Canon India, the Camera and lens maker has launched a new RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens in the country. The new lens is aimed at professional photographers. It comes with the new RF mount technology and provides superior optical performance with its large aperture. The new Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens is a good choice for photographers who do wedding or people photography.
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Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens price and availability
The new Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens holds a price tag of Rs 2,19,995 and it will be available for purchase from this week onwards.
Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens specifications and features
The Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens is a portrait prime lens that makes it a perfect lens for wedding, portrait, people photography. The company launched the portrait prime lens seeing the growing trend of portrait photography in the country. And since the Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens being a prime lens with a fixed 85mm of focal length, the photographers can capture great shots. When combined with Canon’s EOS R system, the photographers can create good bokeh effects using the Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens.
This lens utilises the wide diameter and short back focus distance of the RF mount to give the 85mm lens bright aperture of f/1.2. Other than that, it is also capable of producing ultra-high resolution images and comes with an autofocus function.
Since the Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens has a large f/1.2 aperture, it allows more light to enter through the lens. This allows the photographers to control more light exposure during photography. The lens has 9-blade circular aperture that delivers a good soft bokeh. The Canon lens is also capable of capturing sharp and crisp images even in low lighting conditions using a higher shutter speed.
The Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m and a maximum magnification of 0.12x. This expands the shooting and capturing capabilities of the lens from close-ups to shooting small objects. Furthermore, the new prime lens from Canon also comes with the Canon’s Air Sphere Coating (ASC), it helps reduce the lens flare and ghosting caused by the reflections while improving the lighting clarity and contrast of the image when shooting into a backlight.
Moreover, the Canon RF85mm f/1.2L USM lens comes with a RF mount and a new control ring that is found in new its RF lens series. The photographers can use it to assign different settings including aperture value, shutter speed, ISO sensitivity and exposure compensation. And lastly, the lens has a dust and drip resistance that ensures high durability even when shooting outdoors.
Realme has come up with a new sale called the Realme Leap Days sale and is being hosted on Amazon India, Flipkart as well as Realme.com. The Realme Leap Days sale will go on from June 27 till June 30, Sunday and in the sale Realme is offering various offers on the purchase of its smartphones. All three platforms will hold varying Realme devices, but the offers will be available on three podiums. If the user purchases the smartphones from Realme.com, they will get15% cashback from MobiKwik in the form of SuperCash. While Flipkart is offering no-cost EMI and Complete Mobile Protection for Rs 99.
Realme C2 which holds a price tag of Rs 6,993 will be available for Rs 5,999 on June 28 at 12pm (noon) on Flipkart and Realme.com. Flipkart is also offering exchange offers, no-cost EMIs along with 5% off if the purchase is made using Axis Bank Buzz credit cards. If purchased from Realme.com, the users will get the aforementioned MobiKwik offer.
Realme C1 on the other hand holds a price tag of Rs 7,590 is being offered at Rs 6,999 on Flipkart and Realme.com in the Realme Leap Days sale. While the Realme 2 with 3GB RAM/32GB storage is bring offered at Rs 8,999 instead of Rs 9,499. The new price is available only on Realme.com. It will also be getting the MobiKwik offer as well. The 4GB RAM/64GB storage variant of the device is selling for its original price of Rs 10,990.
The Realme 2 Pro with 4GB RAM/64GB storage is being offered at Rs 10,490 instead of Rs 11,990 on Flipkart. While the 6GB variant of the device now sells atfor Rs 12,490. That is also down from its original price of Rs 13,999.
The Realme 3 is now selling for a starting price of Rs 8,999 on Flipkart. Whereas the Realme 3 Pro is selling at a starting price of Rs 13,990 in the Realme Leap Days sale on Flipkart. Both these devices are getting the no-cost EMI option up to 6 months along with an exchange offer. There is also a 5% instant discount if the purchase was made using ICICI debit or credit card EMI transaction. The consumers will also get a 5% discount if the Axis Bank Buzz Credit cards are used for the purchase.
Coming to Amazon India, Realme is offering a discount of Rs 1,000 on the Realme U1. The starting price of the device in the Realme Leap Days sale is Rs 8,999 and it is also up for Exchange offer, no-cost EMI and 5% cashback on Citi Credit Card EMI.
Huawei’s sub-brand Honor has made quite a name for itself in the Indian smartphone market with its mid-range and entry-level smartphones offering good performance. Honor, unlike Huawei offers the users with pocket friendly devices with the latest software and smartphone technology, Huawei on the other hand makes premium and top-end smartphones. Honor takes the technologies used by Huawei’s top-end smartphones and packs them in a mid-range devices offering respectable performance. Recently, the company launched its Honor 20i in the Indian market which is part of Honor 20-series of smartphones. We spent some time with it to find out how good it is, what it offers and where it lacks. Read our review to find out whether you should go for it or not:
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Design and Display
The Honor 20i has a build of a premium smartphone and it doesn’t look like a mid-range smartphone. The rear panel is made up of plastic-like material and yet it has a glossy finish that looks like glass. The smartphone is light in weight and it is encased in plastic frame. We held the Phantom Blue variant and it was no doubt stunning to look at. The sides had a metallic blue colour while the rear has a gradient finish with blue on top and purple at the bottom.
The top of the smartphones doesn’t have ports, but it holds a secondary microphone and has the hybrid-SIM slot. At the right, there are the volume rockers and power button placed and were easy to reach with one hand. The bottom of the device holds the speaker grille, a micro-USB charging port, the primary microphone and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The back side of the Honor 20i is somewhat its main attraction, it holds a triple rear camera placed vertically on the top left side of the smartphone. Under the camera module is where the LED flash is placed. And at the top-centre is where the fingerprint scanner can be found. The camera does protrude slightly but it is negligible. The Honor logo sits at the bottom of the back panel. The Honor 20i has a dimension of 154.8 x 73.6 x 8mm and it weighs 164 gms.
Now, talking about the front, it holds a 6.21-inch Full-HD+ (2,340 x 1,080 pixels) IPS LED display with 415ppi pixel density but it doesn’t come with protection. So, there is a chance you might scratch it if you keep it with keys or coins. Although the display is bright, it is not bright enough. However it is enough to be visible under direct sunlight. There is a water-drop style notch placed on top of the display that holds the front camera of the device. Being an IPS display it does a fine job of displaying the right colours with accuracy, but it leans a little towards the warmer side.
Performance and Camera
Performance and camera are the departments where the Honor 20i shines. It is powered by an octa-core Kirin 710F SoC (4 x Cortex A73 clocked at 2.2GHz + 4 x Cortex A53 clocked at 1.7GHz) paired with Mali-G51 MP4 GPU. We had the 4GB RAM/128GB internal storage variant and needless to say that it did not disappoint in terms of performance. The device was able to handle most of the tasks thrown at it with ease, be it social media, browsing the internet or long gaming sessions, it handled all with ease. But it did get hot when gaming for longer duration.
We ran PUBG, Asphalt 8, Asphalt 9 on Honor 20i, it handled them well at medium settings. There wasn’t any lag if the games were played in the suggested settings, either. The Honor 20i also comes with GPU Turbo 2.0 feature that helped the gaming performance of the device.
