South Korean technology giant Samsung is reportedly releasing the One UI 2.0 update with the rollout of Android Q for its Galaxy smartphones this year. The report also added that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S11 smartphone that is scheduled to be launched next year, will run One UI 2.1. The company initially gave the first look at its One UI interface last year at its developer conference. The company started rolling it out as a firmware update with Android 9.0 Pie and Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 9 were the first devices to get it. One UI received appreciation from consumers and critics alike.
According to a report that surfaced online on SamMobile, the next version of the user interface will come with all the Digital Wellbeing improvements that have been announced by Google at its I/O developer conference in May this year. We should mention that one of the most talked-about features among these is the Focus Mode that enables users to specify which apps are the most distracting. The apps that the user mentions get silenced on their own when the feature is enabled.
Some other core features of Android Q are also expected to be added to Samsung‘s One UI version 2.0.
As of now, there is no word on when exactly the company intends to roll out the update. But then, the company has a great track record of keeping its smartphones updated. So, the Android Q update should also be rolled out soon.
Image Courtesy: PhoneArena
But then, we should point out that Samsung is all set to launch its next handset – Galaxy Note 10 – on August 7. This is sooner than the official rollout of Android Q operating system. So, the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus are not expected to be launched with the latest Android operating system. The devices that are actually expected to come with One UI 2.0 based on Android Q are Samsung Galaxy S11 smartphones that will be launched in the first half of 2020.
This year, Samsung is expected to launch two Galaxy Note handsets instead of unveiling just one like it usually does. 5G variants of both Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 10 Plus are also expected to be unveiled by the company. The smartphones are said to come with a hole-punch design on their displays. However, unlike Samsung Galaxy S10 smartphones, the cut-out will be placed in the centre and not the side.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, which has not been announced by the company yet, is rumoured to come with an electrocardiogram feature. The smartwatch is the successor of Galaxy Watch Active and will be launched next month along with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. The upcoming smartwatch by Samsung will be available in three models including an LTE version.
According to a report by Wareable, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 will be launched in three variants. Among the rumoured three models will be an LTE model, a Bluetooth-only model, and an Under Armour-branded Bluetooth version. All the three models of the smartwatch will be available either in44mm or 40mm case sizes. It is worth mentioning that Apple’s smartwatch also comes in the same sizes. It is said that the UA version of the smartwatch will come up with a fashionable sporty strap. The device will also come with six months of free service of MapMyRun included.
It is rumoured to come with an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor integrated and it is also believed that the company is waiting for the approval of the FDA.
As we mentioned earlier, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 may be unveiled at the launch of the Galaxy Note 10. Samsung has scheduled the Galaxy Unpacked event for August 7 at 4 pm ET, which converts to 1:30 am on August 8 India time. The event will be hosted at Barclay’s Centre in Brooklyn, New York City.
The company will be revealing a few heart-related features in the smartwatch at the launch event that will include alerts if the user’s heart rate jumps too high or drops too low. In addition to this, all three variants of the smartwatch will be compatible with both Android and iPhone. However, only Android smartphones will support the LTE feature. It still not confirmed if the iOS devices will support the LTE feature but it is speculated that the company is planning to bring this feature for iOS devices too.
Samsung galaxy watch active smartwatch
The rumoured Galaxy Watch Active 2 will come with similar health and fitness features of its antecedent that includes sleep tracking, Samsung Health integration, and on-device coaching. The LTE model of Galaxy smartwatch will include a stainless steel case, a leather strap, and four color variants. As per the leaked images of the device, it will have a black case with a black strap, a silver case and black strap, a gold case along with a brown strap and lastly, a rose gold case with pink strap. The only models available in 40mm sizes will be rose gold and pink colour variant.
The Bluetooth models of the smartwatch will come in aluminum, with a choice of Dark Blue, Silver and Rose Gold case along with matching straps.
Chinese technology company Xiaomi has launched its Mi A3 smartphone globally today. The newly launched device is the latest Android One offering by the company and can be considered by those who live to use the vanilla variant of the operating system. The handset is the successor of last year’s Mi A2 and it is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 SoC clubbed with up to 6GB of RAM. Another key highlight of the device is that it comes with a triple rear camera setup and has a 48MP primary sensor. For selfies and video calls, there is a 32MP front-facing snapper. The smartphone’s screen also has a fingerprint scanner embedded on it.
With these specifications, it is evident that the newly launched Mi A3 smartphone is a new variant of Mi CC9e, that the company unveiled in China this month itself. But then, it is worth noticing that stock Android is a new addition to the device. Here’s a look at the price details and specifications of the Mi A3:
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Mi A3 price
In Spain, the price of Mi A3 has been set at EUR 249 (approximately Rs 19,200) for its 64GB storage model. On the other hand, the 128GB storage variant costs EUR 279 (approximately Rs 21,500). The handset will be going on sale starting July 24 and it is available in ‘Not Just Blue’, ‘More Than White’, and ‘Kind of Gray’ colour variants. As of now, there is no word on the device’s price or availability outside Europe as of now.
Mi A3 specifications, features
Xiaomi‘s Mi A3 smartphone runs Android 9.0 Pie out of the box and comes with a 6.08-inch HD+ (720×1520 pixels) AMOLED display. The screen of the device has a waterdrop-shaped notch on its top and has an aspect ratio of 19:9. It also comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 SoC, the smartphone comes with 4GB of RAM. It is available in 64GB storage model and a 128GB storage variant. It can also hold a microSD card.
On the camera front, Xiaomi’s Mi A3 smartphone has a triple rear camera setup that consists of a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP secondary wide-angle sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies and video calls, there is a 32MP front-facing snapper.
Mi A3 houses a 4,030mAh battery and for connectivity, it has 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Chinese technology company Huawei has today announced the launch of its official webpage in India named Huawei India Community. The company’s motto behind introducing the exclusive Huawei India Community is to engage, involve and expand the connection with its fans across the country. As per the company, it endeavours to make the ‘Huawei India Community’ a safe as well as a private space for its users. It will act as a platform to discuss, share thoughts, talk about their likes and ask questions. The company promises to offer a fast and intuitive interface to post ideas, replies, read news and interact with others.
The company’s country manager (Huawei Brand), Consumer Business –Tornado Pan –said, “Huawei is excited to launch its first exclusive community fanpage in India as another milestone in the direction of being available for our customers, where they need us. It offers the fans to drive discussions, share opinions, make conversations about their likes, ask questions and have access to exclusive content. With so many interesting sections on the community, fans are bound to get one of their choices. This endeavour intends to serve as an orientation guide for new members of Huawei India Community.”
He also stated that the forum will be operated by Huawei’s internal staff, Huawei fans, and key opinion leaders by sharing the state-of-the-art technology trends, EMUI updates, reviews and even rumours about products.
Huawei’s exclusive community page has been introduced for all the users who love the brand. The members can participate in contests organized by the company.
According to the press statement given by Huawei, the “exclusive community page will be open to all members who love Huawei and want to drive the brand story in India. “
Recently, the smartphone maker said that it will be rolling out the GPU Turbo 3.0 for devices like Huawei P30 Lite, Huawei P20 Lite, Huawei Nova3i, Huawei Y9 among others. The GPU Turbo 3.0 is a feature that improves the gaming experience of users on their smartphones without draining out the battery of the device. It enhances the faster touch response as well by lowering energy consumption.
GPU Turbo 3.0 features support many Android game titles that are optimized for it. Below is the list of the number of game titles that it supports.
Do you have a slow internet connection? It may be very frustrating for you to live with it in this day and age. Here, we have listed down 10 things that you can do to deal with your slow internet connection. Take a look:
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Check your internet plan
At times, the internet connection is slow because the plan that you are paying for isn’t right. To check if this indeed is the case, log on to your provider’s website or just give them a call. You can also head over to fast.com in order to run a speed test. If what you measure is close to what you are paying for, it just means that your network is working perfectly fine and you need to either upgrade or troubleshoot the issue.
