G-suite users will soon be served with suggestions to finish their sentences outside of their Gmail inboxes. This feature is still in test and currently, only administrators can sign up for the beta version of it. Smart compose, released by the tech company last year followed Gmail’s Smart Reply feature. The key difference between both is how Smart Reply suggests, while Smart compose actively tries to finish the sentence for the user.
The Smart Compose feature uses Google’s machine learning model to study a user’s past writing to personalise and make active suggestions. This means, the AI powered smart compose will write replies and texts the way the user does. Google letting the word of Smart Compose feature coming out on to Google docs tells us how the AI has grown. And is now mature enough to assimilate and produce a huge range of writing styles. Google’s smart compose corrects spelling and grammar errors, too. It is a feature which has made lives of many people easier. The smart compose feature will help save time and write more in a shorter period of time, error-free with personally tailored responses according to your business.
Speaking about this at the Cloud Next event, Google cloud’s CEO Thomas Kurian said, “G Suite is used by many people around the world for collaboration. People love this concept called Smart Compose in Gmail, where, (using Google AI), the system suggests a reply for you and makes it much easier for you to compose email. We’re now bringing Smart Compose to Google Docs to make you more productive when you’re writing documents and collaborating with one another. We’ve also integrated all the elements of our collaboration tools into a single workspace. Because of these advances today, 5 million companies pay to use G Suite, and we have over a billion people using our Drive and 1.5 billion people every day using Gmail. You could be one of them.”
Google’s smart compose feature, hopefully will be released soon to general public too, who can use it in generating quick documents and without being a G-suite member. Google’s Smart compose promises an AI driven future for users and this could be the right step for them. Are you taking note, Microsoft?
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Vivo, has been popular for its innovations. It always surprises us with its pioneering features setting new benchmarks. The company was the first one who introduced in-display fingerprint sensor and not to forget Vivo is the first company who came up with the innovative idea of pop up selfie camera. Setting a level higher the company introduced Vivo V17 Pro in India that comes with a dual elevating selfie camera. The pop-up camera has 32megapixel + 8megapixel sensors.
Before we begin to dwell in deeper, let us tell you that for the review we received Midnight Ocean Black colour. We have been using this new handset for more than a month now so there are lots of things, which we will discuss in the review. Read on to know more about the smartphone:
In This Article
Design and Display
The moment you open the phone you will notice Vivo V17 Pro comes with a 6.44-inch full-HD+ display. When held in our hands the phone was much heavier than other smartphones that we reviewed earlier. Majorly because of the large battery and bigger pop-up selfie cams. Also, the device dons’ an all-glass body, which adds to the weight.
Vivo V17 Pro is available in two beautiful colour options, Midnight Ocean Black and Glacier Ice White, and for the review, as we said, we got our hands on Midnight Ocean Black variant. It has a hint of blueish grey and black finish that makes it look more appealing to the eyes sporting a Gorilla Glass 6 protection on the back along with an AI-enabled quad-camera set up horizontally placed. There is a Vivo logo engraved at the bottom-most part, too. The design is spick-and-span. While on the front there is a full-screen display, which is best suited for streaming videos and playing games. It features a 6.44-inch full-HD+ 1,080×2,440 pixels Super AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and for the protection the company has applied Schott Xensation UP, which made us a little dismayed as it attracted so many scratches within a month of use. So we suggest you use it cleverly or set screen protection on it.
Otherwise, the screen of the Vivo V17 Pro looked bright and clear indoors as well as outdoors. But during bright direct sunlight, it was hard to read or watch videos so we had to pull the brightness level to maximum. Vivo usually comes up with innovative technologies to lure customers in the market. This time the company has included dual pop up selfie camera that includes a 32-megapixel and an 8-megapixel shooter. The motorized camera also accommodates a moonlight selfie light and an earpiece grille. But the camera details will be covered further in detail. The display has sleek bezels and a slightly visible chin with a thicker bezel.
Despite having a large screen, we did not come across any problem using the phone with one hand, as all the buttons were within the reach. On the right-side panel, there is a volume rocker and a power button while on the left side there is a dedicated button to enable Google voice assistance service and Vivo’s Jovi assistant that can be customised as per the user’s preference. At the bottom, there is a port for USB-Type-C charging, microphone and a SIM card slot.
Performance and Cameras
Vivo V17 Pro powers the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. But in this price segment, we expected slightly better hardware as there are other smartphones in the market which are cheaper and come with Snapdragon 712 or higher. So when it comes to performance the overall experience of using the handset was decent despite the SD 675. During our review, we did not come across any lags even after prolonged PUBG sessions. It was treated to binge-watching movies, YouTube videos or TV shows for long hours. It handled day to day tasks easily and also browsing the internet, social media accounts, swapping between the apps and chatting was absolutely wonderful.
Moving on to the software part, Vivo V17 Pro runs on Android 9 Pie with FuntouchOS 9.1 on top. Vivo’s custom OS Funtouch comes with a lot of bloatware that makes it a bit messed up while leaving us a bit confused. The in-display fingerprint sensor on the device worked well for us it was fast as well as accurate and you hardly need the face to unlock feature to unlock the phone. There are some useful features like Ultra Power saving mode, Motorbike mode as well as Game Booster, which we quite liked.
Now on to another important part is the battery Vivo V17 Pro comes with a 4,100mAh battery that is supported by 18W fast charging technology. The battery life was good enough as it lasted for a day but needs to be charged before you go to sleep. In case your usage is not super heavy, then it might last you more than a day.
On the whole, the performance of the phone was good but considering the processor at this price point is kind of a downer.
Moving to the camera performance, which is the most highlighted feature of the V17 Pro. So let’s first talk about the selfie camera. How many of you think do we really need a phone with a dual pop up selfie camera? We certainly think they are needed if you want vibrant with depth selfies. Here we get twin elevating cameras with the 32-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel super-wide-angle camera along with a Moonlight flash placed between both the camera lenses. The results here were erratic, some were favourable and some not during daylight. But we got satisfactory results when we clicked the pictures under the low light conditions.
The second 8-megapixel ultra wide-angle sensor offers 105-degrees of the field of view. This comes handy when you want to show more of the background or when you are you have a larger number of people to be covered in one frame. Yes, groupie pics are child’s play for this smartphone.
