Samsung led the premium smartphone market in India in 2018: Report
South Korean technology giant Samsung led the premium segment of the Indian smartphone market in 2018 with 34% share of shipments. Samsung was closely followed by Chinese smartphone brand at 33%, according to Counterpoint Research.
The third position was taken by Cupertino-based giant Apple with 23% share as the overall market share grew by 8% for the entire year and 16% for the last quarter for 2018. Counterpoint Research said that all three companies accounted for 92% of the overall premium market in Q4 2018.
It is also worth noticing that OnePlus recorded its highest-ever shipments in a single quarter in Q4 2018 and captured a 36% market share and led the premium market share for the first three quarters. According to Counterpoint Research, in terms of shipments, Samsung led the premium smartphone market but OnePlus took the lead in terms of sell-through for the entire year.
Counterpoint’s research analyst Karn Chauhan said, “OnePlus 6 (15% of overall premium smartphone shipments) was the best-selling premium model throughout 2018 in terms of shipment as well as in retail value. OnePlus 6T (10% of shipments) was positioned at second place followed by Samsung S9+ (8% of shipments).”
He further added that what contributed to OnePlus’ success was the strong demand for teh OnePlus 6T smartphone during the Diwali season. In the coming quarters, OnePlus’ expansion into offline space as well as setting up ‘Experience Stores’ will help the company reach its potential users.
We should also mention that Samsung captured 26% of the shares of the premium smartphone market in Q4 2018. The report by Counterpoint also said that its shipments grew 72% (YoY). Shedding further light on Samsung’s performance, the report said, “The newly-launched Galaxy A9, the world’s first quad rear camera phone, in Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 price segment attributed towards Samsung’s growth, which is in direct competition with OnePlus.”
Coming to Apple, its shipments in the premium segment came down by 25% (YoY) in Q4 2018 primarily because of the exorbitantly high price of the new range of iPhones. Import duties are a very big reason the cost of the new iPhones in so high, and they would certainly go down if Apple starts manufacturing in India.
Speaking on this, Chauhan said, “As a result, we believe Apple to start manufacturing locally for latest iPhones in 2019 and beyond to potentially lower the current higher iPhone pricing.”
The report also adds that Apple may face stiffer competition this year from companies like Huawei, OnePlus, Samsung and Google. With this, the report added, “The premium smartphone market is now within the Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,45,000 price band, and thus, differentiation among premium smartphones has become more essential.”
Speaking on the upcoming trends in the smartphone market, Chauhan said, “We will see in this year most flagship phones to innovate on hardware by adding 5G and multi-gigabit capabilities, unibody button-less design with advance biometrics, Xtended Reality (XR) and gaming. We will see most of the popular features from last year such as multi-camera configuration, AI and notch display trickle down to below Rs. 30,000 segment.”
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This is what Google India ‘really really really’ wants to know
Google India is the latest company that has joined the ‘really really really’ meme bandwagon. The technology giant has taken to microblogging website Twitter and used the ‘really really really’ meme to ask its Indian users a question: Why you keep asking Google Assistant to marry you?
Yes, you read that right. If the tweet is based on facts and not completely random, then it seems like a lot of Indian users have been asking Google Assistant to marry them.
If you are a regular Twitter user, you would have come across such ‘really really really’ memes on the social media platform. However, if you don’t use Twitter regularly, we’ll tell you what these ‘really really really’ memes are all about.
It is basically a social media trend that has garnered tremendous popularity on Twitter in the last few months. So, it’s common to see tweets by people with the word ‘really’ written in different lines one after the other till you reach the last word. The word ‘really’ is written a lot of times in the meme and it forms a sort of a curved pattern. According to a report in Financial Express, among the first known posts on Twitter to use the meme was tweeted on December 24, 2018. It was shared by a user with handle @jjkdsc and he used the hashtag #WE_NEED_DSC with this tweet. He had posted about a member from K-pop group NCT127. After that, the meme went viral on the microblogging website. A number of technology companies have posted on their respective profiles using the meme including Youtube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Linkedin and OnePlus. However, Google India’s tweet can easily be called the best among the lot. The ‘really really really’ post by Google India made a number of Twitter users tweet back hilarious replies. While some replied with ‘really really really’ memes, some used GIFs, and others just blamed the perils of being single for too long. And some witty ones went ahead and asked Google questions that they ‘really really really’ wanted answers to. Take a look at a few of them here:We
— Google India (@GoogleIndia) January 28, 2019
really
really
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really
really
really
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really
really
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want to know why you keep asking the Google Assistant to marry you 🤔
I
— STAЯK ⎊ (@iamsubhamstark) January 28, 2019
am
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
really
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sorry that you guys have to deal with single guys like us.
because, it can’t friendzone me.
— Sir Jenkinson (@theEpicGooner) January 28, 2019
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Because I want to listen a "yes" sometime 😭
— Alexander Ar (@AlexDaztanGr) January 29, 2019
Facebook pays teens to spy on their data and internet usage
The trouble of Facebook with data doesn’t seem to end. It has been found yet again that Facebook had paid teens and adults to install a software called ‘Facebook Research’ VPN onto their smartphones to collect data of their usage, web activity and basically every piece of information on their smartphones.
It was last week that the platform received heavy complaints from the users when it said that it wants to integrate all three of its platforms into one, namely Instagram, Whatsapp and Messanger. TechCrunch reported that the company is desperate for data on its competitors so it secretly paid people to install the VPN that lets Facebook get access to all of the data on the user’s phone and their web activity.
Facebook even admitted that it was gathering data on people for their usage activity using the Facebook Research. Since 2016, the social media giant had been paying users of age 13 to 35 up to $20 per month along with referral fees to sell their privacy by installing ‘Facebook Research’ app for Android and iOS as well. The program is administered through beta testing services Applause, BetaBound and uTest to mask the company’s involvement. Project Atlas is the name given to this whole process where Facebook can monitor its rivals and trends all around the world, and the name of the project is fitting in ways more than one.
The companies Apple and Google still have comment on this issue, if Facebook violated its private policy or not. The Research app has been taken down from the iOS Appstore, but it continues to run on Android. There might be a possibility that Apple might have told Facebook privately to remove the app. Apple has already blocked Facebook’s data plans on their platform in the past.
Facebook collects data including private social media messages, photos, videos, sent by messaging apps, emails through the VPN. It can also track the location of the users through other apps installed in their smartphones. Facebook has been caught accessing and monitoring user’s data through its three major social platforms which it owns, these platforms serve more than 2.5 billion people around the world.
This is not the first time something like this has happened and seeing Facebook’s history it surely won’t be the last. This shows us just to what extent Facebook wants to control the user’s data and use it how the company sees fit.
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Legion of Champions III 2019 comes to a close
Today, Lenovo had its Legion of Champions Three grand finale. The winner of this tournament was Awe Star from Korea as part of the first LoC tournament win. The annual eSports tournament was held in conjunction with Intel that received a lot of crowd cheering.
