Moto Z2 Force Review

Motorola last week launched the successor of Moto Z Force in the Indian market billed as Moto Z2 Force with the shatterproof display. Priced at Rs 34,999, does this smartphone lives up our expectations? Let's find it out. Unboxing We recently unboxed the phone, check out the video below. https://youtu.be/sXEfpCN7VfY Box Contents Moto Z2 Force smartphone in Super Black color 2-pin Turbo Charger (5V-3A / 9V-1.6A / 12V-12.A) USB Type C Cable In-ear Headset USB Type-C to 3.5mm converter SIM ejector tool User manual and warranty information Display, design, and hardware The Moto Z2 Force sports a 5.5-inch (1440 x 2560 pixels) Quad HD AMOLED POLED ShatterShield, shatterproof display with a pixel density of 534ppi. The display is bright with amazing color reproductions and good viewing angle. The sunlight legibility is good as well when the brightness bar is set higher in outdoor conditions. It has bezels above and below the screen so the screen-to-body ratio of the phone is about 70%, which is definitely less compared to some of the latest smartphones with full-screen displays. The device measures 76 x 155.8 x 6.1mm and weighs just 143 grams. It goes easy on your wrist and you won't be feeling the phone when kept inside your pant ...

Snapchat gets new GIF stickers from GIPHY, discover screen tabs and more

Snapchat is now adding new GIF stickers from GIPHY, discover screen tabs and more. Stickers from GIPHY is something that Instagram has recently rolled out to its Stories feature. These stickers are present in the Sticker Picker along with the existing options from Snapchat. Snapchat is also adding tabs to both the Friends and the discover screens within the app. This will make it easier for users to view the Stories whenever they want and also letting you do things like viewing friends with active stories and group chats in one tab and subscriptions you maintain in the other. Using stickers, you can now take a photo or video, and add a funky GIF sticker to your creation according to your liking and preferences. Snapchat CEO, founder Evan Spiegel in the recent earnings call said that Snapchat is still convinced its recent redesigns have made the application simpler and easier to use, and also noted improved ad performance post-overhaul, despite vocal user complaints. Snapchat recently rolled out a bunch of features including new audience analytics for brands and celebrities and also opened its marketing API for all developers to use. These updates are starting to roll out today and is aimed at bringing more creative use of stickers ...

Apple iPhone SE 2 with 4.2-inch display, A10 Fusion chip rumored to go official at WWDC 2018

There were numerous reports and multiple theories about the iPhone SE 2 launch. While we were confident that the new Apple phone might launch sometime this year, we now hear that it would be announced at the WWDC 2018 later this year according to a new supply chain report from Chinese news website QQ.com who also claims to have details of the device's tech specs. Firstly, the design won't have any resemblance to the iPhone X. Instead, the new model reportedly will have a similar design as the original iPhone SE, with a metal back and frame, top and bottom bezels on the front, and a home button. However, it will have a slightly larger 4.2-inch display since it is preferred by the subset of customers. There is a chance that Apple might trim down the bezels slightly to give it a modern look, but will skip on features like Face ID and bezel-less design. Furthermore, the report claims that the new model will be powered by the A10 Fusion chip, and have 2GB of RAM with 32GB or 128GB of storage. Apple since the iPhone 4 in 2010 hasn't introduced an iPhone at the WWDC event which brings an added advantage to SE 2 in terms ...

Android P to prevent background apps from accessing the camera and recording via microphone

Google's next Android upgrade is just months away, and we already learned that the Android P would embrace iPhone X top-notch design. Although we don't have the core features of Android P, XDA Developers are now discovering tidbits thanks to Android’s open source commit.  According to the commits, new rule-sets in Android P will now prevent idling background apps from accessing the camera and recording you via microphone. This move is aimed at preventing the increasing number of malicious malware apps and trojans in taking control of your smartphone when the screen is turned off. The new API rules change targets apps (User IDs), the identifiers Android assigns each application at install time, and they're unique to each app, and they don’t change as long as an app remains installed on your phone or tablet, it’ll retain the same app ID. In Android P, when the camera service detects any app UID is idle that is Doze mode and background running apps limited access to access to CPU and network intensive services, it will now generate an error and close access to the camera and any subsequent camera requests from the inactive UID will generate errors. In the same way, Android P will also impose limitations on idle ...

Instagram Direct gets new replay privacy controls

Instagram Direct has received new replay privacy controls giving complete control to users when they send a photo or video from the Instagram Direct camera. The sender can now choose to allow recipients to view the message once, replay it temporarily, or see a permanent thumbnail in the chat log.  Instagram until now allowed all messages to be replayed temporarily before they disappear permanently. On the flip side, Snapchat doesn't offer users any control over the nature of private chats. Once a user sends a photo or video, the recipient can replay the message for a brief period, but then it disappears forever. These controls are aimed at making users send more sensitive imagery by allowing them to prevent replays. On the other hand, non-sensitive images can be set to permanent so it’s easy to look back so that they don't prevent the conversation from losing context. With Snapchat's Snaps sent by each user increases each day, this new controls definitely give Instagram a leg-up. Instagram spokesperson talking to TechCrunch said that the company is adding more features to give people more control of what they share with friends in Direct. Source

Archos Citee Connect world’s first Android-powered electric scooter announced

ARCHOS has introduced Citee Connect, the world's first scooter with a 5-inch touch screen running Android 8.0 (Oreo) offering all the functions of a smartphone, including 3G connectivity and GPS for navigation and access to several apps and services. The display is protected is against shocks and bad weather. It hows speed, distance traveled and also remaining battery level.  It has ergonomic handles and large wheels (8.5 inches), puncture-proof and dimpled for better suspension. It has a 36V battery that give it a range of over 25 kilometers in urban areas. The battery life can be increased by 15% with its energy recovery system, which automatically recharges the battery with each braking. It can also be charged via a docking station. It has been designed and assembled in France. It comes with a reel lock, integrated into the chassis and controlled by an application installed on the dashboard. It is easily shared remotely via a dedicated application hosted on a smartphone. ARCHOS Citee Connect specifications Dashboard: 5 inch IPS screen, 350 Nits brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass protection Quad-core processor 1 GB RAM, 8GB internal storage Google Android 8.0 (Oreo) 3G, WiFi, GPS Splash resistant Weight: 13 kgs Dimensions: 1,000x405x920 mm unfolded; 1,000x405x235 mm folded Motor: 350 W - ...

Sony Xperia XZ2 and Xperia XZ2 Compact with full-screen HDR display, Snapdragon 845 surfaces

Sony is on the verge of launching flagships and mid-range phones at the MWC 2018 event next week. But before that, we now know few more details about the phones; the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact. The Xperia XZ2 will be powered by the Snapdragon 845 SoC and feature 5.8-inch 18:9 aspect ratio display.  According to the Swedroid.se,  Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact will feature HDR displays with 18:9 aspect ratios and don't have a 3.5mm audio jack. The fingerprint sensors are now moved to the rear accommodating the front for full-screen display. The Sony Xperia XZ2 is said to sport a 5.8-inch display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Furthermore, the device is said to feature special music feature that leverages the vibration of the phone, but no further details are not available. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is said to sport a 5-inch display with Full HD+ resolution with Gorilla Glass 5 instead of 720p on the predecessor. It will also be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset with 4GB, RAM and 64GB storage. However, we have seen a prototype image of the phone yesterday which shows ...

Meze 99 Classics Headphones Review

The audio industry is by and large dominated by brands that have existed since the dawn of audiophilia itself. Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Grado and more are just a few of the brands that come to mind when you think of high-end audio. So when the guys at Headphone Zone dropped us a mail if we'd like to check out the Meze 99 Classics by boutique Romanian firm, Meze Audio, we were obviously excited. After spending almost two weeks with the headphones, I can safely admit that these are some of the best sounding headphones I've used. Want to know more? Check out the review below.  Specifications Driver Unit: 40mm Dynamic Frequency Response: 15Hz-25KHz Impedance: 32 Ohms Sensitivity: 103 dB Weight: 260 Grams Design Headphone design usually veers between understated, elegant and brash, loud. The 99 Classics on the other hand, these look luxurious. The aesthetics over here might be polarising but there is no denying the attention to detail. [gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="244144,244145"] A hard case is provided in the box packaging itself and even that has been built to an exacting standard. The molded case is a necessity because of the physical structure and dimensions of the headphone. We weren't too enthused by the simple ...

Google Pay roll out begins today, replaces Android Pay

Last month Google announced that it is merging Android Pay and Google Wallet into a single brand – Google Pay, making it an unified payment solution. Today the company has renamed the Android Pay app to Google Pay. The company said that it is currently working on bringing Google Pay to all Google products so that user will have a consistent checkout experience using the cards saved to their Google Account. As announced earlier, Google is also working with partners online and in stores, so Google Pay will replace Android Pay on sites, in apps, and other places around the world. It still has all the existing features such as bank's perks and protections. Google also said that it has an extra layer of security, since Google Pay doesn’t share your actual card number when you pay in stores. It will get more features soon, and in the next few months, U.S. and UK users will be able to use Google Pay to send and request money. Google Wallet app is now called Google Pay Send, and has been redesigned to match the new Google Pay brand. This will likely be a temporary name until it merges it into the core Google Pay app. Google already said ...

Flipkart Billion Capture+ Battery Life Test – #OneChargeRating

Flipkart launched its mid-range  Billion Capture+ smartphone as a part of its Billion brand recently. We already brought you the review of the phone, here we have the battery life test results of the phone. It packs a 3,500mAh built-in battery, has a 5.5-inch 1080p display, is powered by Octa-Core Snapdragon 625, has up to 4GB of RAM and runs on Android 7.1.2 (Nougat). Check out the test results below. Talk Time It lasted for 33 hours and 34 minutes in our talk time test. 3G Browsing It lasted for 7 hours and 49 minutes in our 3G browsing test. WiFi Browsing It lasted 10 hours and 6 minutes in our WiFi Browsing test. Video Playback It lasted for 14 hours and 16 minutes in our video playback test. Charging Time It took 1 hour 48 minutes for charging it from 0 to 100% since it has support for fast charging, and it took about 39 minutes to charge it from 0 to 50%. Standby Time It lasted for 53 days in our standby test. In achieved a One Charge Rating of 16 hours and 45 minutes, which is good for a phone with a 3,500mAh battery. Check out our battery life test procedure, to know more about our tests in detail.