Talking about the benchmark scores, the Honor 20i we held gave an AnTuTu score of 1,16,063 while on GeekBench 4 it scored 1,526 on single-core and 4,901 on multi cores. And it is fairly decent, it has a better score than some of the other smartphones available at the same price point.
The calling and connectivity of the Honor 20i was also fairly good, it was able to receive networks in most of the places and the earpiece volume was loud enough to be heard properly. Talking about the loudspeakers, although it has a single placed speaker at the bottom of the device, it is fairly loud. You won’t have any problems listening to loudspeaker calls or YouTube videos or even music with it. But it does loses some clarity when the speakers are put on full volume.
Now, talking about the cameras, this is the place where the Honor 20i gleams and outperforms most of its competitors. The Honor 20i features a triple rear camera setup, which comprises of a 24MP main camera with an f/1.8 aperture paired with an 8MP secondary camera with an f/2.4 aperture and a 2MP tertiary camera with an f/2.4 aperture. While on the front, there is a 32MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture and it is capable of clicking pictures at 6,528 x 4896 pixels resolution. The camera quality of the Honor 20i was impressive, it was able to click pictures with proper lighting pretty well. The triple-rear cameras of the Honor 20i also has the AI support. The AI adds proper dynamic range, boosts the colours and overall gives an impressive picture quality.
Although the selfie camera doesn’t come with the HDR mode, it produces impressive selfie shots nonetheless. The AI of the camera is able to distinguish between the places and is able to tell if you are taking the picture in a room, at a park or in sunlight and adjusts the white balance accordingly. The low light performance of the Honor 20i is also decent but it does lose some details and quality. But being a mid-ranger and for the price point it is being offered at, that can be overlooked.
The Honor 20i packs a 3,400mAh battery and it is capable of giving full day of battery life on light to moderate usage. On heavy usage, you can get a battery life of around 6 hours. But the only downside of the Honor 20i is that it doesn’t come with a fast charger and it takes around 2 hours to charge the device from 0% to 100%. Also, it comes with the old micro-USB charging port instead of offering a USB-Type C port, which most of its competitors are offering. The Honor 20i also runs Android 9 Pie skinned with EMUI 9 and it offers somewhat a clean Android experience. News is that the smartphone might get Android Q update too, but that is a story for sometime later.
Verdict
The Honor 20i is one impressive smartphone considering the price it sells for, the smartphone holds a price tag of Rs 14,999. And it is one of the best camera smartphones in the current mid-range market in India. Although there are some issues with the battery life, the UI and some other minor things, but it is still a decent device. So, if you are looking for a good camera phone with a good performance then you can go for the Honor 20i.
Although Honor had said that the Honor 20i will receive the Google Play Services and software updates globally but since the US hasn’t lifted its ban from Huawei nothing can be said. And in future, there will come a time when the device won’t be getting newer software updates and the newer Android versions Google will bring. So, if you are okay with it then you might want to go for the Honor 20i.
Google’s Play Store is one stop shop for all the Android device users. It is the place from where they can download a new app on to their devices or update an old one. Android being a part of Google’s family and also one of the major operating systems has more than a million applications. Although Google Play Store has many apps, which can be downloaded and used by the user, but it doesn’t hold all the apps. And there might come a time when you are trying to look for an app on the Google Play Store but it doesn’t show any result.
Many do not know but Android OS also allows its users to download the applications from sources other than the Google Play Store and install them on to their devices. So, here is what you should do when you don’t find an app you want to install to your Android device.
Before downloading any app from an unknown source, keep in mind that the apps installed from other bases might have viruses or malware and it might damage your device. So, download the applications from a trustworthy third-party platform only. And you should use the Google Play Store as much as possible to download your apps and only use the third-party platforms in case of extreme need.
Here’s how you can download an app from a third-party platform:
First, you need to find a trustworthy third-party platform to download the app from, you can go to APKMirror.com for example.
Once there, you can look for the app by going through the list of apps they have or you can type the name of the app you want in the search bar. Once the search results are out, you can click on the app you are looking for.
But keep in mind that third party platforms will have multiple versions of the same app. The versions are listed by their release dates mentioned there. Find the app version you are looking for and click on it.
After that you can download the app by clicking on the Download button present on the platform.
Before downloading your phone will warn you about the risks of downloading and installing unknown apps. You can press OK to proceed with the download.
After the download finishes you would need to tap on the notification to begin the installation process.
Your phone will then again warn you about the risk of installing the unknown apps. To install the app, you first need to go to Settings and activate the toggle on the Install from Unknown sources option.
Once done, you can proceed with your installation process and tap on the app to install.
After the installation completes, you will get a confirmation screen saying that the app was successfully installed. You can then open and use the app from the app drawer.
The Indian Consumer electronic maker Portronics has launches Wireless Portable Speaker PICO. The wireless portable speaker is a compact audio device that can be connected to Bluetooth for wireless connectivity and has powerful sound output, as company states.
According to the company, the user can enjoy movies on their Smartphone, Tab, laptop or computer, all within their personal space. The portable speakers are small and cylindrical in shape and have a diameter of just 5.5 cm and a height of 4.2 cm. It weighs only 50 grams, which the company says makes them portable and easy to carry in the palm while walking in the park. The Bluetooth speakers boast 3W RMS that is said to deliver crisp, loud and clear audio with reasonable bass.
Portronics Wireless Portable Speaker PICO specifications and details
APPEARANCE & TEXTURE:
The new Portronics wireless speakers come with a silicon body that the company says makes it look velvety and smooth touch. This makes up for steadiness on higher volumes. The product comes in three colour variants red, grey and black colours. The product also has a LED light indicators.
Sound Quality:
Portronics PICO boasts of a 3W inbuilt speaker which the firm claims produces an astounding loud output for such a deceptively small size. The user can relish movies and videos in their personal space on the laptop or mobile without worrying others around.
Long Playtime and compatibility:
The Portable PICO speakers are powered by 300mAh inbuilt battery which charges in 60 minutes flat. This means it can play up to two to three hours non-stop. The product is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows devices. The device can be charged from its Micro USB charging port.
CONNECTIVITY:
Portronics PICO has Bluetooth 4.2 BLE connectivity option for low energy consumption and faster speed. If the user wishes to play music from their mobile, it can play music from a distance of up to 30 feet with the help of Bluetooth 4.2 feature.
Pricing and Availability:
The new Portronics PICO speaker comes with a price-tag of INR 999. The device is available at all leading online and offline stores in India. Over that, the speaker comes with a warranty that lasts for 12 months.
Electronic Arts (EA) is the second largest gaming company in the world with popular titles under its name like FIFA, NFL, UFC, Battlefield, Medal of Honor, NFS and so on. The company has more than 300 million users on a global scale. But recently, Check Point Research and CyberInt has found a major vulnerability in the EA (Electronic Arts) Origin gaming client. The chain of vulnerability in the gaming client would have exposed more than 300 million EA’s user accounts. The vulnerabilities could then have been exploited and used to take over, and identify theft of the user’s accounts on a global scale.
Origin is the gaming client of EA and it allows the users to purchase the games from EA’s stores, and play across various platforms. Other than that, the gaming client also comes with features such as profile management, networking with friends, chatting, direct game joining etc. Origin also has integration with some of the world’s most well-known social media and gaming platforms such as Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, Nintendo Network, Facebook etc.
