Government bans 59 Chinese apps to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of India: TikTok Shareit and other mobile apps also banned

Komila Singh
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Government bans 59 Chinese apps to safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of India: TikTok Shareit and other mobile apps also banned

The Indian government has banned 59 Chinese apps in India over “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order” concerns. TikTok has the largest number of users in India and after the ban, TikTok has now been removed from the Google Play Store. In India, the app has 611 million downloads which is approximately 30 percent of the total downloads as per a report.

On Tuesday the Central Government passed an order banning 59 Chinese liked apps in the country. The government has banned these apps on its concerns over India’s sovereignty, integrity, security and public order. In its statement the government said, “ The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking its power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps ( see Appendix) since in view of the information available they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order.”

Stating that these apps have been violating the privacy of the users and even sharing the data with the Chinese government. In view of this, the government has asked both Apple as well as Google to remove all the 59 apps from their respective Apps Store and Play Store and have asked ISPs and telecom companies to support them carrying out the ban.

While banning these Chinese apps the Government in its explanation said, “The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about the misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India. The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps. According to the Indian government, this department of the Ministry of Home Affairs has received representations raising concerns from citizens regarding the security of data and risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding the security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues.

On the basis of these complaints, the Government of India has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet-enabled devices. The Government also ensures that this move has been taken in order to safeguard the interests of the citizens of the country who have been using these apps and unknowingly their data is being shared outside the country hence raising grave concerns over their privacy as well as security. We have listed down the 59 apps which have been banned in the country:

  1. TikTok
  2. Shareit
  3. Kwai
  4. UC Browser
  5. Baidu map
  6. Shein
  7. Clash of Kings
  8. DU battery saver
  9. Helo
  10. Likee
  11. YouCam makeup
  12. Mi Community
  13. CM Browers
  14. Virus Cleaner
  15. APUS Browser
  16. ROMWE
  17. Club Factory
  18. Newsdog
  19. Beutry Plus
  20. WeChat
  21. UC News
  22. QQ Mail
  23. Weibo
  24. Xender
  25. QQ Music
  26. QQ Newsfeed
  27. Bigo Live
  28. SelfieCity
  29. Mail Master
  30. Parallel Space
  31. Mi Video Call – Xiaomi
  32. WeSync
  33. ES File Explorer
  34. Viva Video – QU Video Inc
  35. Meitu
  36. Vigo Video
  37. New Video Status
  38. DU Recorder
  39. Vault- Hide
  40. Cache Cleaner DU App studio
  41. DU Cleaner
  42. DU Browser
  43. Hago Play With New Friends
  44. Cam Scanner
  45. Clean Master – Cheetah Mobile
  46. Wonder Camera
  47. Photo Wonder
  48. QQ Player
  49. We Meet
  50. Sweet Selfie
  51. Baidu Translate
  52. Vmate
  53. QQ International
  54. QQ Security Center
  55. QQ Launcher
  56. U Video
  57. V fly Status Video
  58. Mobile Legends
  59. DU Privacy

Also, this is not the first time when the government has banned these Chinese apps. TikTok has been banned so many times however still it was brought back on both Android as well as iOS platforms. over its growing popularity in the country. But this time the Government seems to be quite serious over its deadly brawl and ongoing mounting tensions between India and China.

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OnePlus Nord aka OnePlus Z gets listed on Amazon India website, expected to launch on July 10

Komila Singh
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OnePlus Nord aka OnePlus Z gets listed on Amazon India website, expected to launch on July 10

OnePlus Nord is the name of the Chinese company’s upcoming budget smartphone in India. The company accidentally posted an image on its new Instagram account indicating the name Nord. This happened just after when the company confirmed it’s affordable is coming to the country in July. Just after the development Amazon is now teasing the device available on its platform. In the meanwhile, a report has emerged on the web suggesting July 10 launch. 

However, the Instagram post indicating the name of the OnePlus upcoming affordable phone has now been taken down, however, some of the users could get the picture and shared via Twitter just before the company removed its post. The shared image shows the company’s co-founder Carl Pei behind an invite which revealed the name of the device Nord along with a small card which reads, “Here’s to the first 100.” So, this card indicated a special surprise for the first 100 customers buying the phone. In place of the shared image, the company has posted three other images which can also be seen in the Amazon teaser.

A teaser of the upcoming and most speculated OnePlus Z or OnePlus Nord has emerged on the Amazon India website. The teaser page gives you a glimpse of the company’s journey since its inception when the company arrives with its first smartphone back in the year 2013. The OnePlus teaser also hints that the launch event is inching closer so we can expect the upcoming OnePlus Nord to launch this or maybe next week. According to the listing, the company is going to reveal more information about the smartphone on its dedicated website today. The Notify Me button is also live.

A report has surfaced on the web suggesting that the upcoming OnePlus Nord is expected to get launched on July 10 in India. Apart from the purported launch date, the report has also revealed that the handset is most likely to come with a dual selfie camera set up which is to include a 32-megapixel primary sensor along with a secondary 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor. Also, not many details have been shared as we wait for the official details to come soon.

The previous reports suggest that the speculated OnePlus Nord is going to feature a 6.55-inch Super AMOLED display offering a 90Hz refresh rate panel. The device is most likely to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor offering 5G connectivity with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage.

Additionally, it suggested having a triple rear camera set up that is expected to include a primary 64-megapixel lens, a 2-megapixel sensor along with a depth and a macro lens. It is said to include a 4,300mAh battery with 30W Wrap charge support.

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Camp Google 2020: Google India launches free virtual summer camp for kids

Saba Haider
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Camp Google 2020: Google India launches free virtual summer camp for kids

Summer break for kids had always been synonymous with family vacation time. However, this year it different from usual. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only forced us to study or work from home but also our kids can’t resort to the normal play activities with their friends. In order to make summer break a fun time for children, Google has created a very special program to help kids and their parents get excited about spending time together- Camp Google 2020.

It is important to note that this virtual Camp Google 2020 is open to students between age group 8-16 years holding Indian nationality and studying in any school in India.

“At Camp Google 2020, Google has a wide range of fun and engaging activities lined up for your kids:

  • Craft an engaging story using one of our many tools — for example, tell a wildlife tale using Augmented Reality animals in Search
  • Journey across India exploring the craft and traditions of our country on Google Arts & Culture
  • Learn about our country’s natural resources and how to preserve them on Google Earth
  • Get introduced to the world of programming, with Scratch (you don’t even need to write a single line of code!)

… and plenty more!” said Sapna Chadha, Senior Director of Marketing, Southeast Asia & India.

In an official blog post, Google further revealed that the children participating in Camp Google 2020 could also win the opportunity to attend a masterclass with the YouTubers themselves, have their prize-winning entries posted on Google India’s social handles and get the best entry from the storytelling segment published in our Read Along app at the end of the camp.

Wondering when this Camp Google 2020 is starting? Well, it’s beginning on 1st July and over the course of the following two weeks. According to the tech giant, “There will be five assignments that kids can access on the Camp Google 2020 website, and Google’s social media page, which will be accompanied by a set of instructions that will answer all your “how to” questions. Each of these assignments will also include elements that teach kids to stay safe online, with guidance on how to be a good digital citizen.” Mind you! The assignments need to be submitted until 20th July. Therefore, ensure that you submit it on time.

Moreover, Google will also have sessions being conducted by leading experts in psychology during Camp Google 2020 to help motivate the children and give them something to aspire to in these times.

Do let us know what do you think about Camp Google 2020 in the comments section below.