Let’s jump over to the rear cameras, Vivo V17 Pro features a quad-camera set up consisting of an 8-megapixel super wide-angle camera, 48-megapixel super clarity camera, third a 2-megapixel depth camera and lastly a 13-megapixel telephoto 2x lens. The device clicked amazing pictures with the rear setup. The daylight photography pictures were clear and sharp. Over that, when we used the phone’s camera under low light conditions it delivered natural-looking pictures with good details. We also got satisfactory results when we clicked the macro shots. The results here were fine, detailed and portrayed natural-looking colours.
VERDICT
Vivo launched V17 Pro with a price tag of Rs 29,990 but currently, it is being sold at Rs 27,990 via e-commerce website Flipkart. We think this price is a bit on the higher side as there are so many rivals in the market which are selling devices with a bigger battery, better processor as well as better front camera capabilities at a lower price point.
But if you are attracted to motorised dual selfie cameras and wanted a phone to flaunt in office or college with the latest technology then you can go for the Vivo V17 Pro. We were quite impressed with it fast as well as accurate biometrics, too.
After introducing TRANSSION Holdings group new smartphone Infinix S5 Lite in India the company will finally put it on its first sale. The smartphone was launched last week and will now be available via e-commerce website Flipkart from November 22, 12 PM onwards. The phone has been introduced with a very budget-friendly price and comes with a 4000mAh battery along with a triple rear camera set up. Read on to know more about the price and specifications of the newly launched device.
In This Article
Infinix S5 Lite price and availability
Infinix S5 Lite was launched last week in the country in a single storage variant of 4GB of RAM with 64GB of internal storage with a price tag of Rs 7,999. The new mobile phone will be available from November 22 through e retailer Flipkart. The sale will begin at 12 noon onwards. The company launched Infinix S5 Lite in three colour options – Midnight Black, Quetzal Cyan, and Violet.
Infinix S5 Lite specifications
Infinix S5 Lite comes with a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, 720 x 1600 pixels of a resolution offering a brightness of 480 NITS and LCD IPS screen type and 90.5% Screen to body ratio. The phone comes equipped with reading and eye care mode to ensure minimum strain on the eyes. The phone is powered by octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 SoC clocked at 2.0GHz with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone runs Android 9 Pie with XOS 5.5 skinned on top. The RAM is combined with 64GB of internal storage which also gives you an option to expand the memory via microSD card up to 256GB.
In terms of camera, Infinix S5 Lite features a triple rear camera setup that includes a 16 MP AI Triple Camera with 2MP depth and a dedicated low light sensor along with QUAD LED Flash for low light photography. While on the front there is a 16MP in-display selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 4-in-1 Big pixel technology that is claimed to deliver brighter selfie images.
Infinix S5 Lite connectivity options include 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, FM radio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The sensors on the phone includes an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, digital compass, and proximity sensor. The handset boasts a 4000mAh battery that the company claims it delivers 8.82 hrs 4G Talk-time, 32 hrs Music Playback, 14.7 hrs Video Playback, 13.4 hrs Web Surfing, 11 hrs Gaming and 31 days Standby time.
Xiaomi recently launched couple of smartphones in the country and now they are out with new Smart bands for fitness freaks. The company announced the Mi Smart Band 3i on November 21, which will succeed the Mi Band HRX that was released in September earlier this year. The Mi Smart Band 3i is made especially for the modern Indian who cares about fitness and convenience.
The display size of Mi Smart Band 3i is 0.42-inches. It is an AMOLED touch display that Xiaomi has put into this smart band. As for the battery the company has installed a 110mAh battery inside that allows usage of up to 20 days. The device is 5 ATM water-resistant, i.e. it can go up to 50 metres depth. Over that, the device will let you know of call and notification alerts of the mobile phone it is connected to, while tracking your steps and calories. The screen can display up to 48 characters at a time, making it easier for you to read everything on the screen with ease.
As per the company, the smartband helps you achieve goals set on your Mi fit app, by tracking your daily activity, sleep cycles and overall progress. The Mi smart Band 3i keeps you on your feet by organizing your day and phone logs as well. Like we said, tt lets you know of notifications and messages and they instantly pop up on your phone. You can also unlock the phone with the Mi Smart Band 3i.
Introducing the all-new #MiSmartBand3i – Designed exclusively for India! – AMOLED touch display – Up to 20 days of battery life – Multiple activity tracking – Rated 5ATM water resistant – Call and notification alerts
Comparing the Mi Smart Band 3i to its predecessor the Mi Band HRX, the Mi Smart Band 3i has only one colour option — Black, as compared to the Black and Blue the Mi Band HRX possessed. The product itself is bigger than the Mi Band HRX, too. The battery of the Mi Smart Band 3i retains more charge at 110 mAh, when compared to the 70 mAh of the Mi Band HRX.
According to Xiaomi India, “Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Band 3i is a device made specifically for Indian consumers. It features a slew of upgrades over its predecessor, Mi Band HRX. The display size goes up from a 1.2cm (0.42) unit to a 1.9cm (0.78) one, with AMOLED technology and touch support. Users can expect the similar battery life they have come to expect from the Mi Band series, with battery capacity bumped up from 70mAh to 110mAh for upto 20 days of usage.”
The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 3i is now available for pre-orders and is priced at Rs1,299 on Mi India official page.
Microblogging website Twitter has begun testing a new feature called scheduling. The company announced the rolling out of the scheduling feature via Twitter.
As per the company the new feature is currently being experimented and would be helpful in scheduling tweets. Initially, it will be accessible to a limited number of users as the feature is under testing mode and will be available to the general public in the coming months.
In order to schedule a tweet, the user needs to first simply write a tweet. Then they need to click the three dots button beside the emoji button at the bottom bar. Then schedule the tweet as per your preference, at what time you want it to be tweeted.
Currently, this feature will be available via web browser Tweetdeck or through the third-party app like buffer. Until now there is no information if this feature will be accessible on iOS or Twitter apps on smartphones.
If you are an early beta user then you will be able to make use of this new feature via twitter.com. As the wider rollout will take place after a few months.
“Tweet scheduling on https://twitter.com ? Yes please! Starting today, we’re experimenting with bringing one of @TweetDeck’s handiest time-saving features into Twitter. Tell us what you think if you’re part of the experiment.” The tweet reads as it explains how the feature will work via a small video attached.
The feature is similar to the Facebook wall status scheduling feature. If Twitter brings this new feature it would be quite helpful in scheduling some important announcements or product launches. Companies and business’s will be the first one to take up this feature as it has been most awaited since quite some time now.
