Realme has sent out new updates to the software in the Realme 5 and Realme 5s for Indian users. This software update brings the latest Android security patch, i.e. the December security patch to these two smartphones.
The company, in a post, communicated with users and called this roll out the initial stage. Realme also said that the new update will be spread over days to reach all users and ensures that the update is bug-free. The OTA will be pushed out to some users and then tested to make sure it is free of bugs. If everything goes well and no bugs are found, the roll our will be sent soon to all users of these devices.
This update is called the RMX1911EX_11_A.23 and carries with it fixes to known bugs and improves the system stability of the devices along with December’s Android security patch.
The new update on the Realme 5 and 5s allows users to quickly switch between dark and light modes of the device through the notification center, the update also fixed the problem of the touch feature not responding and the auto-reboot issue some users were facing.
For the unknown, the Realme 5 features a 6.5-inch HD+ display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ for protection and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor with 3GB or 4GB RAM depending on the variant. The smartphone has ColorOS 6.0 based on Android 9 Pie. The device is available in three internal storage options of 32GB, 64GB and 128GB storage that can be expanded. The device has a 5,000 mAh battery. The device has a quad-camera setup with a 12-Megapixel, an 8-Megapixel and two 2-Megapixel cameras. The front camera is of 13-Megapixel.
The Realme 5s too has similar specifications to the Realme 5 but has only one variant of 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage with expandable memory. This device too has a 5,000 mAh battery. The camera setup of the Realme 5s has a quad-camera setup with a 48-Megapixel primary sensor followed by 8-Megapixel and two 2-Megapixel camera sensors.
Oppo will soon begin working on doubling their production capacity in India to 100 million units by the end of 2020. This comes as an effort from the company’s side to support the Make in India movement and help India on its way to becoming a global superpower exporting smart devices worldwide. The company’s devices are priced in a way where all kinds of customers can buy and use Oppo devices.
Sumit Walia, the VP-Product and Marketing of Oppo India made a statement that the company will continue investing strategically into talent, footprint, manufacturing, associations, research and development and after-sales to grow the company. He also said that the company’s focus is currently on growing the premium market with products for all categories of customers with new innovative products. Walia also said that Oppo is now the second-largest vendor in the mid-range phone segment of 300 to 500 USD or Rs 20000-Rs 30000 market segment.
Also, Oppo has increased their market share to 11.8% in Q3 of 2019 as compared to the 2.9 million of Q3 in 2018. Oppo has currently invested Rs 2,200 crores in the facility in Kasna, Greater Noida which produces more than 50 million smartphones every year. The company is currently working on doubling production and export levels of the company. Which means south-east Asia and European markets will get Oppo phones made in India.
Oppo’s fame grew because of their series of firsts in the smartphone market. This began with Oppo devices having the first in-built beautifying software and the first rotating camera. Oppo went on to introduce the rising camera in its Oppo F11 Pro. Their recent releases, the Reno, which became the first smartphone in the world to have a tri-lens rear camera setup offering users 10X Zoom, and periscopic telephoto lens of 48-Megapixel and 13-Megapixel and the Reno 2 series on the other hand offers 20X digital zoom in a quad-camera set up with the world’s first pop-up camera.
Samsung might launch the new additions to the Galaxy M series in early 2020. Speculations suggest that one of the upcoming phones in this series will be the Samsung Galaxy M21, the successor of last year’s Galaxy M20. A report with leaked details of this phone and the other additions to the Galaxy M series has surfaced. This tale primarily suggests that the Galaxy M21 has SM-M215F as its model number is powered by either the Samsung Exynos 9610 or Exynos 9611 processor. The phone might come offering 64 or 128GB internal storage space to the users.
The Samsung M21 will most probably run Android 10 out of the box with Samsung’s One UI operating system over it. The phone may come with a triple or a quad-camera setup as it is the current trend in smartphones. Details about the presence of a fingerprint sensor and its placement are not clear yet. If it does come with one, the device may feature the fingerprint sensor on its rear like other phones. This rudimentary information can only help us estimate the features of the phone, with rumours getting confirmed only after the phone launches or arrives in the market. The report also suggests that the Galaxy M21 will be featured in three colours, black, blue and red.
Other phones that Samsung may launch soon belonging to the M series are the M11 and M31. The M11 and M31 will have variants in black and blue colours. There are rumours of two more colours to be available for the series. The M11 may be available in a purple colour while the M31 might have a green colour variant available. Price-wise, we believe that the M11 and M31 might be on either end of the M21, which is speculated to be a mid-range smartphone. The display portion of these devices may have a punch-hole or a V notch camera layout.
The other specifications and details of the prices of these phones are still being deliberated on by industry experts. However, if rumours come true, then these phones might make an appearance by early 2020.
It is not a good start to the year for ByteDance as one of its premium apps ‘TikTok’ is under serious threat in the USA. The US government and the army heads have told the soldiers to not use the TikTok App. The popular 10-second video app has been banned on all government-owned smartphones.
The state officials have come forward and said that the app is a serious cyber-threat to the national security. US Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Robin Ocha has gone on record and said that this app “is considered a cyber threat”. Many reports have surfaced after the statement that the US army has used the TikTok app prior to this to recruit soldiers into the USA army.
According to military.com, the Navy and defence departments have also issued the warning stating “be wary of applications you download, monitor your phones for unusual and unsolicited texts etc., and delete them immediately and uninstall TikTok to circumvent any exposure of personal information”. The defence department of USA has also sent out notices to the armed forces to be wary of any erratic behaviour in their smartphones and if TikTok has been installed in any Government-owned devices, then remove them with immediate effect.
Over that the departments have warned the staff to be cautious of any such apps that can pose a threat to the national security. All this is coming at a time when US-China trade relationships are already under a lot of stress. This might just further put a bad taste in the mouth. The committee on foreign investments has been keeping a close eye on TikTok and last year has put an investigation on the app. They wanted to know if the app collects and stores any user information and/or uses it to their benefit.