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Panasonic launches its latest Toughbook CF-SV8 rugged notebook in India

Komila Singh
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Panasonic launches its latest Toughbook CF-SV8 rugged notebook in India

The Japanese electronics brand Panasonic has expanded its portfolio of rugged notebooks with the launch of Toughbook CF-SV8 in India. The device is said to be designed to function across extreme conditions thereby, ensuring efficiency and improved productivity for professionals. Not only being sturdy the notebook is light in weight powered by an 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8365U vPro processor. The laptop offers 10.5 – 15.5 hours of battery life on a single charge and comes pre-installed with the latest Windows 10 Pro operating system.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vijay Wadhawan, Group Chief, System Solutions Business, Panasonic India said, “At Panasonic, we believe in offering advanced, tech-enabled solutions that work seamlessly across all conditions. 24 years ago, we had invented rugged technology and World’s 1st rugged laptop. Ever since, we have been witnessing a demand for the category, globally. Today, we are proud to be the market leader in the rugged notebooks and rugged tablets category and currently have 60 percent market share in India. Our Toughbooks have been designed to withstand harsh conditions where normal laptops fail to deliver and come in handy, especially for sectors such as Automobile, Pharmaceutical, logistics, Police Defence, Power and Utility. We very well understand the diverse applications of rugged notebooks and will continue to offer best-in-class technology to enhance mobile productivity.”

Toughbook CF-SV8 notebook pricing and availability

Panasonic has launched the Toughbook CF-SV8 notebook in India with a starting price of Rs 1,50,000 including taxes. The device is now available for purchase via the direct sales channel of Panasonic.

Toughbook CF-SV8 notebook specifications and features

Panasonic Toughbook CF-SV8 notebook features 12.1-inches Full HD display with 1920×1200 pixel of resolution.

On the hardware front, Toughbook CF-SV8 notebook comes with an 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8365U vPro processor with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 paired with 8GB RAM and 256 GB SSD for internal storage. With these configurations and pre-installed Windows 10 Pro 64-Bit operating system, the notebook can perform a variety of heavy computing tasks. The high sound stereo speakers provide an unobtrusive sound experience even during web conferencing.

Toughbook CF-SV8 notebookToughbook CF-SV8 notebook

For connectivity, the laptop includes a standard LAN port, VGA, and HDMI for data projectors, printers, and displays. It also boards SD card slot, three USB 3.0, one USB 3.1 Type-C port that is compatible with Thunderbolt 3*4 and USB Power Delivery provides a seamless high-speed data transfer. In addition to this, there is Intel Wireless-AC 9560 LAN and Bluetooth v5.0 are included for faster data transfer.

The Panasonic notebook also facilitates face log in through Full HD 2 MP facial recognition web-camera, therefore, preventing others from using the computer. Whereas the BIOS password prevents unauthorized use before the system boots, and an encryption key – TPM (security chip) – ensures that data stored on the notebook cannot be accessed if stolen.

The rugged notebook is provided with a 5900mAh/7.2V Li-ion battery that can last up to 10.5 – 15.5 hours. However, the device is just 919 grams, it can survive drops up to 2.5 feet and can withstand 100kg force pressure. The notebook can be used in extreme weather conditions and offers a 4-year warranty with 1-year battery warranty service.

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June 30 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Sony 1000XM3 Headphones

Komila Singh
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1
June 30 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Sony 1000XM3 Headphones

Every day Amazon India brings a daily quiz for its customers to win exciting new prizes every day on its platform. The Amazon Quiz can be played daily from 8 AM to 12 noon. Today you can win Sony 1000XM3 Headphones if you managed to answer all the questions correctly. Daily a new set of questions is presented in front of the participants that gives millions of people across the country to win exciting prizes.

The Amazon Quiz has gone live on its mobile platform. The participants have to answer 5 questions that are based on general knowledge and current affairs. After clearing the daily quiz their name will be shortlisted for a lucky draw to select a winner. Amazon announces the results of the lucky draw at the end of the month. So today’s Quiz winner’s name will be announced on July 30.

June 30 Amazon Quiz Answers:

Question 1: Which organization has recently become India’s first $150 bn company?

The answer is- RIL

Question 2: 23rd June is observed as a day promoting mass participation of sports, which celebrates the formation of what organization?

The answer is- IOC

Question 3: Which famous writer born on 27th June, wrote iconic works such as ‘Durgeshnandini’, ‘Kapalkundala’ and ‘Anandamath’?

The answer is- Bankimchandra Chatterjee

Question 4: Connie Nielsen plays the role of the mother of which member of the Justice League in the DC Extended Universe?

The answer is- Wonder Women

Question 5: ‘The Room Where It Happened’ is a memoir by which former White House employee?

The answer is- John Bolton

How to play Amazon Quiz?

  • Sign in to the Amazon App. If you are not signed in, you will be directed to a sign-in page.
  • Scroll down on the home screen to find the Amazon Quiz banner.
  • Tap on the Amazon Quiz banner and then tap on the Start button to begin the Quiz.
  • There will be a total of 5 questions. Answer all 5 questions correctly to enter the lucky draw.
  • Getting any question incorrect makes you ineligible for today’s lucky draw. You can try again tomorrow for a new prize.
  • The winner’s name will be announced on the 30th of every month.

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COVID-19 lockdown: 5 Android-based fitness apps that act as your virtual gym instructor

Saba Haider
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1
COVID-19 lockdown: 5 Android-based fitness apps that act as your virtual gym instructor

If you are worried about how you can keep fit by being at home, worry not as all you need is your smartphone and sheer dedication to stay in shape. These following 5 Android-based fitness apps will act as your virtual gym instructor during this COVID-19 lockdown period.

adidas Training by Runtastic

adidas

If you wish to start a training plan, shape your body with workout plans for every level in adidas Training by Runtastic. Whether you are lacing up your shoes to head out on your very first run or dusting off your bike to track a ride, make every activity count. Runtastic wants to create the best possible running and training experiences to encourage every individual to live a more aware and active lifestyle, leading to a longer and happier life.

The adidas Training app is free to download and use. However, some features, such as specific training plans, are unlocked only with the purchase of a Premium Membership. Your Membership renews automatically if you do not cancel it within 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. The renewal of your Premium Membership will be charged to your account up to 24 hours before your current Membership expires. The cancellation of an in-app Membership subscription is not permitted. The option to disable the automatic renewal of your Premium Membership is available to you in your Google Play account settings.

You can download the app via Google Play Store.

Google Fit

The Google Fit is centred around two simple and smart activity goals based on AHA and WHO’s activity recommendations shown to impact health: Move Minutes and Heart Points.

When it comes to your health, it’s important to move more and sit less. Earn Move Minutes for all of your activity and get motivated to make small, healthy changes throughout your day, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or catching up with a friend over a walk instead of a coffee. On the other hand, Heart Points give you credit for these activities. The users will score one point for each minute of moderate activity, like picking up the pace while walking your dog, and double points for more intense activities like running or kickboxing. It takes just 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 days a week to reach the AHA and WHO’s recommended amount of physical activity, which is shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve sleep, and increase overall mental well-being.

You can download the app via Google Play Store.

Fitbit app

Fitbit app

Say hello to one of the world’s leading apps for health and fitness- the Fitbit app. This helps you to see how your activity, workouts, sleep, nutrition and stress all fit together. Either way, you’ll find the information and inspiration you need to reach your goals—all in one place. You can access free video and audio workouts that you can do on your time, right from your living room. Moreover, you will find sessions for HIIT, cardio, strength, yoga and more. In addition, one can start a 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium to unlock 240+ workouts from popular brands like barre3, Daily Burn, POPSUGAR and Yoga Studio: Mind & Body.

In the app, find valuable data like resting heart rate trends, time spent in heart rate zones during workouts and a cardio fitness score. The Fitbit app makes it easy to connect with friends, start activity challenges, read educational articles, get expert advice and share your journey with an uplifting community.

You can download the app via Google Play Store.

30 Day Fitness Challenge app

The 30 Day Fitness Challenge app, which designed by a professional fitness coach, is scientifically proven to help improve fitness and health. Also, this app can synchronize with burned calorie data on Google Fit. Stick with the program, and you will see amazing results.

By fully considering workouts rules, 30 Day Fitness Challenge Workout increases exercise intensity step by step, so you can easily stick daily workouts. Don’t need to go to gym, just use your bodyweight and take a few minutes a day, 30 Day Fitness Challenge Workout will greatly help you keep fitness and lose weight effectively.’

