Gboard 7.6 beta brings Floating Keyboard; hints at Halloween GIFs, support for more languages

Google with Gboard V7.6 seems to be pushing the Floating Keyboard which was earlier spotted in Gboard v7.4. The update also hints at upcoming features like Halloween GIFs and new languages. The floating keyboard works similar to other floating keyboards. Using a handle located at the bottom, it can be positioned anywhere and it also lets you resize to fill as much space as you need. If the keyboard is in an idle state without being touched for long enough, it will fade to about 50% opacity allowing the screen space behind it to show through. The keyboard is fully functional and all the operations appear to be working normally, including glide typing, suggestions, different keyboards, etc. However, the feature isn't generally available just yet, users are reporting that it isn't available to them. Google is probably keeping it under wraps while testing is completed, then it will be enabled for everybody. As for the feature hinting within the APP code, Google seems to be adding new Halloween Gifs since it is fast approaching. To fit the theme, Gboard might be adding a category for Halloween GIFs. It also brings support for new languages, dialects, and variants with the new update. You can wait for the update ...

Motorola One Power Android One smartphone with 6.2-inch 19:9 FHD+ display, 5000mAh battery launching in India on September 24

Motorola  announced the One Power Android One smartphones at the IFA in Berlin last month. It also said that the phone will be launched in India in October. Now the company has confirmed that it will launch the phone on September 24th. It has a 6.2-inch 19:9 aspect ratio Full HD+ display with a notch, has dual rear cameras and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor with a Motorola logo. It runs Android 8.0 (Oreo) and the company has promised Android 9.0 (Pie) update as well as Android Q update for the phone, as well as security updates for three years from the initial global launch date. Yes, it's coming! A co-creation of Motorola + Google, the #motorolaonepower unveils on 24th September! #Areyouready? pic.twitter.com/U5W7Sljdqe — Motorola India (@motorolaindia) September 17, 2018 Motorola One Power specifications 6.2-inch (2246 × 1080 pixels) Full HD+ display with 19:9 aspect ratio 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 636 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 509 GPU 3GB RAM with 32GB storage / 4GB with 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Dual SIM Android 8.1 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) 16MP rear camera with LED flash, 5MP secondary rear camera 12MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor P2i water-repellent nano coating Dimensions:  155.8×75.9×9.98mm; Weight: 170g ...

Amazon said to be working on 8 new Alexa-powered devices including a microwave, amplifier and more

According to a latest report, Amazon is said to be planning on introducing at least 8 new voice-controlled Alexa-powered devices before the end of the year. The devices include a microwave oven, an amplifier, a receiver, a sub-woofer, and an in-car gadget. Since all of the devices will be Alexa-enabled, they can easily connect to the voice assistant. Some of the devices will also have Alexa built in. The company is expected to reveal some of these devices at an event later this month. These new devices aimed at Amazon's ambition to make its Alexa voice technology focused on areas where people spend most of their time; at home and in the car. These products will also mark Amazon's first move into the home appliances space. Though the success of these products remains to be seen, the move signifies Amazon's heavy interest in the connected home. The company is reported to be working on a secretive home robot, as well. Having its own home appliances also opens up a new sales channel for Amazon. Jeff Bezos in a statement in July said: We want customers to be able to use Alexa wherever they are. There are now tens of thousands of developers across more ...

Samsung said to be planning on killing Galaxy J-series; to expand Galaxy A and M-series

Samsung's smartphone line-up includes the Galaxy J/On series targeting the budget segment, A series for mid-range smartphones, and the Galaxy S/Note series for flagship devices. Now according to an ET News report based on industry sources, Samsung is said to be reorganizing its budget and midrange smartphone lineups. If reports are to be believed, Samsung is said to be planning on killing the Galaxy J series entirely and expand the Galaxy A series with some models covering the J-series price points. Samsung is also said to be planning on introducing the Galaxy M lineup to replace the online-exclusive Galaxy On series devices. The Galaxy M series will target the budget segment and will be reportedly priced very competitively so that Samsung can effectively compete against Chinese rivals in markets like India, Latin America and in China. It looks like Samsung might take a hit on its profit margins in order to maintain its position in these key markets. This move doesn't come as a surprise since the company’s mobile chief, DJ Koh, has announced a new strategy for the company’s midrange devices to make them more competitive against the Chinese brands. Instead of borrowing features from its flagships, Samsung is planning on developing innovative features specifically ...

Instagram expands shopping in Stories, adds personalized Explorer channel

Instagram today announced two new updates that make it easier to shop on Instagram. This update is expanding Shopping in Stories and is expanding it to businesses in 46 countries. It has introduced Shopping channel in Explore that will be personalized to you. Next time when you hover upon behind-the-scene Stories from your favorite brands and see something you love, you can quickly tap on a product to learn more. Instagram says that more than 400 million accounts come to Stories every day and with one-third of the most-viewed stories coming from businesses, it makes total sense for Instagram to bring the ability for brands to show what’s behind their products. Furthermore, the company is also announcing a Shopping channel in Explore that will be personalized to you. Now, when you simply want to shop for fun, you’ll see a channel dedicated to Shopping posts from the brands you follow and brands you might like. The Shopping channel in Explore will begin rolling out today and will expand globally over the coming weeks. Instagram said that it will continue to explore the right features and experiences to make Instagram the best place to shop from. Source

Twitter to soon let users switch between chronological and ranked timeline

Twitter today announced that it will soon let you catch up on the best Tweets from people you follow. The next time when you uncheck the  “Show the best tweets first” setting, Twitter will display the Tweets in reverse chronological order; non-algorithmic timeline.  1/ We’re working on new ways to give you more control over your timeline. But first, some context: Twitter helps you see what’s happening by showing the best Tweets for you based on your interactions.https://t.co/H5nuhQy3r2 — Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 17, 2018 6/ Our plan is to eventually replace this setting when the easier-to-access switch described above is available. We’ll keep you updated and are listening to your feedback – let us know what you think! — Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) September 17, 2018 However, the rest of the Tweets will be displayed right underneath even after turning on the “Show the best tweets first,” also in reverse chronological order. At any point, just pull-to-refresh to see all new Tweets at the top of the live, up-to-the-second experience you already know. Prior to this change, unchecking the box would result in "in case you missed it" which would display tweets, recommended tweets from people you don't follow, and tweets informing you about someone you follow liked ...