Once the vulnerability was found, the CyberInt and Check Point researchers forwarded it to the EA itself so that the company could roll out a new update for Origin before someone took advantage of it. The researchers also supported and helped EA to develop the fix for the vulnerability and protect the gaming community. It should be noted that the vulnerability was not taken advantage of, and EA is currently developing a fix for it. But it posed a major threat to the user accounts on Origin as someone could have used the vulnerability and taken over the user’s account.
Adrian Stone, Senior Director, Game and Platform Security at Electronic Arts said, “Protecting our players is our priority, as a result of the report from CyberInt and Check Point, we engaged our product security response process to remediate the reported issues. Working together under the tenet of Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure strengthens our relationships with the wider cybersecurity community and is a key part of ensuring our players stay secure.”
Talking about the vulnerability in the EA’s Origin gaming client, it did not require the user to give his login details. Instead, it took advantage of the abandoned subdomains and EA Games’ use of authentication tokens in conjunction with the OAuth Single Sign-On (SSO) and TRUST mechanism built into EA Games’ user login process. If exploited, the hackers could take over the user’s profile and access his financial and personal details, which could be a big problem for both the company and the users as well.
Although EA is developing a fix for the vulnerability, but Check Point and CyberInt has advised the users to enable their two-factor authentication and only use the official EA website to download or purchase the games. Check Point and CyberInt has also asked the users to “be vigilant when receiving links sent from unknown sources”.
“EA’s Origin platform is hugely popular; and if left unpatched, these flaws would have enabled hackers to hijack and exploit millions of users’ accounts,” said Oded Vanunu, Head of Products Vulnerability Research for Check Point. “Along with the vulnerabilities we recently found in the platforms used by Epic Games for Fortnite, this shows how susceptible online and cloud applications are to attacks and breaches. These platforms are being increasingly targeted by hackers because of huge amounts of sensitive customer data they hold.”
According to the YouTube’s official blog post, that was published on Wednesday, announced that it has made few changes on its platform to help its viewers get more control over videos recommended by the app. Currently, the new feature will be available in both Android and iOS apps only. But soon the desktop users will also get this feature. The users are always worried about what videos appears on their YouTube’s homepage so they have been constantly asking for control over the shown videos from the video streaming platform. So, in its latest step, the company has rolled out three new features to its platform for the users.
The first change that the social network made is that now the users can explore related topics such as— baking videos, the latest late-night talk shows or enjoy your favourite music category, and other videos that the user loves to watch on YouTube. The choices that you get are founded on your present personalized suggestions and are intended to assist you to search, what the user is looking for.
The suggested videos could be the ones that the user is currently watching, the channel’s other user is watching or the videos related to the topics that may interest the user. When the user scrolls up on the homepage or on when browsing next one the above might trigger. This new feature is currently available for signed-in users in English on the Android and will be available on iOS and desktop and other languages soon.
The second effort the social platform has made is now it gives more control to remove the videos suggested by the channels that the users don’t want to see. All you have to do is just tap the three-dot menu next to a video on the homepage or Up Next, then “Don’t recommend channel.”
After that, the viewer no longer gets videos from that channel recommended to you on YouTube. The company also added that the user can still get to see the videos if they have subscribed the channel, search for them, or visit the page of the channel or its trending tab. This new rollout is available worldwide on the video streaming app for Android and iOS and will be accessible on desktop shortly.
The platform stated that “Our goal is to explain why these videos surface on your homepage in order to help you find videos from new channels you might like. This new feature is available globally on the YouTube app for iOS today, and will be available on Android and desktop soon.”
YouTube will also give you the reasons why a video may be recommended to you. Sometimes the viewers see videos from the channels that they may not have visited based on the user’s similar interests or might have watched in the past recommended by YouTube. Whenever YouTube suggests the videos the views will now see more information under the video in a small box.
Facebook-owned instant messaging platform, WhatsApp tests all its new features on the beta version of its application. That’s one of the reasons the beta version of WhatsApp is constantly making headlines, as the company adds new and unique features to the application, both for Android and iOS. Now, the company has brought out a new beta version of WhatsApp for Android with version number 2.19.183.This has a new feature called Hide Muted Status Updates. The new beta version of WhatsApp is currently available on the Google Play Store.
According to a report by WABetaInfo, the instant messaging platform is working on a new feature called the Hide Muted Status Updates as it does what its name suggests. By using this feature, the users will be able to hide all the status updates that has already been muted in the user’s contact list. Once enabled, the users can press the “Hide” option on the muted status updates section. The users can tap on the hide option to hide all the muted status updates from his list of contact’s updates. Once hidden, it will be removed from the user’s status updates section.
If the users want to restore the visibility of the hidden muted status updates then he/she can do so by pressing the “Show” button. Currently, this new feature is out only for the Android beta version of WhatsApp. There is no exact timeline of its launch for the stable version of the application. But, since the feature is already out for the beta version, we might see it coming to a stable version soon enough.
Earlier this week, WhatsApp was testing a new feature for its Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode that would allow the users to minimize an ongoing video chat screen. Once minimized, the users can then chat with others at the same time. But this feature was being tested for the beta version of the Android application. With this feature, the users won’t be limited to the workings and functions of the smartphone when video chatting with someone.
The new PiP feature would allow the users to do other tasks inside the app while the video chat screen was minimized. As mentioned above, the feature was exclusive to the Android version of WhatsApp beta version 2.19.177 and it is still in its testing phase. But we might see this feature along with the abovementioned Hide Muted Status Updates feature in the stable version of the app soon enough.
Oppo brought its sub-brand Reno to India couple of weeks ago with the launch of two new smartphones – the Oppo Reno and the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition. Both the smartphones packed serious specifications for the prices they were offered at. The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition was known for its impressive camera and imaging functions and now, the smartphone is getting a new software update that further improves its camera capabilities.
Other than that, the new software update for the device is also bringing the new June 2019 Security patch with it. Currently, the new software update for the device is being rolled out for the Indian users of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition so the users of the device can update it to the latest software.
The most important change the new software update brings for the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition is the AI Night Mode camera feature. It lets the user take better pictures when in low light conditions and during night time. The new update holds a build number CPH1919EX_11_A.10 and it is 247MB in size, but it should be noted that since it is being rolled out through over-the-air (OTA) it might take some time for the update to reach all the users.
According to the update’s changelog, it brings June 2019 Android Security patch, camera optimisations, and stability improvements along with addition of a new AI Night Mode, improves the compatibility of some operators, and optimises network stability.
The users of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition should receive the notification of the new update. But if they don’t then they can manually check for it by going to the Settings and then to Updates. Once done, the phone should start searching for the new update and if found, it will update the device to the new software.
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition specifications and features
Talking about the specifications of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition, it sports a large 6.6-inch panoramic AMOLED display. It is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 855 SoC. The device comes with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It runs Android 9 Pie and has an in-built fingerprint scanner as well. The Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition packs a large 4,065mAh battery with VOOC 3.0 support.