You can download the app via Google Play Store.

Virtuagym Fitness app

Get in the best shape of your life with Virtuagym Fitness. Work out alongside our 3D-animated personal trainer, who will show you exactly how to do each exercise. Virtuagym has a continuously growing exercise database, currently with over 4000 exercises and many pre-made workouts which you can do at home or in the gym.

All exercises have a 3D-animated instruction video that helps you to track the progress over time. There are 30+ values you can track, like weight, waist size, BMI, body fat, number of pushups, arm size, chest size, VO2max and many more. Moreover, there are more than 100 workouts in this fitness app that you can do right away: whether you are at home, in the gym or even at your office.

You can download that app via Google Play Store.

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Fossil Solar Watch now available in India for Rs 9,995

Saba Haider
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Fossil Solar Watch now available in India for Rs 9,995

In order to make a positive social and environmental impact, Fossil has now launched the Solar Watch that is globally available in a limited edition of 1,754 pieces for each size – 36mm and 42mm. Encased in a partially bio-based plastic case made from environmentally-friendly castor oil, this colourful all-new Fossil Solar Watch retails for Rs 9,995 and will available for purchase on Fossil.in and at select Fossil retail stores.

In keeping with this commitment, Fossil has given itself a goal to design and produce 100 percent of its products to meet our pro-planet criteria by 2025. Specifically, it wants every product it makes to include at least one sustainability-approved material and all of its primary packaging to be recyclable or reusable. Fossil Solar Watch is a part of this initiative.

This solar-powered timepiece is the first step in our ongoing commitment to create products that are more sustainable. Wondering how does it work? The outer ring of this watch case acts as a solar panel, capturing light and converting it to energy using a solar cell technology beneath the dial. It then stores the energy in a rechargeable battery that powers the movement of the watch. Once fully charged, Fossil Solar Watch is expected to run for around 4 months before you will need to charge it again.

In addition to opting for a more sustainable, solar-powered movement, Fossil Solar Watch comes equipped with five pull-through straps, which are made with yarn spun from approximately 16 plastic bottles (16oz). That is 16 fewer bottles in a landfill, or an ocean or a national park, and one step closer to a greener future.

Besides this, Fossil is partnering with EcoMatcher to plant a tree in honour of each person who purchases the Solar Watch. According to Fossil, “Wearers simply follow the instructions inside the Solar Watch’s box to name their tree, see where it is planted and track its CO2 performance!” With your purchase of Fossil Solar Watch, you can go to https://www.ecomatcher.com/redeem/?cmp=fossil and enter the serial number of your watch to claim your tree.

EcoMatcher plants trees and forests with foundations that EcoMatcher vets. Through technology, EcoMatcher has full traceability and tracks every tree planted in great detail. Once you own a tree, you can virtually travel to it to learn more about its location, species and level of carbon sequestered from the environment and even the farmer who is taking care of the tree.

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Boult launched introduced True5ive Pro truly wireless earbuds in India

Komila Singh
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Boult launched introduced True5ive Pro truly wireless earbuds in India

Indian audio brand Boult has announced the launch of its new wireless earphones in India. The company has introduced Boult True5ive Pro earbuds that comes with the latest QCC3020 chipset, upgraded aptX codec, micro woofer driver construction, high sensitivity Mic to deliver redefined audio quality and listening experience. The audio device is now exclusively available via e-commerce website Amazon.

With the launch of its latest True5ive Pro in its audio lineup, Boult’s portfolio is getting bigger. Tru5ive Pro truly wireless earbuds are the company’s gaming-focused TWS earbuds that come with in-built neodymium technology for improved audio and heavy bass for the thumping sound experience and passive bilateral noise isolation. The Boult TWS earbuds are powered by the latest QCC3020 chipset along with upgraded aptX codec. 

There is a micro woofer driver construction and high sensitivity Mic on the True5ive Pro to deliver clear and better audio quality. The gaming earphones come with changeable loops in different colours which can be changed as per preference and offer a snug fit. The audio device has a Bluetooth 5.0 with dual-mode compatibility, which automatically pairs the earbuds as soon as they are removed from the case. Along with ultra-low latency, the earphones can produce 6-8 hours of single playtime with a total of 24 hours of playtime with a charging case. There is a 650mAh battery inside the charging case which is claimed to take two hours to completely get charged. Whereas there is 55mAH battery provided on the earbuds that take 1.5 hours to get fully charged.

The built-in HD condenser MIC for Calls and Siri/ Google voice command the earbuds can be used separately after successful pairing. Not only listening to both earbuds in stereo mode but also it can be used as monopods to enjoy the music and take calls. The True5ive Pro is IPX7 rated for water and dust resistance.

Boult True5ive Pro earbuds are available with colourful ear loops in Green, pink and grey colour options. The earbuds are exclusively available for purchase via e-commerce website Amazon with a price tag of Rs 2,799.

To recall the company already offers LiveBuds under the truly wireless earbuds category that is also available at Rs 2,999.

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Instagram is working on live captions feature on its platform to be known as “Voice Note” for Threads app

Komila Singh
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Instagram is working on live captions feature on its platform to be known as “Voice Note” for Threads app

Last year social media giant Facebook launched a companion app for Instagram. The company introduced an application called ‘Threads’ that allows the users to share their personal pictures, status, current location and battery life with their close friends on Instagram. The photos and videos sharing platform is expected to get a new Voice note feature. This feature will help the users to know what is being said in a video which means it will automatically turn audio in videos to live captions.

According to a mobile developer and leaker Alessandro Paluzzi mobile developer and leaker Alessandro Paluzzi the company is working on a new feature that will allow the users to turn the audio in a video into live cations just like YouTube Live captions. He took to Twitter to make the world know about Instagram’s upcoming Voice Note feature. His tweet reads, “Instagram is working on a new feature for the Threads app: video note. This feature will turn the audio of the video into live captions that will be shown in time with the recording,”

One the feature is rolled out by Instagram for its video platform it will be helpful to those users with hearing disabilities and when someone’s accent or audio is not clear or audible in the video.

To recall Threads is a standalone app for Instagram allowing the users to share photos, videos, messages, Stories and more with your Instagram close friends list.

Robby Stein, Director of Product, Instagram said “You are in control of who can reach you on Threads, and you can customise the experience around the people who matter most,”

Threads can be used to message those people on your Instagram close friends list and you’ll have a dedicated inbox and notifications just for them. You can customize the list according to your liking when you download the app. Only those people will be able to message you who you choose to put on your list. The app opens it right away to the camera so that you can add shortcuts to it.

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Realme Narzo 10 That Blue colour variant launched in India

Komila Singh
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1
Realme Narzo 10 That Blue colour variant launched in India

The Chinese smartphone company Realme launched its Narzo series in India last month. The series included Realme Narzo 10 and Narzo 10A. During the launch, the company introduced the former one in two colour options That Green and That White, but the company has introduced the phone in a new colour option That Blue. The device is the rebranded variant of Realme 6i that comes with triple rear cameras and is powered by MediaTek Helio G70 processor. It packs a 5,000mAh battery supported 18W Quick Charge.

Realme Narzo 10 new colour variant pricing and availability details

The That Blue colour variant of Realme Narzo 10 will be available in India with a price tag of Rs 11,999. The new colour joins the existing That Green and That White colour options with similar pricing. The device is scheduled to go on sale in the country via e-commerce website Flipkart as well as Realme.com on June 30. The first sale of the smartphone will begin at 12 noon onwards. To recall the smartphone was launched in India last month in May in a single 4GB of RAM with 128GB of storage option.

Realme Narzo 10 specifications

Realme Narzo 10 runs on Realme UI on top of Android 10. It comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ Mini-Drop display 20:9 aspect ratio and 89.8 percent screen-to-body ratio. Under the hood, there is a MediaTek Helio G80 processor with Mali G52 GPU paired with 4GB of RAM with 128GB of internal storage.