A statement came from TikTok in October 2019 that it does store the US user data in servers based in Singapore, which is not under Chinese jurisdiction. But it seems like that it still poses a threat to the US armed forces as data is being sent to an offshore server farm, which is not located in just USA.
Oppo recently confirmed speculations about an addition to Oppo India’s F-series. The brand-new phone will be called the Oppo F15. The company released a render of the new device on twitter showing the sleek side profile of the soon to be launched smartphone. The phone is expected to have a great camera setup like other smartphones of Oppo. Not much has been revealed about the product by the company.
The F11 series were the last smartphones to be released by the brand in India. Speculations say that the Oppo F15 will have a water-drop notch with a 32-Megapixel sensor. The device most likely will have a quad-camera setup with a 48MP or 64MP primary sensor and could possibly run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 730 processor. The device is expected to come with 4GB or 6GB RAM.
From the teaser image, we know that the device will possibly have a sleek design and carry powerful cameras on both sides of the phone. The phone appears to have an elongated camera module which will house a vertical lens array on the back. Both the F11 and F11 Pro had dual cameras, so it is expected that the F15 will carry at least two or more cameras.
As a reminder, The Oppo F11 came with a 6.5-inch full HD+ LCD display and is powered by an Octa-core MediaTek Helio P70 processor. The phone has 4GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The device comes with a battery of 4,020 mAh which supports VOOC flash charge. The phone has a dual rear camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor and a 5MP secondary sensor. The device also has a 16MP selfie camera.
Meanwhile, the Oppo F11 Pro has a 6.53-inch Full HD+ LCD display, the phone runs Android 9 with ColorOS 6, and is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio processor with 6GB RAM. This phone comes with a 4,000 mAh battery with support for 4,000 mAh VOOC flash charge. The F11 Pro came with dual rear cameras of 48MP and 5MP with a 16MP selfie camera.
The Oppo F15 will be the successor to the Oppo F11 and Oppo F11 Pro which were launched in March 2019. The phone is expected to be launched early 2020 around the same price point.
The Samsung Galaxy Fold might have a new successor soon if rumours are to be believed. The upcoming device will be a new clamshell designed foldable smartphone. The upcoming smartphone is scheduled to launch in February 2020, which means its release will precede the release of the Galaxy S11 series.
Speculations have led us to believe that the company will shed more light on the device and its specifications at the Unpacked event they are hosting in the United States with the Samsung Galaxy S11 series. Reports suggest that the company is now engaged in discussions within South Korea to launch the next generation of foldable smartphones by February 2020.
The device will most probably have a 6.7-inch display folding into a square when folded and be priced much cheaper than the Galaxy Fold. The company might share more details in the coming weeks. The pricing of this phone is expected to be in the range of around 1,000 USD or roughly Rs 71,300.
The Galaxy Fold, on the other hand, has two displays and a 7.3-inch AMOLED display while the front display is of 4.6-inch supporting HD+ Super AMOLED display. The device offers 12GB RAM and 512GB inbuilt storage. The device is powered by a 64bit octa-core processor and runs on Android 9 Pie with One UI on top. The device comes with 6 cameras on it, with a 10MP selfie camera and a dual camera set of 10MP and 8MP on the front display. The triple rear camera has a 16MP and two 12MP cameras giving 10X digital zoom and powering HDR+ recording. The phone houses dual batteries with a capacity of 4,380 mAh. Samsung has launched the foldable smartphone in India at a price of Rs 1,64,999.
Samsung may be rushing to launch a new phone because of the competition, like Huawei who have two upcoming foldable smartphones scheduled or the Motorola Razr. It is believed that other manufacturers too are designing and developing devices to enter the foldable smartphone market soon.
Realme has seen a lot of growth in the smartphone market. Recently, rumours suggested that Realme is working on its own software to replace Oppo’s ColorOS 7 in their smartphones. Rumours also suggest that they are working on their own super-fast charging technology as well. The company recently applied to trademark the words Dart and SuperDart, we believe these to be the names of their replacement to the VOOC fast charging technology currently in use in Realme’s devices. This move puts Realme in the same bracket as OnePlus who use Oppo’s VOOC charging technology in their devices, calling the technology as Warp or Dash charge.
Prominent tipsters on Twitter shared screenshots of Realme’s application to trademark these names, let us believe that Dart and SuperDart will be the names of Realme’s future technology. We do not have all the details about this and are waiting for the company’s official announcement. Current Realme devices in the market like the Realme X2 Pro come with support for Oppo’s VOOC fast charging 50W technology, which enables the phone to be fully charged in less than 35 minutes.
The soon to be released Realme X50 5G is expected to support enhanced VOOC 4.0 Flash charge technology. This technology, the company claims, can charge a device to 70 percent in under 30 minutes meaning a full charge is now possible in less than an hour. It is not yet certain if Realme will license existing VOOC technology like OnePlus or if they will introduce a new charging technology in itself.
Recent leaks about the Realme X50 5G revealed that the device will sport the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 processor, with an octa-core CPU. The device is likely to have 8GB RAM and 256GB storage available to users. The screen will be of 6.67-inches and the phone will have a 3D curved design. The device is said to have a quad-camera set up with the primary sensor being of 64MP, the secondary sensor as a 13MP telephoto lens, with an 8MP wide-angle lens as the third and a 2MP macro lens as its fourth camera in the setup. The front display of the phone will house two cameras with the primary one being of 32MP with the secondary camera having 8MP sensor. The Realme X50 is expected to come with a 4,500mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging.
2019 brought the world of smartphones and mobile devices compatible to the rising trend of 5G networks. Reliance Jio however might be playing an entirely different game in the Indian mobile space. If rumours are to be believed, Jio is now working on a feature phone, made exclusively with one function in mind, attending and making voice calls. Sources report that the company is in the market survey stage of product development and is working on collecting opinions and reactions of retailers about this device, called the “Jio Phone lite”.
Speculations by industry experts suggest that the Jio Phone lite might not support internet connectivity and that the device will be priced below Rs 500, at a possible price of Rs 349 or 399. Rumours also suggest that Jio will launch a Rs 50 recharge plan with 28 days validity exclusively for future users of the Jio phone Lite. Here Jio to Jio calls will be free of cost and calls to other networks will be priced separately.
