 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ Puredisplay with 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color gamut, DCI-P3, 1500:1 Contrast ratio Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU 4GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 64GB (eMMC 5.1) storage / 6GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 128GB (eMMC 5.1)  storage, expandable memory up to 400GB with microSD Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD) Android 9.0 (Pie) 12MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, 1/2.55″ Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 1.4μm pixels, OIS, 13MP secondary rear camera with f/2.2 aperture 20MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor Dimensions:  154.8×75.76×7.97mm; ...

SIRIN LABS FINNEY Blockchain phone with cold storage crypto wallet announced

SIRIN LABS has announced the commercial launch of FINNEY which is its the first blockchain smartphone. It runs on SIRIN OS and offers a truly mobile blockchain experience with an embedded cold storage crypto wallet. SIRIN LABS also said that it is looking for strategic OEMs to implement SIRIN OS in consumer devices. SIRIN LABS will open two flagship concept stores first in London in December and later in Tokyo in January 2019. The London store will also function as a blockchain academy for our community, and any blockchain-curious audience. SIRIN says that its OS is an infrastructure platform for secure mobile transactions to enable blockchain functionality within a mobile environment. SIRIN OS is based on Google Android. https://youtu.be/zJmzToTnZJc SIRIN OS enables the unique functionality of FINNEY including the cold storage crypto wallet and the native crypto wallet application, a behavioral machine learning based multi-layered cybersecurity suite, the Token Conversion Service (TCS) and embedded dCENTER. It comes with the unique sliding design of the Safe Screen and operates as the gateway to the crypto world by activating the cold storage wallet. Functioning on dedicated hardware and software. As for the FINNEY specifications; it sports a 6-inch Full HD+ 18:9 display with a notch with 128GB storage. ...

Samsung Galaxy A8s with 6.39-inch Infinity-O FHD+ 19.5:9 display gets certified by the FCC

Samsung Galaxy A8s (SM-G8870) has passed through the FCC ahead of the announcement next month. In the FCC documents, there is a screenshot that reveals tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio display, and there is also a space on the left corner of the phone for the display hole so that it doesn't have any icons left. It also shows that it supports adaptive fast charging  (5V-2A/9V-1.67A), similar to other Samsung mid-range smartphones. Samsung Galaxy A8s rumored specifications 6.3-inch (2340 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:5:9 2.5D curved glass display Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU 6GB RAM, 128 GB Storage, expandable up to 512GB via micro SD card Android 8.0 (Oreo) Dual SIM 24MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.7 aperture, 10MP 120° Ultra Wide camera, 5MP f/2.2 depth camera 24MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor Dimension: 159.11 x 74.88 x 7.38 mm 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80, Bluetooth v5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C, NFC 3400mAh battery with adaptive fast charging We should know the launch date in the coming weeks. Source | Via

Meizu 16 with 6-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 845, in-display fingerprint sensor launching in India on December 5

Meizu is all set to launch its flagship Meizu 16 smartphone in India on December 5th, based on its teaser on its social channels. The Meizu 16 was introduced back in August and packs a 6-inch Full HD+ 18:9 aspect ratio display from Samsung with 91.18% screen-to-body ratio, thanks to 1.43mm side bezels and 5.74mm chin, is powered by Snapdragon 845 with up to 8GB of RAM, has custom copper cooling tube and feature an in-display fingerprint sensor that has 99.12% high recognition rate. Wait for the superior experience to unfold, as it's truly worth the wait ! Just 7 days to go #MEIZU #India #Smartphones #Superior @Meizu_India @Technologyfever #News #Android #Android pic.twitter.com/9S2S1tvLXe — MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) November 28, 2018 If it sounds good, then it surely is ! #MEIZU #India #Smartphones #Superior #MEIZU @Meizu_India @Technologyfever #Android pic.twitter.com/UMfByz4UVI — MEIZU India (@Meizu_India) November 29, 2018 It has a 12-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX380 sensor, 1.55μm pixel size, f/1.8 aperture along with a 20-megapixel secondary telephoto lens with Sony IMX350 sensor for portrait shots and 3x loss-less zoom and a 20-megapixel front facing camera with AI beauty recognition and Face unlock.  It has a 3D glass back with ceramic texture, and pack a 3010mAh with 24W mCharge flash charge. Meizu 16 specifications ...

MediaTek Helio P90 powerful, efficient SoC with Groundbreaking AI to be announced on December 13

After teasing its upcoming top-end P90 chip with Powerful, Efficient, Groundbreaking AI on social media yesterday, MediaTek today confirmed that it will introduce the SoC at an event in Shenzen, China on December 13th. Coming Soon! The MediaTek Helio P90. Powerful. Efficient. Groundbreaking AI. #MediaTekHelioP90 #thischipchangeseverything pic.twitter.com/HiALFuRWHZ — MediaTek (@MediaTek) November 29, 2018 The company introduced the Helio P70 SoC, successor of the Helio P60 SoC recently, which powers the latest Realme U1 smartphone that was launched earlier this week. However the company has not introduced the Helio P80 SoC yet. According to latest reports, the Helio P90 will be based on TSMC’s 12nm FinFET technology, similar to the P70. It recently surfaced in GeekBench benchmark with MT6779 model number with Single-core benchmark of 2025 and multi-core score of 6831, better than the Helio P70. It revealed that it will be an Octa-Core SoC clocked at maximum frequency of 2.0GHz, and it is expected to replace Cortex-A73 in P60/P70 with Cortex-A75. We will have to wait for about two weeks to find out all the deails of the Helio P90. Source

Realme 1 ColorOS 5.2 stable OTA update with Smart Bar, Game Space and more starts rolling out in India

As promised recently, Realme has started rolling out ColorOS 5.2 stable OTA update in India. This brings several new features single swipe notification dismiss, Headset icon in status bar, Smart Bar for faster multitasking, Game Space, Recorder, and lots more. The Realme 1 ColorOS 5.2 update has build number CPH1861EX_11.A.25, is 2.11GB in size and includes Android security patch for  October 5, 2018. The company said that this is staged roll out, which will complete by December 3rd, if no critical bugs are found. Check out the complete changelog below. System Single swipe notification dismiss. Now you can swipe from left to right to dismiss the notification. Headset icon in status bar. A headset icon in status bar will be shown when you plug-in the headset. Smart Bar for faster multitasking. You can add apps you use often into "Smart Bar" for faster app launching and multitasking. Optimized reminders when Developer Options, Accessibility Mode and Device Manager on. Flashing bar, on-going notification and text at the upper right corner for "Developer Options", "Accessibility" and "Device & Privacy" have been deleted. Gaming Added "Game Space" to for performance mode, do not disturb, game acceleration, and more. You can enjoy an ultra-fast gaming experience here. Function to keep games running with screen off. Video Switch to audio playback mode ...