But the main attraction of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition is its cameras, the device packs a triple-rear camera setup at the back, which comprises of a 48MP Sony IMX586 (0.5-inch) sensor with an f/1.7 lens and laser autofocus as its main camera. It is paired with a 13MP periscope telephoto lens along with an 8MP super wide-angle lens. The camera of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition is capable of 10x lossless optical zoom and offers 16-160mm of full focal length.
Other features of the Oppo Reno 10x Zoom Edition includes 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, dual GPS, NFC, and a USB Type-C port.
OnePlus has decided to recruit 250 people into its Closed Beta Programme to test its upcoming software. Closed Beta Programme, users will get OxygenOS updates for the recently launched smartphones OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro.
An executive on the official Forum of the company stated “Closed Beta Programme is an opportunity for us to listen to your feedback and refine or revise our product strategy based on that. It also helps us to find major bugs at an early stage and release more stable Open Beta and MP (official) builds.”
The company has started accepting applications from the users of its 7 series smartphones to be a part of its Close Beta Programme. The users will get the opportunity to test the upcoming software updates for OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro. The company will be recruiting 250 users those will share their feedback that will help the company to improve and review the new software. This will also help to find major bugs at an early stage and enables them to improve the product.
The company explained that currently, it handles three separate streams of builds that run simultaneously. These are Closed Beta, Open Beta, and the MP (official) builds. A closed beta group is a closed group that is handled by the OnePlus elite staff members. “This group needs absolute secrecy, as testers will often get builds and features weeks or even months before they are released to the public.”
For this programme the selected 250 applicants will be required to sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) with OnePlus to be part of this program. The participants are required to share their feedback with the OnePlus community members for better development of the OxygenOS. The applicants need to have some experience with flashing and associated things because they may often require to clean the phone that will ultimately cause loss of data. As said, OnePlus is accepting 250 applications globally for the Closed Beta Programme.
In order to be eligible, the chosen applicants will need to meet certain requirements below:
Use a OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro to test the new OxygenOS
Be an active OnePlus Community member
Furthermore, be willing to constantly communicate and provide feedback to the OnePlus team on Slack
If you are excited to join this programme and you meet all the requirements then all you have to do is visit the SurveyMonkey to apply for the Closed Beta Programme.
Motorola launched its Moto One Vision last week and it added a new smartphone to the Moto One smartphone series. The Motorola One Vision is the first smartphone from the company that houses a hole-punch camera setup in the front and has a 21:9 aspect ratio display. The device is about to go on its first sale today, the users can purchase the Motorola One Vision from Flipkart from 12 noon onwards.
In This Article
Motorola One Vision price, launch offers and availability
The Motorola One Vision’s lone variant with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage holds a price tag of Rs 19,999 and it will go on sale from 12 noon today on Flipkart.
The device comes in two colour options – Bronze Gradient and Sapphire Gradient. But it should be noted that the Sapphire Gradient variant will be available for purchase today while the other Bronze Gradient variant will be made available in the coming weeks.
Talking about the launch offers of the Motorola One Vision, the customers who purchase the device in the first week of sale (June 27 to July 4) will get a no-Cost EMI for 6 months on all major credit and debit cards. Other than that, the Vodafone Idea subscribers will also get up to Rs 3,750 cashback along with an additional data of up to 250GB.
Motorola One Vision specifications and features
The Motorola One Vision sports a 6.3-inch Full HD+ (1,080 x 2,520 pixels) display with an aspect ratio of 21:9. The device is powered by Android 9 Pie and it is also part of Google’s One Program so it will receive Android security and software updates on a regular basis. The smartphone is powered by Samsung’s octa-core Exynos 9609 SoC clocked at 2.2GHz paired with 4GB of RAM.
As said, the smartphone holds 128GB of internal storage with support of microSD card of up to 512GB. But it comes with a hybrid SIM slot. The Motorola One Vision packs a 3,500mAh battery with 15W TurboPower fast charging provision.
On the camera department, the Motorola One Vision features a dual-rear camera setup. This comprises of a 48MP main camera sensor with OIS paired with a 5MP secondary sensor. While on the front, there is a 25MP camera for selfies and video calls.
Other features of the Motorola One Vision include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, NFC, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack and Dolby Audio support. The newly launched smartphone also has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner.
Cash is still king, but it won’t be for very much longer. Around the globe, countries are adopting cashless payment methods from contactless and credit cards to e-banking and more. These new payment options offer many different benefits to everyone. Consumers can pay for goods and services from home, retailers can keep track of revenue, and governments can track income for tax purposes much easier with cashless transactions. Nonetheless, there are drawbacks to a cashless society. We’ll explore the cashless world so you can see if you’re ready to dive in.
In This Article
What are the Benefits of a Cashless Lifestyle?
Going cashless has a huge array of advantages for everyone in society including:
Convenience: Cashless transactions are quick and convenient for retailers and consumers. Chip readers take under ten seconds, and contactless is nearly instant. Cash takes more time for everyone.
Better records: Most financial crimes, including money laundering, tax evasion, and drug distribution, rely on cash-based networks. With digital transactions, there’s a record of every payment you send and receive. This also helps both people and governments, making it easier to calculate and pay taxes, receive returns, and prevent audits.
Reduced crime: Illicit crime relies on cash. Digital records lead directly back to the people who made the transaction. Digital currency also protects consumers and retailers from scammers and other types of fraud.
International payments: Whether you are just visiting a country or conducting business, calculating exchanges, and getting the right amount of money is no easy task. With cashless options, your mobile device handles all of that for you.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Cashless Lifestyle?
Going cashless does come with some problems that consumers need to be aware of, too.
Hacking: Hackers constantly try to attack banks and other financial institutions. In cashless societies, it’s much easier for someone to drain all your funds because you don’t have another option. Some countries do protect victims of such crimes, but getting your money back and solving the issue is itself a huge ordeal.
Inequality: A significant percentage of the population does not have access to a bank account. Furthermore, they don’t have access to smartphones or other devices in which they could make payments. Countries have begun experimenting with different techniques, but they still have much more research to do.
Privacy: The records of transactions can also be used against you. Even if you have nothing to hide, online retailers and credit card companies use your purchase history to target advertisements toward you. Further, most nations require all income to be reported on taxes even if it’s just a friend giving you $20.
The tech isn’t perfect: Problems occur. There may be a glitch or an update happening at a critical time, whatever it is can leave you stranded. The same goes with merchants whose systems could malfunction for some reason. Even a dead battery on your phone can leave your broke.
Fees, fees, fees: Cashless transactions feel free, but there’s always a fee in there somewhere. Everybody knows Visa charges a typical 3% per transaction. That cost is pushed onto retailers and eventually, consumers. Many times, it may just be a little convenience fee here and there, but over time this can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.
Will Cash Ever Go Extinct?
Definitely not in the near future. Digital transactions are on the rise, but even in highly developed countries like the United States cash still makes up over 30% of all transactions. This number is declining, but many countries still don’t feel comfortable going completely cashless.
In fact, some major tech cities have even passed “cashless bans.” Places like New York and San Francisco are enacting or considering legislation that would prohibit retailers from banning cash in their stores. Citing concerns over privacy and inequality, these places are making sure nobody gets left out.