This feature phone is expected to have a small display with a regular alphanumeric keyboard. It is not certain if the phone will come with a camera. Other specifications of the device are not out yet. If this device is launched it will be the first device released by the company to not have internet access at all.
However, expecting a lot from a phone which might cost somewhere under Rs 500 is a fool’s ordeal. We do not know if this phone will even make it to the market, as there is no official information or announcement regarding this device or its release by Reliance Jio.
Jio recently announced the 2020 Happy New Year offer for its current customers. The limited period offer lets smartphone users avail unlimited services for a year from the operator at Rs 2020. Through this offer, customers will have access to unlimited voice calls, 1.5GB internet and can avail free SMS feature as well. Meanwhile, JioPhone users can get a JioPhone with unlimited service for a period of 12 months through the Rs 2020 offer, which gets them access to unlimited calls, daily data of 0.5GB and free SMS feature.
2019 was the year of the leaks for us. There are still a few days to go till the year ends, alas the leaks have not ended. The latest leaks come for Realme X50 smartphone that is slated to launch in January 2020 for China first and then the global audience. A lot has already been said about the smartphone. However as per a fresh technical specification leak on Weibo of the smartphone all the details (alleged) about the smartphone have come to life.
In This Article
Below are the technical specifications of the Realme X50
According to a leakster on the Chinese social media site Weibo, the smartphone is slated to launch in Jan of 2020 and will come with the following specifications. Firstly, under the hood Realme X50 will sport the latest Qualcomm snapdragon 765G chipset that is 5G compliant. It will have an Octa-Core CPU and will have up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. The storage is supported by UFS 2.1 for ultra-fast read and write speeds.
The screen of the Realme X50 will be of 6.67-inches. This is an FHD+ display with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top. The phone is slated to sport a 3D curved design on the back with CGG 5 and P2i hydrophobic coating on it. The cameras will sport an array of four on the back panel. These will include a 64MP primary camera with Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 sensor, 13MP telephoto, with 5X hybrid zoom capability, third is an 8MP wide-angle lens and the last is a 2MP macro lens.
On the front, there will be two cameras. These could be in a pill cut-out with the primary selfie cameras sensor at 32MP and the secondary front camera at 8MP. On the battery front, the Realme X50 will come with a 4,500 mAh battery with 30W fast charge support. Connectivity features will include 5G, USB Type-C, 3.5mm audio port, GPS, WiFi 6 etc. Android 9 Pie with Realme’s own OS might come running on the mobile device.
RealmeX50 price (alleged)
The leak on the social media site also spoke about the upcoming prices of the Realme X50 mobile. The smartphone will be available in 3 variants. These will include 6GB RAM + 128GB storage version that can fetch a price of CNY 2,199 (Rs 21,500 approx), 8GB RAM + 128GB storage version can come with a price of CNY 2,499 (Rs 24,500 approx) and a third version that will have 8GB RAM and 256GB storage at price of CNY 2,799 (Rs 27,500 approx). stay tuned with Gadget Bridge as we will bring you more about this smartphone in the coming weeks.
Welcome to Gadget Bridge Awards 2019. If you want to see all the nominations of the Gadget Bridge Awards 2019 you can check them here. It has been a hectic yet great last few weeks of our very first #GadgetBridgeAwards 2019. It started off with first deciding the top four or five contenders in over 21 Gadget Bridge Awards categories, to now the final winners. Some decisions were as easy as it can get, however many like the Budget Smartphone Of The Year 2019 and the Gadget Of The Decade were not so easy.
You the readers and viewers helped decide Gadget Bridge People’s Choice Smartphone of The Year 2019 and also the Gadget Bridge People’s Choice Gadget Of The Year 2019. Hundreds of you our readers and viewers participated to choose the winners. While there was a clear winner in the people’s choice smartphone category. The People’s choice gadget of the year was a very close fight between two nominees. So, without further ado, here are all the Winners of the #GadgetBridgeAwards 2019: The best tech and gadget awards.
In This Article
Here are all the winner of the Gadget Bridge Awards 2019:
Cameras are by far the most used feature of a smartphone after calling. The choice here was clear, as we have clicked some fabulous shots with this smartphone.
The winner of the Camera phone of the year 2019 is: Huawei P30 Pro
By far the toughest decision we had to make. First, from the crowd smartphones, selecting the top 5 was a tough choice and then when there, to take out the winner, it was another tough bout. Everyone was neck to neck here, but there was one particular phone that won by the narrowest of margins.
The winner of the Budget smartphone of the year 2019 is: Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro
Now we come to one of our favourite categories. Gaming Smartphone of the year 2019. We have had immense fun playing around with these great gaming phones. This particular device gave us all the ingredients one wants from a gaming smartphone.
The winner of the Gaming smartphone of the year 2019 is: Asus ROG Phone 2
This was another tough round for us. We were split between two great smartphones in the arena, but at the end we all came to a conclusion that this mid-ranger is the best choice of 2019.
The winner of the Mid-range smartphone of the year 2019 is: Vivo V17 Pro
People’s choice smartphone of the year 2019
The contenders here are Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro, Realme 5S, Honor 20 and Samsung A50s.
Now, this was a close fight between Apple iPhone 11 and Asus Vivobook X512. While Twitter votes clearly chose Asus Vivobook X512 as the winner, on our website Apple iPhone 11 had a slightly higher voter count.
Some superb contenders in this ring fighting for the top spot here. But in the end this device came on top not just because of its neat features, but because of its cool form factor too.
The winner of the Gadget of the year 2019 is: Samsung Galaxy Fold
The next in the Hatke category is for a machine’s performance and utility. This was another tough one as in 2019 we saw some great products. But with a unanimous decision, we zeroed in on one.
The winner of the Hatke gadget of the year (Performance and utility) 2019 is: Apple iPhone 11 Pro
Next up is the laptop of the year 2019, which was not a super tough decision, but wasn’t that easy either. This particular notebook won because it is actually worthy of applause.
