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; ...