Portronics Charge Clamp car smartphone Holder launched

Portronics has launched a dual purpose car accessory 'CHARGE CLAMP' which is a wireless mobile charger and mobile holder. This mobile holder makes it easy for the users to find the secure places in the car to keep the phone and also use the media player or GPS in-hands-free mode. Charge Clamp is a premium Universal mobile Holder with a cradle to hold any smartphone up to 9 inches and charge wirelessly. It is flexibility, thanks to movable hinges giving you the ability to hold the product anywhere in your car dashboard or windscreen and tilt it towards yourself depending on your convenience. You can zoom it out, rotate it fully, tilt it sideward up to 45 degrees and pivot it from one side to the other 180 degree. The latch given at the base of Charge Clamp helps to ensure the suction cup at the bottom holds the mobile holder firmly on the car’s surface. You can easily pull the smartphone from the top and the clamps automatically loosen up to ensure that the pull out is smooth. To charge wirelessly, simply connect the USB cable from any car charger up to the Charge Clamp. It has a power rating of 5V/2A or 9V/1.67A ...

Nokia 7.1 with 5.84-inch FHD+ 19:9 HDR PureDisplay, Dual rear cameras with ZEISS optics launched in India for Rs. 19999

HMD Global just launched the Nokia 7.1, the company’s latest mid-range Android One smartphone in India. It was introduced last month and packs a 5.84-inch Full HD+  19:9 screen with a notch, 80% screen-to-body ratio, has support for HDR and also supports SD to HDR real-time conversion. With HDR10 support; 1 million: 1 dynamic contrast ratio; 500-million pixels processed per second providing smooth and accurate HDR video.The display also adapts to indoor and bright outdoor sunlight. The company calls it PureDisplay. It runs on Android 8.1 (Oreo), and recently got Android 9.0 (Pie) update. It is powered by Snapdragon 636 with 4GB of RAM, has 12MP (RGB) + 5MP (Monochrome) dual rear cameras with ZEISS Optics and fast accurate autofocus. The 8MP AI enhanced front facing camera supports facial recognition.  It has a 6000 series aluminium frame and uses dual-anodised diamond cut coloured edge. It packs a 3060mAh battery with support for USB Type-C fast charging that can charge the phone from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes. Nokia 7.1 specifications 5.84-inch (2244 x 1080 pixels) Full HD+ HDR 10 display with 19:9 aspect ratio, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 636 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 509 GPU 4GB LPPDDR4x RAM ...

Android Auto update brings improved media browser, search, message previews and more

Google has announced new Android Auto features including easier access to your favorite content with improved media browse and search features, plus new ways to stay connected with visual message previews and group messaging. You can try out these new features with media apps—like Google Play Books, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, and Spotify. Popular messaging apps like Messages, Hangouts, and WhatsApp also work with new messaging features. Google says that support for more apps will come in the next few months. Thanks to the new updates, you can now spend less time browsing and more time enjoying the content. An improved layout, featuring large album art views, lets you quickly identify and select something to play. it also brings improvements to the voice search experience. Just say “OK Google, play 80s music” or “OK Google, play Lilt” to view even more categorized search results from your app right on the screen. When new text messages arrive, Android Auto can show you a short preview of the text when your vehicle is stopped. This message previewing capability is purely optional, giving you the ability to choose what’s most important—privacy or convenience. In addition to SMS messaging, Android Auto now supports apps that use ...

Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD F-30 rugged Wear OS outdoor watch with GPS announced [Update: Available from January 18]

Update - November 30, 2018: Casio has announced that the  PRO TREK Smart WSD-F30 smartwatch will ship from January 18, 2019. It will also release the WSA-BX1 extra-long cloth band, an optional accessory for the WSD-F30. Earlier: Ahead of IFA 2018, Casio has unveiled its third generation Outdoor Watch in the PRO TREK series dubbed as WSD-F30 with water resistance and is also built to military standard specifications (MIL-STD-810G) so that it can withstand a variety of rugged activities. It has a 1.2-inch (390×390 pixels) dual layer display with monochrome and color LCDs. It enables use of offline maps and GPS log recording for up to three consecutive days, says the company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46BNVTWx_7E It comes with Extend Mode which enables use of offline color maps and GPS for up to three consecutive days on just a single charge. In Extend Mode, time and measurement data is continuously shown on the monochrome display, and a color map can be displayed with a push of button. Extend Mode also conserves energy by switching the operating system to energy-saving stand-by mode on a schedule set by the user. It also ensures optimal power management based on the activity plan, allowing the user to track his or her current location on ...