The winner of the Laptop of the year 2019 is: Asus Zenbook Duo
Gaming laptop of the year 2019
The contenders here are Alienware M15, MSI GL63 9SC, Asus Zephyrus M GU502, Asus Zephyrus S (GX701) and Acer Predator Triton 300 (PT315-51).
Yes, we love gaming and gaming laptops are our favourite weapon of choice. 2019 was the year of the gaming laptops, old ones got upgraded and new ones came to life. We saw everyone from Dell to Alienware, Asus to Acer producing powerful gaming machines. However, one raced past through and left the competition behind.
The winner of the Gaming laptop of the year 2019 is: Asus Zephyrus S (GX701)
Tablets are simple elegant machines that are not heavy to carry and can give you some great portable mechanics inside. We tested quite a few of them this year and the choice for the top one was evident.
The winner of the Tablet of the year 2019 is: Samsung Tab S6
A picture can speak a thousand words and a moving picture can tell the whole story. In 2019 the number of televisions launched in India and new brands coming to India were much more than last year. Our choice was tough as most can now show beautiful moving imagery in 4K. Some good contenders, but no points for guessing who won here.
The winner of the TV of the year 2019 is: Sony A9G
These devices help you in your daily tasks and help to make your home more comfortable. This was one category that was easy and tough at the same time. We wish there could be two winners, however, one has to win.
The winner of the Best home improvement device of the year 2019 is: Amazon Echo Show
We love this genre of devices. They came to life about half a decade ago and they have ever been part of our daily gadget arsenal. In 2019 there were many launched and we tested quite a few of them. And then zeroed in on four of them, but like we said there can only be one winner.
The winner of the Smartwatch of the year 2019 is: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G
These are one of the most bought gadgets of 2019, everyone from Samsung to Fitbit to Honor brought their own versions. These help you track your fitness levels and this category had a lot of tough players.
The winner of the Fitness wearable of the year 2019 is: Fitbit Versa 2
Headphones of the year 2019
The contenders in this category are JBL Live 400BT, Audio Technica SR30BT, Jabra Elite 85H, Sony WH-XB900N and Logitech G Pro X.
Let’s face it we all love listening to our favourite tunes every chance we get. A great pair of headphones will enhance that experience. 2019 saw some spectacular range of headphones launched in the country. We heard them all and the winner was obvious.
The winner of the Headphones of the year 2019 is: Sony WH-XB900N
Another category of the awards that serve the musical arena is Bluetooth speakers. We saw some superb audio maestros launched this year in this field and the decision here was undivided.
The winner of the Bluetooth speaker of the year 2019 is: Sony SRS-XB32
Best tech in car of the year 2019
The contenders here are Hyundai Venue, Maruti Vitara Brezza, Kia Seltos, Tata Harrier and Mahindra Alturas G4.
Like we have said in the past why should small gadgets have all the fun. This is a category that serves the bigger meaner machines. This is best tech in car of the year 2019 and the winner is: Kia Seltos
Streaming service of the year 2019
The contenders here are Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ALTBalaji, Hotstar and Apple TV Plus.
Entertainment is the name of the game and some superb nominees in the category. Many big names have come to India and Apple TV Plus is one of them. So, who won this bout?
The Winner of the Streaming service of the year 2019 is: Netflix
Gadget of the decade
The contenders here are Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft One X, Samsung Galaxy Fold, Apple iPad Pro and Apple Air Pods.
The last decade had some superb gadgets launched. In 2009 I chose Xbox Kinnect as Gadget of the Decade, but this time as much as I want to a gaming console is not leading but another device is.
So, who won?
Winner of the Gadget of the Decade is: Samsung Galaxy Fold
Samsung recently unveiled its Galaxy Watch 4G in India. While most of the specifications of the smartwatch remain identical to Samsung Galaxy Watch that was launched last year, the new and upgraded version comes with 4G connectivity. If you are planning to buy a new smartwatch, Samsung’s offering is definitely an option that you need to consider. So is Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G worth a buy? Read our review to find out:
In This Article
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G design
The design of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G is very identical to the vanilla variant of the smartwatch. Having said that, we really like the design of the watch. It is available in two sizes: 42mm and 46mm. Both the models of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G come with rotating bezels that can be used for navigation. We have to say that the rotating bezel is an aspect of the design that we really liked because its presence meant that we did not have to rely on the touchscreen of the smartwatch alone each time we wished to perform a task. The device has two buttons placed on its right side. While the upper one is the back button, the one at the bottom is the Home button. The microphone of the device is located below the Home button on the right edge. The left edge, on the other hand, only has a speaker. On its back, there is the heart rate sensor.
The front of the smartwatch is subjugated by its 1.3-inch AMOLED display that protected by a layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass DX+. We should mention that this is the screen size of the 46mm variant of the device. The smaller 42mm variant has a 1.2-inch display. The display of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G depicted good colours and had a good level of brightness, which adjusts itself according to the ambient lighting conditions. Even the viewing angles of the display are good and the colours projected appear consistent. During our time with the watch, we had no trouble reading anything on the display, even when we used it under direct sunlight. It is worth noticing that Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G has an IP68 rating, is shockproof and water resistant up to 5ATM. The company has also said that it has MIL-STD-810G rating.
The smartwatch has 22mm silicone bands that can be swapped with other bands of the user’s preference. Personally, we did not feel the need of changing the bands as they were very comfortable as well as sweatproof. In the box, you will also find the wireless charger of the smartwatch that is compatible with a Micro-USB cable.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G performance
Specifications of any device is one of its most important aspects, so let’s take a moment to talk about it before we tell you more about the performance of this smartwatch. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G is powered by the company’s Exynos 9110 processor that is clocked at 1.5GHz. The device packs 1.5GB of RAM and has 4GB of onboard storage. This can be used for downloading various apps and storing music. It makes perfect sense to store music on Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G as the smartwatch can be directly linked to a pair of earphones via Bluetooth. The smartwatch runs the company’s Tizen-based wearable OS and can be paired to both iOS and Android devices. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, NFC, A-GPS, and 4G LTE. It is worth pointing out that you will have to set up the cellular connectivity of the smartwatch on the Galaxy Wearable app. As of now, only Airtel and Jio networks can be used to provide 4G connectivity on the Samsung Galaxy Watch.