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme launched its flagship phone in India. The company introduced Realme X2 Pro at a very aggressive price of Rs 29,999. Realme’s new smartphone will go up against the recently launched OnePlus 7T and Redmi Note 8 Pro in terms of specifications as well as price. So today we have compared all the three smartphones to find out which one is better.
Realme X2 Pro: 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB storage
OnePlus 7T: 8GB of RAM with 128GB and 256GB of internal storage
Redmi Note 8 Pro: 6GB of RAM with 64GB, 6GB with 128GB and 8GB with 128GB
Battery
Realme X2 Pro: 4,000 mAh battery
OnePlus 7T: 3,800mAh battery
Redmi Note 8 Pro: 4,500mAh battery
Operating system
Realme X2 Pro: Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.1 skin on top
OnePlus 7T: Android 10 with OxygenOS skin
Redmi Note 8 Pro: Android 9 Pie with MIUI skin
Price
Realme X2 Pro: Rs 29,999
OnePlus 7T: Rs 37,999
Redmi Note 8 Pro: Rs 17,999
Our Take
All the three phones come with almost the same RAM storage configuration, but with a different price tag. Redmi Note 8 Pro which has all the necessary features also comes with the lowest price of Rs 17,999. So if you are looking for a smartphone with the latest features and good specifications also which is lighter on your pocket then go for Realme Note 8 Pro. If you are looking for something that can handle daily tasks better and can give you top-notch performance on the latest Android 10 OS, our pick is the OnePlus 7T.
The Amazon Echo Flex is a smart speaker, which will help users save space by plugging it into standard electrical outlets and controlling smart devices. As the company states, no more messes with wires and chargers. The Amazon Echo flex is the most affordable route to control smart devices compatible with it by the company. This device can help you get help from Alexa even if the smart assistant is in a different room. The Echo flex has a built-in USB port to charge phones while it is plugged in a socket.
You can use the machine to switch on the lights or turn off the air conditioner as you please as long as your devices are compatible. The Amazon Echo Flex is compatible with Smart lights and plugs of most companies. Users can also connect the Echo Flex to their speakers through Bluetooth or 3.5 mm audio cable. It can also be used to communicate with other Echo devices across the home, prompting responses on the device optimised for Alexa’s voice.
“We are happy to introduce Echo Flex for users in India to access Alexa even more conveniently now from any room in the house. Our customers are looking for more options on where they can place Echo devices across their homes. We heard them. With its compact form, Echo Flex can be plugged in directly into an electrical socket to provide all functionalities of an Echo device,” said Parag Gupta, Head of Amazon Devices.
The Amazon Echo flex comes inbuilt with many layers of privacy controls. It has an off button that disconnects the mic, too. You can view, hear and delete recordings on the Alexa app anytime or through voice commands.
Starting today, the Echo flex is available for pre-order, with orders shipping from next month. As a limited offer, customers who order the device will get a 9W Smart LED bulb worth Rs 2,999 for no additional cost on Amazon.com.
The Echo flex is available on the Amazon site for Rs 2,999. The appliance will officially be released on December 10 after which users can purchase it.
It is good to see older phone models by OnePlus are also getting security updates. The Chinese Premium smartphone brand has been consistent in rolling out new updates to its devices and that’s why it is becoming popular among its fans. Now the company has pushed out the final and last update for the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T.
OnePlus pushed out OxygenOS 9.0.6 for the both OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T. Both the device will also receive a final security update with October 2019 security patch. The update has been rolled out in an incremental manner. “With your help, we have been able to better optimize and improve several key areas,” OnePlus Forum said.
Here’s the official changelog of the final update for the OnePlus 3/3T:
We would suggest all the owners of OnePlus 3 and 3T install the latest software update as this is the final set of security patches and fixes to be pushed out by the company.
Like we said earlier, the Over the Air update will be rolled out in a staged manner. Initially, it will reach out to a limited number of users and will have a wider rollout in a couple of weeks or more after making sure that there are no critical bugs.
To recall OnePlus rolled out OxygenOS 9.0.5 for both OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T a few months ago, in August, with Android security patch and general bug fixes as well as improvements. For the unknown, OnePlus 3 was introduced in June 2016 and OnePlus 3T in November 2016. OnePlus 5 and later models will still get newer security patches and updates.
It was a different launch this time, a much longer, but different one by Realme. At the beginning of the launch event, 4 phones (the Huawei P30 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and the iPhone 11 Pro Max) were put to charge alongside the Realme X2 Pro. After approximately 18.5 minutes, the Realme X2 stood at 78 percent, while the other phones were at much lower charge levels. Realme wanted to showcase the raw power of its new 50W VOOC charger. After just 32 minutes Realme X2 pro was fully charged while rest were way behind in the charge cycle. Realme also cast light to the rumours about the Realme XT 730G that will launch in December with other products.
Specifications and price of the Realme X2 Pro
The smartphone uses Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides. With a 6.5-inch Full HD+ display panel, the Realme X2 Pro comes with the 50W SuperVOOC charger in the box. This can charge the 4,000 mAh battery inside this device fully in just 35 minutes.
Speaking of the cameras, the rear is equipped with Quad camera setup with a 64MP primary camera, a 13MP camera with 2X optical zoom and 20X hybrid zoom, an 8MP camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is a 16MP shooter. The Realme X2 Pro runs Android 9 Pie that come with ColorOS 6.1 skin on top.
Under the hood, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC with UFS 3.0 storage. Users will get up to 12GB RAM and up to256GB storage with Dolby Atmos support and stereo speakers. The Realme X2 Pro is also available in 2 master editions as well – the Concrete variant and the Redbrick variant.
The Realme X2 Pro with the 12 GB RAM, 256 GB storage is priced at Rs 33,999, while the other variant with 8GB RAM, 128GB storage is priced at Rs 29,999. The Realme X2 Pro master edition, meanwhile, is priced at Rs 34,999 and will be available around Christmas.
Specifications and price of the Realme 5s
The launch also saw the unveiling of another device. The Realme 5s has a quad-camera set up with 48MP primary camera, along with an 8MP ultra-wide angle camera, a 2MP macro camera and 2MP depth sensor.
The phone comes equipped with a 5,000 mAh battery and the Snapdragon 665 processor in a water drop notch form factor. The display is of 6.51-inch that supports HD+ resolution. The Realme 5s is available in Crystal Red, Crystal blue and Crystal purple colour options.