Ken Wong, the president of PCs and smart devices of Lenovo Asia Pacific said, “I’m proud to share that this is the third consecutive year that we have provided an excellent platform for the next generation of gamers to gather, compete and network with each other. It is also a chance for us to engage them and ensure that the Legion brand is evolving with their needs. Since the first edition of LoC in 2017, we have doubled the number of participating teams. The results have exceeded our wildest expectations and we look forward to taking eSports to the next level in Asia Pacific.”
After its win, team Awe Star received an enormous prize money of $7,000 and $5,000 worth of Legion Y530 notebooks. The first and second runner up on the other hand, was team Diamond from Taiwan and team Esports from Thailand. They took home prize money worth $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. Team India had also participated in this contest but however, did not did not gain any position.
Amit Doshi, CMO of Lenovo India praised team India in a statement. He said, “Team India has made us proud by showing up so strong at LoC this year. Given the rise of eSports in India, we are excited to be a part of today’s vibrant gaming culture. This is our first time participating in LoC and we can’t wait to see even more exciting developments in the eSports space next year.”
George Chacko, Director of Global Account for Lenovo, Intel Asia Pacific said, “Intel congratulates the winners of the Lenovo Legion of Champions and is thrilled to be associated with the league. Along with partners like Lenovo, Intel is helping transform the future of esports by inspiring and supporting this vibrant community of fans and gamers by delivering the best in class technology that pushes the boundaries of performance.” This has been a great event because the LoC was attended by many people who were entertained by the Thai idol group, Sweat 16!.
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The most affordable Android smart TV in the world: Everything you need to know
Domestic electronics maker Samy Informatics has today launched its SM32-K5500 HD LED TV in India. The main highlight of the newly launched television is its price as it costs just Rs 4,999. With the launch of Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV, the company plans to bring the smart TV experience to every household. Here are nine things that you must know about the Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV:
As the name suggests, Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV has a 32-inch display that comes with an HD resolution of 1366×786 pixels. The television’s screen has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a dynamic ratio of 1000000:1. The television comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of ROM and for connectivity, it has two HDMI and USB ports, an audio out port and a video input port.
Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV runs Android 4.4 operating system and can be used for watching content on various video streaming services, browsing web pages, playing games and more.
Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV comes with a number of apps installed on it including Facebook, YouTube, Hotstar, Aptoide TV, Google Drive, Hungama Play, Netflix, NextGTV, etc. You can also download other application that you think would be useful to you.
For sound, Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV comes with two 10W speakers, among which one is an SRS Dolby Digital and the other is a 5 Band Equalizer. The company has touted the television’s immersive audio performance with an external sound blaster.
If you are an interested buyer, you should know that the television can only be bought via Samy’s official app, which can be found on the Google Play Store. It is available exclusively on the app, so there isn’t much point looking for it elsewhere.
Another thing that the company has touted is the after sales service that it is providing with the television. Samy Informatics has said that it will be providing an onsite service for the SM32-K5500 HD LED TV and it has also mentioned that the television comes with a 3-year warranty.
It is also worth noticing that most of the parts that are used in the television have been produced in India. The only major exception to this is the LED screens that have been used.
When asked about how the pricing of the television, the company said that it is selling the product directly to the customers, without any middle man in between. So, that is what made it possible for it to sell the television cost-to-cost to its customers.
We should also mention that the Samsy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV falls in the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ programmes.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
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In This Article
Key features
As the name suggests, Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV has a 32-inch display that comes with an HD resolution of 1366×786 pixels. The television’s screen has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and a dynamic ratio of 1000000:1. The television comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of ROM and for connectivity, it has two HDMI and USB ports, an audio out port and a video input port.
Runs Android 4.4 OS
Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV runs Android 4.4 operating system and can be used for watching content on various video streaming services, browsing web pages, playing games and more.
Has some useful apps preinstalled
Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV comes with a number of apps installed on it including Facebook, YouTube, Hotstar, Aptoide TV, Google Drive, Hungama Play, Netflix, NextGTV, etc. You can also download other application that you think would be useful to you.
Comes with 10W speakers
For sound, Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV comes with two 10W speakers, among which one is an SRS Dolby Digital and the other is a 5 Band Equalizer. The company has touted the television’s immersive audio performance with an external sound blaster.
Can only be bought via Samy’s app
If you are an interested buyer, you should know that the television can only be bought via Samy’s official app, which can be found on the Google Play Store. It is available exclusively on the app, so there isn’t much point looking for it elsewhere.
The company is offering a warranty and after sales service
Another thing that the company has touted is the after sales service that it is providing with the television. Samy Informatics has said that it will be providing an onsite service for the SM32-K5500 HD LED TV and it has also mentioned that the television comes with a 3-year warranty.
90% of the television’s parts are made in India
It is also worth noticing that most of the parts that are used in the television have been produced in India. The only major exception to this is the LED screens that have been used.
How is the pricing so affordable?
When asked about how the pricing of the television, the company said that it is selling the product directly to the customers, without any middle man in between. So, that is what made it possible for it to sell the television cost-to-cost to its customers.
Is a part of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ programmes
We should also mention that the Samsy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV falls in the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ programmes.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
[td_smart_list_end] Google’s Gmail mobile app is getting a ‘Material Theme’ design with new features
Today, Google is going to roll out new re-design for its Gmail mobile app. On Tuesday Google said that it will apply the ‘Material Theme’ to its mobile app as well, so that it looks more like the desktop web version. The update is for android devices, meaning Gmail app for smartphones and tablets. After the update it will look much cleaner and modern than before.
But the change in design is not just in the looks department, there are also a few new features which were previously present just in the desktop web version. Now it will have prominent white colour and the red top bar and the red trims will be removed completely.
Like on the desktop version you can change and choose from the default view or the comfortable and compact view of Gmail. The default view will have a good amount of white and also the same attachment pin under the mail preview, while the compact view removes spaces between messages to show you more emails on the screen.
The account switcher will also have changed places now. It is integrated with the search bar, so switching between work and personal accounts is easier than before. Also, users can open the attachment of the mail without opening the mail itself. And if there is any suspicious looking mail or infectious mail with attachments you will see a red bar on it just like you see on the desktop web version. The floating action button still rests on the lower right side of the screen, but it has been changed to look like that on the web version.