Check the hardware
The most basic step would be to give your router a quick reset. Doing this may help you fix the connection. Another thing that you need to see is if the problem is only with one computer in your house or all of them. If the latter is the case, then it is definitely with your internet connection or router or modem. Once your router is fixed or replaced, your internet connection will be back to normal.
Some must-know Wi-Fi tricks
If your router and internet are working fine, and the problem is with your Wi-Fi, that may lead to a slow speed too. Here are a few tricks that will help you fix your Wi-Fi connection just by repositioning it or tweaking a few settings.
Turn off apps that eat up too much of data
If you cannot spot a problem with the hardware or the Wi-Fi connection, it may be one of the programs running on your system that may be causing a problem. For instance, whenever we download files using BitTorrent, regular web browsing becomes slower than usual. If possible, turn off the download for such programs to have an uninterrupted connection.
Try using a new DNS server
Sometimes, the issue may be the DNS on the system that you are using. You can try different DNS to look up and translate website addresses into a computer-friendly IP address. However, if the problem is not in your DNS, then you would not find too much of an improvement by using a new one.
Optimize the internet for a slow internet connection
If you have to browse the internet while troubleshooting, you need to make a few changes in the way you are using it. Use the mobile or HTML versions of your favourite websites and make sure you have images disabled. You can also set up a secondary browser on your system for a situation like this and it is bound to help you.
Prioritize your tasks
Categorize the tasks that you need to do in bandwidth-heavy and bandwidth-light ones. Do the light ones when your connection is slow and the heavy ones when you have faster access. Also, don’t use your browser for tasks that can be done without it.
Get in touch with your internet service provider
Another thing that you must do is call your ISP and ensure that the problem is not from their end. Don’t automatically assume that something is wrong at their end. Tell them about the problem that you are facing and they may be able to help you with it.
Change your internet service provider
In case your ISP cannot help you, you should look for a new provider. If you live in a city, you would have no problem looking for one. But then, it’s always better to ask someone who has already availed the services of a particular provider to be sure if it’s worth your time.
Avoid unnecessary tasks
If your internet connection is slow, make sure that you are only focussing on tasks that matter. Avoid checking Facebook and watching videos on YouTube. Use your connection well.
Xiaomi launched Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro in the Indian market today. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer launched both the smartphones in China in May this year. The launch event of both smartphones was held in New Delhi. Redmi K20 Pro, the company’s flagship, is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 SoC, while the Redmi K20 is powered by Snapdragon 730 SoC. Both the handsets feature a triple rear camera setup. The K series smartphones run Android 9.0 Pie skinned with MIUI 10. Here, we compare Redmi K20 Pro and OnePlus 7 so that you can decide which smartphone suits you best as per your requirements. Take a look:
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Display
Redmi K20 Pro:6.39-inch Full-HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels) AMOLED display with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9.
While the set of specifications that are offered by Redmi K20 Pro looks better on paper and its cost is an added benefit, we should also mention that like all other Xiaomi devices, it runs MIUI. Xiaomi’s own UI is baked on top of Android 9.0 Pie. This means that the Redmi K20 Pro, like all other devices with MIUI, will come with a lot of ads and bloatware.
OnePlus 7, on the other hand, may lag behind in terms of specifications on paper, but it will offer you a much smoother experience because OxygenOS does not have too much bloatware. In addition to this, the company is known for rolling out quick updates to its devices to make them better.
If the budget is not a constraint for you, we recommend the OnePlus 7.
South Korean multinational Samsung has announced its Monsoon Sale for consumers in India. The sale will kick off from July 18 and will end on July 24 and will be held on Samsung’s official online store. Samsung fans will have seven days to grab their favourite products across various categories like mobiles, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, wearables and mobile accessories at discounted prices and with deals. The company has also included products from other brands like AKG, Harman Kardon and JBL audio in its upcoming Samsung Monsoon Sale.
Buyers can avail up to 5% HDFC cashback on the Samsung Galaxy M series. The consumers who make payments via Amazon Pay will get a cashback of up to Rs 1,500, however, this is not applicable on Samsung Galaxy M Series. Moreover, the buyers can also avail MakeMyTrip travel vouchers worth up to Rs 15,000 along with OYO hotel vouchers of up to Rs 10,000.
During Samsung’s Monsoon Sale, the buyers can get a discount up to 45% on televisions, 60% off on the company’s accessories, and up to 30% off on refrigerators. Air conditioners and washing machines will also be available at discounted prices. Other than this, on the purchase of the Samsung Galaxy M series smartphones, the buyers can avail up to 15% off. Below we have listed a handful deals available on Samsung’s official online store:
The device is available in a single Black colour variant. The original price of the product is Rs 11,599. But after receiving a discount of Rs 1,100, the product will cost Rs 10,499 during the sale.
Thrilling bass from a 10-inch (250mm) wireless subwoofer
This product is also available in a black colour variant. During the sale, the device will be available for Rs 54,999 after receiving a price cut of Rs 5,000. The original price of the device is Rs 59,999.
JBL Tune 100 earphones come in three colour options – Black, Blue and White. It can be purchased for Rs 829 originally it costs Rs 1,290.
JBL Tune 500BT
Wireless Bluetooth Streaming
JBL Pure Bass Sound
Hands-free calls
The wireless headphones from JBL will cost you Rs 3,299, however, its original price is Rs 3,799. The headphone comes in two colour variants – Blue and Black.
Samsung Galaxy A20
123oUltra Wide Video
20cm (6.4″) HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-V Display
4,000mAh battery with 15W Fast Charging
The smartphone is available in four colour options: Blue, black and white and red. Originally it costs Rs 12,900, but after discount, the smartphone will cost Rs 11,490 during Samsung’s sale.
Samsung Galaxy A30 (4GB RAM)
123oUltra Wide Video
21cm (6.4″) FHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity-U Display
4,000mAh battery with 15W Fast Charging
The device can be purchased for Rs 15,490 after getting a price cut of Rs 2,510 in Samsung’s Monsoon Sale.
RT28R3744S8 Top Mount Freezer with Digital Inverter Technology 253l
Durability guaranteed
Stable operation
Create extra storage
This refrigerator originally costs Rs 30,990 but during the sale, it can be purchased for Rs 25,990
108cm (43″) N5470 Smart FHD TV
40W 4 Channel Surround Sound
Ultra Pix Color Technology
Samsung’s 43-inch TV will be getting a discount of Rs 5,000 and will cost Rs 44,900. The original cost of the television is Rs 49,900.
163cm (65″) Q90R 4K Smart QLED
Pure picture perfection
Minimal design, maximum impact
QLED begins at reality
Samsung’s 65-inch QLED TV can be purchased for Rs 3,86,500 during the company’s sale. The original price of this product is Rs 3,99,999.
PUBG Mobile’s Season 7 has just got over. But there is no need for fans to be disappointed as the new season of the game is going to be out soon and it will get some new features and items. Now, the PUBG Mobile 0.13.5 has been upgraded with a number of new elements, weapons and even the UI of the game has changed.
The new update has started rolling out on July 16 and will reach everyone till July 22. The update is 181MB in size for iOS devices and 158MB for Android. Today, the company has released the patch notes for the PUBG Mobile 0.13.5. Take a look at what all is new here in PUBG Mobile 0.13.5:
iOS background download and update feature has been added to PUBG Mobile 0.13.5. With this, iOS players can now send the application to the background like Android users.
2. New Weapon: PP-19.
The new weapon uses the 9mm ammunition and is available on the Erangel and Vikendi map of PUBG Mobile 0.13.5. It has an oversized magazine of 53 rounds, but then, it is worth adding that it does not support magazine upgrades.