Microsoft introduces new Office icons part of bigger design overhaul

Microsoft back in 2013 has updated the Office icons and after five years, the company is again transforming office into a collaborative suite that lets you work together in real-time from almost any device. The company is changing the official icons for Office 365 again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YplAU5myNP4 The company says that it has used gestalt principles to further emphasize key product changes. While each icon has a unique and identifiable symbol, there are connections within each app’s symbol and the collective suite. The company has removed a visual boundary: the traditional tool formatting. Whereas prior Office icons had a document outline for Microsoft Word and a spreadsheet outline for Excel, it now shows lines of text for Word and individual cells for Excel. These icons embody the collaborative nature of the apps they represent. It also changed the letter-to-symbol ratio. Traditionally, the letter occupied two-thirds of the icon, and the symbol took up one-third. It has changed this ratio to now emphasize the symbol because while the letter represents the tool itself. The new icons will begin rolling out across platforms in the coming months, starting with mobile and web. Source

Swiftkey for Android gets native Search integration

Swiftkey for Android is getting brand new features one of which makes it easy and quick to share anything you want from the web. In just a few taps, you have access to search results that you can easily screenshot, crop and share. To use this feature, simply open the Toolbar by tapping the “+” on the top left, select the search icon and type what you’re looking for into the box right there in the Toolbar. If you type a search term, you’ll have instant access to rich search content from Bing; if you type in a URL, you’ll be taken to that webpage. This feature is currently available in 11 countries including US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Brazil, India, Italy and Spain.   Colleen Hall, Senior Product Manager at SwiftKey said: We’re always looking for ways to make typing and messaging faster and smarter for our users. By having search right there in the keyboard, users can browse for information and share it with their contacts without leaving the conversation, whether that’s for quick fact-finding, checking the local weather or sharing news headlines and images in a message. Source

Google explains how it achieved Portrait mode on Pixel 3

Similar to last year, Google again is describing how it achieved Portrait mode on the Pixel 3 smartphones. Google says that Portrait Mode uses a neural network to determine what pixels correspond to people versus the background, and augments this two layer person segmentation mask with depth information derived from the PDAF pixels. This is meant to enable a depth-dependent blur. PDAF pixels capture two slightly different views of a scene. With Portrait Mode on the Pixel 3, Google says that it is fixing these errors by utilizing the fact that the parallax used by depth from stereo algorithms is only one of many depth cues present in images. Google says that it has built its own custom “Frankenphone” rig that contains five Pixel 3 phones, along with a Wi-Fi-based solution that allowed it to simultaneously capture pictures from all of the phones. With this rig, Google computed high-quality depth from photos by using structure from motion and multi-view stereo. However, even though the data captured from this rig is ideal, it is still extremely challenging to predict the absolute depth of objects in a scene a given PDAF pair can correspond to a range of different depth maps. To account for this, Google instead predict the ...

YouTube rolling out Instagram-like Stories widely

YouTube has announced that it is rolling out YouTube Stories to all eligible creators with 10K+ subscribers. You can add text, music, filters, YouTube stickers, and more to make your story uniquely you.  To create a story, just open the YouTube mobile app, tap on the video camera icon, and select "Create Story." https://youtu.be/qM-dOYiyvCA The company is also including the ability to add comments to Stories, so the entire community can be a part of the conversation. Subscribers can comment, thumbs up and thumbs down comments, and you can heart comments. All of the comment moderation tools that are available on video uploads will also be available on Stories. You can now also respond directly with a photo or video for the entire community to see. Once posted, Stories are available in the mobile app for 7 days so that subscribers have a chance to see it. Stories may show up to both subscribers on the Subscriptions tab and non-subscribers on Home and in the Up Next list below videos. Source

Xiaomi Redmi 5 and Redmi 5A Android 8.1 Oreo beta update starts rolling out [Download Link]

Xiaomi announced the list of phones eligible for Oreo and Pie updates last month and said that devices are supposed to get Android Pie/Oreo update before the end of this year. Except for Redmi 5, all the devices launched by Xiaomi in India this year have already received Android 8.1 (Oreo) update. To recall, Redmi 5 was launched earlier this year with MIUI 9 on top of Android 7.1.2 (Nougat) and was recently updated to MIUI 10 Global Stable based on Android 7.1.2. Xiaomi launched Redmi 5A last year on this day with MIUI 9 based on of Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), the company recently released MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM for the smartphone. Earlier this month, Redmi 5 and Redmi 5A both the smartphones received Android 8.1 based MIUI 10 China Beta ROM and now, the company has started rolling out MIUI 10 Global Beta ROM based on Android 8.1 (Oreo) as we earlier reported. [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="medium" ids="269813,269814"] The new update comes as MIUI Global Beta 8.11.23 and also brings November 2018 security patch to both the devices along with the Android version upgrade. Other devices like Redmi Note 5 Pro have also received November security patch with the same update. Xiaomi has also enabled ...

Honor 8C Benchmarks and Gaming

Huawei's Honor brand today launched the Honor 8C smartphone in India today. We already brought you the unboxing and first impressions of the smartphone, here we have the benchmarks and gaming performance video. The phone is powered by an Octa-Core Snapdragon 632 14nm SoC that has Quad 1.8GHz Kryo 250 (A73-based) Performance + Quad 1.8GHz Kryo 250 (A53-based) Efficiency CPUs, better than the Snapdragon 630, however it has Adreno 506 GPU, same as Snapdragon 625 and 450 SoCs. It comes with 4GB of RAM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0491XhZ7Cg AnTuTu Benchmark 7 It scored 1,04,243 points in the AnTuTu Benchmark 7 which is on par with the Snapdragon 636-powered smartphones. Geekbench 4 Single-Core It scored 1261 points in the Geekbench 4 Single-Core benchmark and is once again on par with the Snapdragon 636-powered devices including the Redmi Note 6 Pro. Geekbench 4 Multi-Core It scored 4573 points in the Geekbench 4 Multi-Core benchmark and lies just behind the Redmi Note 6 Pro. Basemark OS II In Basemark OS II benchmark it scored 1861 points. These are just synthetic benchmark scores. For the price of Rs. 11,999, the performance is good. We will bring real life performance test results in the complete review soon.