In terms of imaging, there is a quad rear camera setup that is supported by a 48MP primary lens with f/1.8 aperture. Furthermore, there is a secondary 8MP wide-angle lens with f/2.25 aperture and 119 degrees of FoV, a 2-megapixel portrait sensor with an f/2.4 aperture and lastly, a 2-megapixel macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture and the set supports full-HD (1080p) video recording. In terms of selfies, there is a 16-megapixel front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture and HD (720p) video recording at 30fps frame rate support. 

The Realme Narzo 10 boasts a 5,000mAh battery supported by 18W Quick Charge. The connectivity options on the phone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, and a USB Type-C port. For biometrics there is a rear fingerprint sensor and face unlock feature.

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NASA’s Lunar Toilet Challenge can help you win $35,000: Here’s everything you must know

Saba Haider
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0
NASA’s Lunar Toilet Challenge can help you win $35,000: Here’s everything you must know

Have you ever thought that you could make money by designing compact toilets for space? As astronauts prepare to go back to the Moon in 2024 via Artemis lunar lander, NASA seeks new designs for a toilet that can work both in microgravity and lunar gravity. This ‘Lunar Toilet Challenge’ has a total prize purse of $35,000 (which translates to approx. INR 2,644,075).

The US space agency wants to encourage the next generation of space explorers, engineers, and scientists who may think about this design problem without the same constraints as adults.  Therefore, this Lunar Toilet Challenge will witness participation from the main Technical category as well as a Junior category. Mind you! To participate under the Junior category, you must be less than 18. This Lunar Toilet Challenge has a total prize purse of $35,000 that will be shared among the teams submitting the top three designs in the Technical category.  The top three participants in the Junior category will each receive public recognition and an item of official NASA-logoed merchandise.

According to NASA, “These designs may be adapted for use in the Artemis lunar landers that take us back to the Moon.  Although space toilets already exist and are in use (at the International Space Station, for example), they are designed for microgravity only.  NASA is looking for a next-generation device that is smaller, more efficient, and capable of working in both microgravity and lunar gravity.”

As getting back to the Moon by 2024 is an ambitious goal, NASA is already working on approaches to miniaturize and streamline the existing toilets.  At the same time, they are also inviting ideas from the global community in order to find out how they will approach the problem with a mindset different from traditional aerospace engineering.  NASA is hopeful that this challenge will attract radically new and different approaches to the problem of human waste capture and containment.

With the return to the Moon, NASA revealed that innumerable activities to equip, shelter and otherwise support future astronauts are underway. The US space agency also stated that these astronauts will be eating and drinking, and subsequently urinating and defecating in microgravity and lunar gravity.  While astronauts are in the cabin and out of their spacesuits, they will need a toilet that has all the same capabilities as ones here on Earth.

Mind you! This lunar toilet challenge by NASA has started on June 25, 2020 and will close on August 17, 2020. So send your design soon by clicking on this link.

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Full list of 13 smartphone brands being operated in India selling India made smartphones in the country

Komila Singh
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Full list of 13 smartphone brands being operated in India selling India made smartphones in the country

In the recent year the Chinese electronics have been doing really well in India but due to deadly dispute between Indian and the Chinese troops people in the country have been encouraging each other to boycott China-made products, that includes all the electronics items, smartphones as well as apps like TikTok. So the customers these days don’t want to buy Chinese products and this would definitely be benefiting other brands such as Samsung. Right now four of the top five smartphone brands in India are from China which includes Xiaomi, Vivo. Realme and Oppo. According to the report India is known to be the second-largest smartphone market after China. Right now companies such as Xiaomi, Nokia and Apple don’t manufacture phones in India but Oppo, Vivo and Samsung phones are locally made as a part of the Make in India campaign. These brands make all or some parts of the smartphone in India and most of the devices made in India are assembled in the country therefore no handsets are fully made in India. So we have made a list of brands that are selling smartphones that are made and sold in India only.

Samsung

Samsung is a South Korean electronics major that has been ranked third with a 15.6 percent market share in the country and is the only non-Chinese company that comes in the list of top 5 smartphone brands in India. Its factory is located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh and it currently employs more than 20,000 Indian employees. Samsung not only manufactures its products in the country but also ships them outside India. However, factories located outside the country are in Vietnam and South Korea only. In India, popular M and A series devices, as well as Note series smartphones, are being produced however smartphones such as Samsung Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Galaxy S10 Lite, Galaxy Fold, and Galaxy Z Flip are not made in India.

Smartphones made in India: Galaxy Note 10, Note 10+, Galaxy S10, S10e, S10+, Galaxy M01, Galaxy M11, Galaxy M21, Galaxy M31, Galaxy M30s, Galaxy M30, Galaxy A21s, Galaxy A31, Galaxy A51, Galaxy A71, Galaxy A70s, Galaxy A50s, Galaxy A30s, Galaxy, A20s, Galaxy A10s, Galaxy A80, Galaxy A50 and Galaxy A2 Core

Vivo

Vivo is a Chinese smartphone company and currently employs 10,000 Indian employees at its Greater Noida plants located in Uttar Pradesh. In the country, all the smartphones being sold are made in India. The list includes Vivo Y50, Y19, S1 Pro, V17, V19, Y91, Y11, U20, V17, Pro, U10, Z1x, S1, V15, V15 Pro, Y91i, Z1 Pro, iQOO 3 and Y12.

Oppo

Oppo’s headquarter is in China and the company makes and sells 48 million smartphones in a year in India. Its plants are also located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and it employs 10,000 Indian employees. Besides manufacturing Oppo smartphones its plant also manufactures the device of its sister brand OnePlus as well as Realme.

Oppo smartphones being manufactured in India: Find X2, Reno 3 Pro, Reno 2, Reno 2F, Reno 2Z, Reno 10x Zoom, F15, F11, F11 Pro, A31 2020, A9 2020, A52, A5 2020, A12, A11K, K3

Realme

Smartphones manufactured in India: Realme X3, X3 SuperZoom, X50 Pro, X2 Pro, X2 Pro, Master Edition, X2, X, X Master Edition, XT, 6 Pro,6, 5 Pro, 5s, 5,3 Pro, 3, 3i, Narzo 10, Narzo 10A, C3, C2

OnePlus

OnePlus is the Chinese premium smartphone brand and only assembling of its devices is done at the Oppo factory located in Greater Noida as it does not has its own manufacturing unit in the country. However, its Research and Development center is based in Hyderabad where it employs 100-500 employees.

Smartphones assembled in India: OnePlus 8, 8 Pro, OnePlus 7T, 7T Pro

Apple

Apple iPhones are manufactured in India by Chennai and Bengaluru based companies Foxconn and Wistron. One few devices are being made in India and this includes iPhone XR, iPhone 7 and soon the company will also begin manufacturing iPhone SE, iPhone 11 series, iPhone XS and iPhone 8 and 8 Plus however all these devices are imported in the country.

Asus

Asus is a Taiwan based electronics giant that also deals in Pcs and laptops other than making smartphones. Its India unit is located in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. Still, its devices such as ROG Phones and Asus 6Z are being imported into the country.

Motorola

Motorola is also a Chinese company headquartered in Chicago, United States. The company is owned by China-based Lenovo and in India, its plat is located in Tamil Nadu.

Made in India: Motorola Razr 2019, One Fusion+, One Vision, One Action, One Macro, G8 Power Lite, G8 Plus, E6s.

Imported: Motorola Edge+

Huawei and Honor

Huawei is another Chinese company that has a sub-brand Honor that sells the device in India. Other than Honor 8X, 8C and 10 Lite all the devices from the companies are either assembled or imported in India. Information on these Honor devices are still unclear:9X Pro, 9X, 20, 20i and 20 Pro

Imported Huawei devices: P40 Pro, P40, P30 Pro, P30 Lite, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20

Nokia (HMD Global)

HMD Global licenses Nokia and is based in Finland. Its products are being manufactured by Foxconn in Andhra Pradesh.