It can be equipped with all scopes from the red dot sight and the holographic sight to the 6x scope, as well as all muzzle accessories and muzzle attachments available for submachine guns.
The new weapon has single-shot damage of 35 and a rate of fire similar to the UMP.
Its default magazine size gives the advantage of a fully kitted weapon during the early game, but then, it may mean a slightly weaker performance later in the match.
3. TPP has been added to team deathmatch room mode.
Rating protection card (duration) and rating protection card (uses) will take effect when ratings change. We should mention that no rating will be deducted while the card is active and it only applies to Crown tier and below.
5. The high frame rate option has been added to HDR made for some high-end device. Enable it for even better graphics at the cost of battery life.
PMCO themed events are coming in late July. With these, after completing the missions, players will be able to listen to the new PMCO song by Alan Walker, and get the PMCO theme for their main menu.
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Bug Fixes
The problem of reward notification not popping up when there are daily missions in the reward for royale pass missions has been rectified in PUBG Mobile 0.13.5.
The problem where the name of the crates described in EZ Mission License Parks 3 did not match the actual one has been fixed.
Corrected the bug where players got erroneously ranked with inaccurate ratings and tiers when a season changed.
Corrected the bug where players could not move the avatars of their teammates in team deathmatch.
Improvements
Items have been added to BP shop for Prime subscribers. These include season 8 passes and mission cards.
UC purchase bonus screen has been tuned and the rewards have been updated.
Title visual effects have been made better by the company.
Some mythic outfits are now shown with weapons.
The crate names are now unified and the visual effect of the navigation bar on the right side have been fine-tuned.
Bonus challenge results now get calculated in real-time. The company has also announced that the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States regions will open soon.
Season Changes
Season system upgraded:
Season interface has been redesigned. It is now supposed to be more intuitive.
Classic made results screen has been adjusted with the new update. Besides this, rating and tier changes are now more visible on the screen.
Season 8 rewards have been changed. For instance, the entire season 8 outfit is now available at Gold tier. Reach Diamond tier to get season-exclusive weapon finishes.
Tier rewards have been adjusted. Reach Crown or above to get a special team-joining effect and name tags. Reach Ace or above to get a permanent season title. – Rewards will now be automatically sent to players at the end of the season.
The ranking system’s algorithm will now slightly increase the weight of kill points.
Tier transfer rules have been revised. With the new season, tiers below Gold will be transferred as they are to the next season.
Tier transfer message has been polished. With this, rating reset information for all servers will be shown in one message, and tier transfer rules will be explained on the website, and its will be included in the message.
Tier promotion reminder has been adjusted. Division promotions within a tier will not be shown in the lobby. Tier promotions will get a fancier reminder.
Tier icon visuals have been improved.
2. Royale Pass
New friends request feature: On the royale pass purchase page, players can ask their friends for the elite pass or elite pass plus.
To celebrate the first anniversary of royale pass, the company is bringing in back some items from season 2 and season 3. Players can get these rare items in rank rewards and redemption crates.
Display effects in rewards screen, mission screen, EZ mission license screen and ranking screen have been adjusted.
Chinese technology company Xiaomi has today launched its Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi K20 smartphones in India. While the Redmi K20 Pro handset is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 SoC, the younger sibling houses the Snapdragon 730 processor. Both the handsets sport a triple rear camera setup and run Android 9.0 Pie. After being launched in China in May this year, both the smartphones have been launched in India today. Here’s a look at the price details and specifications of the two handsets.
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Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi K20 price in India
Redmi K20 Pro smartphone was launched in China in four variants. However, in India, it has only been made available in two storage variants: 6GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. While the former costs Rs 27,999, the latter is priced at Rs 30,999. The handset can be picked up in Flame Red, Glacier Blue and Carbon Black colour options.
Coming to Redmi K20, the device is available in two storage options too. While the base variant comes with 6GB RAM/64GB storage model and can be picked up at Rs 21,999, the high-end one has 6GB RAM/128GB storage can is available at Rs 23,999.
Both the devices will be going on sale via Flipkart, Mi.com and Mi Home Stores on July 22 at 12 pm (noon) IST.
Besides this, the company has also launched a Redmi K20 Pro Signature edition smartphone that can be bought for Rs 4,80,000.
Redmi K20 Pro specifications
The Redmi K20 Pro flagship smartphone features a 6.39-inch Full-HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels) AMOLED display that comes with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The screen of the device has a fingerprint scanner embedded on it. The new smartphone by Redmi is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC paired with Adreno 640 GPU. The handset comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 512GB.
Redmi K20 Pro packs a 4,000mAh battery that has support for 27W fast charging. On the camera front, the Redmi K20 Pro sports an AI-backed triple rear camera setup that has a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor, a 13MP wide-angle lens, and an 8MP telephoto sensor. For selfies and video calls, there is a 20MP pop-up front camera that also has support for panorama mode.
Redmi K20 specifications
Most of the specifications of the Redmi K20 are the same as its Pro variants. The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC and comes with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. We should mention that the Snapdragon 730 is the latest processor by Qualcomm in its 700-series. The handset houses a 4,000mAh battery but it has support for 18W fast charging. Rest everything in the device is the same.
Other products launched
At today’s launch event, the company also unveiled the Mi NeckBand Bluetooth earphones, Mi rechargeable LED lamp and Mi Beard Trimmer. The products are priced at Rs 1,599, Rs 1,499 and Rs 1,128 respectively.
Chinese Smartphone brand Vivo had launched its Vivo S1 in its home market a few months ago. Now the company has launched the smartphone globally in other markets too. However, the global variant of the Vivo S1 smartphone is different from the Chinese model. The dissimilar version of Vivo S1 is set to be launched in Indonesia and is now up for pre-orders.
While the Chinese variant of the smartphone sports a pop-up selfie camera, the global model features a waterdrop style notch. The newer version of Vivo S1 has a different battery, processor, display size, and camera. The key highlights of the Vivo S1 global variant include a triple rear camera setup with a 16MP primary sensor, a MediaTekHelio P65 SoC and a 4,500mAh battery. Here are its price details and specifications:
Vivo S1 price
As we mentioned earlier, Vivo S1 was launched in China four months ago and now, the company has launched the global variant of S1 in Indonesia. Vivo S1 is up for pre-orders on Shopee Mall in the country. The handset has been priced at IDR 35,99,000 (approximately Rs. 17,700). The smartphone will be available in two colour options – Cosmic Green and Skyline Blue colour. The device will go on sale in Indonesia on July 23. It is being expected that the company will soon launch the new version of Vivo S1 in India also.
Vivo S1 specifications and details
Vivo S1 global variant is powered by an octa-core MediaTekHelio P65 SoC and it runs Funtouch OS 9 based on Android 9 Pie. The smartphone features a 6.38-inch full-HD+ (1080×2340 pixels) Super AMOLED display with a waterdrop-style notch and has 4GB of RAMclubbed with 128GB of internal storage.
For imaging duties, the global variant of Vivo S1 comes with a triple rear camera setup that includes a 16MP primary sensor with an f/1.78 lens, along with with an 8MP secondary sensor with an f/2.2 wide-angle lens, and a 2MP sensor with an f/2.4 lens. On the front, there is a 32MP front camera packed with an f/2.0 lens.
For connectivity, the new version of Vivo S1 includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5, USB-OTG, Micro USB, and GPS. Sensors on the smartphone include an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, a compass/ magnetometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor. The device houses a 4,500mAh battery. The company has also included an in-display fingerprint sensor in the smartphone. Vivo S1 global variant measures 159.53×75.23×8.13mm and it weighs 179.5 grams.