After the Gmail design update other Google mobile apps like Drive, Docs, Site, Calendar will follow suite. This redesign is Google’s effort to make all their apps look and feel similar. There might be some new features and a new theme added to the mix. These may look and feel new, but it still is the same old and trusty Gmail we were using before. And yes, it still works and acts like before too. Google had said that the update will have a ‘gradual rollout’ and the update will be available on Android from today and in the coming weeks it will push out the update to iOS as well. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.New year, new look. Learn more about our updated design, including features to quickly view attachments and easily switch between personal and work accounts → https://t.co/bt10EUVutd pic.twitter.com/nR2d7DQ8cx
— Gmail (@gmail) January 29, 2019
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro to come with 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage in India
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro is on its way to get launched soon. It will come with Sony IMX586 sensor for its cameras. Redmi CEO, Lu Weibing asked fans about what they want from the smartphone. One fan told him to omit the 3/32GB version, and establish the 6/64GB or 6/128GB version, which very well could be the case here in India. It is expected that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro is also .
going to come with a 4,000mAh battery with Quick Charge 4 capabilities. Also, it is expected that the smartphone is going to be powered by Snapdragon 675 processor instead of the Snapdragon 660 SoC.
To recall, the younger brother of Note 7 Pro, Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 was launched very recently in China. To talk about its specifications, it sports an IPS LCD 6.3-inch capacitive touchscreen with a 1,080×2,340 resolution. The aspect ratio of the same is 19.5:9. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and runs on Android 9.0 Pie skinned with MIUI 10. The Redmi Note 7 is powered by Qualcomm’s SDM660 Snapdragon 660 processor and has 3GB, 4GB and 6GB RAM variants. The 3GB variant comes with 32GB internal storage and the 4GB and 6GB RAM brings 64GB internal storage. The storage is expandable via a microSD card slot up to 512GB.
Connectivity options of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 includes WiFi 802.11, dual band, WiFi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, Infrared port, FM Radio and USB 2.0. Sensors include fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass. The device packs a large battery of 4,000mAh that is non-removable. It comes in three colour options—blue, black and twilight gold. In terms of measurement, the dimensions of the phone are 159.2×75.2×8.1mm and it weighs 186 grams. In terms of camera, the smartphone has a dual rear camera setup.
The dual rear camera setup includes a 5MP and a 48MP sensor and there is a front camera as well that is meant for taking selfies. The front camera comprises of a single sensor that is 13MP. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro was launched in beginning of January. Now we just have to wait until the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro comes out.
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Five health apps that can make your life easier
Every day we face issues in which we either do not get time for the gym or face hard time battling some disease. Technology, therefore, has been guided to a brilliant stage where new health apps have been introduced to keep men and women fit. These apps are meant to provide you with good health and an easy lifestyle. In this article, we will introduce you to five health apps that can help you in diverse ways. From maintaining or reducing weight to increasing immunity, these apps sure do help a lot. Here are our picks:
In this app, you can choose from fourteen different exercise categories. These range from stretches to calisthenics to free weight movements. This app was made by Jillian Michaels who happens to be a popular trainer on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’. In this Fitness Motivation app, you can either choose one activity or combine several in accordance to what suits you the best. There is a dedicated section for running with the help of which you can track your run, favourite routes and compare your performance with previous records.
MyFitnessPal has an extensive database, which contains the service to provide you with an exercise tracker, diet coach and serves as a food diary. This helps you keep track of what you have eaten and the number of calories you consumed. MyFitnessPal includes food from Canadian companies such as President’s Choice, Longo’s Sobey’s, M&M Meat Shops and Tim Horton’s.
You can search for calories and nutritional details of over 4,25,000 foods. This app is very useful if losing weight is what you are looking for. Also, there is a website component in it with the help of which you can add or review information online.
This app helps you to figure out your future menstrual period, you don’t need to do that yourself anymore. The calendar is going to inform you about when you are going to have your next period. With this, you will be able to know your most fertile days and when ovulation is going to occur. Taking privacy into account, the Period Track Lite features a discreet on-screen thumbnail. This requires a four-digit access code that keeps your personal data safe.
This app consists of multiple exercises and routines for different parts of your body. There are tips which guide you step-by-step, photos, muscle diagrams along with dos and don’ts. One drawback of the app is that it has frequent pop-up ads that do not go away even with purchasing an upgrade.
In case you have a persisting cough or aches and pains, then WebMD’s Medscape app will come in handy. It has got information of over 3,500 illnesses and conditions and can give you lot of useful information as for how to recover. You can search this app for prescription bios, harmful medication interactions, and latest medical news. Also, Medscape covers herbal medications and vitamins.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
In This Article
Jillian Michaels Fitness Motivation
In this app, you can choose from fourteen different exercise categories. These range from stretches to calisthenics to free weight movements. This app was made by Jillian Michaels who happens to be a popular trainer on NBC’s ‘The Biggest Loser’. In this Fitness Motivation app, you can either choose one activity or combine several in accordance to what suits you the best. There is a dedicated section for running with the help of which you can track your run, favourite routes and compare your performance with previous records.
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MyFitnessPal Calories Counter and Diet Tracker
MyFitnessPal has an extensive database, which contains the service to provide you with an exercise tracker, diet coach and serves as a food diary. This helps you keep track of what you have eaten and the number of calories you consumed. MyFitnessPal includes food from Canadian companies such as President’s Choice, Longo’s Sobey’s, M&M Meat Shops and Tim Horton’s.
You can search for calories and nutritional details of over 4,25,000 foods. This app is very useful if losing weight is what you are looking for. Also, there is a website component in it with the help of which you can add or review information online.
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Period Tracker Lite
This app helps you to figure out your future menstrual period, you don’t need to do that yourself anymore. The calendar is going to inform you about when you are going to have your next period. With this, you will be able to know your most fertile days and when ovulation is going to occur. Taking privacy into account, the Period Track Lite features a discreet on-screen thumbnail. This requires a four-digit access code that keeps your personal data safe.
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Six Pack App
This app consists of multiple exercises and routines for different parts of your body. There are tips which guide you step-by-step, photos, muscle diagrams along with dos and don’ts. One drawback of the app is that it has frequent pop-up ads that do not go away even with purchasing an upgrade.
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Medscape
In case you have a persisting cough or aches and pains, then WebMD’s Medscape app will come in handy. It has got information of over 3,500 illnesses and conditions and can give you lot of useful information as for how to recover. You can search this app for prescription bios, harmful medication interactions, and latest medical news. Also, Medscape covers herbal medications and vitamins.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
Razer unveiled the Razer Blade Stealth in Quartz Pink
Razer unveiled a new colour of their Razer Blade Stealth series, which is quartz pink. The limited-edition pink laptop comes days before Valentine’s Day. And not just the laptop, the company has also unveiled several of their gaming peripherals and products in quartz pink colour.
Talking about the quartz colour scheme the company CEO Min-Liang Tan says that it will “steal hearts everywhere”. Will it be the gaming laptops aimed towards females only? The company hasn’t said anything about it, but it is being unveiled right before Valentine’s week says otherwise. According to the company it won’t charge extra for this limited-edition colour, it will be priced the same as the regular Razer Blade Stealth. Even the quartz pink peripherals will cost the same as the regular coloured hardware.
