Windows 10 Insider Preview build brings simplified Start layout, Office app and more

Microsoft has released Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 18305 (19H1) to Windows Insiders. The company says that this will be the last major WIP build of 2018. With this build, the company is introducing a simplified default Start layout for new devices, new user accounts, and clean installs. The new layout has been simplified into a sleek one column design with reduced top-level tiles. The simplified Start layout is part of an ongoing effort designed to enhance the Start experience in the upcoming release of Windows. The company is introducing Windows Sandbox which is a new lightweight desktop environment tailored for safely running applications in isolation. Windows Sandbox is an isolated desktop environment where you can run untrusted software without the fear of lasting impact on your device. Any software installed in Windows Sandbox stays only in the sandbox and cannot affect your host. Once Windows Sandbox is closed, all the software with all of its files and state are permanently deleted. The company is also pushing security app improvements. The new Protection History experience still shows you detections by Windows Defender Antivirus, but it’s now updated to also give more detailed and easier to understand information about threats and available actions. Tamper Protection is a new ...

Coolpad Mega 5, Mega 5M and Mega 5C launched in India priced between Rs. 3999 and Rs. 6999

Coolpad has launched Mega 5, Mega 5M and Mega 5C budget smartphones in India for offline markets. The company says that it has been looking forward to put the brand on the forefront again after a successful stint in India in their earlier part of the journey and is looking forward to become a prominent budget smartphone brand in Indian market again.  Coolpad Mega 5 specifications 5.7-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ 18:9 2.5D curved glass display 1.5GHz Quad-Core MediaTek MT6739 64-bit processor with PowerVR Rogue GE8100 GPU 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, expandable memory with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED Flash, 0.3MP (VGA) secondary camera 5MP front-facing camera Fingerprint sensor, Face unlock 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS 3000mAh battery Coolpad Mega 5C specifications 5.45-inch 18:9 aspect ratio display 1.3GHz Quad-Core processor 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) Dual SIM 5MP rear camera with LED Flash 5MP front-facing camera Face unlock 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS 2500mAh battery Coolpad Mega 5M specifications 5-inch display 1.2GHz Quad-Core processor 1GB RAM, 16GB storage, expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD Android 8.1 (Oreo) Dual SIM ...

Razer wireless keyboard and mouse for Xbox announced

Razer has introduced a new way to play on a console with the Razer Turret for Xbox One, a wireless keyboard and mouse combo designed for Xbox One. The Razer Turret for Xbox One offers a fast and stable 2.4 GHz wireless connection via a single dongle for the mouse and keyboard, and battery life of up to 40 hours on a single charge. Additionally, Razer has been working with developers to bring Xbox Dynamic Lighting and Razer Chroma support in-game, offering immersive experiences on supported titles such as “X-Morph-Defense”, “Vermintide 2” and more. The keyboard features Razer’s gaming grade mechanical switches with a lifespan of up to 80-million keystrokes. The included mouse features a high-performance 5G advanced optical sensor and Razer Mechanical Mouse Switches with up to 50-million clicks durability. The mouse surface is conveniently hidden underneath the main body of the keyboard and can be extended for use, then retracted for charging and storage. A built-in ergonomic wrist rest extends from the base of the Razer Turret keyboard for Xbox One for added comfort. The Razer Turret for Xbox One is also fully compatible with PC. The Razer Keyboard is priced at $249.99 (Rs. 17,525 approx.) and will be available from Q1 2019. ...

WhatsApp makes it even easier to make group calls for iPhone users, coming to Android soon

WhatsApp rolled out Group Voice and Video Calling a few months back. Now it has released a design update to make it even easier to start group voice and video calls from within a group chat. You can now go to the group you want to call, tap the phone icon on the top right corner of the screen, select the contacts within the group you want to call, and choose the voice or video icon. This rolled out for iOS users in beta last month. WhatsApp has also made it easier to make a group call from the “Calls” tab. You just have to tap the new call icon on the top right corner of the screen, select the contacts you want to call, and choose the voice or video icon. Users can call up to four people at once. The new design update is available for all iPhone users through Apple Store and will be available for Android soon.

Snapchat launches Tik Tok-like Challenges Lens

Snapchat has launched a new feature to its app called Lens Challenges, which allows users around the world to take part in challenges with other users. Participants of this feature can create and send “Snaps” that use a lens tied to a song, dance, holiday, event.  One holiday-themed function within the Challenges feature that is debuting along is a sing-along to Gwen Stefani’s version of “Jingle Bells.”  The company regarding the Challenges feature said: “inspire creativity, self-expression, and community for Snapchatters and Lens Creators alike.” Snapchat said that the company expects Lens Studio to be used by Challenge participants. The first community-created Lens Challenge is the “Disappear” Challenge, which invites users to share what the company calls “their most creative ‘now you see it, now you don’t’ moment.” The Lens was made by Jye Trudinger and prompts users to take two photos that superimpose, causing the photo’s subject to disappear. Source