The Bottom Line: A Promising Technology With a Caveat or Two
So what should you do? Cashless is the wave of the future. India is one of the best examples of this. A few years ago, there were virtually no cashless transactions in the country. Now they are over 800 million per month. Moreover, this number is growing rapidly with targets of increasing this tenfold by 2021. For now, consumers in India should always keep a little cash around in case they need it. Simultaneously, they need to make sure they protect their digital transactions.
The best way to do this is through a VPN (Virtual Private Network). With a VPN, your internet connection is protected with the highest levels of security technology, preventing cyber-attacks. It also protects your privacy from hackers, advertisers, and your ISP. Overall, a VPN in India is the best way of enjoying the benefits of a cashless society while preventing risks to your safety online.
The last few years of smartphone upgrades have gotten pretty dull for consumers. Sure, cameras have gotten better, processing speed is faster, and devices are slimmer. But a phone released in 2019 isn’t much different from one released in 2015. However, major companies like Samsung and Huawei have rocked the tech world with the announcement of foldable phones due to be released this year. Foldable phones are a huge breakthrough, but with prices around $2,000, are they worth it?
Let’s take a look.
In This Article
1) You’re a Guinea Pig
When it comes to first generation technology dating back to products like the original iPad and iPhone, both the software and hardware just weren’t there yet. That’s because nobody, aside from executives, research teams, and corporate partners have even touched these products. Although the latest smartphones might not be as exciting as they once were, billions of consumers have tested them over multiple generations. This just isn’t the case with foldables. Even at the product preview conferences, people were quick to notice bumps on the screen where it folds in both the Samsung and Huawei product demos.
2) They’re Expensive
How many people complained about the $1500 iPhone? Say what you want, but it’s a top of the line phone even if it’s overpriced. When it comes to foldable phones, you’re paying for the incredible OLED technology and all the new components that needed to be developed, including the specialized hinge. But are you getting your value for that price? Remember, it’s not exactly a tablet. Even though more businesses are adopting tablets for enterprise purposes, it’s not the same thing. Simply put, it’s a huge amount of money for untested technology.
3) The Software Problem
At the Android Summit Developer Conference, Google did announce it would support foldable devices. However, they haven’t confirmed it yet for the release of Android Q due later this year. Even with OS support, this may not include apps. So there’s no guarantee that all your favourite streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Prime, and more will function properly with a foldable device. This will naturally happen over time, but now there is not much available for first generation phones.
The greater concern is security. With new hardware, software, apps, and comparably little tested, these devices have all kinds of known and unknown vulnerabilities. A typical trend with first-generation products is that developers discontinue support quickly. Consumers forget the most important component of updates is security. When devices stop receiving them, they become vulnerable to all kinds of hacks and malware. One example, the original iPad launched with iOS 3 and was only updated to iOS 5. Whereas Gen 2 released a year later was supported until iOS 9. That’s a five-year difference in support.
But the Technology is Amazing!
For some people, being a part of the first generation is the most important thing. This technology is the first major innovation in smartphones since its inception. If users temper their expectations and don’t mind shelling out the cost of monthly rent on a phone, then they get more than just bragging rights. They get to be among the first people to use this technology. It’s not just trendsetters; many tech enthusiasts and developers actually enjoy being a part of this process. They don’t mind logging errors, working through buggy software, and having issues here and there because they get to directly shape how the technology develops.
If that sounds like you, then you can definitely enjoy a foldable phone. As many critics have pointed out, it may not be a perfect infinity display, and there may be crease here and there, but you do get a truly novel device.
Just make sure that if you choose to go down this road, you take security into your own hands. Most importantly, protect your digital security with a VPN. The vast majority of all cyber attacks come over the internet. Through using a VPN, you protect your network connections with the latest security technology. This is essential for all internet-connected devices but doubly true for new products like foldable phones.
Should I Buy a Foldable Phone?
If you’re an average consumer, a foldable phone likely isn’t for you. You’re better off waiting a few years until the technology is less expensive and has had more time to develop. However, for tech enthusiasts and trendsetters, these first-generation foldable phones are an excellent opportunity to be among the first people to use this amazing new technology. Just make sure to stay safe by using a VPN. With it, you prevent hackers from stealing your data or damaging your new phone. Ultimately, with new technology like this, it’s really up to you to take security into your own hands.
PUBG has become one among the most phenomenal and popular games across the globe today. Now, it has been announced by the publisher of the title that Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds’ next game is in development. However, the new upcoming game has not been named yet. The game publisher did reveal, however, that the new game is being made by a studio named Striking Distance, that has appointed ex-Call of Duty and Dead Space developer Glen Schofield as the CEO.
As of now, it is being speculated that the project is in its infancy stage and hence, very little is known about it. According to PUBG Corporation’s press release, the game is an “original narrative experience within the PUBG universe.” However, Schofield also dropped a hint that it is not necessary for the game to be a part of the battle royale genre by saying, “As a creative, the freedom to explore the PUBG universe has me excited about the possibilities, which I view as beyond the battle royale genre.”
He also tweeted that the game should not be considered a sequel to PUBG.
We should mention that PUBG began as an Arma 2 mod and was later spun off into its own battle royale title in early 2017. The game was first made available for early access on PC and later, it also came to Xbox One and PS4.
It has now become one among the most influential games of the 21st century. PUBG is today one among the most played titles and has fans across the world. It is the game that has inspired the current biggest possible trend in battle royale genre, including games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
We should also mention that recently, PUBG got a new update that is named as #30. The game’s latest update is meant only for PC and now, it has gone live. It gets a number of new elements to PUBG including a new handgun, and an amphibious new vehicle in the form of BRDM-2 that has more damage resistance, and exploding fuel cans. The game has also got a new ledge grab feature with the latest update that enables people to climb up the edges of the roofs and fences.
Another notable addition is the text-based Radio Message feature, using which players can communicate without voice chat. We should add that the maintenance for PUBG update #30 is over and the servers with all the new changes are now live.
Popular instant messaging app WhatsApp has updated its FAQ, to announce that it will soon stop working for some smartphones by the end of this year. The company has revealed that it will no longer provide services to Android versions 2.3.7 and older, iOS 7 and older.
However, we should mention that WhatsApp will continue working on devices with Android versions 2.3.7 or older and iOS 7 or older until February 1, 2020. But then, people using these handsets will no longer be able to create new accounts nor verify existing accounts. WhatsApp has warned the users of Windows phone that its devices will no longer be able to use the operating system after December 2019. The app may not even be available on the Microsoft store after July 19, 2019. Even Windows users are not able to create or reverify their own account. The company has recommended it’s users to use Android 4.0.3 or more and iOS 8 or a higher version to continue using WhatsApp. The app will also work on KaiOS 2.5.1 (or later).
“You’ll no longer be able to use all Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019, and WhatsApp might not be available in the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019. Because we no longer actively develop for these operating systems, some features might stop functioning at any time,” the company’s FAQ said.
But the company is still allowing its users who already have the app installed on their smartphones to keep on using it. Users who are still using their old smartphones and Windows operating phones are likely to be most affected by this new change.
This is not the first time that the Facebook-owned WhatsApp has taken such a step. Earlier also the company announced that the app will stop working on smartphones running on Windows Phone operating system. The company has announced that the users of Windows phone will no longer be able to operate the app after December 31, 2019.