Fujifilm India Private Limited has announced the launch of its latest FujiFilm GFX100 mirrorless digital camera in India. The newly launched camera features an image sensor with 102 million pixels resolution along with a back-illuminated sensor that comes with phase detection pixels, in-body image stabilization (IBIS) mechanism, and 4K/30P video recording capability.
It also accommodates two GFX Series batteries (NP-T125) and can be charged via USB connection. The camera has support for IEEE802.11ac 5GHz, that enables faster wireless image transfer.
FujiFilm GFX100 camera will be available at a price of Rs 7,86,999.
Commenting on the occasion, MrHaruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India Pvt Ltd said, “This is indeed a gratifying moment for us and we are excited to announce the launch of the world’s highest 102 million pixels mirrorless camera – GFX100 in India. At Fujifilm India, our endeavour has always been to bind innovation together with service that enhances customer delight. With the launch of GFX100, we have achieved a great milestone in our digital camera business. I am optimistic that the launch will further enhance our presence in India and we will continue introducing cameras that deliver an unparalleled standard of optical brilliance that is sure to delight a photographer’s fantasy.
Main features of Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless digital camera:
The new Fujifilm camera comes with a large image sensor with 102 million pixels resolution. It has the latest fourth-generation “X-Processor 4” high-speed image processing engine, ultra-sharp FUJINON GF lenses.
The GFX100 camera comes with a highly accurate AF that has the ability to track a moving subject at a speed that is twice compared to other current models. In addition to this, the GFX100 is available with the latest phase-detection AF algorithm, and that is already popular with FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJIFILM X-T30 in the X Series of Fujifilm’s mirrorless digital cameras.
It comes fitted with a five-axis IBIS mechanism that is helpful in image stabilization of up to 5.5 stops.
The device comes with the support of 4K/30P video recording.
Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless camera body is compact and lightweight. It measures 48.9mm at the thinnest part. It comes with an inbuilt vertical grip that makes it stable and comfortable to use.
The camera features a 2.05-inch sub monitor on the rear panel in addition to the main 3.2-inch LCD monitor that can be twisted into three directions.
The camera is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with more than 5.76M million dots for accurate focusing and has a magnification of 0.86x and 100% viewfinder coverage. The electronic viewfinder can be set to three different modes – “Frame Rate Priority,” “Resolution Priority” or “AF Speed Priority”.
The GFX100 now allows the users to save the images in “16bit RAW” and “16bit TIFF.
The camera comes with a feature of Smooth Skin Effect function that automatically smoothens the skin tone.
Along with the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless camera, the company’s Optical Devices Division also unveiled the new “Premista” series of cinema zoom lenses. The Premista series supports large format sensors that bring high resolutions, beautiful bokeh and rich gradation with High Dynamic Range. The Premista 28-100mm T2.9 will be available in August 2019 and it will cost USD 38,800(Rs 26,58,537) and the Premista 80-250mm T2.9-3.5 will be available later this year at a price of USD 39,800(Rs 27,27,056).
Chinese technology company Xiaomi is all set to launch its Mi A3 smartphone today. The device will be unveiled in Spain at 3 pm CEST, and along with Mi A3, the company is also expected to launch the Mi A3 Lite smartphone. According to some leaks that have surfaced online, the Mi A3 handset is based on the Mi CC9 device that was launched by Xiaomi in China earlier this month. The photography-centric smartphone was aimed at youth in China, Xiaomi had said.
The company’s Spain website says that the Mi A3 will be launched in the country at 3 pm CEST (6.30pm IST). As of now, there is no clarity on whether the company will host a launch event to announce the smartphone or live-stream it. Here’s a look at all that we know about the upcoming Mi A3 smartphone so far:
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Mi A3 price (expected)
The price of the Mi A3 smartphone is not known as of now. However, since it is expected to be a variant of the Mi CC9e, we can get an idea about what to expect from the Chinese pricing of the device. In China, the Mi CC9e is available in two storage variants: 4GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/128GB storage. The base model is priced at CNY 1,299 (roughly Rs 13,000), the middle variant costs CNY 1,399 (roughly Rs 14,000), and the most high-end version of the device bears a price tag of CNY 1,599 (roughly Rs 16,000). The global pricing is expected to be similar too.
While the company has not mentioned anything about the India launch of Mi A3, we can expect it to be launched as the country is a very important market for Xiaomi.
Mi A3 specifications
Xiaomi’s Mi A3 smartphone is based on Android One and runs stock Android 9.0 Pie. According to leaks, the Mi A3 is expected to sport a 6.0-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display that has a waterdrop-shaped notch on its top and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC. The smartphone will reportedly come with a triple rear camera setup that will consist of a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP sensor and a 2MP sensor. The front panel will have a 32MP sensor for selfies and video calls.
The handset is said to come with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It will also have a microSD card slot.
The Mi A3 smartphone will house a 4,030mAh battery that will have support for USB Type-C fast charging. It will also have an in-display fingerprint scanner. Reports suggest that the smartphone will be launched in three colour variants – blue, white, and black. The blue and the white colour variants will come with a gradient finish on their back panels.
Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi K20 are all set to be launched in India today. Both the smartphones have been launched in China in May this year and they sport a pop-up selfie camera module. While the Redmi K20 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 SoC, the younger sibling has the Snapdragon 730 SoC. Both the handsets come with a triple rear camera setup and run Android 9.0 Pie skinned with MIUI 10. Here are all the details you need to know about the launch event, expected price and specifications of Redmi K20 Pro:
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Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi K20 launch details
The launch event of Redmi K20 Pro and Redmi K20 will begin in New Delhi at 11:30 am IST. It will be live-streamed on Mi.com, YouTube, and other social media channels of the company. We have also embedded the video here for you to watch it.
Redmi K20 Pro specifications
Coming to the specifications, Redmi K20 Pro sports a 6.39-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The device is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC paired with Adreno 640 GPU and comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The handset can hold a microSD card of up to 512GB. Redmi K20 Pro houses a 4,000mAh battery with 27W fast charging support and comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner. For imaging duties, the Redmi K20 Pro has an AI-backed triple rear camera setup that consists of a 48MP Sony IMX586 sensor, a 13MP wide-angle lens, and an 8MP sensor. On the front, there is a 20MP pop-up selfie camera.
Redmi K20 specifications
Redmi K20 has a similar set of specifications. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC and comes with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also packs a 4,000mAh battery but with 18W fast charging support. Rest everything is the same.
Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi K20 price (expected)
Redmi K20 was launched in two storage variants in China: 6GB RAM/64GB storage and 6GB RAM/128GB storage. While the former was priced at CNY 1,999 (approximately Rs 20,200), the latter costs CNY 2,099 (approximately Rs 21,200).
The Redmi K20 Pro, on the other hand, comes in four storage variants: 6GB RAM/64GB storage, 6GB RAM/128GB storage, 8GB RAM/128GB storage and 8GB RAM/256GB storage. The base model is priced at CNY 2,499 (approximately Rs 25,200), the 6GB RAM/128GB storage model costs CNY 2,599 (approximately Rs 26,200), the 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant can be purchased at CNY 2,799 (approximately Rs 28,200) and the most high-end one at CNY 2,999 (approximately Rs 30,200).
Even in India, the pricing of the smartphones is expected to be similar.
Amazon has announced that it is developing the new version of Alexa that will understand Hindi. The company has decided to increase the Alexa Skills Kit by adding up a new Hindi model of the voice assistant. In its latest addition, the company now allows the developers to build the Alexa Hindi model for the users in India.
Amazon has also started providing invite-only access to the Alexa Voice Service developers preview that will permit the commercial hardware manufacturers to develop Alexa built-in models for the users who speak in Hindi. Since its launch in India, the Alexa Voice assistant communicates in either English or Hinglish with customers in the country.
The Alexa Skills Kit (ASK) is a compilation of free self-service APIs and tools that make it quicker and easier for developers who are not experienced with speech recognition to create skills, or capabilities, for Alexa.