WhatsApp beta for Android hints at consecutive voice messages feature

WhatsApp for Android is getting a new beta update bringing the version number to V2.18.362 version. It teases features such as consecutive voice messages which is not available yet. However, it is already available for iOS with 2.18.100 update.   The Consecutive voice messages feature is a new functionality that, as the name suggests, allows to continuously play consecutive voice messages. The feature will start to work when two (or more) voice messages are detected by WhatsApp. When you start to play the first one, WhatsApp will automatically play all other consecutive voice messages as a sequence, so it won’t be necessary to press play on each message. When all the voice messages end, WhatsApp will play a short audio to let you know about it. There are two different tones when a voice message ends; first one means that the voice message has been fully played but there is another one ready to be played; the other one is played at the end of the voice message when there aren’t other voice messages to play. The feature might be enabled remotely in the next beta update. At the moment, it isn't clear when the feature would be enabled. Source

Nokia 8.1 (X7) with 6.18-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 710, Android Pie to go official on Dec 5 reveals marketing materials

As rumored earlier, Nokia X7 that was introduced in China last month, will be introduced as Nokia 8.1, codenmaed 'Phoenix' at an event in Dubai on December 5th, according to marketing materials that have surfaced online. There is no change in specifications, but this will run Android 9.0 (Pie) out of the box. Nokia 8.1 (X7) specifications 6.18-inch (2246 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ Puredisplay with 18.7:9 aspect ratio, 500 nits brightness, 96% NTSC Color gamut, DCI-P3, 1500:1 Contrast ratio Octa Core Snapdragon 710 10nm Mobile Platform (Dual 2.2GHz Kryo 360 + Hexa 1.7GHz Kryo 360 CPUs) with Adreno 616 GPU 4GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 64GB (eMMC 5.1) storage / 6GB (LPPDDR4x) RAM with 128GB (eMMC 5.1)  storage, expandable memory up to 400GB with microSD Hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano / microSD) Android 9.0 (Pie) 12MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, 1/2.55" Sony IMX363 sensor, f/1.8 aperture, 1.4μm pixels, OIS, 13MP secondary rear camera with f/2.2 aperture 20MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture Fingerprint sensor Dimensions:  154.8×75.76×7.97mm; Weight: 178g 3.5mm audio jack, Nokia OZO Stereo Audio recording Dual 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5, GPS + GLONASS, USB Type-C 3500mAh (typical) / 3400mAh (minimum) battery with fast charging The Nokia 8.1 will come in Red, ...

DJI Osmo Pocket 3-axis stabilized handheld camera announced

DJI has announced Osmo Pocket which is a highly compact three-axis stabilized camera. It just sports 4-inch tall and is the smallest three-axis stabilized camera and packs 1/2.3-inch sensor with a 12-megapixel sensor and record up to 4K video up to 60fps at 100Mbps. Osmo Pocket also packs built-in dual microphones and advanced noise-canceling algorithms. It can last up to two hours when recording videos in 4K, 30fps. The three-axis mechanical gimbal compensates for movements and smooths these motions so you can focus on composition and subject matter. The gimbal camera uses a 1-inch integrated touch screen that provides a high quality live view as well as the ability to toggle through the various shooting modes, adjust settings, review footage. Other features include ActiveTrack which is DJI's image recognition algorithms allows Osmo Pocket to recognize and follow subjects of your choice. FaceTrack takes ActiveTrack one step further. With enhanced ActiveTrack algorithms, FaceTrack automatically recognizes a human face and locks the subject in center of the frame at all times. It does not identify individual faces, but keeps the camera centered on one. You can also record Timelapse & Motionlapse videos. DJI ​​​Osmo Pocket is priced at $349 (Rs. 24,375) and is already available for pre-order at store.dji.com, ...

Asus ROG Phone Hands On Impressions

Front, centre and well, back too, the Asus ROG phone employs every gaming related schtick and somehow manages to make it look good. This device is one of those rare examples of focussed engineering that delivers on all its promises. Asus claims to have worked with professional eSports teams to design the phone and it shows. Here's what we think about the Asus ROG Phone. The most distinctive aspect of the phone is, of course, the rear panel where it uses a combination of etched Gorilla Glass 5 and a very visible copper heat sink to give it a cutting edge look. Even more interesting is that ROG logo in the middle. Yes, it has fully controllable RGB lighting. Got a blingy gaming desktop? The ROG phone will fit right in. Robust controls through the game centre app means that you can sync these lights with others within the Asus Aura Sync system. The front too has an aggressive design with red highlights around the speaker grilles. The ROG phone is not for anyone who values subtlety. There are stereo speakers on board. Asus really talked up the dual NXP 9874 smart amps during our briefing and it shows. The speakers are loud, crystal ...

Google Translate for web gets new responsive design, easy navigation and much more

Google has redesigned Translator on the web to make it easier to use. The site's new look is now consistent with other Google products, and updated labeling and typography make it easier to navigate. Thanks to the new look,  now it’s even more convenient to save and organize important translations you regularly utilize or search for. The company has added labels to each saved translation, so if you speak multiple languages, you can sort and group your translations with a single click. The Translator website is responsive so it can adjust dynamically for your screen size. So when Google launches new features, you get a great web experience across all your devices: mobile, tablet, or desktop. Source

YouTube to shutdown pop-up annotations on January 15th

YouTube had discontinued its annotations editor on May 2nd, 2017, and now it will also stop showing any existing annotations on January 15th, 2019. The company says the adoption of end screens and cards has grown, the use of annotations has decreased by over 70%.  This means you can no longer add new or edit existing annotations, only delete them. Existing annotations still show when using a desktop computer. Annotations were launched in 2008 and were immediately put to use by YouTube entertainers for recommending new videos. In 2016, YouTube launched end screens as a new interface for linking to videos and sites at the end of a video without any workarounds that included annotations. The site also added cards, a tidier, less obtrusive pop-up option for mid-video text. This marked the end of annotations to up to 70% by early 2017 leading it to discontinue the annotations editor that spring. Google also mentioned that it will stop showing existing annotations to viewers starting January 15, 2019, and all existing annotations will be removed. Source

ASUS ROG Phone with 6-inch FHD+ AMOLED 90Hz HDR display, Snapdragon 845, 8GB RAM launched in India for Rs. 69999