Whatsapp is also testing picture in picture or PiP mod for the iOS and Android version of its application. The new update is being rolled out for the beta users. According to a report, the new update will allow the users to minimize the video chat screen itself so that the user can chat with others simultaneously.
Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad has launched a new smartphone in the Indian market named Coolpad Cool 3 Plus. The new Coolpad Cool 3 Plus is an entry-level handset that comes with features like dual security, a quad-core Helio CPU, a large display and a fingerprint scanner. The device is touted to be completely made in India and it is aimed for the millennials in the country who want more number of features for their money. Here’s a look at the price and specifications of the handset:
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Coolpad Cool 3 Plus price and availability
Coolpad Cool 3 Plus holds a price tag of Rs 5,999 for the 2GB RAM/16GB storage variant while its 3GB RAM/32GB storage model costs Rs 6,499. The device is available in two colour options – Ocean Blue and Cherry Black. It will be available on Amazon India starting July 2.
Speaking on the new launch, Pankaj Updahyay, Online Business Head, Coolpad India, said, “The Coolpad Cool 3 Plus is set to be a gamechanger in the Indian budget smartphone market. Therefore, it is essential for us to make the phone accessible to each and every one. Launching the phone through India’s leading online shopping destination, Amazon.in, will give us exponentially enhanced visibility. The Cool 3 Plus will be available on Amazon India from 2nd July and we believe that the sales will skyrocket on the back of the website’s vast reach and customer base along with our hard-to-miss prices.”
Coolpad Cool 3 Plus specifications and features
Coolpad Cool 3 Plus sports a 5.7-inch dewdrop screen with an aspect ratio of 19:9 and it is powered by a quad-core MT6761 (Helio A22) SoC clocked at 2.0GHz. The device holds up to 3GB of RAM and up to 32GB of internal storage. It also has support for a microSD card. The device runs Android 9.0 Pie and packs a 3,000mAh battery that does not have support for fast charging.
The Coolpad Cool 3 Plus is light in weight and has a thickness of 8.2mm. The smartphone also packs s rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. It supports dual-SIM (GSM + GSM).
On the imaging front, the Coolpad Cool 3 Plus packs a single 13MP rear camera and on its front, there is an 8MP camera for selfies and video calls.
The Coolpad Cool 3 Plus also offers USB OTG support that can be connected with card reader, U-disk etc. Other features of the newly launched smartphone include, “Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, gravity sensor, light sensor and proximity sensor.
Coolpad India CEO, Fisher Yuan said, “We are thrilled to launch the Coolpad Cool 3 Plus which will transform the definition of budget smartphones in the country. While designing the smartphone, we have kept in mind the needs of young millennials who look for products that exceed their expectations. The Indian smartphone industry is at a cusp of innovation and with the launch of our latest product, we aim to provide Indian customers with the best of technology and upgrade the smartphone era. To further this, we will soon be launching 5G-ready smartphones in India with 800+ patents under its name. We are confident that the smartphone will appeal to the Indian masses and help Coolpad achieve its overarching goal to become the most loved smartphone brand and hit the 3 million smartphones mark by the end of FY 2019.”
Popular battleroyale game PUBG’s latest update for PC is now live and it gets a number of new elements. The update is called as #30 and it gets a new handgun, and an amphibious new vehicle in the form of BRDM-2 that has more damage resistance and exploding fuel cans. A new ledge grab feature has also been added with the latest update to PUBG. This enables people to climb up the edges of the roofs, fences and other such elements in the game.
We should also mention another very notable addition is the text-based Radio Message feature, that lets players communicate without voice chat. The maintenance for PUBG update #30 is over and the servers with all the new changes are now live. Coming to the key additions of the PUBG update, it has got a BRDM-2, that is basically an amphibious vehicle that can be summoned using the flare gun on all the maps. It basically replaces the UAZ and can accommodate four players. It also reduces weapon and red zone damage.
The next major addition to the game is Deagle, which is basically a handgun that has the highest damage of any pistol in the game. Using this, you can crack a level 3 helmet in two headshots and uses .45 ACP ammo while dealing 62 damage per shot. This will be available on all maps and will be capable of fitting red-dot and holographic sights.
With the latest PUBG update, even the gas cans can be used as a weapon. Users can just destroy it when enemies are nearby. While shooting at gas cans will make them explode, we recommend you to keep in mind that all the players in the explosion radius will face the damage. We should also mention that only one gas can be made to explode at a time and each one will appear as a separate item in the inventory.
Speaking of gameplay elements, PUBG update #30 gets a new mechanic called ledge grab, that allows players to scale fences or walls of up to 2.5 metre in height. A new communication method has also arrived that is called Radio Messages. This lets players talk with teammates via text messages and will come in use when the audio chat is not available.
In addition to this, kill distance will now become a part of the centre screen kill message. The game has also got a new supply system with the update.
Chinese technology company Xiaomi is coming back with its Mi Days Sale on Amazon India’s website. As always, the company will be selling its smartphones and accessories at big discounts during the sale that begins from today and will go on till June 30. The company is offering a discount of up to Rs 6,500 on its products. In addition to this, the buyers can get up to Rs 3,000 off on exchanges.
Starting with the discounts, Redmi 7’s 2GB/32GB RAM storage model can be purchased at Rs 7,999 while its 3GB/32GB RAM storage variant can be picked up at Rs 8,999. We should mention that the handset runs a 4,000mAh battery and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 SoC.
Redmi Y3 smartphone is also available at a discounted price during the Mi Days Sale. While its 3GB RAM/32GB storage version is available at Rs 9,999 during the sale, its 4G RAM/64GB storage model can be picked up at Rs 11,999. We should mention that the handset sports a 32MP camera and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 SoC.
Redmi 6A’s 2GB/16GB RAM storage variant can be bought at a discount of Rs 1,000 for Rs 5,999. On the other hand, the 3GB/32GB variant that was earlier priced Rs 7,999 can be purchased at Rs 6,499 during the Mi Days Sale.
The company’s Mi A2 smartphone, that was launched in India at Rs 17,499, is now being offered Rs 10,999 for the 4GB RAM/64GB RAM storage variant. Xiaomi is also offering an additional discount of Rs 1,000 on exchange offers. The 6GB RAM/128GB variant of the handset, that was initially launched in India at Rs 19,999, can now be purchased at Rs 15,999. Users can also get a Rs 3,000 off on the higher-end model if they opt for an exchange.
Redmi Y2 3GB RAM/32GB RAM variant was priced at Rs 10,499, but now, it can be bought at Rs 7,999. The other storage variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage was earlier priced at Rs 13,499 and can be bought for Rs 9,999.
The company is offering heavy discounts on its smartphones as well as accessories. Redmi 6 Pro that features full HD+ notch display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 is being sold for Rs 9,999 for its 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant during the Mi Days Sale.
During the sale, the Mi Band 3, that was earlier priced Rs 2,199, can be purchased for Rs 1,999. Mi Band HRX is also being offered for 1,299 after the price cut. Mi Wi-Fi bulb can be purchased for Rs 1,299 instead of Rs 1,499. Mi Body composition scale, that earlier cost Rs 2,999, is now available at a discounted price of Rs 1,999.