Realme 5s is priced at Rs 10,999 for the 4GB RAM/128GB version and Rs 9,999 for the 4GB RAM, 64GB variant. Realme 5s’s first sale will be on November 29 on Flipkart and Realme.com.
Xiaomi has been slowly expanding its product portfolio by entering new niche markets with their product lines. After smartphones televisions, laptops and other home devices, the China based company is now all set to enter the game monitor market. Xiaomi has recently launched two gaming monitors in China. The first one came with a 34-inch curved display and the second one comes with a 23.8-inch flat display. Xiaomi wants to continue its domination in other smaller tech segments as well, hence they are entering the monitor market.
According to recent reports, the company will soon release a new 29-inch curved gaming monitor with the same features as found on the 34-inch except for the smaller size. The price is also rumoured to be lesser than the 34-inch monitor.
Xiaomi MI Display 23.8-inch gaming monitor: Features
Minimalistic in design, this flat screen panel by Xiaomi has a standard 23.8-inch display area. This monitor supports full HD resolution with 178 degrees wide viewing angle. The display supports HDMI inputs and is priced at RMB 699 which is roughly Rs 7,000 in India.
Xiaomi MI Surface 34-inch Curved Gaming Monitor – Features
The other model that Xiaomi recently launched is the MI Surface Display 34-inch. The company has put it as its flagship monitor specially built for gamers. . The monitor features a massive 34-inch curved screen sporting a resolution of 3,440 x 1,440 pixels and aspect ratio of 21:9. The monitor comes with refresh rate of 144Hz. This means the screen can refresh 144 times in one second. The monitor comes with AMD free sync support and low Blue-Ray mode, too. The monitor is shipped with a bracket which allows users to make adjustments for lifting and rotating the screen. The price in China of this monitor is RMB 2499 which is roughly Rs 25,000.
After this, the rumoured 29-inch monitor will be the companies second curved gaming monitor. That will have same set of features like the 34-inch model. Both monitors are slated to be launched in India as well, but how soon, only time will tell.
After a short break, the Chinese smartphone company Realme is all set to introduce two new smartphones in India. Few months ago, Realme at the launch event of Realme XT promised its fans that it will be bringing Realme X2 Pro in India in the month of December. As promised the company today will unveil the smartphone even before its promised time along with Realme 5s.
Prior to its launch in the country, Realme X2 Pro already made a debut in the Chinese market so we already have a fair idea of what its specifications would be. The key highlights include a quad rear camera set up with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, Snapdragon 855+ chipset, 90Hz Fluid Display and supported by 50W Super VOOC fast charging technology. While Realme 5s, which will be introduced at the same event will also come with a quad-camera set up including a 48-megapixel primary sensor along with a 5,000mAh battery.
In This Article
Realme X2 Pro and Realme 5s expected price and how to watch the live stream
Realme will begin the launch event of Realme X2 Pro and Realme 5s in India at 12:30 PM today. The launch event is being hosted in the national capital and will also be live-streamed on the official Realme YouTube channel. So if you do not want the miss the live action then you can watch it live here on our website, we have embedded the live stream link below for you:
As for the pricing, like we said earlier Realme X2 Pro was launched in China prior to its launch in India. So we can expect the smartphone to carry the same pricing. There the company launched the phone in three different configurations, the one with 6GB RAM was launched at CNY 2,699 that translates to Rs 27,200. The 8GB RAM variant carries a price tag of CNY 2,899 that translates to Rs 29,200 whereas the 12GB RAM variant comes for CNY 3,299 that translates to Rs 33,200. The company introduced the phone in two colour options White and Blue.
Realme 5s is the upgraded version of Realme 5 Pro so it could carry similar pricing. Realme 5 Pro was launched in three variants, the 4GB RAM variant carries a price tag of Rs 13,999 while the 6GB and 8GB variant is priced at Rs 14,999 and 16,999 respectively. Both the phone models will be available for purchase via the e-commerce website Flipkart and Realme.com.
Realme X2 Pro specifications
Realme X2 Pro will come with a 6.5-inch full-HD+ super AMOLED Fluid display offering 1,080×2,400 pixels of resolution with 20:9 aspect ratio, 90Hz refresh rate, DC dimming 2.0 technology support, along with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It runs Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.1 on top and powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor coupled with up to 12GB of Ram and 256GB of internal storage. Realme X2 Pro houses a 4,000mAh battery supported by a 50W SuperVOOC Flash Charge technology. That is claimed to fully charge the smartphone from 0-100% in 33 minutes.
In terms of camera capabilities, Realme X2 Pro features a quad-camera set up including a 64-megapixel primary sensor. Assisted by a 13-megapixel secondary sensor, 8-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. While on the front there is a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
Realme 5s specifications
Realme 5s will debut for the first time in India as a global first, so as far specifications are concerned the company did not reveal them officially. The reports and leaks suggest that the phone is expected to feature a 6.51-inch HD display with a waterdrop-style notch. As per Flipkart’s listing, the device will be powered by the Snapdragon 665 processor. The handset will be housing a huge 5,000mAh battery. The teaser page also revealed that Realme 5s will come with a quad rear camera set up along with a 48-megapixel primary sensor and a rear fingerprint sensor.
Half-Life is one of the most popular FPS (First Person Shooter) games of all time. Many from the late 90’s and early 2000’s have played it fondly. What started off as a rumour has turned out to be true. This is because of a tweet from the official Valve twitter page, the company described the release as the “flagship VR game”. Till now, information has been difficult to find about the game but worry not for Valve will unveil further details about Half-Life: Alyx on November 21.
Those familiar with the game would have already figured out what or who Alyx is. For those who do not know, Alyx Vance is a young prominent character, who broke curtains in Half-life-2, where she was a close friend of the protagonist, Gordan Freeman. She was also a major fighter against the Combine.
Half-Life 2: Episode Two, was released more than a decade ago, and it’s been two decades since the first game was out. This third instalment of Half-life is expected to be based on Alyx Vance.
According to sources, Half-life Alyx is one of the three games Valves is reportedly building. We believe that the three games could either be standalone games or maybe a trilogy based on Alyx Vance. Half-life itself has 4 games, which isn’t a trilogy. As a reminder to new gamers, The Half-life game began with Half-life, followed by Half-life 2, Half-life 2: Episode 1 and Half-life 2: Episode 2. Although some people assume it as a trilogy because of the cliffhanger ending at the end of Half-life: Episode 2.
The topic of a new version/addition to the Half-life universe kicked off when an alleged transcript of a conversation between Valve executives was leaked. A quote from a “Geoff”, believed to be games broadcaster Geoff Keighley – states: “March 2020, ‘Half-Life: Alyx’ comin’ out.”
We’re excited to unveil Half-Life: Alyx, our flagship VR game, this Thursday at 10am Pacific Time.
Thanks to the transcript, it was revealed that the VR game would have been revealed at The Game Awards on December 12. However, because of the recent tweet by Valve, we know we are destined to have at least a preview of the game soon. The announcement of a flagship VR game follows Valve’s release of its first own VR set, the Valve index.
When the Index was first released, the company promised a flagship VR game before the end of the year, and the game is probable to be the Half-Life: Alyx. Whatever the case maybe, good, bad or ugly the curtain will be raised on November 21. Trust us, this game is an upcoming treasure to both video game veterans and novice.
The Chinese Electronics brand Lenovo today announced the launch of two new notebooks in India. While expanding its ThinkBook series the company launched Lenovo ThinkBook 14 and 15. Prior to its launch in the country, Lenovo introduced the device at IFA 2019, a tech summit, which was held in Berlin in September. Both the newly launched ThinkBooksare powered by 10th Gen Intel Core processors combined with PCIe SSD storage along with a high-resolution display and stylish stands.
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 and ThinkBook 15 availability and price
The computing giant launched ThinkBook 14 and 15 with a starting price of Rs 30,990. Both the afresh launched notebooks will be available in the initial week of December 2019.
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 will be available in a single colour variant of Mineral Gray.
ThinkBook 14 and 15 technical specifications
Lenovo Think Book 14 is 17.9mm thin and is powered by 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with Windows 10 Pro operating system. The 14-inches notebook comes with a Full HD IPS display. The company has included AMD Radeon 625 graphics along with dual drive support, up to 2TB HDD and 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD.
Lenovo Think Book 15 comes with a 15.6-inch full-HD IPS display. The device draws the power from the 10th Gen Intel Core i7 6-core processor paired with AMD Radeon 620 graphics. The notebook comes with the support for a dual drive with up to 2TB HDD and 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD, too.
Both the laptops offer up to 12 hours of battery life supported by RapidCharge and 24GB DDR4 RAM. Both models include Full-function Type-C port (Gen 2), Hidden USB port, Wifi6. Also, the company has provided Hotkeys for Skype for Business and Smart Power On (optional) and ThinkShutter. ThinkBook models also have a keyboard with optional backlight along with a one-piece touchpad.
Talking at the launch event, Rahul Agarwal, CEO & MD, Lenovo India said, “Our vision of Smarter Technology for All is a world where every person and business has access to technology that enables them to achieve their own intelligent transformation. The new wave of young business leaders expects their workplace devices to do more but with a minimalist look. ThinkBook is a perfect fit to fill this existing product gap in the SMB marketplace.”
A new variant of the Redmi Note 8 recently launched in India and is available only in the offline stores. This new variant comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. Xiaomi first launched the Redmi note 8 in only two variants. The base model has 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage, while the other variant had 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. Amidst great demand for these two variants in the market, Xiaomi has now launched a new version of the Redmi Note 8 with 3GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
Sources say that this third variant of the Redmi Note 8 3GB RAM model will be available initially only at retail offline stores. Amongst all the 3 variants, the 3GB RAM model is priced the lowest at only Rs 9,799. The 4GB variant sells with the starting price of Rs 9,999, while the 6 GB variant is available at Rs 12,999.
The new version that is, the 3GB variant is different from its peers only in RAM and storage. Rest all of the technical specifications are the same. On the back panel, there are four cameras along with the fingerprint sensor. The smartphone includes a 48-MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. Meanwhile, the front has a 13MP selfie shooter.
The Redmi Note 8 is perfect for gamers because of the High-performance octa-core processor, up to 2.0GHz and the Third-generation AI engine with boosted AI computing performance. This gives gamers the edge over their opponent.
The Redmi Note 8 3GB variant also includes a 4,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging support. The phone comes with USB Type C support, too. The Redmi note 8 3GB versions is powered by 2.0 GHz octa-core Snapdragon 665 processor like the other models in this series. The phone has a 6.39-inch full HD+ display. Over that, the screen and the back of the phone are protected with Corning gorilla glass 5. The phone runs MIUI 10 based on Android 9 Pie and will be upgraded to Android 10 soon.
The Redmi Note 8 3GB version is also available in 3 colour variants, Moonlight White, Neptune Blue and Space Black. There is no news as of now when this version of the Note 8 by Xiaomi will be available in online market. If it does our bet is that it will start selling on Flipkart first.
The long-awaited Realme X2 Pro launches tomorrow. Excited? We definitely are. Launched in China last month, the phone with Snapdragon 855+SoC, 90 Hz Fluid display and the Quad camera has us all excited. The phone has up to 12 GB RAM and storage of up to 256 GB. We have heard there might not come with a microSD card slot. If it is true, we shall come to know tomorrow. However, the biggest selling point of this smartphone is going to be its battery. The company promises that the battery of Realme X2 Pro can fully charge in 33 minutes.
The launch event will begin tomorrow at 12:30 PM IST in New Delhi and will be live streamed on all of the company’s social media platforms. Attendees of the event have received passes with assured Realme goodies worth Rs 2,100 like a Realme power bank and an R-Pass with discounts on the Realme X2 Pro. The phone in all probability will come with a 6.5-inch full-HD+ display.
We can only speculate about the Realme X2 Pro’s pricing and features based on the Chinese version of the smartphone, which was launched last month. We think there will be 3 variants available tomorrow each with a different RAM and storage capacity. Reports also suggest that Dual Nano SIM facility will be available in the Realme X2 Pro. The smartphone is likely to come with Android 9 Pie with ColourOS 6.1 skin on top.
When we talk about the cameras, the Realme X2 Pro is slated to come with quad rear camera array. The first camera sensor is going to be the Samsung ISOCELL Bright GW1 with 64MP. Realme is also putting in a 2MP depth sensor in this smartphone. With that users will get a 13MP secondary sensor and an 8MP tertiary camera that can take ultra-wide shots. On the front The Realme X2 Pro will have a 16MP Sony IMX471 camera that will enable the users to take selfies or to video chat.