The developers need to Select Hindi for their language model in the Alexa Development Kit to start training Alexa in the new language. Along with that, the company is providing a step by step user guide so that the developers can easily train the device with new skills in Hindi. In addition to this, the company has also released a technical documentation for the developers to understand the modulation for developing skills for the Hindi language model.
Apart from that, the company is also organizing a webinar for the developers on how to build Hindi language skills on July 24. Amazon is also offering the developer Alexa merchandise on first arrival bases to those who submit their Hindi language skill before July 31.
Last year, the company launched a new type of skill named Cleo that helps the users in India to help Alexa learn Hindi and other languages’. This enables the user to respond to Alexa’s English Statements in other local languages that are spoken in India such as Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Bengali, Telugu, Gujarati and other regional languages. Currently, Alexa accessible in more than 80 countries and it can speak and understand over 14 languages.
On its official blog post, the company said, “Developers will get a head start and will be able to submit skills for certification as we prepare to offer engaging experiences for Alexa users in one of the most spoken languages in the country.”
In addition to this, Amazon has also revealed that soon companies such as Dish TV, Mybox, Sony, and Boat will be getting control for Alexa Voice service.
Chinese technology company Huawei is slated to roll out the GPU Turbo 3.0 to its popular smartphones like the Huawei P30 Lite, Huawei P20 Lite, Huawei Nova3i, Huawei Y9 among others. For those unaware, the GPU 3.0 feature enhances the gaming performance of smartphones without eating up the battery of the device exorbitantly. The benefits of GPU 3.0 include a “smooth and seamless experience and improved battery performance while gaming.”
As of now, the latest version of the GPU Turbo is exclusively available on the Huawei P30 Pro. According to the company, “GPU Turbo 3.0 cuts down on SoC power consumption by 10% and optimizes the performance of the underlying system to provide a seamless gaming experience.”
GPU Turbo quickens faster touch response and lowers energy consumption. It also reduces frame drops and results in a higher average frame rate compared to when the feature is switched off. It is worth adding that the feature will not remain limited to Huawei’s flagship smartphones and the company will be pushing it out to budget smartphones as well.
GPU Turbo 3.0 supports a number of Android game titles which are optimised for it. Below is the list of game titles.
Fortnite
Knives Out
Battle Bay
Crazy Taxi
Real Racing 3
Into the Dead 2
NBA 2K19
Dragon Nest M
Duel Links
PES2019
DRAGON BALL LEGENDS
FIFA Mobile
Free Fire
Minecraft
Helix
Plants vs. Zombie Heroes
Subway Surfers
Brawl Stars
Speed Drifters
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Vainglory
Arena of Valor
Rules of Survival
NBA 2K18
In an unrelated piece of news, various reports about Huawei’s Mate 30 Pro smartphone have started surfacing online. A report suggests that the 5G variant of the Huawei Mate 30 Pro will be launched by December this year.
A slide that the company officials shared at a conference in Russia revealed that the Huawei Mate 30 would also be launched in a 5G variant. This will be the third 5G smartphone by the Chinese technology brand after Mate X and Mate 20 X 5G.
A report in technology website GSMArena stated, “Take that timeline to apply primarily to the Russian market, but it could also be a good indicator of when we can expect the entire Mate 30 family to show up in stores worldwide.”
Other than this, Chinese website IThome reported that the upcoming Mate 30 Pro will be powered by a Kirin 985 SoC, a HiSilicon Balong 5000 5G modem and its screen will come with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
Hong-Kong-based Transsion Holding’s smartphone brand Tecno Mobile recently launched its flagship device Phantom 9 in India. Today, the company has announced that its Tecno Phantom 9 handset will be going on sale on Flipkart starting July 17.
So, if you are interested in buying the newly launched smartphone, you can head to the e-commerce website tomorrow to get your hands on it. Here’s a look at the price details and specifications of the Tecno Phantom 9 smartphone:
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Tecno Phantom 9 price and availability
The company has launched its Tecno Phantom 9 smartphone in India in only one storage variant that comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The smartphone is priced at Rs 14,999 and will be going on sale via Flipkart tomorrow. Tecno’s new smartphone is available only in Lapland Aurora colour option in India.
It is worth mentioning that since it belongs in the sub-Rs 15,000 category, Tecno Phantom 9 competes with the likes of Redmi Note 7 Pro, Vivo Z1 Pro, Samsung Galaxy M30, Realme 3 Pro and Nokia 6.1 Plus.
Tecno Phantom 9 specifications
Coming to the specifications of the Tecno Phantom 9 smartphone, the device features a 6.4-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display that has 600 nits of brightness and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The handset is powered by an Octa-Core MediaTek Helio P35 12nm processor that is clubbed with IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The smartphone is available only with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It can also hold a microSD card of up to 256GB.
It has support for dual SIM cards and runs HiOS5 based on Android 9.0 Pie. Tecno’s new offering houses 3,500mAh battery that does not have support for fast charging. For imaging duties, the smartphone comes with a triple rear camera setup that consists of a 16MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The device also has a 32MP selfie camera on its front panel.
The camera app of the smartphone has support for a number of modes like AI CAM, HDR, Portrait, Beauty, AR Mode, Animoji, Wide Selfie, Bokeh and Panorama. It is also integrated with Google Lens.
Tecno Phantom 9 has an in-display fingerprint scanner and a 3.5mm headphone jack. For connectivity, it has Bluetooth 5.0, FM Radio, Dual 4G VoLTE, GPS and GLONASS, Micro USB and Wi-Fi. Will you be buying the Phantom 9 smartphone tomorrow? Let us know in comments below!
Xiaomi’s Redmi K 20 Pro will be officially launched in India tomorrow. A few days back, Xiaomi India MD Manu Kumar Jain announced on his Twitter account that the company will be launching Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro on July 17 in the country. Xiaomi has also been teasing the launch of its K series smartphone for quite a long time. Today, just before the launch of the handset, the company took to its official Twitter account that the new variant of the Redmi K20 Pro will be unveiled in the country.
The company also teased the image of the new variant of the device. The tweet says, “Mi fans! Tomorrow, we’ll be unveiling a very special version of the #RedmiK20Pro… worth ₹4.8 LAKHS! What’s gonna be so special about this device, you ask? RT if you want to know more! #BelieveTheHype”
The image teased shows that the device will come with a black and golden finish on the rear panel and along with that, it sports a diamond logo representing the logo ‘K’. According to the tweet, the special variant of the Redmi K20 Pro will cost Rs 4,80,000.
Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Kumar Jain also took to Twitter, “20 hours to go for #RedmiK20Pro & #RedmiK20 Launching something OUT OF THE WORLD tomorrow! A very special version worth. hold-your-breath. ₹ 4.8 Lakh! What’s so special about this variant? RT if you want to know more!”
The launch of Redmi K20 Pro special edition smartphone may be the sign of Xiaomi to celebrate its fifth anniversary in the country. Xiaomi arrived in India with the launch of its first smartphone Mi 3 in July 2014
The company has not yet confirmed that whether the special version of Redmi K20 will be available for purchase along with the other two devices that are all set to be launched tomorrow. Although we know about the specifications of the Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro, there is no word about the specifications of the special edition of the device.
Redmi K20 Pro specifications, features
The Redmi K20 Pro sports a 6.39-inch full-HD+ (1080×2340 pixels) AMOLED panel that has an aspect of 19.5:9 and 91.9% screen-to-body ratio. The device features an in-display fingerprint sensor and has support for DC dimming. The device is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 855 SoC, coupled with Adreno 640 GPU. It comes with 8GB of RAM and has 256GB of internal storage. The smartphone houses a 4,000mAh battery that has support for 27W fast charging.