Made in India devices: Nokia 7.2, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 6.2, Nokia 5.3, Nokia 3.2 and Nokia 2.3

Imported: Nokia 9 PureView

Lava and Micromax

Lava has closed its design unit in China and is said to invest Rs 800 crore for design and development in India. Its factory is located in Noida and acts as a contract manufacturer for US-based telecom operators.

Made in India devices: Lava Z93 and Z62

For a very long time, the company Micromax did not sell any smartphone in the country through its headquarters located in India. Earlier it imported the Chinese devices and sold it with its own branding in India. After a long break, the company has announced that soon it is going to launch three new devices in the country.

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June 29 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Rs 50,000 Amazon Pay Balance

Komila Singh
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June 29 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Rs 50,000 Amazon Pay Balance

Every day Amazon India challenges its customers to win exciting new prizes every day by participating in Amazon Quiz on its platform. The quiz can be played daily from 8 AM to 12 noon. Today e-commerce will let you win Rs 50,000 Amazon Pay Balance if you manage to answer all the questions correctly.

June 29 Amazon Quiz has gone live on its mobile platform. In the Quiz the participants have to answer 5 questions that are based on general knowledge and current affairs. After they have cleared the daily quiz their name will be shortlisted for a lucky draw to select a winner. The company announced the results of the lucky draw at the end of the month and today Quiz winner’s name will be announced on July 31. The Amazon Quiz is hosted by the app users only, it is not available for desktop users. So before you participate to make sure you have downloaded the Amazon App. The lucky users might win something by answering all the questions correctly. Check out today’s answers for the Amazon quiz.

June 29 Amazon Quiz Answers:

Question 1: ISRO, in association with which space agency, is planning to launch a Lunar Polar Exploration Mission, planned to land in 2024?

The answer is- JAXA

Question 2: What word did Instagram add to memorialize Sushant Singh Rajput’s account?

The answer is- Remembering

Question 3: Which technology company has acquired the Swedish mapping technology company, ‘Mapillary’?

The answer is- Facebook

Question 4: Which Indian Prime Minister born on 28th June, wrote the book ‘The Insider’?

The answer is- PV Narsimha Rao

Question 5: Recently launched portal ‘SATYABHAMA’ aims to promote research and development in which sector?

The answer is- Mining

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Xiaomi brings MIUI 12 Stable update to its 13 smartphones in China

Saba Haider
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1
Xiaomi brings MIUI 12 Stable update to its 13 smartphones in China

With Xiaomi lifting curtains off its much-anticipated firmware update MIUI 12 across the globe, the Chinese smartphone giant had then announced that the first batch of the 12th iteration of Android-based custom operating system will be rolled out to Xiaomi Mi 9, Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro, Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro smartphones by June end. Now news reports have revealed that Xiaomi has started pushing MIUI 12 Stable update to 13 models starting June 28 (today) in China. However, we haven’t yet received information about the global availability of this much–awaited MIUI 12 update.

According to an IT Home report via GizmoChina has revealed that Xiaomi’s MIUI 12 stable update can be accessed on thirteen (13) different models like Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Mi 9 Pro 5G, Mi 9 Explorer Edition, Mi 9, Redmi K30 Pro Zoom Edition, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30, Redmi K20 Pro Exclusive Edition, Redmi K20 Pro as well as the Redmi K20.

In order to gain access to much-anticipated firmware update MIUI 12, the users these above listed 13 smartphones by Xiaomi can follow this path:

  1. Head to Settings
  2. Click on My Device
  3. Tap on About phone
  4. Check for the availability of new update

Mind you! It was further revealed that this firmware update MIUI 12 will be pushed through OTA to these 13 smartphones starting today in order to safeguard its servers from overloading owing to excessive traffic.

If report are to be believed, the MIUI 12 update is likely to bring along two new super wallpapers as well that will be available to users via the app store.

Besides Xiaomi Redmi series, the Redmi Note series, Xiaomi Mi series, the Chinese smartphone maker had also stated that its Poco lineup will also receive the MIUI 12 update in the second phase, which includes: Pocophone F1, Poco F1, Poco F2 Pro and Poco X2 smartphones.

MIUI 12 grants the user stronger control over permissions which takes privacy protection to the next level. When individual apps ask for permissions, a wider range of options is offered. Building on Android’s rigorous permission control over location, Xiaomi added that MIUI 12 takes things a step further to manage apps that request sensitive permissions. In addition to location, permissions to access camera, microphone, contacts, call history, calendar and storage are only allowed under “While using the app” mode. MIUI 12 also protects the user’s privacy when sharing photos: location information and metadata can be removed before the items are sent.

As per Xiaomi, “MIUI 12 brings the OS experience to life with a bottom-up revamped UI design and nuanced system animations. System-wide, core scene animations are fully refreshed with system-level technical innovations.”

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Samsung Galaxy S20 series gets July 2020 Android security patch with enhanced camera experience

Saba Haider
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Samsung Galaxy S20 series gets July 2020 Android security patch with enhanced camera experience

In the July 2020 Android security patch, Samsung has now introduced new updates for its Galaxy S20 series that includes camera improvements like video stabilization and high magnification zoom shooting quality functions to provide a better performance and enhanced result. Besides this, this update also brings the function to use Bluetooth microphone when using voice recording app. The latest Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone update is currently available only in South Korea. There is no official announcement on the global availability of these updates

Mind you! Samsung Galaxy S20 series smartphone is the first handset series to receive the patch upgrade. According to SamMobile, “In addition, the update adds a new function to the Galaxy S20 series whereby owners are now able to use Bluetooth microphones when recording audio via the Voice Recording app. Finally, the update officially ends support for MirrorLink. Samsung confirmed that it’s ending support for MirrorLink, Car Mode, and Find My Car a couple of months back.”

If you too wish to check out whether or not the update is available to you, follow the below give steps:

  1. Go to Settings
  2. Click on Software Update
  3. Check if the updated is available and then install it

With revolutionary 8K Video Snap, 5G connectivity and Space Zoom up to 100x, Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone series has changed the way you capture and share your life. The Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G breaks the 12MP barrier by giving you millions more pixels in each photograph that means you can pinch in to capture details you’ve never seen before.

Moreover, Samsung claims that in the Galaxy S20’s Night mode off photo, you can see outlines of the band members but mostly the glowsticks and neon objects. On the other hand in the Night mode on photo, the faces and outfits of the band are much clearer and more colourful.

In order to capture crisp content with staggeringly high-resolution video for a smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S20 5G’s resolution jumped from 4K to 8K—4x bigger than UHD and 16x bigger than HD. With this you will not only get sharper videos, but you’ll be able to pull full 33MP stills directly from your videos.

Recently, Samsung also claimed that its Galaxy S20 comes with secure processor and that is the company’s solution to counter against hardware attacks. According to Samsung, The component is a physical chip in the Galaxy S20 that provides an isolated space to protect confidential data in the device. Besides the continuous scrambling and encrypting of confidential data, the smartphone employs a physical shield to guard against physical attacks. Mind you! This chip can also detect invalid voltage or temperature changes and is equipped with security algorithms to thwart side-channel attacks, added Samsung.

The secure processor in Samsung Galaxy S20 smartphone protects a wide range of valuable data on your smartphone, starting from the lock screen. It ensures that your lock screen PIN, pattern, or password are not susceptible to guesses by making it almost impossible for attackers to reset the error counter, which monitors the number of failed unlock attempts.

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date with the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Facebook’s new notification screen now tells you about timeliness of a news article

Saba Haider
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0
Facebook’s new notification screen now tells you about timeliness of a news article

When it comes to watching news, all of us want to watch something that is timely and credible. In 2018, Facebook had introduced added the context button that provided information about the sources of articles in News Feed. Now, it has rolled out a notification screen across the globe that will enable Facebook users know if the news articles they are about to share are more than 90 days old.

In order to ensure people have the context they need to make informed decisions about what to share on Facebook, John Hegeman, VP Feed and Stories, said, “The notification screen will appear when people click the share button on articles older than 90 days, but will allow people to continue sharing if they decide an article is still relevant.”

“Over the past several months, our internal research found that the timeliness of an article is an important piece of context that helps people decide what to read, trust and share. News publishers in particular have expressed concerns about older stories being shared on social media as current news, which can misconstrue the state of current events,” added Hegeman.

According to a Facebook blog post, some news publishers have already taken steps to address this issue on their own websites by prominently labelling older articles to prevent outdated news from being used in misleading ways.

Facebook further added that it will also test other uses of notification screens over the next few months. For posts with links mentioning COVID-19, the social-networking giant is exploring using a similar notification screen that provides information about the source of the link and directs people to the COVID-19 Information Centre for authoritative health information. Through providing more context, Facebook’s goal is to make it easier for people to identify content that’s timely, reliable and most valuable to them.

Earlier, the Mark Zuckerberg-owned social networking giant has executed its plan to label media outlets that are wholly or partially under the editorial control of their respective government.

In an official blog post, Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy at Facebook, said, “We’re providing greater transparency into these publishers because they combine the influence of a media organization with the strategic backing of a state, and we believe people should know if the news they read is coming from a publication that may be under the influence of a government.”

Moreover, Facebook will also start labelling ads from state-controlled media outlets later this year to ensure the users that it’s equally transparent when it comes to paid content. “State-controlled media outlets rarely advertise in the US. Nevertheless, later this summer we will begin blocking ads from these outlets in the US out of an abundance of caution to provide an extra layer of protection against various types of foreign influence in the public debate ahead of the November 2020 election in the US,” the social-networking giant added.

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COVID-19 crisis: Know how Google India helps small businesses to rebuild themselves for new digital world

Saba Haider
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COVID-19 crisis: Know how Google India helps small businesses to rebuild themselves for new digital world

Since a long time, Google has been helping small and medium businesses to go digital in India. Now due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns the tech giant has launched ‘Grow with Google Small Business hub’ along with other features in India to help small businesses make the transition to the digital economy, and empower them to rebuild for the new world.

Grow with Google Small Business hub will serve as a single destination for all small businesses to get access to all the products and tools they need to go digital, maintain business continuity and get access to helpful resources like quick help videos, support pages to learn digital skills. Google will soon make this site available in Hindi as well.

Asserting that Google recognizes that recovery will come in different stages for different businesses, Shalini Girish, Director of Google Customer Solutions, India, said, “We want to ensure that we are helping businesses make this journey, providing every business with the support and tools they need to recover and rebuild in this new environment. We’re sharing an update on our programs and efforts in India to help small businesses make the transition to the digital economy, and empower them to rebuild for the new world.”

According to Google, The tech giant has made important changes to Google My Business to ensure that businesses are able to keep their customers updated about changes during this time. These include:

  • Business owners can mark the business as temporarily closed or update the hours of operation, and also easily update on Google Search and Maps, once the business reopens
  • Business owners can now choose attributes that show customers new ways by which the business is serving customers. For instance you can select options such as  delivery, takeout, online services such as classes, appointments, or service fee estimates
  • Business owners can also use the new COVID-19 post type to share more detailed and timely updates such as safety measures put in place such as curbside pickup, as well as product and service availability

Besides this, Google Pay for Business app aims to help millions of businesses accept contactless digital payments from their customers daily. Google stated, “Since its launch just 8 months ago, over 3 million businesses are now using it to accept and make payments digitally.  With the help of features like frictionless on-boarding and video verification, any small business can easily adopt digital payments and start accepting payments easily and instantly.”

Moreover, Google is also working with its partner financial institutions to surface their loan offerings for merchants that can be availed right within Google Pay for Business app. As per the tech giant, this is something that is especially pertinent in these uncertain times of COVID-19 pandemic. Google will soon launch this offering.

Nearby Stores, a Spot launched on Google Pay last month, helps  local businesses get discovered by customers in their vicinity. We introduced this feature in May and starting today, we are expanding this offering to become available  across India. Additionally, merchant establishments can indicate their business hours, whether social distancing measures are in place at the store and the essential goods presently in stock.

In order to help businesses stand out during these moments by displaying a prominent, square-shaped pin, Google has started rolling out a new offering called promoted pins on Google Maps. In the current situation, business owners can also highlight specific services such as pickup and delivery, or other unique offerings to make shopping convenient.  Mind you! Google has started introducing Promoted pins to Smart campaign advertisers with a Google My Business profile and will be fully available in the coming weeks. “Until the end of September 2020, businesses will not have to pay for any clicks, calls or sales resulting from Promoted pins,” revealed Google

As Remote working and working from home is the new reality, Google has now announced the free availability of Google Meet for everyone. It has also included G Suite essentials like the professional-grade versions of Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides and made it available for free through 30th September, the tech giant added.

Under Google’s Digital Unlocked program, the tech giant has so far supported over 1 million businesses and individuals to gain from its digital skilling program in India.

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

June 28 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Samsung M30s 

Komila Singh
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June 28 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Samsung M30s 

Amazon Quiz has gone live now. The quiz can be played daily from 8 AM to 12 noon. Amazon gives the opportunity to millions of its customers to play and win free gadgets as well as Amazon Pay Balance. Today e-commerce gives you a chance to win a Samsung M30s smartphone.

Every day the e-commerce platform brings a new set of questionnaires to which the participants have to answer correctly. The quiz contains only five questions that are based on current affairs and general knowledge. Answering all the questions correctly will get your name selected for a lucky draw. Only one person will be selected as the winner and the results are announced at the end every month. The lucky ones might win something by answering all the questions correctly, and the wrong answers will get you eliminated from the quiz. So to make sure you answer all the questions correctly Gadget Bridge everyday updates all the correct answers to all the 5 questions. To win Samsung M30s check out today’s answers for the Amazon Quiz.

June 28 Amazon Quiz Answers

Question 1: Kathy Lueders is the first female head of the human spaceflight program at which agency?

The answer is- NASA

Question 2: Recently ASI discovered a 500-year-old temple dedicated to Gopinath Dev, submerged in which Indian river?

The answer is- Mahanadi

Question 2: Recently ASI discovered a 500-year-old temple dedicated to Gopinath Dev, submerged in which Indian river?

The answer is- Mahanadi

Question 3: Twitter recently announced a new feature that lets users attach what to their tweets?

The answer is- Audio Snippets

Question 4: Axone, a type of fermented soya bean, is part of the cuisine of which Indian state?

The answer is- Nagaland

Question 5: ‘Klara and the Sun’ is the latest novel announced by which Nobel Laureate?

The answer is- Kazuo Ishiguro

Follow the steps to know how to participate in the Amazon Quiz:

  • Download the Amazon app from Google Play Store.
  • Fill in the required information through the Sign Up option.
  • Now log in to the Amazon app and scroll down on the home screen to find the Amazon Quiz banner.
  • Tap on the Amazon Quiz banner and then tap on the Start button to begin the Quiz.
  • Now you will get 5 questions and you need to answer them correctly. One wrong answer will eliminate you from the Quiz.
  • After answering all the questions correctly you are now eligible for a Lucky Draw.
  • The winner’s name will be announced on the 30th of every month.

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date with the Gadget Bridge Android App.

June 27 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Oneplus TV

Komila Singh
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June 27 Amazon Quiz: Participate and win Oneplus TV

Get ready to answer a new set of questions as the Amazon Quiz is live on its platform. The e-commerce platform brings a daily quiz on its mobile platform, which every day gives chance to millions of people across the country to win exciting prizes. The quiz goes live at 8 AM and runs till 12 noon. Today’s Amazon Quiz prize is Oneplus TV.

By participating in Amazon Quiz every day you can stand a chance to win prizes such as iPhone X, iPhone Xs, Seagate HDD, GoPro Hero 8 Camera, LG Smartphones, Samsung Galaxy S20, Air Purifier, Oppo smartphones, Amazon Pay Balance among others. Every day Amazon brings a fresh new quiz on its app, here we would like to mention that the quiz is not available for the desktop users, only app users can participate in the daily quiz. The company puts 5 questions based on general knowledge and current affairs to which the contestants have to answer all the questions correctly. A wrong answer will eliminate you from the quiz. After you give correct answers to all the questions your name will get further selected for a lucky draw. The results of the lucky draw will be announced at the end of the month. So today’s quiz winner’s name will be declared at the end of the month. We have updated today’s five questions with their correct answers below so that you can win Amazon Quiz and get Oneplus TV.

June 27 Amazon Quiz Answers:

Question 1: Raja Parba, where Mother Earth is celebrated, is a festival in which Indian state?

The answer is- Odisha

Question 2: Which space probe team recently won the highest award by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) – the 2020 IAF World Space Award?

The answer is- Chang’e-4

Question 3: Bulbbul is a Hindi language horror film, from the production house of which actress?

The answer is- Anushka Sharma

Question 4: What is the name of Boston Dynamics’s robot dog- famous on the internet, now available for general sale at $74,500?

The answer is- Spot

Question 5: Which country has been named the President of the UN Security Council for August 2021?

The answer is- India

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date using the Gadget Bridge Android App.

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to launch in India soon, received BIS certification

Komila Singh
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Xiaomi Mi Band 5 to launch in India soon, received BIS certification

Just few weeks back the Chinese electronics major Xiaomi introduced its latest iteration of Mi Smart Band in China- Mi Band 5. Now the device has received BIS certification, therefore, suggesting to launch in India soon. The smart wearable comes with a bigger display than its predecessor Band 4. It comes with NFC and a magnetic charger. It is offered in eight coloured strap options and is touted to last up to 14 days on a single charge.

The device with the model number ‘XMSH10HM’ has reportedly been spotted on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website that indicated that it will arrive in the India market soon. Besides this Smartprix has also teased the possible pricing for the upcoming wearable. The device is said to come to India with a price tag of Rs 2,499. This is pricing for the non-NFC model. To recall when launched in China the price of the fitness watch was set at CNY 229 that translates to Rs 2,500. There it is available with NFC support allowing the user to make digital payments and comes in seven coloured straps-  Black, Blue, Pink, Orange, Purple, Yellow, and Green.

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 specifications

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 comes with a larger 1.1-inch coloured AMOLED display and comes with more than 100 officials as well as third party animated watch faces such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Case Closed, Hatsune Miku, and SpongeBob SquarePants with coloured straps.

Mi Band 5 has 11 fitness tracking modes and allows the female users to track their menstrual cycles. There is a Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) Activity Index enabling users to track and understand their fitness routine. The device comes with an optimised sleep monitoring system that can monitor the sleeping patterns. According to the company, the sleep monitoring feature has been improved by 40 percent.  Moreover, it comes with a heart rate sensor to monitor heartbeat during the workout sessions.

Apart from that, the user can keep a check on their emails, social media notifications, incoming calls, weather updates, music control and more. In addition to this, there is a remote-control camera allowing users to snap a selfie or a regular picture from their device. Xiaomi Mi Band 5 comes with an inbuilt microphone to wake up the voice assistant. The NFC variant is claimed to deliver 14 days of battery life whereas the standard model can last up to 20 days. Also, it supports magnetic charging so you charge it without having to take it off from your wrist

For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel. You can also stay up to date with the Gadget Bridge Android App

Amazon Alexa device now supports Spotify in India, now available on Amazon Echo

Komila Singh
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Amazon Alexa device now supports Spotify in India, now available on Amazon Echo

The music streaming app Spotify today announced that it is premium, as well as free tier users in India, can now get access to its services on Amazon Echo devices. All the users will now be able to request Alexa to play music by their favourite artist, album, track, genre, curated and personal playlists, as well as podcasts. They can command the voice assistant in English, Hindi as well as Hinglish.

How to set up Spotify on Amazon Alexa devices?

Spotify is a music streaming ad-supported app in India. To set it up on the Amazon Alexa device one needs to go to the App first on their device and then tap the settings option, now select Music and then click on the Link New Service option. Further, tap on the Spotify option and enter your username and password. Select “Default Services” to set Spotify as your default music service.

Once you have linked to your Spotify account to Alexa you can now request Alexa to play your favourite content just by saying Alexa, Spotify connect and your Alexa device will be discoverable in the Spotify app. Additionally, you can also look for more Devices Available on the now playing screen of the Spotify app and select the Echo device you want to listen to. This is extremely useful if you want to listen to podcasts ranging from Zindagi Unplugged to Harry Potter at Home, or discover a specific song or music when browsing the app and want to enjoy the same on your Echo device.

While signing up the music streaming app will ask you about the artists you love and deliver curated playlists that match your musical taste and personalised playlists like Daily Mix. These new playlists are easily accessible with Alexa and are always updated based on your listening activity. Just ask “Alexa, play my Daily Mix 1 on Spotify”. Feel free to create your personal playlist on the Spotify app for example ‘Jolly good Bollywood’ and ask for it on your Alexa device.

Back in the year 2016, music streaming app added support for the Amazon Echo device in the select market but at that time it only supported premium subscribers. Further, this service was expanded to the free tier users again in the select markets in the year 2019. Other than Alexa, Spotify is also available on Fire TV stick and now the company says that the service will be expanded to other devices with Alexa such as Fire TV and mobile devices in the country.

Here are some ways to request Alexa for music from Spotify:

  • Playlists
    • “Alexa, play my Daily Mix 1 on Spotify”
    • “Alexa, play Chai & Classics on Spotify”
    • “Alexa, play my <name> playlist from Spotify”
  • Movie
    • “Alexa, play Street Dancer 3D songs on Spotify”
    • “Alexa, play Kabir Singh songs on Spotify”
  • Song
    • “Alexa, play Malang on Spotify”
    • “Alexa, play Dance Monkey on Spotify”
  • Artist
    • “Alexa, play Badshah songs on Spotify”
  • Artist Radio
    • “Alexa, play A R Rahman Radio on Spotify”
  • Genre
    • “Alexa, play chill tracks on Spotify”
  • Music Alarm
    • “Alexa, set alarm for 6 AM with meditation music on Spotify”
  • Spotify Connect
    • “Alexa, Spotify Connect on Kitchen Echo”
  • Podcasts
    • “Alexa, Spotify connect” and then select the Podcast on the Spotify app. It will play on the connected Echo device.

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Google Photos gets a revamp: Redesigned icon and other features

Komila Singh
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Google Photos gets a revamp: Redesigned icon and other features

Google Photos app has now got a refreshed look. Yes, Google has revealed that it has given a redesign as well as new features to its app. With a new icon, it now comes with three tabs in order to manage the photos and a new Map view feature as well.

Google has revealed a redesigned look of Google Photos via its blog post. “Five years ago, we noticed that people were struggling to manage their photos and videos—there wasn’t a place to keep them all, storage was disorganized, and it was hard to find specific photos. We designed Google Photos to solve these problems and since then more than one billion people use the app each month. Over the past few years, we’ve also seen that people use Google Photos when they feel nostalgic and want to reminisce. Google Photos has become more than just an app to manage your photos, it’s become the home for your life’s memories. And that’s why today, we’re launching a redesigned Google Photos, focused on your memories, to help you find and relive your most treasured moments.”

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Earlier Google photos had a pinwheel design logo as a nod to childhood and nostalgia. But now the icon looks much more refreshing and simplified while retaining the pinwheel shape in order to remind past memories.

According to the search giant the redesigned Google Photos the app has received a new three-tab structure: Photos, Search as well as Library.

With the newly redesigned look the thumbnails on the app have become much larger along with auto-playing videos, and less white space between photos. At the very top, you’ll also notice a larger Memories carousel.