ASUS just launched ROG Phone, the company’s first gaming smartphone in India, as it had promised. It packs a 6-inch Full HD+ AMOLED HDR 90Hz, 1ms response time AMOLED display with DCIP3 gamut with Gaming HDR and Mobile HDR supported by dedicate hardware display chip, is powered by Snapdragon 845 SoC that is clocked up to 2.96GHz with 8GB RAM.  It has new GameCool system that improves thermals with a copper heat spreader and 3D vapor chamber that efficiently transfer heat away from the SoC and into the body. It has dedicated ultrasonic buttons, two on the left edge and one more on the bottom right edge actuate with only 20 grams of force for both landscape and portrait modes. Each one can be customized to perform different functions, including executing macros that reliably reproduce game-specific gestures. The buttons can also be configured for non-gaming tasks, like instantly launching specific apps and activating functions like one-handed mode. Under the hood, an advanced haptic engine generates nuanced vibrations for more detailed force feedback in games. It is WiGig-certified for 802.11ad 60GHz WiFi with both 2×2 MIMO and WiFi Direct. The side-mounted port also supports Gigabit Ethernet over Type-C, plus HDMI and USB. It packs ...

Apple hit with class action lawsuit over the lack of vent filters in MacBook, iMacs causing trapped dust

Apple is facing a class action lawsuit that accuses the company of not installing vent filters in MacBooks and iMacs, leading to lower processor speeds and screen smudges from trapped dust resulting in expensive repairs. Hagens Berman is the firm handling the case.  Dust accumulating from the air allegedly impacts the screen and the motherboard, causing spots on the display and heat regulation issues. Hagens Berman says that Apple has been charging customers with machines out of warranty around $600 to fix these problems. The lawsuit says iMac and MacBook models from 2013 to 2018 are affected. Several plaintiffs are named in the lawsuit, including a photographer who was plagued by dark spots on the Mac's display, a user who had smudges on his iMac who was required to pay $600 for a replacement after five months, and a third iMac owner who saw dark smudges soon after making a purchase and subsequently had his display and motherboard replaced multiple times, leading to high repair bills. The class action lawsuit is seeking compensation for Mac owners, including compensation for screens that "did not perform as advertised," reimbursement for out-of-pocket repair costs, and compensation for those who sold their computers at a loss due to dark ...

Honor 8C with 6.26-inch 19:9 display, Snapdragon 632, AI dual rear cameras launched in India starting at Rs. 11999

Huawei’s Honor brand just launched the Honor 8C, successor of the Honor 7C  in India, as it had promised. It packs a 6.26-inch HD+ 19:9 aspect ratio display with a notch, Snapdragon 632 SoC with up to 4GB of RAM, 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash along with a secondary 2-megapixel camera for capturing depth information in portrait shots, AI scene recognition to recognize over 500 scenarios in 22 categories and an 8-megapixel camera on the front with AI beautify features. It has 3D nano-level texture design, combining the gradient color and glare, offering a unique light and shadow circulation effect, features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. It has Dual 4G VoLTE support, dedicated Dual SIM and microSD slots, and packs a 4000mAh battery that promises up to two days of battery life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWYvfmG6fw0 Honor 8C specifications 6.26-inch (1520 × 720 pixels) HD+ display with 19:9 aspect ratio 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 632 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 506 GPU 4GB RAM, 32GB / 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD Dual SIM Android 8.1 (Oreo) with EMUI 8.2 13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.8 aperture, 2MP secondary rear camera with f/2.4 aperture 8MP front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture with LED flash Fingerprint sensor Dimensions:  158.72×75.94×7.98mm; ...

Watch OS 5.1.2 to bring ECG functionality to Apple Watch Series 4

WatchOS 5.1.2 for Apple Watch Series 4 to bring ECG functionality, according to an internal Apple Store training document. The version is currently in beta testing. WatchOS 5.1.2 will feature an ECG app that can indicate whether your heart rhythm shows signs of atrial fibrillation, a serious form of irregular heart rhythm, or a normal sinus rhythm. Apple Watch Series 4 is capable of generating an ECG similar to a single-lead electrocardiogram. ECG and other heart data will be collected in the Health app on a paired iPhone. Apple's document lists a minimum requirement of an iPhone 5s or later running iOS 12.1.1. To take an ECG reading from the Apple Watch, users will need to place a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing the watch. The reading is completed in 30 seconds, allowing users to determine whether their hearts are beating in a regular pattern or if there are signs of atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, Apple's training document reveals that the ECG app is regulated and only available in regions where it is cleared for use. The app will initially be available in the United States, where Apple has received FDA clearance, but Apple Watch Series 4 models sold worldwide include the electrical heart sensor for ...

Instagram introduces new accessibility features for visually impaired

Instagram has introduced two new improvements to its platform to make it easier for people with visual impairments to use Instagram. First, it is introducing automatic alternative text so you can hear descriptions of photos through your screen reader when you use Feed, Explore and Profile.  This feature uses object recognition technology to generate a description of photos for screen readers so you can hear a list of items that photos may contain as you browse the app. Instagram is also introducing custom alternative text so you can add a richer description of your photos when you upload a photo. People using screen readers will be able to hear this description. Instagram says that these are just first steps toward creating a more accessible Instagram. The company in a blog post said: We are introducing two new improvements to make it easier for people with visual impairments to use Instagram. With more than 285 million people in the world who have visual impairments, we know there are many people who could benefit from a more accessible Instagram. Source

