OnePlus 6T would sport this in-display fingerprint sensor
OnePlus recently confirmed that it will be launching its flagship OnePlus 6T on October 30. And one among the most talked-about and awaited features of the device is its in-display fingerprint sensor. So instead of having the fingerprint sensor on the back panel like previous models, OnePlus 6T’s fingerprint sensor will be beneath its screen — like the one we saw on various devices from Oppo and Vivo this year.
Currently there only a couple of ways to have this implemented and the company has confirmed the method they will be opting for. In-display scanners are commonly either ultrasonic or optical. While ultrasonic scanners use ultrasound to create a 3D image of your finger, optical scanners light up the screen and reflect the light off your finger.
It is worth noting that optical fingerprint scanners are usually cheaper as compared to a capacitive or advanced ultrasonic fingerprint scanners. Furthermore, optical fingerprint scanners are also less secure than the ones which have been developed more recently as the fingerprint is captured in the form of a 2D image by the image sensor. The 2D image is later used to analyse the prints on the finger. On the upside, optical fingerprint sensors are supposed to offer faster fingerprint recognition than ultrasonic — which captures a more 3D image on the system using ridges and pores on the user’s finger.
Coming back to OnePlus 6T, the company has confirmed that it will be using an optical fingerprint scanner in the flagship smartphone.
The company made the announcement via its official Weibo account where it said that OnePlus 6T would be launched with “light-sensitive” in-display fingerprint sensor.
We have to say that we are not surprised by this announcement as Oppo and Vivo have also been using optical technology for the in-display fingerprint sensors on their devices. For those who are unaware, Oppo, Vivo and OnePlus have the same parent company — BBK Electronics. So we can assume that the company is using the in-display fingerprint sensor we saw in Vivo Nex earlier this year, however, we expect it to come with some software changes.
Apart from a fingerprint scanner, OnePlus 6T will also come with the face unlock technology. Other likely specifications of OnePlus 6T is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB/256B of internal storage and Android Pie. OnePlus 6T will also sport a waterdrop notch on its display.
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WhatsApp seems to have acknowledged the bug that let hackers break into video calls
Facebook-owned popular instant messaging app WhatsApp seems to have acknowledged a bug that enabled hackers to take over users’ apps when they answered a video call. The announcement from WhatsApp comes after reports from ZDnet and The Register said that the vulnerability which exposed WhatsApp applications on both iOS and Android operating systems was first discovered in late August and Facebook fixed it in early October.
In response to a query to Reuters, WhatsApp said, “We routinely engage with security researchers from around the world to ensure WhatsApp remains safe and reliable. We promptly issued a fix to the latest version of WhatsApp to resolve this issue.”
An official working with WhatsApp further said that the company is not aware of the bug ever being used in any attack before it got patched.
However, not everybody is on the same page as him.
Travis Ormandy, who is a researcher at Google Project Zero has said that the bug is in fact a “bid deal”. For those unaware, the vulnerability in WhatsApp was discovered by Google Project Zero.
“This is a big deal. Just answering a call from an attacker could completely compromise WhatsApp,” he said on Twitter.
Acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19 billion, WhatsApp enjoys the status of being the most popular instant messaging app and is used by more than 1.2 billion people across the world. In the last one year, Facebook has been involved in a number of security related issues. While 87 million of its users were affected in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, a security breach last week has affected almost 50 million accounts. Post the announcements, Facebook‘s shared went down by 1.2% at $155.94. In fact, this week, Facebook also launched a device that is specifically meant for making video calls. Named as Portal, the device’s signature feature is its wide-angle camera that automatically keeps users in focus even if they move around in the room. The social networking giant is expecting to woo users with the presence of its popular app — Messenger — on the device. It is worth noting that around 400 million people call each other via Facebook Messenger each year and in spite of its popularity, the app is not present on Google‘s and Amazon’s smart speakers. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.This is a big deal. Just answering a call from an attacker could completely compromise WhatsApp. https://t.co/vjHuWt8JYa
— Tavis Ormandy (@taviso) October 9, 2018
Don’t like Google Pixel 3 XL’s enormous notch? You’ll get an option to hide it
After months of speculations and rumours, Google finally took the wraps off its Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL smartphones this week. But there is something about its bigger screen variant — Google Pixel 3 XL — that users aren’t liking too much. It’s the huge camera notch that’s there right on top of Google Pixel 3 XL‘s display.
If you are one among the people who don’t like the notch too much, Google has a solution for you. As a reply to a query on Twitter, the technology giant has tweeted that it will be offering an option to hide the notch by blacking out the entire top portion of the screen which lies on either side of the notch. Google also tweeted a picture of the notch hidden so that users understand what it’s trying to say.
Companies like LG, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Huawei have already offered this option for users who dislike the notch style display and it’s good to see Google join the bandwagon. According to a report in 9to5Google, the ability to black out the notch is already there on the device. In the existing Android Pie build, there is an option to do so in the development menu. There is a possibility that this is what Google was referring to. But we hope to see a more user-friendly option of the same because not everyone is tech-savvy enough to resort to developer options to hide the notch of their phone. 9to5Google managing editor Stephen Hall also tweeted a picture of Google Pixel 3 XL smartphone without the notch. The menu bar — which is always at the top of the display — automatically gets displayed below the bezel that is created for the user. https://twitter.com/hallstephenj/status/1050036131419607043 So you wouldn’t only be adding a larger than normal bezel to hide the enormous notch on the top, you will also be losing space with the menu bar. But then, if you really dislike the notch on Google Pixel 3 XL and still want to buy the smartphone to enjoy the latest features from the technology giant, you at least have a choice now. For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.For people who prefer a more traditional smartphone look, we’ve added an option to hide the display cutout (the notch).
— Made by Google (@madebygoogle) October 9, 2018
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) with four rear cameras launched: Price and specifications
Samsung today has launched the first ever smartphone with a quad rear camera setup. Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) also comes with an Infinity display and packs 6GB of RAM. Samsung is also touting the presence of a 3D Glass curved back. As the name suggests, the smartphone is the successor of Samsung Galaxy A9 — which was launched three years back in 2015. Read the rest of our story to know about the price, availability and specification details of the smartphone.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) price
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comes in two variants — one with 6GB RAM and the other with 8GB RAM. The price of the smartphone starts at EUR 599 and GBP 549 and it will be made available starting November. Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) comes in three colour options — Bubblegum Pink, Lemonade Blue, and Caviar Black.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) specifications
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is a dual SIM smartphone that sports a 6.3-inch full-HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display that has an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, as we mentioned earlier, the smartphone comes with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM. Both the variants pack a 128GB internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 512GB.
The newly launched Android Oreo based smartphone by Samsung houses a 3,800mAh battery and supports fast charging.
Now, let’s talk about the main highlight of the device — its cameras.
For imaging duties, Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) sports a quadruple rear camera setup. It has a 24MP sensor that comes with an f/1.7 aperture, a 10MP telephoto sensor that features 2x optical zoom and has an f/2.4 aperture. There is also an 8MP ultra-wide camera that comes with a 120-degree lens and an f/2.4 aperture and a 5MP depth camera that features an f/2.2 aperture. According to the company, when used in dimly lit conditions, the primary 24MP camera uses pixel binning and combines 4 pixels into one. For selfies and video calls, there is a 24MP front facing snapper that comes with an f/2.0 aperture.
The smartphone supports Samsung’s digital assistant Bixby and Samsung Pay. It also comes with Face Unlock technology.
The connectivity options of Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5, NFC, a 3.5mm jack, and a USB Type-C port.
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Plantronics expands its BackBeat FIT and BackBeat GO lines in India
To mark the beginning of the festive season, Plantronics has expanded its BackBeat FIT and BackBeat GO lines in India. The company has launched four new earbuds and headphones in the country including BackBeat FIT 2100, BackBeat FIT 3100, BackBeat FIT 350 and BackBeat GO 810. The wireless earbuds and headphones are aimed towards runners, fitness enthusiasts and active people of all stripes. Here are the details that you should know about them:
Features
The BackBeat FIT 2100 and 3100 are both wireless sports earbuds that offer advanced customization and enhance safety. Both the headphones are sweat-proof and waterproof, since they are aimed at fitness enthusiasts who are likely to wear them during their workouts. Speaking of BackBeat FIT 350 wireless sports earbuds, the company says that they have been designed to ensure users’ stability and comfort and are discreet and ultralight.
Plantronics BackBeat GO 810 wireless over the ear headphones promise up to 22 hours of listening time for users.
Price and availability
The newly launched headphones and earbuds from Plantronics will be available through Rashi Peripherals. While the Plantronics BackBeat FIT 2100 will be available in Black, Grey, Blue and Lava Black colour options and are priced at Rs 8,100, the BackBeat FIT 3100 can be bought in Black and Grey colour variants at Rs 11,990. The BackBeat FIT 350 wireless sports earbuds bear a price tag of Rs 6,490 and are available in Black/Grey, Grey/Bone and Grey/Blue colour variants. And lastly, the new headphones in the range, BackBeat GO 810, costs Rs 11,990 and is available in Graphite Black, Navy Blue and Bone White colours.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Tanguy Leborgne, General Manager, Plantronics Consumer Group said, “People expect more than just sound from their headsets. They expect clear, simple experiences that make their days better and more enjoyable whether they are running, playing Fortnite or travelling across the country or world. I just completed a marathon near Mount Kenya in Africa using a BackBeat FIT headset because what mattered to me was making sure only people were chasing me, not wild animals.”