For imaging duties, the Redmi K20 Pro comes with a triple rear camera setup that consists of a 48MP Sony IMX586 primary sensor with an f/1.75 lens, a 13MP secondary wide-angle sensor, and a third 8MP sensor with an f/2.4 lens. On the front, there is a 20MP pop-up camera for selfies and video chats.
Chinese technology company Xiaomi has introduced a new colour variant for its Redmi Note 7 series smartphone. The company today teased the images of the new colour variant of Redmi Note 7 on its official Weibo account.
The company shared the first look of the new colour variant of its Redmi Note 7 smartphone that will be launched in its home market very soon. But Xiaomi has not revealed when it is planning to launch the new colour variant of its Redmi Note 7 series. While flaunting the glossy white finish variant of the Redmi Note 7, the company has asked its fans to guess the name of the new device. In addition to this, whoever guessed the correct name of the colour variant will win a 20-inch Redmi Suitcase, that was launched in China a few months ago.
Initially, the new colour model of the Redmi Note 7 series will be launched in China. It is expected that after its launch in the home market, the company will unveil the device soon in other markets including India. The Redmi Note 7 is currently available in three colour options – Onyx Black, Sapphire Blue, and Ruby Red colour. While Redmi Note 7 Pro also comes in three colour variants – Neptune Blue, Nebula Red, and Space Black. The rest of the specification of the Redmi Note 7 series will be same.
Redmi Note 7 Pro specifications
Redmi Note 7 Pro features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2340 pixels) resolution display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The Xiaomi’s smartphone runs Android 9.0 Pie skinned with MIUI 10 on top. The device is powered by an 11nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 SoC and is available 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. While the former is clubbed with 64GB of storage, the latter has or 128GB internal storage. Both can hold a microSD card of up to 256GB. The smartphone houses a 4,000mAh battery that has support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0.
On the imaging front, the Redmi Note 7 Pro comes with a dual rear camera setup that includes a 48MP primary sensor with an f/1.79 aperture along with a 5MP depth sensor. On the front, it has a 13MP snapper that can be used for selfies and video calls. The device also has a fingerprint sensor on its back panel.
Redmi Note 7 specifications
The Redmi Note 7 is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC. The smartphone is available in 3GB RAM/4GB RAM variants and has 32GB/64GB of internal storage. The device can hold a microSD card of up to 256GB.
Coming to the camera, the Redmi Note 7 features a dual-rear camera setup that consists of a 12MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP secondary sensor. On its front panel, there is a 13MP selfie camera.
Rest of the specifications of the Redmi Note 7 are the same as Redmi Note 7 Pro’s.
Truecaller rose to popularity for identifying spam calls, finding mobile number details, and blocking phone numbers. People access it via all platforms and now, the company has announced the global launch of its Truecaller SDK solution. Truecaller SDK will have support for all important mobile platforms like Android, iOS, React and now mobile web that also includes Progressive Web App support.
In the emerging markets like India and Africa, mobile web-based experiences on smartphones are proving to be the first point of discovery for users trying to access products and services online. This makes the launch of Truecaller SDK very important for the company.
Speaking about the new development, Mukund Laddha, Product Manager, OYO, said,“At OYO, we have been expanding globally at a rapid pace. Improving user experience during authentication has been a key area of focus. This integration with Truecaller presented us with an opportunity to present users with a reliable alternate login method with a large presence across countries. This has made user on-boarding on the web more fluid and frictionless.”
One of the most important challenges in such markets has been the onboard users that are using email or other modes in getting verified by using inefficient OTP process. The software development kit will also make that process a bit easier for the developers with a verification solution that does not require an OTP and is free to use. By using the Truecaller credentials, the users can securely access the services. According to the company, this will reduce the hurdles along with fewer drop-offs that will result in an increase in verified users.
Zairus Master, CEO,Shine.com, said, “At Shine.com, our constant endeavor is to improve our end-user experience by adopting best-in-class technologies. As an early access partner, the integration with Truecaller’s verification solution for mobile web platform will help candidates simplify their registration process on Shine.com and facilitate a constantly active and verified set of candidates on the platform, complete with their updated contact details. We believe that this product integration will give Shine.com a competitive edge over other job portals which solely rely on traditional, OTP-based verification.”
The Truecallers SDK for the mobile web will be helpful in as mobile number-based signup, login, checkout, verification, and more
Commenting on the launch, Priyam Bose, Global Head, Developer Platform & Relations, Truecaller, said, “Our vision has always been to enable the developer community by providing them with solutions that help them to build a user focused, trust-based and growth-oriented products. User onboarding and verification continue to be one of the critical use cases for developers as it is crucial in creating the first impression for their users in terms of building a seamless and secure product experience. On an average, developers in growth markets are starting to see anywhere between 40%-60% of their users now coming from mobile web, giving us more reasons to launch our Truecaller SDK solution for mobile Web interfaces.”
Chinese technology company Realme has launched its Realme 3i smartphone in India this week. The smartphone is a watered-down version of the Realme 3 smartphone that was launched in India in March this year. The newly launched smartphone comes with a dual rear camera setup, an AI-backed selfie camera, runs Android 9.0 Pie, and houses a 4,230mAh battery. Here, we compare the Realme 3i with the Realme 3 smartphone so that you can know which among the two is the right buy for you. Take a look at our comparison here:
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Display
Realme 3i: 6.2-inch HD+ (720×1520 pixels) display with an aspect ratio of 19:9
Realme 3: 6.2-inch HD+ (720×1520 pixels) display with an aspect ratio of 19:9
As you can see, most of the specifications of the two smartphones are similar to each other. It is only the processor of the two devices that set them apart. Realme 3, that was launched in March this year, has a more powerful processor among the two smartphones. That is actually the only notable change in the device. While the SoC used in the younger sibling is not as powerful as the one used in the higher variant, it is also worth mentioning that the handset costs Rs 1,000 less.
If you can live with that, you might as well spend Rs 1,000 less and buy the younger sibling. However, if you want all the specifications to be powerful, then you should go for the Realme 3 smartphone among the two devices. We should add that the processors affect the overall performance of any smartphone. Most of the other specifications of the two are the same.
Chinese Electronics manufacturer TCL has launched its P8E 4K Android 9 TV in India. The 4K TV comes with the support of free voice search technology. The company has claimed that the bezel-less smart TV is India’s first of its kind innovations. TCL P8E 4K Android 9 TV will be available for sale on Amazon India starting 15 July.
Commenting on the latest launch, TCL India Country Manager Mr. Mike Chen, said “At TCL, we have been committed to delivering smart and innovative solutions that upgrades everyday living without causing a strain on one’s pocket. To the same end, we are excited to bring India’s very first 4K AI Android 9 Smart TV with Handsfree (Farfield) technology. The latest launch carries our 38 years of legacy forward, serving industry-leading innovations in AI & IoT to serve an integrated and immersive experience, within a price bracket that feels comfortable. We are affirmative that India’s growing number of tech and digital savvy users would appreciate this advanced offering and look forward to an affirmative response.”
TCL’s 4K AI Android 9 55-inch P8E Smart TV comes with the support of voice assistant and the company has said that user’s voice command reaches the TV and all the background sound is canceled in the process. This feature allows the user to control the TV right from switching it on or off, changing channels and setting programme reminders just by using voice. The voice interaction feature lets the user connect with other smart home devices such as robot sweepers, curtains, lights and more.
The TCL’s Smart TV 55-inch P8E TV is backed by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The AI-algorithm enhances the quality of the picture and auto-adjusts the brightness, contrast, and saturation. The AI also improves the signals, the volume of the speakers and allows the user to connect all their smart home devices.
The smart TV is boosted by Android Pie (9.0) along with the latest version of OS. The feature also allows the user to enjoy movies, shows, and games from Google Play, YouTube, and other apps.