Google rebrands to Project Fi to Google Fi, expands to more Android and iPhones

Google is expanding Project Fi to more phones including the majority of Android devices and iPhones. Owing to this occasion, the company is also rebranding Project Fi to 'Google Fi.' Users can now sign up for Fi with popular Android and iPhones (in beta). Google says that some plan features will depend on the Android or iOS device you use. The compatible phones include special hardware and software to move effortlessly between Google Fi’s networks and provide you with even more security and reliability through Fi’s new enhanced network feature. Google is celebrating the occasion by offering the choice of travel gift cards in return if you’re new to Fi or already a subscriber and a buy a phone from Google Fi. The trave gift cards can be spent on flights with Delta and Southwest or lodging with Airbnb and hotels.com. Alternatively, if you’d rather set up Google Fi on your current phone, you’ll earn $200 of Fi service credit when you sign up. Source

OnePlus 3 and 3T OxygenOS 5.0.7 enables support for OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones by default, brings November Android security patch

OnePlus has rolled out OxygenOS 5.0.7 update for the OnePlus 3 and 3T smartphones. This brings the latest Android security patch, and enables support for OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones by default, so you don't have to enable it by going to OTG Storage from the Settings -> Advanced, as we had mentioned in the unboxing of the OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones earlier this month. The OnePlus 3 and 3T OxygenOS 5.0.7 update is 71MB in size, and is rolling out gradually. If you are still using beta OS on the 3 or 3T, you have to flash the stable ROM manually by downloading it from downloads.oneplus.net. The company already said that it will provide Android security updates till November 2019. It also said that the phones will get Android Pie update, after the OnePlus 5 and 5T sometime next year, and will skip Android 8.1 (Oreo) update. Check out the complete changelog of OxygenOS 5.0.7 below. System Updated Android security patch to 2018.11 Supported OnePlus Type-C Bullets Earphones General bug fixes and improvements Source

ADATA introduces up to 512GB XPG microSDXC UHS-I U3 Class 10 Cards for Gaming

ADATA Technology, popular for DRAM modules, NAND Flash products, and mobile accessories has introduced its XPG microSDXC UHS-I U3 Class 10 cards.  It also meets the Application Performance Class 1 (A1) requirements to help launch and load apps faster and have read of up to 100MB/s and write of up to 85MB/s. Targeted at gamers, these let you download, install and start up games quickly in devices like Nintendo Switch, and the XPG microSDXC UHS-I cards also help speed things up on smartphones, tablets, and VR devices. These come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. Highlights of ADATA XPG microSDXC UHS-I U3 card Read Speed: up to 100 MB/s Write Speed: up to 85 MB/s Minimum Sequential Write Speed: 30 MB/s A1 spec allows the new card to manage random read input-output access per second (IOPS) of 1500 and write IOPS of 500 Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) ratings Capacity - 128GB / 256GB / 512GB Standard SD 5.0 / 5.1 Dimensions ( L x W x H ) 15 x 11 x 1mm; Weight 0.25g Suitable for: Nintendo Switch / Smartphones / Tablets / VR devices Supports Full HD 1080p and Ultra HD 4K recording and ...

Get Android 9.0 Pie on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro with Pixel Experience Extended ROM

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is amongst best-selling devices launched this year, Xiaomi launched it running on Android Nougat despite launching in February and later in June rolled out Android Oreo update. If we go by the Android update history of Redmi devices then it won’t be wrong to assume that device will not get any Android update as last year’s bestseller Redmi Note 4 is still on Android Nougat 7.0 but users can still enjoy the latest Android on their Redmi Note 5 Pro, thanks to the awesome custom ROM developers community. Earlier, we tried Android Pie based Pixel Experience ROM on Redmi Note 5 Pro, it was stable for day to day usage but it lacks customization and MIUI like navigation gestures. Now, we tried Android Pie-based Pixel Experience Extended on our unit and here are our impressions, Performance and Benchmarks: [gallery columns="2" link="file" size="large" ids="269683,269684"] Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 is capable of delivering a solid day to day performance, we obtained AnTuTu score of 112958 which is slightly lesser as compared to 115397 on Pixel Experience ROM but we experienced a smooth and reliable day to day performance and phone didn’t have any problem in handling multitasking. Software, UI, and Apps: As the name suggests, the Pixel Experience ...

Nubia Red Magic Mars Gaming phone with Snapdragon 845, up to 10GB RAM, liquid + air cooling announced

ZTE's Nubia has introduced  Red Magic Mars, the company's latest gaming smartphone in China, as it had promised.  It has a 6-inch Full HD+ 18:9 aspect ratio display, is powered by Snapdragon 845 with up to 10GB RAM,  includes both liquid cooling and air cooling to reduce the temperature by up to 13.2 degrees and improve CPU performance by up to 70%. It runs Android 9.0 (Oreo) with Redmagic OS on top, has a 16-megapixel rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, along with an 8-megapixel front camera with support for Face unlocking. The phone comes with two-sided Red Magic touch game buttons, offers 4D gaming experience with real-time recognition of the game scene that vibrates the phone to intelligent match more than 40 game scenes and DTS 7.1 channel + 3D surround sound. It also has an unique LED light strip on the metal back. It packs a 3800mAh battery with support for Neocharge fast charging. Nubia Red Magic Mars specifications 6-inch (2160 × 1080 pixels) 18:9 FHD+ In-Cell 2.5D curved glass display 2.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 845 64-bit 10nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 630 GPU 6GB LPDDR4 RAM with 64GB (UFS 2.1) storage, 8GB RAM with 128GB internal storage,  10GB RAM with 256GB internal storage, ...

Xiaomi Redmi 4 and Redmi 4A MIUI 10 Stable update starts rolling out [Download Link]

Xiaomi launched the Redmi 4 and Redmi 4A in India last year running MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0 (Marshmallow), and got it MIUI MIUI 9 as well as Android Nougat updates later. Today it has started rolling out MIUI 10 Stable update for both the smartphones. The new update comes as MIUI 10.1.1.0.NAMMFI for the Redmi 4 and is about 316MB in size. It comes as 10.1.1.0.NCCMIFI for the Redmi 4A, which is 268MB. These are based on Android 7.1.2 (Nougat).Xiaomi has not updated the Android security patch on Redmi 4A and it runs on July, 2018 security patch, while Redmi 4 has October, 2018 security patch. MIUI 10 brings major changes like Full-screen gestures, Redesigned Notification Panel, Redesigned Volume Sliders, Improved multitasking management, natural sound system, and a lot more, for more details on MIUI 10 refer to this post. You can download the recovery ROM here for Redmi 4 and Redmi 4A and flash it using the recovery method or download the fastboot ROM here for the Redmi 4A  and flash it using the fastboot method. Other devices from the second batch are also expected to receive MIUI 10 Global Stable ROM update soon. Check out the changelog below. Designed for full screen Experience All-new full screen gestures will change the way you interact with your device. They can do ...