Although, this is not the first time Razer has launched Quartz products. Last year they had launched four gaming laptops in the same colour scheme. But it’s different this time as the product which received the quartz colour treatment is far more extensive and wider. This year we have the Basilisk mouse, Kraken headset, Seiren X microphone, Huntsman keyboard and much more sporting this colour.
These ‘different’ coloured products from Razer are very different than what the company is known for. All their products have that same expensive, high-end, black with green logo themed designs, and their products are all aimed for a specific crowd, but this year they have changed their image. Changing their product line-up colour doesn’t come in as a surprise though as last year the company did polls to ask in which colour the fans would like to see the next Razer products and Quartz Pink was the colour that won the poll.
Talking about the specs of this ultra-portable gaming laptop, it comes with a 13-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display with an 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8565U processor. It houses 16GB of 2,133MHz RAM and a 256GB SSD, Nvidia GeForce MX150 GPU along with integrated Intel Graphics module to handle any type of game. Its price in the market is $1,599 (approx. Rs 1,13,772). It looks similar to the Razer Blade laptop announced in December of 2018 which was later updated to the Razer Blade Stealth which was compact on design, had slimmer bezels and a bigger touchpad. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Say it with Quartz 💗 Take a fresh look at some of our best-performing hardware, now in a playful pink hue.
— R Λ Z Ξ R (@Razer) January 29, 2019
Refresh your setup: https://t.co/QomPNZ77Bj pic.twitter.com/NSJ36cknwN
Asus ZenBook 13, ZenBook 14, ZenBook 15 ultra-books launched in India: Price, specifications and more
Taiwanese electronics maker Asus has today announced its new line of ultrabooks that fall in its Zenbook range. The company had rolled out its Asus Zenbook 15, Zenbook 14 and Zenbook 13 laptops during the IFA 2018 in Berlin. And after months of wait, the company has launched these laptops in India.
The Asus Zenbook 13, Zenbook 14 and Zenbook 15 laptops are available at a price of Rs 71,990, Rs 72,990 and Rs 1,39,990 respectively. The new laptops can be bought with no-cost EMI option which starts at Rs 11,999 per month. If you have an Axis Bank credit card, you can also get an additional 5% instant discount on your purchase. Furthermore, you can also get a discount of Rs 2,000 for prepaid offers that are placed between February 1. Here’s a look at the specifications of the three new laptops launched by Asus:
In This Article
Asus Zenbook 13 specifications
Asus Zenbook 13 features a 13.3-inch Full HD LED Backlit Wideview NanoEdge Display that offers users a bezel-less screen experience and is equipped with the company’s Splendid technology and Tru2Life Video technology. According to Asus, the two technologies tweak the colours projected on the screen to their real nature. In addition to this, the laptop also comes with an ErgoLift Hinge which can be used to tilt the keyboard to a position that is comfortable for the user. Asus Zenbook 13 weighs 1.19 kgs and is powered by the 8th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors coupled with up to 8GB RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The device can be purchased with NVIDIA Geforce MX150 and runs Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS. For connectivity, there is an HDMI Port, a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.1 port and a USB 3.1 Type C. The laptop also has support for Wi-Fi, ASUS Wi-Fi Master technology and Bluetooth 5.0.Asus Zenbook 14 specifications
Asus Zenbook 14 sports a 14-inch Full HD LED Backlit Wideview NanoEdge Display that comes with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. It also comes with an ErgoLift Hinge which can be used to tilt the keyboard to a comfortable position when opening the display. Asus Zenbook 14 comes with improved cooling and enhanced audio performance. The laptop is powered by the 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor with up to 8GB RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The device runs Windows 10 Home and its connectivity options include a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.1 port, a USB 3.1 Type C port, an HDMI port a microSD card, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0.Asus Zenbook 15 specifications
Speaking of Asus Zenbook 15, it comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD LED Backlit Wideview NanoEdge Display that has a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels and weighs 1.67 kgs. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor with NVIDEA GTX 1050 MaxQ coupled with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage. The laptop, like Zenbook 13 and Zenbook 14, comes with the ErgoLift Hinge and its connectivity options include a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.1 port, a USB 3.1 Type C port, an HDMI port, a microSD card reader, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Realme working on its own ‘RealmeOS’ for its smartphones: Report
Realme, which was once a subsidiary brand of Oppo, is planning to make its own operating system (OS). The operating system will be used going forward in Realme smartphones which were till now running Oppo’s ColorOS.
According to a report in 91Mobiles, Realme had filed a trademark application with the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office recently. And the ‘RealmeOS’ is what is being talked about in the application they filed. There might be a possibility that the company is working on their own OS and if that happens, they might ditch Oppo’s ColorOS.
But the company has not confirmed this yet and they haven’t disclosed if they are working on a new OS or not. There is also no word on when are they going to release it and in which phones we might see it prei-nstalled. We are also curious to know if they will be releasing the OS updates for their older phones too or not?
Realme3 smartphone, which is reportedly the successor of the Realme2, will be launching in the next few months of 2019 and it is very likely that the smartphone will come with RealmeOS.
We should mention that Realme smartphones garnered a lot of popularity with customers last year as they launched some feature-packed smartphones at affordable prices like the Realme 2 and Realme C1. The smartphone maker is also planning to make its own app store which will work as an alternative to Google Play Store.
Realme’s smartphone market is booming with launch of new smartphones, and it is worth noticing that last year the company launched five smartphones and most of them were sold at an affordable price. Its budget smartphone C1 priced at Rs 7,499 on Flipkart which already crossed the 1 million sales mark got an upgraded version in 2019, and with it the company hopes to increase their sales further.
Sky Li who is the former Vice President of Oppo is now heading Realme. Realme started off as a subsidiary brand of the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo, but soon, it detached itself and became an independent company of its own. But still, all of its phones come preloaded with Oppo’s ColorOS. However, if the reports are correct then we will see Realme phones with their own OS.
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Asus ZenFone Max Pro M2 starts receiving a new update; comes with January 2019 security patch
Taiwanese consumer electronics maker Asus has released an update for its recently launched device – Zenfone Max Pro M2. This is an over-the-air (OTA) update and is being rolled out in a phased-out manner. The update version that is being rolled out is 15.2016.1901.186 and it brings AI Scene Detection to the device.
We should mention that Asus had posted about the update on its forum Asus Zentalk. Post the update, if you point the camera to a certain object, it will automatically switch to the recommended preset. In other words, the settings will be modified based on the kind of picture the user wants to click. This feature will add nature mode, food mode and a few of other options to the camera app of the handset. There is a changelog of this update which we would like to acquaint you with.
Apart from the AI camera scene detect support, it will come with an upgraded Touch FW, improved touch camera quality, enhancements in the quality of the selfie camera and an improved system power consumption. The update also brings the January 2019 security patch to Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2. In order to check if you have received the update, go to Settings and then head to System category.
