WhatsApp starts limiting forward messages to 5 chats globally
In July 2018, the message forwarding limit in WhatsApp was decreased to a maximum of five chats in India. And now, WhatsApp has decided to roll out this limit to forwarding messages on a global scale. Now the limit of forwarding WhatsApp messages to five chats will not just be applicable in India, but all WhatsApp users in the world will have to comply with it.
This encompasses both Android and iOS versions of the popular instant messaging app. The update has already started rolling out to WhatsApp users across the globe. The primary reason behind rolling out the update on a global level is to curb the spread of fake news and for WhatsApp to maintain its role as a private messaging platform.
WhatsApp had said when it first launched this update in India, “We built WhatsApp as a private messaging app – a simple, secure, and reliable way to communicate with friends and family. And as we’ve added new features, we’ve been careful to try and keep that feeling of intimacy, which people say they love. In India – where people forward more messages, photos, and videos than any other country in the world – we’ll also test a lower limit of 5 chats at once and we’ll remove the quick forward button next to media messages.”
There have been a lot of fake rumours that perpetuated in the form of WhatsApp messages over a long period of time. The fake news spread via WhatsApp messages bred a lot of contention amongst users and led to trolling and online violence. There have also been some severe cases in which this online bullying was followed by offline violence. This led to a few deaths as well. All this forced WhatsApp to take measures to prevent fake news from reaching to the masses.
And hence it updated its message forwarding feature that limited the number of forwards to five chats. This, WhatsApp said, would ensure that sensitive news is not spread beyond a certain limit and conversations can be as private as possible. With the global roll out, WhatsApp is applying the same strategy for other countries as well.
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Samsung announces its Exynos 7904 processor for mid-range smartphones
South Korean technology giant Samsung has unveiled its latest processor that will be used in budget and mid-range smartphones. Samsung’s latest SoC is called Exynos 7904 and according to the company, it is based on ARM’s A73 cores from 2016. So the chipset uses the same cores as MediaTek’s Helio P60 mid-range processor but is supposed to come with a configuration that will make it work more efficiently.
Prior reports have suggested that the Exynos 7904 processor will power the Samsung Galaxy M20 smartphone. Now that the company has launched it just before unveiling its Galaxy M10 and Galaxy M20 smartphones, those reports are seeming to be credible.
Samsung’s Exynos 7904 has two Cortex A73 cores that are clocked at 1.8GHz and the rest of the six Cortex A53 cores are clocked at 1.6GHz. All of these are arranged in the big.LITTLE architecture.
While the two Cortex A73 cores are the high-performance cores that take care of the performance-related tasks, the other six cores are dedicated to taking care of all the background operations. Samsung has said that the SoC not only guarantees speed while performing everyday tasks but carries them out with focus and efficiency.
The newly launched chipset is made of 14nm process and comes with an image signal processor that can support up to a resolution of 32MP in terms of a single sensor, and can hold up to three cameras at once. We should mention that the processor has support for elements like ultra-wide angle sensors and depth sensors.
For video playback, Samsung’s new Exynos 7904 SoC will be compatible with UHD playback of up to 30fps and it will support full HD playback of up to 120fps. The chipset also has support for the widescreen resolution and it is worth noting that it is compatible with a screen resolution of up to full HD+.
The latest processor provides up to three-carrier network aggregation and has support for Cat.12 LTE network speeds. For this, a bandwidth of up to 600Mbps is permitted by the chipset. We would just conclude by saying that all of this certainly means a number of new features that we can expect to see in upcoming mid-range smartphone models by Samsung.
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Nokia 3.1 Plus to get Android Pie update soon, says Geekbench listings
The Nokia 3.1 Plus has recently been spotted three times on Geekbench. In all the three listings we observed that the smartphone is running on Android 9.0 Pie. In one of the listings, the smartphone scores 834 for its single-core and 3,520 for its multi-core. The Nokia 3.1 Plus, like many HMD Global devices is part of the Android One programme. The devices which recently received Android Pie update are Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 5.1 Plus, Nokia 8, Nokia X5, Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 7.1. Taking that into account, it is not surprising that the Nokia 3.1 Plus would also receive the same update soon enough.
To recall, the Nokia 3.1 Plus features a 6-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720×1440 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. There is a 2.5D glass that comes without a display notch. The device is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 (MT6762) SoC. There is a single RAM variant of 3GB that brings 32GB onboard storage. A microSD card slot expands the memory by up to 400GB. There is a dual rear camera setup that includes a 13MP sensor along with an f/2.0, PDAF lens and a 1.12-micron pixel size.
The secondary monochrome sensor is 5MP that comes with an f/2.4, fixed focus lens and 1.12-micron pixel size. The Nokia 3.1 Plus is powered by a 3,500mAh battery and has multiple connectivity options. They include a 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS/A-GPS, microUSB and a 3.5 headphone jack. Sensors include accelerometer, ambient light sensor, e-compass, fingerprint sensor, gyroscope, and proximity sensor. The Nokia 3.1 Plus measures 156.68×76.44×8.19mm.
Now that we have given you the good news, there is some bad news as well. The Nokia 8, for which Android Pie update was announced on December 19, 2018, has been delayed. Considering that it is one of the best smartphones HMD Global has launched, owners might have been very disillusioned. The Nokia 8 sports an IPS LCD capacitive 5.3-inch touchscreen. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor.
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro is at par with P20 Pro after it scores 109 on DxOMark
In terms of photography, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has proved that it is no less than the Huawei P20 Pro. It has scored an impressive 109 points on DxOMark’s smartphone photography and videography tests. Considering that it has surpassed the likes of Google Pixel 3, iPhone XS Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 9, it shows Huawei’s competence in terms of camera. To talk about the scoring elaboratively, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro scored 114 points for photography and 97 points for videography.
The Huawei Mate 20 Pro scored the same in photography as the P20 Pro. It fell short with a narrow mark scoring one point less than the Huawei P20 Pro in terms of videography. While the Huawei P20 Pro scored 98 points, the Mate 20 Pro scored 97. When we go by the net performance, DxOMark notes that the triple rear camera setup of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro delivers good details for medium and long-range shots when zoomed in. The bokeh effects that we see with a blur gradient is owed to the camera’s good depth adjustment.
DxOMark also mentioned that the smartphone exhibits a slight orange and pink hue in photos that are clicked in bright outoor and indoor areas, also it has an inconsistent autofocus. It is because of these reasons that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro has lost some points. The points declining factor is also owed to its white balance adjustment when we zoom in. As mentioned, the device has a triple rear camera setup that includes an 8MP, 20MP and a 40MP sensor. The smartphone sports an AMOLED capacitive 6.39-inch touchscreen.
The screen resolution of the Huawei Mate 20 Pro is 1,440×3,120 pixels and the aspect ratio is 19.5:9. The handset runs on Android 9.0 Pie and is powered by a HiSilicon Kirin 980 octa-core processor. There are two RAM variants—6GB and 8GB. The storage variants that come along with them are 128GB and 256GB respectively. Connectivity options of the device include WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, Infrared port and USB 3.1.
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Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go to launch in India in Q1 2019: Report
Xiaomi recently launched its Redmi Note 7 smartphone in China, which garnered a lot of appreciation for offering powerful specifications at an affordable price. The launch of the smartphone, which is the first in the company’s Redmi range, will reportedly be followed by Redmi Note 7 Pro next month. And now, a report has surfaced online which claims that Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go smartphones would be launched in India soon.
According to MySmartPrice, Redmi will be launching the three smartphones in the country by the end of this quarter. We should mention, that Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 5 smartphone was launched in India last year in February, so maybe, we can expect to see these three getting unveiled in the same month too.
Considering that India is one among the most important markets for Xiaomi, it comes as no surprise that the company is planning to roll out its three new devices in the country. The report only mentions a tentative timeline of the launch of Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Go smartphones in India and it is being said that in spite of Redmi now becoming an independent brand, the pricing of the devices will be similar to its other handsets in the budget range.
Coming to the specifications, Redmi Note 7 smartphone features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD display that has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The key highlight of the device is its dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 48MP primary sensor and a 5MP secondary depth-sensing sensor. For selfies and video calls, there is a 13MP front-facing snapper. Powered by 14nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, Redmi Note 7 comes with an Adreno 512 GPU, up to 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The device houses a massive 4,000mAh battery and has a fingerprint sensor embedded on its back panel.
Coming to the Redmi Note 7 Pro, a number of specifications of the smartphone are similar to Redmi Note 7’s. The device has a different processor and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 675 SoC and it comes with a 48MP Sony IMX 586 sensor instead of the Samsung ISOCELL GM1 sensor that is used in the Redmi Note 7.
Speaking of Redmi Go, the smartphone is reportedly Redmi’s first to come with Android Go (Pie) out-of-the-box. With the operating system, the device will come with a suite of apps that will be compatible with very basic specifications. We should mention that Android Go is designed for low-end devices that pack RAM as less as even 1GB.
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POCO F1 starts receiving the latest MIUI 10 stable update that brings support for a much-awaited feature
After it launched the POCO F1 smartphone in 2018, Xiaomi left no stone unturned to make noise about the device offering premium internals at an affordable price. The company has also been rolling out software updates to make the user experience for its customers better. And now, the company has rolled out another update to POCO F1 which brings with itself upgrades like 960fps video recording.
To recall, sometime back Xiaomi had rolled out the 960fps video recording feature to POCO F1 MIUI 10 beta users. And now, the update has started rolling to all the users on MIUI 10 stable build.
A number of POCO F1 users had earlier complained about the smartphone not having support the Widewine L1 DRM component, with which HD playback on streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Hotstar is ensured. Apart from this, some POCO F1 users had reportedly been suffering from problems like screen bleeding.
It has been reported that the company will ensure that both of these issues get fixed in its coming update. It reportedly is planning to bring support for Widewine L1 DRM to the POCO F1 mobile very soon.
Coming back to the software update that has just been rolled out to the POCO F1, it includes V10.2.2.0.PEJMIXM number. However, this has not been confirmed by the company as of now. The update was first announced via a tweet by Xiaomi’s Alvin Tse. The latest software update by the company gets with itself the January Android Security Patch, which will bring some bug fixes and improvements to the device.
The most awaited feature that is coming with the update is 960fps slow-motion video recording. We should also mention that the update for POCO F1 also improves the camera of the smartphone and enhances the quality of images and videos taken in lowly-lit conditions. It is also worth noticing that these features were already in the beta stage and with the latest update, they will be rolling out to the masses.
However, some reports have surfaced online claiming that the 960fps slow motion feature won’t actually be 960fps, but instead support 240fps video recording. According to these reports, because POCO F1 comes with a Sony IMX 363 sensor, it would not be able to support 960fps slow-motion videos.
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Flipkart Republic Day sale kicks off, discount on a wide range of mobiles, tablets and other electronics
Flipkart kicked off its Republic Day sale yesterday. It has collaborated with the State Bank of India in order to offer 10 percent instant discount to the bank’s credit card holders. Moreover, Flipkart is going to offer a bundled payment and exchange offers with a few products. For your convenience, we have enlisted some of them here for you, the best discount offers in specific gadgets. The first one is the Apple iPad Pro 10.5-inch model. The price has been cut down to Rs 42,999 from Rs 50,800. There is an additional Rs 14,900 discount with an exchange of an old smartphone.
The next in line is the Realme 2 Pro smartphone. This mobile is available at a temporary price of Rs 16,990 from its original amount of Rs 17,990. Just like the iPad Pro 10.5-inch model, there is a special discount if you exchange your old smartphone when buying this gadget. The special offer is worth Rs 13,900. The Realme 2 Pro has a single 8GB RAM variant that comes with a 128GB internal storage. It sports a 6.3-inch full HD+ display and a dual rear camera setup. The smartphone is powered by Snapdragon 660 SoC.
The Asus ZenFone Max M2 32GB variant can also be purchased at a discounted price of Rs 9,499. This limited period offer has been established by cutting down its original price that was Rs 12,999. The smartphone has a 3GB RAM and is powered by Snapdragon 632 processor. The device houses a large 4,000mAh battery and has a dual rear camera setup. The front facing camera meant for taking selfies consists of an 8MP sensor.
The Acer Nitro Ryzen5 Laptop, Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB and the Motorola One Power 64GB variant are offered at discounted prices of Rs 49,990, Rs 18,990 and Rs 13,999 respectively. Contrastingly, their original prices are Rs 79,999, Rs 30,999 and Rs 18,999. Other devices which have very attractive discounts is the Nokia 5.1 Plus (32GB variant), Nokia 6.1 Plus (64GB variant) and Acer Predator Helios 300.
The Nokia 5.1 Plus which was earlier priced at Rs 10,999 will now cost Rs 9,999. The Nokia 6.1 Plus price drop has reduced its amount from Rs 17,600 to Rs 14,999. The Acer Predator Helios 300 can now be bought at Rs 94,990 because of its substantial price cut from Rs 1,39,999.
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Facebook is doing private beta testing for its LOL app aimed at children
Facebook has started beta testing its about-to-launch app called ‘LOL’. This app is divided into several categories such as “For You”, “Animals”, “Fails” and “Pranks”. Basically, LOL is a special feed of funny videos and GIF-like clips. The beta testing has started off with 100 high school students who, with their parent’s permission, have signed non-disclosure agreements. This beta testing is meant to ensure how impactful the app is, by targeting focus groups and doing one-on-one testing with Facebook staff.
The LoL App has also faced a lot of disapproval. Many child health experts have given an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg, urging him to discontinue with the app. The app is deemed to have harmful impact on children’s well-being. British Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt wrote to Facebook on the pretext of demeaning the Messenger Kids app. He said, “Facebook told me they would come back with ideas to PREVENT underage use of their product, but instead they are actively targeting younger children. Stay away from my kids please Facebook and act responsibly!”
Facebook however, countered this comment. According to the social media giant, the messaging app is a very good product and families are better off with it. Considering how the LoL App is being received, it seems there is going to be a mixed audience. The actual launch date of this app is yet unknown. Some insiders do suggest it will be part of Facebook environment on the web. However, there will be a stand-alone app also of this platform.
The app is aimed at bringing the younger community to the slowing down social media platform, which is now not being picked up by teenagers and youngsters in the western countries. Maybe, with the introduction of the LOL app, Facebook might get teenagers back on their platform.
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Google Maps updated to show speed limits, speed cameras for Android and iOS devices
Just after Google Maps launched its instant messaging feature, the app has rolled out another update, yet again. With the latest update, Google Maps will start showcasing speed limits and speed cameras.
While instant messaging is a cool feature wherein businesses can communicate with customers with the help of a messaging option, it doesn’t probably ring very well with the masses as it is currently applicable for businesses only. However, we fell that the latest update will resonate with everyone, as it is not only applicable for everyone but can be very useful when it comes to road safety and abiding traffic rules.
It is worth mentioning that until now this update was only available to a handful of users. But now it has been rolled out at a much larger scale in different parts of the world. We should also mention that the speed limit and speed camera feature would come in both Android as well as iOS versions of the app. The feature has been on testing for a period of two years and has kept us waiting for a considerable period of time.
A user reportedly said on 9To5Google that he was able to see speed limits while navigating via the app at his home. Although the user’s house in North Carolina is remotely located but the map worked well for most roads. To speak of speed cameras, Google has launched them at a massive scale in many countries including the US, UK, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, India and Indonesia. These speed cameras would be marked on the map and users will be alerted as soon as they approach them.
In the lower left side of the app, users will be shown the post speed limit of the road. There are speed traps marked with a small camera icon which can be seen in the map. According to AndroidPolice, drivers would be alerted with an audio warning that would make them aware of any speed trap they are close to. The speed limit feature, until now, was only available in the San Francisco Bay Area and Rio de Janerio in Brazil. Now they are more widely available in a lot of countries for both Android and iOS.
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Microsoft to end support for Windows 10 Mobile in December 2019
Software giant Microsoft has announced that it will be ending support for its Windows 10 Mobile platform and because of this, it has asked its users to move to either Android or iOS operating systems. The company has published an ‘End of Support’ page, in which it has specified that security updates will stop getting rolled out to the Windows 10 Mobile platform after December 2019. So, users have at least eleven months to switch to another operating system.
The company wrote on its ‘End of Support’ page, “With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers move to a supported Android or iOS device. Microsoft’s mission statement to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices.”
The company has also mentioned that its digital assistant Cortana is not in direct competition with Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Assistant anymore. Speaking about it, CEO Satya Nadella said, “Cortana needs to be that skill for anybody who’s a Microsoft 365 subscriber. You should be able to use it on Google Assistant, you should be able to use it on Alexa, just like how you use our apps on Android and iOS, so that’s at least how we want to think about where it’ll go.”
In 2017, it was reported by the New York City Police Department scrapped 36,000 Windows phones and replaced them with iPhones. This was done after it was first acknowledged that Microsoft would be ending support for its Windows mobile platform.
It is also worth noticing that last week, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella hinted that the company is planning to launch Microsoft 365 for consumers. He was quoted saying, “I think about Microsoft 365 as a two-sided market. What we are doing with Office 365 or what we will soon be talking about as Microsoft 365 consumer subscriptions, those would be again completely consumer businesses.”
Reports also suggested that the software giant’s CEO hinted that for consumers, Office 365 will be renamed to Microsoft 365. However, as of now, no date of Microsoft 365 getting rolled out has been revealed.
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