HTC and Sprint to bring 5G mobile smart hub in first half of 2019

HTC has announced that the company would work along with Sprint to create a 5G mobile smart hub in the first half of 2019. HTC aims to lead the U.S. 5G industry, and 5G is expected to bring impressive data speeds and reliable wireless signals. Sprint plans to launch its mobile 5G network in nine of the largest cities in the USA: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., with additional markets to be announced. The upcoming device will use the Qualcomm's Snapdragon X50 5G modem with its Gigabit LTE and 5G capabilities. Sprint says that Massive MIMO technology is a key part of Sprint’s award-winning 5G strategy and network build. This technology dramatically increases the capacity of Sprint’s LTE Advanced network and is software upgradable to 5G. Cher Wang, Chairwoman, and CEO of HTC said: Through building a strong foundation for the 5G ecosystem, HTC is bringing the world to the very turning point of truly embracing the next technological age. While smartphones still play a crucial part as the heart of our digital lives, we believe that in the next decade, technologies that VIVE Reality embodies will rise as the true agents of change – AR, VR, AI, blockchain, ...

OnePlus 6T Review

Undoubtedly, the OnePlus is ruling the charts since its inception in the Indian market. Following the launch of much-celebrated OnePlus 6, the company has launched the mid-cycle refresh of the device called as OnePlus 6T. In this case, there are a couple of noteworthy upgrades -- Screen Unlock and bigger battery. We got hold of the device for some time and came up with a review. Do swirl through. Display, Hardware and Design OnePlus 6T sports a 6.41-inch FHD+ Optic AMOLED 19.5:9 aspect ratio display with a resolution of 2340 × 1080 pixels translating to a pixel density of about 402 PPI and with a water-drop notch. It has rounded corners with bare minimum bezels just to make more space for the display. It has an 85.6% screen-to-body ratio. Talking about the display, the Blacks are deep, the colour reproduction and viewing angles are good, it has a perfectly readable display under bright sunlight too. The display is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 6 to avoid scratches. [gallery link="file" columns="2" size="large" ids="269566,269572"] Just like its predecessor, the OnePlus 6T gets the DCI-P3 colour profile, along with the standard sRGB, Adaptive mode, and a Custom colour profile. It retains Reading Mode, which completely changes the ...

Reliance Jio offers 10GB free data Jio Celebration Pack for users

Reliance Jio is back with the free data offer. Few weeks back it announced that users will get 16GB of data as a part of 2nd anniversary celebration since Reliance Jio launched its commercial operations in India. As promised it offered two vouchers with 2GB data per day, valid for 4 days as a part of its 2nd anniversary celebration. Now it has started offering 10GB data (2GB data per day for 5 days) for its users as Jio Celebration Pack. This already started rolling out for some yesterday, and for other from today.  You can check usage by visiting “My plans” section in MyJio once they are credited. You can check out more details on Jio.com and MyJio app. You can also call 1299 toll-free number to confirm via SMS, if you have received Jio Celebration data add-on pack.

Philips LED TVs including 4K Smart TVs with Ambilight technology launched in India

TPV Technology has launched a new range of Philips Televisions which will be available with variants across 22” to 65-inch. It is also introducing the Philips patented Ambilight technology. The 65” 65PUT6703S/94 is the largest screen in the range and is fully LED TV's equipped with 3-sided Ambilight. The intelligent LEDs around the edges of the TV cast onscreen colors onto the walls, and into the room, in real time. There is an ‘Ambilight music mode’ which will sync with the music converting your living room into a virtual sound and light show. The latest line-up comes with Pixel Precise HD, an engine that optimizes picture quality to deliver crisp images with beautiful contrast. Philips 4K TVs (6100/ 6700 series) are also equipped with HDR Plus and packs features like SAPHI, an intuitive operating system that brings ease of navigation and access to content through a user-friendly icon-based menu. The ‘Micro Dimming’ software analyzes the picture in 6400 different zones and adjusts it accordingly. There is support for DTS HD that optimizes sound processing by preserving the original sound content. The 22-inch Full HD LED TV is priced at Rs.9990 and the high-end 65PUT6703S 65-inch TV costs Rs.149,990. The new range of TVs will be available ...

Realme Buds with braided kevlar fiber cable launched in India for Rs. 499

Realme, at the launch of Realme U1 smartphone also introduced the Realme Buds, the company's first earphones. These have 11 mm audio drivers that promise 160% louder bass. The company says that it is the first wired headphones in India to use magnetic locking in the price range, so that it make carrying and tidying the earphones easy. It has break-resistant kevlar fiber cord that protects wiring from wear and tear and the braided jacket feels premium and prevents the cord from tangling easily. The ear tips are bent 45° for a snug wear and is comfortable even after long hours of use. It has a three-button in-line remote. Realme Buds specifications 11 mm drivers Impedance: 32Ω, Sound Pressure Level: 106dB, Total Harmonic Distortion: ＜1% (1KHz, 1mW), Frequency Rate: 20-20,000Hz Rated Power: 3mW In-ear headphones  In-line Remote 1.25m cable with enameled copper wire and kevlar fiber Copper-clad aluminum coil Weight: 13.5 g The Realme Buds comes only in Black color and is priced at Rs. 499. It should go on sale along with the Realme U1 starting next month.