Coming to the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G, we are quite impressed by it. During our time with the device, we did not notice any lag in the smartwatch’s performance. In fact, if you are a fitness freak, this smartwatch is your dream gadget. It has a slew of fitness-focussed features and can be used to track a number of activities including walking, running, cycling, swimming, hiking, elliptical training, lunges, crunches, squats, jumping jacks, pilates, yoga, stretching, among so many others. One feature that we really liked was that the watch reminded us to move whenever we sat without doing any activity for some time.
If you are someone who needs motivation to include more activity in your daily routine, this watch is exactly what you are looking for. It reminded us time and again to move, and motivated us to walk more often. Whenever we got up to take a walk, the device automatically detected it and started counting our steps. We should mention that the number of steps increases on their own even if you are driving, but then, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G is not the only smartwatch that has this inaccuracy. The same is the case with every other smartwatch.
Other than tracking our steps, the watch also keeps a record of the user’s heart rate at all times. With default settings, it checks it once in every 10 minutes. While there is an option of changing the settings to ‘Always On’, but then, that obviously will make the battery of the smartwatch go down a lot sooner. We should mention that when the watch detects that you are exercising, it will automatically start measuring your heart-rate on ‘Always-On’ mode.
During our time with the watch, we did take a few calls on it. The sound of the voice of the caller was clear to us at all times and we did not encounter any problems while speaking to them. Wearing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G while sleeping is not a very comfortable thing to do, but when we managed to do it, the smartwatch got a correct reading of the number of hours we slept.
Coming to the battery life of Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G, it usually lasted about 3-4 days when we switched the 4G on ‘auto’ the device and used it extensively for calls and during workouts. However, the smartwatch took hours to charge from 0% to 100%. You need to give it at least 3-4 hours to charge completely.
Verdict
The price of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G starts at Rs 28,490 and we feel that the cost is completely justified. The performance of the smartwatch is so smooth that it makes it worth every penny spent. If you are someone who wants a smartwatch with cellular connectivity or are a fitness freak, you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G. You will be happy with it as the smartwatch is quite an all-rounder. The slow charging of the device is the only thing that we did not like, but then, we think most people can live with that.
Users of iPhones have been waiting for this feature since quite some time now. Yes, we are talking about the Dark Mode for Whatsapp and it has been in the works since (roughly) 6-8 months. However now, users who are on iOS will be able to get this mode in the Beta version first. It is supposed to roll out in the coming weeks. After which it will be rolled out fully.
A report in WABetainfo has concurred that the Dark Mode is indeed coming to iPhones soon. In the new update for iOS version, 2.20.10.23 should get this Dark Mode to Apple devices. Well, there have been workarounds to get the dark mode for WhatsApp on iOS, however, this will be the first-ever official rollout by the Facebook-owned company for users everywhere. The report also suggests some good changes in this mode are also likely to happen for Android users, too.
Courtesy: WABetainfo
Along with the Dark Mode, WhatsApp Beta for iOS is expected to get better new features. The next feature that will be coming to iOS is the data saver or low data mode. This is as useful as Dark Mode since Dark Mode saves battery, low data mode will save data. WhatsApp will now not automatically download videos and images if the iPhone is working on low data mode when using a mobile network. This will save valuable bytes and only those videos, audio files, documents and images will be downloaded which the user wishes to. Otherwise, these will be downloaded when the iPhone connects to a WiFi network.
Over that, suggested contacts feature is also coming with the new update for iOS. According to WABetainfo whenever a user is sending a file via WhatsApp to another user the software will show suggested WhatsApp contacts to them, in case the same file needs to be sent to another user too. This will make users life a bit easier as he/she would not need to go back to the file and keep sending it to different users.
Nokia officially revealed the Nokia 2720 and the Nokia 800. The Nokia 2720 is a flip phone while the Nokia 800 is a phone made for withstanding difficult physical environments.
Nokia 800
The company claims that the Nokia 800 is built to withstand usage in harsh environments and that the device has passed military-grade standards. The phone is made to not be susceptible to regular wear and tear as other mobile phones. The handset can be submerged in water up to a depth of 1.5 metres for around 30 minutes. This phone has a non-removable 2,100 mAh battery and runs on KaiOS.
The feature phone has a rugged design to protect it from accidental drops and is equipped to withstand temperatures as low as -20 to 55 degrees Celsius. The phone supports 4G networks and VoLTE HD voice calls and Wi-Fi. The device will have an app store and also has a 2MP camera with an LED flash.
The Nokia 800 is priced at 899 Yuan or Rs 9,140 approximately.
Nokia 2720
The Nokia 2720 on the other hand, is a standard dual-screen flip phone. This phone has a 2.8-inch display with a smaller screen of 1.3-inch display on the outside when folded. The phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 processor and a T9 keyboard with support for GPS and Google maps. The phone also has access to the Kai App store because it works on KaiOS.
The Nokia 2720 provides support for Wi-Fi and LTE. The phone is available in two variants, a single SIM and a dual SIM version. The Nokia 2720 has 4GB internal storage and a 2MP camera equipped with flash. The phone also sports a 3.5mm headphone jack and can connect on Bluetooth 4.0. This phone is available for 599 Yuan or around Rs 6,091. This phone is available in multiple colour options of Ocean Black and Grey.
Both phones will be available for sale officially from December 30 2019.
Xiaomi recently launched a new fast charger in China, this fast charger has a capacity to fast charge smartphones at 60W. This charger has two slots for USB interfaces, which support 45W output along with a slot for Type-C charging that supports the 60W output. The company claims that the charger can even charge Apple’s MacBook Air in under 90 minutes.
The charger is compatible with most smart devices and is priced at 149 Yuan or around Rs 1,515. The charger offers support for simultaneous charging, meaning you can power multiple devices through it at once. The charger also has a smart voltage detection feature that enables it to read and detect the voltage required by the device and reduce current wastage.