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Top 17 smartphone deals at Flipkart Big Billion Days sale
Right now is probably the best time to buy yourself a new gadget. If you have been planning to buy a smartphone, then there are a slew of offers available on devices from various companies on Amazon as well as on Flipkart. Yesterday, we gave you a list of deals on smartphones that you can avail on Amazon. And today, we back with a list of smartphones that are available on a discount on Flipkart. Check out the list over here:
We recently saw HMD Global launching the Nokia 5.1 Plus in India. And the smartphone can bought from Flipkart’s sale at a discount of Rs 500. While the smartphone was launched at Rs 10,999, it can be picked up from Flipkart for the next five days at Rs 10,499. One among the main reasons to buy the Nokia 5.1 Plus is the fact that it is a part of Google’s Android One program – which promises timely Android updates and security patches for two years from the date of launch.
Xiaomi’s budget smartphone is considered to be one among the best buys in the said segment today. And if you have been thinking of buying the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, then the time is right for you. During Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale, the 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro are available at Rs 12,999 and Rs 14,999 respectively. The prices are Rs 2,000 less than their launch price.
Another device by Xiaomi on our list, this one is for those who want to buy a smartphone with high-end specifications at an affordable price. The Poco F1 from Xiaomi is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and comes in three storage options – 6GB RAM/64GB onboard storage, 6GB RAM/128GB inbuilt storage and 8GB RAM/256GB internal storage. It further houses a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphones are available at a discount of Rs 1,000 during Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. However, the offer is only valid if you also purchase Flipkart’s ‘Buyback Guarantee Policy’ for Rs 149. Then, when you upgrade to a smartphone in next few months, you will get a buyback of Rs 14,700. Buyers will also be getting a minimum exchange value of Rs 500. With all of this put together, the effective cost of the base variant of the smartphone comes down to Rs 5,799 from Rs 20,999.
Launched in July this year, the Honor 9N is available at a reduced price on Flipkart during its festive season sale. While the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant of the smartphone costed Rs 11,999, the 4GB RAM/128GB onboard storage version was available for Rs 17,999. During the sale, the smartphone variants bear a price tag of Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 respectively.
If you are photography enthusiast, you may want to pick up Google’s flagship from last year – Pixel 2 XL. While the smartphone was earlier available on Flipkart for Rs 45,499, during the sale it is available on a discount of Rs 5,499. So now, you can buy the smartphone for Rs 40,000. Note that the launch price of Google Pixel 2 XL was Rs 73,000.
Asus Zenfone 5Z was the company’s answer to OnePlus 6. So, it offered high-end specifications to the customer at a mid-range price. When launched, the 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant of Asus Zenfone 5Z was priced at Rs 29,999, the 6GB RAM/128GB onboard storage version costed Rs 32,999 and the 8GB RAM/256GB inbuilt storage had a price tag of Rs 36,999. During the sale, the smartphone variants can be picked up at Rs 24,999, Rs 27,999 and Rs 31,999 respectively.
The next smartphone on our list is from Samsung. As we had reported earlier, the Samsung Galaxy On Nxt will be available at a discount of Rs 7,000. While earlier the 64GB storage variant of the device was priced at Rs 16,900, now it is available for Rs 9,900.
The Realme 2 smartphone by Oppo was launched in August this year. While earlier, the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was available for Rs 9,990 on Flipkart, the 4GB RAM/64GB inbuilt storage model was being sold at Rs 11,990. During the sale, the both the storage models of the smartphone have received a price cut of Rs 1,000 and are available for Rs 8,990 and Rs 9,990 respectively.
Samsung’s last year’s flagship smartphone was never available at such an attractive price. Samsung Galaxy S8 has received a price cut of Rs 20,000 for the Flipkart sale and will be available for Rs 29,990. It is worth noticing that the offer will only be available on the 64GB storage variant of the device.
The Honor 10 smartphone is Huawei’s sub-brand’s flagship of the year. While it was launched in India at a price tag of Rs 32,999, the smartphone is currently available on Flipkart at Rs 24,999.
Next smartphone on our list is for selfie lovers. Vivo V9 was launched in India in March this year and it sports a 24MP front facing camera. While the smartphone was launched at Rs 22,990, it is now available on Flipkart at Rs 15,990.
Xiaomi launched its Redmi 6 smartphone last month in India. During the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale, the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant of the smartphone is available at a discount of Rs 1,000. While earlier it was being sold at the e-commerce website at Rs 8,999, now it is available for Rs 7,999.
A discount of Rs 1,000 is available on only variant of Honor 9 Lite – which was launched in India in January this year. The 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was launched at Rs 10,999 and is currently available for Rs 9,999 on Flipkart.
Like Nokia 5.1 Plus, the Nokia 6.1 Plus is also available at a discount of Rs 1,000 on Flipkart. The smartphone that was initially launched at Rs 15,999, can be picked up at Rs 14,999 from Flipkart.
Launched in August at a price of Rs 16,990 in India, Samsung Galaxy On8 is available at a reduced price during Flipkart’s sale. It can currently be picked up at Rs 14,990 from the e-commerce website.
The bezel-less smartphone from Xiaomi – Mi Mix 2 – was launched last year in India at Rs 35,999. The smartphone has received a price cut for the sale and as of now, it can be bought for Rs 22,999 from Flipkart.
Samsung Galaxy On6 smartphone is also available at a reduced price during Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. While earlier it was priced at Rs 14,490, during the sale one can buy it for Rs 11,990.
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In This Article
Nokia 5.1 Plus
We recently saw HMD Global launching the Nokia 5.1 Plus in India. And the smartphone can bought from Flipkart’s sale at a discount of Rs 500. While the smartphone was launched at Rs 10,999, it can be picked up from Flipkart for the next five days at Rs 10,499. One among the main reasons to buy the Nokia 5.1 Plus is the fact that it is a part of Google’s Android One program – which promises timely Android updates and security patches for two years from the date of launch.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Pro
Xiaomi’s budget smartphone is considered to be one among the best buys in the said segment today. And if you have been thinking of buying the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, then the time is right for you. During Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale, the 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM variants of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro are available at Rs 12,999 and Rs 14,999 respectively. The prices are Rs 2,000 less than their launch price.
Xiaomi Poco F1
Another device by Xiaomi on our list, this one is for those who want to buy a smartphone with high-end specifications at an affordable price. The Poco F1 from Xiaomi is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and comes in three storage options – 6GB RAM/64GB onboard storage, 6GB RAM/128GB inbuilt storage and 8GB RAM/256GB internal storage. It further houses a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphones are available at a discount of Rs 1,000 during Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. However, the offer is only valid if you also purchase Flipkart’s ‘Buyback Guarantee Policy’ for Rs 149. Then, when you upgrade to a smartphone in next few months, you will get a buyback of Rs 14,700. Buyers will also be getting a minimum exchange value of Rs 500. With all of this put together, the effective cost of the base variant of the smartphone comes down to Rs 5,799 from Rs 20,999.
Honor 9N
Launched in July this year, the Honor 9N is available at a reduced price on Flipkart during its festive season sale. While the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant of the smartphone costed Rs 11,999, the 4GB RAM/128GB onboard storage version was available for Rs 17,999. During the sale, the smartphone variants bear a price tag of Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 respectively.
Google Pixel 2
If you are photography enthusiast, you may want to pick up Google’s flagship from last year – Pixel 2 XL. While the smartphone was earlier available on Flipkart for Rs 45,499, during the sale it is available on a discount of Rs 5,499. So now, you can buy the smartphone for Rs 40,000. Note that the launch price of Google Pixel 2 XL was Rs 73,000.
Asus Zenfone 5Z
Asus Zenfone 5Z was the company’s answer to OnePlus 6. So, it offered high-end specifications to the customer at a mid-range price. When launched, the 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant of Asus Zenfone 5Z was priced at Rs 29,999, the 6GB RAM/128GB onboard storage version costed Rs 32,999 and the 8GB RAM/256GB inbuilt storage had a price tag of Rs 36,999. During the sale, the smartphone variants can be picked up at Rs 24,999, Rs 27,999 and Rs 31,999 respectively.
Samsung Galaxy On Nxt
The next smartphone on our list is from Samsung. As we had reported earlier, the Samsung Galaxy On Nxt will be available at a discount of Rs 7,000. While earlier the 64GB storage variant of the device was priced at Rs 16,900, now it is available for Rs 9,900.
Realme 2
The Realme 2 smartphone by Oppo was launched in August this year. While earlier, the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was available for Rs 9,990 on Flipkart, the 4GB RAM/64GB inbuilt storage model was being sold at Rs 11,990. During the sale, the both the storage models of the smartphone have received a price cut of Rs 1,000 and are available for Rs 8,990 and Rs 9,990 respectively.
Samsung Galaxy S8
Samsung’s last year’s flagship smartphone was never available at such an attractive price. Samsung Galaxy S8 has received a price cut of Rs 20,000 for the Flipkart sale and will be available for Rs 29,990. It is worth noticing that the offer will only be available on the 64GB storage variant of the device.
Honor 10
The Honor 10 smartphone is Huawei’s sub-brand’s flagship of the year. While it was launched in India at a price tag of Rs 32,999, the smartphone is currently available on Flipkart at Rs 24,999.
Vivo V9
Next smartphone on our list is for selfie lovers. Vivo V9 was launched in India in March this year and it sports a 24MP front facing camera. While the smartphone was launched at Rs 22,990, it is now available on Flipkart at Rs 15,990.
Xiaomi Redmi 6
Xiaomi launched its Redmi 6 smartphone last month in India. During the Flipkart Big Billion Days sale, the 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant of the smartphone is available at a discount of Rs 1,000. While earlier it was being sold at the e-commerce website at Rs 8,999, now it is available for Rs 7,999.
Honor 9 Lite
A discount of Rs 1,000 is available on only variant of Honor 9 Lite – which was launched in India in January this year. The 3GB RAM/32GB storage variant was launched at Rs 10,999 and is currently available for Rs 9,999 on Flipkart.
Nokia 6.1 Plus
Like Nokia 5.1 Plus, the Nokia 6.1 Plus is also available at a discount of Rs 1,000 on Flipkart. The smartphone that was initially launched at Rs 15,999, can be picked up at Rs 14,999 from Flipkart.
Samsung Galaxy On8
Launched in August at a price of Rs 16,990 in India, Samsung Galaxy On8 is available at a reduced price during Flipkart’s sale. It can currently be picked up at Rs 14,990 from the e-commerce website.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
The bezel-less smartphone from Xiaomi – Mi Mix 2 – was launched last year in India at Rs 35,999. The smartphone has received a price cut for the sale and as of now, it can be bought for Rs 22,999 from Flipkart.
Samsung Galaxy On6
Samsung Galaxy On6 smartphone is also available at a reduced price during Flipkart’s Big Billion Days sale. While earlier it was priced at Rs 14,490, during the sale one can buy it for Rs 11,990.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Nokia 8110 4G ‘Banana’ phone launched in India: Price, specs and more
Remember the Banana phone from Matrix? We all do. HMD Global revamped the smartphone this year with 4G capabilities and launched it at this year’s Mobile World Congress. And after a long wait, the much awaited and talked about Nokia 8110 4G phone has finally launched in India.
The revamped version of the Nokia 8110 retains the slider mechanism that iconic phone had and comes with a new version of the popular Snake game. Much like JioPhone, Nokia 8110 4G runs KaiOS — which means that it now has support for YouTube, WhatsApp and a few other apps from Google.
Here are the price, availability and specification details of the Nokia 8110 4G:
Nokia 8110 4G price and availability in India
Nokia 8110 4G bears a price tag of Rs 5,999 and it will be sold in two colour variants in India — Banana Yellow and Traditional Black. The phone can be bought via online Nokia partner retailers and at offline retail stores starting October 24. HMD Global has also partnered with Reliance Jio to offer up to 544GB free 4G data to buyers. Currently, we have no further details about the offer, but we will update you about them as soon as we know.
Nokia 8110 4G specifications
Nokia 8110 4G can hold two SIM cards – one micro and one nano – and sports 2.45-inch QVGA curved screen display. The smart feature phone runs KaiOS and is powered by 1.1GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 processor paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of onboard storage. However, there is no microSD card slot on the device.
Nokia 8110 4G smart feature phone comes with a 2MP rear camera with LED flash. Much to the disappointment of selfie lovers, there is no camera on its front panel. The phone houses a 1,500mAh battery which is claims up to 25 days of 4G LTE standby time.
The connectivity options of the phone include 4G VoLTE with hotspot, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS/ A-GPS, FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Micro-USB port.
Nokia 8110 4G smart feature phone comes with IP52 drip protection.
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HMD Global launches Nokia 3.1 Plus with 3,500mAH battery in India: Price, specs and more
HMD Global has today launched the Nokia 3.1 Plus smartphone in India. The smartphone is successor to Nokia 3.1 with Android Go, which came to India in July this year.
Like other Nokia smartphones we have seen this year, Nokia 3.1 Plus comes under Google’s Android One program – which promises timely Android updates for the smartphone from the date of launch. It will also receive security patches for the next three years.
Here’s a look at the price, availability and specification details of Nokia 3.1 Plus.
Nokia 3.1 Plus price and availability
Nokia 3.1 Plus is available in only variant in India that sports 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage and is priced at Rs 11,499. The smartphone will be available starting October 19. It is worth nothing that globally, another variant of the smartphone with 2GB RAM and 16GB onboard storage is also available.
Nokia 3.1 Plus specifications
The newly launched Nokia smartphone from HMD Global comes with a 6-inch HD+ IPS display that has an aspect ratio of 18:9. Defying the current trend, the newly launched smartphone comes without a notch on its screen.
Powered by MediaTek HelioP22 processor, Nokia 3.1 Plus comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage. It can also hold a microSD card of up to 400GB.
The smartphone runs Android Oreo out of the box and as we mentioned earlier, is a part of Google’s Android One program.
For imaging duties, Nokia 3.1 Plus mobile comes with a dual rear camera setup with 13MP and 5MP sensors. There is also an 8MP front facing snapper with LED flash for selfies and video calls.
Nokia 3.1 Plus houses a 3500mAh non removable battery and the sensors on the smartphone include Ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer, Ecompass, gyroscope and a fingerprint sensor which is placed on its back panel.
For connectivity, the dual SIM smartphone supports 4G, Wi-Fi, 802.11 b/g/n,BT 4.1, GPS/AGPS, GLONASS, BDS, and Galileo.
The beginning of this month also saw the global launch of Nokia 7.1 smartphone that comes with Zeiss branded camera lenses and sports PureDisplay screen technology which ensures a more immersive viewing experience and enhances contrast with HDR10 support. The Nokia 7.1 smartphone was unveiled at an event in London and the smartphone is yet to launch in India.
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Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones with improved noise cancellation launched in India: Price and specifications
Sony has always been known for its products in audio segment. And today, the company extended its product lineup in the said segment in India with the launch of WH-1000XM3 around ear headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones were globally launched by the company at IFA 2018 that was held in Berlin last month. The newly launched headphones come with upgraded noise cancelling performance and are designed keeping in mind frequent travellers. Here, we list down the price, specifications and availability details of Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones:
Sony WH-1000XM3 price and availability
Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones have been priced at Rs 29,990 in India. They are available in two colour options — Black and Platinum silver and will go on sale starting October 18. If you are an interested buyer, you can pre-order the headphones starting October 11 on Amazon.in and Croma. Although they are available for pre-orders only on Amazon and Croma, starting October 18, they will be available in all Sony Centre stores as well as major electronic stores across India.
Sony WH-1000XM3 specifications
The major key improvement on the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones over its predecessor is the upgraded noise cancellation performance. This is because Sony WH-1000XM3 comes with HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1, that according to the company has nearly four times greater performance compared to the previous processor. The processor also helps in cancelling out daily background sounds. Coupled with 32-bit Audio Signal Processing and the combination of DAC with Amplifier functionality, it is claimed to offer exceptionally high sound quality and best-in-class signal-to-noise ratio.
The headphones also feature a dual noise sensor technology that captures ambient noise with dual microphones, then sends this data to the processor so that the noise can be cancelled.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones come with 40mm driver unit with a Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) diaphragm, which can reproduce frequencies up to 40kHz. Over that, the new headphones by Sony are equipped with Quick Attention Mode that lets the users know what is happening around them without taking their headphones off.
The headphones can also stay on Noise Cancellation mode even without being connected to a device, primarily for those who want noise reduction without listening to music. So you can easily take them with you on your next long flight, put them on and go off to sleep in pin drop silence.
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Skullcandy Venue headphones with active noise cancelling technology launched in India
Skullcandy has launched its Venue headphones in India at an event in New Delhi today. The headphones are touted to come with active noise cancellation technology that is said to block sounds from the user’s surroundings when they listen to music. Another key feature of Skullcandy Venue headphones is its Rapid Charge Technology that promises a usage of five hours with just 10 minutes of charging time. Here are all the pricing, availability and specification details of the headphones that you should know about:
Skullcandy Venue headphones bear a price tag of Rs 18,999 in India and will be available in two colour variants — Black/ Black and White/ Crimson. The headphones will be available on Skullcandy.in, Brandeyes.in and select retailers starting today.
The headphones are wireless and come with active noise cancelling or ANC technology that — according to the company — ensures a powerful sound performance. The headphones have a Monitor Mode that enables users to shut the noise cancellation and hear their surroundings by just pressing a button.
The Skullcandy Venue headphones also have an embedded technology that comes in partnership with key finder device maker Tile. With this feature of the headphones, you will be able to track them through the Tile app. So you don’t have to fret over misplacing them.
Skullcandy Venue headphones come with up to 24 hours of battery life and have Bluetooth capability. You will also get a premium case along with it, so that you can carry the headphones with you wherever you are going.
And with Active Assistant present on the headphones, you can activate your device’s voice assistant to get directions or message your friends.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Mr. Jason Hodell, CEO of Skullcandy said, “Skullcandy is an iconic audio brand that embodies independence, creativity and appeals to our youthful and adventurous audio consumer. For 15 years, Skullcandy has thrived at the intersection of music, technology and boardsports by unleashing the visceral power of music for all. With Venue, we’re continuing our vision of delivering incredible immersive audio experiences.”
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OnePlus 6T to launch in India on October 30
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus has confirmed that it is all set to take wraps off its next flagship smartphone OnePlus 6T on October 30. The company has sent out media invites for the launch event of OnePlus 6T that will take place on the said date in New Delhi. This time, OnePlus fans will too have a chance of seeing the phone getting launched as invites for the event can be bought too.
The India launch of OnePlus 6T happens to be on the same day as the global launch. The invite that has been sent by the company comes with the tagline – ‘Unlock The Speed’ – which, we think, points towards the indisplay fingerprint sensor that OnePlus will sport. The invite further says that OnePlus 6T will be launched at KDJW Stadium, which is inside Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi. The date and time of the launch are also mentioned on the invite. As we mentioned earlier, the smartphone will be launching on October 30 at 8.30pm.
OnePlus fans can buy invites to the event via the company’s official website. The invite costs Rs 999 and will go on sale on October 17 at 10:00am.
The global launch of OnePlus 6T will take place in New York City on October 30 at 11am EDT. This basically means that both the launches will take place simultaneously. Those who cannot make it to the event can watch the live-stream of the launch on the company’s official website.
Needless to say, a number of rumours and speculations have surfaced online about the upcoming smartphone. OnePlus 6T will reportedly feature 6.4-inch Optic AMOLED full-HD+ display and will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. It will be available in 6GB and 8GB RAM options and is expected to have an internal storage of up to 256GB. The smartphone will reportedly house a 3,700mAh battery and is said to run Android 9.0 Pie out of the box. The display of the smartphone will sport a waterdrop style notch at its top.
It has been confirmed earlier that OnePlus 6T will come with an indisplay fingerprint sensor and will not sport a 3.5mm jack. The smartphone would not support wireless charging and also would not offer an IP rating.
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Instagram launches new tools to stop online bullying and spread kindness
Let’s face it: Online bullying has become common with the growing popularity of social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And all of them have tried to their bit to control it. Facebook owned photo sharing app Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri has admitted that more work needs to be done in order to limit bullying and spread kindness on the platform.
This came with the announcement of new tools on the platform to combat bullying and a new way of identifying and reporting bullying. Instagram has also announced that it will be introducing a camera effect to spread kindness via Instagram Stories.
A machine learning tool to detect bullying
Going forward, Instagram will be using machine learning technology to detect bullying in photos. It will also be scanning the image captions and send them to their Community Operations team so that they can be reviewed.
The tool – according to the company – will be more beneficial in removing bullying. So even if bullying doesn’t get reported, the platform will be able to identify it. Instagram says that the tool will help the platform protect teens – who experience higher rate of online bullying than others. The tool has started rolling out on Instagram and will reach all users in the next few weeks.
Removing bullying comments on live videos
Instagram had introduced a bullying comment filter which – as the name suggests – detects and hides bullying comments from Feed, Explore and Profile. The photo sharing platform is now adding this filter to comments that are posted to live videos. This is being done to promote Live as a safe and fun place where one can share moments with their friends in real time. This feature has been rolled out globally to all users.
A new camera effect to spread kindness
Instagram has partnered with Maddie Ziegler, a New York Times bestselling author, dancer and actor to launch a kindness camera effect. Maddie has been very vocally against online bullying and is one among the people who use the platform to promote positivity.
One can get the camera effect automatically by following Maddie. For using the camera effect, swipe right on your Instagram app to open the camera, tap at the face icon at the bottom, and select the new camera effect.
If your camera is in the selfie mode, you will see the filter filling the screen with hearts. And on switching to rear camera, you will see an overlay with kind comments in various languages. You can click a picture and extend the kindness to your friends by tagging them. Once they are tagged, your friends will be able to use the filter from their camera too.
And in case you aren’t following Maddie, and you see the effect on someone’s Story, just tap “Try it’ to add the filter to your camera.
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Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV with Soundbar Review: Big on screen, bigger on sound
In September Blaupunkt launched a sling of LED televisions in India. One of which is the Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV with Soundbar. This one particularly caught our attention since it was a combo deal you rarely see on the shelves. For people who are less familiar with the brand, which we are sure are less, Blaupunkt is a German brand that has been building some excellent in car entertainment systems and audio driver for automobiles. They have forayed into different segments, one of which is audio and video for homes. We at Gadget Bridge got our hands on the latest television by the company that came to our side of the world. This is our review of the new LED TV by Blaupunkt.
The sound bar supplied with the Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV is quite light. The sides of the sound bar are squarish giving it a modern look. Dressed in black the sound bar can be wall mounted or kept under the TV on the table. This became a little bit of a hassle for us, as when kept under the TV it blocks the IR port. To control it, every time we had to raise our arms.
The sound bar comes with an LED indicator on it. The Blue LED indicated, Bluetooth pairing, purple is for AUX 1 and Green is for AUX 2. The rear has these AUX ports along with a USB port for it to play music directly from a USB pen drive. The box also contains a neat little USB extender which when placed extends the USB port to the right for ease of access. Wish same was done for the side connectivity panel on the TV.
Yes, you can do that and pair multiple devices with the soundbar. Pairing over Bluetooth is an easy task, so is the USB functionality. All the popular formats such as MP3 are supported. The full function remote control comes in handy and one can easily navigate without turning the TV screen on.
Other features of the TV include screen casting, 16:9 aspect ratio, 4,000:1 contrast ratio and 178 degree viewing angles (which is very good when watching the tele from the sides).
In This Article
Design
While most LED TVs in the budget to mid-price range look the same, it was refreshing to see a different looking LED TV. The Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV sports silver trims around it and also comes with silver aluminium legs. The flatscreen measures 50-inches diagonally and is great to look at. Built for medium to large rooms and living rooms this thin tube has 75mm depth at its thickest point. The front of the TV is dominated by the large smart screen, which has Blaupunkt branding under it in the middle. The right side of the TV has physical power, volume and channel buttons, while the left side has nothing. Usually most TVs have a side connectivity panel on the left, but not this TV. Well, somewhat. To reach to the side connectivity panel, one has to go inwards to the back, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of it being there. Right next to it is the downwards facing port panel. The TV has everything from twin USB, multiple HDMI, Ethernet, component and composite ports. It even has an auxiliary speaker jack that can connect external speakers or in this case connects the sound bar to the TV. Speaking of which, setting up the TV and the sound bar did not take much time. We were up and running in matter of minutes. The only place we spent a little extra time is when we were trying understand how the soundbar would pair with the TV.
The sound bar supplied with the Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV is quite light. The sides of the sound bar are squarish giving it a modern look. Dressed in black the sound bar can be wall mounted or kept under the TV on the table. This became a little bit of a hassle for us, as when kept under the TV it blocks the IR port. To control it, every time we had to raise our arms.
The sound bar comes with an LED indicator on it. The Blue LED indicated, Bluetooth pairing, purple is for AUX 1 and Green is for AUX 2. The rear has these AUX ports along with a USB port for it to play music directly from a USB pen drive. The box also contains a neat little USB extender which when placed extends the USB port to the right for ease of access. Wish same was done for the side connectivity panel on the TV.
Performance
Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV is a beast when it comes to performance. When we turned it on and listened to it, without the sound bar, we started wondering why does one require the soundbar with this flat screen. The TV has 30W RMS twin hidden speakers, which are great to fill up a large room. Then we turned on the soundbar and a smile came to our face. When the soundbar kicks in, it adds additional 60W RMS and the sound becomes extremely good and realistic. Movies, sports and gaming experience becomes much better with it turned on. Internally, the Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV comes with a 1.5 GHz Quad-core CPU, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB storage. Built on the Android for TV OS this TV does take a little time to start, as each time the operating system has to kick in, but when it starts it has great graphics to show. We watched everything from FHD YouTube videos to 4K movies. All of them look exceptionally good on this smart LED TV. The picture is clear with vivid colours and blacks are deep. For the budget segment we got really kicked with what we were seeing. One can easily connect the TV to the internet with an Ethernet cable, but setting up the Wi-Fi does take a fair bit of time. Once online the TV updates all the feature lists on its own. There are good amount of apps like Hotstar, Netflix, Eros Now etc. already installed in the TV and you can download more that are supported through the app store. Navigation and search was made easy using the Air remote that is supplied in the box. Oh, we did not talk about the remotes. Well, there are 3 of them that come with this television, two for the TV (A regular large candy bar style remote and the air remote) and the third one for the sound bar, in case you want to just use the soundbar separately without turning on the TV.
Yes, you can do that and pair multiple devices with the soundbar. Pairing over Bluetooth is an easy task, so is the USB functionality. All the popular formats such as MP3 are supported. The full function remote control comes in handy and one can easily navigate without turning the TV screen on.
Other features of the TV include screen casting, 16:9 aspect ratio, 4,000:1 contrast ratio and 178 degree viewing angles (which is very good when watching the tele from the sides).
Verdict
Overall, we quite liked what we saw. Yes, somethings like the side port panel placement could have been better, however that is not a deal breaker. At a price of Rs 33,999 the Blaupunkt 50-inch Smart LED TV with its sound bar is a good buy, especially if you want 4K capabilities and great sound to go with it.Pros:
Excellent sound 4K support Good connectivity and smart featuresCons:
Takes some time to start Side connectivity panel a bit out of reach For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.Apple MacBook Air available on Paytm Mall for Rs 48,490
The festive season is also the season of discounts. Amazon’s Great Indian Festival has started today and deals on electronics would begin tomorrow on Flipkart as a part of its Big Billion Days sale. But these aren’t the only two e–commerce websites which are trying to outdo each other. Attractive deals are available on other platforms too and Paytm Mall happens to be one of them.
If you want a new laptop for yourself, it is the right time to but the Apple MacBook Air. Originally priced at Rs 77,200, the Apple MacBook Air (128GB) is now available at a price of Rs 48,490 as a part of Paytm Mall’s Maha Cashback sale.
If you visit the website, you will see that the MacBook Air is actually listed at a price of Rs 65,990. Customers will be getting a flat cashback of Rs 10,000 and vouchers up to Rs 5,000. These vouchers can be used for getting a free backpack and movie tickets and do grocery shopping, mobile recharges or bill payments. Flight vouchers are also a part of the deal.
An additional cashback of 10% can also availed if buyers pay for their purchase via ICICI Bank’s credit or debit cards.
Put together, these deals bring down the price of a MacBook Air to Rs 48,490. If you wish to avail this offer, you should know that it will go live today at midnight. the offer will be available for the entire day tomorrow or till the stock lasts.
Apple MacBook Air is also available on Amazon India’s website and Flipkart, but at higher prices. While Amazon is offering the Apple MacBook Air at Rs 53,999, it can be picked up from Flipkart at Rs 62,990. But a further exchange offer on Flipkart of up to Rs 9,000 can bring the price of the laptop down to Rs 53,990 — which is more or less the same price as Amazon’s.
Apple MacBook Air is powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor clubbed with Intel HD Graphics 6000 GPU and upto 8GB of RAM. The device offers a battery life of up to 12 hours. Other key highlights of the laptop include a range of built-in apps and programs including Siri, FaceTime, GarageBand, iTunes, and Time Machine.
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Top 10 smartphone deals available on Amazon Great Indian Festival
The Amazon Great Indian Festival has begun and it’s raining discounts on the website today. If you have been planning to buy a new smartphone, no other time could have been better. From Samsung’s this year’s flagship smartphone to iPhone X, there are offers available on many smartphones on Amazon for the next five days. Here, we bring to you the 10 best deals on smartphones that you can avail during the Amazon’s festive season sale:
For the first time ever, OnePlus has offering its flagship smartphone on a reduced price during the Amazon Great Indian Festival. The 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant of OnePlus 6 smartphone is available at a price of Rs 34,999 – which is Rs 5,000 less than its launch price. Prior to this, the company has always offered cashbacks or exchange discounts on its smartphones. It was also announced by the company that its 64GB storage version will be available for Rs 29,999 during the sale. However, when we tried to look for it, we did not find it listed on the website.
Have you been planning to buy an iPhone but Apple’s this year’s flagship is too heavy on your pocket? You have the chance of picking the Apple iPhone X at a reduced price from Amazon India for the next five days. While the 64GB storage variant can be picked up for Rs 69,999, the 256GB storage version can be bought at Rs 1,06,704. Note that the discount on the 64GB version is actually a massive one, as currently the smartphone is available for over Rs 25,000 less than its launch price. And iPhone X being Apple’s 10th anniversary edition is surely something a fan boy wouldn’t want to miss on. So if you were waiting for a deal on an iPhone, this may be the one.
If you are not a fan of Apple products, you can go for a Samsung smartphone. And if you are interested in buying a Samsung smartphone, you’ll be happy to know that you can get a discount on the company’s last year’s Note phablet – Galaxy Note 8. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant is currently available for Rs 43,990 – down from Rs 67,900. Needless to say, the price cut is massive and you may not want to miss this deal from Samsung.
If you like the S series in Samsung better than the Note series, don’t be disappointed, as the company’s this year’s flagship smartphone – Galaxy S9 – is also available at a reduced price on Amazon. The 64GB variant of the smartphone – which was launched at Rs 57,000 – is now available at Rs 42,990 at Amazon. The 128GB version and 256GB storage variant – which were earlier priced at Rs 61,900 and Rs 65,900 – now bear the price tag of Rs 44,990 and Rs 48,990 respectively.
The next smartphone on our list is for selfie lovers. The company had touted Xiaomi Redmi Y2’s front facing camera for the great selfies it could take at the time when the smartphone was launched. Xiaomi Redmi Y2 is available in two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB. While the launch price of the 32GB variant was Rs 9,999, the 64GB version costed Rs 12,999. During the sale, the prices of the variants have been reduced to Rs 8,999 and Rs 10,999 respectively.
Launched last month in India, Vivo V9 Pro goes on sale for the first time during Amazon Great Indian sale. The smartphone comes only in 6GB RAM/64GB onboard storage model which was priced at Rs 19,990. During the sale, it is available at a discount of Rs 2,000 at Rs 17,990.
The next smartphone in our list from Huawei’s sub-brand Honor. The Honor Play smartphone that was launched in India in August this year is available at a reduced price at Amazon during its festive season sale. The smartphone came in two variants – 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM – priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 23,999 at the time of their launch. If you are an interested buyer, you can pick the 4GB RAM version of the smartphone at Rs 18,999 during the sale.
The Realme 1 smartphone from Oppo created a lot of stir when it was launched in May this year. The smartphone came in three storage variants – 3GB RAM/32GB storage, 4GB RAM/64GB onboard storage and 6GB RAM/128GB inbuilt storage – which were priced at Rs 8,990, Rs 10,990 and Rs 13,990 respectively. During the sale, the 4GB RAM/64GB storage model of the smartphone is available for Rs 10,490 and the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant can be bought at Rs 12,990.
The recently launched smartphone by Xiaomi, Redmi 6 Pro is also available at a discounted price on Amazon India’s website. The smartphone has two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB –clubbed with 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM respectively. The 32GB model was earlier available on Amazon at Rs 11,999 and its cost has now been reduced to Rs 10,999. Speaking of the 64GB version, it earlier bore a price tag of Rs 13,499, now it is available on Amazon for Rs 12,999.
If you want to buy a budget smartphone, you can go for Honor 7C. The two storage variants of the smartphone – 32GB and 64GB – were launched at Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 respectively. For the next five days, the 32GB variant of the smartphone can be picked up from Amazon at Rs 8,999.
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OnePlus 6
For the first time ever, OnePlus has offering its flagship smartphone on a reduced price during the Amazon Great Indian Festival. The 8GB RAM/128GB storage variant of OnePlus 6 smartphone is available at a price of Rs 34,999 – which is Rs 5,000 less than its launch price. Prior to this, the company has always offered cashbacks or exchange discounts on its smartphones. It was also announced by the company that its 64GB storage version will be available for Rs 29,999 during the sale. However, when we tried to look for it, we did not find it listed on the website.
iPhone X
Have you been planning to buy an iPhone but Apple’s this year’s flagship is too heavy on your pocket? You have the chance of picking the Apple iPhone X at a reduced price from Amazon India for the next five days. While the 64GB storage variant can be picked up for Rs 69,999, the 256GB storage version can be bought at Rs 1,06,704. Note that the discount on the 64GB version is actually a massive one, as currently the smartphone is available for over Rs 25,000 less than its launch price. And iPhone X being Apple’s 10th anniversary edition is surely something a fan boy wouldn’t want to miss on. So if you were waiting for a deal on an iPhone, this may be the one.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
If you are not a fan of Apple products, you can go for a Samsung smartphone. And if you are interested in buying a Samsung smartphone, you’ll be happy to know that you can get a discount on the company’s last year’s Note phablet – Galaxy Note 8. The 6GB RAM/64GB storage variant is currently available for Rs 43,990 – down from Rs 67,900. Needless to say, the price cut is massive and you may not want to miss this deal from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S9
If you like the S series in Samsung better than the Note series, don’t be disappointed, as the company’s this year’s flagship smartphone – Galaxy S9 – is also available at a reduced price on Amazon. The 64GB variant of the smartphone – which was launched at Rs 57,000 – is now available at Rs 42,990 at Amazon. The 128GB version and 256GB storage variant – which were earlier priced at Rs 61,900 and Rs 65,900 – now bear the price tag of Rs 44,990 and Rs 48,990 respectively.
Xiaomi Redmi Y2
The next smartphone on our list is for selfie lovers. The company had touted Xiaomi Redmi Y2’s front facing camera for the great selfies it could take at the time when the smartphone was launched. Xiaomi Redmi Y2 is available in two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB. While the launch price of the 32GB variant was Rs 9,999, the 64GB version costed Rs 12,999. During the sale, the prices of the variants have been reduced to Rs 8,999 and Rs 10,999 respectively.
Vivo V9 Pro
Launched last month in India, Vivo V9 Pro goes on sale for the first time during Amazon Great Indian sale. The smartphone comes only in 6GB RAM/64GB onboard storage model which was priced at Rs 19,990. During the sale, it is available at a discount of Rs 2,000 at Rs 17,990.
Honor Play
The next smartphone in our list from Huawei’s sub-brand Honor. The Honor Play smartphone that was launched in India in August this year is available at a reduced price at Amazon during its festive season sale. The smartphone came in two variants – 4GB RAM and 6GB RAM – priced at Rs 19,999 and Rs 23,999 at the time of their launch. If you are an interested buyer, you can pick the 4GB RAM version of the smartphone at Rs 18,999 during the sale.
Realme 1
The Realme 1 smartphone from Oppo created a lot of stir when it was launched in May this year. The smartphone came in three storage variants – 3GB RAM/32GB storage, 4GB RAM/64GB onboard storage and 6GB RAM/128GB inbuilt storage – which were priced at Rs 8,990, Rs 10,990 and Rs 13,990 respectively. During the sale, the 4GB RAM/64GB storage model of the smartphone is available for Rs 10,490 and the 6GB RAM/128GB storage variant can be bought at Rs 12,990.
Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro
The recently launched smartphone by Xiaomi, Redmi 6 Pro is also available at a discounted price on Amazon India’s website. The smartphone has two storage variants – 32GB and 64GB –clubbed with 3GB RAM and 4GB RAM respectively. The 32GB model was earlier available on Amazon at Rs 11,999 and its cost has now been reduced to Rs 10,999. Speaking of the 64GB version, it earlier bore a price tag of Rs 13,499, now it is available on Amazon for Rs 12,999.
Honor 7C
If you want to buy a budget smartphone, you can go for Honor 7C. The two storage variants of the smartphone – 32GB and 64GB – were launched at Rs 9,999 and Rs 11,999 respectively. For the next five days, the 32GB variant of the smartphone can be picked up from Amazon at Rs 8,999.
For the latest gadget and tech news, and gadget reviews, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Google Pixel 3 event: All that was launched
Google just took wraps off its flagship devices of the year at an event in New York. But, it didn’t launch just the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The technology giant also unveiled other products at the vent including its Google Home Hub, Pixel Slate Chrome OS tablet and Pixel Stand. Here, we talk about all the new gadgets that were launched by Google at its event and tell you everything that you need to know about them:
After months of speculations and rumours, the much awaited Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 Xl have finally arrived. The smartphones come with Android 9 Pie and are powered by Snapdragon 845 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. Available in two storage variants and three colour options, the two smartphones only differ from each other in terms of display and battery. While Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch FHD+ flexible OLED display, Pixel 3XL sports a 6.3-inch QHD+ flexible OLED screen. The smartphones feature a 12.2MP dual pixel single rear camera and dual front cameras with an 8MP wide-angle sensor and an 8MP secondary sensor. Read our story here to know about the detailed specifications and features of the smartphones.
The technology giant its Assistant Smart Display Google Home Hub at its event. The key feature of the device is its 7-inch display that enables users to not only ‘hear’ a response to their command, but also ‘see’ it. All of Google’s most used apps including Maps, Search and Photos have been redesigned to work on Hub. Google Home Hub is priced at $149 and is available in four colours — Chalk, Charcoal, Aqua, and Sand. The pre-orders of the device have gone live today and it will begin shipping in the US on October 22. A new feature called Ambient EQ is present on Google Home Hub that changes the colour and brightness of the display according to the light of surrounding areas. The device does not have a camera on it, so that people are comfortable using it in their homes and provides a personalised experience to everyone by recognising who is speaking to it. The device comes with an optimised YouTube experience for the users along with six months of YouTube Premium. Google Home Hub’s Home View feature enables it to become a dashboard for all the smart gadgets installed in your home. Google Home Hub can connect to over 200 million devices across 1,000 brands.
Till now, we had read about the Pixel Slate tablet in rumours and leaks. We finally got to see it today at the Made by Google event held today. The convertible Pixel Slate is the first tablet that the technology giant has launched in the last three years. The biggest highlight of Pixel Slate is its detachable keyboard — which makes it a cakewalk to convert the device from a laptop to a tablet. The Pixel Slate is the first tablet by Google to run Chrome OS and it supports apps that have been downloaded from Google Play store. Available in Midnight Blue colour option, the price of Google Pixel Slate starts at $599. Buyers will get YouTube TV for free for the first three months, and will have to buy the keyboard of the device separately at $199. Pixel Slate tablet also supports Google Pixelbook Pen that is priced at $99. The tablet features a 12.3-inch LTPS LCD molecular touchscreen display that has a pixel density of 293ppi. Powered by eighth generation Intel Core m3/Core i5/i7/Celeron processors coupled with 4GB/8GB/16GB RAM, the device comes with 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB onboard storage. The Pixel Slate has an 8MP primary and selfie cameras that come with f/1.8 and f/1.9 apertures respectively. The tablet houses a 48Whr battery that is claimed by the company to last up to 10 hours after a single charge. The Chrome OS gets features like Split screen, Family Link, Do Not Disturb and Night Light. The tablet has integration with Google Assistant and in case you buy the keyboard, you’ll also get a dedicated button for it. There is built-in virus protection, a Titan security chip and a fingerprint sensor on the device.
If you are planning to buy the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL smartphones, then you may want to buy the Google Pixel Stand too. The Pixel Stand lets users charge their smartphones wirelessly. But, when charging on Pixel Stand, they stay in either Portrait or Landscape mode. The dock of the Pixel Stand has a USB-C that powers it and it supports fast charging. The Stand can charge any Qi-compatible device and is priced at $79. Interestingly, if you dock your phone on the Stand at night, it’ll automatically switch on the Do Not Disturb mode on the device. Note that when a smartphone is docked on the Pixel Stand, information like weather, traffic, and calendar show up on it automatically. Other functions that can be done while charging your phone on the Stand are giving it commands via Google Assistant, using it as a live photo frame to see pictures from Google Photos and see who is at the door by connecting it to Nest Hello.
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In This Article
Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
After months of speculations and rumours, the much awaited Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 Xl have finally arrived. The smartphones come with Android 9 Pie and are powered by Snapdragon 845 processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. Available in two storage variants and three colour options, the two smartphones only differ from each other in terms of display and battery. While Pixel 3 comes with a 5.5-inch FHD+ flexible OLED display, Pixel 3XL sports a 6.3-inch QHD+ flexible OLED screen. The smartphones feature a 12.2MP dual pixel single rear camera and dual front cameras with an 8MP wide-angle sensor and an 8MP secondary sensor. Read our story here to know about the detailed specifications and features of the smartphones.
Google Home Hub
The technology giant its Assistant Smart Display Google Home Hub at its event. The key feature of the device is its 7-inch display that enables users to not only ‘hear’ a response to their command, but also ‘see’ it. All of Google’s most used apps including Maps, Search and Photos have been redesigned to work on Hub. Google Home Hub is priced at $149 and is available in four colours — Chalk, Charcoal, Aqua, and Sand. The pre-orders of the device have gone live today and it will begin shipping in the US on October 22. A new feature called Ambient EQ is present on Google Home Hub that changes the colour and brightness of the display according to the light of surrounding areas. The device does not have a camera on it, so that people are comfortable using it in their homes and provides a personalised experience to everyone by recognising who is speaking to it. The device comes with an optimised YouTube experience for the users along with six months of YouTube Premium. Google Home Hub’s Home View feature enables it to become a dashboard for all the smart gadgets installed in your home. Google Home Hub can connect to over 200 million devices across 1,000 brands.
Pixel Slate ChromeOS tablet
Till now, we had read about the Pixel Slate tablet in rumours and leaks. We finally got to see it today at the Made by Google event held today. The convertible Pixel Slate is the first tablet that the technology giant has launched in the last three years. The biggest highlight of Pixel Slate is its detachable keyboard — which makes it a cakewalk to convert the device from a laptop to a tablet. The Pixel Slate is the first tablet by Google to run Chrome OS and it supports apps that have been downloaded from Google Play store. Available in Midnight Blue colour option, the price of Google Pixel Slate starts at $599. Buyers will get YouTube TV for free for the first three months, and will have to buy the keyboard of the device separately at $199. Pixel Slate tablet also supports Google Pixelbook Pen that is priced at $99. The tablet features a 12.3-inch LTPS LCD molecular touchscreen display that has a pixel density of 293ppi. Powered by eighth generation Intel Core m3/Core i5/i7/Celeron processors coupled with 4GB/8GB/16GB RAM, the device comes with 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB onboard storage. The Pixel Slate has an 8MP primary and selfie cameras that come with f/1.8 and f/1.9 apertures respectively. The tablet houses a 48Whr battery that is claimed by the company to last up to 10 hours after a single charge. The Chrome OS gets features like Split screen, Family Link, Do Not Disturb and Night Light. The tablet has integration with Google Assistant and in case you buy the keyboard, you’ll also get a dedicated button for it. There is built-in virus protection, a Titan security chip and a fingerprint sensor on the device.
Pixel Stand
If you are planning to buy the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL smartphones, then you may want to buy the Google Pixel Stand too. The Pixel Stand lets users charge their smartphones wirelessly. But, when charging on Pixel Stand, they stay in either Portrait or Landscape mode. The dock of the Pixel Stand has a USB-C that powers it and it supports fast charging. The Stand can charge any Qi-compatible device and is priced at $79. Interestingly, if you dock your phone on the Stand at night, it’ll automatically switch on the Do Not Disturb mode on the device. Note that when a smartphone is docked on the Pixel Stand, information like weather, traffic, and calendar show up on it automatically. Other functions that can be done while charging your phone on the Stand are giving it commands via Google Assistant, using it as a live photo frame to see pictures from Google Photos and see who is at the door by connecting it to Nest Hello.
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[td_smart_list_end] Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL with Android Pie, improved cameras launched: Price, specs and more
Google just took wraps off its latest flagship smartphones – Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL at its Made by Google event in New York. The much awaited devices come with bigger screens, the best cameras in Pixel line and an upgraded wireless charging experience. The two devices are not very different from each other and their biggest distinguishing factors are the display and battery. This year, the smartphones in the Pixel series would be available in three and not two colour variants – the newest colour version being called Not Pink. Here are all the details about the newly launched Google’s flagship smartphones that you should know about:
Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL pricing and availability
The smartphones are available in two storage variants – 64GB and 256GB. While Google Pixel 3’s base model is priced at Rs 71,000, the 128GB storage variant costs Rs 80,000. The price of 64GB variant of Google Pixel 3 XL is Rs 83,000 and the 128GB version bears a price tag of Rs 92,000. Pre-orders of both the flagship devices will begin on October 11 and the smartphones would go on a sale on November 1.
The smartphones will be available in Clearly White, Just Black, and Not Pink colour variants.
Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3XL specifications
Google Pixel 3 features a 5.5-inch FHD+ flexible OLED display that comes with an aspect ratio of 18:9. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the back, the smartphone’s screen boasts of features like Always-on display, 100,000:1 super contrast ratio and HDR support. The smartphone is powered by the most powerful processor in the world — Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 clubbed with 4GB RAM along with Adreno 630 GPU. It also has Pixel Visual core, Titan M Security Module and comes with IP68 dust and water resistance. The smartphone runs Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
As we mentioned earlier there are two storage variants of the smartphone — one with 64GB onboard storage and the other with 128GB inbuilt storage. Google Pixel 3 lacks the support for a microSD card.
Now let’s talk about the main highlight of the smartphone: The cameras.
For imaging duties, Google Pixel 3 comes with a 12.2MP dual pixel single rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, 1.4um pixel size and a 76-degree field-of-view. The camera supports features like autofocus with dual phase detection, optical & electronic image stabilisation and spectral & flicker sensor. The primary cameras of the smartphone can shoot 4K videos at 30fps. Google Pixel 3 sports dual front cameras with an 8MP wide-angle sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 97-degree field of view and fixed focus coupled with an 8MP secondary sensor with f/1.8 aperture, autofocus with phase detection, and 75-degree field-of-view.
Google Pixel 3’s camera comes with the much talked about ‘Top Shot’ feature. With Top Shot, the camera of the smartphone automatically captures alternate shots in HDR so that you can choose from them later. It also comes with a Group Selfie feature that is claimed to capture 184% more area than iPhone XS. Google has also introduced Night Sight — which ensures better images in dimly lit conditions. Other than this, Photobooth feature will also take photos of subjects who are smiling.
Google Pixel 3 houses a 2915mAh battery that, according to the company, can provide up to 7 hours of usage with just 15 minutes of charging time. The smartphone comes with USB Type-C port, supports 18W fast charging and Qi wireless charging. Fast charging for the smartphone is available with the Pixel Stand.
For connectivity options, Google Pixel 3 supports 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5, USB Type-C, NFC, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and Google Cast. The smartphone’s sensors include an accelerometer, ambient light sensor, barometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor and a magnetometer. Google Pixel 3 also comes with a back mounted Pixel Imprint sensor and an Active Edge feature which enables users to trigger features by just squeezing the sides of the smartphone.
Speaking of Google Pixel 3 Xl, it shares almost all the specifications of the Pixel 3. What sets them apart is the display and battery life. Google Pixel 3 XL has a 6.3-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display that has an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The display comes with HDR support, 100,000:1 super contrast ratio and True black level. The battery of the smartphone is 3430mAh. Much like Google Pixel 3, it is claimed to deliver a usage of 7 hours with just 15 minutes of charging time.
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Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 with 4,000mAh battery launched in India: Price, specifications and more
Panasonic has today expanded its lineup in the budget segment in India with the launch of its Eluga Ray 600 mobile. Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 houses a 4,000mAh battery, comes with the Face Unlock feature and sports a 5.99-inch display. The Android 8.1 Oreo based smartphone is available in three colour options and comes with a front flash module. Here’s a look at the price, availability and specification details of the smartphone:
Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 price and availability
Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 is priced at Rs 7,999 and the smartphone will be available exclusively at Flipkart. It will be available during Flipkart’s festive season sale — Big Billion Days — which is scheduled to begin on October 10 and will go on till October 14. However, the smartphone will be available starting October 11. Panosonic’s latest smartphone is available in Blue, Black and Gold colour variants.
Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 specifications
Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 features a 5.99-inch HD+ IPS display and is powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6739WA quad-core processor clubbed with 3GB RAM. The Android 8.1 Oreo based smartphone has an inbuilt storage of 32GB and can hold a microSD card of up to 128GB.
For imaging duties, Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 sports a 13MP primary autofocus camera coupled with flash. On the front panel of the smartphone, there is an 8MP camera that supports flash and can be used for selfies and video calls.
The camera app of the smartphone comes with various modes and can be used to make time lapse videos and has support for auto-scene detection. Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 houses a 4,000mAh battery that is said to last an entire day.
The connectivity options of Panasonic Eluga Ray 600 include Bluetooth v4.1, GPS, LTE, FM radio, Wi-Fi, OTG and support for microUSB. The smartphone comes with an accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor and as we mentioned earlier, it has support for Face Unlock.
Speaking on the launch, Pankaj Rana, Business Head – Mobility Division, Panasonic India said, “We are glad to expand our big view series portfolio with the launch of Eluga Ray 600. Panasonic has always been known for innovation and technology, the new Eluga Ray 600 is meant to provide a powerful experience to our customers seeking high definition display, stylish looks and a battery that lasts over 24 hours! Eluga Ray 600 is equipped with Panasonic’s in-house AI – Arbo Hub, our one stop app to make life easier. The sleek device is designed for the young audience who likes to enjoy technology with style.”
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WhatsApp to get advertisements in its Status feature soon: Report
Popular instant messaging app WhatsApp is undergoing a big change. While a few years back, the company had said in a statement that advertisements would never come to the app, now things look a little different.
If a report by WABetaInfo is to be believed, then the Facebook-owned instant messaging app will be going ahead with its new revenue policy and advertisements will arrive on Whatsapp for Android version 2.18.305.
It further says that as of now, the advertisements are not visible to the users, however, they will get activated in future.
The addition of advertisements on WhatsApp may not be a welcome change for users, but reports surrounding it have been surfacing for quite some time now. Prior to this, a report in The Wall Street Journal that quoted officials from WhatsApp stated that with advertisements, a new stream of revenue for the company will open up.
The reported further said that the advertisements on WhatsApp will be shown to users within the Status feature — much like the ones we get to see in Instagram Stories.
As of now, the advertisements cannot even be seen on WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.18.305. But as we mentioned earlier, the report said that advertisements will be enabled later.
Facebook’s plan to monetize the instant messaging app is not in-line with WhatsApp’s terms of service that got updated once it acquired the app in 2014. The terms of service that were updated by Facebook clearly stated that users can “still count on absolutely no ads interrupting your communication.”
As of now, there is no official word on when advertisements will begin to roll out on WhatsApp. However, what we are certain of is that advertisements definitely will make their way to app as that is something company officials have already confirmed.
Adding advertisements on WhatsApp Status feature can prove to be extremely good for Facebook, as the Status feature has already hit the benchmark of 450 million daily active users. The Status feature enables users to upload a picture or a video that can be seen by people on their contact list for 24 hours. Furthermore, users can also check which of their contacts have seen their Status.
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Google Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL set to launch in India on October 22: Report
Google is all set to unveil its flagship smartphones of the year — Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL — today at an event in New York. Along with the launch of the smartphones, the technology giant’s Pixel slate tablet, a new Chromecast and Google Home Hub will also get showcased.
Just before the global launch of the devices, a report has surfaced online that says that Google’s flagship smartphones will be launched in India this month itself. According to MySmartPrice, Google will be holding a media event to launch the two smartphones in India on October 22. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are expected to go on pre-orders in the country soon after they are launched formally.
The report further stated that Google will be selling its devices on Flipkart, much like Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL. However, there is no word on the specific availability and pricing details.
Scheduled to launch today, Google Pixel 3 series is expected to feature a design that will be similar to its predecessors. The smartphones will reportedly come with IP68 certification — making them dust and water resistant. The Pixel 2 series by Google, on the other hand, had IP67 certification.
Reports have also suggested that Google Pixel 3 will feature a 5.5-inch display, whereas the Pixel 3 XL will sport a 6.3-inch screen. The smartphones will be powered by the most powerful processor in the world — Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845. Both Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will come with 4GB of RAM and have two storage variants — 64GB and 128GB. However, the presence of a microSD card slot seems unlikely.
For imaging duties, Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are expected to sport a 12.2MP primary camera that will come with AI powered features. The devices will reportedly have a ‘Top Shot’ feature that will work similarly to Samsung Galaxy Note 9’s Scene Optimizer. For selfies and video calls, the smartphones will reportedly feature an 8MP front facing snapper. Google’s flagship smartphones of the year will run its latest Android 9.0 Pie out of the box.
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Amazon Great Indian Festival sale: Deals on Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9, Galaxy A8+ and more
Just after Samsung announced a slew of offers for Flipkart Big Billion Days sale, the technology giant is now giving deals and discounts to its fans on Amazon too. Amazon India’s festive season sale — Great Indian Festival — is scheduled to begin tomorrow and it will continue till October 15. And Samsung has announced some discount offers for customers who are planning to shop from the sale.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 — which is company’s flagship phablet from last year — will be getting a price cut of Rs 30,700 for five days and will be available at Rs 43,990 during the Great Indian Festival. The device can be purchased at No Cost EMI options along with free screen replacement and assured buyback.
To recall, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 features a 6.3-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display and is powered by Samsung Exynos 8895 processor clubbed with 6GB RAM. Like other phablets in the Note Series, Galaxy Note 8 comes with an S Pen. It has 12MP+12MP dual rear cameras along with an 8MP front facing snapper. It has 64GB of inbuilt storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 256GB. The smartphone houses a 3300mAh battery and has support for wireless charging.
Customers can also buy the Samsung Galaxy A8+ at a reduced price during Amazon India’s festive season sale. During the Great Indian Festival, the smartphone will be available at Rs 23,990, which is Rs 17,910 less than its launch price.
Among the most attractive deals available is the discount on Samsung’s current flagship smartphone — Galaxy S9. The 64GB variant of Samsung Galaxy S9 will be available at a discount of Rs 19,600 during the sale. While it was launched at Rs 57,900, it can be bought for Rs 38,300 during the five days of Great Indian Festival.
Samsung Galaxy S9 smartphone comes with a 5.8-inch touchscreen display and is powered by a 1.7GHz octa-core processor clubbed with 4GB RAM. The smartphone packs 64GB of internal storage and can hold a microSD card of up to 400GB, too. Samsung Galaxy S9 packs a Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP autofocus camera with OIS and has an 8MP front shooter for selfies. The device houses a 3,000mAh battery.
Discount offers are available on Samsung’s On series too. The 4GB RAM/64GB internal storage variant of Samsung Galaxy On7 Prime will receive a price cut of Rs 4,000 and will bear a price tag of Rs 10,990. Galaxy On7 Pro and Galaxy On5 Pro smartphones will also be available at a reduced price. While the former can be picked up for Rs 6,790 after a discount of Rs 2,700, the latter’s will cost Rs 2,000 less and customers can buy it at Rs 5,990.
Furthermore, buyers will get an instant discount of 10% if they pay for their purchase via SBI debit and credit cards.
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Facebook launches Portal to make video calls easy
Social networking giant Facebook has launched a smart speaker that it says has been designed to make video calls easy. The device is known as Portal and its price starts at $199. The high-end version of Portal is priced at $349. The signature feature of Portal is its wide-angle camera that automatically keeps users in focus even if they move around in the room.
The newly launched device is available on Facebook.com, Amazon and Best Buy and it will begin shipping in US early next month. However, the high price and the limited functionality of the device may make it difficult for Portal to compete with devices from Amazon and Google. Facebook‘s involvement in the data breach of its 87 million users wouldn’t help either.
Smart speakers from Amazon and Google have been widely appreciated in the industry and both are available for less than $100. Users can use their voice command to make the devices from Amazon and Google search the web for them, play music, read out news and do so much more.
With Portal, Facebook may be eyeing to stop users from using other chat and video calling apps on other speakers. It may also be looking for a new and completely controlled environment to sell ads — which is its main way of making money.
Around 400 million people call each other via Facebook Messenger each year. In spite of being so popular, the service is absent from Amazon and Google’s smart speakers.
The social networking giant expects to woo the users with the presence of its widely used service and Portal’s touchscreen.
Additionally, Portal’s camera uses artificial intelligence to recognize body shapes. This can be a huge selling point for the device considering that users will be able to stay in the frame without having to adjust the device.
Speaking on the launch, Rafa Camargo, Facebook’s vice president who is monitoring Portal said, “Our goal is to make you feel present in the same space as the person at the other end.”
Portal’s microphones and camera shuts off with a tap of a button and users can lock it using a passcode, the company has said. It further clarified that voice and video calls that will be made on the device will be encrypted and their contents will not be stored. Users can call anybody they wish to, provided both are using FB Messenger.
The device from Facebook comes with Amazon’s digital assistant Alexa, too. It handles the search queries that are made by the user while Amazon collects audio files of requests that are made.
While the base variant of Portal comes with a 10-inch display, the high-end version sports a 15.6-inch screen. Both will showcase photos and notifications from Facebook and videos from Food Network. Other than this, there are very few other apps present on it.
Other features will be available to users while they are making calls, which includes listening to music on Spotify. Like many devices from Amazon, Portal runs the open source version of Android.
Prior to this, Facebook had forayed into hardware with Oculus virtual reality headset and a phone that it developed with HTC.
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Google Plus to shut down after breach of 5 lakh users’ data
Google has announced that its shutting down the consumer version of its social networking website Google Plus — a competitor to Facebook that the technology giant launched in 2011. This update came right after the announcement that a bug in Google Plus may have exposed the data of up to 5,00,000 users to external developers. The bug was reportedly present in Google Plus’ systems for more than two years.
The technology giant said in blog that first discovered and patched the leak in March this year. The company goes on to say that at that point in time, it had no evidence of breach of any data or that any developer was in knowledge of the bug.
After the announcement, shares of Google‘s parent company, Alphabet Inc, were down 1.5% at $1150.75.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Google had chosen not to reveal the bug with its API (Application Program Interfaces) because it feared scrutiny by regulatory authorities.
Google has said that analysed the issue and looked for the kind of data involved, if there was any evidence of misuse, whether users who had to be informed could be identified accurately, and if any actions could be taken by the developers.
The company further said that, “None of these thresholds were met in this instance. We found no evidence that any developer was aware of this bug, or abusing the API, and we found no evidence that any Profile data was misused.”
Going by the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, if users’ personal data is compromised, a supervisory authority needs to get informed about the breach by the company within 72 hours. The only exception to this is a case where the breach was not likely to result in a risk to users’ rights and freedom.
Speaking on the matter, Geoffrey Parker, an engineering professor at Ivy League college Dartmouth said, “It seems like the downside risk of having a story that says they intentionally hid information about a major breach from users is bigger than the upside of avoiding scrutiny. I wonder if there wasn’t more depth to the internal debate.”
The technology giant said that the software bug in its social networking website gave external developers a potential access to private data of the users between a major revamp of the platform in 2015 and March 2018 — when the issue was finally discovered.
However, only static data including name, email address, occupation, gender and age was affected.
The report in The Wall Street Journal states that a memo was prepared by Google’s legal and policy staff which was shared with the senior executives of the company. It stated that disclosing the data breach would lead to “immediate regulatory interest” — much like Facebook did after user information from the platform got leaked to Cambridge Analytica.
According to The Wall Street Journal, after the internal committee had decided on their course of action, Google Chief Operating Officer was told not to inform the users about the data breach.
Google also faced criticism for not sending a top executive to a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on September 5 which was held to discuss what measures can be taken to stop foreign influence in US Elections. The hearing was attended by Facebook‘s Chief Operating Officer and Twitter’s Chief Executive. But Google’s top lawyer was rejected as a witness by the committee and an empty chair was left for the company during the hearing.
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Google updates its Developer Policy to restrict apps that can request Call log and SMS permissions
Ever installed an app from Google Play Store that has asked for multiple permissions? And have you felt that the apps that you have installed may not require as much information as they ask for? We all have been there and felt this at some point in time. And Google seems to have taken a note of this too.
The technology giant is updating the Google Play Developer Policy to protect user information. Apps are only supposed to ask for information that helps in making them function. But that doesn’t always happen. A number of apps request for far more information than required and this often includes user’s call log and SMS application.
It is worth noticing that the dialer and SMS application in your smartphone often carries a lot of sensitive information like your phone number, your call history and also the personal information of people you have contacted. When we allow apps to access our call logs and SMS app, we basically allow them to access all this information as well.
The new change in Google Play Developer Policy will let only default phone and SMS apps to access this information.
This is being done to restrict access to one or two apps at a given time. So even a widely used app like Facebook Messenger — which currently can access users’ SMS conversations — would not be able to do it anymore. Unless, of course, the user sets it as the default app on their phone.
So even if you have given permissions to a number of apps without investing much thought into it, the only app you actually use will be able to access your information.
Developers have been given 90 days from day of policy update to issue updates to their respective apps. Post that, the updated Developer Policy will get enforced on its own.
Google has also posted an article on its Help Center for developers in order to help them find alternatives to these permissions.
This move by Google is a welcome one, as most users give permissions to apps that they install nonchalantly. However, this may cause some inconvenience to users. For instance, till now, various apps used SMS permissions to read OTPs that the user received via text message. But, with the new policy coming in, the users will have to put in this information themselves. It’s not too much pain, but it’s always difficult to let go of an easy way to do things when you are used to it.
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Google Pixel 3 XL is being sold in Hong Kong ahead of official launch
The world is waiting for the launch of Google Pixel 3 smartphones which is scheduled for Tuesday, October 9. But according to reports, in Hong Kong a retailer has been selling Google Pixel 3 XL already for a few days.
A few days ago, a review of Google Pixel 3 from Hong Kong had surfaced online. In fact, a few months back, reviews and hands-on videos of the upcoming smartphone also went up online when it was reported from Eastern Europe that some units of Google Pixel 3 XL were stolen. The report also said that in order to buy one Pixel 3 XL unit, one had to pay $2,000 on the black market. And that’s exactly the same amount one has to pay to buy a unit in Hong Kong right now.
According to a report in Engadget, which had borrowed a unit from the website that had reviewed the smartphone, a mobile retailer in Hong Kong has been selling the Google Pixel 3 XL HK$15,880. When converted, that becomes $2,030 — which is almost double of what the Google Pixel XL 3 will cost if reports about the device are correct.
An image shared by Engadget shows the Pixel XL 3 retail box. The image has a pair of Pixel USB-C earphones, USB-C to 3.5mm and USB-C to USB-A, a USB-C cable to charge the smartphone and a couple of dongles.
As of now, there is no clarity on why a store in Hong Kong started selling the smartphone a few days prior to its launch. But Google seems unable to control the stores that are supposed to sell its devices this year.
A report surfaced online a few days back that claimed that Best Buy sold a third-generation Chromecast unit — which, like Google Pixel 3 XL, has not officially been launched yet.
A number of reports about Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have surfaced online. The devices are expected to feature larger screens and according to leaks, Pixel 3 XL will sport a notch on its display. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will also reportedly have wireless charging and sport dual selfie cameras. Other than this, Google is expected to give some clever software features to its smartphones.
Image courtesy: Engadget
An image shared by Engadget shows the Pixel XL 3 retail box. The image has a pair of Pixel USB-C earphones, USB-C to 3.5mm and USB-C to USB-A, a USB-C cable to charge the smartphone and a couple of dongles.
As of now, there is no clarity on why a store in Hong Kong started selling the smartphone a few days prior to its launch. But Google seems unable to control the stores that are supposed to sell its devices this year.
A report surfaced online a few days back that claimed that Best Buy sold a third-generation Chromecast unit — which, like Google Pixel 3 XL, has not officially been launched yet.
A number of reports about Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL have surfaced online. The devices are expected to feature larger screens and according to leaks, Pixel 3 XL will sport a notch on its display. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will also reportedly have wireless charging and sport dual selfie cameras. Other than this, Google is expected to give some clever software features to its smartphones.
Image courtesy: Engadget
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