To recall, Asus ZenFone Max Pro M2 measures 157.9×75.5×8.5mm and weighs 175 grams. The smartphone features a 6.26-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080×2280 pixels. The screen has an aspect ratio of 19:9. The smartphone is powered by Qualcomm’s SDM660 Snapdragon 660 SoC and comes with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM. While the 3GB RAM variant is clubbed with an internal storage of up to 32GB and on the other hand, the 4GB and 6GB RAM variants are coupled with 64GB internal storage. The storage is expandable via a microSD card slot up to 512GB. In terms of camera, the Asus ZenFone Max Pro M2 has a dual rear camera setup that includes a 5MP and a 12MP sensor. On the front, there is a 13MP camera sensor.
Connectivity options include WiFi 802.11, hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, FM Radio and microUSB 2.0. The Asus ZenFone Max Pro M2 houses a huge battery of 5,000mAh and comes in blue and titanium colours.
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Apple teams up with Aetna to launch a new health app ‘Attain’ for Apple Watch
CVS Health Corp’s health insurer Aetna has announced that it is teaming up with Apple to develop on a new fitness and health tracking app for the Apple watch. The new app will be called Attain, and it will use the user’s medical history to set personalized health goals. The app offers different challenges, goals, reminders and much more.
In addition to this, there is also a reward system which will be granted once the individual has fulfilled or completed the set goals and we should mention that some of these rewards include a free Apple Watch or gift cards. The app will be designed in such a way that it can be personalised by the user of the app. The app will be available for the users from spring this year.
The app does not only rewards goal completion, but also other healthy behavior and habits like getting the right hours of sleep, regular exercise, getting timely vaccination, refilling medications, etc. It is not a new step taken by health insurance companies, as many have done it in the past. What is different this time is that Attain will be using the individual’s recorded medical history held by Aetna to set up customized goals and recommend exercises beneficial and helpful for their health.
“We understand that you don’t need to be a personal trainer or work out several hours a day to be healthier,” Alan Lotvin, executive vice president for transformation at CVS Health, said in a statement.
The health data of individuals is kept on a tight regulation by the US government, and Apple had to enter with Aetna in a business associate agreement for Aetna to share the data with Apple. Aetna has also said that the program is entirely voluntary and the data gathered will not be used in any way to charge more or for premium pricing or coverage decisions. Aetna, the insurance company had merged with pharmacy giant CVS in November 2018, and it serves millions of people. The partnership between Apple and Aetna this app can definitely lead to an increase in Apple Watch’s sales, thus adding on to Apple’s profit.
The company will use machine learning to fine tune the app and notify the users based on their habits and daily schedule. And the app will be tuned as per the users based on the data Apple receives anonymously from Aetna. “As we learn over time, the goal is to make more customized recommendations that will help members accomplish their goals and live healthier lives,” Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.A first-of-its-kind health experience, Attain combines your health history with your Apple Watch® activity for goals personalized to you. Sign up now, spaces limited.
— Aetna (@Aetna) January 29, 2019
This Android smart TV is priced at Rs 4,999: Features and specifications
Would you believe us if we told you that you can buy a television under Rs 5,000? Yes, we know. You think this is a joke. We would have thought the same had someone told us a month back that it was possible. But domestic electronics maker Samy Informatics Pvt Ltd has made this possible by launching a smart TV at Rs 4,999. Yes, you read that right.
The electronics brand has today launched a 32-inch Android Smart TV called Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV that, as we just mentioned, is priced at Rs 4,999 and is a part of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’ programmes. We should mention that most of the parts of the television are built in India, except for its LED screen.
Although its price point is the television’s biggest highlight, another key feature of the smart TV is its immersive audio performance with an external sound blaster. Samy Informatics has said that with its offering it plans to bring smart TV experience to every household. The company has also said that it will be providing an onsite service and warranty for its Android smart television.
Coming to the features and specifications of Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV, as the name suggests, it features a 32-inch display that has an HD resolution of 1366×786 pixels. The display of the television comes with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and it has a dynamic ratio of 1000000:1. The company has touted the television for providing crisp details and rich texture in its highest resolution.
Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV has 512MB of RAM and 4GB of ROM using which it can store various apps and content. The television has two 10W speakers, among which one is an SRS Dolby Digital and the other is a 5 Band Equalizer. For connectivity, there are two HDMI and two USB ports, an audio out port and a port that can be used for video input.
You can also connect a USB to Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV to play videos, music and see pictures. The television also comes with in-built Wi-Fi and has screen mirroring. We should mention that mostly these features are only seen in premium offerings in the smart TV market. The Samy SM32-K5500 HD LED TV runs Android 4.4 and comes with a number of pre-installed apps like Facebook and YouTube. You can even download other apps if you think they would be useful to you. A 40-inch variant of the smart TV has also been launched which is priced at Rs 15,000.
If you are an interested buyer, you should know that the television can only be bought via Samy’s official app. The company is also offering a 3-year warranty on the television and it says that the pricing has been kept so low because it is selling directly to customers and there is no middle man involved.
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Oppo finds a way to hide selfie camera in smartphone display
Smartphone companies have been, for a while, hiding front cameras in order to enlarge the screen space. For instance, Vivo opted for a pop-up selfie camera for the Nex and a dual-display setup for its Nex Dual Display. Oppo hid its selfie snappers in a camera slider in its Find X, and Xiaomi and Huawei followed its lead.
Recently, Samsung housed the selfie camera in the screen of its A8s smartphone, and Honor View 20 and Huawei Nova 4 followed closely. However, the selfie camera is still very visible in this case.
However, Chinese smartphone brand Oppo may have given us the solution that we need for thing kind of a display. The company has gone a step ahead and put the camera app over the camera hole. If you put the camera app icon over the camera hole, then the punch hole camera can be hidden. This can be seen in a patent that has been filed by the company that appeared on Let’s Go Digital.
Image courtesy: Letsgodigital
The icon is designed in a way that the camera hole becomes a part of the icon, and shows the lens arrangement in real-time. Also, swiping the homescreen will only let users swap apps other than camera to switch their places. The camera app will always stay in the same place. However, we must mention that the punch hole camera can be seen while watching videos.
With this, we could get a camera hole that might be hidden in more affordable phones. As of now, we do not know if this feature will retain the camera app on top of the display continuously. We should also mention that even LG has implemented a similar feature on the V10 with a secondary display that shows app shortcuts continuously.
Another very exciting news from Oppo is that the Chinese smartphone brand is expected to showcase a foldable smartphone at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2019, which is scheduled to begin on February 25. This smartphone is expected to have 10X hybrid zoom technology and it will sport a triple camera setup on its back panel.
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Image courtesy: Letsgodigital
The icon is designed in a way that the camera hole becomes a part of the icon, and shows the lens arrangement in real-time. Also, swiping the homescreen will only let users swap apps other than camera to switch their places. The camera app will always stay in the same place. However, we must mention that the punch hole camera can be seen while watching videos.