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro with 6.26-inch 19:9 FHD+ display, Snapdragon 636, dual front and rear cameras surfaces in live images, video

Xiaomi announced the Redmi 6 Pro back in June, and it was launched in India earlier this month. Now the Redmi Note 6 Pro, a bigger version has surfaced in video. This reveals a 6.26-inch FHD+ 19:9 aspect ratio display with a notch, Snapdragon 636 SoC with up to 4GB of RAM, Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI on top, a 12-megapixel rear camera with flash along with a secondary 5-megapixel camera for AI portraits and AI scene detection as well as 20-megapixel front camera along with a secondary 2-megapixel camera. It is expected to feature an aluminum back, fingerprint sensor on the back and a 4000mAh battery, similar to the Redmi 6 Pro, but it is not clear if it will have dedicated dual SIM and microSD slots or Hybrid SIM slot like the Redmi Note 5 Pro. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro rumored specifications 6.26-inch (2280×1080 pixels) Full HD+ 19:9 2.5D curved glass display 1.8GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 636 14nm Mobile Platform with Adreno 509 GPU 4GB / 3GB LPDDR4x RAM with 32GB / 64GB storage, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) with MIUI 10 Dual SIM 12MP rear camera with dual-tone LED Flash, 1.4μm pixel size, Dual PD focus, secondary 5MP ...

Innelo 1 with 5.86-inch 19:9 display, Dual 4G VoLTE, Face unlock launched for Rs. 7499

iVoomi's sub-brand Innelo has launched Innelo 1, the first smartphone in India, as it had promised. It packs a 5.86-inch HD+ 19:9 aspect ratio 2.5D curved glass display with 80% screen-to-body ratio, is powered by MediaTek MT6737H processor with 2GB of RAM, runs Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS, has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera with face unlock, portrait and beauty modes. It has a fingerprint sensor on the back, has dual 4G VoLTE support and packs a 3000mAh battery. Innelo 1 specifications 5.86-inch ( 720×1520 pixels) HD+ 2.5D curved glass 19:9 aspect ratio display 1.3GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6737H 64-bit processor with with Mali-T720 GPU 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) OS with SmartMe OS Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 5P lens, Samsung sensor 5MP front-facing camera, 1.4 µm pixel size, 4P lens, Face unlock 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio Fingerprint sensor Dimensions: 152 x  74 x 9mm; Weight: 155g Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS + GLONASS 3000mAh battery The Innelo 1 comes in Midnight Black, Platinum Gold, Pacific Blue and Persian Red colors, priced at Rs. 7,499 and is available exclusively from Amazon.in.

Apple releases iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad, watchOS 5 for Apple Watch

Apple has released iOS 12, its latest operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users as it had promised and also released watchOS 5.0 for Apple Watch users. Announced at the WWDC in June this year, iOS 12 is compatible with iPhone 5s and later, all iPad Air and iPad Pro models, iPad 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad mini 2 and later and iPod touch 6th generation. The iOS 12 update brings Improved Performance, Siri Shortcuts, Memoji, Screen Time, Shared AR Experiences and more. Apple was supposed to introduce Group FaceTime support in iOS 12, but it was removed during the beta. It will release later this fall in a future iOS 12 update. The watchOS 5 comes with an array of features like Walkie Talkie feature that lets you talk directly to family members using an Apple Watch. You can fire off a voice clip directly to another watch user with a tap of the wrist. The feature works over both WiFi and LTE. It has also released tvOS 12 for Apple TV that brings new Aerial Screensavers, Zero Sign-On, Dolby Atmos Support and more. Check out the complete changelog below. New features in iOS 12 Accounts Available for: iPhone 5s and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch 6th generation Impact: A local app ...

OnePlus Crackables series of crypto-challenges for gamers lets you win ultimate gaming setup worth 21 lakhs

OnePlus today has announced the Crackables which is its limited-time game created together with their friends at Google. It is a game that is developed as a challenging series of Android-based crypto-puzzles and is open for anyone to participate. Crackables is a mobile-only experience. The game is written by  Sleep Deprivation Lab and comprises of a series of compelling puzzles that need a combination of skill and speed to complete. Players will be guided through a series of puzzles, both digital and physical, in order to keep progressing.  The company says that only the first 1000 people to make it through the first 3 challenges will qualify to continue and have the microcontroller sent to them to become a potential winner. It will also include the opportunities to win prizes at multiple stages in the game, but only 1 will be awarded an ultimate gaming setup, valued at $30,000 (around Rs. 21 lakhs). To create the game, OnePlus has partnered with Google Asia-Pacific ZOO. The ZOO team developed the Crackables concept and worked with award-winning digital production company Unit 9 on the game design and puzzle mechanics, using Google's Dialogflow which is a conversational platform powered by machine learning to create a virtual chatbot “host”.  The game will begin ...