Chinese smartphone maker Realme has rolled out the Android Pie-based ColorOS 6 update for its Realme U1 and Realme 1 users. The company has rolled out a new update in an incremental manner. The update will reach a small percentage of users in the beginning, and after that, a broader rollout will begin. But before doing this, the smartphone maker has already tested the new update by rolling out ColorOS 6 beta update previously this month.
Realme India Support responded to a user on its official Twitter account that says, “The stable update of ColorOS 6 along with Android Pie for Realme 1 and Realme U1 is in a staged rollout process and it will soon be reaching to all the devices.”
According to the changelog, with the Android Pie-based ColorOS 6 update, new notification icons in the status bar has been added. The new update also includes a new navigation gesture and adds an app drawer to ColorOS launcher. It also comes with a riding mode and live wallpapers. The update comes with an Android security patch for May 2019. Apart from that, the new update includes a revamped UI of the notification panel, an updated UI of AI Board, and a new default theme. In regard to the camera, the Nightscape mode has been added. The new update also includes few applications like Realme Theme Store, Realme Game center, Realme community.
Realme U1 specifications
Realme U1 features a 6.3-inch full-HD+ LCD display that comes with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. Powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P70 SoC clicked up to 2.1GHz, the handset comes with ARM G72 GPU and is available in 3GB/4GB RAM options. The device has up to 64GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card off up to 256GB.
For imaging duties, it has a dual rear camera setup that houses a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor. On the front, there is a 25MP Sony IMX576 sensor that has an f/2.0 aperture. Realme U1 packs a 3,500mAh battery and for connectivity, there is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, micro-USD port, OTG support, and 3.5mm audio jack.
In an unrelated piece of news, the company launched its flagship smartphone Realme X in the home market. But recently, it announced that it will be launching its flagship smartphone in India that is scheduled for July 17.
Realme India’s CEO Madhav Sheath confirmed that the smartphone will be launched in India and come with different specifications and features than the model that was unveiled in China. The flagship smartphone will be launched in India with onion and garlic finish too. The company’s CEO also confirmed that there will be a special edition of the Realme X that will also be launched in the country.
At the ongoing MWC Shanghai 2019, companies are taking their turns announcing new technologies that they are working on or planning to launch in the future. While Vivo unveiled its new AR glasses, Oppo showcased its under the screen selfie camera. Now, Oppo has unveiled another technology in the smartphone world at the ongoing event. This is a new communications technology and Oppo is the first one to launch it. Called MeshTalk, the technology is a decentralized, end-to-end system with which the company can cover up to 3 Km of outdoor environment and the signal relay between the devices can be used. The range can be further increased in a more crowded environment. This technology enables the users to call or chat across medium distance without using the cellular network, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
The applications of the MeshTalk can be many once it launches in the future, however, currently it is limited to the Oppo devices only. With this, Oppo devices will be able to create an ad hoc local area network across a wide area. The user will then be able to communicate directly with another user on the other end of the network. So, in short to medium distances users will be able to connect and talk with each other without relying on any cellular or VoLTE networks. They would simply be able to use Oppo’s MeshTalk to communicate. MeshTalk can also be used to connect multiple devices at once, so the users can add multiple devices to create an ad hoc local area network (LAN) and it would enable the group chat capability. This would expand the communication range of MeshTalk via signal relay.
To develop the MeshTalk feature, Oppo has customized the communication chipset to realize the advantages of the lower power consumption and longer distance. Using MeshTalk, the users can guarantee a higher level of privacy than the traditional networks. According to Oppo, MeshTalk can also help users in emergency communications and some outdoor environment as well.
According to Oppo, its new MeshTalk can be used by the users in certain situations like when there is no availability of networks or internet access. Oppo also claims that MeshTalk won’t have much effect on the battery life of the smartphone. The company also has plans to work on a 72-hours standby mode so that the smartphones can be reached in a situation of emergency when the battery of the device is low. Currently, it is not known if Oppo will bring the MeshTalk feature to all its existing smartphones or it will launch only in some new select devices.
Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has entered the world of Augmented Reality with the launch of its first AR glasses at the ongoing MWC Shanghai 2019. The AR glasses from Vivo are still in their prototype phase and ad of now, they are just called Vivo AR glasses.
Vivo AR glasses are light in weight and they consist of two transparent displays with 6DoF tracking. The Vivo AR glasses connects with a cable to the company’s own yet-to-be-announced 5G smartphone. The company is also expected to announce its 5G smartphone at the ongoing event.
According to Vivo, its AR glasses has five applications including gaming, 5G theatre, office work, facial recognition and object recognition. The company also posted a promotional video on Weibo showing a user playing games while donning the Vivo AR glasses. The user isn’t engulfed completely in a virtual world like one usually does with headsets. On the other hand, Vivo AR glasses show the user virtual elements like Jellyfish on top of real world elements.
Currently, there is no word on the price or release date of the Vivo AR glasses. However, the company is expected to announce its 5G smartphone later this year and we might also get to see Vivo’s AR glasses launched at the same event. Vivo’s shift from making smartphones to working on AR glasses might be a hint of company’s future plans. There is a possibility that we might see more of Vivo’s products in the future excluding smartphones. We might also get to see smartwatches, AR glasses, 5G smartphones and some other technology from the company.
The applications of the Vivo AR glasses may be many more by the time it launched. Furthermore, one of its major uses will be in the gaming sector where the companies can use the AR glasses to their advantage. Other than gaming, Vivo AR glasses can be used for a number of other uses like studying and doing office works. The working of AR glasses is different than how VR glasses work. In AR glasses, users can see the real world and the virtual world at the same time and he can interact with them both at once. On the other hand, VR glasses are a completely different technology as it is so immersive that the user feels like he is in a different world. Once a user wears VR glasses, he has no sight of the real world and he cannot interact with it till the time he takes it off.
Monsoon is here finally! And while rains bring immense joy and moments of happiness, they have some downsides too. One of the major drawbacks of monsoon is that your smartphone may get wet and damaged. To avoid situations like these, you can buy one among these 10 smartphones that come with an IP rating and hence, are waterproof. With these, you wouldn’t have to face any losses. Take a look:
In This Article
Samsung Galaxy S10, S10 Plus
Samsung’s current flagship smartphones – Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus – pack one among the most powerful specifications. They offer a punch-hole design display and are powered by Qualcomm‘s Snapdragon 855 SoC. Both the devices come with an IP68 rating, that makes them water resistant and dust-resistant. The company has also said that they can withstand being submerged as deep as 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Apple’s current flagship smartphones – iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max – come with the best possible specifications that the company has offered till now. So, we could really not expect the Cupertino-based technology giant to miss out on an IP rating. Both the premium smartphones come with an IP68 rating. The company has also said that iPhone XR and iPhone XR Max can stay submerged in 2 meters’ deep water for up to 30 minutes and they would not be damaged.
Google Pixel 3 XL
The current flagship smartphone from Google – Pixel 3 XL – is also water resistant. The key highlight of the smartphone is its camera, but then the IP68 rating is just another reason to buy it. You can use it on a rainy day or even take it inside the water with you to click pictures.