With this, we could get a camera hole that might be hidden in more affordable phones. As of now, we do not know if this feature will retain the camera app on top of the display continuously. We should also mention that even LG has implemented a similar feature on the V10 with a secondary display that shows app shortcuts continuously.
Another very exciting news from Oppo is that the Chinese smartphone brand is expected to showcase a foldable smartphone at the upcoming Mobile World Congress 2019, which is scheduled to begin on February 25. This smartphone is expected to have 10X hybrid zoom technology and it will sport a triple camera setup on its back panel.
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Apple gets into legal trouble over FaceTime bug that lets people eavesdrop conversations
The year has not started on a very good note for Apple. Earlier this week, reports about an iPhone bug that lets other users hear into FaceTime conversations surfaced online, and now, Apple is being taken to court for the same reason.
Cupertino based technology giant Apple has been sued by a Houston-based lawyer who claims that his iPhone inadvertently enabled a third person to eavesdrop on a private conversation that he was having a client.
The smartphone giant has come under fire for a bug that has been found in its iOS 12.1 software that lets people listen to other people’s conversations during live video group chats using FaceTime.
The report about Apple being sued by the Houston lawyer first surfaced in Bloomberg. According to the report, attorney Larry Williams II has filed a complaint in a state court in Houston that says that the bug in iPhone intrudes on the privacy of “one’s most intimate conversations without consent.”
He also reportedly said that his conversation was eavesdropped on while he was taking sworn testimony during a client deposition.
Williams has made claims of negligence, product liability, misrepresentation and warranty breach and is now seeking unspecified punitive damages. Media has reportedly tried to contact Apple for a comment on this, however, the Cupertino-based technology company has not responded yet.
We should mention that the bug in iPhone enabled a user to call a contact via FaceTime and immediately begin hearing the conversation, even before the other person picked up their call. However, the person whose call was being heard was not aware of this.
Ideally, a person should only be able to hear a conversation in case of a conference call. However, this wasn’t what was happening in Apple’s case. Furthermore, the bug also sent the video to be sent to the third person in case the user clicked his iPhone’s power or volume rocker buttons.
Apple has weakened the issue on Monday by disabling the multi-person FaceTime option on iPhones. The company has also said that it will soon be releasing a software update to get the issue fixed.
According to Bloomberg’s report, the case is Williams v Apple Inc., 2019-06645, 133 Judicial District Court, Harris County, Texas (Houston).
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OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T open beta update to includes Landscape Quick Reply
OnePlus, the fast growing tech giant which only launches flagship devices is rolling out Open Beta update for its 2018 models. These models include the OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T. This update is going to include new features and one notable feature is the landscape quick reply. This feature is going to let users send quick replies to new messages that they receive in the landscape mode. This, hopefully, will be very useful while watching videos. Also, there are other features that bring necessary optimisations and bug fixes.
Let us take you through the changelog that OnePlus 6 and the OnePlus 6T is going to receive. The new open beta changelog is going to include an added OnePlus Laboratory (OP6 only), gaming mode enhancement, optimisations for screenshot, support for quick reply in landscape. The quick reply support in landscape mode helps you to easily reply to a new message and watch videos at the same time. The clock which has been updated is going to support world clock and on top of that shows weather information.
OnePlus Laboratory is a feature worth talking about. This feature brings Smart Boost to both OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T. If you are enrolled in the open beta program, then you will be able to receive the update before anyone else. However, these features will soon be available to all users in the coming few weeks. Apart from the OnePlus 6 and 6T, the smartphone company is also going to include updates for other phones that were released till the OnePlus 3.
Recently, there has been a battery drain issue in OnePlus 6T. Users experienced that their smartphones batteries were draining faster than normal. Some users said that some apps installed in the phone were consuming more battery than usual. This was affecting their overall battery performance. Some users also reported that Google Play Services is consuming more battery than usual, too. They were getting a screen-on time of 4-5 hours compared to 7-8 hours that it used to, before.
Considering that OnePlus is a company, which keeps software updates in mind and pushes out updates regularly, this was not quite expected.
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Moto G7, Moto G7 Plus leaked online ahead of launch
The Moto G7 series may get unveiled on February 7. And ahead of their launch, a report about the price of Motorola Moto G7 and the Moto G7 Plus has surfaced online. The two smartphones will reportedly launch in Europe at a price starting at EUR 300, which is roughly Rs 24,400.
Out of all the phones that are part of the Moto G7 series, the Moto G7 Play is expected to be the cheapest. We should mention that the pricing details of the smartphones was leaked by tipster Ishan Agarwal, who also tweeted about the price of the Moto G7 Plus to be EUR 360, which is roughly Rs 29,300.
As we mentioned earlier, Motorola is going to host an event in Brazil on February 7 wherein it is likely to unveil the Moto G7 family. Like many upcoming devices, the Moto G7-series is also going to showcased during Mobile World Congress.
According to previous leaks, the smartphones that are part of the Moto G7 series will run Android 9.0 Pie out-of-the-box and will come with fingerprint sensors, microSD card slots and the usual connectivity options. Speaking of the price of the Moto G7 Power, it will reportedly cost EUR 209, which is roughly Rs 17,000. According to the report, the Motorola Moto G7 Power is going to have the largest battery amongst all its siblings – 5,000mAh battery. The Moto G7, on the other hand, will reportedly pack a 3,000mAh battery. The smartphone might have dual SIM connectivity and 4G LTE support. The Moto G7 and the Moto G7 Plus are said to sport a 6.24-inch display.
They are expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 636 processor and come with a single variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage. When it comes to the Moto G7 Plus, it is worth mentioning that the device will reportedly sport a dual rear camera setup that comprises of a 16MP sensor and a 5MP sensor. The first one is going to come with an f/1.7 aperture and the latter will have an f/2.0 aperture. Just like the Moto G7, the Moto G7 Plus is said to house a 3,000mAh battery.