The connectivity options offered by the phone will include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB Type-C, and 3.5mm headphone jack. The phone possesses dual speakers with Dolby Atmos and Hi-Resolution Audio technology. There is also an in-display fingerprint sensor.
All three variants of the device are available in White and Blue with a gradient finish on top, internationally. The same might be seen here in India.
Until now we already know that Google Stadia is a cloud gaming service that streams video games with up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. These games will be accessible via Google Chrome using PC, smartphones, tablets, Chromecast along with other options also. Now the search giant has officially launched the service from today onwards the players will be able to access 22 titles to choose from with more games coming by the end of the year.
On day one of the launch, the gamers can also play both Destiny 2: The Collection and Samurai Shodown as part of the November Stadia Pro subscription.
The complete lineup includes 22 titles that have been mentioned below:
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Attack on Titan: Final Battle 2
Destiny 2: The Collection
Farming Simulator 2019
Final Fantasy XV
Football Manager 2020
Grid 2019
Gylt
Just Dance 2020
Kine
Metro Exodus
Mortal Kombat 11
NBA 2K20
Rage 2
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Red Dead Redemption 2
Samurai Shodown
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Thumper
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Trials Rising
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
According to the company by the end of 2019, the company has promised to bring four other titles namely Borderlands 3, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 and Darksiders Genesis. And in 2020 you can expect more games coming to the platform such as Doom: Eternal, WatchDogs: Legion, Gods & Monsters as well as Cyberpunk 2077.
To being with, Google Stadia will be accessible in 14 countries that will include the USA, Ireland, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Belgium. But this will not come to India as there is low internet speed here.
The Founder’s Edition will be available for $129.99 and will come with free to access Destiny 2 game. But this will also be available for limited periods of time when the subscription ends the users are required to pay $9.99 per month.
The players can also stream the gaming service using their Google Pixel phones. Besides this, it can also be accessed via Chrome OS tablets like Pixel Slate, Acer Chromebook Tab 10 and HP Chromebook X2.
Asus has launched quite a few laptops this year and adding to its arsenal of great laptops is Asus Zenbook 14 UM431, which is powered by AMD CPU and onboard graphics unit. It is one of the finest looking machines that has come to us in the recent past aimed at casual and power users. This is our review of the Asus Zenbook 14 UM431.
In This Article
Design
The Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 is an exquisite laptop to look at right off the bat. It quickly asks you to fall for it head over heels. Dressed in spun aluminium with a hint of blue, the sides of the top lid and bottom façade has shiny chrome etched lines. The top lid also has the Asus branding again in chrome. Lift the lid and one can see a beautiful keyboard with raised chicklet type keys. A lot is happening here, you will find the Asus Zenbook branding on top of the keyboard, which also has a dull silver mesh above it.
The large trackpad comes with a fingerprint reader and one can also see twin speaker grilles on either side of the keyboard. Oh, before we forget, the keyboard is backlit as well. Three brightness levels of LED is what this keyboard comes with. The function keys double up as the multimedia keys as well and one can find the power button on the top right side of the keyboard as well. Over that, the function key is a toggle button for F1-F11. This means you do not have to press FN + the top function key for a command to emulate. The keyboard is comfortable to work with since the Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 also comes with an ergo lift hinge that lifts the bottom part of the laptop by 4.5 degrees.
The Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 comes with a charging, HDMI, USB 3.1 and USB Type C ports located on the left side of the machine. On the right, Asus has placed another USB port along with an SD card reader slot and audio cum MIC port. Underneath there are two additional speaker grilles and air vents. An HD camera and a couple of onboard MICs are also part of the package. These are located above the screen. Talking about which the screen to side bezel ratio is great. Asus has done a mighty fine job keeping the bezels around the display low.
Asus Zenbook 14 Performance
Asus has tried to put in the absolute latest inside the Zenbook 14 UM431 laptop. It comes with a 14-inch LED-backlit FHD 1080P display with an aspect ratio of 16:9. The insides hold an AMD Ryzen R5-3500U CPU, 8GB RAM and 512GB PCIe SSD storage. Graphics are powered by AMD RADEON Vega 8 GPU. Together they give you one of the best performance values we have seen in the recent 14-inch form laptops with onboard graphics. We ran 3D Mark GPU benchmark on the laptop and it scored 1,783 points.
The laptop is great for professional users who want to work on spreadsheets or want to do light video or picture editing. With that, the Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 gives exceptional multimedia experience too. Thanks to the quad-speaker system, watching movies and YouTube videos is a great experience on this notebook. The loud bassy sound is powered by Harman Kardon that takes the resonance to another level. This is one aspect of the device we absolutely loved.
The Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 comes with Windows 10 Home on board that boots in no time thanks to a super quick SSD. Also, there is minimal bloatware on the device, you get stock Windows 10 experience. The ergonomic Hinge does a fabulous job at lifting the keyboard and like we said it helps in comfortable typing.
Driven by a 65W charger, the battery life is powered by 47Wh 2-cell lithium-polymer battery that can give you up to 12 hours of work time, as claimed by the company. However, we got a little over 6 hours of battery life with 60% screen brightness. This is not bad considering how slim Asus has made this laptop. How slim you ask? Weighing under 1.4KG the Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 is 15.9 mm slim with the lid closed.
Verdict and Final Words
The Asus Zenbook 14 UM431 comes with military-grade standards of MIL-STD-810G. To break this jargon for you, it means that the laptop will work fine in extreme temperatures (hot or cold), high altitude as well as humidity. The fingerprint scanner is a good addition to the trackpad and we have seen it one other Asus notebooks this year. Only nag here is that it comes in the way at times.
But what worries us a bit more is its price tag. At Rs 59,990, the asking price is on the higher side, especially when it has just 8 GB RAM. It has tough competition from its own brand that has Intel inside. Nonetheless, if you are looking for a great looking machine for the exceptional multimedia experience or light photo/video editing then you might want to look at this laptop as it has a super large 512GB SSD storage.
The South Korean smartphone manufacturer Samsung in the month of August globally launched its new edition of Samsung Galaxy Note 10 series a dedicated launch unpacked event. The company launched two devices under the series Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+. Now the company has announced the launch of another special edition of the premium smartphone ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The movie will release on December 20 and to celebrate the release the company has teamed up with the filmmaker by launching a special edition Galaxy Note10+, featuring Star Wars-inspired design elements and digital content.
The special edition of the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ will come with a specially designed case, a metal badge as a collector’s item, an S Pen, and Galaxy Buds. In addition to this, the company has also bundled the phone with Star Wars-themed content including wallpapers, shutdown animations, icons as well as sounds.
The limited edition of the phone will be available for purchase in select markets from December 10. According to the company, the device will be selling in Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UAE, UK and the USA.
“The special edition device adds to the collaboration between Samsung and Lucasfilm, which includes the recently launched holiday campaign film, celebrating the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.”
In the US market, the Galaxy Note10+ Star Wars Edition will be available in limited quantities with a price tag of $1,299.99 form December 13 onwards. The special edition smartphone can be purchased via Amazon, select Best Buy stores, select Microsoft stores, Samsung.com and the Samsung Experience Stores.
As for the specifications, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ will come with the same specifications. The device features a 6.8-inch 498ppi 3040×1440 pixels resolution display with Dynamic AMOLED panel supported by HDR10+ and Dynamic Tone mapping. Under the hood, there is a Samsung Exynos 9825 processor paired with 12GB of RAM with up to 512GB internal storage. It boasts a 4,300mAh battery and the phone runs on Android 9 Pie with Samsung One UI on top.
As for the camera, Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ comes with a triple rear camera set up that includes a 16MP Ultra Wide Camera, 12MP Wide-angle Camera, 12MP Telephoto Camera. While on the front there is a 10MP selfie camera.
In the past, many Brand Ambassadors have goofed up by posting tweets through iPhones endorsing other brands. Following this trend, the latest ambassador was Madhav Sheth, Realme India’s CEO.
Realme is trending in the news for the big release of the Realme X2 Pro and Realme 5s on November 20 in New Delhi. However, right now the buzz is not on the phones, but instead on the Realme India CEO, Madhav Sheth.
The now deleted tweet was sent from an iPhone, which Twitterati realised and took screenshots of. The users spotted the “Twitter for iPhone” tag right below the message.
As a response to all the trolling, Madhav Sheth responded on Monday with a new tweet: “Having used all the renowned flagship phones over the last few days. I can assure you that #realmeX2Pro is not just the #FastestChargingFlagship but also has many more category best features in the lot. #FasterSharperBolder.”
Madhav Sheth’s tweet is more shocking, as this tweet is not from the brand ambassador but the CEO itself is totally unexpected.
Madhav Sheth’s witty comeback sets precedence to other brands who have faced similar issues before Realme.
In what has become common occurrence, brand ambassadors often goof up while tweeting. For example, The Brand Ambassador of the OnePlus brand, Robert Downey JR of Iron man fame, was found tweeting from an iPhone to which he smartly responded “Well, I guess it’s time to upgrade my assistant to a new OnePlus 7 pro so mistakes don’t happen again,” after the post went viral.
While causing issues to the person tweeted and the companies involved, it is a definite laugh out loud moment for all of us who get entertainment from such goof-ups. Before this Huawei handle was also used by one of this social media employee who posted a tweet using an iPhone, after which news broke that two employees have been sacked because of the same.
The CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team), a government cyber security agency, reported a “high” rated vulnerability of the popular messaging platform WhatsApp. This allowed hackers to target phones by sending videos in MP4 format.
“Stack-based buffer overview vulnerability exists in WhatsApp due to improper parsing of elementary system metadata of an MP4 file; a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted MP4 file to the target system.” CERT said in a notification on their website.
CERT went on further to say, that the file could “allow the remote attacker to cause Remote Code Execution or Denial of Service condition”, which could adversely affect the system further.
Facebook, WhatsApp’s parent company, has now issued a security warning about this threat, listing out the various versions of Android, iOS and Windows Phone that are at risk. This description is very similar to the Pegasus spyware developed by Israeli company NSO Group, a problem that WhatsApp has claimed to have solved in its latest update.
The Pegasus virus entered the phone through a missed call and gave attackers unlimited access to all the data available on the device. Now, beware of MP4 videos on WhatsApp from unknown numbers to escape from being a victim to the new threat.
An attacker can use a person’s cell number to send a video file through WhatsApp and install a malicious file into the phone’s system. This issue is said to exist on both, the individual and business versions of the popular messaging platform. The report of a second virus, which can violate a user’s privacy so close to the Pegasus is very concerning.
We highly recommend our readers to update to the latest version of the WhatsApp app to stay secure from malicious viruses, which are aiming to violate user’s privacy. Also, not just WhatsApp, do update any other App you use on your smartphone. Often App makers send out a new update that has a critical hack or bug fix. So, keeping all the apps updated on your smartphone is good for you and shuts down loopholes and back doorways to malicious attacks.
iPhone’s manufacturer Apple banned 181 vaping apps from its App Store across the world. This big move came after warning from health experts when 42 people have died from lung illness caused by vaping. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these people were involved in using cartridges containing THC although many of them used nicotine cartridges.
In June this year, the company stopped accepting new vaping apps and it never permitted the sale of e-cigarette refills or vaping cartridges directly on its platform via the app. But many of them allow the users to control the temperature as well as lightening and heating of vape pens, also these apps provided news related to vaping, vaping related social networks and games.
Apple in a statement to a news platform Verge said, “We have updated our App Store Review Guidelines to reflect that apps encouraging or facilitating the use of these products are not permitted. As of today, these apps are no longer available to download.”
In their statement to another publisher, Axios, Apple said, “We take great care to curate the App Store as a trusted place for customers, particularly youth, to download apps. We’re constantly evaluating apps, and consulting the latest evidence, to determine risks to users’ health and well-being.”
As per the company, they have updated the Guidelines of App Store Review to give a message to the apps that promoting and facilitating the use of e-cigarette or vaping devices are not permitted. Also, these apps are no longer available on the App Store for download. This big move also helps the company to decrease youth exposure to e-cigarette marketing as well as it will also discourage them from using these products. According to CDC vaping has attributed at least 42 deaths and more than 2,000 lung-related diseases around the US.
TikTok is one of the most popular video platforms when it comes to Android and iOS Apps. A news report recently suggested that popular application TikTok, previously called Musical.ly. is going to soon launch ways of monetising it as a platform. With more than over a billion users, TikTok is a craze amongst teenagers who lip sync and create performances, which are shown to other users on the platform.
Currently, Influencers on TikTok make their money thanks to their audience. The influencers promote brands and products in their videos, motivating their fans to buy and use the same product. The influencers upload TikTok videos on Instagram, with the link to purchase items on their “Instagram bios” and through “swipe up” stories on their Instagram pages.
To help the users on its own platform and promote monetisation of the App, TikTok has currently launched, for US users, an option to add links to their bios and swipe to access URL options. This makes it easy for influencers to promote products directly from TikTok. Because of this ease in making money, more and more users will start using the TikTok application directly and not flock to competing apps.
TikTok has confirmed that these two features being out is part of an experiment to improve app experience for users.
As a spokesperson said, “We’re always experimenting with new ways to improve the app experience for our users. Ultimately, we’re focused on ways to inspire creativity, bring joy, and add value to our community.”
We for one are excited to see where this move will go if implemented to TikTok’s users all over the world, and where will this take TikTok in the social commerce race. This will surely motivate more youngsters and video content creators to come to the App and produce more and better content. Just like YouTube, one would be able to make a quick buck on TikTok soon, world over.
Amazon has been doing great with its voice-based AI/Assistant — Alexa. Integrated with various devices including some of the latest smartphones, we quite liked how it has become more intelligent and keeps learning. This time we did no test Alexa with a smartphone or smartwatch, but did in the new Amazon Echo Dot with clock. This is what we could make of the device.
In This Article
Design
Amazon Echo Dot with clock is a puck-sized smart speaker that is very similar to the third generation of Amazon Echo Dot. The volume and mic buttons are still on the top and a LED ring circumferences the top part. The cloth mesh is still there around the speaker, but it is available in just one colour. We were hoping to see at least one more colour option. The rear has the audio port as well as the charging port.
The major design difference between the third-gen of Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Echo Dot with clock is actually the clock. It is a great addition if you ask us and now this smart speaker becomes an even better option for your bedroom or kitchen, where you might want to place it. The clock has the ability to dim or brighten itself according to the ambient light, another plus in our books.
Amazon Echo Dot with clock performance
The Amazon Echo Dot with clock becomes a very interesting device since it has Alexa. Which keeps becoming better as time goes by. It is learning new skills and now can even speak in Hindi. Setting it up, like always, is easy. We did try to converse with it in Hindi and 8 out of ten times it understood us and had an answer to our query. As time goes by this will also become better, we are sure. The Indian accent is a great touch.
The buttons on the Amazon Echo Dot with clock works well and the LED ring indicator let you know when it is on mute and when it is not. The sound is very similar to the last-gen with slightly better voice clarity. As always, you can control the connected wireless device with voice commands and 9 out 10 times were able to do that from up to a distance of 25 feet. If you go beyond 30 feet then it struggles a bit.
Verdict and Final Words
The Amazon Echo Dot with clock needs to be connected to the internet at all times for it to answer all your questions and work. Which in some homes might be a drawback where you have weaker wi-fi connections. Also, it does not have a battery inside, which mean at the time of power cut Alexa also goes to sleep. But this is an issue with all smart speakers and not just Amazon Echo speakers. However, what is bright about the Amazon Echo Dot with clock is Alexa, it is by far the best AI on the block. It becomes a family member in your home. The small size and affordable price of Rs 4,999, this smart speaker makes it a great addition for your bedroom or kitchen.
There are so many Voice assistant platforms available in the market right now and the most well-known are Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri, but there are other companies in the market that have their own voice assistant service and one of them is Microsoft’s Cortana. Cortana is a voice assistant platform for Windows 10 Operating System, which was released in 2015. Now the company has decided to discontinue the Cortana app service on Android as well as iOS platforms.
Microsoft will end the service of the Cortana mobile app on Android and iOS on January 31st, 2020. The company has confirmed that after the mentioned date the app will be pulled off in most of the markets like the UK, Australia, Germany, Mexico, China, Spain, Canada as well as India. However, users will still be able to access the app in the US. But it is not yet confirmed until when it will continue to operate in the US after the last date.
“After January 31st, 2020, the Cortana mobile app on your phone will no longer be supported and there will be an updated version of Microsoft Launcher with Cortana removed. “ Microsoft posted a new support article in the UK, Canada and Australia.
Those who are unaware, Microsoft released Cortana for Android and iOS in December 2015. The app service was specifically designed by the company to connect Windows 10 PCs and mobile phones. The app is also used to access the settings and update the software of the devices such as the Surface Headphones, which is another Microsoft device. So we are a bit confused about how the headphones users will be able to access its features in the future.
“To make your personal digital assistant as helpful as possible, we’re integrating Cortana into your Microsoft 365 productivity apps. As part of this evolution, on January 31st, 2020, we’re ending support for the Cortana app on Android and iOS in your market. At that point, the Cortana content you created–such as reminders and lists–will no longer function in the Cortana mobile app or Microsoft Launcher, but can still be accessed through Cortana on Windows.”, the company said.
According to Microsoft, Cortana reminders, lists and tasks will automatically get synced to the Microsoft To-Do app, which can be downloaded to the phone for free.
Vivo India recently launched a new Y-series smartphone on Friday. Joining the series, the Vivo Y19 will be available in stores Pan India. The Vivo Y19 is priced at Rs 13,990. The smartphone comes with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The exterior is pleasant to the eyes thanks to the gradient finish.
The phone is already available at retail stores across India. Interestingly, the same phone is sold in China as the Vivo Y5. The main features of the Vivo Y19 are that it has a tall aspect ratio screen, 5,000 mAh battery with fast charging support and a triple camera option on the back panel. This phone also comes compatible with Multi turbo and Game Space.
So all in all, a massive 5000 mAh battery with support for 18 W fast charging. The cameras deserve a special mention. On the rear end, the phone has a 16-megapixel primary sensor, 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with a fingerprint sensor. It also has an AI-based face unlock support system.
The Vivo Y19 has 6.53-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch on the top of the screen. With a screen to body ratio of 90.3 percent, the screen offers full HD+ resolution of 1,080 x 2,340 pixels with an aspect ratio of 19:5:9.
On the hardware side, the smartphone is run by MediaTek Helio P65 chipset paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Talking about the smartphone’s software, the phone runs on FunTouch OS 9.2 UI based Android 9 Pie OS.
The connectivity options for the smartphone include 4G VoLTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, micro-USB, 3.5mm headphone jack, GPS, etc.
Vivo has not specified if this phone will run Android 10 or not.