The Netflix and Prime Videos enthusiasts can easily watch their favourite shows and videos on TCL’s Smart TV. TCL allows the users to access more than 950,000 content supplied including movies, series, live shows, sports, music, kids channels and more. For doing this, TCL has partnered India’s leading VOD players like ErosNow, ZEE5, Hotstar, Voot, Jio Cinema, Hungama Play, ALTBalaji, and YuppTV. The device is compatible with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa.
TCL P8E 4K Android 9 TV is powered by quad-core CPU and comes with a triple-core 600-800 MHz GPU. The television has 2GB DDR3 RAM and 16GB storage. TCL P8E TV also supports HDMI 2.0, USB2.0, WI-FI 2.4G, and Bluetooth connections.
As we mentioned earlier, smart television is available for purchase on Amazon. The TCL’s 55-inch P8E smart TV is priced at Rs 82,990 but during the Amazon Prime Day sale, it can be purchased at a discounted price of Rs 40,999. In addition to this, buyers who purchase the Smart TV between July 15th and 16th will receive a free dongle before August 5th from TCL.
Disney-Owned video streaming platform Hotstar has announced that it has broken a world record by gathering 25.3 million simultaneous viewers watched the ICC Cricket World-Cup semi-final match between India and New Zealand on its platform. According to the video streaming platform, with a viewership of 25.3 million, it has surpassed its own previous record of 18.6 million viewers that tuned in during the VIVO IPL 2019 final. In addition to this, the company said that it also observed a rise in concurrent viewers to 15 million in all the matches that streamed on the platform during ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
Speaking about the new milestone, Varun Narang, Chief Product Officer, Hotstar said in a statement, “We are thrilled about, once again, re-writing the global record for the highest concurrent video viewership anywhere in the world,”
The company also said that Hotstar is built to handle an immense scale. A few days back, the platform had crossed the record-breaking viewership of 100 million daily users during the India vs Pakistan match. Leaving cricket aside, the entertainment consumption on Hotstar remains is as high as 60 percent. In the past year, the viewers of entertainment content have also increased by 2X.
As we mentioned earlier, during the India Vs Pakistan World Cup match, Hotstar crossed 100 million active users all across the world. The match was held on June 12 when Hotstar got the record-breaking viewership.
Sharing the news Hotstar’s Chief Product Officer Varun Narang, said “We are delighted to have been able to deliver an uninterrupted cricket watching experience to such a large audience at once. Having achieved a single day platform reach of 100 million demonstrates the indisputable technology prowess that Hotstar brings to the OTT industry. This remarkable achievement has helped us set a new viewership benchmark.”
The company stated that out of 100 million viewers, 66% of them came from towns outside metro cities that recorded 15.6 million of concurrency.
During the Cricket World Cup 2019, Hotstar provided streams across six languages – English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Hotstar also provided streaming to it viewers living in the US and Canada via mobile and web application as well as on devices like Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and Samsung Smart TV so that they can enjoy watching Cricket World Cup through its service.
Hotstar also partnered with the other video streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, SonyLiv, Netflix, Voot, Zee5, ALTBalaji and Eros Now.
To recall, during IPL 2019 final match Hotstar crossed the milestone of over 18.9 million concurrent viewership.
Samsung has been on a launching spree in India. The company has launched a number of devices in its Galaxy A and Galaxy M series this year. The latest to join the list is Samsung Galaxy M40, that is priced at Rs 19,999. The handset has a triple rear camera setup, a 3,500mAh battery and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC. We spent a few days with it to find out its pros and cons. Read the rest of our review of Samsung Galaxy M40 to find out if it’s a good buy:
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Samsung Galaxy M40 design and display
If you have seen any other smartphone from the Samsung Galaxy’s M series, you would be able to draw a lot of similarities between theirs and Galaxy M40’s design. It looks very much in-line with the entire range. Samsung Galaxy M40 has a glossy finish on its rear panel that is made of plastic. The back panel is dark in the centre and light towards the edges. The handset is available in two colour variants: Midnight Blue and Seawater Blue. The one that we got for review was dressed in Midnight Blue.
The rear panel of the Samsung Galaxy M40 smartphone comes with a triple rear camera setup, an LED flash, a fingerprint scanner and the ‘Samsung’ branding. The right edge of the device comes with volume rocker keys and the power button. The left side has the SIM card slot and the bottom edge has the USB Type C port, speaker grille and a microphone. It is worth adding that there is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the device. But then, Samsung has added a Type-C headset in the box.
The one-handed usage on the Samsung Galaxy M40 smartphone is fairly easy. We could easily reach out to all the keys of the handset and even the top of the screen of the device to access Quick Settings.
On the front panel, the 6.3-inch touchscreen dominates the smartphone. The bezels that outline the display of Samsung Galaxy M40 are fairly thin and this includes the chin of the device. It also has a punch-hole design that houses the selfie camera of the device. This has support for facial unlock, too.
To sum it up, we would say that the design of the Samsung Galaxy M40 is really good. It has a compact body and is light in weight. One handed usage on the device is very simple.
Coming to the 6.3-inch display of the smartphone, it has a full HD+ resolution of 1,080×2,340 pixels and uses a PLS TFT LCD panel. The display showcases bright and vibrant colours that remain consistent at different viewing angles. The images are sharp and extremely clear. We watched a lot of videos on the device during our time with it and our experience was good. The phone plays videos of 1080p resolution with perfect ease. While some may think of the selfie camera to be a hindrance, we did not find it to be too disturbing.
Samsung Galaxy M40 also has the ‘Screen Sound technology’, that enables it to produces sound through vibrations through the display. So the handset does not require an earpiece. Other than that, there is also Widevine L1 Certification for HD video streaming.
The sunlight readability of the Samsung Galaxy M40 smartphone is decent too. In a nutshell, we would say that the display of the device is another of its good aspect. If you spend hours watching Netflix content on your device, you would not be unhappy with Samsung Galaxy M40’s screen performance.
Samsung Galaxy M40 performance and cameras
Here’s a look at the specifications of the Samsung Galaxy M40 before we begin talking about its overall performance. The smartphone is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC clubbed with Adreno 612 GPU and packs 6GB of RAM. The device has 128GB of storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 512GB. Samsung Galaxy M40 runs Android 9 Pie skinned with One UI and houses a 3,500mAh battery with 15W fast charging support.
For imaging duties, the smartphone features a triple-rear camera setup that consists of a 32MP main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, an 8MP ultra-wide-lens with f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP depth sensor with an f/2.2 aperture. On its front panel, there is a 16MP camera housed in a punch-hole setup with an f/2.0 aperture for selfies and video calls.
Coming to the software of the device, as we just mentioned, Samsung Galaxy M40 runs OneUI based on Android 9.0 Pie. The software of the smartphone is exactly like the one on the other recent Samsung Galaxy devices. The icons are bigger than the previous UI of Samsung and it looks a lot cleaner. The device comes with Google’s Digital Wellbeing and has support for gestures. Make sure you pay attention while setting up the phone as you will have to uncheck a few options so that you don’t receive too many notifications. You will be spammed otherwise.
Finally, let’s talk about the performance of the smartphone. We used the device for a lot of multi-tasking. We opened multiple tabs of Chrome on it and kept on switching between apps and faced no lag while doing this. We used the Samsung Galaxy M40 for playing games and navigation at the same time, and even then, we did not encounter any problems.
Speaking of gaming, the smartphone handles anything from Alto’s Odessey and Temple Run 2 to Asphalt 9: Legends. However, when we tried playing PUBG Mobile on it, it did warm up a bit. But then, that was the only time when this happened. On the upside, because the display of the device offers a full-screen experience, it was fun to play all these games on it.
Most of the apps worked well on the device in spite of the fact that it has a punch-hole design. The call quality of the Samsung Galaxy M40 is good and the company’s Screen Sound Technology worked well during our usage. Although we did not have any trouble hearing the caller, we also felt that at times, the volume was too high in spite of being set at the lowest.