The search is now front-and-center in the navigation bar at the bottom for quick access. Also, you will now see a new interactive map view While the library tab contains the most important destinations in your photo library, like Albums, Favourites, Trash, Archive and more. And if you’re in the U.S., EU or Canada, you’ll also see our Print Store, where you can purchase printed products featuring your own photos. Also now your shared consent can be accessed by tapping on the “conversation” button in the upper left corner.

Search tab_Map_View.gif

According to the company, you will be able to pinch or zoom around the globe to explore photos of your travels, you can also view where you have taken the most photos around your hometown, or find that one photo from somewhere on your road trip across the country. You can manage your picture and be searchable in Google Photos by enabling location from your device camera, Location History, or manually add locations. All these will show up on the map view.

As we already know Google introduced Memories to help you revisit your most important memories from years past. The company has added more features to it by bringing the best pics of you and your closest friends and family over the years, trips, and even just the highlights from last week. In addition to this, the For you tab has been given a new place in the Memories section which includes automatic creations–like movies, collages, animations, stylized photos and more. Now you also get the option to control what types of memories you receive.

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Qualcomm is reportedly testing a faster Snapdragon 8cx for ARM-based Windows 10 Pcs

Komila Singh
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Qualcomm is reportedly testing a faster Snapdragon 8cx for ARM-based Windows 10 Pcs

The American chipset manufacturer, Qualcomm seems to be working on its most powerful Snapdragon processor for desktops running Windows 10. According to a report Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx is in the pipeline that is used inside the Surface Pro X in a reformed form. To recall it was first introduced back in the year 2018 under Windows 10 for ARM powering Samsung Galaxy Book S and others. However, the chipset did not popularize as it was not used in many devices nor the company released its successor.

According to a fresh report by WinFuture the US chip manufacturer, Qualcomm is planning to launch a new variant of the chipset to speed up the upcoming ARM-based Windows 10 devices. The company is currently testing the faster version of its Snapdragon 8cx SoC. The import-export databases have listed down a variant bearing SC8180XP internal model number, although the Snapdragon 8cx chipset is usually known as SC8180X. The report says that it is not yet clear whether the P mentioned in the model number stands for the plus version as it was last seen in the second half of Qualcomm’s high-end SoCs for smartphones.

The report stated that the SC8180XP will be having eight computing cores just like its predecessor. The four out of the eight-core processor will run at 3.15 gigahertz maximum clock rate that the so-called gold cores should achieve. The four economical silver cores continue to run 1.8 GHz, while the Adreno 680 GPU will hoover along at 718 megahertz.

“The clock rates of the Snapdragon 8cx “Plus” would differ significantly from the normal 8cx, in which the gold cores achieve a maximum of 2.84 gigahertz, while the economical “silver” cores reach a maximum of 1.8 gigahertz. It would be conceivable that Qualcomm wants to offer higher average performance with the option of short-term performance peaks and has therefore changed the timing of the cores,” the document stated.

Right now Qualcomm has the faster version of the Snapdragon 8cx however it’s a custom SoC known as Microsoft SQ1 which currently runs the Microsoft Surface Pro X tablet. The latest chipset on which the company is working on might be able to achieve a higher speed. However, we would still recommend you take it with a pinch of salt as the information provided by the publisher is unofficial and has come from the database of a third-party provider. 

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List of 47 apps on the Google Play Store that are not reliable and stealing user’s data: Avast report

Komila Singh
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List of 47 apps on the Google Play Store that are not reliable and stealing user’s data: Avast report

According to research done by the antivirus firm Avast no less than 17 apps on Google Play are a part of a Trojan clan called HiddenAds. The company has revealed that its researchers have found out that these apps have intrusive ads as well as stealth features that can disguise one as safe and useful applications.

Avast has discovered a large campaign of HiddenAds on the Google Play Store. As per the company, these HiddenAds refer to a family of Trojans that are masked as safe and useful but in fact, only serve to display intrusive ads to the user. The discovered apps mask as games and have a timer-triggered hide app icon feature alongside the ability to display device-wide ads. The antivirus firm also has 15 million combined downloads on the Play Store.

The firm says the initial detection was made through similarities with a previous HiddenAds campaign that was also present on the Play Store.  On further findings and analysis of the app via apklab.io the firm was able to detect an extensive operation of 47 apps through shared activities, features, and network traffic. 

Based on the user’s experience and reviews on the Play store these apps were troublemaking. This combined with the apps’ ability to hide their icon and display ads outside the app confirmed that they are part of the HiddenAds family. These apps are referred to as an adware which is a type of malware that attacks the user with intrusive and consistent ads and can even steal your personal information, track you online and more. 

The team of Avast researchers explains that the most prominent feature to identify these apps is that all the applications comes in the form of a mobile game. It has been identified that all the games are generally an older version of the game that comes with added layers of ads and the hide icon ability. Once the user downloads the app, a timer starts within the app. However, the user is allowed to play the game for a set period of time, after which the timer activates the hide icon feature of the app.

“Once the icon is hidden, the app starts to display ads throughout the device without needing further actions from the user. The apps have the ability to draw over other apps to display timed ads that cannot be skipped. Several apps even open the browser to display intrusive ads,” the firmware explained. Due to the hidden icon, the user may be unsure about the origin of the ads. Although the app can still be uninstalled using the app manager features on the phone the users are required to search the source of the ads. Also, another common characteristic of these apps is that the developer only has a single app on their developer profile with a generic email address. In the same way, the Terms of Service are also the same across the exposed apps, likely pointing to an organized campaign by one actor. 

According to Avast the apps already have more than 15 million downloads and the reports suggest that the mainly targeted users are basically from India and South East Asia and are spreading through game ads focused in these regions.

To help you out avoid downloading malicious apps in the Google Play Store, follow the below-mentioned steps:

  • Carefully check the permissions the app requests before installing it. See what the app is asking to access, if the app is asking for data it does not need, it might be a red flag.
  • Read the privacy policy and the terms and conditions.
  • Read the user reviews. If there are a large number of negative reviews, you might want to reconsider downloading the app.
  • Download an antivirus app on your mobile device like Avast Mobile Security so that adware and other malicious apps are identified and blocked.

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Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 with selfie mode launched in India

Komila Singh
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 with selfie mode launched in India

The Japanese company Fujifilm has announced the launch of its latest instant camera with a selfie mode in India. The company has introduced Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 in the country. The instant camera comes with an automatic exposure functionality that can calculate the surrounding brightness and adjusts shutter speed accordingly. The latest model of the Instax is the entry-level series by the company that has received few upgrades over its predecessor however the design aspects remains the same and will be available in five distinct colours.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 pricing and availability

Fujifilm has launched Instax Mini for the Indian market with a price tag of Rs 5,999. The instant camera will be available on the e-commerce website Amazon. The device is now up for sale in the country and comes in five colour options of Blush Pink, Charcoal Gray, Ice White, Lilac Purple, and Sky Blue. According to the company, the latest model of Instax will also go on sale via other e-commerce platforms soon such as Flipkart as well as offline retailers also.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 specifications and features

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 comes with a high-performance flash automatically calculates surrounding brightness and adjusts shutter speed accordingly so no need for any special settings. So you can easily take pictures during direct sunlight and dark indoor conditions. The flash comes fixed just above with an effective range of 2.7 metres. The camera comes with a rounded body in a compact form that measures 121.2×107.6×67.3mm and 293 grams in weight. The device comes with two AA-size batteries. The camera can deliver up to 0.5 metres of shooting range, 800 ISO range along with a shutter range of 1/2 to 1/250 seconds.

There is a Selfie Mode so you can simply pull out the lens to instantly switch to Selfie Mode and the users can also check their framing with the mirror next to the lens. You can also use the selfie mode to shoot a subject 30 to 50cm away so you can get a clear close-up shot every time. There is an auto power-off on the Instax camera that automatically turns off when left unused for five minutes. The camera is also provided with two replaceable shutter button accessories and a strap. The colour of the strap and the glow jewel button matched the colour of the camera which glows in the dark.

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