Huawei P30 Pro
Another photography-focussed smartphone on our list, Huawei P30 Pro comes with up to 50X digital zoom. It is the first ever smartphone to offer such a functionality. It has a quad-camera setup and in certain tests, it has even surpassed the Pixel 3XL. The fact that it is waterproof further gives customers a reason to buy it. It comes with an IP68 rating, and that means that it is waterproof as well as dustproof.
Samsung Galaxy S10e
Samsung Galaxy S10e is the affordable version of the South Korean technology giant’s current flagship handsets. However, this doesn’t mean that Samsung did not add an IP rating to the device. Samsung Galaxy S10e comes with the IP68 rating, just like Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus. This makes it water and dust resistant.
iPhone XR
The next device on our list is the iPhone XR. The affordable iPhone of 2018 comes with an IP68 rating, just like its elder siblings. So, if you buy this instead of the more premium devices by Apple, you wouldn’t have to face issues regarding it not being waterproof.
Google Pixel 3
Another smartphone that you can consider is the Google Pixel 3. Most of the specifications of the smartphone are similar to that of the Pixel 3 XL. The IP rating of the device is no exception. Like Pixel 3 XL, Google Pixel 3 has an IP68 rating.
Huawei Mate 20 Pro
This is Huawei’s flagship in the Mate series. It comes with a triple rear camera setup that is housed in a square module. The handset is also waterproof and dustproof. We should mention that this is a very premium device that comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and is powered by Huawei’s Kirin 980 processor.
LG V40 ThinQ
The LG V40 ThinQ smartphone is the company’s current flagship of the year. The handset comes with IP68 rating and can survive in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. It is also dust proof and splash proof. So, it can survive the rain too.
Honourable mention: OnePlus 7 Pro
While OnePlus 7 Pro does not come with an IP rating, the company has boasted a lot about its water-resistance capabilities. OnePlus had even posted a video of the handset being dropped in a bucket of water before its launch.
To meet the requirements of the ever-changing technology world, Google keeps on adding new features to its platforms. One of its platforms is Google Maps and it is a widely used navigation application around the world. Google has lately been updating maps a lot. Earlier, it was seen testing a new feature called “Stay Safer” in India. The search giant tested this new feature in the country for a while and now, it is being rolled out for everyone. The feature does what its name suggests – it safeguards people traveling in public transport. Once it is active, it will alert the user if any public transport they are traveling in goes off-route.
The new feature also gives the option to share the live location of the user with their friends and family. Currently, this feature is being rolled out for Android users in India. Here’s how the users can use this feature:
To use this feature, the users would need to update Google Maps. After updating, users can search for the destination and get directions.
Then they would have to tap the “Stay Safer” button that is present at the bottom of the screen.
This will prompt two options – “get off-route alerts” and “share live trips”.
Once you have pressed the get off-route alerts, Google Maps will alert you by sending a notification to your smartphone. However, this will only happen if your transport deviates 0.5 km from the suggested route.
On the other hand, the Share live trip option can be used to share the live location of the user on the social media or with friends and family. With this, the user can always be sure that his friends and family knows about his/her location when he wants.
Speaking about the new features, Amanda Bishop, Product Manager, Google Maps said in a statement, “Through our extensive research across India, we found that a lot of people limit their mobility due to safety-related concerns. To address this, we are launching another India-first feature that will deliver a more relevant and reliable experience to our users. Our new ‘Stay Safer’ feature on Google Maps will alert users who are traveling in taxis, auto-rickshaws etc. in case their vehicle goes off route, giving them peace of mind. At Google Maps, we are committed to helping make journeys safe and hassle-free and look forward to bringing more experiences like this to India and beyond.”
Although the new feature is rolling out for Android users, it is currently not available for the iOS users.
Technology giant Lenovo has announced a new service called ‘Made to Order’ for the customers in India. The company has started rolling this out and it is now available for its Thinkpad laptops. The new service offered by the company allows you to customize your own Thinkpad laptops. With the service, you get the option to create a factory-built custom PC that offers over 1,00,000 configurations. Currently, the service is available only for ThinkPad line but the company also promises to bring it for all other sub-brands in the next 90 days.
On the launch of the new service Rahul Agarwal- CEO & MD Lenovo, India said, “At Lenovo, we understand that in today’s world every individual uses a laptop differently, because of which there has been a growing demand for personalized laptops, which cater to specific needs. The launch of this service is a big step in our journey to becoming a truly customer-centric company and will prove to be a compelling proposition for our direct e-commerce business on www.lenovo.com”.
According to the company, with the use of automation technology, the laptops will be custom created and will be delivered to the customer’s doorsteps in just over two weeks.
Customization options are available across the following parameters:
CPU – AMD/Intel; Intel CPU Customization options – Core i3, i5 or i7.
Step 2: Choose the specifications, upgrades, and accessories.
Step 3: Get it delivered right to your doorstep.
Last month, Qualcomm and Lenovo came together to launch the first 5G-enabled always-connected laptop powered by the Snapdragon 8cx 5G Compute Platform. Both the companies Qualcomm and Lenovo have collaborated on the project to demonstrate the uses of the always-connected computers on the 5G networks. The name of the new laptop is Project Limitless and it is a prototype device that is currently not ready to be launched as a commercial handset.
Earlier this month, Chinese smartphone maker Oppo released a teaser showcasing an under-display selfie camera on a device that comes with a full-screen and does not have any notch. Till now, the smartphone was still in its prototype phase, but now, the company has finally revealed its under-display camera sensor.
The smartphone with the under-display selfie camera will provide a full-screen experience as it will come with no notch and no hole-cut out. In addition to this, it will also have a better screen-to-body ratio. Oppo has unveiled its new camera technology to the public for the first time at the MWC Shanghai 2019, and it has also demonstrated how it works.
To avoid the full notch that was introduced in the past, the smartphone makers came up with their own version of solutions. Till now, we have seen the waterdrop shaped notch, the punch-hole camera notch, the pop-up selfie camera, the swing camera setup, the rotating camera, the sliding camera and even the flip camera. But none of them were perfect as the notches hid the screen and the ones with no-notch displays had moving camera parts. With the moving parts of the smartphone, there is always a chance of it getting damaged in the long run. When under-display camera was introduced, it seemed like a solution better than notches and moving parts.
According to Oppo, the display of the smartphone uses a custom transparent material that works with the redesigned pixel structure so that the light can reach the camera sensor. The company also said that the selfie camera sensor placed under the display is larger than the front-facing snappers of other smartphones that come with notches. The selfie camera of the smartphone is even said to come with a wider aperture lens in the front. When not in use, the screen above the selfie camera seems to work as a regular screen and it responds to touch and displays content as well. Oppo has also said that the underdisplay selfie camera’s quality won’t be compromised even though it has a layer of screen above it.
But apart from that, the company did say that the screen in front of the display will offer reduced photo image quality. There will also be problems like haze, glare and colour case that will have to be solved. According to the company, it has developed an algorithm that can be tuned according to the hardware of the device so that these issues can be fixed. However, Oppo further claimed that the quality is “on par with the mainstream devices”.
But then, we should mention that the under-display camera is still new and is in its first phase of launch, it would definitely have some problems and issues. But with time it can become a proper solution to the notch, provided it is improved. We may even get to see many other smartphones with the under-display selfie cameras in future.