The charger has built-in safety protection circuits including protection for overvoltage, overcurrent, static electricity, temperature and short circuit protection. The phone charger provides support for a variety of fast charge protocols in the market. It is not confirmed if this charger will make its way to India any time soon.
Like this, rumours had suggested that the Xiaomi Mi Note 10, which released in other parts of the world will make an appearance in India in December. However, this has changed and the phone will most likely release by January or sometime early 2020 here. The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 is the world’s first smartphone with a rear camera of 108MP. The device is said to be priced at around Rs 46,832. This device has a Penta-camera setup with a primary sensor of 108MP, a 12MP sensor, a 5MP lens, a 20MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens.
The mobile phone has a front camera of 32MP for facilitating clear selfies. The display of the phone is of 6.47-inches and has a curved edge. The phone runs on MIUI 11 powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor with RAM of 8GB and 256GB storage. The device also has an in-display fingerprint sensor and a 5,260 mAh battery that is compatible with 30W fast charging technology.
This year the popular electronics brand LG introduced its flagship dual-screen LG V50 ThinQ 5G at MCW 2019 earlier this year. Now the South Korean smartphone maker is likely to introduce LG V60 ThinQ 5G variant at the upcoming Mobile World Congress that will be held in February 2020. This phone will be an upgraded version of the LG V50 ThinQ.
According to a report by The Korea Herald, its industry insider has revealed that LG Electronics will be unveiling LG V60 ThinQ at MWC 2020 to be held in Barcelona. The smartphone will arrive with 5G connectivity ability along with an ultra-fast wireless network.
The unnamed source of the publisher said, “LG Electronics is planning to showcase V60 ThinQ as next year’s first smartphone to expand its presence in the 5G market. The company is expected to increase its shipments in South Korea, the United States and Japan.”
At the event, the company is likely to put up an accompanying second-screen accessory on display for the LG V60 ThinQ. This smartphone will also come with a dual-screen on the front as well as on the back panel.
To recall the company introduced the dual-screen foldable phone at the last year’s MCW event. Where it showcased three phones one LG V50 ThinQ 5G, LG G8 ThinQ and G8s ThinQ. As the name suggests V50 comes with 5G connectivity whereas the G8 phones do not support 5G connectivity. So, this time also there is a possibility that the company might showcase LG G9 ThinQ and LG G9s ThinQ but this time these might support 5G connectivity.
A few days ago, the company launched LG G8X ThinQ along with LG Dual Screen in India. The phone has been priced at Rs 48,999 and is available in a single Aurora Black colour.
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo today introduced a new phone in India. The company launched Vivo Y11 (2019) in the country. The phone was first introduced in the Vietnam market prior to its Indian launch. The phone has been introduced under the budget segment. The phones comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 chipset along with a 5000mAh battery. Read on to know the pricing and the availability of Vivo Y11.
In This Article
Vivo Y11 (2019) pricing and availability
Vivo Y11 (2019) has been introduced in India in a single storage option of 3GB of RAM with 32GB of internal storage. The phone has been priced in the country at Rs 8,990. The smartphone will be available in two colour options of Mineral Blue and Agate Red. The device will be available for purchase from tomorrow that is December 25 via all the leading e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Vivo India e-store, Paytm Mall, Tata Cliq, and Bajaj EMI E-Store and across offline channels in the country.
Vivo Y11 (2019) specifications
Vivo Y11 (2019) comes with a 6.35-inch HD+ LCD screen with a teardrop notch, 720×1544 pixels of resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 9 on top of Android 9 Pie. Vivo Y11 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and can be expanded via microSD card.
In terms of camera capabilities, Vivo Y11 (2019) features a dual rear camera system along with a flashlight. The camera system includes a 13-megapixel main sensor with f/2.2 aperture and a 2-megapixel camera lens with f/2.4 aperture. While on the front there is an 8-megapixel front-facing camera for taking selfies and video calling.
The smartphone houses a 5000mAh battery and sports a rear fingerprint sensor. In terms of connectivity, the phone includes 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS/ A-GPS, USB OTG, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Micro-USB port.
Indian Telecom operator Reliance Jio has announced the 2020 Happy New Year Offer for its subscribers. The company will be offering new deals on the purchase of its Jio phones as well as smartphones. The offers will be available for a limited period of time only.
Under the 2020 Happy New Year Offer by paying Rs 2020 Reliance Jio smartphone users can avail unlimited services from the operator for one year. The customers will be able to take advantage of unlimited voice service, 1.5GB internet data per day, free SMS as well as access to Jio apps.
While on the other hand JioPhone customer can pay Rs 2020 and can get a JioPhone along with unlimited services free for 12 months. The offer also includes unlimited voice calling, daily 0.5GB internet data along with free SMS and access to Jio apps.
The consumers will be able to avail the Reliance Jio’s 2020 Happy New Year Offer from today onwards. According to the company, these offers will be available for a short period of time.
Earlier this month the company also raised its tariff rates by 30-40 percent for its prepaid subscribers to deal with a huge massive loss in the third quarter of this year. The company launched Rs 129, Rs 199, Rs 249, Rs 329, Rs 444, Rs 555, Rs 599 prepaid plans.
Whereas the company launched two annual prepaid plans worth Rs 1,299 and Rs 2,199. Under Rs 1,299 plan the customers will get 24GB of annual data along with 12,000 non-Jio minutes. Rs 2,199 plan comes with 1.5GB of daily data as well as 12,000 non-Jio minutes.
The South Korean Electronics brand Samsung launched the 4G variant of the Galaxy Watch Active 2 in India. The watch will be available in three sizes that comes with a starting price of Rs 28,490. The Watch Active 2 was first launched by the company few months ago in October alongside Galaxy Tab S6.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 4G variant allows the user to customise it as per their needs and style. The smartwatch comes in three sizes of 44mm, 46mm and 42mm. Over that, the device will be available in six colour finishes. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 has an edge to edge sAMOLED display, which comes with a touch bezel. It also comes equipped with advanced sensors that can track 39 distinct fitness activities with auto-tracking while the user is walking, running, cycling, rowing, Elliptical Trainer, dynamic workouts and swimming.