Google silently bumps Live album limit in Photos to 20,000

Google which announced Live Albums in early October this year offers Google Photos users an easy way to create albums that automatically add new photos of specific people and pets. However, the limit was 10,000 on the private album which was considered too low; thankfully, Google has now raised the private album limit to match the shared album limit at 20,000 images. Google has silently changed the limit, allowing Live Album to expand to over 11,000 photos. The new limit can now be found on Google's support pages. Though 20,000 pictures and videos - or even 10,000 - might seem like a ridiculous number to some, it's easy to collect thousands of images over time. Once you create a Live Album, they all come flooding in, and with the limit of 20,000 photos, most users will no longer run into the storage issues. Source | Via

Xiaomi introduces Mi Pay mobile payment solution in India

Xiaomi has introduced Mi Pay mobile payment solution in India supported by ICICI Bank and PayU. The company today started registrations for beta testing as National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has cleared Mi Pay for large group usage. The company said that Mi Pay would be integrated within the Contacts, SMS, Scanner apps as well as App Vault in MIUI and will be available for all MIUI users soon. It added that at launch, Mi Pay will support all leading credit cards and debit cards, unlike Google Pay or WhatsApp Payments. It lets you easily transfer money to others through UPI, make payments for several utilities such as phone bill/recharge, DTH recharge, water bill, electricity bill and more. All user-generated data will be kept in a highly encrypted format within the India-based cloud infrastructure. Highlights of Mi Pay Link or unlink your bank accounts to Mi Pay to facilitate transactions using the UPI PIN and the virtual payment address (VPA) Transfer money to other UPI users, request and collect money from other UPI users and pay for goods or services that accept UPI payments, using your bank account Modify or reset the UPI PIN for your bank account Check the balance of your bank account ...

Facebook details why third-party apps had access to messages

For the past few days, Facebook has been accused of disclosing people’s private messages to partners without their knowledge. Facebook clarified that it worked closely with four partners to integrate messaging capabilities into their products so people could message their Facebook friends only if they chose Facebook login.  Facebook says that users could message their friends about what they were listening to on Spotify or watching on Netflix, share folders on Dropbox, or get receipts from money transfers through the Royal Bank of Canada app. These experiences were publicly discussed. For the same reason, in order for you to write a message to a friend from within Spotify, for instance, the company needed to give Spotify “write access.” For you to be able to read messages back, it needed Spotify to have “read access.” “Delete access” meant that if you deleted a message from within Spotify, it would also delete from Facebook. No third party was reading your private messages or writing messages to your friends without your permission. Opposing the reports floating to the internet, Facebook didn't oblige to the fact that it was shipping over private messages to partners. Facebook says that it has been public about these features and partnerships over the years. Facebook had integration partnerships over the ...

Apple acknowledges some 2018 iPad Pro units that ship with a bent chassis are normal

After reports, Apple has officially confirmed that some of its 2018 iPad Pros are shipping with a slightly bent in the aluminum chassis. The c0mpany also clarified that this is a side effect of the device’s manufacturing process and shouldn’t worsen over time or negatively affect the flagship iPad’s performance in any way. The bend is the result of a cooling process involving the iPad Pro’s metal and plastic components during manufacturing. Both sides of the new iPad Pro can exhibit it. The response from Apple comes after reports on social media and several forums claiming their iPad Pros developed a small curve or bend without any mistreatment or abnormal stress being exerted on the metal casing. The issue seems to be more pronounced on the LTE model, as there’s a plastic strip that breaks up the iPad’s flat aluminum sides; it’s where the antenna line divides two sections of metal that some users have noticed a bend. Apple did not say the perceived flaw is strictly limited to the cellular iPad Pro, however, and some buyers of the Wi-Fi model also claim to have encountered it. However, though there haven't been any reports of iPad Pros failing as a result of the manufacturing ...

Xiaomi to drop software support for some smartphones [Update: Confirmed for Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3]

Update: Xiaomi has confirmed that it has stopped development of global MIUI ROM for Mi 5 and Redmi Note 3 Pro (Redmi Note 3 in India) Earlier: Xiaomi has a good reputation when it comes to providing the software update to devices, the company usually provides MIUI updates to devices for 4 to 5 years.  Even at the MIUI 9 Global launch, Xiaomi highlighted the fact that 5-year-old phones including Mi 2/2S will be supported for MIUI 9 Global Stable update. Last year, it dropped software support for some devices that were launched in 2015 or before, now as per a post on MIUI China Forum Xiaomi has decided to suspend MIUI China ROM updates for some of its smartphones including 2016 flagship Mi 5, and these devices will not receive MIUI 11 update. Devices affected by the decision are: Redmi Note 3 Pro (called Redmi Note 3 in India) Mi 5 Mi 4 Mi 4C Mi 4S Post from MIUI China Forum admin says (translated with Google Translate), MIUI has been updated to 395 weeks so far. At the same time as the weekly update, MIUI is also continuously optimizing the experience of each model, hoping to bring a better system experience to rice noodles. At the same time, ...