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Honor Watch Magic, Honor Band 4 Running Edition launched in India
Huawei’s sub-brand Honor launched its View 20 smartphone in India yesterday. And at the launch event, the company also unveiled its Honor Watch Magic and Honor Band 4 Running Edition in the country. The two devices come with 5ATM water resistance and Honor Watch Magic has features like swim stroke recognition, 24-hours real-time heart rate monitoring, an HD AMOLED touchscreen display and 7-day battery life. Here are the pricing details and specifications of the two wearables:
In This Article
Honor Watch Magic, Honor Band 4 Running Edition price and availability in India
The Honor Watch Magic is available in Lava Black and Moonlight Silver variants in India. While the former is priced at Rs 13,999, the latter costs Rs 14,999. Speaking of Honor Band 4 Running Edition, it is priced at Rs 1,599 and can be bought in Lava Red and Green colour options. Both the wearables will be available exclusively on Amazon India’s website in future. However, the company has not declared a particular date of availability.Honor Watch Magic specifications
As we mentioned earlier, Honor Watch Magic comes with 5ATM water resistance certification, which basically means that it can survive being submerged in water up to 50 meters. Honor Watch Magic features a 1.2-inch HD AMOLED touchscreen display that comes with a resolution of 390×390 pixels. The smartwatch is just 1mm thin and comes with features like 24-hour real-time heart rate monitoring, swim stroke recognition, call reminders, altitude barometer, pressure monitor, scientific sleep mode and a number of sports modes. The device has customisable watch faces and has built-in GPS, GLONASS and NFC support. Honor Watch Magic packs a 178mAh battery that, according to the company, can last up to 7 days. We should mention that instead of WearOS, Honor Watch Magic comes with its own operating system and is compatible with devices running Android 4.4 or above and iOS 9 or above. It can be connected to other devices via Bluetooth 4.2 LE.Honor Band 4 Running Edition specifications
Coming to Honor Band 4 Running Edition, we should mention that it has fewer features as compared to the regular variant of Honor Band 4 that was launched in India last month. Maybe that’s why the price of the smart band is lesser than the vanilla variant. To begin with, Honor Band 4 Running Edition comes with a PMOLED display and not the coloured display that we saw on the regular model. the smart band does not house a heart rate sensor and comes without support for NFC. It houses a 77mAh battery that is claimed to last up to 12 days. The band comes with a 6-axis sensor that is supposed to come with enhanced running detection by measuring cadence, foot strike pattern, step length, ground contact time, landing impact, eversion excursion and swing angle. Like Honor Watch Magic, Band 4 Running Edition also comes with 5ATM water resistance certification. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Oppo to bring the in-display fingerprint to the affordable phone market in India
Chinese smartphone band Oppo which earlier dominated the Indian offline markets has teased a smartphone with an in-display fingerprint scanner, which till now, is only available in high-end smartphones. Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart has put up a new landing page that teases an upcoming smartphone from Oppo that will sport an in-display fingerprint scanner.
Although there isn’t much information about the smartphone’s specifications or any other details on Flipkart’s page, it does show an image of a fingerprint scanner and reads, “Latest tech. At an incredible price! From the house of Oppo! Get ready to experience a touch of genius that will make you the trend-setter!”
Going by the teaser shared by the company on Flipkart, we can assume that Oppo is planning to launch an affordable smartphone with an in-display fingerprint scanner. And obviously, the device will be a Flipkart-exclusive.
Oppo R17 Pro, which is the flagship of the company, houses such tech but then, at a price of Rs 45,990, the handset is anything but affordable. However, the newly teased smartphone will give the tech at an ‘incredible price’, so that the masses will be able to buy a handset with an in-display fingerprint scanner.
To recall, in October 2018, Oppo launched its K1 smartphone in China which is said to be the most affordable smartphone of the company which houses the in-screen fingerprint scanner. It has 6.4-inch full HD+ display with 91 percent screen-to-body ratio and runs the company’s customized ColorOS 5.2 based on Android 8.1 Oreo. It is powered by the Snapdragon 660 AIE chipset.
The phone comes in two variants 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB. For imaging duties, there is a dual rear camera setup with a 16MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture along with a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is a massive 25MP camera with f/2.0 aperture. It is available in two color options – Van Gogh Blue and Mocha Red. Talking about the prices of the phone the 4GB variant costs RMB 1,599 (approx. Rs 16,300) while the 6GB variant will cost RMB 1,799 (approx. Rs 18,400).
It is likely that Oppo is planning to launch its K1 smartphone in India. However, we should point out that this is just a speculation right now and there is no official word on the same. We would update you as we get to know more about what the company plans to launch.
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Vivo to launch a smartphone with a pop-up selfie camera in India on February 20
Chinese smartphone company Vivo is all set to launch a new smartphone in India that will come with a pop-up selfie camera. The smartphone brand has sent a ‘Block Your Calendar’ invite to tech press for an event that is scheduled for February 20 to launch its new device. Although the invite sent by the company does not reveal the name of the smartphone that Vivo will be launching, it does show an outline of a device that comes with a pop-up selfie camera.
We should mention that pop-up selfie camera made its debut with the company’s much appreciated Vivo NEX smartphone that was launched last year. The smartphone was one among the first devices to come without a notch and the pop-up selfie camera was just a way of not housing the front-facing snapper on the handset’s display.
Coming back to Vivo’s invite, besides the date and the ‘Block Your Date’, it also mentions that ‘There’s a new pop star in town’. If the image of the smartphone wasn’t a hint enough, this only further points towards the fact that the company will be launching a new smartphone with a pop-up selfie camera.
We should mention that the smartphone in the invite could be the Vivo V15 Pro, which is said to be the successor of the company’s V11 Pro that was launched in India last year. Recent reports have suggested that Vivo is planning to launch the successor of V11 Pro with an elevating selfie camera. Another report also claimed that the upcoming device will not be named Vivo V13 Pro, but will instead be called as V15 Pro.
While Vivo NEX was priced at Rs 44,990 at the time of launch, the upcoming V15 Pro will not be that costly. This is because this time, Vivo wants to bring the experience of an elevating selfie camera to the masses with a more affordable model. So, the company has chosen the successor of V11 Pro to come with a pop-up selfie camera.
It has also been reported that Vivo V15 Pro comes with a triple camera setup on its back panel and will sport an in-display fingerprint scanner. Vivo V11 Pro was launched last year in India at a price of Rs 25,990.
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PUBG Mobile to release Zombies mode to all its players next month: Report
Popular multiplayer gamer PUBG Mobile had received the much-anticipated Zombies Mode and Resident Evil 2 beta update a few days back. And now, according to the latest reports, the Zombies final update 0.11.0 will be rolled out by the first week of February 2019.
We should mention that this timeline has been given by PUBG Mobile YouTuber and data-miner Mr Ghost Gaming. It will be interesting to see what Tencent has in store for us considering that the PUBG Mobile 0.11.0 patch notes do not mention outside of Zombies mode, which is known as Resident Evil: Sunset. To recall, Tencent Games announced its collaboration with RE Games a few days back.
As a part of the collaboration, some Resident Evil features were added to PUBG Mobile. Resident Evil 2 is a rather coveted game, especially for those who think it would be fun to hunt down zombies. And like Resident Evil 2, PUBG Mobile’s Zombie Mode will have undead enemies lurking hungry to devour you unless you can shoot them down. This will include regular zombies and boss enemies as well. Although the zombies mode is already out in beta, Tencent Games has not mentioned when it will be launching the stable update to all its players.
The weapons that were there prior to this update will still continue to be there. However, it is worth noticing that with the new Zombies mode, a few new weapons would also be added to the game. This includes the Minigun which is a six-barrel machinegun that shoots extremely fast and also, there is a Flamethrower. The PUBG Mobile Zombies mode is going to be situated in the Erangel map. You should know, that on killing the Zombies you can secure resources that you need in order to survive. PUBG Zombies Mode is also going to include moonlight to the Vikendi Map that was launched a few days back.
Apart from this, there are going to be added personal spaces, Resident Evil 2 main menu theme and music. Sanhok will be available in Arcade and you will find Air raid adjustment. Also, in Sanhok and Vikendi, the size of the air raid area is going to be reduced because the safe zone also reduces in size.
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Samsung Galaxy S10+ to sport up to 12GB RAM and 1TB storage; 5.8-inch model to not be called ‘Lite’: Report
Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartphones have been in news for months now. The rumour mill about the Samsung Galaxy S10 series doesn’t seem to stop and now, a report about the most premium device in the series – Galaxy S10+ – has surfaced online.
According to the report in GSMArena that quoted an anonymous source, Samsung Galaxy S10+ will also be launched in a 12GB RAM/1TB storage option. However, this variant of the smartphone will be limited in quantity. It has also been reported that this model of Samsung Galaxy S10+ will come with a triple rear camera setup and feature dual selfie cameras.
While the source confirmed that Samsung will be launching three smartphones in its Galaxy S10 series, there was a small change that was mentioned too. While prior reports claim that the smallest 5.8-inch variant in the series will be called as Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite, the GSMArena’s tipster has said that it will only “be the smallest Galaxy S10” because the handset will have the same processor and memory as others.
However, we should mention that the ‘smallest Galaxy S10’ will sport a dual rear camera setup at the back and only one selfie sensor on its front panel.
The regular Samsung Galaxy S10, which will come with a 6.1-inch display, will also come with a single selfie camera. However, it is worth pointing out that the device will have a triple rear camera setup.
All the three variants of the smartphone will house the same processor and memory, but Samsung Galaxy S10+ will be the only one to come in a 12GB RAM/1TB storage option too. As we mentioned earlier, the premium variant of the smartphone will come with two front cameras and three rear snappers.
The tipster has also said that all the three variants of Samsung Galaxy S10 will run the company’s new One UI software, come with 3.5mm headphone jacks and will be available in White, Black and Sea Green colour variants. The report also said that some models will also be available in Blue and Yellow colours. It also stated that the smartphones will be going on sale starting March 8.
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AnTuTu releases a benchmark to measure smartphone’s AI capabilities
With smartphones becoming indispensable in our lives and with all the new and groundbreaking features they are coming up with, artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology which seems to be the most highlighted. So, to measure the AI capabilities of smartphones, Chinese benchmark testing company AnTuTu has released a public beta version of its AI testing app called ‘AI Review’. We should also mention that the website has made the apk file public to so that it can be downloaded from its official website.
However, AnTuTu has also stated in its blog post that it might not actually be possible to measure the capabilities of AI on a single score as there are many SoC makers, smartphone companies and software developers and they are all working to make their own version of the technology. However, there are some phone companies which have not released their SDK to allow other apps to read into their AIs and that puts a negative score to the smartphone’s AI. The version of Android on the smartphone will also affect the AI scores since Android 9.0 has new AI optimizations of its own.
Smartphone companies are putting AI in their devices as a means to get ahead of the competition. The usage of AI in a smartphone are many such as – obeying voice commands to open or close an app, clicking better pictures with AI enhancements in camera, AI Gaming mode to block the calls and message notifications and give a lag free gaming experience, AI System OS which watches the user’s usage of the device and apps and then optimizes the apps so that they consume less battery. But there are still limitations about what AI can do and how its performance can be measured.
That’s why the company has put a unified standard for testing of AI’s capabilities and major companies like Samsung, Qualcomm, Mediatek and Nvidia are cooperating with this idea. These companies together are developing a way to quantify AI performance across various implementations.
About how the benchmark works, it is divided into two sub-categories – Image classification and Object recognition. The Image classification test reviews test data which comprises of 200 images and is based on Inception V3 neural network whereas the second part of the benchmark, the Object recognition test reviews a 600-frame video which is based on the MobileNet SSD neural network. Both these neural networks are then translated a common term or language that is supported by the manufacturer of the AI through SDK. And if the chip does not support AI-related algorithms, and fails in these tests then AnTuTu marks it as unsatisfactory and unreliable.
However, it is still not that simple, so AnTuTu has made a guard to keep the phones from cheating in this test. The score is determined by speed and accuracy, meaning accuracy cannot be satisfied to give speedy by wrong results. In that case they fail the test. AnTuTu wishes to set industry standard for AI. But even so it is clear that measuring AI’s performance on a number is complex and seems impossible. And high or low scores on the benchmark doesn’t necessarily mean that the phone or AI is excellent or obsolete. AI is still in its early stages of development and the AI makers still have a long way to go. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.Antutu has released a Chinese version of Antutu AI benchmark public beta today, which is available for download from Antutu official website https://t.co/ZLKczZyXac and China app stores now.
— AnTuTu Labs (@AnTuTuLabs) January 25, 2019
How does your phone score on #AntutuAIBenchmark? Download the new app and have a try. pic.twitter.com/c1WASkBwcf
Sony Xperia XZ4 specifications leaked; to come with a tall display aspect ratio
Sony is expected to launch its Xperia XZ4 smartphone during the Mobile World Congress 2019 that is scheduled for the month of February. The MWC 2019 will begin on February 25 and go on till February 28. There is a specs sheet that has been leaked recently, which reveals the specifications of Sony’s upcoming smartphone. The screenshot of the specs sheet was allegedly taken from the South Korean technology company’s official mobile website. Though the specs sheet does not specify the name of the device as Sony Xperia XZ4, it is speculated to be the upcoming flagship smartphone by the company.
The Sony Xperia XZ4 will reportedly sport a 6.4-inch OLED display that comes with an aspect ratio of 21:9. According to the report, the display of the smartphone will have an HD+ resolution of 3360×1440 pixels and come with support for HDR. It will be protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 panel. There is going to be a single variant of the smartphone that will come with 6GB of RAM and have 128GB of storage onboard. Reportedly, the device will also have a microSD card slot. The Sony Xperia XZ4 is expected to run on Android 9.0 Pie out-of-the-box. According to leaks, the Sony Xperia XZ4 will pack a battery of 4,400mAh and measure 167x72x8.2mm and weigh 191 grams.
Sony Xperia XZ4 will come in four colour options—black, silver, blue and deep purple. The upcoming device by Sony will be an IP68 certified handset just like its predecessor model, Xperia XZ3. And just like its predecessor model, Sony Xperia XZ4 will sport an ultra-large display panel. The Sony Xperia XZ4 is supposed to be taller than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro.
The smartphone’s screen protector was leaked on Weibo recently and from the images, it looks like Sony is not going for an almost edge-to-edge, full screen experience.
According to Weibo, the Sony Xperia XZ4 is going to have a fingerprint scanner, volume rocker and power buttons placed on the right edge. In terms of connectivity options, the smartphone is going to have a USB Type-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. For newest tech & gadget videos subscribe to our YouTube Channel.