Aditya Babbar, Director, Mobile Business, Samsung India said, “At Samsung, we understand the needs of the consumers. The Galaxy ecosystem has been created to ensure that the latest innovations and technologies are accessible to all. With the launch of Galaxy Watch Active2 4G, Samsung now has the widest range of 4G enabled smartwatches in India spanning 2 unique design templates, 3 sizes and 6 colour finishes. The fresh design language and all-new digital bezel UI in combination with seamless 4G connectivity makes the Watch Active2 an essential product for those seeking a blend of style and functionality. The mantra “Do What You Can’t” has always been the driving force behind such meaningful innovations that help us enrich the lives of our consumers.”
Galaxy Watch Active 2 4G comes integrated with an up to date Running Coach that will guide you through seven different running programs also allowing the users to monitor their running pace. The health sensor permits the users to keep a watch on their detailed insights as well as monitor their stress levels at all times. It has e-sim connectivity options that allow users to stay connected, reject or receive calls while your phone is not around. Galaxy Watch Active2 4G allows users to easily take photos, start recording a video, preview video clips, switch between front and rear lenses, set a timer and then check the final photo or video.
It also allows you to access your social media post or watch a short video clip right on the screen. With the Spotify music streaming app, consumers can also browse through their favourite music and podcasts. The smart wearable is also supported by the major service providers such as Reliance Jio and Airtel.
Galaxy Watch Active 2 4G Pricing and Availability
Galaxy Watch Active 2 4G 44mm steel dial in silver, black and gold finishes can be purchased at Rs 35,990 whereas the 46mm and 42mm variants at Rs 30,990 and Rs 28,490 respectively. All the variants of the smartwatch will be available across online and offline channels, Samsung Opera House as well as Samsung e-shop.
These days almost every person in the world is a Facebook user and is under a big misconception that their personal data is safe with the platform. In the latest privacy glitch around 267 million user’s data leaked online.
According to Security researchers these millions of Facebook user IDs, phone numbers, as well as names, were exposed on the web to hackers. The database that contained all the personal details of the users were left open for almost two weeks. Now the users are being urged to update their contact details after this security breach.
The privacy breach was revealed by Bob Diachenko who is a security researcher along with Comparitech. According to the security researcher, the discovery of the data is a result of an illegal scraping operation or Facebook API abuse by criminals in Vietnam.
Bob Diachenko said that the US users are most likely to be at risk of the latest data leak or users who have not set their profiles to private are. “A database this big is likely to be used for phishing and spam, particularly via SMS. Facebook users should be on the lookout for suspicious text messages. Even if the sender knows your name or some basic information about you, be skeptical of any unsolicited messages,” Diachenko said.
However, they are not sure how the personal information of the Facebook users was stolen but Diachenko immediately notified internet service provider that manages the IP address of the server so that the data could be removed.
As most of the affected users were from the US, their unique Facebook ID, phone number, full name and timestamp were leaked too. The security researcher doubts that possibly the user’s data might be stolen from Facebook’s developer API.
The report also said, “Facebook’s API is used by app developers to add social context to their applications by accessing users’ profiles, friends list, groups, photos, and event data. Phone numbers were available to third-party developers prior to 2018. Facebook’s API could also have a security hole that would allow criminals to access user IDs and phone numbers even after access was restricted.”
Bharti Airtel recently launched Airtel Wi-Fi calling service in India. The first-ever voice over Wi-Fi service was launched in Delhi NCR for its customers. The company also promised to roll out the service in the other parts of the country gradually. Now the telecom operator has launched its service in four other states in India.
Today the telecom operator Bharti Airtel launched its Voice over Wi-Fi service in Mumbai, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. As per the company, the Airtel Wi-Fi service vividly improves the indoor calling experience. The customers can switch to Voice over Wi-Fi calling when they are inside their offices or homes. There is no extra charge for voice calls made using the service and the application consumes minimal data.
The Airtel customers do not require to download any app to the service. In the beginning, the company launched the service in Delhi NCR first and not extending its service to the other four states. The subscribers can make a free call over Airtel Wi-Fi Calling and the application consumes minimal data.
The Airtel subscribers are required to follow the below-mentioned steps to use the service:
Upgrade device operating software to the latest version that supports Wi-Fi Calling*
Go to Settings on your mobile phone and Switch On Wi-Fi Calling
Keep VoLTE switched on as well for a seamless experience
As per the company, the smartphones supporting Airtel Wi-Fi Calling service are all the models of Apple iPhones starting 6s and above, Xiaomi Redmi K20, Redmi K20 Pro and POCO F1, Samsung J6, A10s, On6, S10, S10+, S10e, M20 and all the OnePlus 7 and 6 series devices.
Last month the Chinese smartphone company Realme launched its flagship Realme X2 Pro in India. The smartphone was introduced in two storage variants 8GB RAM with 128GB storage and 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. Now there is a news that the company will be launching another storage model of the smartphone.
Realme India chief Madhav Sheth took to Twitter to announce that the company will be launching a new cheaper version of Realme X2 Pro. The company will be launching 6GB RAM with 64GB storage model very soon. The device will be available with a price tag of Rs 27,999. In addition to this, he also revealed that the colour variant of the Master Edition of the Realme X2 Pro. He introduced that the special edition phone will be available in Red Brick and Concrete colour variant. The phone will go on sale via Flipkart from December 24 to December 25 from 8:55 PM onwards.
Realme X2 Pro was launched in two storage options of 8GB RAM with 128GB storage and 12GB RAM with 256GB storage. The base variant comes with a price tag of Rs 29,999 whereas the upper variant can be purchased at Rs 33,999. Soon the company will be adding a third version in the form of 6GB RAM with 64GB storage variant with other options. The new variant will come with a price tag of Rs 27,999. Like the rest, this phone will also come in two colour options Lunar White and Neptune Blue.
Coming on the specifications, Realme X2 Pro runs on Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.1 on top. It features a 6.5-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED Fluid display offering 1,080×2,400 pixels of resolution with a 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage.
Realme X2 Pro comes with a quad rear camera set up that comprises of a 64-megapixel primary camera with f/1.8 aperture, 13-megapixel telephoto lens, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. While on the front there is a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for taking selfies.
Realme X2 Pro packs a 4,000mAh battery supported by a 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charger. There is also an in-display fingerprint sensor on the smartphone. For connectivity there is 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, NFC, USB Type-C and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Apple is continuously working on making their devices and operating systems better. The USA headquartered company has now opened up their bug bounty program, which will reward researchers who find credible issues in their OS across their range of devices. These researchers will become eligible for big paychecks if their bug is discovered to be genuine.
Yes, Apple has now opened the bounty program to the publicly available versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS. Apple, through a post on their developer page, outlined various bounty categories in their iCloud device through all means, including and not limited to physical access attacks, network attacks etc. The payouts range is anywhere between 100,000 USD to 1 million USD.
In August 2019, Apple gave special iPhones to the researches at the Black Hat convention, which is a cyber-security conference that took place in Las Vegas. Apple began their security program in 2016, and offered researchers up to 2,00,000 USD to work and report credible bugs in their OS.
Apple however, is not the only tech giant to offer rewards to researchers and hackers. Other companies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft too have created bug bounties in the past.
Back in 2016, Apple’s bug bounty program was only open by invitation, but is now open to the public as announced in the Black Hat conference. Researchers will have to submit detailed descriptions of the issue they are facing to allow Apple to replicate the conditions that induce the bug.
Top payouts will go to researchers who find bugs that affect a multitude of Apple-owned operating systems, with priority to those issues that affect the latest Apple devices and software. Did we mention that bugs found in a beta version will earn researchers a 50 percent bonus during payout?
Last month the popular Chinese brand Xiaomi launched Mi CC9 Pro AKA Xiaomi Note 10 that features a 108-megapixel camera sensor. Also, there are speculations with regard to the Samsung Galaxy S11 series to include a 108-megapixel primary sensor. Now, Realme has confirmed that it is working on a 108-megapixel smartphone.
Realme was one of the few smartphone manufacturers that first came up with a 64-megapixel camera sensor. Now Realme India CEO, Madhav Sheth, in an interview with an online publisher revealed that the company is developing a 108-megapixel smartphone. However, he did not reveal any other information related to the smartphone.
In addition to this, the CEO also confirmed that Realme is also working on a loT devices that will be unveiled earlier next year. He also said that “Realme will enter the smartphone segment in 2020 and make breakthroughs in each segment, which is worth looking forward to.”
While on the other hand Realme CEO Li Bingzhong opened up that the company will no longer launch 4G devices in China next year. Instead it will be launching 5G enabled phones in its home market. The company is also preparing to launch its first 5G smartphone that is called Realme X50 5G. The smartphone is likely to debut in January 2020.
Recently, the smartphone got approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China. The device carries model number of RMX2051 code. It is likely to come with a 6.6-inch LCD display along with dual front-facing cameras. The smartphone is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 756G processor supporting dual-mode 5G.
The phone is expected to feature Sony’s IMX686 64megapixel lens. However, it is not clear what capacity battery it would house, but is likely to support 30W VOOC 4.0 Flash charge technology.
Microblogging website Twitter has fixed a vulnerability within its platform for Android that could allow a bad actor to see non-public account information or to control the user’s account such as send Tweets or Direct Messages. Only Android app users are affected however the issue did not impact Twitter for iOS
Twitter informed the users via blog post in which it said that “Prior to the fix, through a complicated process involving the insertion of malicious code into restricted storage areas of the Twitter app, it may have been possible for a bad actor to access information (e.g., Direct Messages, protected Tweets, location information) from the app. We don’t have evidence that malicious code was inserted in to the app or that this vulnerability was exploited, but we can’t be completely sure so we are taking extra caution.”
The company has already fixed this issue and is directly notifying it’s those users who could have been exposed to this vulnerability. The microblogging website is sending specific instructions to the users via the app or by email in order to keep them safe. The instruction varies based on what versions of Android and Twitter for Android people are using.
The company is asking its users to follow those instructions as soon as possible or still have confusion related to the instruction can simply update the app to the latest version of Twitter for Android.
“We’re sorry this happened and will keep working to keep your information secure on Twitter. You can reach out to our Office of Data Protection through this form to request information regarding your account security.”
Facebook has long outgrown being only a social media website. Facebook is now a technology titan with many products and services to their name. Facebook expanded into hardware by acquiring Portal and Oculus, where Facebook uses a heavily modified version of Android. If sources are to be believed, the company is looking to bring its software in-house through a custom OS for mobiles.
Facebook has reportedly hired Mark Lucovsky, one of the original authors of the Windows NT operating system to which Windows 10 belongs.
Facebook’s head of hardware, Andrew Borsworth confirmed that Facebook is prepping for the future in a statement, where he said that Facebook is gearing up to make space for themselves in the future and that the marketplace or Facebook’s competitors cannot be trusted to ensure it, which is why Facebook will pave their own way into the future of the world.
The probable cause for Facebook’s concern might be Oculus, which has been leading the Virtual Reality space, which is only taking off now, after many years of operation and slow growth. It is expected that more and more people want to interact with this truly immersive software. Starting from scratch will give Facebook the opportunity to find out if future customers want technology that is immersive. However, Oculus depends on support from developers of which Android is not always compatible.
Facebook’s last attempt to enter the software market began way back in 2013 when they partnered with HTC to launch the HTC First, an android device which had a Facebook-based user interface called Facebook Home. While this did not raise any concerns back then, it is still a question if users will trust a completely by Facebook operating system after the company’s repeated privacy violations and lack of security practices, which led the company to get a lot of flak by the whole world.
Also, Facebook recently bought Beat Games, the gaming studio behind the popular Beat Saber game, Beat Games is now officially a part of Oculus. Seems like Facebook is quickly expanding and venturing into newer beats.