The 3,500mAh battery is one amongst the biggest strengths of the Samsung Galaxy M40 smartphone. With usage that involves phone calls, gaming, social media apps, watching videos on YouTube and navigation via Google Maps, the battery of the handset lasted more than a day for us. We consider this to be impressive as our usage was heavy. Samsung Galaxy M40 has support for Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology and comes with a 15W fast charger. In an hour, the device charged more than 80% each time.
Coming to the cameras of the handset, it has a triple rear camera setup that consists of a 32MP primary lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens, and a 5MP depth sensor. The camera app does not have support for OIS and it does not have the best autofocus that we have seen. But then, on the upside, you would be able to record 4K and slow-motion videos.
Like most other smartphones that come with high-resolution camera sensors, the 32MP lens saves images in 12MP resolution by default. However, you would get the option of saving them in 32MP resolution too.
We personally found the camera performance of the handset to be a little inconsistent. In good lighting conditions, they seemed to be respectable most of the times. However, when we transferred them to a laptop and saw them on a bigger screen, the image quality seemed different. It did not seem as sharp as it did otherwise. Some shots also seemed to have inaccurate colours and were grainy. The zoomed in shots also lacked clarity, in some cases. Low-light photography was not the best aspect of the handset either.
We got some good shots using the 16MP selfie camera of the smartphone. But then, the performance was inconsistent as it didn’t do the best job in lowly lit conditions.
Verdict
At Rs 19,999, Samsung Galaxy M40 is a good buy, but then, you should know what you are buying it for. The battery is one of the strongest points of the device and it has a beautiful design. The full-screen experience and the ability to handle heavy-duty tasks are also upsides of the handset. The good video-watching experience is a big plus too.
However, the smartphone is not the best when it comes to the camera performance. At times, it performs well, and at other times, it fails to do so. Another downside is that with its default settings, the smartphone gets too many notifications. Not everyone will like the hole-punch design of the handset either.
So, if Samsung Galaxy M40’s good points are on your priority list, you would certainly not be disappointed. It is definitely a good buy.
Micro-blogging platform Twitter has rolled out a new design on its desktop today. The redesigned platform now comes with more customization options and completely rearranges the navigation experience on Twitter. Actually, with the new redesign, the desktop version of Twitter looks a lot like the mobile app of the platform.
While some testers had been gradually receiving the redesigned version of Twitter for a few months, now the company will be making it available to everyone over the next few years. It is also worth pointing out that unlike previous redesigns, this one is not optional and all users will have to opt into it. A report in Mashable confirms this and adds that this time, there will be no legacy Twitter to fall back to.
Among the biggest changes that have been introduced include a navigation bar on the top left sidebar. This contains the bookmarks, lists and user’s profile. A new explore tab has also been added. According to Twitter, the company has brought over the new ‘Explore’ tab from its mobile app so that more live videos and personalized local trends can be featured.
The Direct Messages on the platform have also been revamped and now, they show conversations and messages sent by the user in the same window. In addition to this, the desktop experience of Twitter will also be getting different themes and colour schemes. These will also include more options for the Dark Mode.
A number of other features from Twitter’s mobile app have now been made available on the desktop as well. For instance, the ‘Sparkle’ button on the home bar that lets users switch between the latest tweets instead of the top ones has also been added. With the side-navigation bar, it will also be easier for users to use multiple accounts and switch between them without having to log in and log out. While this has been available on the mobile app for long, it has finally come to the desktop too.
In an unrelated piece of news, Twitter is adding a new feature that will give users more control over which comments are visible in a conversation that has been started by them. The upcoming feature will be called ‘Hide Replies’. While the company was reported to be testing this feature for a long time, it has finally announced that it will be rolling it out to Twitter users in Canada soon.
Today is the last day of the Amazon Prime Day Sale 2019. The sale on the e-commerce website will run for 24 hours more. On the last day, the company is offering some more deals across various categories for its Prime members. The Prime members can avail a number of discounts and offer on TVs, electronic appliances, budget smartphones, mobile accessories and much more.
To avail the offers and discount you can sign up for Amazon Prime by paying Rs 999 annually or you can also opt for a monthly plan that costs Rs 129.
We are listing down some of the best deals on Amazon on its last day of Prime Day Sale. Take a look:
Boat Airdopes 311 true wireless earbuds
boAt Airdopes 311 True Wireless Earbuds (Bluetooth V5.0) with HD Sound and Sleek Design, Integrated Controls with in-Built mic and 500mAh Charging case was launched during Amazon Prime Day Sale. Originally it costs Rs 6,999, but during the Amazon Prime Day Sale, it can be picked up for Rs 2,999. The earbuds are IPX5 water and sweat resistant.
Amazon Echo Dot bundle with Syska smart bulb
This bundle contains Echo Dot and Syska 9W smart colour bulb (pin type). It can be used for controlling your lights just by using just your voice. You can also control them remotely away from home. Or you can create a routine to dim them automatically at night. This bundle can be bought be for Rs 2,449 during e-commerce’s biggest sale. Originally it costs Rs 6,298.
Amazon Kindle 10th generation
Amazon’s Kindle 10th generation comes in two variants – 4GB and 8GB. The 4GB variant can be purchased for Rs 6,249 instead of Rs 7,999. The 8GB model, on the other hand, will cost you Rs 10,249 during the sale instead of its original price of Rs 12,999.
Bose SoundLink Revolve
Bose Soundlink Revolve 739523-5130 Wireless Portable Bluetooth Speaker that gives up to 12 hours of play time one fully charged can be grabbed at its lowest price of Rs 13930 whereas it originally costs Rs 19900. The device can be accessed by Siri or Google Assistant or it can be paired with other multiple speakers.
Amazon Echo Show 5
The Amazon Echo Show 5 features a smart screen with a 5.5-inch display, has a rich sound, comes with an HD camera and built-in camera shutter. The latest addition by the company is available at Rs 5,399 during the Amazon Prime Day sale. The original price of the product is Rs 8,999.
LG 55-inch 4K Smart LED TV
The LG 55-inch 4K Smart LED TV will be available at a discounted price of Rs. 59,999 during Amazon’s Prime Day sale. The original price of the TV is MRP Rs. 89,990. It comes with new Ai ThinQ features that can be accessed through company’s Magic Remote separately. The TV features 3 HDMI ports and two USB ports along with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
Sony Bravia 32-inch smart LED TV
The Sony Bravia 32-inch smart LED TV is being sold for Rs 28,990 on Amazon during the ongoing sale. You can get an additional discount of Rs 1,000 by adding a virtual coupon on the product listing page. The full-HD LED TV features YouTube, Opera Store, Netflix, and other apps. It comes with HDMI ports and two USB ports on the TV. The original price of the product is MRP Rs 39,900
LG 22-inch full-HD monitor
The LG 22-inch full-HD monitor can be purchased for Rs 7,499 during the Amazon Prime Day sale. The monitor features a native resolution of 1920×1080 on a borderless IPS panel. It comes with a VGA port, an HDMI ports, a DVI port, and audio out along with AMD FreeSync support.
Kindle Unlimited at Rs 69
Amazon is offering a 3-month subscription to Kindle Unlimited at just Rs 69. The subscription is being offered at its lowest price till now. Otherwise, the subscription will cost you Rs 597.
TP-Link Deco M9 Plus mesh Wi-Fi router (Pack of 3)
The TP-Link Deco M9 Plus is currently available at Rs. 24,999 (MRP Rs 39,999) during Amazon’s Prime Day sale. It comes in a pack of three routers. It can be easily set up an entire wireless network through a mobile app.
For deals from Day 1 of sale, you can check out our list over here.
Main features of Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless digital camera:
