Sony Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus Android 8.0 Oreo update starts rolling out in India

Sony Mobile launched Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus, two new mid-range smartphones exclusively in India last October running Android 7.1 (Nougat), and the company at the launch said that the phones will be upgraded to Android 8.0 (Oreo). As promised, the company has started rolling out the update for the smartphones earlier this week.  [HTML1] Android 8.0 Oreo update brings features like reminders for unfinished tasks such as emails in drafts and messages. It brings a new feature called Xperia actions which intelligently suggests actions based on your usage with all new games and community features. It brings contextual menus for app shortcuts which on long pressing will show more options. The update will also include Oreo default features like notification channels, improvements including Background limits, Snooze notifications, Picture in Picture (PIP) display and more. The Sony Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus Android 8.0 Oreo update has build number S001011_180224. On the official Sony forum, some users are reporting Wi-fi SSID connection and some third-party app crashes after Oreo update.

Weekly Roundup: Xiaomi Mi TV 4A, Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ and more

This week Samsung launched its flagship Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones in India, Xiaomi launched its new Mi TV 4A series, LG introduces new OLED and SUPER UHD HDR TV line-up and Samsung introduced its QLED TV and Premium UHD TV line-up, and more in this week's roundup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQavc9GS03I Samsung  launched the  Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, the company’s latest flagship smartphones at an event in India. These were introduced at the MWC last week and have variable aperture cameras. The S9 has a 12-megapixel rear camera with variable aperture tech that uses f/1.5 aperture for night shots for a brighter picture and f/2.4 aperture for normal shots in daytime. The S9+ has a secondary 12MP Telephoto lens for live focus for bokeh effect with background blur. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEE1tqBWvtI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYi1V_sB9cU&t=1s The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ will be available in Midnight Black, Coral Blue and Lilac Purple colors in India and are available for pre-order exclusively on Flipkart as well as Samsung Shop online and offline starting at Rs. 57,900. It will start shipping from March 16th. Samsung at its New York event has introduced array of QLED, UHD and Premium UHD TVs. The company says that the TVs come with groundbreaking design elements, enhanced picture quality, and smart, intuitive capabilities. The new QLED TV features Direct Full Array, Bixby ...

OPPO F7 with full-screen display with a notch launching in India on March 26

OPPO launched F5, a selfie-focused smartphone in the 'F series' India back in November last year. Today the company has confirmed that it will launch its successor - OPPO F7 in the country on March 26th, skipping the F6. It has also teased the phone with an image that shows full-screen display with a notch and minimal bezels, similar to the OPPO R15 that will launch in China later this month. [HTML1] [HTML2] OPPO is also teasing its brand ambassador for the phone and asks its fans to guess the cricketer who is likely to be Hardik Pandya. The company has not revealed any specifications of the phone officially, but a report from ET recently said that the phone will feature a 6.2-inch Full HD+ 19:9 display with 89.09% screen-to- body-ratio. It is also said to come with a 25-megapixel front-facing camera with improved Artificial Intelligence features such as beauty mode for selfies, real-time HDR, AR stickers and more. We should know more details about the phone soon. [Update: OPPO has deleted the first tweet and tweeted it again after removing the March 26th date.]

Google celebrates Mario day with new ‘Mario Time’ Maps navigation for iOS and Android

On the occasion of Mario day, Google has teamed up with Nintendo to bring Mario to Google Maps. Starting today "Mario Time" is available on Google Maps for Android and iOS devices and Mario will accompany you on all your drives Google Maps this week. To get started with the "Mario Time," you need to enter Mario Time, for that tap on the yellow "?" icon that is available in the bottom right of the Google Maps app post the latest update. Once you tap on the Yellow '?' icon, you ’ll then see a prompt to enable Mario Time. Once it is enabled, you will see the Mario driving a Mario Kart vehicle on the Google Maps navigation arrow. Google says that Mario will be a "constant companion" during the entire week and the icon will be visible in Google Maps on every route you take while using the app.  The Google Maps with Mario time for iOS and Android is currently rolling out to everyone and will be available for the next seven days. Source

Microsoft Pix app gets business card feature with LinkedIn integration

Microsoft's intelligent camera app, Pix has been updated with a new business card feature with LinkedIn integration that will make it easier than ever to manage your contacts. The new business card feature for iPhones add contacts, not just to your iPhone’s contacts but also to your LinkedIn account. To use the new Pixel business card feature, point your iPhone at a contact’s business card and Pix will automatically detect this and asks if you would like to add contacts to your LinkedIn account as well. Once you take the action, Pix will capture and organize numbers, email addresses, and URLs – and add this new contact into your iPhone’s Contacts app. It will add the accurate information in the correct fields within your address book. If you’re signed into LinkedIn on your iPhone, this allows you to store the business cards of people you meet directly to your account. You’ll be able to instantly see their profile, job title and work experience, which makes it easier to stay in touch with the required information. Microsoft's Pix is capable of automatically detecting whiteboards and documents in real time and intelligently adjusts camera settings for these types of photos. You can download the Microsoft Pix app directly from the App ...

Motorola reportedly cancels Moto X5, scales back on Moto Mods

According to sources and people familiar with Motorola's internal affairs, the company has reportedly canceled the Moto X5 and is also said to be scaling back on the number of Moto Mods it develops, according to a new report from Android Police. Furthermore, it is also reported that Motorola is also downsizing its Motorola Engineering team in Chicago.  Moto X5 is the successor to the Moto X4 which was launched last year. The Moto X5 surfaced back in January with 5.99-inch slim bezel-less design and an iPhone X style top-notch. Lenovo which owns Motorola said that it will turn Motorola into a profitable company in two-years of acquisition has failed to do so globally and it also slashed its Motorola's global workforce and presence, but despite the efforts, the company never made it into profits in the global markets. The report claims that Motorola will be limiting its focus back to E, G, and Z phones for the time being. Though there is a chance of Moto X returning at some point in future, it looks highly unlikely at this moment. Additionally, it is said that Motorola will highly trim down its Moto Mods development, instead stick to products it believes can actually turn a profit. ...

Intel reportedly exploring options to acquire Broadcom, which is trying to acquire Qualcomm

According to a latest WSJ report, Intel is exploring options to acquire Broadcom if the company is successful in taking over Qualcomm. Broadcom is so hell-bent on acquiring Qualcomm since its first bid back in November 2017.  Though the initial offer was rejected by Qualcomm, Broadcom didn't give up, it then proposed a deal to replace Qualcomm’s board which was again rejected by Qualcomm. Again in last month, Broadcom proposed to acquire Qualcomm at a higher price. At this point, combined Qualcomm and Broadcom would pose a serious threat to Intel. So it is waiting for the Broadcom and Qualcomm acquisition to fail, but if it succeeds, Intel plans to acquire Broadcom who also owns Qualcomm. Though Intal made it big as a chipset maker in the laptop and PCs space, data-center servers and more, it never made an impression in the smartphone SoC segment which it eventually gave up in 2016. However, Intel as an alternative is also planning on other smaller acquisitions in order to stay competitive. If at all Intel acquires Broadcom, it would give Intel a suite of smartphone chips, adding to its own communications chips. According to report, Intel is said to be considering such a move since late last year ...

Bose forays into AR with audio-only AR glasses prototype, to invest $50 million

At SXSW, Bose announced that it is foraying into the AR game but unlike many AR tech out there, Bose is all about audio that will be delivered through a "wafer-thin acoustics package. It also introduced a new prototype glasses to hear which Bose says is the future of mobile sound. The company also mentioned that it will make the SDK for the AR for developers this summer. The AR glasses though doesn’t change or add 3D objects in what you see, but it will know what you’re looking at without an integrated lens or phone camera. Bose AR adds an audible layer of information and experiences which will make your daily experience better. The company specifically developed the wafer-thin acoustics package technology for the platform which will represent the future of mobile micro-sound with power and clarity. The technology can be built into the headphones, eyewear, helmets and more. It can be controlled with simple head gestures, voice, or a tap on the wearable to control content. The first AR prototype glasses were engineered and manufactured by Bose. They are compatible with Bluetooth, has microphone support for calls, Siri or Google Assistant integration. It is Bose's new proprietary technology that keeps audio private with an ultra-slim, ultra-light, ultra-miniaturized acoustic package embedded discreetly in ...

Motorola stepping into VR, Virtual Viewer Moto Mod surfaces

Motorola is apparently stepping into the VR space as the company is working on its Virtual Viewer moto mod. Thanks to popular leakster Evan Blass, we now have our first look at the Mod. Motorola's Mod range currently includes a Projector, Polaroid printer, Battery Packs, Gamepads, and more. However, not much is known about the VR except for the design and box that it comes in with. From the design angle, you will have to connect your Moto Z phone inside of the handset for VR experience. We also don't have the details about its working. The Motorola VR headset closely resembles Google's Daydream View headset. [HTML1] Unlike the Daydream headset which can be used with any compatible phone, Moto's Virtual Viewer is strictly limited to Moto Z series phones. Since there is no cutout for the rear camera in the VR headset, it is possible that Motorola might add augmented reality feature on top of the regular VR content. Since this is an early leak, we don't have the pricing or launch date. Source

JioTV introduces interactive sports experience with different camera angle, mic selection and more

Reliance Jio recently acquired the exclusive India digital for the T20 cricket series Nidahas Trophy - a tri-nation T20 competition played at Colombo from March 6 to 18, 2018 between host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India. It also offers commentary in Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Now it has announced that it has introduced India’s first interactive sports experience for consumers watching the tri-nation Nidahas trophy. This lets consumers interact with the game while watching it. They can Select from 5 different camera angles Experience audio from stump mic and stadium ambience Get access to leading cricket experts and commentators including Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Gaurav Kapoor View score and other details on demand, on a single click Watch catch-up of (past content) as well as repeat telecast and highlights Jio said that JioTV users need to update to the latest version of the app from relevant app store to get this feature. It offers coverage on JioTV will commence on match days - March 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th and the finals on 18th from 6:25 PM. Regarding the new game-viewing experience, Akash Ambani, Director, Jio, said: Interactivity in sports will transform the way sports is consumed in India. Jio continues to deliver the ...