Realme U1 with 6.3-inch FHD+ Dewdrop notch display, 25MP front camera, dual rear cameras launched in India starting at Rs. 11999

Realme just launched the Realme U1, the company's latest mid-range smartphone in India, as it had promised. It has a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with Dewdrop notch and 90.5% screen to body ratio, is powered by  MediaTek Helio P70 12nm SoC with AI engine and GPU acceleration with gaming mode. It has up to 4GB of RAM, runs Android 8.1 (Oreo) based on ColorOS 5.2, comes with a 13-megapixel raer camera along with a secondary 2-megapixel camera for portrait shots. It also has AI features, 25-megapixel front camera with Sony IMX576 sensor, 4-in-1 pixels, AI beautify feature that scans 296 facial recognition points and studio portrait lighting modes. It has a shiny back with diffraction grading since it has 13 layers of Laminated Technology, which it calls Light Pillar Design. It comes with a fingerprint sensor on the back, has dedicated Dual SIM and microSD slots, has Dual 4G VoLTE and packs a 3500mAh battery. Realme U1 specifications 6.3-inch (2350 x 1080 pixels) 19.5:9 Full HD+ IPS display with 1500:1 contrast ratio, 450 nits brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection Octa Core MediaTek Helio P70 12nm processor (Quad 2.1GHz Cortex A73 + Quad 2GHz Cortex A53 CPUs) with 900MHz ARM Mali-G72 MP3 GPU 3GB RAM ...

LG patent shows foldable smartphone with borderless design

LG recently filed patents for the foldable and flexible smartphones names, and now the company has filed patents for a smartphone with a large borderless flexible display that is wrapped around the entire housing and packs very small bezels.  LG Display has filed the design patent with KIPO (Korean Intellectual Property Office), and the patent was granted and published on 23rd October 2018. The patent sketches showcase a bezel-less smartphone with a large screen that covers four sides of the smartphone and shows a rimless smartphone with a flexible screen. The screen can be unfolded to tablet format, but housing itself cannot be folded. When unfolded, you have the housing and the display on the left, meaning you will have a flexible display. The design is therefore significantly different from that of Samsung and Royale; both manufacturers showed their foldable smartphone design earlier this month. The LG display design patent is currently only granted in Korea. LG is rumored to showcase the foldable smartphone design at the CES 2019, meaning we still have to wait some more time to know more details. Source | Via

Dropbox brings support for DocuSign, Pixlr X and more extensions

Dropbox has launched Dropbox Extensions bringing new ways to work seamlessly in web-based apps while keeping everything organized in Dropbox. Extensions let you use the tools you already use while keeping everything organized, in sync, and in one place. Just like the right-click menu in Windows Explorer or macOS Finder, Extensions let you open files from dropbox.com in the web-based app of your choice. There will be a new option 'Open With' menu next to popular file types like PDFs, DWGs, Word docs, videos, and images. You can perform actions like signatures, sending faxes, edit documents, edit CAD drawings, capture video feedback, and Adjust images. Once you’re done working, your files will be saved back to Dropbox. The first batch of Extensions is available today in English, with support for more partner apps coming soon. Source

Google Fast pair now pairs with Bluetooth accessories across Android devices, Chromebooks to get support in 2019

Google last year introduced 'Fast Pair,' a set of specs that make it easier to connect Bluetooth headsets and speakers to Android devices. The company announced that it is making it easier to connect Fast Pair compatible accessories to devices associated with the same Google Account. Fast Pair will connect accessories to a user's current and future Android phones (6.0+). Google also mentioned that it is adding support for Chromebooks in 2019. Fast Pair provides stress-free Bluetooth pairing for your Android phone. Google has been working closely with dozens of manufacturers, many of which are bringing new Fast Pair compatible devices to market over the coming months. This list includes Jaybird, who is already selling the Tarah Wireless Sport Headphones, as well as upcoming products from prominent brands such as Anker SoundCore, Bose, and many more. Google also mentioned that it wants to make it easy for manufacturers to ship compatible products with minimal additional engineering effort. It collaborated with industry-leading Bluetooth audio companies such as Airoha Technology Corp., BES and Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. (QTIL) to add native Fast Pair support to their software development kits. Source

Facebook expands Watch Party to every page and profile worldwide

Facebook introduced Watch Party back in July which would let groups watch videos together and now the company is expanding it to every page and profile around the world. Facebook claims that there have been more than 12 million Watch Parties in Groups since the testing phase started in January.  Watch Parties are also getting a few new features, including threaded comments so people can have conversations, as well as live commentating, users can also now schedule a Watch Party ahead of time. Live videos on Facebook encouraged more social interaction and this motivated Facebook to build the feature. This feature is aimed at bringing people together around video, create connections, and ignite conversations. The key features of the Watch party include giving control for the host to add a co-host who can add videos and keep the party going.  The crowdsourcing feature lets anyone in a Watch Party suggest videos for the host to add to the Watch Party. Source

Samsung said to invest $40 million in Niantic for ‘exclusive games’ including Harry Potter game for Galaxy smartphones

Samsung is said to be planning to invest close to $40 million in Pokémon Go game creator Niantic in a deal to bring out “exclusive games,” according to sources. The deal could be announced within the next few weeks and will also see Niantic's games come pre-loaded on Galaxy smartphones. The main focus will be an exclusive Harry Potter game which will utilize Samsung's S-Pen stylus as a makeshift magic wand. However, it's currently unclear whether this will arrive as a reworked version of Niantic's incoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite title, which will be released in 2019 or a whole new game designed for Galaxy handsets. The deal would also include Niantic's location-based Ingress title, but the firm's Pokémon Go franchise won't be included as part of the deal. Further details on the deal remain a mystery at the moment, but it comes at a time when Niantic and Samsung are said to "desperate for each other". Niantic needs to raise money to support an IPO, while Samsung is "looking to differentiate itself from its smartphone competitors". There is a possibility that the announcement might come alongside Samsung Galaxy S10 reveal in March 2019. Both the companies did not respond on the speculation. Source